First things first; Yonkers is a one party city. It has shared interests. The interests shared are favor,
patronage, and contributions. Those who rule and share are a special group.
They are at once visible and also behind the scenes. They control money or the
party vote- getting apparatus or sometimes both. Real discussions are quiet and
not public. Self interest is the essence of operations. Business is expensive.
No business is more expensive. Few are involved, yet many are called upon, and
used. Elections are costly, but Primaries would be costlier.
Think of yourself, the resident taxpayer/ voter as a shareholder in a public corporation. In this case, it is a municipal corporation called the City of Yonkers. You elect people (representatives) to the board (Mayor, City Council President, and Council Members) to represent and reflect your general interests.
However, instead of representing your interests, they think only of their own. Since a small circle of individuals, elected and unelected, control the business of the municipal corporation, your vote really doesn’t matter! Your attention is diverted by “political speak.” A constant stream of “news” spews forth from City Hall via televison (the Government Channel –which really means you are paying for it), newsletters, and the traveling Town Hall meetings where the mayor can instruct us all in the right way to view the city.
Yet in reality, no problems are solved or solutions found. Incremental progress is usually made without government assistance by the private sector which government, a/k/a City Hall, will readily look to take credit.
But the real deal involves a small circle of people; the Mayor is Chief Executive of the City, selected local developers with political and legal ties to the city, politicians at different levels can be helpful and heavy contributors who influence these selected office holders. We the People are only allowed to see a snapshot of the proposed plans but never the recipes. Witness the Real Estate Committee Meeting conducted today under the veil of an Executive Session, that is, behind closed doors.
Indicative of all this, is the recent outcome of the Republican City Convention.
Part II to follow Monday night, June 1, 2009
