Latimer Demands Answers About the Closure of the Bronxville Post Office
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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On July 22, 2025 U.S. Representative George Latimer (NY-16) sent a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner about the closure of the Bronxville Post Office and reports of unsafe working conditions for employees. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) closed the Bronxville Post Office on July 17th and have been unable to commit to a re-opening date.
In the letter Congressman Latimer said, “Some of my constituents have been unable to receive important parcels, including medications, posing an immediate and unacceptable risk to their health. When my constituents inquired about this issue, they received a response that the Bronxville Post Office is closed and that the timeline for reopening is unknown… Furthermore, my office has received constituent reports about the possible presence of mold and maintenance issues with the boiler at the Bronxville Post Office. USPS has an obligation to ensure that it provides employees with a safe and healthy work environment as well as prompt, reliable, and efficient services for patrons.”
Congressman Latimer requested USPS respond to him about a re-opening date and efforts to make the office safer for workers and patrons by August 5th.
Here is the full text of the letter:
Postmaster General Steiner:
I write to you with serious concerns regarding the closure of the Bronxville Post Office, as well
as several other issues pertaining to poor conditions that have been reported at this location. I
respectfully request that you provide answers to the questions below and urge you to take
immediate action to remedy these issues that are affecting my constituents.
My office first received reports from constituents on July 17, 2025 that the Bronxville Post Office was closed with no explanation to residents or the Village of Bronxville. As a result, some of my constituents have been unable to receive important parcels, including medications, posing an immediate and unacceptable risk to their health. When my constituents inquired about this issue, they received a response that the Bronxville Post Office is closed and that the timeline for reopening is unknown.
I have also received reports regarding poor conditions at this location, posing risks to both USPS staff and patrons. At present, USPS staff and patrons must rely on two small portable fans to cool the front office and lobby areas. This temporary solution is inadequate during the hot summer months, when indoor temperatures rise to uncomfortable and potentially dangerous levels. The current conditions not only compromise employee well-being but also create an unpleasant environment for the many residents who rely on postal services daily.
Additionally, one of the exterior light fixtures at the main entrance has been non-functional for over a year. As a result, the steps and entryway remain poorly lit during the late afternoon and evening hours, posing a safety concern. The only working fixture remains continuously on, suggesting there may be a broader malfunction in the lighting system.
Furthermore, my office has received constituent reports about the possible presence of mold and maintenance issues with the boiler at the Bronxville Post Office. USPS has an obligation to ensure that it provides employees with a safe and healthy work environment as well as prompt, reliable, and efficient services for patrons.
Given the concerns shared above, I request answers to the following questions:
1. What is the reason for the closure of the Bronxville Post Office?
2. Is mail delivery for patrons of the Bronxville Post Office still being conducted?
3. How can residents and business owners access their post office boxes?
4. Will another local post office receive and distribute mail on behalf of the Bronxville Post Office during its closure?
5. Some reports have indicated that mail to Post Office Boxes in the Bronxville location was redirected to the Yonkers Main Post Office. Can you confirm this report, and if so, explain how and when customers were made aware?
6. When will the Bronxville Post Office reopen?
7. What is being done to ensure that the temperature at the Bronxville Post Office is not resulting in uncomfortable and potentially hazardous conditions for USPS staff and patrons?
8. What is being done to ensure that the exterior light fixtures at the main entrance of the Bronxville Post Office are not posing a safety risk to USPS staff and patrons?
9. Has mold been detected at the Bronxville Post office?
10. When was the last time that the vents at the Bronxville Post Office were thoroughly cleaned to prevent mold and how regularly is this done?
11. If there is mold present at the Bronxville Post Office, what actions are you taking to remediate this?
I look forward to receiving a response in a timely manner and will follow up no later than August 5, 2025 if I have not received a response at that time.
Thank you for your attention to these issues.
Sincerely,
George Latimer
Member of Congress
New York 16th Congressional District
We Won’t Be Flocked Again: Mayor Postpones Surveillance Plans
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 1998
(This is the opinion of site founder Joanne Wallenstein) On the same day as three disappointing Supreme Court decisions came down, imperiling the right to abortion, birthright citizenship and public education, there was some good news for defenders of democracy in Scarsdale.
