Are We Declaring Independence from the Bias, the Prejudice and the Racism that were Exposed by the Pandemic?
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 1760
Here is an Independence Day addresses from Scarsdale Village Trustees Jonathan Lewis delivered at the Arthur Manor Independence Day Celebration:
With common struggle, with shared challenge, comes a common understanding, On this July 4th, it is inevitable we talk about our shared hopes to declare independence from the pandemic around us. Yet, though this topic may be inevitable, as is the inevitable fact that each day we eat, breathe and sleep, we hope a year from now, we are not preoccupied with the all consuming question, when will it be over? When will it finally be over?
Times like this, as our neighbor in New Rochelle Thomas Paine said, try mens souls. In 2021 he would have said, try all of our souls.
And this year has done exactly that. But as we reflect on this year, it is possible that before our very eyes we are developing a common understanding of the importance of government to do good things, of people to unite, of neighbors to realize we share a common responsibility to look after one another, to take care of one another, to think about one another.
Independence Day, in that context, may also mean we are confronting a moment in our national history where we have a chance to declare independence from aspects of our national story that have been harder to confront, to address, to solve, because they are so difficult.
America’s birth, its creation story and independence, has many chapters. One chapter in our creation story is the of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims who before landing signed the Mayflower compact, the first joint declaration of duties and responsibilities and freedoms. It was those conceptions about building communities based on the commitments we make to each other that is a cornerstone of our national greatness, not closing our borders, not thinking about how do I keep a larger slice of the pie than you keep. Building communities that are fair, where we work with each other, respect each other, and welcome each other, are the essence of Independence Day. It is why we fought to be free and why we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men and women are created equal. It is an ideal we aspire to, and it is a long time in coming.
The question before us today is not simply: are we declaring independence from this pandemic? The question before us today is: are we declaring independence from the bias, the prejudice, from the racism, the stereotypes, the inequities that have been exposed by the pandemic, that have been exposed by the cold statistics of who lived and who died, who had access to healthcare, and who did not, who was able to live safely at home, and who worked the front lines by choice and who had no choice. The statistics of life and death in the pandemic exposed fault lines in our society, and shined a bright light on questions of fairness that have been unresolved for years. Some of our ancestors came to America by choice, and some did not, and the inequities unleashed by that part of our creation story remain incompletely addressed and unresolved as well.
If we achieve a lasting scientific breakthrough that eradicates the virus, or eliminates its threat to the lives of those we love, surely that is a triumph. But if we accomplish that and don't accomplish eradicating the racism, the bias, the injustices, the differences and disparities between rich and poor, whites and blacks, haves and have nots, who lived and who dies, if we don't achieve THAT independence, will we have justly honored the memories of the 600,000 Americans who have died?
So let us join together on this day, to honor those who have fallen, by renewing our commitment to the unfulfilled ideals and aspirations of our nation, so everyone has an equal opportunity to pursue happiness. Let us commit ourselves not only defeating the virus, but also the diseases that have plagued our society from its birth, let us declare independence from our human failings, from prejudice based on skin color, race, or religion, from a failure to understand and support those with disabilities that we can see, and those whose disabilities we cannot see. WE the people must struggle for an independence from these human failings, our own failings, and to ensure that they are no longer national failings.
Scarsdale has always played its own rule in this struggle, in the way we debate each other to be better, to rise above our own limitations to set an example. We can see the promise of tomorrow in the community of neighbors here to day. And, even in the landmarks around us in our village. Scarsdale was a route on the underground railroad, we as a community know what is right and wrong and we take action. When we visit the graves that mark the unfortunate and tragic end of slaves who seeking freedom in Canada did not make it, and lay buried in the cemetery of St. James the Less, just a short walk from here, we must acknowledge the struggle that marked their lives is not over. Let us honor them too by renewing our commitment to independence from prejudice.
We see the promise of tomorrow in the eyes of the children here today, in the history of our villagers who fought for freedom and died in the revolution, and the wars the followed. And in the dedication of our neighbors who volunteered at the front lines of this pandemic because they believed in service and making our world better. Let’s honor Independence day, by recommitting our selves to that better America, open, welcoming, struggling to be better, the one we must all still fight for because it is not quite here yet. Thank you.
Jonathan Lewis
Fifth Graders Moving On Up
- Details
- Written by Debra Asher
- Hits: 2278
Edgewood School and the four other Scarsdale elementary schools all conducted warm and vibrant ceremonies marking the moving-up of their 2021 fifth grade classes.
There was a processional with Pomp and Circumstance playing. There were encouraging and thoughtful speeches as well as parents smiling and cheering in the audience.
At Edgewood the music portion was provided via a video that was found in the program with a QR code. The fifth graders had recorded a song they sang while playing their ukuleles. In addition, each class wrote customized lyrics that brought many to tears. Restrictions prevented singing at the ceremony.
Shortly thereafter, the children enjoyed ice cream and professional photos were taken of the children in their graduation t-shirts. It will always be a memorable day for all in attendance.
