Letter To The Editor: Losing Site

 
As we all well know Playland in it's current state has been a big topic for Rye and our residents.
Some of us are Rye lifers, some of us have lived here for 10-20 years and then some, and there are some of us who have lived here for a very short time, nonetheless we are all entitled to our opinion and what Playland means to us has driven us to voice our opinions.
 
We have all heard the dirty on Playland, "it's losing millions, government doesn't know how to run an Amusement Park, yada yada yada." There is no need to rehash those facts, we are way beyond that now.
 
Two years ago County Executive Rob Astorino asked for RFP's for someone to take the park and submit plans that will bring this beautiful landscape out of the dark. Eleven people turned in RFP'S, out of those eleven three finalists were chosen and eventually we had our winner, Sustainable Playland(SPI).
 
SPI is mainly made up of RYE RESIDENTS who spent "their" spare time or made time, invested "their money", millions at that. Of course their first interest was in the best interest of Rye, this is their home, our home and they have risked above and beyond to protect RYE!
SPI has taken some heat for their efforts, unfortunately no more than very recent. Now, all though some of us would like to think we are perfect, the reality is WE ARE NOT, SPI and the people SPI is made up of are no different. This was and always will be a complicated complex project and a very sensitive topic for all of us.  We are all individuals in our own special way, but there is one way we are all alike....and that is that we ARE NOT PERFECT and we will ALL make mistakes and it is how we handle these mistakes that will decide the outcome.
 
When the RFP's were first put out I was approached and asked to be on the Advisory Board, I gladly accepted. I have been a part of this from the jump, I have been to every fundraiser and have also brought guests, I have believed in this from the start and I have never lost faith.
 
I will always stand up for Rye, I will always do what I can to protect Rye, I will always be there for the Residents, and as you all know I will jump off a bridge for any child of Rye.
 
December 11th, SPI held an information only meeting, mainly to bring out the facts surrounding the Sports Facility. They would take and answer questions just as long as they pertained to the Sports Facility. SPI put on an absolute flawless respectful presentation. Unfortunately there were a few residents that would disrespect SPI's requests and tried to turn the meeting into a City Council Meeting.
 
There is no need for hostility, there is no corruption here on the part of SPI what so ever!
SPI has been honest and has had Rye's best interest at heart at all times, specifically the Redfield neighborhood. Unfortunately those residents were led down a path of disbelief and without their blessing,  spoken for by an out of town resident. This outside resident fed these residents with false information. This outside resident spread rumors of racism and made statements that SPI was only made up of Rye residents from the parks surrounding neighborhood.
 
Has SPI made mistakes, has SPI's plans changed from the original, yes, and they would be the first to admit this. There is no ill intent what so ever on the part of SPI, these are good people trying to do the right thing.
How I operate is this, I voice my opinion on facts and facts only, I do my homework, I do not voice my opinion from false information stuffed in my mailbox or rumors on the street, I investigate and GET THE FACTS!
 
In my opinion, we should be thanking SPI and not condemning them!!! 
 
Ask yourselves this....If not SPI then who & what?

Thank you,
 
Jim Amico