Letter to Editor: Don’t be misled—Team New Castle is committed to sewer project
Monday, November 4, 2013
by Rob Greenstein
At a special hearing conducted last Saturday, the Westchester Fair Campaign Practices Committee found that the Democratic slate led by Penny Paderewski had engaged in unfair campaign practices by circulating a mailer and email to residents which misrepresented certain positions of Team New Castle relating to school taxes and commercial development in our community.
Team New Castle has campaigned on a platform of transparency, change, and the need for new leadership—and we have advocated strongly for completing an updated Master Plan that takes into account new initiatives for revitalizing our downtown. It is unfortunate that our opponents are resorting to distortions and scare tactics to maintain the status quo.
We believe in engaging residents, not scaring them with false claims.
Flyers that appeared over the weekend at homes in Random Farms and at Riverwoods contained yet another false claim: that Team New Castle doesn’t want the Millwood sewer project to go forward (see the full text of the flyer below).
“Demolish government buildings”?
Our opponents claimed that we “propose to demolish government buildings and build new ones, and the taxpayers will have to foot the bill!” That was ruled unfair. Team New Castle has advocated for public-private partnerships, not raising taxes or cutting services. We believe in creative solutions, not tired and old concepts.
“Risk that our school taxes…..are spent on non-community educational purposes”?
Our opponents claimed that we want “to risk that our school taxes … are spent on non-educational purposes.” That too was ruled an unfair claim. It would serve the community better if our opponents talked about addressing the mandates from Albany. Team New Castle would like to address the problem of unfunded mandates that are draining our schools and town of revenue. We believe in partnering with other towns and lobbying Albany to repeal the unfunded mandates. It is no longer acceptable to say this is an Albany problem, as Ms. Paderewski has stated. It’s a New Castle problem and we need to be proactive and join forces with other towns and demand reform from Albany.
More false claims flying—this time the sewer
Yesterday, one day after these “UNFAIR” decisions by the Fair Campaign Practices Committee, literature was delivered to residents of Random Farms and Riverwoods urging people to vote for the status quo Democratic slate. The flyer asks, “Do you remember that the Republicans who ran for office in New Castle last time wanted to withdraw YOUR sewer petition thereby killing your best interests?” [See the entire flyer below.]
Is this the best anyone could come up with? Please rest assured that Team New Castle – Rob Greenstein, Lisa Katz and Adam Brodsky—will indeed work to secure $16 million to fund construction costs for that hook up. Finally, this sewer connection going to become a reality. It’s already proceeding. Why would Team New Castle want to derail this project? We will work to procure additional funds from New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to further reduce the costs to you of hooking up your sewers.
Rob Greenstein
Here is the scare-flyer that was distributed yesterday:
Protect your investment!
To Our Neighbors in Random Farms & Riverwoods:
Did you know that our current New Castle Town Board and County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz were successful in getting Random Farms & Riverwoods included in the county’s sewer district?
Do you know that these same people are working to secure $16 million to help fund the actual construction costs for that hook up?
And that the New Castle Democrats, Penny, John and Mike will join with County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz in asking New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for additional monies from the city to reduce the costs to you of hooking up your sewers?
Do you remember that the Republicans who ran for office in New Castle last time wanted to withdraw YOUR sewer petition thereby killing your best interests?
Fortunately the New Castle Town Board and Michael Kaplowitz ignored their plea and went forward with the petition.
To protect your interests, make sure you and your neighbors vote TUESDAY for:
MIKE KAPLOWITZ for County Legislator
PENNY PADEREWSKI for Supervisor
JOHN BUCKLEY for Town Board
MICHAEL WOLFENSOHN for Town Board
They will protect your home values and biggest investment and work to remedy your difficult and costly sewage situation.
I cannot vote for this slate of Republicans. I just can’t.
Rob – really? Now you are on the sewer band wagon? Funny I don’t recall any letters from you or any town hall appearances or any mention at candidates night about you and sewers. You are all about stopping retail at CC – period. Just like you recently agreed with Mr Bresner that Albany mandates are the MOST important issue facing our community. And you never mentioned or campaigned on mandates until Bresner mentioned them last week. Now you are all about sewers and mandates! PLEASE rob – we are not stupid. You keep saying your not a politician but your actions show you to be the worst kind of politician. You’ll say anything to get elected – integrity and honesty be damned
Granted, my mind was already made up. Well before I got the flyer in my hands this morning that characterized this election as “status quo vs. change”, and I had to do a double take that the Democratic slate was actually advocating for the status quo. So now it is just piling on to hear that they have distributed flyers with the following statement:
“Do you remember that the Republicans who ran for office in New Castle last time wanted to withdraw YOUR sewer petition thereby killing your best interests?”
