Riverside20904, I believe if you were reading the flyer without bias it would be obvious to you that it means this is the party of people that were vocally against the tax increase, whilst Kevin Smith and the last Caucus-selected board were in favor of it. 3880 folks have never voted on any local initiative in at least the last ten years, if ever. It is laughable to think this would have happened without the effort to inform. Mike Gorman was alone in vocally opposing the failure to consider budget cuts in lieu of raising taxes, during and after his service on the Long Term Finance Committee. 1770 people, more than voted for any candidate in the same period, voted down the TIF. That is down to these candidates and all the people working with them who expended shoe leather informing their neighbors of these matters. They were chosen by the popular acclaim of the many, many people who were involved in these two efforts over the course of two years, and not by 12 people.
No, the Caucus is not open to all Riverside residents. That is also a howler. There membership is limited to 90 people, they have to "accept" you, and their nominating committee consists of 12 people. This year it was headed by the spouse of the current village president.
I wondered whether you were a person really interested in discussion, or a troll for Kevin Smith and/or the Caucus. I have my answer.
Again, it is easy to criticize people who actually take the trouble to inform and stake out positions, instead of standing back, co-opting the positions of your opposition, then taking the Rose Garden strategy. The RCA has called a town hall. When will the Riverside Party emerge from the living rooms of the few to the public square of the many?
Then perhaps we could have a conversation that rose above the level of calling people Blago and Rove.
Posted Monday Feb 2, 2009 11:00
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