The race in Greenburgh results are as follows:
For Supervisor:
28-Year incumbent Paul Feiner received 10,974 combined votes (68%).
Challenger Lucas Cioffi received 5,190 votes (32%)
All other Greenburgh seats were unchallenged, including Ken Jones* and Gina Jackson for Town Board. For Town Clerk was incumbent Judith Beville.
* Jones currently has two ethics complaints pending against him.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Feiner’s Follies
During the 28 years of the Paul Feiner Administration, the residents of the Town of Greenburgh have been subjected to his mis-management and incompetency during that entire time and paying dearly for it. We’ve listed a wide collection of costly events from Mr Feiner.
Law Suits Verdicts Against The Town
• Fortress Bible Church discrimination lawsuit where Mr Feiner and his Board (at the time) $6.5 million award, which we are still paying.
• Cotswold Tree Damages. Found that the Town under-insured; Monetary award of millions; the Husband was killed and his wife was permanently disabled.
Pending Law Suits
• S&R Development Estates LLC has filed 7 lawsuits since 2007, against the Town of Greenburgh for illegally blocking the development of a multi-family affordable & low income residential property for $26 million. This all came about due to an error on the Zoning map. The property should have been shown as being in a Residential district. Instead it was mistakenly shown as being in the Central Ave. commercial district where multi- family housing is permitted. When the mistake was discovered, Paul Feiner ordered the map to be corrected without following the legal procedure which required a Public Hearing. S&R purchased the property relying on the fact that it was zoned for multi/ family use.
• Argonaut Insurance Co., Wants to be released from covering the $26 million Dromore Road suit. They claim that they were not the insurance carrier when the basis for the initial suit (2007) took place and should be released from paying any fines since they were only retained in 2015. Actually, Argonaut maintain that Mr Feiner and Mr Sheehan acted intentionally, and as a result Argonaut should be released from coverage because public policy doesn’t allow for insurability of “intentionally caused harm.” In other words, this isn’t an accident like a tree falling on a car: Argonaut is alleging that Messrs Feiner and Sheehan deliberately changed the maps to screw S&R and therefore they violated the insurance policy. This has happened before with the $6.5 million fine in the Fortress Bible Church. Because Mr Feiner was found guilty of lying under oath and destroying evidence in Federal Court, the insurance company only had to pay one million dollars of the entire amount.
• Ferncliff Cemetery is suing Mr Feiner and the Town for $76 million, contending that the twelve acres is actually property for cemetery burials. The Town has claimed that that property was not part of the original Ferncliff purchase and subsequently cannot be used for cemetery burials.
Land Use Decisions
• Shelbourne Assisted Living Facility. Disregarding the Town Zoning Ordinance re: Assisted Living and has a 3000% variance allowed - distance of more than 1 mile to State road instead of 200 ft.
• Deli Delicious Restaurant
Appointed a tenant of the Deli Delicious owner to the Zoning Board of Appeals when the
property owner was seeking variances from that Board.
• Frank’s Nursery. Allowed uncollected taxes for 6 years before Town foreclosed on property. Tried to lease the property to GameOn Sports Complex – Illegal according to State and County law. He attempted to sell property without clear title. Also contracted to sell property to GameOn with a 13 year installment plan, and a way “out” if hazardous materials remediation costs exceeded a certain amount.
• WestHELP – Westchester Community College Property off of Knollwood Road. The Town was receiving $1.2 million per year for housing for homeless women and children.
Mr Feiner arranged a deal with the Valhalla School District to pay them $650,000 a year for school-age children to attend Valhalla schools. State Comptroller found the deal illegal. No children attended the Valhalla schools and a law suit was filed by private citizens to have that money returned to the Town and won. Another deal was made with the Mayfair Knollwood Civic Association to pay them $100,000 for their approval of this arrangement. The deal was found to be illegal.He also allowed the contract to lapse in 2011 causing the Town to lose over $8 million to date and forcing the property to fall into disrepair due to lack of maintenance.
• Tarryhill Housing on Old Tarrytown Road.The Town did not do its due diligence in allowing this affordable housing project to be sold to owners whose objective it is to turn the property into non-affordable housing per Wall Street Journal article.
Land Use Committees
Paul Feiner promoted the idea that land use committees would allow neighborhood residents to have input regarding proposed development in their communities.
We have now been informed by the Commissioner of Community Development & Conservation that the rules have been changed and that land use committees will only be used when a Zoning Change is required for the project.
When a project (i.e. The Jefferson) was proposed in Mr. Feiner's “backyard”, he made sure that an outside independent consulting firm was hired to study all aspects of the proposal.
Without a land use committee, this procedure will not be followed.
There are currently 4 land use applications submitted to the Town that should be allowed to have land use committees formed to have input from the neighborhood residents that will be impacted by these developments. These are:
• ShopRite Super Market - MutliPlex theater/ Master's Shopping Center property on 9A. Mr Feiner favors allowing large tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles to use the adjoining Old Country Road. This project will impact the safety of 215 families in the Westchester Hills Condominiums and some residents of the Beaver Hill area.
