You can lead a horse to water, but yet again, you can't make it drink. Mayor Swiderski received a very informative, passionate plea from a resident with regard to this issue. Once again, trustee Armacost and Quinlan understood the proposal, while yet again trustee Walker and Mayor Swiderski, forever making terrible decisions voted in favor. Trustee Walker continuing to live in a delusional fairy tale with regard to "tourism" in Hastings. Trustee Armacost, by far the brightest member of the board was yet again thwarted by the insular delusion and lack of backbone of Hastings Mayor Swiderski. View Comment

Glad to see Hastings' Friday Night Live finally attach a sponsor which isn't a convicted corporate felon. Congratulations and welcome to Green Mountain Energy! View Comment

Marek, 1. Unlike most well-to-do suburban communities, Hastings is not well staffed, it's undermanned. This is not about posting a police officer on every corner, it's about putting more officers on patrol throughout the village. A Mayor, whom in the face of this criminal activity defends the status quo, does nothing to discourage those desperate and criminally minded. 2. In order to add additional officers the situation must first be acknowledged and given priority. Focusing on the creation of new parks etal. ensures that these crime will continue. There is a difference between stirring fear and living in denial. Hastings is dealing not only with a rash of burglaries, we're talking home invasion robberies. Acknowledge the escalation, it's like moving from Hillside field to Yankee stadium. Would you applaud Swiderski for describing thiat scenario as, 'it's still just baseball?' The days of the occasional break-in are long gone, to describe the situation as such only contributes to this problem. 3. Your opinion appears in the Daily Hastings, concern for outside readers is befuddling. The Mayor's character and past performance is paramount in what faces the village. View Comment

This is not about a 'watch group' or "Shadows & Fog" vigilante groups, it's about putting more police officers on the street. By the by, the 'not jacking up fears' Mayor Swiderski, is the same guy who referred to Lyme disease as an epidemic and called for the Net & Bolt slaughter of deer as solution to the overpopulation issue, then set out to obtain the first permit issued in the history of New York state for this horrific slaughter. The 'not dealing from the bottom of the deck' Mayor, visited Irvington to sell this slaughter based on 38 hands raised in favor of a cull, none with knowledge of the means, calling Hastings 'earthy crunchy' and stating that Hastings is employing net & bolt, 'no matter what.' Today of course, after being called out and having his own email read back to him (obtained through FOIL), in which he describes his solution as "wiping out all the deer," Swiderski is now pursuing immuno contraception. This not only calls into question the character of the Mayor, it begs the question, what does Swiderski actually stand for or believe in. Your naivety truly astounds. Swiderski is concerned only with perception, especially his own. He fashions himself an orator, however, you can't transmit something you haven't got. This is a man who simply, acts as if. Q - If Lyme disease were such an epidemic in Hastings, why is there not one sign erected in Hillside woods warning residents? Perception and property values took precedent as they do again with regard to crime. Peter Swiderski is a thoroughbred bureaucrat, Hastings is starving for a dose of reality as a much needed antidote. The village needs more police, not more verbiage from it's Mayor. There is a calamity ahead in this country and world that will reorder all we know, yet Hastings chose this time (2010) to forecast the future with the creation of it's Comprehensive Plan document. This document will serve only to create confusion as it was drawn up in the entitled insulation that has enveloped Hastings and it's politics. The document is the height of ridiculousness and will go down as a colossal waste of time, energy and money. When it comes time again to select a Mayor, Hastings should think of seating one with a spine. It is something that may come in very, very, handy in the days ahead. View Comment