Respect For The People Who Pay Your Salary

A resident submitted this letter to ABG asking if we might post it. After reading it, one ABG staffer stated it seemed to sum up the feelings of many she spoke with or overheard during and after the meeting at the former Frank’s Nursery site held by GameOn 365. Here it is unedited:

“What a poorly run meeting! I arrived, with mosquito repellent, shortly after the meeting began. All seats were taken and the rest of the audience fanned out around those chairs in a semi-circle. If you expect to be inclusive of the aged and physically challenged, then either have enough chairs or hold your meeting at Town Hall.

Next, the audience had to yell out “speak into the mic” to the meeting moderators. No procedure was in place to ensure that the audience could speak into a microphone.  Unless someone shouted or was near to me, I couldn't hear the questions. It was a kind of an inductive reasoning exercise for me: I would hear the moderators answer a question and then try to figure out what the question was. It was like being on “Jeopardy”. Is that any way to run a meeting?

Regarding the manners of our Town Officials: when our Tax Accessor, in her annoyance, commented that she had been up since 7:30 am and she could just leave, I thought to myself, "Who does this woman think she is?" How many of us also had a long and arduous day? How many in the audience found a way to come even fighting physical ailments? I for one have an iron deficiency, so hush up Edie and show some empathy and respect for the people who pay your salary.

In general, there seemed to be a pervasive attitude of impatience with the Greenburgh electorate. While the Officials whined about “not calling out”, I saw people desperate to have a say in this very important matter before the window of opportunity to do so is over. I saw and spoke to people who were frustrated when their questions were cleverly side-stepped or completely ignored.

Where was the sensitivity to the needs of the Community? Concern was expressed over the height of the project, the financial payback to Greenburgh, and the impact on the  quality of life. These are valid and important concerns that need to be addressed.

The response of our Town Officials and the project representative was not satisfactory. Tim Lewis tried to persuade the audience that since we don't have any other offers we should be happy. Happy? This is Westchester, New York, one of the most desirable locations in the Nation and we had better start acting like it. It is an honor and a privilege to do business in the Town of Greenburgh. We need to make a good business deal, because when our economy gets on track this will be one of the first places which will rebound. Instead of acting like beggars we need to do this deal from a position of strength, lest the community again end up on the losing end of a deal.

We must hold our elected Officials and their appointees responsible. If they won't listen we need to elect new representatives: it is that simple. Too much is at stake.

Your fellow resident,

D.D.”