Tuckahoe Village Departments

TUCKAHOE TALK
With Mayor John Fitzpatrick

You've Got Mail

November 15th 2008

I receive a great deal of correspondence on a regular basis. This mail is equally distributed between electronic and the good old-fashioned kind. One portion is simply residents looking to contact their Mayor with an idea, suggestion or complaint. This column generates another portion. Often I ask the public to weigh in via email or regular mail on a particular issue. Occasionally, readers just write to my office to voice an opinion on the content of the column.

While the Tuckahoe Talk column has amusingly spawned the occasional letter to the editor, for the most part people usually respond directly to me via email. I have attempted to broach a wide variety of issues in the writing of this column. My intention is to continue to use every means possible to open a public dialogue on small or seemingly insignificant subject matter, right up to the largest issues facing our Village.

It seems that readers of just about anything have an opinion the minute they put it down. The vast majority doesn’t respond to the author because they are busy living their lives or replying isn’t convenient. For this reason I keep all the articles from the Town Report available at www.tuckahoe.com. A contact point for my office is also offered in the same area. This has helped facilitate residents participating in the dialogue necessary for good government.

With all of this in mind, I felt it was time to update the village on requested responses to various topics and also go over a few unsolicited ones as well. So for those who like sequels, or those who wondered where something previously written now stands, I figured I’d keep you posted.

As far as the lawsuit discussed in United Water, the matter was finally resolved out of court in October. I shared the same view as the last administration, which was that Tuckahoe had no financial responsibility in this matter. Unfortunately, the judge who oversaw the case, as well as our attorneys, ultimately felt it was in the best interest of the Village to offer to be a part of the settlement. This means that in a short while Midland Avenue will be repaired and a safer thoroughfare in our village will emerge. Hopefully, you have noticed our stricter enforcement policy requiring utilities to repair the street, curb to curb, when they dig it up. Writing on the “Quality of Life” I asked for input on leaf blowers in the summer. This was a topic I expected much feedback on, but only four people sent in thoughts. Two were in favor of a ban and two against a ban. Neither of the two against a ban were Tuckahoe residents. One, in fact, was the president of some landscaping and turf lobbying group. After reminding me that I had only won election by a slim margin, he implied use of his lobbying group to mobilize forces to throw me out of office if this proceeded. I told him private interest groups don’t make policy in Tuckahoe; the people do.

"By the Power Vested in Me" yielded an interesting mix of couples looking to tie the knot. A few even arrived after reading the column on the Internet. Since publication I have had the honor of marrying thirteen couples. I have asked our Tuckahoe Beautification Committee if the money donated from these services could purchase a “Love Bench” to honor the newlyweds I joined in matrimony through 2008. They have agreed, so look for it soon. All can return on their anniversary, sit a while, maybe have dinner at a local restaurant, and perhaps fall in love with our wonderful village.

The Master Plan has been submitted by the Committee and approved by the Village Board. This paves the way for the Board to consider the recommendations of this document. Marbledale Road’s future uses will be the first topic on which public hearings are held. In “Our Industrial Zone” I pointed out my belief that future manufacturing is not a reasonable use in a small lower Westchester village such as ours. Public hearings begin this November 24th and will be open for as many meetings as necessary.

I did win my wager outlined in "A Bronxville Bet" with Mayor Mary Marvin regarding the outcome of the Tuckahoe – Bronxville football game. I personally showed up at her Village Board meeting to present Her Honor with a Tuckahoe Football hat. Illustrating what an excellent sport she is she donned it for her televised Mayor’s report on October 20th. Also, the guerilla artist of Tuckahoe called my office after the publishing of “Marbelous Art” and swore he had permission to place his art on the door of Epstein's and promised he will not be caught defacing any public property.

The column that brought the most response was definitely the "Things I’ve Learned". What was meant as an amusing first six-month look at typical issues I am asked to deal with, was met with some serious opposition. One email in particular called me flip and condescending. It is clear that not everyone shares the same sense of humor, and perhaps even less share mine. Nevertheless, while I was certainly more cognizant of this fact as I wrote subsequent columns, I have continued to add a few light-hearted observations as well.

To all those who took the time to write or call my office, I appreciate any response, good or bad. I may not have THE answer that a particular resident is hoping for but I will, indeed, give an answer.