'We believe in our right to a quiet neighborhood'

Recently while opposing a proposal for the 16 Elm St. 90-seat bar/restaurant development we’ve been approached by a lot of people with words of encouragement.
People supporting us come from all corners and they tell us to keep up the effort because we are great examples of citizens exercising their civic duty. This is how it should be.
This is what the founders expected. This is not subversive. These are the real American rules.
Citizens in our country are supposed to respond to local government actions, proposals or projects that we believe will have a negative impact on us and our neighbors.
Showing up at local meetings and using the guaranteed privilege of free speech to raise our objections is how it’s done.
People have told us we are brave to stand up to the powers that be. People have told us that they would be afraid to do so themselves.
Speaking truth to power can be intimidating.
The lawyers paint a picture of a harried applicant drenched in virtue who has made “many concessions.”
We are going to continue to pursue a resolution to the proposal in spite of that malarkey. Residents' actual concerns are not addressed. The bar is inappropriate in the neighborhood.
We know that the project is a prohibited use under existing code.
We are simply demanding code compliance, not vague assurances of future remediation of impacts they say don’t exist to begin with. We believe in our right to a quiet neighborhood.
Many red flags have been raised. We believe they are being actively ignored by the village.
Civic involvement is the only way these things ever get done.
We are proudly involved and widely supported and are advising the village that we will continue to exercise our civic responsibility in court if the project is approved.
Your words of encouragement are as valuable as the donations we are receiving.
Please keep them coming.
Patrick Gallagher
Warwick