NEW: Letter to the Editor: Vote for Transparency in Government
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
by Rob Greenstein
When I declared my candidacy for the Town Board, I stated that I believed my work on the Chappaqua Crossing controversy demonstrates my willingness to work on behalf of the residents of New Castle and fight for the best interests of the residents of New Castle.
Throughout this campaign, I have tried to continue to demonstrate my willingness to keep working on their behalf.
Although I am a registered Democrat, I decided to run without a major party affiliation. I wanted to be independent. I don’t think party affiliations should matter for local government. I believe that ideology in politics gets in the way of reason and generates bad policy. I don’t want ideology to prevent me either from rallying behind a good idea or from questioning an idea I don’t agree with. I hope that I have brought some Independent thinking to this campaign.
I named my party Transparency in Government based on my experience with Chappaqua Crossing, I felt that the residents felt distant or removed from the process while the re-zoning application was pending. I stepped in to inform and enlighten the community by presenting the important issues in a well-reasoned and understandable manner in letters to the editor published in NewCastleNOW.
I believe transparency leads to accountability. I also believe transparency leads to community involvement. When government communicates with residents it makes them feel part of the process, and they will want to participate. As I’ve said many times, our best resource and our most underutilized asset is our brains. I have tried to be transparent throughout my campaign.
I said that the primary focus of my candidacy would be to increase our commercial tax revenues in an effort to alleviate our residential property tax burden. I have suggested that we form a business development committee, update our master plan, start a Chamber of Commerce and explore a transit-oriented development at the train station. I have written three letters on the topic and I have elicited over 120 suggestions from residents on how to improve our downtown hamlets.
I have said that our Town Board must work with the school board to alleviate our property tax burden. We must all work on mandate relief measures. I wrote a letter suggesting that we create a Town Board liaison to the school board.
I have said that I do not think it would be in our best interest to adopt the ward system. I wrote 2 letters listing my concerns and unequivocally stating that I will be voting NO on the ward referendum.
I’m a lawyer, and started my law firm 16 years ago, two years out of law school. But I’m also a business person. I currently have 15 people working for me. I know what it’s like to pay rent, meet payroll and health insurance costs. I am my firm’s accounting, marketing and advertising departments. I know how to be efficient, in both good and bad times.
As I said when I started my campaign, I want to be elected for one reason, and one reason only: I am someone willing to listen to residents, tell them openly what the issues look like to me and fight for what’s best for our community. I have written fourteen (14) letters on the Chappaqua Crossing matter, and eight (8) letters (including this one) during my campaign. I have posted comments and responses to comments on NewCastleNOw.org. While some may disagree with my suggestions and positions, I did my best to bring vision and fresh ideas to the campaign and generate good discussions. Most importantly, I did my best to be transparent. And I believe I was.
Chappaqua needs representation by someone chosen by the residents, not local political leaders. I would hope that my positions, and my work ethic, gets me elected, not my party affiliation. Please visit my web site TransparencyInGovt.com. It contains all 21 of my letters, plus video interviews of ALL the candidates. I am also working on adding a survey feature. Please encourage your friends to visit my web site it as well. I worked hard on it, and am very proud of it.
I would be honored and would welcome the opportunity to continue to work on behalf of the residents of New Castle as an Independent member, and independent voice, of the Town Council.
Rob Greenstein
[Note: I am not an “Independence Party” candidate. My name will appear in a separate column called “Transparency for Government.”]
Rob
Im sorry to say you lost my vote the night of the Debates. You casual manner about learning on the job when we are in dire straights has me very concerned as does your thoughts of putting a Parking structure at the train station. We need people that are focused on Town Government and understand how it works. I’m happy for the work you did on the Crossing but one issues doesn’t make you a candadate.
@You had me until the debates,
Gee,and I was NOT for Greenstein until the debates…. after hearing him there he has my vote for sure.
TO: You had me until the Debates:
Many people have applauded me for my knowledge of the facts on every single issue. I would encourage you to watch both videos - from Meet the Candidates & the League of Woman Voters forum on my web site (www.TransparencyInGovt.com) - and point out where I mispresented, did not know the facts &/or issues on any other issue. You will note that besides my honest answer about the water run-off question (when I said I didn’t know but will learn just as I learned about the Chappaqua Crossing issue), there is none. In fact, I received many compliments for my willingness to say I don’t know, instead of BS’ing the answer, like most politicians do.
As far as the parking structure, it doesn’t do our town any good to attack someone for exploring what other communities are doing, and throwing out the idea. I CLEARLY said @ the “debate” (which was not actually a debate) that I would not do anything that would alter the character & charm of our town. Keep in mind, I was the only candidate who fought for the character & charm of our town when it was threatended by a dense residential development @ Chappaqua Crossing.
On a more positive note, I was just advised that I have received the endorsement of The Examiner. SO, they obviously do not share your concerns.
I’m sorry that I lost yoyr vote but I suspect I never had it in the first place, and you have an ulterior motive by your post.
