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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 21 April 2020

Created: 21 April 2020

Last Updated: 21 April 2020

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The Westchester County District Attorney is investigating two recent anti-Semitic “zoom-bombings” of Jewish religious services in Westchester, which were being video streamed in an effort to bring people together while following social distancing directives.

The incidents took place via a Jewish center video stream Friday, April 3, 2020, and a second incident the following week from another congregation. In both cases, congregation leadership had sent email invitations for anyone to join the interactive video stream. In both incidents, an unknown person or persons logged into the Zoom-based video conference and interrupted the services with anti-Semitic acts, including posting swastikas and other offensive material for all participants to see.

According to the Scarsdale Police report entered on April 9, the incident in Scarsdale occurred on April 9 at 9:30 am when unknown individuals interrupted a video meeting and posted “hateful and offensives messages.” One of the parties who hacked in revealed their name. The video was set up as a Passover service and 13 members of the synagogue were online when the incident occurred. During the service six to nine different people joined the call and shared offensive videos and pictures and made comments about “female XXXXXX.” The session was not password protected. After the interruptions, the parties ended the session and continued on another service. No threats were made.

According to DA Anthony Scarpino, “The DA’s Office is working with local police in Pelham Manor and Scarsdale to identify who is responsible. We have issued subpoenas and are reviewing a recording and other materials of the events. Together, our Cybercrime Bureau is working hard to trace the digital footprint of the perpetrators and our Hate Crime Unit is looking into the specific aspects of the incidents and what criminal charges might apply.”

“Everyone during the COVID19 crisis is trying to bring people together using technology but there will always be bad actors who find ways to exploit it. These anti-Semitic attacks are hateful and hurtful. My office is working with local police and federal authorities to find out who may have done this and whether they will be charged with a crime. As always, we stand with our friends in Westchester of every faith to protect their freedom to worship uninterrupted whether in person or online. We continue to work with our community partners to stop hate in Westchester.”

These acts follow continuing investigations into hateful emails sent to residents and a business owner in New Rochelle in February after the COVID19 outbreak began.

The DA reminds everyone using video conferencing software to always record the video stream to have a digital record of any issues that may take place. If your organization has been similarly affected please report it to your local police or the District Attorney’s Office.

Meanwhile, the ADL, working with the Zoom platform experts, has published best practices in using Zoom video conferencing software.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 15 April 2020

Created: 15 April 2020

Last Updated: 15 October 2020

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The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale and The Scarsdale Forum Fiscal Affairs Committee issued the following statements on the proposed 2020-21 Scarsdale Village Budget:

The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale

The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale Board of Directors (“the League Board”) thanks Village Manager Steve Pappalardo, Village Treasurer Mary Lou McClure, Mayor Marc Samwick and the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) for conducting a well-managed process and proposing a budget that balances careful fiscal management with resident expectations of Village services.

As the League was unable to hold its annual general membership and consensus meeting on the Village Budget, the following comments reflect the views of the League Board.

Overview

The current proposed General Fund Village Budget is $59,238,049, which includes a tax levy increase of 1.46%, a $95 increase per home for the average Scarsdale homeowner. As per Village Treasurer McClure, in the regular budget process, the primary drivers of the budget are moderation in health insurance premiums, the flattening of building permit and mortgage tax revenue, sales tax revenue, the settlement of some bargaining unit contracts and pension payments. According to Treasurer McClure, the SALT deduction impact was an additional influence on Village efforts to keep the budget-to-budget increase as low as possible. In addition, the New York State imposed tax levy cap of 2% influences Village budgeting efforts and process.

Regarding advocacy in terms of SALT, the Village is a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against the IRS with regard to the SALT deduction.

General Fund Balance

According to Treasurer McClure, the current fund balance is slightly in excess of $8 million, which is 13.89% of the 2019- 2020 budget. This percentage is down from recent years where the fund balance was approximately 14.5% of the succeeding year’s budget. This fiscal year, more funds were devoted to road resurfacing. The Village policy has been to have unassigned fund balance levels between 10% and 15% of the next year’s budget. According to Treasurer McClure, “this policy has worked well for the Village even though Moody’s would like to see higher levels. The Village has had a policy of transferring budget surpluses to capital, which helps to reduce debt levels.”

