Crossing the Line?
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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All appeared to have gone well with the Citizen Nominating Committee election on Tuesday November 15th. Participation was good, absentee ballots were mailed – not hand delivered -- and there were no poll watchers on site. Everyone involved breathed a sigh of relief that voting abuses and partisan politics were a thing of the past – and the consensus was that faith had been restored in the Non-Partisan system.
However, a letter from Bill Doescher in the Scarsdale Inquirer revealed that all was not as it should be. According to Doescher whose wife Linda Blair ran for the CNC, two residents had used the email lists of their respective neighborhood associations to endorse selected candidates. In these emails they endorsed candidates without consulting the current leadership of their neighborhood associations. Ironically a sitting member of the Procedure Committee sent out one of the emails, despite the fact that as a Procedure Committee member he had a duty to recruit candidates and insure a fair election.
Possibly as a result of these emails the endorsed candidates, Anita Mann of the Overhill Neighborhood Association and Salvatore Rao of the Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association, beat the two Fox Meadow Neighborhood Association candidates, Linda Blair and Ted Tyberg. It is not clear what the Overhill and Old Scarsdale residents believed was at stake – or if their candidates have specific agendas.
Historically, the neighborhood associations have played an important role in the election by cooperating with the Procedure Committee to recruit candidates to run for the CNC and ensure that there are ample names on the ballot. I know from firsthand experience that the Greenacres Neighborhood Association has acted in a non-partisan fashion to support the system and to encourage widespread resident involvement in the process.
One could argue that there is no rule against campaigning via email, and no specific rule against neighborhood association candidate endorsements. But clearly endorsing candidates from one neighborhood over another and utilizing neighborhood association email lists to politic could serve to undermine the process. Down the line, it may prove to be even more difficult to get people to run for the CNC if they know that their own neighborhood association could swing the race.
This most recent transgression warrants discussion when the Procedure Committee and the League of Women Voters review the 2011 election.
Your comments?
What Are Your Children Planning To Do This Summer? Need Some Ideas?
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Representatives from 60 programs are expected to participate in the annual Summer Activities Fair at Scarsdale High School on Wednesday night November 30, 2011 from 7:30-9:30. This annual fair, now in it’s ninth year allows you and your kids to meet representatives from a wide variety of summer programs: including pre-college enrichment, sports, music, theater, travel, community service, language immersion, outdoor adventure, environmental studies, travel in U.S.A. and abroad, leadership and more...
Speak with students who have participated, see videos, pick up brochures and get lots of great information! Parents and students of all ages are welcome to attend. Bring your friends!
The event is held in the Scarsdale High School Cafeteria. Park at the back of the school and come in through the entrance on Brewster Road. Sponsored by the Scarsdale High School PTA, admission to the Summer Activities Fair is free.
CNC Election Results: Amendments Pass and Eleven New Nominators to Serve
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Village Hall was lively on November 15, 2011 when the Citizen’s Nominating Committee election was held. A total of 533 residents voted – in person or by absentee ballot -- slightly more than participated in the 2010 election. Eleven new nominators were selected and all seven of the proposed amendments to the Non-Partisan Resolution were passed. Under the new provisions, two members of the same household will no longer be permitted to serve on the CNC simultaneously and former Mayors and Trustees will need to wait 19 months before running for the CNC. These provisions were hotly debated but ultimately passed by healthy majorities by Village voters.
Below please find a thank you from David Brodsky who served as a Co-Chair of the Procedure Committee with Michelle Lichtenberg, as well as a review of the election results as announced by the Committee.
From David Brodsky: Thank you to the many volunteers who helped run this year's election to the Citizens Nominating Committee, and to the more than 530 residents who voted in person or by absentee ballot for candidates for the CNC and for seven amendments to the Non-Partisan Resolution. These amendments were aimed at making our form of government even more diverse and open to innovation. To those who could not vote, please know that, because of one of the adopted amendments, next year's voters will be able to vote by mail whether they are "absentee" traveling or unable to leave home, thus hopefully broadening voter participation.
