In Support of George Latimer: From Diane Greenwald, Paul Feiner and Mark Lewis
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(This letter was written by Diane Greenwald) Congressman/candidate Jamaal Bowman is having a hot mic moment. As reported in the NY Times and The Daily Beast, Bowman was taped last month defending his commitment to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Last fall, he claimed he let his DSA membership lapse, but now he admits he really didn’t! Bowman lied out of political calculation, not genuine beliefs. Jaw dropping.
He has now been endorsed by the DSA and is receiving help from the Justice Democrats PAC, but it is a desperate strategy. With over 150,000 Jews and many allies, district voices express strong support for Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. Constituents expect that calls for hostage release and condemnation of brutal sexual violence against Israelis are expressed as readily as compassion for the hungry and displaced in Gaza. Instead, Bowman applies binary narratives borrowed from the intersectional ideology of oppressed vs. oppressor that do not readily translate to the Middle East. Bowman is not an expert on the region but shows little humility and even less solidarity with his Jewish constituents. His sound-bite approach is neither a path to peace nor a savvy reelection strategy.
Bowman seeks funding, not votes, when he courts DSA approval. His is exactly the power-hungry behavior he denounces in others. Bowman has a popular primary opponent, the long-time Democrat and Westchester County Executive, George Latimer, who he claims is funded by AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby. But Latimer, who is polling way out ahead, is not going to win because of outside support. That is just Bowman’s cover; he is losing all on his own.
George Latimer has a proven track-record supporting reproductive rights, fighting gun violence, ensuring fiscal responsibility, investing in job development and infrastructure, and championing equitable education. Latimer has supported Israel’s right to self-defense and been consistent in his calls to bring hostages home. He does not use incendiary language or oversimplify what is complicated and worthy of criticism. Latimer earned the endorsement of nearly all the local Democratic Committees, while none supported Bowman, a stunning lack of confidence in the incumbent. Latimer earned the endorsement of a wide range of Democratic leaders, from Secretary Hillary Clinton to Mondaire Jones, the progressive Democrat running for Congress in the next district over.
Bowman has lots of issues. A Democratic stronghold, few in the district supported his “no” vote on Biden’s groundbreaking infrastructure plans. Bowman’s few statements condemning the atrocities committed by Hamas against Israel on Oct 7th were always lukewarm and he has not shown up at community vigils. In an open letter, twenty-six rabbis from his district, representing a range of institutions, expressed frustration with Bowman’s lack of responsiveness to their repeated efforts for dialogue. They encouraged Latimer to run. The progressive, pro-Israel organization J Street who had invested time and energy into Bowman, rescinded their endorsement.
Sadly, Bowman’s search for scapegoats goes on. The NYT and The Daily Beast report that Bowman describes AIPAC as his and the DSA’s “common enemy,” a deeply troubling approach.
For better or worse, AIPAC supports a range of politicians from far right to far left, and many in between, based on a politician’s support for Israel, and nothing else. There is room for criticism of AIPAC’s singular and non-partisan approach without calling the lobby an enemy. But Bowman leaps far beyond concern with his aggressive rhetoric that makes AIPAC into the sinister power “to destroy.” Bowman, the DSA, and the Justice Democrats use AIPAC as an antisemitic dog-whistle, relying on ancient and ugly tropes and Jewish blood libel to fearmonger for funds. It is truly grotesque. It’s also divisive and dangerous. Bowman seems unwilling to acknowledge the line through from his own DSA-endorsed anti-Zionist rhetoric to the distressing escalation of overt antisemitism on display across the nation. Where is his allyship? Where is his peace and love?
Karen Attiah in her Washington Post column (June 11,) also assigns AIPAC a sinister role, and wonders, “how far America’s right wing will go to crush progressive movements.” It’s a misleading concern, given that Latimer is neither right wing nor does he have a racist track-record of any kind. Latimer is a progressive Democrat, has tremendous local support, and he has a chance to unite the dynamic, diverse district with respect and tolerance. Maybe the better questions are: why is the progressive movement aligned with radical narratives of a complex foreign war? How far will the DSA go to vilify Democrats and undermine historic, domestic allyship between Black and Jews?
