Tuckahoe Village Departments

TUCKAHOE TALK
With Mayor John Fitzpatrick

The Relevance of a Signature

June, 2010

The core of my particular thought this week is freedom of speech. In our village that freedom is expressed in many ways. The microphone at our Village Board meeting may be the most visible, but really that is only when the subject matter strikes a chord with certain residents. While some hold to the belief that only when people are entitled to remain anonymous can they speak freely, I think they haven't watched our meetings. Nevertheless, keeping that thought in mind, we hold village meetings in the summer in various parks. These allow residents who feel intimidated by the meeting's television broadcast to have an opportunity to speak on an issue or just ask a question. It is not really anonymous, but definitely less imposing.

Since becoming mayor, I have found myself questioning the benefit of being anonymous. On the positive side, it has allowed my administration to close many illegal apartments in the village. However, occasionally an anonymous letter has led to harassment of a resident intentionally perpetrated by a neighbor with a grudge. In light of that fact, I demand village staff investigate any complaint with as much sensitivity as possible so as not to disrupt innocent residents. Another disadvantage to an acceptance of anonymity that we have all witnessed is the ability of blog responders to speak in an inflammatory manner without ever having to come out of the shadows.

Despite those who would use it unjustly, many still embrace the notion of anonymity. I think the logic is most suffer enough confrontation in an average day that they are not look¬ing to engage in more of it with neighbors. Not signing a blog or letter apparently allows for the avoidance of confrontation while voicing an opinion. Interestingly, I have found that signing our name in some cases also allows us to avoid that very same confrontation, particularly when it comes to petitions.

There was obvious good reason for the Petition Clause to be in among the rights laid out in the First Amendment. This guarantees the right of the people "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." That right has been held to include the right to file lawsuits against the government. Petitions, the signature type, while having no legal effect, represent a moral force or will of the people. These signatures should never be ignored, but may not tell the whole story.

The Village Board is presented with signed petitions on regular basis. Most recently, when I raised the question of relocating the library, many signed to voice opposition to its move¬ment. The larger question I had proposed for conversation was realistically consolidating our real estate to reduce costs. This wasn't addressed in the petition, so I question whether signers were truly informed of the debate. Another petition of interest came in regards to the installation of speed bumps on a block. When presented, the support appeared significant, but when we marked the street where the speed bumps would be installed, and then sent a survey to the residents to determine how everyone felt, the surveys came back and, quite shockingly, many were opposed.

As a community, neighbors shouldn't be pressuring each other over a difference of opin¬ion on any issue. In the case of the speed bump, I was more worried that some would actually blame their neighbor in the event of a future occurrence, essentially shifting the weight that should be borne by a lawbreaker to their fellow residents. After that experience, my view on the merits of petitions also changed. I found it more difficult to determine what they repre¬sented and found myself questioning the process more. Do neighbors simply feel that it is easier to sign when confronted by a petition? Were all the facts presented before a signature was requested? When a petition is widely circulated, should those who don't sign be consid¬ered against the petition? What of the silent majority? Is their silence in fact a statement?

Even with all I've learned, I still occasionally sign petitions. At the Relay for Life I signed one trying to stop the sale of cigarettes in supermarkets. Although I smoke I signed the peti¬tion along with others, figuring the concept was reasonable and I could still get a pack some¬where else. This week in the Bronx, I also encountered several women with an "Impeach Obama" table and petition. That one I didn't sign, because it seemed as absurd as all the "Impeach Bush" petitions I hadn't signed for years either.

The Village Board continues to accept anonymous or signed letters and emails, and petitions. I never speak for the rest of the board, so I can't relay the value they place on these. As for me, since each circumstance is different, so is how relevant I find them. My preferred method of communication is still the face-to-face kind. On Monday, June 28 at 7 p.m., the Village Board will be in the Parkway Oval Park off Bronx Street. We don't broadcast and usually have enough chairs. I recommend you bring water if it's hot and definitely wear bug spray. We start an hour earlier because the meeting has a built-in timer — when it gets dark, it is over. In the event of rain, we will be in the Community Center.