Should Scarsdale's CNC Deliberations Be Confidential?
- Details
- Hits: 4132
Below find a letter from Scarsdale resident Harry Reynolds concerning Scarsdale's Non-Partisan Resolution: In accordance with the provisions of the Resolution of the Non-Partisan Party, I have formally objected to the proposed amendment in November, 2011 of the Non-Partisan Resolution insofar as it provides for secrecy in new Section 7 of Article V:
“Section 7. CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY. Each member of the Citizens Nominating Committee shall observe strict confidentiality at all times, whether during or after the deliberations of the Citizens Nominating Committee, as to the identities of persons seeking positions before, sources of information provided to and discussions, determinations, decisions and votes of, the Citizens Nominating Committee.”
Scarsdale’s Non-Partisan System, as regulated by the proposed amended Non-Partisan Resolution, keeps secret the identities of persons seeking the system’s nominations to electoral office. It bars voters from learning the identities of persons seeking nominations and facts concerning their qualifications. It also keeps secret what those applicants said, or failed to say, when they appeared before the nominating committee, and what members of the committee said to them.
The system’s curious argument for keeping secret the identities of applicants is that applicants would be lower in number if they foresaw their embarrassment upon the public learning that they had not been selected. There is no electoral system in the free world that advances that laughable, mindboggling argument. Are these applicants adult women and men or fretful little boys running around in knickers and little girls in frocks of silk? The public should know the identities of the applicants who were rejected in order to determine the integrity and electoral judgment of the nominating committee. Why should that knowledge be denied the public? The system's pressing for that secrecy is evidence that it regards itself as less a political party than a shuttered, closed-end social club with a village, ignorant as they are of the Non-Partisan system, looking on as spectators who move their lips as they read.
A claim for secrecy must be supported not by bizarre reasoning but by a supervening cause consistent with, and in support of, the public good. If the rule were otherwise, we would risk living in a society governed by secrecy laws. Incredibly, the secrecy given to nurse the anxieties of a very small number of applicants denies all voters of the knowledge of the identities of all persons who are seeking the power to govern them, surely an irrational inversion of electoral values in a democracy.
Further, there is no rational justification for keeping secret the statements made by applicants before the nominating committee and the statements of committee members made to the applicants. The only place on earth in which that justification could be made with a straight face is in a poorly lit asylum late at night. Do you seriously tell Scarsdale’s voters that they should not be told what an applicant knows, thinks, believes, plans, or desires concerning the public office he seeks? Do you tell the public that they should not know how honestly and diligently the nominating committee applies itself in questioning applicants?
If we have been taught anything about government, it is that secrecy is the refuge of the hypocrite and the curse of the persecuted. In the 1930’s, 1940’s, and 1950’s, the secrecy in the conduct of the then essentially Protestant Non-Partisan system was used successfully to keep Jews out of Scarsdale’s public offices. (See, O’Connor, Carol A., A Sort of Utopia, Scarsdale, 1891-1981, pp. 98-100) Would you be surprised if anti-Semitism or some other group hatred returned again to the Non-Partisan system through its rear door of secrecy? Are you aware that the secrecy that the Non-Partisan system desires will enable it to conceal the system’s incompetence, prejudice, ignorance, or corruption, should it be present but hidden? Why should you ask the public to give you that secrecy? What is it that so attracts secrecy to a Non-Partisan system that was created in reaction to the deceits of organized political parties?
Harry Reynolds
Bradley Road
The Zebra is Back!
- Details
- Hits: 4025
A large zebra that was missing from a traffic triangle in Greenacres has reappeared – as mysteriously as it disappeared. Pearl Stark of 47 Greenacres Avenue donated the large ceramic sculpture of a black and white striped zebra to adorn a newly planted traffic island across the street from her home. Stark lived on Greenacres Avenue since 1965 and moved away in August. She gave the zebra as a parting gift to the community as she wished to thank the neighborhood gardeners for providing a lovely vista from her front porch.
The zebra was placed in a corner of the triangular island on Saturday July 23 and peered out at drivers coming up from Colvin Road. Sometime before Tuesday morning July 26th, the zebra was stolen. Heartbroken neighbors posted signs asking for the zebra to be returned and filed a police report.
