Sea Cliff's Village officials are concerned about the spread of urbanization to our small and beautiful village. Attempting to preserve our quaint New England type village with beautiful views of sunsets from parks and beaches life is a major effort. Our small "old fashioned village" has the feel of a place that has somehow escaped the touch of time. Village residents have moved here for these very reasons. Maintaining Sea Cliff's way of life, quiet streets and old Victorian homes is worth the effort. And this is what the mayor and trustees are attempting to preserve. Unfortunately they have failed to communicate this to many of their constituents. They are perceived as arrogant, unresponsive and combative (and rightfully so). The mayor and the members of the board of trustees have managed to alienate the press; as a result the press has not been exactly in their corner. Napoleon once stated: "A hostile newspaper is much more to be feared than a thousand bayonets." Napoleon was correct, because words are powerful weapons, convincing us what to do or not to do. But whatever we read, see, or hear we must question. How much is information, or misinformation? The remedy for misinformation is knowledge. We must educate ourselves to "read between the lines." The reader of the local papers must be able to cut through superficial to identify the substantive. Mayor Moyne's actions to stop the ferry to Foxwood with village funds were those of a public official who had not taken into consideration the wishes of her constituents. There was no survey of the residents of the village to ascertain their opinions on this issue. While her motivation was to preserve the village, her method is what I disagree with. As a private citizen she has every right to litigate the ferry to Foxwood, and form an alliance with all the former mayors and other like thinking citizens to do so, but not to use her capacity as a public official. I have written several articles referring to the "Cliff Dwellers," those residents living near the water, many of which have been very much involved in the issue concerning the ferry to Foxwood. But it should be noted that these people have joined with others in our village to support very noble causes. They lend a helping hand to the less fortunate in our village, anonymously delivering boxes of food in the middle of the night at the doorsteps of the needy or serving food and delivering meals to the elderly to keep them nourished and fed. I bring this to light because there is much good and beauty in our village and our government officials are good people governing good people. Today it takes courage to make the hard and unpopular decisions necessary for the survival of our community. We have to make compromises every day, but these should be compromises of issues, not principles. Be aware that even in our little village, politics is beginning to be invaded by power seeking individuals, hoping to fulfill their own aspirations and agendas. These opportunists will take advantage of any minor conflict, shining a spotlight on any small issue or misunderstanding, hoping to develop it into a major one. Blowing all the facts out of proportion, seeking to keep all and any conflict alive. In this whirling centrifuge of criticism and controversy, authority is dissipated; village officials are undermined and demoralized. Their capacity to govern is weakened. Those of us who seek to protect our village must be awakened by these recent events. For there are those among us who seek to divide us, and set us upon one another for the sheer sake of political gain. Make no mistake - this is a focused effort not by those who seek to improve our village but by those who seek only power for the sake of power. Yes, it is true that the current village administration has acted foolishly and with much arrogance and has even been combative at times. But I believe that they have always placed the interest of Sea Cliff first. The most disturbing problem and perhaps the serious and damaging one, is their lack of trust in their constituents. T

Dr. P. J. Gorski