Welcome
This entry was posted on January 9, 2010 1:15 PM and is filed under General.
Welcome to the politicsarelocal.com web blog. Since our inception in 2007, our mission has been to inform, to generate debate, and to encourage political discourse among the residents of the Town of Harrison, New York. In 2010, our mission is unchanged. Frank and open discussion of the issues that impact our community remains at the core of what we want to achieve.
The political environment in Harrison remains a great concern. The Town Board has continued to show a lack of the leadership and management ability in the dealing with the complexities of governing. In our view, despite some changes in membership, the Board continues to appear dysfunctional and incapable of non-partisan discussion, let alone solutions to Harrison's problems. Over the last decade, the lack of civility and respect exhibited by members of the Board toward each other and towards the residents seems to support a clear lack of understanding of what cooperative government means. That lack of civility and respect has carried over to the residents as well. The result is Board meetings that deteriorate into nothing more than personal attacks and claims of "political agendas" rather than expressions of honest differences. There has been an addition of a new Councilperson to the Board. However, based on her comments to date, the newest member of the Board has demonstrated that she will abide by the political partisanship that has brought the Town to where it is.
politicsarelocal.com continually tries to base its editorial comment on the issue, rather than partisan views. We encourage all of Harrison to participate. There is room for everyone to make their views known be they a Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Independent or any other political affiliate. You are all invited. We will publish your comments as written.
However, there are a few ground rules. To begin, before we publish your comments, politicsarelocal.com will attempt to confirm through available sources anything being claimed. If your claim cannot be substantiated, it will not be published. If it is just an opinion, please state it as such. Also, you must identify yourself with your real name, not an alias. On line handles are not enough. And finally, we will not tolerate obscenities or insulting characterizations of anyone or any organization. That serves no purpose and deprives the reader of a forum where serious discussion maybe conducted. Too often, blogs allow anonymous claims and borderline language that should not be tolerated. politicsarelocal.com will not permit that to occur here. If you cannot accept these ground rules, you can always take your discussion elsewhere.
It would be naive not to admit that a clear division exists between those that support real change in Town government and those intent on maintaining the status quo. In our view, Harrison cannot afford to have that continue.
So, welcome. We look forward to hearing your views.