Bottom line is, if Bowman loses this primary it won’t be because of AIPAC engagement or his identity as a strong Black man. If Bowman loses it will be because he repeatedly ignores his constituents and votes against local interests.
I am voting for George Latimer for Congress NY-16, in the New York primary on Tuesday June 25. (early voting is available!) Join me.
Diane Greenwald
Scarsdale, NY
Democrat, Jew, Zionist, Progressive, Humanitarian, Mom, Enemy to None
supporting peace, compassion and compromise here and abroad
(This letter was written by Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner)
I would like to thank former United States Congressman Mondaire Jones for endorsing George Latimer for Congress and highlighting a major reason for doing so: George's support of Israel. Congressman Jamaal Bowman's critical stance on Israel highlights the need for voters in the Congressional primary to send a message to other Congressman across the nation that it's unacceptable to reelect a Congrssman who refused to vote for a resolution in Congress in support of Israel in the wake of the Hamas attack.
If Congressman Bowman is re-elected other members of Congress may feel more comfortable joining the movement to end support for the state of Israel. This primary is probably the most important Congressional primary in recent history because the consequences are so great. A victory by Congressman Bowman could lead to the end of Israel as a Democratic Jewish state. The slogan "from the river to the sea" will become a reality if more and more members of Congress do what Congressman Bowman has been doing and voting against Israel.
Former Congressman Mondaire Jones should be commended for putting the interests of the world first. I'm not surprised. When Mondaire Jones represented Greenburgh he fought hard for the town -his constituent services were among the best and his responsiveness to the community was appreciated by many grateful constituents. Congressman Mondaire Jones took a chance speaking out for Israel and for George and is losing some support from Anti Israel Democrats. But - the former Congressman did what he always does--he does what he thinks is right for the nation and community. I think that a team of Congressman Latimer and Congressman Jones will do great things for Westchester next year.
Paul Feiner
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
(This letter was written by Mark Lewis)
Letter to the Editor:
I am supporting George Latimer for Congress. I have known George for over 30 years. George is always available to his constituents. I got to know George Latimer when he represented two election districts in Scarsdale. George worked with me on a variety of issues, i.e. stopping the County from putting in a driving range at the Saxon Woods golf course, putting in a walking path along the Bronx River Parkway, repaving it and Post Road.
George Latimer is pro-choice. He has passed a bill to protect access to abortion clinics and stop the invasion of these clinics by anti-choice protestors. He has been endorsed in all his races by Choice Matters, the Pro-Choice advocacy group.
George Latimer became Westchester County Executive, he inherited a County Budget with almost no reserves and Westchester’s bond rating had been downgraded from AAA to AA. Under George’s prudent fiscal leadership, the bond rating has been upgraded, once again, to a AAA rating. In addition, George has been able to reduce County taxes four years in a row.
On October 7, 2023 Hamas attacked Israel and kidnapped 240 people in. George condemned the action and came out in support of Israel. In contrast, a few days later his opponent condemned Israel for attacking Hamas. George asked Congressman Bowman to support President Biden’s Infrastructure Act bill, because it would bring badly needed funds to Westchester. Instead Bowman voted against it and our interests.
Mail in voting for the June 25, 2024 Primary Election has begun. Early voting at designated polling places for the Primary Election runs from June 15-June 23 and voting in person voting is on June 25, 2024. Join with me and vote for George Latimer for Congress.
Mark Lewis
80 East Hartsdale Ave. Apt. 117
Hartsdale, N.Y. 10530
Former Mayor Marc Samwick Endorses George Latimer for Congress
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Endorsement for County Executive George Latimer in the June 25th Democratic Primary
Dear Scarsdalians,
I am writing to express my unwavering support for County Executive George Latimer in the upcoming Democratic primary on June 25th. Having had the privilege of working closely with George during my tenure as Village Trustee and Mayor, I can attest to his exemplary leadership qualities and steadfast dedication to serving Westchester County.
