Politics & Government

Paderewski Writes Apology for Campaign Sign Dispute

New Castle Town Administrator and Democratic supervisor candidate Penny Paderewski has apologized after objecting to the display by Healthy Choice Compounding Pharmacy of a Team New Castle sign, according to a letter published by New Castle NOW.

"It was a bad day.  I was annoyed, and I told the pharmacist or clerk (there were two employees there) that I would tell my friends not to shop there and walked out.  I was wrong.  Absolutely wrong, and I apologize for it." 

Paderewski's letter, the local news website stated, was in response to a letter to the editor from Healthy Choice manager Phil Altman. The Chappaqua pharmacy official wrote to the site that on Oct. 2 he had a sign supporting Rob Greenstein, Team New Castle's supervisor candidate, when he was approached by Paderewski in front of two employees. Altman added that she replied she did not like the sign, felt it should be removed.

Altman wrote, "She was upset and said that I should take it down or she would not patronize my store and would tell all of her friends not to patronize it as well.  I told her that since I’d never seen her before she clearly was already not supporting my store—and so I wasn’t losing anything."

Altman also wrote that he did not know it was Paderewski at the time. In the letter, he stated that he supports Greenstein because of his work in the Chamber of Commerce. Greenstein is also a co-founder of the chamber and has been involved with its events.

Paderewski referred Patch to her published letter when asked for comment.

"The fact that our town administrator threatened a merchant for displaying a sign about community meetings is very troubling, to say the least." Greenstein told Patch. "Our merchants need the support of our town officials – they do not threats of boycotts."


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