Their prayers were answered when the zebra returned on Wednesday August 17th. There were no witnesses to its departure and no one seems to know how it reappeared. Lt. Altizio at the Scarsdale Police Department was pleased to hear the zebra was back but had no idea how it got there. If anyone has a guess about what happened, please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
An Arrest, a Hot-Headed Motorist and Pool Crashers from the Scarsdale Police
- Details
- Hits: 4713
Mia Faulkner, age 34, of Winthrop Avenue, New Rochelle, turned herself in on August 4th to the Scarsdale Police Department to answer an outstanding arrest warrant which was issued on 10/21/09. The warrant charged Ms. Faulkner with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the third degree and Uninspected Motor Vehicle. She was released on $50.00 cash bail and issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Scarsdale Village Court on August 10th.
Identity Theft: A Greenacres resident reported an incident of identity theft to the police on August 2nd. The incident came to her attention when her accountant filed a joint tax return for her and her husband who had passed away last year. The tax return was rejected with the reason being that her husband’s social security number had already been used on another return. The IRS was notified of the identity theft and the matter is under investigation.
Trespass: On August 4th at 10:37 PM the police responded to 30 Cambridge Road on a report that a youth party was taking place in the backyard. The incident was reported by a neighbor who advised that the homeowners were away on vacation. Police discovered the pool water filter working, wet footprints around the pool area and water bottles left on a backyard table. No youths were found on the property. Two unlocked doors were also discovered and were secured by the police officers at the scene. The surrounding area was checked with negative results.
Road Rage: Police responded to a Weaver Street residence on August 5th at 1:41 PM upon a report of threatening behavior that was the result of a traffic disagreement. The complainant reported that she was traveling on Weaver Street when a pickup truck entered the roadway from the Shell service station causing her to take evasive action. She said that the operator of the pickup truck then made an obscene gesture at her, followed her to her residence, yelled obscenities at her and made threatening statements before driving off. Police conducted a canvass of the area with negative results.
Prowler: On August 7th at 12:49 AM a Black Birch Lane resident reported seeing a male attempting to gain access to his vehicle which was parked in his driveway. The resident said that when he turned the outdoors lights on this unknown male fled the driveway. He was described as being approximately six feet tall and wearing dark colored clothing. Entry was not made into the vehicle nor was it damaged in any fashion. The area was canvassed by patrol units with negative results.
Assistance Rendered: Police and Fire personnel responded to the Harwood Building on August 2nd at 7:47 AM on a report of a woman stuck inside the building’s elevator. Fire personnel were able to force the doors open freeing the women who was trapped inside. The woman did not suffer any injuries.
Found Property: On August 2nd at 1:11 PM police received a call from an individual who reported finding personal property at the intersection of Weaver Street and Crossway. Investigation revealed that the property was stolen from a vehicle that was parked in the Colonial Village parking lot. The property was returned to the owner. New Rochelle police were advised and they took a larceny report from the vehicle’s owner.
Fire Call: The Fire Department responded to a Heathcote Road home on August 3rd at 9:08 AM on a report of a smell of smoke coming from the pool house. The Fire Department determined that the smell was coming from the air conditioning unit. The air conditioning unit was turned off and the homeowner’s representative was advised to contact a technician to repair the defective unit.
Village Code Complaints: The police department continues to vigorously enforce the gasoline powered leaf blower ban. Summonses were issued on Myrtledale Road, Nelson Road, South Woods Road, Cayuga Road and Heathcote Road for violation of section 205.2B of the Scarsdale Village Code.
Coyote Sightings: Police responded to several reported coyote sightings that were made by residents. Coyotes were reportedly seen on Hillview Drive, Rock Creek Lane and near the intersection of Weaver Street and Crossway. In each instance, the coyote was gone upon the arrival of the police.
Auto Accidents: Police and Fire Department personnel responded to a report of an automobile accident which occurred in front of 459 Mamaroneck Road on August 1st at 6:47 PM. The operator of a 2005 GMC reported that while she was traveling at the above location a tree fell and struck the vehicle causing front end damage. The vehicle’s operator was uninjured. Con Edison was notified about wires being knocked down by the falling tree. The Scarsdale Highway Department was also called to the scene to assist. Police responded to an automobile accident which occurred on East Parkway on August 3rd at 11:38 am. The operator of a 2005 Toyota was pulling into an East Parkway metered parking space when she mistakenly stepped on the accelerator rather than the brake. This caused the vehicle to crash into the building at 54 East Parkway. There no injuries reported.
