As of July 15th, this Friday, BlueGreen will be available for streaming on Netflix! This is huge for us at Dubious Honor. A while back after the film got picked up by the awesome Cinema Libre Studios, we embarked on a campaign to get the film onto Netflix. Within the last year they have changed a lot of their rules, so as an indie, you sort of have to prove your worth.
So to do that we lobbied friends and fans alike, folks we didn't know and folks we did to Queue the film up. This way Netflix would realize the demand. And it worked! Now you will be able to view BlueGreen on almost any of your devices. You can get stoked and connect with mother ocean almost anywhere. We are very, very psyched indeed.
So check it out. And thank you to all who lobbied and helped out, and are interested in seeing the film.
Post Script: Keep your ear to the ground for super huge news regarding our next project... Its going to be huge and we are wicked excited about it.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Shame, shame, shame.
Sometimes, you have to walk away from stuff because it grates on you. Other times you have to have a measured response. And sometimes you need to just let it fly and rant. And that is ok. It's ok to be angry. Well, I am angry. I am angry about a beach in my town, and the fight to keep access there. It's called Higgins beach and it is arguably one of the most popular, or well attended beaches in Maine. I am not going to go into all the history around this fight, suffice it to say I spent (along with a a TON of other people) a lot of time and emotional investment trying to KEEP the precious little access the public has to this beach last winter. The town council voted a certain way. It was a bad compromise, but there it was. What are you going to do? We didn't lose all access, but we lost a lot. I thought it was over.
Nope! This morning as I got to the beach I noticed several things. One, that there was no on street parking, and that there was no parking in the parking lot either, and there was a guy giving tickets! Wait, if the town knew they were going to be down there working on the roads, and they know people recreate there, shouldn't they have made exceptions?
Then I noticed that the road crew working down there was painting the new lines for the parking spaces. Not only that but they painted a ten foot (approx.) wide walkway space on the right side thus basically putting the parking spaces in the middle of the road! Well! No wonder you can't park on both sides of the road, because there is this whole zone, that no one really ever told anyone about that is now blocked off! Bullshit.
And of course, the signage all over the community is completely wrong. 'No parking at any time' (then in mice type- except where noted) And one hour parking 'May through September, no parking at any other time'? Completely wrong! Completely! I was there when this terrible compromise was passed and I recall distinctly that the 12 or so spaces from Morning to Vesper streets were to not have any time limit on them. Now they all say one hour. And off season, you can park there with no time limit. Did the town lie to us? It certainly appears so. Or are they manipulating the signage, so those who don't know won't park there?
And speaking of lying, why is the lot being paved when we were told by that town it wasn't going to be? Why are they ticketing people during the construction phase when no one can access the lot- which was the whole reasoning behind the HBOA's wanting to remove the on street parking in the first place? What the hell is going on down there?
And then reports of HBOA members harassing people parking completely legally under the new laws? Let me be clear, I truly don't believe everyone who lives at Higgins is a bad person. I do believe that the people who are trying to manipulate the town and shut off our public access should find themselves a nice cozy gated community far from the public arena.
And speaking of manipulating the town! I have said it before and I will say it again. This isn't about access to the town, they have made it clear they don't care about public access. It's about money. Who has it, and who doesn't. The people at Higgins have it (whether they are 'rich' or not doesn't matter-their tax base is higher, as their property values are higher so the town gets more money out of them) and we, the rest of Scarborough, don't. But let me be very clear here. These are public roads, paid for and maintained by all of Scarborough. We pay for a lot of the infrastructure down there as well (the Seawall project, the Drainage project, the lot, the trash pick up, the plowing and the policing!). And now we are being told we can't park on OUR roads? And are getting ticketed by an officer whose sole job is to walk the beach (no not the neighborhood, just the beach) and ticket folks, who is being paid with OUR money? Again, bullshit. I have to say, far be it from me to ever, ever accuse any person of being crooked. I WON'T DO IT. That said, the steadfast, unwavering, non-consideration of other opinions motivations of certain council members around all this have to be questioned. I think primarily of councilor Wood and Councilor Sullivan. Wood obviously hadn't even ever been to the beach before this whole thing started as he didn't even know where the Inn was located. He doesn't care, and it is obvious from his rant at one of the first meetings that he doesn't. They have removed this particular video from the web but it was from December 1 of 2010. I have a copy and you can request one too. Yet somehow, he is so adamant and passionate about safety issues (non existent as testified to by the Scarborough Chief Of Police). Why is that councilor Wood? Why?
