Last nights Council meeting took a shocking and disgraceful turn before it even began, leaving both council members and residents appalled by a series of deliberate actions seemingly designed to inconvenience and humiliate attendees.
In an unprecedented move, Mayor Joshi who also serves as the Public Safety Director had police lock the doors to the building until a mere 15 minutes before the scheduled start time, forcing attendees to stand outside in the rain. To further exacerbate the situation, the usual main entrance, conveniently sheltered by an overhang, was inexplicably closed. Instead, attendees were redirected to a side entrance accessible only by a steep ramp, creating an unnecessary obstacle for everyone, particularly those with mobility challenges.
“I am incensed about this situation that took place outside at the beginning of the meeting. I don’t understand what this new traffic pattern is all about, but it seems to be a pretty failed science experiment.” said Councilwoman Margot Harris. “To have people, not just people with disabilities, who are standing out in the rain waiting to come in here, then you talk about the people with disabilities and you’re talking about ramps that seem to be substandard and dangerous. This is an outrage. We should and we could do better.”
Adding insult to injury, the parking lot adjacent to the side entrance was also closed, compelling attendees to park farther away and navigate additional obstacles to reach the meeting. This series of actions appeared calculated to create discomfort and send a clear message of disregard for the public’s time and well-being.
“Who kept everyone out in the rain? When this started was that also the township administration, was that directed to happen from the public safety director who’s also the mayor” asked resident Nick Fagan, “Or was that the chief, so did the chief give the order, or did he get the order from the mayor” he asked without being answered.
To compound the absurdity, attendees were initially informed by the police that the main entrance was closed due to a malfunctioning elevator. However, this claim was quickly exposed as a lie, as multiple individuals were observed using the elevator throughout the meeting. This blatant falsehood only served to deepen the sense of distrust and outrage among those present.
The administrations actions have left many questioning their motives and commitment to transparency and public engagement. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability and respect for the community, principles that the Council appears to have utterly abandoned.