Throughout his years in public service, George has consistently demonstrated integrity and a genuine commitment to the well-being of our community. He approaches governance with a thoughtful consideration of all perspectives, consistently seeking pragmatic solutions that benefit all residents of Westchester County.
In contrast to our current Congressman, whose actions frequently seem to prioritize conflict over progress, George Latimer embodies the essence of effective representation. His track record reflects a deep understanding of our district's needs and a proactive approach to addressing them.
I am proud to call George a friend, and I wholeheartedly endorse his campaign for Congress. As we approach what is undoubtedly one of the most consequential elections in recent memory for Westchester County, I urge you to join me in supporting George Latimer on June 25th. Every vote counts, and it is imperative that we elect a leader who will prioritize the needs of our community.
Please take time to learn more about George's platform and encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to do the same. Together, we can ensure that our voices are heard and our interests are represented in Congress.
Thank you for your consideration.
Warm regards,
Marc Samwick
Superintendent Reveals Results of "Belonging Survey": 1 in 5 Students Have Experienced Bias or Discrimination
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In his freshman year as our official Superintendent, Dr. Drew Patrick has worked hard to provide our community with transparency and opportunities for feedback. His effort to work in partnership with all stakeholders has been especially evident in the strategic planning process and in the recent Belonging Survey that was distributed to students, faculty, and parents alike. At the BOE on Monday May 13th, in what was the last Education Report of the school year, Dr. Patrick shared the results of the Belonging Survey and described its connection to the draft of the strategic plan.
In the overview of the Belonging Survey results, Dr. Patrick explained that the findings presented in the Education Report were only the results from the student and faculty surveys, and that the results from the parent survey will be shared at a later date. He went on to give a brief recap of the WIDE (Wellbeing, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity) work that has already taken place in our district and explained that the findings from the Belonging Surveys give the District an opportunity to assess what they are doing well and what they should be doing differently to “ensure everyone in our learning community feels like they belong and are included so they can learn, work, and thrive.”
Dr. Patrick also took the opportunity to remind folks that the District chose to work with the Search Institute and to use their Developmental Relationships and Equitable Practice Survey Tools to conduct our surveys. In discussing the Search Institute’s Developmental Relationships Framework, he emphasized that research proves, “Strong Developmental Relationships in schools are related to strong social emotional competencies, a stronger sense of belonging, and better academic outcomes…in short, belonging is a means to an end and that is to help kids thrive in learning and in life.” What’s more, Dr. Patrick noted that if the District works to develop strong developmental relationships, their students will be able to accomplish the skills outlined in the Districts, “Profile of a Graduate.”
Developmental Relationships Framework:
Before diving deeper into the details of the extensive report, Dr. Patrick highlighted several notable features about the data:
● The Search Institute “scaled” score out of 100: ○ 0-33 = “weak”; 34-66 = “moderate”, and >66 = “strong”.
● Data are not formally benchmarked against other schools, but meant to be a benchmark against ourselves (i.e., when we give the survey again).
● There IS a study we can look at to a relative comparison.
● Faculty-Student response gaps are expected.
Patrick also illustrated how the survey questions were framed to be answered using the Likert scale from 1 (low) to 4 (high) agreement. For example, for a question about ExpressCare, students were asked to rate the statement, “If I have a problem, I know my teachers will help me,” on that scale of 1 to 4. Similarly, a teacher being asked about ExpressCare would rate the statement, “If my students have a problem, I find a way to help them on a scale from 1 to 4.
All survey takers were also asked questions pertaining to the other aspects of the Developmental Relationships Framework including:
● Challenge Growth - Students: My teachers expect me to do my best.
Teachers: I expect my students to do their best.
● Provide Support - Students: My teachers teach me how to ask for help when I need it.
Teachers:I teach my students to ask for help when they need it.
● Share Power - Students: My teachers give me chances to be a leader.
