It’s Time

Westhab silently purchased property with funding provided by Westchester County and others in Fulton Park. Mr Feiner apparently assured them that spot-zoning (not in so many words) would not be a problem. But he and his Board spot zone almost at will. Rather than continue to allow the property to be the buffer from light commercial into the residential neighborhood, Mr Feiner offered them the worst zoning the Town has on record, sanctioning a skyscraper that ultimately was reduced from it’s original size to a more logical one, taking the design cue from a nearby and outdated 1960’s building. Mr Bernstein fought the zoning change because what happens in one neighborhood will soon happen in others.

In that same neighborhood, the Town just paved Old Kensico Road, referred to as Old Kensico Speedway, to assist in minor flooding control. Previously, layers of blacktop upon blacktop raised the road so much that rainwater on the street would funnel into the east-side homes’ yards and basements. While repaving the street was helpful, that’s all the Town has done to address the massive flooding this neighborhood’s had for years, highlighted by Hurricane Irene. 

As we once again approach Hurricane season, with Tropical Storm Andrea bearing down, residents are in no better shape now than they were before. Once the homes are flooded, we’re sure Mr Feiner will call the media to bemoan how terrible this flooding is and the County, State and Federal governments “need to do something.” He’ll invariably offer to reach out to FEMA again to see about purchasing homes in the flooded area, knowing they don’t qualify for it. He will do what he always does, simply nothing, all the while pointing fingers at others.

The Brightview Assisted Living Center in Glenville needed the ever-coveted (spot) zoning change to build their oversized building on too-small a parcel of land. The Town had them write the change for the Town, which Mr Feiner and his Board unhesitatingly adopted, sanctioning another monstrosity on the hill and overshadowing the tiny neighborhood. All the homeowners of the properties below the site will suffer with water runoff, flooding and other problems including a loss of power. This will affect more than just the Glenville section of the Town. It’s time.

The latest issue is at the Eastview area of northern Greenburgh and Mt Pleasant. It’s where the old Union Carbide, ConEd and Home Depot are. Now that Mr Feiner has “bought into” the proposal to (over) develop 50 acres in the Town and 50 acres in Mt Pleasant to build what is otherwise porous space that now absorbs the rain. Where will all of the runoff go once this 100 acres is developed? Obviously, the water will travel downhill and add to the already over-saturated 9A corridor. While Mr Feiner is blinded by all the tax dollars this new development promises, he neglects to address the elephant in the room that comes at a cost for this development: flooding. We hope Mr Bernstein will address flooding if elected. It’s time.

Mr Feiner is seeking re-election. He’s been in office for 22 years. When he started, he seemed to actually help constituents. Now, however, he only seems to help developers and his inner circle! Because of all of his bad deals, judgements against him and the Town, etc., he is desperate to try to get money for the Town anyway possible. You can’t continue to balance the Town budget with the Fund Balance money as he is doing. Those funds are being depleted yearly in Mr Feiner’s ruse to appear to be keeping the budget in control. And his saying we are mandated to limit ourselves to a 2% Tax Cap by NYS is also disingenuous. The Town can easily override the 2% Tax Cap. It’s time.

Mr Bernstein has worked toward helping the Town get out from under some of the Town’s and Mr Feiner’s bad deals and decisions. Other residents have worked hard to help this administration do the right thing. Mr Feiner berates them at Town Board meetings while hiding behind the agenda notice which says there will be no personal attacks during the meeting. Mr Feiner has repeatedly attacked Mr Bernstein in his blog and in newspaper Letters to the Editor, Community Views and so on. We can only assume Mr Bernstein must be doing something right to warrant these personal attacks by Mr Feiner. It’s time.