In a surprising late afternoon email on Friday June 27, Mayor Justin Arest announced that he had “postponed” highly controversial plans to install license plate readers, cameras and a drone, all connected to a network supplied by Flock Safety.
A contract, which was signed with Flock Safety in April, had drawn ire from many residents. Without public notice or discussion, the Village committed to a 7-year $1.8mm contract that would have imposed a surveillance system on residents, their cars, their homes and the streets of Scarsdale.
A petition opposing the plan was signed by over 400 Scarsdalians and there were numerous meetings after the deal was done, where residents warned about the potential uses and misuses of the data gathered by the system. Rather than offering an extra layer of protection, many felt that we would become the unwilling source of data for government agencies and private companies who would use it for unintended consequences.
In response to these cries, the Mayor, Board of Trustees, Police Chief and Village Attorney sought to offer guarantees that the data would be secure and the tracking was legal. But savvy residents with expertise in technology, cybersecurity and the law pointed to a wealth of evidence to demonstrate why Scarsdale should avoid an arrangement with a surveillance firm who has a track record of releasing private data. Others questioned whether tracking residents without a search warrant was legal and suggested that the Village was wading into dangerous waters.
The matter was further complicated by the lack of a transparent process to identify why increased security was called for, to assess gaps in the current system, to research options, to interview a range of vendors and allow resident input. From what we can see, Flock was selected by the Police Chief without an RFP using a “sole sourcing” provision, which claims that they were the only firm that could supply what was needed. The entire decision rested on a claim of rising crime rates, which were unsubstantiated by the numbers from 2024-25.
Now that the Board has put this on pause, let’s hope we all learn from our mistakes.
If the police still believe that more security is needed, let’s reboot the process.
During the past few months many resident experts have come forth who would be a great asset to future decision-making. As a first step, name a committee of these expert residents, the Police Chief, a Village Trustee, a Village Manager and the Village’s IT chief to analyze the issue.
Charge them with assessing what is needed, who can provide it and requesting proposals. Do the necessary due diligence on any potential vendors. Keep in mind that Scarsdale is a small Village that values its privacy and does not need to be networked to a national database.
Bring options to the Village for open discussion and debate before making another flawed decision. If we follow the process, we won’t get flocked again.
Commenting on the postponement, Mayra Kirkendall Rodriguez, who championed the petition against Flock, said, “I hope that all of us learn valuable lessons from the Flock Safety debacle. The Mayor and Village Board should abide by New York's Sunshine laws and be transparent with our community. We, the residents, should be very attentive to what goes on at Village Hall. Even if you are the trusting type, now be the verifying type.”
Responding to Beth Rosen's comment below, Michelle Sterling said, "It's time for "Beth Rosen" to come out from behind the curtain. If you have something to say about our community, you should have the integrity to say it under your real name — not behind a fake persona. Constructive criticism has its place, but hiding behind anonymity only fuels division and encourages hostility rather than dialogue.
What’s even more troubling is the choice to use a Jewish-sounding name while remaining anonymous. As someone who is Jewish and deeply aware of the dangers of antisemitism, I find it offensive and unsettling. This isn’t the first time an anonymous account has used a similar approach, and the pattern is disturbing.
We should all be striving for a more respectful and transparent discourse — one rooted in honesty, accountability, and basic human decency. If you're truly invested in improving our community, then stand behind your words. Otherwise, please stop with the deception.
Privacy vs. Policing: Scarsdale Surveillance Contract With Flock Reflects National Debate
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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(Written by Scarsdale10583 Publisher Joanne Wallenstein)
“Don’t conflate this discussion with national issues.” That’s a line we’ve heard Scarsdale Mayor Justin Arest say a few times in defense of a controversial decision made by the Village Trustees to sign a contract with Flock Safety, a nationwide company that links local police departments with a national data security network.
Arest makes this statement at a time when mass surveillance systems like Flock’s are being used to target immigrants and citizens, sweeping up people without due process. The Mayor continually asserts that despite evidence to the contrary, Scarsdale’s data would be secure and it would not be shared with outside entities.
