Astorino Vows to Cut County Expenses
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Newly elected County Executive Rob Astorino stopped by the Scarsdale Forum on Thursday night June 3rd to update residents on Westchester County government. Though it was his sixth appearance of the day, he looked fresh and alert. Handsome, charming and engaging, he spoke directly and quickly had everyone in the room on his side. His election was a mandate from voters to rein in spending and remove Westchester from the list as the highest-taxed county in the country, and Astorino is serious about delivering on his campaign promise,
He explained some of the challenges of the job and vowed to bring in a balanced budget next year. With 5,600 county employees and a budget of over $2 billion Astorino’s moves will effect many. No one wants to see their salaries or services cut, but it has simply become too expensive to sustain the status quo. Astorino explained that in the past decade two million taxpayers have left New York State, partially due to the high cost of living here. He claims these people have been replaced with millions without resources and in need of services. In his role, he is evaluating County business and deciding what core services we should provide to those truly in need and which should be cut. In his words, we are “providing a Cadillac when we could provide a Chevy.”
If we don’t make changes, the 2011 Westchester County budget deficit is estimated to grow to $166 million. Rather than increase taxes by 30% to cover it, Astorino is examining the following contributing factors:
-The pension cost for County employees is now at $55 million per year and is expected to grow to $125 million per year in three years
-The County now pays $22,000 a year per family for health insurance for County workers who make no contribution to their own insurance. The County provides day care services at a cost of $13,000 per year per child.
-Labor contracts now grant County workers 4% salary increases and though Astorino has asked for concessions from the unions he has received no response from their leadership.
-The Beeline Bus system costs $90 million per year and his administration is looking for ways to trim the system but save bus routes that are heavily utilized or those that run in areas where there is no other available transportation.
Astorino anticipates that tough negotiations with the unions are in store, and fully expects to see the large inflatable union rat on his front lawn. Without any concessions from the unions, Astorino says that up to 1,600 employees may lose their jobs with probable layoffs of 500-700 employees.
He is already meeting opposition from the Democratic Majority of the Legislature who voted on June 7 to authorize the retention of outside counsel to represent the County Board in possible litigation against the Administration to stop their unauthorized budget cuts to day care subsidies that were recently cut to low income families.
According to Democratic Chairman Ken Jenkins, “The Legislature may be forced to seek court intervention in order to protect the rights of Westchester's children and families and to clarify the constitutional authority over who maintains the County's budget,” Although there is a cost associated with the lawsuit, Jenkins says, “the savings to the taxpayers far outweighs the cost of failure to act. It further protects the people’s voice in county government. The County Executive may not agree with the Legislature’s spending priorities, but he is constitutionally and legally bound to follow them by law."
Democrats contend that Astorino has overstepped his bounds by unilaterally implementing these modifications which some feel jeopardize daycare that enables parents to keep working and assure that their children are in a safe environment while their parents work.
At issue are proposed cuts of $5.8 million in social services this year, including $1.5 million in day-care spending by cutting two programs and by raising contributions on a third. Among the changes include the elimination of the Westchester County Child Care Scholarship program, created by the Board of Legislators, a freeze on new Title XX child care subsidies, a federal program that, currently, aids families within the County; and, by increasing parent contributions from families who get low-income child-care subsidies from 15% to 20%.
Astorino answered questions from the audience at the Forum and was asked for developments in the housing settlement with HUD that ordered Westchester to construct 750 units of affordable housing in villages with low percentages of minority representation. Astorino was against the settlement and stated that the $51 million is not sufficient to build 750 new units in the specified villages. The first plan that Westchester submitted in January, 2010 was not accepted by Federal Monitor Jim Johnson, who has now hired an outside company to review it. Astorino believes that both senior housing and workforce housing should be permitted to count toward the required 750 units. In addition, if the County was permitted to rehab or convert existing homes, rather than embark on new construction projects, the funds would go a longer way. He is hopeful that the Monitor will be flexible in the enforcement of an implementation plan.
