To the editor:

We truly appreciate the efforts the current board has undertaken on flood remediation, but it’s not enough. Their focus remains within our borders, undertaking projects and maintenance only within our control. But water does not respect borders. We must also partner effectively with New York State, Westchester County, and our neighbors to ensure the big projects that impact our residents get funded and prioritized. This requires relationship building and sustained advocacy work from our elected officials. 

We watched the flooding forum organized by the Manor Dem candidates, featuring State Sen. Nathalia Fernandez and County Legislator Terry Clements, and were shocked to learn just how much the relationship between these two electeds and our Manor incumbents has deteriorated, at least in the eyes of Sen. Fernandez and Leg. Clements. If you watch the video—which we encourage you to do—it is clear that they are not getting sufficient outreach from the Manor board to effectively advocate on our behalf. One meeting with the Mayor in the last 3 years? Ordinary citizens having to provide engineering reports to the county? We need our board to do more.

Of course any relationship is a two-way street. But as our only elected village officials, our mayor and trustees must be our voice, continually advocating on our behalf to deliver the funds and projects that will address our needs, even—especially—those that are not fully within the Manor’s control.

Let’s create a board that remains deeply committed to Pelham Manor, while building stronger, more collaborative relationships. This is how we will solve our flooding issues. Please join us in voting for Mark Cardwell, Ryan Kurtz and Debbie Winstead.

Alexy Scholl and Michael Teitelbaum

1076 Grant Ave