So tell me Councilors, why is it that folks can park on my (public) road, and I can't park on their (public) road? Is there a reason? Safety isn't it, that is clear.
I have played patty cake over the last 8 months about all this, trying my best to be reserved, not to point fingers or make anyone angry 'Oh you don't want to make the councilors angry, that won't help' Keep it civil blah blah blah. But you know what? It is clear that they don't care. They are going to do whatever it is they want to do. It is an unbelievable shame that our publicly elected officials don't much care about the public, and the overwhelming opinions they carry. (Though I don't even know if Town Manager Tom Hall is an elected official) I do however want to give big ups to councilors Holbrook, D'Andrea, and Rancourt for fighting for the public's cause. Thank you.
It is truly unbelievable. If you are as angry about this as me, we should figure something out. A park in, or better yet a slow parade- Get as many cars in there as possible on a saturday and everyone just drive around at 3 miles an hour so they can't ticket or tow you. Take action. Take this issue to the public. NO one, I mean no one I have talked to, save the folks who live at Higgins, support a parking ban. We need to get parking at Higgins to be the same as any other town beach. Easy access and free parking on public roads in the off season, and limited, enforced parking in season. Easy, and lawful, and the right thing to do.
You know, with all the crap going on in the world, this may seem like a little issue. Even on a local level (think about the horrific vote recently about the school budget). But when the opinions of the vast majority of the public are ignored for the benefit of the few, even when it comes to parking on a public road, there is something really wrong with our system. Shame.
Well, I promised a rant. There you go. I am sure plenty of folks will poke holes in some of what I state here. But this is how I see it in this moment of anger. If you have factual disagreements, feel free to comment. Even though this was still more reserved that how I feel. You should ask the guy who was riding in the truck with me.
Nope! This morning as I got to the beach I noticed several things. One, that there was no on street parking, and that there was no parking in the parking lot either, and there was a guy giving tickets! Wait, if the town knew they were going to be down there working on the roads, and they know people recreate there, shouldn't they have made exceptions?
Then I noticed that the road crew working down there was painting the new lines for the parking spaces. Not only that but they painted a ten foot (approx.) wide walkway space on the right side thus basically putting the parking spaces in the middle of the road! Well! No wonder you can't park on both sides of the road, because there is this whole zone, that no one really ever told anyone about that is now blocked off! Bullshit.
And of course, the signage all over the community is completely wrong. 'No parking at any time' (then in mice type- except where noted) And one hour parking 'May through September, no parking at any other time'? Completely wrong! Completely! I was there when this terrible compromise was passed and I recall distinctly that the 12 or so spaces from Morning to Vesper streets were to not have any time limit on them. Now they all say one hour. And off season, you can park there with no time limit. Did the town lie to us? It certainly appears so. Or are they manipulating the signage, so those who don't know won't park there?
And speaking of lying, why is the lot being paved when we were told by that town it wasn't going to be? Why are they ticketing people during the construction phase when no one can access the lot- which was the whole reasoning behind the HBOA's wanting to remove the on street parking in the first place? What the hell is going on down there?
And then reports of HBOA members harassing people parking completely legally under the new laws? Let me be clear, I truly don't believe everyone who lives at Higgins is a bad person. I do believe that the people who are trying to manipulate the town and shut off our public access should find themselves a nice cozy gated community far from the public arena.
