The Executive Committee of the Irondequoit Democrat Party has received many calls regarding a recent piece run on Cable access Channel 15, produced by twice defeated Supervisory candidate Robert Ament.
Mr Ament, without the support of our local party, ran as a Democrat during this past Town wide primary. Similar to his 2009 candidacy he was resoundingly defeated. Mr Ament’s piece on Channel 15 replays a two-year-old town board meeting event where in discussion centered around a potential decision to reduce summer programs throughout the community based on budgetary considerations or constraints.
Further into the piece he rehashes the insidious notion that incumbent Stephanie Aldersley, who along with John Perticone are our current Town Board Candidates, maneuvered in some underhanded way to get a road paved for her personal benefit.
While Mr Ament's illusionary tale is patently untrue, similar to his self promoting tales that he obtained “Big Box” backing for the Pinegrove renovation, the library, or that the YMCA desired to work with him to erect a facility in Irondequoit, the most heinous and egregious last thirty minute portion of his production equates the heralded body of work our own Joe Morelle, over so many years, and Supervisor Mary Joyce D’Aurizio’s town leadership to that of Fidel Castro, Putin, Kruschev, etc.
As Party Chairwoman I feel it is my responsibility and my clear duty to speak on behalf of my party, my friends, my Irondequoit community, and the community of my ethnic heritage.
Let there be absolutely no mistake that Irondequoit Democrats did not, do not now, and will never support or be affiliated with a person such as Robert Ament who engages in personal character assassination and community degradation for their own political gain.
For years Joe Morelle has been a singular beacon of inspiration in an abyss of apathy and indifference toward Irondequoit from the outside world, first on a local and then on a state level. He is not just any Joe, he is our Joe!! We have said that so many times in so many ways, but it is so true. Given his enthusiasm, integrity, and dedication he has never failed to reward our confidence in him.
Regarding Supervisor D’Aurizio, I respect her for the office that she holds. I respect that she has a passion for our community that may be equal to my own. While I may disagree with methodologies she employs to perform her duties, I respect and recognize that we mutually share goals of growth and prosperity for all in Irondequoit.
I can say that the Supervisor has never treated me with anything less than respect and courtesy even when she was fully aware that we may have divergent stances on any given issue.
I believe depicting Assemblyman Morelle or Supervisor D’Aurizio, such as Mr Ament has done, is, in many ways, an aggravated personal character assassination and a display of hatred destructive to our Town currently and into the future.
Let it also be known that the Democrat Party of Irondequoit and I vigorously support freedom of speech. I believe our forefathers were correct that freedom of speech inspires debate, a sharing of ideas, and in the end, a positive majority decision.
Yet, I also feel that one person’s speech should not destroy our community, demean our children, or liken our leaders to despotic tyrannical dictators. Let Mr Ament, or anyone else have their say, but please join with me in loudly speaking our collective minds to drown out and eliminate once and for all these sort of self serving lies, unsubstantiated distortions,and heinous personal attacks.
Lastly, I am an American woman who is extremely proud of her Ukrainian heritage. I vividly remember, as a young girl, listening to adults speaking about leaving Ukraine in the dark of night to escape persecution at the hands of despotic leaders, the type that Mr Ament refers to in his piece as our type of leaders.
My own family members were imprisoned, tortured and sent to Siberia. Other Ukrainians were beaten, and in some cases murdered for their religious or personal beliefs, educational status, or for no reason other than they were Ukrainian.
I am so very proud to be of a culture of people who came to America to escape those atrocities with absolutely nothing, who asked for nothing, embraced America, worked hard to provide for their families and help create a rich and vibrant community like Irondequoit expecting nothing in return but freedom, peace, and a safe future for their children.
To be reminded again of the atrocities left behind and to have a small minded person equate what this great group of people helped build to be now degenerating into something they totally feared and abhorred wrenches me in a way I could never begin to describe. Mr Ament's presentation is categorically untrue.
I see this aired ICAT piece not as freedom of speech but dispensation of fear, hatred, and prejudice. It is not a promotion of Democratic values or justice, it is not an expose, it is certainly not the opening salvo of any relevent debate or positive idea sharing.
It is certainly not the work of someone who has the mindset or capacity to lead or inspire the great people of Irondequoit to a prosperous future.
The Irondequoit Democrat Party and, I hope, our Irondequoit Community, will never support nor succumb to the type of sentiment shared in this ICAT piece nor the person who produced it.
Irena Skrobach
Chairwman
Irondequoit Democrat Committee
