A Sorry Performance

Taking a page from their Washington brethren, the Peekskill Republicans are trying to attack Democrats as exorbitant taxers and profligate spenders. Unfortunately, they got a little mixed up when putting together their accusations. They stated in writing that the Foster administration instituted the city utility tax (“GOP Economic Plan Offers More” at http://www.peekskillgop.com/). Turns out that’s just not true. The city utility tax was instituted in time to collect it for 2001, when the mayor and every member of the Common Council had been Republican for almost ten years.

How long does it take to correct an error once it’s been pointed out? Of course it takes a little time to make sure there really is an error, and a little more time to write and post a brief statement apologizing for the error and correcting it. But how long does that take when the error is a simple question of fact, and the answer can be found in the public record? How long does it take when the only “fact” in question can be found on a New York State government website? And when the folks who want a correction give you the exact internet address?

The issue was raised, and the web source provided, by the local Democrats on 22 October (http://www.peekskilldems.com/press-release-democrats-call-on-gop-issue-retraction-incorrect-information-utility-tax). Wouldn’t you expect that by now (I’m writing this on the evening of the 26), we would have seen a statement of outrage from the GOP if the Dems are wrong?  If there’s anything the GOP does well, it’s outrage. So far the GOP are giving the people of Peekskill nothing but silence.

Here’s the real issue. Tony Washington’s campaign made a mistake. That’s OK. Who doesn’t make a mistake now and then? His competition points out the error and provides proof, an official report to our own George Pataki when he was governor, issued by the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance*. So how long should it take Mr. Washington to make a correction and offer a simple apology? If you think by now he should have rebutted the Dems or corrected the error and apologized, you have to ask yourself two questions. Do you want government decisions in the hands of folks who can’t bring themselves to admit an error? Do you want to give power to folks who won’t even apologize when their mistake hurts someone?

*web address of this document provided at the peekskilldems address in the third paragraph