#berkeleyheightstowncouncil

Well, as this is the first time I am running I am a bit surprised about the lack of integrity in these local elections.   Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised.  

I would think ideally you would want n candidates running all being able to speak their mind freely and openly, yes up to heated debates but more about the message than the actual political manipulations going on. 

From my newbie experience,   I have already encountered the following: 

Direct Libel from Insiders, referring to me as a drug dealer in a public forum

The Town Council using the Council meetings for partisan politics against me 

The local press taking an op-ed article, running it past the town council and allowing them to comment on it, then publishing a version with the comments inserted

Only debate co-hosted by Town Committee and Moderated by Chair of that Committee 

This is disgusting.    Why not just let the people hear what everyone has to say and make their own decision.     Maybe they are really nervous about transparency and letting the people hear what is really going on.  

Regards,

Tom Maciejewski