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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 22 September 2020

Created: 22 September 2020

Last Updated: 29 September 2020

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Make your plans to vote in the general election on November 3rd. This year, registered voters have three ways in which they can vote: 1) by absentee ballot; 2) in person during early voting; and 3) in person on election day.

All New York registered voters fearful of contracting Covid-19 may apply for and vote by absentee ballot using “temporary illness” as the reason for their absentee ballot request. The Westchester County Board of Elections website details the variety of ways you can apply for an absentee ballot, including through a newly-established online portal. The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot is October 27, but voters are encouraged to apply NOW. Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 3 and received by the Board of Elections by November 10. Please note that mailed absentee ballots without a postmark must be received by Wednesday, November 4, 2020, to be counted. Those not comfortable with the delivery of mail service but wishing to avoid the possibility of long lines at the polls may return their completed absentee ballots to drop boxes which will be stationed at the Board of Elections, early voting polling locations, and election day polling locations.

Early voting will take place between October 24 and November 1. This year, Westchester voters can vote at any early polling site in the county. Be sure to check early voting locations and times listed below and on the Board of Elections website. Westchester voters may also place absentee ballots in drop boxes at any early voting polling locations.

Election day is November 3, and you can vote only at your assigned polling location.

Social distancing and other precautionary measures will be enforced to ensure safety when voting. You may also place your absentee ballot in the drop box at your election day polling location.

As election day nears, the Governor may need to pass additional measures related to the November general election. The League is continuing to monitor potential new voting legislation. Updates can be found at www.lwvs.org/voter-information/. You may also visit the NYS League of Women Voters website at My.lwv.org/new-york-state.

If you have any questions regarding voting, contact the Scarsdale League of Women Voters, voter service at: [email protected]. The League knows that the ever-changing rules can be confusing and is happy to answer any questions.

Important Dates

Now: Residents should check their voter registration status.

October 9: Last day for your voter registration to be postmarked. The voter registration form is available on the Westchester County Board of Elections website.

October 9: Last day to register to vote in-person at the Westchester County Board of Elections’ Office. (25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601).

October 24: Early Voting Period begins. Voters may vote in-person at any of the 17 Early Voting polling locations.

October 27: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot at the Westchester County Board of Elections. Westchester voters who wish to apply for an absentee ballot may do so online using a newly-established portal or by email, fax, regular mail, or telephone call.

November 1: Last day of Early Voting.

November 2: Last day to apply in-person for an absentee ballot.

November 3: (Date of General Election); last day for your absentee ballot to be postmarked.

Absentee ballots must be received by November 10. Absentee ballots without a postmark must be received by November 4.

November 3: Last day to deliver an absentee ballot in-person to the Board of Elections.

Early Voting 2020: Schedules and Locations

Westchester County registered voters are eligible to cast an early voting ballot. Registered voters will be able to cast their ballot at ANY of the 17 designated early voting locations listed below.

Westchester County’s Election Inspectors will now use Electronic Poll Books and Ballot-on-Demand systems to facilitate early voting. There will be nine days of Early Voting before each election.

Voters casting absentee ballots can choose to return their absentee ballots to drop boxes set up at these early voting polling locations.

Westchester County Early Voting Times for the November General Election
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 26, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020 from noon until 8p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020 from noon until 8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Westchester County Early Voting Polling Locations

Eastchester Public Library, 11 Oakridge Place, Eastchester, NY 10709
Dobbs Ferry Village Hall, 112 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue, White Plains, NY 10607
Veterans Memorial Building, 210 Halstead Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528
Pound Ridge Town House, 179 Westchester Avenue, Pound Ridge, NY 10576
Mamaroneck Town Center, 740 W. Boston Post Road, Ma.m.aroneck, NY 10543
Mt. Kisco Memorial Complex at Leonard Park, 1 Wallace Drive, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549
Mt. Pleasant Community Center, 125 Lozza Drive, Valhalla, NY 10595
Mt. Vernon City Hall, 1 Roosevelt Square, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550
New Rochelle City Hall Annex – 90 Beaufort Place, 90 Beaufort Place, New Rochelle, NY 10801
Joseph G. Caputo Community Center, 95 Broadway, Ossining, NY 10562
Peekskill Nutrition Center – Neighborhood Center, 4 Nelson Avenue, Peekskill, NY 10566
Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, NY 10589
Westchester County Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601
Grinton I. Will Library, 1500 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10710
Riverfront Library, One Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY 10701
Yorktown Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 21 August 2020

Created: 21 August 2020

Last Updated: 02 September 2020

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(Updated September 2, 2020) Make your plans to vote in person or by mail in ballot in the Village election on September 15 and in the general election on November 3rd. Here is what you need to know from the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale.

