Go read this press release from the City of La Vergne and then come back. No worries, I’ll wait.
Did you notice where Angie Mayes, the city’s publicist, quoted herself as saying “Anyone can hide behind a computer to complain, but to take action shows a real interest in the city.”?
Okay, well go read the comments to this post, particularly the comment where “John Duncan” says “Anyone can sit behind a computer and be brave and say strong things, but why not write the officials directly and use your real name (and include an address and phone number).” That’s the same commenter that says “Yes I can speak for the Board…they are friends of mine and I’ve asked them if they read the blog. They said not anymore because of the controversy and all around bitchiness.” Yes, she speaks for the board that they aren’t interested in what the citizens of La Vergne want to say.
This is also the same commenter that keeps harping on and on and on and on about using my real name. You want to know why I don’t use my real name? Because that comment is coming from an IP address that, when you do a whois on it, comes from the City of La Vergne. Not an IP address IN the city of La Vergne. The IP address that says “The City of La Vergne”- as in Town Hall. That commenter, who uses nearly the exact same words as our city’s publicist does in that press release.
They keep harping on about my real name, why? So my tax payments can conveniently get lost? So when I’m one minute late on the water bill my water will get cut off? So when my grass is one millimeter longer than the code states, they can come write me tickets? So they can sic the police department on me? No thank you.
Call me paranoid, but that’s exactly what is happening here. We start a grass roots site and write about the various things going on in the city and they write press releases attacking us for being apathetic because we don’t serve on a city board. How much do you think Angie Mayes would volunteer for the city if she wasn’t getting paid?
The fact is, we have the right to say what we want to say, and we have the right to do it anonymously, if we want. Hell, I’m pretty non-anonymous anyway, if you go to the blogger meetings, I’ll tell you exactly who I am. I’ve never been afraid before, but now I am just a little afraid, and the sad part of it all is, I’m afraid of the people who are in charge of the city I live in. That’s fucked. And I don’t know what I’m going to do, either. But there it is. Stay tuned.
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Pingback on May 4th, 2007 at 11:43 am
[...] Can’t say for sure, but it looks like some city officials are trying to put the squash on a ci…: They keep harping on about my real name, why? So my tax payments can conveniently get lost? So when I’m one minute late on the water bill my water will get cut off? So when my grass is one millimeter longer than the code states, they can come write me tickets? So they can sic the police department on me? No thank you. [...]
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Pingback on May 4th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
[...] by Katherine Coble It seems that it’s okay to express an opinion in the City of LaVergne. If you agree with the City Board, that is. Otherwise, you’re just some jerk with a [...]
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Pingback on May 5th, 2007 at 5:58 am
[...] seems a bit contrived. They might want to look up Whois and they might get it. Ivy says at her personal blog this: Yes, she speaks for the board that they aren’t interested in what the citizens of La Vergne want [...]
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May 4, 2007 at 11:52 am
Yes yes and YES! I know you and I have talked, but these are my exact sentiments. I’ve always loved La Vergne, but since writing the blog “This is La Vergne” my mind is quickly being changed. I am appalled that they find our blog threatening in any way, especially when we just share news and events, sometimes throw out ideas to raise revenue, etc.
Further, I also don’t feel I can say a lot because I’m a frickin’ Realtor, and this has huge potential to negatively impact my business. I don’t want to be labeled as someone who goes around “bitching” which is clearly what the city is trying to do with our blog (along with trying to strip away our credibility). Are we sailing on a ship of fools?
May 4, 2007 at 12:39 pm
That was a press release? Surely the city publicist would not expect something like that to be re-printed or broadcast word for word in the media? Mis-spellings, poor grammar and a generally negative tone is not the standard for press releases.
A more positive tone would have pointed out the opportunities still remaining for people to step out from behind their computers and volunteer for change. Perhaps a list of all of the committees available and a team building attitude towards the situation would have been a better way to spin things instead of hyping the two most important committes in the text and then at the end stating that those positions are filled.
Tacky and unprofessional at best. This sounds like a bitter individual with a grudge and not a professional publicist.
May 4, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Let me just say that the press release you linked to may actually discourage people from becoming more involved. STiJS gets it just right above – a better approach would have been to list the current opportunities, why they’re important and exciting, and the time committment involved. As is, it was very negative, and I wouldn’t want to volunteer my precious time to any organization or city that allows that outlook to be the dominant one.
May 4, 2007 at 4:47 pm
As someone who will be forcibly relocated to the Smyrna/LaVergne Metroplex in the near future, this reaction from those supposedly down with the local gubmint makes that eventuality even less enticing.
May 4, 2007 at 9:34 pm
This is Smyrna, TN. stands behind you on this one.
Keep the faith.
May 5, 2007 at 1:22 am
You want me to send some cousins to live there? I got plenty.
May 5, 2007 at 6:55 am
Hey Ivy, you know I got my contacts w/the MOB…I can send a beat down their way!
That’s just unprofessional….how can they get away with deliberately being so obtuse and tactless??
May 7, 2007 at 8:01 am
OOOH! Sarcastro is moving here? DUDE! I know a GREAT Realtor you can use!!!
Unless you have to stay faithful to your old comrades from when you wuz one of us.
May 7, 2007 at 1:39 pm
You’re the best.
It is ridiculous when people paid for a job complain that others don’t volunteer.
And I know your real name….
May 13, 2007 at 7:46 am
Complimentary, obligatory Mother’s Day comment.
.
May 17, 2007 at 6:42 pm
What the hell is wrong with a complaint box? Of course people are more honest when they are anonymous.