FBI Imposters and Wandering Children from the Greenburgh Police
- Details
- Hits: 4730
Visit from the FBI: A Hartsdale woman reported that two men came to her door and repeatedly rang the bell and banged on her back door on the evening of August 7th. The two men claimed to be FBI agents and asked her questions about her husband, saying that they received a complaint that he was a martyr terrorist. When she asked to see their badges only one man showed her his ID card. The card said the man’s last name was Kao, so she called the Manhattan FBI office to inquire. There was no one by that name in their office and the FBI told her to call the police.
Wandering children: On the afternoon of 8/9, two young children wearing pajamas and no shoes were found walking along Sprain Road. A passing motorist picked them up and brought them to Ardsley Police. Greenburgh Police went to the children’s home and found it unlocked, with two large dogs inside. After the dogs were secured, a woman answered the door and said she had taken two Benadryls at 10 am and fallen asleep. The woman identified herself as Tatania Semo, age 26, of N.Y. who works as an adult entertainment dancer at a gentlemen’s club in Queens. She was supposed to be caring for the children. Police contacted the children’s mother as well as Children’s Protective Services.
Drive-in: On Wednesday morning 8/10, 70 year-old Barbara Finegold of Sundale Place, Scarsdale drove her 1989 Lincoln Town car into the Pet Goods store on Central Avenue in Scarsdale. The car hit the front railing and broke the store’s front glass store. An estimated $3,500 in damage was done to the store and the car had to be towed away.
Free wings? Three teens fled the Candlelight Inn without paying for their meal at 11 pm on Monday August 8th. The owner called the police who found two of the youths in the Candlelight parking lot hiding behind a shed and the third in the front parking lot. The owner agreed not to press charges if the teens would pay the $41.75 owed for the meal and they paid up.
Break-ins: A burglar alarm went off at Best Buy at 1:30 am on 8/9. Police found both of the front glass doors to the store broken, and the gate behind the doors open as well. Store personnel determined that several computers and iPads were missing and reported almost $5,000 in total merchandise gone.
A ground floor apartment on Pinewood Road, Hartsdale was broken into between 5 am and 8:30 am on August 13th while a mother and daughter slept inside. Vandals entered through a ground floor window, and stole two purses and car keys off the kitchen table. They used the keys to drive away in a Toyota Scion that belonged to the residents and was parked in front of the apartment.
Police responded to a burglar alarm on Tanglewood Road in Scarsdale at 9 pm on August 13th. They found an open screen door and an open bedroom window. When the homeowner returned she found that some jewelry was taken from the nightstand but nothing else was missing.
On 8/8 the caretaker of a home on Stone Oaks Drive in Hartsdale called police when she noticed that a back window of the home had been smashed. Nothing appeared to be missing and it did not look as if anyone had entered the house.
The window of a 1994 Nissan Altima, parked in the driveway of a Marion Avenue, Hartsdale home was smashed sometime on 8/8.
Retail details: Theresa Fields of Spring Valley was caught stealing an $82 pair of Coach sneakers from Loehmann’s on Tarrytown Road on August 12th. She was handcuffed, taken to Greenburgh Police Headquarters and booked.
Gregory Rogers, a 25 year-old employee of SJ Service Station on Central Avenue was charged with Petit Larceny and Falsifying Business Records. Rogers stole scratch off lottery tickets valued at $900 and altered the records. He was caught stealing the tickets on the surveillance videotape.
Phone rage: The manager of the AT&T store on South Central Avenue called police at 9 am on Saturday morning 8/13 when an angry customer tried to get into the store before it opened at 10 am. The customer banged on the window and screamed, “open the fucking door.” The man needed a new phone and despite the manager’s request to the man to return to the store at 10 am, the customer was irate and uncooperative.
Underage DWI: Police stopped a driver at 1:30 am on 8/12 on Central Avenue for speeding and found that the 17 year-old Yonkers boy was driving without a proper license and was drunk. He was arrested for speeding and DWI and released to his mother.
Pooligans
- Details
- Hits: 3634
Scarsdale swimmers did a double take on Friday morning July 29 when they found a lifeguard chair on top of the pool house. No one knows who got into the pool complex the previous night -- or how they managed to hoist the guard chair from the baby pool onto the roof. The Scarsdale Police were called to investigate.
Until pool personnel could figure out how to take the chair down later Friday morning, flying friends had a bird’s eye view of all four pools from atop the roof.
If anyone has a theory about who did it or how, please share in the comments section below.
