VERY CURIOUS

     I find it very curious that the Know Nothings continue on fighting for this Wi Fi proposal of theirs and that David Israel continues to boast about it, that four proposals are in hand. Where do they think they are going with it and why?
     There is a growing group of associations that are opting out, having no wish to get involved with or be responsible for larger payments to UCO, to seeing the Village ripped apart with trenches to bury wires, to a sudden plethora of antennae sprouting on the roofs of the buildings and an ugly tower going up somewhere, though exactly where is still unclear and just watch and see the uproar of the people who live where the tower will be. The FAA is not giving out a permit so easily - a minor matter of flight path! - and PBC is not exactly known for its ease or swiftness of granting permits.
     This group continues to insist that Wi Fi as installed by Comcast will not work - even as it IS working. And I don't really care what name it is called. It works. Curious, very curious. Then, it will only work in certain buildings, ones with no concrete.  Well, Wellington A is certainly a CBS building and it IS working. Then, it will not work on a three part building. Well, Jean Dowling's building is a three part building and it IS working. Oops! Better find something else. But hurry, as the buildings are progressing in their projects.
     These people who claim to be responding to the "needs" of the Village, are clearly responding to the "needs" of a minority group, those who wish to spend more money that we do not have and that we will never raise with $2 payments. We are supposed to spend all this money and impose increased costs on struggling associations because it will make it easier for the snowbirds? So they will  not have to call Comcast two whole times - once to turn on and once to turn off? Such hard labor! When we were snow flakes even, we kept it on so no matter when we were able to string together three days, it would be there for us.
     Let's see....why else do we "need" this Wi Fi plan? Oh, yes. So that it is available all over the Village, meaning the roads, the grass where no one goes, the walkways. I can just see it. It is not bad enough that people do not pay attention to where they are driving, and that for some reason people walk on the roads rather than the pavement, but now we are to have seniors walking on our uneven and cracked perimeter walkways holding their notebooks, Kindles, and Macbook Airs in their hands, typing as they walk - tripping and bumping into trees, poles, people and never mind the bikes!
Seriously, so there might be a few cornered places outside where the signal is not so good? So what? The signal will not be perfect with  ANY other system and who the hell needs it in every square inch of the Village and by the way, it can be made to cover extended areas - just look at the pool near Wellington A as they have managed to have coverage there. Ooohhh, so where have all the objections gone, long time passing - into the trash can where they belong!
     Remember, each association opting out means that there are multiples of people who do not want this new expense and this is for many reasons. People have their own and are quite happy or they will use a different provider for their building or there are so many people in the Village WHO HAVE NO NEED FOR THIS NEW AND EXPENSIVE SYSTEM AND WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE COMPUTERS OR SIMILAR ITEMS THAT WOULD IN ANY WAY NEED THIS.
     Yet others do not want or cannot pay an increase in UCO fees, especially as there will be more increases for other items and it all adds up. Nobody has come up with a final figure and the numbers keep increasing. Now we are up to  oh, perhaps $10 or $20 a month. What happened to the smaller figures given at the onset of this campaign? What happened? They disappeared as the truth begins to out and believe me, the numbers will go higher still. The numbers for the buildings who are using Comcast or any other provider are better, and the fees lower.

     For these reasons and even more, this project needs to go the way of proposed but unpractical and unwanted and unnecessary proposals and let us get on with repairing our Village with what it really needs. Just because this is an area where supposedly David Israel is knowledgeable, does not make him the arbiter of all. There are always other options and the strident shouts and writings and accusations of the Know Nothings will not cover the truth.
We cannot afford this.
We do not need it.
Many are opting out of this project and that number will grow.
We have a shortfall of $1.3 million dollars and the accumulated funds were to be legally shifted to other reserves.
The Know Nothings realized that, David Israel said so at the Finance/Officers meeting and is now reneging, urging reinstatement, thus increasing fees even more and we seem to be approaching that $17 figure again.
Enough already. Let us get on with what we need and oh, by the way, medical devices and "I've fallen" devices work just fine with what we have. Been with many a person who have used them - successfully - when they had a need. ENOUGH!!!

So let's see what else we can talk about?......Hey, I know!. Let's talk about funding a repaving and drainage job for the Village. We will be needing it soon enough!

Or, we can talk about the fence at Southhampton.

Or, we can talk about the software that Ed Black was supposed to have gotten so that the two lanes do not empty out at the same time.

Or, we can talk about the cost of this system as it seems to be getting more and more costly.  Gee, I wonder if it has lightning insurance? Will have to check that with Bob Marshall - and what about lightning hitting the proposed antennae. Hmmmm

Or, we can talk about the uncoordinated water efforts we have with us catching up in problems with the lakes. Why not be proactive for a change, anticipate and take care.

And there is a whole lot more if you want. Always glad to help. Now if I only could get on a committee, but that seems to be verboten!!