From “Psychology Today” (www.psychologytoday.com).
Gaslighting: Gaslighting is an insidious form of manipulation and psychological control. Victims of gaslighting are deliberately and systematically fed false information that leads them to question what they know to be true, often about themselves. They may end up doubting their memory, their perception, and even their sanity.
For years, a few of the Trustees of Crestone have used the above technique to manipulate the public, twisting reality into favorable rhetoric that helps to get them elected and/or in public favor. Most recently this has happened twice within the last month in the Town of Crestone public forum. First Mayor Danforth, after hearing nearly 1.5 hours of community members explain the importance of events in town for a myriad of reasons, interjected a conversation I was having during a break and proceeded to tell Liza Marron, with whom I was sitting, that she never insinuated that events would be canceled.
Published stories in The Crestone Eagle have identified the truth in what I was saying.
However, the Mayor simply wished to save face in front of the county commissioner and so chose to gaslight myself and all the people there by denying that she had taken the position she had in the last meeting.
Most recently, at the town board meeting, Trustee Kim Martinez indicated a few things, including that the Town stage had been “Shoved down their throats”.
This is devoid of truth and lacking in awareness of what the town staff has been managing. We spent months reviewing designs, raising money, meeting with multiple engineers and an architect, before getting approval.
These inflammatory statements are counterproductive to achieving progress, and another example of manipulating the public narrative.
Instances of gaslighting like this must not be tolerated, especially by public officials in public forums, to manipulate the public perception of reality. It is an abuse of power, and its long-standing use can finally be brought to light with the use of zoomed and recorded meetings, which should be available to anyone that wants to see them.
I have personally downloaded the last three meetings, and if requested am happy to share them so that you can see for yourself the manipulation that is taking place in Crestone’s public forum.
To those of you on the Town Board of Trustees who carry the banner of truth and fairness, I applaud and thank you for your service, because I know it is not easy. I have seen you struggle to maintain your composure, and want to jump ship so many times.
It will get better, time will continue to reveal the truth, and vigilance will only serve the public good. I encourage each of you reading to stay on top of what happens in the coming months, ask questions, and don’t take anyone’s word for truth until you personally see the recording and hear their words for yourself.
Don’t give up. Truth will out.
Nick Nevares