Dear Mary Larsen and five other Mt. Lebanon residents,
Looking back at those dark times in 2006-2008 and again in 2014-2015 when Mt. Lebanon was trying to kill deer, I would like to comment on the behavior of some of the commissioners, excluding Dan Miller, Keith Mulvihill, and Kelly Fraasch.
Our elected officials took it upon themselves to play God. They decided how many deer should die in Mt. Lebanon. The commissioners ignored scientific data. They put residents in danger by permitting the use of weapons in our community. One commissioner urged residents to take matters into their own hands.
This particular commissioner was rude, interrupted residents, and quite often lowered herself to personal attacks. Frequently, she would email commissioners with "dirt" on those who would disagree with her during citizen comments. She went after people's professions and backgrounds. Ironically, she was elected promising to cooperate, communicate, and collaborate.
Through the years, Kristen has lied to constituents, violated the Sunshine Law, and treated her colleagues and constituents in an unprofessional manner. This was the final straw for me. In a never before published email exchange, Kristen Linfante was over the top. Since then, Kristen Linfante resigned from office, citing health problems.
So you see, Mrs. Larsen, the behavior lesson should be directed toward our commission. Notice too, Mrs. Larson, I made no personal attacks toward you or the five others who allegedly signed your letter. I am a law abiding citizen, exercising my constitutional rights. You are correct, Mrs. Larsen. We should all be willing to play by the same rules.
Elaine Gillen
Mt. Lebanon
Behavior Lesson
Looking back on the brouhaha that was the deer culling in Mt. Lebanon, we would like to comment on the behavior of some of the people, especially those opposed to the deer culling as proposed.
Our elected officials should not have to put up with rude and boisterous behavior. Shouting will not make them change their minds. Interrupting does not make a point more valid. Personal attacks prove only that one has run out of legitimate arguments. And all of this was part of the public meetings.
Each elected official represents hundreds of voters and is generally aware of how those voters feel. They set aside time at each meeting so that other points of view can be made. They listen to you in silence. They usually don't interrupt. They will seldom lower themselves to personal attacks.
As fellow human beings, we should all be willing to play by the same rules.
Mary Larsen
Mt. Lebanon
This letter also was signed by five other Mt. Lebanon residents.
11 comments:
Isn't it funny that Ms. Larson make no mention of how one of those elected officials (not in office yet) sat in the audience at a school board meeting and made catcalls, snickered and made rude remarks while Ms. Gillen --- exercising her right to address the board - presented the petition signatures of 4,000 residents that opposed the HS project.
"This letter also was signed by five other Mt. Lebanon residents."
Hmmmm, interesting, why don't their names appear as well? What does Franklin call anonymous people... "gutless?"
Maybe there is a bigger problem here in the bubble than just rude behavior. Perhaps people are afraid to get involved publicly because they are afraid of repercussions if they express an opinion.
If that is so, is this a recent trend or has it always been so?
That is a funny letter from Mary Larsen.
"They [USUALLY] don't interrupt. They [WILL SELDOM] lower themselves to personal attacks."
Apparently, Ms. Larsen concedes that her cavorts commissioners aren't perfect saints, but she expects that some of her neighbors should be!
Double standard, eh Ms. Larsen?
Unapproved comment at 10:46 AM, please leave me alone.
Elaine
This all has left me speechless, and that doesn't happen, often! The Linfante email blew me away in its obsessiveness and in its venom! Somehow, I find it IMPOSSIBLE to believe that that one who is "no wilting violet" would watch out her window while ANYONE went through her trash at 6:00 AM, particularly if she believed it to be someone out to get her and especially in light of the fact that she could have had four or five squad cars there within two minutes IF something had actually been going on. And she wonders why people have difficulty relying on her truthfulness? I guess I'm past speechless, but I'm still left sitting here thinking, "WOW! WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?" We may have the makings of a nighttime soap opera, here.
I'm all for the soap opera idea, but I think it might be hard to convince Hollywood that the story lines from Mt. Lebanon will be at all believable. But then again, that didn't stop the folks from "Dallas" from producing the episode where Bobby Ewing, very dead for a very long time, was suddenly singing in the shower while his wife, Pam, slept. Maybe the public WOULD believe all the political theatre around here, after all!
If this were a reality tv series, maybe we'd get a tax break, worldwide sympathy and my street would be repaved this spring. #onlydreamin
So much for putting the "divisiveness behind us."
Commissioner Bendel are you going to step up and lead or are you going to sit on your hands and let this nonsense go on?
Gee, Ms. Larsen "What the Kluck!"
Obviously Ms. Larson has either never watched the commission meetings or has never spoken at one. It is routine for the commissioners to berate, laugh at and dismiss citizens comments. It's easy for them to do so when they are used to professionally litigating, they ultimately control the meeting and they like to flaunt their power over thier minions.
Generally speaking it's called bullying.
Even my 85 year old mother has identified this behavior.
Ms. Larson five additional unnamed residents that agree with you is not helpful to your staements.
It has never been my impression that the Commission is on a search for "Truth"--Kelly Fraasch excepted. They RULE this community, issuing edicts against the will of the majority of the governed and then declare themselves to be shocked and amazed by the intensity of the push-back. This nation was founded upon the principle that government is OF, BY, and FOR the people and that our "leaders" lead by the consent of the people. These folks have their own agenda and care not about the will of the people they are supposed to be serving. They are a disgrace to this community. They have so completely violated the public trust that the damage that has been done both fiscally and in terms of the community's reputation rests at their feet and nowhere else. Oh, and I agree with Roger's 85-year old mother: they ARE bullies! It's time, no it's overdue, that we GET THEM OUT OF OFFICE AND ELECT PEOPLE WHO SEE THIS OFFICE AS A SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT AS A PRIVILEGE AND AN ENTITLEMENT! (Don't get me started, or I might just tell you what I REALLY think!)
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