There are lots of initiatives that have taken place since last Thanksgiving to be thankful for. Here are some!
* Greenburgh approves site plan for Regeneron's potential 1,000,000 Sq Ft Expansion- the largest commercial expansion in recent town history. The town anticipates millions of dollars in additional revenue and great new jobs. We have become the bio tech capitol of the Hudson Region!
The reality is that Mt Pleasant, adjacent to Greenburgh has had more of the development while Greenburgh gets more of the parking space land use. Regeneron was close to going out of business several years ago and remarkably has bounced back.
* Our town received a $250,000 grant to redesign Route 119 and to make the road more bicycle/pedestrian friendly.
This grant is for several communities so the reality is that not much will be done with the amount of money once it is doled out.
* The Xposure after school program --student produced radio program - was nominated for two EMMY awards. How many other 10 and 11 year olds--anywhere- receive EMMY award nominations?
This is great for the kids but as we’ve mentioned previously, the program at the Theodore Young Community Center is not run by or affiliated with the Town.
* The South County bike trail now connects to the North County bike trail - an initiative cyclists from around the region have been seeking for years! We lobbied the county to implement this initiative for years.
While Mr Feiner is an avid bicyclist, the Town did little to make this happen. Several area biking groups pushed for this.
* The town received almost $5,000,000 from NYS for water infrastructure enhancements - the 2nd largest grant in the Hudson Valley from NYS!
Sadly, Greenburgh’s infrastructure has been ignored for far too long. Had regular maintenance been performed as required, we would not be in need of large grants to fix everything.
* Our budgets and taxes come under the NYS tax cap. Unlike some other governments in the region we have never approved a budget that exceeds the tax cap.
While the budget may come in under the tax cap, it does not negate a tax increase as too many portions of the budget(s) are exempt from it.
* The town maintained our Aaa bond rating from both Standard & Poor's and Moody's - an accomplishment most town, school, village state, and federal governments have not achieved. The triple A bond rating enables the town to save hundreds of thousands of dollars when we borrow for infrastructure enhancements each year.
This is like a magician’s slight-of-hand routine. The AAA bond rating is really just verifying that the Town has enough taxpayers who can cover most of the Town’s expenses. Plus, since we never really use it, it’s like kissing your sister: it just doesn’t mean anything.
* Our proactive measures dealing with anticipated storms seem to be paying off. A major storm in Westchester this fall resulted in 6,000 people out of power in Westchester -only 22 people out of power in Greenburgh. Con Ed & the town have an active tree trimming program--we trim branches hanging over wires and remove trees that are dead that could impact power lines.
Again, while Con Ed is more responsible than the Town for tree trimming, the Town does have an arborist and the Town does trim trees. The proactive measures need to include more than just trimming some trees near a power line. While tree trimming is a good first effort, all drains, especially in flood prone areas need to be cleaned out; debris near and in the rivers need to be removed; the Bronx and Saw Mill rivers need to be dredged and that debris needs to be removed, not left nearby where it can float back into the river.
* We are following the lead of the village of Scarsdale and will be establishing a food recycling location at AF Veteran park. Turning food scraps into compost is good for the planet and could save the town significant dollars.
This seems to be more of the “feel good” press releases that Mr Feiner will utilize whenever he has nothing significant to report.
* We have been successful collecting back taxes owed and reduced the number of properties facing foreclosure from almost 500 a few years back to less than 55.
As we’ve said before, the Town was delinquent in performing their legally required job by procrastinating on the foreclosed and zombie houses in the Town for so long.
* The town, police department and Phelps hospital partnered on a pedestrian safety initiative. Thousands of free reflectors being distributed to pedestrians. Don't wear dark clothing.
Having the Town give away Phelps donated reflective armbands is a good idea. But in this day and age of Big Brother seeming to control our every move(s), is telling us not to wear dark clothes the best Mr Feiner can offer?
* New sidewalks were built: on Benedict on the Tarrytown border and on Secor Road. We received a very large grant from NYS -$792,000 to build a new sidewalk on Central Ave from Marion to W Hartsdale Ave. Hopefully, that sidewalk will be built next year. New sidewalks being planned on Columbia Ave in Hartsdale, Juniper Hill in Fairview. We plan to replace an asphalt playground on Glendale Road with an asphalt sidewalk leading to the Greenville School. And -plan more sidewalks around the town.
Plan more sidewalks? Really? The only planning really going on with sidewalks is the requirement for developers to put sidewalks in front of their projects. That’s the only reason we are getting as many as we are. Again, 25 years of a lack of planning is being turned around as a good thing.
* We created a curb making the library more accessible for the disabled. And redesigned the circle near the library to make it easier for cars to pick up and drop of library patrons. We plan to increase parking at the library and appropriated funds to make this happen.
Poor planning and inferior design by the lead agency, actually the Town Board, is what was and still is wrong with the library’s design. From the inadequate public/community meeting rooms, the inadequate and oft-failing HVAC system, the unusable heat pump system, the parking is atrocious. They removed a few islands and made the center circle smaller to allow cars to pass parked cars. They should have left the original parking behind the building as it was and not planted grass and install a curb.
* We replaced and upgraded water mains in Mayfair Acres--an important water infrastructure project and repainted more water tanks. Juniper Hill water tank was completed.
Again, lack of infrastructure maintenance is not something to brag about.
* We approved a lease with a private company to place a bubble at our tennis court at E Rumbrook park--providing residents with indoor tennis opportunities. The bubble opened today!
