See the new poll to the left
I am speechless
"going to the council without my running mates would be like going to the gas chamber"
"I chose my words very carefully knowing full well there was a 98 percent chance that some person would take my words and turn them around to make them something they were not meant to be"
Sure monica
34 comments:
Since last night's meeting wasn't on TV, can somebody give a little more detail about what happened.
With the election a week away, why would you even suggest that she resign her seat and/or drop out of the race? I want the pleasure of voting against and seeing her ousted.
Council-woman Honis,
The relationships that politicians seek by claiming to be for diversity
need to begin with an understanding and respect for one another - but they should not end there!
You said: "sending me back to council in July without my running mates would be like
sending me to a gas chamber".
To that quote, I would say that "This is a desecration." I would say that
We need to "Preserve the integrity and the fabric of our communuty and we
should demand no less than that from our elected officials."
But those were your words. You said them yourself - Monday night, in
reference to a mailing that highlighted your record.
Where was that respect Monday night?
------------------------------------------------
At the council meeting , you defended those hurtful words and acknowledged that you knew that there was a 98% chance that people would take them the "wrong" way.
If you cannot understand that using inflammatory language would be divisive to the people of Teaneck (both now and in the FUTURE), then at least you might try to understand why you lost my vote!
Her actual quote last night was:
"Going to the council IN JULY without my running mates would be like sending me back to the gas chamber".
I learned two things:
1) She has running mates
2) This wasn't merely some insensitive gaffe. She stands by her words and KNEW AHEAD OF TIME that it would upset people.
what an insensitive dummy - you just can't say that, especially in Teaneck - she should resign!
Monica had another statement when defending her Glenpointe decision. To paraphrase; "I would not vote for something to be built that I would not want built in my own backyard."
She doesn't own a backyard.
I was at the meeting last night and I really thought that Honis was about to apologize when she started to speak. I figured she would acknowledge that her words were poorly chosen, but explain that she meant no harm. I was way off.
Instead, she said that she knew the words would offend and used them anyway. She noted that by "gas chambers", she was referring to the death penalty (a significant issue in this country and, in particular, for people of color) and not the Holocaust. I'm not sure how that explanation helped her cause or satisfied anyone. Isn't it demeaning to those individuals and families who have suffered the imposition of the death penalty to compare capital punishment to attendance at a council meeting??
The answer is YES. Honis' performance last night was frighteningly solipsistic. I will not be voting for her next week.
Mayors express their choice:
To the editor:
Teaneck is always changing, but there is one thing that remains constant – the good sense of Teaneck voters. Our non-partisan, professionally managed form of government - which has kept Teaneck free from political bosses and patronage since 1930 - is now under attack by outside political influences.
We are writing to express our support for Ned Goldman, a candidate for one of three seats on the Teaneck Township Council in the election next Tuesday, May 13. Goldman has 24 years of experience serving Teaneck, more than all of the other candidates in this election combined. Throughout his public service he has demonstrated a responsible fiscal approach and concern for the taxpayer, as well as an ability to make thoughtful, rational and mature decisions solely in the interest of township residents. Most importantly, Ned is entirely non-partisan and independent, and his honesty and integrity are unquestioned.
Ned doesn’t simply make promises: he delivers results. We urge every eligible voter to keep Teaneck non-partisan and vote Tuesday, May 13 for Ned Goldman, Line 8 - the bottom line.
Jacqueline B. Kates
Mayor 2002-2006
Paul S. Ostrow
Mayor 1996-2002
Eleanor Manning Kieliszek
Mayor 1990 - 92, 1974-1978
Francis E. Hall
Mayor 1988-1990, 1978-1982
Go, Ned!
Anyone know anything about the ordinance that was before the council to raise the 2008 budget by over a million dollars?
the Teaneck Liar misquoted:
"I am 98% certain that this statement would upset people"
What she said was truly moronic,
something to the effect of, "there was a 98% chance that people would take them the 'wrong' way."
