Croton Week in Review: June 23-27
A petition about Gaza, AC at CET, controversy over a proposed pipeline, Zohran Mamdani's victory, an update on John Sarcone, and the smears begin—again.
Monday June 23
A group of village activists has launched a petition calling upon the Croton Board of Trustees to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. One of the petition organizers, Michelle Celarier, published a Guest Editorial in the Chronicle explaining the rationale for the petition and discussing the terrible situation for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. While the matter has not yet come before the board formally, initial indications are that the mayor and trustees are unlikely to be enthusiastic about wading into this controversial and potentially divisive issue. We will continue to cover this issue as things progress.
Tuesday June 24
Today, at the height of the blistering heat wave that hit our area earlier this week, we reported on the weather at our elementary school, much of which lacks air conditioning. We reminded readers that district voters approved the funds for installing AC at the school nearly three years ago, but that the district is only getting to it this summer. As we reported the situation on this day:
“It was so hot in the multipurpose room that the kids had to have lunch and recess in their classrooms. The speciality teachers for PE, music, art and Spanish had to push into classrooms as well, because their own rooms were unbearable. Kindergarten kids were scattered throughout the building, mostly in 3rd and 4th grade rooms.”
We are also getting word that the district does not plan to install AC in the gymnasium this summer, and we are currently trying to confirm that with district officials (no luck so far.) This is an ongoing story.
Wednesday June 25
The Board of Trustees had a very full agenda this evening. One key item was a resolution opposing fossil fuel company Enbridge’s proposed “Project Maple” pipeline, which would expand the capacity of the existing Algonquin Pipeline and bring fracked gas along the Hudson River and elsewhere. Representatives from several groups opposed to the project showed up to speak to the board, which was clearly already on board with its pre-prepared resolution. They included Food & Water Watch, Croton100, and Mothers Out Front. The resolution passed unanimously.
Also today, the Chronicle editorialized about Tuesday’s victory by Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic Party primary for New York City mayor. Among other things, we opined that “You don’t have to be a pundit or a seer to understand that Mamdani’s victory has overturned a lot of what passes for political wisdom in and around the Democratic Party,” adding that “We shall see how Mamdani’s victory influences the national conversation as well as the local conversation here in Croton. One thing is sure: The old conventional wisdom has taken a big hit.”
Thursday June 26
The Chronicle continued a series of updates on the alleged attempted knife attack in Albany on June 17 against U.S. Attorney John Sarcone, whose family has deep roots in Croton. The charges against Saul Morales-Garcia, a Salvadoran national whom authorities have said is in the country illegally, were reduced from attempted murder to menacing after officials reviewed video of the incident. The reduction was with Sarcone’s agreement, local Albany media reported.
It also emerged, from an interview that Sarcone did with Law.com, that he expects to be appointed to a federal judgeship by President Donald Trump at some point during Trump’s term, although exactly when is not clear.
Friday June 27
To close out the week, we had the displeasure of having to report on an attempted smear of one of the Voice of Croton candidates for village trustee this coming November, Stacey Nachtaler. It came in the form of a letter to The Gazette that questioned Nachtaler’s statements about her political affiliations, and thus her honesty. Nachtaler was able to provide documented and photographic proof that she was a Democrat who had supported Democratic Party candidates and not, as the innuendo might have suggested, a Trump supporter and/or a Republican.
As we pointed out in a commentary, some liberal Democrats in Croton have been pulling this stunt of branding anyone who runs against their anointed candidates as right-wingers for many years now, and frankly we think it is getting old.
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