Official Election Results:
The election of members to the Citizens Nominating Committee and approval of all of the nine proposed amendments to the Non-Partisan Resolution took place on Tuesday, November 15th 2011, as 533 residents, including 56 who voted by absentee ballot, participated in the election.
The electoral breakdown was as follows:
- Edgewood – 64 voted (including 2 absentee ballots) – Betsy Bush and Michael Duncanson were elected.
- Fox Meadow – 162 voted (including 5 absentee ballots) – Anita Mann and Salvatore Rao were elected.
- Greenacres – 106 voted (including 12 absentee ballots) – Mona Longman and Andrew Sereysky were elected to three-year terms and Glenn Fishman was elected to a successor term of two years.
- Heathcote – 134 voted (including 25 absentee ballots) – David Michaels and Emilia Rodriguez were elected.
- Quaker Ridge - 67 voted (including 12 absentee ballots) – Douglas Birns and Joseph Sarachek were elected.
The amendments to the Non-Partisan Resolution that were proposed by The Procedure Committee were overwhelmingly adopted, as follows:
Amendment 1: Add membership on the Citizens Nominating Committee (CNC) to the existing exclusions against simultaneous service on the Procedure Committee
405 Yes 62 No
Amendment 2: Clarify that CNC members elected to fill a one-year term may run immediately in the following election for a three-year term
417 Yes 42 No
Amendment 3: Allow the Procedure Committee to make recommendations to the CNC with respect to its Rules of Procedure
412 Yes 47 No
Amendment 4: Add mail-in ballots
422 Yes 51 No
Amendment 5: Add a household restriction on who can run for the CNC
363 Yes 91 No
Amendment 6: Add a former Trustee or Mayor restriction on who can run for the CNC
374 Yes 75 No
Amendment 7: Add to the voting procedures of the CNC
378 Yes 66 No
Get Involved in Your Village Government
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Letter to the Editor: We are the Chair and Vice Chair of the Scarsdale Procedure Committee, charged with administering the election this coming Tuesday, November 15, for election of members to the Citizens Nominating Committee and of amendments to the Non-Partisan Resolution that governs our Non-Partisan system of government, being proposed to facilitate participation on the CNC by more residents.
Recent comments by residents that they do not understand the Non-Partisan System and feel shut out by what is described as a group of insiders cause us to write now to urge residents to take two important immediate steps and several longer-term steps to become involved in the running of our Village:
First, read about the backgrounds of the candidates for the CNC and the substance of the amendments, by going online to www.scarsdaleprocedurecommittee.org.
Second, vote at Village Hall next Tuesday, or by mail-in absentee ballot before next Tuesday, for representatives of the Citizens Nominating Committee and on the amendments; the downloadable absentee ballot is also at The Procedure Committee website.
Then, even beyond next Tuesday’s election, there are abundant opportunities for Scarsdale residents to participate in and influence government in this Village:
• attend the biweekly Village Board meetings or watch them on cable,
• attend the frequent public debates sponsored by the Scarsdale Forum, such as the one held last month on the proposed amendments,
• ask questions or comment at the many public meetings held by the Mayor and Board of Trustees on every issue imaginable to the running of our Village, including budget issues,
• join one of the many Village committees, or
• apply to be a candidate for election to the School Board Nominating Committee or the Citizens Nominating Committee, School Board, or Village Trustee or Mayor.
Scarsdale is the essence of a participatory democracy and there is every opportunity to learn what the relevant issues are and to participate in the debate on those issues. Scarsdale has had a long history of effective volunteer participation in civic affairs. Today’s “insiders” are yesterday’s volunteers, who are joined year after year by new volunteers, who work hard on issues and committees and come back for more.
If you'd really like to help even sooner, please volunteer on November 15 to help administer the election.
Voter participation is lower than it should be. Last year, only 516 people voted, of which 138 of the votes were from absentee ballots. Please make every effort to vote this Tuesday in person, or by mail-in absentee ballot by close of business Monday, to make certain that we have greater voter participation and a more involved community going forward.
