Failed Business Model Continues To Be Embraced

In White Plains this week, The public hearing for a Site Plan application at 1 Water St. opened and closed on September 17, with the White Plains Planning Board sending a letter to the Common Council citing its strong support for this project to move forward.

The building to be demolished is located at the corner of Ferris Avenue and Water Street, near the bus station hub and the old White Plains mall. The property is 1.4 acres with an office building slated for demolition and includes a land swap with the city. The city property includes a White Plains firehouse, which would be rebuilt at another location. The redevelopment proposal includes a mixed-use 22-story building with 301 residential units, parking and some retail.

The project is similar to ones we've witnessed throughout our Town and region. Apparently the “mixed use” model is the only thing taught at architectural and business schools for planners and developers. Throw in some residential, business and parking and your project will be green-lighted by these elected-for-life politicians seeking more tax dollars to spend. With all the flatulence we hear from them, when are these projects going to reduce our taxes as promised? Spoiler alert: they never do and never will.

Now we see Mr Feiner ignoring the Comprehensive Plan, as weak and intentionally vague as it is, by cavalierly spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer monies in the Hartsdale Four Corners (H4C) area. This effort is smoke and mirrors to appease the Hartsdale community from following their Edgemont neighbors and threaten incorporation after being ignored by Mr Feiner and his Board for so long. While seceding from the corrupt and ill-run Town may be a very real conversational topic, we don't believe enough Hartsdale residents are dissatisfied enough to actually make that journey.

In the recent Greenburgh Democratic candidate primary, three candidates were whittled down to two, effectively forcing Eric Zinger out of the race. He is a Hartsdale resident and member of the Democratic [p]Party who would have been our first choice of the three potential candidates for a number of reasons. However, while Mr Zinger could have been the most effective candidate, he's not in the Democrat's inner-circle and has also been critical of the current Administration.

The Comprehensive Plan originally had “nodes” at four-corner intersections whenever future development were to happen throughout the Town. Most residents who spoke at the Comp Plan Road Shows were vehemently against them and they were eventually scrapped. The proposal offered by Inspired Designs, a home operated business, legally or not, went with a design that was similar to what those speakers objected to. Ironically, while politicians keep feeding us flavored information, such as millennial's don't drive or own cars, and that these multi-use buildings do not need parking, the truth is a lot different. Have you ever sought a parking space anywhere in the Hartsdale area? If you have, you'll quickly realize that if you weren't born in that space, you might as well just keep driving.

We don't know what the love affair is with first floor retail combined with residential apartments above without parking, but it's a failed model. It's easy to understand. Simply, not many people want to live at the sidewalk level of a building due to lack of privacy among other concerns. But with these same politicians that are telling us retail is dead, all the while increasing taxes and fees and regulations, forcing the point and pinning their hopes on revenue that is not there nor is about to be, the builders and the developers will build no matter what. In the end, they will remain vacant as well as similar existing ones, lining the pockets of developers and politicians and doing nothing to change our landscape for the better. After awhile, it will be left vacant as a tax deduction instead of a tax payment generator. The politicos will give tax breaks in hopes of increasing the odds of gaining vacancy. But when the tax exemptions run out, so will the tenants. This prevailing mentality has to stop.

The White Plains project we opened this article with would include 59 studio apartments, 143 one-bedroom units, 91 two-bedroom units, and eight three-bedroom apartments, over four stories of structured parking all near the White Plains train station. At ground level, the plan calls for 12,000 sq. ft. of retail with pedestrian walkways. Of course there will be amenities for the residents, electric vehicle charging stations, low-flow plumbing, and Energy Star appliances as well as some sort of water/flooding mitigation. What's not listed is how much the domiciles will cost.

The reality however is that the facility will have storm water runoff aimed at the already swollen and overflowing, ill-maintained Bronx River. The parking issues will always be a concern, the retail space will either be a laundromat/cleaners, a stationery store selling newspapers and lotto tickets, a nail salon or some other service oriented retail business that will struggle to generate enough business to afford the rent. It's a classic story whose time to think differently and explore new concepts and new ideas is upon us. Maybe it's time to vote in some visionaries who can see past the same failed models. It's the only way to get A Better Greenburgh.

