In the frigid cold, a group of Elmwood Park residents gathered near the Village Circle entrance to mark the anniversary of Trump's second term with a protest.
The protest was promoted by EPNU on their socials (as well as the official Free America Site), not by the Advocate. But to be clear I have never been or never will be worried about ‘blow back’.
"But Sara Lindsay, an Elmwood Park resident and deputy editor for the Elmwood Park Advocate, wanted to change that. She joined Rogel in planning the protest."
Making statements such as this yet promoting political neutrality of the advocate should worry you a bit as you have been warned of such actions and the ability to continue the community conversations. As pointed out In the articles about the library.
As a deputy editor you represent the advocate. Now going to such a protest is one thing but organizing is a totally different thing.
I am glad after I mentioned in a back and forth with a few of you that the new group happened for you all. It really cleaned up the feed and the drama on the community group. Hopefully it has help you all too to feel better and or supported in a safe environment
You're correct that Sara Lindsay represents the newsletter, and the publication was transparent about Sara's independent role in the protest. This newsletter is a free publication that derives next to no income from any particular source. It's unfair to demand those willing to be involved to abandon or hide their politics. We prefer honesty with readers if opinions are to be shared.
The newsletter is not politically neutral on the question of whether masked ICE agents clad in military-style gear should be able to shoot and kill people in this country without any accountability. The newsletter is not politically neutral on the question of whether masked ICE agents clad in military-style gear should be able to go door-to-door without a warrant and force their way into the homes of non-white residents, who do not comply with their demands.
We are not politically neutral when it comes to the question of whether the government should be able to run roughshod over rights to freedom of the press and the broader First Amendment, making it harder for community newsletters to exercise their rights in this country. We are not politically neutral on the question of whether the government should be able to violate the right of all Americans to record or film police that are deployed into communities.
So your not a politically neutral publication or organization that clears things up thank you for that.
You are really not representing the community as a whole but biased towardsa certain political leaning. This is totally fine but just present yourself as such not as some neutral editorial newsletter.
I do not find it unfair to ask folks to not participate in political discord if they are representing an orginization that is suppose to advocate for the whole community and is asking not to be judged as a political activist group. Which was one of your points of contention with the library.
"The Elmwood Park Advocate is a not-for-profit news publication founded by residents of Elmwood Park, Illinois. The newsletter is intended to fill a void by offering fellow residents a reliable source for news, information, and commentary about the village. Those involved hope that the publication will promote accountability and encourage engagement with the local government."
Everything else you're injecting into this discussion is distraction and noise. I think you should present yourself honestly. There's something about what I built over the past 8-9 months that you've never liked. It's okay if it's not for you. There are hundreds if not thousands of other residents in Elmwood Park, who already see the benefit.
I do not like that you are not honest about being a leftist leaning newsletter.
It is ok to admit that your a leftist publication. But folks should know this in clear way.
I was hopeful at first you would be centrist on things but in the 9 months as you said have evolved it has become evident you are very strongly one-sided on things. I am sure that is in part because right now the gov took a swing opposite of you belief structure. You agitated and this is your outlet.
We will see how things evolve over the next decade. Maybe the town will swing in a way you find more safe to exist in.
Ethier way I am not going to avoid comment on these articles. I believe it is important to have another point of view and not just echo chamber comments patting you on the back.
I will say I did debate emailing the library director after you last comment. But I choose not to because I also understand folks with political leanings such as shown here need those groups to decompress and it is important you all do not evolve into something worse.
I do not think politics belong in publicly paid for spaces and as you community group meetings are directly tied to the news letter I do find that concerning when I see the co editor organizing such out of town antics.
This town has always had a very centrist way of things. There has been a good mix of the left and the right to keep balance here. Conservative but left and right conservative. I do not want to see the town devolve to something less then centrist
Surprised you did not share this to the community groups.
Worried it may get some blow back?
The protest was promoted by EPNU on their socials (as well as the official Free America Site), not by the Advocate. But to be clear I have never been or never will be worried about ‘blow back’.
"But Sara Lindsay, an Elmwood Park resident and deputy editor for the Elmwood Park Advocate, wanted to change that. She joined Rogel in planning the protest."
Making statements such as this yet promoting political neutrality of the advocate should worry you a bit as you have been warned of such actions and the ability to continue the community conversations. As pointed out In the articles about the library.
As a deputy editor you represent the advocate. Now going to such a protest is one thing but organizing is a totally different thing.
I am glad after I mentioned in a back and forth with a few of you that the new group happened for you all. It really cleaned up the feed and the drama on the community group. Hopefully it has help you all too to feel better and or supported in a safe environment
You're correct that Sara Lindsay represents the newsletter, and the publication was transparent about Sara's independent role in the protest. This newsletter is a free publication that derives next to no income from any particular source. It's unfair to demand those willing to be involved to abandon or hide their politics. We prefer honesty with readers if opinions are to be shared.
The newsletter is not politically neutral on the question of whether masked ICE agents clad in military-style gear should be able to shoot and kill people in this country without any accountability. The newsletter is not politically neutral on the question of whether masked ICE agents clad in military-style gear should be able to go door-to-door without a warrant and force their way into the homes of non-white residents, who do not comply with their demands.
We are not politically neutral when it comes to the question of whether the government should be able to run roughshod over rights to freedom of the press and the broader First Amendment, making it harder for community newsletters to exercise their rights in this country. We are not politically neutral on the question of whether the government should be able to violate the right of all Americans to record or film police that are deployed into communities.
I hope that is clear enough for you.
—Kevin Gosztola
So your not a politically neutral publication or organization that clears things up thank you for that.
You are really not representing the community as a whole but biased towardsa certain political leaning. This is totally fine but just present yourself as such not as some neutral editorial newsletter.
I do not find it unfair to ask folks to not participate in political discord if they are representing an orginization that is suppose to advocate for the whole community and is asking not to be judged as a political activist group. Which was one of your points of contention with the library.
This is how the newsletter has presented itself:
"The Elmwood Park Advocate is a not-for-profit news publication founded by residents of Elmwood Park, Illinois. The newsletter is intended to fill a void by offering fellow residents a reliable source for news, information, and commentary about the village. Those involved hope that the publication will promote accountability and encourage engagement with the local government."
Everything else you're injecting into this discussion is distraction and noise. I think you should present yourself honestly. There's something about what I built over the past 8-9 months that you've never liked. It's okay if it's not for you. There are hundreds if not thousands of other residents in Elmwood Park, who already see the benefit.
—Kevin Gosztola
I do not like that you are not honest about being a leftist leaning newsletter.
It is ok to admit that your a leftist publication. But folks should know this in clear way.
I was hopeful at first you would be centrist on things but in the 9 months as you said have evolved it has become evident you are very strongly one-sided on things. I am sure that is in part because right now the gov took a swing opposite of you belief structure. You agitated and this is your outlet.
We will see how things evolve over the next decade. Maybe the town will swing in a way you find more safe to exist in.
Ethier way I am not going to avoid comment on these articles. I believe it is important to have another point of view and not just echo chamber comments patting you on the back.
I will say I did debate emailing the library director after you last comment. But I choose not to because I also understand folks with political leanings such as shown here need those groups to decompress and it is important you all do not evolve into something worse.
I do not think politics belong in publicly paid for spaces and as you community group meetings are directly tied to the news letter I do find that concerning when I see the co editor organizing such out of town antics.
This town has always had a very centrist way of things. There has been a good mix of the left and the right to keep balance here. Conservative but left and right conservative. I do not want to see the town devolve to something less then centrist
Is an Indivisible Elmwood Park out there?