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New ‘blog’ targets town leaders, gives air to unsigned gripes
Banner Daily Update Thurs. Jan. 3
By Pru Sowers
Banner Staff
PROVINCETOWN — Forget about the glut of new holiday books. The best reading around these days, at least according to some, is a new website that is drawing hundreds of vigorous and vicious e-mails on the topic of local town government.
It’s either electronic democracy or a “new place to hate,” depending on where one comes down on the subject of the month-old website created by the Provincetown Association of Concerned Citizens (PAAC). A portion of the website, at www.mypacc.com, encourages residents to write in to “shout out” about any topic they like. Most of them want to complain, loudly, about town government.
“I am so angry with the liberal allocation of money and the irresponsibility of Town Hall. I will never vote for any increase. It’s about time they try to work with what they have, instead of blaming the people in office before them,” said an unsigned e-mail on Dec. 16.
“Who can now afford to live here? On my very average income, I am being strained. Too many of my dollars are going to the town,” said another unsigned e-mail on Dec. 12.
Others rail against affordable housing.
“It's time to stop being swayed by a developer's game that makes these exorbitant land-grabs and profit-driven projects seem to be for the ‘poor’ or the ‘aged’ or those who ‘don't have.’ It's truly the town that doesn't have anymore because we have foolishly given away our town,” said Upset But Concerned on Dec. 15.
Most of the e-mails are unsigned, a bone of contention for some, particularly town officials, who say they can’t give credence to the e-mails when they don’t know whether the writer has a personal agenda. But no one denies “Shout Out” provides some interesting reading. Mary-Jo Avellar, board of selectmen chair, who was slammed in the blog and answered with a signed, rather eloquent response, said she reads it every day. Staff members discuss it regularly in the halls of Town Hall. And the month-old blog, administered by Clarence Walker, one of PACC’s founders, has drawn more than 100 submissions and 2,000 hits since Dec. 1, when it debuted.
“The blog is like the town crier,” he said. “It’s a platform from which individuals can give voice to their thoughts, opinions and fears. People can get feedback that shows them they’re not alone.”
Walker originally required people submitting e-mails to include their names. However, a tepid initial response led him to drop that requirement. As soon as he did, “Shout Out!” took off. It’s become a virtual Town Meeting without the uncomfortable chairs.
The most popular topics are taxes, management of MacMillan Pier, hiring a new police chief and affordable housing in Provincetown, particularly the proposed project on Shank Painter Road. Names are called and insults hurled to the point where some e-mailers have complained about the viciousness.
“I must say that I am constantly amazed that in such a beautiful town such as Provincetown that so much dreadful negativity spews like venom from a rattlesnake. With luck we don't have to hear the rattle to know who the snakes are here in town,” said a Dec. 12 entry.
One writer, who asked that he be allowed to continue his anonymity, told the Banner he didn’t sign his lengthy e-mail on the “myths and facts” of housing, fiscal management and hiring outside consultants because he was afraid of “retribution” from town officials.
“Town Meeting doesn’t seem to work effectively anymore. People are afraid to speak, afraid they’ll be blacklisted. The value of the blog is people feel they can speak their mind freely,” he said.
One e-mailer who did sign her name, Suzanne Ingraham, said residents are becoming “desperate” about what they perceive as a lack of accountability on the part of town officials. Shout Out will let those officials know just how angry people are, she said.
“I would consider it their duty to read the blog. I want them to hear it and feel it like a rumble that is getting closer,” Ingraham said.
Although discounting the unsigned entries in Shout Out, Assistant Town Manager David Gardner said blogs are “the reality of our discourse.” And Town Manager Sharon Lynn, while admitting she had “reviewed” Shout Out last week, said she would prefer that people be more up front with their complaints.
“If people are upset, I’d rather they approach me directly so I can help them. I like to fix things,” she said.
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Jan 3rd, 2008