Leadership 101- Not!

My Dear Nieces and Nephews, what an interesting week! On Thursday, just after a tumultuous meeting for the County Legislature, the Democratic Party Minority Leader, Jeffrey (“Jeff”) Berkman announced that he would not seek the leadership post next year.

JEFF SAID: “It is time for new leadership to step forward,” At least he didn't use the cliché of "spending more time with his family".

And just prior to that on Wednesday, our frightening and fractious forerunner, Steve Neuhaus aka Stevie Blunder, pens a little missive to Mayor DeStefano of Middletown. (Does Steve realize the Mayor Joe has been friends since childhood with the “prior administration” of Eddie Diana? Does Steve realize he is implicating Mr. Mayor as a political thug aka Boss Tweed? Funny how Steve feels the need to attempt to get Mayor Joe to do the work that he-Steve- is unable to accomplish himself that is, convince legislators of his plan's merit .)

In this letter, Steve, illustrating great leadership skills, again, starts off by blaming the prior administration (remember, friend of Joe) for the financial shape of the county and also refers to correspondence inked by the Mayor, indicating that he would love “to engage in long tern partnerships with all three of our cities to keep important services in each…” Steve also mentions how “innovative partnerships” with Touro would benefit Middletown.  Steve then goes onto explain municipal budgeting to the Mayor (at least he had the courtesy to say “As you know…” and does the same “As you also know…” in the next paragraph where he explains the tax cap.)

Steve mentions the “widespread community support” for his budget that does not fund Valley View and then says: "However, this was not enough to convince some members of the legislature, including Legislators Berkman and Paduch, to support its adoption” Sounds like the Dems were adhering to their position of supporting Valley View, right?

The letter also implicates the Mayor when, back to the first paragraph Steve states “Unfortunately, despite your sincere and ongoing efforts, two of the three legislators representing Middletown rejected the plan (to sell Valley View) and failed to offer any realistic  alternative to balance the budget.” (Yeah, that financial guy, Legislator Anagnostakis, did not offer a realistic plan, that’s why your budget was voted down).

Is Steve suggesting that the Mayor was supposed to strong-arm some legislators? And what Steve states in closing is most disturbing:

   

Doesn’t look good for Mayor Joe. (And a lease for two decades? Who does that?) But Auntie does not believe that the Democratic Mayor of one of our cities would be politically naïve enough to do Stevie’s bidding.

And as far as Berkman is concerned, wasn't it Jeff who suggested moving 120 beds from Valley View to Touro? And quite possibly, Jeff can share the expertise he gained as the principal for JDB management and Towne Terrace Partners LP. with the folks at Touro. And when you look at the proximity of the Towne Terrace Apartments to Touro, maybe Jeff can assist all of those promising medical students and professionals with finding a home. After all, it would be nice, if all of these medical students and instructors could enjoy walking to school and work, just like on the walking trails Zupnik of Focus Ventures proposes for Valley View.

  

Ain’t life grand?