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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 31 August 2020

Created: 31 August 2020

Last Updated: 03 September 2020

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Randy Whitestone, Lena Crandall and Justin Arest are running for Scarsdale Village Trustee.My colleagues Justin Arest, Lena Crandall and nominee Randy Whitestone are the right choice for Village Trustee. Our community is navigating uncertain times, and we need proven, steady leadership.
We will benefit enormously from the experience and insight Justin and Lena bring as returning Trustees. The learning curve is steep, and they have gained invaluable perspective. Their grasp of the complexities of municipal government will afford better decision-making for our residents. Justin and Lena prepare, ask tough questions, and challenge conventional wisdom. They also demonstrate an abiding respect of others and care deeply for our residents. Randy, too, has shown his commitment to our Village. He was a regular in our lengthy budget meetings pre-COVID and has been zooming in and weighing in on Board deliberations thereafter. Randy listens intently and offers constructive feedback.

We are in a unique moment in Scarsdale’s history. Government must move swiftly, thoughtfully, and cooperatively to protect our health, safety and welfare. The Village Board and staff are working in partnership to prepare for the worst, both operationally and fiscally. At the very same time, Board and staff are coming together to innovate, to enable the very best. There is a “can do” attitude that permeates, and Justin, Lena and Randy embody that ethos.

I am optimistic about our future, and I am confident that Justin, Lena and Randy will lead the way.

Jane Veron
Tompkins Road

To the Editor and all Concerned Citizens of Scarsdale:

I strongly urge all Scarsdale voters to support ROW B, the Scarsdale Citizens’ Non-Partisan Party slate of Randy Whitestone, Lena Crandall, and Justin Arest for Trustee and Jack Alemany for Village Justice in the Village election on Tuesday, September 15.

I am a lifelong Scarsdale resident, SHS 1976, and a homeowner since 1992. I served 1 term on the Citizens Nominating Committee about 10 years ago.

I feel strongly that we have 2 critically important elections coming up that will determine the future stability and quality of life in our Village, State, and Country. I will leave the race between Trump and Biden for another day. Our local contest is just as important and possibly just as historic.

The next few years will challenge our Village as never before. Pandemic response. Economic recovery. Social justice. Climate change. Infrastructure replacement and repair. We need the best citizen leaders available. The right choice is to choose Row B, the Scarsdale Citizens’ Non-Partisan Party slate.

Whitestone, Crandall, Arest, and Alemany were vetted and nominated by a committee drawn from every Scarsdale neighborhood. Their challengers are self-appointed and running on narrow personal interests and grievances.

Whitestone, Crandall, Arest, and Alemany are running on lengthy records of service to all of Scarsdale. Indeed, Lena Crandall, and Justin Arest are seeking second terms as Trustees and Judge Alemany is currently our acting Village Justice.

Randy Whitestone is a close friend of mine for over 20 years. He is deeply versed in history, politics, and social movements. Randy can communicate the nuances of a problem and a solution better than anyone I know. I believe him unreservedly when he says, “I take seriously the stewardship of this great community. I want to continue to give back and now I offer myself as someone who I'd like to think can help make a difference. I look forward -- by listening, asking the right questions, and providing a voice for the community -- to helping tackle the tough issues and concerns facing the village."

Time is short. Do research. Be heard. Make your vote count. Don’t risk our future. I trust you will agree with me and Vote Row B - Randy Whitestone, Lena Crandall, and Justin Arest for Trustee and Jack Alemany for Village Justice.

Important information:
9/4: Last day to register to vote.

9/8: Last day an application for an absentee ballot can be received by mail & be processed. COVID-19 is a permissible reason for voting absentee. Check the temporary illness box on the application.

9/14: Last day an applicant or an applicant’s agent may submit an application for an absentee ballot in person & receive a ballot from the Village Clerk at Village Hall.

9/15: ELECTION DAY! VOTE ROW B! Voting in person: 6 AM - 9 PM @ Scarsdale Congregational Church, 1 Heathcote Rd. All election districts | 6 AM to 9 PM. Also, last date Village Clerk can accept absentee ballots in person or by mail.

William McInerney
5 Edgewood Road

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 08 September 2020

Created: 08 September 2020

Last Updated: 09 September 2020

Hits: 2685

This letter was written by Tim Foley:

To the Editor:

As a professional political organizer and government staffer, I’ve seen the up-close workings of many state and local governments, large and small, across seven states and in numerous communities here in Westchester. Year in and year out, Scarsdale can boast of an embarrassment of riches. Scarsdale has generally been able to boast of “work horses, not show horses” for its elected officials at all levels of government, from federal to local.

The non-partisan system that successive generations of Scarsdalians have developed for ourselves is an unusual break from the way politics is done elsewhere. The “non-partisan” part in which neither the Democrats nor the Republicans put up candidates is surprisingly common in municipal elections. But more notable is the emphasis the 30 elected volunteers who make up the Citizens Nominating Committee each year place on a candidate’s temperament, record of volunteer service, willingness to listen to all sides, and commitment to roll up his or her sleeves and get to work. That focus de-emphasizes particular policy pledges and produces Village Trustees who take office understanding their job is to represent not their own reflexive leanings or an inflexible platform, but the whole village.

