Penfield Town vs. Penfield Chamber of Conference…
Why, it’s a steel-cage face-off!
The National Chamber of Commerce, as we’ve reported, has become a Very Bad Thing ™, basically doing whatever it can to destroy the working people of America. On the local level, individual CofCs seem to follow more of the original intent– supporting local business. I’m all for that.
Apparently, the Penfield Town board hasn’t been playing nice with the Penfield CofC, and they’re having words.
Boiling tensions between a business advocacy group and town leaders in Penfield erupted when the town supervisor decided to quit the group.
Supervisor George Wiedemer said this week that public statements attacking the town’s elected officials by Chamber leaders prompted his decision and that the town no longer recognizes the Chamber as a “viable entity.”
The president and vice president of the Chamber maintain blogs, or running commentary on the Internet, which have been critical of the town.
The Penfield Chamber of Commerce, which represents 155 businesses, began two years ago. The organization provides networking opportunities for its members, sponsors seminars and provides marketing and public relations help.
Michael Bloch, president and founder of the organization, said that when he started out, he had high expectations that the town and the Chamber could work together.
But after several initiatives, including a contest for a new town motto, plans for a new town sign and a task force aimed at slowing down traffic on Route 441, did not produce Bloch’s desired result, relations deteriorated, both sides say.
“Any time we tried to do anything, we got stonewalled every time,” Bloch said.
But…I thought the GOP was supposed to be pro-business! I’m so corn-fused!
On the surface, it looks like the standard mainstream media “he said, she said” story. But the head of the Penfield CofC, Michael Bloch, ups the ante. From his comments on the D&C’s Penfield Blog story on this issue:
We tried on numerous occasions to work with the town board in a positive way. You can even view video of past town board meetings to see this.
Oh, so THAT’S why so many GOP town boards (and County Leg) refuse to televise their meetings. Open government leads to that annoying “accountability” thing. Of course, he could be hoping that no-one will bother reviewing those videos, but it’s sure nice to have it as an option.
Another interesting thing from his comments on the Penfield D&C Blog:
You have no idea how many business owners and even volunteers with other non-profit organizations tell me about being afraid of retribution by the town should they express any criticism. That is the real issue here. People in Penfield fearful of be bullied for speaking out. And, this is an example of why they have that fear.
That’s a pretty big allegation, thar! But it falls in line with things I’ve seen and heard about the punitive nature of the local GOP leadership.
I’m surprised (and disappointed) that this wasn’t more of an issue leading up to the election. Maybe Penfield’s Dem candidates would’ve done better.
It’s true in greece too. Speak out against anything and you re a pariah
“But after several initiatives, including a contest for a new town motto, plans for a new town sign and a task force aimed at slowing down traffic on Route 441, did not produce Bloch’s desired result, relations deteriorated, both sides say.”
Seems to me that all those things are town related and that the town is just wanting people to go through channels rather than create something on their own. I hated what the chamber picked for a motto(and it was submitted by someone who does not live in the town or the county) and after I learned it was not done in conjunction with the town, I was actually relieved. Why should the Penfield Chamber superimpose its ideas of a town motto on me? I support the town’s stance of not wanting another organization impeding on their turf and I am a Penfield democrat.
Regarding the president, he needs to safeguard the needs of the US, because if he doesn’t do it, who will. Certainly not the mexican president, the canadian president or the UN. That is not their charter.
Regarding the town, they need to safeguard the needs of all Penfield residents, because if they don’t only those who think they represent Penfield (in this case business interests) will be the determinator of what is right or wrong with the town and I did not (and could not) vote for them because they are not my elected officials who is suppose to work on my behalf, whether democrat or republican.
Just figuring this out now? What in this post is causing you to respond with the comment above? I don’t see it.
I guess the logic is that the president (or elected US officials) equates to a town supervisor (or elected officials). Both are elected, and both are to represent the interests of all constituents and not let some non-elected organization (which has a different charter or is not representative of all the people who live there) take over for town functions and what they think is right.