And speaking of manipulating the town! I have said it before and I will say it again. This isn't about access to the town, they have made it clear they don't care about public access. It's about money. Who has it, and who doesn't. The people at Higgins have it (whether they are 'rich' or not doesn't matter-their tax base is higher, as their property values are higher so the town gets more money out of them) and we, the rest of Scarborough, don't. But let me be very clear here. These are public roads, paid for and maintained by all of Scarborough. We pay for a lot of the infrastructure down there as well (the Seawall project, the Drainage project, the lot, the trash pick up, the plowing and the policing!). And now we are being told we can't park on OUR roads? And are getting ticketed by an officer whose sole job is to walk the beach (no not the neighborhood, just the beach) and ticket folks, who is being paid with OUR money? Again, bullshit. I have to say, far be it from me to ever, ever accuse any person of being crooked. I WON'T DO IT. That said, the steadfast, unwavering, non-consideration of other opinions motivations of certain council members around all this have to be questioned. I think primarily of councilor Wood and Councilor Sullivan. Wood obviously hadn't even ever been to the beach before this whole thing started as he didn't even know where the Inn was located. He doesn't care, and it is obvious from his rant at one of the first meetings that he doesn't. They have removed this particular video from the web but it was from December 1 of 2010. I have a copy and you can request one too. Yet somehow, he is so adamant and passionate about safety issues (non existent as testified to by the Scarborough Chief Of Police). Why is that councilor Wood? Why?
So tell me Councilors, why is it that folks can park on my (public) road, and I can't park on their (public) road? Is there a reason? Safety isn't it, that is clear.
I have played patty cake over the last 8 months about all this, trying my best to be reserved, not to point fingers or make anyone angry 'Oh you don't want to make the councilors angry, that won't help' Keep it civil blah blah blah. But you know what? It is clear that they don't care. They are going to do whatever it is they want to do. It is an unbelievable shame that our publicly elected officials don't much care about the public, and the overwhelming opinions they carry. (Though I don't even know if Town Manager Tom Hall is an elected official) I do however want to give big ups to councilors Holbrook, D'Andrea, and Rancourt for fighting for the public's cause. Thank you.
It is truly unbelievable. If you are as angry about this as me, we should figure something out. A park in, or better yet a slow parade- Get as many cars in there as possible on a saturday and everyone just drive around at 3 miles an hour so they can't ticket or tow you. Take action. Take this issue to the public. NO one, I mean no one I have talked to, save the folks who live at Higgins, support a parking ban. We need to get parking at Higgins to be the same as any other town beach. Easy access and free parking on public roads in the off season, and limited, enforced parking in season. Easy, and lawful, and the right thing to do.
You know, with all the crap going on in the world, this may seem like a little issue. Even on a local level (think about the horrific vote recently about the school budget). But when the opinions of the vast majority of the public are ignored for the benefit of the few, even when it comes to parking on a public road, there is something really wrong with our system. Shame.
Well, I promised a rant. There you go. I am sure plenty of folks will poke holes in some of what I state here. But this is how I see it in this moment of anger. If you have factual disagreements, feel free to comment. Even though this was still more reserved that how I feel. You should ask the guy who was riding in the truck with me.
Monday, March 7, 2011
The project that pulls at you
Sometimes, no matter how difficult a project is, or has become, you feel this deep need to make it happen. Even against the better advice of your inner voice there is something that just draws you to it, pulls you to it. This is how I feel about King Charles' Coast, or, Whose Beach Is It Anyway?
I have been vested in this project for well over two years now. Ever since the knowledge of how the coast of Maine, or more precisely the access to the coast of Maine works. I always knew there was a lot of coast here, with all the bays and inlets, the isthmi and the islands. But I never realized that over 94% of the coast was privately owned.
Yeah well, that isn't that big a deal right? A lot of the US coast is privately owned. No biggie. If you can access the beach you can still surf it or hang out and just chill below the high tide mark, right? Nope! Not in Maine!
This whole crazy world of coastal laws and the battles that focus around it all reveled itself to me and I have to say, I was pretty shocked. Rules written in 1647 remaining in force to this day? Ownership to the low tide mark, which can be like 200 yards out in some places here? Whats more when I asked folks about this, people who I really thought would be 'in the know', very few people had any real knowledge, and those that did were hazy at best.
I am hugely vested in the coast of Maine. My family is, my friends are, this community is. Maine is a coastal state and there is a pride in the maritime sensibility here. This is part of why I am pursuing this project. And I am looking to the masses to help get it done. Those of you who care about coastal access, in Maine and across the US coasts, who enjoy the ocean, I am hoping you will take a look at the project on Kickstarter, and help get this important documentary made, either by contributing, or helping to spread the word.