In response to the League question about fund balance use in the event of an emergency situation, Treasurer McClure explained that the “total fund balance consists of both assigned and unassigned fund balance. In the event of an emergency situation, the Village Manager would recommend re-assignment of existing assigned balances to meet the needs of the emergency.”

The COVID-19 Health Crisis

As priorities have changed based on the current COVID-19 health crisis, the Administration and Board have conveyed that they are intensively focused on issues related to Village operation, the safety of residents and monitoring the various ongoing and changing aspects of the crisis.

According to Village Manager, Steve Pappalardo, the Village is focused on “maintaining essential services as we continue to navigate through this emergency.” The Village has moved to austerity spending, which will remain into the 2020-21 fiscal year. In addition, department heads have been directed to restrict spending to essential items required for the operation of the Village and for their response to the current pandemic.

As per Treasurer McClure in response to League questions, “The Village is following the directives of the County Board of Health and the State. We are trying to implement as many ways to communicate with residents as possible during this difficult time while still maintaining Village services. However, this is a developing situation that will require that we all be flexible going forward.”

As discussed during the March 31 Village Board meeting, the Village has created a COVID-19 contingency account and has reallocated $340,000 from the 2020-21 budget into this account. From the current year’s budget, $1.255 million from the general fund has been reassigned to the COVID-19 contingency account. Ten of the thirteen general fund departments have been impacted by the fund reassignment. Altogether, as discussed by the Village Manager at the March 31 meeting, there will be $3,485,000 total funds available to the Village for emergency management related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Trustee Arest stated, the “Village is reducing unused funds and potential discretionary projects in the current fiscal year and putting that money into a COVID-19 contingency account to keep us prepared. Staff has also identified capital projects that will need to be eliminated or reduced in the upcoming fiscal year.”

At the March 31 budget work session, Treasurer McClure discussed revenues most likely impacted by COVID-19. The Village Treasurer went through two potential 2020-21 budget scenarios in order to show stress testing of significant non-property tax revenue at two distinct levels, to determine potential impacts to the village’s cash flow and fund balance. The League Board recognizes that there are many potential impacts to revenue as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis; and we understand that as per the Mayor, the Village Administration and Board will continue to evaluate and look at the budget as the year progresses. The Village Board has the ability to modify the current fiscal year budget as necessary throughout a given fiscal year.

Grant Funding and Capital Projects

As per Treasurer McClure, the Village has been awarded several grants, including the Cayuga Pond Project grant to address neighborhood flooding; the Heathcote Road Bridge grant for $1.597 million; the Village share of the Hutchinson River Drainage Project; and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG Grant) for $50,000 for the upgrade of the Village Hall elevator. These are multi-year projects in various stages of development. According to the Village Manager, “managing this pandemic emergency and the adverse economic impacts, which will be felt for a while, are severely impacting municipal budgets at all levels. As the Village’s “grants-in-hand” are from Federal and NYS departments/agencies as well as from the County of Westchester, I imagine that some could be jeopardized depending on the severity of the budgetary implications at all levels and how far along the projects are toward completion.” The Village Manager also noted that there is language in the Fiscal Year 2020-21 New York State budget indicating that the Legislature can “pull back on current funding levels based on quarterly budget progression review.”

Regarding capital projects, the Board has paused the Freightway Redevelopment Project; the Village Hall repair/replacement will need to be addressed in planning stages over the next four to five years; and needed renovations to the Scarsdale Pool will be addressed following a Recreation Department survey of the community’s interest and needs.

As suggested by Village Manager Pappalardo during the League’s 2019 information session, the scope of work required at Village Hall is significant enough to consider the possibility of building a new Village Hall in the existing parking lot while keeping the old building open during construction; this would avoid the expense of relocating Village staff and government services, which occurred during the Popham firehouse renovation.

The League Board continues to recommend that, post COVID-19 emergency management, the Board and Administration engage in a thoughtful and comprehensive public dialogue about major capital projects and other capital infrastructure needs, including that of the Scarsdale Pool, as well as to discuss the plan for financing such maintenance, repair, and improvements and to publicize these long range plans.

