65 Main Street Tuckahoe, NY 10707 914-961-3100 — fax:914-961-3114
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WatchVillage Board Meetings
Webcasting by Generoso Pope
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Tuckahoe Calendar |
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Watch Village Board Meetings
Webcasting by Generoso Pope
|
Tuckahoe Calendar |
I hear these words more often than one would imagine. Although we are an even smaller entity — a village — I get the gist. If the implications of that saying holds true for a town, being a more intimate local may mean an amplification of consequences.
The fact of the matter is that the "small town" comment has many connotations. Most often I get the impression these words are delivered as a reminder. For instance, on more than one occasion I have gotten the feeling that it was indicating, "Hey, you're not in Brooklyn anymore". This, I assume, is when my city boy roots are too visible. Other times it has been conveyed in an almost threatening manner. The threatening version is to let me know that if my actions are in contradiction to a particular resident's viewpoint, then this could lead to all of the person's friends and relatives in our small world rallying against me. Or finally, the phrase can simply be a resident pointing out how everyone seems to be in everyone else's business.
Regarding each of these specific "It's a small town" connotations, first let me say that I wouldn't change where I grew up. Secondly, I have long known that in a small community any decision I make may have implications that aggravate one person, or perhaps everyone. Being the Mayor comes with that distinct honor. Lastly, and sadly, everyone being in everyone's business is as unchangeable as the rain. What's more, that phenomenon is in no way exclusive to villages or towns. For city dwellers the experience, while multiplied by millions, may even feel small-townish.
As Mayor, I see my fair share of what might appear to be everyone being in everyone else's business, but I believe this observation is more a direct result of how our actions affect our neighbors. One might think residents are most affected by a lack of enforcement of some law or inadequate service, but they would be wrong. Most residents are affected by their neighbors. Weekly complaints to my office find a high volume of calls connected to neighborly — let's call them — "disagreements". I would hate to consider anyone a bad neighbor, but at moments we are all probably guilty of being inconsiderate, or at least unmindful of those who live around us.
The most repetitive categories of calls to my office consist of complaints such as these:
Some of these things are illegal and a call to my office will have it investigated and fixed. Others are merely inconsiderate and, unfortunately, I cannot have the police or other enforcing officers do anything about behavior which is merely inconsiderate.
As we enter the Holiday season many believe we act a little more cordial, unless of course your name is Ebenezer or Grinch. I remain skeptical that unneighborly behavior goes away during the Holidays. My take is that as it gets colder and darker people are outside less to commit or bear witness to aggravating behavior. Thankfully, with everyone being out less there is also a reduced chance for confrontation. With the windows closed and the curtains pulled tight we are content and sound inside our castles. Or perhaps it is just easier to let things slide while running to get inside to where it is warm.
As times get harder for some families, patience may also be in shorter supply. So during this winter, whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza or Festivus, I ask that everyone be mindful and considerate of their neighbors. It will make the Village of Tuckahoe an even better place in which to live. In closing, this Holiday season allow me to wish you all joy and peace — — and please remember that "It's a small town".