Scarsdale: Meet Your New Legislative Representatives Who Know Nothing About You
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Last week Governor Cuomo signed a bill locking in new state assembly and state senate districts for the next 10 years -- for the most part protecting the status quo of power sharing in Albany (Democrats control the assembly and the GOP controls the senate). And barring some seismic shifts in demographics or wildly stupid political/governmental moves by one party or the other -- that power sharing motif will extend to 2020-something when “real redistricting” will allegedly take place pursuant to a New York State constitutional amendment (yawn...). The editorial page of The New York Times has already lambasted Governor Cuomo for not vetoing these lines.
So Scarsdale....meet your new state Senator -- Andrea Stewart-Cousins. In January 2013 -- Scarsdale will be in the 35th senate district and
its state senator is likely to be Stewart-Cousins (assuming she wins re-election in November). The lines for the 37th Senate district that once included Scarsdale -- held by retiring Senator Suzi Oppenheimer -- will now veer east and north of Scarsdale with a jog into part of New Rochelle where Bob Cohen now resides (how clairvoyant of Bob!). The new 37th will include Mamaroneck, Harrison and Rye as well as GOP strongholds of East Yonkers, Eastchester and Tuckahoe and Bedford. This zigzagging of senate districts in Westchester was designed in part to enhance the electoral prospects of Republican Bob Cohen, who came within a hairs breadth of defeating Senator Oppenheimer two years ago. The state senate redistricting was controlled by the GOP -- which has a 2-seat majority and will seek to expand that margin this year by jerry-rigging the districts.
Former Scarsdale resident Bob Cohen will now face George Latimer, a Democratic Assemblyman from Rye who announced his candidacy on March 19th. In addition to his service in the assembly, Latimer was the Chairman of the Westchester Board of County Legislators from 1998-2001.
Commenting on the new district lines in an email Latimer said, “We accepted 10 years of partisan gerrymandering - Ossining attached to Rockland County…slicing and dicing of New Rochelle, White Plains and Yonkers - for a promise that in 10 years, things will be better. If you believed that all the people who reneged on the "Ed Koch" NY Uprising Pledge were going to honor their commitment, then you might believe that in 10 years, these commitments will be honored. We should have voted NO on these lines. The Governor should have vetoed them, and let a court re-draw them impartially.”
In addition -- the re-alignment of senate districts also helps those Democrats comprising the rump, Independent Democratic Caucus -- including Senator Jeff Klein, whose district will be more blue -- and amusingly, Freshman Rockland State Senator David Carlucci -- whose new district now zips across the Hudson River and grabs Democratic-leaning Ossining from Westchester.
Redistricting for the State Assembly was controlled by the Democrats -- so Scarsdale will continue to be represented by Amy Paulin (who may be poised to run against County Executive Rob Astorino in 2013). Asked for a comment on redistricting, Paulin said, "I agree with the League of Women Voters that the process was flawed, but I am pleased with the result - that there will be an independent commission determining and establishing district lines in the future," stated Assemblywoman Amy R. Paulin. "Overall, we have a successful result for New York State."
Perhaps the biggest change for Scarsdale and much of southern Westchester -- will be the congressional representation. On Monday a federal magistrate locked in the newly mandated congressional district lines. These lines are final, subject to review by the US Justice Department.
Scarsdale ..... meet your new Congressman: Eliot Engel from the Bronx. Engel’s new district now sweeps up into the heart of southern and part of central Westchester. Longtime Westchester Congresswoman Nita Lowey loses southern Westchester (as well as the chance to hand off the seat to heir-apparent New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson). Lowey’s district will now encompass a chunk of northern Westchester and all of Rockland County. At 74 years old, the hearty Ms. Lowey will now have to introduce herself to a couple of hundred thousand strangers on the other side of the Hudson River.
Columnist David A. Singer is a former political consultant/campaign professional and political junkie currently toiling as a lawyer in Westchester and managing real estate and media investment.
Trustees Approve Village-Wide Reval
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Residents came out to voice their concerns about a number of issues at the Scarsdale Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday night March 19th. On the agenda for the meeting was a bond resolution to finance the first town-wide revaluation in 44 years as well as a resolution to retain Tyler Technologies to conduct the reval. Reading the resolution to retain the reval firm, outgoing Village Trustee Richard Toder highlighted the need for the reval, saying, “Property taxes are the primary source of funding for the County government, local government government (etc) In order for taxes to be supported by the public, citizens must believe that the tax system is uniform in application and equitable in incidence.”. There is a lack of public confidence in the system and an extraordinary number of annual tax appeals.”
