Even in a village like Great Neck Estates, its upper-middle-class distinction can be undermined by its governance. It can operate at a level that belies its hills and dales, bucolic settings, and harbor views. It may even dig itself deep into nurture of evil ways.
I attended one of those monthly held Village Hall meetings recently.
Where village matters pertaining to sewers and contracts are finalized in a public setting. And where the public is encouraged to attend.
Welcome as well to voice their concerns and opinions to improve the village well being. An opportunity I took.
The mayor, William D. Warner DDS, sat center, haloed by his trusted trio of trustees: Oppenheim, Hershenhorn, and Ganzfried.
Deputy Mayor Farkas close near the mayor’s lap. And not to be overlooked, the Village Attorney, esquire Levin.
He was there to keep their endeavors on an even keel, so they not accidentally fall overboard into such swamps we know exist beneath all bodies that govern. Many made of feet of clay, as often we see.
They got to Amendment 1802: Regarding Trees.
They finished. I then raised my hand to propose a second amendment.
Not the one about owning a gun, though I might have wished to own one about then.
For not soon after, the mayor shot down my proposal. I should explain, I would have only taken aim at blowing my own brains out the way things followed.
The mayor, you see, was discombobulated by my, what I knew to be, a revolutionary proposal: Anyone designated by the mayor to enforce the laws regarding trees should be fined $1,000 each day until they actually enforce said laws.
I should now reveal that my intention to attend was on behalf of a 90-year-old neighbor. She had six trees cut down on her property without consent or knowledge.
A 23-year veteran village employee being responsible. His first name, Earnest. His salary $123,000.
The Village Code explicitly spells out that owing to his actions, Earnest would have had to go before a court, be fined up to $1,000 for each tree, and made to pay for replacing the trees.
I asked why none of this happened? Wasn’t this trespassing at the very least?
I next would learn I should have recalled a history lesson from fifth grade.
With the spoils of power come imperial reason.
The mayor, “As Mayor, I have the discretion to enforce the laws as I see fit. It’s based on the principle that police officers have the discretion of not enforcing a speeding ticket.”
At first, I bowed my head, conceding my intellect no match.
“It’s true what you say Mayor,” I said. “I once asked a police officer how come he was letting me off for speeding?” I then regained my voice, remembering, and adding, “That officer explained to me how he applies common sense to situations. Was the driver drunk? Did he show respect? A prior record?”
My voice grew stronger, though reckoning a beheading might beckon.
“The worker in this case,” I asserted, “showed no respect for private property. He was let off seven years ago for doing a similar thing (one tree ) by your predecessor highness Fox. And the Village Code clearly establishes in this case that five violations, not 1, did Earl of Earnest commit upon thy neighbor here 68 years, a taxpayer never in arrears I swear.”
I went on. “Your taking no action does not offer any measure of accountability, or responsibility.”
At that, the mayor trumpeted, ‘At my discretion I hereby declare all such subject of trees abandon! Trustee princes, I say we move on and forward to the sewers.
Remove complainant.”
Police Chief Garbedian escorted me out with a cold stare, his eyes averting the role he played in allowing the recidivist Earnest to imposter innocence.
And what was the police chief’s role in all this you ask?
He originally explained that he could not investigate this matter. He had a conflict of interest. Earnest was a good friend. He could not be impartial.
I asked then, to have another police officer investigate. There are 12 that make up the village police force. He refused.
I appealed to reason, “What police entity has everyone claiming a conflict of interest?” I knew full well, under Putin, it exists.
But I needed to hope the police chief didn’t get his news from Pravda and catch me on it. The Chief rebuffed with a threat, intimating that an ‘issue’ I had years ago with an Officer I could bet on again. I had to remind the police chief to check his notes, “That issue was resolved in my favor,” I intoned.
A taxpayer in an upscale community like Great Neck Estates never expects their village to hire officers and workers to curb and upkeep the gutters by hiring from the gutter.
Or that our votes of trust be invalidated by oaths taken on Bibles that officials can over rule as well.
The lesson learned here, I suppose, is that we in fact do all of us have the discretion to stretch the bounds of what is legal, to a degree.
Would it be trespassing, I wonder, to sneak into the mayor’s house in the middle of the night to take a cup of sugar I needed to finish a cake to celebrate my neighbor’s soon to be 91st birthday?
Richard Shein
Great Neck
