Henry Ford Would Hate Bedford

Not because of Bedford 2030’s outsized influence on local government that would make his gasoline-powered vehicles the scourge of the town - but because of this Town’s inability to follow his simple philosophy:

The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing

What better example is there of a failure to learn from past errors than the Town Board’s recent decision to repost the Bedford Promoter position - barely revised - after two years of zero measurable success by the Town’s first promoter.

Calling it a “new” job description is generous. It’s nearly identical to the 2022 version, with one notable change: the Promoter must now speak Spanish. Does anyone think the absence of foreign language skills was the reason the first promoter hired by the Town Board was an abject failure?

Even more concerning is that the job still centers on events, partnerships, and hype, instead of a data-driven process that focuses on quantifying and analyzing the causes of Bedford Hills’ struggling business district, developing measurable goals, and creating actionable strategies to achieve the vision. 

Bedford Hills doesn’t lack charm, creativity, or community spirit. What it lacks is businesses. And no amount of lawn signs or pop-up events can fill empty storefronts. What we need is targeted, on-the-ground engagement with the hamlet stakeholders:

• Why are commercial spaces sitting empty?

• Why are businesses passing on Bedford Hills?

• What barriers exist to opening or staying here?

• What incentives - or disincentives - are shaping those decisions?

Until we ask these questions and build solutions based on the answers, we’re just repeating the same mistakes and are bound to suffer the same result.

The Town Board members appear content (again) to hand off their responsibility for hamlet revitalization to a consultant, spend taxpayer dollars without implementing metrics for success, and simply hope for the best when it comes to Bedford Hills.

And with no challengers to these elected officials on the ballot this fall,  Bedford’s residents will pay the price for these unlearned lessons..