Scarsdale Students See Legislators in Action in Albany
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From April 17 to April 21, three Scarsdale High School students joined their peers in Albany to participate in Students Inside Albany ("SIA"), the League of Women Voters of New York State's ("LWVNYS") primary training program for students. Juniors Veronica Dickson and Jake Schechner and senior Harris Gurny were selected by the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale ("LWVS") to represent their chapter. Students interested in attending were asked to fill out an application explaining why they were interested in attending the program and what they thought they would bring to the table, as well as providing a teacher recommendation. Applications were then submitted anonymously to an impartial judge, who selected Dickson, Gurny, and Schechner to attend.
The students were able to observe the Assembly and Senate in session, as well as to shadow their local representatives and meet with lobbyists and media representatives. According to LWVNYS, the program is intended to immerse students in the process by which public policy is proposed, enacted and changed in New York State, as well as to educate them as to how they can influence and affect the process.
The students were unanimous in their enthusiasm for the program. "SIA allowed me to learn about my candidates, thus humanizing them and making them real-life representatives rather than just names on a ballot," said Gurny. He continued, "One integral part of government I wasn't previously aware of is the role of lobbyists. Both my legislators met with lobbyists while I shadowed them, and it was interesting to see how they interacted with one another."
Schechner especially enjoyed the time spent with State Senator William Larkin. Said Schechner, "We sat in on a meeting with the Donate Life organization and the Senator. This was one of the greatest parts of the trip, because the meeting consisted of several people who were alive because of an organ donor, telling their stories." He also appreciated accompanying the Senator to the Senate floor to see the Senate in session.
Dickson also mentioned time spent with the representatives as being a highlight of the trip, and said the program was "fascinating and so varied...Truly, this is a wonderful trip and I would recommend it to future applicants without a doubt."
Laura Ladd Bierman, Executive Director of LWVNYS, described some of the activities in which the students partook. "On (the first day), the students had a tour of the state Capitol and heard about whose faces are on those engraved stones and the secret of the fireplaces in the Senate Chambers. League Legislative Director, Barbara Bartoletti, then provided them with the do's and don'ts of lobbying the legislators – how to approach them, make your arguments and be persuasive. Assemblymembers Pat Fahy and James Tedisco then joined the group to allow all students to roleplay. Students were able to approach the legislators and lobby them on an issue of the student's choice. The legislators were wonderful to engage with the students in this activity," said Bierman. Other activities included a short mock session in the Assembly Chambers; a talk with students by Robyn Ringler, Capital District Leader of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, about the role of an individual in making change happen; a tour of the Chambers of the Court of Appeals along with a lesson on the different levels of the judiciary in New York State; and a discussion about the process of running for office, led by Assemblymember Tony Jordan.
Including the 3 representatives of LWVS, 55 students, ranging from sophomores to seniors, from 37 local leagues attended Students Inside Albany. The LWVNYS believes that educating and empowering the youth of our country is vital to maintaining a strong democracy. Through the League's Education Foundation, the State League and many local leagues, including the Scarsdale chapter, operate programs that provide students with the information, motivation and skills to become informed voters and engaged citizens.
At the behest of state league representatives, the Scarsdale students introduced the other SIA students to the LWVS youth program Presidential Pursuit. Presidential Pursuit is a fast paced, fun, and educational game designed to impart civic knowledge to middle school-aged children. In October 2012, LWVS volunteers brought the game into in all seventh grade Social Studies classes in Scarsdale Middle School.
The LWVS Education Foundation provided most of the funding necessary to send the three students to SIA, with costs covered by the LWVNYS Education Foundation as well. For those interested in attending SIA next year, or for more information on LWVS, including youth programs and the Education Foundation, go to the newly revamped LWVS website at www.LWVS.org, or contact Susie Rush at [email protected].
Three Elected to Scarsdale Board of Education
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Though voters turned down the proposed 2013-14 Scarsdale School budget on May 21 they did give the nod to the three school board candidates on the ballot. Current School Board Vice President Suzanne Seiden was re-elected to a second three-year term with 2,318 votes and new board members William Natbony and Lelia Shames Maude were welcomed to the seven-member board with 2,270 votes for Natbony and 2,315 votes for Shames. These counts do not include absentee ballots and write-in votes. Traditionally the Board Vice President serves as Board President the following year, however it is too early to know whether or not Seiden will lead the Board next year.
The two new board members will replace Board President Elizabeth Guggenheimer and former two-year Board President Jill Spieler in June. However, both Guggenheimer and Spieler will remain on the Board through June and will be involved in the process of proposing a revised budget by June 3 to be voted on by June 18.
With some calling for the Board to drain more of the existing reserves to fund the revised 2013-14, next year's school board may have an even harder time formulating a budget. The state shows no signs of repealing the tax cap, easing mandates or instituting pension reform -- and all of these factors will continue to play a pivotal role in local discussions.
