Absentee Representation

There was a political race several elections ago for the County Legislative District 8, primarily Greenburgh territory, between Democrat Alfreda Williams and Republican Thomas Bock. ABG staffer Christina, attended their two “forums”, and commented in an office water cooler discussion that she is still waiting to hear of solutions from the winner, Ms. Williams. When pushed a bit (our discussions are known to become spirited), she said the people in Williams’ district are getting “a double, even triple-whammy*” with a lack of representation. Everyone that is supposed to be representing Greenburgh’s constituents are absent, missing in action or conspicuously silent.

We no longer hold debates between candidates during most of today’s campaigns and elections. Now, we have forums, which appears to be the warm and fuzzy version where no one goes home without a trophy or getting hurt. At the two forums mentioned above, it was then-candidate Bock whom offered real solutions to issues now plaguing our communities. A plan he put forth was a Housing Initiative solution for Section 8 and low income DSS housing. His plan utilized vacant and existing neighborhood housing in lieu of constructing massive apartment buildings that become nothing more than DSS dumping grounds for their clients. Another component of that plan allowed the residents in those homes to have help with a down payment (program) leading them toward purchasing the home they resided in, offering  true home ownership and neighborhood integration. It was radical plan that never caught on; probably because he lost the election and it would do away with much of the homeless housing models that campaign contributor/developers rely heavily upon. Coming from the private sector, Bock offered proven private sector solutions for purchasing consolidations, savings, a streamlined bidding process, and apples-to-apples departmental consolidations. While these were repeatedly rebuked by Williams, she offered nothing but platitudes.

These past several years has produced more mayhem and damage ever previously witnessed throughout Greenburgh. We’ve observed more and more flooding, increased traffic, diminished green space, overdevelopment and infrastructure failures. At every juncture The Paul has leapt at media exposure feigning ownership and declaring the Town will do everything in its power to have other politicians address these failures! And what has it gotten us? Virtually nothing of substance has been offered from The Paul or Williams. The one shining star throughout the flooding issue has been Tom “Proclamation” Abinanti’s replacement County Legislator MaryJane Shimsky. Since Greenburgh has been abandoned by it’s other representatives, Shimsky has stepped up and is the most involved!

ABG is impressed that Shimsky is treating her part-time legislative position more like a full-time job. The retired Williams on the other hand, will rarely make appearances, shows up for her obligatory committee meetings to ensure stipend collection and attends the once monthly evening county legislative meetings. Shimsky took walking tours of the Saw Mill River after learning of the horrific damage to that areas business and residential constituents. Williams stayed home. Then Shimsky took a tour of the Bronx River flooded areas, which is not part of her representative district, but Williams’. Williams stayed home. It was then Shimsky determined that the situation is worse at the Bronx River than the Saw Mill area! She pointed out the County owns most of the space and the related problems in question. Having been a part of The Paul’s earlier administration and voted out, Williams earned a failing reputation as the Greenburgh Town Clerk. Former colleagues explain she often stayed home and many days ambled into work mid-afternoon. We haven’t seen much change since her departure.

If the Unincorporated residents felt abandoned by The Paul and Williams before, imagine their additional dismay when they seek assistance from the Town Board representatives, aka the Stepford Board. They routinely express a “Feiner-like” interest in conversations with residents and then do as instructed by The Paul. They know where their bread is buttered. If they stray, and stop drinking the Feiner Kool-Aid, as did former Councilwoman Sonya Brown, they will soon find themselves on the outside looking in. It was her tirade against The Paul at a March, Town Board meeting that sealed her fate. She stated on the record that The Paul instructed the candidates not to waste their time campaigning in the Fairview section of the Town because those voters are unintelligent! Sayonara Sonya!

It was also alleged at a Town Board meeting that Councilman Kevin “The Henchman” Morgan didn’t raise or spend any money on campaigning or even have a campaign finance account, with The Paul funding all campaign expenses for all the Stepford candidates. Diana “Sleepy” Juettner, rarely contributes anything at any meeting other than to kiss The Paul’s ring. Francis “Back Pocket” Sheehan does the same while being more long-winded and preachy about it. Our newest addition, Ken Jones has immediately shrunk to “yes man” status and at this earliest of junctures, seems to be on the same “go along to get along” path as the other Stepfords.

In the end, Greenburgh hungers for real, honest representation. The career politicians holding office have been there too long, are ineffective and are allowing The Paul to treat Unincorporated Greenburgh as his private little playground. It’s time for the democratic faithful to stop routinely voting the party line and expand their horizons. They need to look for creativity, integrity and a business acumen that we haven’t had for over twenty years. We can only hope.


* The whammy participants: The Paul, Williams, Abinanti