Life Is What Happens While You're Busy Making Other Plans

My last post received a somewhat defensive comment from the peeps at antihamptons.com, which slightly disappoints me. It's disappointing because my critique was not directed at them but at those who are apparently too busy with their Karate-Prayer-Circles-In-Soccer-Fields to attend one of the many meetings by local civic groups when it comes to the subject of village incorporation.

(By the way, on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being "your alarm clock doesn't go off in the morning" and 10 being "worldwide flooding to kill all of humanity", exactly how angry will an anthropomorphic supernatural entity get if you skip a Monday night prayer meeting? My more religious readers might want to chime in on that one.)

I get that people are busy. Hell, I get busy quite often. I understand that people "work two jobs, have small children, monday night prayer circles, karate classes, networking meetings, are commuting from the city, going to night school, have swim practice, are in florida for the winter, spend time in the hospital etc. etc."

But you can't ask people to do more when they apparently can't. You can't claim people are too busy and then want those same people to start the "cleaning of yards; calling of cops; reporting of crimes; volunteering (at civics, schools, churches, chamber); coming up with their own clever ways of improving this community."

When are they going to do that? They're too busy flying a charter plane full of blind, homeless, lepers to Alaska to aid in the plight of the endangered caribou.

Look, as sympathetic as I may be, I can't buy the fact that out of the almost 2 years that the MBVEC has been working on incorporation (that would be about 24 Monday meetings) people could not have attended 1 meeting, or emailed the MBVEC. Or attended one of their many fundraisers and asked them questions then. Yes, there's still plenty of apathy going around. All you have to do is find the percentage of people from the Tri-hamlet that vote in elections that matter*. The low turn-out is evidence enough. And I disagree that "If a citizen needs to hear their question answered 107 times for it to sink in — so be it." There are people like that. And I've found out that if it hasn't sunk in at about the 5th time, there's really no point. People will believe or not want to believe certain things despite contrary evidence. Look at 9/11 Truthers and Birthers as an example!

I'm with Mrs. Getchell on the fact that the MBVEC website does not have much information. It's sorely lacking. But when you take into account that most of the people that attend the meetings, and are involved in all of this, were around during the Lincoln administration you get why there isn't much work being put into the site. They're not the types to peruse local sites in particular, or the internet as a whole. I'm sure we both lament the fact that there aren't more people visiting local sites.

I also think that if you find it your duty to post the questions your readers have you should find it your duty to ask them. I'm pretty sure Paul Breschard or anyone with the MBVEC would be available for a sit-down, email, or phone interview to address the questions if you present yourself as the voice of the hesitant or concerned. And I would hope the same is extended for any organization who opposes incorporation. Which brings me to DissolveTheVillage.org.

I've contacted Henry Terry, who's for the elimination of Patchogue Village, and asked him some questions. In particular for a list of what he claims are the "37 New York communities (that) have decided that an incorporated village is not an efficient form of government and have chosen to dissolve them." To me, 37 seems like an awfully large number and I suspect some of them dissolved because of annexation, and not merely dissatisfaction. And that 37 only represents about 6% of the villages ever created in NYS. That means that about 94% are pleased enough with what a village has done for them. I await an answer, though I won't be surprised to not get one. The whois registry states the site was created 2 years ago and it seems not much has been accomplished with the movement.

Look, if there were a stronger alternative that would be working to fix the ills of the community I would be all for it and against the village because there are opportunities for corruption. But as it stands, there just isn't anything. Asking if people can't just form community watch groups or hound their legislators presupposes that those things haven't been tried. They have. It's been, for the most part, ineffective.






*Check out the results of last Tuesday's elections. In Brookhaven District 6 consists of Mastic, Mastic Beach, Shirley (parts of), Smith Point, Moriches, Center Moriches, East Moriches, Eastport, Manorville, East Yaphank (parts of), Calverton, Ridge (parts of), Brookhaven Hamlet (parts of). Guess how many people voted? 12,000. There are probably about twice as many registered voters. Less than half showed up. The majority of those who voted were outside of the Tri-Hamlet. In Suffolk County District 3 there are approximately 43,000 registered voters. Guess how many voted? Slightly less than 10,000.