The Scarsdale Village Election, originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 2020, has been postponed by New York State Governor Cuomo's Executive Order 202.44 to Tuesday, September 15, 2020. All election districts may vote in-person at the Scarsdale Congregational Church, 1 Heathcote Road from 6:00 AM to 9 PM.

There are six candidates running for three open Village Board seats. If you would like to watch the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale Candidate Forum for Village Trustee featuring all six candidates, click the link: LWVS Candidate Forum for Village Trustee.

Note: The Village is holding all absentee ballots submitted before the March Village Election was postponed. They are valid and will be counted.

Important Dates for the Scarsdale Village Election

Friday, September 4: Last day to register with Westchester County Board of Elections to be eligible to vote in the Village Election. Click here to register to vote.

Tuesday, September 8: Last day for the Village Clerk to receive applications for absentee ballots to be mailed to qualified voters. Click here for a Village Election absentee ballot application: 

Please Note: All New York State voters can now apply to vote by absentee ballot using the temporary illness clause if there is a risk of contracting a disease such as Covid-19. On August 20, Governor Cuomo signed legislation expanding absentee voting in New York State: 

Monday, September 14: Last day for the Village Clerk to receive in-person applications for an absentee ballot from applicant or applicant's agent.

Tuesday, September 15: (Date of Village Election); Last day for the Village Clerk to receive absentee ballots in-person or by mail.

Note: You must be a registered voter at your current address in the Village of Scarsdale to vote in the Village Election. If you have any questions about your voter registration status, please call the Westchester County Board of Elections at (914) 995-5700 or click here to check your voter status.

Click here for the Scarsdale Village Election website.

General Election: Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Early Voting: October 24- November 1, 2020

Important Dates

October 9: Last day for your voter registration to be postmarked. Click here for a voter registration form:. 

October 9: Last day to register to vote in-person at the Westchester County Board of Elections’ Office. (25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601). Click here for the Westchester County Board of Elections' website: https://citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com

October 24: Early Voting Period begins. Early Voting Polling locations and times to vote have been released by the Board of Elections: https://citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com/voting/early-voting-2020. Voters may vote in-person at any Early Voting location in Westchester County.

October 27: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot. 
All New York state voters can apply online for an absentee ballot using this portal:
Westchester voters who wish to apply for an absentee ballot by email, fax, or regular mail can get information here:

November 1: Last day of Early Voting.

November 2: Last day to apply in-person for an absentee ballot.

November 3: (Date of General Election); last day for your absentee ballot to be postmarked. Absentee ballots must be received by November 10.

November 3: Last day to deliver an absentee ballot in-person to the Board of Elections.
The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale Voter Service Chairs recommend that:

Residents check their voter registration status.

If you are eligible to vote and are not registered, please register with the Westchester County Board of Elections.

If you plan to vote by absentee ballot in the General Election, all New York State voters can now apply to vote by absentee ballot using the temporary illness clause, if there is a risk of contracting a disease [such as Covid-19].

NYS has also announced early in-person voting for the general election. Here's what you need to know:

Early Voting 2020: Schedules, Locations, FAQs

Westchester County registered voters are eligible to cast an early voting ballot. Registered voters will be able to cast their ballot at ANY of the 17 designated early voting locations listed below.

Westchester County’s Election Inspectors will now use Electronic Poll Books and Ballot-on-Demand systems to facilitate early voting. There will be nine days of Early Voting before each election.

General Election, Nov. 3, 2020

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct.. 25, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
Monday, Oct.. 26, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct.. 27, 2020 from noon until 8p.m.
Wednesday, Oct.. 28, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Thursday, Oct.. 29, 2020 from noon until 8 p.m.
Friday, Oct.. 30, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct.. 31, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.

