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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 29 December 2015

Created: 29 December 2015

Last Updated: 30 December 2015

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As we close out 2015 and complete Scarsdale10583's seventh year in business, I am struck by the fact that things are often not what they appear to be. This year several issues we covered on the site appeared simple at the start, yet the more we delved into them, the more complex they became. Questions that looked to have black and white answers turned out to have many shades of gray. With some we found ourselves agreeing with one group at the beginning only to have a 180-degree change of heart in the process of further examination. Or even more perplexing, after listening, writing and reading comments, on some questions, no one right answer emerged at all.

Let's first take the question of adding Mandarin instruction to the middle school curriculum. An enthusiastic group of parents raised the issue and was successful in getting the school administration to do a series of surveys to parents with kids at several grade levels. When the survey results came in, though 17.8% of parents favored Mandarin instruction, the Board decided that it was not a high enough level of support to upset the apple cart and make changes in staffing and the house structure to accommodate the change. Furthermore, the numbers showed that Mandarin instruction in grades 9-12 generated only tepid interest from students and enrollment in these classes was falling rather than rising. Debates ensued and raised more questions than answers. What was the optimal grade to introduce the language, (if at all), and was it simply too difficult to learn? Since many in the Chinese community already send their children for instruction outside school, did they want to add it to the curriculum for their own children or for others? And if adding Mandarin, why not consider other world languages too? Or in the words of Max Ventilla, a former Google executive who founded AltSchool said, "The thousands of hours that children invest in learning foreign languages is almost surely a waste of time, given that translation technology will soon be good enough that we will all be multilingual." Would it be better if we taught all students to code rather than speak Mandarin?

I also had a change of heart about a new development of cluster homes on Weaver Street. Though the proposal to build nine homes at Heathcote Manor, opposite Dunkin Donuts, was approved more than a decade ago, the project stalled and therefore it did not need to conform to some of today's regulations. When the developers finally decided to move forward they clear cut several acres of trees incurring the ire of some residents. Others feared that the new development would bring more traffic to Weaver Street and the Five Corners and still others found a high stone retaining wall to be imposing. Like the new building in front of Balduccis, residents sought to vilify the complex. But after the model was complete I decided to go take a look and inspect for myself. I found a contemporary, spacious home with all the comforts of a single-family house – without the price tag or outdoor maintenance. All in all, the homes seemed to be a nice addition to Scarsdale's residential options.

And then there's the Greenacres School. It's aging, damp, moldy, lacking modern technology and too small. But a very vocal group of residents is very eager to save it at any cost. In their zeal to "Save the School" they convinced hundreds of residents and their kids to sign petitions to keep the school where it is, before all the options could be explored. The conversation between residents, the Greenacres Association and the school board reached a fevered pitch even before the architects were given the opportunity to present all the options and associated costs. When the Board announced that a committee of residents, educators, parents, teachers, administrators and architects would meet to review the information and make recommendations, the same group objected to criteria for selecting committee members. These critics went as far as to suggest that a man who had served as both Mayor and School Board President could not adequately represent Greenacres.

The Greenacres Building Committee met in the fall and their conclusions have not yet been released. Though I live in Greenacres and have fond memories of my three children's experience at the school, I am eager to hear what the committee recommends and to listen to their reasons why. Like many other questions that come before the community, this one requires long-term thinking about what's best for the majority of residents.

And finally, there's Monte Nido, the second revaluation and the library.

So what did I learn in 2015? I learned that I don't have the all the answers and you may not either. In fact, the only way we are going to get to the best solutions is to investigate, listen, discuss and learn from each other. Thankfully, there are so many passionate, educated and eloquent residents here that it's interesting to hear your views. Let's continue the dialogue 2016.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 13 January 2016

Created: 13 January 2016

Last Updated: 14 January 2016

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Are hefty contributions by the very few undermining democratic elections and equal representation? Do corporations and wealthy individuals have too much influence on the outcome of elections in the United States? Or, are they simply exercising their First Amendment right to engage in political speech?