Here is how Kickstarter works: you support a project by contributing a given amount of money. BUT! If the project doesn't reach the goal amount in the time allotted, you are never charged the money. So you say, ok, I can put $20 towards that, but if the funding amount isn't reached in the time limit, they never take the $20 off your credit card. It's a pretty cool thing really. Then if the goal is reached, for your $20 you get some sort of reward, like copy of the film, or a poster or whatever the $20 reward is.
Take a look at the project- follow the URL and check out the video, the description and all the cool rewards. I Really do believe this doc will resonate with all the coastal users in Maine, and beyond. Thanks for taking the time to check it out.
Here is the link: http://kck.st/hcdZob
I have been vested in this project for well over two years now. Ever since the knowledge of how the coast of Maine, or more precisely the access to the coast of Maine works. I always knew there was a lot of coast here, with all the bays and inlets, the isthmi and the islands. But I never realized that over 94% of the coast was privately owned.
Yeah well, that isn't that big a deal right? A lot of the US coast is privately owned. No biggie. If you can access the beach you can still surf it or hang out and just chill below the high tide mark, right? Nope! Not in Maine!
This whole crazy world of coastal laws and the battles that focus around it all reveled itself to me and I have to say, I was pretty shocked. Rules written in 1647 remaining in force to this day? Ownership to the low tide mark, which can be like 200 yards out in some places here? Whats more when I asked folks about this, people who I really thought would be 'in the know', very few people had any real knowledge, and those that did were hazy at best.
I am hugely vested in the coast of Maine. My family is, my friends are, this community is. Maine is a coastal state and there is a pride in the maritime sensibility here. This is part of why I am pursuing this project. And I am looking to the masses to help get it done. Those of you who care about coastal access, in Maine and across the US coasts, who enjoy the ocean, I am hoping you will take a look at the project on Kickstarter, and help get this important documentary made, either by contributing, or helping to spread the word.
Here is how Kickstarter works: you support a project by contributing a given amount of money. BUT! If the project doesn't reach the goal amount in the time allotted, you are never charged the money. So you say, ok, I can put $20 towards that, but if the funding amount isn't reached in the time limit, they never take the $20 off your credit card. It's a pretty cool thing really. Then if the goal is reached, for your $20 you get some sort of reward, like copy of the film, or a poster or whatever the $20 reward is.
Take a look at the project- follow the URL and check out the video, the description and all the cool rewards. I Really do believe this doc will resonate with all the coastal users in Maine, and beyond. Thanks for taking the time to check it out.
Here is the link: http://kck.st/hcdZob
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
You just never know....
The last thing I think of when I make a film or a piece or a work or a segment is what the long term effects are going to be of it. Or where it will sit in the annals of my personal history of that of the region or in other peoples minds. I make films because I love to do it. It's that simple. Some will be great, and others not. But it's about the enjoyment of crafting something really dear to me that spurs me on.
So when a film is out doing it's thing, like BlueGreen is currently, and people reach out to you because of some sort of connection you have made with them through the piece you created, it is a pretty amazing feeling. It was this feeling I had when I got an email from Mark Marovich, the originator of a fantastic website called The Greener Blue.
Mark contacted me because he wanted to talk about the film and the site getting together. There was a message we both shared, and the film and the site shared: the desire to try to make the sport and lifestyle we both love more earth friendly, more sustainable. At first I was really flattered, but then I realized what a cool thing this was. That through the film I created I had randomly come to the attention of another group who were of a similar mindset in the world. Thus making the circle that much wider.
And making the sustainable surf, ocean lifestyle circle that much wider is a huge deal indeed. I feel pretty lucky, and very humbled that I get to be part of it, and that without any planned intentions my film has facilitated part of that, if only in a small way.
Check out the this amazing site: www.thegreenerblue.com and the blog post on BlueGreen. It's a confluence of green ideas, art and action. As ocean lovers, we owe it to ourselves and the world to expand the circle just a little bit. Intentionally or otherwise.
