At a recent Hastings Board of Trustee meeting, Hastings Mayor Swiderski shockingly assured 'sub-rosa hunters' that Hastings deer will remain safe for consumption, ignoring that hunting in Hastings on Hudson is illegal.
Hastings resident, Tim Downey, expressed concerns that if deer were to receive immunocontraception (the latest proposal that Swiderski is now floating) what Downey termed "responsible hunters" would withdraw from the area due to fears of tainted venison. Mr. Downey went on to warn that deer which these "responsible hunters" have been 'taking year in and year out' would result in a rise in the deer population if they were to withdraw. Mayor Swiderski assured Downey that as far he was aware the deer were safe for consumption, in essence encouraging illegal hunting in the village of Hastings. The Mayor went on to acknowledge the Greenburgh Report (commissioned by Hastings), which makes claim that 'sub rosa' hunting does go on in Hastings, the report suggesting that the majority of hunters are in fact local police officers and volunteer firemen. The report stating that this on going hunting is evidence that illegal 'sub rosa' hunting is a safe practice in Hastings.
Letters from alarmed residents have begun circulating about Hastings, with concerns that Hastings Mayor Swiderski's desire to kill deer has now trumped the law itself. SWIDERSKI'S THIRST FOR DEER KNOWS NO BOUNDS
Had the recent August 24th Hastings Board of Trustee meeting been a prize fight it would surely have been stopped. The deer overpopulation issue has been so horribly mishandled by Mayor Swiderski that Tuesday evening he was confronted by disgruntled persons from either side of the issue. Hastings resident John Gonder and others were outraged having learned that Mayor Swiderski has apparently 'shifted' course and is now pursuing immunocontraception, rather than the lethal option of net & bolt. This abrupt change in plan comes after nearly a year of pursuing and promoting net & bolt. The announcement was made without any public discussion. Mr. Gonder challenged Swiderski's ethics and accused the Hastings Mayor of back room politics, telling the board, "you should all resign." Not a bad idea.
However, it was the withering public comment of former Hastings resident, Corey Shaff (now of Sharon Ct.), which left the Hastings Mayor shaken and disoriented. (video link below - warning, frankly it's pathetic) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrj9Pp61iio&feature=player_embedded
With a measured demeanor Mr. Shaff recounted a visit Mayor Swiderski made to Irvington trustees in September 2009, where Swiderki misrepresented Hastings residents as having "rolled over on the issue" and that the village would be netting & bolting deer, "no matter what." Shaff pointed out that only 38 hands were raised in favor of a cull and none of these hands were aware that the culling technique would be that of net & bolt. At the same Irvington trustee meeting, Mr. Shaff recounted how Mayor Swiderski demeaned Hastings residents referring to them as, "having a reputation for being desperately green and earthy crunchy." In what were the most dramatic and damning moments of the board meeting, Mr. Shaff then read portions of Mayor Swiderski's emails, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, in which Swiderki called for 'wiping out all the deer.' Shaff asked that the net & bolt permit, which Mayor Swiderski has "set aside for now" be returned to the N.Y. state D.E.C., calling Swiderski's retention of said permit, "an abomination."
Ashen and wobbly, though still seated, Swiderski searched for words, measuring them with the delusional hope that they would provide some damage control. Instead, he and they (his words) proved more damning then even Mr. Shaff's expose, tough trick as Shaff all but gutted the sitting Mayor. If Mayor Swiderski's retort had been offered by a high level public official, it would surely have lead to his or her ridiculed dismissal. The Mayor defended his Irvington visit saying he "overstated" his case as "leaders" often do in order to enlist Irvington's support for net & bolt deer slaughter. Ignoring that he misrepresented Hastings residents, using them to gain this support. In what was most difficult to watch, the Mayor tried to explain away his 'earthy crunchy' description of Hastings residents. Swiderski explained that he is a vegetarian and drives a hybrid, chiding Mr. Shaff for not seeing "the polite irony" with which his comments were made. "They don't come earthier and crunchier than me," Swiderski exclaimed. The current headline of Buck Vandeer's Facebook page (a vocal opposition group) tags this quote with -- Oh yes they do, Fredo. In droves. ( Fredo Corleone, the fuck up brother in The Godfather) It is clear, Peter Swiderski visited Irvington to SELL SLAUGHTER. Am I missing something, is there such a thing as earthy crunchy slaughter? Mayor Swiderski's response was pathetic, the logic reeking of desperation. The Mayor continues to have no qualms when it comes to insulting the intelligence of Hastings residents, obfuscating his position no matter the video evidence to the contrary. Perhaps most troubling is the manner in which Swiderski, yet again, presented the D.E.C. as 'the fall guy' in this equation. The Mayor earlier this year said that the D.E.C.'s "process" had "led him" to the net & bolt permit. Tuesday evening describing it as, 'a technique that was handed to us.' What are we to do Mayor Swiderski, conjure up images of the D.E.C. as drug dealer, calling out from a dark alleyway? "Psssttt, psssttt. Net & Bolt, yo. Sweeeeeet virgin permit, P. Swid. Here, just let me hand it to ya Mayor." Or did they force feed you the permit, shoving it down your throat while holding you at gun point. The video clearly shows that Kevin Clark of the D.E.C. did not bring up net & bolt as an option when visiting Hastings in September of 2009, in fact Swiderski did. Clark was in fact "leading" the village in other directions, not surprising as net & bolt was illegal in the state of New York at the time of his visit. Peter Swiderski acted impulsively, he sought and fought for "his" net & bolt permit, the first such permit issued in the history of NY state, a distinction which former Hastings resident Corey Shaff is not proud. Mayor Swiderski has displayed again and again what appears to be a constitutional incapability of simply telling the truth. The diminutive, bespectacled, pot bellied corporate analyst, is far more dangerous to the village of Hastings than any deer tick carrying buckets of Lyme disease could ever dream to be. Peter Swiderski should resign as the Mayor of Hastings on Hudson, as he has lost all credibility, and it is far too late for an apology. No matter how "earthy crunchy" that apology may be.