Photo Opps
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Another busy May in Scarsdale! Here are pictures of recent events around town contributed by Scarsdale10583 readers: Fox Meadow Elementary School held their fifth grade party at House of Sports on April 26, 2013. House of Sports hosted carnival type games and inflatables and organized field games to celebrate the end of 5th grade. Photo credit: Jennifer Love
The JCC of Mid-Westchester celebrated distinguished Board member Karen Spar Kasner's role in revitalizing
the agency, and presented a Community Service Award to Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale) at its "Continuing the Growth" Gala at Old Oaks Country Club in Purchase, NY, on May 2nd. The evening raised more than $180,000 for the agency. A highlight of the evening was the unveiling of plans for the Karen Spar Kasner Play Center, established by funding from Kasner's family and friends, which will replace the existing outdoor playground at the JCC.
(Pictured from left to right) Melissa Brown Eisenberg, Ophira Cukierman, Nikki Rosee, Liz DeRobertis, Yael Wepman, Jessica Anthony, Kimberly Frankel, Andrea Miller, Stephanie Kirwan, Meredith Kent; all of Scarsdale. Copyright: Michael Priest Photography
St. Pius' 1st First Communion class to celebrate their ceremony in the newly renovated church. The ceremony was held on May 4, 2013. Photo credit: Jennifer Love
Vote YES for the Scarsdale Schools Budget
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This letter was submitted by Scarsdale resident David Brodsky: Dear Scarsdale 10583.com: After months of study and open hearings, the Board of Education is proposing a capital and expense budget that is made up of many many individual items designed to meet the values and educational needs of our community. One such individual item, the proposal to add about $325,000 to the capital budget for a new wellness center, has been the subject of several letters about the forthcoming vote on the school budget, which this year requires a 60% vote to pass because the proposed budget exceeds the NYS Tax Cap by 0.55%.
In my view, a new wellness center is consistent with our Village's values and needs because it will be vital to installing lifelong habits in our students of health knowledge and fitness. But, even if one disagrees with my opinion, don't let disagreement over one $325,000 item defeat a $145 budget. Especially because, with or without the new wellness center, the budget would still exceed the NYS tax cap, because capital expenses like the wellness center are not counted toward the cap.
So why is the cap exceeded? Because, despite the Board's consistent efforts to find economies wherever they can, including keeping growth for programs and services in our seven schools to only 0.57% increase, they cannot control NY State mandated increases in the retirement systems that amount to almost 2% of the new budget and, unlike the capital budget, count directly against the tax cap. So, in the real world, the wellness center argument is a red herring.
On the merits, a vote of yes on May 21 is vital for our community.
1. Like me, many readers of this letter fall into the category of "empty nesters," where the focus of your lives no longer revolves around what is being built in the high school, or what courses are being offered, or when holidays fall in the Scarsdale School calendar. But there's one issue that should resonate with all of you: Scarsdale is known nationally for its schools, it has always been extremely attractive to live here because of its schools, and our property values have been consistently high over the years because of its schools.
2. The District's school budget growth of 2.47% is the third lowest in 30 years. As mentioned above, the largest portion of this growth – 1.9% -- is due to NY State mandated increases in the retirement systems that we have no control over.
3. Funding for education program improvements, while reduced in this budget, keeps our curriculum at the forefront of education practices and focused on innovation for the future – all of which are well-regarded worldwide. Meantime, the District and Board will continue to monitor the student/teacher ratios at SHS to maintain the low class size that is so important for student success.
So, vote YES on May 21 from 7 am to 9 pm at the Middle School. Ask others, including your out-of-home children, still registered to vote in NY, to vote YES. And hold your head high with Scarsdale Pride when we pass this budget.
David M. Brodsky
Battle Over Affordable Housing Heats Up in Westchester
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Concerns about over development in Scarsdale could extend far beyond the shoehorning of oversized houses onto undersized lots or the destruction of heritage trees. If the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has it their way, villages like Scarsdale and Bronxville could find their local zoning ordinances under attack. These zoning ordinances ensure the unique character of these towns as they define minimum lot sizes, maximum height and bulk, residential vs. commercial zones and the siting of single-family vs. multi-family homes. Without these ordinances, apartment houses and town houses could spring up on 2-acre lots in Murray Hill, clogging residential streets with parked cars and straining the local infrastructure and educational system.
County Executive Rob Astorino paid a visit to the Scarsdale Forum on Thursday night April 25 and presented his side of the County's battle with HUD to meet their obligations as stipulated in the 2009 Affordable Housing Settlement that Astorino inherited when he came into office. Among other remedies, the court mandated Westchester to build 750 units of affordable housing at a total cost of $51.6 million. Ironically the County is well ahead of schedule on construction of the units and plans to complete 305 by the end of 2013.
Building the required housing has not been the source of the clash between Astorino's office and the HUD Chair. Two additional requirements of the legislation have caused much consternation.
First, the settlement required Astorino to promote sources of income legislation that would bar landlords from discriminating against tenants who use Section 8 vouchers or other government income to pay their rent. Rather than advance this legislation, Astorino vetoed the bill when he came into office. After HUD threatened to penalize Westchester by reallocating $7.4 in Community Development Block Grants due to Westchester this month, Astorino has re-introduced legislation that bans discrimination against potential homeowners and renters based on their source of income and has vowed to sign it. Astorino has also appealed to Governor Cuomo to lobby for the HUD funds and administer them to Westchester.
