The “Meet & Greet” reception the new self-appointed board of the Westhampton library has scheduled for itself Dec. 3 will turn into “Jeers & Gibes” if they try to go through with it.
The previous board faced 35 citizens demanding its resignation Sept. 16 and then more than 60 people asking the same thing Oct. 30.
Three of the five trustees resigned Oct. 30 but no one on the new board showed any interest in the main demand of the citizens—that an elected board replace the self-appointed board.
Tom Moore, husband of Westhampton Beach Mayor Maria Moore, appointed president to replace Joan Levan, said he saw no reason to change something that has worked since 1897.
It is time for the WHB board to assert itself with the library board. Maria Moore must say to her husband, “Tom, drop it.”
Veterans Day Focuses on American Values
The celebration of Veterans Day today, observing the end of World War I but also honoring all who have served in the Armed Forces, brings to mind the principles for which the soldiers fought.
These include freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and separation of church and state.
Both the WH library and WHB boards limit speech at their meetings. Unless a citizen or reporter gets on the “agenda,” they will be shut down after five minutes. Neither board ever has a press conference.
The WHB board has done a poor job of explaining and/or opposing the imposition of a Jewish religious boundary that would be permanently erected on 47 utility poles on public property. The WH library stocks not one word on the issue.
The library board’s Dec. 3 “Meet & Greet” reception is its way of saying there will be no move towards elected trustees. Another confrontation with angry citizens will take place Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. when the board holds its first nightly meeting. The board is setting itself up for a “bronx cheer.”
Library Board Candidates Needed
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So far the only policy changes made are nightly meetings and supplying a general email number to the board. It’s [email protected]. No individual emails are supplied which is the standard of the WHB village board and the local school board. The library board continues its reclusive ways.
Either the library board or citizens themselves must start looking for candidates for an elected board.
This is not a job that requires time but it does require the guts to do the right thing and right some wrongs.
Here are new policies that are needed:
--All talk and/or plans to improve or expand the $7.5 million, five-year-old physical plant must cease. The $3.1M set aside for “capital projects” must be erased. The money should be spent on intellectual pursuits.
--There should be a budget for expert speakers including Prof. Marci Hamilton of Yeshiva University who wrote 18 pages on Constitutional issues raised by eruvim for WHB in 2008. Speakers from the East End Eruv Assn. would be invited. Such a program would not even dent the $4.1M in cash/savings the library has.
--The library’s website would be made interactive so it can take postings from citizens like 27east.com conducts for its stories. Sometimes more than 100 comments come in from readers.
--Board meetings would be webcast live just like the meetings of the Southampton Council. SEA-TV handles the webcasts. Citizens should be able to email or phone questions to the trustees.
--The library must take a proactive interest in community affairs and not wait for citizens to propose programs.
--The U.S. Justice system that has seen the almost complete disappearance of jury trials needs examining.
ALA: Libraries Must Be Proactive
--The library should sign up with the American Library Assn. “Gordon Conable” Awards program that makes $5,000 grants to libraries that host discussions of controversial topics.
--Experts in supermarket practices could tell about “slotting” fees charged by the stores that raise prices to consumers. The closing of WHB’s only supermarket for months needs a public airing.
--The board should have regular press conferences to which Newsday, New York Times, New York Post, SH Press, news12.com, Dan’s Papers, the local Patch news service and O’Dwyer website/publications are invited.
--A study of local media is needed. They are weak in many ways including financially. The Southampton Press favors an eruv in Westhampton Beach, saying it is “invisible.” French company Altice has bought Cablevision/Newsday/news12.com for $17 billion and they will probably be even less independent than now. Newsday/news12.com have not carried one word about the WH library resignations and also ignore the eruv issue.
Retired businesspeople or average citizens would be good library board candidates. What they support rather than their backgrounds is what is important.
We need fair-minded, democratically-oriented citizens who will take stands and know the meaning of public service. Public positions are not to be used to grind private axes.
Husch Blackwell Strategies has added FleishmanHillard alum Michael Slatin as a principal in its public affairs group.
Rory Cooper, a veteran Republican operative and policy specialist, has joined Teneo’s Washington office as senior managing director in its strategy & communications practice.
Brian Fallon, who served as national press secretary for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential run, is signing on next month as Vice President’s Kamala Harris’ campaign communications director.
TikTok is nothing more than a Chinese propaganda tool that poses “a grave threat to America’s national security and, in particular, impressionable children and young adults,” say two Congressmen who want the platform registered as a foreign agent.
Public Strategies Washington has added Abbie Sorrendino, a former aide to now Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
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