School Board Swamp Needs To Be Drained

As ABG got more and more entrenched with the School bond debacle, we learned that certain members of the school board may be secretly working to re-introduce all or part of the consolidation bond. This time, the illusion and the scene were cast when Dr Chase made “headlines” by claiming the school district’s engineers deemed the building was not safe for occupancy. And yet, she allowed her staff to remain at risk as they continued working in the building, thus either ignoring the directive that it was uninhabitable or proving that this declaration was a hoax perpetrated two days before school started for effect! Why had the entire summer passed without adequately addressing some of these issues?

We’ve recently learned from our sources that all is not well with many operational considerations. Recently several teachers who were instructed to report to the Mansion for staff training voiced a concern for their safety. (We purposely are not giving much info as to not cause these teachers any additional stress). 

So the question remains, why are people still occupying the Mansion if it is unsafe? And how unsafe is it really? Is the engineering firm that furnished the report on the building condition the same company that would be contracted to oversee the repairs? Can you say conflict of interest? Or how about collusion? We can continue but you get the idea. Is the Consolidation Bond issue that Dr Chase, Trustees Terry Williams, Lloyd Newland and David Warner all favored still a game plan for them as their legacy? The legacy should be about education, and improved metrics for the students. The Board should have learned something when the bond was overwhelmingly defeated – and not only that they poorly communicated with the taxpaying public. Are they trying to better understand what the taxpayers, including those with children in the school, were trying to tell them by voting against the bond.? Fix the existing schools, don’t sell them or move them!

A hypothetical question was raised at a recent neighborhood meeting we attended. The question was, “What is the first thing(s) that needs to be done to start improving the school buildings?” The answer was resounding, “Fix the roofs at each of the schools.” It was also asked, “Why wouldn’t they just do that anyway?” The answer was stunning: “Because it wouldn’t allow them to continue with their narrative that the schools are falling apart and need to be jettisoned while new buildings were constructed at Warburg.” The crowd was in disbelief. 

Here’s a couple of questions raised for which we need answers to from the Board. First, Why did the staff remain in the mansion for roughly a month if the conditions were as dire as Dr Chase insisted? Second, has the Board considered having the building evaluated by an engineering or architectural firm that is a disinterested party with nothing to gain by championing a campus consolidation? Third, has the Board already moved to initiate roof repairs? Fourth, once roof repairs are made what will be the next round of repairs and will they be made in stages of seriousness? Fifth, what is the next bond offering going to cover? Will it be for major, minor, all or some repairs? Most well run districts float bonds every couple of years so that major maintenance, such as roofing, can be done in a timely and scheduled manor. Why does our Board insist on ignoring necessary periodic maintenance bonds? Trustee Williams insisted during the Consolidation Bond presentation that the taxpayers in the past had always defeated the bonds. Why do you think that happened?

This Board, (except for its two newly elected members) and this Superintendent have not given the public the confidence that they need to be assured that the right decisions are being made for our property where we send our children to learn. The fantasy that was purported during the Consolidation Bond forums was that the children would learn better in brand new buildings, with state of the art smart boards, lights and other peripherals. What was also mentioned was that we have great teachers. Great teachers can teach under a tree if they are truly great. We’re not saying they should all adjourn to the great outdoors to teach. But instead of worrying about speaking Mandarin or having a press booth on the football field, let’s worry about teaching and learning in a productive environment. Fix the roofs. That’s a start – it needs to begin somewhere. It’s the first step to make A Better Greenburgh School District.

23-Year-Old Seriously Injured In Hit-Run Greenburgh Crash on Old Kensico Rd

A 23-year-old Greenburgh man was seriously injured during a hit-and-run incident on Old Kensico Road late last night by a vehicle that fled the scene, leaving the victim with serious injuries. 

The incident took place around 11:07 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 15, when Greenburgh Police came upon a pedestrian who had just been struck by a motor vehicle on Old Kensico Road where it intersects with Randolph Road, said Greenburgh Police Lt. Kobie Powell.The victim, a resident of Old Kensico Road, had been dropped off by a friend and was crossing Old Kensico Road behind the friend's vehicle when a dark-colored vehicle traveling southbound on Old Kensico Road struck the victim propelling him into an adjacent driveway, Powell said.The vehicle that struck him stopped momentarily and then fled the accident scene southbound on Old Kensico Road, leaving the victim with sustained head injuries. He was transported by Greenburgh EMS to the Westchester County Medical Center, where he was admitted.The Fulton Park Civic Association and the Council of Greenburgh Civic Association have been at numerous Town Board meetings pleading with the Supervisor and his Board to install sidewalks along Old Kensico Road before something bad happens. Too late. They need to find a solution for speeding and resume engaging in traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement has been abandoned for over a year now. The neighborhood also has many young kids walking to and from school and to bus stops early and in the afternoon without an adult present along Old Kensico Road. In fact, one of the stops is at this actual accident location. This situation needs to change. It's the only way to get A Better Greenburgh.

