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To the editor:
For some unexplainable reason Supervisor Michael Grace has refused to move forward on a much needed and long overdue ethics reform program for Yorktown.
Grace probably never will take any action. Is it just stubbornness or a case of political self-preservation?
It appears Grace has grown accustomed to all the cronyism, back room deals and influence peddling associated with how Yorktown operates.
Yorktown has become somewhat numb to the warped sense of political entitlement that permeates town hall.
Has Grace become emboldened by no one having the ability to look over his shoulder or rein him in?
Grace has been taken to court, gagged dissenters and has been referred to as a "dictator" and "emperor."
Grace's actions have done little to dissuade his critics.
Taxpayers have steady made complaints concerning conflicts of interest, power grabs and Grace’s avoidance of holding himself or other elected officials accountable.
Letters to the editor have routinely exposed Grace's hypocrisies and raised questions concerning Grace's credibility.
It’s become an all too familiar refrain of distrust.
An ineffective and muzzled Ethics Board seems to be tailor made for any politicians looking to duck scrutiny.
Does the Ethics Board simply serve as Town Board’s patsy?
These long unaddressed allegations have been allowed to metastasize which only furthers the perception of impropriety.
I hope for Yorktown’s sake the old adage “where there’s smoke there’s fire” is not applicable.
It's ironic that Grace and his fellow “see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil" board members have rejected the very same recommendations on strengthening Yorktown ethics that they themselves commissioned and paid for.
What are they all afraid of?
I believe the Ethics Board members have good intentions, but have been effectively silenced.
The necessary tools for them to do their job have been taken away.
I envision the nameless Yorktown Ethics Board being locked away in a long forgotten, dank and windowless basement storeroom in town hall just waiting to be rescued by a different Town Board that cares about personal integrity in politics.
Let's hear what the Ethics Board has to say for itself.
David Witkowich
Yorktown resident
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