WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. October 11, 2005:  A reader replies to a Democrat who recently criticised the Dennis Power Mayoral Campaign for not having solutions to city problems:

Ian, you're wrong. John, I just had to reply to Ian.  He has his facts wrong, and he misses the point.

Since none of the Beautification Committee, Board of Assessment Review, Board of Ethics, Budget and Management Advisory Board, Capital Projects Board, Commission on Human Rights, Conservation Board, Design Review Board, Library Board, Advisory Committee on the Disabled, Planning Board, Read Estate Committee, Traffic Commission, Youth Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, Common Council work sessions, nor the public participation portion of the Common Council meetings are televised nor are their minutes nor a transcript of the public comments at the Common Council meetings available online; and since that is how he follows along, it is disingenuous of him to claim that Dennis Power has not spoken out or done anything for White Plains. 

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Dennis has been at most of the meetings that I have attended over the last few years, and has almost always offered constructive comments.  Dennis was awarded the Jack and Ina Marash Distinguished Service Award in 1995, and he received the Monsignor Ed O’Brien Community Service Award in 2000.

He says that you believe that the current Mayor has solicited input on projects.  When?  Did I get missed on the mailings?  Perhaps he could forward me a copy of the next one that he receives. 

He chose White Plains because the taxes were low; but they are up 37% from 2000.  Expenditures have exceeded revenue in the last 6 budgets.  He came for the restaurants and shopping.  Fine, I did not.  I came for the diversity, the schools, the friendly neighborhoods, and to get away from the traffic and hassle of Manhattan.

But the real issue that I have is that he feels that Dennis Power should have all the answers beforehand.  That reminds me of the current Mayor when he spoke at the recent gala at Trump Tower and thanked the developers for helping him realize HIS vision of White Plains, or when he dedicates new playing fields and parks and speaks of realizing HIS vision; or when letters from the city soliciting aid for the hurricane victims only have the his name on them. 

The point is that this is not a monarchy, but a city of 53,000 people.  It is not about the mayor’s vision, nor Dennis Power’s vision, nor Dennis Power’s solution to the problems.  It is about working together, about tapping the enthusiasm, and knowledge of the 53,000 residents and moving forward as a team.

That’s why Dennis Power will be getting my vote on November 8th.

Don Hughes