To the editor,

The election in the Village of Pelham on March 19 is critical for the future of Pelham and our schools. Regina and I are lifelong Democrats. The seriousness of local issues takes precedence over party affiliation. We strongly endorse the Pelham Village Party/Republican Party slate and urge you to vote for them.

All of Pelham struggles with high taxes which depress our property values. The apartment-building development being pushed by the Democratic Party slate will increase our overall tax burden and further depress Pelham property values. The Pelham Village/Republican Party slate opposes the currently planned apartment construction and the new zoning procedures that facilitate this construction.

The Democratic slate supports construction of more high-rise rental buildings (similar to the one on Boulevard West, near the high school), which will add 200 to 300 apartments to the village. These buildings will be large and will bring height, density and traffic to Pelham, while burdening our schools and municipal infrastructure, including parking and the capacity of our sewer system.

Realistic projections of the new children who will enter our schools point to a dramatic increase in our school costs and taxes. The Democratic slate has only relied on the self-serving and misleadingly optimistic projections from the developers and studies from other jurisdictions that do not apply to Pelham. The Democratic slate ignores the likely dramatic increase in school costs and taxes, which are Pelham voters’ largest tax burden.

Regina and I have lived in Pelham for 43 years, and our four children attended the Pelham schools. Regina is a past officer of Colonial School PTA and past president of the middle school and high School PTAs. Regina has had leadership roles in many other community organizations, including co-head of Pelham Meals on Wheels for the past 25-years. We were part of the citizens’ team encouraging the construction of our middle school. I also have been actively involved in many community organizations. I also took on a leading role in stopping the closing of Colonial School (unbelievably, a very real prospect at the time). The village is quieter and more environmentally friendly because of the leaf blower restrictions which the late Bill Tucker and I originated and brought to passage by the village.

Like many empty-nesters, we are important taxpayers for Pelham. We pay the massive school taxes each year, but have not had a child in the Pelham schools for close to 20 years. If these apartment-building developments being pushed by the Democratic slate come to fruition, that could be it for us and other empty-nesters in Pelham. Our house and other empty nesters’ houses would likely be purchased by families with children which will further increase school enrollments and tax burdens.

The Pelham Village/Republican Party slate is a balanced slate of extraordinarily qualified candidates who have strong ties to Pelham, are invested in the community and are deeply committed to preserving the character of the village and quality of our schools and all have children in our schools.

Please vote for the entire ticket on March 19—Candice Ripoll for mayor, and Stephen Doka, LeRoy Marriott and Arthur Long for trustee. Electing the full Pelham Village/Republican Party ticket is the only way to ensure a board majority and the right results for Pelham on these massive developments and tax burdens.

Christopher and Regina Gallagher

153 Cliff Ave.