Westchester County Early Voting Centers

Eastchester Public Library, 11 Oakridge Place, Eastchester, NY 10709
Dobbs Ferry Village Hall, 112 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue, White Plains, NY 10607
Veterans Memorial Building, 210 Halstead Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528
Pound Ridge Town House, 179 Westchester Avenue, Pound Ridge, NY 10576
Mamaroneck Town Center, 740 W. Boston Post Road, Ma.m.aroneck, NY 10543
Mt. Kisco Memorial Complex at Leonard Park, 1 Wallace Drive, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549
Mt. Pleasant Community Center, 125 Lozza Drive, Valhalla, NY 10595
Mt. Vernon City Hall, 1 Roosevelt Square, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550
New Rochelle City Hall Annex – 90 Beaufort Place, 90 Beaufort Place, New Rochelle, NY 10801
Joseph G. Caputo Community Center, 95 Broadway, Ossining, NY 10562
Peekskill Nutrition Center – Neighborhood Center, 4 Nelson Avenue, Peekskill, NY 10566
Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, NY 10589
Westchester County Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601
Grinton I. Will Library, 1500 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10710
Riverfront Library, One Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY 10701
Yorktown Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

Frequently Asked Question for 2020 General Election
For the 2020 November General Election, you can vote in person before Election Day.

What is Early Voting?
Westchester County registered voters can vote in-person before Election Day at ANY of the seventeen (17) Early Voting Centers.

Who can vote early?
All Westchester County registered voters can vote early.

When can I vote early?
Early voting period will be from Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. The complete schedule is listed above.

Where can I vote early?
You can vote at ANY of the designated early voting sites throughout the County. These early voting centers are listed above.

Questions? Email [email protected]

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 17 August 2020

Created: 17 August 2020

Last Updated: 17 August 2020

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Photo Credit: The NotebookAt a Board of Education meeting on Tuesday August 11, the community heard from four members of the Scarsdale Teachers Association. They primarily discussed plans for hybrid learning at the high school. This week, we have the comments below from teachers represenatives for the elementary schools and middle school. Here is what they have to say about the Restart Plan:

Michelle Mangiamele, 2nd Grade Teacher at Edgewood Elementary School

My name is Michelle Mangiamele. This September starts my 15th year at the Scarsdale school district. I am currently a second grade teacher at Edgewood School and an STA officer. I write about the past, present and future of the perception, hope and goals of the elementary teacher.

The Past: Eleanor Roosevelt once said “We learn from living.” We have all learned something from the past five months. Remote learning was challenging for EVERYONE. Teachers were learning how to teach in a way in which they never had before. Parents were learning how to help their children academically. Children were learning how to be students at home. Everyone was anxious. Everyone was learning. Everyone was struggling. We were in a pandemic and we still are.

As we continue to live in this pandemic, we need to remember that we must learn from our past. There was a great deal of rhetoric, and unfortunately, in some cases unfair criticism regarding remote learning during the Spring. We should be looking closely at our current plan to evaluate whether it meets the Scarsdale vision statement. The statement that was agreed upon by the entire community, consisting of administrators, faculty and families. The statement was as follows, and I quote- “The Scarsdale Schools Restart efforts commit to providing an educational environment that is physically and emotionally safe; to establishing and nurturing connections within the full school community; and to fostering meaningful learning opportunities for each student regardless of the structure of schooling which takes place in the future.”

The Present Time: The best efforts of all the stakeholders, working endless hours, resulted in the AB plan. Benefits of this plan included but were not limited to the following:

Everyday contact with teachers would happen through a morning meeting that would include the entire class whether it was in person or zoom.

Twice weekly in person instruction with four uninterrupted hours would give teachers more opportunity to create nurturing connections as well as foster meaningful learning opportunities.

On days spent out of the classroom, children would have opportunities for independent studies, both synchronous and asynchronous, preparing them should the district need to suddenly pivot to remote learning.
When this plan was presented to the community at large, the vocal outcry resulted in the hasty adoption of the AM/PM model prompting the following conclusions:

Allowing two cohorts into the building on the same day poses a greater risk of a viral transmission to both students and teachers. The AM/PM model results in less actual instructional time for students. The AM/PM model does not prepare students for the remote learning experts believe to be inevitable.

Many questioned the Wednesday planning day for teachers in the AB model. This day was so that teachers could concentrate on a variety of eLearning opportunities for students. Its purpose was also to help teachers and students stay aligned with those who would solely be engaged in remote learning. Teachers need the time to plan collaboratively in order to provide meaningful learning experiences either synchronous or asynchronous, and support students for the transitions into and out of distance learning. The opportunity for a few summer planning days is NOT enough to sustain a year of lessons. Teachers do not feel prepared for another year of remote learning. Teachers need the opportunity to collaborate and plan, so they can improve remote learning experiences that students receive.

The pandemic remains unchecked in so many parts of the country that we can predict that we will all be back to remote learning at some point, and we need this time to prepare. In the AM/PM model teachers have 30 minutes of planning time and 60 minutes for lunch. It looks good on paper but teachers must leave their classrooms, possibly the building, during that time so that proper cleaning can take place in order for cohort B to come to school safely. How will this work logistically? Where will teachers prepare lessons and do their work? Where will teachers eat their lunch? The A/B model provided more instruction for students and more common planning time for teachers.

As we look into The Future: Our goal as educators is to provide our students with the best possible education. Moving forward, our hope is that the community continues to recognize us as professionals who possess the expertise and knowledge of how best to support our students’ academic needs. As we begin to prepare for the inevitable, we also hope that the community will strive to remember that remote teaching during a PANDEMIC is a unique situation, filled with its own specific set of challenges for parents and teachers alike. We need to remember THIS IS A PANDEMIC. Yes teachers are filming lessons, teaching lessons over zoom, providing independent practice, but we also need the help from our families to support the child’s educational needs. No elementary school student can teach him or herself. We must remember that no matter what any teacher does from any screen, elementary students need physical human contact to check in for understanding and possibly review a lesson. The elementary teachers of Scarsdale want to work and have a partnership with our families so that the child receives the best education possible. We all know that it takes a village, so let’s begin planning how to work together.

Will Maldarelli, Eighth Grade Teacher at Scarsdale Middle School

My name is Will Maldarelli. I have taught 8th grade social studies at the middle school since 2014 and have worked in the building in other roles and departments since 2007. On behalf of the teachers at Scarsdale Middle School, I have written the following.

In a typical year at this time in August, when I am thinking about my classroom and the start of a new school year, I excitedly plan for the group work, simulations, and collaborative lessons with colleagues that enhance the curriculum for my students. I drive to the Middle School and begin to set up and imagine a room full of students mingling and connecting, both socially and academically. I set up the pods of desks that at times define the space in Fountain 177, and I feel that sense of (at times, admittedly nervous) anticipation for the year that is to come.

When the school year starts and we hit the ground running, my students and I immediately begin establishing the relationships that I value so much and that allow for thoughtful, meaningful, honest work to take place. I drop-in on students (individually and when they are working together) at their desks, providing feedback for them as they work. I welcome casual lunch drop-ins for conversations about my class or life in general. I enjoy before and after school extra help sessions during which I am able to engage with my students in smaller groups and on an individual basis, again, getting to know them more deeply on academic and personal levels.

The developmentally appropriate moments between students that I often encounter in the hallway, the passing micro-interactions and small-talk amongst us that build rapport and comfort, the encouraging smile or a high five...these moments paint a modest glimpse into the middle school experience. And all of us want nothing more than to return to it. Having said all of that, we find ourselves in the midst of an immensely atypical August in what has been a most challenging year in the lives of many people. The anticipation that we teachers usually feel in August has the added stress of genuine concern and fear. I want to make it clear that in a hybrid model, though students will be physically present in school for some time during the week, state guidelines prevent my classroom (and anyone’s classroom for that matter) from even faintly resembling what it was back in February or in the descriptions I detailed earlier.

The unfortunate reality is that anything short of a return to five full days a week following the distribution of a vaccine or treatment inherently means less can be accomplished in our classes. These realities not only sadden me, they fill me with anxiety as I struggle to reimagine all that I know.

Working and speaking with middle school teachers regarding reopening over the past weeks, I can assert that most do not feel comfortable with the way school will look in the fall. That is a hard thing for me to say as their representative but also as a fellow teacher who will have to live in that reality. Unfortunately, this truth also applies to our students and the community - this will not be school as ANY of us know it, and that is a profoundly distressing thing to say. Middle School teachers are concerned - about their ability to teach as effectively as they have done in the past, about their health, about the health of their families, about the health of their students, and about the health of the families of their students.

We see ourselves as part of this community. We understand the needs of middle school students and methods of best practice. We understand concerns about curriculum coverage and depth and breadth of content. We understand the desire for a return to the physical building, both from a professional and deeply personal level. We understand that this community deserves the best education that we can provide and are used to providing.

And so I feel it necessary to say, if SMS opens in a hybrid model, that no one can or should expect a “return to normalcy” in September, as much as we all (and I mean ALL), want there to be. We have used our imagination. We have put in the deep, thoughtful work necessary to iterate and reiterate how Scarsdale Middle School will look in the fall. Despite all of this, we still cannot make it feel normal. This is a function of life during a pandemic.

The hybrid model may seem to solve the challenges that are facing us, particularly when it comes to in-person contact between teachers and students; however, in order to maintain social distancing and other procedures necessary to protect students, teachers, and families at home, no model will allow us to overcome the pervasive problems the pandemic presents to schools. Students will not be able to interact or socialize with each other as they have done in the past.

As teachers, we will continue to reimagine how we will most effectively engage our students in this new reality this Fall and beyond because that is who we are as people and as professionals and because we care deeply about your children. Teachers at the middle school continue to reach out to us as STA Officers, to their department chairs, and to each other throughout the summer, searching for that magic recipe that will allow us to do what we love in the way we are accustomed to doing it. Sadly, no recipe (short of an effective treatment or a vaccine) exists that could make that desire a reality. No model, hybrid or remote, can recreate what we have dedicated our careers to building. No model provides for a return to our most recent memory of stepping foot in the building back in March.

So in a few weeks, when school “reopens” (in whatever form it takes), please know that we are working to do all that we can to not only teach your children but also to make them feel that sense of community that is at the core of the SMS experience. The Middle School may be the “middle child” but (like any child) it is our child and we want it to be all that we know it can be and has been. The unfortunate reality is that a hybrid model cannot accomplish this goal. A final, personal note: I often refer to myself as a “cautious optimist.” I continue to hope that all stakeholders do their very best in this moment as we move forward into September with understanding, humility in the face of an immense challenge, and hope as we work through this crisis and look forward to a time when we can all, together, confidently and safely return to all that a Scarsdale education has to offer.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 13 August 2020

Created: 13 August 2020

Last Updated: 13 August 2020

Hits: 3299

Photo Credit: Lika LeviWith power to half of Village customers knocked out by Tropical Storm Isaias trustees invited local officials to the August 11 Village Board Meeting to discuss the outage and how it can be addressed with Con Edison.

First up was Sue Tolchin from State Senator Andrew Stewart Cousins’ office who said, “Andrea is outraged and is aggressively seeking information. She is aware you were promised to be restored by August 10 at 3 pm. There are now 15 crews in Scarsdale. I know how hard this has been for everyone. She is not happy, you are not happy and your residents are not happy. They are going to have hearings to pose questions. It has been an awful week. She is as angry and frustrated as we all are.

State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin called in. She said, “This has been a horrible week in addition to what we are going through with COVID. I was out until last night. Scarsdale was hard hit. I have been on the municipal calls. After Sandy and Quinn we thought we had addressed the problem. I have reviewed the Public Service Commission report. Con Ed did what they were supposed to do in that report.”

“We know there will be more storms. We need to think outside the box – we need to think of a major solution – additional staff for Con Ed so were not relying on crews from Florida and Texas. The bigger goal is when we do have these storms we are not adversely impacted for so long. We are going to follow up so that this does not happen again. This must be solved. I will do everything within my power to do that long term.”

County Executive George Latimer was on the call too. He said, “ The County does not have direct control over Con Ed or Altice. The hearings are good. The Governor said he would threaten the franchises of these companies. The County government cleared the BRP. I think Con Ed is just not staffed for these events. They are under staffed. We need a utility reserve entity to call up in crises. That’s what a fire department does with volunteers. We have a structural program that needs to be addressed. Make Con Ed pay a penalty. Make them offer financial rebates and a food rebate. Future hurricanes will yield the same result. There is a fair bit of trying to pass the blame.”

Trustee Justin Arest said,"I want to thank Assemblywoman Paulin, County Executive Latimer, and Ms. Tolchin on behalf of Senate Leader Stewart-Cousins for meeting with us tonight on short notice while hundreds in our community are still without power. In fact, according to the latest numbers I have seen on Con Ed’s website a few minutes ago, over 4% of Scarsdale Customers are still without power. As you have all stated, this is unacceptable. Obviously the focus now is getting everyone’s power restored but we all have to move quickly to figure out how to prevent this in the future. I understand that certain steps are needed in government to affect change but I very much hope and expect that the joint hearing next week in Albany will not be the beginning and the end. Amy has already said it will not be the end and she will be integrally involved which of course is reassuring! But we also know what the issues are. We have vulnerable power lines and are dependent on out of state municipal aid crews when they fail. What would have happened if the entire east coast had been battered by Isaias? Would residents have been without power for months?

Trees are certainly part of the issue. I did not support the last amendment to our local tree code and would welcome a work session to discuss what I see as possible deficiencies. It needs to protect our character as a village in a park but must also give flexibility to homeowners who are genuinely concerned for health and safety. We also need to be honest that our tree code is not the biggest inhibitor to tree removal. It is the cost of the tree removal. Even in instances where a permit fee and replacement tree are required, this is usually only a fraction of the cost to a homeowner to have a large tree removed. I think the Village can help with this and we should discuss this as well at our work session. 

But ultimately, we need to look at burying our power lines. It is possible it could cost approximately $80mm to bury just lines in Scarsdale. But my question is, why is anyone talking about us having to do it and pay for it? Why aren’t we demanding that Con Edison do it for us? It would be expensive. Con Ed has about 34,000 miles of overhead electrical lines, at the rough number of $1mm per mile, that could cost $34bn. But, as County Executive Latimer said well, we do not have to bury all of them; we can be strategic. Con Ed is a monopoly and therefore has no competition. Its net income in 2017 was roughly $1.53 Billion, yes, billion with a B. It was was about $1.38 Billion in 2018, and $1.34 Bn in 2019. The State needs to force them to take action. If the State was to mandate that they bury the lines in their service area over the next ten years, it could be done. They should be forced to reinvest into the system to protect us in the future and would likely still be profitable over the time it would take to conduct the work. I think Governor Cuomo has shown extraordinary leadership over the past months. During the past week, he again threatened to revoke the utility’s franchise. That threat is only effective if the utility believes it could happen. Let’s work together, and make them act and, if they do not then let’s do exactly that, let’s ask the Governor to revoke their franchise.

I would welcome any comments you may have on what I have proposed but I would also appreciate to know what we can do as a local government to help. I am just one of 7, but I believe we as a body are committed to ensuring change occurs and welcome a continued partnership in this endeavor. We cannot just allow this to end with a report and promises of the same repairs that have gotten us nowhere."

Trustee Jane Veron agreed. She said, “We are all beyond frustrated – we pleaded, cajoled, to no Con Ed installed a new transformer to restore power to Donellan Road on August 11. Photo credit: Mary Blumenthal Lane.avail…. I have been on the Village Board for 4 years and it feels like ground hog day… Can we provide an inventory of our weak spots to Con Edison? Let us know how we can help – we want to arm you with what you need to be proactive. Please let us know how we can help – because we want to repair and fix before the next storm.”

Latimer said the Village should analyze where the outages occurred and identify place where wires can go underground. He also said to look at the foliage on the Bronx River Parkway and do a survey. We could do a capital project.

Tolchin said, “Scarsdale had 3,000 outages. You now have about 300 left. NYC was turned on before Westchester. They decided to put their fleet in certain places and Westchester was not a top priority. We are aware of that. We also have been in touch with Altice. They were worse than Con Ed.

Jonathan Lewis said he was without power for a week and that it was unacceptable. He listed all the utilities failures and said “We need to hold them to a higher standard. We need to define what we need. We need a 21st century infrastructure to mitigate extreme weather conditions.”

The Mayor said, Unfortunately we are still deep in the recovery process. I have walked around the neighborhood and seen what you have endured…. I too am outraged. Village staff have performed extremely well. Staff is not able to restore power. We are very fortunate to have such dedicated Village staff. They responded to over 100 calls for service.”

He said, “We have all lost faith and confidence. I promise that the village will continue to press for change. We will not stop our quest for meaningful change.” We will write letters and meet with people. He called on residents to “Participate in this endeavor. Let Co Ed and the Public Service Commission hear from us with a united voice.”

He also spoke of the generosity of Scarsdale residents to their neighbors in this time of need. He said, ”I have seen people sharing homes, meal tables, showers, washing machines and power outlets with their neighbors. The depth of our spirit is exemplary. My pride in calling Scarsdale home continues to grow. We are Scarsdale strong and we will get through this together.”