Staffing

This year the Village hired a part-time code enforcement officer to aid in the enforcement of the Village code. The part-time officer includes weekend inspections to minimize the work of contractors who may be trying to avoid Village enforcement efforts. The part-time code enforcement officer has had some success in stopping unauthorized work. According to Treasurer McClure, the Village has collected fines in excess of $18,000, but more importantly, the “STOP WORK” orders he has issued has resulted in revenue in the form of building permits.

Evaluation of the Food Scrap Program

The Food Scrap Program’s curbside collection has been put on hold as the Village is planning Sanitation staffing levels to avoid exposure to COVID-19. Thus, the Village has temporarily stopped home pickups for food scraps. At this time, residents may bring their food scraps to the sanitation yard.

When the program resumes, as the League recommended last year, we look forward to the assessment of the food scrap initiative and the presentation to the public of all relevant data collected by Village staff and all additional metrics by which the community may understand both the environmental and financial impact of this program.

Village Board Working Sessions, Formal and Informal Opportunities for Public Input

The League Board reiterates commendation for the Mayor in his effort to engage the public in venues of informal dialogue, for example, at his “Coffees with the Mayor.” As the League promotes the active participation of citizens in government, we commend the Mayor for being proactive in soliciting input from community members. The League Board would also like to recognize another way that the Village Board communicates with the community, which is through Board Liaisons to community groups. The League Board is appreciative of this continuing Board initiative.

The League Board recommends that the Village Board engage in consistent outreach to obtain wide-reaching community input and feedback. An ongoing process of engaging in dialogue with community members and groups will help the Board more fully understand constituent views and broader community values.

The League Board values voter education and strongly recommends that all meetings of the Village Board, including the working sessions, be recorded and if possible, live-streamed for greater resident participation and accessibility to Board discussion.

With regard to ongoing hot button issues, such as the potential future renovation or redevelopment of the Freightway garage, the League Board encourages timely Board communication, transparency, the inclusion of community member input in the process and that benchmarking research of comparable development, including the pros and cons of development at the site be made available to the public. The League Board encourages the Board of Trustees to directly engage in thoughtful and thorough public communication with the Board of Education and School Administration as well in any process to consider redevelopment at Freightway.

The League Board thanks the Village Administration and Board for your professionalism and dedication to our Village. We would especially like to thank Village Treasurer, Mary Lou McClure, who is retiring this year. Treasurer McClure has always been kind, responsive, accessible and helpful regarding all of our League questions on the Village Budget. We appreciate her extraordinary service to the Scarsdale community.

Thank you for taking our comments into consideration.

Sincerely,

Board of Directors, League of Women Voters of Scarsdale

The Scarsdale Forum Fiscal Affairs Scarsdale Committee

The Scarsdale Forum Fiscal Affairs Scarsdale Committee has issued a report on the 2020-2021 Village budget, based on in person observation throughout the Village budget process and factoring in recent modifications made by the Village Board in response to the COVID-19 health crisis. Notwithstanding crisis-related concerns about shortfalls in anticipated non-property tax revenues as well as potential unanticipated expenditures, the committee recommends the approval of the tentative budget provided that the Board and Village Staff rigorously monitor non-property tax revenues, reduce non-essential operating expenditures as needed and “take a closer look at the remaining capital expenditures in the tentative budget and identify items that could be deferred to maximize reserves.”

The report offers a detailed analysis of the Board’s adjustments to the tentative budget that modestly reduced the tax levy while continuing to support existing service levels, and its adjustments to the current and the tentative budgets to create a $3.5 million COVID-19 contingency account.

Noting that the Board is legally permitted to modify the budget throughout the year, the committee “expects that expenditures for non-essential services will be reduced” as needed and appropriate in the current and next fiscal year. The report offers several areas for the Board to consider for potential reductions, such as professional development and travel; consulting fees; curbside leaf pickup; rear door trash and recycling pickups; and reducing or deferring the proposed 2% salary increases for non-union employees. Recognizing that certain expenses will not be incurred due to the health crisis, the committee does not endorse drastic measures such as staff layoffs at this time.