These questions were the focus of a public information session held by the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale (LWVS) on Monday night January 11. Presented by Nan Berke, Linda Doucette-Ashman, Cindy Dunne, Mary Beth Evans, Rita Golden, Deb Morel and Pam Rubin, the session was held to inform members of the public and the local League about the current state of money in politics and to update the national League position on campaign finance.

The Supreme Court's 2010 Citizen's United and other recent decisions have granted corporations and unions the same First Amendment rights as individuals in the area of campaign finance. Thus, the way has been cleared for an unlimited flow of money into the election process via super PACs. Super PACs are supposedly "independent" political action committees that do not "coordinate" their activities with a political candidate or his/her campaign. The Court therefore ruled that In addition, the Court's 2014 McCutcheon ruling, while maintaining limits on individual contributions to individual candidates, overturned the long-standing aggregate limit on an individual's combined contributions to all candidates.

In the wake of these Court decisions, increases in spending by super PACs has been dramatic. The national League website reports, "Since the Supreme Court decided Citizens United in 2010, $1 billion has been spent through super PACs, and 60 percent of that was given by only 195 individuals and their spouses." For the 2016 presidential race, just 158 families in the U.S. provided half of the early money or $176 million to the candidates. Commenting on the data, the New York Times said, "Not since before Watergate have so few people and businesses provided so much early money in a campaign, most of it through channels legalized by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision six years ago in January 2010." For the 2014 election only 0.31% of the total adult population (less than 1%) contributed $200 or more to federal candidates, parties or PACs. But these contributions amounted to 66% of total individual contributions.

On Monday night January 11 members of the LWVS Money in Politics Committee traced the history of campaign finance law from the 1907 Tillman Act through 2014. The facts showed that when the Court majority swung to the conservatives in 2006, the Court overturned one hundred years of laws regulating campaign financing.

They then examined arguments for and against controlling campaign spending and possible ways to address the issue. Among these options are:

Increase Disclosure: Whereby the names and identities of individual donors and corporations are made public to inform voters. This could address "dark money" or political spending by anonymous donors.

Clean Elections: This legislation would focus on stronger disclosure laws, rules to prevent collaboration between special interest groups as well as ethics. Advocates contend that greater transparency would allow voters to know who is backing candidates and potentially reduce the influence of big money.

Public Financing of Elections: Rather than raise private funds, candidates would receive public monies to finance their campaigns, leveling the playing field. This would combat the pressure on candidates to fundraise and eliminate scenarios where the best-financed candidates win the race.

Protection of Voter's Rights: Laws would be passed to fight moves to disqualify voters and to ensure that all voters are informed about their right to vote.

Following the public session, the LWVS held a consensus meeting to review and update the current national League position on campaign finance in light of First Amendment considerations, the results of which will then be sent to the national League.

Learn more here: 

Also from the LWVS:

Students Inside Albany Conference

For the fifth consecutive year, the LWVS will select two high school students to send to the annual Students Inside Albany conference, to be held May 22-25, 2016. All Sophomore, Junior and Senior students who attend Scarsdale High School or who reside in the school district are eligible to apply.

Students Inside Albany is an intensive four-day conference designed to immerse students in the process by which public policy is proposed, revised and enacted in New York State and to educate them as to how they can influence and affect this process. Scarsdale students who attended this conference in the past were unanimous in their enthusiasm about the program, which allowed them to interact with students from all over the state, learn about their state government and meet state legislators.

The cost of the conference, including hotel and meals, will be co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters New York State Education Foundation, Inc. and our Scarsdale League.

Applications are available on the Scarsdale LWV's website (LWVS.org) and are due by February 2, 2016.

For more information, including photos from last year's conference, see the League of Women Voters, New York State at http://www.lwvny.org/ and go to the Youth Programs tab.

Last year's Scarsdale attendees are happy to answer questions from interested students. Contact Marie Ceske, Gabriela Dickson or Alex First at SIA@lwvs.org.

