Coming to Grips with the Presidential Election Results
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 7918
Many locals I spoke to in recent days were expecting to celebrate the election of America's first female president on Election Day. Our neighborhood leans left and some residents spent the last few weeks making phone calls for Hillary or travelling to Pennsylvania or Florida to canvass and poll watch. With pollsters predicting a Clinton victory, supporters in Scarsdale were optimistic that the former NYS Senator and Westchester resident would triumph at the polls.
And at least in Westchester County, Secretary Clinton was a big winner, taking 65% of the vote to Trump's 32%. According to the Westchester County Board of Elections website, Democrats fared well down the line, with Senator Chuck Schumer winning 71% of the vote and Congressman Eliot Engel, State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins all re-elected by wide majorities.
But as we all know by now, the vote in Westchester did not mirror the country and almost everyone we spoke to here is completely shocked by the outcome.
In an effort to come to grips with the news, we asked some local leaders and residents to comment. Here is what they shared:
State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin said:
"The election results were an upset by everyone's calculation and I admit I was extremely disappointed. However, it is time to now come together and find common ground. We live in the greatest country in the world. Throughout our history we have been successful because we respect the peaceful transfer of power. We need to wish our new president well at the start of his new term, while at same time know that we will not always agree and need to keep discussing issues and listen to each other."
Congressman Eliot Engel offered this comment: "As with any election, the American people have spoken and now it is up to us to figure out how to come together and move forward. As your Congressman, I will continue to champion policies that safe-guard women's reproductive rights, strengthen the middle-class, preserve our environment for future generations and protect the civil rights of every American. I thank the people of the 16th District for once again renewing my two-year contract by an overwhelming margin."
Rabbi Jonathan Blake of Westchester Reform Temple sent the following in an email to his congregtation:
"The election is over and the American people have voted. The results have stunned the world and revealed once and for all the deep and alarming schisms in American society.
American Jews have long expressed their patriotism through civic engagement, advocacy for social justice, and steadfast acts of Tikkun Olam. The coming weeks, months, and years will be no different. Indeed, our principled and passionate engagement in a hurting and divided America is needed now more than ever.
In 1790, George Washington wrote a now-celebrated letter to the Jews of Newport, Rhode Island, home of the country's oldest Jewish house of worship (Touro Synagogue, 1763). In it he pledged that the "Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance."
Westchester Reform Temple will work vigilantly to hold our American government to Washington's founding promise as we prepare for and inaugurate the Presidency of Donald J. Trump. His rhetoric on the campaign trail and his record of public opinion have exposed a willingness to indulge in hateful speech and incitement toward minorities, women, and people with disabilities. His campaign attracted the vociferous support of some of America's most hate-filled voters: citizens who openly espouse White supremacy, the embrace of violence against the vulnerable, and Anti-Semitic lies made familiar throughout centuries of discrimination against Jewish people.
Today is November 9th, which Jewish history commemorates as Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass. On the night of November 9th-10th, 1938, the Nazis carried out an organized pogrom against Germany's Jews, claiming the lives of at least 91 Jews, destroying 267 synagogues and 7,500 Jewish-owned businesses, and arresting 30,000 Jewish citizens. Our People does not forget the lessons that history teaches about what happens when hate is wedded to power."
The following is a join statement from Rabbi Jeffrey Brown and Cantor Chanin Becker, of Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El.
"By definition, being part of a community means being in relationship with those who see our country and the world differently. During an election season, we understandably advocate for the candidate and worldview that most resonates with our own. Now that the election is over, our job is to come back together, as we continue to work for the good of our communities. To that end, our clergy and staff at Scarsdale Synagogue remain available for our membership to reflect on the events of this week, and to come together as a community and as a nation in the days ahead."
In an email from Cantor Becker she quoted Rabbi Zoe Klein who said,
"When God offered King Solomon anything he wished in I Kings 3:9, King Solomon asked for one thing only: "Give me a listening heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?" He didn't ask for might. He didn't ask for wealth. He didn't even ask for wisdom. He asked for a listening heart.