• Sam's Club – 9A across from MultiPlex/Master's Shopping Center. They are seeking to install 7 underground gas tanks with 14 gas pumps in a FEMA-designated flood zone near the Saw Mill River. It would would eliminate 100 parking spaces and increase congested traffic flow for the area. This proposal was previously rejected by the Town's Zoning Board of Appeals.
• Metropolis Country Club – Dobbs Ferry Road.They are seeking to change the Zoning Code for an Independent Living/Assisted Living/Memory Care Facility to allow for a 60% increase in density.They also want to introduce “floating zones” which could set a precedent to allow commercial entities in all residential districts.
• Maplewood Swim & Tennis Club – West Hartsdale Ave.They seek to build an Assisted Living/Memory Care Facility.They also wants a variance of 50% for the length of the building from 300 ft. to 450 ft. Neighbors in several neighborhoods nearby have expressed concerns involving increased traffic and safety on already heavily travelled roads.
All of the residents from these areas should be given the same opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns about these forthcoming developments, just like the residents of East Irvington (solar farms), Worthington-Woodlands (Elmwood CC), Hartsdale (4 Corners) and Ardsley (The Jefferson).
Dial Democracy
This was the brain child of Paul Feiner that allowed residents to call in to Town Board meetings during Public Comments and Public Hearings to voice their opinions, concerns and ask questions when they are unable to attend these meetings in person.
For some unknown reason, this important social media tool has been discontinued for the past decade despite the urging by citizens to restore it.
In fact, Dial Democracy should also be allowed during Public Hearings at the Planning Board and Public Hearings involving variances at the Zoning Board of Appeals. It’s what will make for A Better Greenburgh.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Candidate Debates For Supervisor
There have been two debates (links below) this past week between 28-year Democrat Town Supervisor Paul Feiner and Independent challenger Lucas Cioffi. The first debate, while cordial, was held at the Greenburgh Library in the large conference room. There were about 50 or so people in attendance for the League of Women Voters (LOWV) led evening. As an aside, this is not the first event run by the LOWV but it sure seemed like it. While their moderators claim to not live in the Town, they still allowed Mr Feiner more time to speak than Mr Cioffi, a clear bias that has be seen at other events in our Town run by the LOWV.
All questions were forced to be censored by having attendees write their questions on 3" x 5" index cards. This control of questions, limits the information flow to voters and is counter-productive, ensuring a safety net for incumbents. Since Mr Feiner boasted of his 28-year tenure as valuable job experience, he cut off those critics who either believe he has been in office too long or favor term-limits. Mr Cioffi favors a three-term limit as a maximum.
Ironically, at the Town Board debate several months ago between the two annointed Democratic candidates running against Democratic Hartsdale resident Eric Zinger (we believe a better choice), Councilman Jones stated that a candidate needs 12 years to get anything done if elected. His neatly-crafted and yet absurd explanation was that it takes 4 years to settle in and get past the previous position-holder's issues. The next four years to introduce his issues while working on other Board member issues and the final four to get his issues addressed. If that were truly the case, when will he seek to change the term for Greenburgh Council persons to 12-years? It seems very convoluted to us.
So with Mr Jones into his third term, he should be leaving us soon. As an aside, Mr Jones also has two pending ethics complaints brought against him during the summer months that have languished. Why have they languished? As you know, Mr Feiner, vis-a-vis’ his Town Board, chooses and appoints all members to all of the Boards he creates or sustains.This Board is no different. They had been operating for over a year with one less member than “required”. That member, supposedly a Republican for balance on the otherwise Democratic Board, had been AWOL for about a year after being appointed. Since then, two members resigned and one is out on sick leave. This is known within the Town’s various Boards as falling on the “Feiner sword” whenever necessary. By doing so, Mr Jones gets to seek re-election unencumbered by the “Ethics Complaint Albatross” overshadowing his candidacy. After Mr Jones is re-elected to his Council seat, Mr Feiner will appoint new members to revitalize his Ethics Board.
The first evening’s debate had no real drama or fireworks. Mr Cioffi mentioned early on that he had told Mr Feiner that he would keep the campaign civil and courteous. He also said that after 28-years, it was certainly time for a change. Mr Feiner said that his 28-year experience, contacts in state and federal governments have helped him get things done for Greenburgh.
One thing that he didn’t mention was his ability to get laws changed that benefit him, such as the one he asked his cohort Assemblyman Tom Abinanti to introduce in Albany to change the incorporation laws to slow, stop or thwart the Edgemont incorporation effort. Or, like the one he asked Mr Abinanti to introduce to alter the Finneran Law. Why is this significant? Payback. Mr Feiner did Mr Abinanti a favor by blocking the Fortress Bible Church from building on property that was behind Mr Abinanti's home and neighborhood. Mr Feiner would subsequently be found guilty of lying under oath and destroying evidence by a Federal Court and fined $6.5 million dollars. That was one helluva a price for Mr Feiner to pay, but in reality, we are the ones paying! By the way, Mr Abinanti has since moved out of Unincorporated Greenburgh!
