One concern for ABG is the fact that Doug Colety has repeatedly said that the Westchester Republican party will not participate with Greenburgh candidates because they are outnumbered 3 to 1 by Democrats. It might well explain why they put a RINO in the chairmanship position for the Greenburgh Republicans. At ABG, we’re less concerned with party partisanship than the candidate who does the right thing - democrat or republican.
This year, the Republicans left the sitting Democrat for the 8th District, first termer Alfreda Williams, unchallenged. We believe this to be a mistake not only in any community, but specifically Greenburgh. The problem for Greenburgh is that while we don’t know her and assume she is a nice person, she was voted out of office at the behest of Paul Feiner. More significant is that she brings nothing to the political table but another Democratic vote for more of the same accompanied by some vague incoherent ramblings to any issue.
This year, the Republicans left the sitting Democrat for the 8th District, first termer Alfreda Williams, unchallenged. We believe this to be a mistake not only in any community, but specifically Greenburgh. The problem for Greenburgh is that while we don’t know her and assume she is a nice person, she was voted out of office at the behest of Paul Feiner. More significant is that she brings nothing to the political table but another Democratic vote for more of the same accompanied by some vague incoherent ramblings to any issue.
Adding to the Republican challenges that fester within the Town of Greenburgh, is the party system that that’s abandoned them. Republican Thomas Bock ran against now County Legislator Alfreda Williams two years ago and lost to her. Bock, a systems administrator and life-long volunteer emergency responder, had tangible ideas and plans for the district. The most notable was his Housing Affordability Plan for home ownership by DSS recipients who actually pay rent under Section 8. His plan offered a hand up, not a hand out. It was an impressive and radical plan; but probably rocked the boat too much for those in office, comfortable that their laisse-faire positions on housing went unchallenged, fostering hyperbole over action. Williams has continued to offer nothing.
The following election found Bock running for NYS Assembly against Thomas Abinanti, a 20-year County Legislator, and lost, garnering about 12k votes to Abinantis 17k. Abinanti, claimed after all those years as a legislator that there was more to be done for Westchester and that was why he was running. After twenty years as a County Legislator, what could be left to do? His first piece of legislation offered would increase Westchester’s taxes via an unfunded mandate. Again, Greenburgh loses.
The people of Greenburgh are being crippled by a select minority of people who vote and those who control the vote. You see, many of the electorate never come out and vote - for anything. Sure, they may scream at the News 12 anchor or at their radio, but that’s as far as their outrage and indignation goes. They continue to reelect Paul Feiner to the office of supervisor and then complain he is continually raising their taxes by double-digit amounts. Do something about it! We hear that Bock had expressed interest in running against him but withdrew because the Republican Party refused to get signatures for him as payback for going against Astorino’s budget and consolidation plans. We hope this isn’t this case but would not be surprised to find Republican chairman Douglas Colety to be vindictive this way.
The people vote. The people get what they deserve. We've grown up hearing this year after year at every election. They voted for higher taxes in Greenburgh and they got it. They voted for more impervious space, and they got it. They voted for more development and they’re getting it. It’s time for Greenburgh to shake itself out of it’s doldrums, find some good candidates and take back what is theirs - before it’s too late!
The following election found Bock running for NYS Assembly against Thomas Abinanti, a 20-year County Legislator, and lost, garnering about 12k votes to Abinantis 17k. Abinanti, claimed after all those years as a legislator that there was more to be done for Westchester and that was why he was running. After twenty years as a County Legislator, what could be left to do? His first piece of legislation offered would increase Westchester’s taxes via an unfunded mandate. Again, Greenburgh loses.
The people of Greenburgh are being crippled by a select minority of people who vote and those who control the vote. You see, many of the electorate never come out and vote - for anything. Sure, they may scream at the News 12 anchor or at their radio, but that’s as far as their outrage and indignation goes. They continue to reelect Paul Feiner to the office of supervisor and then complain he is continually raising their taxes by double-digit amounts. Do something about it! We hear that Bock had expressed interest in running against him but withdrew because the Republican Party refused to get signatures for him as payback for going against Astorino’s budget and consolidation plans. We hope this isn’t this case but would not be surprised to find Republican chairman Douglas Colety to be vindictive this way.
The people vote. The people get what they deserve. We've grown up hearing this year after year at every election. They voted for higher taxes in Greenburgh and they got it. They voted for more impervious space, and they got it. They voted for more development and they’re getting it. It’s time for Greenburgh to shake itself out of it’s doldrums, find some good candidates and take back what is theirs - before it’s too late!
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