Please contact Joan Frankle (713-1250 or joantabackfrankle@gmail.com,) or Janet Korins (725-0859 or janet.korins@verizon.net) for more information or if you know someone who would like to apply for this opportunity.

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Written by Stacie M. Waldman

Published: 14 December 2015

Created: 14 December 2015

Last Updated: 16 December 2015

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Thanks to the tremendous response we received on our holiday tipping survey, we are pleased to present you with the results. How much do people in town tip for the holidays? To whom do people give tips, gifts or a simple note of gratitude? There is no right or wrong answer, although policies do exist for some employees regarding what they are allowed to accept.

Holiday time gives you a chance to say thank you to those who impact your life in a positive way, help you or provide a service to you on a regular basis. Gifting and tipping is often done out of obligation, but one should not feel obligated to give. If gift giving is not within your budget, a note expressing your gratitude should be enough. And if it is within your budget, give some thought to whom you are tipping and why you are tipping them. As one woman said during last year's tipping survey, "Sometimes the people who least expect a gift are the ones who appreciate it the most. The front desk clerk at my child's school cried when I gave her a $10 gift card to Starbucks." Another person commented on the fact that she gave a monetary gift to a regular cashier she sees at the market; she expressed such true gratitude for gift.

The Emily Post etiquette website advises, "Do not buy into the thought that if you don't tip you won't get good service for the coming year. If you think you've had bad service for this reason, you might want to...speak directly to a manager. The site also adds: "Tipping is one of the most stressful and confusing aspects of etiquette today. It is a...way to show appreciation for a job well done; however, treating the person who has served you with respect is every bit as important."

Analysis

The Nanny: Most people give their nannies a week pay as a holiday bonus, if not more (72%). Several people mentioned in their comments that they give their nannies two extra weeks of pay. A working mom of three said, "My nanny makes my life so much easier for us and makes it possible for us to maintain our careers, so we give her a very generous 2.5 week bonus."

The Housekeeper: The majority of people have housekeepers (83%) and gift their housekeepers a week's pay as a holiday gift. Of those who have a housekeeper, an additional 16% give a gift valued over $25. "My housekeeper is reliable and works hard for us," said a Fox Meadow resident, "so I like to show my gratitude with an extra week of pay so she can afford to get her kids or herself a little something extra around the holidays. I usually include a gift just for her like perfume."

The Sitter: Half of those who responded to the survey have babysitters and usually give one week of pay to their sitters. Another 25% give between $26-$50. Some give a gift and it was split almost evenly between those who spent under $25 and those who spent over $25. You may want to consider how often you use your babysitter to determine how you'd like to acknowledge them.

The Boss: Half of respondents had no boss, but for those who do, more than half do nothing for them. However, 25% will get their boss a gift valued under $25.

The Hairdresser: Most people (91%) have a hairdresser. Of those, 25% give nothing and 25% give cash or a gift under $25; 10% give between $25-50, 20% give between $51-100, and 5% give between $100-200. If you go during the holidays to get your hair done and it is your regular hairdresser, it is appropriate to give a bigger tip than usual (and up to the cost of the hair treatment).

The Teacher: School teachers often receive small gifts during the holidays. Of the respondents, 22% do not have children in school. Of the 78% that do, 12% give nothing and 40% give a gift valued under $25. Another 15% of those people who have kids in school give teachers a gift valued over $25, a monetary gift between $10-25, or a monetary gift of $26-50. Interestingly, two people gave teachers a cash gift of between $51-100 and one person gave over $200 to teachers. Although it is possible that these parents have children in private school with different policies, Scarsdale school policy states that class parents can ask for contributions of up to $10 per family for a group gift for the teacher and individual gifts must remain under $15.

The Bus Driver/Monitor: Just over half of respondents have a bus driver and monitor for their kids and most people give a small gift or cash valued under $25.

