Letters to the Editor March 14

Voter says Bedford Dems have impressive, dedicated slate

To the Editor:

The candidates for town board endorsed by the Bedford Democratic Committee for the November 2025 election are dedicated public servants with an impressive record of accomplishment.

Supervisor Ellen Calves and Deputy Supervisor Stephanie McCaine have worked to enhance public safety, exercised fiscal restraint and transparency, encouraged economic development, expanded cellular coverage, and created veteran’s property tax exemptions.

The town board’s plans for a variety of new strategic initiatives covering town vibrancy, fiscal responsibility, environmental protection, and safety will continue to provide the foundation for a resilient future for Bedford residents and their families.

By collaborating with businesses, residents and town officials, the board is drafting the Bedford Together Comprehensive Plan to ensure that Bedford remains a livable, sustainable, and economically viable community. Residents can receive Ellen’s “Supervisor’s Newsletter” every Friday by email to see all of the fantastic things that are happening in our town.

Further, candidate Midge Iorio offers a fresh perspective, drawing on her business expertise and commitment to environmental leadership in Bedford.

The town board’s close working relationship with Town Justice Jodi Kimmel, Town Clerk Allie Whalen, and County Legislator Erika Pierce, illustrates how public officials can effectively collaborate in a nonpartisan manner to keep local government working efficiently for all constituents.

We live in a great town with excellent leadership who gets the job done every day ­— let’s keep Bedford moving forward!

Jennifer Saine Mount Kisco

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GOP running away from town halls, Katonah man says

To the Editor:

In response to your March 7 article “Dems run unopposed for town seats”:

Michael Paladino’s response to Dems running unopposed for town seats embodies the GOP’s tendency to blame others for their own predicament.

Perhaps one reason the Dems are running unopposed for town seats is because the Republicans are running away from town halls. The Bedford GOP chair states that nominating a town Republican slate remains an exercise in futility as a result in part because Bedford “voters prioritize party labels over qualifications and real solutions.”

I would argue another, and simpler, explanation is that perhaps Bedford voters object to the GOP’s abandonment of our allies, veterans, and its oath to protect the Constitution.

I agree with Mr. Paladino that Bedford deserves better. However, our town seems to feel that those aligned with the current administration are not the solution.

Dan Smith Katonah

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Bedford man applauds Pierce for calling out Lawler

To the Editor:

Kudos to County Legislator Erika Pierce for her Guest Column, “Standing up for constituents should be congressman’s priority,” (March 7) rightly calling out Congressman Mike Lawler’s (R-CD 17) outrageous questioning of a sitting legislator about their citizenship.

Crucially, Legislator Pierce connects the dots to the dangerous so-called SAVE Act, supported by Lawler and the Trump-Republican party, which purports to solve a virtually non-existent problem — illegal voting — by imposing unreasonable and unnecessary burdens on current and future voters. Legislator Pierce also provides the ominous historical context and resonance of challenging members of minorities for their papers, citing Jews, Blacks, Hispanics who have faced routine intimidation for exercising their rights or simply trying to go about their business. Nor does Legislator Pierce shy away from spelling out the stakes for all of us: that unless we speak out to defend the rights of others, we risk losing our own.

Andrew Kuhn Bedford

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Writer asks, Why not move Pound Ridge firehouse to green?

To the Editor:

Since we are voting again on an additional $3.5 million bond to cover underestimated costs, why not start fresh and move the Pound Ridge Firehouse to a more suitable location like Bedford did?

Currently we have a firehouse on a hillside with convoluted bays in different directions to accommodate the awkward site.

Why not switch the firehouse site with the green across the road?

Then the firehouse would have a larger, flatter site where the building would be a straightforward rectangle with parallel bays and safer working space for our volunteer fire department.

Then the green would be on the hillside, creating a lovely natural amphitheater for music and other events, connecting to the 911 memorial meadow and the pond, and, because it would be larger and farther down a hill from the road, decreasing the tragic possibility of a child running into the road.

In addition, you probably know that most American towns were graced by the gorgeous arching canopies of elm trees until Dutch elm disease killed most of them. We have a beautiful old elm tree at the front right of our current firehouse. Rather than cutting down this beautiful old surviving elm to enlarge an awkwardly sited and out-of-date firehouse, why not keep the tree at the entryway to the new expanded green? There is, after all, a sign designating us as Tree City USA only about 50 feet from that beautiful tree.

Let’s do better! Let’s relocate the firehouse and the green!

Ellen Kearns Pound Ridge

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Parents have questions about special needs assessment

This letter was written by four Katonah-Lewisboro parents to the superintendent and school board and is published at their request by The Recorder.

Dear Superintendent Dr. Raymond Blanch and Members of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District Board of Education:

We are a group of Katonah-Lewisboro School District parents writing to express our strong concerns with the current state of Special Education services in KLSD. We have compiled the following crucial questions as you begin your assessment, as noted in Dr. Blanch’s weekly update email on 2/13/25:

1. What is the stated purpose, scope and deliverables of the assessment?

2. Is this an independent review?

3. Who has line item responsibility for the consultancy?

4. Will the findings be made public at the same time to all constituents?

5. Will the consultants be conducting private focus groups with parents of special education students? Special education teachers? General education teachers?

If not, why?

We look forward to your answers.

Ian Witzman, Greg Witzman, Rick Baker and Anne Wetzel KLSD parents

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Katonah voter praises Pierce, denounces Lawler

To the Editor:

Kudos to Erika Pierce’s denouncement of Rep. Mike Lawler’s insult, made to Legislator José Alvarado, to all Latinos in his district, and to all of his constituents who ever felt threatened because of potentially inadequate “papers.” (“Standing up for constituents should be congressman’s priority,” March 7.)

Rep. Lawler, bought and paid for by billionaire Elon Musk, reduced to servile silence by the Trump Administration’s usurpation of the Legislative Branch’s constitutional responsibilities, continues to disfavor his district. He voted for every one of Trump’s wildly incompetent Cabinet picks who are sure to reverse the constitutional functions on which his and every district depend.

He has voted for curtailment of Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP on which the long-term welfare of his district’s citizens depend, and that in order to reduce the looming federal deficit which will result from Trump’s proposed tax cuts for the wealthiest of his constituents.

He cowers in silence as his major campaign donor, the unelected Musk, robs our nation of the talents and experience of diplomats and public servants by the thousands, nearly all of whom forewent more lucrative careers in order to contribute to the nation’s welfare; silence as the administration twists our foreign and domestic policies against our democratic allies and toward our dictatorial enemies; silence as they shred our democracy.

Shame on Congressman Lawler.

George Williamson Katonah