But as anyone with a bank account or a credit card knows, data is no longer secure.
And as anyone who reads the news is aware, our democracy is under attack. Lawmakers and judges are being threatened, assaulted and killed, free speech is no longer assured and there seem to be no limits to the power of law enforcement officers to terrorize the public.
How does all of this affect Scarsdale?
The Village is home to many from abroad, some permanent residents and others here on temporary visas. Residents employ housekeepers, gardeners, drivers, handymen and workers – some here legally and others without status. Increased surveillance can only help law enforcement target these people who are an integral part of our community. At a recent public hearing, many residents who hail from India and China, spoke with courage about the fear that surveillance instills.
Others simply don’t like the idea of being watched and tracked. They object to living in a police or surveillance state. The Village has imposed this system upon Scarsdale, without giving residents a choice.
Many are deeply concerned about our loss of personal liberties and threats to democracy. They are writing letters, demonstrating, and contributing to fight for their rights. The last thing they want is to have Scarsdale cooperate with a national network that is being used to target the population, an initiative that is being funded by the federal government, subject to the approval of a grant filed by Scarsdale Village.
To me it’s surprising that after the public outcry the Scarsdale Village Board and Police Department did not back down. Instead, they have dug in their heels, claiming that we need the system to fight crime, though the weekly police blotter is dominated by reports of washed checks, lost dogs and illegal signage. See the data on Scarsdale crime below. The Mayor says the adoption process for the contract was transparent and even blames their lack of communication on the loss of the Scarsdale Inquirer. Somehow the Village had time in March to solicit the support for the initiative from senators, assemblymen, clergy, and the school district but never found the opportunity to inform the public.
The data shows that Flock is a solution in search of a problem.
But now the reasons for the when, why, and how this poor decision was made seem beside the point. The Board failed to assess public attitudes before signing the contract and are turning a deaf ear to constituents’ reactions after the deal was done.
The fact is that a seven-year, $1.8mm contract has been signed and the Village is moving forward with the purchase of cameras, license plate readers and drones, training for officers and the hardware and software to support the system.
At a recent meeting, a resident called for the Village to hold this decision to a public referendum but the Village Attorney said this was not within Village code. So there will be no vote.
The only means to change this seems to be a public campaign to demand that the Mayor immediately cancel the contract with Flock. As each day goes by, we have fewer options available to halt the erosion of our democracy. This is one thing you can do on a local level to protect our Village. Despite the Mayor’s claim, the Flock contract here has everything to do with the national scenario.
To voice your opinion, email the Mayor at Mayor@Scarsdale.gov and the Board of Trustees at PublicComments@Scarsdale.gov and tell them to “Stop Flock.”
Commenting on the contract, Myra Saul said, "Thank you for the comprehensive editorial regarding the new surveillance system in Scarsdale. The system is not in anyone’s interest at this time. What is most distressing is the insistence of our elected officials that there is nothing to see here. Every single iota of any consequence is usually discussed in minute detail (sometimes inordinately so) in our community. Why not here? Why the rush? Truly disappointing."
Nancy Alderman said, "No matter what one’s politics are, it has to be acknowledged that the way the United States is now being governed is very different than ever before. The President has been ruling by decree. This was not the way the founders of our country had planned for us. Now we see the same behavior being used by our local officials ruling our village.
We have always felt we had a voice in local school and government here. Until now.
Add to this mess, tension and fear of immigrants and the lack of security for data protection.
The mayor and board acted too quickly. Why? Please explain.
Justice Louis Brandeis said, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
We depend on fact finding journalists to give the information.
Yes, The Scarsdale Inquirer is no more. Neither do subway tokens exist. There are new ways to pay the fare and still ride the subway. There are new ways to get the news. Thank you, Joanne Wallenstein for keeping us informed.
Mr. Mayor, don’t blame the lack of a print newspaper. Find a way to keep the citizens of Scarsdale informed. Why are you afraid of transparency?
The idea of our village government sneaking in secret surveillance equipment is doubly dirty and offensive."
Miriam Popp wrote, "Thank you for informing us of this significant and frightening issue.
Maybe it is time to start electing mayors and trustees who will better reflect the will of the community.