Was it really necessary to lie? Perhaps you should seek professional help.
Ms. Honis never said, "I am 98% certain that this statment would upset people"
For her actual stupid statement see "outraged in Teaneck" above
Stop making things up! What she said was bad enough.
Anyone know anything about the ordinance that was before the council to raise the 2008 budget by over a million dollars?
State law allows this year's budget to increase by up to 2.5% this year, and 1% over that if approved by the council. In order to encourage thrift, the state allows municipalities to carry over the unspent money and use it towards increases in future years.
Ordinance 4073 (click on https://esecure.cyber-secure.net/c3/WebService/utilities/httphandlers/downloadfile.ashx?uuid=83890fd5-7e1b-4c79-8a24-079e3534aad0) as passed Tuesday night established a "Cap Bank" that would allow $1.5 million in unspent money (3.5% of this year's budget) to be carried over into one of the next two years to cover any excess over the cap in those years.
Unfortunately, the wording of the ordinance makes it appear that the money is being allocated this year.
Alan Sohn
Teaneck councilwoman's words anger residents, members
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
BY JOSEPH AX
Staff Writer
TEANECK — Councilwoman Monica Honis has come under fire from some Jewish council members and residents for saying that reelecting her without her two running mates winning as well would be like sending her “to the gas chamber.”
The comment came Monday during a meeting of residents of the township’s Northeast section. Honis was emphasizing the importance of voting for all three members of her informal slate in order to forge a new council majority in Tuesday’s non-partisan election.
Councilman Elnatan Rudolph, an Orthodox Jew who is heading up the Team Teaneck slate that opposes Honis and running mates Barbara Toffler and Audra Jackson, called the “gas chamber” reference “deplorable.”
“Making an inference like that, whether you’re joking or not, in the same week as Holocaust Remembrance Day?” he said Tuesday. “Those words are used to describe one thing. I don't think there’s any justification for that.”
On Tuesday night, during a raucous council meeting, Honis defended her words, declaring she did not regret them and had chosen them carefully to evoke the injustice of the use of the death penalty against minorities. Honis is black.
“When I made the statement I made last night, I was referring to the death penalty,” she said Tuesday. “The death penalty disproportionately affects minorities. I’m making a statement on how it feels to be sitting up here with the people I sit with. ... I chose my words very carefully knowing full well there was a 98 percent chance that some person would take my words and turn them around to make them something they were not meant to be.”
Councilman Adam Gussen – who worships at an Orthodox synagogue – called on Honis to resign, saying her words were insensitive and culturally ignorant.
Later in her statement, Honis offered an apology of sorts but continued to blast Gussen and any others who would attack her for her words.
“Yes, some people think it may have been insensitive, and I’m sorry if you felt that way,” she said. “It was not intended to be that way. But I said it knowing full well that there are people here who would turn it against me.”
On Wednesday, Gussen called Honis’ explanation “ludicrous” and “reprehensible.”
Honis’ running mates said they were certain she did not intend to give offense. Jackson said that she would not have used those words and would have apologized if she had been in Honis’ position.
“But I want to make it also clear that she did not on Monday evening seek to offend anyone,” Jackson said.
Toffler, who is Jewish, admitted to “cringing” on Monday but said Honis was speaking out of her own cultural experience.
“I’m Jewish, and of course the phrase ‘gas chamber’ is significant,” Toffler said after Tuesday’s meeting. “But I didn't feel that she was saying anything anti-Semitic. I think she has been very straightforward and honest about her intent.”
Howard Rose, also Jewish and a candidate for council, said he believed the choice of words was “stupid and insensitive” but did not think Honis meant to offend anyone.
“When I heard it, I winced,” he said during the meeting Tuesday, before Honis made her statement. “But I understood that that statement was not made in that context. I don’t believe for a moment that it was made as an anti-Semitic remark. I believe that the words that might have been used to better reflect what was being said were, ‘I’d rather be in an electric chair. I’d rather be in a jail cell.’Ÿ”
Ned Goldman, another candidate who is also Jewish, called Honis’ explanation “contrived” and said that it indicated “her inability to provide real leadership to a diverse community.”
