PelhamToday received the following letters about decision to charge for parking at St. Johns.
Vandalism to come?
It is indeed unfortunate that the park has suffered incidents of vandalism. There is a very good chance that future acts will be directed at whatever equipment is installed to collect the fees. Just ask the police about speed cameras.
Jerry Whittaker
Fonthill
Editor's Note: The NPCA has not actually provided evidence of vandalism at St. Johns.
Parking plan is proof elected officials have little power
The column about the NPCA bringing in parking fees at St.John's conservation area was an affirmation of my suspicions about governance these days, especially at the local level.
The Administrative Class—you know, all the worker bees behind the scenes, that run everything—no longer sees the elected officials and board members as a rubber stamp to their plans. No, that's not even a consideration. They are not even minor inconvenience that must be consulted when decisions of any magnitude are made.
After reading the various responses to the NPCA pronouncement from the elected officials directly and indirectly involved it became clear that the real issue was that they were not properly instructed as to what to say by the Administrative Class, if asked, by the public.
That seems to be the only omission the NPCA made in this tawdry display of Administrative convenience.
The elected officials pretend to be in charge. The Administrative Class pretends to listen and obey. In this instance the Administrative Class decided to dispense with this archaic ritual.
Jim Pitt
Fonthill
