New York State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins has introduced a bill before the NYS Senate authorizing the town to have a hotel/motel occupancy tax. This law, if adopted, could generate six figures in revenue for the town and will offset some of the loss of revenue from mortgage & sales tax-among other revenue reductions. NYS currently allows cities to have hotel occupancy tax but not towns/villages. A number of WEstchester towns/villages have recently approved resolutions asking the NYS Legislature to authorize a hotel tax for towns/villages. A copy of the Senate bill follows. A bill authorizing a hotel tax will also have to be introduced in the State Assembly.
________________________________________________________________________
6651
IN SENATE
January 22, 2010
___________
Introduced by Sen. STEWART-COUSINS -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations
and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to authorizing the town of
Greenburgh to adopt a local law to impose a hotel/motel occupancy tax
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and
Assem-
bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The tax law is amended by adding a new section
1202-bb to
2 read as follows:
3 § 1202-bb. Hotel or motel taxes in the town of Greenburgh.
(1)
4 Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the town of
5 Greenburgh, Westchester county, is hereby authorized and empowered to
6 adopt and amend local laws imposing in such town a tax, in addition to
7 any other tax authorized and imposed pursuant to this article, as the
8 legislature has or would have the power and authority to impose upon
9 persons occupying rooms in hotels or motels in such town.
For the
10 purposes of this section, the term "hotel" shall mean a building or
11 portion of it which is regularly used and kept open as such for the
12 lodging of guests. The term "hotel" includes an apartment hotel, a motel
13 or a boarding house, whether or not meals are served. The rate of such
14 tax shall not exceed three percent of the per diem rental rate for each
15 room whether such room is rented on a daily or longer basis.
16 (2) Such tax may be collected and administered by the
commissioner of
17 finance or other fiscal officer of the town of Greenburgh by such means
18 and in such manner as other taxes which are now collected and
adminis-
19 tered by such officers in accordance with the town charter or as
other-
20 wise may be provided by such local law.
21 (3) Such local laws may provide that any tax imposed shall be
paid by
22 the person liable therefor to the owner of the hotel or motel room
occu-
23 pied or to the person entitled to be paid the rent or charge for the
24 hotel or motel room occupied for and on account of the town of
Green-
25 burgh imposing the tax, and that such owner or person entitled to be
26 paid the rent or charge shall be liable for the collection and payment
27 of the tax; and that such owner or person entitled to be paid the rent
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15394-01-0
S. 6651 2
1 or charge shall have the same right in respect to collecting the tax
2 from the person occupying the hotel or motel room, or in respect to
3 nonpayment of the tax by the person occupying the hotel or motel room,
4 as if the tax were a part of the rent or charge and payable at the same
5 time as the rent or charge; provided, however, that the commissioner of
6 finance or other fiscal officers of the town, specified in such local
7 law, shall be joined as a party in any action or proceeding brought to
8 collect the tax by the owner or by the person entitled to be paid the
9 rent or charge.
10 (4) Such local laws may provide for the filing of returns and
the
11 payment of the tax on a monthly basis or on the basis of any longer or
12 shorter period of time.
13 (5) This section shall not authorize the imposition of such tax
upon
14 the following:
15 a. The state of New York, or any public corporation,
including a
16 public corporation created pursuant to agreement or compact with another
17 state or the dominion of Canada, improvement district or other political
18 subdivision of the state;
19 b. The United States of America, insofar as it is immune from
taxa-
20 tion;
21 c. Any corporation or association, or trust, or community chest,
fund
22 or foundation organized and operated exclusively for religious,
charita-
23 ble or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to
chil-
24 dren or animals, and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the
25 benefit of any private shareholder or individual and no substantial part
26 of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise
27 attempting to influence legislation; provided, however, that nothing in
28 this paragraph shall include an organization operated for the primary
29 purpose of carrying on a trade or business for profit, whether or not
30 all of its profits are payable to one or more organizations described in
31 this paragraph; and
32 d. A permanent resident of a hotel or motel. For the purposes of
this
33 section, the term "permanent resident" shall mean a natural person
occu-
34 pying any room or rooms in a hotel or motel for at least thirty
consec-
35 utive days.
36 (6) Any final determination of the amount of any tax payable
hereunder
37 shall be reviewable for error, illegality or unconstitutionality or any
38 other reason whatsoever by a proceeding under article seventy-eight of
39 the civil practice law and rules if application therefor is made to the
40 supreme court within thirty days after giving of the notice of such
41 final determination, provided, however, that any such proceeding under
42 article seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules shall not be
43 instituted unless:
44 a. The amount of any tax sought to be reviewed, with such
interest and
45 penalties thereon as may be provided for by local law or regulation
46 shall be first deposited and there is filed an undertaking, issued by a
47 surety company authorized to transact business in this state and
48 approved by the superintendent of insurance of this state as to solvency
49 and responsibility, in such amount as a justice of the supreme court
50 shall approve to the effect that if such proceeding be dismissed or the
51 tax confirmed the petitioner will pay all costs and charges which may
52 accrue in the prosecution of such proceeding; or
53 b. At the option of the petitioner such undertaking may be in a
sum
54 sufficient to cover taxes, interest and penalties stated in such
deter-
55 mination plus the costs and charges which may accrue against in in the
56 prosecution of the proceeding, in which event the petitioner shall not
S. 6651 3
1 be required to pay such taxes, interest or penalties as a condition
2 precedent to the application.
3 (7) Where any tax imposed hereunder shall have been erroneously,
ille-
4 gally or unconstitutionally collected and application for the refund
5 thereof duly made to the proper fiscal officer or officers, and such
6 officer or officers shall have made a determination denying such refund,
7 such determination shall be reviewable by a proceeding under article
8 seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules, provided, however,
9 that such proceeding is instituted within thirty days after the giving
10 of the notice of such denial, that a final determination of tax due was
11 not previously made, and that an undertaking is filed with the proper
12 fiscal officer or officers in such amount and with such sureties as a
13 justice of the supreme court shall approve to the effect that if such
14 proceeding be dismissed or the tax confirmed, the petitioner will pay
15 all costs and charges which accrue in the prosecution of such
proceed-
16 ing.
17 (8) Except in the case of a willfully false or fraudulent return
with
18 intent to evade the tax, no assessment of additional tax shall be made
19 after the expiration of more than three years from the date of the
20 filing of a return, provided, however, that where no return has been
21 filed as provided by law the tax may be assessed at any time.
22 (9) Revenues resulting from the imposition of tax authorized by
this
23 section shall be paid into the treasury of the town of Greenburgh and
24 shall be credited to and deposited in the general fund of the town; and
25 may thereafter be allocated at the discretion of the board of
legisla-
26 tors of the town of Greenburgh for any town purpose.
27 (10) If any provision of this section or the application
thereof to
28 any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, the remainder of this
29 section and the application of such provision to other persons or
30 circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
31 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
SPONSORS MEMO:
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
INTRODUCER'S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT
submitted in accordance with Senate Rule VI. Sec 1
BILL NUMBER: S6651
SPONSOR: STEWART-COUSINS
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the tax law, in relation to authorizing the town of Greenburgh to adopt a local law to impose a hotel/motel occupancy tax
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation authorizes the Town of Greenburgh, Westchester County to impose a hotel or motel occupancy tax not to exceed three percent in order to gain revenue
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends the tax law by adding a new Section 1202-bb to authorize and empower the town of Greenburgh to adopt and amend local laws imposing in such town a tax to impose upon persons occupying any room for hire in any hotel. This section also sets forth the definition of the term hotel and the maximum amount of such tax.
This section also sets forth the method for which such tax is collected and administered; states that such local laws may provide that any taxes imposed shall be paid by the person liable therefore to the owner of the room for hire in the hotel or other similar place of public accommo- dation; allows the local laws to provide for the filing of returns and the payment of the taxes on a monthly basis or on the basis of any long- er or shorter period of time; sets forth which entities such imposition of tax shall be prohibited. Furthermore, the bill sets forth the provisions that allow for a review for error, illegality or unconstitu- tionality of the amount of any tax payable under this legislation; sets forth the provision for which the imposition of this tax authorized shall be paid into the treasury of the town of Greenburgh the county of Westchester and shall be credited to and deposited in the general fund of the town and thereafter shall be allocated at the discretion of the board of legislators of the town of Greenburgh.
Section 2 is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
During these difficult economic times, localities are searching for revenue to continue to provide services residents rely upon, without having to increase property taxes and burden the taxpayer. This legis- lation will assist the town of Greenburgh with that goal.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill - 2010
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
Kate Glazer, Director
Legislative Affairs
Office of Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
(518) 455-2585
Work Session Agenda of the Greenburgh Town Board
Tuesday – February 09, 2010 – 9:15AM
(Work Sessions begin at 9:15AM
Except where schedule changes are made by the Board)
(All Work Sessions are Televised Live on Cablevision Channel 76, Verizon 35 and are streamed live. Work Sessions and Town Board Meetings will be aired each Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 7:02am and 4:45pm. Each segment will run for approximately 6 to 7 hours,
depending upon the length of the two meetings.)
09:15 AM Proposed Storm Water Retrofit Project
09:30 AM Agenda Review
09:35 AM Executive Session – Legal
12:00 Noon Adjourn Meeting
http://www.rivertownsguide.com
This Weekend
- Opening Reception: Sculptor Malcolm MacDougall, III
- Opening Reception: Patterns - Quilt Show
- Food Bank for Westchester's 14th Annual Take Heart Against Hunger, Valentine's Day Wine Tasting Dinner
- Bronx Kiss: A Celebration of John Patrick Shanley
- Opening Reception: Jill Skupin Burkholder and Geoffrey Detrani
- "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
- Clocktower Players Teen Troupe presents "13 - A New Musical"
- Dr. Johnson performs
- Hudson River Eaglefest
- Valentine Plant and Bake, Book & Vintage Jewelry Sale
- "20000 Leagues Under the Sea"
- Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s AKC Canine Good Citizen Test
- Gospel Music Concert: “From The Middle Passage, An African American Journey"
- Live the Jazz with the Andy Polay Bands
- James Wilson, Mike Levine, and Marc Jacoby perform
- A Valentine Evening of Doo Wop & Rock N Roll
- Riverrun performs
- Blood Drive
- Free-A-Tree Vine Cutting
- Indoor Farmers Market
- Green Burial
- Matt Turk performs
- Artists Opening Reception "A Celebration of Black History Month"
- Natural History Exhibit Opening Trees: Heroes of our Planet
- Opening Reception: Photography Takes Over 2010
Details & Links can all be found on our Home Page http://www.rivertownsguide.com
Upcoming Films at Irvington Town Hall Theater
-- “The Damned United”: Wednesday, February 10 @ 8pm
-- “Romeo and Juliette” by Gounod: Saturday, February 14 @ 1pm
-- “Carmen” by Bizet: Sunday, February 21 @ 1pm
-- “Anvil”: Wednesday, February 24 @ 8pm
-- “I Puritani” by Bellini: Sunday, March 7 @ 1pm
www.rivertownsguide.com to learn about happenings in and around the region.
www.thehudsonindependent.com for news and activities.
www.tarrytownpatch. com for more news and activities.
www.scarsdale10583.com news about Edgemont and Hartsdale
CORRECTION: Yesterday I reported that the Red Cross provided beds for the tenants who needed shelter at the multipurpose center after a water break. The CERT Team provided the beds. Pete Dandreano hitched up and EMS vehicle to the trailer and towed it to the shelter. The CERT team unloaded enough for the evacuees plus extra blankets for those who were sick. They set up sleeping arrangements. Members of the CERT team, according to Richard Edelson, spent their own money to get incidentals to make the tenants feel better.
PAUL FEINER
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Thursday, February 04, 2010
FUNDRAISER FOR HAITI VICTIMS SUNDAY
fundraiser for Haiti victims: Sunday 2/7 8:00am – 10:30am Applebee’s Crossroads Shopping Center -- 395 Tarrytown Road, The Theodore D. Young Community Center in Conjunction with Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar will host a “A Breakfast to Support the Haitian Relief”. Breakfast starts at 8:00am and will last until 10:30am. The price of the breakfast is $10.00. Seven dollars goes directly to AFYA
TOWN SHELTERS 32 DISPLACED FAMILIES
The Multipurpose Center at AF Veteran Town Park was used last night as an emergency shelter for the first time to provide shelter to 32 displaced residents of 172 Saw Mill River Road. A sprinkler went off in the building which activated the Elmsford Fire Department to respond. The water went all the way down to the bottom floor and was running out of the door on to 9A. All the light and wall sockets got wet becoming a potential fire hazard.
Mayor Bob Williams of Elmsford contacted me shortly after the incident. I reached out to Joe Lucasey and asked him to make the multipurpose center available as an emergency shelter. Syd Henry of the Elmsford Fire Department and Chief Joe DeCarlo of the Greenburgh police department stayed in contact with me during the evening hours.
The Red Cross provided beds. The 32 displaced residents were interviewed and efforts are continuing to find shelter for the families since the building won’t be habitable for a while.
A special thanks to Greenburgh CERT volunteers who spent evening hours helping out. The CERT volunteers who helped are:
Jeanne Apicella…Lisa Cruz…Patricia & Richard Edelson…Nat Federici…Marilyn Ghilardi…Sharon Hernstadt…Stacey Irvine…Susan Plath…Harold Rose…Larry Seberg…Eva Yasgur…Peter Yam.
When I stopped by at the shelter to observe the operations I was impressed with the professionalism of the volunteers (Red Cross & CERT volunteers), police and fire depts. I would also like to thank the Greenburgh Parks dept for their efforts.
WE LEARNED…
One of the problems we experienced was lack of food. As a result of this –I’m going to reach out to supermarkets and food stores in Greenburgh and will ask for vouchers that the police/CERT team can use only in the event of an emergency. Those evacuated would have been more comfortable if we had more food to offer them. The CERT team will be setting up a special account and will accept dollar donations that could be used in the event of a future emergency.
We probably should have used the Theodore Young Community Center as a shelter rather than the multipurpose center. They have shower facilities.
POLICE COSTS—We had to station a police officer at the center during the evening. We will ask the Town Attorney to investigate whether we can bill the landlord for the costs the town incurred in providing the emergency shelter.
The Town Board will be recognizing the volunteers at the next Town Board meeting—next Wednesday night.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Mayor Bob Williams of Elmsford contacted me shortly after the incident. I reached out to Joe Lucasey and asked him to make the multipurpose center available as an emergency shelter. Syd Henry of the Elmsford Fire Department and Chief Joe DeCarlo of the Greenburgh police department stayed in contact with me during the evening hours.
The Red Cross provided beds. The 32 displaced residents were interviewed and efforts are continuing to find shelter for the families since the building won’t be habitable for a while.
A special thanks to Greenburgh CERT volunteers who spent evening hours helping out. The CERT volunteers who helped are:
Jeanne Apicella…Lisa Cruz…Patricia & Richard Edelson…Nat Federici…Marilyn Ghilardi…Sharon Hernstadt…Stacey Irvine…Susan Plath…Harold Rose…Larry Seberg…Eva Yasgur…Peter Yam.
When I stopped by at the shelter to observe the operations I was impressed with the professionalism of the volunteers (Red Cross & CERT volunteers), police and fire depts. I would also like to thank the Greenburgh Parks dept for their efforts.
WE LEARNED…
One of the problems we experienced was lack of food. As a result of this –I’m going to reach out to supermarkets and food stores in Greenburgh and will ask for vouchers that the police/CERT team can use only in the event of an emergency. Those evacuated would have been more comfortable if we had more food to offer them. The CERT team will be setting up a special account and will accept dollar donations that could be used in the event of a future emergency.
We probably should have used the Theodore Young Community Center as a shelter rather than the multipurpose center. They have shower facilities.
POLICE COSTS—We had to station a police officer at the center during the evening. We will ask the Town Attorney to investigate whether we can bill the landlord for the costs the town incurred in providing the emergency shelter.
