A few days ago I posted that openings for vacancies on the Planning Board, Zoning Board, and the Architectural Review Board aren’t posted or advertised so that members of the Stony Point community can apply.
Openings for these important positions are filled without any official public interview or vetting process by the Board. Candidates are announced and voted on unanimously without discussion at Town Board meetings.
The census data above reveals that the voices of almost two-thirds of the Town are not being represented in the makeup of the Planning, Zoning or Architectural Review Boards.
Almost 70% of Stony Point is Democratic, Independent, or not affiliated with a political party, yet none of these groups have representation on any of these Boards.
Over 51% the Town is comprised of women yet they hold only 20% of non-elected Board positions.
Close to 30% of the town is African American or Hispanic and there are no African Americans on any of these Boards and only one Hispanic American.
One of the comments I got in response to my post about this was:
“I believe he (The Supervisor) was the best person to lead the town. I also have faith that he will appoint members to boards that align with his views of how the town should be handled.”
That’s exactly what’s happened.
Take a look at the demographics of our town and then look at the makeup of these Boards and you’ll see that there are many, many Stony Pointers who are being shut out of the process, residents whose voices aren’t being heard.
Underrepresentation: When certain demographic groups are underrepresented and excluded from the political process it can result in their needs and concerns being ignored.
Lack of Diversity in Decision-Making: Homogeneous decision-making bodies are less likely to consider a wide range of perspectives and ideas. A lack of diversity can limit the quality of policies and decision-making processes.
Stagnation: Failure to adapt to demographic changes leads to a stagnant or outdated government that is out of touch with the evolving needs and aspirations of much of its community.
To address these problems, it’s essential for local governments to ensure fair representation, promote diversity in decision-making bodies, and actively engage with their communities to understand their evolving needs. This may involve outreach efforts, and policies aimed at inclusivity and equity.
Instead of representing all the people of Stony Point and incorporating their views our Town Board has appointed their friends, those that think like them, and those that vote for them to these important positions.
NOTE: I want to be clear, this is not a criticism of the present volunteers that serve on these Boards. They work hard and are doing their best for the community.
Please consider voting for Ellie Kassner for Town Council on November 7th.
It’s time for a Change!
We’ve been kept in the dark for too long. Let’s turn on the lights.
Your vote will give Ellie a chance to go to work for us.
