PJNY.ORG asked to be included in the "Helpful Links" section of the City Of Port Jervis website and was told "No", the reason given was that because it is a municipal website they were not going to include any business's websites.

While speaking with the Mayors secretary (also the city webmaster) I asked how that could be since there were other business websites already on the Port Jervis City website. I was then told that the exception was made for one company because they are a media site and cover Port Jervis. I pointed out that PJNY.ORG posts stories on Port Jervis and that in fact the other site is Canadian based, focusing on Middletown and covers some Port Jervis news. PJNY.ORG is a Port Jervis community site, and posts stories about Port Jervis from Port Jervis, and Port Jervians.

It was then explained to me that there was a difference between a legitimate media site and a personal website. That if she allowed one Port Jervian's site into the links section that she would have to allow all Port Jervian's to be included. I then informed her that we have a DBA and were not a personal website, and I thought any Port Jervian who wants to be included and asks should be included. I was then told that having a DBA for a local website did not matter.

After pursuing my points that as a Port Jervis website we should be included first because she has already included more then a few others, second because she is linking to third party commercial sites who have absolutely no ties to Port Jervis (some not even in this country), or third, I am sure have not even asked to include their links on the Port Jervis City website. Let alone call, or meet with the Mayor, or address the Port Jervis City Council.

Not having another better reason to deny PJNY.ORG a link she finally said that this was a matter for the city council to decide. She would run this by them and get back to me. I asked when the next common council meeting was, that I would come down and find out my self. Her reply was that I did not have to but I could if I wanted. I asked if the city council had reviewed and approved each and every one of the other already linked third party commercial websites. No answer.

If they have not approved each individually why are we getting such special treatment? Does she alone really get to decide which residents are worthy to be represented? Government should reflect ALL the people not just the people some find more palatable.

She is wrong to exclude PJNY.ORG from the city website. When the city site was using my photos and graphics I was good enough to link to, but now that she now has no use for me I am suddenly excluded. I will be bringing this to the attention of my representatives on the city council. I will also be posting updates on our progress of getting listed on a website we help pay for.

Up Date: November 13th,

Today I went to the Mayors office and sat and spoke with him about this situation. Basically he said that they have a "no" policy on the website, that they were telling everyone "no" who is asking to be included. I stated that there were already links to sites such as AARP, The LA Times, and many more sites that have nothing to do with Port Jervis. He was un aware that there were links already published.

(examples)

Happy Neuron: Brain Fitness - Try the fun games and activities here to keep your brain young.

LA Times Daily Crossword- The interactive, online version of this popular crossword puzzle also offers a printable version to take on the go.

Merriam Webster - Online Word Games - Play classic games or choose the game of the day at the home of this popular online dictionary.

National Senior Games Association - A non-profit organization dedicated to motivating senior men and women to lead a healthy lifestyle through the senior games movement.

Play With Your Mind - The original word games at this site offers plenty to give your brain a workout.

I filed a FOIL Form asking the Common Council if they pre reviewed all the existing links and voted on each of them. I also asked if they did where could I gain access to the voting record as well as the standard each was held to in order to be approved.

For those of you who do not know how this works, The City Clerk now has five business days to get me the answers, at a cost to me of .25 cents a page.

I plan on taking these findings to the Common Council and ask why PJNY.ORG has had to go to such great lengths to be included while others have not even had to ask or be held to any standard to be included.

The city webmaster took down all the other links while I was speaking to the Mayor. Which leaves me to wonder why she would deny another sliver of our population access to information in order not to have to give them access to PJNY.ORG as well. My Grandmother has a term for this, she calls it cutting off your nose to spite your face. This is not professional or how government should work.

In any case the links were live while we were denied to be included. Port Jervians deserve answers as to how this benifits us as a community. To ask the city of Port Jervis to include any resident or business who asks to be included with easy and not all this effort. Our municipal web site should represent all the citys residents and all of us should have equal access.

Up Date: November 23th,

Today I picked up the FOIL form responce and was shocked to see that the person responding to my Freedom Of Information Act Form was non other then the mayors secratary (also the city webmaster), even though the form was directed to the Common Council. Despite the fact that this in it's self seems very un ethical, the note she wrote in red pen at the top of the form clearly states "Note - FOIL is to request copies of existing documents ONLY - DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS - " The answer to my questions on the FOIL Form "NO WRIITEN POLICY AVAILABLE".

This is clearly discrimination. I believe un ethical, and completely un acceptable. While having a not so "no to all" policy locally she was promoting business's every where else at will, while applying her personal prefrences.

I did attend the city council meeting tonight and chose to hold off addressing the council publicly until I had the chance to make them aware of the facts privately since this has been placed solely in their laps.

I waited until the end of the meeting and did speak to one of my ward councilmen along with both my incumbent councilmen privately. I am hoping they can help resolve these issues.

Here is the FOIL form.

Also see:

Pike County Press Article

(this is an interesting read for those who want to know more)

Tags: Port Jervis New York PJNY.ORG