The second debate, hosted by the Hartsdale Neighborhood Association, would find an equally stifling environment of 3" x 5" index cards and a lack of community engagement. This one would offer a slightly different environment. The opening statements would be five minutes instead of two and answers would be restricted to two minutes instead of one and a half. Mr Feiner was allowed to go first, reading his accomplishments from prepared text in a loose-leaf binder with topic tabs. So there was literally no change in content this evening from him with the exception of going longer. Interestingly, he kept touting the Towns AAA Bond rating, which does little for us since the Town floats few bonds. It really only highlights the taxpayers ability to dig deeper into their wallets every time he raises taxes. He also claimed that the Town has stayed under the 2% tax cap. But if you take away the allowable exceptions when calculating the actual tax increase according to Mr Cioffi, we have seen an average 4% yearly tax increase over the last 20 years!
Mr Cioffi stated that Mr Feiner has a reputation for answering phone calls and emails at all times of the day or night. He has billed himself as the problem solver. He also said that Mr Feiner claims the Town is running well and our various departments are doing a fantastic job. That may be, at least according to what Mr Feiner says, but since Mr Feiner is the only one person receiving and responding to emails, we’ll never really know. In fact, Mr Cioffi said that this is a failed model because there is only one point of contact for 90,000 people, which is inefficient, provides little to no accountability and no open or accessible records that could be studied and quantified by residents.
Another interesting proposal by newcomer/fresh voice/outside thinker Lucas Cioffi is a two-year tax moratorium once he takes office. This idea, which has several reasons behind it was copied by Mr Feiner who has recently started saying that the Town will have a 1-year tax moratorium this coming year. This exemplifies why we need to have term limits and why it’s time for a change: different ideas, different thinking, different solutions.
Want another idea that highlights different thinking? When his opening 5-minutes started, Mr Cioffi said that he would address all questions from where he was seated but would go in front of the crowd for this one part. “This one part” turned out to be him saying to everyone, “Think about what it is that brought you here tonight?” The second question is, “What does Greenburgh need right now and going forward?” Then he asked everyone to introduce themselves to the person next to them and tell them why they were here. This was a powerful and creative gesture, the likes of which we promise will be copied and reused by Mr Feiner.
After this unique opening, Mr Feiner and Mr Cioffi danced around the issues. Mr Feiner read most of his answers from his playbook and Mr Cioffi comfortably responded to the questions without a prepared set of answers. Now, we don’t believe for a minute that Mr Cioffi wasn’t prepared, but he seemed thoroughly knowledgable with the information he was putting forth. He also said that this election was about building bridges across our neighborhoods.
The first debate spent a lot of time, questions and answers about the Edgemont Incorporation issue gnawing at the Town. The second debate did not. Mr Feiner spoke often about the unsanctioned Hartsdale 4-Corners revitalization. He has already spent an unauthorized $400,000 dollars on purchasing two properties behind the old DairyDel corner store. He also mentioned that there are many priorities throughout the Town, including storm water and traffic issues including at the four corner area. What he didn’t mention was that he has ignored those problems especially in that area during his 28-year tenure and only got interested in them when rumors of a Hartsdale Incorporation began circulating.
Mr Feiner also mentioned a food scrap recycling program. He didn't discuss getting our taxes under control. Mr Cioffi did. Mr Cioffi said the budget is 220 pages with only three charts. He pointed out that Mr Feiner said Mr Cioffi’s two-year tax freeze wasn’t a good idea, and then a week later copied the Cioffi campaign’s idea with a one-year freeze. Feiner supporters will justify this as smart - taking a good idea and running with it. Realists, however, will be critical and wonder why he never did this before? 28-years of complacency.
We can go on but won’t. As Mr Cioffi said in his summary remarks at the second event, “Mr Feiner talks about how he can get Albany to listen but he can’t get Edgemont to listen.” This election is not about who is the best candidate, but to quote Mr Cioffi, “It’s about what is the best system to run Greenburgh?” Mr Cioffi has a lot of good ideas, something we have not had in years. This might just be the change we need to make for A Better Greenburgh.
Learn more by watching the debates for yourself (links below). Or, come to the next debate to be held on Monday, October 28 at the Theodore D. Young Community Center (32 Manhattan Ave, White Plains) @ 7pm.
Debate Links:
https://youtu.be/1qW4O4tdXnE
https://youtu.be/6h0_skPh7Tc
All questions were forced to be censored by having attendees write their questions on 3" x 5" index cards. This control of questions, limits the information flow to voters and is counter-productive, ensuring a safety net for incumbents. Since Mr Feiner boasted of his 28-year tenure as valuable job experience, he cut off those critics who either believe he has been in office too long or favor term-limits. Mr Cioffi favors a three-term limit as a maximum.
Ironically, at the Town Board debate several months ago between the two annointed Democratic candidates running against Democratic Hartsdale resident Eric Zinger (we believe a better choice), Councilman Jones stated that a candidate needs 12 years to get anything done if elected. His neatly-crafted and yet absurd explanation was that it takes 4 years to settle in and get past the previous position-holder's issues. The next four years to introduce his issues while working on other Board member issues and the final four to get his issues addressed. If that were truly the case, when will he seek to change the term for Greenburgh Council persons to 12-years? It seems very convoluted to us.