So when a film is out doing it's thing, like BlueGreen is currently, and people reach out to you because of some sort of connection you have made with them through the piece you created, it is a pretty amazing feeling. It was this feeling I had when I got an email from Mark Marovich, the originator of a fantastic website called The Greener Blue.
Mark contacted me because he wanted to talk about the film and the site getting together. There was a message we both shared, and the film and the site shared: the desire to try to make the sport and lifestyle we both love more earth friendly, more sustainable. At first I was really flattered, but then I realized what a cool thing this was. That through the film I created I had randomly come to the attention of another group who were of a similar mindset in the world. Thus making the circle that much wider.
And making the sustainable surf, ocean lifestyle circle that much wider is a huge deal indeed. I feel pretty lucky, and very humbled that I get to be part of it, and that without any planned intentions my film has facilitated part of that, if only in a small way.
Check out the this amazing site: www.thegreenerblue.com and the blog post on BlueGreen. It's a confluence of green ideas, art and action. As ocean lovers, we owe it to ourselves and the world to expand the circle just a little bit. Intentionally or otherwise.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Into The Wild (ish)
So I was just sitting here at my desk after Christmas, working on some thing or another when my friend Matt calls. Nothing out of the ordinary but about half way through the conversation he invites me on a trek with a couple of other old friends. A 36 mile hike/camp on snowshoes through the Adirondacks on the NPT trail.
Well, I had missed our every-other-year-post-christmas-hike-up-Mount-Adams because of family duties for the holidays. So I immediately said yes without even thinking about it and then went right back to working. Over the next few days it slowly started to sink in. During some of the typically coldest days of the year in the northeast, I and three others were about to hike into a bit of trail from which there is no exit, only forward or back, breaking trail and sleeping in the open air lean-to's provided by the park service. A feat I am woefully unprepared for physically, mentally and probably most importantly, gear wise. What was I thinking?
It took a bit, but I know exactly what I was thinking. I am tired. I am tired of the constant battle of the last few years. I am done with the trying to hide, to dodge a bullet, to sit here and brace for whatever comes next. I am tired of the 09's and the 10's. It's time to move on it's time to shake things up. To put myself into places and situations I am not entirely comfortable with. To get back into the creative groove, to feel better, to try to make things happen, to put myself back out there, and to ask the question: what would happen if?
2011, whether it turns out well or poorly, will be a year for me where I get active again. Business wise, creatively, personally. The first decade of the new millennium is over, we can move on now. So I am making the choice to do so. It's not always going to be easy, or necessarily fun, but it will be enlivening for sure. And that is what I need, and probably a lot of other folks too.
A lot of it for me will be getting up and getting active. Even pulling away from the desk for an hour during the day to get outside, regardless of the conditions. Just to breathe and remember there is a whole huge world out there. It brings all kinds of perspective into all sorts of corners. For this hike I will be pushing myself physically and mentally. To prepare I have started running, and doing things every day to try to get my heart rate up. It's great, and it begs the question, why haven't I been doing this even without a goal in sight? This hike will be 12 miles a day on snowshoes through unbroken snowpack with a 40 pound pack on my back. It will be merely in the teens during the day and at least the single digit negatives during the night. What will come of it? Who knows. Maybe just an experience. But that in itself, is really really great.
'Sides, better to do it now before the world ends next year (he wrote with a knowing wink).
Well, I had missed our every-other-year-post-christmas-hike-up-Mount-Adams because of family duties for the holidays. So I immediately said yes without even thinking about it and then went right back to working. Over the next few days it slowly started to sink in. During some of the typically coldest days of the year in the northeast, I and three others were about to hike into a bit of trail from which there is no exit, only forward or back, breaking trail and sleeping in the open air lean-to's provided by the park service. A feat I am woefully unprepared for physically, mentally and probably most importantly, gear wise. What was I thinking?
It took a bit, but I know exactly what I was thinking. I am tired. I am tired of the constant battle of the last few years. I am done with the trying to hide, to dodge a bullet, to sit here and brace for whatever comes next. I am tired of the 09's and the 10's. It's time to move on it's time to shake things up. To put myself into places and situations I am not entirely comfortable with. To get back into the creative groove, to feel better, to try to make things happen, to put myself back out there, and to ask the question: what would happen if?