Greenburgh detectives are asking anyone with information to contact 914-989-1721.

Upcoming Traffic Alert

On Sunday September 15, 2019 from approx. 8:00 A.M, to approx. 12:00 P.M. (Noon), East Main Street (Route 119) will Close in both directions about 14 times for a short time, temporarily in front of # 250 which is Premier Auto, which is across the street from Bed Bath & Beyond, across the street from Burger King and between Starbucks and the Kidney Center.

Premier Auto is the building under construction and will have a helicopter lift approx. 14 roof-top air conditioning units off of trucks in the parking lot of Bed Bath & Beyond and bring them across East Main Street (Route 119) and place them on the roof of Premier Auto.

East Main Street will be Closed to Vehicle and Foot Traffic while the helicopter is crossing the road with the air conditioning units and re-open when it clears the road. The closings will only be for a few minutes each time to allow for the units to safely cross the road.

Premier Auto, the Construction Company and the Helicopter Company have all obtained Permits from the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) who owns and operates East Main Street (Route 119) to do this work.

We would advise you to avoid the area, or if you do not mind stopping for a few minutes, while you are stopped you can watch the helicopter perform the work.

Sept 11 Remembrance

Happy Labor Day

Timing, Like Location, Is Everything

Take a few minutes to read our two previous posts to get an inkling of what is transpiring on the Warburg campus. Specifically, Greenburgh Schools Superintendent Chase sent out a letter via email (so not everyone has received it), that highlights “several areas of concern” about the building referred to as the “Mansion” and its structural integrity. The Mansion houses the Board of Education administration and several early childhood program classrooms. The Superintendent claims that their architectural firm CSARCH, confirmed the Mansion is unsafe for students and staff to be in. Here’s a link to the letter and the CSARCH memo she sent out:

https://www.greenburghcsd.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=536&ModuleInstanceID=321&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=9745&PageID=3250

There are accompanying pictures with the brief report that appear to have been faxed using equipment from the early 1980s. In one picture there is an arrow pointing to an exterior window that says “deteriorated plaster ceiling”. In another, an arrow points to another window that says Suspended ACT ceiling. What are they really showing in these pictures? See below.

In total, this memo from CSARCH includes four points of concern covering the condition of the building. Our initial reaction regarding this newfound concern was why this was ignored until two business days before school reopens? The School Board, already suffering from a poor reputation with the community after they misled the taxpayers through omission regarding the School District Bond Vote in March, should have been all over this. But they weren’t. Why not?

In fact, we visited the Mansion the day after the school board meeting and found Dr Chase in her car outside where scene-tape prohibited entry. There was a brief exchange. When asked why she waited to expose this issue until now, she said it was known and in the original bond. It wasn’t in the $114 million-dollar bond, nor the previous bond for $166 million-dollars. We pointed out that they removed the Woodlands HS $47 million-dollars repairs from the $166 to get to the $114 million. She stated it was in the original $198 million bond. However, we know that the initial bond proposition was never offered to the public. It was shot down internally because of the prohibitive price tag. When asked if anyone was still in the building (it was about 5PM), she stated she was the last one out. A few more words were exchanged before she drove off.

Walking around the building and unable to gain entry (not that we would enter an unsafe structure), we could see through the windows that there were lights and computers still turned on throughout the building. Here’s two pictures of an office that had all of the lights on and it’s difficult to see but the clock on the wall says it’s about eight or nine minutes after five PM. We found several other rooms similarly lit up. Likewise, there was another room with a computer still on. Dangerous? Uninhabitable? C’mon.

Returning the following day, around noon on Friday, we found two gentlemen working inside one of the classrooms! After identifying ourselves, we asked why they were in there if the building was unsafe to be occupied as stated by Dr Chase to the School Board and the letter she subsequently sent out? They said they didn’t know about that, but they were just following orders from their boss to remove equipment. When asked if they believed their boss had their safety in mind when according to Dr Chase the building is unsafe for children and staff, they reiterated they were following orders. Perhaps a visit by PESH* is in order?

