The politics of inclusion

Posted 8/21/12

[Best of 40 reprint from July 19, 2012]

At the Town of Highland’s first hearing on its Local Law 3 on May 4, a member of the committee working on its zoning, the Town of Highland Zoning Rewrite …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

The politics of inclusion

Posted

[Best of 40 reprint from July 19, 2012]

At the Town of Highland’s first hearing on its Local Law 3 on May 4, a member of the committee working on its zoning, the Town of Highland Zoning Rewrite Task Force Phase I, was heard bemoaning the fact that, at that point, it looked like the law would pass by “only” three to two. At the time, it struck us as an odd concern; after all, a law passed by three-two is no less valid than one passed five-zero.

But after viewing the unfolding of subsequent events in the town, culminating in a final vote by the town board to approve Local Law 3 by exactly that five-zero majority, we can’t help wondering whether she was on to something.

Both on the national level and locally, politics has consisted all too much in recent decades of each side whipping up its existing supporters to find out which group can scream louder, rather than cultivating conversation and agreement. The idea of listening respectfully, giving people as much of a chance to say what they have to say as they seem to need, being willing to horse trade, knowing where you can concede and where you have to stand firm—all these seem to be a lost art.

But not in the Town of Highland, NY, which, under the canny generalship of veteran supervisor Andy Boyar, worked to bring as many people as possible on board before bringing the matter to a vote.

The truth is that at that first public hearing, the proportion of public comments in support of the law was overwhelming, outnumbering opposing views by almost three to one. Proponents of the proposal could have declared themselves the winners then and there, and rammed the law through with that three-two vote shortly thereafter, amply supported by the impressive statistics.

But the results could have been hideously divisive: although the opponents of the law were in a minority, their concerns ran deep, ranging from a perceived assault on their basic freedoms to fears that the law had been engineered by sinister outsiders. There was even a flyer passed out clearly intended to open the ancient wounds of the National Park Service controversy of the ‘80s, when something close to open warfare broke out concerning the designation of the Upper Delaware as a nationally designated Scenic and Recreational River. One board member, Frederick Bosch, actually stood up and read a statement protesting the law. If the vote had been held back then, he would clearly have remained a vehement and bitter opponent.

But that’s not what happened. Instead, additional meetings, hearings and work sessions were scheduled. Language was deleted. Concessions were made.

The lengthening of the process was no doubt frustrating and exhausting for the zoning taskforce, town board, concerned citizens’ groups and townspeople alike. But the payoff started to become apparent at an informational hearing on July 3, when Councilman Scott Hallock, who previously, we’ve been told, seemed to be more or less sitting on the fence, gave a passionate defense of the law and its importance in protecting and preserving the land.

And the full payoff came on the night of July 10, when the vote was called—and even Councilman Bosch, he who had testified against the law at the first hearing, joined in the “ayes.” After the vote, we asked Boyar when it was that he had first realized that he would get unanimity. “Tonight,” he said.

Unanimity on the board, of course, still does not mean unanimity on the part of the town, and there are some people who simply couldn’t be gotten to concur. But by practicing the politics of inclusion, not division, Highland has minimized discord, not only protecting its land, air and water, but protecting the communal amity that is perhaps our towns’ most precious possession of all. It took patience, horse sense and listening power, but the Town of Highland shows that it can be done. Kudos to all concerned, with a special tip of the hat to Boyar, for reminding us that “politician” does not necessarily have to be a dirty word.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here