Winter 2004 Edition     

Discussion Forum The Fair Lawn's Discussion Forum went through a transformation a few months ago.  JoMarie Sacchinelli now administers the free flowing discussion (known as Fair Lawn Speaks) on all sorts of Fair Lawn related issues.      Residents have posted dozens of items every day about both controversial and mundane topics.  There's been a lot of activity recently about federal funding for a playground at a synagogue, political use of the borough web site, and the Iraq war.   Sachinelli says that for the most part, people that are participating are keeping it civil and are discussing the issues they feel are important.   She says that "people need a place to go.  Fair Lawners, such as myself, need a place to voice their opinions or ideas.  We need to just plain express how we feel. "   She says the forum "is a great place to get to know some of the residents that share your town.  I am friendly with quite a few.  We do lunch and dinner and get together with the kids.  Even those that have opposing views."   The forum is often used to help people with basic information.  People help each other with ordinary questions, such as:  what kind of tree to plant, where can I get after school services, and where can I dump construction materials.   Sachinelli feels that all the issues discussed on the forum are important.  She said, though, "I care most about the future of Broadway.  In my opinion this forum and the past forum have assisted with helping those of us that live along the Broadway corridor.  We have a place to voice our concerns and ideas and there are some who do not post, but are definitely reading and paying attention."   She says "our right to voice how we feel is an honor granted to us by our great nation.  We should all exercise it when and how we can.  We have wonderful debates with each other on the forum and though we do not all agree, it is always enlightening and educational when you conduct a civil debate with someone from the opposing side. "   Many people read the forum, but no one knows exactly how many.  Before his election as Bergen County Executive, Dennis McNerney told a Fair Lawn News reader that he was familiar with the forum and the topics discussed.   Sachinelli says "many people do not participate, but they are reading.  You would be crazy not to.  I have learned so many facts about our town.  Been informed of events going on, that I may not have known about.  Most of all, I have found a place where people listen and respond.  That within itself makes logging on worth the time and effort."   Fair Lawn Speaks is one of the most widely used community bulletin boards in New Jersey .  There's always someone popping in for the first time expressing their delight.  One person recently posted:  "Hi- I'm new to this website... a friend recently recommended it to me and it's been a real eye opener. I agree with you that people 'just get up in the morning, go to work, come home, and really are not paying attention to their surroundings'. I'm definitely guilty of that and I DON'T work. … It's so motivating now to see all the discussion going on in this site about problems in the town."    Elected Officials View of the Forum  Fair Lawn's current and former elected officials have different views of the forum.   Mayor Ganz is not a big fan of the forum.  He told Fair Lawn News that "from the questions that come to me as Mayor from those who evidently do read the forum, the comments seem laced with inaccuracies and seem calculated to needlessly insight those who read it and assume it accurate."   Former Mayor Trawinski says "the forum serves a useful purpose in allowing for the free exchange of ideas and opinions. I am also aware of the fact that the quest for a true exchange of ideas and differing opinions sometimes carries some negatives such as becoming a forum for personal attacks or spin doctoring. However, in my opinion, the positives clearly outweigh the negatives.    Assemblyman Gordon says "the forum seems to be dominated by a handful of people. Consequently, I don’t think the forum is a good place to hear representative views of Fair Lawn residents."   Former Assemblyman Matt Ahearn says the discussion forum  "is a valuable tool for elected officials who believe in grass roots representative government. You know, the kind of government where elected officials are supposed to get a sense of what all the people they represent want them to do and not what the party bosses want or the elected official thinks is 'best for his people.'  It is the most convenient town hall meeting there is.  FairLawnNews.com and the various iterations of virtual forums it has brought us has had a most positive impact on life in our hometown. Perhaps this site will belong in some future 'hall of fame, too'.    Although some officials don't like to admit reading the board, a Raymond Street resident recently posted a message about her family's sewer line problem, and how it had gone unresolved. After her posting, she said "One or two days later, my door bell rang. On the other side of the door was a representative from the Department of Public Works who had used a bit of deductive reasoning and figured out it was us with the complaint.  Apparently, someone reads this message board, and expedited things a mite."  She is happy to report that she can do a load of laundry and flush a toilet at the same time. (The culprit was a tree root in the town's line that was almost the circumference of the pipe.) Bashing the Town Sometimes, the forum becomes an outlet for complaining about Fair Lawn, its residents and especially its elected officials.  Fortunately, there is usually someone who steps in to put the discussion into perspective.  After one particularly nasty debate, Jean Baratta posted the following, to remind everybody that there was a reason we all choose to live in Fair Lawn . Why I like living in Fair Lawn : • I have lived here all my life, I am comfortable here. • Fair Lawn has the best Library around • We have a great Recreation Department that offers so much for our youth • When I am outside in my front garden it is a guarantee that someone I know will pass by, stop and chat or just beep and wave. •  My parents live here (hmmm that could also go on the way I don’t like living in Fair Lawn list too). • We are a diversified community: If anyone has ever been to the inter-faith services that are held around Thanksgiving you know what I mean. And if you have not been to this you should. • We have the best Police Department: from when I was a teenager and was involved in a very serious accident (yes, I am the one who drove through the house on Fair Lawn Avenue), to very minor incidents, this Police department has always been caring and compassionate to me and my entire family. • Not to be outdone by our superb Fire Department and Ambulance Squad (all volunteer don’t forget). I have dealt with both on many occasions and have received nothing but the best treatment and professional services. There are many other reasons why I choose Fair Lawn to live and raise my family; those are just a few off the top of my head. I figured I would just put that out there to let those who don’t like the complaining to chew on for a while. There is nothing wrong with complaining, there is nothing wrong with talking about what needs to change. We do it because we LOVE this town, if we didn’t care we wouldn’t try to change it... we would just leave.