Monday, July 07, 2008

FROM PHIL REISMANS BLOG -COUNTY BUILDING ACQUISITION BAD FOR GREENBURGH

More from columnist Phil ReismanBlood is Boiling in Greenburgh
July
7 Westchester County’s pending purchase and renovation of 450 Saw Mill River Road in the town of Greenburgh has given new life to the anti-county government movement.

Tomorrow’s meeting of the Board of Legislators is expected to attract a contingent of protesters led by Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, who opposes the purchase of the vacant office building because it will take the property off the tax rolls. The impact would be especially felt by the Ardsley school district which currently reaps more than $192,000 a year in taxes from the building.

County Executive Andy Spano wants to buy and renovate the building in order to store 1,600 new voting machines. As I noted in my Sunday column, the total cost of the deal is pegged at $13.6 millon, which will certainly help the building’s owner, John Halpern, a generous contributor to Spano’s election campaigns.

One thing I didn’t know, but found out today: It turns out that Halpern’s firm, Ardsley Partners III, is also in the process of suing Greenburgh for a tax reduction. So, not only would the building no longer pay taxes, the town may end up paying Halpern untold thousands in rebates!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The seller is suing Greenburgh for taxes -- isnt this kinda like the sellers of Taxter Ridge and teh Town Hall.

Anonymous said...

No - not the same. Taxter Ridge was Sun Moon property - religious tax exempt property. It was called "Holy Spirit Association" property.

Anonymous said...

Wasnt there an issue with the assesment on Town Hall property??

Anonymous said...

What was the outcome at last night's county meeting?

Anonymous said...

bronz voted with spano
bronz is past her sell date

Anonymous said...

So what happens now. Should this sale be investigated by the attorney general since the seller was the biggest contributor to the democratic party.
Does the state of New York have an ethics committee to present them with these facts .
How will this impact the unincorporated area in Greenburgh tax wise?????????????

Anonymous said...

Boy it's great to have friends in high places.
Spano should be impeached for his actions in bailing out one of his personal friends by using taxpayers dollars .
Has the state investigated this ?
How much money did this Halpern owe out?
Why is it that only the contributions received by Feiner are investigated to the fullest?
Well it seems that the democratic party is going to the wayside worse than yesteryear.
THIS IS ONE PICTURE THAT SHOW US THAT BULL S--T WALKS AND MONEY TALKS.