Comments on: Want to Get Angry? http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2006/05/16/want-to-get-angry/ Web site and blog for Maria Langer, freelance writer, commercial helicopter pilot, and serious amateur photographer. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:43:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jim Ferman http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2006/05/16/want-to-get-angry/#comment-318 Jim Ferman Wed, 17 May 2006 00:12:04 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=579#comment-318 In defense of Maria Langer, I, too, object to the behavior of the mayor. In more examples than I would like to remember, he continuously belittles his constituents. There’s the Jan. 5th, 2006 council meeting (viewed by a number of people) where he actually grabbed and pinched town resident Donna Abbott’s arm when she simply asked him what it takes to be a council member in our town. After he pinched her, he stated that “your skin is not thick enough to be a council member!” There’s the example of the recent council meeting where the mayor made a rude criticism of Adrian Richards. There’s the example of the mayor roughly criticizing the performance of Town Clerk Donna Riffel at a council meeting. At the next meeting he stood and said something to the effect that his wife is making him give Donna some flowers because he was too rough on her. At no time did he, himself, accept accountability and apologize for his actions. I don’t think, that he is an acceptable role model and leader for our community. Does Mr. White think this behavior is an acceptable example of how a mayor should conduct himself? The previous referendum clearly demonstrated how the MAJORITY (not minority as Mr. White would have us believe) stated that they DID NOT wish high density in that area of our town. It was reported in the November 5th, 2004 Wickenburg Sun article, when asked how he felt about the Prop. 421 defeat, the mayor responded that “although he’s disappointed, he’s accepting of the vote. He said 55 per cent of the voters chose to slow down growth and protect the area’s density. He said the Town Council will have to keep this response in mind when considering future projects.” In the time since that statement, the mayor and council have voted unanimously to accept anything to do with the WCC issue. That’s listening to the majority’s response? I was of the belief that the mayor wanted to see the outcome of this new referendum to prove that we are indeed just an isolated group of malcontents. Is he getting cold feet now that he is realizing that the tide is changing? Is he finally realizing that a lot more people are becoming aware of what’s really happening in our town? If this town and its council are “a model example of “democracy in the real world“, then God have pity on us. Thankfully, I believe the populace is becoming aware that we need change in our town if we have any chance of preserving the lifestyle we have here. We will elect honest representatives with integrity. I truly have faith in my fellow residents. They are waking up to the cold hard fact that we are being let down by our mayor and council. This fall’s election will prove this out. As for Mr. Johns and his petition, what more does a responsible man have to do to get proper guidance in his pursuit to get an issue on the ballot? He simply followed the advice that the town gave him, and now this issue comes down to how much money are we going to waste over a staple? That’s it- pure and simple. Mr. White is incorrect in his assertion that there is legal precedent to support the denial of Mr. John’s referendum petition. This will be the first challenge in this state of what constitutes a proper “attachment method“. Unfortunately the town will hold to it’s hard-nose position and the taxpayers will have to pay for a town attorney to defend against something they obviously want on the ballot. Come on Mr. Mayor- allow this vote to happen. It will be the only way for us to see if Prop. 421 was or was not a fluke. What are you afraid of? Mr. White, it is folks like you who try to divert attention from the real issues. Real change is going to happen here and happen quickly. The word is getting out and people are beginning to see the forest through the trees irregardless of the smoke screen you try to throw up. « Previous | Next » Get Mail Create Mail Address Book  Reply Reply All Forward Delete In defense of Maria Langer, I, too, object to the behavior of the mayor. In more examples than I would like to remember, he continuously belittles his constituents. There’s the Jan. 5th, 2006 council meeting (viewed by a number of people) where he actually grabbed and pinched town resident Donna Abbott’s arm when she simply asked him what it takes to be a council member in our town. After he pinched her, he stated that “your skin is not thick enough to be a council member!” There’s the example of the recent council meeting where the mayor made a rude criticism of Adrian Richards. There’s the example of the mayor roughly criticizing the performance of Town Clerk Donna Riffel at a council meeting. At the next meeting he stood and said something to the effect that his wife is making him give Donna some flowers because he was too rough on her. At no time did he, himself, accept accountability and apologize for his actions. I don’t think, that he is an acceptable role model and leader for our community. Does Mr. White think this behavior is an acceptable example of how a mayor should conduct himself?

The previous referendum clearly demonstrated how the MAJORITY (not minority as Mr. White would have us believe) stated that they DID NOT wish high density in that area of our town. It was reported in the November 5th, 2004 Wickenburg Sun article, when asked how he felt about the Prop. 421 defeat, the mayor responded that “although he’s disappointed, he’s accepting of the vote. He said 55 per cent of the voters chose to slow down growth and protect the area’s density. He said the Town Council will have to keep this response in mind when considering future projects.”

In the time since that statement, the mayor and council have voted unanimously to accept anything to do with the WCC issue. That’s listening to the majority’s response?

