The political landscape is filled with protagonists of every background imaginable. Some young; others old. Some bear formal educational backgrounds; others do not. Some possess a charismatic demeanor; others less so. The People have evolved alongside the politicians for as long as history is remembered. It seemed The People were always one step behind; today’s technologically savvy citizen is as informed, if at times, not more so than the political animal that has outwitted us for our vote. We have often lost the struggle to maintain hold of our vote, finding it taken by “others” for reasons we do not hold dear. Why do we cast the vote we cast? Do we vote for the people whose names are listed on the ballot or are they simply stand-ins for the power brokers who control them?
One can only wonder. When we cast our vote for a “candidate” do we cast it for him / her? Can they be trusted to deliver on their word or are they simply window dressing to tantalize us into believing a vote cast for them will be a vote for our ideals, our concerns and those we hold dear, family and friends alike.
Westchester County can count the power brokers on perhaps one hand. Who are the movers, shakers, power brokers in our midst? Al DelBello, Esq., Westchester County Executive Andy Spano, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore, former New York State Senator and lobbyist Nick Spano, and Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone. Everyone else, for all intent and purpose is permitted latitude by their say so. That is not necessarily bad; in fact, in some instances it may be good. But even the five delineated above can be further reduced to three: DelBello, Nick Spano, and Amicone. Each jockeys for power, maneuvering for money and influence.
Of the three, Mr DelBello is the most adroit. He rides the other two who slug it out with one another in local elections, while Mr DelBello has cornered development and the handsome retainers they garner for his law firm who then can influence, cajole, push, and even control those he will grease with campaign contributions. It’s on the up and up, mind you, but the puppet master is not always recognized when you pull the lever for a candidate who seems to espouse the issues you believe in.
Think about it. When you cast your vote for incumbent Westchester County Executive Andy Spano are you casting your vote for him, or are you casting your vote for Nick Spano? When you cast your vote for Rob Astorino, is it a vote independent of the puppeteers or not?
When you cast your vote for John Larkin, candidate for Yonkers City Council District 6, are you casting your vote for the one-time Democrat, now Republican, who owes allegiance to Nick Spano and also Mayor Amicone, or will his espoused independence of both survive his rhetoric? When you cast your vote for his challenger Ted Winnicki is there an agenda you know not of?
When you cast your ballot for Mario De Giorgio is your vote for him or for Nick Spano, or are you casting you vote for Dennis Shepherd, his opponent in the 4th Yonkers City Council, who is being propped up by the Mayor Amicone contingent?
When you cast your vote for Westchester Legislator - 8th District will you be voting for Alfreda Williams or Al DelBello, or her opponent Tom Bock, who is the independent cannon beholden to no one.
When you cast your vote for Dave Hall for Mayor of Harrison, New York, are you casting a vote for him or for Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone who is pulling the political strings. I don’t know enough about incumbent Mayor Joan Walsh to comment.
When you cast your vote for incumbent Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick is your vote cast for him, for Al DelBello, Mayor Amicone, or Nick Spano.He is in each of their pockets.Perhaps Mr Lesnick is independent of them all by being beholden to them all. His challenger, Jim Castro-Blanco is another power play. Mr Castro-Blanco advises he has been left stranded at the altar by Mayor Amicone. That may very well be true, it has been corroborated by others. It is however a ploy. Mayor Amicone is simply feigning he is hard to get.
When Westchester County Legislator Kaplowitz was knocked about politically, incumbent Jose Alvarado of Yonkers was empowered by Andy Spano, who we now know is really Nick Spano’s boy, which makes Mr Alvarado Nick’s boy. Which begs the question, when you cast your vote for Mr Alvarado who are you voting for? Mr Alvarado’s opponent, Sandy Annabi has shown fraud by Mr Alvarado’s campaign and proven Mr Alvarado’s lawyer Wilson Soto lied on an affidavit attesting to his residence. Has Mr Alvarado earned your vote? Shoul d you cast a vote for Sandy Annabi, who will you be voting for? Will it be Nick Spano or Mayor Amicone?
In Yonkers 2nd Council District, Wilson Terrero is Mayor Amicone’s boy. Should you cast your vote for him, you will be casting your vote for Mayor Amicone? Challenger Virginia Perez, Mr Terrero’s opponent has ties to Nick Spano.
Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore is polling at about 62 percent, over Dan Schorr’s 32 percent, and Tony Castro’s 16 percent in the latest RNN poll. A vote for Ms DeFiore will prove to be the public’s comfort level with her conduct as the top law enforcement officer in the county. Dan Schorr has lost the support of his welcomed and unwelcomed wannabee political activists but will survive as a potential candidate with the GOP. Mr Castro’s support has waned as have the political operatives that had spiked his financial and political coffers. Mr Castro has been played into oblivion. Ms DiFiore continues to prove the power of incumbency.
There are other examples, too numerous to mention, while others are such that I am not fully aware of all the circumstances. One thing can be said with certainty is when the voter casts his / her vote, he / she may be voting for the person behind the candidate, and that person is not always a spouse. The person one votes for may not have the ability, or the intestinal fortitude to stand up to those that have propped them up before the public so far. Who are you voting for? Do you know what Al Delbello stands for? Do you know what Nick Spano stands for? Do you know what Mayor Phil Amicone stands for?
Voting is a right that has been stolen from the public with our help. We have allowed the system of checks and balances to go awry by leaving office holders we elect to govern our lives without the mandate they so promiscuously claim we afforded them. They conduct their business; not ours. No matter for whom we vote, few will break the mold to be the champion of The People. In Yonkers, the only fresh face is that of Yonkers City Councilwoman Joan Gronowski, representing the 3rd District. She had a platform she espoused in her campaign. She did not accept funds from any of the power brokers; refusing funds from developers, and all other powerful lobbyists. Hers was a grass roots effort to which she has stayed true, even after two years in office. In another two years time, she will prove to be as genuine in her conduct and as independent a champion of The People as she has proven to be. She is tenacious in serving the public. She studies the subject matter at hand, attending forums throughout the city. Ms Gronowski is stellar among the political landscape. I cast my vote without reservation for Joan Gronowski for Mayor of the City of Yonkers. With her at the helm Yonkers will succeed.
Find your Joan Gronowski and stick by her.. You need her. She needs you. Don’t give up hope. You will find her. Yonkers did!