The Town Board will be recognizing the volunteers at the next Town Board meeting—next Wednesday night.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
TOWNS, VILLAGES JOIN GREENBURGH IN PUSHING FOR HOTEL TAX
Ardsley, Elmsford, North Castle, North Salem, Rye Brook ,Tarrytown JOIN GREENBURGH IN PUSHING FOR HOTEL TAX
HOTEL TAX CURRENTLY ALLOWED IN CITIES BUT NOT TOWNS/VILLAGES
COULD REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES
Last year the Greenburgh Town Board approved a resolution calling on the NYS Legislature to help towns and villages address our budget problems by imposing a hotel tax on guests. NYS currently allows cities to have up to a 3% hotel tax. Last year the NYS Legislature approved legislation authorizing New Rochelle, White Plains and Rye to raise revenue thru this tax.
It's unfair to allow cities in NYS to have a hotel tax but not to allow villages/towns. Since the Greenburgh Town Board approved the resolution other towns/villages in Westchester have approved similar resolutions calling for state authority to have a hotel tax. Ardsley, Elmsford, North Castle, Rye Brook, North Salem and Tarrytown have approved resolutions seeking this additional source for revenue. State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins has introduced legislation in the Senate to authorize this tax.
There are almost 2,000 hotel rooms in Greenburgh. If the State Legislature AUTHORIZES the towns/villages to have a hotel tax the town of Greenburgh would generate up to a few hundred thousand dollars a year in revenue, which would reduce the tax bill you receive.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
THIS IS WHAT WAS SENT OUT BY THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR...
Governor Approves Legislation Authorizing the Cities of New Rochelle, Rye, and White Plains to Raise Revenues through Hotel Occupancy Taxes
Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (D-Mamaroneck) announced that legislation to authorize the cities of New Rochelle and White Plains to impose hotel room occupancy taxes was passed by the Senate and signed into law by Governor Paterson. The Governor also approved legislation extending the City of Rye’s authority to impose its own hotel occupancy tax.
S. 1886 (Oppenheimer), S. 1887 (Oppenheimer) and S. 1087 (Oppenheimer) permit the cities of New Rochelle, Rye and White Plains, respectively, to enact a daily room tax of up to three percent on hotels, motels, inns, clubs or similar places of public accommodation.
“Three years ago, I sponsored legislation allowing the city of Rye to impose a hotel occupancy tax,” said Senator Oppenheimer. “Rye became first the local government in Westchester County to gain this authority, which has become an important revenue-raising alternative to local property taxes.”
The City of New Rochelle estimates that it will raise between $200,000 and $250,000 in new revenue from the hotel room tax, while the City of Rye stands to collect over $170,000 by the extension of its taxing authority.
“In these difficult economic times, municipal governments all over the state have been faced with declining revenues, most notably reductions in sales tax revenues,” observed Senator Oppenheimer. “Local governments must be given greater flexibility to raise revenue other than by increasing already high property taxes. I am pleased that the Governor has enacted these tax bills into law, and I favor expanding this taxing authority to other cities and smaller municipalities that request it,” said the Senator.
HOTEL TAX CURRENTLY ALLOWED IN CITIES BUT NOT TOWNS/VILLAGES
COULD REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES
Last year the Greenburgh Town Board approved a resolution calling on the NYS Legislature to help towns and villages address our budget problems by imposing a hotel tax on guests. NYS currently allows cities to have up to a 3% hotel tax. Last year the NYS Legislature approved legislation authorizing New Rochelle, White Plains and Rye to raise revenue thru this tax.
It's unfair to allow cities in NYS to have a hotel tax but not to allow villages/towns. Since the Greenburgh Town Board approved the resolution other towns/villages in Westchester have approved similar resolutions calling for state authority to have a hotel tax. Ardsley, Elmsford, North Castle, Rye Brook, North Salem and Tarrytown have approved resolutions seeking this additional source for revenue. State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins has introduced legislation in the Senate to authorize this tax.
There are almost 2,000 hotel rooms in Greenburgh. If the State Legislature AUTHORIZES the towns/villages to have a hotel tax the town of Greenburgh would generate up to a few hundred thousand dollars a year in revenue, which would reduce the tax bill you receive.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
THIS IS WHAT WAS SENT OUT BY THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR...
Governor Approves Legislation Authorizing the Cities of New Rochelle, Rye, and White Plains to Raise Revenues through Hotel Occupancy Taxes
Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (D-Mamaroneck) announced that legislation to authorize the cities of New Rochelle and White Plains to impose hotel room occupancy taxes was passed by the Senate and signed into law by Governor Paterson. The Governor also approved legislation extending the City of Rye’s authority to impose its own hotel occupancy tax.
S. 1886 (Oppenheimer), S. 1887 (Oppenheimer) and S. 1087 (Oppenheimer) permit the cities of New Rochelle, Rye and White Plains, respectively, to enact a daily room tax of up to three percent on hotels, motels, inns, clubs or similar places of public accommodation.
“Three years ago, I sponsored legislation allowing the city of Rye to impose a hotel occupancy tax,” said Senator Oppenheimer. “Rye became first the local government in Westchester County to gain this authority, which has become an important revenue-raising alternative to local property taxes.”
The City of New Rochelle estimates that it will raise between $200,000 and $250,000 in new revenue from the hotel room tax, while the City of Rye stands to collect over $170,000 by the extension of its taxing authority.
“In these difficult economic times, municipal governments all over the state have been faced with declining revenues, most notably reductions in sales tax revenues,” observed Senator Oppenheimer. “Local governments must be given greater flexibility to raise revenue other than by increasing already high property taxes. I am pleased that the Governor has enacted these tax bills into law, and I favor expanding this taxing authority to other cities and smaller municipalities that request it,” said the Senator.
WJCS WORKSHOP FOR UNEMPLOYED
Dear Friend,
During these unprecedented economic times so many people, especially women, are looking for guidance and direction. Thanks to funding from the Leir Charitable Foundations, WJCS has launched Women-Helping- Women (W-H-W) to provide encouragement, information, resources and services through workshops for women who are unemployed or seeking transition to other jobs.
Over the past several weeks, W-H-W reached out to diverse women whose lives have been affected by the current downturn in the economy. Through Focus Groups those women told us what tools and resources would be most helpful to them. Armed with that information, W-H-W developed a workshop series to provide useful and practical information.
We hope you'll join us for one or all of these free sessions. If you have a friend, relative or neighbor who could benefit from these workshops, please pass on this information. Remember, we are all links in the chain of Women- Helping-Women.
Lenore Rosenbaum, MS
W-H-W Program Director
W-H-W Workshop Schedule
Wednesday, February 24 9:15 - 11:15 AM
Location: WJCS, 845 North Broadway, White Plains
8 Steps to LinkedIn Success
Explore the power and reach of LinkedIn, one of the most powerful networking tools on the planet. Learn to embrace the power and potential of social media and how to use LinkedIn to expand your job search network.
Matthew J. Schwartz, President and CEO of MJS Executive Search
The following workshops will be held at
Greenburgh Town Hall -- Town Board Conference Room
177 Hillside Avenue, Greenburgh, NY
Thursday, February 25 9:30-11:30 AM
Thriving While Unemployed
Being out of work can be a very scary thing. It can also be a great opportunity to stop and look at your work life: Where have you been and where do you want to go.
Get clarity on what it is you really want for your life and learn how to go about finding work that will support that.
Learn how to stay grounded, focused and joyful during the process of job-hunting.
Learn how to take care of yourself emotionally while unemployed.
Learn the techniques for going after the right opportunities so that you don't waste time with the wrong ones.
Move out of fear and uncertainly into empowerment.
Cathy Wilke, Life Coach specializing in career transition & women's issues
Wednesday, March 3 9:30 - 11:30 AM
Managing Your Finances While Unemployed in the Current Economy
Learn proven tips and techniques to manage your finances, set up a budget and successfully survive the economic downturn. The workshop will cover a range of important topics, and include individual and group exercises to practice what you learn.
How to create a budget worksheet and become an expert in basic household budgeting.
Managing out of control debt and creating a debt reduction plan.
Prioritizing which bills to pay first and dealing with creditors.
Credit Repair and Credit Card management.
What to do when you can't pay the mortgage or rent, and other legal issues.
Annett Marrie Barrett, MA Corporate Communications
Tuesday, March 9 1:00 - 3:00 PM
How to Look Your Very Best: Project Your Best Image & Update Your "Total Look"
Focus on how to transform your wardrobe, choose appropriate make-up to maximize your image and self-confidence as you head for an interview. Learn how you can be the best you can in this competitive marketplace. *If you have an item in your closet that you are uncertain about, bring it along to be part of the discussion.
Elizabeth Gillman, Certified Image Consultant
Thursday, March 18 9:30 - 11:30 AM
Getting Yourself Organized & Staying Organized
Get insights, tips and suggestions for managing your job search. Learn how to organize all the steps you need to take to land your new job -- how to develop a plan of action, a network of contacts and a system for follow-up.
Marcia Sloman,MBA, President, Under Control
Monday, March 22 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Mindfulness Meditation & Stress Reduction to Overcome the Challenge of the Job Search
Learn stress reduction techniques to become centered and present as you deal with the stresses of unemployment, the job search and related difficulties in the current economy.
Ruth Rosenblum, LCSW, WJCS, Contemplative Psychotherapist
Registration required for any or all of these free workshops. Contact:
Lenore Rosenbaum
W-H-W Program Director
761-0600 X308
lrosenbaum@wjcs.com
Westchester Jewish Community Services
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CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT:
During these unprecedented economic times so many people, especially women, are looking for guidance and direction. Thanks to funding from the Leir Charitable Foundations, WJCS has launched Women-Helping- Women (W-H-W) to provide encouragement, information, resources and services through workshops for women who are unemployed or seeking transition to other jobs.
Over the past several weeks, W-H-W reached out to diverse women whose lives have been affected by the current downturn in the economy. Through Focus Groups those women told us what tools and resources would be most helpful to them. Armed with that information, W-H-W developed a workshop series to provide useful and practical information.
We hope you'll join us for one or all of these free sessions. If you have a friend, relative or neighbor who could benefit from these workshops, please pass on this information. Remember, we are all links in the chain of Women- Helping-Women.
Lenore Rosenbaum, MS
W-H-W Program Director
W-H-W Workshop Schedule
Wednesday, February 24 9:15 - 11:15 AM
Location: WJCS, 845 North Broadway, White Plains
8 Steps to LinkedIn Success
Explore the power and reach of LinkedIn, one of the most powerful networking tools on the planet. Learn to embrace the power and potential of social media and how to use LinkedIn to expand your job search network.
Matthew J. Schwartz, President and CEO of MJS Executive Search
The following workshops will be held at
Greenburgh Town Hall -- Town Board Conference Room
177 Hillside Avenue, Greenburgh, NY
Thursday, February 25 9:30-11:30 AM
Thriving While Unemployed
Being out of work can be a very scary thing. It can also be a great opportunity to stop and look at your work life: Where have you been and where do you want to go.
Get clarity on what it is you really want for your life and learn how to go about finding work that will support that.
Learn how to stay grounded, focused and joyful during the process of job-hunting.
Learn how to take care of yourself emotionally while unemployed.
Learn the techniques for going after the right opportunities so that you don't waste time with the wrong ones.
Move out of fear and uncertainly into empowerment.
Cathy Wilke, Life Coach specializing in career transition & women's issues
Wednesday, March 3 9:30 - 11:30 AM
Managing Your Finances While Unemployed in the Current Economy
Learn proven tips and techniques to manage your finances, set up a budget and successfully survive the economic downturn. The workshop will cover a range of important topics, and include individual and group exercises to practice what you learn.
How to create a budget worksheet and become an expert in basic household budgeting.
Managing out of control debt and creating a debt reduction plan.
Prioritizing which bills to pay first and dealing with creditors.
Credit Repair and Credit Card management.
What to do when you can't pay the mortgage or rent, and other legal issues.
Annett Marrie Barrett, MA Corporate Communications
Tuesday, March 9 1:00 - 3:00 PM
How to Look Your Very Best: Project Your Best Image & Update Your "Total Look"
Focus on how to transform your wardrobe, choose appropriate make-up to maximize your image and self-confidence as you head for an interview. Learn how you can be the best you can in this competitive marketplace. *If you have an item in your closet that you are uncertain about, bring it along to be part of the discussion.
Elizabeth Gillman, Certified Image Consultant
Thursday, March 18 9:30 - 11:30 AM
Getting Yourself Organized & Staying Organized
Get insights, tips and suggestions for managing your job search. Learn how to organize all the steps you need to take to land your new job -- how to develop a plan of action, a network of contacts and a system for follow-up.
Marcia Sloman,MBA, President, Under Control
Monday, March 22 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Mindfulness Meditation & Stress Reduction to Overcome the Challenge of the Job Search
Learn stress reduction techniques to become centered and present as you deal with the stresses of unemployment, the job search and related difficulties in the current economy.
Ruth Rosenblum, LCSW, WJCS, Contemplative Psychotherapist
Registration required for any or all of these free workshops. Contact:
Lenore Rosenbaum
W-H-W Program Director
761-0600 X308
lrosenbaum@wjcs.com
Westchester Jewish Community Services
www.wjcs.com
Strengthening lives...Shaping futures
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Monday, February 01, 2010
BONE MARROW MATCH FOR 11 YEAR OLD FOUND!
Last month I posted info about Tatyana Abrams, the 11 year old girl who needs a bone marrow transplant. Hundreds of people went to the Theodore Young Community Center to be tested. GOOD NEWS! THE BONE MARROW REGISTRY HAS A 100 PERCENT MATCH FOR TATYANA ABRAMS
Friday, January 29, 2010
HAITI FUNDRAISER A SUCCESS--HELP VICTIM RECIEVE NEW LEG...NEED PILOTS...NEED TENTS
GREENBURGH MUSICAL FUNDRAISER AT TOWN HALL LOBBY RAISES ABOUT $2600 FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
FUNDRAISER SUNDAY AT DOUBLETREE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR 24 YEAR OLD HAITI VICTIM WHOSE LEG WAS AMPUTATED
AFYA LOOKING FOR TENTS, SLEEPING BAGS FOR HAITI VICTIMS--LET'S HELP VICTIMS SET UP TEMPORARY VILLAGES
AFYA ALSO LOOKING FOR PILOTS TO FLY SUPPLIES TO HAITI
On Friday, January 29th the lobby of the Greenburgh Town Hall was the scene of a unique fundraiser for the victims of the horrible Haiti earthquake. Musicians donated their talents and performed in the lobby of Town Hall from 11 AM to after 6 PM. The effort was organized by Town Clerk Judith Beville. We raised about $2600 for the victims. All proceeds will go to Afya--an organization based in Yonkers (and founded by Danielle Butin of Hastings) that sends medical supplies to Haiti. The Greenburgh police dept also donated unneeded supplies to the cause.
This Sunday another organization will be hosting a fundraiser at the Doubletree hotel in Tarrytown to raise funds to help a young man from Haiti whose leg was amputated receive a new leg. Please read the e mail cinthia gullotta of Tarrytown sent to me--asking for help in publicizing the effort.
I host a radio program on WVOX every Friday morning. Danielle Butin was my guest and advised me that Afya is looking for TENTS and SLEEPING BAGS. Many victims of Haiti are without shelter. Afya and other organizations are trying to help create temporary villages. If you would like to donate a tenant/sleeping bag you can drop the items off at Town Hall and Afya will pick it up. Please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com if you would like to donate these specific items. One community helping another.
ALSO--AFYA desperately needs pilots to help fly supplies to Haiti. If you are a pilot or know people who fly --ask them if they would like to help.
We can all make a difference.
PAUL FEINER
-----Original Message-----
From: cinthia gullotta [mailto:smilyguls@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 11:32 AM
To: 'Paul Feiner'
Subject: FW: Haitiarrytown
Hello All,
Letter from Dave he just got back from Haiti last night 3:00am. Who is up to
make this miracle happen, I am. Any since you all are my friends we can come
together to make it happen. Please stop by the Doubletree hotel in Tarrytown
NY on Sunday at 4:30pm to give what you can. We will make this dream come
true.
