We are heartened that people are reading what we\u2019ve posted.\u00a0 We do believe we\u2019re making a difference, particularly on the employee compensation issue.\u00a0 More about that later.\u00a0 The focus of this piece is the efforts being made to dismiss our group as nothing more than a bunch of \u201cTodd-Bashers.\u201d\u00a0 I guess the hope is that by labeling us in this manner, our real message will be trivialized.\u00a0 We hope not, but thought the best course was to tackle the accusation head-on.<\/p>\n
The fundamental premise of our group is to get \u201cthe rest of the story\u201d to Addison\u2019s residents.\u00a0 We felt this was necessary because as things have evolved, the Town\u2019s newsletter has come to be primary source of information for Addison\u2019s residents.\u00a0 And, as has been discussed, Meier has laid claim to the newsletter, is the sole source of information written in the newsletter, and continues to guard that turf with an iron fist.<\/p>\n
So our first point is: \u00a0Whether you are a Meier supporter or not, who among us thinks that having a sole source of information is healthy or appropriate?\u00a0 Information is power, folks, and Meier understands that equation.\u00a0 Our hope is to upset that applecart and provide \u201cthe rest of the story.\u201d<\/p>\n
Second, we have already shown that Meier doesn\u2019t always provide accurate information, including on controversial and key issues.\u00a0 For example, we have discussed Meier\u2019s newsletter misrepresentations about what happened at a key budget meeting last Fall. \u00a0Why did that matter?\u00a0 Because it significantly shaped public discourse on the issue of employee compensation and on Neil Resnik, who was falsely accused of cutting off debate.\u00a0 None of which is proper or healthy for our Town, but all of which has no place occurring in a Town-owned and Town-funded newsletter.<\/p>\n
So this is our challenge: how to explain \u201cthe rest of the story\u201d without taking Meier to task for making it necessary for us to do so?\u00a0 Here\u2019s another example: Chris DeFrancisco asked our City Attorney for a legal opinion on our Town\u2019s newsletter.\u00a0 In that same newsletter, Meier called DeFrancisco\u2019s request a \u201cdemand letter.\u201d\u00a0 C\u2019mon, a councilmember asking our Town\u2019s lawyer for a legal opinion is a \u201cdemand letter?\u201d\u00a0 That\u2019s absurd, but it was also a clear attack on DeFrancisco.\u00a0 It was wrong for Meier to do this, and it is appropriate for us to challenge it.\u00a0 That is not \u201cTodd-Bashing.\u201d\u00a0 It is truth-telling.<\/p>\n
This point should not be lost: There is deep irony in the fact that truth-telling reflects poorly on Meier.\u00a0 What\u2019s wrong with that picture?<\/p>\n
So for those who have attacked our work in this manner, we respond: \u00a0Shouldn\u2019t the concern really be the conduct that has caused our reaction in the first place?\u00a0 Shouldn\u2019t the real concern be with Meier\u2019s conduct in \u201cResnik-Bashing\u201d and \u201cDeFrancisco-Bashing\u201d in our Town-owned and Town-funded newsletter? Shouldn\u2019t the real concern be with a politicized Town-owned and Town-funded newsletter that is being misused by an elected official to mislead Addison\u2019s residents?<\/p>\n
We say, don\u2019t attack us, stand with us and demand more from our elected officials.\u00a0 Demand truth in dealing with issues, including our project.<\/p>\n
Because the truth here is that this fight is not about our reactions, but about the conduct that is causing us to react in the first place.<\/p>\n