News from the Assembly: Tappan Zee Bridge and

Public officials and advocates for cycling and walking will hold a press conference to call upon state reviewers to carry out an in-depth study of whether the Tappan Zee Bridge can be transformed into a park for pedestrians and cyclists. The press conference will be held Friday, January 20 at 1 pm at the office of State Assemblyman Tom Abinati in Tarrytown

The review would be part of the environmental study underway by the US Department of Transportation and the state Department of Transportation involving construction of two new spans to replace the old bridge.

Speaking at the press conference will be Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, White Plains Common Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona, Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, and David Wilson, executive director of the Bike Walk Alliance of Westchester and Putnam.

According to a previous plan scrapped by the US DOT in 2011, the old span would be taken down after the first new bridge was erected. But federal and state officials have yet to say if that’s their plan for the new proposal.

Under the environmental review, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner is calling for engineers to consider preserving the old bridge as a park. Such preservation efforts have proved wildly popular at lower Manhattan’s High Line, and Poughkeepsie’s Walkway over The Hudson.

While its structure may no longer meet guidelines for the federal Interstate system, Feiner proposes that the engineering team consider its structural integrity for a park, and conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine the financial issues involved in demolition or preservation.

What: Press conference on Tappan Zee Bridge transformation to Tappan Bridge Park
Where: Office of Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, 303 Tarrytown Road, Suite 229, Tarrytown
When: Friday, Jan. 20, 1 p.m.Contact: David Wilson, 914-217-5600 davidmckaywilson@aol.com

Cuomo Signs Paulin's Open Records Legislation into Law

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has signed A72-B/S3255-B, a bill sponsored by New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale) to increase transparency and civic participation in the process of government. The new law requires that records be posted on government websites or otherwise made available prior to the meetings of public bodies. The bill was initially passed in the Assembly, and later in the Senate, where it was sponsored by Senator Stephen Saland (R-Poughkeepsie).

“I offer congratulations to Assemblywoman Paulin and Senator Saland regarding a bill that will improve the operation of government and the lives of thousands of New Yorkers,” remarked Bob Freeman, Executive Director of the Committee on Open Government. “The public will soon have the opportunity not only to listen to public discussions but also to review the records that are the subject of those discussions.”

As a result of the law, which amends the public officers law, members of the public will have access to documents before scheduled open meetings of public bodies, such as school boards, state agencies, and village, town, and city boards. If the public body maintains a website, the records will be placed online as soon as possible prior to the meetings. This measure of transparency will serve to increase the involvement of the public, as well as reduce the need for Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests, which can be costly for state agencies to process.

“It is an important law, because offering the public the opportunity to more effectively participate in the process helps elected bodies conduct fair evaluations,” stated Paulin. “I applaud Governor Cuomo for his commitment to accountability and open government, and I look forward to working together on future initiatives.”