Middletown Voters Deserve Facts Not Fiction

Councilors Sylvia, Rodrigues, and Santos have a lot to say about me in their article, “Majority of Council is Working To Make Middletown Better” (Sep. 12, Newport Daily News:https://www.newportri.com/opinion/20200911/opinionletters-majority-of-council-is-working-to-make-middletown-better). Most of their assertions are made without evidence, not unlike many of their docket items (“Less Talk – More Leadership Requested,” Sep. 3, Newport This Week:https://www.newportthisweek.com/articles/less-talk-more-leadership-requested/).

They give me a lot of credit when they state I am orchestrating a “social media attack.” Any weblink would have validated the claim, but they did not provide even one. This is not surprising, as I need to have a third party run a campaign FaceBook [@TerriFlynnTownCouncil] since I, personally, do not FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn. I prefer it that way and empathize with our many residents who simply choose not to “do computers.” Shame on the councilors for presenting Middletown Voters with baseless, misleading statements.

I did enjoy the councilors’ opinion of my self-serving short-term rental interest. Amusing because we do have two tiny one-bedroom cottages and it is impossible to be self-serving when: 1. I RECUSED from the Ordinance conversation (Jun. 3, 2019); 2. I co-proposed an ADDITIONAL TAX on short-term rentals: the Safety Staffing Room Tax (Mar. 2, 2020); and 3. running successfully for re-election would mean I will continue to recuse and be UNABLE to advocate for short-term rentals. This is not self-serving; their opinion has no basis in fact. The councilors also have no knowledge of what we collect from our cottages; it is definitely NOT “thousands of dollars a week.” These shamefully baseless, misleading statements to the Middletown Voters by the councilors is a smoke-and-mirrors tactic that should make every Voter question every statement that is made by these councilors.

This false rhetoric is seen in both the above referenced Newport Daily News article and in a Newport This Week article (“Less Talk – More Action Requested,” Aug. 27:https://www.newportthisweek.com/articles/less-talk-more-action-requested/), and both articles are signed by Councilor Sylvia. Councilor Sylvia has consistently made inaccurate, misleading, and unsubstantiated statements that lack any real evidence: meeting dates, publication references, or weblinks. This compromises the credibility of the Town Council and I am further distressed in this latest publication that he has dragged Councilors Rodrigues and Santos down with him. Please vote for Fair, New Leadership on November 3rd. Do not be fooled by baseless, misleading statements motivated by self-importance.

Terri Flynn

Middletown Town Council