Good morning Matthew,
Thank you so much for all the medical supplies your wowgreen distributors
and friends collected for the mission to Haiti. We were able to treat
literally hundreds of people in dire need of medical attention. We were also
able to supply hospitals, clinics and doctors with much needed supplies. The
total amont of supplies we were able to bring in was amazing. We had 34
bags, four feet tall weighing between sixty and ninety pounds each.
I am excited about the fund raising opportunity on Sunday Jan 31st at the
Doubletree Hotel in Westchester NY in Tarrytown NY. We have a 24 year old
amputee that we were able to bring back with us and we have immediate needs
for him. We took him to God Samaritan Hospital this morning after landing.
He will be there just a couple of days and then he will need to start
rehabilitation immediately. I made him a promise of a new leg and it is
going to take the help of many to make it happen.
Please pass this on to as many peopl as possible. It is going to take
the help of many peole to give this young man a miracle.
GBY
Dave Bowlby
Matthew Gullotta
914-525-0744
FUNDRAISER SUNDAY AT DOUBLETREE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR 24 YEAR OLD HAITI VICTIM WHOSE LEG WAS AMPUTATED
AFYA LOOKING FOR TENTS, SLEEPING BAGS FOR HAITI VICTIMS--LET'S HELP VICTIMS SET UP TEMPORARY VILLAGES
AFYA ALSO LOOKING FOR PILOTS TO FLY SUPPLIES TO HAITI
On Friday, January 29th the lobby of the Greenburgh Town Hall was the scene of a unique fundraiser for the victims of the horrible Haiti earthquake. Musicians donated their talents and performed in the lobby of Town Hall from 11 AM to after 6 PM. The effort was organized by Town Clerk Judith Beville. We raised about $2600 for the victims. All proceeds will go to Afya--an organization based in Yonkers (and founded by Danielle Butin of Hastings) that sends medical supplies to Haiti. The Greenburgh police dept also donated unneeded supplies to the cause.
This Sunday another organization will be hosting a fundraiser at the Doubletree hotel in Tarrytown to raise funds to help a young man from Haiti whose leg was amputated receive a new leg. Please read the e mail cinthia gullotta of Tarrytown sent to me--asking for help in publicizing the effort.
I host a radio program on WVOX every Friday morning. Danielle Butin was my guest and advised me that Afya is looking for TENTS and SLEEPING BAGS. Many victims of Haiti are without shelter. Afya and other organizations are trying to help create temporary villages. If you would like to donate a tenant/sleeping bag you can drop the items off at Town Hall and Afya will pick it up. Please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com if you would like to donate these specific items. One community helping another.
ALSO--AFYA desperately needs pilots to help fly supplies to Haiti. If you are a pilot or know people who fly --ask them if they would like to help.
We can all make a difference.
PAUL FEINER
-----Original Message-----
From: cinthia gullotta [mailto:smilyguls@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 11:32 AM
To: 'Paul Feiner'
Subject: FW: Haitiarrytown
Hello All,
Letter from Dave he just got back from Haiti last night 3:00am. Who is up to
make this miracle happen, I am. Any since you all are my friends we can come
together to make it happen. Please stop by the Doubletree hotel in Tarrytown
NY on Sunday at 4:30pm to give what you can. We will make this dream come
true.
Good morning Matthew,
Thank you so much for all the medical supplies your wowgreen distributors
and friends collected for the mission to Haiti. We were able to treat
literally hundreds of people in dire need of medical attention. We were also
able to supply hospitals, clinics and doctors with much needed supplies. The
total amont of supplies we were able to bring in was amazing. We had 34
bags, four feet tall weighing between sixty and ninety pounds each.
I am excited about the fund raising opportunity on Sunday Jan 31st at the
Doubletree Hotel in Westchester NY in Tarrytown NY. We have a 24 year old
amputee that we were able to bring back with us and we have immediate needs
for him. We took him to God Samaritan Hospital this morning after landing.
He will be there just a couple of days and then he will need to start
rehabilitation immediately. I made him a promise of a new leg and it is
going to take the help of many to make it happen.
Please pass this on to as many peopl as possible. It is going to take
the help of many peole to give this young man a miracle.
GBY
Dave Bowlby
Matthew Gullotta
914-525-0744
Thursday, January 28, 2010
AFYA FOUNDATION FOUNDER TO APPEAR ON MY WVOX RADIO PROGRAM TOMORROW
Danielle Butin, head of the Afya Foundation (a group helping victims of the Haiti earthquake) will appear on my radio program tomorrow (Friday) from 10 to 11 on WVOX Radio (1460 AM). The program is streamed live on the internet: www.wvox.com.
The town is also holding a musical fundraiser at the Greenburgh Town Hall on Friday from 11 to after 6 PM.
Afya sends medical supplies to Haiti.
The town is also holding a musical fundraiser at the Greenburgh Town Hall on Friday from 11 to after 6 PM.
Afya sends medical supplies to Haiti.
Friday, January 22, 2010
GREENBURGH HERO..POLICE HELP HAITI..WORK SESSION..FUN EVENTS
A greenburgh hero…
Greenburgh Police Detective Hugh Gallagher observed a working house fire at the residence located at 47 Babbitt Court, Elmsford in the Town of Greenburgh. Detective Gallagher notified dispatch via radio requesting Fire Department and EMS personnel. The residence is a single family structure which was occupied at the time of the fire. Smoke was observed coming through the front door and the roof of the structure.
Christopher Murray a Greenburgh resident and an off duty New York City Firefighter, entered the home despite the heavy smoke conditions and rescued the two occupants described as a 46 year old female babysitter, and a 12 year old boy who was under her care. Neither the adult nor the child were injured. Off Duty F.D.N.Y. Firefighter Murray happened upon the scene while traveling in the area in his car when he observed the smoke emanating from the house.
Fire Department personnel from various agencies responded to the scene; including Fairview, Elmsford, Greenville, Hartsdale, and White Plains to extinguish the fire. There were no reported injuries. to The cause of the fire is under investigation but is not deemed to be suspicious.
DATE: January 22, 2010 INCIDENT: Medical Supplies for Haiti
In a recent memo to all town employees, Supervisor Paul Feiner requested input with respect to donating much needed medical supplies to the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti to the AFYA Foundation, a non-profit organization located at 510 Nepperhan Avenue in the City of Yonkers. Police Officer Peter Dandreano of the Greenburgh Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit whose duties include administering the Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) made arrangements with the AFYA organization to donate medical supplies.
Part of Officer Dandreano’s duties with respect to C.E.R.T. is to store and manage medical supplies that may be needed in the event of a civil emergency. A portion of the present inventory was due to expire in the near future. These supplies would have been discarded once the expiration dates past. The supplies were donated to the AFYA Foundation on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 with assistance from members of the Town of Greenburgh C.E.R.T. and volunteers from the AFYA organization. These much needed medical supplies included cases of bandages, burn kits, disposable surgical sponges and stretcher sheets, oxygen masks, gauze, bandages, trauma dressings and disposable aprons and gloves. All of the above mentioned items are due to be shipped to Haiti on Friday, January 22, 2010.
The names of the members of the Town of Greenburgh Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.), and AFYA Foundation are listed below;
Police Officer Peter Dandreano
Richard Edelson
Larry Seberg
Elaine Seberg
Harold Rose
Susan Plath
Kristen Dandreano
Rachel Dandreano
Tomas Saez
Marilyn Ghilardi
Seth Zegelstein
Larry DiSimone
Work Session Agenda of the Greenburgh Town Board
Tuesday – January 26, 2010 – 9:15AM
(Work Sessions begin at 9:15AM
(All Work Sessions are Televised Live on Cablevision Channel 76, Verizon 35 and are streamed live. Work Sessions and Town Board Meetings will be aired each Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 7:02am and 4:45pm. Each segment will run for approximately 6 to 7 hours,
depending upon the length of the two meetings.)
09:15 AM Report of Real Property Committee
09:45 AM Future of Farmers Market
10:15 AM Climate Action Plan
10:35 AM Agenda Review
10:45 AM Update/Discussion of Fund Raising Event to Support Haitian Relief
10:50 AM Executive Session – Personnel and Legal
11:30 AM Executive Session – Boards and Commissions – Interviews
12:00 Noon Adjourn Meeting
FUN THINGS TO DO…
http://www.rivertownsguide.com
This Weekend
- - Hope Machine
- Seussical the Musical
- David Bromberg & Jorma Kaukonen
- Roomful of Blues
- The Tower of Hope Foundation Hosts "Spin for Soldiers"
- Margaret Slovak
- Tim Burton Films plus Interactive Art Interactive Art Installation: "Down the Rabbit Hole"
- Pokemon Fan Night
- Creative Inspirations from Nature
- Artspeak: From Page to Performance
- Chamber Ensemble Musicora
- Gillen and Turk
- The First Annual Jonah Maccabee Dreskin Memorial Concert
- Misnomer Dance Theater
- Battle of the Bands
- Harold Pinter's "Betrayal" Mighty Theatre Company
- Marshall Tucker Band
- January Teen Night
- Blues Daddy playing the Blues
- 22nd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast
- Jazz Brunch with Jazz Soloist Bill Galanin
- David Grover and the Big Bear Band
- "Don Giovanni by Mozart": Film Festival
- Matt Turk
- The Really Terrible Orchestra of Westchester
http://www.rivertownsguide.com
www.TheHudsonIndependent. Com has additional interesting info, news and programs…
http://tarrytown.patch.com/ has additional interesting info about Tarrytown on their site.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Police Detective Hugh Gallagher observed a working house fire at the residence located at 47 Babbitt Court, Elmsford in the Town of Greenburgh. Detective Gallagher notified dispatch via radio requesting Fire Department and EMS personnel. The residence is a single family structure which was occupied at the time of the fire. Smoke was observed coming through the front door and the roof of the structure.
Christopher Murray a Greenburgh resident and an off duty New York City Firefighter, entered the home despite the heavy smoke conditions and rescued the two occupants described as a 46 year old female babysitter, and a 12 year old boy who was under her care. Neither the adult nor the child were injured. Off Duty F.D.N.Y. Firefighter Murray happened upon the scene while traveling in the area in his car when he observed the smoke emanating from the house.
Fire Department personnel from various agencies responded to the scene; including Fairview, Elmsford, Greenville, Hartsdale, and White Plains to extinguish the fire. There were no reported injuries. to The cause of the fire is under investigation but is not deemed to be suspicious.
DATE: January 22, 2010 INCIDENT: Medical Supplies for Haiti
In a recent memo to all town employees, Supervisor Paul Feiner requested input with respect to donating much needed medical supplies to the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti to the AFYA Foundation, a non-profit organization located at 510 Nepperhan Avenue in the City of Yonkers. Police Officer Peter Dandreano of the Greenburgh Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit whose duties include administering the Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) made arrangements with the AFYA organization to donate medical supplies.
Part of Officer Dandreano’s duties with respect to C.E.R.T. is to store and manage medical supplies that may be needed in the event of a civil emergency. A portion of the present inventory was due to expire in the near future. These supplies would have been discarded once the expiration dates past. The supplies were donated to the AFYA Foundation on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 with assistance from members of the Town of Greenburgh C.E.R.T. and volunteers from the AFYA organization. These much needed medical supplies included cases of bandages, burn kits, disposable surgical sponges and stretcher sheets, oxygen masks, gauze, bandages, trauma dressings and disposable aprons and gloves. All of the above mentioned items are due to be shipped to Haiti on Friday, January 22, 2010.
The names of the members of the Town of Greenburgh Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.), and AFYA Foundation are listed below;
Police Officer Peter Dandreano
Richard Edelson
Larry Seberg
Elaine Seberg
Harold Rose
Susan Plath
Kristen Dandreano
Rachel Dandreano
Tomas Saez
Marilyn Ghilardi
Seth Zegelstein
Larry DiSimone
Work Session Agenda of the Greenburgh Town Board
Tuesday – January 26, 2010 – 9:15AM
(Work Sessions begin at 9:15AM
(All Work Sessions are Televised Live on Cablevision Channel 76, Verizon 35 and are streamed live. Work Sessions and Town Board Meetings will be aired each Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 7:02am and 4:45pm. Each segment will run for approximately 6 to 7 hours,
depending upon the length of the two meetings.)
09:15 AM Report of Real Property Committee
09:45 AM Future of Farmers Market
10:15 AM Climate Action Plan
10:35 AM Agenda Review
10:45 AM Update/Discussion of Fund Raising Event to Support Haitian Relief
10:50 AM Executive Session – Personnel and Legal
11:30 AM Executive Session – Boards and Commissions – Interviews
12:00 Noon Adjourn Meeting
FUN THINGS TO DO…
http://www.rivertownsguide.com
This Weekend
- - Hope Machine
- Seussical the Musical
- David Bromberg & Jorma Kaukonen
- Roomful of Blues
- The Tower of Hope Foundation Hosts "Spin for Soldiers"
- Margaret Slovak
- Tim Burton Films plus Interactive Art Interactive Art Installation: "Down the Rabbit Hole"
- Pokemon Fan Night
- Creative Inspirations from Nature
- Artspeak: From Page to Performance
- Chamber Ensemble Musicora
- Gillen and Turk
- The First Annual Jonah Maccabee Dreskin Memorial Concert
- Misnomer Dance Theater
- Battle of the Bands
- Harold Pinter's "Betrayal" Mighty Theatre Company
- Marshall Tucker Band
- January Teen Night
- Blues Daddy playing the Blues
- 22nd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast
- Jazz Brunch with Jazz Soloist Bill Galanin
- David Grover and the Big Bear Band
- "Don Giovanni by Mozart": Film Festival
- Matt Turk
- The Really Terrible Orchestra of Westchester
http://www.rivertownsguide.com
www.TheHudsonIndependent. Com has additional interesting info, news and programs…
http://tarrytown.patch.com/ has additional interesting info about Tarrytown on their site.
PAUL FEINER
Thursday, January 21, 2010
STAR COULD BE CUT 18%...HAITIAN FUNDRAISER AT TOWN HALL LOBBY A WEEK FROM FRIDAY
Governor Paterson has responded to the NYS budget crisis with some major cutbacks. Among the cuts that will impact your school tax bill is the continuing erosion/gradual elimination of STAR. Homeowners could be experiencing a decrease in STAR assistance from the state by 18% if the budget is approved, as presented. Even if school taxes do not increase (which is unlikely because schools may receive less financial assistance from the state) – property owners will see a bigger school tax bill because they will not be receiving STAR benefits.
The Governor’s proposal must be approved by both the NYS Senate and State Assembly. NYS is experiencing significant budget problems. If STAR is restored – other cuts will have to be made to offset the STAR cutbacks. If you have any comments about the Governor’s proposed budget you should reach out to your State Legislators.
, THIS IS A CAPTION FROM THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET BILL
STaR Exemption Changes
Eliminates the Star exemption for homes valued at $1.5 million or more. Market value determined by dividing the total assessed value of the parcel by the residential assessment ration (impacts both the Basic and Enhanced STAR exemptions).
The STaR floor is changed from 89 percent to 82 percent. The maximum amount that a STaR exemption for a municipality can drop from one year to the next will now be 18 percent.
The lobby of Greenburgh Town Hall will be the site of a fundraising initiative for the victims of the tragic Haitian earthquake on Friday, January 29th. Visitors who stop by at Town Hall will enjoy fantastic music and will be encouraged to make a voluntary donation to the Haitian relief effort. All proceeds will go to the Afya Foundation, based in Yonkers/Hastings (organization was founded by Danielle Butin). This is a tentative schedule of the performances at the lobby of Greenburgh Town Hall (177 Hillside Ave, Greenburgh). Town Clerk Judith Beville is coordinating this initiative.