Teachers: I give my students chances to be a leader.
● Expand Possibilities - Students: My teachers help me discover new things that interest me.
Teachers: I help my students discover new things that interest them.
Giving a thorough explanation of all of the results, Dr. Patrick went on to unpack a lot of information. Here are some of the highlights:
Some 2,578 students in grades 4 through 12 and 960 faculty members participated in the survey. Of the highschool students who took the survey 9% Identify as LGBTQIA+, 10% of all students report being in or having been in ESL/ELL Programming, and 17% of all surveyed students report having an IEP (or possibly 504).
Overall the District (students and faculty) scores fairly strong on the Developmental Relationships survey. While there is room for improvement in all areas, the only area of the survey where both students and faculty scored in the moderate range was in the category of “Expand Possibilities/Connect Me With People and Places that Broaden my World.”
While the survey is meant to help the District measure its own growth from the first surveys taken to all surveys taken in the future, The Search Institute did provide data that shows that Scarsdale’s first survey results are slightly stronger than data from a study involving 12,796 students (grades 6-12) & 1,206 adults.
In regard to the Equitable Practices Survey, the data shows that in general, our students report that our schools reflect a strong, culturally responsive environment.
But in what Dr. Patrick described as a “Take my breath away moment,” this survey also found that 1 in 5 students here in Scarsdale report experiencing some form of bias or discrimination, attributed to their peers, teachers, or both. From most frequent to least frequent, students report other reasons, gender, race, religion, age, economic status, and sexual orientation as reasons for being looked down on or treated badly. 
In looking at the results of how Developmental Relationships in our schools promote equity, slide 35 of the presentation demonstrates clearly that there is room for growth.
Wrapping up his report, Dr. Patrick posed the question, “How can we be more intentional about cultivating relationships with our students” and described strategies like creating a shared understanding of developmental relationships and making sure our students tell us about their experiences.
He also drew attention to the strategies faculty can use to be more inclusive in our efforts to cultivate relationships with our students. Some of the strategies include:
- Assess who is and isn’t experiencing a sense of belonging.
- Be culturally aware and responsive.
- Affirm the identities of all students.
- Provide opportunities for student voices to be heard, and show support through action.
For a deeper understanding of all of the survey results you can see the presentation here.
The Education Report also included an update on the District’s Strategic Plan, starting with an explanation of the planning process and how the work thus far has culminated in new goals, action areas, and a thoughtful and comprehensive vision statement. As he explained, “Over the past nine months our students, faculty, staff, parents, and the broader community have been invited to participate in events designed to develop our collective understanding of the forces impacting teaching and learning, identify what we value most about the Scarsdale education, and contemplate new and novel approaches to our work.” These events included both in person and virtual “World Cafes,” online surveys, and a variety of opportunities for student input.
Patrick went on to explain that to determine the collective impact of all of the information garnered from the events he, with the help of over sixty faculty participants from each of our schools, participated in an STI course to organize, synthesize, and analyze all of the feedback. Unsurprisingly, the feedback reveals that there is a lot of overlap between parental and faculty values and from the analysis, six main themes of shared values emerge:
Academic Skills
Life Skills
Technology and AI
Social and Emotional Learning
Global Awareness and Citizenship
Preparation for future Careers
These six themes which correlate strongly with the results from the Belonging Survey, in addition to inspiration derived from our school’s shield, helped to shape the first draft of our District’s new five-year strategic plan.
In his presentation, Dr. Patrick went into further detail and outlined the action areas as they pertain to Learning, Living, and Leading. For example:
To see the slides describing the action areas of the other Big Ideas of Living and Leading, you can see the presentation in its entirety here:
After the Strategic Plan presentation, members of the Board of Education were given the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. During this time, BOE member Robert Klein remarked that for the sake of transparency, he would like to see tools for evaluating progress and other metrics, embedded in the draft of the plan. He would also like the plan to articulate why the District might put more emphasis on one domain or category than others and to make clear that all efforts are not equal in the amount of energy required to deliver on them. He suggested that using a checklist could be a helpful visual que.
