To the Editor:

Let me respond to the letter in last week's paper entitled “Local Government is About Results Not Politics.” I find it quite interesting that the authors of that letter are the leaders, A.K.A. insiders, of the Guilderland Democratic Committee but want you to believe they are not about politics. 

Let’s be clear. The authors of last week’s letter are all about politics. I was surprised that they were talking for all committee members when a number of members do not share the same point of view as these insiders. One in particular is Christine Napierski who is giving you another viewpoint as she runs for the open town board position.

Let’s get something straight, Christine Napierski has worked hard for the Guilderland Democratic Committee. She has helped on various campaigns and carried petitions for Democratic candidates like Susan Rizzo, Margaret Tabak, and Michelle Hinchey. Christine stepped up and filled in for the town justice position when former Judge Sherwood resigned in scandal, applied for positions on the Town planning board, applied to volunteer for the Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Committee to update the policy and practices on the police department and interviewed for the Democratic endorsement for one of the town board positions. 

However, these insiders rejected her bids time after time. Do you see a theme here? Why are these insiders afraid of Christine Napierski? Is it because she is an independent thinker and will be the voice for our residents, not just a rubber stamp?

Christine is running for town board because she wants to give the Democratic voters a choice between the insiders’ status quo and a candidate with true Democratic values. Primaries are good for democracy. 

She went to court to change the outdated caucus system that the insiders held every year to nominate themselves for town positions. Because of Christine’s advocacy for the residents of Guilderland, we now have a primary, so no one is disenfranchised from voting again. The only reason why they (the insiders) are knocking on your doors today is because of Christine’s fight for the primary!

Let’s talk about some of the accomplishments these insiders claim. They say that the accomplishments of our current town board members demonstrate their sharp focus on the issues important to all individuals in our town, within a framework that addresses the needs of the present and the vision for the future. 

What does that even mean? What kind of Orwellian speak is this? I am wondering how they came to this conclusion. 

Have you had a say in the vision of what our Town’s future should look like? Have you been asked what you would like to see in Guilderland? Have you been asked for your input for the Town Comprehensive Plan that has been ignored for over 15 years?

As you drive along Route 20 from the Northway to Route 146, do you see any evidence of their vision for the future besides traffic congestion, neon lights and empty buildings? 

When was the last time you made a left turn on Route 20? And our town has yet to find a traffic study that found any traffic in Guilderland.

As for repurposing dilapidated properties, have they not noticed that they have a small ghost town of houses in Westmere created due to their past poor decisions regarding Pyramid? 

We have also seen an explosion of growth including apartments and senior living. Now, there is nothing wrong with apartments and senior housing. Our town should have a mixture of affordable housing. However, the insiders say these are an affordable option? I beg to differ. 

One example is a three-bedroom apartment that goes for $1,800 dollars. Oh, and where are these “starter” homes they talk about? They are not in Guilderland. Are they talking about the ghost neighborhood?

Christine has a record of accomplishments that make her a strong and worthy candidate for the Town Board opening. 

She has practiced law for over 30 years in State Supreme Court, started her own law firm in 2000, served on the Capital District Woman’s Bar Association Committee on the Judiciary, was Past President of the Capital District Trial Lawyers Association and served on the State Supreme Court Third Department Committee on Character and Fitness, volunteers for The Teresian House Foundation and the Guilderland YMCA Advisory Board, and is a former member of the steering committee of the Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth. She is also a wife and a mother.

You now have a choice, stick with the insiders and keep the status quo or cast your vote for Christine Napierski for Guilderland Town Board, a candidate for change and a voice for the residents.

The Democratic primary election is on June 22. Early voting begins June 12 through 20. 

Isn’t it time to have a real voice for the residents of this wonderful community?

Christine Napierski — stepping up one more time! ChristineforGuilderland.com 

Tony Siracusa

Guilderland

Editor’s note: Tony Siracusa is the husband of Christine Napierski.