Letter to the Editor: Democrats for New Castle Have the Experience, Dedication to Help Town
The upcoming Democratic primary for the Town of New Castle is getting a lot of attention. For me, the choice is simple. I am supporting Holly McCall for town supervisor and Lori Morton, Michael Weinberg and Jennifer Bounds for Town Board.
The opposition has tried to make the race nothing but a referendum on the Form Based Code (FBC). The FBC is a good and necessary zoning change for downtown Chappaqua. The North Greely corridor, the part of town that is currently under consideration, is in desperate need of revitalization. The FBC is one tool that can help the hamlet thrive once again. The current Town Board has listened to the public concerns and modified the scope of the project. We now need our next Town Board to carry these efforts forward, not undo them.
To be clear – the Form Based Code is a zoning change. It is NOT a development plan. We are not going to wake up tomorrow to a downtown studded with luxury high-rise apartment buildings.
The Democrats for New Castle slate has been endorsed by many Democratic leaders – including Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, former congresswoman Nita Lowey, County Executive George Latimer, state Sen. Peter Harckham, Assemblyman Chris Burdick, County Legislator Vedat Gashi, and the former chair of the Board of Legislators Mike Kaplowitz. They also have the support of the New Castle Democratic Committee, Hispanic Democrats of Westchester, Stonewall Democrats of the Hudson Valley and the Working Families Party.
But it’s not just their endorsements, it’s the fact that all four of these candidates have already dedicated their time and talents to making our town better. Holly McCall currently serves as vice president of the Chappaqua Board of Education where she ensured that schools were able to open full-time despite a global pandemic. Lori Morton currently sits on the Town Board – and has made an impact on our town’s sustainability and conservation goals in the short time she has served. Michael Weinberg has been an advocate for businesses in New Castle through his work on the Chamber of Commerce and now on the Millwood/West End Advisory Board. Jennifer Bounds has moved our town toward greater equity and inclusion through her leadership on the Council on Race and Equity and has gotten her hands dirty while cleaning up a vine-infested town park.
These are the types of experienced and dedicated leaders we need to keep our town moving forward. I look forward to voting for these candidates in the Democratic primary. I hope you will join me in being a voter.
Maggie Christ
Chappaqua
Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.