Left of the Hudson: White Men's Oversight

Thursday, October 29, 2009

White Men's Oversight

A collective "what the heck?" was echoed throughout Orangetown yesterday as the latest mailer sent by candidates Paul Whalen, Denis Troy, and Tom Diviny arrived. A highlighted paragraph in the center of the flyer contained this curious and intolerant statement: "To make matters even worse, the current administration tried to sneak through a workforce housing law that had the potential to increase multi-family housing and entity in the town."

"Entity?" What do they mean by that? Did they leave a word out before it? This obvious editing error speaks volumes.

What's missing is the word that was supposed to come before "entity." Someone decided to remove a clause at the last minute, but unwittingly left one word in. What kind of entity is it that scares Messrs. Whalen, Troy, and Diviny. Considering the anti-Semitic and racially charged rants of their supporters at the now infamous Sept. 16 Orangetown Town Board Meeting, it leaves me wondering if one of the co-authors of the flyer wanted to charge up the text with some code words and was overruled.

So let's see, was it:

A. "outside entity"

B. "urban entity"

C. "undesirable entity"

D. "unwelcome entity"

E. insert your theory in the comments below

Labels: Council, Diviny, Orangetown, Supervisor, Troy, Whalen

18 Comments:

Anonymous said...: density, not entity; October 29, 2009 9:43 AM
Anonymous said...: I've graded enough papers as a school teacher to know that you don't mistake entity or density. I agree with the author, there was a word omitted.; October 29, 2009 10:59 AM
Anonymous said...: Somebody not knowing the backstory might not get it, but I agree that they were going there and backed off.; October 29, 2009 12:07 PM
Anonymous said...: Perhaps they misspelled enmity. It's just one letter off.; October 29, 2009 1:54 PM
Ira said...: "Entity" is often used as an informal perjorative euphenism--you may call it a code word--for the State of Israel. This is clearly dog whistle politics.; October 29, 2009 2:09 PM
Omnipotent Oom said...: Isn't that ZE or Zionist Entity?

Interesting, but I don't think these guys are smart enough to be referring to Entity as in anti-Israel terminology.; October 29, 2009 2:31 PM
Anonymous said...: I'd like to thank Kleiner and Barclay for handing Orangetown to the Republicans. Great job on trying to sneak work force housing...

At least Whalen, Troy, and Diviny spoke the truth.

The Dems campaign was based on grasping straws and using shady politics (ie- labeling certain people as racists/confederate flags, etc...).... what a joke!

The Town of Orangetown has spoken... good night and goodbye Mr. Kleiner!!! You sold the town for your own ambition of higher office and fell on your face and your cronie Barclay was severely wounded by your tactics!!!; November 4, 2009 12:34 AM
Anonymous said...: How about OUSTED entity?

Goodnight Thom.; November 4, 2009 4:14 AM
Anonymous said...: Mr. Tom Stoner aka "ACORN KING" working families party chairman,sold out Thom Kleiner by making a deal with New Square which has 50% of the WFP voters to help Vanderhoef win by asking Stoner to make Kleiner put in the Nyack Workforce Housing law and to make him look bad so Vanderhoef can win and the hasidics do Stoner's dirty work.Cliff Weathers was also involved!; November 4, 2009 10:25 PM
Anonymous said...: Nice try but all the angry liberals can't put humpty dumpty back together again.The only racists are the left of the hudson self consumed Marxist who post this garbage.Is anyone aware of the anger that those with personal and family problems will do anything to take their fustrations out on hard working dedicated people?How say you Cliff?; November 4, 2009 10:35 PM
Omnipotent Oom said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; November 6, 2009 10:31 AM
Glynis said...: Dear Anonymous,
It's easy, isn't it, to viciously malign someone in a venue like this and then not attach your name to whatever slime you make up. Your "racist, marxist, . . . personal and family problems" statements say far more about your own difficulties than about the person accused of such behavior. You got a problem with my husband? Say it to his face. You sad little coward.
My name is Glynis Sweeny; November 6, 2009 10:33 AM
Anonymous said...: Dear Glynis,

I read the previous comment and I'm sorry someone brought personal business into here. That person had no right to venture that low and bring up your family. It was thoughtless and cruel.

To stay on that point, I thought your husband Cliff labeling Whalen as a racist was highly inappropriate and irresponsible.

I know the family personally and I know how hurt they were when your husband published those libelous comments on this website. My question is why your husband would make such statements and if he took any consideration when he made these comments?