Yes, it’s open and now residents have to pay this for-profit company to allow them limited access/times to the Town tennis courts.
* We are making the town more efficient - 6200 new properties now receive garbage collection services from our new sanitation trucks (which use one employee, not three). Fewer worker compensation claims. We hope to expand recycling services in 2018--one day a week pickup for both paper and commingles[sic].
First, we were told there would be a study. There wasn’t. Second, we were told this would only be used on flat properties. It’s not. Third, we were told it was only a pilot program. Not only was it not, they bought another truck.
* New affordable housing at the waterwheel property (foreclosed property which the town turned over to Ardsley) opens. 22 housing units.
The Ardsley Fire Department had sought to purchase this property after the fire to develop workforce housing specifically for Ardsley volunteer firefighters, ambulance personnel and municipal workers. Their approach was similar to the successful Livingston Manor project the Dobbs Ferry Fire Department created. Several residents are not volunteers or municipal workers but workforce residents. The Ardsley Fire Department was turned down.
* New parking lot at Taxter Ridge built at expense of developer --making it easier for hikers to take advantage of this spectacular hiking trail.
This should have been done upon completion of the park.
* Our intern program had a very successful year. Student interns interviewed many well known and not so well known leaders -including the writer of the best play on Broadway: TONY AWARD winner JT Rogers and Joe Queenan, columnist for the Wall Street Journal. Students host their own cable TV program.
Kudos to these kids.
* A new Town Judge was appointed - former Edgemont School Board member Bonnie Orden. Town Justices Walter Rivera and Arlene Gordon Oliver were appointed or elected to higher Judicial positions.
Basically, more of the same. Is this so Mr Feiner can have favorable decisions levied in his favor?
* The US Coast Guard listened to citizens and killed (at least temporarily) plans to park barges along the Hudson River.
While we did not favor the Coast Gurds decision to create a river parking lot, this had very little, if anything to do with the Town.
* Woodlands High School students received $5.3 million in scholarships upon graduation. The town is working with the school district on an exciting technology initiative.
Kudos to these kids.
* The building department demolished unsafe buildings on Teramar Way and they took steps to demolish an unsafe home on McLean.
Long overdue after waiting almost 10 years for the Town to act on zombie, foreclosed upon and abandoned homes.
* The Greenburgh police department did a great job organizing terrific community outreach efforts: at Town Hall, at the scene of a crime and on Halloween.
They always do.
* Fewer burglaries in the entire town of Greenburgh than in the village of Scarsdale (which is much smaller). Our burglaries are down, thanks to the excellent proactive work of our police department.
Interestingly, while crime trends are somewhat random, it was only about a year or so ago that Edgemont had a spike in crime. The police department put more officers in the area and lo and behold crime went down. Similarly, traffic enforcement has been practically eliminated on many streets known for speeding and now safety for those taxpayers walking has been compromised.
* NYS rebuilding the Payne Street bridge overlooking the Sprain Parkway
This is a NYS Department of Transportation repair and the Town is not involved in it.
* We recognized the Atlantic Starr musicians from Fairview and renamed a street in their honor. At one point their music was number one world wide!
Kudos to these musicians.
* We are implementing additional safety features -more blinking crosswalk lights near schools. A safety crosswalk off of Ravensdale, Jackson Ave and Route 9
Again, long overdue and something that should have been recognized and done years ago.
* Thanks to the generosity of many, the Lois Bronz Children's Center received donations of backpacks for children whose families can't afford them. The community has been supportive of our partnership with the Dobbs Ferry food pantry--and frequently drops off food at the bin at Town Hall.
When our taxpayers have any money left in their wallets between tax increases, Town Board guilty verdicts and fines, they are most generous.
* Councilman Francis Sheehan, while he recovered from surgery, took advantage of modern technology by participating and voting at Town Board meetings from the comforts of his home---using Skype. I think that when members of Congress or the State Legislature can't attend a meeting of their legislatures that they should also participate by Skype.
When congress doesn’t meet, our government becomes more affordable. While we’re glad Mr Sheehan recovered, his not being there would not have changed any decisions made.
* We replaced the roof at the Theodore Young Community Center. Patrons using our indoor pool now will benefit from more natural light!
This was a necessary infrastructure repair.
* We're replacing the roof at the Manor House, Greenburgh Nature Center.
This was a necessary infrastructure repair.
* A very successful motorcycle safety event across from Greenburgh Town Hall sponsored by the Greenburgh police department and motorcycle enthusiasts.
Kudos to these participants.
* Over 400 residents of Greenburgh now have installed solar panels to power their homes. We sponsored with Solarize Westchester an initiative to promote solar power.
While supporting this private company, the Town gave an unfair advantage to one private company. Had the Town held a forum and invited different companies to participate, it would have been more ethically sound.
* We have been closing down massage facilities in town involved in prostitution and illegal activities. A new law requires the licensing of massage establishments.
If they are breaking the law, they should be pursued. Otherwise, if there is no evidence of wrong-doing, they should be left to operate by the newly enacted laws put in place.
* The new hotel tax was implemented -enabling the town to shift some of our costs of operating government to hotel guests, not taxpayers.
Here’s another example of a tax pushed by Assemblyman Abinanti, who never heard of a tax he didn’t like along with his buddy Mr Feiner, all while helping to make Westchester and in particular Greenburgh less and less attractive to travel, (to) whether for business or pleasure.
* Greenburgh and the villages have eliminated duplication--separate assessors and now use one assessor.
And yet we haven’t seen any reduction in our taxes, Village taxes or any appreciable savings.
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