Politics in today’s world is volatile. Like a constantly shifting tide, political divisions are growing ever more pronounced. The voices we should be most intent on listening to are the voices of the next generation: they are the ones with the power to make or break a candidate.
The upcoming mayoral election promises a shift into unfamiliar territory for White Plains, as the veteran, Mayor Tom Roach, is no longer running. The upcoming Democratic candidate, Justin C. Brasch, is campaigning on the promise of improving the White Plains we all know and love. On the other hand, Republican candidate Lenny Lolis aims to revitalize White Plains and restore it to its former glory—a subtle yet significant difference. Now is the perfect time to peer back into the past and decide what we want our future to look like.
Justin Brasch aims to lower the price of housing in White Plains, improve police accountability and transparency and expand community spaces and parks, including building an intergenerational center. He is endorsed by former mayor Tom Roach, along with White Plains Professional Fire Fighters-IAFF Local 274, Hispanic Democrats of Westchester, Distinction: Gun Sense Candidate and more.
Lenny Lolis claims White Plains’ crumbling infrastructure is due to Brasch’s negligence while on the city council. There is no evidence that directly links Brasch to White Plains’ infrastructure problem or the collapse of the Westchester One Garage. His policy plans include making White Plains more affordable, making parking more resident-friendly and increasing spending on our police force.
Miles Ingram, a senior and a holder of strong views on the upcoming mayoral election, said, “I think both candidates are running on a strong platform with lots of powerful ideas for White Plains.” He laments Mayor Roach’s decision to step down, as, “he has done great work in White Plains,” but he is excited for the change in leadership to come.
“I think it will be good to have a different person in office. An American value that is important to me is allowing as many voices as possible to have a say in our local government, and I believe that can include a change in leadership (whether it is in the same party or not),” Ingram said.
Ingram is not currently old enough to vote, but if he were, he would vote for Justin Brasch. “I’m excited by his ideas for White Plains, including building a new community center, increasing park space, providing incentives for developers to create more affordable housing and continuing White Plains’ journey to be an environmentally conscious city.”
In the digital age, misinformation and deception are commonplace; it is important to carefully consider what each candidate plans for White Plains, and how it would impact individual constituents and the community at large. Voters must look past the vibrant colors and flashy fonts displayed on campaign websites to the facts and the evidence behind candidates’ claims. As Mario Cuomo once said, “You campaign in poetry; you govern in prose.”
For more information, visit Justin Brasch’s website, or Lenny Lolis’s website.
