Anonymous blogs, tax revenue plans, and
objectivity
By Joe Dolock.
A version of this letter was published in the
Westerly Sun on October 26, 2012. Reprinted with permission of the author.
My name is Joseph S.
Dolock and I am running for the Planning Board here in Charlestown.
Over the past two weeks
there have been two letters published by your paper regarding anonymous
postings to different blogs in Charlestown.
First, I would like to
give my opinion regarding anonymous postings.
I think those who make
anonymous postings are cowards. By being anonymous, they can cheat, pass out
half-truths, misinformation and even disinformation. They can try to ruin a
person and his or her families’ reputation in the community. But there is no
free lunch for cowards. You will never know when, where, or who will expose
you.
Cowardly and anonymous
cyber-attacks are going on all over this country. A few weeks ago a 15 year old
girl committed suicide because “anonymous” people were writing things about her
and she could not take the hurt and pain. The question I have is what gives
these people the right to induce pain and hurt on someone? Why don’t they face
the person they are attacking? Because they are cowards.
You are probably
wondering what this has to do with my running for office. Right now Charlestown
has two “factions” and they have been warring for the past two and a half
years. The governing faction was the first to allow anonymous posting to their
blog. They said it gives the citizens of Charlestown the freedom to speak their
minds, and the mudslinging began, and continues. This needs to stop. You are
not helping the town. For you who do sign your name, please make sure you have
the facts, and all the facts, before you write something.
There was a group of
people called Shakers. They believed that they should not have children. The
way the group grew was through new members and adoption of young children. The
law changed and groups like the Shakers could no longer adopt. As of 2011 there
were only five Shakers left from a high water mark of over 7,000 members. The
reason I bring up the Shakers is they did not have a plan to continue their
group.
Charlestown is a little
like the Shakers. We don’t have a plan to grow either. Have we been helpful to
bring business into Charlestown? No. The Planning Commission has thwarted that
effort.
Ninety percent of the
town’s income comes from property tax. What happens if another 1938 hurricane
hits Charlestown? The property tax income will go down, so the town will have
to raise the taxes on those of us still living here. Not a very good plan.
The next area that has
to be looked at is affordable housing. My children grew up here, but they
cannot raise a family here. Not because the taxes are too high; we do not have
housing for them. There is no affordable housing for seniors. We have
identified growth centers but nothing has been done.
Wouldn’t it be nice to
have an affordable complex along with some shops? That’s not going to happen
under Ms. Platner and Mr. Gentz. They think that the state will agree with them
and say that Charlestown does not have to abide by the state mandated minimum
housing rules. Right now Charlestown is the second lowest in affordable
housing. Not a very good plan.
When elected to the
Planning Commission I will have an open mind and listen to what my neighbors
have to say. As an Independent I have not asked for money. The only allegiance
I have is to the citizens of Charlestown and Charlestown itself. No one will
dictate the way I should think or the way I should vote. Yes, it is hard to run
for elected office with no money, signs, placards or mailings. However when you
elect me you know you will have a free and open mind for Charlestown. We must
move forward or like the Shakers, Charlestown will dwindle to “it was a nice
place.” Please vote on Nov. 6. It is your right and what we fight for.