A beloved school playground in Pelham, NY, named after Julianne Borsella - a brave young girl who was taken from us far too soon by cancer at the age of 8 - stands at the center of this matter. The playground, a symbol of hope, remembrance and joy for young children, is now under the threat of being taken away due to the intervention of our Mayor who has enacted eminent domain without our consent or approval. We, as the constituents, feel an imminent and grave violation of our democratic rights.

The power of eminent domain allows the government to purchase private property for public use, but only under strict conditions. Not only is this action an abuse of power by our Mayor, it completely undermines democracy and the personal and emotional values we, the people of Pelham, attach to Julianne Borsella's playground.

We are not alone in our fight. Across the United States, misuse of eminent domain has been a point of contention. The Castle Coalition records hundreds of cases where eminent domain was used or threatened for private gain rather than public use. Our case echoes these instances of misuse, it’s a tragic testament to the overreach of governmental power infringing upon private rights.

This is not only about the loss of a playground but about standing up against an affront to our democratic principles and our rights as citizens. Let us protect the memory of Julianne Borsella with the respect it deserves and call for complete opposition against the current Mayor of Pelham. We call upon residents of Pelham, Pelham Manor and supporters nationwide to sign this petition and join our efforts to protect Julianne’s playground, uphold our democratic values and remind our public officials that they serve at our behest, not the other way around. Please, sign this petition today.