PAUL FEINER
Haitian Relief Effort
Fundraiser
Time
Performer
11:00 AM
Jollanna Gilham
11:30 AM
The Blues Mothers
12:00 PM
The Blues Mothers
12:30 PM
Sachi Patitucci
1:00 PM
1:30 PM
Kat Spina
2:00 PM
Lou Patrick of Dueces Child
2:30 PM
3:00 PM
Lois Colin & The Westchester Harp Ensemble
3:30 PM
4:00 PM
Mark Morganelli
4:30 PM
Mark Morganelli
5:00 PM
Solar Punch
5:30 PM
Solar Punch
The Governor’s proposal must be approved by both the NYS Senate and State Assembly. NYS is experiencing significant budget problems. If STAR is restored – other cuts will have to be made to offset the STAR cutbacks. If you have any comments about the Governor’s proposed budget you should reach out to your State Legislators.
, THIS IS A CAPTION FROM THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET BILL
STaR Exemption Changes
Eliminates the Star exemption for homes valued at $1.5 million or more. Market value determined by dividing the total assessed value of the parcel by the residential assessment ration (impacts both the Basic and Enhanced STAR exemptions).
The STaR floor is changed from 89 percent to 82 percent. The maximum amount that a STaR exemption for a municipality can drop from one year to the next will now be 18 percent.
The lobby of Greenburgh Town Hall will be the site of a fundraising initiative for the victims of the tragic Haitian earthquake on Friday, January 29th. Visitors who stop by at Town Hall will enjoy fantastic music and will be encouraged to make a voluntary donation to the Haitian relief effort. All proceeds will go to the Afya Foundation, based in Yonkers/Hastings (organization was founded by Danielle Butin). This is a tentative schedule of the performances at the lobby of Greenburgh Town Hall (177 Hillside Ave, Greenburgh). Town Clerk Judith Beville is coordinating this initiative.
PAUL FEINER
Haitian Relief Effort
Fundraiser
Time
Performer
11:00 AM
Jollanna Gilham
11:30 AM
The Blues Mothers
12:00 PM
The Blues Mothers
12:30 PM
Sachi Patitucci
1:00 PM
1:30 PM
Kat Spina
2:00 PM
Lou Patrick of Dueces Child
2:30 PM
3:00 PM
Lois Colin & The Westchester Harp Ensemble
3:30 PM
4:00 PM
Mark Morganelli
4:30 PM
Mark Morganelli
5:00 PM
Solar Punch
5:30 PM
Solar Punch
p/t job in hartsdale
Senior interested in working part-time? There is an opening for a substitute doorman at one of the neighborhood's co-op. This position would include filling in during the weekdays and some weekends. If interested, please call the Management Office, attention Mr. Winograd at 686-9500, ext. 13, or co-op office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 am-1pm"
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
MUSICIANS WANTED FOR HAITIAN FUNDRAISER AT TOWN HALL
BANDS, SINGERS, MUSICIANS WANTED FOR HAITIAN RELIEF FUNDRAISER AT LOBBY OF GREENBURGH TOWN HALL ON FRIDAY JANUARY 29TH FROM 11 TO 5:30 PM
Town Clerk Judith Beville, along with Lee Mouzakitis and Felicia Constable (town employees) are organizing a unique fundraiser at the Greenburgh Town Hall on Friday, January 29th from 11 AM to 5:30 PM. We are asking musicians to donate their time and to show off their musical talents. Their performances at the lobby of the Greenburgh Town Hall (177 Hillside Ave, White Plains) will be recorded on public access TV. We will encourage visitors to Greenburgh Town Hall to make voluntary contributions to support the victims of the recent Haitian disaster. We hope many people will stop by at Town Hall that day to make a personal donation to the Haitian relief effort. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the afya foundation, a local Hastings/Yonkers based foundation founded by Danielle Butin of Hastings that has a track record working with Haitian residents.
If you are affiliated with a band or are a vocalist/musician and would like to perform – please contact Judith Beville at 993-1504 or e mail her at townclerk@greenburghny.com. All musicians will be recognized with certificates at an upcoming Town Board meeting.
We also welcome food donations from residents to make the event more hospitable to our guests and potential contributors.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Town Clerk Judith Beville, along with Lee Mouzakitis and Felicia Constable (town employees) are organizing a unique fundraiser at the Greenburgh Town Hall on Friday, January 29th from 11 AM to 5:30 PM. We are asking musicians to donate their time and to show off their musical talents. Their performances at the lobby of the Greenburgh Town Hall (177 Hillside Ave, White Plains) will be recorded on public access TV. We will encourage visitors to Greenburgh Town Hall to make voluntary contributions to support the victims of the recent Haitian disaster. We hope many people will stop by at Town Hall that day to make a personal donation to the Haitian relief effort. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the afya foundation, a local Hastings/Yonkers based foundation founded by Danielle Butin of Hastings that has a track record working with Haitian residents.
If you are affiliated with a band or are a vocalist/musician and would like to perform – please contact Judith Beville at 993-1504 or e mail her at townclerk@greenburghny.com. All musicians will be recognized with certificates at an upcoming Town Board meeting.
We also welcome food donations from residents to make the event more hospitable to our guests and potential contributors.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
MEETING TOMORROW TO DISCUSS DEER REDUCTION POSSIBILITIES
MEETING WEDNESDAY AT GREENBURGH TOWN HALL AT 2 PM TO 3 PM TO DISCUSS ANOTHER OPTION TO REDUCE DEER POPULATION: IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION IN DEER
You are invited to attend a meeting on January 20, 2010 at 2 pm at Greenburgh Town Hall to present and discuss the use of immunocontraception in deer. The meeting is coordinated by the national animal protection organization, In Defense of Animals. The featured presenter is Dr. Allen Rutberg of Tufts University. Dr. Rutberg is one of the leading authorities on the use of immunocontraception in deer and has applied it successfully in several communities. I spoke with Mayor Peter Swiderski of Hastings. The village is considering a number of options including the culling of deer. They are interested in learning more about this option and will be sending a representative to the meeting.
The purpose of the meeting is to present a thorough and realistic assessment of the application of immunocontraception to control suburban deer populations. As you know, loss of habitat due to development throughout Westchester County has led to increasing numbers of deer in our neighborhoods. Due to the high density of human populations in Westchester County some people have expressed concern about the safety of hunting in residential areas.. Many objections continue to surround deer contraception, including that it is cost prohibitive, difficult to use, and not effective in unenclosed areas. Dr. Rutberg will address these issues with backing from scientific studies.
The meeting will be limited to one hour. Please come ready with any questions. If you have any data regarding documented numbers of deer in your municipality, please have those handy, as any practical implementation of deer contraception, including determining costs, will depend on how many deer need to be treated.
What: Meeting on non-lethal deer control
When: January 20, 2010; 2 pm
Where: Town of Greenburgh office, 177 Hillside Ave. The meeting is being organized by Barbara Stagno,
New York Campaign Coordinator
In Defense of Animals
P: 914-479-5276
F: 914-231-6602
barbara@idausa.org
www.idausa.org
Paul Feiner
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
You are invited to attend a meeting on January 20, 2010 at 2 pm at Greenburgh Town Hall to present and discuss the use of immunocontraception in deer. The meeting is coordinated by the national animal protection organization, In Defense of Animals. The featured presenter is Dr. Allen Rutberg of Tufts University. Dr. Rutberg is one of the leading authorities on the use of immunocontraception in deer and has applied it successfully in several communities. I spoke with Mayor Peter Swiderski of Hastings. The village is considering a number of options including the culling of deer. They are interested in learning more about this option and will be sending a representative to the meeting.
The purpose of the meeting is to present a thorough and realistic assessment of the application of immunocontraception to control suburban deer populations. As you know, loss of habitat due to development throughout Westchester County has led to increasing numbers of deer in our neighborhoods. Due to the high density of human populations in Westchester County some people have expressed concern about the safety of hunting in residential areas.. Many objections continue to surround deer contraception, including that it is cost prohibitive, difficult to use, and not effective in unenclosed areas. Dr. Rutberg will address these issues with backing from scientific studies.
The meeting will be limited to one hour. Please come ready with any questions. If you have any data regarding documented numbers of deer in your municipality, please have those handy, as any practical implementation of deer contraception, including determining costs, will depend on how many deer need to be treated.
What: Meeting on non-lethal deer control
When: January 20, 2010; 2 pm
Where: Town of Greenburgh office, 177 Hillside Ave. The meeting is being organized by Barbara Stagno,
New York Campaign Coordinator
In Defense of Animals
P: 914-479-5276
F: 914-231-6602
barbara@idausa.org
www.idausa.org
Paul Feiner
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Monday, January 18, 2010
SALES DIRECTOR JOB OPENING
Sales Director
SALES DIRECTOR – North American Sales, Electronic Trading and Market Data Latency Management – NEW YORK Metro
REPORT TO: VP Sales, North America
Synopsis: 10+ years direct Sales experience in the Financial Markets solutions arena, selling technical solutions to business and technical buyers in the Electronic Trading sector.
Our Client’s customer base encompasses electronic traders, major market centers, alternative liquidity destinations and service providers including market data, network/hosting and platforms. Recognized as a technology innovator in latency management, Our Client’s products offer a complete solution for enhancing electronic trading, execution and market data including SLA (service level agreement) compliance, performance monitoring, event troubleshooting and infrastructure optimization.
ROLE
Our Client is seeking a highly motivated and talented Sales Director for its business in North America. The successful applicant will have a great attitude and a proven track record in overachieving quota in the Financial Markets sector. In addition, a high level of drive and personal commitment together with a high degree of interpersonal, influencing and communication skills are a pre-requisite.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Sales Director’s primary function is to sell the Company’s latency management system into the Financial Markets sector.
• Assume full responsibility for achieving and exceeding quarterly and annual quotas as agreed with the VP Sales NA
• Build relationships and trust with key executives and decision makers within assigned accounts, particularly at C-level, Line of Business, Finance, Procurement and IT/Networking.
• Manage and close sales opportunities through forecasting, account resource allocation, account strategy and planning.
• Learn and maintain in-depth knowledge and positioning of the Company’s products and technologies
• Develop and maintain knowledge on industry trends and competitive products to leverage the sales cycle
• Maintaining up-to-date information on all Sales opportunities
• Participation and involvement in applicable industry trade shows and conferences
ATTRIBUTES
• Highly Customer focused
• Driven, great attitude, organizational skills and a self starter
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Outstanding presentation skills
• Analytical and a good problem solver
• Disciplined sales process and data driven pipeline management skills
• Strong negotiating and closing skills
• Ability to work effectively in a sales team environment
• Strong references from prior client relationships
As part of our U.S. employment process, short-listed candidates will be required to complete a background check, prior to an offer being extended. These background checks include:
• Prior Employment Verification
• Education Verification / Social Security check
• Criminal Background Check / Motor Vehicles Records (where required for position)
For more information on this position, please email resume to:
Daniel Lyons, Director
LyonsHeart International LLC
Consultants in Investigative Executive Search
(203)223-5407, dl@lh-int.com, www.lyonsheartinternational.com
SALES DIRECTOR – North American Sales, Electronic Trading and Market Data Latency Management – NEW YORK Metro
REPORT TO: VP Sales, North America
Synopsis: 10+ years direct Sales experience in the Financial Markets solutions arena, selling technical solutions to business and technical buyers in the Electronic Trading sector.
Our Client’s customer base encompasses electronic traders, major market centers, alternative liquidity destinations and service providers including market data, network/hosting and platforms. Recognized as a technology innovator in latency management, Our Client’s products offer a complete solution for enhancing electronic trading, execution and market data including SLA (service level agreement) compliance, performance monitoring, event troubleshooting and infrastructure optimization.
ROLE
Our Client is seeking a highly motivated and talented Sales Director for its business in North America. The successful applicant will have a great attitude and a proven track record in overachieving quota in the Financial Markets sector. In addition, a high level of drive and personal commitment together with a high degree of interpersonal, influencing and communication skills are a pre-requisite.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Sales Director’s primary function is to sell the Company’s latency management system into the Financial Markets sector.
• Assume full responsibility for achieving and exceeding quarterly and annual quotas as agreed with the VP Sales NA
• Build relationships and trust with key executives and decision makers within assigned accounts, particularly at C-level, Line of Business, Finance, Procurement and IT/Networking.
• Manage and close sales opportunities through forecasting, account resource allocation, account strategy and planning.
• Learn and maintain in-depth knowledge and positioning of the Company’s products and technologies
• Develop and maintain knowledge on industry trends and competitive products to leverage the sales cycle
• Maintaining up-to-date information on all Sales opportunities
• Participation and involvement in applicable industry trade shows and conferences
ATTRIBUTES
• Highly Customer focused
• Driven, great attitude, organizational skills and a self starter
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Outstanding presentation skills
• Analytical and a good problem solver
• Disciplined sales process and data driven pipeline management skills
• Strong negotiating and closing skills
• Ability to work effectively in a sales team environment
• Strong references from prior client relationships
As part of our U.S. employment process, short-listed candidates will be required to complete a background check, prior to an offer being extended. These background checks include:
• Prior Employment Verification
• Education Verification / Social Security check
• Criminal Background Check / Motor Vehicles Records (where required for position)
For more information on this position, please email resume to:
Daniel Lyons, Director
LyonsHeart International LLC
Consultants in Investigative Executive Search
(203)223-5407, dl@lh-int.com, www.lyonsheartinternational.com
Thursday, January 14, 2010
HOW YOU CAN HELP HAITI EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
Many residents of Greenburgh have contacted me asking – how can they help the victims of the tragic Haitian earthquake. There is an organization founded by Hastings on Hudson resident Danielle Butin that is very dedicated, doesn’t spend lots of money on administration and has worked with the Haitian people in the past—supplying hospitals in Haiti with medical supplies. I received the following e mail from Danielle. If you would like to help you can make a donation and drop it off at the Afya Warehouse at 510 Nepperhan Ave, Yonkers 10701. I admire Danielle and Afya because I know that most of your donations will go to the people who need help, not for administration. I just googled Afya. There are many articles. I picked two--- one from the NY TIMES (please note the 2nd to last paragraph—her organization was helping Haiti in 2008). I also am posting another article I found in my google search—Afya donated 120 beds to a Haitian hospital last year.
Bill Carter, Commissioner of the Theodore Young Community Center, advised me that the center will be organizing a fundraising concert to raise funds for the victims. More information on the concert will be posted after details are finalized. If residents have further suggestions as to how we, as a community, can help – please advise.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
LETTER FROM Afya…
When we heard the news of Haiti's earthquake, the Afya team connected
with Partners in Health with whom we have steadily collaborated for the
past two years. We then strategically reached out to donor organizations
and hospitals for relief supplies. Today we acquired 300 mattresses from
Jewish Home Lifecare in Manhattan to be used in makeshift shelters on
the island. Afya has spent the day responding to the incredible
outpouring of concern, people calling and asking worriedly, "How can I
help? What can I do?"
The news we hear is tragic, the aftermath destruction of a 7.3
earthquake and the resonating series of aftershocks has proved
disasterous. Thousands are dead, hundreds of thousands are injured,
homeless and starving. Haiti, an underserved and poverty stricken
nation, is now faced with a natural catastrophe. It is imperative that we
respond as quickly as possible with life supporting supplies.
Each of you receiving this letter can help:
1. We need financial support to send urgently needed supplies to Haiti.
Our goal is to load and ship as much as possible from our warehouse in
Yonkers to Port au Prince, Haiti. Please visit our donation page on our
website: http://afyafoundation.org/index-5.html. The sooner we raise
the necessary capital, the more quickly Afya can get supplies to those
in need.
2. Begin a supply donation drive and drop it off at the Afya
Warehouse at 510 Nepperhan Ave Yonkers, NY 10701.
Urgently needed supplies for Haiti:
Water Purification Tablets
Electrolyte Tablets
Water
Small Water Buckets
Ensure (or any liquid food supplement)
Respiratory Masks
Personal Care Items
Gauze
Bandages
IV Starter Kits
Syringes
Gloves
Needles
Ringers
Hand Sanitizer
Topical Antiseptic
Casting Materials
Cotton
Please note: Afya cannot accept supplies which are expired or less than 5
months from expiration.