So with Mr Jones into his third term, he should be leaving us soon. As an aside, Mr Jones also has two pending ethics complaints brought against him during the summer months that have languished. Why have they languished? As you know, Mr Feiner, vis-a-vis’ his Town Board, chooses and appoints all members to all of the Boards he creates or sustains.This Board is no different. They had been operating for over a year with one less member than “required”. That member, supposedly a Republican for balance on the otherwise Democratic Board, had been AWOL for about a year after being appointed. Since then, two members resigned and one is out on sick leave. This is known within the Town’s various Boards as falling on the “Feiner sword” whenever necessary. By doing so, Mr Jones gets to seek re-election unencumbered by the “Ethics Complaint Albatross” overshadowing his candidacy. After Mr Jones is re-elected to his Council seat, Mr Feiner will appoint new members to revitalize his Ethics Board.
The first evening’s debate had no real drama or fireworks. Mr Cioffi mentioned early on that he had told Mr Feiner that he would keep the campaign civil and courteous. He also said that after 28-years, it was certainly time for a change. Mr Feiner said that his 28-year experience, contacts in state and federal governments have helped him get things done for Greenburgh.
One thing that he didn’t mention was his ability to get laws changed that benefit him, such as the one he asked his cohort Assemblyman Tom Abinanti to introduce in Albany to change the incorporation laws to slow, stop or thwart the Edgemont incorporation effort. Or, like the one he asked Mr Abinanti to introduce to alter the Finneran Law. Why is this significant? Payback. Mr Feiner did Mr Abinanti a favor by blocking the Fortress Bible Church from building on property that was behind Mr Abinanti's home and neighborhood. Mr Feiner would subsequently be found guilty of lying under oath and destroying evidence by a Federal Court and fined $6.5 million dollars. That was one helluva a price for Mr Feiner to pay, but in reality, we are the ones paying! By the way, Mr Abinanti has since moved out of Unincorporated Greenburgh!
The second debate, hosted by the Hartsdale Neighborhood Association, would find an equally stifling environment of 3" x 5" index cards and a lack of community engagement. This one would offer a slightly different environment. The opening statements would be five minutes instead of two and answers would be restricted to two minutes instead of one and a half. Mr Feiner was allowed to go first, reading his accomplishments from prepared text in a loose-leaf binder with topic tabs. So there was literally no change in content this evening from him with the exception of going longer. Interestingly, he kept touting the Towns AAA Bond rating, which does little for us since the Town floats few bonds. It really only highlights the taxpayers ability to dig deeper into their wallets every time he raises taxes. He also claimed that the Town has stayed under the 2% tax cap. But if you take away the allowable exceptions when calculating the actual tax increase according to Mr Cioffi, we have seen an average 4% yearly tax increase over the last 20 years!
Mr Cioffi stated that Mr Feiner has a reputation for answering phone calls and emails at all times of the day or night. He has billed himself as the problem solver. He also said that Mr Feiner claims the Town is running well and our various departments are doing a fantastic job. That may be, at least according to what Mr Feiner says, but since Mr Feiner is the only one person receiving and responding to emails, we’ll never really know. In fact, Mr Cioffi said that this is a failed model because there is only one point of contact for 90,000 people, which is inefficient, provides little to no accountability and no open or accessible records that could be studied and quantified by residents.
Another interesting proposal by newcomer/fresh voice/outside thinker Lucas Cioffi is a two-year tax moratorium once he takes office. This idea, which has several reasons behind it was copied by Mr Feiner who has recently started saying that the Town will have a 1-year tax moratorium this coming year. This exemplifies why we need to have term limits and why it’s time for a change: different ideas, different thinking, different solutions.
Want another idea that highlights different thinking? When his opening 5-minutes started, Mr Cioffi said that he would address all questions from where he was seated but would go in front of the crowd for this one part. “This one part” turned out to be him saying to everyone, “Think about what it is that brought you here tonight?” The second question is, “What does Greenburgh need right now and going forward?” Then he asked everyone to introduce themselves to the person next to them and tell them why they were here. This was a powerful and creative gesture, the likes of which we promise will be copied and reused by Mr Feiner.
After this unique opening, Mr Feiner and Mr Cioffi danced around the issues. Mr Feiner read most of his answers from his playbook and Mr Cioffi comfortably responded to the questions without a prepared set of answers. Now, we don’t believe for a minute that Mr Cioffi wasn’t prepared, but he seemed thoroughly knowledgable with the information he was putting forth. He also said that this election was about building bridges across our neighborhoods.
The first debate spent a lot of time, questions and answers about the Edgemont Incorporation issue gnawing at the Town. The second debate did not. Mr Feiner spoke often about the unsanctioned Hartsdale 4-Corners revitalization. He has already spent an unauthorized $400,000 dollars on purchasing two properties behind the old DairyDel corner store. He also mentioned that there are many priorities throughout the Town, including storm water and traffic issues including at the four corner area. What he didn’t mention was that he has ignored those problems especially in that area during his 28-year tenure and only got interested in them when rumors of a Hartsdale Incorporation began circulating.