How do I know this? Because I am a member of his family and that's all you need to know. Your husbands comments have hurt my family. And I want you to know that.; November 6, 2009 5:31 PM
Anonymous said...: This posting is puzzling so please try to put together the missing pieces.Einstein was a genius and others are not,accept your destiny weathers you like it or not.Life is not easy,but you got what you got.Try to engage and not enrage in what is not.What rhymes with weenie may not be easy,but then again,we got what weenie gives.For grief is everyones so lets not forget,Martin Luther was great and we are not.Just move on or face the consequences,as strong as they are,weather or not.You are playing with fire and not a horse head that will rot.Its time to move on and we don't mean. org.We hope you read between the lines and not get what you want.Good luck in that,believe it or not.; November 6, 2009 6:59 PM
Gus Wynn said...: I'm interested in learning more about local politics, so I come here to read, post and share. Obviously, our local leaders need to be examples of decent citizenship.

I think any local elected official has a responsibility to disown posts that include strange "horse's head" references like the one above - is there a gangster among us here posting that wants to intimidate or harm someone?

Is this supposed to be a defense of an elected official with a good public image? Seems like a pretty clear threat to his opponents suggesting questionable methods to settle policy differences.

Thank God America is all about freedom and open discussion. We all have the right to express ourselves.

Does taking a position on Workforce Housing means you are either a Marxist or a racist? I thought this was a measure to attract hardworking teachers and nurses into a community.

Can the people accused of racism state for the record they invite diversity and people of color into their communities? Can the people accused of Marxism state for the record whether they feel Rockland should embrace communism and if so, to what degree?; November 8, 2009 1:57 PM
Glynis said...: Dear Anonymous "member of his family",

Thank you for your thoughtful and measured reply. I would really like to continue this dialogue and discuss some of the important issues you raise. You will have to forgive me the length of this post.

If you and yours were hurt by something that was said on this website I am sorry. In a thorough search to find the hurtful comments I identified the following:

from September 2, 2009
"Whalen, for his part, did not participate in the heckling, but did nothing to stop his fellow conservatives as they tried to disrupt the meeting. Later, I approached Whalen about a pickup truck that several of us have witnessed that carries one of his campaign bumper stickers next to a Confederate Flag. Whalen chuckled, “I guess I’ve got fans all over, North and South.” I informed Whalen that I found this to be an unfortunate juxtaposition and asked him what he thought about having supporters who are open racists. Whalen huffed away without answering and left the meeting."

from October 29, 2009
"What kind of entity is it that scares Messrs. Whalen, Troy, and Diviny. Considering the anti-Semitic and racially charged rants of their supporters at the now infamous Sept. 16 Orangetown Town Board Meeting, it leaves me wondering if one of the co-authors of the flyer wanted to charge up the text with some code words and was overruled."

Are either of these comments what offended you? Forgive me, but I fail to see how either one is "Cliff labeling Whalen as a racist." Is there something else that I have missed, among the comments perhaps? Please advise.
Now we both know that others comment on this site and some say reprehensible and hateful things ("swims with pigs"). I heartily agree with the commenter who reminded us that "profanity is the wit of imbeciles." I think you would agree with me that certain individuals from both sides of the political spectrum are guilty of poor taste, to put it mildly. As a rule Cliff never removes a comment unless it is spam. And, bloggers believe in unfettered speech (the exception being that you cannot yell fire in a crowded theater and you cannot threaten peoples' lives and families.)

As to the highlighted excerpts - in no place does Cliff label Mr Whalen as a racist but . . . "guilty by association" is, arguably, implied. Perhaps this is what you find hurtful?

Regarding the September 2 post:
The confederate flag is a one of the most powerful and controversial images in American history. To a South Carolinian of a certain ethnic origin it is a proud emblem of Southern heritage. Blacks, however, are not apt to have any fond idealistic remembrances of the Old South or harbor any sympathy for the Confederate cause. The fact that the symbol still lingers and has such a prevalent postion in society over 130 years after the Civil War is in and of itself evidence to blacks that racism is alive and well. The flag is the banner of white supremacy groups in the United States, like the Ku Klux Klan, and is even used abroad by neo-nazi skinhead groups. To many, the Confederate flag is a profane symbol of hate, domestic terrorism and discrimination to another.
This is not South Carolina. I, for one, believe that this flag on a pick-up truck in Pearl River, New York, can only mean one thing - hate for blacks.

Again, I'm sorry Mr Whalen was hurt by the implication of racism. But, there are people who hang and burn other human beings under cover of that confederate flag. Their feelings were not hurt, they where murdered for the offense of not being white. Powerful symbol, that old flag. read more below . . .; November 10, 2009 9:36 AM
glynis said...: continued . . .
Now, just as Cliff is not responsible for the ugly comments made by others on this site, Mr Whalen is not responsible for the profane and offensive beliefs of an individual "fan" of his. However, when Mr Whalen was given the opportunity to disavow himself from said "fan" and his controversial confederate flag bumper sticker, Mr Whalen chose not to. A forgettable off the cuff exchange perhaps, but in the context of what was happening inside that library that night and the direction the campaign took after that night, not so harmless, I think.

