The EU Manifesto

A whole lot of people do not really get what we here at Easton UnDressed are trying to accomplish. So let me “lay it bare”. I am the House of Crayons or HOC, my partner here is Badapple or BA. We started this blog on October 17, 2005. When I said the words, “Let’s start a blog”—I had never actually laid eyes on a web log (blog). I Googled the word “blog” and selected Google’s Blogger client as the home for our blog. A few hours later EU was live.

We chose our psuedo-anonymity for a few reasons. At first, we were not sure what we would write; and we needed a shield. But as the mission was taking shape our pen names served totally different purposes. The first was to emphasize the message over the messengers-- we did not want EU to be about us two; we wanted it to be about us 26,000. And the last by-product of our secret identities was (and is) the pure entertainment value-- It is an EU hobby; trying to figure out who is who.

When we began EU the issue de jure was the City’s proposal to let the State Theatre slide on its final two years of a one million dollar loan from the taxpayers of Easton. That balance has become our mantra $252,700.00. You can read all about that tragedy here.

The first blog post was pretty much a rant. And over the next few weeks we started to mold the EUniverse. Our intent was (and still is) to create an interactive information clearinghouse on all things and issues Easton. In those first weeks we piled on the content. We did top 10 lists, posted comics, added pictures, and ran polls. But the two most effective pieces of content we added were, without a doubt, audio files (public meetings and our podcast) and the infamous tag board.

Let me start with the tag board…
The tag board is an application that is actually not a part of the blog. The board we currently use is the third tag board we’ve used. The first was free crap, the second-- conveniently named Tag Board --was only slightly more reliable, and the third has been a charm at $2.00/month the cbox tag board has been stalwart.
Now, we have discovered that; for the most part; the tag board has served as the blog’s gatekeeper. Some people are so challenged by the reverse scrolling and automatic updating that they give up on EU before delving into any other content we offer. Others are drugged by the almost-instant gratification of the tag board. Now, some of the latter group overindulges in the tag board when they discover it. Our researchers are unsure of how their overindulgence effects their long term participation in the EUniverse. But our third subset; the instant gratifiers in-moderation; are what we’ve come to consider "the tone". "The tone" of the tag board is an indicator of a few things. 1) Current events 2) Interesting topicality and 3) Blog posts.
We never—actually, I never intended for the tag board to dominate the blog like it does. I’m not so sure about my partner BA (Queen of the Chat) though. But it is what it is.

The most entertaining aspect of the EUniverse is Easton UnPlugged; our podcast. In this, BA and I relax with refreshments and friends while we discuss the current Eastonian issues. We record and syndicate/podcast our sessions as a regular feature. The podcasts have been on hold for the summer months, but we are gearing up for a more robust season 2. Stay tuned!

The meat and potatoes of Easton UnDressed is the blog posts. We have worked extremely hard to make our posts items of truth. We cite our information meticulously, and we post the cited documents and recordings. Our recordings are what really set us apart from other blogs. We have built a useful library of press conferences and public meetings, and our uninterrupted string of City Council meetings is the jewel of our collection.

That’s the blog… Easton UnDressed, EU, the EUniverse in a nut shell. Those are our tools, and our manifesto really begins here…

What we are, what we are about… BA and I are patriots; Eastonian patriots. We, along with a core group of fellow Epatriots, have dedicated ourselves to maintaining and protecting our home, Easton. We promote the very basic principles of “clean and safe”. Clean and safe streets along with ethical and secure governing. We use the pneumonic “iIA!” (interest, Ideas, ACTION!) to direct our efforts. We are activists, pundits, and good neighbors. Our focus is simple and direct for a reason; we mean to accomplish our mission.


Our Mission

To provide a clean, crime-free, and safe environment with competitive services that allows residents to enjoy a high quality of life, while providing commerce an environment to thrive.

