To the editor:

With sadness, I have read the recent political literature disseminated in our community. The “Common Sense Pelham” platform is a direct attack on the hard work and forward progress of the last six years. Supporters of the platform appear to be distorting facts in a desperate attempt to win political office. The candidates on the ticket, caring and interested individuals who should stay involved in our local political discussion, seem generally well intentioned. That said, they are all political newcomers; novices with no government service whatsoever who cannot lead this community in a crucial time.

This ticket is apparently backed by: 1) Pelham Preservation & Garden Society (“PPGS”), the same group that misrepresented the facts during my last mayoral campaign which is clearly opposed to any and all development in our village; and 2) some former and current elected officials desperate to get Republicans elected. As the campaigns have progressed in the last few weeks, we have not seen a rigorous, honest debate about the pros and cons of real substantive issues—development, taxes, business failures, etc. Debate and discussion have given way to rumor mongering, misrepresenting facts and playing to ill-found fears. Running on a “Common Sense” platform is simply stating that the government I’ve presided over had no common sense. Nothing could be further from the truth.

My boards (the last including candidates Chance Mullen and Ariel Spira-Cohen) pursued responsible, smart development for our community under new zoning. Such development would result in:

• Alternative tax revenue sources slowing the burden on homeowners and business operators—new tax sources are vital to this community;
• A refurbished and rebuilt downtown area that prevents school overcrowding, burdensome traffic and too much density;
• Additions to housing stock which currently do not provide senior housing (we recently received a proposal for age-restricted housing), rentals for younger people and empty nesters and workforce housing; and
• Ensuring that the Village of Pelham does not fall further behind neighboring communities that have been revitalized by development (such as Bronxville, Larchmont, Tuckahoe, Mamaroneck and Rye), where many of us go to eat and shop.

The “Common Sense” platform says that we have not been transparent. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The zoning law was passed after more than 14 months of public debate and meetings. In fact, PPGS attended the meetings, and we implemented some of its ideas in the zoning. Further, each and every project that has come before the village board is on cable television, is debated in public and is vetted and reviewed by consultants and in public hearings by the planning board and the architectural review board. If a variance is needed by a project, it would go to the zoning board of appeals. Simply put, there has been no back-room dealing as is implied in the campaign literature. This is offensive.

Finally, we have sought municipal redevelopment through an RFP process to address critical needs. Our municipal infrastructure—the firehouse, the parking garages, Village Hall, the police station and our parking decks—are all in bad shape. They need to be replaced and our community cannot afford these replacements without the help of a developer. Under the developer responses to the RFP, the Village of Pelham would receive a municipal center (for fire, police and, perhaps, a Village Hall) and some public parking, while adding mixed-use commercial and residential properties to the community. The value to the village is in excess of $10 million!! Now is the time to act.

I am confident that if you parse through the fog, you will see the facts. On March 19, I ask you to support the experienced, problem-solving team that will move the Village of Pelham FORWARD!!

Vote for Chance Mullen for mayor and Ariel Spira-Cohen, Lisa Hill-Ries and Michael Carpenter for trustee.

Michael J. Volpe

103 Boulevard