I have been following this discussion with a great deal of interest. My opinion for what it is worth (and it may be worth very little), is that there is a lot of energy, good energy being wasted.
There are precious few CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIONS proposed by anyone. They are all philosophical, "I am right and you are wrong", or venting of frustration and anger directed at the wrong people. I would like the following goals for Observatory and of course, people my suggest further goals and we can perhaps examine them every year through the OCA AGM: 1. The restoration of a fun, multi ethnic, multi racial, multi cultural suburb, without hard drugs and health and safety violations, with clear noise free zones where children, men and women sleep. To allow Obs to decline plays into the mindset of racist stereotype thinking of the right wing and we should not allow this. 2. Respect for residents of all ages and colours by businesses and visitors to Observatory 3.The creation of an environment where petty crime and disrespect is not the norm but the exception 4.Clean streets without vandalism being visible on every street. 5. Support and Partnership with Law Enforcement for logical, consequent and consistent policing, depending on the context in which the suburb finds itself. 6. The creation of a sense of community and economic sustainability where businesses see a long term future as opposed to a quick buck. 7. Actively tackling/ communication the powers/ stakeholders that be; whether Province or City or University for non delivery or incompetence and active praise where there has been a problem-solving achievement We should all endeavor to ensure that we propose and debate constructive ACTIONS that promote the above goals. Best Regards Mervyn Maistry On Mar 22, 7:06 pm, Kris Marais <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks for that Teun. > I am committed to co operating with all concerned to resolve the crime > plague. > It's obvious that my response to your email to David Rahphael still rankles. > If you are willing I suggest we take the issue off-line and meet to > discuss and resolve it. > I am confident we can reach accord as we want the same things, > Kind regards, > Kris Marais. 0824512304teun wrote: > > Open letter to Mr Marais (and other Observatory residents) > > > Dear Mr Marais > > > I have noted your e-mail and those of the other people in Observatory. > > You accuse me of being disingenuous, so let's be candid. > > > I originally reacted rather angrily to an e-mail from Trevor Hughes. > > Where did that anger come from? After some soul-searching I must admit > > that it was not directed at Trevor, but at you. In a few e-mails, > > which you wrote to me and which were also published to other members > > of the Observatory community, you attacked me viciously and in a very > > personal manner while making the point that the Woodstock police was > > not doing enough in Observatory. When I read Trevor's e-mail, I > > somehow made the connection with your personal attack on me, probably > > because the subject of the e-mails (police (non)-action) was similar > > and made a remark generalising the Obs community. > > > I must concede that this was wrong of me and I sincerely apologise to > > the residents of Observatory. > > > Having said that, I would also like to make the point it is clear to > > me that once again crime did get the better of us. Not only can we > > fall victim to crime, but crime is also such a dividing, polarising > > and segregating force. In other words: crime divides and rules. And > > that is so wrong and disheartening. > > I am pretty sure that we all want the same thing and most of us are > > working hard to try and achieve this: to be able to live and work in a > > safe environment. We should not let squabbles among ourselves and > > pointing of fingers deter us from seeing the big picture. > > > I fell into that trap and I am very sorry about that. I hope that we > > can turn this into a hard lesson learned and move on from here in the > > right direction. > > > Best regards > > Teun Baartman > > > On Mar 21, 12:07 pm, Kris Marais <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> In my capacity as a resident and property owner in Observatory i > >> absolutely endorse Justin's message below. > >> Teun this is yet another example of the disingenuous tone of your recent > >> email wherein you make snide reference to 'Observatory' and it appears > >> to me you are "playing to the gallery." (the gallery? "anybody or group > >> of people copied in your email who would like to see Observatory insulted) > >> Kris Marais > > >> Justin Ashley wrote: > > >>> Teun, Trevor related a personal experience he had and objected to, > >>> which is his democratic right. He did not make any attempt to > >>> indicate that the views he expressed were representative of any > >>> organisation or community. > > >>> The first two paragraphs or your initial reply to his post are > >>> reasonable and clear. The gratuitous insult to the Observatory > >>> community that you decided to throw into your last paragraph is > >>> offensive and untrue, and I think deserves an apology from you. > > >>> Regards > > >>> Justin > > >>> *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] *On > >>> Behalf Of *Teun Baartman > >>> *Sent:* 19 March 2010 08:55 AM > >>> *To:* Trevor Hughes > >>> *Cc:* [email protected]; Brian & Sue Amery; Woodstock SAPS; David > >>> Raphael; Cedric Thomas > >>> *Subject:* [obsnw] Re: Police harassment > > >>> As I said: I'm not an expert. Let's wait for the police reply. > > >>> Still does not take away the fact that apparently the Obs community is > >>> in two minds about what it wants. > > >>> Regards > > >>> Teun > > >>> On 19 March 2010 08:42, Trevor Hughes <[email protected] > >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > >>> On Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 8:09 AM, Trevor Hughes <[email protected] > >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > >>>> Quoted from the constitution:- > > >>>> 14. Privacy > > >>>> Everyone has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to > > >>> have > > >>>> 1. their person or home searched; > >>>> 2. their property searched; > >>>> 3. their possessions seized; or > >>>> 4. the privacy of their communications infringed. > > >>>> Its pretty clear! > > >>>> Trev > > >>> 2. Supremacy of Constitution > > >>> This Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic; law or conduct > >>> inconsistent with it is invalid, and the obligations imposed by it > >>> must be fulfilled. > > >>> Makes you think ......... > > >>> -- > >>> Teun Baartman > >>> 083 298 1009 > >>> 021 448 3584 > > >>> Please consider the environment before you print this e-mail!! > > >>> -- > >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > >>> Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. > > >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >>> [email protected] > >>> For more options, visit this group at > >>>http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en > > >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >>> obsnw+unsubscribegooglegroups.com or reply to this email with the > >>> words "REMOVE ME" as the subject. > > >>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > >>> signature database 4957 (20100319) __________ > > >>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > >>>http://www.eset.com > >>> -- > >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > >>> Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. > > >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >>> [email protected] > >>> For more options, visit this group at > >>>http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en > > >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >>> obsnw+unsubscribegooglegroups.com or reply to this email with the > >>> words "REMOVE ME" as the subject. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. 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