Mr Feiner also mentioned a food scrap recycling program. He didn't discuss getting our taxes under control. Mr Cioffi did. Mr Cioffi said the budget is 220 pages with only three charts. He pointed out that Mr Feiner said Mr Cioffi’s two-year tax freeze wasn’t a good idea, and then a week later copied the Cioffi campaign’s idea with a one-year freeze. Feiner supporters will justify this as smart - taking a good idea and running with it. Realists, however, will be critical and wonder why he never did this before? 28-years of complacency.
We can go on but won’t. As Mr Cioffi said in his summary remarks at the second event, “Mr Feiner talks about how he can get Albany to listen but he can’t get Edgemont to listen.” This election is not about who is the best candidate, but to quote Mr Cioffi, “It’s about what is the best system to run Greenburgh?” Mr Cioffi has a lot of good ideas, something we have not had in years. This might just be the change we need to make for A Better Greenburgh.
Learn more by watching the debates for yourself (links below). Or, come to the next debate to be held on Monday, October 28 at the Theodore D. Young Community Center (32 Manhattan Ave, White Plains) @ 7pm.
Debate Links:
https://youtu.be/1qW4O4tdXnE
https://youtu.be/6h0_skPh7Tc
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Upcoming Supervisor Candidate Debates
If you live in Greenburgh -- including Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Hastings, Irvington, Tarrytown, or unincorporated (Edgemont, Hartsdale, Fairview) -- this is the first time you can vote for a new town supervisor in a general election in over a decade. Challenger Lucas Cioffi, an Independent candidate, is running against Paul Feiner for Greenburgh Town Supervisor November 5th.
You are Invited to these three debates:
• Oct 21: League of Women Voters Debate, Greenburgh Public Library (300 Tarrytown Rd, Elmsford) @ 6:30pm
• Oct 22: Hartsdale Neighbors Association Forum, St Paul's United Methodist Church (130 N Central Ave, Hartsdale) @ 7pm
• Oct 28: NAACP Candidates Forum, Theodore D. Young Community Center (32 Manhattan Ave, White Plains) @ 7pm
Please mark your calendars.
Early voting starts Oct 26th: details about early voting and absentee ballots.
Lucas Cioffi’s simplified message about his campaign. Please share with your friends and neighbors:
1. Place a two-year freeze on town tax levies
2. Use real community involvement to get the budget and spending under control
3. Significantly increase openness and accountability
4. Implement term limits
Here is his full 8-page platform for your consideration. For info:
Lucas Cioffi
Candidate for Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Greenburgh, NY
Website: https://www.
PS - You are receiving this email, because you receive our town's email updates. The New York State Committee on Open Government has confirmed that candidates running for office in Greenburgh may use the email list as long as we do not use it for fundraising purposes. Please let me know if you'd like to unsubscribe, and thank you for your time!
You are Invited to these three debates:
• Oct 21: League of Women Voters Debate, Greenburgh Public Library (300 Tarrytown Rd, Elmsford) @ 6:30pm
• Oct 22: Hartsdale Neighbors Association Forum, St Paul's United Methodist Church (130 N Central Ave, Hartsdale) @ 7pm
• Oct 28: NAACP Candidates Forum, Theodore D. Young Community Center (32 Manhattan Ave, White Plains) @ 7pm
Please mark your calendars.
Early voting starts Oct 26th: details about early voting and absentee ballots.
Lucas Cioffi’s simplified message about his campaign. Please share with your friends and neighbors:
1. Place a two-year freeze on town tax levies
2. Use real community involvement to get the budget and spending under control
3. Significantly increase openness and accountability
4. Implement term limits
Here is his full 8-page platform for your consideration. For info:
Lucas Cioffi
Candidate for Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Greenburgh, NY
Website: https://www.
PS - You are receiving this email, because you receive our town's email updates. The New York State Committee on Open Government has confirmed that candidates running for office in Greenburgh may use the email list as long as we do not use it for fundraising purposes. Please let me know if you'd like to unsubscribe, and thank you for your time!
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Lowey Will Not Seek Re-election in 2020
White Plains, NY – Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY17/Westchester and Rockland),
Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, announced today that she will not seek
re-election next year in the following statement:
“After 31 years in the United States Congress, representing the people of Westchester, Rockland, Queens and the Bronx, I have decided not to seek re-election in 2020.
“It is my deep honor and privilege to serve my community and my country, and I will always be grateful to the people who have entrusted me to represent them.
“I am proud of the help my office has provided to thousands of constituents on matters ranging from health insurance and veterans’ benefits to Social Security and student loans. “As a long-time Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have secured funding to clean up and protect Long Island Sound and the Hudson River; increase access to Head Start, after school programs, and community health centers for thousands of local children and families; provide New York’s fair share of homeland security assistance; and make the commute across the Hudson easier and safer on the new Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. In difficult times, including after September 11th and Superstorm Sandy, I have fought hard in Washington for federal assistance to recover and rebuild.
“I authored legislation to institute the .08 standard of enforcement for drunk driving, which has dramatically reduced DWI fatalities. My legislation to require commonsense, clear allergy information on food labels has improved and saved countless lives. I am also proud of my successful efforts to require contraceptive insurance coverage for federal employees and to dramatically increase investments and gender equity in federal medical research.
