WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. July 17, 2006: A reader analyzes the Power-Greer-Comprehensive Plan controversy:

Mr. Bailey,

After watching the past two weeks play out on your site, I have a few comments, which I hope you will post in an effort to flush out the real motivations of those in opposition of development, progress, and the appointment of Ms. Greer.

(More).

Now they are doctoring photos to attempt to prove that development has over taken the neighborhoods of our fair city. Shame on Mr. Hachohen, he should know better than to try and deceive you, or the readers.

We also have been subjected to having a new comprehensive plan shoved down our throats so that open space activists can have a forum to threaten to sue the city, when it is quite clear the Council has taken an exhaustive review, and that litigation is merely a political maneuver.

Mr. Dan Seidel may believe that the comprehensive plan process is the issue that will galvanize voters, but judging by the fact that there were less than 10 people at the last two meetings combined, I submit this (the comprehensive plan) is a non-issue. The fact of the matter is that the antidevelopment comprehensive plan, "sky is falling" rhetoric only resonates with the extreme arm of the Democratic party of WP. It is in decidedly poor taste that the members of the Common Council have had their integrity called into question by their own party on the issues related to development and the comprehensive plan.

This issue is wrapped up with the other issue of Alexis Greer getting a non-political appointment to serve out her father's term. The Democratic City Committee of White Plains, by forcing the members of the Common Council to push for Dennis Power when they are against him politically, is making this as disgusting a political display as I have seen since I became active in politics in New York State more than 20 years ago.

The leadership of the White Plains Dems who are on their insatiable quest for control has made the issue of Mr. Greer's passing even more sad. Maybe the angry band of 10 that attempted to hijack the comprehensive review process really do have more sway with the city committee than we had all hoped they would.

I know this for sure, the attempted appointment of Dennis Power highlights just how low a party will go to regain control over the direction of a community.

Brian Thomas