Astorino ended by saying “I was elected to change things,” and he appeared fully resolved to do so. He welcomed residents to email him suggestions and comments at CEO@westchestergov.com
A Memorable Parade
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On Monday, May 31, hundreds of residents celebrated Memorial Day in the Village of Scarsdale. A glorious, sunny sky glowed above Scarsdale’s 2010 Memorial Day Parade as it wove through the streets of the Village. The Scarsdale High School band was heard throughout the parade playing festive pieces like God Bless America and drum cadences. Participants – from infants to the elderly – showed their spirit and patriotism as individual marching groups dressed in their respective uniforms and onlookers waved American flags. Scouts, Scarsdale Little League players, Veterans, Scarsdale Fire Fighters and Ambulance volunteers, and others marched in honor of America’s
fallen soldiers. Scarsdale fire trucks, including one from the 1940s, and ambulances trailed the marchers at the end of the parade.
After the parade, speakers reminded guests of the often forgotten significance of Memorial Day during a ceremony at Chase Park. Accomplished scouts were honored with awards during the ceremony. Assemblywoman Amy Paulin offered her thoughts, and Scarsdale Mayor Carolyn Stevens made the following remarks on the meaning of the day:
“Thank you to the American Legion for organizing today’s events – your efforts are truly appreciated.
As I look around at the crowd here today there is one face that is missing: Gene Rogliano. Gene organized the parade and these events for over 40 years and the community is grateful for the dedication he showed to community and to those fellow soldiers who died for their country. Gene made sure that we did not forget them and their sacrifice and we are better for it.
“Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer: we eat too much at barbeques; pools and beaches open; we can wear our pants and white shoes again; and we attend parties and parades.
But let us not forget the true purpose of this most solemn day –We gather today, just as we have gathered before, to remember and honor those who served, those who fought, and those who gave their last full measure of devotion for our country.
This tradition dates back to the Civil War. There are numerous stories of the origins of the this day. My personal favorite is the story of southern women who went to visit the graves of their fallen soldiers and saw the overgrown and bare graves of fallen northern soldiers and laid flowers on them as well. Waterloo, New York has been recognized as the official home of Decoration Day where a druggist closed his shop in 1866 and urged others in his town to do the same to adorn the graves of those who had died to preserve the Union. After World War I, Memorial Day was changed to include all who had died in America’s wars.
Whatever its origins, the true purpose of Memorial Day is to remember and honor the more than one million men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice- from Christopher Snider, a 12 year old boy who was killed 5 days before the Boston Massacre at the start of the Revolutionary War, to 28 year old Sgt. Edwin Rivera of Waterford, Connecticut who was killed in Afghanistan on May 28th, 2010 - all have died that we may be free. These men and women – sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters – valued the life they had in this country but gave up their own lives to preserve it for us; revered freedom but sacrificed their own freedom that we may live free; gave up their pursuit of happiness that we might pursue ours.
As Lincoln dedicated a portion of the battlefield at Gettysburg as a cemetery for those who had died there, he stated in his speech, “that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. 
Let us too join in that resolve. Remember those who have died - maybe walk over to Boniface Circle and look at the names inscribed there or stop by the Memorial Garden by the pool with its plaques memorializing the role of Scardalians in our country’s conflicts; or the next time you see a game on Dean Field remember it is named for a young Scarsdale man who died in Vietnam. And honor them by being good citizens and do not take the freedoms that they paid for with their blood for granted – remember to vote in elections; inform yourself on the issues; make your voices heard and make sure that we do not send more of our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, to die in a cause less noble than their regard for their call to duty. And honor them by giving up some of your time to give back to your community and country. By serving in your own way you honor their service.
Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it as your own. Remember those who were called upon to give all a person can give. Most of all, remember the devotion and gallantry with which all of them ennobled our nation and each one of us. “
Scarsdale Adult School Offers Something for Everyone
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The Scarsdale Adult School has announced their class offerings for the 2010 summer season. There are a series of classes for college-aged young adults as well as a separate array of courses open to all adults.
Life Skills for College Students and Recent Graduates teaches young adults, 16+ years old how to manage living on their own. Subjects include Advocating for Yourself and Promoting Healthy Relationships, Auto Maintenance and Safe Driving Techniques, Managing Your Money, and Cooking 101 and Eating Healthfully.
The Adult School is offering many exercise classes, including Golf Level I and II, Body Sculpting, Gentle Yoga, and Tai Chi. Additionally, art classes include Art to Wear: Jewelry Beading and Painting With Pastels.
