Shaughnessy: “If kids don’t
feel good about themselves …”
KINGSTON – A proposed local law that would “… proscribe certain expressions of speech by technological means …” is under consideration in Ulster County. A public hearing on Local Law 17 of 2016 will be held next month.
The law prohibits cyber-bullying of persons under age 18 who are in Ulster County.
Kingston School Board member James Shaughnessy is also on the Uslter BOCES board and the Ulster County Mental Health Association board.
“We’ve made great strides in the county, both in the school districts, in addressing social emotional health of our students,” Shaughnessy said, during public comment. There are issues still to be addressed.
“Unknown effects of kids using cellphones as early as elementary school,” Shaughnessy said. “If Kids don’t feel good about themselves, they’re not going to learn.”
Legislator David Donaldson called the issue very important, but said the county is jumping the gun with this proposed law.
“We have no real programs … some prevention ones,” Donaldson said. “We have no referral programs at this point.”
Another Democrat, John Parete said this is more of a state issue, a point with which Donaldson agreed.
Democrat Jonathan Heppner, agreed with both dissenters, but said he would support the proposal. He added the legislature has the responsibility to ensure effective intervention programs are in place for all subject to the law.
The motion to proceed with the public hearing on December 13 was approved 19 to 3 with Donaldson, John Parete and Richard Parete dissenting.
In other business, a memorializing resolution condemning violence, hate speech, expressing solidarity with Muslims, was withdrawn for possible revision. Some concern was raised that as written, the resolution could be construed as an implicit restriction of free speech.
