Mayor Gearity is Politicizing the Public Grant Process

Statement in response to Mayor Victoria Gearity’s allegation as to why Ossining lost the State of New York’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative 2018 Funding.

Ossining, NY —In a recent article and letter to the editor entitled: “Moratoriums Don’t Help Move Us Forward: Why New Rochelle won a $10 million development grant—and Ossining didn’t,” Mayor Gearity blamed Village Trustee Omar Herrera (her colleague and current mayoral opponent) for losing the New York State Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Redevelopment award.

In the Mayor’s letter, we first hear great admiration for the City of New Rochelle’s process with their application and submission and recent selection to receive the $10 million dollar Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant.

The mayor then states: “Unfortunately, the current political climate in Ossining sent a very different message. When my opponent began publicly calling for a moratorium as a top priority in his vision for the future, the Village lost any chance of being awarded the DRI for 2018.”

This slanderous and false statement raises so many questions. Trustee Omar Herrera, along with support from the majority of his colleagues on the village board, requested a discussion on a prospective moratorium after receiving much feedback from current and former school board members, as well as many residents and property owners who were concerned with the Village’s ability to handle more development and its additional impact to already overcrowded schools. This was to learn whether or not it was appropriate.

On October 19, 2018 Mayor Gearity made more concerning statements:

“One of the essential elements the MidHudson Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) is looking for in a Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant recipient, is stable elected leadership that is supportive of smart economic development. This point has been made clear in DRI grant trainings offered across the region, as well as during one-on-one conversations I’ve had with the director of the MidHudson REDC, and consultants who advise applicants during the DRI application process.”

“The Village will participate in a follow up interview with the REDC for a detailed debrief. Informally I have received very positive feedback from a number of the people who were present for the Village’s in-person grant presentation to the REDC.”

The mayor’s attempt to politicize such a public grant process and her alleged conversations with state appointed officials raises many questions. But this also raises the notion that if a municipality has elected officials who have differences of opinion and policy- the state will not will work them? Every NYS municipality, including many that have been awarded Grants, have an array of local political climates and differences. That is part of the democratic process. What were the conversations the mayor had and with whom? Does the state approve of such tainting remarks regarding their program?

Fact is, the Village is not ready to handle such a grant and responsibility based of our leadership and personal challenges the last 5 years. There is also no set vision, as outlined here.

The current political climate is led by Victoria Gearity- the chair and spokesperson for of all our work-sessions and legislative sessions- our mayor since 2015.

“To say that the discussion of a moratorium is reason for our not getting a 10-million-dollar grant is nothing more than political grandstanding in an election year. The Mayor is taking the easy way out by blaming her opponent rather than owning the fact that she is "the current political climate". You are the Mayor, right?” Said Village of Ossining Deputy Mayor John Codman III

John Codman III, Village of Ossining Deputy Mayor and Village Trustees (Omar Herrera and Quantel Bazemore) are calling for an investigation and response to the information and allegations stated in Mayor Gearity’s letter. They plan to request that the Village Manager send an official letter on municipal letterhead to the Governor’s office as well as Meghan Taylor, MidHudson Regional Director, requesting clarification and if such statements represent their sentiments.

“This raises many concerns; the Mayor’s communications with the state and how it does not reflect the majority of the board. We are going to have to monitor and be directly involved with all future conversations and debriefs with the REDC council and state executive agencies.” said Omar Herrera, Village Trustee.

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