Larchmont Democrats Tout Open Government

(February 27, 2003) Neighbors poured in the doors to the Bernstein home recently to meet and greet the two Democratic candidates for Village Trustee, Anne McAndrews and Geoff Young. The host of the gathering, Village Justice Jerry Bernstein, is unopposed in his run for a third term. Doubtless the crowd was also drawn by Sara Bernstein’s well-established reputation as an outstanding hostess.

United by a sincere interest in educating themselves about the candidates and the issues surrounding the March 18 village election, the guests represented a wide swath of the community. Some have lived here since birth; others have moved to Larchmont recently and were glad to take voter registration forms home from the party. Many have children at Chatsworth; some have grandchildren there. There were self-confessed newcomers to local politics and some long-respected pros.

They were well rewarded for coming. The formal presentations by both McAndrews and Young were insightful and to the point. McAndrews emphasized the Democratic commitment to openness in the governmental process and to fiscal responsibility. She observed that one of the first tasks facing a new trustee is determining the budget for the following year. The kind of experience that she and Young have had is invaluable, she said. Thanks to their long history of involvement in Larchmont governmental matters, both as private citizens and as elected members of the Board, they have what it takes to make an informed decision about the proposed budget.

But no matter how skilled and experienced the elected officials are, they cannot function effectively without the help of community volunteers, McAndrews asserted. Noting the extraordinary talent pool to be found among her neighbors, she stressed the importance of including a variety of opinions during Board deliberations, and granting volunteers due respect for their contributions.

In the same vein, Young discussed the need for improved communications with residents and the reasons that the entire community should be permitted involvement in the decision-making process about Flint Park. He shared his views about the importance of preserving open space in the Village and questioned the effectiveness of the present moratorium on securing variances. He also addressed the budget process, noting his commitment to preserving a healthy surplus. This surplus is vital to Larchmont’s ability to meet unexpected expenses, such as those resulting from this season’s record snowfall, and to retain the Village’s excellent bond rating, he said.