Village Meeting Tonight

For the Mastic Beach residents, it's the first Monday of the month. That means Village Meeting Night. The MBVEC will be holding their monthly meeting at the Mastic Beach FD at 7:00PM. The agenda will be "Village Taxes: Fact v. Fiction".

You know I was checking over at the antihamptons blog and they're compiling a list of questions from people who have concerns about the village incorporation. I think that's a great thing. Questions are always good. You must question everything.

What surprises me, however, is the fact that about 80% of these questions have been addressed ad nauseum in previous meetings. If people would have attended at least half of those meetings they wouldn't have these questions. And if they understood how this particular village is going to function - hint: not like the ones around - the other 20% of the questions would be more or less answered. This village incorporation process has been going on for well over a year. The fact that people have questions that have already been addressed just shows how much apathy there is around here.

Laura Pizzini Killer Arrested

I too would be crying if I were going to rot in jail, dude.

The Suffolk County PD has arrested and charged with second-degree murder, 42 year old Guenter Wende for the fatal stabbing of 25 year old Laura Pizzini, from Mastic. Guenter, also from Mastic, is - or rather was - a cabinet maker who had a "...brief relationship with" with Laura back in July and was "...unwilling to let that relationship end as she was moving on," according to Detective Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick.

A special thanks should be given to the SCPD for their work. Some people like to crap on them because many see them as overpaid with nothing to do; but when it comes down to it, they get the job done.

I know that for the friends and family of Laura Pizzini this murder will never make sense - it shouldn't for any normal person - but hopefully they'll find closure in knowing that justice will be served. There are so many cases like this in which the murderer is never found, and families could never truly move on.

Thankfully, this wasn't one of them.

UPDATE
I received this email from Laura Pizzini's mother:

Laura was an Angel on earth! Her personality was that of someone who was always helping those who had problems. She was always a listening ear, helping girls to get out of abusive relationships, loaning money to those who needed it, she was not ever in a "relationship" with this monster. She did some work for him and befriended him and most likely feeling sorry for him. He on the other hand wanted more and she said no. She had a boyfriend and he couldn't accept that. My daughter was a really beautiful human being both inside and out. She was loved deeply by her family and friends. A part of me has died along with her. It bothers me that just because in his sick mind he says they dated that is what is printed.

She's right, of course, that we don't know the whole story on how the two knew each other. All we have is Wende's version. My concern is that if indeed it is true - that they didn't have any type of romantic relationship and he just imagined it - the defense will come up with some insanity plea to get this guy a lesser sentence.

UPDATE II
The email above is confirmed by someone who knew both Laura and Guenter (not sure if it's Guenter or Gunther):

Newsday and channel 12 have repeatedly printed the false info that she and Gunther were dating at one point... so not true! He was stalking her! Laura and I would be out together and he would constantly try to get in the middle of us, or pull her away from me as we were playing pool or something at good friends,and she would always tell him politely to "go away Gunther". But as in typical Laura fashion she refused to see bad in him (or anyone for that matter) and always said he was harmless. It is killing her family and friends to see this printed consistantly in the papers and on tv. She was/is a very dear, sweet friend of mine and deserves to have this falsehood corrected. Laura always looked for the beauty in everyone, enjoyed life to the fullest, did her best to help the underdog, She was just a perfect angel on earth, lets see more of that printed.

Busy Weekend?

(Due to crappy weather, everything will be on Sunday the 25th)

For those of you who will have nothing to do this weekend, there are THREE - count them - THREEEE harvest festivals going on around these here parts *spits out tobacco*.

On Saturday (10/24) will be the very first Harvest Festival in Shirley conducted by the SPVEC. There will be a live band, kids crafts, vendors, food, Chinese auction, costume contest for kids under 10, and DJ Daddy O! It'll be at the PathMark Shopping Center from 10 to 6PM (rain date will be on Sunday).