The Trash Guys: Scarsdale's Department of Sanitation informed me that written policy states that sanitation workers cannot accept or solicit monetary gifts. Despite the policy, 94% of those polled give money to their sanitation workers. One mom told me that she chooses not to tip sanitation workers because they are salaried employees with benefits and are not dependent on tips. "They're not people who I have a relationship with and who provide me with a special service, so I don't feel the need to give them money beyond what I pay through my taxes. On the other hand, I give holiday gifts to the people who help me out on a regular basis and never get acknowledged like my pediatrician who calls me back in less than ten minutes solving minor problems and saving me countless trips to the office." Almost 10% of people give gifts valued under $25 and 14% give gifts valued over $25. Of those that give cash, 16% give between $10-25, 24% give between $26-50, 22% give between $51-100, and 8% give between between $101-200. One person gives over $200 and another gives the equivalent of a week's pay. We certainly love and appreciate our sanitation workers! If you're going to give the sanitation workers a gift, some people recommend taping a note onto the garbage cans on trash day requesting they ring the doorbell to hand them their acknowledgement directly, ensuring the right people receive the gift. One mom posted on the Scarsdale Moms Facebook page that she went out of her way to drop cash off at the sanitation office for the people who haul her trash and they never got it. This might be due to the village policy.

The Postman: Mail carriers are also usually acknowledged during holiday time, although the United States Postal Service (USPS) does not allow mail carriers to accept cash gifts, checks, or any other form of currency. They may accept snacks and beverages, gifts valued under $20 including gift cards to a specific retailer, or gift baskets that can be shared with other staff. That being said, only 12% of respondents give a gift valued under $25. More commonly, people give cash: 33% give between $10-25, $19% give between $26-50, 7% give between $51-$200, and three people actually give between $101-$200. Has anyone ever received a note from their mail carrier saying, "My apologies, USPS policy states I cannot accept cash..."? I bet not. My own mail carrier leaves me an envelope saying "happy holidays" on it with his address. In previous years it was even stamped. I personally find that to a be a bit aggressive considering the postal service's policy.

The Delivery People (Newspaper, FedEx, UPS): Newspaper deliverers commonly receive cash, between $10-25. Private delivery people (FedEx and UPS) may accept monetary and non-monetary gifts.

The Dry Cleaner: More than half of respondents don't give anything to their dry cleaner attendant. Those that do might give a small gift, gift card, or some extra cash with a pick-up.

The Gardener: Two-thirds of us don't go out of their way to give anything to the gardener. Those that do most often give a gift valued over $25 or cash ($51-100).

The Admin: A third of respondents have secretaries/administrative assistants. People really vary with what they give and 10% give nothing. Some give over $200, some give less than $25, and there are lots of people who gave something in the middle or a gift versus cash. Most people give something but the results were over the place. Sorry folks, there's really no average here or suggested gift value.

The Handyman: Handymen were the most likely to receive a simple note or card saying "thanks." Of the 40% of people who have a regular handyman, more than half do nothing. Another handful of people give a gift valued >$25, cash $51-100, or cash $101-200. Again, if your handyman is working around the holidays for you or really goes out of his way for you, it is generous to show your appreciation in some way.

Not included in the table above are day care providers as only 17% of respondents use this service. Mostly people gave a small gift or cash valued under $50. Dog walkers were seldom used (15% of respondents have dog walkers) but those who do give a small gift or a week's pay. About 23% of people have a valet and most give some small acknowledgement of thanks such as a note, small gift, or between $10-$50. Personal trainers commonly receive cash gifts of $51-100, but some people will give a full week's pay. Doctors were the least likely to receive any sort of holiday gift from their patients. Of the 74 respondents to this question, 6 give a small gift, 2 write notes, and a few give gifts valued between $25-$100.

Several people commented that they give gifts to categories of people not included on this year's survey: their children's extracurricular teachers (music, dance, voice), coaches, tutors, groomers, milkmen, nail salon attendants, vets, gym instructors, and tennis professionals.

One person avoids "tipping" at all during holiday time and instead makes monetary donations to a charity in honor of the person for whom they are grateful.

Remember, there is no "right amount," to give; these survey results simply provide a guideline for what people in our community typically give and to whom they give during the holidays.