I guess it might work for ignorant lemmings that sleep walk to the polls and pull the lever that says Democrat. I couldn’t agree more with Matt Egan’s letter. As much as the Democratic slate would like to make this about politics, it has nothing to do with politics. Greenstein and Katz really are Democrats! They just don’t bow down to some committee that is indicative of all the problems we are having in politics today.
So you actually thought you could convince people to vote a certain way based on a position held by the Republican ticket in the last election? Unbelievable. Really applaud Rob for coming on here and setting the record straight. Unfortunately so many think this make him combatitive. Is he supposed to sit idly by when these claims are put out there?
Just another example of the lies and deceit perpetrated by Penny and the political bosses, who have no “integrity and honesty” whatsoever and whose minions will now weigh in here and ignore what was said and done.
@Empty nester
Sewers are not an issue in this election. Robert Greenstein did not jump on any bandwagon. He is rightly defending himself from yet another smear attempt.
The Dems must really be running scared. Even the other letter in today’s NCNow from the moms who are claiming temperament is the most important quality for a Supervisor, is clearly reaching to find any reason to vote for the Democrat slate. Paderewski, Wolfensohn and Buckley have no policies on which to run on so they lie and manipulate. Pathetic.
The biggest and richest landlord in town is behind greenstein and everything he says and does. Please everyone take a second look at the situation.
Anything that raises taxes or impairs the ability of that ultra rich apparent manipulator, hakim , is what greenstein urges.
1 Brodsky is the uber wealthy hakim’s son in law and his employee. As a running mate of greenstein, Brodsky (hakim ) could finance the entire campaign. The hakim money is easily funneled. Salary to Brodsky, hakim’s daughter to her husband , possibly legal fees paid to greenstein , stipend or other fees to greenstein from the hakim group of his tenat merchants.
2 how can a person run for office as aggressively as greenstein , support a family and run a law practice?
3 please consider this everyone, by electing the hakim slate , hakim controls the board and zoning and variances. Hakim will be able to build and more importantly stop anything that threatens his profits ….like CC .
Ok penny is lousy , but she is not the hakim greenstein Brodsky in our chicken coop
The risk is too great. Please everyone choose the lesser of two evils. Just try to remember who is stirring up emotions . The town is divided but don’t let ourselves be manipulated in such a way.
Political violations are a side show .
The heart of the matter is the big money (hakim which no one really knows about) working for itself , not for the town.
Ask yourself , if just one third of what is written is true , do you really want to have such a behind the scenes wolf running our town ? Disclaimer: opinion on matters of common concern only, please check Internet which is source of data as well as other postings.
Rob Greenstein’s letter reminds me of the bully who runs crying to the teacher when one of his victims hits back. Rob’s assertions that, “We believe in engaging residents, not scaring them with false claims” is ludicrous.
The Republican campaign has been ridden with false claims. “Nobody wants retail at Chappaqua Crossing” was debunked by the recent survey showing the town is split evenly on the issue. “Retail at Chappaqua Crossing will destroy downtown merchants” is directly contradicted by a study commissioned by the town. And let’s not forget last week’s flier in which Greenstein and company implied County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz’s endorsement by using his name and photo without Kaplowitz’s knowledge or permission.
I believe that The Examiner had it right when it endorsed Penny Paderewski for Supervisor. The Examiner said, “[Greenstein’s] Chappaqua Crossing alternatives, such as land swaps with developer Summit-Greenfield for downtown property or hoping that Rite Aid goes out of business since Walgreen’s just moved into the hamlet, leaves too much to chance. His definitive statements that the new larger retail would devastate the downtown must also be viewed with skepticism without knowing the types of businesses that would move into Chappaqua Crossing.”
Our town is too important to leave “too much to chance” by electing a serial misinformer and fear monger like Rob Greenstein and the rest of the Republican slate. For responsible and experienced leadership, vote for the Democratic ticket: Paderewski, Buckley, Wolfensohn and Sorkin.
@Please reevaluate,
The operative words (and the only true ones) in all your distortions are: “Ok penny is lousy.”
@ Please reevaluate,
So don’t vote for Brodsky. You don’t have to vote by slate. Vote for the others. Instead of a one-party or single directed board, let’s have a combination, it is healthier, the politics will be cleaner and more open. Entrenched power of one party is a dangerous thing. It is a small clique that has been running this town. The same group have been in for how long? Is it twenty or more years?
Michael Zuch is nothing more than a political crony who puts party over everything – no matter what.
Brodsky is not hakim’s son in law? Brodsky is not hakim’s employee?
The merchant tenants do not pay hakim rent?
Hakim is not extrely wealthy? Hakim does not stand to lose money if CC goes forward?
Hakim Brodsky money has never benefitted greenstein?
Unless you are part of the hakim family , just
Look at everything greenstein has said and done. If I have created a 1% doubt, I have succeeded with you . Just don’t vote for him . Write in your own name .