2011, whether it turns out well or poorly, will be a year for me where I get active again. Business wise, creatively, personally. The first decade of the new millennium is over, we can move on now. So I am making the choice to do so. It's not always going to be easy, or necessarily fun, but it will be enlivening for sure. And that is what I need, and probably a lot of other folks too.
A lot of it for me will be getting up and getting active. Even pulling away from the desk for an hour during the day to get outside, regardless of the conditions. Just to breathe and remember there is a whole huge world out there. It brings all kinds of perspective into all sorts of corners. For this hike I will be pushing myself physically and mentally. To prepare I have started running, and doing things every day to try to get my heart rate up. It's great, and it begs the question, why haven't I been doing this even without a goal in sight? This hike will be 12 miles a day on snowshoes through unbroken snowpack with a 40 pound pack on my back. It will be merely in the teens during the day and at least the single digit negatives during the night. What will come of it? Who knows. Maybe just an experience. But that in itself, is really really great.
'Sides, better to do it now before the world ends next year (he wrote with a knowing wink).
Monday, December 13, 2010
'Tis the season! To give ocean consciousness!
The holidays are here, no matter how hard I have tried to be distracted with other things. Even though the battle for access rages on in my home town, and the intertidal lands of my state are up for review, the holidays have come.
As every year, I feel sort of blase about the whole thing until our annual co-hosted holiday party. This even seems to always kick things into high gear for me. This year was no exception either! 100 people and tons of kids running crazy all over the house, Food, drink, merriment, and the true spirit of the holidays- time with loved ones family and friends all. Meeting new friends, reconnecting with old. Community. My community.
It is soon after this party that I realize, oh criminy! I haven't bought gift 1 yet! Yike!
It's a somewhat panicky moment for sure. But it always works itself out. I like giving gifts. I like taking the time to think about a person, and what they truly love, what I think they would appreciate, and what I think could really be excellent for them. But sometimes the panic overtakes this desire and I just freek out and buy.
Which is no good. You may have these holiday moments as well. So in an effort to help you curb such distress (in a somewhat self promoting way) I want to suggest to you a great gift for all lovers of the ocean, of surfing and of connection to nature. Grab a copy of BlueGreen from Cinema Libre. There is still tons of time.
It's got extra features, and a soundtrack included with the award winning documentary. Pick up a few copies for all the ocean enthusiasts in your life- grab one for yourself too. This documentary is a must see for everyone looking for their connection.
http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html
Have a BlueGreen holiday!
As every year, I feel sort of blase about the whole thing until our annual co-hosted holiday party. This even seems to always kick things into high gear for me. This year was no exception either! 100 people and tons of kids running crazy all over the house, Food, drink, merriment, and the true spirit of the holidays- time with loved ones family and friends all. Meeting new friends, reconnecting with old. Community. My community.
It is soon after this party that I realize, oh criminy! I haven't bought gift 1 yet! Yike!
It's a somewhat panicky moment for sure. But it always works itself out. I like giving gifts. I like taking the time to think about a person, and what they truly love, what I think they would appreciate, and what I think could really be excellent for them. But sometimes the panic overtakes this desire and I just freek out and buy.
Which is no good. You may have these holiday moments as well. So in an effort to help you curb such distress (in a somewhat self promoting way) I want to suggest to you a great gift for all lovers of the ocean, of surfing and of connection to nature. Grab a copy of BlueGreen from Cinema Libre. There is still tons of time.
It's got extra features, and a soundtrack included with the award winning documentary. Pick up a few copies for all the ocean enthusiasts in your life- grab one for yourself too. This documentary is a must see for everyone looking for their connection.
http://store.cinemalibrestore.com/bluegreen.html
Have a BlueGreen holiday!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Enraged
Processes can sometimes be hard. Especially when the people that set up the rules that everyone else has to work by don't adhere to the rules themselves.
Here in my beautiful state of Maine we are undergoing huge coastal access issues. I mean it's not just here, North Carolina, Florida and Texas are all under similar duress. But for some reason it is really coming to a head here in the northeast. There are several cases pending in court which will determine whether or not coastal land owners continue to own to the low tide mark (one of 2 states- can you guess the other?) or the high tide mark. More on this in another post...