E-mail ax@northjersey.com
TEANECK — Councilwoman Monica Honis has come under fire from some Jewish council members and residents for saying that reelecting her without her two running mates winning as well would be like sending her “to the gas chamber.”
The comment came Monday during a meeting of residents of the township’s Northeast section. Honis was emphasizing the importance of voting for all three members of her informal slate in order to forge a new council majority in Tuesday’s non-partisan election.
Councilman Elnatan Rudolph, an Orthodox Jew who is heading up the Team Teaneck slate that opposes Honis and running mates Barbara Toffler and Audra Jackson, called the “gas chamber” reference “deplorable.”
“Making an inference like that, whether you’re joking or not, in the same week as Holocaust Remembrance Day?” he said Tuesday. “Those words are used to describe one thing. I don't think there’s any justification for that.”
On Tuesday night, during a raucous council meeting, Honis defended her words, declaring she did not regret them and had chosen them carefully to evoke the injustice of the use of the death penalty against minorities. Honis is black.
“When I made the statement I made last night, I was referring to the death penalty,” she said Tuesday. “The death penalty disproportionately affects minorities. I’m making a statement on how it feels to be sitting up here with the people I sit with. ... I chose my words very carefully knowing full well there was a 98 percent chance that some person would take my words and turn them around to make them something they were not meant to be.”
Councilman Adam Gussen – who worships at an Orthodox synagogue – called on Honis to resign, saying her words were insensitive and culturally ignorant.
Later in her statement, Honis offered an apology of sorts but continued to blast Gussen and any others who would attack her for her words.
“Yes, some people think it may have been insensitive, and I’m sorry if you felt that way,” she said. “It was not intended to be that way. But I said it knowing full well that there are people here who would turn it against me.”
On Wednesday, Gussen called Honis’ explanation “ludicrous” and “reprehensible.”
Honis’ running mates said they were certain she did not intend to give offense. Jackson said that she would not have used those words and would have apologized if she had been in Honis’ position.
“But I want to make it also clear that she did not on Monday evening seek to offend anyone,” Jackson said.
Toffler, who is Jewish, admitted to “cringing” on Monday but said Honis was speaking out of her own cultural experience.
“I’m Jewish, and of course the phrase ‘gas chamber’ is significant,” Toffler said after Tuesday’s meeting. “But I didn't feel that she was saying anything anti-Semitic. I think she has been very straightforward and honest about her intent.”
Howard Rose, also Jewish and a candidate for council, said he believed the choice of words was “stupid and insensitive” but did not think Honis meant to offend anyone.
“When I heard it, I winced,” he said during the meeting Tuesday, before Honis made her statement. “But I understood that that statement was not made in that context. I don’t believe for a moment that it was made as an anti-Semitic remark. I believe that the words that might have been used to better reflect what was being said were, ‘I’d rather be in an electric chair. I’d rather be in a jail cell.’Ÿ”
Ned Goldman, another candidate who is also Jewish, called Honis’ explanation “contrived” and said that it indicated “her inability to provide real leadership to a diverse community.”
| Copyright ©2008 North Jersey
Team Teaneck is losing in the poll at Teaneck Progress.
Team Teaneck supporters must commit to helping to get the vote out. Talk to your neighbors about getting to the polls.
We have the numbers to win IF we all go to the polls. Remember that what happens in this election makes a huge difference in how Teaneck goes forward.
I love a campaign strategy that's based on making sure that your voters know as little as possible about the candidates. Anyone who has heard Robinson could never vote for him. The guy knows nothing about Teaneck.
Rudolph. Baa. Hemmeduddin. Baa. Robinson. Baa.
Team Teaneck seems to be looking for sheep, not voters with brains.
