It’s About Reelection

In our previous post ABG mentioned how the Republican Party, has abandoned the Republican electorate in Greenburgh. Many republicans of old have recounted how Greenburgh had been a very republican-oriented stronghold back in the day. My, how things change. Now, with The Paul, his Stepford Board, void of any original ideas, meekly follow along for fear of incurring his wrath and ultimately being dismissed from his Board and their “elected” position. Things in Greenburgh must change, but not until the “gimme more” electorate realizes how much better off they’d be without him and his payoff policies.


The County race seemingly had no change with the Democratic vs Republican ratio in the County Legislature immediately after the polls closed. Now, we see that challenger Republican Michael Smith may have moved ahead of incumbent Democrat John Nonna in District 3 and incumbent Republican Sheila Marcotte may have pulled ahead of challenger Democrat John Fitzpatrick in District 10. If these numbers remain intact, what does it mean for the electorate? Not much, really. While the democratic legislature loses their supermajority status, they still have the power and ability to thwart County Executive Astorino.

During the campaign cycle, Astorino and crew took a page out of the Westchester County Association and formed the Candidates For A Healthy Westchester initiative, stating “...where an affordable Westchester is a healthy Westchester”. But, only the republican candidates signed on! ABG believes it’s nothing more than a “gimmicky” catch-phrase akin to the old “Contract With America”. From a marketing perspective it could be a good idea but a) it has no teeth; b) only the republican candidates signed onto it; c) its more proof of the Astorino administration inability to do much as he and the party continues faltering; d) people are starting to tire of his poor-little-victim positioning. Because the Healthy Westchester initiative only had the Republican candidates sign on to it, it fosters more of the partisan “us vs them” mentality - only from the top down. The electorate hears it everyday with the Republican primary debates and frankly, are exhausted from it. And still, no one does anything about it. Astorino needs to be a leader. He must stop following the Republican Party’s stale and antiquated advice and offer real, creative solutions. ABG believes he has none. Prove us wrong. Please.


Greenburgh witnesses The Paul touting answers to questions and issues that are not his own, garnering the media exposure incumbents always seek. Astorino is doing the same thing. The talk of renovating or replacing the Tappan Zee Bridge is a simple example of this. Both are posturing about the fast-tracking plans but cannot do anything about them. Feiner favors the use of imminent domain in Tarrytown, Greenburgh, Elmsford and White Plains to get a new bridge. Build it with a bus and/or rail and/or dog park, with windmills, solar panels and probably a ferris wheel while keeping the old bridge as a park (never needing maintenance). 


While incorporating wind turbines may be interesting, he’s strictly seeking more publicity for himself. Astorino is complaining that building a new bridge is not enough, that Westchester needs a total transportation solution. Maybe we do. Why doesn’t he propose one? ABG believes the bridge is merely an Obama campaign purchase, void of substance in time for the national elections. Make a note: after the elections, the Tappan Zee might be on track, but there will be nothing fast, except rust, happening anywhere with it.


It’s easier to talk about something than to stick your neck out and offer a solution. It’s evident this is not about a bridge or our communities or affordability or a Healthy Westchester. It’s about reelection.