May 5, 2021

To the Community,

In case you are wondering why I am writing these letters, it is to allow you to get to know me, my positions and my motivations for running as a Trustee for the School Board a bit better. I’m trying to keep these “missives” as short as possible but if you feel they are long, one of my younger supporters told me I should include a “TLDR” at the bottom, so feel free to drop down if you wish.

Like many families that move to Bronxville, I moved to the village from New York City. My first stint here was in 1991, immediately after completing my MBA at the Stern Graduate School of Business at New York University. I distinctly remember the weekend trips I took running up and down the Metro North Train lines visiting the various towns but I kept coming back to Bronxville. I was captivated by its charm and quickly realized it was, and continues to be a special place. 

I met my wife Clare in London in 2005. We both worked on the same trading desk for a large German bank – me in New York and she in England. Fortunately for me, the Atlantic Ocean was no match for our connection as we fostered a long distance relationship. We were engaged in 2006 at Chanterelle (for those of you familiar with that old place, the menu cover was a Philip Taaffe abstract at the time I dropped the question). After we were married a year later, we revisited our decision on where to settle: the list was short, and Bronxville was the place we chose.

As a young couple with hopes of starting a family, the quality of the school was a major driving factor. We moved from my condo on Sagamore Road to a town house on Beverly. That year, we were grateful to have our first child Matteo and two years later Angelina. As the kids got older we wished to obtain a bit more space, so in 2015 we found a lovely house on Greenfield and moved in that summer.

Now that I have children in the school, I can see how well it is run and how important it is to maintain the quality education we all come to expect. I have been so impressed with our school, and my personal investment in this town that I feel compelled to give back with my time and expertise. I am running because I want to ensure that the school stays as great as it is. The school has focused on community, academics, and citizenship for years. The formula works as is evident by the “product” it has produced: the successes of the BXV high school graduates over the years.

I am not opposed to change as you may have read in my last letter. Change is important, as we don’t want to sit in one place but keep moving ahead. Change needs to be measured and well thought out. Like many parents and community members I am fearful that running headlong into the latest and greatest trends can easily set us on the “wrong path” in our mission as a community of parents to provide our children with the tools they need to succeed in the world and add value.

My 35 years of professional finance experience lends itself well to a Board seat – strong financial, negotiation and people skills. What many people don’t know about being a board member, whether on a school, not-for-profit or a corporate board, is that it’s all about tradeoffs and negotiation. I have no plans on “ruling” this board and pushing through ideas that many find unpopular or irrelevant to the role of the board in general. I do not want to be the CEO that rules by diktat, I wish to be the voice of reason that brings creative ideas as options to the school community.

Over my career, I have held a number of senior executive roles in various financial firms. These positions that I have held have taught me the skills needed to work alongside many different people with different agendas. The experience has taught me how to empathize with others no matter what their background. This has allowed me to be successful not only in the business world but in my civic duties.

When you go to the polls on May 18th, please take into consideration all that I have done. The polls will be open from 7:00 am – 9:00 pm in the Blue Gym at the Bronxville school. It is open to all residents of Bronxville, 18 years of age and older who are eligible to vote (you do not need to be registered to vote). Please enter through Meadow Avenue. Even if you don’t have children in the school, please come out and vote.

Now for the TLDR (Too Long, Didn’t Read):
1. New ideas and movements should never take the place of academic excellence.
2. The Bronxville school is a special place, and certain traditions and focus should remain.
3. Embracing new ideas and movements is necessary for progress, but not without some healthy skepticism, scrutiny, and due diligence.
4. So many opportunities for progress are right under our noses and we can tap into the resources of the other local institutions.
5. I love this town and its school . . . just like you.

Martin Palmeri

Editor's note:  MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements in letters to the editor, and the opinions do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff. Its objective in publishing letters to the editor is to give air to diverse thoughts and opinions of residents in the community.