You’ll hear it in classrooms, ballgames and local government meetings, but one place you won’t hear the Pledge of Allegiance is at New Paltz town planning board meetings.
At their Monday, March 14 meeting, planners voted 4-3 to pass on adding the pledge to the board’s meeting agendas.
It was initially proposed by board member Amy Cohen, who said the pledge helps her transition into the mental space of performing her duties as part of the government. She was one of the last independent police commissioners before the town council absorbed those responsibilities, and the pledge was recited at those meetings.
Board member Lyle Nolan, who voted against adding the pledge, said he wasn’t opposed to people reciting it, but, “To me it’s a total waste of time,” and would create group pressure that could divide a board which functions well. “I don’t think we need that,” he added.
Planner Michael Zierler, who also voted against reciting the pledge, noted that the pledge was not required for planning board meetings under state law, although he believed it is at meetings of elected boards. (Attorney George Lithco said he was not sure.) Zierler also said that, if it were approved, he was convinced that in time “it would become routine, like approving the minutes.” He was, however, also concerned it could cause conflict.
Cohen said that she’d heard from community members, including veterans, who supported the idea. Resident MaryAnn Tozzi had been encouraging people to send in letters in support of adding the pledge, but none had been received by the board’s secretary by the time the meeting was called to order Monday night.
Board member Adele Ruger pointed out that the act only takes about 15 seconds of time. Board member Tom Powers was also in support of adding the pledge.
Board chairman Mike Calimano, noting that he was both a veteran and “a child of the Sixties,” said he would vote in support of reciting the pledge only if all board members would at least agree to stand, because he did not wish to cause a rift on the board.
“As a child of a child of the Sixties,” said board member Lagusta Yearwood, “I was taught not to stand.”
Only Powers, Ruger and Cohen voted in favor of starting the meeting with the pledge.
Typical New Paltz…a bunch of commie, socialist, liberal freaks!
This town becomes a bigger joke as time passes!
I grew up in the sixties too. Nobody was “taught” not to stand! It was a personal choice made by individual hippies of the day, who have carried their “attitude” down to our current times and who, in some cases, are running our governments from the local to the federal level. Let’s not mis-lead the people please…
Glad I moved.
Well, just another example of the jokers known as the new paltz town board. As a decorated combat vet, my shed blood was even for you fools to deny your loyalty to this county and those who protect your freedom to be who you are. Disgusted! Former USAF CCT
Fealty oaths are for *other* countries, not the USA.
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Section 4 of the Flag Code states:
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”, should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.”
It might cause conflict!? You live in the USA! I say anyone that doesn’t want to say the Pledge of Allegiance should move out of this country!!
What a sad comment by the board.
New Paltz board is a joke. Stand up and recite the pledge. You like the country you live in then respect it. It takes a minute to recite it. It shouldn’t matter if it’s the law or not. Lyle nolan,it’s a waste of time to recite it. Really!! How about you go live in the middle east. Many other town boards recite it and don’t have a problem. Commies
Wasn’t a waste for my grandfather to serve in WWI, wasn’t a waste for my dad to serve in WWII and Korea, wasn’t a waste for me to serve in the USAF!
If the voters of New Paltz had any courage at all they would get rid of this ungrateful, burned out pathetic bunch of whiny “Children of the 60″s”. I too was raised during that time ….but I didn’t lose my brain or my spine. You are a disgrace.
This is so typical of New Paltz: what a disgrace. This is a topic that should not be “voted” on… it should be a given. Great example for our youth- not.
I can’t imagine who taught this Lagusta broad not to stand for the pledge. Whoever it was is a disgrace to this country and so is she.
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“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Section 4 of the Flag Code states:
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”, should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.”
Dismal display of un-American gobbledegook. They, and those who elected such weak and unprincipled people, should be ashamed.
I was a child of the sixties too. Then I went on to serve in our military — until retirement. I’ll bet board member Lagusta Yearwood never served a day in her life — and is probably only on this board to serve herself. Have some respect for your nation and quit using the “child of the sixties” line; it insults the rest of us children of the sixties.
Disgraceful!!!!
Are you serious? You are representatives and if you choose this, I surely hope you are elected out of office.
According to this article in the New Paltz Times, the Planning Board has never recited the Pledge before a meeting. The Planning Board for New Paltz, like in most municipalities, is essentially a group of individuals, appointed by the Town Board, that interprets Zoning Code, Town Code and general community goals to aid in the development of a project. They are essentially community worker bees. So by them voting to say the Pledge before a meeting, if they have never done so before, is not only stirring up the pot and bringing attention to something that has never before had any ramifications, its’s essentially the equivalent of making a municipal worker say the Pledge before they answer an email. Now the Pledge before a Town Board meeting is another animal altogether because they actually make laws for the community and that is the rightful place for it.
Well said, Sean. Thank you.
Is this the same New Paltz that was made infamous on “Law and Order” for a judicial decision that hampered prosecution of criminals? Now an obscure board thinks it’s a “waste of time” to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. That town must be a beehive of unhappy malcontent liberals who don’t like their grandmothers’ apple pies.
I live in a rural area of Alabama. It dumbfounds me how people will step on this country’s flag that so many people have fought and died for. If you tried that action in the area where I live you would have to find a place to hide. If the people of the city of New Paltz have a spine they would immediately call a vote to install a new board made up of real Americans and not the wimps that are there now.
God Bless America
No time? Our military certainly makes time for you.
While my country is a land of free speech, this freedom did not come about without paying a price. Our founder’s right down to each and every individual was willing to risk their lives and many did do so. The willingness to risk one’s life for their country—a very small percentage in present times—has continued for the most part through the proud history of our military. I would not constrict by law that every citizen must recite the pledge of allegiance, but anyone who’s not willing to say it causes me to question just where their allegiance is affiliated. They benefit from all the sacrifices of past and present great patriots of the United States, but they can’t give less than two minutes of their time to reaffirm their allegiance? What a disgrace! In short, if you are not for the United States then you are against it. I’d be more than glad to help fund the process of revocation for your citizenship’s and to collect donations for a one-way ticket to a place of your choice. Lead, shut up or get out of the way!
As a vet who served for over 30 years I find it disgusting that such anti America thinking is allowed. You board members are a joke, how about posting your military service OH I DIDNT SERVE. Thought so. I use to spend my hard earned cash in that town but never ever will I do so again, no way. When the bad guys show up you call 911 for the police to protect your sorry asses, When the terrorists show up you want the military to ” do something ” but yet you don’t have the respect to show our flag. Rot in hell each of you.
The important thing is that there was a VOTE. That is the American way. Forcing people to do or say things against their will without a vote is NOT the American way.