My parents raised me to avoid all discussion of religion and politics when talking to strangers. Four years ago, Pedram Bral became the mayor of the Village of Great Neck and I have been breaking my promise ever since.
I believe no one, duly elected or otherwise, should be empowered (without limits) to tear apart the fabric (the very heart and soul of an established village), thereby contributing to chronic distress, distrust and uncertainty among its citizens.
It is also my belief that no mayor of an incorporated village be given carte blanche to systematically destroy the charming aesthetic and tree-lined streets of our neighborhood, the heroic spirit of our volunteer fire and ambulance team, and the philosophy and freedom to live and let live among a diverse population of residents. We have both churches and synagogues in the Village of Great Neck. So aren’t all village residents perceived as equal? Aren’t we all entitled to fair and equal treatment with respect to village government and village law?
The honest answer is not one you will want to hear. Many concerned residents believe that one demographic in this village is seeking to dominate and push out all others. After two terms in office as mayor, it would appear Pedram Bral has strategically set out to alienate those in the community who do not think like him and do not worship like him.
In this current biased government, Mayor Bral is a man who just can’t say no to the multitude of developers who come before him — many of them of his same faith. His staunch refusal to turn away development projects, even those that beg to be turned away, makes many of us question whose interests he is protecting. Does Mayor Bral have the interests of the residents at heart or the often observant developers –- the same men he seeks approval and respect from?
I often wonder, if we the people, require an ombudsman to protect us from Mayor Bral’s habitual approval of any and all development projects and subdivision projects.
What Mayor Bral has failed to factor into account is that this demonstration of biased government, biased and selective code enforcement and biased sanitation pickup is responsible for producing overwhelming negative emotions against him and his trustees. Simultaneously, there has been a deterioration of core community services that our taxpayer dollars provide for. Under the Bral administration, there is infrequent sanding of residential streets during snowstorms; there is little if any street cleaning; there is a dire need for at least one new Village sanitation truck, while some residential roads are in immediate need of repaving.
On the other hand, obscene expenditures for outside consultants are the norm, including $100,000 for the recent Middle Neck Road revitalization plan. A $200,000-plus pedestrian footbridge that will benefit some — but not all — is on the horizon. Overt favoritism hurts all of us. There is good reason for separation of church and state. In this case — separation of synagogue and state. By embracing and prioritizing religion in the Village of Great Neck government, while systematically removing the necessary checks and balances, long-range consequences have been set in motion.
Depending on where you stand with respect to organized religion, you will either find these consequences very good or very bad. Regardless, these consequences are stirring the community pot and producing extreme emotions of anger and divisiveness.
I have been personally advised there is a growing anti-Orthodox movement in Great Neck. This is disturbing and must be concerning to all. But are you aware this anti-movement is, potentially, a direct result of one mayor’s actions –- actions that have alienated and victimized those residents who are not of the same faith? Community harmony requires religious tolerance and respect for one another, even with our respective differences.
Judaism teaches us: “You will be a light unto the world.” Certainly Judaism does not teach us to boast, ”We own Great Neck.”
Nor does Judaism teach us to publicly call out our fellow Jewish neighbors as anti-Semitic because they possess the wherewithal to question excessive Village expenditures. Challenging excessive Village expenditures is good plain common sense. My parents taught me that.
On Tuesday, June 18, there will be a Village election for mayor and two trustees from noon until 9 p.m. at E.M. Baker Elementary School. Vote your conscience, but please vote.
Judy Shore Rosenthal
Great Neck