The Board approved both the issuance of the bond and the resolution to hire the firm. It will take approximately two years and be effective with June 2015 tax bills.
Robert Berg, who served as Chairman of the Assessment Revaluation Committee of the Scarsdale Forum commended the board for moving forward with the town-wide revaluation and offered the committee’s assistance. Doug Ulene also spoke in support of the revaluation, saying it is an issue of “fairness and unfairness, right and wrong,” that “two generations of Village mayors and Trustees have failed to address…creating winners and losers who pay more than their fair share.” He thanked former Mayor Carolyn Stevens for her courage and leadership on this issue, and credited her with “making it a reality.”
Henry Landau of Chesterfield Road was the sole objector. He said, “Fairness is something that is poorly defined,” and commented that the Village “seems to be attacked by people filing grievances.” He suggested that Scarsdale “look at this as a business,” and “hire young lawyers and students to help us marshall our defenses,” rather than spend $1 million on the reval. He ended by telling the Board, “Don’t plunge into this all at once.”
In other business, Lewis Arlt and Carolyn Stevens attended the meeting on behalf of the Scarsdale Chamber of Commerce to announce three upcoming events and ask for the support of the Village.
The Westchester Fine Art Festival will return to Scarsdale on May 19-20. As the Merchant’s Lot will not be available, the Chamber hopes to use Chase Road between Christie Place and Spencer Place, some of Woodland Place and a portion of Chase Park to accommodate 75 juried artists from around the country. The street in front of the Post Office would need to be closed for the event.
The second event is a tasting from 25-30 restaurants and caterers, called the Taste of Scarsdale. The plan is to hold the tasting in Boniface Circle on a Sunday afternoon. The event will expose residents to fare from Scarsdale’s chefs and support local businesses.
Last, the Health Fair will be back this year on Saturday June 16th at Village Hall. The event features local healthcare providers, therapists, doctors, and caregivers. For further information on these events or to get information on participating, email the Scarsdale Chamber of Commerce at: mail@scarsdalechamber.org.
Also on the agenda:
A bond resolution for $5,800,000 was approved for improvements to the Village water supply and distribution system including upgrading and rehabilitation of the Reeves Newsome Pump Station.
Another resolution for $1,460,000 in bonds was approved to fund the revaluation purchase equipment
A resolution for a revocable license to use the Village right of way at 39 Olmstead Road was granted to James Lin to install an overflow pipe that will connect to the Village catch basin. The license permits the installation and maintenance of a 4-inch overflow drainpipe in the village right of way.
The Trustees also approved a resolution to modify the deed for the Boulder Brook Property. The current owners, 291 Mamaroneck Realty wished to make improvements to the riding stable and facilities but were unable to get financing due to the “reverter price” stated in the deed. To end litigation between Mamaroneck Realty and the Village, a settlement was negotiated. Mamaroneck Realty will pay the Village $75,00. The Village will have the right of first refusal if the property is put up for sale or ceases to be used as an equestrian period, Mamaroneck Realty will spend $750,000 on improvement and the property will continued to be used as a riding facility.
Mayor Miriam Flisser made the following statement at the meeting:
Residents who follow the activities of the Village Board are aware that there are many complex issues being undertaken at this time. The Budget for fiscal year 2012-13 is very near completion, and the Board has undertaken to balance residents' commitments to
Issues such as Storm water and Sewer water infrastructure maintenance, Roadway maintenance, and modernization of the maintenance of our archaic Property Tax data, which you will see tonight. On March 27, we will finalize the South Fox Meadow Drainage project.
All of these issues have had resident input in the past months, and have been balanced against a State budget initiative to keep the tax levy at a fixed rate above the current amount for villages. The VB has held public hearings on this matter and the results will be published on our website soon.
In addition, the Board is involved in an initiative presented by petition of 200 residents, involving policy and procedure in the Village Building and Engineering Departments. The next meeting concerning this topic will be on March 19 at 6:55 PM.
