Charmian Neary: I'll be voting for Steve Otis Andy Ball, Myles Lavelle and Joe Murphy

Today MyRye.com is carrying a guest column from Charmian Neary on her choices on November 3rd.

Charmian Neary is a parent in the Midland School District, serves on the school board finance and budget committee and organizes Friends of the Rye City School District every year, an ad hoc group of women who work to turn out the vote for the school budget.

A polemic on change as a mantra in local politics by Charmian Neary
 
The public's general unease about the economy and our skepticism toward the effectiveness of our representatives in Washington - and certainly in Albany - should not degenerate into a compulsion to throw the baby out with the bath water this Tuesday, Election Day. Here in Rye, we have our issues that need attention to be sure, but our City is well run - why change that?
 
Change is a popular slogan, and particularly after Obama's victory, candidates all over are clambering onto that band wagon hoping to be carried along without scrutiny. If the people in office are performing well, however, the community loses when there's a change,  as anyone new to the office has a learning curve.  In this race the loss would be greater, as the challengers are less experienced and less qualified to begin with, and certainly less familiar with Rye.
 
The truth is, Rye is in good shape financially, and as much as we've been hit by the national recession, we're relatively unscathed when compared to the nation as a whole. Relative to Scarsdale and Larchmont and Mamaroneck and Harrison, which are the communities faced with the same State and County tax burden, Steve Otis has done well for Rye. Our tax rate is lower than all of theirs. Are taxes too high? Of course they are, but not because of our current Mayor or Council. Informed people know that and won't fall for pie in the sky political fairy tales telling them otherwise.
 
I want Rye to remain affordable as much as anyone, if only because my husband and I are on the lower end of the income scale here and its getting tougher to make ends meet. I don't want Rye to change, however. I want it to remain the beautiful City I fell in love with when I first decided to move here on a warm October day in 2002.
 
I haven't heard a word - through all the campaign rhetoric and the flurry of critical mail and ads with which we've been inundated - to indicate to me that the candidates running on the vague platform of change have any idea what it really takes to govern on a day to day basis.  Its easy to spout empty slogans when you're on the outside looking in, but good governance is a laborious process that can't be summed up in carefully scripted and recited talking points. Campaigns can be all about soaring rhetoric...    Yes We Can!  ...    Government is a different animal. It is not the private sector, nor can it be, as  Mayor Bloomberg, one of the world's most successful entrepreneurs, has discovered.  His days as filled with raising taxes and cutting services and making compromises and fending off criticism from those who've never governed yet think they have all the answers.  That is the reality of public service. 

Even Barack Obama has had to realize that town halls and focus groups and all the slick 21st century bells and whistles do nothing to turn the economy around. He has learned that the reality of campaigning is far different from the reality of actually governing...its much more complicated than that.
 
I hear from the French team "we'll listen to you, the people".  Nice sentiment...problem is the people don't speak in one voice... the people will take you in all sorts of contradictory directions if you try to follow their wishes. To govern effectively one must LEAD -- even when its unpopular.
 
You know I would have laughed if they weren't so dead serious when I saw the agenda  French and the changers assembled from their "town hall" at the Rye Rec. which I attended.
 
Spend less... AND Invest in our roads and sidewalks... Improve employee morale... AND Renegotiate labor contracts to reduce costs... Put pedestrians first... AND Build more parking for cars ... stacked, covered, multi-level parking, no less

Work toward a safer, greener Rye... AND allow cell towers in residential areas

Have our cake... AND eat it too!
 
When the French slate criticizes our current administration relentlessly, they are not only casting aspersions on the men who are running this year but on all seven men and women who volunteer to serve. I don't believe French has answers to issues that seven intelligent people have somehow overlooked, or worse, considered and dismissed through shortsightedness...  or an inability to think proactively.

And before we resort to the fallback cliche of new blood as a panacea, consider this - none of the council members has been in office longer than 4 years.
 
Steve Otis and Andy Ball have done a fine job as Mayor and Councilman - a fine job. They have done so while remaining composed in the face of blistering criticism from a small minority of citizens. Most people could not handle what they've been through, let alone raise their hands to endure it again.  I have enormous respect for Joe Murphy by virtue of his decades of service to our community as well as his service to our country in the military.  And I admire Myles Lavelle for stepping up to the plate and agreeing to serve on our council, bringing to the office not only his intelligence but his talent in running one of our most cherished institutions, the Rye Little League.   Myles also possesses something he may take for granted, but which is nonetheless invaluable in making sound decisions for a community. Myles benefits from  the deep roots of his parents and brothers and sisters, nearly all of whom have chosen to remain in Rye and add to its strength by buying homes and raising children here, rather than tearing it down with insinuations that Rye isn't worth it.
 