May the new Leader of the Free World be blessed with a listening heart. A heart that listens to the pain of a divided people. A heart that listens for commonalities. A heart that listens to those whose voices are tiny and soft. A heart that listens for the weeping at the margins. A heart that listens to the dreams of the poor, the hopes of the young, and the faint prayer of the dying. A heart that listens to the call of the earth and the haunting song of the sea. A heart that listens past language, dialects and differences to the very pulse of humanity. A heart that listens to the resounding message of history. A heart that listens to the spirits of our ancestors and the hum of the future. A heart that listens to you and listens to me and hears the mysterious harmonies that are so often hidden from us."
Rabbi Shira Milgrom of Congregation Kol Ami shared this: "When someone close to us dies, even with the shock and the disbelief and the grief, we begin to see with sharper focus the things that really matter to us, what is most important to us. I deeply hope that even in this time, especially in this time, that we will have greater clarity about our values - and that we promise ourselves and one another that we will be true to them, that we will find the courage to act on them."
We also asked Scarsdale resident and former chair of the New York Regional Board of the Anti Defamation League John Harris for his thoughts. Here is what he shared:
"Woke up feeling empty on so many levels ... A thoughtful, nuanced, experienced and compassionate candidate was rejected in favor of a candidate who has shown none of those qualities...
A strategy based on the grim premise that America is being "bled dry" by the "political establishment" and "global elites" actually resonated across the country...
Hoping (but having no confidence) that the intolerance of immigrants and other minorities that Trump used to energize the base gives way to a more inclusive spirit when he has to govern everyone...
Hoping that he realizes that, unchecked, his campaign message emboldens those who would deny basic civil rights to religious and ethnic minorities (and that it has already unleashed a flood of anti-Semitism against Trump's critics in the press and elsewhere)...
Hoping that he is reflective enough to know that civil liberties are fragile and that what you choose to say to get elected is very different than what you must say and do to govern a diverse country."
Former Scarsdale Trustees Richard Toder offered these reflections on the election results of 2016:
"While Mr. Trump was not my choice for the Presidency, I have always tried to be an optimist about our country's future. Indeed, in the past we have had Presidents who were not originally well-thought of by a significant portion of our citizens –think Harry Truman- yet subsequently became extremely well-regarded by almost all. So I would encourage our populace to give him a chance, for if there is one thing that is clear, it is that legislative accomplishments are hard to come by in our current highly fractured political climate.
In that regard, since the Republicans will now have control of both the Executive Branch and both house of the Legislature, there will be no credible excuse for continued stalemate. As such, they will be judged by what is, or is not, accomplished, starting in January of next year."
Do you have thoughts on the election? Please share them in the comments box below -- include your first and last names.
User Comments, Facebook and You
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 4366
As some of you may have noticed, Scarsdale10583 experimented with integrating with Facebook to post user comments.
We hoped that asking users to log on with Facebook would decrease anonymous comments and improve the quality of the comments we received.
However after a few months of testing we found some flaws with the Facebook integration.
First, we had no tools to moderate the commentary on the site or to manage Facebook comments. Plus, we received many complaints from readers who don't have a Facebook Page and had no intention of getting one and were therefore unable to comment. Last, apparently some Facebook comments simply disappeared and we had no way to recover them.
So we have gone back to our original comments application and will require you to include your name and street address with your comments. Please be respectful, polite and decent. Don't harass, demean or denigrate your fellow residents or those who work or volunteer for the school or the village.
We will read all comments before they are posted and will not publish any anonymous or inappropriate comments.
We value your input and hope you will comment and be constructive with your words.
If you want to contact us, email scarsdalecomments@gmail.com.
Joanne Wallenstein for Scarsdale10583
Con Edison to Install Gas Main at Church Lane South and Popham Road
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 4122
Scarsdale Village has notified us that the installation of a gas main will interrupt traffic and cause detours from now until early January.