Additional supplies needed for survivors of this tragedy are the following:
Sheets
Blankets
Sleeping Bags
Towels
Closed Toed Shoes
Clothing
3. Volunteer and sort at AFYA. Clothes need to be sorted and boxed by
size, supplies must be organized carefully to minimize additional work for
clinicians receiving the goods in Haiti. Please email
sarah.schuyler@afyafoundation.org to set up times to come in to help.
We need you! We need your commitment and your energy.
4. SPREAD THE WORD by sharing this email with friends, family and
colleagues. Each person's interest, efforts and caring will make a
difference.
Let's work together to initiate an active relief effort for Haitians in this
time of darkness and despair. Afya has a history of providing purpose
and well-being to vulnerable populations and we do it well. We need your
help to bring health benefits to a country in crisis. Help Afya deliver
significant donated supplies from New York to Haiti. We have served
Haitian clinics and hospitals purposefully over the past two years. They
need us more than ever and we are prepared to fulfill on this
humanitarian effort. We need you to make it a powerful and worthy
reality.
With gratitude,
Danielle Butin, MPH, OTR
Founder, Executive Director
BIG CITY
Unused Hospital Supplies Get Second Chance Overseas
David Goldman for The New York Times
Danielle Butin greases up a donated wheelchair at her warehouse in Yonkers.
By SUSAN DOMINUS
Published: March 24, 2008
Already confounded by their own bodies’ insurrections, patients entering hospitals find themselves in a system thick with new codes and contradictions. There’s the feeling of widespread economy, in the canned peas and abrasive sheets, clashing with signs of protocol-inspired excess — the pileup of unused supplies, still wrapped in plastic, that get thrown away with the trash after every operation.
It’s true that there’s sometimes money to be made, or at least saved, in hospital waste, but the reasons for that often lie outside a hospital’s control. Someone comes up with a better, cheaper gauze, but demands that the hospital use only that gauze the moment the contract takes effect. Out with all the old gauze, barrels of it — off to the dump. Or a manufacturer won’t provide a warranty for some sutures once the outer layer of plastic is off, even if the inner layer of plastic keeps them sterile. Someone has crunched the numbers and decided the hospital can’t take the risk of liability; out with the unused sutures.
Check into a hospital, and mostly by just lying in bed, you’ll generate, on average, 25 pounds of waste a day, according to Hospitals for a Healthy Environment, an environmental advocacy group. Some portion of that waste is safe, fully functioning and no doubt desperately needed somewhere in the world.
This system seems patently crazy, but no more crazy than so much else about the through-the-rabbit-hole world of medicine, and probably equally complicated.
Danielle Butin, a recently downsized managed care executive, started to think in October that she could maybe blast through some of that impenetrable hospital logic with the simplest of solutions. She had time; she had a car. Maybe she could take some of those goods off some New York hospitals’ hands and figure out a way to get them someplace they were needed.
After losing her job last summer, Ms. Butin had spent a month vacationing in Tanzania, and everywhere she went, she’d run into doctors on vacations from missions who were appalled by the lack of supplies where they worked.
“What would you do with, say, a young boy who’s got an open sore on his foot?” she asked a doctor who’d been working in Uganda. Wrap it with a surgical glove, the doctor told her — probably one that had already been used and cleaned several times. In October, Ms. Butin started calling around to hospitals. Yes, come, the guys in inventory control told her at NewYork-Presbyterian and Memorial Sloan-Kettering, among other New York hospitals. Come next week, said one manager. Bring a truck, said another. A very big truck.
“I didn’t even have to make a pitch,” said Ms. Butin, 44, who has a degree in public health. “Everybody got it right away.” (NewYork-Presbyterian’s Columbia and Weill Cornell hospitals both declined to comment, given how recently the collaboration started; Sloan-Kettering also declined to comment.)
Making weekly trips around the city in a truck that her partner, a photographer in Yonkers, usually drove, Ms. Butin quickly started filling some cheap warehouse space she’d found in Yonkers with boxes and boxes of surgical gloves, sponges, tape and other paraphernalia.
IF the hospital staffers caught on to the idea right away, that’s also partly because many hospitals now have some kind of student group that makes the same kind of effort, or an employee who voluntarily champions the cause. But in New York, there is no organization regularly and reliably serving as a clearinghouse for all the hospitals, processing the inventory before sending it overseas the way an Atlanta group called Medshare does in that city.
In any case, Ms. Butin quickly learned that whatever recycling of surplus the hospitals were already doing internally, there was still enough slipping through the cracks, destined for waste management, that she felt she could help.
“Hospitals in New York are conscientious about this issue,” said Ms. Butin, “but it’s their job to deliver care, not spend all their time worrying about how to get surplus to Africa.”
Ms. Butin knew enough to know just how much she didn’t know, and contacted Partners in Health, an established medical nonprofit agency that works in developing nations. She started trying to fill a wish list provided by a hospital Partners in Health worked with in Haiti, where the agency would send her supplies and ensure safe distribution.
Ms. Butin, who calls her new project Afya Foundation of America — afya is Swahili for health — doesn’t believe in wasting supplies. She doesn’t believe in wasting time, either. In the time it takes her to get from the first floor of a hospital to the 17th, she’ll grill a nurse on the elevator about how to tell the difference between an operating room table and a heavy-duty stretcher (the table is heavier). If she’s waiting for a Jamba Juice at Whole Foods, she’ll ask the store manager if the market would donate cooking supplies for the kitchens of overseas hospitals in need (yes, she eventually heard from the Union Square store). It’s a straightforward system, really: She asks, and usually, people say yes.
Accustomed to a corporate pace, Ms. Butin works fast. Her first 40-foot container full of supplies went out to Haiti on March 13. She’s still waiting for her nonprofit tax exemption, and she has a lot to figure out, like how to sort her onslaught of inventory, how to expand and how to find a free meat grinder, a last urgent item requested by that hospital kitchen in Haiti.
By the time she has figured it out, she will have made it all look obvious.
E-mail: susan.dominus@nytimes.com
Agencies work together to donate 120 beds to Haitian hospital
Roslindale —
Children rights activist Marian Wright Edelman said it best by telling the world, “Service is the rent each of us pays for living. The only thing that lasts is what is shared with others.”
Last week, volunteers from AFYA and Partners in Health, who worked with staff and volunteers from Hebrew SeniorLife on Centre Street in Roslindale, loaded about 120 donated hospital beds into three container trucks for shipment to Haiti.
The beds' journey to Haiti began with a simple Boston-to-Yonkers long-distance telephone call. Dr. Robert Schreiber, physician-in-chief of Hebrew SeniorLife at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center placed a call to a former colleague, Danielle Butin.
Butin is co-founder of the AFYA Foundation, an organization that works with hospitals and other medical facilities in the eastern U.S. wishing to donate unwanted medical supplies or gently used medical equipment. AFYA then ships these donations to medical facilities with proven, solid infrastructures throughout Africa and Haiti.
“We have saved over 300 tons of waste from New York landfills by shipping 23 containers containing over 500,000 pounds of medical supplies in the past 19 months with great success. There is no greater feeling than to know you got quality, usable supplies into the hands of qualified medical professionals who now have the tools to save lives and give so many a brighter future,” said Butin, AFYA’s executive director.
“When our new Dedham campus, New Bridge on the Charles, was completed, we entered into the moving-in phase and found ourselves with about 120 hospital beds we could no longer use,” said Schreiber. “After speaking with our vice president of real estate, I was able to facilitate offering the beds to Danielle, and I knew she would know where the need would be greatest and they’d have a life all over again.
“There is a Hebrew phrase ‘tikkum olam,’ that means to heal the world, or repair the world. I believe when organizations assist others by donating what they no longer need, no longer can use, we are healing the world and also making it a much greener place to live.”
Also playing a role in the process was Boston’s Partners in Health, which was founded by Dr. Paul Farmer, Dr. Jim Kim and Ophelia Dahl. Today, Partners in Health has expanded to 10 countries; the organization has proven that supposedly untreatable diseases can be addressed successfully, even in poor countries, said Kathryn Kempton, PIH’s director of procurement.
“We have had recent success with drug-resistant tuberculosis in Russia and Peru, and great strides were achieved in Rwanda, Malawi and Lesotho in the treatment of HIV and tuberculosis as well as improving maternal health rates,” said Kempton.
Jonathan Lascher, procurement manager with PIH, said, “The beds are going to go to St. Mark’s Hospital in Haiti, which provides health care for Haiti’s central plateau. Partners in Health’s partner organization in Haiti, Zanmi Lasante or ‘Partners in Health’ in Haitian Kreyol, works with the Haitian government to run St. Mark’s Hospital. The staff of the hospital is Haitian, so we are not only providing health care, but also creating jobs in the region. St. Mark’s staff is very excited about receiving the beds.”
Sara Schuyler, AFYA’s domestic resources and international capacities manager, had a “green” outlook on the donation: “Hospital beds that must be adjusted manually aren’t in high demand here in the U.S., but in Haiti where electricity is at a premium and is best saved for use in the [operating room] or an anesthesia suite, these hospital beds will be a perfect fit.”
Roslindale Transcript
Copyright 2009 The Taunton Gazette. Some rights reserved
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Bill Carter, Commissioner of the Theodore Young Community Center, advised me that the center will be organizing a fundraising concert to raise funds for the victims. More information on the concert will be posted after details are finalized. If residents have further suggestions as to how we, as a community, can help – please advise.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
LETTER FROM Afya…
When we heard the news of Haiti's earthquake, the Afya team connected
with Partners in Health with whom we have steadily collaborated for the
past two years. We then strategically reached out to donor organizations
and hospitals for relief supplies. Today we acquired 300 mattresses from
Jewish Home Lifecare in Manhattan to be used in makeshift shelters on
the island. Afya has spent the day responding to the incredible
outpouring of concern, people calling and asking worriedly, "How can I
help? What can I do?"
The news we hear is tragic, the aftermath destruction of a 7.3
earthquake and the resonating series of aftershocks has proved
disasterous. Thousands are dead, hundreds of thousands are injured,
homeless and starving. Haiti, an underserved and poverty stricken
nation, is now faced with a natural catastrophe. It is imperative that we
respond as quickly as possible with life supporting supplies.
Each of you receiving this letter can help:
1. We need financial support to send urgently needed supplies to Haiti.
Our goal is to load and ship as much as possible from our warehouse in
Yonkers to Port au Prince, Haiti. Please visit our donation page on our
website: http://afyafoundation.org/index-5.html. The sooner we raise
the necessary capital, the more quickly Afya can get supplies to those
in need.
2. Begin a supply donation drive and drop it off at the Afya
Warehouse at 510 Nepperhan Ave Yonkers, NY 10701.
Urgently needed supplies for Haiti:
Water Purification Tablets
Electrolyte Tablets
Water
Small Water Buckets
Ensure (or any liquid food supplement)
Respiratory Masks
Personal Care Items
Gauze
Bandages
IV Starter Kits
Syringes
Gloves
Needles
Ringers
Hand Sanitizer
Topical Antiseptic
Casting Materials
Cotton
Please note: Afya cannot accept supplies which are expired or less than 5
months from expiration.
Additional supplies needed for survivors of this tragedy are the following:
Sheets
Blankets
Sleeping Bags
Towels
Closed Toed Shoes
Clothing
3. Volunteer and sort at AFYA. Clothes need to be sorted and boxed by
size, supplies must be organized carefully to minimize additional work for
clinicians receiving the goods in Haiti. Please email
sarah.schuyler@afyafoundation.org to set up times to come in to help.
We need you! We need your commitment and your energy.
4. SPREAD THE WORD by sharing this email with friends, family and
colleagues. Each person's interest, efforts and caring will make a
difference.
Let's work together to initiate an active relief effort for Haitians in this
time of darkness and despair. Afya has a history of providing purpose
and well-being to vulnerable populations and we do it well. We need your
help to bring health benefits to a country in crisis. Help Afya deliver
significant donated supplies from New York to Haiti. We have served
Haitian clinics and hospitals purposefully over the past two years. They
need us more than ever and we are prepared to fulfill on this
humanitarian effort. We need you to make it a powerful and worthy
reality.
With gratitude,
Danielle Butin, MPH, OTR
Founder, Executive Director
BIG CITY
Unused Hospital Supplies Get Second Chance Overseas
David Goldman for The New York Times
Danielle Butin greases up a donated wheelchair at her warehouse in Yonkers.
By SUSAN DOMINUS
Published: March 24, 2008
Already confounded by their own bodies’ insurrections, patients entering hospitals find themselves in a system thick with new codes and contradictions. There’s the feeling of widespread economy, in the canned peas and abrasive sheets, clashing with signs of protocol-inspired excess — the pileup of unused supplies, still wrapped in plastic, that get thrown away with the trash after every operation.
It’s true that there’s sometimes money to be made, or at least saved, in hospital waste, but the reasons for that often lie outside a hospital’s control. Someone comes up with a better, cheaper gauze, but demands that the hospital use only that gauze the moment the contract takes effect. Out with all the old gauze, barrels of it — off to the dump. Or a manufacturer won’t provide a warranty for some sutures once the outer layer of plastic is off, even if the inner layer of plastic keeps them sterile. Someone has crunched the numbers and decided the hospital can’t take the risk of liability; out with the unused sutures.
Check into a hospital, and mostly by just lying in bed, you’ll generate, on average, 25 pounds of waste a day, according to Hospitals for a Healthy Environment, an environmental advocacy group. Some portion of that waste is safe, fully functioning and no doubt desperately needed somewhere in the world.
This system seems patently crazy, but no more crazy than so much else about the through-the-rabbit-hole world of medicine, and probably equally complicated.
Danielle Butin, a recently downsized managed care executive, started to think in October that she could maybe blast through some of that impenetrable hospital logic with the simplest of solutions. She had time; she had a car. Maybe she could take some of those goods off some New York hospitals’ hands and figure out a way to get them someplace they were needed.
After losing her job last summer, Ms. Butin had spent a month vacationing in Tanzania, and everywhere she went, she’d run into doctors on vacations from missions who were appalled by the lack of supplies where they worked.
“What would you do with, say, a young boy who’s got an open sore on his foot?” she asked a doctor who’d been working in Uganda. Wrap it with a surgical glove, the doctor told her — probably one that had already been used and cleaned several times. In October, Ms. Butin started calling around to hospitals. Yes, come, the guys in inventory control told her at NewYork-Presbyterian and Memorial Sloan-Kettering, among other New York hospitals. Come next week, said one manager. Bring a truck, said another. A very big truck.
“I didn’t even have to make a pitch,” said Ms. Butin, 44, who has a degree in public health. “Everybody got it right away.” (NewYork-Presbyterian’s Columbia and Weill Cornell hospitals both declined to comment, given how recently the collaboration started; Sloan-Kettering also declined to comment.)
Making weekly trips around the city in a truck that her partner, a photographer in Yonkers, usually drove, Ms. Butin quickly started filling some cheap warehouse space she’d found in Yonkers with boxes and boxes of surgical gloves, sponges, tape and other paraphernalia.
IF the hospital staffers caught on to the idea right away, that’s also partly because many hospitals now have some kind of student group that makes the same kind of effort, or an employee who voluntarily champions the cause. But in New York, there is no organization regularly and reliably serving as a clearinghouse for all the hospitals, processing the inventory before sending it overseas the way an Atlanta group called Medshare does in that city.
In any case, Ms. Butin quickly learned that whatever recycling of surplus the hospitals were already doing internally, there was still enough slipping through the cracks, destined for waste management, that she felt she could help.
“Hospitals in New York are conscientious about this issue,” said Ms. Butin, “but it’s their job to deliver care, not spend all their time worrying about how to get surplus to Africa.”
Ms. Butin knew enough to know just how much she didn’t know, and contacted Partners in Health, an established medical nonprofit agency that works in developing nations. She started trying to fill a wish list provided by a hospital Partners in Health worked with in Haiti, where the agency would send her supplies and ensure safe distribution.
