This year’s Westborough Annual Town Meeting Warrant contains twelve non-binding articles added through the Citizens Petition process. In my opinion, they are an attempt to hijack Town Meeting’s legislative process to advance a narrow ideological agenda.
Westborough has over 21,000 residents, but only a tiny fraction attend Town Meeting, vote in local elections, run for office, or volunteer for town committees. It appears most of us are complacent or indifferent about the Town’s governance.
That time has passed. Complacency and indifference can lead to outcomes that many of us vehemently disagree with. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
The twelve articles range from the now infamous “Townie Baby” incentive plan to banning anti-racism education in our schools. Some of these articles seem benign, until one reads the article information which goes along with them. I think the text is frightening.
If you agree with the political agenda, great, advocate and vote for them. If you don’t, the first thing you should do is show up to Town Meeting. Second, if you oppose the articles, I recommend you say nothing and use your vote to defeat them.
Why would I say that? If we spend an even a half our debating each article, we play into the agenda of the Articles’ proponents. All of the Articles are non-binding and won’t change anything so why waste time debating them? Quoting President Obama – “Don’t get angry – vote.”
The only positive I can see is that this nonsense will compel residents to stop being complacent and indifferent because there are real costs. Vote on March 12th for candidates whose positions you agree with and participate in Town Meeting on March.
Andrew Koenigsberg
Westborough