Another issue receiving our attention is Historic Preservation. The VB has received the Reconnaisance Level Cultural Resource Survey Report of our consultants, LI Saltzman, Architects, on Feb 22, 2012. The report, which is approximately 300 pages, is posted on Scarsdale.com for all residents to read; and a public presentation is expected on Monday April 16 at 6:30 PM. The report takes note that Scarsdale has recently felt the loss of Architectural treasures, notably at Duck Pond, and at Richeleau Road, and we are all aware of the Villages lacking the legislative tools needed to preserve 15 Gatehouse Road.
Following the Reconnaisance level report, the Village will go through Cultural Resource Surveys Phase 1&2, considering establishing historic districts; and producing NY State Historic Preservation Resource Inventories for Landmark properties. The Village will need to review the draft new Historic Preservation Law (Chapter 182) concerning establishing landmarks, owner consent, and training of members serving on the Village's Committee on Historic Preservation, for methods of implementation of the law.
Village Board Plans Big Improvements for Scarsdale in 2012-13
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Village Managers and Trustees held a public briefing session to review capital projects included in the 2012-13 budget on March 1. On February 28, the Trustees voted to override the tax cap to allow funding for needed projects such as flood remediation, sewer line and road repair and the renovation of Village buildings.
The proposed 2012-13 budget includes $10.2 million dollars for capital projects, up significantly from $7.4 million in the 2011-12 budget. This figure represents 21% of the entire Village budget of $48.9 million.
Many of the projects slated for 2012-13 were planned in response to feedback from residents who called for relief from flooding and backed up sewage lines and road repair. Here are some highlights of what's in store for Scarsdale next year:
Flooding and Sewers:
Work will be underway in April on the Fox Meadow storm water detention project, funded in the 2011-12 Village budget. Bids are now being evaluated and the Village reports that nine of the ten bids came in under the engineer’s estimate. George Field will become one of the largest wetlands areas in Westchester County and will be able to hold seven acres of water at a depth of one to three feet. A rain garden of native plants is planned for Cooper Green. Following a storm, the water will collect at George Field and be released in a controlled fashion from the dry pond, continuing down Cambridge Road to Cooper Green, then flowing down Fox Meadow Road to Harcourt Woods. This ambitious project is scheduled to be completed in the summer.
$365,000 has been allocated for additional storm drainage projects to clean pipes and televise the water flow, clean catch basins, line the pipes and maintain the watercourse.
At Winston Field, near Boulder Brook, work will be done to improve drainage so that the field can get more use.
The County announced $2,500,000 in funding for improvements along the Hutchinson River to allow the river to be widened and de-silted to alleviate flooding.
For Edgewood, there are funds allocated to fix sanitary sewer overflows
For Heathcote, there is $2.3 million for improvements of the drainage of the Sheldrake River Basin to alleviate flooding of Heathcote homes near Fenway Golf Course. Designs for the plan are now in process and the Village will also apply to FEMA for project funding.
Road Resurfacing:
After much discussion, $762,000 has been allocated to road resurfacing to fix about 2 miles of the Village’s 39 miles of roads. This level of funding is consistent with spending in the past few years and if additional funds become available, they will be added to the budget for roadwork.
Recreation:
The Davis Field park playground will be renovated.
The tennis courts at Scarsdale High School will be resurfaced.
The Village is hoping to get funding from the County to renovate the bathrooms at Crossway Field and install a turf field at Boulder Brook.
Parks:
There are preliminary plans for enhancements at Chase Park in Scarsdale Village including turf maintenance, new plantings and additional seating.
Reval:
$1,000,000 will be borrowed to fund the Village-wide tax revaluation. The last reval was done 44 years ago.
Fire Station Renovation:
Fire station #1, adjacent to Village Hall is in serious disrepair. Temporary jacks are holding up the building. The station will be renovated and the ceiling will be raised to accommodate the ladder truck. In addition, $193,000 will be spent to renovate the building at the recyclying center which will be used for training.
Freightway Garage:
The garage is over 30 years old and $30,000 will be spent to alleviate flooding in the elevator shaft and on other repairs.
Library:
There will be renovations to the plaza, teen area, new carpet in children’s room in addition to extensive roof work
Popham Road Bridge:
The widening of the Popham Road bridge to five lanes is expected to be completed at the end of 2012. The project is now delayed by 13 months and due to this delay additional costs have been incurred. The project is funded by federal and state grants and stimulus funds.
The next budget meeting is scheduled for March 13 at 6:55 at Village Hall. The tentative 2012-13 Scarsdale Village budget will be presented to the Village Trustees and residents are welcome to attend.
