Letter: TTA attacks critics rather than present facts

Posted 4/17/19

To the editor:

It comes as no surprise that the thoughts and opinions of residents are dismissed in written hoop-la by Justin Katz. These two letters were submitted by Mr. McLaughlin and Mrs. …

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Letter: TTA attacks critics rather than present facts

Posted

To the editor:

It comes as no surprise that the thoughts and opinions of residents are dismissed in written hoop-la by Justin Katz. These two letters were submitted by Mr. McLaughlin and Mrs. Martin essentially say the same thing, that the Tiverton Taxpayers Association (TTA) is not good for Tiverton. 

Mr. Katz attempts to tell us how to think rather than presenting the facts.

Left out are key details in his letter; omission of specifics has proven to serve as the overall narrative of the TTA — ounting on most residents to not pay attention to details so they can spread their narrative. “If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself.” J. Goebbels.

Yes, the former solicitor did resign. He also offered to remain in place until a replacement could be found. There was no need to rush the process. An ally was hired hastily and it was a calculated move. The TTA have mentioned over and over comments that show their dislike for the former solicitor.

The choices made for who would sit on the library board were clearly based on placing a TTA-friendly person on the committee. If the choice fell under equal opportunity laws, there is no doubt there would be a solid case against the TTA. We can talk about lawsuits in a minute.

I cannot speak to the “filling out the budget in building committees” response but I can say that the Katz budget was dumped on the minority members the day of the meeting and 48 hours before it was due to the Budget Committee. Hard to find any compromise for cooperation in that kind of tactic. 

Is the TTA really attempting to squash the public from speaking? I think we need to wait and see to know for sure. If anything, their rollout of the plan lacked an indication that they (the TTA) even perceive the growing number of people who just plain do not trust them. If the goal is removing executive sessions and giving more time to open forums, why not lead with the plan to remove executive session?

I will not go into the budget comments. That process is impractical at best. What is interesting though is the shake up within the TTA with Jeff Caron reportedly being out of the group and no longer an associate. You just have to assume that some of the group went with Caron and that scenario would clearly lower the numbers on Team Coulter. 

Lawsuits … How easily Mr. Katz forgets he was in court on the 1st of April to have his name removed from a lawsuit against the town. A lawsuit that continues in the name of a different TTA member. 

Do not fall for this attempt to create the illusion of TTA credibility, and a “consensus” viewpoint, while Katz is simultaneously tarring all other perspectives as mere “attacks.”

Thomas R. Buchanan

Tiverton

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