We have been trying to get more information on White Island (Mau Mau) to let our readers know EXACTLY what is going on and we are being ignored by GBCares, who held all of the meetings regarding White Island over the past year or two. After multiple phone calls, emails, face to face requests, a snail mailed request, and a public plea – we have been ignored.
But then we found this uplifting quote:
Some might think that because the newsletter is so good and filled with so much relevant and factual information, these people are using it to learn and inform others. But this is just not true. These people have something to hide, so they don’t want the general public to know the truth so that they can decide what their concerns or opinions might be.
That quote came from a GBCares Newsletter in 1998 referencing the war they had with the Property Owners. What happens when you substitute newsletter with website in that quote?
We cannot help but notice the massive amounts of irony after reading their article (below) and we know some will ask us “Why even release this?”.
Let’s quote GBCares since they said it best, in that 1998 Newsletter.
If you don’t know the truth, you can’t make an informed or educated decision, or even have an intelligent opinion on the issues that affect us all. This has to change and is changing, thanks to the many different people who are fighting the uphill battle to properly express the views of the entire community.
Well Said! We will warn you, you will have to strap in and READ. It should take all of 2 minutes.
Here is what we found:
December 1998
Gerritsen Beach CaresTalking Trash #3 Censorship
In the past 2 years, I have noticed many different situations that border on censorship. There are many different reasons why a certain level of censorship is needed. The World Wide Web gives us access to everything you could possibly imagine and some things most people can’t believe. Adult web sites are a good example of something that should be kept from being visited by anyone under the age of 18. Movies have different levels of censorship. Whether a movie is rated G, PG, PG 13, NC 17, R, or X, these ratings are used to control who can see the different movies and this should hopefully control the levels of exposure to minors.
Then you have people trying to keep others uninformed by not allowing proper information to reach the general public. Some people do this so not to alarm or concern the public. Others do it to keep people in the dark. If you believe in the old concept of if you don’t know something, it won’t affect you, then you are being misled. Then you don’t find out about something until it is too late to do anything to make sure that it is to the benefit of your family and friends.
I have used many different ways to inform and promote the betterment of Gerritsen Beach. There are still some ways I have not used, but you will see them in the near future. The object is to get the attention of the public long enough to get the point or concern across. This is not easy due to the fast paced society we live in today. The world is a very different place from what it was even a few years ago. We have Cable TV, Microwave ovens, the Internet, Cellular and now Digital communications. Factual information is now available to the everyday person at a touch of a button. This evens out the power in our society. You don’t have to be rich or powerful to obtain information in today’s day and age. Many people have told me that they have not received the monthly GB Cares Newsletter at one time or another. After looking into this, I have been told that different people have seen certain individuals taking the newsletter out of the fences where our delivery persons put it. We deliver it house to house and by law we can’t put it in the mailboxes, so it is put in the door or the fence. If you see someone taking the newsletters out of your fence, you should call the police and report them for stealing your information. The police will probably laugh, but in a sense, this is what is being done to keep you in the dark and improperly informed.
Another way you are being kept in the dark is when the newsletter is put in the local stores and certain individuals remove all the copies that are there. Some might think that because the newsletter is so good and filled with so much relevant and factual information, these people are using it to learn and inform others. But this is just not true. These people have something to hide, so they don’t want the general public to know the truth so that they can decide what their concerns or opinions might be. These people would much rather tell you what they think your opinion should be. It’s their way or go away and this has been hurting our community for years.
In the beginning of my venture to inform people about what I was doing to clean up, many different types of promotion were used. We had small billboards on the parks land to inform the public of the clean up. The community wall and window was obtained thanks to the owner of Marine Pharmacy. The wall was covered with graffiti, and thanks to the O’Connell & Newell Youth Center at the Cort Club, DJ Combat, all the other kids (you know who you are), the wall was painted and cleaned up.
Recently, our neighborhood’s new for-profit and politically owned newspaper had an article about pole pollution. This is when people use the utility poles on the sidewalks to post flyers to inform the general public. I must admit that I have used the poles to inform about the GB Games and GB Cares meetings. I don’t consider it pollution as long as you remove the information when the event is over. This is how we have operated since the beginning, leading by example. It seems that it’s okay for politicians and selected business and groups to use the poles and leave their information to litter the streets. But I guess some people do as they want and others do as the community wants.