Reynolds Should Have Participated in the Candidates' Forum
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The following letter concerning the March 8th League of Women Voters Candidates' Forum and Harry Reynolds was contributed by Robert Selvaggio: Many Scarsdale citizens share Harry Reynolds' objections to both the shroud of secrecy that covers the CNC selection process, and the Citizen's Party stance that candidates' positions on important issues should not be a criterion for selecting a mayor and trustees. However, it is very likely that the Citizen's Party will continue to hold fast to these, as secrecy and non-disclosure have served and continue to serve its members well.
Harry's calls for openness and for informing the electorate where candidates stand on issues and policies that determine our quality of life in Scarsdale resonate among a population that prides itself on being educated, intelligent, informed, and discerning in the choices it makes. His candidacy and the excitement it has generated to this point (as evidenced by the fact that he filled his ballot petition in one day with much room to spare for challenged signatures) will pave the way for new groups of Scarsdale citizens who will challenge the Citizen's Party by conducting all of their business in the sunshine and by discussing openly policy preferences with the electorate so that intelligent choices can be made.
This being said, I question the wisdom of Harry's not participating in the LWV event. First, many voters do not know him, and even those who have read Harry's eloquent op-eds and letters to Scarsdale10583 and the Scarsdale Inquirer over the years would find themselves impressed by his personal charisma and quick mind. Harry would have won many votes at that event. Second, how can we effect change if we do not confront our political opponents openly? It appears to me that the LWV offered up a perfect forum to contrast an ideology of openness, full disclosure, and voting based on full information against one that is closed, rigid and secretive. I personally know that Harry truly does care about democracy and about our citizens being able to tell their kids and grandkids that they vote for whom they personally determine is the best candidate based on full information, but unless Harry can visit every household as he has mine, how will the rest of Scarsdale know that?
Harry, time to get (at least) to the Scarsdale and Hartsdale train stations to let the folks meet you in person and know who you are and what you stand for.
LWV of Scarsdale to Host Candidate Forum March 8th
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Scarsdale residents will have the chance to learn more about the candidates for Village Trustee at the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum. The Forum will be held on Thursday, March 8th at 7:30pm in the Scott Room at the Scarsdale Public Library. After the candidates for Scarsdale Village Trustee speak there will be a question and answer period.
The League has invited the three candidate nominated by The Scarsdale Citizen’s Nominating Committee, as well as independent candidate Harry Reynolds to participate in the panel. In late January, the CNC announced that they had nominated Trustees Kay (Katherine) Eisenman and Jon Mark for second two-year terms, and David Lee to serve a first two-year term.
Since that time, Harry Reynolds has submitted his petition to run as an independent candidate.
Here is some background on the four candidates
Kay Eisenman has lived in Scarsdale for over 42 years and raised three children here. She works as a planner in the Planning Department of Westchester County giving her a broad understanding of land use issues. She served as the Chair of the Scarsdale Conservation Advisory Council for many years where she spearheaded efforts to get people to recycle and is now behind a new effort to get people to mulch leaves where they fall, rather than blow them to the curb for pick-up. In her statement to the Nominating Committee, Eisenman said, “As in most municipalities, here in Scarsdale we are constantly called upon to deal with these types of issues, and in the last two years alone have grappled with the possibility of a new community center under the pool house, development in the Heathcote Five Corners area, the possibility of a roundabout and the important issue of property re-evaluation for the entire Village. We oversaw the Popham Bridge reconstruction and a new pump station on Ardsley Road as well as the completion of the new police and fire safety building on Fenimore Road. I think that having started work on all these projects, and with more to come, I would like the opportunity to see them through to completion in the next couple of years.” Looking ahead, she anticipates continuing to work on storm water management issues to relieve flooding as well as the upcoming Village budget.
Jon Mark, also nominated to serve a second term grew up in Scarsdale in a family with a tradition of public service.
His father served on the Town and Village Committee and his mother was an elementary school teacher at Heathcote, Greeenacres and Edgewood for over 20 years. He returned here with his wife B.K. Munghia to raise their two children and works in corporate law as a partner at Cahill, Gordon and Reindell.
As Chairman of the Land Use Committee during his first term as Trustee, Mark managed a very difficult negotiation with residents and the property owner at 2-4 Weaver Street concerning the sale of a strip of Village land at the site. Listening to both the residents and the developer he was able to draft a term sheet for the sale of the land that addressed concerns about potential development on the property while permitting the developer to move forward.
