Dear Communicus, A letter has been sent to many local businesses and residents asking for a boycott of the Sand Lake Advertiser and the businesses that advertise in it due to the criticism expressed by some of its contributors against the Averill Park School District Board and Administration.
This is a paper that for years has allowed the free exchange of ideas from all sides of an issue and is in my opinion one of the largest contributors to the School District by donation of page space and advertising that are truly enormous gifts of this local public entity.
For the writers of this letter; it was anonymous, no return address, and it was postmarked out of Albany; to try and shut down the very publication that sustains the programs that the rest of us are accused of not supporting can only be classified as insane at best.
I AM COPYING, VERBATIM, THE LETTER SO THAT YOUR READERS CAN SEE WHAT LENGTHS THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL GO TO TO TRY AND SHUT THE INFORMATION FLOW OFF!The letter reads as follows:
STOP THE WEEKLY NASTY GRAMS BOYCOTT THE ADVERTISER AND BOYCOTT ANY BUSINESSES THAT ADVERTISE IN IT
Our families have banded together to ask our friends and neighbors to boycott "The Advertiser". We believe that this publication is being used by people who are creating a negative and destructive atmosphere in our towns and dividing the school district. A great school district is being maligned publicly by the same few malcontents over and over again.
1. We believe that our school district has improved dramatically in the last three years.
2. We believe that our kids deserve this to continue.
3. We believe that much of the nastiness is due to personal agendas being played out in public.THE PEOPLE BEING HURT HERE ARE OUR KIDS, NO ONE ELSE.
1. We have great administrators and teachers.
2. We believe that if they leave APCSD we will be forced to accept people of lesser quality because not only are there very few qualified administrators out there, but who would want to work here and be treated this way?
3. We believe that if our current administrators leave we will have to pay much higher salaries to attract new ones.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS IS GOING TO STOP. THE PEOPLE MALIGNING OUR DISTRICT ARE NOT THE ONES WHO SHARE OUR VALUES, THEY ARE NOT THE ONES WHO WORK WITH THE PTA, WHO ATTEND SPORTS EVENTS, WHO CONTRIBUTE IN ANY POSITIVE WAY TO THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS. OUR STUDENTS ARE THE FUTURE!! DON'T LET THE NASTY GRAMS CLOUD YOUR JUDGMENT. MOST OF WHAT IS SAID IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. NEVER HAS BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE. DON'T JUDGE OUR DISTRICT BY THE LIES OF MALCONTENT PEOPLE.BOYCOTT THE ADVERTISER AND THE BUSINESSES WHO ADVERTISE IN IT. TELL YOUR FRIENDS YOUR RELATIVES AND ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT KIDS.
The end
What happened to free speech and exchange of ideas? Last year we saw the BOE tell people they couldn't talk at the meetings. That didn't go very well. Now someone is trying to actually censor a local newspaper! Everyone is entitled to their opinion and this blog supports the free exchange of ideas.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
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7 comments:
I think what this group is suggesting, Bill, is that freedom of speech comes with responsibility. Just as our first amendment rights don't give license to yell "Fire" in a crowded theater, these same rights don't allow you to recklessly defame, slander, and libel innocent people.
However, perhaps an all out boycott is a bit severe. Perhaps the good people at The Advertiser would consider implementing an editorial policy that would protect innocent people from slander while still allowing for the free exchange of ideas.
Actually Scooter, doesn't that same rule apply to Ms. Glasser? There were no major issues with her, yet the administration terminated her because of personality conflicts with Ms. Moccia and the skid steer purchase was the final straw. The Sunday before the vote, when you drove the final nail in her coffin, you hugged her and told her "you will be fine".
The administrative offices then slandered Jenny with a whisper campaign knowing that it would filter into the community. It came from no specific direction and was hard to trace. It was leaked to the secretaries - much like “Victor quitting”. We know that wasn’t true, don’t we?
What you didn't count on was that many people know and like Ms. Glasser. Remember the night at GW when the 100+ pickets showed? It was standing room only for that meeting and it wasn’t by accident. You will be remembered as the person that insulted Sid Gallant by not allowing him to speak. Sid is a pillar of our community and deserved to be heard. Arrogance is a sickness Scooter, it ruins people, just like you.
Jenny is soon the new board member, elected against all odds.(1400+ votes)
Look how many people you had working on the other campaign. Where did all those “kiddy campaign” signs come from? The rumor is they came from Poestenkill art classes at district expense. The problem the other candidate had was YOUR endorsement. That, and the support of the other board members, “sank her battleship”.
When "Chris and Cristo" swept in, everyone thought they would be great. The two of them in leadership was an abomination and lasted less than 6 months. The two of them have set the record for being asked to resign. I am surprised that you and yours haven't tried to have us censured for disagreeing with you. Oh, sorry, you are!
Remember trying to have Steve Valente, a board member, removed from the meeting by the State Police? Smooth Scooter, real smooth.
Lastly, now that I have a good idea who the source of the letter is, I feel the need to bring the AP Education Foundation into the discussion. Is there any chance that the postage for the letters is paid for by the foundation? I contributed $500.00 last year. I would hate to find out that they are not using my donation wisely. Perhaps I could craft a letter of request to boycott the AP Education Foundation simply because they are trying to be a bully? As a private citizen I could finance that and have a clear conscience.
Lastly Scooter, I continue to stand behind my numbers, my letters, and what I have said. The fact that you disagree doesn’t make it reckless defamation, slander or libel. You can toss these terms about all you want but the facts are the facts. At any time, feel free to prove me wrong. To date, you and the rest have not been able to do so.
My real name thanks,
Bill Reinhardt
The Averill Park Education Foundation gratefully acknowledged your gift last year, Bill. Funds donated to the foundation would never be used to call for a boycott of a publication that has been such a staunch supporter of our work.
Sincerely,
Bridget Ball Shaw
Treasurer
Averill Park Education Foundation
Dear Bridget, thank you for putting my concerns to rest.
I would like to make a proposal that we - you, me, and the A.P. Education Foundation, work together to denounce this "Economic Terrorist" letter. I am hoping that together, we could put something in the Advertiser letting the community and these particular individuals know that we do not endorse or encourage this kind of tactic. Please let me know if you are interested.
No, thank you.
I am truly sorry to hear that the AP Education Foundation is not willing to denounce these letters and the associated individuals.
As you are aware, it is the cowards who act under the name "anonymous" that really injure this community.
I will be happy to act alone on this issue.
Have a nice day!
So nice, and I'm sure that it's distructive to say how "our" school leader drove her vehicle thru a stopped school bus with the red lights flashing, and waved to the bus driver.ABOVE THE LAW? Safety for our kids?Any bets nothing comes of Moccia providing an unsafe crossing for our kids on buses? Please she is on a distructive path to divide the district,leave it in ruins and walk away with our money. Time to wake up Averill Park and listen to the people talking, and not be suppresed by the few Moccia supporters,The Advertiser hasa been in this town longer than many of those that would have us stop reading it,let's take back "our town" and let the ones that want to ruin it ,leave it. GO AWAY...
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