Community Corner
SPI & Transparency: So, What Took Ya So Long?
The Playland SPI movement has been in full swing in Rye for many years. I was an early contributor because they seemed to hold out so much promise to restore and improve a crown jewel of the Westchester Park System. But it took literally until January 29th 2014 – or 27 days ago to be exact – for me to know what personal ties that the voting members of the Rye City Council’s had to the project. Here’s the council video link:
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Councilman Terry McCartney – stops the SPI agenda item to inform the residents that (1) he is long time personal friends with SPI Principals (of Westchester Sports Center) John Abate and Eric DeGraw, (2) Mr. McCartney’s father-in-law, Paul Rheingold, serves on SPI advisory committee. Kudos to the newly elected Mr. McCartney for being forthright here from the jump.
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And apparently ONLY because of Mr McCartney’s above example, we next finally learn that:
Councilwoman Killian - was part of a group of Citibank employees who recruited SPI's John Abate to join the bank in the 1990's. She then worked with Mr. Abate at Citibank for “several years”. And until 27 days ago - it hadn't occurred to Mrs. Killian to disclose this relationship – even though she was lightning-quick to “welcome” Ms Deirdre Curran to the public chamber SPI “conversation” by spreading untrue rumors that Curran was secretly representing long time Playland ride operators in opposition to SPI.
Councilwoman Brett - served SPI as an Advisory Board Member – and as President of the Rye Historical Society, Mrs. Brett created and hosted promotional videos supporting change at Playland. So Mrs. Brett hasn’t just in favor of SPI - she WAS SPI.
The Evolution of Playland - by Laura Brett
Now let me ask the next obvious question here: are these ALL of the apparent or actual conflicts of interest on the Rye City Council that need to be disclosed? And if they are – when, exactly, were they planning on telling this officially to the residents of Rye?