Ms. Butin, who calls her new project Afya Foundation of America — afya is Swahili for health — doesn’t believe in wasting supplies. She doesn’t believe in wasting time, either. In the time it takes her to get from the first floor of a hospital to the 17th, she’ll grill a nurse on the elevator about how to tell the difference between an operating room table and a heavy-duty stretcher (the table is heavier). If she’s waiting for a Jamba Juice at Whole Foods, she’ll ask the store manager if the market would donate cooking supplies for the kitchens of overseas hospitals in need (yes, she eventually heard from the Union Square store). It’s a straightforward system, really: She asks, and usually, people say yes.
Accustomed to a corporate pace, Ms. Butin works fast. Her first 40-foot container full of supplies went out to Haiti on March 13. She’s still waiting for her nonprofit tax exemption, and she has a lot to figure out, like how to sort her onslaught of inventory, how to expand and how to find a free meat grinder, a last urgent item requested by that hospital kitchen in Haiti.
By the time she has figured it out, she will have made it all look obvious.
E-mail: susan.dominus@nytimes.com
Agencies work together to donate 120 beds to Haitian hospital
Roslindale —
Children rights activist Marian Wright Edelman said it best by telling the world, “Service is the rent each of us pays for living. The only thing that lasts is what is shared with others.”
Last week, volunteers from AFYA and Partners in Health, who worked with staff and volunteers from Hebrew SeniorLife on Centre Street in Roslindale, loaded about 120 donated hospital beds into three container trucks for shipment to Haiti.
The beds' journey to Haiti began with a simple Boston-to-Yonkers long-distance telephone call. Dr. Robert Schreiber, physician-in-chief of Hebrew SeniorLife at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center placed a call to a former colleague, Danielle Butin.
Butin is co-founder of the AFYA Foundation, an organization that works with hospitals and other medical facilities in the eastern U.S. wishing to donate unwanted medical supplies or gently used medical equipment. AFYA then ships these donations to medical facilities with proven, solid infrastructures throughout Africa and Haiti.
“We have saved over 300 tons of waste from New York landfills by shipping 23 containers containing over 500,000 pounds of medical supplies in the past 19 months with great success. There is no greater feeling than to know you got quality, usable supplies into the hands of qualified medical professionals who now have the tools to save lives and give so many a brighter future,” said Butin, AFYA’s executive director.
“When our new Dedham campus, New Bridge on the Charles, was completed, we entered into the moving-in phase and found ourselves with about 120 hospital beds we could no longer use,” said Schreiber. “After speaking with our vice president of real estate, I was able to facilitate offering the beds to Danielle, and I knew she would know where the need would be greatest and they’d have a life all over again.
“There is a Hebrew phrase ‘tikkum olam,’ that means to heal the world, or repair the world. I believe when organizations assist others by donating what they no longer need, no longer can use, we are healing the world and also making it a much greener place to live.”
Also playing a role in the process was Boston’s Partners in Health, which was founded by Dr. Paul Farmer, Dr. Jim Kim and Ophelia Dahl. Today, Partners in Health has expanded to 10 countries; the organization has proven that supposedly untreatable diseases can be addressed successfully, even in poor countries, said Kathryn Kempton, PIH’s director of procurement.
“We have had recent success with drug-resistant tuberculosis in Russia and Peru, and great strides were achieved in Rwanda, Malawi and Lesotho in the treatment of HIV and tuberculosis as well as improving maternal health rates,” said Kempton.
Jonathan Lascher, procurement manager with PIH, said, “The beds are going to go to St. Mark’s Hospital in Haiti, which provides health care for Haiti’s central plateau. Partners in Health’s partner organization in Haiti, Zanmi Lasante or ‘Partners in Health’ in Haitian Kreyol, works with the Haitian government to run St. Mark’s Hospital. The staff of the hospital is Haitian, so we are not only providing health care, but also creating jobs in the region. St. Mark’s staff is very excited about receiving the beds.”
Sara Schuyler, AFYA’s domestic resources and international capacities manager, had a “green” outlook on the donation: “Hospital beds that must be adjusted manually aren’t in high demand here in the U.S., but in Haiti where electricity is at a premium and is best saved for use in the [operating room] or an anesthesia suite, these hospital beds will be a perfect fit.”
Roslindale Transcript
Copyright 2009 The Taunton Gazette. Some rights reserved
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Wednesday, January 13, 2010
RIDGE HILL LAWSUIT TO BE EXPLORED...HOW FIVE MILLION DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT
GREENBURGH TOWN BOARD APPROVES RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXPLORATION OF LEGAL ACTION AGAINST RIDGE HILL PROJECT
TOWN HAD RECEIVED 5 MILLION FOR TRAFFIC MITIGATION AS A RESULT OF SETTLEMENT OF PREVIOUS ACTION
COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES HOW 5 MILLION WILL BE SPENT
LEGAL ACTION COULD RESULT IN ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC MITIGATION AND SAFETY MEASURES BEING FUNDED BY DEVELOPER/CITY OF YONKERS
On Wednesday evening, January 13th the Greenburgh Town Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the Town Attorney's office to explore whether legal action should be taken against the city of Yonkers and/or the developers of Ridge Hill in light of the recent federal indictment against a former Yonkers City Councilwoman for having cast the deciding vote in favor of Ridge Hill after accepting a bribe. The town settled a lawsuit against Ridge Hill/Yonkers two years ago after the Yonkers City Council approved the project. We were advised (prior to the settlement) that we did not have a good chance of winning the lawsuit--because Yonkers has the right to approve developments within their borders, provided SEQR is complied with. As part of the settlement the town received $5 million dollars for traffic mitigation. Legal fees were also paid for by the developer. Last week the the Ridgehill Intermunicipal Intersection Committee (Town of Greenburgh, Villages of Ardsley and Hastings on Hudson) committee voted to approve a priority list of four (4) projects from the twelve (12) study areas.
All three municipalities agreed that the survey, design and construction work should proceed for the intersections of 9A and Ashford Avenue ($1.7 Million), and the Y-intersection at North Sprain Road and Jackson Avenue ($650,000). As well as for the widening of 9A between Ashford and Heatherdell ($900,000). The committee decided that the Jackson Avenue S-curve, between Sprain Road and the Park, would proceed to the design phase only and asked staff to prepare an acquisition plan to present to Westchester County.
The five million dollars we received for traffic safety improvements will not solve our traffic problems after Ridge Hill is open. The indictment of former Councilwoman Sandy Annabi highlights the fact that SEQR may not have been complied with. It's our hope that -at the minimum- we will be able to secure additional traffic mitigation funding. The members of the Town Board who voted for the resolution are Sonja Brown, Diana Juettner, Kevin Morgan, Francis Sheehan. I also supported the resolution.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN ATTORNEY’S OFFICE TO EXPLORE WHETHER LEGAL ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST THE CITY OF YONKERS, FOREST CITY RATNER (FC YONKERS ASSOCIATES, LLC), AND/OR OTHERS, IN LIGHT OF RECENT ALLEGATIONS THAT A YONKERS CITY COUNCILWOMAN WHO WAS THE DECIDING VOTE, RECEIVED A BRIBE IN EXCHANGE FOR APPROVING THE RIDGE HILL DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF YONKERS, WHICH WAS OPPOSED BY THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH DUE TO ITS SIZE AND TRAFFIC IMPACTS
WHEREAS, the Town of Greenburgh is a party to a Stipulation of Settlement with Forest City Ratner (“FC Yonkers Associates, LLC.”), effective January 12, 2007, pursuant to the terms of a court ordered settlement effective January 12, 2007, in two actions captioned “Town of Greenburgh, et al. v. the City Council of the City of Yonkers, et al.,” Westchester County Index Numbers 5939-06 and 22251-06; and
WHEREAS, the Town originally filed the aforementioned lawsuits because the Town, and villages within the Town, were concerned about the size, traffic impacts and poor planning of the Ridge Hill development proposal in the City of Yonkers; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board settled the lawsuits regarding the Ridge Hill development, even though members of the Town Board remained concerned about the size, traffic impacts and planning of the development, because Board members were advised that the Town had little chance of success on the merits in the lawsuit in view of the Yonkers City Council’s support of the development; and
WHEREAS, in light of recent allegations that a Yonkers City Councilwoman may have received a bribe in exchange for approving the Ridge Hill development, the Town Board believes it prudent to have the Town Attorney’s office explore the Town’s legal options, including damages and injunctive relief, in the event that there is a final determination that the integrity of the State Environmental and Quality Review (“SEQR”) process and/or City of Yonkers approvals have been compromised;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh hereby authorizes the Town Attorney’s office to explore whether legal action should be taken against the City of Yonkers and/or FC Yonkers Associates, LLC. and/or others, in the event that there is a final determination that the integrity of the State Environmental and Quality Review (“SEQR”) process and/or City of Yonkers approvals have been compromised, in light of recent allegations that a Yonkers City Councilmember received a bribe in exchange for approving the Ridge Hill development proposal.
Submitted: 01/11/2010
Revised: 01/13/2010
TOWN HAD RECEIVED 5 MILLION FOR TRAFFIC MITIGATION AS A RESULT OF SETTLEMENT OF PREVIOUS ACTION
COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES HOW 5 MILLION WILL BE SPENT
LEGAL ACTION COULD RESULT IN ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC MITIGATION AND SAFETY MEASURES BEING FUNDED BY DEVELOPER/CITY OF YONKERS
On Wednesday evening, January 13th the Greenburgh Town Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the Town Attorney's office to explore whether legal action should be taken against the city of Yonkers and/or the developers of Ridge Hill in light of the recent federal indictment against a former Yonkers City Councilwoman for having cast the deciding vote in favor of Ridge Hill after accepting a bribe. The town settled a lawsuit against Ridge Hill/Yonkers two years ago after the Yonkers City Council approved the project. We were advised (prior to the settlement) that we did not have a good chance of winning the lawsuit--because Yonkers has the right to approve developments within their borders, provided SEQR is complied with. As part of the settlement the town received $5 million dollars for traffic mitigation. Legal fees were also paid for by the developer. Last week the the Ridgehill Intermunicipal Intersection Committee (Town of Greenburgh, Villages of Ardsley and Hastings on Hudson) committee voted to approve a priority list of four (4) projects from the twelve (12) study areas.
All three municipalities agreed that the survey, design and construction work should proceed for the intersections of 9A and Ashford Avenue ($1.7 Million), and the Y-intersection at North Sprain Road and Jackson Avenue ($650,000). As well as for the widening of 9A between Ashford and Heatherdell ($900,000). The committee decided that the Jackson Avenue S-curve, between Sprain Road and the Park, would proceed to the design phase only and asked staff to prepare an acquisition plan to present to Westchester County.
The five million dollars we received for traffic safety improvements will not solve our traffic problems after Ridge Hill is open. The indictment of former Councilwoman Sandy Annabi highlights the fact that SEQR may not have been complied with. It's our hope that -at the minimum- we will be able to secure additional traffic mitigation funding. The members of the Town Board who voted for the resolution are Sonja Brown, Diana Juettner, Kevin Morgan, Francis Sheehan. I also supported the resolution.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN ATTORNEY’S OFFICE TO EXPLORE WHETHER LEGAL ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST THE CITY OF YONKERS, FOREST CITY RATNER (FC YONKERS ASSOCIATES, LLC), AND/OR OTHERS, IN LIGHT OF RECENT ALLEGATIONS THAT A YONKERS CITY COUNCILWOMAN WHO WAS THE DECIDING VOTE, RECEIVED A BRIBE IN EXCHANGE FOR APPROVING THE RIDGE HILL DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF YONKERS, WHICH WAS OPPOSED BY THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH DUE TO ITS SIZE AND TRAFFIC IMPACTS
WHEREAS, the Town of Greenburgh is a party to a Stipulation of Settlement with Forest City Ratner (“FC Yonkers Associates, LLC.”), effective January 12, 2007, pursuant to the terms of a court ordered settlement effective January 12, 2007, in two actions captioned “Town of Greenburgh, et al. v. the City Council of the City of Yonkers, et al.,” Westchester County Index Numbers 5939-06 and 22251-06; and
WHEREAS, the Town originally filed the aforementioned lawsuits because the Town, and villages within the Town, were concerned about the size, traffic impacts and poor planning of the Ridge Hill development proposal in the City of Yonkers; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board settled the lawsuits regarding the Ridge Hill development, even though members of the Town Board remained concerned about the size, traffic impacts and planning of the development, because Board members were advised that the Town had little chance of success on the merits in the lawsuit in view of the Yonkers City Council’s support of the development; and
WHEREAS, in light of recent allegations that a Yonkers City Councilwoman may have received a bribe in exchange for approving the Ridge Hill development, the Town Board believes it prudent to have the Town Attorney’s office explore the Town’s legal options, including damages and injunctive relief, in the event that there is a final determination that the integrity of the State Environmental and Quality Review (“SEQR”) process and/or City of Yonkers approvals have been compromised;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh hereby authorizes the Town Attorney’s office to explore whether legal action should be taken against the City of Yonkers and/or FC Yonkers Associates, LLC. and/or others, in the event that there is a final determination that the integrity of the State Environmental and Quality Review (“SEQR”) process and/or City of Yonkers approvals have been compromised, in light of recent allegations that a Yonkers City Councilmember received a bribe in exchange for approving the Ridge Hill development proposal.
Submitted: 01/11/2010
Revised: 01/13/2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
CHILD CARE SEEKS PERMISSION TO OPEN AT OFFICE PARK NEAR TARRYTOWN
It has been the policy of the Town Board and myself to try to keep you informed of developments that could impact neighborhoods. At todays work session the Town Board reviewed a proposal that I think is very exciting. The Town Board will be holding a public hearing on Wednesday, January 27th at Greenburgh Town Hall at 7:30 PM on a proposed amended site plan application to construct an 8,857 sq. ft. day care center in the first floor of the 580 White Plains Road existing building and a 1,800 square foot fenced outdoor playground. The property is situated on the south side of White Plains Road, approximately 500 ft. from the intersection of Benedict Avenue. The property is located in the OB Office-Business District. The proposed development is consistent with the permitted uses established in the OB District.
I think this is a positive for the community and for businesses located in this section of town. The child care facility will make it easier for the businesses to attract and keep young families with small children. The child care facility will be a great convenience for residents of the Glenville section of town who might wish to take advantage of the new child care services.
This, in my opinion, is great planning. What do you think?
I think this is a positive for the community and for businesses located in this section of town. The child care facility will make it easier for the businesses to attract and keep young families with small children. The child care facility will be a great convenience for residents of the Glenville section of town who might wish to take advantage of the new child care services.
This, in my opinion, is great planning. What do you think?
SUMMARY OF LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO ADDRESS CON ED TREE CLEARING
This past Saturday members of the Town Board met with State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins and the Public Service Commission to discuss the recent tree clearing that took place off of Ridge Road and the surrounding neighborhoods. The Senator and PSC also attended a meeting in Pleasantville earlier in the day –and heard similar complaints from residents who felt that Con Ed cut down trees that did not impact the power lines.
The Public Service Commission representative advised about 100 people who attended the meeting that the PSC would investigate specific properties where there was improper or excessive removal of trees. If you provide me with specific complaints (and backup documentation) – I will forward them to the PSC.
Mark Gilliland of the Irvington Tree Preservation Project e mailed me the following thoughtful recommendations that will be forwarded to NYS Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins and the PSC. If you support these recommendations – please advise our State Legislators, Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins and Assemblyman Richard Brodsky. You should also reach out to the PSC. Please send me copies of all correspondence. The recommendations that Mark made should be considered a first draft. Your additional thoughts and feedback would be appreciated.
Paul Feiner
Garry A. Brown, Chairman
NYS Public Service Commission
3 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223
Assemblyman Richard Brodsky
5 West Main Street
Elmsford, NY 10523
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Room 415 LOB
Albany, NY 12247
If you would like to watch most of Saturday’s meeting please visit: http://irvtrees.blogspot.com/2010/01/video-of-saturdays-town-hall-meeting.html.
Our community is fortunate to have dedicated civic activists like Mark working hard to come up with constructive ideas.
Top 5 Suggested Actions/Fixes for Transmission Line Clearing Projects
There must be an immediate moratorium state-wide on any further transmission line clearing including projects currently underway, with individual approvals to re-commence work only after proper public review. (Exceptions would be made for instances of urgent public safety.) Too much environmental damage and property value loss has occurred already!
1. Restitution to homeowners and municipalities for improper and excessive removal of trees. (See last item below concerning updating the vegetative management guidelines for a list of issues, both property and eco-system related, to be addressed by replanting, remuneration or other agreed upon methods.)
2. Review of original PSC 2005 SEQRA filings (and related PSC or utility filings) concerning transmission line clearing – invalidate and establish new public hearings with a science-based, fact-based EIS analysis. (Why? Original SEQRA actions had no public hearings, no public review. PSC used ‘short form’ SEQRA which is invalid for such extensive work state-wide. Also, short form indicated “no environmental impact” with absolutely no discussion of factors such as habitat loss, stormwater issues, noise abatement, privacy loss, property value loss and other ecological and aesthetic concerns.)
3. Update / moderization of PSC and utility Vegetative Management guidelines for ROW. Based upon NERC recommendations for tiered-cutting dependent upon tree height & distance from centerline of transmission towers, while taking tree species into consideration. New guidelines must take into account: property value impact, aesthetic impact, view shed buffers, habitat protection, stormwater mitigation, noise abatement, management of invasives and deer (as the cut corridors. esp. clear cut, are “highways” for the spread of invasives, while at the same time provide optimum browse for white-tail deer.) Public review and feedback required.
4. Proper advanced notification by utility including detailed written description of intended work. On-site consultation with both private and municipal property owners affected by project. Second opinions via Senior arborist. Documentation and sign-off of all agreed upon work.
5. Use of better-trained, higher skilled and more closely supervised contractors for any line clearing or ROW maintenance. Contractors must also share greater liability (with Con Ed) for trespass, improper removals and so forth. Supervision on-site by senior arborist at all times. Clearly defined and publicized escalation and stop-work procedures. Enforcement of hours-of-work limitations
The Public Service Commission representative advised about 100 people who attended the meeting that the PSC would investigate specific properties where there was improper or excessive removal of trees. If you provide me with specific complaints (and backup documentation) – I will forward them to the PSC.
Mark Gilliland of the Irvington Tree Preservation Project e mailed me the following thoughtful recommendations that will be forwarded to NYS Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins and the PSC. If you support these recommendations – please advise our State Legislators, Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins and Assemblyman Richard Brodsky. You should also reach out to the PSC. Please send me copies of all correspondence. The recommendations that Mark made should be considered a first draft. Your additional thoughts and feedback would be appreciated.
Paul Feiner
Garry A. Brown, Chairman
NYS Public Service Commission
3 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223
Assemblyman Richard Brodsky
5 West Main Street
Elmsford, NY 10523
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Room 415 LOB
Albany, NY 12247
If you would like to watch most of Saturday’s meeting please visit: http://irvtrees.blogspot.com/2010/01/video-of-saturdays-town-hall-meeting.html.
Our community is fortunate to have dedicated civic activists like Mark working hard to come up with constructive ideas.
Top 5 Suggested Actions/Fixes for Transmission Line Clearing Projects
There must be an immediate moratorium state-wide on any further transmission line clearing including projects currently underway, with individual approvals to re-commence work only after proper public review. (Exceptions would be made for instances of urgent public safety.) Too much environmental damage and property value loss has occurred already!
1. Restitution to homeowners and municipalities for improper and excessive removal of trees. (See last item below concerning updating the vegetative management guidelines for a list of issues, both property and eco-system related, to be addressed by replanting, remuneration or other agreed upon methods.)
2. Review of original PSC 2005 SEQRA filings (and related PSC or utility filings) concerning transmission line clearing – invalidate and establish new public hearings with a science-based, fact-based EIS analysis. (Why? Original SEQRA actions had no public hearings, no public review. PSC used ‘short form’ SEQRA which is invalid for such extensive work state-wide. Also, short form indicated “no environmental impact” with absolutely no discussion of factors such as habitat loss, stormwater issues, noise abatement, privacy loss, property value loss and other ecological and aesthetic concerns.)
3. Update / moderization of PSC and utility Vegetative Management guidelines for ROW. Based upon NERC recommendations for tiered-cutting dependent upon tree height & distance from centerline of transmission towers, while taking tree species into consideration. New guidelines must take into account: property value impact, aesthetic impact, view shed buffers, habitat protection, stormwater mitigation, noise abatement, management of invasives and deer (as the cut corridors. esp. clear cut, are “highways” for the spread of invasives, while at the same time provide optimum browse for white-tail deer.) Public review and feedback required.
4. Proper advanced notification by utility including detailed written description of intended work. On-site consultation with both private and municipal property owners affected by project. Second opinions via Senior arborist. Documentation and sign-off of all agreed upon work.
5. Use of better-trained, higher skilled and more closely supervised contractors for any line clearing or ROW maintenance. Contractors must also share greater liability (with Con Ed) for trespass, improper removals and so forth. Supervision on-site by senior arborist at all times. Clearly defined and publicized escalation and stop-work procedures. Enforcement of hours-of-work limitations
Friday, January 08, 2010
LEGAL PAPERS FILED IN SUPREME COURT--CHALLENGING PROPERTY OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR PARKING AUTHORITY MEMBERS
Last year the Greenburgh Town Board appointed Barry Kessler as a member of the Hartsdale Parking District. Mr. Kessler, a former School Board member and long time resident of Greenburgh, was advised by the other 2 members of the Parking district that they would not recognize his appointment—because he did not own property at the time the assessment rolls were finalized (the property was in his wifes name). Mr. Kessler has since obtained a deed and is a property owner. However, the parking district still refuses to seat him. NYS law provides that members of the Town Board have the power to appoint members of the parking district.
Because the parking district will not seat Mr. Kessler – we filed a legal action in NYS Supreme Court today. We are seeking For a Declaratory Judgment Pursuant to Article 30 :
And a Writ of Mandamus Pursuant to Article 78
of the Civil Practice Law and Rules. The following are excerpts from the legal papers we filed today. Property ownership should never be a requirement to participate in government. Spouses of property owners…tenants are deprived of the chance to serve. It should be noted that when I was first elected Town Supervisor I was a tenant. I could serve as Town Supervisor but not as a member of the parking district. This is absurd! At least one former Town Board member was also a tenant at the time of his service to the town.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Petitioner contend that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 of the Special Act establishing the Public Parking District, requiring that a member of the Board of Commissioners of the District own real property within the District, are void, improper and unconstitutional, as they impermissibly discriminate against non-real property owners in favor of real property owners within the Parking District in violation of Article 1, Section 11 of the New York State Constitution, as such property ownership classifications are not rationally related to the achievement of any legitimate state interest.
. In fact, in 1968 the New York State Legislature, by Chapter 767 of the Laws of 1968, subsequently repealed property ownership classifications required to hold office as commissioner in town special improvement districts by amending Section 211 of Town Law (District Commissioners) to eliminate real property ownership of as a qualification for appointment as a district commissioner (See Exhibit F attached; See also Szapiro v. McNichol,
43 A.D.2d 701 (2d Dept. 1973) (Every person who is qualified to vote for a town officer shall be eligible to hold office of district commissioner in improvement district ).
While Petitioner acknowledges that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 do not overtly discriminate against non-real property owners on the basis of a suspect class (i.e., race or gender) to be upheld against an equal protection challenge pursuant to Article 1, Section 11, there must be some reasonably conceived state of facts and legitimate governmental purpose that provide a rational basis for the legislation’s disparate treatment of real property owners and non-real property owners.
. In this regard, the Public Parking District is solely user supported and generates income only from permit sales and parking meter revenues related to the use of Parking District facilities. Significantly, the Parking District does not derive any tax revenue from real property situate within the District such that the decisions of District Commissioners would disproportionately impact owners of real property justifying legislation favoring property owners over non-property owners.
. Stated differently, the costs of operation of the Public Parking District are assessed only against the users of the Parking District facilities, irrespective of property ownership, and owners of real property within the District are not subject to assessments or charges or solely responsible for liens or delinquencies of the District.
. Thus, there is no rational basis or legitimate governmental purpose justifying the Chapter 402’s property classification and disparate treatment of real property owners and non-real property owners, such that real property owners residing within the Public Parking District qualify for appointment as District Commissioner while resident non-real property owners do not.
Moreover, pursuant to Sections 23 and 23-a of Town Law (Eligibility of Town Officers), even members of the Town Board, the Town’s municipal governing body, are not required to be owners of real property to qualify as electors of the Town, as those property classifications have also been repealed.
Indeed, in Landes v. Town of North Hempstead, 20 N.Y.2d 417 (1967), New York’s highest court ruled that the ownership of land as a prerequisite to holding elective town office was an “invidious discrimination” against non-landowners and constituted a denial of equal protection from the viewpoint of the non-landowner seeking town office and a “dilution” or “debasement” of the franchise from the viewpoint of the voter.
. Similarly, numerous New York State Attorney General opinions have deemed property classifications unconstitutional. See 1998 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 98-2 (qualification to vote to dissolve village unconstitutional); See also 1974 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 124 (qualification to vote on fire district proposition unconstitutional); See also 1973 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 182 (qualification to hold town office unconstitutional) See also 1968 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 124 (qualification to hold elected village, fire and special district office unconstitutional); Cf. 1991 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 1063 (qualification to vote to establish improvement district not unconstitutional).
. In sum, Respondents are denying equal protection of law to resident non-owners of the Public Parking District by purporting to adhere to provisions in the Parking District enabling legislation which have been deemed constitutionally infirm and contrary to the Equal Protection Clause of Article 1, Section 11 of the New York State Constitution.
For purposes of equal protection review, absent a reasonably conceived and articulated state of facts that could provide a basis for the legislation’s disparity of treatment, the challenged classification may not be upheld against an equal protection challenge. See 41 Kew Gardens Rd. Assoc. v. Tyburski, 70 N.Y.2d 325 (1987).
. Petitioner therefore respectfully request that this Court declare, pursuant to CPLR
§ 3001, that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 of the Laws of 1950 requiring that Commissioners of the Hartsdale Public Parking District own real property within the District as unconstitutional and (2) compel the Hartsdale Public Parking District to immediately recognize the appointment of Barry Kessler as a Commissioner of the Board of Commissioners of the Hartsdale Public Parking District, effective January 1, 2010, pursuant to CPLR 7804.
There are no questions of fact requiring a determination by this Court.
. Petitioner has no other adequate remedy at law and has standing as an elector and resident of the Town.
No previous application has been made for the relief requested herein.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner demands judgment against Respondents (a) declaring that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 of the Special Act establishing the Public Parking District, as they relate to requirements that a member of the Board of Commissioners of the District own real property within the District, have been repealed, and/or are void, improper and unconstitutional as they impermissibly discriminate against non-real property owners in favor of real property owners within the Parking District in violation of Article 1, Section 11 of the New York State Constitution; and (b) compelling the Hartsdale Public Parking District to recognize the appointment of Barry Kessler as a Commissioner appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the Hartsdale Public Parking District as of January 1, 2010, together with the costs and disbursements of this proceeding and for such other and further relief as the Court may deem appropriate.
Because the parking district will not seat Mr. Kessler – we filed a legal action in NYS Supreme Court today. We are seeking For a Declaratory Judgment Pursuant to Article 30 :
And a Writ of Mandamus Pursuant to Article 78
of the Civil Practice Law and Rules. The following are excerpts from the legal papers we filed today. Property ownership should never be a requirement to participate in government. Spouses of property owners…tenants are deprived of the chance to serve. It should be noted that when I was first elected Town Supervisor I was a tenant. I could serve as Town Supervisor but not as a member of the parking district. This is absurd! At least one former Town Board member was also a tenant at the time of his service to the town.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Petitioner contend that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 of the Special Act establishing the Public Parking District, requiring that a member of the Board of Commissioners of the District own real property within the District, are void, improper and unconstitutional, as they impermissibly discriminate against non-real property owners in favor of real property owners within the Parking District in violation of Article 1, Section 11 of the New York State Constitution, as such property ownership classifications are not rationally related to the achievement of any legitimate state interest.
. In fact, in 1968 the New York State Legislature, by Chapter 767 of the Laws of 1968, subsequently repealed property ownership classifications required to hold office as commissioner in town special improvement districts by amending Section 211 of Town Law (District Commissioners) to eliminate real property ownership of as a qualification for appointment as a district commissioner (See Exhibit F attached; See also Szapiro v. McNichol,
43 A.D.2d 701 (2d Dept. 1973) (Every person who is qualified to vote for a town officer shall be eligible to hold office of district commissioner in improvement district ).
While Petitioner acknowledges that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 do not overtly discriminate against non-real property owners on the basis of a suspect class (i.e., race or gender) to be upheld against an equal protection challenge pursuant to Article 1, Section 11, there must be some reasonably conceived state of facts and legitimate governmental purpose that provide a rational basis for the legislation’s disparate treatment of real property owners and non-real property owners.
. In this regard, the Public Parking District is solely user supported and generates income only from permit sales and parking meter revenues related to the use of Parking District facilities. Significantly, the Parking District does not derive any tax revenue from real property situate within the District such that the decisions of District Commissioners would disproportionately impact owners of real property justifying legislation favoring property owners over non-property owners.
. Stated differently, the costs of operation of the Public Parking District are assessed only against the users of the Parking District facilities, irrespective of property ownership, and owners of real property within the District are not subject to assessments or charges or solely responsible for liens or delinquencies of the District.
. Thus, there is no rational basis or legitimate governmental purpose justifying the Chapter 402’s property classification and disparate treatment of real property owners and non-real property owners, such that real property owners residing within the Public Parking District qualify for appointment as District Commissioner while resident non-real property owners do not.
Moreover, pursuant to Sections 23 and 23-a of Town Law (Eligibility of Town Officers), even members of the Town Board, the Town’s municipal governing body, are not required to be owners of real property to qualify as electors of the Town, as those property classifications have also been repealed.
Indeed, in Landes v. Town of North Hempstead, 20 N.Y.2d 417 (1967), New York’s highest court ruled that the ownership of land as a prerequisite to holding elective town office was an “invidious discrimination” against non-landowners and constituted a denial of equal protection from the viewpoint of the non-landowner seeking town office and a “dilution” or “debasement” of the franchise from the viewpoint of the voter.
. Similarly, numerous New York State Attorney General opinions have deemed property classifications unconstitutional. See 1998 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 98-2 (qualification to vote to dissolve village unconstitutional); See also 1974 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 124 (qualification to vote on fire district proposition unconstitutional); See also 1973 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 182 (qualification to hold town office unconstitutional) See also 1968 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 124 (qualification to hold elected village, fire and special district office unconstitutional); Cf. 1991 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 1063 (qualification to vote to establish improvement district not unconstitutional).
. In sum, Respondents are denying equal protection of law to resident non-owners of the Public Parking District by purporting to adhere to provisions in the Parking District enabling legislation which have been deemed constitutionally infirm and contrary to the Equal Protection Clause of Article 1, Section 11 of the New York State Constitution.
For purposes of equal protection review, absent a reasonably conceived and articulated state of facts that could provide a basis for the legislation’s disparity of treatment, the challenged classification may not be upheld against an equal protection challenge. See 41 Kew Gardens Rd. Assoc. v. Tyburski, 70 N.Y.2d 325 (1987).
. Petitioner therefore respectfully request that this Court declare, pursuant to CPLR
§ 3001, that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 of the Laws of 1950 requiring that Commissioners of the Hartsdale Public Parking District own real property within the District as unconstitutional and (2) compel the Hartsdale Public Parking District to immediately recognize the appointment of Barry Kessler as a Commissioner of the Board of Commissioners of the Hartsdale Public Parking District, effective January 1, 2010, pursuant to CPLR 7804.
There are no questions of fact requiring a determination by this Court.
. Petitioner has no other adequate remedy at law and has standing as an elector and resident of the Town.
