New District Lines Muddy the State Legislative Waters
- Details
- Hits: 5626
If the New York State Senate Republicans (under the guise of the “New York State Legislative Taskforce on Demographic Research --”LATFOR”) gets their way, most of Scarsdale will be represented in the State Senate by Democratic, Yonkers based Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
LATFOR is theoretically bi-partisan -- but in fact the Democrats control the pen for district lines for the State Assembly and the GOP holds the pen for the State Senate lines. In fact LATFOR has proposed actually adding a seat to the State Senate – going from 62 to 63 (notwithstanding questions about the necessity for two legislative houses in the first place). The Senate Republicans are furiously trying to engineer the preservation and possible expansion of its slim, 2-seat majority over the Democrats in the State Senate. That’s why they’ve proposed adding a Senate district -- not in areas that have grown in population --like the Hudson Valley, New York City, or Long Island -- but in population -drained upstate New York -- where the GOP would have a much better chance of adding to their caucus.
For the local Westchester districts, Amy Paulin’s has only minor proposed variations from the current outline. Most of the Democratic assembly gerrymandering occurred 10 year ago but the 37th State Senate district is slated for major changes under the LATFOR plan. Currently held by retiring Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, the proposed new 37th district would lose most of Scarsdale, all of Ossining, gain Republican strongholds in East Yonkers, Tuckahoe, and Eastchester, and gain Bedford.
In 2010 Bob Cohen came within 700 votes of dethroning Suzi Oppenheimer from her 26-year hold on the 37th District senate seat. Among the tasks of the
state Republican party was to reconfigure the district to give Cohen a better chance to win the seat in 2012. Although Cohen has moved his residence from the Village of Scarsdale to New Rochelle the proposed new lines conveniently include Cohen’s new domicile. In the meantime, however, Oppenheimer has announced her intent to not seek another term in the Senate. The likely candidates for the seat are Cohen and Sound Shore Democratic Assemblyman George Latimer. Latimer is conducting his due diligence on the viability of the race -- particularly the composition of the new senate district -- and then will decide whether to run for the open senate or bid for re-election to his assembly seat.
All of this is in a state of flux. Governor Cuomo has threatened to veto the lines, and just today, the Democrats in the State Senate sued LATFOR to throw out the lines. And to put all of this in context, the map at top, courtesy of the New York Observer – describes that the outline of the proposed new line looks like a man urinating on a miniature turkey. As always stay tuned.
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 investments.
Dog Daycare Offers Fun for Dogs And Peace of Mind for Owners
- Details
- Hits: 8270
Paws and Play, a state-of-the-art daycare, boarding and training center for dogs of all shapes and sizes, recently opened its 9,000-square-foot facility in Tuckahoe. The brand new multi-million-dollar facility, which boasts 3 large indoor play centers, as well as an expansive outdoor play yard and sun deck, keeps area pooches happy, active and well socialized. Like people, dogs can get lonely when they are left alone for long periods of time. According to area vets and dog trainers I spoke with, the benefits of canine daycare include teaching dogs how to properly socialize; serving as an outlet for dogs to get the exercise they need to maintain a healthy mind and proper weight; and reducing behavior problems, such as chewing, digging, and going through the trash.
All pets that come to Paws and Play must pass an evaluation test for the safety of all the dogs and staff. In the play centers, dogs are grouped by size, activity level and sociability to ensure hours of good old-fashioned play time with climbing structures, chairs to sit on and balls to chase. The staff provides stimulating games and obedience tasks, such as group “sits” and “follow the leader.” Furthermore, Paws and Play has a continuing education program for all of their daycare staff. In the large grooming areas, the center offers everything from baths to teeth brushing by its experienced staff. An interesting aside, before opening Paws and Play, local resident Matt Sellechia spent two years traveling visiting dog training and boarding facilities for research purposes. To further his knowledge base, Sellecchia became a certified dog trainer.
For guests who require overnight accommodations, there are luxurious private rooms equipped with skylights, flat screen televisions, piped-in music, night-lights, and ceiling fans. For those owners who want to spoil their pet even more, the staff will read your pampered pooch bedtime stories, so don’t forget Fido’s favorite book. Sellecchia’s goal was to create a fun, safe environment where he would want to bring his own dog. “The last thing I wanted was to be associated with a tradition kennel. When you hear the word kennel, most people think of dogs in cages getting no exercise or attention. At Paws and Play we are the complete opposite of that. Every guest receives tons of personal attention and our menu of activities and pampering sessions will keep them active and happy during their stay.”
