The Westchester County 12th Legislative District seat, formerly held by attorney Thomas Abinanti, is being sought by two challengers. The two are Democrat MaryJane Shimsky of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, and Republican Nick DeCicco (pronounced de-cheeko) of Hartsdale, NY.
Shimsky, a former attorney, has served as community relations director for former Assemblyman Richard Brodsky. Brodsky retired from this position this year after 28 years. The seat was recently won in the election by Thomas Abinanti, defeating Republican Thomas Bock. Shimsky's a vice chairwoman of the county Democratic Committee.
DeCicco is a prosecutor in the county Attorney's Office assigned to Family Court in Yonkers. He is a member of the Greenburgh Zoning Board of Appeals, where he currently has an Ethics Violation lodged against him from Town of Greenburgh Democratic District Leader Robert Bernstein. Bernstein had sought to have DeCicco recuse himself from voting on the numerous zoning variances requested by Deli Delicious, located at Rt 119 and Old Kensico Road. The Town Code of Ethics for board membership is pretty straightforward as to what a member can and cannot do. But in Greenburgh, and in particular with our supervisor and his board, it's just another set of rules to be ignored.
The neighborhood, besieged with heavy traffic, conspiratorial actions by Supervisor Feiner and his rubber-stamp Board, is upset, and against this expansion on top of the blatant “lead agency” hijinks, anti-neighborhood and pro-developer giveways of the Town Board toward WestHab. Feiner has gone out of his way to post blogs, write letters to various newspapers, use his radio show on WVOX endorsing Deli Delicious' requests. It must pain Feiner to have the Zoning Board do the right thing.
Deli Delicious wants permission from the zoning board to put in a drive-through window, pave on NYS property and create additional parking spaces in hopes of reviving his expiring business. DeCicco voted in support for the plan at a Zoning Board meeting last month. Then the planning consultant/contractor and the deli's lawyer, alleged to also be the planning consultant's lawyer, organized a political fundraiser for his county board bid at his home in Irvington. Did the deli also contribute to DeCicco? It's been alleged that Deli Delicious may also contribute to Paul Feiner’s campaign fund. We wouldn't be surprised.
The zoning board is scheduled to vote on the deli's requests this Thursday. Last Friday DeCicco said he planned to abstain from any votes on the deli's application. Isn't that a little late in the game Mr. DeCicco? In a Lohud.com interview with his opponent, DeCicco repeatedly stated, "If you want more of the same... vote for MaryJane. If you want something different, a real change, vote for Nick DeCicco." How is a political payoff through fund raising and contributions different? How is voting on an issue that directly involves your campaign financing different? How is ignoring the wishes of an entire community and siding with a developer different? How is siding with a business owner whose bad business acumen is leading to his demise any different? How is any of this different? It's not. What's next, a political appointment to the Board of Elections for a phantom position?
Watch the Journal News debate between the two candidates and see how uninspired they'll make you feel. Neither has a positive presence on screen and both leave us wanting. Shimsky repeatedly appears to refer to her notes off to the side and incapable of having an opinion without cheat sheets. DeCicco, while working without notes, appears equally inept as he struggles to make his case. Who are coaching these two?
If we look past DeCicco's clumsy and perhaps bumbling camera presence, he does seem to make a few points prompting Shimsky's standard retort of, "I have two comments about that..." Poorly executed, neither candidate inspired confidence during this excruciating exchange. Both prove all too well that neither will be a leader, simply another vote in an already dysfunctional legislature.
DeCicco rightfully attacked the Democrat Shimsky for operating her campaign out of the CSEA headquarters. She countered that Republican DeCicco is being bankrolled by the Republican Party. Touché. Regrettably, this was as good as it got and appears to be the level to which Westchester politics has deteriorated. It’s disappointing. The Democrats lost their way several years ago and lost a good and righteous leader with the recent passing of Lorrin Brown. The Republicans had a great candidate with Thomas Bock in the last two elections but the Republican Party chose to abandon him as Doug Colety typically writes off the Town of Greenburgh each election as insignificant to the Republicans. Again, it’s disappointing. Are there any stewards left out there?
The Republican residents of Greenburgh have been discarded by the Westchester and NY GOP because the democrats have a 3 to 1 ratio over the republicans in the district. Any viable or good candidates, such as Bock, are ignored or dismissed, almost mandating the election of “empty suits” such as Thomas “Proclamation4U” Abinanti. Following "suit" is newly elected Alfreda Williams. The democrats are simply offering bodies and frankly, it’s not good enough. The republicans aren't any better. Even Astorino, who lamely follows the advise of his incompetent advisors, jumped into the waters by offering political payoffs and paybacks. Will it ever end? Apparently, no, especially with the thinking we have from the supposed leaders in these parties. I
Our prediction is a simple one. DeCicco, with the power of the feckless Republican Party, with Colety at the helm, will lose this special election to Shimsky; not because she’s better, rather, because of the “D” after her name. It’s simply numbers.
well stated but by my count decicco clobbered shimsky on channel 12. she came off as brain dead and believe it of not, scarier than abinanti.
ReplyDeleteJust posted on LoHud:
ReplyDeleteDeCicco's reply to the "citizen" complaint has been posted. The Zoning Board Chairman confirms that DeCicco did in fact withdraw from the Deli case several weeks ago. According to the papers filed DeCicco says the he had no contact with anyone from the Deli application prior to the straw vote on January 20. He was first contacted by the Deli's attorney on January 24. DeCicco recused himself on January 25 - over 3 weeks prior to the formal vote due on February 17. Furthermore, DeCicco states that he has not spoken with any member of the ZBA about the Deli application since 1/24. DeCicco's facts have been verified by the ZBA Chairman.
Again - Look at the Town Supervisor for throwing another member on the Zoning Board just prior to teh vote on 2/17 and the "mastermind" who killed Bill Greenawalt to secure the MJ nomination.
mastermind?
ReplyDeletewho are you talking about?