WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. August 20, 2006: Henry Ferlauto resumes his running commentary on the nature of debate and what it should be on the Commoun Council Floor:
Knowing where elected officials stand on a particular issue is extremely
important. But with all due respect to our new resident Mr. Lanni, I
believe he missed the point. Civility and clarity are not mutually
exclusive propositions.
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The point made was not whether or not one knows where Mr. Hockley or
anyone else stands on a particular issue. And it certainly has nothing
to with the proverbial thickness of one's political skin. Anyone in
politics must have thick skin.
It should be noted again, that Mr.Boykin and Mayor Delfino were most
eloquent in stating their positions, as was Ms. Malmud in stating her's;
all without attacking the motives of their fellow council persons. When
each was done speaking, everyone listening knew exactly where they
respectively stood on the (zoning) issue at hand. They each gave their
positions, without posturing.
If by being "rude," Mr. Lanni is referring to actual frivolous name
calling; then yes, that did not occur. But one would hope that all of
us would hold our elected officials to a (much) higher standard than
simply not calling each other names when there is a genuine disagreement
on matters of policy.
If there is one thing Mr. Lanni should know about our elected officials,
that this example withstanding; the White Plains Common Council is a
model in the best sense of the word of small city government. Generally
speaking, they are all uncommonly civil above and beyond what one
normally expects in elected officials; and often exemplify what many
idealize. Ms. Malmud and the rest of the Common Council are indeed
"rare political specimens" to borrow Mr. Lanni's term.
If Mr.Hockley wishes to directly criticize Ms. Malmud or any other
elected official, he can and may do so to his heart's content outside
the arena of the meetings of the Common Council. He can even "stir the
pot," by writing his own editorial in forums such this one, should he
feel so strongly about a particular issue or person.
However, when inside that arena, there is an agreed upon set of rules to
keep the people's business in order. Those rules even site specific
examples of how to properly disagree on matters of debate. I think it
is abundantly clear that Mr. Hockley did indeed violate those rules.
Henry Ferlauto
