WHILE THE NEW EVERYTHING CROTON BLOG IS DOWN, WE'LL GO "OLD SCHOOL" FOR A WHILE---HERE'S A LETTER FROM SUSAN SKRELJA

Welcome to Everything Croton, (while the New One is down) a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

WHILE THE NEW EVERYTHING CROTON BLOG IS DOWN, WE'LL GO "OLD SCHOOL" FOR A WHILE---HERE'S A GAZETTE LETTER FROM SUSAN SKRELJA

To the Editor,

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I believe there is a direct conflict of interest when big government and small government share a common denominator—in this case, our Mayor, Brian Pugh. Mayor Pugh serves as N.Y. State Senator Pete Harckham’s Chief of Staff, and his wife, Emiljana Ulaj, is a Westchester County legislator whose district includes Croton. While I recognize that there are currently no codes of ethics in place that disqualify Pugh from holding both positions, this concentration of roles gives him significant overlapping power.

I find this noteworthy because personal and political ambitions, affiliations, or even an elected official's long-standing ideologies should never serve as the catalyst behind our village’s policies when they’re not in the best interest of the residents or the village. Running unopposed for nearly a decade should not be mistaken as a pass to defy the will of the people you were elected to serve.

The past few months have been exceptionally eye-opening for me regarding how this administration operates. The blatant disregard and lack of respect for village residents and their concerns from the majority of the Board is outright appalling!

In recent months, one Trustee labeled residents’ remarks as “dog whistles” (7/18/24). Another Trustee told those in attendance at a Board meeting to look around the room because “you don’t represent Croton” (8/21/24). The Board invited a guest from the Croton Housing Network to a televised work session, during which she and some Board members can be heard making a mockery of residents and their expressed concerns (7/18/24). When residents presented the “Stop the Urbanization of Croton” petition to the Planning Board, the police were called on them (8/20/24). The Mayor even threatened a resident when he wouldn’t stop talking, that he’d be “getting a special ride home tonight,” then proceeded to invade his personal space and attempted to forcibly remove the microphone from his hand (10/7/24). And let’s not forget the police presence at several Board meetings and the censorship on community boards—and even personal pages—when articles or videos deemed damaging to the current administration are posted.

Does this sound like an administration working with and for the people of this village?

It certainly doesn’t to me!

That’s why I am eternally grateful that Gary Eisinger and Nigel Ravelo have stepped up with this write-in campaign. They are motivated solely by a commitment to serve their neighbors and friends who entrust that they will act in the best interests of our village.

Croton, this election, make your VOICE be your CHOICE—our future depends on it! Write-in Gary Eisinger and Nigel Ravelo for Village Board of Trustees.

Susan Skrelja, Croton-on-Hudson

(NOTE: WRITE-IN INSTRUCTIONS ARE AT Voice of Croton)