Lithium-ion Battery Storage Units Overwhelm Our Neighborhoods

All around us locally, state-wide and across the nation, a new phenomenon is taking place with communities approval and allowing the installation of industrial lithium ion battery storage units! Typically owned by a consortium of attorneys (not that there’s anything wrong with that), the goal is for them to purchase and store electricity in these units during the evening and night hours when the cost of electricity is cheaper and sell it back to the utility companies during the day at a higher price.

Pursuing a greener energy source is always admirable. However, at what cost is this a good idea? If a community has a Comprehensive Plan and they follow it, without adjusting their zoning to placate these attorneys and investors, it can be an invaluable tool to assist in controlling these burgeoning businesses and suburban sprawl. Yet, In a Town like Greenburgh, they politicized their Comprehensive plan into a feckless document acknowledging things like 500-year storms and climate change all while ignoring the wishes of the public: less impervious space, more green space, walkways and bike paths. Sadly, the residents lost out while the Comprehensive Planning committee patted themselves on their backs for a job, “well done,” that should have been referred to as “not done.”

Every proposal in Greenburgh is met with virtually the same information as if the cookie-cutter submission could pose no problem to  our communities. By the time the Town Board meets with the attorneys in a Work Session, Mr Feiner has probably already met with them in his corner office and blessed the project, noting that there are no posed or potential dangers, the fire department is ready to extinguish any fire – should there be one, negligible water runoff, clean air and no toxicity for the residents. When these units fail, and they do fail, fire departments will require more resources as they will be committed to spend a minimum of 4-6 hours pouring copious gallons of water per minute to attempt to stop what’s known as Thermal Runoff (not fire).

When these battery backup systems fail, and they do fail, the results can be significant. One of the largest facilities is In Moss Landing, California. That battery plant failure burned in January requiring people to be evacuated and Highway 1 shutdown because of the toxic smoke generated. Firefighters were impotent to extinguish the fire and were forced to let it burn. An Arizona storage facility exploded and seriously injured firefighters. When multiple trailers burned, upstate residents were told to shelter in place.

Fortunately, numerous communities, such as Carmel and upstate’s Duanesburg, NY, have taken heed of the situation and have moved to prohibit larger battery storage systems in their communities. These communities are being practical in the face of recklessness: fighting a thermal runoff event (the actual name of a battery fire) is practically impossible to extinguish. Greenburgh should show the same initiative and predilection for safety for their respective fire service personnel and the public at large, but have chosen not to by approving any and all battery storage submission requests. So the result is that our communities are being bombarded with legal and illegal marijuana dispensaries, massage parlors, homelessness and now Energy Storage Systems!

These attorneys who are making submissions upon submissions are in high gear with no apparent slowing down. And left unchecked by the Town and its requisite Villages, residents are being forced to live and work in close proximity to these “farms”. Can you say Quality of Life? So what can we do?

First, we must implement a Moratorium on any new proposed battery storage units. Second, have multiple fire department veto power to sign off on site-specific planning for thermal runaway, plume modeling, water runoff and containment, ventilation and ultimately responsibility for cleanup. Third, the Town and Villages must develop complimentary zoning and legal requirements that curtail and more importantly protect our residents. Fourth, there should be an independent community group, such as the Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations to be the liaison between the public and the government. Fifth, there should be a state partnership where they develop and maintain uniformity throughout the state. Sixth, create greater setbacks that cannot be appealed and changed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction because a variance was submitted.

Finally, we shouldn’t be putting these battery storage units near residential areas, schools, and /or hospitals. Our current crop of “elected” officials are failing us with inaction, ignorance and complacency. We need term limits to ensure our politicians have a finite period of time to act and then we get some fresh blood in its place. It’s the only way we’ll get A Better Greenburgh.

NY State Politicians to Buy Your Vote

Thank God for elections! It’s the only time New York’s overtaxed, over-regulated and largely ignored constituents get “something for nothing” from their politicians. Especially if they are polling poorly – as Governor Hochul is, witnessed by her lack of favorability and downward decent in the polls. But can she actually buy our votes by giving us back our own money? No one’s going to refuse the check with or without the stench of a bribe.

After a recent press release from the Governor’s office, she detailed plans (below in color) that NY Sate tax payers from last year would be receiving “inflation refund checks”. Didn’t file taxes for 2023? Well, you won’t be getting anything. However, if you didn’t file your taxes because you hat e the government, Governor Hochul, can’t afford it, or something else, you’re still not receiving a check.

But what exactly is the inflation refund check scheme actually trying to do, beyond purchasing your vote? Inflation is not as high as it had been under the previous administration, the price of eggs, fuel and other consumables, have also gone down in price. Although, salaries have not kept pace with everything that is going on and “affordable housing” (aka subsidized housing) is still taking it on the chin.

What’s always discussed and never honestly discussed is that we have a lack of affordable housing throughout our area, although upstate NY (the real upstate) has continually been a depressed area. The residents either work for government, are school teachers and/or farmers and some random small business owners. They make up the majority of occupations up north. The balance sees many as members of the Department of Social Services receiving food stamps, housing vouchers for daily hotel room accommodations.

Why the housing shortages? Taxes. Why the vacant storefronts in every New York state  community? Taxes. How so, you may ask? Tax and spend politicians, such as those in New York, consistently tax property owners for more of their hard-earned money to give away on selective pet projects, member item causes (again, buying constituent votes with “goodwill” efforts). The reality is every time taxes are increased, property owners who rent a property to a business or an individual are forced to compensate by raising the rent. It’s a vicious cycle since taxes were made the law of the land.