Because there is insufficient information about the trajectory of the pandemic and its economic effects to accurately forecast revenues or expenses, the committee recommends regularly scheduled public work sessions for discussion of these matters, stressing again that the Village should be planning now with the community to identify potential service cuts.

Anne Hintermeister, chair of the Fiscal Affairs Scarsdale Committee, said, “We thank the Board for its effective collaboration with the staff in preparing the budget, particularly responding to and communicating about the fiscal effects of the COVID-19 crisis. Going forward, we strongly recommend that the Board engage with the community to identify the expenditures and services that could be eliminated as non-essential. We also thank the Village employees who are coming to work to protect and care for our community. Nothing is more important than keeping them safe and on the job, and we support any additional expenditures or service adjustments to ensure that they are.”

The full report is available here.
https://www.scarsdaleforum.com/Reports/View/830/25

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 09 April 2020

Created: 09 April 2020

Last Updated: 09 April 2020

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Richard BrodskyFormer Assembly Member Richard Brodsky passed away on April 8 at the age of 73. Brodsky was a former County Legislator who served in the NYS Assembly from 1983 to 2010. More recently he wrote a weekly column for the Albany Times Union and wrote his last piece on how Governor Andrew Cuomo is handling the Coronavirus crisis.

Westchester District Attorney Anthony Scarpino issued the following on the passing of Brodsky: “We are saddened to learn of the passing of former State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, who was a tireless advocate for the people of Westchester during his 28 years in public service. He was a progressive leader who cared deeply about the people he represented and was passionate in his pursuit of environmental conservation and investigating public authorities. Richard’s unexpected passing is a significant loss for the entire community. The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the Brodsky family at this incredibly difficult time.”

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said, “Richard was a brilliant public servant and a hard working and dedicated leader who fought hard for Greenburgh during his life. He mentored many public officials and was known for his independence. He was an effective watchdog of taxpayer dollars who was respected by leaders in Albany, Washington and locally. He pushed for numerous changes in state and local governments and devoted his life to helping others. Richard fought against the state’s Public Authorities and pushed for a more open government.”

Feiner noted that Brodsky lived in one of the oldest buildings in town. He said, “His house, built in 1793 (although its foundation dates all the way back to 1684) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the late 18th and 19th centuries it served as Greenburgh Town Hall, a historical significance that Richard enjoyed talking about.”

Earl Graves

Former Scarsdale resident and founder of Black Enterprise Magazine Earl Graves died on April 6 at the age of 85. The cause of death was Alzheimer’s disease. Black Enterprise was the first magazine owned by an African American and featured black entrepreneurs.Earl Graves

Graves lived in one of Scarsdale’s premier homes at 8 Heathcote Road and raised three children there. When the home was sold, the new owners were required to maintain the façade of the home as it was deemed historic. 

In January 2006, Graves named his eldest son, Earl “Butch” Graves, the company’s new chief executive officer.

Earl G. Graves Sr. was previously chairman and CEO of Pepsi-Cola of Washington, D.C., L.P., the largest minority-controlled Pepsi-Cola franchise in the United States. He acquired the $60 million franchise in July 1990 and at the end of 1998, sold it back to the parent company for which he continued to be actively involved as chairman of the Pepsi African-American Advisory Board.

Graves was a graduate of Morgan State University and gave $1 million to the school which renamed its business school the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management in 1995.

Jane Nusbaum

Jane Nusbaum passed away at the age of 85 on April 4, 2020. She was a past president of the League of Women Voters President, served as a Scarsdale Village Trustee for four years, and in the leadership Westchester Reform Temple. She was on the board of Scarsdale Family Counseling Service and did work on behalf of Sarah Lawrence College. Nusbaum was inducted into the Westchester Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 2014.

This from the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale

Jane Nusbaum (right) with Debbie Miller“The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale is sad to share the passing of beloved past President, Jane Nusbaum. Jane was an active and engaged League member for many years. She graciously and generously hosted a past annual event called the "Strawberry Festival," a meeting that she held in her home for League convention attendees to report to the Board and Membership. At Jane's event, strawberry treats were served to all attendees. She provided thoughtful input in our many League discussions and made sure to attend all League luncheons for many years. The League is deeply saddened by her passing and we extend thoughts of comfort and love to her family and friends.”