Colleen Brown applauded the use of student input in the Strategic Plan but wanted to make sure that the District includes the voices of students less likely to be involved in student government or other student advocacy/focus groups, stressing that all student voices need to be heard and considered in this process.
Each of the other BOE members in attendance also chimed in with their thoughts and questions. To see their comments you can watch a recording of the meeting here:
Not to be overshadowed by a meeting packed with intriguing updates, Director of Human Resources, Meghan Troy announced the new Assistant Principal at Scarsdale High School Ms. Laura Weiss. After a warm welcome and round of applause, Weiss took to the podium to share that this is truly a dream job for her and that she has admired the Scarsdale District from afar. She believes Scarsdale will be a wonderful place to work and a good fit for her particular skill set.
The Board of Education began the night’s meeting with a State Budget Hearing, a legal hearing that gave a brief overview of the proposed budget. You can find a detailed guide to the proposed budget in the most recent issue of the Insight Magazine. Copies of the magazine were sent by mail to every Scarsdale resident or you can find it here:
BOE President Ron Schulhof encourages everyone to vote on May 21 at the Scarsdale Middle School Gym 134 Mamaroneck Ave. Voting will be open from 7 am - 9 pm and parking will be available in the lower circle parking lot.
Honors for Two Scarsdale Residents
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Two longtime Scarsdale residents announced the following professional honors:
Scarsdale’s Peggy DaSilva has been named the 2024 Woman of the Year by WX, New York Women Executives in Real Estate. WX is an invitation-only association for executive women in New York commercial real estate. Its mission is to promote the advancement of women within the industry. She will be honored at a gala on Thursday October 10, 2024 at The Plaza.
Peggy DaSilva is head of asset management, United States, for PIMCO Prime Real Estate (formerly Allianz Real Estate) and is responsible for actively managing the U.S. portfolio of PIMCO Prime Real Estate equity investments. Prior to this role, she was a managing director at Canyon Partners Real Estate where she also focused on capital raising for the real estate private equity funds. She has also held senior positions at CBRE Global Investors, The Rockefeller Group, Deutsche Bank and Bankers Trust Company. Peggy started her real estate career at Chemical Bank, where she also worked in their Tokyo office for two years. She holds an MBA in finance from Columbia Business School and an undergraduate degree from Wellesley College. Peggy has lived in Heathcote since 1991 with her husband, Russell and three daughters, Ellen, Emily and Nancy.
Scarsdale’s Dr. Glenn I. Fishman Wins 2024 Distinguished Basic Scientist Award at Heart Rhythm Society Meeting
On Saturday May 18 at the 2024 meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society in Boston, Dr. Glenn Fishman was awarded the 2024 Distinguished Basic Science Award. Dr. Fishman is the William Goldring Professor of Medicine, Director of the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology and Vice-Chair for Research for the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He received his BA in Chemistry from Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences and his MD from Stanford University School of Medicine. Following clinical training in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Cardiology at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, Dr. Fishman completed a research fellowship in molecular cardiology. After holding faculty positions at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in 2001 Dr. Fishman moved to NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where he assumed his current positions, as well as being appointed a Professor in the Departments of Neuroscience & Physiology and Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology. Dr. Fishman is internationally known for his research on cardiovascular genetics, cardiac electrophysiology and heart rhythm disorders. He has received numerous awards from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association, including their Basic Research Prize and Distinguished Scientist Award. He has been inducted into the American Society of Clinical Investigation, the Association of University Cardiologists and the American Association of Physicians. Dr. Fishman has lived in Greenacres since 1990 with his wife Joanne Wallenstein. They have three adult children, Robert Fishman, Julia Fishman and Adrienne Fishman, who all graduated from the Scarsdale Schools.
Do you have awards or honors to announce? Email us at [email protected].
