David Branan’s Thoughts on Citizen Activism

David Branan – school board and planning board member, wrote the following (his own views, and not intended to represent the views of any boards on which he serves):

These are entirely my own thoughts and I have not consulted with anyone else prior to writing this.

I know the people involved in North Plainfield Citizens for Community Rights are sincere in their beliefs and genuinely want to effect positive change for North Plainfield.

However, I was highly disturbed by reading this quote from the CCR blog, and I am writing with a plea that concerned residents working to resolve local issues also work to arrest what I see as a troubling trend in that work.

“the process for requesting a full financial/operational audit of NP by the State or even the GAO…” mentioning the high taxes, “unacceptable services” and the poor quality of the schools as possible signs that there’s some “fund misappropriation by the administration, and perhaps even criminal activity.”

While I generally support grass roots activities such as yours that breath new life into potentially stagnant communities, there is a danger that success can breed a crossover to an “anti” organization whose sole purpose is to tear things down without thought to rebuilding afterward. The degree of hatred I see emerging recently is unfitting to what started out as a noble enterprise to expand participation in local government. Looking beyond the issue of Villa Maria, many of the other local issues that are often mentioned, transcend the confines of the present administration, and date from times when others held the mantle of power.

My personal opinion is that there can be a very fine line drawn between activism in support of a good cause, and viciousness that serves the self-gratification of a small minority. To suggest that myself, my fellow Board of Education members, or the present school administration are engaging in self-aggrandizement borders on the slanderous. I annually sign a financial disclosure statement listing all sources of income as required under state law. My purpose in becoming involved with the Board of Education was entirely based on the fact that, at the time, I had 2 children enrolled in the schools and wanted to have some impact on what might happen to the schools in the light of the ever-increasing squeeze between operational costs and realistic tax levies.

As a parents yourselves, many of you too must feel this type of concern. I finally had the opportunity to become involved in 2005 when I transitioned to a new job within my company that did not require extensive travel. I have learned a great deal about what a board member can and cannot do, and what degree of influence we can have. I have never sought to achieve any financial gain from my involvement with the board.

Please, do not let your group get drawn down this path. Be very careful of those who may have alternate agendas that don’t necessarily align with your group’s stated nonpartisan intentions to inform and empower all residents toward more public discussion and more meaningful self-governance. I have seen many marriages of convenience disintegrate after the short term goals are achieved.

I implore all of you to take care with your group’s direction. Don’t make it an organization of hatred and destruction.