Twice in the past few weeks I saw Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender taking a walking tour of the Welwyn Road/Shoreward Drive area with several “guests” in tow.
I thought that was interesting, because she is constantly asked to come and check out the abominable and unsafe conditions in the area, but she never responds; she never comes.
However, just last Wednesday, there was Celender, clipboard in hand, standing in front of the former Tulip with several other people, probably looking for more lame excuses to blame others for her inadequacies.
On both of her visits I just happened to be within earshot, and clearly heard her talking to those walking with her.
Of course she was so involved with her coterie that she didn’t notice me.
Each time, I couldn’t help but overhear her self-aggrandizing the virtues of her beautification grant to those walking with her as she was energetically touting the new pocket park she intends to build in front of the Post Office.
On both visits, Mayor Jean managed to ignore the incessant horn honking, the double parked cars, and the multitude of buses trying to turn in front of the post office.
She was myopically focused on the virtues of her wonderful grant and her wonderful park.
Celender of course didn’t explain to her visitors that her new park will usurp several sorely needed parking spaces; or that residents do not want or need a park in front of the post office because there are already two lovely, large parks within a block or two of the area.
And Celender certainly didn’t mention that the noises from the car horns, the fumes from the buses, and the general chaos in the area would not be conducive to communing with nature; or that despite persistent requests, she refuses to have code enforcement ticket non-residents’ illegally parked cars so that residents will be able to park on their block.
It was really interesting that each of Celender’s visits to the area immediately followed negative press about her in this newspaper.
Why would she suddenly appear now when she never could be bothered to show up before? An attempt at damage control?
Nevertheless, our illustrious full-time mayor continues to roll merrily along, closing her eyes and ears to the needs of her constituents while touting her “accomplishments” to those who can be of service to her.
Who knows — perhaps those folks might even be able to provide some wonderful photo-ops.
Until then, check out this interesting tidbit that came to my attention.
Megalomania: An obsession with the exercise of power characterized by exaggerated feelings of self importance, the need for admiration, and a lack of understanding others’ feelings.
It’s not difficult to identify a megalomaniac. Some of us might even know one.
Muriel Pfeifer
Village of Neck Plaza
(We want our “Great” back!)
G.N. Plaza mayor has lost touch with constituents