The school will continue their Italian speaking class this summer with Intermediate-Advanced Conversation and Grammar all' aperto. The class will consist of immersion in italian literature, culture, current events, conversation, and grammatical instruction.
To register, or for information on all course offerings, visit www.ScarsdaleAdultSchool.org. Questions? Call 723-2325.
Scarsdale Wins Award for Christie Place Development
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Here are remarks from Mayor Carolyn Stevens made at a joint meeting of the Village Trustees and Board of Education on May 27. Earlier this week I attended the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) Annual meeting in Saratoga, New York. One of the reasons I attended was that Scarsdale was awarded First Place in the area of Economic Development for the Christie Place development. NYCOM found the project to be an innovative and creative. The project, as many of you know, involved a public/private partnership, that provided the Village with many benefits, including much needed parking, senior housing, and accessibility to transportation, while adding to the vitality of the Village center with retail on the first level and housing above. In addition, the development provides the Village with several streams of revenue. For all these reasons, the NYCOM board found the project to be a model of progressive and innovative problem solving. While I accepted the award at the dinner last Sunday, it really belongs to former Mayor Beverly Sved and the trustees who worked with her to create a better solution. I would be remiss if I also didn’t mention Abby Stillman – a resident who first raised the concept in conversations with Beverly and other board members as well as Doug Brout who had vision and perfect timing.
I learned a lot while at the conference on governmental issues but what I learned about our own government and staff was perhaps most interesting. There are a number of communities in the state with serious economic issues that threaten their very existence, while we are extremely well run and on sound financial footing. I found that this Village has produced a number of professionals in government who now occupy positions in a number of communities throughout the state. I learned how well respected our professional staff members are regarded among their peers and how well the staff informs the Board on issues and governmental principles, and how well we are kept a breast of the ‘best practices’ for governmental practices and processes. Sometimes when we are close to a situation and focused on how we can do things better we lose site of our well trained, dedicated and highly professional staff and the service they provide to our Village and its residents. That does not mean that we do not seek to constantly improve our practices and services but it does mean that we should acknowledge the high level of professionalism out staff provides. So I personally want to thank Al Gatta and all of the staff for their dedication to good government and for the high level of professionalism they bring to their positions.
I would also like to remind folks to patronize our farmer’s market that has moved out doors at Village Hall parking lot.
This weekend is Memorial Day. While I recognize for many this signals the beginning of summer, barbeques and the beach or pool, the day is about remembrance…remembrance of those who gave their lives and continue to give their lives today in Afghanistan and Iraq. Please take some time to remember why we have the day off. It is to pay tribute to those who are not here to share in our festivities but whose blood has made them possible. So come to our parade, sponsored by the American Legion on Monday and bring your children or grandchildren so that they might understand the meaning of the day, or visit our lovely memorial garden and learn the history of Scarsdalians’ contributions to the armed conflicts our nation. If nothing else, take some time out of your day to pay tribute and remember those who died so that we might enjoy our freedom.
Greenacres Spring Fling
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The Greenacres Association hosted their annual Spring Fling on Friday May 21 at Hitchcock Church. The well-attended event featured live music, dinner, drinks and good company. Greenacres residents young and old, newcomers and long-time residents all met, mingled and celebrated another year of sharing their community.
Lynne Clark, a Greenacres Resident and realtor at Houlihan Lawrence shared her perspective on Greenacres. The land we now call home was once owned by the Mohican Indians, who sold it to John Richbell in 1660. Richbell’s widow Anne later sold the acreage to Caleb Heathcote. Many of the homes that still stand today were built in the 1920’s when the Bronx River Parkway opened in 1924.
Clark then gave the group an update on the real estate market. In 2009 only 23 homes sold in Greenacres, a gradual decline from a high of 50 homes sold in 2004. As of May 19 this year, 8 homes have sold and 15 more are in contract, so it looks like we are seeing a turnaround. The average price for 2010 now stands at $1,437,500, which is way up from the 2009 average price of $1,100,000.
The evening was enjoyed by all. Thanks go to Lulu’s for supplying a delicious cake, for the trays of Baklava from Elia Taverna of Bronxville and to the Board and volunteers for putting together a festive event.
