Thursday, May 22, 2008

Monica in the Hot Seat

At Tuesday nights Council meeting Council member Honis was questioned again about her Gas Chamber remark and again she didn't comment.

The question I have is, the fact that she was just reelected, is her remarks a mute point or should our elected officials be responsible for their words and actions.

(We all remember Galluci and the fire dept comments)

I keep hearing excuses about her.

Ok, so let me understand this. She votes to raise our taxes and contributes nothing on Council (how many council listed items in the last four years did she initiate- i was just told none- calling Mr Abbot and Mr Sohn- please confirm)

Now she is insensitive to her constituents.

I wasn't the biggest Monica supporter before, but now, to protect the integrity of Teaneck, Monica must go.

9 comments:

PublicSchoolParent said...

How PC you are about Honis' "gas chamber" remark. I'm Jewish but my radar doesn't seem to be as sensitive as yours! I did not see it as offensive at all -- I think people are way, way overreacting.

I will say this, though, if Honis had any smarts at all, not to mention grace, she would say it was an unfortunate choice of words and let it be done with, but she doesn't seem to have those qualities.

Jeff O said...

A couple things, Troothiness...

1. Zero sounds right to me, but why are Mr. Abbott and Mr. Sohn being called on to confirm how many listed items she initiated in the last four years? I don't think either one of them have devoted themselves to the study of Monica Honis. Why don't you cite whoever it was who told you?

2. A week and a half after the election, how can you possibly say "Monica must go"? The voters had the opportunity to say that with authority and amazingly -- perhaps even appallingly -- they didn't say it. In fact, she came in second. Maybe this is the price we have to pay for that parade of dirt, Birdsall, wheeling, Ferriero patronage, and all the rest. In any event, we're stuck with her, so get used to it. Democracy is very often a mixed bag. But consider the alternatives.

That said... I see no reason why she shouldn't come in for criticism and why consideration of remarks that she made in the last days of the campaign should be cut short just because the election is over. As publicshoolparent seems to be suggesting, her failure in particular to acknowledge her poor choice of words -- in fact, to claim they were carefully chosen (which I don't believe) -- was really a defining moment for her.

I could and hopefully will elaborate on that point, but I just realized it's almost midnight.

Mr S said...

Teaneck truth where is YOUR self awareness?
is there not something ironic about this post asking to get rid of monica immediately following your previous post suggesting we move on?

esther said...

Let's view the election as a draw. Elie maintained his majority while the other side got rid of Rudolph, retained Honis and elected a new ally.

Let's try to stop the nastiness and get some work done.

Unknown said...

Let's view the election as a draw. Elie maintained his majority while the other side got rid of Rudolph, retained Honis and elected a new ally.

While Loretta lost her main candidate (Jackson) and the 4 former mayors came in seventh.

EMO said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Keith K said...

A week and a half after the election, how can you possibly say "Monica must go"? The voters had the opportunity to say that with authority and amazingly -- perhaps even appallingly -- they didn't say it.

Jeff, I completely understand the logic of your statement. That said, I think a (short) history lesson is in order. When the framers of the Constitution were deciding how the newly formed Country would elect a president, they were so scared that the people would act in such a thoughtless manner that they created an electoral college to 'correct' the will of the people if they were heading in the wrong direction. As Winston Churchill said, Democracy is the worst form of government...except for all the others. Teaneck decided a while back that direct election would be the best form for us, that doesn't mean that someone unqualified couldn't garner enough support (even twice).

While the people did re-elect Monica, that doesn't mean it was the right thing to do and Teaneck Truth has every right to shout that from the rafters.

@publicschoolparent:
How PC you are about Honis' "gas chamber" remark. I'm Jewish but my radar doesn't seem to be as sensitive as yours! I did not see it as offensive at all -- I think people are way, way overreacting.

It WAS offensive. Not because I'm Jewish, but because I'm a human being. It was offensive to a room of people so large, they had to use the library for a town council meeting. It was so offensive, police were stationed at the perimeter of the room. It was so offensive, the council called for a vote to end the session early. So please do not sit there and tell us that because it didn't offend YOU, that there was nothing wrong. It might have been an unfortunate choice of words when she said them. It became a lot more when she said that she had thought about them and would not retract them.

@Esther
Elie maintained his majority while the other side got rid of Rudolph, retained Honis and elected a new ally.

People in our society are free to go into a polling booth and vote 'against' someone just as they are free to vote for someone, but that doesn't make it better. I get tired of hearing how everyone on the Council is an individual when it suits the argument and block of votes when it doesn't. Messers Feit and Hameeduddin are not beholden to Mayor Katz (and anyone that can tell me that Adam Gussen doesn't speak his own mind has never listened to him). If there IS a 'block', let's take a look at what Toffler, Honic and Parker do with their seats.

Jeff O said...

Swiggle,

I'm not a huge fan of the Electoral College -- especially not after the 2000 election -- but even if I were, I'm not sure I would get what your history lesson has to do with my point. I've already acknowledged that democracy is sometimes a mixed bag, and I've already said that Monica's election does not immunize her from criticism. And certainly our First Amendment (which is not subject to majority approval) gives Troothiness every right to shout "Monica must go" from the rooftops. I just think it's wrong-headed.

teanecktrust said...

monica must go ...she is awful

rude very insensitive baby like


she has proved herself not worthy of office