Imagine such a rich and powerful person like hakim running the town through greenstein. Yes I am afraid of penny and her dubious viewpoints , but I am horrified by the prospect of an uncontrollable despot running the town . Please rethink all that has happened with the revelation of the greenstein hakim Brodsky connection. That’s all. Please resolve doubts against allowing such a possibility to exist
Hey, Zuch. You’re back! Are your bosses on the democrat committee paying you by the word these days? Or by the lie, like always?
“Yes I am afraid of penny and her dubious viewpoints.”
Right. Be very scared.
Will all the Democrat cronies please stop posting! Why don’t you look at the public records that show who donated to the campaigns. Penny’s campaign is substantially all political insiders, while the Greenstein campaign is predominantly residents.
Plenty of people who run for office are wealthy (hell, they’re not running for the salaries). Should we not vote for anyone with a wealthy relative? Why does that mean anyone will be swayed.
The Democrat Board is likely colluding with developers, and Penny and crew will follow. Isn’t that worse?
Someone really ought to look into the books of the Chamber of Commerce. I have heard several rumors about not filing appropriate taxes, etc. How are those books kept? Talk about “follow the money”. In addition, I want to know how the Greenstein team got my e-mail address—from the Chamber or Christine Yeres….You think things about Penny—start thinking about Greenstein. Penny has been audited every year. I am comfortable with her handling of our money. She had one incident with a merchant, who I heard does not get along with everyone anyway. He is known to have a difficult personalty. Just some food for thought…..
@Michael Zuck – The Examiner has also endorsed Lisa Katz and Adam Brodsky of Team New Castle. They believe a bi-partisan approach will benefit our whole town! Here’s the full endorsement for anyone who’s interested. http://www.theexaminernews.com/examiner-endorsements-election-2013/
@Michael Zuch,
Yes, you were quite selective in quoting The Examiner. Glad “Reality check” posted the link.
Did you not read the endorsement? Or did you simply misrepresent it?
Thank you in advance for your answers.
@Let’s talk about it,
You write: Penny “had one incident with a merchant, who I heard does not get along with everyone anyway. He is known to have a difficult personalty.”
That’s right. Blame the victim. Typical of your ilk.
@Oh, please!,
You write: “The Democrat Board is likely colluding with developers, and Penny and crew will follow.”
Remove the word “likely” and you’ve got it right.
Buy penny is a silly naive beaurocrat. Greenstein hakim Brodsky are professional rich real estate manipulator a which Ron does not distance himself from . The choice is a deliberate wolf family that , once on power , has the money to keep it indefinitely. Or a naive or wrong minded silly person who could be persuaded to bote in favor of community interests. Greenstein Brodsky and Brodsky-hakim is an iron fisted personal interest. I confess I would like to have that type of strangle hold on the town, but I am not that financially invested in hurting the towns people
This election still comes down to issues and I am hopeful that the residents of New Castle will not be distracted by selective quotes or clever pivots from what we have all seen play out over not just the past 5 months, but over the last few years. My vote was up for grabs after the last election, but I required a slate to start by providing satisfactory answers on Conifer and Chappaqua Crossing. Team New Castle clearly gives me the only hope that the town board will be a partner in helping to see that the Conifer project will not be completed and that this election will send a signal to the county, state and other agencies that are looking to see how this town votes on Tuesday that we are not willing to support an unfit place to live to those who are less fortunate while handing out a $2 million development fee to Conifer and a million dollar windfall for the landowner of a contaminated third of an acre.
Team New Castle also provides the most comfort that a real planning process will take place that looks to take advantage of the strengths of this community, but also acknowledges its geographical limitations. I am not satisfied with key elements of the town board’s process for addressing legitimate concerns about Chappaqua Crossing. And my personal concerns on how the development impacts traffic, our existing business districts and the town’s tax base have not been addressed to my satisfaction at all.
There is a 400,000 square foot hole of unoccupied office space in their analysis that is being assumed away. Some amount greater than 85% of us have concerns about traffic. This is not a NIMBY issue for me but I certainly hope to have both of my young children graduate from Greeley one day in the future, so this vital artery in our community impacts anyone in the town or the school district. Thank you for your time and please come out and vote.
The Penny Patrol is out in force with their lies and distortions; no doubt they sense defeat for their candidate who as Town Administrator has been part of town boards that have flunked their assignments. Padewerski does not have what it takes to make the giant leap from administrator to supervisor. Thank you Rob Greenstein and team for stepping up to the plate to correct the frightening decisions made by administrations that Ms. Paderewski was part of as Town Administrator.
Last election Bob Kirkwood wanted sewers too but not just for the select residential neighborhoods but for the Millwood business district as well. And while before yesterday nobody was talking about sewers this election, now I’m wondering why we were promised them two years ago but they still are not here or even on their way.
