"All the Best?"

A Message From Noah Jacobs Recent Important Events in Our Neighborhood January, 2015

Governance is 1 part stewardship, 2 parts representation   (Interesting calculation Noah has done.) First of all I want to wish all of you a very belated happy and healthy new year. 2015 has brought some significant, healthy and optimistic changes for me and my immediate family. I hope that you and your respective families are also starting the year on the right note.  I'd like to take a moment of your time to tell you a bit of what is going on in the community. This afternoon, I got a flyer on my door as many of you might have. It appears that the new Code Review Board has proposed some significant changes to Chapter 5 (section 5.3.4)of the Code. As it is currently written, the flyer states (and I agree) that the purpose of chapter 5 is to guarantee the safety of both the individual citizen, and the safe passage and usage of cars, and other vehicles in our community. The changes being suggested by the Code Review Board no longer adhere to the spirit of the original code.  (We'll find out shortly what Noah's agreement sounds like.) To view the original code click here. If you were unable to take part in the workshop, (Ashamedly, I have to say I was not there) I urge you to go to theVillage website. While these might not be the final changes made to the code, these are examples of possible changes the Board might put forward.  (So Noah is ashamed to say he didn't bother to come to the meeting, and the proposed changes might not even be final.) Commissioner Jonas is now going around talking to anyone and everyone who will listen (which by his admission is not many) about how much he wants to get things done, as compared to the previous administration. Commissioner Jonas is absolutely correct. The current Commission is moving forward on a good bit of legislation.  (Interesting link.  Feel free to check it out.  What Noah suggests is a limitation on my part regarding whom I can find to listen to what I have to say was actually a failure on the part of people like Noah to come talk to me about concerns, ask questions, and have a discussion.  Apparently, that does not prevent Noah from complaining that I won't listen.) Let's review some of the "achievements" they have secured: They have restricted your ability to have leisure craft in the Park.  (Here's the first example of Noah's abdication of his agreement with the balance of responsibilities described in the flyer he endorses.  Noah remembers the responsibility to look out for the interests of individual residents, but he has forgotten the responsibility to look out for the needs of the neighborhood as a whole.) They voted to outsource some of our services, disregarding an overwhelming number of residents who expressed a desire to keep those services in house.   (Ah, yes, that balance of stewardship and representation of individuals' wishes.)             There was even a significant problem within our police department, and we as residents were only notified by outside media sources (unless of course you went to the police department and noticed the door locked and no response to knocking). The administration could have put something out reassuring us that all police shifts were covered. I hear there is even a report that was created to explain what the problem was. I wonder when that report is going to see the light of day.  (Noah has no use for anyone else's determination and management of priorities. It appears Galileo was wrong when he suggested what rotated around what, or whom.) Heck, we got a wonderful grant, (h/t ((hat tip)) Mayor Coviello)for the renovation of the log cabin of $1 million dollars from the State. Unfortunately, whoever was responsible for writing the RFP (Request for Proposal) did not put a cap on the cost. The Commission ended up accepting a proposal that could cost as much as $1.4 million dollars.  (If Noah is suggesting it's too bad we could not have gotten more commitment and representation from the prior Commission and Mayor, I agree.  The result of capping the costs would have been, or would be, that we do less of the work.  And we could.  That was discussed at a recent Commission meeting.  [I don't think Noah was there.]  We decided it was best to do all the work now, and raise the money later.  Apparently, Noah disagrees.  That's fine.) Early in 2011, Commissioner Anderson argued with me about a public computer in the rec center because he felt a $70 ink cartridge was a frivolous expense. Forgive me, but I think a $400,000.00 obligation is a bit more worrisome.   (Noah has made clear what seems prudent to him: doing nothing.) With a record like this, I wouldn't be so eager to "get things done".  (Noah took two years to make clear that his preference is, as he now reiterates, not to get anything done.  That turned out not to be a winning approach for him in the last election.  But he hasn't changed his feeling about it.) Transparency and responsiveness to the citizens of our great Village have not been a strong point in the last year. Hopefully, the Commissioners can show that they are responsive to the will of the people in regard to code and a myriad of other issues, and not just doing something to "get it done".  (The current Commission has been eminently transparent.  "Responsive" to what?  Whims, or the demands of responsible stewardship?) All the best,  (Of what?) Noah PS: Please feel free to share this email.