Letters to the Editor — Oct. 9, 2026

Conley will show what democracy looks like

To the Editor: 

I attended Congressman Lawler’s Town Hall on May 4, 2025, at Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School. An event, widely reported on, including the forcible removal of Emily Feiner, a 64-year old social worker. The event began with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a call for civility. 

But that is not all that happened on May 4. 

On arrival, attendees were required to leave their notebooks and pens at the door. 

To see that pile of notebooks and pens, left behind by attendees, in America, in Somers, N.Y., was sickening to me. When the event was over, that same pile of notebooks and pens were still sitting on the table by the exit. 

A photo opportunity I passed on, out of fear my phone would be confiscated. But where did that fear come from? It arrived in the form of intimidation during the event. A verbal acceptance of the rules before entering the auditorium was required of law-abiding, taxpaying constituents. 

Then ushers offered assistance to your seat, where state troopers and muscular security personnel were present. But as the event began, those same ushers pivoted to walking the aisles, as disciplinarians, under house lights, alerting officers and security about anyone who disagreed with Congressman Lawler’s responses.

Rather than satisfying debate, this tactic only inflamed discourse for the audience. 

The Pledge of Allegiance, the confiscation of notebooks to bear witness, intimidation, and the forcible removal of voters, do not belong at the same event, in America. 

Vote for Cait Conley and see what democracy really looks like. She won’t take your notebook, or your pen. 

Michael Kempin Katonah

Calves an excellent town supervisor

To the Editor:

On a recent evening, I had the chance to accompany Bedford Town Supervisor Ellen Calves as she knocked on doors during her reelection campaign. It was an inspiring experience that reminded me of the personal qualities that make her such an excellent supervisor.

We were in an economically diverse section of Bedford Hills. Some residents spoke proudly of achieving the American Dream; others, including people working multiple jobs, expressed deep concerns about the rising cost of living. It was a reminder that Bedford is not all estates and horse farms. In fact, Census Bureau estimates show that nearly 9% of the town’s residents live below the poverty line.

At most homes, the person opening the door immediately recognized Ellen, and she had already met more than a few of them. She greeted each person with warmth and optimism, then quickly turned to listening, asking how life in Bedford was going for them. She encouraged everyone to attend upcoming events in Bedford Hills and left them with a promise: her door is always open if she can help.

Being town supervisor is demanding and often thankless. Problems command attention; steady progress receives less recognition. What I saw that evening was a smart, empathetic, no-drama leader who cares about the people she serves and takes the time to hear them.

I hope Bedford voters will send Ellen a message of support and gratitude by reelecting her. I’ll be voting for her when early voting opens on Oct. 24, and I encourage my neighbors to do the same.

John S. Needham Bedford

Candidates should act like leaders

To the Editor:

Thank you for keeping The Recorder alive. You are a very essential resource. 

Election seasons bring out the worst in candidates. The expensive color slicks we receive in the mail would not be acceptable even in an elementary school election. No one talks about their ideas and methods. This was especially obvious during the recent N.Y Congressional District-17 debate. I find no value in he-said, she-said bantering. Political mailers are equally disgusting.

I received one mailer that featured a childish stick drawing with a red “X” across it. These are from adults who wish to represent us in Congress? It would be a joy if journalists had the resources to fact-check all the mailers and radio and TV ads — and identify the sources! How many PACs can you identify and alias to candidates? How many distressed typefaces and paper-tear effects can you handle? 

Candidates: Please act like leaders instead of schoolyard bullies. We need adult leadership and direction. Has any one even mentioned climate change? Endless deadly floods, heat and peril are not even considered on The Hill? 

Thank you for listening, and thanks for providing an essential and spectacular resource. Long may The Recorder live! 

Karl Zuk  Katonah

Conley has courage and strength

To the Editor:

Lawler claims he is a moderate and does not always vote with Trump. When a Republican deviates from the MAGA line, Trump gets nasty, but Trump campaigns with Lawler.  Lawler does nothing to stop Trump from the damage he has done with executive orders and actions by Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pete Hegseth.

Lawler takes credit for raising the cap on the SALT deduction. He states that now 90% of the residents in CD-17 can deduct all their property taxes. This is misleading. Most people gain nothing from the change.

Lawler states that he supports women’s health, showcasing his support for in vitro fertilization. IVF is important for many, including the Lawler family.  Lawler does not address limits put on maternity care, the right for women to make the decisions about their bodies, and the defunding of Planned Parenthood. Lawler implies that changes to Medicaid helped the program.  Savings should not come on the backs of people who need medical care. What Lawler supports has led to large numbers of people in his district losing medical coverage and has harmed hospitals.

There are plenty of reasons for voting against Lawler and therefore against Trump. Reasons to support Conley, decorated combat vet, are compelling. She can help rebuild the military, strengthen infrastructure, repair the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, understand and cope with the challenges of AI, and work to lower costs for the ordinary people in CD-17. She brings experience and talent to the job. After her military service, Cait served as director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council (which led to her being banned from Russia by Trump’s pal, Putin). Cait stood up against Trump’s fighting the 2020 election, unlike Lawler, who just stood by. We need a leader with the courage and strength of Cait Conley.  Early voting starts Oct. 24. 

Jeanine Meyer Mount Kisco

Erika Pierce is a leader who listens 

To the Editor:

Living in Mount Kisco for more than two decades has taught me that our community thrives when our leaders are visible and truly listen. That is why we must reelect County Legislator Erika Pierce in Westchester’s District 2. 

Erika is with us on the ground daily, protecting our wallets, our safety and our well-being. I know this because before I retired this year from Friends of Karen in North Salem, I saw firsthand Erika’s advocacy and empathy for Westchester families. 

Erika is committed to ensuring that our neighbors have the resources they need to get through a crisis or the challenges in their day-to-day lives. She delivers results — including delivering hundreds of thousands of dollars for local nonprofits providing vital community services during her tenure.

As we face ever more complex issues that impact residents’ well-being, we need Erika Pierce who is an experienced and effective county legislator to advocate for our communities. 

Suzanne J. Cohen Mount Kisco

Reynolds property plan raises concern

To the Editor:

As a resident of The Meadows in Cross River, I have great concerns about the proposed construction of 14 homes — with pools — directly across the road from us. Our water system is very fragile; it has been for a long time. We need repairs on it frequently, the cost of which is, of course, passed on to us, the residents. I can’t imagine how those costs might increase if we have a large subdivision like the one proposed for the Reynolds property right nearby. 

In addition, this property abuts the Cross River, the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, and part of the New York City water supply. It needs to be preserved. 

Carole K. Long Cross River