Forum Hears Update on the State of the County

Expecting to get an update on the affordable housing settlement and drinking water standards in Westchester, on February 6 I braved the frigid temps and slid into my car to attend the meeting of the Scarsdale Forum to see County Executive Rob Astorino. However when I arrived I learned that the County Executive was tied up at a black-tie affair and had sent Deputy Executive Kevin Plunkett in his place.

Plunkett ran through Astorino's standard speech, citing examples of "the three P's that had been accomplished during his term in office: protecting taxpayers, preserving essential services and promoting economic development. He credited Astorino with holding down county expenses and shrinking the county budget from $1.8 billion to $1.7 billion by sharing services and consolidation and said that spending on the neediest had increased rather than decreased.

Plunkett then discussed his team's efforts to keep Pepsico and Atlas Air in Westchester and the efforts of the Local Development Corporation to partner with non-profits to finance new projects, such as a $250 million building plan at Pace University. Similarly at Rye Playland, which now loses between $3-$5 million per year, Astorino's team has worked with partners in the private sector to form an organization called "Sustainable Playland." Private companies will run an amusement zone, the ice casino, and field house with indoor and outdoor fields, a lawn zone and a restaurant zone. The property will also be home to the Westchester County Children's Museum.

In order to bring more business and jobs to Westchester, the county is hoping to develop 60 acres of county-owned land north of the Westchester County Medical Center into a bio-tech hub of learning facilities and technology companies.

What about the fair and affordable housing settlement and the Justice Department lawsuit against Westchester County concerning safe drinking water?

Plunkett explained that though the county is ahead of schedule on constructing the required 750 units or affordable housing, the settlement remains tied up in court. In August, HUD announced the results of a study from a team from Pratt who analyzed Westchester zoning code to see if there were any municipalities with impediments to fair housing. They identified seven communities where they found socio-economic exclusionary zoning: Croton-on-Hudson, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mamaroneck, Ossining, Pelham Manor, and Pound Ridge. HUD has instructed the county to take legal action against these municipalities to change their zoning code and file an analysis of impediments to fair housing. However, Astorino maintains that the Planning Boards of these communities retain the right to regulate their zoning and that the county does not have exclusionary zoning. In the interim, HUD is punishing the county by withholding community development block grant funds until the gridlock between the county and HUD can be resolved.

Plunkett also addressed a second point of contention between the county and the federal government. The county has been sued by the Department of Justice for failing to comply with EPA regulations in regard to UV treatment of the water supply to eliminate cryptosporidium. Though the deadline was April 2012, the county was unable to come up with a workable and affordable plan to meet the requirements. Plunkett reported that the county is now working with representatives from Water District #1 (including Scarsdale) to gain approval from the EPA for a $7 million proposal to build two new pumping stations to treat our water supply.

(Pictured at top from left to right: Eli Mattioli, Michelle Lichtenberg, Howard Nadel, BK Munguia, Angela Manson)