Want to solve the affordable housing crisis? Lower taxes. More importantly, find ways to cut taxes while improving spending efficiency. It won’t happen with this current crop of politicos – they’ve already tasted the forbidden fruit and can’t be weened off of it. It’s time Greenburgh instituted term limits. Only then will we get A Better Greenburgh.

Inflation refund checks coming to millions in New York: What to know

New York State will begin mailing its first-ever inflation refund checks in just days, with over 8 million residents set to receive up to $400. These one-time payments aim to offset sales tax burdens tied to inflation—and qualified taxpayers don’t need to apply to get them.

When checks are coming

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance plans to begin mailing checks at the end of September 2025. The process will take several weeks and has several conditions:
• Mailings will not follow ZIP codes or regions
• You may receive your check before or after your neighbors
• The Tax Department will not provide specific delivery timelines
• Contact center staff will not have access to individual payment schedules

Watch your mailbox for an envelope from the NYS Tax Department, which will issue the checks directly.

Who qualifies for a refund
New Yorkers qualify if they meet three key criteria based on their 2023 tax return:

• Filed Form IT-201, the New York State Resident Income Tax Return

• Reported income within the eligible range

• Did not get claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return

If you qualify, the state will send your check automatically—no application needed.

How much you’ll get

The refund amount depends on your 2023 income and filing status. Here’s how it breaks down:

Single or Married Filing Separately

• $75,000 or less → $200

• $75,001–$150,000 → $150

Married Filing Joint or Qualifying Surviving Spouse

• $150,000 or less → $400

• $150,001–$300,000 → $300

Head of Household

• $75,000 or less → $200

• $75,001–$150,000 → $150

The refund checks will reflect your adjusted gross income reported on Line 33 of Form IT-201 for tax year 2023.

September 3, Storm Brings Torrential Excuses – Again

The Town Board has gotten comfortable with referencing these Hurricane Season storms by utilizing the moniker of a 100-year or 500-year, without similarly acknowledging some guilt to the flooding causation. Newer Town Board electees are learning first hand from the old guard how to tell the residents that they are doing everything possible to help their plight with flooding without really doing anything of substance.

So as the rain increased in intensity on Saturday, the Manhattan Brook filled rapidly to capacity. An email was sent to Mr Feiner, Commissioners Fon and Morabito stating that the river is at capacity and where are the pumps we were promised? Mr Feiner responded, “I spoke with the commissioner. We have the pumps but they’re missing a few parts. They are going to be placed on a truck and used during major storms to help residents of Fulton Park.” Sounds like the dog ate my homework excuse. It always seems be be someone else’s fault, “That’s County property so we can’t do something or another.” Or, it’s State property and no one has gotten back to us yet.

At the local level, when the Town started clearing debris and such on the Bronx River side of the Manhattan Brook, residents were told that the Town workers were stopped mid-way as the County said the Town didn’t have the proper permits to do that work! Really? You’d think the County would welcome Greenburgh’s effort to clear the debris away AT OUR EXPENSE and look to offer any modicum of relief to the people constantly being flooded. Very disappointing.

We saw extreme flooding that took place at Fulton Park on July 14, 2025. According to CD&C Commissioner Garrett Duquesne the Town received seven inches of rain in three hours. Property owners reported not only rain water damage, but sewers that backed up into their homes. Worthington-Woodlands Civic Association President Dorrine Livson noted that six to eight homes on Windom Street, Lark Avenue and Westchester View Lane were also inundated with water and sewage. One property owner received three and a half feet of water in their basement. Mrs. Livson said she advised the owners to inform the Town about the sewage. Jean Lane property owners also received water from Ferncliff Cemetery and acknowledged that the Town is working with the Cemetery to address this discharge of water on to neighboring property. And, a home on Miller Terrace in the Fulton Park area was flooded as were some on Gibson Street.

When asked whether the Town maintains the infrastructure to address

these kinds of storms. Mr. Sheehan mentioned that our infrastructure is built to accommodate a 25-year storm, which is typical throughout the U.S. He noted there is nothing anyone can do to accommodate a 100-year storm. He said he was out on Dobbs Ferry Road and watched the dirt pouring down from the Bright View construction site - the whole street was brown.

But Mr Sheehan conceded there is nothing the Town can do to prevent this from happening again. He said the Town hires a meteorologist that provides extremely accurate data that helps the Town save a lot of money by allowing the DPW to clean out debris in advance when necessary. He said this wasn’t a storm that the Town knew about. The Town was caught by surprise. Huh - didn’t you just say you hired a meteorologist? No one predicted the storm would be that bad. He said some Town infrastructure was so undermined by this storm, it now must be repaired.

Here’s a couple of ideas: 1) Every month do an inspection of choke points for debris, garbage and yard waste and then clean it out; 2) start applying for flood grants like Mamaroneck has done so you can make improvements throughout the Town – like Mamaroneck has done; 3) Actually listen to the neighborhoods instead of giving pushback as their ideas may have merit; 4) Look to hire an engineering firm to offer remedies since the Town always responds, “There’s nothing we can do.” Finally, institute term limits so we can break this culture of “NO!” It’s the only way to get A Better Greenburgh!