There are 11 skylights to allow natural light into the building and a sophisticated air filtration system provides optimum ventilation for their furry guests. Every room has a central vacuum, running water, and antiseptic materials, as well as an elimination area (akin to a patch of grass) to keep the dog areas as clean and odor free as possible. The building also has a shower for dogs, a laundry facility with commercial machines, and a food preparation area to accommodate special diets.
Testimonials can be found on the center’s website, and you can always email me with any questions, as my puppy Winter is a regular (she loves it!). Paws and Play Pet Resort and Training Center. Daycare Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm; Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 3 pm. Half day options available. Call 914-337-2948 or visit www.pawsandplaypetresort.com for more information. Ample on-site parking.
News from the Assembly: Tappan Zee Bridge and
- Details
- Hits: 3960
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.”
Register Now For Spring Courses at the Scarsdale Adult School
- Details
- Hits: 3742
Scarsdale Adult School registration for the spring/summer semester is now open. Printed catalogs have just been mailed and are also available at both the Scarsdale Public Library and Scarsdale Village Hall. At more than ten convenient local venues, new and returning faculty will be teaching enriching day and evening courses to adults seeking to satisfy their intellectual curiosity, learn new skills, and enjoy scholarly rapport with other members of the community.
This semester at SAS includes a wide range of humanities classes on art, architecture, film, history, literature and music appreciation. The adult school offers recreation classes in dance, fitness, golf and card games. To satisfy increased demand, SAS has added more computer-related classes to its skill enhancement course selection, along with unique courses in arts and crafts, cooking, photography, foreign languages, music, finance, and self-improvement. Health and wellness courses on nutrition, spirituality, and stress reduction round out the curriculum.
To enroll for classes and view all SAS offerings, visit www.ScarsdaleAdultSchool.org . Call (914) 723-2325 with any questions.
From Edgemont: Next Steps on NextG and a New Assistant Principal
- Details
- Hits: 5217
The installation of cell phone antennas on residential streets in Edgemont could be averted. At a well-attended meeting of the Edgemont Community Council (ECC) on Thursday, January 5th, ECC President Geoff Loftus told the group that Crown Castle, a company that owns, operates and leases cell phone towers, now has an agreement to acquire NextG, who has filed an application to install antennas in Edgemont. Since Crown Castle holds an exclusive license to operate wireless facilities on state property, including right-of-ways on Central Avenue, Dobbs Ferry Road and Saw Mill River Road their purchase of NextG would remove any impediment to NextG's use of the right-of-way and eliminate NextG’s need for a special permit to install antennas in residential neighborhoods.
According to a memo from the ECC, Michelle McNally, an Edgemont resident and member of the Antenna Board of Review, has written to Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner as an individual, urging him to refer NextG's application back to the Review Board. Feiner believes this will happen at or after the Town Board public hearing on January 25th. Feiner has repeatedly stated that he would prefer that the cell phone antennas not be placed on residential streets and hopes that a solution can be found that does not violate federal law. Federal law limits the ability of governments to reject antenna applications for health reasons. The ECC hopes that since NextG, as a part of Crown Castle, should now be able to provide service without installing residential-area antennas, it will not be granted a special permit to do so. Feiner says that the Crown Castle purchase changes the dynamics of the application and feels there is a good possibility that the Town Board will refer the matter back to the Antenna Review Board.
However, in an update on 1/12/12, Loftus sent the following letter to Scarsdale10583 that was read into the record during the Public Comment portion of the Greenburgh Town Board meeting on Wednesday night January 11. According to Loftus, the Town Board is poised not to follow the Town's law and appears ready to allow NextG to install antennas in residential neighborhoods.
To the Greenburgh Town Board: My name is Geoff Loftus, and I'm the president of the Edgemont Community Council.
I'm here to ask the that Town Board refer the ECC's proposed amendment to the Town's antenna law to the Planning Board as soon as possible and ask for an expedited process, so that a public hearing can be held promptly. (The amendment was sent via e-mail to all of you on Monday evening, and I've brought hard-copies tonight.)