The information provided to Dr Chase and Mary O’Neill from CSARCH only addressed four supposed hazardous conditions. After the way taxpayers were treated by Dr Chase and the Board with the $114 million Bond initiative they were pushing, we believe they may be sensationalizing the gravity of the structural issues. There is nothing in the CSARCH report indicating that the entire building is unsafe for habitation. Their recommendation regarding the classrooms was to remove part of the acoustic ceiling tile ceiling so that the plaster ceiling on the other side could be inspected. The exterior issues could be quickly addressed by closing off the stairs to the playground to allow for repairs and entering from a different place. Was there a verbal communication that differs from the memorandum as written? Is this information “different” from the original 2015 Building Condition Survey?

We believe the reason the issues in the Mansion were brought up now is as a strategic move by Dr Chase and a select group of the School Board members in order to to revive the never-dead-never-ending consolidation bond once again. They’ve been setting all of their ducks in a row to get to this point.

Dr Chase mentioned the company Thought Exchange (.com) during the last School Board meeting. They are a well-known company whose job is to create surveys for a school district and formulate a plan(s) to get bonds approved in school districts. This company has been discussed before by the Board and the company even held a webinar with the Board.

Bringing up Thought Exchange and making an announcement about an unfit building both coincide with the renewal of the contract for a Public Relations company, making us incredibly suspect about ulterior motives. Watch your mailboxes for a letter that should arrive on Tuesday or so from the Superintendent reiterating all of this. If our suspicion proves out to be true, shame on all of them. If we allow this bond referendum to happen again, shame on us. The taxpayers must clean house and get this school district back on track! We have to do it for the kids and it’ll make for A Better Greenburgh School District.

* PESH (Public Employee Safety & Health) is the public sector equivalent of OSHA.

Greenburgh School Mansion To Close, Unfit For Occupancy

In a stunning change of direction, it was announced at last night’s Board of Education meeting that the “Mansion” as it’s referred to on the Warburg campus, was not structurally sound and should not have anyone working in it. According to Dr Chase, this was just brought to her attention late yesterday afternoon and the mansion would be not occupied today. But we’ve been told that they are still using the building. So is it not that bad or is it? What’s the truth? When asked at last evenings meeting if she had shared the condition information with anyone else, Dr Chase answered she had not. So, after the Bond vote in March, and the stunning 2-to-1 defeat, the Board and Dr Chase all said they needed to do a better job of communicating with the electorate. They’re not off to a good start.

Rumors abound about the district. We heard after the bond vote in March that the Board was positioning itself to do another consolidation bond vote. Dr Chase mentioned the company Thought Exchange (.com) during last night’s meeting. They are a well-known company whose job is to create surveys for a school district and formulate a plan(s) to get bonds approved in school districts. This company has been discussed before by the Board and even held a webinar with the Board. So bringing up Thought Exchange and making an announcement about an unfit building coincides with the renewal of the contract and associated fee increase that was on the original agenda for a Public Relations company, making us wonder what else might be going on?

It was said that CS Arch architectural firm will provide an estimate for the repair work required for the mansion. This building was included in the 2016 Buildings Condition Survey which reported that it required $6.8 million in repairs. Why was this not announced or reported on sooner or during the Bond Road show while we were being told about the poor conditions of the other buildings? It seemed as though anything that could possibly need a repair was thrown on the list. Except the mansion.

Our understanding is that there are about 28 (or so) employees in the building. They will no doubt be relocating those employees from the mansion elsewhere. There are three  classrooms of early childhood program children that will need to be relocated. It is thought that they will go to the Lee F Jackson school at the start of the school year.

The nagging question for us is the timing of all of this?

If there are structural issues at the mansion, let's certainly get them fixed. Ultimately, however, it's our fault for allowing the Board to operate the way they have for these past many years. We seem to keep coming back to the same questions that were repeatedly asked during the Bond Roadshow: Why were these needed repairs ignored and how much more will this now cost us due to the Boards negligence? The public deserves better and should demand better. But if we do, it's also up to us to follow up to ensure they follow what the community mandates. It will make for A Better Greenburgh School District.

Special School Board Meeting and Executive Session Slight of Hand

The Greenburgh Central School District's  Board of Education has posted a special meeting for this Wednesday night, Aug 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mansion. Below is the agenda that should be discussed. Interestingly, at the end of it is a raise for the public relations firm the District has hired which begs the question why does the district need a public relations firm?

ABG highly suspects there are additional bond-related discussions that will occur based upon the facilities tour that was given this week. The severe physical deficiencies of the buildings and grounds were highlighted even though a few positive things were as well. Your attendance will be greatly appreciated. 

