I have another hero to add to the pantheon of ‘Heroes’ - George Dubya - who probably has been clever forever and ever. But, unfortunately, that has to wait another day. For we have politics to comment about right here in Millbrook Village, as someone has intruded onto the political scene to give opposition to Mayor Gary Ciferri in the upcoming Mayoral election.
Opposition, of course, is good. It keeps everybody on their toes, ruffles the feathers a bit, perhaps, but also brings in a breath of fresh air - or, in this case, does it?
Mr. Tim Tice, the challenger of Mayor Ciferri, describing himself as a business man who has been a problem solver all his career, is ready to be a new broom for Millbrook. Indeed, running on the Foundation Party, which appears to be a party with one member, one candidate, has propped up issues of sorts to appear to be knocking them down, citing the lack of parking in the village, the need for eliminating the police department, the necessity of overhauling the planning board to stimulate business in the village.
Parking Aplenty
While the challenger suggested at a recent debate between himself and Mayor Ciferri that parking spaces are severely lacking in the village, the fact was established - nasty and interfering things, facts - that there are over 400 available parking spaces in the village, most of which are empty most of the time as people fight to park immediately in front of the bank, or the grocery store, of other popular destinations of their choice. In fact, if anyone has to get out of their car to walk even a half block, they become miffed by the severe lack of parking.. Maybe we could solve the problem by developing a Ferris wheel kind of parking device in front each of the popular spots in the village, so that everyone could park on rotating platforms in the same spot at the same time.
Deep Sixing The Police Department .
Another suggested solution to problems is to get rid of the village police department altogether, hire the Sheriff to have his boys drive through the village as they go from here to there or there to here. This solution will save money, we are told. Problem is - more facts - Pawling did the very same thing some time back, and now the Sheriff’s department costs Pawling more than their police department ever did, as they drive from here to wherever, taking a quick look as they go.
The Planning Board Ain’t Doing Nothin’.
There’s an expression that seems to apply here. ‘Where you stand, depends on where you sit’. In this case, the challenger, having moved back to Millbrook recently, right away bought a passel of parcels of land, only to have a run in with the planning board. Couldn’t get done what he wanted, when he wanted it, deterred some personal business plans, did it?
Perhaps the Planning Board works in the fashion it does, keeping the excesses of commercialized money making business ventures in check, for a reason. That’s the way the people of the village want it! If you want to see a planning board without apparent control, just drive west on 44. You’ll know when you leave Millbrook from the strip development of building, after building along the right of way: car lots with trucks parked on display along the side of the road, banks, coveys of gas stations, car washes, restaurants. It’s beginning to look a lot like Yonkers, all along the road, without stopping, from K barracks to Pokey.
Is that what Millbrook wants? Is that a solution or is the first shot heralding a cheap commercial atmosphere in the village, merely the first move in an agenda to develop some business sites on some of the properties the challenger has been buying up in the village.
By the way, the view from the unopposed candidates for Trustee, Mosca and Alex, state clearly that all the things the challenger has suggested have been thought of, sifted, considered by the Board of Trustees and accepted, rejected, or modified. In other words, the people who, like Mayor Ciferri, have been working at the business of the village for years, have been considering solutions, plans, ideas, and have determined policy in accordance with the needs and desires of the citizens, not some slick business plan that would bring in some soulless but lucrative profits.
Has anybody noticed the difference between Millbrook and many of the surrounding communities. Thousands of visitors who flock here each week end throughout the year have. It’s a quaint, quiet, smoke curling from the fireplace kind of village, just the kind of place you’d think about if someone were to suggest you try to imagine a lovely town with quiet, tree lined streets, small stores, home town ways.
The challenger who apparently is not happy with bucolic splendor has suggested solving that problem - what problem? - by injection of some commerce, action, neon signs, billboards, with a more business oriented mind set to the atmosphere.
Here’s another solution. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
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