We're in the middle of the worst economic crisis in nearly eighty years. It is no mystery why we're all feeling anxious about the future - yet its nothing endemic to Rye. Let's not give in to the mentality of a small craven mob and look for someone to pillory. I hope we in Rye make our decisions in a more rational manner.
 
I'll be voting for Steve Otis Andy Ball, Myles Lavelle and Joe Murphy on Tuesday. Their experience and qualifications can't be matched.

Comments

[Jim Amico]

Avg.Citizen,
The last 2 years RPD has cost the Taxpayers an average of $500,000 per and there is no reason to think that 2009 will be any different! Some of these officers make up to $60,000 in overtime each year.

Now, I do not doubt the need for overtime whether it be the RPD or the RFD, but $500,000.00????
Don't forget we spend this kind of $$$ on overtime and we have an Auxilary Membership!!!

Imagine if we spent just a small portion of that money on enforcement resulting in handing out tickets there would not be much of an arguement!

Now Mayor Otis put yet ANOTHER Committee together called the Task Enforcement Committee or something to this nature.

There is NO REPRESENTATION from the RPD on the TTC but here we have Commissioner Connors, Dr.Shine (Superintendent of Schools) and a host of others.

Let me see if I understand this correctly; Connors, who gets PAID to Manage the PD is costing us $500,000 every year in overtime due to his poor management skills and now he is qualified to lead this Task Enforcement? Doesn't enforcement define what a Police Officer is hired to do?

Doesn't Connors know how to get his Men & Women to do their job?

Why do we need a committee to delegate enforcement? That's what a cop gets paid to do in the first place!!

Dr.shine is no more qualified to help run the PD than Connors is to run the schools! What's next, a committee with PD members to assist the School Administration?

NEED I REMIND EVERYONE WHO BROUGHT US COMMISSIONER CONNORS ALONG WITH A HOST OF OTHER FAILURES!!

I wish Steve Otis all the best where ever he may end up!

[Robert Zahm]

Ted and Matt,
Thanks for your quality responses. It’s a pleasure to engage with people who think.

I am guilty of a gross oversimplification. Morale is not solely driven by compensation. In my experience, money is an enabler – a certain level is necessary. [Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs]. After that, other, more complex needs come into play. Things like individual control, self-esteem, external approval, respect etc. I’ve seen organizations with below average compensation that have high levels of morale as well as the reverse. But, I have also found that when people say “It’s not about the money, it’s about respect”, it is usually about both.

I have tremendous respect for our teachers and our police. I find their professional commitment to their duties amazing. I could run on, here, but won’t because my comments would focus on the teachers because I know them better and can give more examples of my sources of respect for them. As an aside, I do find the Westchester Magazine’s classification of the RTA as the biggest loser of the month more than a little distasteful.

Re the PBA negotiations, I have no inside track on the City’s positions. I am hopeful that the negotiations are dragging on because the City has taken a market-relevant position on compensation and benefits. However, there could be other reasons as well. It would certainly be helpful for the City to give an update ala the BoE’s negotiation communications so that we can all determine for ourselves the level of stewardship being shown by the City.

Mimi – I will disregard your posts until you decide it’s time for you to use your real name.
Bob.

[Average Citizen]

Jim, I wasn't aware that there was an OT issue with RPD. What types of details are getting the OT, and which ones are being neglected?

[Jim Amico]

Avg.Citizen,

Does a lack of Management Skills come to mind?

I believe if you look into the overtime expenditures you will find your answer.

And while your looking that up pay attention to what it is used on and what we receive in return.

I know there is one person on here that can give us these answers.

[Average Citizen]

TedC, you wrote: Money? If you think Rye police morale and their 80% vote of no confidence in their failed leadership is about money I believe you would be wrong. Want to save money in the police department? Fire the guy assigned to try and slap them around. THEN sit down with them and say ok, change has happened, now let’s fix things. But clearly Steve Otis has got to be gone as a necessary first step. He is despised, no surprise."

I'm not sure how firing Connors (I assume that who you mean) will save money in the PD. Can you clarify?

[Charmian Neary]

@Mr Fahey:

Yes, I have heard about what's happening on Wall Street.