It seems like a long time ago when I brought the concern of censorship to the attention of the Gerritsen Beach Property Owner’s Association. I expressed my beliefs that the Gerritsen Gazette was censoring certain information to keep the community in the dark. The games played by that newspaper and those involved have contributed to the division that exists within our community today. I have met people who just don’t know the facts and the truth about many important issues in our community. I realize that this was the goal, so that no one would question the decisions made on the community’s behalf. If you don’t know the truth, you can’t make an informed or educated decision, or even have an intelligent opinion on the issues that affect us all. This has to change and is changing, thanks to the many different people who are fighting the uphill battle to properly express the views of the entire community. The few individuals who put their own financial and political gain first and the community second, have to stop trying to hold all the power. The only way this will happen is for the people with influence in Gerritsen Beach to work with everyone, and not only the few people who will agree with their warped, misguided views.
It would be nice to believe that everyone in the community reads this newsletter and is properly informed. But this is not the case. It’s up to you to tell the people who might be misinformed the truth & facts, so they will have a better understanding of the issues that affect us all. Their concerns and opinions will be heard and understood, since they will be based on factual information.
Amazing! How the tables have turned! What do you think?
You help us obtain the White Island minutes which we consider to be valuable public documents by contacting GBCares at 718-648-3745 or GBCleanup@aol.com and asking them to release them to GerritsenBeach.net
I have sent my e-mail to GBcares. As I stated on Facebook earlier, I think all three groups need to learn to work together. It is non-productive for one group to lockout the other. If all the groups work together I really think there is nothing you could not do.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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So true, so much potential with a combined effort going to waste.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
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Agreed, I do not represent any organization. Although I feel as though that it's the point of the site. I represent a independent third party view point, which people enjoy.
However, You are wrong. I am a due paying and good standing member of three organizations in the community. GBPOA, GBC and Cort Club.
…amazing. Why the hell are they doing this? Seems they had their own issues in the past but forgot them.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
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what goes around comes around. it seems like tit for tat. i'm awaiting e mail response fr nyc parks. maybe they'll tell us about "white island". by the way who renamed mau mau?
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Just wondering who gave GBC the right they have to represent GB at these meetings
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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GBC saw that work was being done on the island took our elected officials to the island. From there work was stopped untill studys and tests were performed. GBC then held meetings at the request of our elected officials that were only opened to reps. from each organization from the beach. So GBC helped prevent harmfull things from being done over there. So being that all organizations were equally represented at the meetings no one group was representing the beach they all were.
Maybe your question should have been why was the property owners assocation not at the helm of this instead, then they would have taken the minutes. By the way THE GBPOA REP. THAT ATTENDED ALL THESE MEETINGS SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION THAT IS NEEDED. Or go to the next GBPOA meeting and get your answers from them i am sure they will be happy to do a read back of their meeting minutes.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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"If you don’t know the truth, you can’t make an informed or educated decision, or even have an intelligent opinion on the issues that affect us all."
Why were these meetings only open to "reps. from each organization from the beach". So being that I feel that the public was not represented I feel as though I have to make my request public.
By the way, Why should I have to ask the property owners meeting (which I attend ALL) for minutes and information they do not have.
Oh and by the way, to be denied information is B.S.
Here is the last white island meeting we had in August 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpY_guHgc1c&featur…
and previous coverage:
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2008/06/27/this-is-…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/08/10/this-is-…
You're welcome.
Wasn't GB.net at the meeting? You reported on it. What info are you looking for that you missed while you were there?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Someone from the meeting told me that the GBPOA was to have the group of officials come down to a summer meeting and with the next set of plans, which are still not completed. What happened with that?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I also remember that Parks was supposed to come back in September (after the summer) for an update.
I'm not sure why that did not happen yet.
gb net breaks gb cares's balls all the time, you hardly ever gave them credit for cleaning up the area now look,you have to get people from mill basin who are paid to do a lousy job, good work . now you expect them to help you, i don't think so. i wonder if you will keep this posted.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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You are kidding me right? Have you seen the GBCares posts over the past 4 years? The good far outweighs everything and i always give credit where it's due.
I never said the mill basin people were paid lousy – mostly because they were volunteers, which means they weren't paid, but you would of known that if you read the post.