I was of the belief that the mayor wanted to see the outcome of this new referendum to prove that we are indeed just an isolated group of malcontents. Is he getting cold feet now that he is realizing that the tide is changing? Is he finally realizing that a lot more people are becoming aware of what’s really happening in our town? If this town and its council are “a model example of “democracy in the real world“, then God have pity on us. Thankfully, I believe the populace is becoming aware that we need change in our town if we have any chance of preserving the lifestyle we have here. We will elect honest representatives with integrity. I truly have faith in my fellow residents. They are waking up to the cold hard fact that we are being let down by our mayor and council. This fall’s election will prove this out.

As for Mr. Johns and his petition, what more does a responsible man have to do to get proper guidance in his pursuit to get an issue on the ballot? He simply followed the advice that the town gave him, and now this issue comes down to how much money are we going to waste over a staple? That’s it- pure and simple. Mr. White is incorrect in his assertion that there is legal precedent to support the denial of Mr. John’s referendum petition. This will be the first challenge in this state of what constitutes a proper “attachment method“. Unfortunately the town will hold to it’s hard-nose position and the taxpayers will have to pay for a town attorney to defend against something they obviously want on the ballot. Come on Mr. Mayor- allow this vote to happen. It will be the only way for us to see if Prop. 421 was or was not a fluke. What are you afraid of?

Mr. White, it is folks like you who try to divert attention from the real issues. Real change is going to happen here and happen quickly. The word is getting out and people are beginning to see the forest through the trees irregardless of the smoke screen you try to throw up.

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]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2006/05/16/want-to-get-angry/#comment-317 Maria Langer Tue, 16 May 2006 20:54:24 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=579#comment-317 Nice to see the Mayor has someone capable of stringing together a decent rebuttal for him. A few comments: A precendent was set by the town of Wickenburg back in 2004 to ACCEPT Mr. Johns petition. Mr. Johns submitted his recent petition IN GOOD FAITH using instructions provided by the town, based on the acceptance of a previous petition. If the town found a problem with the previous petition, it should have provided revised instuctions to Mr. John. It did not. Instead, it allowed him to submit a petition it could reject, without warning. THIS IS WRONG. I give respect to people who deserve it. The Mayor gave absolutely no respect to the people gathered yesterday to defend Mr. Johns and plead his case. People who don't give respect don't deserve it in return. Frankly, I was appalled by his behavior -- although I hear he's been worse in the past. It takes more than a title to earn respect. I have nothing against Mr. Ringwood or his desire to make money from his property. I didn't even sign the petitions in question. I don't even know for sure whether I'm a resident of Wickenburg -- the Town Manager failed to answer my letter requesting clarification. I am, in general, against high-density housing and the destruction of desert landscape. I feel bad for the people who will soon be looking down on the roofs of homes where they once saw pristine desert. What I do have a problem with is the unfair treatment of Mr. Johns and the insulting behavior of the Mayor at a council meeting. THAT's what this blog post is all about. You can read into it anything you like, but my view and opinion of the situation stands. There isn't an ounce of untruth in it. As for rumors and misinformation, until someone comes up with the truth, that's all we have. If your friend, the Mayor, would come down off his high horse and stop alienating the people with insults, perhaps we could see something more than what we now all believe. Nice to see the Mayor has someone capable of stringing together a decent rebuttal for him.

A few comments:

A precendent was set by the town of Wickenburg back in 2004 to ACCEPT Mr. Johns petition. Mr. Johns submitted his recent petition IN GOOD FAITH using instructions provided by the town, based on the acceptance of a previous petition. If the town found a problem with the previous petition, it should have provided revised instuctions to Mr. John. It did not. Instead, it allowed him to submit a petition it could reject, without warning. THIS IS WRONG.

I give respect to people who deserve it. The Mayor gave absolutely no respect to the people gathered yesterday to defend Mr. Johns and plead his case. People who don’t give respect don’t deserve it in return. Frankly, I was appalled by his behavior — although I hear he’s been worse in the past. It takes more than a title to earn respect.

I have nothing against Mr. Ringwood or his desire to make money from his property. I didn’t even sign the petitions in question. I don’t even know for sure whether I’m a resident of Wickenburg — the Town Manager failed to answer my letter requesting clarification. I am, in general, against high-density housing and the destruction of desert landscape. I feel bad for the people who will soon be looking down on the roofs of homes where they once saw pristine desert.

What I do have a problem with is the unfair treatment of Mr. Johns and the insulting behavior of the Mayor at a council meeting. THAT’s what this blog post is all about. You can read into it anything you like, but my view and opinion of the situation stands. There isn’t an ounce of untruth in it.

As for rumors and misinformation, until someone comes up with the truth, that’s all we have.

If your friend, the Mayor, would come down off his high horse and stop alienating the people with insults, perhaps we could see something more than what we now all believe.

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