Letter: Forget Coffee; How About Answers from Kevin?

Dundalk Patch received the following letter from long-time Dundalk resident Ron Schaeffer:

"Questions for Kevin"

It has recently been noted in the press that County Executive Kevin Kamenetz has been engaging in "coffee meetings" with community leaders (a/k/a "Coffee with Kevin").

In light of County Executive Kamenetz's heavy-handed dealing with the Dundalk community in his effort to sell the North Point Government Center and the 28 acres of quality parkland on which the center is located, I would prefer to take a pass on the coffee and instead have Mr. Kamenetz answer the following “Questions for Kevin:”

1. Whose brainstorm was it to place the North Point Government Center property on the market? Was it bureaucrat; a politician or a developer seeking to line his pockets? Was any consideration given to the countless quality programs and (more importantly) quality people your proposal would impact?

2. If you felt you had a great idea for our community why didn’t you show the political courage to present your plan to our community – as opposed to your blindsiding our citizens with it?

3. As the closing of Eastwood School was a critical piece of your proposal wouldn’t it have made more sense to permit the Board of Education to vote for the closure of Eastwood BEFORE you advertised your proposal?

4. When did you advise our local elected officials of your plan? Did you give any consideration to their views or did you also try to bully them?

5. What gives you the right to place 28 acres of prime public land on the market without communicating with the community PRIOR to moving forward with your proposal? The land in question is not yours. It belongs to all of us, our children and our grandchildren. There’s one indisputable fact about land – "They ain’t making it anymore." There simply is no quality comparable land (in our community) that could replace the North Point Government Center land. Some things are priceless!

It is this writer’s opinion that Mr. Kamenetz's actions to date represent a great disservice to our citizens who deserve much better. Hopefully County Executive Kamenetz (or other elected officials) will have the political courage to right this wrong.

Ronald R. Schaeffer
Delvale Place
Dundalk