Saturday will also have the annual Fall Festival in Center Moriches. Right on Main Street from 9 to 5PM. Pretty much they'll have the same as the Shirley festival, plus a petting zoo.

I know what you're asking. "How am I to decide which wonderful event to go to and let my kids run around while I shop for things I'll never buy?" Or, "Will the chicks (or fellas) be cuter in Shirley or Moriches?" Yes, those are pressing questions that test the will of humanity but I have a solution:

You can go to both!

You're welcome.

On Sunday, October 25th, the Mastic Beach Harvest Festival that was rescheduled from last Saturday due to good weather will be taking place. Same Mastic Beach time. Same Mastic Beach channel. You shouldn't be too partied-out from the previous Festivals so don't make excuses to get out of going!

Emotional Legislation

So I'm reading in the local papers about a proposed amendment to the Child Protection Act by the Town of Brookhaven and I find it amusing. As it stands, the CPA prohibits Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders from living within a quarter mile of schools, parks, and playgrounds. The proposed amendment would add day care centers (fine), school bus stops, video arcades, amusement parks, ice cream stores, youth sports facility, places of worship (irony?), gymnasiums, public swimming pools, public libraries, movie theaters, youth centers, shopping malls and shopping centers.

Also to be included will be high-ranch homes, homes facing west, facing east, facing north, facing south, contemporary homes, bungalows and capes. Homes where the landlord is Black, where the landlord is White, where the landlord is Hispanic, and Asian. Also hardware stores, pizza parlors, Chinese take-out joints, bakeries, and grocery stores.

OK, the above paragraph isn't true (for those that can't get sarcasm) but the proposed amendment is a perfect example of legislation that is more reaction than action. Reaction from politicians being pressured by parents and community leaders to do something, even if it's a poor something, about the over-saturation of sex offenders in Brookhaven. In return politicians get - hopefully - the support of the voters; and it satiates the community's outcry. Look, we all know that sex offenders are the pariah of the new millennium, but this is all misguided.

When you start adding more restrictions in an existing law you run the risk of violating certain rights. Unfortunately (?), sex offenders that are out on probation have some rights because, well, we live in a Republic. All it takes is for one sex offender to challenge the amendment, win, and possibly have the whole law declared unconstitutional. Oops, there goes your CPA!

Not to mention that when you make it difficult for someone to find a home, they become ... homeless! The last thing you want is to have homeless Level 2 and 3 sex offenders just walking around or possibly squatting in one of the many boarded up homes we have around here (and the rest of Brookhaven). You can't keep track of someone when you don't know where they live.

Another issue that worries many people is that these sex offenders, out on the street, may offend again. That's a legitimate concern of course but these laws do very little to stop someone from offending again. Or for the first time. One of the many overlooked facts is that in the majority of cases involving pedophilic sex offenders (not all are pedophiles, of course, just recently one who attacked a 27 year old woman moved into Shirley), the majority knew their victims intimately. Sure, there are those times when it's a stranger but those are few. Most times it's a neighbor who gained the trust of both the parent and child. It's a local teacher or a priest, or a family member. For many pedophiles it isn't "rape" for them if in their mind they feel like the minor consented. So they need to gain their trust, and that takes time. A much better way to minimize situations like this is for parents and the school district to educate minors about what is and isn't a proper adult-minor relationship. "Stranger Danger" and the dog in the flashers overcoat just isn't cutting it anymore. Parents need to get more involved.

The law is fine as it is, what isn't fine is the enforcement; or lack thereof. I know that the intent of the amendment is to not have clusters of offenders in certain areas and to spread them around but it invites litigation; and could possibly repeal the CPA. It's like trying to cure one of the symptoms and not the cause.


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PS. As I'm typing this up I find out about 3 teens arrested in Mastic for raping a 14 year old girl. Ugh! This needs to stop.