Here's the information:
Con Edison has begun work to install 120 linear feet of gas main and a new natural gas regulator in the public right -of -way in front of 22 Church Lane South at the Popham Road intersection. The installation of the gas regulator is necessary to meet the high demand for gas in this area which is not currently being provided to the residents. The construction is expected to be completed in early January 2017, weather permitting.
Drivers should expect intermittent lane restrictions on Popham Road and Church Lane South during construction. The homeowners on Church Lane South between Popham and Hathaway will be detoured to Popham Road via School Lane. While Con Edison has a detour plan for the various phases of construction, and Scarsdale police officers will be on site for traffic control, it is advised that motorists allow extra time when traveling in the area or take an alternate route to avoid delays.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this project. For additional information, please contact the Village Engineer's Office at 914-722-1106.
District Releases Report on School Water Quality
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 3625
Ever since high lead levels were found in drinking fountains and sinks at Davis Elementary School in nearby New Rochelle, Scarsdale parents have asked questions about the safety of the drinking water in their schools.
This week, Stuart Mattey, Assistant Superintendent for Business for the Scarsdale School District released the results of tests of water at all district schools done in March, 2016 that showed that with a few exceptions the 309 samples pulled from all schools were in compliance with EPA regulations.
However, the engineers did find that a number of sinks failed on the first draw but met standards after a 30 second flush. A few failed after the second draw and were taken out of service until filters could be installed. These locations included two sinks in the Cooper House lunchroom at the Middle School as well as a sink in the tech teacher's kitchen at the Middle School and the water fountain near the nurse's office at the Middle School.
At Fox Meadow, the water fountain next to the boiler room was also found to have unacceptable lead levels after the second draw.
The district remediated all of these locations and engineers returned on May 7, 2016 and found lead levels to be acceptable.
Local resident and environmental attorney Thomas Giuffra reviewed the report and offered the following comment for Scarsdale10583:
I just had the opportunity to review the test data for the water in the schools. Initially, I would note that the Board has taken a very proactive approach to this potential problem.
I hope that it will institute at least an annual survey of the drinking water in the district buildings.
Overall, the testing is favorable. There were a few locations which were over the EPA limits, but not so much so that they would raise concerns of a greater problem. If there had been large numbers of test locations in the same building which exceeded actionable limits, that would be a cause for concern because the issue would not be localized. Thankfully, the failing results appear to be in individual test locations which indicates a very small area of possibly degrading pipes or lead solder leaching lead.
What is most striking is the impact that remediation had on the failing locations. All
of the failing areas passed once remediation methods were utilized. Lead in drinking water is very easily controlled with filtration. In contrast lead dust, is much more difficult to safely manage and control based on its very nature.
One of the most basic ways to protect against lead in drinking water is to only use water from the cold tap for cooking, drinking or mixing baby formula. Water from a hot tap will always contain higher levels of lead. Water filters are very good idea.
Letter to the Editor: Tax Phase-in Denies Equal Protection of the Law
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 3500
This letter to the Editor was sent to Scarsdale10583 by Michele Braun and Norman Bernstein:
To the Editor:
We have now attended several Scarsdale Village Trustee meetings at which the possibility of asking the NY State Legislature for legislation authorizing "phase in" of the increased tax assessments resulting from the 2016 revaluation has been discussed. As described, the phase-in would spread the increase for those with the most substantial increased valuations—e.g., 25 percent and higher and meet other criteria—over three years.
Under this proposal, the decreased taxes due to the 2016 revaluation accruing to those with the largest houses would be put into effect immediately, not phased in. This asymmetric treatment of Scarsdale property owners would result in a reduction in total Village revenues. The reduction, in turn, would be compensated for by immediate significant tax increases to everyone else. If Village Trustees persist in pursing this phase-in, then the only appropriate source of offsetting revenue is that the benefits of the irrational 2016 revaluation for those who received the largest tax reductions should be phased in on the same schedule.
However well intended, the proposed asymmetric treatment—phasing in of tax increases and immediately applying tax reductions—may well constitute a denial of equal protection of the law and the taking of property without due process of law to all those harmed by this proposal.
Sincerely,
Michele Braun and Norman W. Bernstein
Wakefield Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583