‘Please reach out to the community’

I would like to respond to the letter written by Connie Wright in last week’s Warwick Advertiser. I agree with most of Ms. Wright’s assessment of the future of our district and the need for transparency. While I am happy that Shannon Hockswender was given a seat on the BOE, I too have concerns over the timing of Mr. Caskey’s resignation. Here’s hoping that we don’t continue to see political maneuvering at the board level going forward.

One of the things I would like to correct is the assumption that the board caved to the Chamber of Commerce.

When a committee was formed to save Park Ave. we decided to approach the Chamber of Commerce for their support. I went to speak to the executive director of the chamber, Michael Johndrow, where I was told a flat out “no” they would not be involved.

Then I went to the Merchants Guild, which is a sub-committee of the chamber, where I was also told no.

That left us with one choice - to approach the businesses individually.

I agree with Mrs. Wright that Pine Island suffered a disproportionate decline in real estate transactions and business starts when the elementary school closed.

I believe when the business owners in Warwick decided to sign the petition, they looked at the situation through the lens of business people.

As taxpayers, business owners and commercial real estate owners have the right to speak up. When it costs taxpayers more than $17,000 a year to educate each Warwick student it makes bad business sense not to.

I wish the new BOE the best of luck, and please reach out to the community, there are so many people looking to help.

Rick Peddle
Warwick