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Collapse of Mott House – Symbolic of Neglect in 4th District

10/06/2009
Rick Cunha Statement:


The Mott house is emblematic of my opponent’s career on the town council: a disaster after years of neglect, followed by finger pointing to lay blame away from her own failings.

Since the Town of Brookhaven purchased the Mott house in 2002, there has been no serious effort to repair and renovate this important part of our community’s history. Unlike other historic structures in the town, such as the Davis house and Woodhull house, no capital funds for renovation and restoration have been dedicated in the town’s budget – either the present 2009 budget crafted by the Foley administration or the proposed 2010 budget by the present supervisor.

The main concern my opponent had for capital projects in those budgets was a new restroom for a dog park.

This is a tragedy for our community, a disaster that should never have happened. But make no mistake about this – this is a result of neglect and oversight by my opponent, which happened on her watch, because of her failings to make this a priority. Perhaps if this had been the Mott dog park, it would still be standing.

I commend that volunteerism on the part of community minded groups are stepping in to do the work Connie Kepert has failed to do.

Under Connie Kepert’s watch, our neighborhoods are collapsing one by one; foreclosures are skyrocketing; families are losing their homes and their homes and jobs

As I walk door to door hundreds of voters have shared with me their stories of Connie Kepert being unresponsive to their basic needs - whether it’s cleaning up or removing community blight, bringing jobs to the community or easing the tax burden on all of us. It’s clear, that the people of the fourth district are not better off today than they were 4 years ago.

As the Town Councilman for the Fourth District, the residents have my word that the buck stops here, with me, as President Harry Truman said. Too bad my opponent missed that history lesson in school – and prefers the blame game instead.