The Non-Debate of 8/22

So Feiner didn't show up at the CGCA - glad I didn't head over there after all.   Feiner ducked the event, but that was certainly the astute move for him to make.   He is an incumbent with a colossal money advantage ($116,500 for Feiner v. $25,000 for Bernstein, as of mid-August) and he won more than comfortably the last time around (2007).  Feiner must be self-aware enough to know that his strength lies not in oratory but in person-to-person formats.  There was no strategic sense in his taking on an experienced trial attorney in a one-on-one format in a forum (CGCA) which Feiner must deem hostile.  Feiner simply had nothing to gain from this debate.   And give Feiner credit: he made a tactically sound choice by having the community cable station air - in place of his appearance at the debate - a prepared video where he could address the points he wanted to make.   I think conceptually, the video was a great idea as an alternative to a debate.  But, this is also where his campaign stumbled and looked sloppy.   How could campaign consultant Carla Caro release that cheap, amateurish video?   The Feiner campaign certainly has the financial resources to produce a professional video.  Instead, the video that appeared on Verizon 35 looked like it was filmed on someone's smart phone. Plus, Feiner  compounded the poor effect by not rehearsing well.  The Feiner team really fumbled the opportunity to create a smooth, professional looking presentation to show their candidate at his best.  But, does any of this make a difference?  Probably not too much: how many people will see the video anyway?

I only got to see a small part of Bernstein un-debate presentation, but I liked his reasoned, measured response to the town professional manager issue.
One point about Feiner's video:  Fortress Bible was all about traffic on Dobbs Ferry Road?  I've read the lengthy trial court decision and this certainly didn't come out strongly as the town's central objection: I remember reading about the town's contriving objections to parking spaces and drainage.  Who came up with this talking point and when?