Contrast the apparent reluctance to obtain a full community vetting of this matter with the numerous emails we are all getting to comment on youth sports. If this can be done for youth sports, surely it can be done on surveillance. In fact, it seems like Scarsdale debates ever minute issue ad nauseam and for months and years. One has to wonder why this is being pushed through at lightening speed."
Scarsdale Police Issue General Orders for Use of Cameras, License Plate Readers and Drones
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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(Written by Joanne Wallenstein) If you drove to Manhattan, Long Island or New Jersey in the past few days, it may have taken far longer than you planned. Traffic was snarled for hours at the bridges not due to construction, an accident or the weather. Why? A multi-agency law enforcement operation set up roadblocks at the entrances to the bridges to raise funds for the departments. They stopped unregistered vehicles, people with suspended licenses, toll violators and drivers who use ghost plates to bypass the tolls.
This enforcement was done at the busiest time on the roadways – during rush hour on weekday evenings and at 5 pm on Sunday, when many were traversing the boroughs.
Reports say, “MTA Bridges and Tunnels officers, the NYPD and regional law enforcement partners made 21 arrests, seized 21 vehicles and issued 793 summonses in a joint two-day interagency operation focused on quelling ghost plates and persistent toll violators, transit officials announced on Sunday.
The crackdown took place at the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge on Thursday and the Throgs Neck Bridge, George Washington Bridge and Lincoln Tunnel on Friday.
In this time, officers seized 21 vehicles for numerous violations including unpaid tolls, unregistered vehicles, suspended licenses and other traffic infractions, officials said.
Twenty-one people were arrested and 793 summonses were issued to remedy the $586,000 in unpaid tolls and fees, judgments and debts the scofflaws racked up.”
I was caught in two of these roadblocks which held up traffic for miles and I sat in the car for hours.
This happened at the same time that the Village of Scarsdale has announced plans to purchase $1.8mm in surveillance equipment from Flock Safety which will enhance their ability to conduct similar operations. On April 8 Village Trustees passed a resolution to purchase license plate readers, cameras and a drone, all to be used to increase surveillance in the Village. This was done without public notice or an opportunity for public comment.
Though the Mayor originally said that the equipment would only be purchased if the Village received a federal grant, in the 2025-26 Village budget $200,000 of Scarsdale taxpayer money was allocated for Police Technology. And now it appears that the Village may go ahead with this plan, with or without the federal grant. Last week the Mayor announced a work session about the purchase but the agenda is not about the merits of the plan, it is about the policy for its use.
The Village Manager’s office has drafted General Orders for the use of drones, license plate readers and cameras. It is not clear whether or not these General Orders are subject to the same review policies as Village Code. You can see the draft here.
The Scarsdale Village Board will hold a public meeting at Village Hall on Tuesday June 10 at 5:30 pm to discuss the surveillance technology. Public comment will be limited to 3 minutes. If you are not able to attend, you may participate remotely via Zoom. Here are instructions:
Here is the link to the new policies:
If you have concerns about living in a police state, attend the meeting or watch it online on Tuesday June 10 at 5:30 pm or email Mayor@Scarsdale.gov.
Faceoff Specialists and Former Teammates Meet on NCAA Stage
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Colby Baldwin signs an autograph.OOn the weekend of May 24, 2025 Paul Lamonaca, a senior at Syracuse University and Colby Baldwin, a sophomore, at Penn State were both a part of the NCAA Lacrosse Final Four Tournament. While Cornell ultimately won the championship, it was a proud moment to see these two young men competing at such a high level. Both athletes were faceoff specialists and played an integral role in getting their teams to this elite level of competition.
SHS coach James Synowiez travelled with his entire family and several members of the Scarsdale team to see both boys play. It was an electric weekend at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough where Coach Synowiez and his family did a quick change from their Penn State gear to their Syracuse gear to support two of his former players.
Adding to the excitement, both of the boys’ mothers are longtime Scarsdale educators, each having dedicated over 25 years to the district. It is a wonderful achievement for both families and an inspiring moment for the Scarsdale Lacrosse community.
Paul Lamanoca and Coach Synowiez
Coach Synowiez's Family
The Lamonaca Family