Hastings resident Tim Downey recently offered to Hastings Mayor Peter Swiderski a comprehensive plan to deal with the ever growing problem of waste management in the village of Hastings. Mr. Downey's very well thought out plan called for utilizing the quarry site as a green recycling center, allowing Hastings to create it's own environmental footprint, while at the same time cleaning up the out of control dumping that is occurring at the d.p.w. riverfront location. Downey's plan gives Hastings the opportunity to walk the green walk, and not just talk the talk. This is not a photo op for the Mayor, this is not a 'green vehicle', which the Mayor accepted from Atlantic Richfield, B.P. to parade through the village on Memorial Day. Downey's plan would save the village much needed income while serving the village of Hastings for generations to come. A slam dunk, right? Wrong. With thequarrythe only remaining parcel of land left in Hastings with which to achieve this, Swideski has chosen to cater to a handful of residents allowing them to dictate the use of this public land and their desire it be a park. A park? This with Draper Park but a stone's throw away. Downey, who is expert in this field has been virtually ignored by village government in deference to this handful of entitled residents. This is sadly par for the corporate, elitist, Swiderski course. I love this 'village' and will not stand by idly and watch Peter Swiderski threaten all that I love. All residents must keep a close eye on Swiderski and his agenda to turn the quarry into a park. Watch the board of trustee meetings every other Tuesday at http://whoh-tv.org/ This man's ego and entitled attitude knows no bounds. He must never be given another term as Mayor of Hastings.
Peter Swiderski with Hastings "Godfather" Joe Sontchi
Peter Swiderki is destroying the village of Hastings-on Hudson, fast turning it into a community catering to corporate elitists like himself. Demolishing the most beautiful building on the waterfront, proposing to net & bolt deer, allowing entitled residents to for all intensive purposed purchase the quarry turning into their own private/public park. The Mayor sits high above the residents, both literally and figuratively. His character defects are evident, his ego and hubris know no bounds. He lacks both ethics and a moral compass. Creating a park instead of a re-cycling center at the quarry is a fine example of repurposing village property and catering to $$$$$. Hastings needs a Mayor that preserves the democratic spirit of the town, not one that is bent on turning Hastings into Scarsdale or Bronxville. Mayor Swiderski is oblivious to what has made Hastings the unique village it has been. He know not where he is. The town needs a new Mayor and fast, before the corporate analyst Peter Swiderski turns Hastings on Hudson into just another faceless bedroom community.
You've got to get a kick out of Mayor Swiderski's quote in the Rivertowns. "I have a hard time imagining net & bolt working in our community." Oh my God. This is the same guy who stated that the town had "rolled over on the issue." The same guy who told Irvington that he's "doing this no matter what." The same guy who proudly exclaimed, "I'm proud to be a pilot program for the state (that being a net & bolt program)" The same guy who stated that "volunteers would shield the public from the 'bad things' (the firing of slaughter bolts into helpless deer's craniums)" The very same guy who stated upon receiving news that he would receive his slaughter permit, "It's a bloody promising development." How now, does this guy have a hard time imagining that net & bolt would work in the community? The answer is a short one, two words, Buck Vandeer. The efforts of those in opposition made clear the outrageous claims of the "Greenburgh Deer Report" and brought to the internet with the brightest spotlight, the Mayor's own agenda, in his own words. A hard time imagining it? I have a hard time imagining that this man is sitting as Mayor of Hastings on Hudson.
Mayor Swiderski is far more dangerous to the village of Hastings on Hudson than any deer tick could ever imagine to be. Click on the link below and watch for yourself