Mark said, “I am honored and delighted to be re-nominated as a candidate for election as a Village Trustee. Among the issues that came before the Board during the last year and nine months, issues involving budget, land use, storm water management and re-valuation were among those that presented the greatest challenges. These sorts of issues will continue to present themselves in the years ahead. Of course, analysis of budget issues has been made even more complex by virtue of the State property tax cap legislation, the absence of mandate relief in that legislation and the continuing decline of Village property values due to general economic conditions. If elected, I look forward to having the opportunity to address these issues, and other issues that come before the Board, together with the Mayor and fellow Board members.”
First-time nominee David Lee is also a Scarsdale native. He and his wife grew up here and later returned to raise their own family in town. Like Trustees Brodsky and Mark, Lee is a lawyer, and his specialization is trusts and estates. Lee spent many years coaching soccer, baseball and softball teams in Scarsdale. Most recently he served as Co-President of Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains where he developed and managed the annual budget and worked with many constituencies to build consensus.
In comments about his nomination, Lee said, “I'm excited about what's ahead - the election, and, assuming I'm elected, getting up to speed on the issues, working with the mayor and other trustees, and meeting and talking with Scarsdalians about what's on their mind. My schooling, professional work, and civic efforts have taught me the value of listening carefully to others, asking questions to help draw out relevant facts, and analyzing issues thoroughly. I have a good bit of experience at working on thorny issues in a group setting and helping the group reach consensus. Most of all, I have deep respect for the process, that it be fair, open-minded and respectful of all who wish to provide input, so that the decisions reached are not only sound but arrived at with integrity.”
Longtime Scarsdale resident Harry Reynolds is running Village Trustee as an independent candidate. Reynolds, an attorney worked outside the Non-Partisan system to gather the signatures necessary to file his petition with the Village Clerk to vie for a seat on the Scarsdale Village Board.
A Bradley Road resident and an attorney, Reynolds has five children and nine grandchildren living in town. He received his undergraduate degree from Fordham University and his legal training at NYU School of Law where he was an associate editor of the Law Review. During his career he served as a Clerk of the Court of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Executive Assistant to the presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, and as Chief Counsel to the Department Disciplinary Committee for the 9th Judicial District when Richard M. Nixon tendered his resignation from the bar of the State of New York.
In his statement Reynolds pledged to “support increasing metered parking from 15 to 20 minutes to which the meter mechanically will add a grace period of 6 minutes to prevent ticketing, all for the usual 25 cents.” He explained that the increase “will tend to make travel, shopping, eating, and personal appointments in the village occasions unmarked by tension and confrontations with meter enforcement officers sadly disclaiming the power to forgive as they write out tickets,” and added, “Such has been the experience in White Plains and other local governments. If it is good for them, why not for us?”
Reynolds also stated his opposition to the Non-Partisan System, saying, “I will oppose the Non-Partisan system because it keeps secret the identities of all who apply to be considered for nominations and it keeps secret the statements made by those applicants when they appear before the nominating committee. As to the first, we should know who were rejected and how they compare with the person nominated. As to the second, does the Non-Partisan system seriously tell Scarsdale’s voters that they should not be told what an applicant knows, thinks, believes, plans, or desires concerning the public office he seeks? No other electoral system in the free world keeps secret information, particularly of the second type, without which a democracy cannot be said to exist. Why this affection for secrecy by the Non-Partisan System?”
According to the Reynolds, “The secrecy in the present Non-Partisan system is said to protect us against the stink and clamor of political parties. Where is the logic, and indeed what is the motive, behind that flagrantly false claim? We can without secrecy have a Non-Partisan System by doing what we in fact do now - we simply will not support local political parties in the village. If we don’t want them, they won’t come. As it is, we have Trustees who were nominated in secrecy after foregoing the meeting of any issues in an election, leaving us, the citizens of Scarsdale, to walk around like unemployed extras on a movie lot. So detached are we from the system that it notoriously, and embarrassedly, goes out seasonally to the village’s roads and fields to drag people into the system to rouse it into a life that it does not have in the public mind. Indeed, the system disappears after every election, leaving the public nowhere to go with grievances they may have.”
The League of Women of Scarsdale’s Forum will be held on March 8 at 7:30 pm in the Scott Room of the Scarsdale Public Library. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. The election for Village Trustee and Village Justice will be held on Tuesday March 20th at the Scarsdale Library.
