Mike Spano: We Democrats must unite, not go to war for progressive agenda | Opinion

Over the last five years, our country has suffered an identity crisis and it started with our political parties. As a Democrat, I take pride in the core beliefs of socio-economic equality and diversity and supporting our fellow hard-working families in their pursuit of the American Dream. But to what extent do we pursue these values for the common good, without pulling each other down in the process?

Democrats have long criticized the Republican Party for not only purporting damaging political rhetoric, but more importantly for fear-mongering and hateful speech — and rightfully so. Today, some Democrats are no better. Instead, we are eating our own, feeding ourselves to each other for political gain. We pull down, instead of lifting up.

The political theater staged this week by some local Westchester and Bronx progressives only exemplifies my point. I already have clarified my choice of words regarding a Congressman’s interest in repeatedly getting arrested for his political beliefs. But why doesn’t it stop there? To what extent do we tear ourselves apart in order to score political points? That’s the question I ask following a week of underhanded and personal political attacks.

Have we, as a society, lost the ability to communicate and voice points of view without fear of being a victim of public retribution, name-calling or demonization?

Playing divisive “gotcha” politics, rather than working as a united front for common goals won’t serve the public interest. We have a lofty and worthy agenda ahead of us and this is a crucial time to accomplish it.

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We already have done so much to bring Yonkers and our region together. I am proud to have led Yonkers the last 10 years, creating more opportunities and affordable housing for working families, economic development, improved public safety and providing record investments in our schools. Yonkers is one of the most diverse cities in the nation, and now one of the most successful in terms of diverse people working together for our collective goals.

But, my fellow Democrats, we are now taking a page out of the Trump playbook — we are playing “gotcha” to the extreme, and unless we snap out of it, it’s going to hurt us in November.

President Joe Biden has an essential agenda for this nation. Our Congressman was one of a handful of Democrats to vote against the president’s infrastructure bill. I was very disappointed. We need those dollars now to fix our local bridges, our schools and provide jobs.

I am sure the Congressman has good intentions. But his unwillingness to show flexibility with his Democratic Socialist agenda for a greater good ultimately hurts our city and the moderate political leanings of his district.

But let me be clear, we cannot stifle political debate by casting people as racists just because they don’t happen to share in any one person’s particular point of view. That’s just a way to hand this seat to the Republican Party in November.

I am so thankful to live in a country that is based on the fundamental right to agree to disagree — it’s too bad some have forgotten this founding principle. Politics is the art of compromise, and usually through compromise we generally find the common good and make sure all voices are heard. When we do that, the people win.

Mike Spano is mayor of Yonkers.