As federal hearings began on the future of Indian Point, Assembly candidate David Buchwald called on Republican and Conservative incumbent Robert Castelli to clearly answer for the first time whether he would re-license the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant. Since becoming Assemblyman, Castelli has said that the plant should be closed if it is not safe—while at the same time claiming that it is "very safe." Governor Cuomo, environmental groups and local elected officials have made closing Indian Point a top priority.
"The people of Westchester County deserve straight answers, not double talk," said White Plains City Councilman David Buchwald. "Robert Castelli won’t tell the people of this district whether or not he thinks Indian Point should stay open for another 20 years. Castelli has been telling both sides what he thinks they want to hear, but it's time for him to level with us: Does he believe Indian Point should be re-licensed? My stance is clear—Indian Point would never have been built today. It presents an unacceptable risk to the New York metropolitan area and should not be re-licensed."
Castelli has made a habit of issuing seemingly unequivocal statements on an issue, while actually holding a position diametrically opposed to his rhetoric, Buchwald added.
"This is unfortunately part of a pattern. Castelli claims to be pro-choice and then votes to defund abortion even when a woman's health is at risk. He claims to support equal pay and then votes against the New York State Fair Pay Act. He claims he voted against Marriage Equality because it didn't offer enough protections to religious groups but, when pressed, admits he wouldn't have voted for it under any circumstances. We can't afford an Assemblyman who's constantly pulling the wool over our eyes."
David Buchwald is a White Plains City Councilman and the Democratic, Independence, and Working Families Party candidate in the 93rd Assembly District. The district covers the towns of Bedford, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, and Pound Ridge, as well as half of the City of White Plains.
