Former Ossining Village Trustee Endorses Judge Mike Tawil

I am very aware of the topic of conversation about the Ossining Town Judge campaigns. But to really educate myself I reached out to people who have been impacted by Judge Tawil in the courtroom and his decisions. I wanted to know how other black men had been treated in his court.

Everyone I spoke with said he was fair. I talked to people I know who worked at the court and they also said he was fair, and that he works with people - whether it’s drug treatment instead of jail time or, asking people what they can afford for bail. Judge Tawil’s practice of this predates bail reform.

I stand with Judge Tawil, because of his reputation of fairness to people, and people of color in particular. If you judge a person by their worst moment, is that justice? You the public are the jury. You decide whether or not the censure was enough. You have to decide whether or not to excuse a nearly eight-year record of being a fair judge. I believe an abundance of compassion comes in the splintering moments of grace. I in good conscience cannot vote for the other candidate. I believe he moved to Ossining simply to be a judge. He knows the right people. I believe he joined the democratic committee and municipal boards to get name recognition. He joined the planning board, and pushed the Hudson Steppe development right on through. He didn’t pause to stipulate a better deal for the community, particularly in a census tract that is a majority working class, people of color neighborhood. He could have, he could have offered no density if the developer didn't provide the kind of housing that our community needs, he didn’t. It was documented that Hudson Steppe had expired permits numerous times and yet, he laid the framework for more luxury housing that the community neither needs nor wants, and which among other things, I think will decimate what is left of the Black Community.

When the balance of justice is weighed, I believe we will find that Gasbaro has caused a heavier burden, potentially for years to come. For this and all the reasons above, I and my family will be voting for Judge Michael Tawil.

Quantel Bazemore

Former Village of Ossining Trustee