There has always been more than one facet to every issue and to every concern. There is right, and there is wrong; there is benevolence; and there is vindictiveness; there is freedom, and there is imprisonment. Those were the principals upon which I was weaned. Without ever a waver I could detect in her as her child, my mother’s ability to stoically define and uphold her understanding of the world. Her vision was pristine and clear, permitting no mingling among the divergent issues or concerns, withstanding acquiescence by adhering to principal. Believing himself more cosmopolitan than she, my father’s cerebral comprehension gave him an understanding supposedly more esoteric. He perceived the gray tones that have robbed us the birthright bequeathed in The Declaration of Independence which reads... “they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness... ” The Declaration of Independence was and still remains a political statement; one which has given rise to a great nation. Referencing the historical wonder and enormity of our nation’s history is worthy a short reiteration. Focusing Yonkersites’ attention to our present and not too distant past may be far simpler to dissect in order to deduce whether Mom or Dad got it right.
Brother fights brother to this day. Some of us will remember when nations fought nations; World Wars I and II are examples of such fights. Since 9/11 most Americans believe the fight is fought by zealots who espouse dogma exclusive to them and portraying others as ignorant of the right “path”.
No matter how one depicts the struggles among peoples, it can always be distilled to power and money. One begets the other, no matter where or how one begins.
It seems an easily comprehensible concept. And it is. Most of us, get lost every now and then when we are deflected by responsibility or play. Alas, most often it is the former. Such is the way.
Focused, we know the struggle in Yonkers is an old fight. It comes in cycles. It intensifies over time. It is the fight of succession; it is the transference of power from those that have to their progeny. It is the final task to maintain the status quo.
Whether in political agreement or not let us dissect the ploys that have been unleashed to that end.
The most evident revolves about the succession to mayor in the City of Yonkers should the titular head of government vacate his office. Abdication, illness, death, the reason that would cause the seat of power to be vacated is not the issue, only the process for succession. Yonkers Tribune has divulged the plot. Yonkers Mayor Amicone would resign, Deputy Mayor William Regan would be appointed the mayor for a 90 day period after which a special election would be called. Mayor Amicone will step down in December 2010, should the referendum to this scenario be accepted in the November 2010 election process, Bill Regan will accede to Mayor of Yonkers.
The purpose of this ploy on the public is for the present regime to maintain its grip on the wealth of the city, the people who wield that wealth and power, and to keep all others at bay. How you say? Simple.
Recognizing that Yonkers City Hall is the employer of choice, also noting that the Kevin Plunkett (Democrat) Administration, usurping the vision and superceding the power of Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino (Republican), has quietly advised that those in Yonkers’ city governmentneed not apply for jobs with county government; they are not wanted. Yonkers City With no where to employ their own except by their own devises, they hatched another plot. First off there are still many among those employed in Yonkers City Hall that have yet to qualify for early retirement incentives and need a few more years, say another four year term to reach retirement age. Perfect reason for having Mayor Amicone abdicate his post, he wants out anyway, and Regan to accede to mayor. The same people who need a few more years under their belt would welcome Regan taking over the mayor’s position in January 2011. They would vote for him in the special election. As power brokers and developers are shaken down for the initial funding to get Regan elected in after his 90 days in office, say April 1, 2011, they will again be shaken down for funds to elect Regan for the November 2011 election. Remember, by appointing Deputy Mayor Regan, a non-elected individual to mayor, Republican challengers are denied their opportunity to primary the appointed mayor, when he runs as an incumbent for re-election end of March or April 2011.
Following this ploy, Bill Regan keeps the present power brokers, the same developers, the same “Family and Friends” network in place. Best of all, as the need to transfer power and wealth to the kids of the “Family and Friends” Bill Regan, despite being despised by many, is trusted to carry out the plan. It has already begun.
Former Corporation Counsel Frank Rubino, now employed by Harris-Beach, Yonkers’ chosen bond and favored outsource litigation counsel, was instrumental in finding his son employment with M.I.S. (computer department) as well as his son’s girlfriend in Yonkers Corporation Counsel. There are countless other examples. Yonkersites know them all. Similar conduct may be expected among others.
To foil the public ever learning the schemes perpetrated to rob them their rights Yonkers City Hall has not given timely notice to the issue of succession discussed by the Charter Revision Commission (CRC) to which a public hearing will be held Monday, August 16, 2010, at 7:00 pm., at the Mayor’s Conference room, located on the 2nd Floor of City Hall.. When David Simpson, Mayor Amicone’s Communication Director was asked to forward the final resolution drafted, his office did not yet comply and no one has made public any advance notice of the resolution to be discussed.
Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick has been promoting attendance of the Public Hearing in his email blast but he too is delinquent in affording the public an opportunity to study the resolution. Further, Inspector General Dan Schorr is too timid to have challenged the lack of timely notice by Mayor Amicone’s office recognized to be 72 hours in advance. Mr Schorr is proving himself a political hack devoid of a scintilla of independence. What a shame and how pathetic. He has taken opportunity and trashed it.He can no longer call himself an ethicist. Maintaining his employe is of no value to Yonkersites.
With Yonkers City Councilman John Murtagh marginalized from mounting a primary challenge against Bill Regan, will Mr Murtagh attempt to wrap himself up with another party line as he stated to Cable News 12 Westchester? Mr Murtagh could also have admonished Mayor Amicone for shunning his declared political aspirations and dashing those of his supporters. Mr Murtagh chose to be silent. Mayor Amicone swung hard against Mr Murtagh for exposing Mayor Amicone’s first choice for Inspector General. Mayor Amicone exacted more than a pound of flesh from Mr Murtagh for challenging candidate Michael White’s bonafides. Ouch, that smarts. Mr Murtagh is finished politically. See what happens when you are not a member of the “Families and Friends” network.
Chuck Lesnick has also spoken about running for Mayor of Yonkers. He does not have the financial wherewithal to launch a campaign, has little backing city-wide (he won over Jim Castro-Blanco by less than 140 votes last year), and has not been able to get any traction for any elected office.
Without a viable candidate in the wings declaring an interest to run for the office of Mayor of Yonkers and ready to do so as early as March or April 2011, the public will need to decide whether they want to be witness to this scheme being part of the November 2010 referendum, and even if it should be allowed to pass for its not being noticed to the public in a legal manner. If the resolution is permitted to become a referendum placed on the ballot before the public but does not gain public acceptance, Mayor Amicone will stay in office until his term ends in 2011.
Yonkersites will not be fooled. It’s about power and wealth. It is about transferring that power and wealth to one’s children, and to maintain hold of that power and wealth for the next generation.
I believe Mom had the more discerning eye. She kept her composure. Her legacy survives. If Mom were here, she would vote not to approve this illegally noticed resolution. I believe after all these years even Dad figured it out. May they both rest in peace.
