Get Involved in Your Village Government
- Details
- Hits: 3067
Letter to the Editor: We are the Chair and Vice Chair of the Scarsdale Procedure Committee, charged with administering the election this coming Tuesday, November 15, for election of members to the Citizens Nominating Committee and of amendments to the Non-Partisan Resolution that governs our Non-Partisan system of government, being proposed to facilitate participation on the CNC by more residents.
Recent comments by residents that they do not understand the Non-Partisan System and feel shut out by what is described as a group of insiders cause us to write now to urge residents to take two important immediate steps and several longer-term steps to become involved in the running of our Village:
First, read about the backgrounds of the candidates for the CNC and the substance of the amendments, by going online to www.scarsdaleprocedurecommittee.org.
Second, vote at Village Hall next Tuesday, or by mail-in absentee ballot before next Tuesday, for representatives of the Citizens Nominating Committee and on the amendments; the downloadable absentee ballot is also at The Procedure Committee website.
Then, even beyond next Tuesday’s election, there are abundant opportunities for Scarsdale residents to participate in and influence government in this Village:
• attend the biweekly Village Board meetings or watch them on cable,
• attend the frequent public debates sponsored by the Scarsdale Forum, such as the one held last month on the proposed amendments,
• ask questions or comment at the many public meetings held by the Mayor and Board of Trustees on every issue imaginable to the running of our Village, including budget issues,
• join one of the many Village committees, or
• apply to be a candidate for election to the School Board Nominating Committee or the Citizens Nominating Committee, School Board, or Village Trustee or Mayor.
Scarsdale is the essence of a participatory democracy and there is every opportunity to learn what the relevant issues are and to participate in the debate on those issues. Scarsdale has had a long history of effective volunteer participation in civic affairs. Today’s “insiders” are yesterday’s volunteers, who are joined year after year by new volunteers, who work hard on issues and committees and come back for more.
If you'd really like to help even sooner, please volunteer on November 15 to help administer the election.
Voter participation is lower than it should be. Last year, only 516 people voted, of which 138 of the votes were from absentee ballots. Please make every effort to vote this Tuesday in person, or by mail-in absentee ballot by close of business Monday, to make certain that we have greater voter participation and a more involved community going forward.
Michelle Lichtenberg and David M. Brodsky
Chair and Vice Chair, The Procedure Committee
Who's on Your Ballot for Election Day, Tuesday November 8th
- Details
- Hits: 5240
Tuesday November 8th is Election Day and local polls will be open from 6 am to 9 pm. Here is a review of whom you will find on the ballot in Scarsdale and Greenburgh. In Scarsdale, there are just a few contests:
Both candidates favor lowering county taxes, which now account for approximately 20% of your local tax bill.
Ryan’s positions are as follows:
- Press the state to takeover the local costs of Medicaid ($211 million) and eliminate other unfunded state mandates. The nine largest mandates account for 90 percent of County taxes.
- Look for ways to consolidate local government and realize efficiencies
- Capital improvement program to upgrade County roads and bridges, buildings and facilities, and other infrastructure.
- Create fair and affordable housing for working families
Choice Matters favor Ryan saying he “has been an active and vocal advocate for Choice since his early in the NYS Assembly.”
Pagan advocates:
- Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of County government to lower taxes and continue to provide services to residents
- Promoting transparency in government
- Cost effective management of County facilities like Playland
- Limiting the scope of County government and expanding it only when residents give a strong mandate to do so.
At a recent debate, Pagan came out “against the fair and affordable housing settlement” saying it threatens “to cost us millions of dollars.” According to Choice Matters, Pagan is rated pro-choice “but will not commit to supporting the Clinic Access Bill and claims to be a political novice.”
Also on the local ballot will be the names of three candidates for Justice of the State Supreme Court. This is the highest trial court in the state. Voters can vote for two of the following three candidates, Robert Di Bella (Dem/Rep), Paul Marx (Dem) and Edward Borrelli (Republican). Learn more about their backgrounds and positions on the League of Women Voters Website at: http://www2.thevoterguide.org/v/vote411/index.do?i=0
Last, Democrate Jeffrey L. Levin is running unopposed for Town Justice in Scarsdale. He is an attorney who attended New Rochelle High School. SUNY Buffalo and St. John’s Law School. There is no salary for this position and the term is four years.