Friend and neighbor Evelyn Stock said that Nusbaum was her friend for 40 years and neighbor for 35 years. She called Nusbaum “intellectual, smart, capable and committed to doing things for others.” She said a streaming funeral service was held for Nusbaum on April 9, 2020.

(Please remember your loved ones on Scarsdale10583. Send notices to [email protected].)

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 28 March 2020

Created: 28 March 2020

Last Updated: 28 March 2020

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Scarsdale has  fallen victim to the global COVID-19 pandemic and it is now affecting all of us, in our homes, on our streets and in our community. While we cling to our digital connections, close our doors, and distance ourselves from the invisible enemy, the medical staff at Scarsdale Medical Group has suited up and stepped outside to the frontlines. SMG is now providing the testing the community needs, as one of the first groups in Westchester to offer tests. Until recently surpassed by New York City, Westchester County had the greatest density of cases across all U.S. counties. The government is calling on everyone to flatten the curve of an already devastating pandemic. And to do that, we need to ramp up identification of infected patients.

Since Tuesday, March 17, SMG has been performing up to 100 COVID-19 tests a day to patients of the group. In order to be tested, patients must have their symptoms evaluated by an SMG provider who can order a test. At this time, testing is for SMG patients only. Given a national shortage of medical supplies and in particular, COVID test kits, our public health and safety hinges upon the integrity of this screening process. Today, the allocation of a simple yet scarce resource, a nasopharyngeal swab, is part of a grim global equation with dwindling supply insufficient to meet astronomical demand.

SMG is offering drive-through COVID testing, keeping patients in their cars with the windows closed until they reach the tent, where medical providers stand fully protected. To prevent contamination across surfaces and individuals, no patients with suspected COVID are permitted to enter any of the medical facilities. By isolating sick patient visits to the 259 Heathcote Road office, SMG leadership is working to ensure that the group maintains a safe environment for other patients seeking all forms of medical care at 600 and 550 Mamaroneck Avenue, the other locations of the medical group. SMG Infectious Disease doctor Kenneth Croen, MD, said, “We expect to be increasing automobile-based care over the coming months until the coronavirus activity is markedly reduced. Thus far, about 1 out of 4 tests performed at our drive thru testing site are positive for coronavirus. Therefore, most people coming in for screening who have a variety of acute viral symptoms do not have COVID-19.”

Even though we are living through the panic of a pandemic, SMG physicians have been working tirelessly to sustain continuity of care across specialties and are now offering telemedicine visits for existing patients only. If SMG did not remain open to those patients, non-COVID cases would overwhelm emergency rooms already at max capacity and risk even more exposure. Kim Carriere, COO of Scarsdale Medical Group, notes, “SMG is proud and honored to be able to offer testing to our patients. Westchester is our community and we are going to do everything we can to take care of them. It is truly an honor and privilege to be a part of such a wonderful organization.”

In these extraordinary times, the medical community is asking residents for their help. They are keeping us safe at great personal risk and cost. In return, they ask for much less than we ask of them. To continue to offer care, SMG needs supplies. If any residents are in possession of high-demand medical supplies, listed below, the medical community urges you to do your civic duty, to your family, to our families, to the community, and to New York by contributing them:

Supplies:
Purell, Lysol, Rubbing Alcohol, Alcohol wipes, Cleaners such as Bleach, Disinfecting wipes, Surgical masks/N95 masks, Hair nets, Surgical Gowns, Tissues, Paper towels

Drop off locations include:
Podiatry Suite: 600 Mamaroneck Avenue in Harrison (please use side entrance)
Scarsdale Office: 259 Heathcote Road (please see a staff member outside the building for
assistance)

Article by Carly Glickenhuas, Photos by Hannah Glickenhaus

Carly Glickenhaus is an Economics and Security student-athlete at Georgetown University, completing her senior year remotely and virtually due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Hannah Glickenhaus is a sophomore Advertising and Business student at Boston University College of Communications.