Michelle Lichtenberg and David M. Brodsky
Chair and Vice Chair, The Procedure Committee
Who's on Your Ballot for Election Day, Tuesday November 8th
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Tuesday November 8th is Election Day and local polls will be open from 6 am to 9 pm. Here is a review of whom you will find on the ballot in Scarsdale and Greenburgh. In Scarsdale, there are just a few contests:
Both candidates favor lowering county taxes, which now account for approximately 20% of your local tax bill.
Ryan’s positions are as follows:
- Press the state to takeover the local costs of Medicaid ($211 million) and eliminate other unfunded state mandates. The nine largest mandates account for 90 percent of County taxes.
- Look for ways to consolidate local government and realize efficiencies
- Capital improvement program to upgrade County roads and bridges, buildings and facilities, and other infrastructure.
- Create fair and affordable housing for working families
Choice Matters favor Ryan saying he “has been an active and vocal advocate for Choice since his early in the NYS Assembly.”
Pagan advocates:
- Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of County government to lower taxes and continue to provide services to residents
- Promoting transparency in government
- Cost effective management of County facilities like Playland
- Limiting the scope of County government and expanding it only when residents give a strong mandate to do so.
At a recent debate, Pagan came out “against the fair and affordable housing settlement” saying it threatens “to cost us millions of dollars.” According to Choice Matters, Pagan is rated pro-choice “but will not commit to supporting the Clinic Access Bill and claims to be a political novice.”
Also on the local ballot will be the names of three candidates for Justice of the State Supreme Court. This is the highest trial court in the state. Voters can vote for two of the following three candidates, Robert Di Bella (Dem/Rep), Paul Marx (Dem) and Edward Borrelli (Republican). Learn more about their backgrounds and positions on the League of Women Voters Website at: http://www2.thevoterguide.org/v/vote411/index.do?i=0
Last, Democrate Jeffrey L. Levin is running unopposed for Town Justice in Scarsdale. He is an attorney who attended New Rochelle High School. SUNY Buffalo and St. John’s Law School. There is no salary for this position and the term is four years.
In Greenburgh, Town Supervisor Paul Feiner is running unopposed for an 11th term. He has held the position since 1991. A constant presence
all over Greenburgh, Feiner has recently advocated putting power lines underground when major roadwork is done, turning the old Tappan Zee Bridge into a highline when the replacement bridge is built and mulching rather than collecting leaves. His proposed 2012 budget complies with the 2% tax cap. The salary for the supervisor job is $127,618 and has a term of two years.
Also on the Greenburgh ballot are the following races:
County Legislator: Mary-Jane Shimsky (Dem/WF) of Hastings is running for the 12th Districe that encompasses Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Ardsley and Greenburgh. Active in the Democratic Party, Shimsky was originally elected to the Legislature in a special election in February, 2011. She is being challenged for her seat by Conservative Party candidate John Russo of Hartsdale who is advocating a salary cut for County Legislators and managers.
Alfreda A. Williams is running unopposed in District 8 which includes Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, Elmsford and Greenburgh. Williams is running on the Democratic and Independence party lines.
Councilmember: A $28,332 position with a four-year term: Vote for two of the three candidates:
- Sonjam Brown – Dem
- Ken S. Jones – Dem/Ind
- Kevn Morgan Dem/WF/Ind
Town Clerk: a $73,686 per year position with a two-year term: Vote for one:
- Judith A. Beville (Dem/WF)
- Sherron Fantauzzi (Ind)
Town Justice: a four-year position with an annual salary of $56,626: Vote for three of the four candidates:
- Delores S. Brathwaite (Dem, WF, In, IND)
- Arlene Gordon-Oliver (Dem)
- Walter Rivera (Dem, WF, IN, IND)
- Bonnie L. Orden (WF, IN)
Receiver of Taxes:
Anne Povella is running unopposed for this $85,822 per year job that has a term of four years.
The League of Women voters has a website, www.Vote411.org where you can enter your address to view a list of the candidates that will appear on your ballot and your polling location, as well as additional information posted by the candidates. Check it out.