I’ll admit, as an advocate more used to the partisan parry-and-thrust, it’s not the style of politics where I personally feel most comfortable, but it fits Scarsdale like a glove. It’s hard to argue with results. This year, the CNC put forth as candidates for the Village Board Justin Arest, Lena Crandall, and Randy Whitestone – dedicated volunteers with exactly the temperaments and the skills we need.

In his years on the Board, Justin has developed a well-earned reputation of digging into the nuts-and-bolts of governance, wrestling with the best outcome and best process to achieve that outcome. He hasn’t been shy about disagreeing with his peers when he’s unpersuaded or grabbing a good idea to help this community no matter its source. Throughout the pandemic, he has been tireless in his efforts to get good, usable updates and information out to the community.

I’ve known that Lena has a matchless ability to invite others to join the dialogue, pitch in, and challenge our community to make it better. After all, she literally walked up to me in the middle of the street one day to encourage me successfully to get more involved myself. I’ve seen her quiet, calm, and unrelenting ability to prompt the best out of others and find the teachable moments, even within a crisis.

It’s clear that Randy’s “black belt in communications” will be valuable for a Board that will continue to face unknowable challenges in the months and years ahead. His openness to innovation and emphasis on inclusion are traits that so many other great Scarsdale leaders have possessed and will serve us well now.

We’re still in the early innings of dealing with this pandemic and economic downturn, but we can take pride in the fact that Scarsdale has done as well or better than neighboring communities in keeping the Village moving forward during uncertain times. Crisis reveals character. Justin, Lena, and Randy have been revealed to be the steady hands and the “work horses” our village needs now. Vote Row B to elect them this year.

Tim Foley
73 Brown Road

From Jeff Blatt

In recent ads, the VCP candidates — Berg, Cohen and Selvaggio — take credit for a long-considered split tax-payment plan recently enacted by the Village Trustees intended to help residents with their cash flow management. The idea of split tax payments, as old or older than the Magna Carta, was carefully considered by the Trustees, who weighed community input, including some resistance, and then, working with village professionals, delivered this option (not the VCP, who have no authority over policy).

To be clear, though this small policy provides a one time cash flow benefit, it ultimately costs taxpayers, as any foregone interest the village would have earned on the delayed cash receipts will need to be made up in the form of future taxation or budget cuts. The option to pay in two installments does not provide tax relief and the VCP should not present this as some panacea. The Village Board certainly has not. Furthermore, Berg calls state-mandated Village fees for late payment of taxes “extortion,” which is trumped up nonsense. We’re all aware that late payments have consequences in all walks of life And any revenue earned from fees goes back to taxpayers in the form of municipal public services or lower taxation than would otherwise be needed to fund the budget.

Community members should be concerned with Berg’s preferred tactics. Petitions instead of suggestions. Hyperbole instead of reason. Blame instead of collaboration. And a lot of personal grand-standing. This all seems predicated on the VCP’s absurd fundamental notion that all those currently serving — and likely who have ever served — are incompetent and corrupt. It is a sweeping insult to the decent volunteers who serve our community.

The VCP’s other main theme, if we can call this a platform, is to describe affluent Scarsdale as a place divided and they seek to fuel the flames of resentments between these mysterious factions. For example, Berg recently identified ownership of a generator as the “us vs. them” wealth line. This distorted assumption is disconnected from the realities of our hardworking, grateful and often risk-averse community. More nonsense.

Bob Berg has a very long history of challenging even the smallest of public expenditures. When I was on the Board of Education in the 2004-2010 period, Berg would pride himself on searching for every last dime that he thought was unnecessary in a $100 million+ budget. He’d find 100-200 people who would greatly admire him for his appearance of frugality, but his suggestions were often disconnected from student needs or community values. As the School Board would consider the details with care, Berg would only be happy with less. Berg ignored the fact that our proposed school budgets consistently pass with 75%+ public support, often more. Regardless, he knew best.

Regarding Village taxes, community members are consistently willing to pay for the many services that we value. It should be concerning that Berg assumes empty nesters (like me) only seek reductions. His calls for cuts would impact our first responders, or health and safety, and enjoyment of this beautiful Village.

Like most in Scarsdale, I moved here for the schools, but I stay here for the community. In the upcoming years which are sure to be challenging, we need prudent, balanced consideration — decidedly not the VCP brand. Vote for Arest, Crandall, and Whitestone, Row B, nominated for their open-minds and good judgement.

Jeff Blatt
Walworth Avenue

From Janet Han and Peri Zelig

To the Editor,

As Heathcote representatives on the Citizens Nominating Committee, we enthusiastically support all three of the Scarsdale Citizens’ Non-Partisan Party’s (SCNPP) candidates for election as Village Trustee and are proud to have been part of the robust, thoughtful, deliberative nominating process that put forward the SCNPP slate. Moreover, we enthusiastically write this letter in support of Justin Arest’s reelection as Trustee.