Also, as a matter of fact they did an excellent job but I only posted about it because it needed to be said because it was what everyone was thinking . The post said they are not needed because we already have GBC. Parks asked MillDev to come here because GBC does not have their house in order.
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/category/gbcares/
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/07/28/gb-games…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/06/15/gbcares-…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/06/01/gbcares-…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/05/26/event-pl…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/05/18/gbcares-…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/04/19/gbcares-…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/04/09/parkland…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/04/06/gbcares-…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/04/04/gbcares-…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/11/28/gbcares-…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/09/08/gbcares-…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/06/26/gbcares-…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/06/16/new-gerr…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/04/22/gb-cares…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/03/05/gb-cares…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/02/23/cleaning…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2008/11/30/christma…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2008/10/08/donating…
list all the bad comments you have made about them, will you do that?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I never written a bad comment on the site but since you have no idea on how to use the search or category sections of the site see below
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/09/24/censorsh…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/05/24/a-respon…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/04/08/freedom-…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/05/19/3855/
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/05/19/gb-cares…
http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/04/18/how-much…
thanks for the insult
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Only GB.net says that GBC doesn't have their house in order and once again he is wrong.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Apparently you have not talked with the GBC president.
Get your facts straight.
In our opinion: As of now, GBC is not 100% back and their future is uncertain. They are battling parks over an indemnity clause that is on the form for GBC's to start doing work again on the land.
It's a standard clause and they are refusing to sign it.
If they cannot stand alone on their original mission statement, they should rejoin the GBPOA.
How's this website wrong? Its been wrong reported over and over that GBcares does not have (maybe cannot afford) insurance. It is what it is – if anything this site helped point out that other community organizations have been better funded (perhaps unfairly). Maybe GBcares can step up and explain what the issue is and maybe get some help from readership/residents.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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you were at the meeting and you seem to have been taking notes, so what part didn't you understand? maybe you should post your notes, read them then you will understand what was said.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Here are my notes from that part of the meeting you didn't see.
you missed your calling ,you should be a cartoonist
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You need to check into a Psyco ward since you are so obsessed with attacking this non profit do good orginization. What is your issue and obsession with them and why?
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Funny how a few people come out and see me as the bad guy or that I am the psycho, it's a fair criticism but don't you think it's really the other way around?
This post is about the censorship that GBC underwent when they were at war with the GBPOA, and to some extent that war never ended.
However, They were the ones who wanted to provide the community with information and were getting locked out. N
I think it's psycho for a non profit community organization with a missions statement that says "Continually communicate to our and other community residents, organizations, politicians, government agencies, etc., to gather information and exchange ideas. This will increase our chances of "knowing something before its too late". " – And then knowingly withholds information that's psycho
I find your doodles very psychopathologically revealing I examined them in great detail.. Your use of phallic symbols {fire hydrant ,cactus, and baseball bats} would seem to indicate a deep rooted fear of male authority. Also includeing a drawing of a male deer is disturbing…You also would seem to have been deeply scared as a child as indicated by your fear of toys that most children laugh at..Your use of a baseball bat, to knock the head off another male is deeply disturbing and would indicate a penchant to violence… Although it is interesting that you strike from behind, so that you can;t be seen Another indication of your fear of male dominance and open confrontation. I also notice that your male and female figures are seperated Indicating a broken home life, with little love extended to you..Also 20×100 is not 4000, meaningless except your command of early math is stunted….It is my opinion that you are immature and childish.. And can be sneaky and underhanded if given the chance.. I do think that some psychotheraphy would help you work out your deep seated disorders….And help you grow to your adulthood….
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Apologies for wasting your time but I think I googled crazy meeting notes and I linked that pic back in may and re-pasted it here.
I also did it here http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2010/05/06/gbpoa-me…
http://deepfriar.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/meet…
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
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You did'nt waste my time, your drawings and doodles gave me a professional look into your head…. Kind of like a Rorschach Test for personality disorders would do…Without having you look at colored inkblots to determine your mental fitness….. If not now, then at some future date, if I were you I would seek a Female therapist to help you with your anger and resentments. Hopefully before you really do any physical harm to yourself or others….Just an observation !!!!!
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I said I google it. It's a joke. I didn't draw it.