Mechanicsville South Homeowners

thanks for excluding me and every other neighbor who doesn't share your point of view Mark. Sounds like discrimination. Are you the head of the ONA?

I appreciate the conversation. You all have been very shifty and between you and Gil and Adam have not answered one single question I have posed directly. So the questions still stand about the elusive club.

Who is the Oaks Neighborhood Association?

Who is the Leadership of the ONA?

Why are the meetings a secret where not everyone is welcome?

Why does it discriminate against it's own neighbors?

Why can no one tell me when and where the next meeting is?

I will have to continue my search. Right now it is an enigma. The signs say everyone welcome but Mark says no.

Mayor- Your words:

"Mark, It would be great to be involved but unfortunately it's not that easy for me, and I would have preferred to be open about who I am but I have too much to risk..... I'm afraid I'm not willing to risk my business, my family and the impact it could have on my financial future."

so "Mark does not say no"  you did- I was saying sorry you can not join in, in response to your own post. 

my apologies if I was unclear on this.

You are still welcome to participate as far as I'm concerned (no I'm not the leader or president) and in fact have felt the way you have lately that the association is not reaching out enough. 

However I suspect the most of the reason you show resentment is not so much what ONA does, as it is resenting your situation since you have too much to lose if you did, but we lose anyway in property values if things go on the way they have been.

Sincerly wish you good luck neighbor, its a tough spot to be in.

Leadership?

I didn't know we  had leadership.  I thought we were an autonomous collective..

(paraphrasing "Monty Python and the Holy Grail")

From my perspective:

More directly, we are simply an organization of community members who are identifying and addressing concerns specific to Oaks.  We are not affiliated with any party, in fact, we seem to have very different overall political viewpoints.  However, we recognize the power of the ballot box and will actively seek and promote those who recognize the importance of addressing the needs of all members of the community.  Please also note that we do not have any formal or outside funding sources - just our own pockets.

In regards to development: I joined our community 10+ years ago because I was excited about the development going on in our area.  The convenience and economic development were good signs that this was an up and coming area.  That being said, it also seems obvious that we need balanced development that contributes and enhances the safety and raises the standards of the community. 

I, for one, am particularly concerned about traffic and safety issues (such as continuous sidewalks).  Others are focused on other aspects of our community.

We welcome diverse views from our neighbors presented in respectful, open discourse.  Please note that personal attacks, etc. are not allowed. 

Regards, John Garay, an Oaks Neighbor...

QUOTE: "You guys crucified the kid at the Perky...Not a single person asked or suggested to go over and talk to him and ask for help... I would not have moved next to a bar if I didn't want to hear the customers"

Hi, this is Woodswalker replying about the Perky issue. "Crucified"?? That's pretty strong language. Let me state my side of the issue for those who make me out to be the bad guy. It is not true that "not one single person went over and talked to Josh [the Perky owner]." I went over and talked to him in the summer of 09. He promised he would install soundproofing and keep the volume down. The problem did not get better, every weekend was a nightmare. The township was no help at all, even though loud music after 11 pm was directly against their ordinance.

I spoke to Josh again in January of this year (2011). It turns out that he never did install the soundproofing or the decibel meter. Until we started calling the cops, he basically did nothing. So you can feel sorry for him if you want, but in a way it was his own fault that the LCB got after him because he did not take the remedial action that he said he would.

You say you wouldn't have moved next to a bar if you don't want the noise? I moved to Oaks in 1977. The Perky was a quiet watering hole for the workers at Goodrich--NOT a rockin' roadhouse.

Last week I moved out of Oaks after living there for 34 years. I moved to a nice peaceful neighborhood and I'm the happiest person in the world!