“As the Chairwoman of the Appropriations subcommittee that writes the foreign aid bill, I have advanced record funding for women’s health and basic education - especially for girls - around the world, a strong U.S.-Israel relationship with bipartisan support, and other investments that support American interests abroad.
“I am honored that my colleagues in Congress elected me as the first Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee and will fight vigorously for House Democratic priorities as I negotiate spending bills for fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
“I am especially thankful for the dedication and wisdom of my current and former staff in New York, in Washington, and on the House Appropriations Committee. Partnerships with countless advocates, leaders, and elected officials in New York and Washington have been invaluable. I look forward to more time with my husband Steve and our family, who have strongly supported my career in public service.
“Thank you to the people of my district for the opportunity to serve. I will continue working as hard as ever – with the same optimism and energy – through the end of this term in Congress.”
“After 31 years in the United States Congress, representing the people of Westchester, Rockland, Queens and the Bronx, I have decided not to seek re-election in 2020.
“It is my deep honor and privilege to serve my community and my country, and I will always be grateful to the people who have entrusted me to represent them.
“I am proud of the help my office has provided to thousands of constituents on matters ranging from health insurance and veterans’ benefits to Social Security and student loans. “As a long-time Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have secured funding to clean up and protect Long Island Sound and the Hudson River; increase access to Head Start, after school programs, and community health centers for thousands of local children and families; provide New York’s fair share of homeland security assistance; and make the commute across the Hudson easier and safer on the new Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. In difficult times, including after September 11th and Superstorm Sandy, I have fought hard in Washington for federal assistance to recover and rebuild.
“I authored legislation to institute the .08 standard of enforcement for drunk driving, which has dramatically reduced DWI fatalities. My legislation to require commonsense, clear allergy information on food labels has improved and saved countless lives. I am also proud of my successful efforts to require contraceptive insurance coverage for federal employees and to dramatically increase investments and gender equity in federal medical research.
“As the Chairwoman of the Appropriations subcommittee that writes the foreign aid bill, I have advanced record funding for women’s health and basic education - especially for girls - around the world, a strong U.S.-Israel relationship with bipartisan support, and other investments that support American interests abroad.
“I am honored that my colleagues in Congress elected me as the first Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee and will fight vigorously for House Democratic priorities as I negotiate spending bills for fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
“I am especially thankful for the dedication and wisdom of my current and former staff in New York, in Washington, and on the House Appropriations Committee. Partnerships with countless advocates, leaders, and elected officials in New York and Washington have been invaluable. I look forward to more time with my husband Steve and our family, who have strongly supported my career in public service.
“Thank you to the people of my district for the opportunity to serve. I will continue working as hard as ever – with the same optimism and energy – through the end of this term in Congress.”
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Yom Kippur Wishes
Yom Kippur is the day when we are closest to God. It is the day for atonement, the day for repenting for our sins. On the day of Yom Kippur, God is more merciful to us than any other day. Yom Kippur is one of the biggest religious holidays for Jewish people all over the world. This makes it necessary for you to wish your loved ones Blessed Yom Kippur. Wishing Blessed Yom Kippur is important to let your friends and family know that they are in your prayers on this day. Your Yom Kippur wishes and messages can inspire them to pray for mercy and purification of their souls. These Yom Kippur wishes can also be a motivation for them to pray for good and favorable judgment from God.
Monday, October 7, 2019
Duplicitous Meeting Obscures Truth - Again
To the uninitiated, when taxpayers receive a neighborhood invite from Mr Feiner, they think it’s something special. Such was the case on Saturday when they were invited to the former Multi-plex for a site visit and another meeting with all of the interested players seeking to build another ShopRite store in Westchester, this time in Greenburgh, known as North Elmsford. It will be directly across the street from Sam’s Club. The same diagrams that had been used back in June were regurgitated for this meeting. In fact, no changes had been made since the initial offering. The only difference this time is all of the players were willing to acknowledge what we had learned even before June, that this would be a new ShopRite supermarket.
One might wonder why ShopRite would want to build at this site? Location, location, location. Don’t be confused, it’s not a great location yet. It will take about two years or less depending on how much green-lighting they need from the Town Board once they take on Lead Agency status. ShopRite knows what we have been reporting for years. The Mt Pleasant portion of property adjacent to Greenburgh’s Northern Elmsford has discussions underway to be developed with numerous apartments, motel, etc., giving them a perfect position to cater to those families. Already existing residents will also benefit. We’re sure Mr Feiner had his hand in this offer as he traditionally is planning for projects several years into the future.
But here’s what doesn’t gel. Residents who participated with this site visit were told numerous things. In part, they heard Feiner-speak and the other part, code for done-deal. So the proposed ShopRite will be 75,711 square feet. Also proposed will be a yet-to-be-announced restaurant or retail business that will be 13,765 square feet in size. The proposal also includes an additional 3,000 square foot restaurant that should be close to the entrance/exit off of 9A. The 20,000 square foot multi-plex theater as well as the stores and bank will be demolished. When looking at the dimensional layout of the project, it’s been crafted to solely benefit the developer and ultimately, ShopRite, by moving the building closer to the Westchester Hills Condominiums and the Orchard Lane residents in the Beaver Hill community.
But this walk through was not about hearing the community residents’ concerns. Rather, it was the developer and Mr Feiner, along with his Town Board, and Commissioner Garrett Duquesne letting the residents know what they can expect with this project. There was nothing different this day from the previous meeting held in the Westchester Hills Condominium’s Rec Center room in June. Everyone here continued to say they had no objection to ShopRite coming into the space. What they all seemed united about was that they did not want an entrance/exit onto Old Country Road. They said an already dangerous area would be made worse by even more tractor-trailer and truck traffic as trucks currently use Old Country Road as a cut through to get to the businesses in the Executive Boulevard complex, which is zoned for light commercial businesses. Old Country Road, which currently prohibits commercial traffic, is the only access/exit road for the Westchester Hills Condominium complex.
The developer’s plans call for major working of the property’s grade from what it is now to a more leveled one. The excuse given was that the zoning requires it and they also wanted to control runaway shopping carts. That was almost laughable. Mr Feiner, his Town Board, and/or his hand-picked Planning and Zoning Boards give out zoning variances like candy at Halloween. Some recent projects where this was done was on Old Colony Road for steep slope; Brightview Assisted Living for setbacks; Deli Delicious for setbacks; Westhab for setbacks, building size; Shelbourne Assisted Living, with a 3,000% variance and setbacks; and on a Central Avenue office building at Ardsley Road and Central Park Avenue for setbacks, undersized building parking and structure heights.
In fact, every developer that pre-meets with Mr Feiner privately before they submit plans at a Town Board work session already know what few obstacles they may face. Regardless, this was a fake argument to make for this crowd because they don’t follow these Boards, nor understand that this deal is already underway. How do we know? Because everyone from the applicant’s side, Mr Feiner and Walter Simon, the Chair of the Planning Board said that once the Planning Board has the project on their agenda, residents can come and speak about it. This is interesting because the Planning Board doesn’t allow comments to be made.
So, looking at the unrevised site plans that everyone struggled to see because the presenters stood by the front of the building’s glass doors and windows with the bright sun blinding the crowd of about 50 or so people, we were shown how the trucks will be coming in and going on a two-way roadway on the perimeter of the property. They will head northward, making a right-hand curved turn toward the rear of the building, pulling past the rear loading docks with their tractor-trailer trucks and then backing into the loading dock proper. Once unloading is completed, the trucks will pull out onto Old Country Road. The unchanged site plans also allow the tractor-trailers to enter from the proposed Old Country Road entrance. An unmentioned aside is that the condominiums are built on what used to be marshland. The piping for the condominium’s storm water, waste, etc., were not built for truck traffic, but for residential vehicles. Let’s not forget that there have been numerous shifts in that entire complex and Old Country Road itself as settling and sinking still occurs.
We see no reason that the developer cannot make adjustments to their plans to be a good neighbor with the three existing residential surrounding this property. Instead, they’ve dug their heels in and continued with the phony slope argument. The Town is famous for allowing steep slope variances and could do so here. The trucks can continue around the building and come down the south side of the drive and exit at the same light that they enter. This isn’t rocket science and in this day and age, computers are doing the reworking once new coordinates are put into the developer’s CAD system. The next step in this scam would have been for Mr Feiner to offer to help create a neighborhood committee so they can meet with a few neighbors to discuss this. He prefers this angle as he likes to try to talk to one or two people at a time to sway their opinion. But since he didn’t offer this, it proves our “done-deal” theory.
This may not be the right project for this property. On a much smaller level, when people are looking to purchase a home, they shop and look at numerous properties before making a decision. Frankly, if there’s something they don’t like, the driveway is too long or too small, or, they don’t like the schools, or the area floods, whatever the reason, you walk away. Will ShopRite walk away? Maybe they desire this property enough to work with the neighbors, maybe not. Another one of Mr Feiner’s ploys is trying to coerce neighborhoods to accept what he wants by saying you don’t know what else might come in here. It could be a methadone clinic or a homeless hotel. It doesn’t have to be if he stuck to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
We don’t have to accept this either. You can keep pressure on him, his Town Board and yes, ShopRite. You’re entitled to have a good quality of life and what you want, just as they can want what they want. The difference is that we live here – they are outsiders looking for us to give into their pressure. We’re convinced that this not a good deal as it stands. Let them come back to the Town and its residents with an reworked proposal and see if there can be a compromise. It’s what will make for A Better Greenburgh.
One might wonder why ShopRite would want to build at this site? Location, location, location. Don’t be confused, it’s not a great location yet. It will take about two years or less depending on how much green-lighting they need from the Town Board once they take on Lead Agency status. ShopRite knows what we have been reporting for years. The Mt Pleasant portion of property adjacent to Greenburgh’s Northern Elmsford has discussions underway to be developed with numerous apartments, motel, etc., giving them a perfect position to cater to those families. Already existing residents will also benefit. We’re sure Mr Feiner had his hand in this offer as he traditionally is planning for projects several years into the future.