Your neighbors

"Good Things" Vs "Problems"

We have noticed a rather disturbing trend in regards to public comments during City Council meetings. More and more we see people that come to the microphone berated and vilified by public officials. Because we express our concerns about the city, we have to endure indignation and anger.

We should not be the focus of that indignation and anger. We go there as messengers. We see problems and come seeking solutions. We are not there just to complain. We are there seeking help from Council and the Mayor-- Help and guidance to solve our city’s problems.

Council members continually attempt to rebut our concerns with dissertations on the “good things” about Easton, and there is no denying that there are many “good things” about Easton. But a “good thing” from my perspective is a goal that has been accomplished. A “good thing” stands alone as a mark of success. “Good Things” have already received the required investment of time, energy and money; either by the City, a group(s), or individuals.

A “problem”, on the other hand, is something that effects citizens in a negative way and has not found solution. It may not have yet been identified as something that needs attention. “Problems” have not yet received the necessary investments.

A “good thing” is an ending that will be recognized, and it will usually lose the spotlight quickly. However, if we allow ourselves to bask and gloat in the spotlight of a “good thing” for too long we will waste precious time necessary to change more “problems” into “good things”.

Our elected officials must realize that this means that public comments will be disproportionately spent on “problems”… This is not specific to Easton, and this is not a bad thing. It is just part of the process of moving a “problem” to a “good thing”. Ignoring the “problem“ will cause it to be repeated over and over again, instead of evolving it into a “good thing”.

A “problem” in itself should not reflect poorly on an elected official, but a lack of interest or concern by an official will. You are our leaders; you need to lead us in converting “problems” into “good things”. Standing in the spotlight too long only blinds you to “problems” that require your investment.

BadApple

City Council Meeting Audio 09/27/06

We experienced some technical difficulty in this short 1 hour Council meeting. 5 minutes of audio is missing (Terrance Hand's pool summary). The meeting was ended with a 5 minute statement from the City Clerk. The Fire Chief also gave a summary of the fire departments business (during the public safety committee report-- after the 1st public comment segment).

Audio (6.25Mb)

Your neighbors

CRIME ON THE HILL

College Hill is a mixed-use neighborhood, comprised of residences, commercial properties, city parks, and Lafayette College. We all expect to know if there is crime in our neighborhood so that we may protect our properties and ourselves.

In the past few weeks there have been at least four car thefts in College Hill. Two vehicles were damaged by hit and run. Another vehicle was vandalized and contents were stolen. This is just the news that we have been told by the victims that we know; there must be more crime than this. Isn’t this worthy of a story? I’m just asking.

The residents of College Hill should know that they are not safe. This is not the invulnerable neighborhood it once was. We must lock our doors, buy a big dog, and put our cars in our garages…if we have one.

Is it possible that our current City administration has reduced Police staffing to its very limits? Such limits, allowing criminals to work quite freely here on the Hill?

Why doesn’t the Express-Times report crimes in College Hill? Does the City withhold this information from the Express-Times or does the Express-Times just withhold it from us?

I’m Just Asking.

City Council Meeting Audio 09/13/06 (The Meeting of Love)

This meeting is in two parts, because the first hour was the VERY IMPORTANT 1st of 2 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public hearings. Audio(6Mb)

This meeting was disturbing to us in more ways than one. Council and the Administration had a pretty long and very praise-filled exchange with the police brass. Several speakers were chewed out by Council for expressing disdain, and HOC/EU took a blasting from an unsatisfied West Ward neighbor. Audio (14.4Mb)

Your Neighbors

City Council Water Hearing 09/12/2006

Here is the audio of last evening’s City Council public hearing on the water works proposal. The hearing was an hour long. There was no presentation or comment from the Mayor’s office. Missy Corrado President of AFSCME Local 447 very eloquently represented her union. They also received excellent support from their parent organization, AFSCME District Council 33.

Council members reserved MOST of their comments until the public was finished.

Audio (8Mb)