Freedom of Speech outlawed in Mount Pleasant

Recently, campaign-like signs have sprouted up along the roadways throughout the Town, calling for the resignation of Town Supervisor Joan Maybury.  The signs made reference to "Voter Fraud" and "Civil Rights Violations".  It is apparent that these signs struck a nerve in Town Hall, as many of the signs have conveniently "disappeared" overnight - some witnesses stated that they saw a tall white male, driving a white/light colored SUV, taking down the signs Tuesday evening, during the time that the Town Board Meeting was taking place.

Regarding the content of the signs - the reference to the "Civil Rights Violations" obviously relates to the lawsuit that has been filed against Supervisor Maybury in Federal Court (Southern District of New York) Case # 7:14-cv-01896-CS.  That suit charges the Supervisor with violations of Title 42 of the United Stated Code, Chapter 21 (Civil Rights) and violation of the rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution.  While the Supervisor doesn't want this matter discussed out in the open, and is doing everything in her power to keep it quiet, the public has a right to know what their elected officials have been up to.  Does the Town need, or want, a Supervisor who thinks nothing of violating the Constitutional Rights of others?  We live in America, where our Freedoms and their protection are of paramount importance.  If the Supervisor can restrict the Freedoms of one individual, she can restrict the Freedoms of all; including YOUR FREEDOM! 

The reference to "Voter Fraud" could relate to any number of election issues involving local elected officials.  It could refer to the fact that 26 Mt. Pleasant residents were denied the right to run for election to Republican County Committee Member (District Leader) positions last year.  Or, it could relate to the fact that certain candidates don't believe that they need to follow the Election Law.  For example, during the 2013 elections,  a Republican Designating Petition was circulated naming Town Clerk Patricia Brennan-Scova for the position of "Member of the Westchester County Republican Committee" from the 19th Election District of Mt. Pleasant.  According to the requirements imposed by the Board of Elections, for a candidate to be placed on the ballot for the position cited, the candidate would need to submit nineteen (19) legitimate signatures from residents of that Election District (19th), on the petition.  Two individuals collected signatures on the "Scova" petition, and together they collected a grand total of only seven (7) signatures, far below the required number needed to qualify.  This petition clearly did not meet the standard required.  Yet, even though the petition was clearly invalid, it was submitted to the Westchester County Board of Elections by "Candidate Scova".  Thereafter, Town Clerk Scova's name was placed on the ballot; and, she garnered the position of Committee Member (District Leader); albeit improperly. 

Now, who were the two individuals who collected the signatures on Town Clerk Scova's petition?  They were none other than the Town Clerk, Patricia Brennan-Scova herself, and the Town Supervisor, Joan Maybury.  Hard to believe that two seasoned political veterans such as these, wouldn't know the law, or, the number of signatures that were required to submit a legally valid petition.  Or, did they even care about the law; since they seem to feel so far above it.  As we have witnessed in so many cases in Mt. Pleasant, the law apparently does not apply to the "ruling class".  The elected officials of the Town seem to feel "entitled".  The law and rules and regulations only apply to the regular residents, who are not part of the "inner circle".  Also please note that the position discussed above, County Committeeman or District Leader, is a critical position in the election process.  For it is the Committeemen or District Leaders who control the endorsement and nomination of Candidates.  Here in Mt. Pleasant, the same small group of individuals has controlled the nominating/endorsement process for decades, resulting in no real open election process in the Town, and no realistic opposition to the incumbents, to provide the voters with a choice of candidates.  The one candidate system has flourished here in Mt. Pleasant for decades - very similar to what we see in Dictatorships around the world, where the Dictator is the only candidate running in the election.

So, as you can see, the references to "Voter Fraud" and "Civil Rights Violations" as presented on the signs were 100% totally accurate.  However, the Supervisor has tried to distance herself from the TRUTH and attempts to portray the signs as inaccurate and an attack on her.  Well, unfortunately for the Supervisor, the TRUTH is the TRUTH and sometimes it hurts.  Supervisor Maybury should be held responsible for her actions.  She is a public servant and accountable to the people. 

At the end of last nights Town Board meeting, the Supervisor mumbled some remarks about the signs and tried to dismiss them as the work of a local business owner.  The Supervisor is obviously in denial.  The facts support the content of the signs.  And, the signs are an example of exercising "Free Speech" as guaranteed by the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution.  Supervisor Maybury simply does not like the fact that her actions have finally been exposed to the public and the public can see exactly the type of individual that she really is.  Her conduct is despicable.  Removing (taking down) the signs, doesn't remove the problem or change the FACTS.  It just reinforces the fact that Supervisor Maybury does not believe in our United States Constitution and the FREEDOMS that it provides.  Supervisor Maybury does not believe that the PEOPLE have a right to express their opinion.  Mount Pleasant deserves better - the PEOPLE deserve a Supervisor who supports our CONSTITUTION and does not attempt to restrict the FREEDOM of the residents.

As the sign so accurately states:  "JOAN MAYBURY MUST RESIGN".  For the good of this community, she needs to do so IMMEDIATELY!