In Greenburgh, Town Supervisor Paul Feiner is running unopposed for an 11th term. He has held the position since 1991. A constant presence
all over Greenburgh, Feiner has recently advocated putting power lines underground when major roadwork is done, turning the old Tappan Zee Bridge into a highline when the replacement bridge is built and mulching rather than collecting leaves. His proposed 2012 budget complies with the 2% tax cap. The salary for the supervisor job is $127,618 and has a term of two years.
Also on the Greenburgh ballot are the following races:
County Legislator: Mary-Jane Shimsky (Dem/WF) of Hastings is running for the 12th Districe that encompasses Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Ardsley and Greenburgh. Active in the Democratic Party, Shimsky was originally elected to the Legislature in a special election in February, 2011. She is being challenged for her seat by Conservative Party candidate John Russo of Hartsdale who is advocating a salary cut for County Legislators and managers.
Alfreda A. Williams is running unopposed in District 8 which includes Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, Elmsford and Greenburgh. Williams is running on the Democratic and Independence party lines.
Councilmember: A $28,332 position with a four-year term: Vote for two of the three candidates:
- Sonjam Brown – Dem
- Ken S. Jones – Dem/Ind
- Kevn Morgan Dem/WF/Ind
Town Clerk: a $73,686 per year position with a two-year term: Vote for one:
- Judith A. Beville (Dem/WF)
- Sherron Fantauzzi (Ind)
Town Justice: a four-year position with an annual salary of $56,626: Vote for three of the four candidates:
- Delores S. Brathwaite (Dem, WF, In, IND)
- Arlene Gordon-Oliver (Dem)
- Walter Rivera (Dem, WF, IN, IND)
- Bonnie L. Orden (WF, IN)
Receiver of Taxes:
Anne Povella is running unopposed for this $85,822 per year job that has a term of four years.
The League of Women voters has a website, www.Vote411.org where you can enter your address to view a list of the candidates that will appear on your ballot and your polling location, as well as additional information posted by the candidates. Check it out.
The View from Edgemont: Do Contested Elections Make the System Stronger?
- Details
- Hits: 5333
I have been reading with great interest the recent articles posted here on nominating committees in Scarsdale and was not surprised to read that many intelligent and well educated people do not understand why Scarsdale elects a “non-partisan” committee of nominators to nominate candidates for a “no-contest” election. As Scarsdale residents debate whether their non-partisan system needs revamping, I asked Edgemont residents about Edgemont's own nominating system: the School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) sponsored by the Edgemont Community Council. The purpose of the SBNC is to put forth the exact number of candidates for the vacant seats on the Board of Education each year.
One longtime resident said: I never really gave it much thought but I think a Nominating Committee runs contrary to what a democracy is all about. Why should a few people get to decide who they think are good candidates for the School Board as opposed to letting the community as a whole decide? Every person's vote should count the same. And, in a way, the Nominating Committee probably tends to perpetuate the status quo as I suspect they are inclined to favor similar-type people.
Laura Cooperman, another longtime resident and former member of the SBNC, said: The idea of the nominating committee is a good one - the community is asked for names of candidates, those candidates are vetted in private by the nominating committee (who have been elected by their civic associations), therefore eliminating campaigning and the mudslinging so often seen in politics, and then the most qualified candidates are presented to the community for election. Hopefully those who are not given the nomination are told what they can do to become stronger candidates, and are encouraged to considering running again in the future. The dark side to the current nominating committee process is that it could potentially be manipulated, and private agendas could be disguised as "what is best for the community." To maintain the integrity of our current process complete transparency is necessary, meaning absolutely no private conversations or emails among nominating members regarding any of the candidates. Any discussion about candidates, whether electronic or otherwise, need to happen in the presence of the full committee. Further, it is the right of community members seeking a position on the BOE to run outside of the nominating process; and while not ideal, it should be remembered that candidates running outside the system are our neighbors and are attempting to volunteer in a meaningful and important way.
