WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. January 15, 2006: Paul Schwarz of the Democratic City Committee writes on the Greer succession issue:
To WPCNR:
My goodness, John, you have some vituperative writers on the site this week. This issue has brought out the nastiest of letters. Let me see if I can speak in a calm voice in the face of all this shouting.
Unlike some of your angriest contributors, who seem to have moved here recently, I have lived here all of my 66 years, and have no plans to move. I have always felt involved, and more so in the last few years since retirement. I take part in numerous civic and community activities. A major one was managing Dennis Power's campaign for mayor last year. I devoted that time because while I appreciate the revitalization of White Plains, I believe that the pace is too fast, the impact too great, the balance in favor of developers over residents too lopsided.
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Yes, we lost, in what was arguably a flawed campaign. Yes, Dennis Power stepped up to the challenge of taking on the incumbent when no one else would. Had he run for an open Council seat in 2005 he would have won handily, as I hope he will this year. But he ran against a popular incumbent whose campaign chest of $300,000 was six times ours, and overwhelmingly donated by outside business interests.
Your readers may need to be reminded of Dennis Power's contributions to the City of White Plains, in an earlier term on the Council, and in numerous other capacities where he has given freely of his time, energy and expertise to work for the well-being of all the residents of this city. Loyalty? Those who would question his loyalty to the city clearly know nothing of his character or his record. They know less about the true nature of the perceived friction between the county and city governments.
Bob Greer's cruel illness and untimely death was a tragedy. Bob was a great Councilman and would have been a greater mayor. He was a fellow Rotarian, and a personal friend. His passing should not be an occasion for rancorous debate and gratuitous insults. It is a shame that the election law forces such haste in nominating a successor. It is a shame that an entirely inappropriate suggestion was thrown into the discussion, first mentioned, if I am not mistaken, here in this column, only to take false root and create yet more misunderstanding and discomfort.
Quietly, firmly, and appropriately, the White Plains Common Council needs to be brought back to its full numbers. In a solid show of support the Democratic City Committee, representing the majority party in White Plains, chose Dennis Power to run for the seat in November and fill the final year of the unexpired term. What remains is for the current Council members, most of whom participated in that nomination, to fill the gap between now and December with an interim appointment of Mr. Power. We can only hope that this will happen soon, in a dignified and proper manner. Then we can all get on with the truly vital issues which face our city.
Paul Schwarz
WPCNR CLARIFIES: With all due respect, WPCNR did not "float" the Alexis Greer "Trial Balloon."
This was leaked to me by a source close to the formulation of the "Alexis Option," and confirmed by Councilman Glen Hockley, and other sources before I printed the story. WPCNR is flattered nonetheless by Mr. Schwarz's suggestion.