However, he still faces another hurdle.
The most vexing portion of the settlement requires Westchester to submit a zoning analysis and a plan to overcome "exclusionary zoning practices" in Westchester. Specifically, the County was ordered to:
- Identify local zoning practices that have exclusionary impact or fail to take into account regional need
- Develop a process to notify municipalities of zoning issues that hinder the County's obligations and changes that must be made as well as consequences for failing to make them.
- Identify types of zoning practices that would, if not remedied by the municipality lead the County to pursue legal action.
In a letter to the County dated March 13, 2013 the Federal Monitor, James Johnson, asks the County to assess the impact of restrictive zoning practices including:
- Restrictions that limit or prohibit multifamily housing development
- Limitations on the size of a development
- Restrictions on lot size of density requirements that encourage single-family housing
- Limitations on townhouse development
and "the impact such practices have on racial and ethnic composition."
Westchester County has submitted three such zoning analyses and failed to identify exclusionary zoning practices. According to Astorino, "The County has supplied volumes of data as well as a thorough legal analysis showing Westchester's zoning is not exclusionary." In comments at the Scarsdale Forum meeting, Astorino charged HUD with refusing to accept the County's zoning analyses because they did not reach HUD's conclusions – not because the data was invalid or deficient.
Does HUD have the right to force municipalities to change their zoning codes? Professor John Nolon of the Pace University Law Land Use Center, who consulted on the case said in June, 2012, "Only towns, villages and cities have zoning power in New York. There is no constitutional or statutory definition of exclusionary zoning in New York to determine the obligations that these communities have to zone for housing that can be made affordable by housing developers." He cited the "Berenson" cases in New York which ruled on issues of affordable housing and said though these cases require the County to consider "regional needs," they did not define what region needed consideration. Is it Westchester County? New York City? The Tri-State Region? Connecticut? He concluded by saying that though the region's Economic Development Council has been charged by the state with developing plans, none of its current plans establish regional housing needs or a methodology for estimating them.
How to get beyond this impasse?
After HUD turned down all three analyses, James Johnson, who is the Federal Monitor assigned to the case, has now undertaken his own zoning analysis and sent letters to each of the municipalities with a report card for each showing their progress on meeting targets for the number of affordable units. Though Scarsdale has passed a model zoning ordinance that requires developers to build one affordable unit with each group of 10 market-rate units, the report says that the ordinance "provides no zoning incentives for affordable housing." The report notes that "the few areas in which multifamily housing is allowed as-of-right are "fully built out" and recommends that the village "provide density or other incentives for affordable housing, mapping additional areas where multifamily house is permitted as-of-right, and permitting accessory housing in "faux" garages as well as quadraplexes and cottage-style housing." It shows that as of the 2000 census only .4% of total village acreage is zoned for multi-family housing and that 4% of the population is Hispanic or Black – the only two minority groups considered in the settlement.
Since Scarsdale is already fully developed, the only way for the Village to expand its inventory of affordable housing would be to change the zoning code, an idea that is unpopular with residents who are already up in arms about development and absorbing big annual tax increases to pay for schools and services.
The biggest surprise in the "report card" was the assertion that Scarsdale is targeted to build 160 AFFH units – a number pulled from "The unadopted Affordable Housing Allocation Plan produced in 2005 by the County's planning department." The letter states that "none of which have been built in the interim."
According to Astorino, this same 2005 report called for the construction of 10,678 units County-wide, far beyond the scope of the 750 units mandated in the 2009 settlement.
In an April 15, 2013 response to the Federal Monitor, the Scarsdale Board of Trustees told Johnson that "the Village has fundamental disagreements with the position taken in your letter.....Specifically we note that the Village in not a party to the litigation and settlement agreement referred to in the "report card. " Further, the "unadopted Affordable Housing Allocation Plan does not impose any obligation on the Village."
Astorino says that these new targets "expand the agreement beyond the four quarters of the settlement," and that HUD has taken a very aggressive stance, claiming that any restriction is a restrictive zoning practice that must be abolished. Saying "there is no rhyme or reason" for HUD's demands, he called on residents to contact their congressmen and senators to voice their concerns about HUD's demands.
As it stands today, $7.4 million in grant money could be lost for Westchester if the County fails to comply. HUD is also calling for Westchester municipalities to make fundamental changes to their zoning codes that would radically alter the character of the 31 municipalities who, according to the outdated 2000 census numbers, do not house adequate numbers of black and Hispanic residents. The zoning code HUD is challenging includes lot size, stipulations for single family housing and structure bulk and density, which is common among suburban communities across the country.
Many in Scarsdale are shocked and offended that HUD is charging the village with exclusionary zoning and racism. The population is a diverse mix of whites, blacks, Hispanics, Indians, Asians, and others who live together in harmony. As one 40-year resident said, "anyone who says Scarsdale is racist simply doesn't know the community."
Can a federal agency force a locality to change their zoning code? That's the battle that could be in the offing.