But here’s what doesn’t gel. Residents who participated with this site visit were told numerous things. In part, they heard Feiner-speak and the other part, code for done-deal. So the proposed ShopRite will be 75,711 square feet. Also proposed will be a yet-to-be-announced restaurant or retail business that will be 13,765 square feet in size. The proposal also includes an additional 3,000 square foot restaurant that should be close to the entrance/exit off of 9A. The 20,000 square foot multi-plex theater as well as the stores and bank will be demolished. When looking at the dimensional layout of the project, it’s been crafted to solely benefit the developer and ultimately, ShopRite, by moving the building closer to the Westchester Hills Condominiums and the Orchard Lane residents in the Beaver Hill community.
But this walk through was not about hearing the community residents’ concerns. Rather, it was the developer and Mr Feiner, along with his Town Board, and Commissioner Garrett Duquesne letting the residents know what they can expect with this project. There was nothing different this day from the previous meeting held in the Westchester Hills Condominium’s Rec Center room in June. Everyone here continued to say they had no objection to ShopRite coming into the space. What they all seemed united about was that they did not want an entrance/exit onto Old Country Road. They said an already dangerous area would be made worse by even more tractor-trailer and truck traffic as trucks currently use Old Country Road as a cut through to get to the businesses in the Executive Boulevard complex, which is zoned for light commercial businesses. Old Country Road, which currently prohibits commercial traffic, is the only access/exit road for the Westchester Hills Condominium complex.
The developer’s plans call for major working of the property’s grade from what it is now to a more leveled one. The excuse given was that the zoning requires it and they also wanted to control runaway shopping carts. That was almost laughable. Mr Feiner, his Town Board, and/or his hand-picked Planning and Zoning Boards give out zoning variances like candy at Halloween. Some recent projects where this was done was on Old Colony Road for steep slope; Brightview Assisted Living for setbacks; Deli Delicious for setbacks; Westhab for setbacks, building size; Shelbourne Assisted Living, with a 3,000% variance and setbacks; and on a Central Avenue office building at Ardsley Road and Central Park Avenue for setbacks, undersized building parking and structure heights.
In fact, every developer that pre-meets with Mr Feiner privately before they submit plans at a Town Board work session already know what few obstacles they may face. Regardless, this was a fake argument to make for this crowd because they don’t follow these Boards, nor understand that this deal is already underway. How do we know? Because everyone from the applicant’s side, Mr Feiner and Walter Simon, the Chair of the Planning Board said that once the Planning Board has the project on their agenda, residents can come and speak about it. This is interesting because the Planning Board doesn’t allow comments to be made.
So, looking at the unrevised site plans that everyone struggled to see because the presenters stood by the front of the building’s glass doors and windows with the bright sun blinding the crowd of about 50 or so people, we were shown how the trucks will be coming in and going on a two-way roadway on the perimeter of the property. They will head northward, making a right-hand curved turn toward the rear of the building, pulling past the rear loading docks with their tractor-trailer trucks and then backing into the loading dock proper. Once unloading is completed, the trucks will pull out onto Old Country Road. The unchanged site plans also allow the tractor-trailers to enter from the proposed Old Country Road entrance. An unmentioned aside is that the condominiums are built on what used to be marshland. The piping for the condominium’s storm water, waste, etc., were not built for truck traffic, but for residential vehicles. Let’s not forget that there have been numerous shifts in that entire complex and Old Country Road itself as settling and sinking still occurs.
We see no reason that the developer cannot make adjustments to their plans to be a good neighbor with the three existing residential surrounding this property. Instead, they’ve dug their heels in and continued with the phony slope argument. The Town is famous for allowing steep slope variances and could do so here. The trucks can continue around the building and come down the south side of the drive and exit at the same light that they enter. This isn’t rocket science and in this day and age, computers are doing the reworking once new coordinates are put into the developer’s CAD system. The next step in this scam would have been for Mr Feiner to offer to help create a neighborhood committee so they can meet with a few neighbors to discuss this. He prefers this angle as he likes to try to talk to one or two people at a time to sway their opinion. But since he didn’t offer this, it proves our “done-deal” theory.
This may not be the right project for this property. On a much smaller level, when people are looking to purchase a home, they shop and look at numerous properties before making a decision. Frankly, if there’s something they don’t like, the driveway is too long or too small, or, they don’t like the schools, or the area floods, whatever the reason, you walk away. Will ShopRite walk away? Maybe they desire this property enough to work with the neighbors, maybe not. Another one of Mr Feiner’s ploys is trying to coerce neighborhoods to accept what he wants by saying you don’t know what else might come in here. It could be a methadone clinic or a homeless hotel. It doesn’t have to be if he stuck to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
We don’t have to accept this either. You can keep pressure on him, his Town Board and yes, ShopRite. You’re entitled to have a good quality of life and what you want, just as they can want what they want. The difference is that we live here – they are outsiders looking for us to give into their pressure. We’re convinced that this not a good deal as it stands. Let them come back to the Town and its residents with an reworked proposal and see if there can be a compromise. It’s what will make for A Better Greenburgh.
Sunday, October 6, 2019
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