But here, in my little burg we have been waging another war. There is a beautiful little beach, not far from downtown Portland where the surf comes up in storms and when it's placid the townsfolk walk their dogs, hang with their families and generally get a moment to feel like they actually ive ina place that tries to incorporate the wonders of the coast into our every day lives. It is a big, big reason why many people live here.
But recently a small group of landowners near the beach have been seeking to remove all on street parking. And they are making headway. We are trying, fighting the hard battle but it seems we are losing ground. In the belief that blogs should be short and readable I won't go into the terrible details, but if you are interested I can point you in the right direction (see below). But watch this quick little vid I put together to talk about the issue.
But what I wanted to get to here is that last night we had an opportunity to talk before the town council about the issue. One ex councilor brought up that the changes needed to be kicked back to an ordinance committee, because that is the procedure. Eventually what happened was that one of the councilors started berating the crowd and bullying the other councilors into not pushing it back and started bringing up all these points that the crowd was not allowed to mention because they were not on the agenda. He sat in his bully pulpit with another councilor and offered challenges to the crowd that due to procedure were not allowed to be answered.
Frustrating is not even close to what most were feeling. The whole issue is crazy. The system is broken. The town is supporting a handful of their constituents against the rest of the public who clearly don't support the changes. They aren't listening. It is really disheartening to believe you live in a democratic society where your voice will be heard, where you elect officials thinking they will do the best for the town and it's people, to be confronted by this.
I realize that I am still so enraged by this that this post probably will not make any sense. So for tose of you who are interested in yet another battle where the monied landowners are trying to deprive the taxpayers of their right to access public coastline you can check out what is going on here:
http://www.facebook.com/SaveHiggins or another good resource is http://www.surfrider.org/nne
As a video tape of the meeting is public record I will be posting this crazy outburst by the councilors. I think that this is ridiculous, and people need to know what goes on behind the closed doors of small town politics.
Here in my beautiful state of Maine we are undergoing huge coastal access issues. I mean it's not just here, North Carolina, Florida and Texas are all under similar duress. But for some reason it is really coming to a head here in the northeast. There are several cases pending in court which will determine whether or not coastal land owners continue to own to the low tide mark (one of 2 states- can you guess the other?) or the high tide mark. More on this in another post...
But here, in my little burg we have been waging another war. There is a beautiful little beach, not far from downtown Portland where the surf comes up in storms and when it's placid the townsfolk walk their dogs, hang with their families and generally get a moment to feel like they actually ive ina place that tries to incorporate the wonders of the coast into our every day lives. It is a big, big reason why many people live here.
But recently a small group of landowners near the beach have been seeking to remove all on street parking. And they are making headway. We are trying, fighting the hard battle but it seems we are losing ground. In the belief that blogs should be short and readable I won't go into the terrible details, but if you are interested I can point you in the right direction (see below). But watch this quick little vid I put together to talk about the issue.
But what I wanted to get to here is that last night we had an opportunity to talk before the town council about the issue. One ex councilor brought up that the changes needed to be kicked back to an ordinance committee, because that is the procedure. Eventually what happened was that one of the councilors started berating the crowd and bullying the other councilors into not pushing it back and started bringing up all these points that the crowd was not allowed to mention because they were not on the agenda. He sat in his bully pulpit with another councilor and offered challenges to the crowd that due to procedure were not allowed to be answered.
Frustrating is not even close to what most were feeling. The whole issue is crazy. The system is broken. The town is supporting a handful of their constituents against the rest of the public who clearly don't support the changes. They aren't listening. It is really disheartening to believe you live in a democratic society where your voice will be heard, where you elect officials thinking they will do the best for the town and it's people, to be confronted by this.
I realize that I am still so enraged by this that this post probably will not make any sense. So for tose of you who are interested in yet another battle where the monied landowners are trying to deprive the taxpayers of their right to access public coastline you can check out what is going on here:
http://www.facebook.com/SaveHiggins or another good resource is http://www.surfrider.org/nne
As a video tape of the meeting is public record I will be posting this crazy outburst by the councilors. I think that this is ridiculous, and people need to know what goes on behind the closed doors of small town politics.
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