Since moving to Scarsdale and meeting Justin, we have been impressed with his unyielding commitment to our community. He is eager to engage both new and long-term residents in conversation about civic affairs and to encourage us all to give back to the community.

Some qualities that we look for in our leaders and that we think Justin exemplifies as Trustee:

Dedication and strong work ethic: Justin puts extraordinary time and energy into his work as Trustee. He goes above and beyond what is required in order to serve our community effectively, which is particularly striking given his other work and family commitments. A recent example of his dedication to serving the community was during August’s extended power outage, when Justin worked around the clock to ensure that all members of the community received Village updates and at-least-daily notifications not only through traditional emails, but through innovative social media, including Twitter and Facebook.

Intelligence, pragmatism, and open-mindedness: Justin is deliberative and believes in being fully informed about the issues. He does his homework, including independent research, asks questions, and is an active listener. He is fair and strives to take differing viewpoints into account before coming to his own opinion on a given issue, all while remaining respectful of others.

Steady temperament and patience: Justin has demonstrated a keen ability to maintain a calm, respectful temperament, even in the face of loud (and personal) attacks. He is unflappable and believes that civil discussion and debate help promote a shared sense of community even/especially when there is disagreement on an issue.

This is the type of person we want as Village Trustee. Often, competent leadership is taken for granted. Justin will continue to work on behalf of the community and he will not let you down if reelected for another term. He is committed to making Scarsdale the best it can be for all of us.

Peri Zelig (Lakin Road) and Janet Han (Lawrence Road)

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 25 August 2020

Created: 25 August 2020

Last Updated: 25 August 2020

Hits: 2900

Scarsdale Middle School Principal Meghan Troy is considering safety first.Assuring parents that “We always keep the students at the center of our work,” Scarsdale Middle School Principal Meghan Troy, flanked by Assistant Principals Rochelle Hauge and Chris Coughlin, explained plans for a “careful entry” to the school year. She said, “This year we will hit the ground walking, not running.” Interest was keen as 1,700 people signed onto the Zoom call on August 18, which was hosted by the district’s Technology Director Jerry Crisci.

Troy said that every decision “starts with health and safety,” and said that she considers every decision “as a parent of my own children,” and has reviewed her thinking with a Scarsdale doctor who specializes in infectious disease.

In order to explain the new safety protocols, the school will share a video with the students and hold a Q and A on September 1 at 6:30 pm. Sixth graders, who will be entering the school for the first time, will attend orientation sessions on September 9 and 10. Families will be required to complete a health screening before students enter the building each day.

Students will attend a full day of school on a hybrid schedule, which calls for cohorts to attend school on either Mondays and Thursdays or Tuesdays and Fridays. Here are some of the new safety measures that will be implemented:

Students will no longer use lockers, and will leave their backpacks in their homerooms. Teachers will try to keep required materials to a minimum to avoid heavy backpacks.

Students will be required to wear masks and classes will be limited to 12-14 students, with desks six feet apart. All desks will face front, rather than be positioned in a circle. During the course of the day, students will remain in their classroom and teachers will rotate rooms. However, seventh and eighth graders who are in leveled language or math classes will switch classrooms during the course of the day. Students will stretch and refocus between classes.

Traffic in hallways will be one way only to minimize face to face contact.

Lunch will be held outside when possible in a garden, courtyard or one of many of the school’s designated outdoor spaces. During lunch, students will be supervised by a teacher and two lunch aides. When the weather is not conducive, lunch will be eaten in the school’s gyms which have been divided into four sections with desks set six feet apart. At recess, kids will stretch and get fresh air. No games will be played.

On Wednesdays, groups of 12-14 students will be assigned to an advisory class with a faculty member. These groups will meet virtually with the goal of building relationships and community, and making connections in small groups. These advisory groups will mix cohorts so students will have the chance to get to know students outside their assigned class.

According to Troy, webcams will be installed in the classrooms. For students who choose to attend school all virtually, there will be a live feed into the classroom on the days their cohort attends school.

Troy outlined next steps for the weeks before begins as follows:

-Determine student cohorts and include siblings

-Make bus and transportation assignments

-Hold orientations for students and faculty and training for staff.

-Provide parents training on technology platforms.

-Continue to respond to parents, continue to prepare students to walk our halls and be with us in September.

Using the online chat system, parents were able to ask questions to the middle school administration and they had many. They wondered how many teachers had agreed to return to school, how students in the virtual program could participate in the class and interact with their teachers, what metrics might allow students to return to school full time, and how the school would handle the transition if they were forced to move to an all virtual model. How would cohorts be assigned and when will students be advised of their assignment?

Would Scarsdale families need to report any travel outside the area? How will teachers and administrators handle non-compliance with mask wearing and social distancing? Will there be warnings/consequences for recurring non-compliance?

There were questions about the CHOICE program, the Learning Resource Center, technology and more.

Troy said a Q and A with responses to parent questions would be forthcoming.

Watch the presentation online here: