Letter to Editor on Methadone Clinic Case

To the Editor: What a sad day for Peekskill. The entire methadone saga is, in the end, the direct result of the 'perfect storm' mixing mismanagement, secrecy and, lack of accountability. Mismanagement: The use of local Zoning laws as 'weapons' against sensible residential and commercial growth and development instead of the 'shield' against exactly this type of operation that is not compatable or in the best interests of the City. By micromanaging everything right down to employees emails, this Mayor has virtually shut down this City to all outside private development leaving us with everything subsidized, grants and, now, a methadone clinic. Secrecy: public business is exactly that... PUBLIC. when winks and nods are given to the hospital and clinic operators in the shadows of City Hall, covered by the darkness of night or the Mayor's famous weekends at City hall; or cloaked under cover of "executive session" we the people are dis served and, as always, bear the brunt of these 'bad' deals. When the light of truth does finally shine, it is often met (especially with this Administration) with outright falsehoods. Even last night, within one hour of the decision, the Mayor's PR team released a statement saying that "...officials have not been fully briefed on the judges decision..." yet it claimed they were, at that very moment "...exploring additional options...". Clearly, this was (another) false statement as one, presumably, would have to had read the decision AND been briefed by their lawyer in order to consider 'options'. Accountability: Mismanagement and secrecy is always toxic and those that mix it neve accept responsibility for it. In this saga, accountability could have started when the application was filed.... or, before the application was approved by City Planning staff....or, by the Mayor, or those Council members who now profess to oppose this, personally appearing before the Planning Commission to, well, represent US and OUR interests in opposing this. Instead, the plan was approved because it was designed to happen by this Mayor, her Deputy and Council as their approval was implicit by their lack of opposition from day one. Only with the public outcry of opposition did this Administration blink, but not to accept responsibility and make amends, but to pass out blame, besmirch a highly respected Planning Board (causing Dwight Douglas to resign) and, of course, reach into OUR pockets at $750/hour (?) to mount an ill advised lawsuit they had NO chance of prevailing upon....simply to now, blame it on the Courts. Will we have accountability now? Will we even be allowed to know how much money these lawyers have cost us with this 'great' result? Well, dont hold your breath waiting for THAT press conference and refreshments... and, sadly, don't expect accountability from this Mayor or her Deputy Claxton or Council members Bennett and Torres, both of whom we expected so much more from when we voted for them four years ago. As a lawyer, I can predict the next chapter.... Upper crust and highly touted lawyer from (wherever) will explain why this Judge mis applied the facts and law; why an appeal will be successful and the Mayor and minions will vote unanimously to reach into our pockets (yet again) to the tune of another $75,000 (?) to file an Appeal. Now the goal here is not to actually win an unwunnable case, its to be able to say this matter is '...in the Courts and out of our hands..." during an election year. Thats not the type of accountability we want in our leaders. I have a better idea. Lets write the last chapter for this crew ourselves.... our chapter one starts in 24 weeks. Thank you, FRANK A. CATALINA