Another resident expressed confusion at the system and questioned what is wrong with having a choice on election day the way they do in his former neighborhood of Eastchester. He feels that contrary to beliefs that contested elections can get "dirty," contested election candidates get to express their views and opinions on the issues facing the schools and everyone knows where they stand on important issues. He used to vote for whomever he thought would be the best candidate. Last year, he voted in Edgemont for two residents because they were the only two names on the ballot and he was supposed to pick two. But he had no idea where either one of them stood on any issue, especially class sizes which his family is very concerned about.
As for my opinion: I ran in the May 2010 Edgemont BOE election without the SBNC's endorsement and am proud of doing so. Even though I lost the election, I won the respect of many people and helped educate people about nominating committees. Voter turnout was very high that year and I recall that the Edgemont budget easily passed. Residents were fine with a contested election and Edgemont did not fall apart because of it, rather I think it made Edgemont stronger with more interest in the school budget and BOE proceedings.
See a response to this piece from SBNC Chair Marc Ackerman here:
Caroline Tzelios is a "stay at home" mom of three kids who never stays at home. She has spent the past thirteen years volunteering in the Edgemont Schools and recently completed her two year term as PTSA co-president of Edgemont High School. She is the current co-chair of Edgemont's ACE Theater Committee and serves on the Edgemont School Foundation and E Club boards.
Edgemont School News
- Details
- Hits: 4496
School news in Edgemont can now be followed on two new PTA websites. In the past, both the elementary schools and the junior/senior high school had pages on the school's eChalk system; and while both groups will still maintain active eChalk pages, they now have their own websites. Parents can check out all the PTA/PTSA news in greater detail on the sites and pay their membership dues online -- a move which should make it easier for all parents to join and support their PTA. Check out the Greenville and Seely Place PTA page at http://edgemontpta.my-pta.org and the Junior/Senior High School PTSA page at http://www.edgemontptsa.org .
In other new, the high school PTSA is selling fundraising tickets to their very popular Lord and Taylor shopping day coming up on Thursday, November 10th. Tickets only cost $5 each and all proceeds benefit the PTSA. Tickets can be ordered online at www.lordandtaylor.com/dogoodeastchester. Perhaps the most exciting PTA fundraising event this fall is the Harlem Wizards return to Edgemont to take on Edgemont teachers from all three schools in a fun filled basketball game where anything goes. The game has been set for Sunday, November 6th at 6:30 pm (doors open at 5:30pm) in the high school gym. Premium seats: (1st 3 rows) are going fast for $25 in advance or $30 at the door and General Admission seats are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. For tickets, visit the PTA website at http://edgemontpta.my-pta.org . Also at the high school, talented students performed in the fall drama, Twelve Angry Men…and Women on Friday, October 28th. The second show, originally scheduled for Saturday night was postponed until Tuesday night due to the unexpected October snowstorm that caused widespread power outages. The jurors "deliberated” for five weeks and put on two outstanding shows. Rumor has it that elaborate plans are already underway for the spring musical in March. Stay tuned for more details!
Later in November, the joint PTA/PTSA Partnership for Learning Differences committee will welcome back Dr. Joel Haber for an encore
The PTA Parent/Child Book Club has their first book group of the year scheduled for 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders on Thursday, November 17th. Parents and kids enjoy reading the book together at home and then gather with other families in small, informal discussion groups. The club will meet at 7:15pm at Greenville. These are this session's books: 2nd grade: The King’s Equal, by Katherine Paterson, 3rd grade: The Trouble with Chickens, by Doreen Cronin, and 4th grade: The Library Card, by Jerry Spinelli. The club will meet again in the winter and the fall. In other book news, the Seely and Greenville PTA’s recently held their annual New Book Fair, and is planning their Used Book Fair in the spring.
High School seniors will take a break from school and college applications when they attend the two-day Senior Forum at the end of November. They will spend the first day on Tuesday, November 22nd at Rocking Horse Ranch upstate and the next day at Chelsea Piers in the city enjoying what is already proving to be a great year.