Given that the Board has invited NextG representatives to attend next week's work session, and that NextG may file new or modified applications, it is especially urgent that this amendment not be held up for changes that Town departments also might want to make to the law. There's no need to wait on our proposal: the Town can amend the antenna law later if there are other amendments it wishes to add. Additionally, there is no need to wait on Federal input – Federal law is not controlling in this instance. And, if the events of the last several weeks prove anything, it is that residents need immediate notification about applications to install antennas in their neighborhoods. And why would the Board hesitate to give them adequate advance notice? After all, aren't the residents the people the Town Board is supposed to represent and protect?
The ECC's amendment to the antenna law has three important points:
* It moves the notification of residents to the time an application is filed, not when it's completed.
* It increases the geographic area of notification from a 250-foot radius to 500-feet, ensuring that all the residents who are concerned will be notified.
* It invites those notified residents to comment before the Antenna Review Board.
We believe these changes will help the Antenna Review Board do its work -- greater input from the community, earlier in the process has to be beneficial.
I also want to express the ECC's ongoing concern regarding NextG. It is our understanding that you have invited representatives of NextG to next week's work session. If that's correct, shouldn't residents directly affected be invited as well? And . . . is it really fair to hold such a meeting on a Tuesday morning when many residents are at work? And even more important, with the public hearing on NextG's applications still pending, is it even proper to hold a Town Board work session with an applicant at all?
We ask that you give us a timetable for when our proposed amendment will be introduced and acted upon. Please stop utilizing decoys such as Federal law. Please do not meet with the applicant or do not meet with the applicant without involving the residents. Please enforce the town code as written and serve the residents of Greenburgh and not the applicant.
Many Edgemont residents continue to worry about the possibility of NextG cell phone antennas on their residential streets and hope NextG will change course. Ellen Weininger, Educational Outreach Coordinator for Grassroots Environmental Education, and Deborah Kopald, a nationally recognized public health advocate who lives in Orange County and has consulted to governmental officials, nonprofit organizations and concerned Westchester residents on DAS and other wireless transmitters and devices, both expressed their concerns that radiation from cell towers can cause health problems and should not be taken lightly. They feel that these cell transmitter systems pose an even greater health risk than cell phone towers. The public hearing will be held on Wednesday January 25th at 7:30 pm at Town Hall and is open to public comment. It is still important that Edgemont residents attend the hearing and express their concerns to the Town Board.
New Assistant Principal for Edgemont High School:
On the school front, the Edgemont Board of Education will officially hire a new Assistant Principal for the high school at the January 10, 2012 meeting. After a wide search, Doron Markus will join the administrative team at Edgemont. He is the Science Department chair at Hastings High School and a popular teacher with students. Mr. Markus has a BA in Political Science from SUNY Albany, certification in Biology from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, a Masters of Science in Education Administration from the College of New Rochelle, and is working towards his doctorate (Ed.D) in Instructional Leadership at St. John's University. Prior to entering the field of education he owned a vintage clothing store in Toronto, Ontario. During his career as a teacher he taught in Ft. Lauderdale, in Barcelona, Spain at the American School of Barcelona, and at Hastings High School. Also at the January 10th BOE meeting, there will be a review of the new K-5 mathematics program: Math in Focus.
The Edgemont Scholarship Council (ESC) continues to work to help college seniors. The Council’s seeks to ensure that no child is denied a college education because of insufficient finances. Through the generosity of the community and through various fundraising efforts, each year the ESC awards thousands of dollars in need-based scholarship money to eligible Edgemont graduates to further their studies. Save the date for their annual Make-a-Difference event on February 3rd. Invitations will be sent out soon.
Finally the 2012 spring musical, Oklahoma, has been cast and the students are hard at work under the direction of Director Kelley Morse to bring to life the story of two young cowboys who vie with an evil ranch hand and a traveling peddler for the hearts of the women they love In the Oklahoma territory at the turn of the twentieth century. The show will run from March 22 – 25 and information about ticket sales will be available on February 1st on the school's website. Last year's spring musical, Grease, sold out three of the four performances, so order your tickets early.
