DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH, THOUGHTS ON THIS YEAR'S ELECTION, A LETTER FROM BOB ANDERSON

TO THE EDITOR:

This current election reminds me of the David versus Goliath match up from about ten years ago. The administration had been in power and uncontested for several years, they forgot to serve the residents and they “knew better” and couldn’t be bothered to listen to the pesky constituents. The funding flowed in from outside Croton; the canvassers came from outside Croton, and the dirty tricks came from Croton. Nothing has changed. It’s the same old, tired playbook. Voice of Croton are a bunch of Maga Republicans, not independents. They are violating Fair Campaign Practices and when all else fails, just throw mud.

I’ve always believed that complaints without action made you feel good for a while but achieved nothing. So, I, wrote a letter and referenced the movie, Network with Peter Finch who said, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” It turns out many in the village agreed with that sentiment and Croton United, a grassroots community organization won. This sounds a little like the Voice of Croton, today. If you are mad as hell and don’t want to take it anymore, act and vote for Voice of Croton.

My reasoning in support of VOC is as follows, selective code enforcement against a 77-year-old Vietnam veteran tops the list. It was the second time this was done and it infringed on his first amendment rights. It led to a whistleblower complaint that has the potential to cost the village hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The rush to solve the nation's housing crisis here in our ten square mile village (five of which are underwater) is ridiculous. The myth that only seventeen children would enter the school system after building more than 300 units is beyond belief. Higher buildings, more density, small roads, less parking and no consistent design plan will not enhance the village, nor broaden the tax base. Let’s take a pause and see if our infrastructure can absorb what has already been built. The lack of transparency of the current board when it comes to these major decisions is very troubling.

This brings to mind the triple play, Hochul to Harckham to Pugh. It seems that the agenda for Croton is coming from Albany. I find it hard to comprehend that there is no conflict of interest for the mayor to hold two salaried positions, one of which is chief of staff to state senator, Harckham. It must be impossible to serve two masters equally.

If this board remains in power, you can bet there will be a five or six story monster built on the Finkelstein property. You won’t see it coming because it will happen the same way the last deal was done, behind closed doors.

I’ve also wondered with increasing affordable housing in a village where the median income is $185,000 how the new residents will assimilate since their incomes are so much less. Unfortunately, there is no benefit to Croton seniors, young families, and village employees as proven by Croton Commons which may have only one Croton resident who survived the lottery to be eligible for an apartment.

There are so many unanswered questions.

Why did we build a little park with a little clock on one of the busiest street corners in the village? I suspect the developer checked the “green space” box and the board thought it was a good place for a park rather than behind the buildings and away from traffic.

Why did the board reject the Lot A developer plan that included a community space for the village? That would make more sense than pouring thousands of dollars into Gouveia Park, to create space for the recreation department and inconvenience village seniors and residents who would rather use the municipal building. Gouveia was a poor choice then and a costly one now.

Why does the board continue to push membership in community choice aggregation which has cost the village rate payers more over time than Con Edison? Is it possible that two former Croton Democrat mayors who served on the board of Sustainable Westchester influenced the decision to join? The village should opt out or at least let residents know that they have that option.

Croton can change without losing its small village charm. Let’s put the village first, untethered from the influence of county and state politics. Vote for positive change, Gary Eisinger for Mayor, Stacy Nachtaler, and Nigel Ravelo for trustee.

BOB ANDERSON

FORMER TRUSTEE

DEPUTY MAYOR