Corey: Phongsavanh Should Resign, Appointed School Committee Welcome
Mywoonsocket.com editor breaks editorial voice silence.
It's been about two years since Lorraine Corey launched Mywoonsocket.com in the late fall of 2010.
The information site for local government information includes links to agendas for various upcoming government meetings, the city charter, and recent top news stories.
One thing the site hasn't provided is editorials, a self-imposed rule, as Corey describes it. Last week, Corey broke that rule to speak her mind on a recent op/ed piece by School Committee Chair Vimala Phongsavanh wrote that was posted on the Woonsocket Call's website Nov. 18.
Corey took issue with Phongsavanh's statement, "Without children of their own or a deep connection to the community, many senior citizens are unwilling to support our local school system, especially if it involves paying a dollar more in property taxes."
"Ms. Phongsavanh, you need to visit the Museum of Work and Culture to get a bit of a history lesson about the connection to the community our seniors have with Woonsocket," Corey respsonded, "Learn how many have worked in mills to build this community, and pay taxes, and build churches, and build schools."
Corey also noted an apparent contradiction in Phongsavanh's views on school department finances. "Did you not appoint a school committee member to the finance sub-committee who agreed with you that too much time was spent on the budget? Did you not devote most of your commentary on financing the school department?," Corey wrote.
Finally, Corey called for the School Committee Chair's resignation. "Madam Chair, as a registered voter, and a taxpayer of Woonsocket…a senior citizen taxpayer of Woonsocket, I am asking you to resign as chairperson of the Woonsocket School Committee."
Chris12
9:11 am on Monday, December 17, 2012
Ms. Phongsavanh it is the financial ignorance of civic leaders like you that is destroying cities, towns, and states across the country.
In your defense you did not get on the school committee by accident.
Mr.
9:11 am on Monday, December 17, 2012
Bravo ! Bravo ! Mrs. Corey hit the nail right on the head. I keep seeing Ms. Phongsavanh's columns in the newspaper and get more disgusted every time. She really thinks that the school committee shouldnt worry about finances and that the taxpayers should just keep forking over more and more. Thats what got us into this mess in the first place. Thankfully there will be an appointed school committee next time and I only hope that she and the others that tthink like her never see public office again. Its no surprise to me that a liberal "community organizer" like her would criticize our senior citizens. The seniors are the hard workers who actually built this community, Phongsavanh seems to be against anyone who has a good work ethic. Great Job Mrs Corey and Good Riddance Ms. Phongsavanh.
XBOXONE RULES
11:16 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Yeah that was back in the 60's there not paying anything in those highrises or nursing homes. Whats the percentage of seniors in this city that still pay taxes on a property? Liberals or conservative it doesnt matter the chairwoman has no clue what she is doing simple as that.