A Failed Last Chance

Thursday night’s meeting at the Seely School saw about 150 people in attendance. The crowd appeared to be split for and against incorporation. Last night's meeting may have been Mr Feiner's last chance to derail Edgemont’s incorporation. He had requested the NAACP to host a meeting, advertising how Edgemont’s Incorporation would affect the entire Town of Greenburgh. Then he invited Wespac, a social activist and anti-Israel group that we believed would be used to disrupt the meeting if all else failed. By pointing this out in a previous article, we believe we helped to derail that strategy. 

The event was moderated by NAACP President Lena Anderson who was seated at the mid-point of the dais, separating the Edgemont Incorporation Council (EIC) and the Town and anti-Edgemont Incorporation group. At 7 o'clock Ms Anderson laid out the ground rules, including once again the absurd use of 3x5 index cards for questions. We've already witnessed their failure at the "informational meeting" held at the Theodore Young Community Center on Tuesday night. She said this was not a “political” night and there should be no shouting or applause from the audience. That didn’t work out very well as some occasionally shouted from the audience and applause also took place. 

She then asked everyone to join her in song before introducing the participants at the dais. While we know Ms Anderson to be a nice and congenial person, her commentary throughout the evening frustrated many who were there to hear and discuss issues. Like the beginning of Town Board meetings crafted with presentations, poetry, awards and such designed to wear down the public’s participation, so too do we believe that this second forum meeting, with the promise by Ms Anderson of more, was another attempt by Mr Feiner to have others obfuscate and shield the Town’s lack of preparedness should Edgemont incorporate.

The EIC presenters typically quoted facts when questions about how they arrived at their conclusions were raised. They usually followed by saying that they have posted this information on their website (http://edgemont2017.org) and urged everyone to go there for even more information or meet with them directly. There is no web presence for the anti-incorporation contingency. When the anti-incorporation representatives spoke, they cited few tangible numbers and insisted that should the incorporation happen, things were going to be bad and many people would suffer. But they were unable to substantiate their rhetoric with facts. Michael Schwartz occasionally mentioned numbers but was so disjointed that following any rationale from him was difficult. Don Cannon, who moderated the event on Tuesday night at the Theodore Young Community Center, was almost incoherent at times. Hugh Schwartz, a member of the Greenburgh Planning Board, appointed by Mr Feiner, is against the incorporation. He stated numerous times why he felt incorporation would cost Edgemont residents more than remaining part of the Town. He also countered that Edgemont would not be able to create any affordable housing compared to the Town, which has much more developable space compared to Edgemont’s minimal available space, if any. He seemed the most lucid, also citing the EIC’s contradictory statements about housing. What he failed to mention was that he was a proponent of “Corner Modules” during the Comprehensive Plan’s Steering Committee developmental process, an idea originally proposed by former Planning Commissioner Thomas Madden. However, most residents that spoke at the assorted “Comp Plan” hearings vehemently protested them – specifically on Central Avenue – and throughout the entire Town, not just Edgemont. The idea, favored so much by Mr Schwartz, was eventually scrapped and removed from the Comp Plan because it was an idea most people did not support.

Ms Anderson has promised more forums to inform the public as to the pros and cons of incorporation. The EIC has put all of their cards on the table and been forthcoming with information. The Town and the anti-incorporation proponents have not. While we are disappointed that the Town has taken this route, sadly, we expect it. Why tell the truth when you will be reelected regardless of what you say?

We wish the anti-incorporation supporters would come to the next forum with specific information and not innuendo and fear mongering. We believe the next forum should truly seek voter enlightenment and allow each side to present their case with facts and figures and explain how those figures were secured. Next, there should be a podium set up that residents can utilize to ask direct questions. If something is unclear or not explained properly, the speaker should have an opportunity for clarification. It should be held at Town Hall so that it could be broadcast on the public access channel and truly inform everyone interested. The fact that it is not proves this roadshow is disingenuous. There should be a moderator who listens more and speaks less; let the event cover as much of the time as possible.

The theatrics surrounding these forums are nothing more than just that, theatrics. As we exited the meeting, we asked several people if they were for or against incorporation. They said they didn’t know and that’s why they attended, but that they were disappointed because no real information was given, no cogent arguments made and it seemed like a waste of time. The informational process can work for both sides. Currently, however, it’s extremely lopsided and unlikely to get better any time soon. It could be an excellent opportunity for the anti-side to make their case. They should make a concerted effort to keep focused and present real information. Only then will we get A Better Greenburgh.