Tuckahoe Village Departments

TUCKAHOE TALK
With Mayor John Fitzpatrick

Back to the Porch (for now)

March 31, 2011

When first offered the opportunity to write this column for the Town report, I was anxious. I had just been elected mayor and had so many brand new things going on; adding to that workload didn't seem desirable or possible. I also viewed Mayor Marvin's prolificness at subject matter enviously. Publisher Howard Sturman and Editor Mark Lungariello, thankfully, put no demands on me but instead imparted, “Once a month, once a week or once in a while, it's up to you.” After agreeing, I still didn't believe I would find subject matter with the relative ease of Mayor Marvin. Ironically, I would soon learn that subject matter is not what you are short of - it is time.

Swearing the oath of office and rolling up your sleeves to do the work is one thing, but the job of mayor comes with the added torture of learning a lot of personal information about your community and its residents. More than you almost want to know. I quickly learned I needed a way to get out some of the things that were stuck in my head, so I took Sunday mornings to clear my head at the computer. What started as a cathartic journal of sorts soon became a cataloging of events; hopefully a glimpse into my views or how I arrive at certain decisions, but ultimately it became this column.

My attempt at giving the public a view of our issues and myself through this column came with my sense of humor. One must remember it is difficult to relay information to the public without it becoming a boring report that no one wants to read. While I enjoyed a little comic interjection, judging by the few angry e-mails of some constituents and even some knuckleheads who weren't my constituents, it is apparent not all share my observations or sense of humor. Some thought I was arrogant, flip or worst of all, making fun of them. While this was never my intent, I will confess, I believe that introspection is a benefit to all in a small village.

Sadly, I never wrote on a few topics that I felt villagers might find interesting. For instance, for the past couple of years I've been receiving random emails to the village web page that were pretty hilarious. Each with a bizarre name and never from the same address, yet the style had me convinced they were the same culprit. The complaints ranged from the postal worker for his block wasn't wearing underwear to the squirrels of Yonkers were more hostile than those in Tuckahoe and I should somehow work to keep them out. I responded to every email that I would get right on it. I will continue to look forward to the day the person identifies themselves.

Writing this column would not have been possible without the assistance of a few editors. That fact centers on my tendency to write without punctuation. Particularly commas, for me they just slow things down. So, obviously, I must thank my many editors but none more than my wife, Kate and friend, Jeff. While Kate's first language is not English, her grasp of it always makes me feel as if I require a grammar lesson. When we first met, she told me her favorite word in the English language was “nevertheless” and therefore it rarely doesn't make an appearance in my writing. Amusingly, at least to me, there were several columns that my editors wouldn't let me send. They would say, “I get it, it's funny, but not everyone shares your sense of humor, so throw it out.” I wrote one about a reoccurring dream I had where I curse at a resident on TV. This fear wasn't completely irrational, since I have a tendency to curse too much, as those close to me are always admonishing. My only regret in the cataloging of these four years would be worrying about offending people, since even with that worry apparently I regularly did it anyway.

When I decided not to seek reelection to the office of Mayor, I knew that fact would bring cheers from certain members of the public. That comes with the job. If you are person of certainty and willing to make decisions, then there is never a shortage of people available to disagree. Some may think my exit found my political opponents cheering loudest, but I suspect it was Kate. Since my children receive no benefit one way or the other from my time as mayor, I can't believe it matters to them. And they still will live their lives under the edict that if they were ever in trouble in our community, they probably wouldn't survive it. I will admit though, my children, James and Eleanor did find it cool when I took them to the Tuckahoe jail and they locked me in, especially since the Chief didn't have the key.

Whether in this column or being the mayor, from the beginning I figured it was best to just be me. Not because the press has multiple trophy rooms full of the heads of former elected officials' that attempted to hide who they were and not because I know people find out whom you are as a man or politician anyway. It's simply easier to tell people how I feel or where I stand than to try and appease them all.

If you are wondering what's next, for now I can only report I will definitely shave less and since it is almost the right weather, I look forward to sitting on my porch. All are invited. Nevertheless, let me leave you with my parting words from the final meeting.

On any issue, all residents of the village were heard and after they spoke and after consideration of their fears, concerns or assurance - I called 'em the way I saw 'em.

Thank you for the honor of being your Mayor.
Goodnight Tuckahoe.