SVAC Providing PCR Testing for Campers
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 1987
The Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps is providing extended hours PCR COVID-19 testing for kids heading to camp. This year, most camps are requiring a negative PCR test 72 hours in advance, even with proof of vaccination. SVAC provides convenient testing at its 5 Weaver Street headquarters, and results are received in approximately 15 minutes. Reservations can be made here.
SVAC acquired both rapid and PCR testing capabilities a few months ago as an alternative to the long lines that were forming at area urgent cares. Patients pull their car into a dedicated parking spot where they are met by an EMT. Without leaving the vehicle, they are swabbed, and their results provided while they wait.
“We have performed more than 400 tests in the last two months,” said David Raizen, SVAC’s President. “Originally, the State of New York provided us the test kits, but they have not replenished them and we must now procure them on our own at market value.”
In addition to individual appointments, SVAC has worked with Scarsdale Schools to provide private testing sessions for prom-bound kids and is offering rapid testing for unvaccinated individuals attending commencement.
“We are a community-based volunteer organization that is passionate about serving Scarsdale and the surrounding area in any way we can,” said Raizen. “We have highly trained personnel, we have modern equipment and facilities, and we have the supplies. It is the right thing to do.”
SVAC is transitioning from a model of being purely reactive to include proactive services as well. They ran vaccination clinics including at-home injections to homebound seniors. They are currently running four EMT classes, including an accelerated version for senior option students. And, they are once again offering CPR classes, a service they had suspended during COVID.
SVAC celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and runs four 911 ambulances and three fly cars through a combination of paid and volunteer personnel. As one of a handful of certified EMS training centers in the County, they provide all the training necessary for new volunteers. No prior experience is required except a desire to help your community. For more information about becoming a volunteer, donating, or taking a class, visit scarsdalevac.com.
Scarsdale Mom Asks For Your Help to Cure Juvenile Dermatomyostis
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 1999
This letter was written by Scarsdale resident Nikki Hahn:
As many of you know, my daughter, Addie suffers from a rare and life-threatening disease called Juvenile Dermatomyositis. Since diagnosis 7 years ago, Addie has endured monthly 12-hour infusions, high doses of steroids, low dose chemotherapy medication, and a multitude of side effects that, unfortunately, accompany those treatments. Ironically - today is infusion day for Addie.
The pandemic had a negative impact on our fundraising so we need your help now more than ever - we have an opportunity to fund a clinical trial for a steroid replacement drug, Vamaorolone. It's a drug that acts as a steroid but without debilitating side effects. Please consider making a donation to make this research possible!
Cure JM is the only organization committed to funding research for better treatments and ultimately a cure for JM. We also provide family education, support, and advocacy. I am proud to be a member of the Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the Development Committee, and President of the National Foundation. It is an honor and a duty; I simply don’t want other kids to go through what 
Addie HahnAddie has been through.
I hope you'll join us Friday at our home at 5 pm for a short walk to raise funds for a cure! Email me at nikki.a.hahn@gmail.com for the address.
Please help me fund more research so we can find a cure and give kids like Addie hope for a brighter future!
A $25 donation gets you a piece of Cure JM swag!
Check Out Your Real Estate Taxes: 2021 Assessment Roll is Online
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 2610
Wondering how much your real estate taxes will be next year? The Village of Scarsdale has posted the 2021 assessment roll and your can look up your home here:
If you did not do any construction on your house this past year, your assessment should remain unchanged. And this year, the equalization rate for Scarsdale is 100%, meaning that the value shown is considered the fair market value and you don’t need to do any complicated math to figure out how much you will pay.
However that also means that you might not have much success filing a grievance this year. In recent months homes have been selling at far above their assessed value, so your taxes, for now, may appear reasonable.
If you do want to grieve your taxes, see a link to instructions on how to do so. You only have until June 15, 2021, so act quickly.
Here is an interpretation on the Village’s 2021 assessment roll from local expert Robert Berg. He said, “This will be I believe my ninth year serving on the Board of Assessment Review. Because of an odd statistical coincidence, the State's equalization rate for the Village of Scarsdale this year is 100%. This suggests that the assessed value of a property equals its fair market value. But for most properties, that's not true. The last town-wide assessment was the highly criticized Ryan revaluation conducted in 2016 which led to several thousand property tax grievances over the subsequent years. So our current assessment roll is a hodgepodge of grieved, settled, or court-determined assessments, along with residual Ryan-era assessments. Basically, it's a mess. Moreover, because of the rather spectacular rise in market values over the past year, the assessment valuations, on average, substantially understate the fair market valuations of the properties, even using the July 1, 2020 valuation date for this year's property grievance proceedings.
What this all means is that last year was the year to file a property grievance, not this year. For most Scarsdale properties, filing a property grievance this year will be a losing proposition. My advice this year -- check your tentative assessment value. If you think it is significantly above the fair market value of your property as of July 1, 2020, then contact our Assessor, Victoria Sirota, immediately. If she has time to review your assessment, she will be happy to give you her opinion as to its appropriateness. Indeed, if she feels your property is over assessed, she likely will propose lowering your assessment. If you don't agree with her, you can still file a grievance as long as you file it on or before Grievance Day. Victoria and her staff are extremely courteous and professional, and I encourage you to contact them if you have any questions about the grievance process.”
If you do want to grieve, click here for instructions and forms:
