Is Westchester Resisting Integration?
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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I usually agree with what I read in the New York Times, but two recent editorials on the affordable housing settlement left me wondering if the authors know their turf. One was an editorial called “ The Battle for Westchester,” that appeared in the Sunday N.Y. Times on May 13, 2012 and the other was a column by Peter Applebome on April 3, 2012 . Both pieces discussed the August 2008 affordable housing settlement where Westchester County was ordered to spend $51.6 million to build 750 affordable housing units by 2015. The ruling is punishment for misdeeds during the Spano years when his administration received funds from HUD for affordable units that were never built.
Current Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino inherited the consequences of the suit, as well as a mandate from taxpayers to cut county taxes, which are the among the highest in the country. The state exacerbated the county’s money troubles by enacting the 2 percent tax cap that prevents municipalities and counties from raising taxes above 2 percent, while at the same time, billing them for state-mandated programs whose costs grow beyond 2% per year.
Given the economic straits Westchester towns and villages now face and what I know about Scarsdale, where I have lived for 22 years, I thought the Times assertions were off base and ill informed.
Westchester County is ahead of schedule on the construction of affordable units with 206 approved and 196 financed. But that’s not good enough for the NY Times who charges that the units in Chappaqua will be built in a “no-man’s land between railroad tracks, a highway and a bridge,” and in Rye, near “largely minority Portchester.” In Larchmont, they complain that 46 units will be built behind a strip mall, squeezed against railroad tracks and Interstate 95.” What the articles do not mention is that residents of these units will enjoy town and county services and recreational facilities and their children will be “integrated” into fine public schools, all at a very reasonable cost. Since the settlement requires that the units be accessible to public transportation, it is odd that the Times objects to their proximity to the train station.
As a Westchester resident, it’s no wonder to me why the units have been placed in these locations. In Scarsdale we are built out and there is virtually no open space for construction. In order to build a new unit, an existing unit would need to be demolished. Furthermore, when property does become available, it is priced at a premium. First-rate schools and an easy commute to Manhattan make living here highly desirable. It is difficult to imagine how it would be economically feasible to build apartments or homes for $68,000 each when the average home sale price in Scarsdale in 2011 was $1,529,000. Furthermore, the settlement stipulates that for a family of four, the rent plus utilities cannot exceed 60% of the AMI of $63,900 in 2011. This translates to rents just below $1,600 per month.
According to the Times, it’s not good enough that Chappaqua, Rye and Larchmont have found ways to finance, build and incorporate these very affordable units into the community. The Times wants them located among “the Tudors and the glades,” in single-family neighborhoods on prime plots of land.
In November 2011 in an effort to comply with the settlement, Scarsdale adopted the model code recommended by the monitor. The new code requires the inclusion of an affordable unit in developments of 5-9 units and 10-14 units and the inclusion of 2 affordable units in developments of 15-24 units. And even before the code was adopted, the Village Board required the developer of a property at 2-4 Weaver Street in Scarsdale to include an affordable unit. However, one unit will do little toward appeasing HUD.
Even more startling was the NY Times claim of racial discrimination. The editorial states that the case is about “doing something to end deeply embedded segregation patterns and “affirmatively furthering fair housing,” The editorial calls for the county to take “communities to court to stop them from blocking integration through restrictive zoning” and “rental discrimination.”
In my 22 years in Scarsdale I have seen no evidence of racial discrimination. The Scarsdale schools are attended by children of every skin color and nationality. Asians, Indians, African Americans and Hispanics are fully integrated into the community ---in fact, this diversity is a given that is rarely discussed. Foreign cultures and traditions are celebrated in the schools with international fairs and special events. On the tennis courts I find people keeping score in many languages and the Scarsdale Golf Club, once an exclusionary country club welcomes members of every race and background and is a model of diversity.
If this perceived “racial discrimination” is really a stepchild of economic discrimination, then there needs to be a feasible way to pay market rates for affordable housing. The community is already stretched to the limit to finance schools and services and there are no extra funds available to subsidize affordable housing. To me, this suit seems to be more about economics than race. To charge Westchester towns with racism because housing prices are steep, seems off the mark to me.
Suspect Charged in 2009 Edgemont Home Invasion
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A home invasion on Fort Hill Lane in Edgemont on a snowy day in December 2009 rocked the community. In no ordinary burglary, the residents, a couple in their 60’s, were tied up at knifepoint while the three intruders stole items from the home, including a computer.
Now, two and a half years later, that computer has lead to the arrest of one suspect, currently in jail in Michigan on unrelated charges.
A press release from the Greenburgh Police on May 9, reports that Victor Hernandez, age 26 of 1070 Fox Street in the Bronx has been charged with robbery and burglary in connection with the incident on December 20, 2009.
In a joint investigation conducted by the Westchester County D.A.’s office and the Greenburgh Police, the stolen laptop was found in the Bronx and lead to Hernandez, now in jail in Michigan. An arrest warrant was issued on January 23, 2012 and the suspect was brought back to New York where he was arraigned on May 9, 2012 and is now in Westchester County jail pending a May 29 court date. If convicted, Hernandez faces a maximum of 25 years behind bars.
Scarsdale's Sheryl WuDunn Accepts Open Door Award at the 2012 Gourmet Galaxy
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Over 200 attendees toasted Scarsdale and Edgemont Family Counseling Service (SFCS) and honoree Sheryl WuDunn at the Gourmet Galaxy at Westchester Country Club on Wednesday May 2, 2012. The much-anticipated evening featured a tempting display of silent auction items contributed by local retailers, restaurants and friends, and food from 29 area restaurants and purveyors who generously donated drinks, hors d’oeuvres, dinner and dessert.
Representatives from a wide swath of the community turned out in support of SFCS and their programs that assist residents of all ages, from families, to teens and senior citizens. We spotted the Mayor, Village Trustees, School Board members, realtors, PTA leaders, SFCS members of the Board of Directors and Gourmet Galaxy Committee in the crowd. Though partially funded by the Village of Scarsdale and the Scarsdale Board of Education, SFCS relies on funding from donations and fundraisers to meet their budget.
A group of hardworking volunteers took on a multitude of tasks to make the evening a success. An impressive array of silent auction items were displayed throughout the room and included jewelry, gift baskets, books, toys, and certificates for restaurant dinners, spa services, tutoring and more. During the cocktail hour, a representative from local brewery Captain Lawrence Brewing Company served free glasses of beer while sushi and hors d’oeuvres were provided by Haiku, Kirari, Kyo Sushi and Sakanaya and Standing Room Only.
Restaurants provided samples from their menus for dinner. We tasted polenta and osso bucco from Caffe Azzurri, Chicken Cacciatore from Lusardis, seared duck from the new Bistro Latino, and meatballs with fried onions from an American Bistro before we were too full to eat more. We heard that the sliders from the Tap House, baklava from Nikos , beef from Benjamin Steakhouse, salmon from Eastchester Fish Gourmet, pasta from Enzo’s, and dumplings from the new Noodle+ on Main Street in White Plains were good too. On hand for dessert were yodels from Lulu Cake Boutique and more sweet treats from La Renaissance, Patisserie Salzburg and Imagine Candy. We couldn’t taste everything but did note that the 808 Bistro, Club Car Café, Pagoda, and Zaza’s also fed the crowd.
The program was brief but informative. Highlighted was The Girls Center, a new program launched this year to build self esteem and empower girls in the Middle School. Tina Henderson and her colleague Lori Albanese both took the podium to describe their progress and thank the group for their support. Henderson said, “we have been entrusted with the town’s daughters, “ and reported that this year, the program included 23 girls who “emerged and grew and found their own voices.” The girls “wrote stories and scripts, did dramatic role play and explored both safe and scary places.”
Geraldine Greene, Executive Director of SFCS introduced Scarsdale’s Sheryl WuDunn and presented her with the Open Door Award for her work to ”illuminate challenges and problems women and girls face worldwide.” She called WuDunn, “ a powerful voice advocating for education and empowerment of women.” She is the co-author of “Half the Sky, Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide,” which she wrote with her husband, N.Y. Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. The book focuses on the challenges facing women around the globe and the struggle for gender equality. The Kristof’s have three children, two who attend Scarsdale High School and one in college.
Speaking without notes, it was evident that WuDunn is comfortable in front of a crowd. She explained that even though her work focuses on women in remote places, the lessons learned in countries such as Uganda or Kenya can be applied here and the methods we use to help one another in the U.S. can be transported abroad. She encouraged everyone to contribute their time to helping others and to integrate giving into their lives. She believes that charity alone is not enough – instead, she believes we need to find ways to give people livelihoods and empower them to help themselves. Though she said the world’s problems are daunting she told the audience to “build from your own strength,” and “in your little corner you can find a way to make a difference.”
Students Drive Drunk Without Taking a Sip
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Students of Scarsdale High School were given the opportunity to experience the effects of drunk driving first hand through the use of a “drunk driving simulator” on May 2nd. Sponsored by the Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol, the driving simulator enabled Scarsdale students to experience driving under the influence of varying amounts of alcohol.
To start the process, each student started driving the simulator without any alcohol content. The students were told to acknowledge the speed limit and drive safely, which most kids did without a problem. Progressively, the simulator then exhibited the effects of driving with the legal alcohol limit to drive, .08 blood alcohol content (BAC). Even driving with the legal BAC, students found it detrimental to their driving abilities as Nicole Zucker said, “All my abilities to drive were impaired, especially my vision and judgment. I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like driving with more alcohol in my system.” Students would later find out what it would feel like as the simulator displayed the effects of driving with an illegal BAC. As students attempted to drive with illegal alcohol levels, their ability to drive safely was completely compromised as they could no longer adhere to the speed limit, stay on the right side of the road, or prevent a collision with oncoming traffic.
Drinking and driving is a significant problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car 
crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and one of three of those is alcohol related. The NHTSA also reports that one in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime. Hopefully the simulator helped imprint in the students’ minds that driving while under the influence can be life threatening.
“Kids who tried the drunk driving simulator were powerfully affected,” said Joy Brownstein, co-chair Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol. “We are thankful to the Westchester County Police Department for providing us with this important educational tool.”
This article was written by SHS ninth grader Jonny Dorf who is a few years away from getting his driver's license.
Funhouse Family Tag Sale Saturday May 12
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The Junior League of Central Westchester (JLCW) Spring 2012 New Members will host a “Funhouse Family Tag Sale” on Saturday, May 12 at Wayside Cottage. Early bird admission from 7 am to 9 am is $2 and from 9 am to 2 pm admission is free. In addition to a fantastic selection of gently used items, there will be a bake sale, Mother's Day items and face painting for the kids! Proceeds will support the JLCW.
Junior League of Central Westchester (JLCW) members continue to promote the literacy, health and welfare of children and families in central Westchester through such programs as the JLCW’s Family Literacy Program, Grace Church Soup Kitchen, Kids in the Kitchen, Back Pack Buddies, and Let’s Save The Earth. (More information about the JLCW’s initiatives and community projects is available on our website www.JLCentralWestchester.org.)
Junior League of Central Westchester (JLCW) is a nonprofit women’s organization committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Headquartered at historic Wayside Cottage, JLCW has served the communities of Eastchester, Greenburgh, Scarsdale and White Plains for over 65 years. Our approximately 250 active and sustaining members are accomplished collaborators who identify community needs and develop effective and responsive programs to serve those needs. JLCW invites women of all races, religions and national origins who are committed to volunteerism to become a member.
For more information, email jlcw@verizon.net or call (914) 723-6130.
