WHO AM I?

For those of you who do not know me, I was a Detective in the New York City Police Department.  I spent my 20 years in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.

It was during the time of the Civil Rights movement.  It was a time when you were called to a dispute between a black person, and a white person. More often than not, when you had settled the dispute, you heard one of two statements: “you sided with him because you are both white” or “you sided with him because he is black”.  Never changing until, one day, I was called to a dispute between a West Indian (black) man and a black man from Georgia, and when I pointed out to the West Indian that he was in the wrong. He said, “The only reason you took his side is because you are both Americans”.  It was an interesting time and an enlightening time.

It was the 60’s a time of turmoil, of protests and riots.  It was a time for understanding and patience.

It was a time of Peace, Love, and Music.  It was the time of “Woodstock". It was a time that, more often than not, I would have liked to have been on the other side of the police barrier.  

And I survived it all.

Upon retiring from the NYPD I partnered with a former co-worker and purchased a small business.  My responsibilities included running the day to day operation of the business, interacting with the public, as well as overseeing the company’s financial transactions.  After a few years we sold the business. 

About a year later I was approach by an acquaintance who was involved in a credit card industry start-up company to join his organization.   My acceptance of an executive position in the company turned out to be an experience that taught me many valuable lessons in both finance and process.

One summer in the mid 80’s my son and I were westbound on Route 28, heading out to Margaretville looking to purchase property, when we saw the Woodstock traffic sign. Turning right on to Route 375, encountering the old Woodstock Playhouse, I was extremely taken, not only by the sight of it but also by the ambiance of the town itself.  I never made it to Margaretville.

In 1995 my life took another turn.  My neighbor, a widow, had been issued an order to remedy because she had rented out a large garage to two artists who did metal sculpturing.  Joan Schwartzberg convinced me that I had the ability to represent my neighbor before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).  After spending hours learning the relevant sections of the Zoning Law, I presented the case to the ZBA.  Although the board did not find in my favor, the chairperson asked me to apply for one of the vacancies on the board, which I did, and was accepted.  For 15 years, as both the Chairman and as a member of the board, one of the first things I would do, either at the site visit or before the hearing, was to encourage the applicant to relax, explaining to them that the ZBA was there for them, affording them possible relief, as appropriate, from the zoning law. More often than not, if granting the variance request would not have a negative impact, I would vote for it being granted.  I saw my role on the board as helping make reasonable sense of the zoning law and its application.

So now, here I am again, taking another turn, hoping to become a councilman on the Woodstock Town Board.