Harckham sides with majority

Thursday, 07 April 2011 01:00

To the Editors:

Peter Harckham is asking to be re-elected as Lewisboro’s representative in White Plains, yet his actions as “majority leader” show a pattern of representing the interests of the down county politicians and union leaders who control the County Board of Legislator’s Democratic majority, rather than us.

Ever since County Executive Rob Astorino closed the Section 8 housing office, the majority has worked hand-in-hand with the CSEA union to restore the positions. Yet no one has been able to refute the fact that the 38 jobs were a waste of taxpayer money or that the program has continued without skipping a beat.

When the acting county planning commissioner, Edward Buroughs, refused the majority’s demand to reopen the office despite the Astorino directive, they vindictively blocked his well-deserved permanent appointment.

On March 14, Mr. Harckham rose to the floor of the legislature indignant over statements made by Mr. Astorino’s supporters accusing the Democrats of promoting a wasteful lawsuit by the union against Mr. Astorino. How embarrassing it must have been when only a few days later a “smoking gun” letter from Ken Jenkins (Mr. Harckham’s political ally as the board’s chair) came to light which implicated the Democratic leadership in the lawsuit.

Mr. Harckham is a figurehead who is part of a supermajority that can veto with impunity any reform Mr. Astorino seeks to implement. Until the playing field is leveled, the outlook for tax relief, a fair housing policy or any other meaningful reforms from White Plains will be bleak.

EDWARD P. MAHONEY

Golden Bridge, April 1