Astorino Vetos Playland Children’s Museum Lease, Rye Candidate Keith Seems to Disagree
On Friday, County Exec Rob Astorino vetoed a lease for the proposed Children's Museum at Playland that had been unanimously approved by the Westchester Board of Legislators, part of the ongoing tit-for-tat between the county CEO and the legislative body. Astorino's veto will likely be overridden in an upcoming vote.
Perhaps more interesting for Rye residents is Suzanna Keith, the Republican challenger running against Judy Myers to the the Westchester Legislator for the 7th District, seems to disagree with her CEO boss Astorino.
When the Westchester Board of Legislators voted on August 8th to approve the lease for the Children's Museum, Keith told MyRye.com "This is great news for the WCM and the families of the Sound Shore."
As for incumbent Judy Myers, she said “I think we should be celebrating when a private organization is willing to invest over ten million dollars in a county property to create a showcase interactive educational facility for families and children. The Children’s Museum will serve as a vital component for the region’s economy and provide lots of new jobs—what’s not to like? County Executive Astorino should know his veto sends a bad message to others who may want to partner and invest in Westchester County.”
Sounds like things are heating up on the playground as we head into election season…
Three quick points:
1. Although Rob Astorino is the County Executive, references to the County Executive as a prospective County Legislator’s “CEO boss” is inconsistent with the relationship between the County Executive and the Board of Legislators. The County Executive and Westchester’s Legislators serve in separate branches with their own authority under the County’s Charter. The Board is not subordinate to the County Executive. Therefore, the “CEO boss” analogy does not work.
2. Good people, even when presented with the same set of information, can honestly disagree at times. Such disagreement does not, in any way, undermine the quality of their leadership, public service, or ability to work together on critical issues. If elected, Ms. Keith will enjoy a strong working relationship with the County Executive and she will be an exceptional Legislator who delivers concrete results on the big issues that matter to Westchester’s residents, just as she has done as Rye City Councilwoman.
3. The disagreement relating to the Children’s Museum lease is not necessarily extraordinary. In fact, the Board voted unanimously in favor of the lease, meaning that its Republican members also supported the lease.
Welcome back to Rye Don!
Larchmont isn’t very far away but unfortunately word has apparently not passed there yet on the patronage jobbery we continue to endure here under the watchful eyes of our Republican “reform” slate – elected years ago and still carrying water for the political interests of outsiders with very dirty hands.
By the way, can you spell H-A-R-R-I-S B-E-A-C-H?
1. Although Rob Astorino was elected by the VOTERS as the County Executive, references to him actually representing their interests are inaccurate. The real power – as we all know – lies elsewhere. That power has for decades suborned every local candidate seeking a Republican line endorsement with ideas of governance inconsistent with the interests of a select political class few. Thus yes, the County Executive has a boss, as does Mayor French here and legislator hopeful Keith. The analogy of boss and subordinate is a pure one in our County and the respective “branches” serve almost no one, least of all the taxpayers.
2. Craven, suborned people, even when presented with the same set of information, can disagree at times. Such disagreement does not, in any way, undermine their iron duty to participate in cover-ups of apparent criminality in local communities including ones concerning human rights, the environment and public safety. If elected, Ms. Keith will enjoy a strong working relationship with the County Executive and she surely follow her duty to deliver her vote on the issues big, small and non-existent that matter to those special interests, just as she has done as Rye City Councilwoman and Rye City Deputy Mayor.
3. The disagreement relating to the Children’s Museum lease is not at all extraordinary. One only need visit the shuttered work site, as I did again this morning, to see the results of County Government party patronage appointments in their full glory. Democrat and Republican have no meaning when such malperformance stands as testament to the dysfunction and wasteful spending evident in this standard commercial renovation. The Gangs of New York truly live on.