L to E: NC needs a Supervisor who is knowledgeable and steady
November 1, 2013
by Janet L. Wells
Putting aside the drama and emotion of the election season, the Town of New Castle needs a Supervisor who is knowledgeable and steady, knowledgeable about the many and varied parts of town government and steady while solving current and future problems. Penny Paderewski is that person.
Many of us have questioned why Penny is willing to leave her good job as town administrator for the possibility of elected office. The positions actually are very different. With elected office will come the right to vote, an opportunity to interact with residents, study and analyze a problem from many angles, and then cast a vote offering a solution. A vote carries many responsibilities—very different from providing information and analysis only. We are fortunate Penny has stepped up to run for Supervisor and is willing to assume responsibilities of casting her votes for the entire town.
The true Democratic slate, Penny Paderewski, John Buckley, and Michael Wolfensohn, came through the extensive Democratic Committee selection process. They know what it takes in hours and effort to be effective officers of the town. From day one they will bring a solid foundation to the table. There will be no lengthy learning curve.
Town government requires constant interaction with people. As the level of civility in New Castle and across the country slips downward, Penny, John and Michael know the importance of open, positive and dignified communication. Penny’s plans for informal Q and A’s, easy personal access, advisory task forces, and meetings with merchants all point to open and effective interaction with the community. Change will occur.
Much time in this campaign has been spent on current decisions. While they are very significant, it’s essential also to consider the future. Each year brings expected and unexpected problems, situations and crises. In any year between 500 and 1000 decisions, both big and small, are made by a Supervisor and Town Board. Isn’t a knowledgeable and steady Supervisor at the helm a benefit to all of us? Penny is that person. Aren’t knowledgeable and community involved Board members a benefit to all of us? John Buckley and Michael Wolfensohn are those individuals.
Our community is made up of two hamlets, neighborhoods, associations and most important l7561 residents. As town government and life in general become more complex, it is not a time to take risks with our AAA rating, water plant, west side sewer expansion, parks, youth and senior programs and essential police and public works services.
Please vote for Penny Paderewski for Supervisor and John Buckley and Michael Wolfensohn for Town Board on November 5.
October 30, 2013
Janet L. Wells
Former Supervisor (2004-2007) and Town Board member (1993-2003)
The risk would be in voting for the democratic slate. We have all seen what they have done to New Castle.
With all due respect, I think you folks need to step away from the keyboard. I know you think you are helping your candidates. As a citizen that cares for this town (and a Democrat by the way), what exactly is the meaning to me of a “true Democratic slate”? I guess perhaps you provide some insight by your reference to the “extensive Democratic Committee selection process”, but this hardly gives me a warm feeling. You just give fodder to the conspiracy theorists that claim the town is essentially run by that Democratic Committee.
But then you go on to summarize all of Penny’s plans, very worthy things like task forces, Q & A, and easy access. Sounds good to me, but then you openly acknowledge these are changes. So what is it, has the Democratic strangle hold on our town been a good thing or not? I’m not even sure why this is political at all. The school board elections don’t play out that way, indivduals run on their own merits. And I can tell you the that very apolitical school board has for some time been doing quite well at all of those changes you seem to say will be coming to our town.
All in all, my take is that the sudden circling of the Democratic wagons is achieving far from the desired outcome. For this voter, a Democrat who has a backyard well outside the radius of Chappaqua Crossing, if anything it is having the opposite effect. I am all in for Team New Castle.
Another member of the democratic secret club supporting their members. Why should our community select from a closed group of a few people or the best our town has to offer. Next they will roll out Bill Clinton. Doesn’t change the fact that Team New Castle are the stronger candidates.
“Many of us have questioned why Penny is willing to leave her good job as town administrator for the possibility of elected office.”
Where have you been? It’s so she can collect her over-inflated pension and double dip for an extra $40+K per year. It’s so she can “run merchants out of town” for displaying signs she does not like. It’s so she can keep the so-called ethics board under her thumb. It’s so she can continue under-the-table deals with developers. It’s so she keep her son on the town dole.
Jan,
What are you talking about. Penny has always said that she took the town administrators position for one term. She was always planning to leave at the end of this year.
The Conifer boondoggle and the CC zoning change hatched in secret by this TB will harm this town for decades to come. They are more than significant, they are paramount.
What was civil about Penny’s disgraceful behavior to town resident, property owner and merchant Phil Altman.
What was civil about Michael Wolfensohn’s tirades to get that memorial built which is costing the town hundreds of thousands of dollars. Why was he not satisfied with a memorial at the train station.
It is very sad to see that your only interest is to get your democratic buddies elected. It certainly is not for the best interests of this town.
Janet, your story headline – NC needs a Supervisor who is knowledgeable and steady.
