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Yorktown Has Spoken
What Happened? If you ever watched Yorktown Town Board meetings over the last few years you couldn't help but come away with the impression that they were extremely partisan productions that could quickly devolve into a political free-for-all without a moment's notice. Speakers at courtesy on the floor spoke at their own peril. Supervisor Grace and Councilmen Bernard consistently pushed their own agendas over the objections of their constituents and systematically scolded, lectured, mocked, and even bullied everyone who offered them any kind of opposition. At times, Mr. Grace forgot he was a public servant and conducted himself as an Imperial Supervisor and his Council Majority as minions whose rubber stamp approval seemingly enabled him to rule rather than govern. That was a disservice to this entire community and this disconnect probably cost them the election. Looks like the Emperor had no clothes and the voters finally realized it. Supervisor Grace should be congratulated on his fiscal conservatism and other accomplishments but it looks like Grace's legacy will be overshadowed by his long history of tax delinquency, accusations of conflict of interest and ethical complaints. Last minute mean spirited Republican Party mailings seems to only served to magnify the toxic nature of his campaign and his attacks seemed more personally than politically targeted. Outgoing Supervisor Grace has given the incoming Democrats a detailed blueprint on how not to govern. Voters have given Supervisor-Elect Gilbert and his team the opportunity and challenge to finally clean house, return civility and access to town hall, correct past abuses and right Yorktown's ship of state. I wish them good luck.
I wonder how long before these ousted politicians wind up getting hired by former campaign contributors, or businessmen with town contracts to lobby on their behalf before Yorktown's Zoning Board and Planning Boards finally reaping the political seeds they so carefully sowed over these many years?
David Witkowich
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