Absolutely no one is refusing to accept that Option C won at the December town meeting. That is an absurd claim.
People are, however, questioning the entire town meeting process and the ability for a few people to have such a weighted effect on how the votes will turn out. Did you know that only 13% of registered voters casted a ballot in the second CCBC vote and HCA vote? (CCBC was the first topic and the HCA was the last for those who didn’t attend). The March town election had a 24% voter turn out, and the last presidential election had an 86% voter turn out. Obviously the citizens of this town want to participate- but sitting through an 8 hour town meeting isn’t something most are able to do. Especially if they don’t even have a chance of having their voice heard after waiting for hours at town meeting. People are also still not convinced that option C is the best option for Lincoln and are considering voting NO in March- particularly since the accompanying bylaws have not been released yet. This is still an important and ongoing conversation, and the citizens of Lincoln really need to pay attention to the details of one of the biggest rezoning laws being proposed in Lincoln in decades. Sarah Postlethwait Lewis St On Wed, Dec 20, 2023 at 12:37 PM Laura Glynn <mslc...@gmail.com> wrote: > I may be wrong (as usual) but the refusal of the opponents to Option C to > accept that Option C was duly passed at a duly called and held town meeting > is eerily similar to those who still claim Biden did not win the duly held > 2020 election > > I have lived in Lincoln for only 30 years. The New England town meeting > is the purest form of democracy that exists today and I treasure it. > Convenience should not be the overriding goal of government. > > In my opinion the issues can’t be very important to you if it isn’t worth > your time to show up and listen to your neighbors and then vote taking into > account the discussion. These meetings are announced far in advance. No > one had to hitch a horse and wagon to go through snowy dirt roads to get > there (as used to be the case). Except for the truly bedridden everyone > makes time for Dr appointments, holidays, religious assemblies etc. and > showing up at a meeting in your own town is not an outrageous ask or > burden. > > The right to vote is a right but also a privilege. > > If our system of government is offensive to you then I am sorry you moved > to the wrong town. > > There is a simple solution. You can always vote with your feet. > > There are 23 homes listed for sale in Milton. > > Please stop maligning a system of government that has worked well for > centuries. It may be that new technology (clickers) can expedite the > voting at the meeting but the exchange of views and ideas in person at the > meeting and before the vote is the essential component of the town meeting > > Lincoln talk is not a substitute for the town meeting > > So again, we had a duly called and held town meeting at which Option C was > duly adopted after a motion duly made and seconded as voted by over a > majority of those who cared enough to devote their time to listening and > exchanging views and then voting. > > I am honestly shocked at the idea that we are to change our system of > government to make it more convenient for a few with busy schedules > > Ok, let the firestorm proceed! > > On Wed, Dec 20, 2023 at 10:57 AM <t...@kennedygroupboston.com> wrote: > >> In yesterday’s Globe, a story on how residents of Milton have enough >> signatures to force a town wide ballot question on HCA. >> >> The link is below. >> If it’s behind a pay wall for you, essentially: >> “We’re very pleased with the energy around this effort,” Swenson said. >> The goal of the drive is to force a vote, defeat the zoning article, and >> put town officials back to work to develop a consensus zoning plan that >> can earn wider support. >> >> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/12/19/metro/milton-state-housing-law/ >> >> Other towns have done similarly, some opting out, others suing the >> state. >> >> Also: >> I have yet to hear an answer as to why our housing numbers are lumped >> into those of an Air Force base and why we have not attempted to change >> that? >> >> Regarding town meeting voting. It’s inexcusable, not to mention >> disrespectful, to residents and a major reason that those with families >> cannot/do not attend, for a single vote to take an hour and a half of >> waiting. >> >> I would also suggest that large three or four story condo buildings and >> hundreds of additional cars is a radical change to our town. >> >> Tom Kennedy >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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