On a problematic note, the Board is expected to adjourn to executive session immediately after opening the meeting at 6:30. We have written about the obfuscation of information from this Board in the past. They apparently are still failing to recognize the $114 million bond being defeated months ago due to their glaring inefficiencies and false information presented to the public, is that the taxpayers expect, deserve and were promised openness. This is not how to go about rebuilding the trust they need to restore. There is nothing on the agenda that would indicate the need for an executive session.

What should be happening is that the meeting should open as usual and the agenda addressed with the public encouraged to speak and engage in dialog with their elected Board members. THIS is the place for that to happen. At the end of the evening, IF there is a reason to go into executive session, that reason should be clearly communicated and then they adjourn. They should not be forcing the residents/taxpayers to wait an undisclosed amount of time for the meeting to resume. Simply, this tact is just wrong.

Tanya Drajic and Ashley Pineda were recently elected to the School Board as its newest members and Lloyd Newland removed. The clear reason is that the public trust has eroded over time. David Warner, barely successful in being re-elected, said (we’re paraphrasing) that they have learned from this election and the bond defeat that we have to listen better and be more open with information. Tag David, you're it.

Several others on the School Board remained silent during the bond referendum fiasco, afraid that it would hurt constituents but also too afraid to publicly comment against it. Perhaps it's time for these people to vacate the positions and let some fresh thinking new Board members effect change without emptying the taxpayer's bank accounts. 

Finally, long-time Board member Terry Williams utilized his Board of Education email account and the Board's email list to push the Bond Referendum through emails because this was his vision. Advertising and pushing his vision is a blatant violation of the rules and laws he and all Board members are required to follow. Has there been any consequence after his mea culpa excuse? Doubtful. This disregard of the rules should not go unanswered nor unpunished.

Come to the Wednesday night meeting and tell them how you feel - after they waste your time going into executive session and leaving us in the lurch. It’s the only way to get A Better Greenburgh School Board. 

Agenda:

Bd of Ed Agenda- Wed Aug 28

Rescissions

Ashley Cruz- ECP Special Ed (declined appt)

Wesley Marshall- Soccer Coach (declined appt)

Teshaun Mondello, RN (decined appt)

Resignations

Danielle Berard- Special Ed ECP

Wesley Marshall- Special Ed Woodlands

Maria Walsh- science Woodlands

Jahneen Woodbury- ECP; transitioning to new position at ECP

Danielle Nash RN – Lee Jackson

Appointments

Sharon Harris- Music RJBailey

Stefanie Vataj- Special Ed ECP – to replace Danielle Berard

Jahneen Woodbury- Elementary ECP

Childcare Providers

·       Paulette Lambertson

·       Constance Rios

Regents Proctors- Aug 13-15, 2019

·       Jennifer Belfiore

·       Holly Gant Jones

·       Steven Rounds

Summer Guidance counselors- July1-Aug 27, 2019

·       Carolyne Almonte

·       Roberto Dominguez

·       Joe Foy II

·       Holy Grant Jones

Technology Support

·       Jonathan Lewis

·       William McLee

Substitute Monitors Woodlands/Elementary

·       Bryan Bencosme

·       Tyeisha Robinson

·       Thomas Wilson

Leave

Daphne Tone- Security Aide

Status Change

·       Fernando Santos- Security Officer Highview:Provisional to Probationary

·       Douglas Scarinci- Security Officer RJBailey: provisional to probationary

·       Lynbeth Thomas- Security Aide RJBailey; provisional to probationary

RFP

Concordant Communications- Public Relations  $50,579 (increase from $47,351 spent in 2018-19 school  year)

5-Year Struck By Car In Elmsford

Saturday evening found emergency responders from the Elmsford Police and Fire Departments responding to an emergency call that a 5-year boy was struck by a car on South Lawn Avenue.

The all-volunteer Elmsford Fire Department responded to the scene with a fire engine and their ambulance. Many fire departments in the area operate ambulances within their community. Reports came in to responders that the injured boy was unresponsive. Apparently, he would go in and out of consciousness. While he was conscious he could be heard crying.

A suspect was arrested for the crime for operating a vehicle without a license, fleeing the scene, and possibly more. A neighbor reportedly saw a black 1994 or 1995 Mustang 5.0 racing up and down the street earlier. It's unknown if this vehicle was the one that struck the boy, who was transported to the Westchester County Medical Center.