Republished with the permission of the Greene County Weasel Wackers.
Since the death of George Acker, chairman of the Greene County Independence party several months ago, Weasel Whackers went on hold for several weeks. Then came Coronavirus (CoVID-19) and all hell broke loose; we decided that there was so much going on that it would be unfair to burden our readers with any more information on politics.
In addition, with the infection control measures put in place internationally, including social distancing and isolation, there wasn’t much at all going on in local politics.
Self-appointed County “Chairlady” May Kill the Greene County NY Independence Party!
That appears to have changed somehow behind the scenes, in what we’d have to call secrecy, and has only just come to light somewhat indirectly.
It appears that Ms Irene Beede, former administrative assistant to the late Chairman George Acker Sr., has made herself “Chairlady” (her terminology) of the Greene County Independence Party.
I use the phraseology “behind the scenes,” “secrecy,” and “made herself ‘Chairlady,” because I am a sitting Greene County Independence Party Committee Member — or was — and never heard a word about Ms Beede being appointed, not elected, to be chair of the county party. I find that somewhat bizarre and undemocratic; as such, it certainly does not speak well of the Independence Party operations nor of any democratic process within the county party roles.
This became even more evident in a recent exchange on FaceBook when a sitting party committeeperson responded to a post by another organization on the GCNYIP Facebook page. Ms Beede’s responses are egregious and unacceptable in my opinion, and do not reflect good leadership nor the principles of the Independence Party.
In response to a post on the Greene County NY Independence Party Facebook page, the Greene County Taxpayers Association shared a post about Gov. A. Cuomo’s decision “Cuomo rules construction work is not ‘essential’ – forcing most building to halt amid coronavirus,” (New York Daily News, March 27, 2020), in which the poster, an outspoken opponent of the new Greene County detention facility (“jail”), complained that construction was continuing on the facility, a sitting Greene County NY Independence Party committee member then in good standing responded.
This is not Independence Party Business. I have not commented on the several previous posts but if your Association has something to publish that runs along Association lines or is generally political but not Independence Party, please publish on your Association site. The business of building the new jail is a contentious issue, one that you and your members apparently do not support. That is YOUR business. The business of running the County and its projects resides with the County elected officials, not with the Independence Party. The matter of contractual penalties etc. for delays or stoppage is a matter for the County Attorney, not the Independence Party. It would be a shame if we were to have to start moderating posts but that will happen, I’m sure, if people do not police themselves.
Ms Beede responded calling herself “the Chairlady that I am now,” in the following somewhat troubling terms:
Irene Beede Acker Sr. “As the Chairlady that I am now. I oversee this page. And the GCIP is not for any one side.. If a person/ person choices to post on this page they are more than welcome.. Sorry [name redacted] if that bothers you. If we were one sided than that would make us either a Democrat or Republican.. no disrespect to either party just making a point. It not up you say what you think you can also. George and I built this page. AND I WILL SEE FIT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG… I WILL MONITOR THIS PAGE… IF YOU DONT LIKE IT SEND ME A MESSAGE……”
The post is unedited and is exactly as written by Ms Beede. From what she has written, if we can decipher the language, she is now “Chairlady,” states that the GCNYIP does not have a stand on issues, that party members are not allowed an opinion (even worse, a sitting committee member cannot have an opinion), and that Ms Beede is the sole arbiter of “WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG” (her CAPS).
In a [continuation] message Beede writes:
“Our Greene County Independence will NOT tolerate any negativity in this page. My beloved husband whom passed whom was OUR GCIP Chair NEVER tolerated it NOR will I as the CHAIR LADY now..
If myself or one of my members find something not to our COUNTY IN A POSITIVE MANNER IT WILL BE DELETED.. WE ARE GOING FORWARD.. There is enough negativity, fear, and lack of hope right now and I MYSELF AM SHOWING MY MEMBERS THAT THERE IS HOPE, YOU NEED TO FACE. FEAR YOU WILL WALK THROUGH, AND IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER, AND I MEAN ALL, WE SHALL SHOW POSITIVITY..”
Again, the CAPS are Ms Beede’s.
It appears Ms Beede is deciding unilaterally whether something is “negative” or not. I’m not certain how she got the power to “tolerate” anything, since a chairperson’s role is to guide not to decide. Beede then informs readers that she will exercise censorship authority on the Party Facebook site — at her sole discretion. She appears to be adopting a “my way or the highway” policy that is not democratic, not Independence Party, and totally inappropriate.
Beede may not yet know it, but she may be tolling the death bell for the Greene County Independence Party.
The committee member then responded:
Who appointed/elected you to be chairperson of the Greene County Independence Party? Careful, this is still a democracy and pick your political battles wisely; it wouldn’t be the first time a flash in the pan started a wildfire. I always advise caution. You appear to be assuming some sort of dictatorial or totalitarian authority on the Greene County Independence Party Facebook site which is NOT your role or prerogative. We govern by consensus in this country. Furthermore, what qualifications do you offer in usurping the Chair and determining what is right or wrong (those are ethics determinations by the way).
It is the opinion of this blog that Ms Beede is overstepping any authority she has or thinks she has. It is our further opinion that the party membership have been deprived a an opportunity to choose who will run the Greene County NY Independence Party, and further that it is totally inappropriate for any member, without the approval of the party membership, or at least the consent of the county committee, to take over the party and unilaterally call herself “Chairlady.”
Unless the questions raised in Ms Beede’s Facebook posts are clarified and substantiated by party hierarchy and by the Greene County Independence Party Committee, this blog will withdraw its support of the Greene County NY Independence Party and report on its activities as appropriate.
CPT Weasel-Whacker
Edito
Greene County NY Independence Party:
You’re sending a wrong message!
Time to Take Action Before It’s Too Late!