It’s our policy that we don’t endorse candidates running for office, and barring something truly egregious, we won’t decry them either. We give you “just the facts”, whatever they may be. We want our readers to make their own choices at the polls. But now that the election is over, it’s time to address the breakdancing, karate-chopping elephant in the room and talk about William Thilly.
Over the course of the past several months, we have watched–first, like mostpeople,withamusement,andthen, later, with growing trepidation and bewilderment– as Mr. Thilly (a thricefailed candidate for the CranfordTownship Committee) sang, danced, spun around on his back like a turtle in distress and tried to punch and kick his way through a bunch of paper signs during public meetings. His performances have grown more elaborate over time–sometimes he brings props, sometimes he makes costume changes. Going to these meetings has started to feel a bit like sitting through an old-time Vaudeville Act or a fifth-grade talent show. It has all gotten a bit weird.
FortunatelyforMr.Thilly(whoseems to love the attention) and unfortunately for Mayor Terrance Curran (who doesn’t), the internet can’t seem to get enough of the bizarre meeting videos coming out of Cranford. After a clip of his first “breakdancing” stunt went viral over the summer, Mr. Thilly told reporters from dozens of outlets that he was trying to protest high taxes, PILOTs and other Township policies in an eyecatching and unconventional way.
And why not? He wasn’t hurting anyone.
Shortly thereafter, though, he and a group of his friends (one of whom showed up to a Committee meeting wearing what can only be described as a fur trapper hat and a star-spangled, skin-tight onesie) lead a dance party throughtheaislesofthemunicipalbuilding while the members of theTownship Committee tried so, so hard to keep neutral expressions on their faces. At first, it was kind of funny.
But then we noticed that residents, many of whom were clearly uncomfortable with what was happening, started to get up and leave. That’s when we stopped laughing. These meetings, as mundane as they may be at times, are important. The people who manage to find time in their busy, hectic lives to attend them have the right to listen and to be heard without having to worry about ending up as a background character in a cringey internet video.
Strike one. The following month, just days after the Cranford community learned that two local teenage girls had lost their lives in an allegedly targeted hit-andrun collision, Mr. Thilly returned the podium and attempted to lead the crowd in a sing-along of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.”
Nobody laughed, nobody joined in. Mr. Thilly had the spotlight in that moment–he could have used that time toaskforamomentofsilenceinmemory of the girls, to offer his condolences to their families or to connect to the community in some kind of meaningful way. Instead, he opted for another round of nonsense and cheap gags. It felt wildly disrespectful–maybe it wasn’t intended that way, but to say that that week’s performance fell flat is an understatement.
Strike two.
The final straw for us came in November when the Township Committee opted to call a recess and leave the dais rather than allowing Mr. Thilly to bat around a giant inflatable beach ball with several other residents.
Mr. Thilly stood, dejected, as both a member of the Cranford Police Department and the Township Attorney told him that while he was welcome to voice his opinions and address the Committee just like anyone else, he was not allowed to keep disrupting official proceedings by turning the meetings into a spectacle. He returned to his seat as both his ego and his beach ball slowly deflated, and we thought that was that.
Aweek or so later, though, he filed suit against the Township for allegedly violating his First Amendment rights. Cranford will have to spend thousands oftaxpayerdollarstodefenditselfagainst his claims, especially because they will need to hire outside legal Counsel (the TownshipAttorney is named as a defendant and will not be allowed to represent his employers due to what is now a clear conflict of interest).
This is Mr. Thilly’s third lawsuit against the township in about as many years. It seems like a pretty big waste of resources to us and more than a bit ironic given Mr. Thilly’s platform against improper and unnecessary government spending. This doesn’t feel like performance art or creative protest anymore. It feels more like watching a toddler throw a tantrum because no one was paying attention to him.
Strike three. Mr. Thilly, who has amassed a bit of a cult following, might very well win his lawsuit. That’s up to the Courts. He, like the rest of us, has the right to express himself. He has the right to participate in public government meetings and he has had the privilege to bask in the glow of his 15 minutes of fame. Butatthispoint,he’swastingeveryone’s time, discouraging other residents from coming to meetings and costing taxpayer dollars.
Mr. Thilly, you’re out and your 15 minutes are up.