(Pictured at top: Twelve Angry Men ...and Women at EHS)
Scarsdale Boys’ Soccer Prepares To Make A Post-Season Run
- Details
- Hits: 4826
Last season, the Raiders turned heads throughout the Scarsdale community when they fought all the way to a Class AA state semifinal showdown with New York state powerhouse, Brentwood. Although the Raiders lost that battle, they took pride in having had their best season in thirty years and in winning the support of many local fans. When the 2011 season began, the Raiders were met with high expectations. On September 22nd, the Raiders played their homecoming game against town rival Mamaroneck, and a mob of Scarsdale residents crowded around the turf field in anticipation of a Scarsdale victory. To the fans’ surprise, Mamaroneck pulled away to a 3-0 lead and a 4-1 victory. Subsequently, the Raiders fell to New Rochelle in another home game, leaving them with measly 1-3 record in league play. Hopes of a playoff run seemed out of reach.
“We didn’t want to get discouraged,” said captain, Griffin Flagg. “We knew that the scores didn’t reflect how closely we played those teams. They were all hard fought games; and, in our minds, we knew we could play with any team in the league.”
The Raiders could have let the season slip away; however, under the leadership of Flagg, and fellow captains David Alemany and Jason Peluso, the team came together and made a statement in front of a packed crowd at Mamaroneck High School. On a brisk night under the lights, the Tigers came out with fire in their eyes as they took a 2-0 lead. The Raiders were getting manhandled as the Tigers fired off shot after shot at Scarsdale goalie, Zack Shabman. After making consecutive spectacular saves, Shabman started screaming to his teammates at the top of his lungs.
“LETS PICK IT UP, BOYS! LETS GET THIS DONE!” he shouted.
At that moment, a little bit of the 2010 Raider magic began to trickle down Weaver Street and onto the soccer field. In the blink of an eye, the Raiders looked faster, stronger, and flat out fierce. Scarsdale cranked out three goals, dropping the jaws of the increasingly flustered Mamaroneck crowd. Scarsdale won the game by the score of 3-2; and, the boys, who had been playing in the shadow of an epic 2010 team, matured into a force of men who were ready to go to war together.
“After coming back from that deficit, we realized what we could accomplish if we played as a team,” Flagg exclaimed. “Beating such a highly touted team lifted all of our spirits, and we carried that confidence into the rest of our league games.”
The Raiders rode the momentum into a home game against White Plains, and Scarsdale played its best defensive game of the year. The Raiders shutout the aggressive White Plains offense in a 1-0 game, and it didn’t stop there. After taking North Rockland to overtime, Scarsdale travelled to New Rochelle and won another defensive battle in a dominant 1-0 performance. With one game remaining on the schedule, against last place Mount Vernon, Scarsdale has a chance to finish the season with a 5-3 record in league play. Taking this momentum into the playoffs could put the Raiders in a position to make an unexpected playoff run.
“Those of us who played on the team last year know that playoff soccer cannot be predicted,” said Flagg. “When you know a loss would result in the end of your season, you have nothing to hold back. Even the best teams in the state are vulnerable against a team of kids willing to wear their hearts on their sleeves.”
Former Scarsdale soccer captain and Union College standout, Chris Chiodo, spoke with me about the Raiders’ potential for post-season success. He verified that, come playoff time, all obstacles faced in the regular season are thrown out the window. When asked about what could make the difference for a Raider team hungry to win, Chiodo stressed the importance of support.
“It’s up to the seniors to set the tone for the rest of the team,” said Chiodo. “They have to remind their younger teammates that, for the seniors, a loss results in being forced to take off the maroon and white jersey for life.”
While it’s essential for the players to receive support from each other, there are other sources of support that must not be forgotten. Chiodo mentioned the support of his former coach and current varsity coach, Joe Cipriano.
“Cip believes in every player wearing a Scarsdale jersey, and it’s crucial for the team to trust him,” Chiodo stated. “Until proven otherwise, Cip will believe that his team is capable of exceeding expectations and winning the entire thing.”
If support is what this team needs then it’s time for the Scarsdale community to do our part. Their final game is at home on Friday 10/21, and the playoffs begin next weekend. Let’s show up and remind these kids why we’re proud to live in Scarsdale. And, for all we know, a little support could go a long way.
(Pictured at top: Team Captains Griiffin Flagg, Jason Peluso and David Alemany)
Author Michael Kanner is a graduate of Union College with a background in English and a passion for the written word. He worked at Scarsdale Golf Club as a tennis pro before offering his services to a private clientele, and he loves hearing constructive criticism from anyone willing to speak their mind. Michael can be contacted at [email protected]