Regarding the October 29 post:
Work Force Housing is housing intended to appeal to gainfully employed, essential workers in the community, i.e. police officers, firemen, teachers, nurses and medical technicians, office workers, etc.[1] Workforce families are generally younger and often include or plan to include children. As I am sure you know, the Orangetown work force housing legislation called for 10 percent of multifamily housing be set aside as "affordable" in already existing multifamily zones - apartment buildings.

from LOHUD.COM OCTOBER 27, 2009
"When asked about affordable housing stock in Orangetown, Whalen said he believes Nyack's stock of Section 8 housing suffices. He is wrong. Section 8 and "work force" housing for young professionals aren't the same thing at all. Did Whalen know what he was fighting against?"

Workforce housing has its early roots in the ski towns of Telluride and Aspen, Colorado. In 1974, in response to locals not being able to purchase homes due to the disparity between wages and the cost of homes which was amplified by competition from buyers that make their livings in New York and Hollywood. So, rich folks from the coast buy second homes in beautiful ski country, driving up home values to the point where the locals can't afford . . . well . . ." just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about... they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath?" WELL?
Wait a minute . . . rich people moving in from New York City, driving up home prices, driving up taxes, don't volunteer for the local fire department, don't care about the PTA, latte drinking, volvo driving, liberal. . . ruining the town so real working folks (real America) can't afford to live here any more!!! Where have I heard this before?

So, could Mr. Whalen please explain to me why he doesn't want gainfully employed, young teachers, nurses and firemen moving into his neighborhood?

As an aside, our fine Orangetown Police officers are handsomely compensated for the brave work that they do and they would therefore not qualify for workforce housing.

A Bogeyman is an amorphous embodiment of terror. Bogeyman can be used metaphorically to denote a person or thing of which someone has an irrational fear.

Regarding "Entity" and "Horrible Downzoning":
I am of the opinion that the "entity" reference on the Orangetown Republican Candidates mailer was no error. I think "entity" was the most carefully considered word in the most carefully written paragraph of the entire card. These words were precisely crafted to mischaracterize workforce housing to mean affordable or subsidized housing. Let one of those teachers move in, more will follow and . . . YIKES! there goes the neighborhood! And . . . you know . . . those teachers, they always have a ton of kids. read more . . .; November 10, 2009 9:38 AM
glynis said...: continued . . .
The most common usage of "downzoning" is: A public action by a local government which reduces the allowable density for subsequent legal developments from a high to low use such as multifamily to single-family resulting in fewer housing units, fewer stores, etc. "Horrible downzoning" was the primary message in a computerized telephone call that I and many others received the day before the election referring, of course, to Workforce housing. The call encouraged voters to vote for the Republican ticket to prevent this nasty issue, voted down the first time, from sneaking back. And it surely would if the Democrats ("Suzie ACORN Barclay") maintained control of Orangetown.

Again, I am left scratching my head about the apparent deliberate misuse of the term downzoning too, a word most people are probably not overly familiar with but, in a certain context, sounds like something bad.
"Less dense development," single family homes instead of apartments - isn't that the polar opposite of what affordable or subsidized housing like section 8 implies - urbanization?
But if this deception proves useful in scaring hard working, tax paying folks into thinking that "those teachers" with all those kids are gonna take over the neighborhood if you don't throw the liberal (ACORN!!!!!!) bums out of office . . . well.
Congratulations Mr Whalen, Mr Troy, and Mr Diviny you've won! You will soon assume leadership of Orangetown.

Tactics and strategy.
The Republicans ran an excellent political campaign, the numbers were unequivocal. But I ask you, when "the end justifies the means" approach towards winning an election is utilized you may succeed but what of the damage done in the process? Governing - leadership is very different from winning a political campaign.

“The hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning.”
-Adlai E. Stevenson quotes

Approximately 12% of the citizens of Orangetown are of Black or Hispanic origin. Many more of us take great offense at the Confederate flag and what it symbolizes and we are baffled and offended by the mischaracterization of workforce housing et al. It was turned into a political tool, the bogeyman, scaring many people to the poles, appealing only to the basest of human instincts.

A leader should inspire and unite. A true leader I think, should appeal to the angels in peoples hearts - not the demons.
Perhaps Mr Whalen, good person that I am sure he is, would like to visit Nyack soon as a gesture towards healing some fear and hurt on this side of the mountain.
I am writing this to you because I believe you are a kind and reasonable person and I'm certain that you and I have much more in common than not. I hope that we can continue to talk. Perhaps you will even tell me your name. I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,
Glynis; November 10, 2009 9:40 AM