Well hello Janet. Knowledgeable, I think not; Penny’s election debate answers do not support that at all. Steady, for sure I think not. Penny totally lost her steadyness (what there was of it) at Healthy Choice while having a bad day. As a town administrator she did just OK, as a leader, she is not capable.
As a life long Democrat, I appreciate the fact that I have a choice between two Democrats for supervisor; the choice is easy, I’m with Greenstein and his team. I could care less what party line they are running on. I will be voting for names, not party lines, and I look forward to a new beginning for New Castle.
Do you know how many times I tried to speak to Penny or the board members about a serious issue that I was facing? No one was interested.
I am getting confused by the messages. I thought we were supposed to vote for experience and now you tell me that this is a very different job, a job at which she has no experience. You talk about how Penny is going to change things but you say that the experience of the candidates, doing things that need to be changed apparently, is also good. Ms. Wells, your time has passed. Thank you for your past service to the community on both the school and town boards.
The only time I needed the town was during last year’s Sandy storm. I pay my taxes, am a good neighbor and love living in my home, loved having my now grown kids in the schools and love being in town. However, with nothing from town or police when I needed news, ice, ANYTHING, nothing was done. Most of us don’t build additions, live I cannot support the same old.
We need to break the one party rule and make government more accountable to the needs of our residents. This us a small town, where people like Ms. Wells were just too important to focus on our everyday needs. Party affiliations has no place in local elections, we are not voting on the national budget or social programs and safety nets. Let’s send a message!
Ms. Wells,
People are more important than party purity. Voters should not be beholden to vote the party line. I understand that party affiliation is how folks like you have been elected, but it comes across as shrill to insist upon voting for a slate of candidates based upon ‘true’ party affiliation when that party has made so many poor decisions about large projects that really matter, and has acted in a less than transparent manner. The contempt shown by Democratic Party Town Board members to the public has been palpable. It is possible that the voting public will respond in kind.
D.G.
Janet Wells has only one reason to come here and post a letter endorsing Penny and Her Minions. That is for the sake of keeping those Skeletons locked away in the closet. Like it was in another article about how Penny Paderewski “knows were all the bodies are hidden”, who else do you think knows and condoned all the Corruption, Frauds, Misconduct, Nepotism, Discrimination, Antisemitism and so on? You guessed it Janet Wells (Past Supervisor)…
Ms. Wells, thank you for your service to our community!
I do, however, take some exception to the term “The true Democratic slate”. I am a true Democrat, as is Lisa.
This is why our slate – Team New Castle – feels that party politics should be stripped from local elections, just like we do with school board. Our opponents campaign is losing the battle on issues and ideas. Their status quo responses are not resonating with voters . They are threatened by the idea of a new approach to governing in New Castle and the momentum of Team New Castle. They seem to be much more comfortable talking about politics over community.
We are willing to put community over party.
Janet Wells was not a good Supervisor. I will leave it to the community to fill in the rest of this post……….. Let me read it!
While Wells was no great shakes as supervisor, she was significantly better than her successors: Gerrard and Carpenter. In these trying times, it is quite noble of her to support her party despite all of its faults.
“…the extensive Democratic Committee selection process.”
Yup. That’s the problem all right. Thanks to Wells for exposing it.
I am a democrat and I have always voted the party line, both in local, state and national elections. However, I strongly believe that the positions and actions of the current and prior town board and supervisor are strikingly adverse to the interests of a large number of residents. Chappaqua Crossing is not merely a case of majority rules – though I believe that if the entire town was fully versed on the pros and cons of this project, the vast majority would weigh in against it. In this instance, I strongly believe that the economic and property interest of even a minority should be taken into consideration. I will NOT be directly impacted by development at Chappaqua Crossing, however, I do not believe that we need such large scale retail development and I strongly believe that such development will adversely impact our fellow residents who live next to or close to CC. The current town board and the current democratic slate has completely ignored these valid concerns. For that reason, I will be straying from my typical voting preferences and voting for Team New Castle.
This is like being endorsed by Jimmy Carter. Wells presided over filthy roads, riding taxes, the seven bridges debacle and the beginning of the end of the downtown district. We go from bad to worse. It’s the price we pay for one party rule. Btw if all you folks (nc now editor chief among them) hadn’t pushed to overturn the chool boards decision to build the middle school at the Greeley campus, there is no chance there would be retail at cc. Nimby justice I guess.
Ms wells was always a courteous person but she was of a mindset the she and her group knew what was best for the town whether the residents liked it or not. She sho not become involved in this debate in her capacity as a 12 year past supervisor. I am sorry to see scathing criticisms which are not entirely unjustified.
As a lifelong Democrat, I too will be voting for Mr. Greenstein and Team. I ask that my fellow Democrats do the same. It is very much so different this time around. The issues are complex, but the desire to represent the residents of New Castle has been lacking.
