Today I received a flyer from Noam Bramson where he asserts that Richard St. Paul “has fathered five children from different mothers” and it goes to cite the Journal News as authoritative sources for Mr. St Paul’s misgivings. I have no opinion of either candidate for Mayor at this time. But I would like to comment on the mudslinging and level of unethical discourse initiated by Mr. Bramson and his people. I think that negative ads, mudslinging, and digging up dirt on each other is very very childish, immature, rude, and obnoxious, and he seems to have reverted to being a nasty child – which is why I despise politics. Mr. Bramson has degenerated to dirty politics and has cited the children of Mr. St Paul in this political process. What value can this have on his campaign?
I am not voting for these two candidates based on their personal peccadillos. I just want to know what their plans are for New Rochelle. I want to know how they aim to accomplish their goals and plans for a better New Rochelle – could it have been so difficult to have stayed on this course?
Frankly, the volley shot by Mr. Bramson is no different than that of a 12 year old bully on the playground. Nine times out of ten, they have low self esteem and don’t feel they are good in any way…so they put others down in an effort to make themselves seem better. Mr. Bramson, Mr. St. Paul and the other candidates for City Council, who desire to lead our community, should behave in a more mature manner.
I am not dismissing what has been written about Mr. St. Paul or Mr. Bramson, as many politicians bring their long-standing personal problems with them into office, problems that are then exposed in the bright light of public life. A politician today has to be ready to answer for anything he or she has ever done that might be considered improper. Nothing will be sacred. You will even be held accountable for the behavior of your extended family! Every comment, picture, letter, and bit of gossip is fodder for the rumor mill and a candidate for the front page. I doubt there is a person on this earth whose reputation could survive unscathed that type of scrutiny. Moreover, in this era of “gotcha” journalism, you cannot expect either the benefit of the doubt or the presumption of innocence. In politics, character attacks and accusations of any sort are so heavily publicized that, in many cases, the ultimate outcome hardly matters. Mr. Bramson thought of this and acted upon this strategy. Did it work for your Mr. Bramson? What civics lesson have you provided to our children in New Rochelle?
Do you all think that our young people will like to be politicians? The public’s disdain for politicians has become mundane, commonly thought to be hardly worthy of comment or reflection. This reflexive, unthinking mistrust and disgust reduces civic activism, voting, and law abidance. As a result, we are producing a generation of timid and fearful political candidates who are unwilling to make the tough choices that duty requires of them. Many principled people are unwilling to make the financial and privacy sacrifices to enter the political arena because it seems like such a thankless task. This is not healthy for the country, but it is our reality now – thank you Mr.Bramson.
Quixotically, people demand the highest of ethical behavior from politicians yet do not believe politicians are capable of it. We as residents of New Rochelle must learn to judge fairly and reasonably – and we must be accountable to the highest standards ourselves before we hold others accountable. In the end, it will take character to judge character. What is important is to keep scandals and personal foibles in perspective and not lose sight of the vast majority of honest, hardworking men and women who aspire to serve. Again, thank you Mr. Bramson for tarnishing the hope of so many young people.
New Rochelleans must be careful not to be drawn into more and more wrong facts and divisive rhetoric filled with racist innuendo (as Mr. Bramson has so easily done with the quote above), lies, misinformation, and half-truths. We must take pressing political issues and demand that our Mayor and City Council make an authentic bipartisan attempt to solve them. It’s New Rochelle’s choice to disregard the hyperbole of overheated political language, and demand this if we are going to improve the lives of New Rochelle residents, then we must adhere to ethical standards that we seem to have forgotten here in New Rochelle.
Martin Sanchez
Unfair Electioneering Ruling Against Bramson
The Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee rules against Mayor Noam Bramson:
“In the race for New Rochelle mayor, Republican Richard St. Paul complained that a mailer from Democrat Noam Bramson did not identify who sent and paid for the literature and it was written in a manner to mislead recipients into thinking Republicans were the source.
The committee found Bramson’s mailing unfair because it did not identify the source and because Bramson admitted to The Journal News that his campaign provided the literature”.
well said martin
you nicely captioned what needs to be done here. if we do not demand civility, character, fair play, proper debates around plans, and actions, we will have another contentious year in the city and little will be done.
It is all of our responsibility — we need to hate the sin and less so, the sinner. Again, if we don’t elevate the conversation, we will surely get the government we deserve.
the findings were a no brainer. i commented prior to the ruling about the misleading posting that seemed to indicate a GOP output. I summed it all up as simply immoral, spiritually duplicite, and in this secular world, just plain stupid.
A number of other posters added great value. It was evident that it came from that contracted consultant with the thin frame, roguish mustache, and considerable absence of skill and he is the individual unnamed in my posting, that I suggested be fired. I am sure other evidence of his “input” are seen in the campaign posters, lack of public appearances by the mayor south of city hill, etc.
So Noam knew and that saddens me and I hope he learns from this. Perhaps one of the lawyers that hover around City Hill has a little experience in law and would indicaate that if a violation is commited and you acknowledge you are aware of it, and this awarenss was meant to gain some advantage — you bear a responsibility.
This is why I am going to continue to point out that the differences in city management and relationships among parties does not square with the City Code. I will post after a brief medical stay; likely around the 23rd or so of the month.
Unless the Code has some update I am not aware of, there are contradictions in actual language and actual activity. The Code does make the performance case for the Mayor as a Ceremonial Mayor, with a few exceptions for emergencies, eta. In truth he is actually performing as a strong mayor. The City Council is charged with activities implicit and via the Code, explicit in oversight and policy. The delivery system for such policy is the City Manager and staff who are tasked with translating and transferring Concil plans into actual measurable projects. Control and Monitoring on an oversight basis is the City Councils obligation. As important, a major responsibility of the entire sitting council is the power to investigate, take testimony, subpeonia — I have no history of this being done; and calling for a forensic auditor, for example should not be political but process and there should have been a council wide investigation re: Fevang until or even if the DA took over the investigation.
I am not being a hardass or hardnose. I have a great deal of respect, even affection for Noam, but likely I will join Bruce Negrin’s spot as “persona non grata.” I want the Council to both represent and perform and measure the efficacy of their actions through shared accomplishments on the planning and operations functioning of the City.
Before anyone bombards me with the usual majority vs minority spiel, think carefully about what it means in a functioning democracy. If a majority develops a track record of voting down initiatives put for by the minority, it develops a record; a record to run on during elections. If you are a member of the minority, and fail to bring matters to a head, demanding a vote, etc… you are the cause of your own effects, and are allowing politics to work its ugly head again.
Again, Martin thank you and please, if anyone is a thinking or influential democratic, this independent, active supporter of good people regardless of party, is begging you to fire the hack who put together this disastrous election strategy.