Ossining Trustee Criticises Former Mayor's Redistricting Comments

What can he be thinking?

It was with some disappointment that I read our former Mayor Miguel Hernandez’s comments. With all due respect, I disagree with many of his points. It is all well and nice to armchair quarterback the events of the last month and wax philosophically, but the truth is, the issue of re-districting and way it is done here in New York is shameful. It’s like something out of the Boss Tweed era in which elected officials protect their own turf at the expense of voter’s rights and proper apportionment of voting districts with respect to geography and constituents. The recently passed scheme to change the redistricting process is really no better, and the outrage by many here in Ossining and across the state should be emotional and it is more than justified. It is truly outrageous and really tells me that nothing has changed in Albany. We are now in a 10 year shotgun marriage with our distant cousins across the river. Our new Senator, who I am sure is a perfectly nice man, has no real connection and understanding of and we will have to work with him and educate him as to our unique issues. The notion that our common issues will somehow bring us close together as a district is a bit naïve, because, as the former Mayor must surely know, the devil is in the details, not some general common association that would somehow make this more palatable. Ossining Village and Town government will now have to spend many hours and time educating our new representative getting him up to speed as we compete with the interests of the constituency that our new Senator has spent years to cultivate. The fact is, our Mayor Hanauer has had a number of constructive conversations with our soon to be Senator Carlucci. We are already in the process of exchanging information. It is regretful that this change has been thrust upon us, and for the next 10 years we can hopefully make lemonade out of a lemon.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT OSSINING BEING REDISTRICTED? TELL US BY CLICKING ON THE "COMMENT BUTTON."