Jim Dugan, Candidate for Board of Education Discusses Student Mental Health and the College Admissions Landscape
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James C. Dugan, who is just finishing up his first term as a member of Scarsdale’s Board of Education, announced in April that he will seek re-election to fulfill another term in the upcoming election on Tuesday May 21. During his first term as a BOE member, Dugan was part of a committed team that helped to navigate our District out of pandemic learning, he took part in a methodical superintendent search process that saw Dr. Drew Patrick named as our new Superintendent, and thoughtfully participated in many hard conversations about issues that face our schools and larger Scarsdale community. We reached out to Dugan to learn more about his desire to serve another four years.
Why did you volunteer to run for the Board of Education?
Dugan: Ever since moving to Scarsdale in 2006, I have been very supportive of our great public schools and, from time to time, have volunteered in connection with issues such as advocating for maintaining small elementary school class sizes. In 2021, I had the opportunity to run for the Board of Education and I’ve been fortunate to serve as a Trustee since then. My experience as a Trustee over the last three years has greatly deepened my appreciation for the dedication and the hard work that our educators, administrators, and volunteers demonstrate every day. More than ever, I believe that Scarsdale is a great place to live in large part because of our excellent schools and because our community strongly believes in and supports public education. I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve as a Trustee and to contribute my time and energy to the cause of continued excellence in our schools.
What do you see as some of the important issues facing the Scarsdale Public Schools today?
Dugan: We are at a uniquely challenging time in public education generally, and Scarsdale is no exception to this. In the wake of the pandemic, mental health remains top of mind for our community and our students at every level. Our kids seem to feel more and more the stresses and struggles taking place in the world around them. I think schools need to be prepared to address proactively the mental health needs of our students. Another significant issue for our community is the college admissions landscape, which has become more and more challenging as unprecedented numbers of candidates apply for limited spots. The schools should do what they can to help families navigate their way through this. Also, I believe it is important for the schools to continue to model good behavior in terms of accepting and nurturing students and families who are diverse in different ways. We are here to educate all Scarsdale children who come to us.
What do you see as the highlights of your first term on the Board?
Dugan: Without question, I believe that our superintendent search process and our decision to select Drew Patrick for the role were the highlight of my first term. The departure of our former superintendent was a bit of a surprise, and I am proud of the way the Board handled that curveball and carefully managed the process by which we were able to attract and vet some amazing candidates. I’m very happy with the results of our search - kudos to Karen, Amber, and Ron for serving in officer positions and dedicating so much time to organizing that process. I am also proud of the transparent way the Board has functioned over the last three years - with the lengthy and detailed public Board deliberations over the adoption of our budget for next year serving as a good example of our commitment to letting the community see and participate in our process.
Was there any Board action taken during your term that, in retrospect, you might have voted differently than you did?
Dugan: Only one issue comes to mind - my vote in favor of limiting our first public comment during Board meetings to four minutes. (The second public comment period is not limited). I believed at the time that this would help our meetings to run more smoothly and effectively. But in the three years that have passed since that vote, I have come to believe that the four minute cut off is not really necessary and that it unintentionally sends the wrong message to the community about the Board’s openness.
James C. Dugan (Term: 2021-2024): Mr. Dugan is an attorney and volunteer who has been active in Scarsdale since moving to the community with his family in 2006. Mr. Dugan has served as a member of the Citizens’ Nominating Committee and the Procedure Committee. He was a member of the Overhill Association Board as well as its President; and has been active in the Episcopal Church of St. James the Less. Mr. Dugan was a co-founder of the Coalition for Scarsdale Schools, a community organization of engaged parents of Scarsdale students. Mr. Dugan is a partner in the litigation department of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where his practice focuses on high-stakes corporate litigation. He has a BA in English Literature from the Pennsylvania State University and a JD from Cornell Law School. Mr. Dugan and his wife Shirley have three daughters who attend Scarsdale Public Schools, one in Middle School and two in High School.
The Scarsdale Schools’ Budget Vote and Board Election will take place on Tuesday, May 21 at the Scarsdale Middle School Gym, 7am - 9pm.
