Why I Support Victoria Gearity for Mayor

I am new to the Democratic Party having rejected another party which no longer matched my values. I believe that government should work in the interests of all of its constituents, that it should seek and utilize the collective wisdom of its boards and experts and that it should move forward for the common good of the entire community. I believe that there is a fiduciary responsibility involved with public service that transcends personal gain and should place public servants at a higher standard as they have been entrusted by the community to act responsibly and wisely for the benefit of all. I believe that a good leader listens to qualified guidance and understands the value of objective input in order to reach a consensus beneficial to all. And for these reasons, I’ve chosen to endorse Mayor Victoria Gearity.

During the past several years, I have openly opposed poor legislative choices, notably ETPA and the roundabout and have not only been a vocal critic of our Village Board but have created objective, data driven reports in order to aid in an unbiased thought process necessary to diffuse an emotionally charged subject.

In early 2018 I looked upon Omar’s return to Ossining as a positive for the community. He is bright, personable, energetic and I knew him as good at working with and listening to others. But no sooner did he take his seat on the Village Board than the motions began that would reintroduce the ETPA legislation rejected by the board just 15 months before and which was roundly criticized by our land use boards and IFCA. The Ossining Village Board was now controlled by Community Voices Heard and Omar was the swing vote. In the process that followed they purposefully ignored the recommendations of the affordable housing consultant, Kevin Dwarka, who listed ETPA as the last of eight housing option to be tried by the Village and pushed the CVH agendas forward as quickly as was allowed by law.

The Village Board agenda is today controlled by Community Voices Heard. Ironically, in passing ETPA, a piece of poorly designed and ill-conceived legislation, they have hurt most the group that they said they were helping: those in need of affordable housing! The provisions of the poorly designed ETPA law not only don’t provide for any new affordable housing, but remove the most affordable units (those built before 1974) from the market thus raising costs for the rest of the community. Ossining, in a relatively short period of time, will become like the other ETPA communities, more expensive with fewer affordable housing options and will force people who would otherwise stay in our community, to find opportunities elsewhere.

Ossining has had a history of poor legislative initiatives. We are still recovering from the damaging policies of our political leaders 30 years ago! We do not need this type of irresponsible and reckless behavior on the part of our elected officials. We do not need a Village board that succumbs to the desires of an outside political organization before it listens to the voices of Ossining.

Conversely, Mayor Gearity has exhibited a maturation while in office and an ever greater willingness and ability to listen to and understand those with differing views. She has promoted creative, thought provoking initiatives such as the hiring of Kevin Dwarka Associates and the creation of the Downtown Working Redevelopment Committee in an attempt to create a path forward for the Village. She has expanded government by hiring a capable Village Manager who has in turn hired professionals to help us with the effective management and oversight necessary for a well-functioning village. Working together and with all of our boards, the Mayor’s initiatives have led to the revamping of the building department, increases in information to the business community, increased identification and remediation of substandard housing, a willingness to examine improvements to the Route 9 corridor, an increased involvement and participation by community organizations and a perception in the Ossining Community that this is a positive place to be and that Ossining’s future is bright.

Winston Churchill once said, “If you’re young and you’re not liberal, you have no heart, but if you’re older and you’re not conservative, you have no brain!”

Ossining has a great heart, but it needs more! Perhaps at some time Mr. Herrera will grow to understand the qualities necessary to be a leader for an entire community. If he is able to reach that realization and separate himself from the PAC that supports him, he may actually earn my vote. Until that time, the community should leave him where he is and should reject all Community Voices Heard candidates, now and in the future!

Ossining needs stable, reasoned, mature leadership to guide it forward.

Please vote for Victoria Gearity for Village of Ossining Mayor and for Rika Levin and Manuel Quesada for Village of Ossining Trustee.