The Bedford No-Moter

The Bedford Promoter - like too many Bedford Hills businesses during her tenure - has officially left town. Her departure marks yet another misstep by the Town Board, leaving residents with fewer answers, a lighter budget, and no meaningful progress on the revitalization of downtown Bedford Hills.

Whether she resigned or was dismissed is unclear - a symptom of the Town Board’s notable lack of transparency. What is clear is that over $100,000 in taxpayer funds were spent on a position that delivered few measurable results. And now, we’re right back where we started: no plan, no leadership, and no clear direction forward.

As disappointing as this outcome is, it was predictable: 

• July 26, 2022: the Town Board was asked why it sought to outsource business and community development instead of leading the effort themselves - something each of the members campaigned on.

• September 1, 2022: residents warned that hiring a consultant without first identifying and quantifying the actual problem and deliverables for that role was a recipe for failure.

• September 24, 2023: the Promoter’s first major update revealed just how off-track her strategy was - focusing on surface-level optics while ignoring the real needs of local businesses.
  

• January 1, 2025: despite no tangible results (and no baseline metrics by which to measure them), the Town Board again extended her contract - and gave her a raise.

Now, the role is vacant, the budget drained, and the Town Board is silent.

Rather than continuing to fund feel-good initiatives with minimal impact, I urge the Board to revisit a practical solution that was  proposed in 2022: a Business Navigator Program. Developed through direct conversations with Bedford’s small business owners, this initiative would provide hands-on support to help brick-and-mortar businesses open and thrive. It would address the core challenges of running a business in Bedford: excessive fees, burdensome red tape, and permitting costs that are 25% higher than in neighboring towns - largely due to overly restrictive environmental policies that are unique to Bedford.

Bedford didn’t need a promoter. It needed leadership. It still does.

Let’s get this right.