Village Manager Steve Pappalardo outlined Village preparedness for the storm. He said that the Village has a Con Ed liaison who was helpful in establishing protocols. He noted that Scarsdale did have a restoration crew in town right after the storm. He outlined work by the Department of Public Works in advance of the storm to clean catch basins to alleviate potential flooding. Police and fire were prepared and SCARVAC had ambulances available.

About the storm, Pappalardo reported that it hit the Village Tuesday August 4 from 2-4 pm and caused 3,200 outages, impacting 50% of Scarsdale customers. The Village lost power at Boniface Circle, the DPW Garage and the Scarsdale Pool.

Since traffic lights were out, generators were connected to traffic signals. Village crews cleared roads of trees and branches not encumbered with wires. In fact, the Village did more of the tree removal than Con Ed contractors. He said, 114 tons of yard waste was collected at the recycling center and hauled to the county recycling center. The pool lost power. It reopened on Monday and the Village waived fees for anyone without power to use the pool.

He added that Village staff had taken many phone calls and “allowed people to vent even if we could not help.” He said, “I am sorry for your outage.”

Public Comments

Randy Whitestone said, “It is easy and unsatisfying to be angry at Con Ed but we have to seek long term solutions because these storms are becoming more frequent.
He thanked the Village Board for all the work they have been doing.

Bob Harrison “thanked the staff for their responsiveness.” He discussed the increase in the sale of tennis permits and tennis tournaments he is planning for this month. He said, “Thank you Mayor, you were nice to me.”

Bob Berg called in, saying “We are not moving yet. I am still at 32 Tisdale Road.
I have lived here for 18 years. We have gone through so many storms. The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again and expecting a different result.” It seems to me we go through the same storms and we always have power failures. Most of the outages are caused by trees within the Village right of way falling on the power lines.

Berg called on the Village to cut down the trees that are interspersed in the wires. He said, “Go down Heathcote Road. You’ll see massive limbs in the wires. It’s crazy that we don’t do anything. Trees are not as important as people. We can’t have these power outages because of trees.”

He said, “One of my neighbors on Popham Road had a massive tree threatening her house. I looked at it and it was hollow. It was a Village tree. It was seriously diseased and dying. The Village has a legal responsibility to maintain the trees in the right of way. We can go out with tree crews and clear them from the Village right of way. The tree code is a disincentive to cutting trees in front of people’s homes. People should have the right to take them down without suffering penalties.”

Pappalardo addressed Berg’s comments about tree trimming. He said, “We have a dedicated tree crew and a new truck with claws, and dumps. The crew goes out everyday. They work 250 days a year. There is so much tree work that we contract out for additional tree work and spend $50-$70,000 per year for outside crews. We pay more for insurance for tree trimmers that any other position in the Village. We employ an arborist to inspect trees that need attention, hundreds of trees a year. We also plant trees. When we take a tree down we replace it if the resident’s are interested. Some of our residents don’t want a new tree so we respect that. If there are power lines, we don’t plan trees that will grow into those wires. Their maximum height is below those lines. There are positive aspects of our tree inventory as well.”

Later in the meeting Berg disagreed with the Village Manager saying that the Village tree trimming program was insufficient.

Lena Crandall responded to Berg recommending that everyone have their trees examined by an ISA arborist. She called for an inventory of Village trees and a safety rating. She said, “We need the trees in the fight against climate change. We need to protect the ones that are healthy and good and address the ones that pose a hazard to our community.” She said we should work with the most scientific approach.

Jane Veron reported on recent happenings in the retail community and the Scarsdale Business Alliance. She said:

The Sidewalk Sale was a success. The registers were ringing.

Chalk the Dale was a great addition to the Sidewalk Sale. It attracted 100 residents.

The Dine the Dale tent has become the jewel of the Village Center. There is constant utilization. The SBA is considering keeping it up through November.

Wilson and Son Jewelers will take over the stores vacated by Danielle Trissi, Space NK and Sam Lehr. They are renovating the space and plan to open in early 2021.

The new Asian Fusion restaurant Acai will open shortly in the space formerly occupied by Lange’s and they have received their liquor license

Village Clerk Donna Conkling reported that the Village received 47 emails about the loss of power.

Watch the meeting here: