Monday, May 14, 2012

ECC FACEBOOK PAGE SHOULD POST SOME POSITiVES ABOUT EDGEMONT ON THEIR PAGE

Robert Bernstein, former President of the Edgemont Community Council, likes to write negative articles about the town of Greenburgh on the Edgemont Community Council facebook page. Does he think that all his negativity helps property values in Edgemont? Does he believe that ALWAYS being negative will motivate people to purchase homes in Edgemont? People who are looking to buy homes in a community do research. If they read a neighborhood facebook page and only see negative comments about the neighborhood - they will buy their homes elsewhere. The time has come for either the ECC or other residents of Edgemont to highlight the many positive things that happen in Edgemont and Greenburgh. The ECC facebook page never mentioned the fact that Greenburgh is one of 15 localities out of more than 1,000 that have received the highest bond ratings possible (AAA). Today's Journal News ran a front page story indicating that a number of local governments have seen their bond rating decline--not Greenburgh. Ours is still the highest. There are wonderful services offered to residents of Edgemont -- a terrific nature center --excellent schools --terrific restaurants, supermarkets and local businesses. And, the town pool, with its interactive kiddy pool, is enjoyed by many Edgemont neighbors. When residents have problems or concerns the town government makes housecalls-we try hard to be responsive to residents concerns. Most residents appreciate that our services are fantastic. Robert Bernstein's constant negativity is probably helping the real estate market in Scarsdale. People who were thinking about Edgemont and read the ECC facebook page have second thoughts. Realtors have mentioned this to me over time. I encourage Bob and the ECC to have a more balanced page --report the good and the bad. You are hurting the community you claim you want to help.

5 comments:

Geoff Loftus said...

Paul,

Why do you insist on attacking Bob Bernstein? As I have told you in the past, Bob is part of a team that posts on the ECC Facebook page and is not acting solo. You always stress that there should be no personal attacks at Town Board meetings, and then you attack someone here in your blog. A trifle hypocritical, perhaps?

You also continue to confuse the issue by attacking the ECC for reporting negative news instead of holding yourself responsible for creating the negative news. Is the ECC in any way to blame for the Dromore Road fiasco? Or for NextG? Or for the 90% increases in water rates over the last 2 years? Or for the Fortress Bible court case? Or that Greenburgh is headed toward default in 2015 according to the Town Comptroller?

Seems to me that you are shooting the messenger because you don't want people to know how much negative news you're creating.

Geoff Loftus
ECC President

m said...

For those of you who read this page and do not understand Paul's language (variously referred to as deflectia, hypocritica, confusia and/or delusia) or what is really going on in his head, here is my annotated interpretation of this post. The annotations appear in brackets following the original text. They should be taken as political commentary and opinion. Feel free to laugh, or not, depending on your mood or viewpoint. Enjoy.

Marc Ackerman


ECC FACEBOOK PAGE SHOULD POST SOME POSITiVES ABOUT EDGEMONT ON THEIR PAGE
[Annotation: I’m ill-equipped to talk about the real problems I’ve created for Edgemont by screwing up Dromore Road, Westhelp, Valhalla, Fortress Bible, the Town Pool, the Tennis Bubble, Leaf Collection, the Water District, the Flying Saucer and Cellphone antennas [insert deep breath, that was exhausting], so I’m going to try to distract your attention from those “NEGATiVES” by talking about “POSITiVES”. Cool, huh? I even used that lower case “i” strategically, like in iPad or iPod. Hey, come to think of it, I’m just like Steve Jobs. I think I’m going to start wearing black turtlenecks to Town meetings. Or maybe hoodies, like Mark Zuckerberg. Did you know his Dad lives in Ardsley? What was I talking about again? Oh yeah, sorry, got distracted from distracting you from real issues. Ok, here goes:]

Robert Bernstein, former President of the Edgemont Community Council, likes to write negative articles about the town of Greenburgh on the Edgemont Community Council facebook page. [Annotation: I have no idea who writes the ECC Facebook page, but Bob is really smart and always calls me out when I make egregious decisions that screw Edgemont, so I’m going to say it’s him even though I don’t know it’s him and I’m actually pretty sure it’s not him. It’s probably one of those other smarty-pants people in Edgemont who contribute to that page who also see right through me. But I’ll just go with Bob….]

Does he think that all his negativity helps property values in Edgemont? [Annotation: I don’t really care about property values in Edgemont. If I did, I would seriously pursue property tax reassessment, which would reduce tax certs, which would help the Edgemont school district, which is what property values in Edgemont really turn on. But I do know that people in Edgemont care about property values, so I’m hoping this question gets their attention. Yeehaw!!]