I stated that Rye is doing well compared to the rest of the country. I did not compare Rye today to Rye two years ago. The difference is the recession, which has affected everyone, not just Rye.
We are in good shape financially, considering we're in the worst economic period since the depression.
Individuals who have lost their financial sector jobs are greatly affected, obviously, but as a community we have enough accumulated resources that we are weathering this difficult period.

You are misinformed about my husband's paycheck. He works for Citibank.

@"Ted C", "VoteFor..","AboveAverage" et al

I am not a paid political operative. I have not been employed since my son was born nearly 10 years ago.

In the past I have worked for two more or less successful Mayors, Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani, so I am somewhat informed about how government functions, but I not employed now.

I have never lived in Yonkers, nor have I worked there. Virginia Perez is a young woman who sought a seat on the Yonkers Council after her younger brother was murdered. I advise her from my home because I am fond of her. She does not pay me.

@ "Above Average"

Do you realize you look foolish when you persist with the "catch your train" theme? If I were to conceal my identity to post, would I do so as "average citizen" so I could agree with Matt Fahey?
So I'm a flack for the Mayor (per Ted Carroll) -- but I conceal my identity to fraternize with a failed GOP candidate? -- hmmmm.
Does that sound right to you?

Oh, one more thing: when you rant on about cowards not signing their names -- And YOU DON'T SIGN YOUR NAME --does the word irony cross your mind?

Finally, "Mimi",

I understand you may want to conceal your identity due to the gender bending thing, but taking cheap shots at Bob Zahm, who is admired by just about everyone on this blog -- and in Rye -- only highlights your well deserved reputation as a sock puppet.

[tedc]

Bob,

In my experience, bad line managers are the cause of most organizational problems. The Rye Police have a very bad manager currently, installed on purpose to ride roughshod over them by Steve Otis so he can show the rank and file “who is boss.”

This is a travesty that I’m shocked has been allowed to continue. Andy Ball has Rye police roots. Where’s he been - playing “yes man” to Mr. Otis as usual?

Money? If you think Rye police morale and their 80% vote of no confidence in their failed leadership is about money I believe you would be wrong. Want to save money in the police department? Fire the guy assigned to try and slap them around. THEN sit down with them and say ok, change has happened, now let’s fix things. But clearly Steve Otis has got to be gone as a necessary first step. He is despised, no surprise.

[Matt Fahey]

While the school district tax is larger than the city and county taxes, any tax levied on citizens should be managed as carefully as possible. As you are well aware, the school board has had a history of tax increases well above the cost of living. It is only recently that this trend has ended, and the community thanks you and others on the school board for making difficult choices.

Those who run for the School Board are usually doing it out of an interest to improve education, not necessarily to control spending. Unfortunately, there are many who believe that a bigger educational budget will somehow result in a better student body. While there is certainly a cause to believe in a correlation between the two, many other factors can have a profound influence on our children’s education. Parental pressure to excel, educational background of one’s relatives, required curriculum, the quality and motivation of the teacher, the competitive peer pressure to excel (or not to excel, as the case may be), and, of course, the intellectual curiosity of the individual student all hold sway in the end product. There are others, no doubt.

I’m not convinced that high employee morale is attained solely by greater spending. I find the idea that a bigger salary will always lead to a happier employee is too simplistic. If a teacher can only be made happy by a bigger paycheck, then perhaps they should re-evaluate their career choice. There are many who teach simply because they love it - and their love of learning is often passed on to their students (I consider myself most fortunate to have had such a teacher). Often, greater autonomy in their choice as to how and what to teach leads to improved morale. Unfortunately, the state and the Teachers Union are firmly tied to the concept that more money will produce happier employees, and standard curriculums will produce superior students – yet there is no shortage of contradictory evidence.

Lastly, I’m curious as to the evidence you may have on the PBA negotiations. If true, it’s certainly welcome news.

[Mimi Otis]

Bob:

Thank you for pointing out how clueless you really are when it comes to employee morale and contract negotiations. I can see why the teachers negotiations are in their third year.

Morale is more about respect, fairness and equality than it will ever be about money.

I believe you are abusing your position by trying to negotiate a contract in the press.

[tedc]

Bob,

Right. Stolen is too strong. The people who could have objected stayed silent – so that signaled assent.

And of course “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Municipal victimization of senior citizens, or any citizen, is an indefensible evil.

Will Steve Otis produce the long missing Gates Wetland Permit before the election - I think not.