Mr. Baa, Baa, Baa obviously hasn't seen the other "genius" candidates!!!
Mr. Baa, can't even spell the name's of the candidates.
If you spent any time with the Team Teaneck candidates one on one, you'd know that they have positions, can articulate them and are willing to listen to those that disagree. If you haven't, go up to them and say hi.
I wish the same could be said for Teaneck United. I thought I was on the set of Jerry Springer when Adam Gussen started talking at the Council meeting.
since when do they use GAS CHAMBERS to execute prisoners in America? THEY DON'T! She knew what she was doing, she could have just as easily said the electric chair or death row, etc... SHE DIDN'T!
Further, she could have just as easily apologized...SHE DIDN'T!
So the election of Honis and Toffler could occur on "the Day of the Jackals."
The word "pig" indicates the kind of disrespect Teaneck Divided has for both Jews and Muslims.
Captain said: "Team Teaneck is losing in the poll at Teaneck Progress."
If you go by polls, take a look at this one - over 60% of the people think Monica should resign.
Now up by a good margin.
While I understand fully why so many people are deciding their votes based on who they are NOT voting for, I am still striving to select my three votes on who I feel will best serve my community, "play well with others" on the council, keep an open mind on issues, and has the intelligence as well as a solid background in business/community service to do the job I expect of them. Hmmm...my choices are already narrowing down very easily. Goldman, Rose & Hammaddudin.
Who are Cheryl and Elliot Small?
Very highly respected citizens who suffered an unspeakable loss.
Who are Cheryl and Elliot Small?
what does this have to do with anything?
I got a letter from them in the mail today endorsing Rudolph. I thought someone here might know who they are.
Rudolph is an amazingly attentive Council person when people are in need. He has huge experience going back to his early teens in constituent services, not the kind his enemies always sneeringly impute to him, but the kind that breed fierce appreciation and loyalty from ordinary people.
In memory of the million children sent to the 'gas chambers' in the inferno of the holocaust. Never Forgotten.
Anyone interested in reading names of holocaust victims murdered in the gas chambers ... outside the Municipal Building at the next council meeting?
Esther said it right..."Honis's remark was galling for an entirely different reason as well: Why should I elect somebody to Council who compares working with her colleagues to a death sentence? Is this a recipe for tolerance and cooperation? How will anything get accomplished if she views her colleagues with such disdain?"
The letter that follows was written by a family Rudy assisted in its time of trouble when they lost a child.
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Often times we form our opinions and thoughts about people based on what we read or hear. Some slurs get repeated so often, even in print, we think there is substance to them when there is nothing but air.
Painfully, we have watched as Councilman Elnatan Rudolph has been publicly demonized by his opponents in the name of "politics".
Our relationship with Elnatan and opinion of him, however, go beyond the newspapers or any silly rumors and we were adamant that we have an opportunity to share with you our story and help the people of Teaneck see who he really is.
Our family last year experienced the horrific tragedy of losing our daughter. Through the entire nightmare of this unspeakably painful time, one community leader stood by our side and helped us in many many ways as we passed through the tragedy. That was Elnatan. Whether through the countless telephone calls, e-mails or stopping by, he was always ready to help.
Please understand we would never politicize our tragedy, but Elnatan helped us out of generosity and love and thus we could not allow his good deeds and selfless conduct in our family's time of need and travail to go unreported and unappreciated at a moment when he needs us the most. Therefore, we feel honor bound to share our feelings of gratefulness with our community that may not really know Elnatan, who is quiet and modest amidst his many fine actions on behalf of others.
He truly is an unsung hero.
So please go out and support Elnatan on May 13th. Judge him by the person he is and not who he has been made out to be. He needs our help and Teaneck needs his continued leadership and representation. Elnatan Rudolph is a shining example of what our fathers have said, "He loves peace, he pursues peace, he loves people and he brings them closer to the Almighty".
He is a good man for all of Teaneck.
Sincerely yours,
Cheryl & Elliot Small
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