Does he believe that ALWAYS being negative will motivate people to purchase homes in Edgemont? [Annotation: Ok, now I’m rolling. Did you see that use of ALL CAPS? Sweet, huh?]

People who are looking to buy homes in a community do research. [Annotation: I wish they didn’t do research. Then they’d find out how much Edgemont has suffered under my administration. If I could only shut down the Internet, then people would just go back to thinking Edgemont is part of Scarsdale. Darn Al Gore, why did you invent the Internet!?!?!]

If they read a neighborhood facebook page and only see negative comments about the neighborhood - they will buy their homes elsewhere. [Annotation: Like in a village, such as Dobbs Ferry or Hastings, where I wouldn’t be able to get my hands on the bulk of their tax money, and they’d be able to spend it the way they see fit, rather than on my pet programs that Edgemont residents don’t use.]

The time has come for either the ECC or other residents of Edgemont to highlight the many positive things that happen in Edgemont and Greenburgh. [Annotation: The time has come for you all to stick your heads in the sand with me!!! Together, we can block out all of the yucky things the ECC is always going on about!!!! We can bake brownies and listen to Katy Perry songs; it’ll be, like, totally awesome, LOL!!!!]


[Continued on next comment...]

m said...

The ECC facebook page never mentioned the fact that Greenburgh is one of 15 localities out of more than 1,000 that have received the highest bond ratings possible (AAA). [Annotation: The Town controller has stated that our bonds will be in default by 2015 if we continue our current fiscal irresponsibility.]

Today's Journal News ran a front page story indicating that a number of local governments have seen their bond rating decline--not Greenburgh. Ours is still the highest. [Annotation: The Journal News rocks!! Except for that editorial this week that said I shouldn’t tear down the affordable housing at WestHelp at a time when Westchester is under court order to build affordable housing, and that my actions with respect to WestHelp are in breach of Greenburgh’s contract with the County potentially subjecting taxpayers here to fiscal liability. Meanies!!!]

There are wonderful services offered to residents of Edgemont -- a terrific nature center --excellent schools --terrific restaurants, supermarkets and local businesses. [Annotation: Note my clever use of the passive voice here: “There are wonderful services offered….” You see, I have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Edgemont has great schools, good restaurants, etc. Nada, zip, zilch, zero! But that passive voice is designed to fool you into believing I did!!! Ha Ha Ha!!!! At first, I actually wrote it in the active voice: “The Town provides wonderful services to residents of Edgemont” but that was so utterly ridiculous I think I may have peed my pants laughing so hard….]

And, the town pool, with its interactive kiddy pool, is enjoyed by many Edgemont neighbors. [Annotation: Don’t pay attention to the fact that the pool’s filter has exceeded its useful life and will need to be replaced to the tune of several million dollars which you will pay for regardless of how much you use the pool, if at all; either that or Edgemont’s “kiddy’s” will be “interacting” with a lot of bacteria--which can be fun, too, right?]

When residents have problems or concerns the town government makes housecalls-we try hard to be responsive to residents concerns. [Annotation: Isn’t my car sign cool? I’ll even deliver you a pizza. Tips are appreciated.]

Most residents appreciate that our services are fantastic. [Annotation: Except for leaf collection, which I’m eliminating. And infrastructure, which I have no money for in my budget. And by “most residents” I mean “my friends I appoint to useless bureaucratic Town posts” and by “fantastic” I mean “meh”.]

Robert Bernstein's constant negativity is probably helping the real estate market in Scarsdale. [Annotation: Now I’m rolling baby! I mentioned Bob, real estate and Scarsdale in one sentence!! I know, the words all together in a row don’t make any sense at all, but I’m hitting your fear button, aren’t I? Come on, you can admit it….don’t think, just fear!!! Mwaaaahh ha ha haaaaa!!!! I really have to work on my evil laugh.]

People who were thinking about Edgemont and read the ECC facebook page have second thoughts. [Annotation: I’m not kidding here. People are actually having two thoughts--a first one, followed by a second one. Can you imagine!? That’s, like, totally a lot of thoughts.]

Realtors have mentioned this to me over time. [Annotation: Please, you really must appreciate my artful ambiguity here: “Realtors” (gorgeously generic); “mentioned” (voluptuously vanilla); “over time” (wonderfully wishy washy)!]

I encourage Bob and the ECC to have a more balanced page --report the good and the bad. You are hurting the community you claim you want to help. [Annotation: Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!!! Oz has spoken!!!]

vincent van ardsley said...

touche marc!

vincent van ardsley said...

touche marc!