WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. May 25, 2005: A reader takes a view of what has happened the last four years and chides the City Democratic Party for not, to date, choosing to run a candidate against Mayor Joseph Delfino. His comments:
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Dems should have already found a candidate for Mayor.
I cannot believe that the White Plains Democratic City Committee could not find someone to run for Mayor.
Elections occur on a regular basis, and the White Plains Democrats have had four years to identify and groom any number of people. They have a pool of 18,000 people -- much larger than any other party -- to draw from. So why is there a last minute scramble to locate someone? Are we happy with Mayor Delfino’s policies?
I for one am not. The Mayor has taken credit for revitalizing downtown. But the improvement had more to do with the improving regional economy, than any city policies. Most of the new businesses seem to be restaurants while the mall based chain stores have crushed the locally owned boutiques. One thing that the Mayor was responsible for – piercing the skyline with several high-rise fingers – I find totally contrary to the reasons that I moved to White Plains.
The tax rate has been kept low by absorbing the Parking Authority, land sales, drawing from reserves, and a ‘temporary’ sales tax increase. If the non-sustainable revenue was removed, we would be looking at a double-digit tax increase. While politically astute, these changes are fiscally irresponsible.
I do not mind paying taxes if I receive necessary services in return. Yet it is not obvious what I get for my White Plains taxes, how I am better off than if I lived in some unincorporated area of the state.
Yet though all of this the Democratic dominated Council has been largely acquiescent.
While things are OK, and a few of our neighboring cities are struggling; where is the ‘wow’? Where is the sense of community? Where is the feeling that I would rather live in White Plains than anywhere else?
But on reflection, it is not surprising. The White Plains Democratic City Committee – the party of the people – is just as insular as the Republicans are. Decisions are not driven by the 18,000 citizens, but by a handful of active members; not one of whom has contacted me for my views during the 30 years that I have lived in White Plains. In Chicago, the precinct workers came to the door more often than the Jehovah Witnesses.
We MUST get more people involved in Democratic politics. We must make a concerted effort to remove any barriers that unnecessarily discourage people from getting involved. Unfortunately this will not be trivial or easy. You cannot just decided that it is a good idea, pass a couple of resolutions, hold a press conference, and expect it to happen. In fact it will be a lot of work, and quite messy.
Or maybe, the Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are just getting too much alike -- driven by poll numbers instead of ideals. Maybe it is time for a new party in White Plains.
Don Hughes
White Plains