No previous application has been made for the relief requested herein.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner demands judgment against Respondents (a) declaring that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 of the Special Act establishing the Public Parking District, as they relate to requirements that a member of the Board of Commissioners of the District own real property within the District, have been repealed, and/or are void, improper and unconstitutional as they impermissibly discriminate against non-real property owners in favor of real property owners within the Parking District in violation of Article 1, Section 11 of the New York State Constitution; and (b) compelling the Hartsdale Public Parking District to recognize the appointment of Barry Kessler as a Commissioner appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the Hartsdale Public Parking District as of January 1, 2010, together with the costs and disbursements of this proceeding and for such other and further relief as the Court may deem appropriate.
LEGAL PAPERS FILED IN SUPREME COURT--CHALLENGING PROPERTY OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR PARKING AUTHORITY MEMBERS
Last year the Greenburgh Town Board appointed Barry Kessler as a member of the Hartsdale Parking District. Mr. Kessler, a former School Board member and long time resident of Greenburgh, was advised by the other 2 members of the Parking district that they would not recognize his appointment—because he did not own property at the time the assessment rolls were finalized (the property was in his wifes name). Mr. Kessler has since obtained a deed and is a property owner. However, the parking district still refuses to seat him. NYS law provides that members of the Town Board have the power to appoint members of the parking district.
Because the parking district will not seat Mr. Kessler – we filed a legal action in NYS Supreme Court today. We are seeking For a Declaratory Judgment Pursuant to Article 30 :
And a Writ of Mandamus Pursuant to Article 78
of the Civil Practice Law and Rules. The following are excerpts from the legal papers we filed today. Property ownership should never be a requirement to participate in government. Spouses of property owners…tenants are deprived of the chance to serve. It should be noted that when I was first elected Town Supervisor I was a tenant. I could serve as Town Supervisor but not as a member of the parking district. This is absurd! At least one former Town Board member was also a tenant at the time of his service to the town.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Petitioner contend that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 of the Special Act establishing the Public Parking District, requiring that a member of the Board of Commissioners of the District own real property within the District, are void, improper and unconstitutional, as they impermissibly discriminate against non-real property owners in favor of real property owners within the Parking District in violation of Article 1, Section 11 of the New York State Constitution, as such property ownership classifications are not rationally related to the achievement of any legitimate state interest.
. In fact, in 1968 the New York State Legislature, by Chapter 767 of the Laws of 1968, subsequently repealed property ownership classifications required to hold office as commissioner in town special improvement districts by amending Section 211 of Town Law (District Commissioners) to eliminate real property ownership of as a qualification for appointment as a district commissioner (See Exhibit F attached; See also Szapiro v. McNichol,
43 A.D.2d 701 (2d Dept. 1973) (Every person who is qualified to vote for a town officer shall be eligible to hold office of district commissioner in improvement district ).
While Petitioner acknowledges that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 do not overtly discriminate against non-real property owners on the basis of a suspect class (i.e., race or gender) to be upheld against an equal protection challenge pursuant to Article 1, Section 11, there must be some reasonably conceived state of facts and legitimate governmental purpose that provide a rational basis for the legislation’s disparate treatment of real property owners and non-real property owners.
. In this regard, the Public Parking District is solely user supported and generates income only from permit sales and parking meter revenues related to the use of Parking District facilities. Significantly, the Parking District does not derive any tax revenue from real property situate within the District such that the decisions of District Commissioners would disproportionately impact owners of real property justifying legislation favoring property owners over non-property owners.
. Stated differently, the costs of operation of the Public Parking District are assessed only against the users of the Parking District facilities, irrespective of property ownership, and owners of real property within the District are not subject to assessments or charges or solely responsible for liens or delinquencies of the District.
. Thus, there is no rational basis or legitimate governmental purpose justifying the Chapter 402’s property classification and disparate treatment of real property owners and non-real property owners, such that real property owners residing within the Public Parking District qualify for appointment as District Commissioner while resident non-real property owners do not.
Moreover, pursuant to Sections 23 and 23-a of Town Law (Eligibility of Town Officers), even members of the Town Board, the Town’s municipal governing body, are not required to be owners of real property to qualify as electors of the Town, as those property classifications have also been repealed.
Indeed, in Landes v. Town of North Hempstead, 20 N.Y.2d 417 (1967), New York’s highest court ruled that the ownership of land as a prerequisite to holding elective town office was an “invidious discrimination” against non-landowners and constituted a denial of equal protection from the viewpoint of the non-landowner seeking town office and a “dilution” or “debasement” of the franchise from the viewpoint of the voter.
. Similarly, numerous New York State Attorney General opinions have deemed property classifications unconstitutional. See 1998 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 98-2 (qualification to vote to dissolve village unconstitutional); See also 1974 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 124 (qualification to vote on fire district proposition unconstitutional); See also 1973 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 182 (qualification to hold town office unconstitutional) See also 1968 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 124 (qualification to hold elected village, fire and special district office unconstitutional); Cf. 1991 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 1063 (qualification to vote to establish improvement district not unconstitutional).
. In sum, Respondents are denying equal protection of law to resident non-owners of the Public Parking District by purporting to adhere to provisions in the Parking District enabling legislation which have been deemed constitutionally infirm and contrary to the Equal Protection Clause of Article 1, Section 11 of the New York State Constitution.
For purposes of equal protection review, absent a reasonably conceived and articulated state of facts that could provide a basis for the legislation’s disparity of treatment, the challenged classification may not be upheld against an equal protection challenge. See 41 Kew Gardens Rd. Assoc. v. Tyburski, 70 N.Y.2d 325 (1987).
. Petitioner therefore respectfully request that this Court declare, pursuant to CPLR
§ 3001, that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 of the Laws of 1950 requiring that Commissioners of the Hartsdale Public Parking District own real property within the District as unconstitutional and (2) compel the Hartsdale Public Parking District to immediately recognize the appointment of Barry Kessler as a Commissioner of the Board of Commissioners of the Hartsdale Public Parking District, effective January 1, 2010, pursuant to CPLR 7804.
There are no questions of fact requiring a determination by this Court.
. Petitioner has no other adequate remedy at law and has standing as an elector and resident of the Town.
No previous application has been made for the relief requested herein.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner demands judgment against Respondents (a) declaring that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 of the Special Act establishing the Public Parking District, as they relate to requirements that a member of the Board of Commissioners of the District own real property within the District, have been repealed, and/or are void, improper and unconstitutional as they impermissibly discriminate against non-real property owners in favor of real property owners within the Parking District in violation of Article 1, Section 11 of the New York State Constitution; and (b) compelling the Hartsdale Public Parking District to recognize the appointment of Barry Kessler as a Commissioner appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the Hartsdale Public Parking District as of January 1, 2010, together with the costs and disbursements of this proceeding and for such other and further relief as the Court may deem appropriate.
Because the parking district will not seat Mr. Kessler – we filed a legal action in NYS Supreme Court today. We are seeking For a Declaratory Judgment Pursuant to Article 30 :
And a Writ of Mandamus Pursuant to Article 78
of the Civil Practice Law and Rules. The following are excerpts from the legal papers we filed today. Property ownership should never be a requirement to participate in government. Spouses of property owners…tenants are deprived of the chance to serve. It should be noted that when I was first elected Town Supervisor I was a tenant. I could serve as Town Supervisor but not as a member of the parking district. This is absurd! At least one former Town Board member was also a tenant at the time of his service to the town.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Petitioner contend that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 of the Special Act establishing the Public Parking District, requiring that a member of the Board of Commissioners of the District own real property within the District, are void, improper and unconstitutional, as they impermissibly discriminate against non-real property owners in favor of real property owners within the Parking District in violation of Article 1, Section 11 of the New York State Constitution, as such property ownership classifications are not rationally related to the achievement of any legitimate state interest.
. In fact, in 1968 the New York State Legislature, by Chapter 767 of the Laws of 1968, subsequently repealed property ownership classifications required to hold office as commissioner in town special improvement districts by amending Section 211 of Town Law (District Commissioners) to eliminate real property ownership of as a qualification for appointment as a district commissioner (See Exhibit F attached; See also Szapiro v. McNichol,
43 A.D.2d 701 (2d Dept. 1973) (Every person who is qualified to vote for a town officer shall be eligible to hold office of district commissioner in improvement district ).
While Petitioner acknowledges that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 do not overtly discriminate against non-real property owners on the basis of a suspect class (i.e., race or gender) to be upheld against an equal protection challenge pursuant to Article 1, Section 11, there must be some reasonably conceived state of facts and legitimate governmental purpose that provide a rational basis for the legislation’s disparate treatment of real property owners and non-real property owners.
. In this regard, the Public Parking District is solely user supported and generates income only from permit sales and parking meter revenues related to the use of Parking District facilities. Significantly, the Parking District does not derive any tax revenue from real property situate within the District such that the decisions of District Commissioners would disproportionately impact owners of real property justifying legislation favoring property owners over non-property owners.
. Stated differently, the costs of operation of the Public Parking District are assessed only against the users of the Parking District facilities, irrespective of property ownership, and owners of real property within the District are not subject to assessments or charges or solely responsible for liens or delinquencies of the District.
. Thus, there is no rational basis or legitimate governmental purpose justifying the Chapter 402’s property classification and disparate treatment of real property owners and non-real property owners, such that real property owners residing within the Public Parking District qualify for appointment as District Commissioner while resident non-real property owners do not.
Moreover, pursuant to Sections 23 and 23-a of Town Law (Eligibility of Town Officers), even members of the Town Board, the Town’s municipal governing body, are not required to be owners of real property to qualify as electors of the Town, as those property classifications have also been repealed.
Indeed, in Landes v. Town of North Hempstead, 20 N.Y.2d 417 (1967), New York’s highest court ruled that the ownership of land as a prerequisite to holding elective town office was an “invidious discrimination” against non-landowners and constituted a denial of equal protection from the viewpoint of the non-landowner seeking town office and a “dilution” or “debasement” of the franchise from the viewpoint of the voter.
. Similarly, numerous New York State Attorney General opinions have deemed property classifications unconstitutional. See 1998 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 98-2 (qualification to vote to dissolve village unconstitutional); See also 1974 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 124 (qualification to vote on fire district proposition unconstitutional); See also 1973 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 182 (qualification to hold town office unconstitutional) See also 1968 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 124 (qualification to hold elected village, fire and special district office unconstitutional); Cf. 1991 N.Y. Op. Atty. Gen. (Inf.) No. 1063 (qualification to vote to establish improvement district not unconstitutional).
. In sum, Respondents are denying equal protection of law to resident non-owners of the Public Parking District by purporting to adhere to provisions in the Parking District enabling legislation which have been deemed constitutionally infirm and contrary to the Equal Protection Clause of Article 1, Section 11 of the New York State Constitution.
For purposes of equal protection review, absent a reasonably conceived and articulated state of facts that could provide a basis for the legislation’s disparity of treatment, the challenged classification may not be upheld against an equal protection challenge. See 41 Kew Gardens Rd. Assoc. v. Tyburski, 70 N.Y.2d 325 (1987).
. Petitioner therefore respectfully request that this Court declare, pursuant to CPLR
§ 3001, that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 of the Laws of 1950 requiring that Commissioners of the Hartsdale Public Parking District own real property within the District as unconstitutional and (2) compel the Hartsdale Public Parking District to immediately recognize the appointment of Barry Kessler as a Commissioner of the Board of Commissioners of the Hartsdale Public Parking District, effective January 1, 2010, pursuant to CPLR 7804.
There are no questions of fact requiring a determination by this Court.
. Petitioner has no other adequate remedy at law and has standing as an elector and resident of the Town.
No previous application has been made for the relief requested herein.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner demands judgment against Respondents (a) declaring that the provisions of Section 2 of Chapter 402 of the Special Act establishing the Public Parking District, as they relate to requirements that a member of the Board of Commissioners of the District own real property within the District, have been repealed, and/or are void, improper and unconstitutional as they impermissibly discriminate against non-real property owners in favor of real property owners within the Parking District in violation of Article 1, Section 11 of the New York State Constitution; and (b) compelling the Hartsdale Public Parking District to recognize the appointment of Barry Kessler as a Commissioner appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the Hartsdale Public Parking District as of January 1, 2010, together with the costs and disbursements of this proceeding and for such other and further relief as the Court may deem appropriate.
CON ED TREE CUTTING MEETING..WORK SESSION AGENDA..FUN ACTIVITIES..NEW BUSINESS
TOMORROW…SATURDAY—MEETING AT GREENBURGH TOWN HALL AT 2 PM---State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins, members of the Town Board and representatives of the NYS Public Service Commission will meet tomorrow at 2 PM to discuss the recent Con Ed Clear cutting of trees near transmission lines (Ridge, Sprain, Old Farm Roads, Underhill were impacted). We will then conduct a site inspection of some of the properties. Did Con Ed cut trees down that were not close to the transmission lines/wires? Can we get the PSC to require utility companies that clear cut trees to provide neighborhoods with new plantings? Should state/federal laws be amended to provide local governments with more oversight abilities?
Paul Feiner
Town of Greenburgh
Work Session Agenda of the Greenburgh Town Board
Tuesday – January 12, 2010 – 9:15AM
(Please note that, although the Work Session Agenda is shared with the public prior to each Work Session, the Agenda may be revised at any point up to the start of the meeting as well as during the meeting, if necessary.)
(All Work Sessions are Televised Live on Cablevision Channel 76, Verizon 35 and are streamed live. Work Sessions and Town Board Meetings will be aired each Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 7:02am and 4:45pm. Each segment will run for approximately 6 to 7 hours,
depending upon the length of the two meetings.)
09:15 AM Veteran Park (pool) Facility –We anticipate spending between 4 -8 million dollars on replacing the pool at Anthony Veteran Town Park within the next five or six years. The reason: The pool is aging (1979)—any improvement to the facility must meet updated sanitary code. Because of this expense – some people are suggesting that the town reopen the discussion of pool membership. Should village residents have the ability to use the pool if they pay their fair share and contribute to all upcoming capital costs? If a change is made should a mandatory referendum be held? Unincorporated Greenburgh residents would have the ability to vote on allowing non unincorporated Greenburgh residents into the pool. Another option: Mayor Leon of Ardsley will appear at this meeting—with another proposal. Question: Would the NYS Legislature have to amend the Finneran Law if the town wishes to open up our pool facilities? What amendments should we advocate?
09:45 AM Letter to Employees Seeking Cost Savings Suggestions
10:00 AM Traffic Safety Mitigation – Ridge Hill
10:15 AM Executive Session – Legal
10:45 AM 2010 Objectives / 2011 Initiatives
11:00 AM Executive Session – Boards and Commissions, Personnel/Legal
11:45 AM Executive Session – Boards and Commissions – Interview
ANOTHER NEW BUSINESS…
a change of occupancy application to take the vacant space next to the proposed Autozone at 420 Tarrytown Road
The name of the new company is RACK & GO
Website: www.RACKANDGO.COM
They specialize in car racks/turtle covers as well as other automotive accessories.
http://www.rivertownsguide.com
Follow us in Twitter http://twitter.com/rivertownsguide
This Weekend
- Exhibition Opening Charles A. Platt and Kirsten Kucer
- New Star Show "Beyond the Dome: 2009 Roundup"
- Levon Helm performs in Tarrytown
- Hastings Winter Farmers Market: Indoors
- Good Night Moon Puppet Theater
- Dinosaurs!
- A Toast to Solutions: Solar Punch CD release party & Solar Symposium at Toast
- Opening Exhibit: Banish Modern Slavery!
- The Beast with 1000 Eyes -- Winter blahs?
- Opening Reception: Second Annual Blue Door Gallery Artist Association Members Juried Exhibition
- Alycea Performing
- Gillen and Turk Performing
- NYC DJ, Dr Don from In Concert Audio, spinning 70's 80's music
- Renewed Conviction Performing
- 2nd Annual Zumba-Thon Fund Raiser for SPCA of Westchester
- Jazz Brunch with Jazz Soloist Bill Galanin
- Final Days: Holiday Train Show with Gingerbread Adventures
- Matt Turk Performing
- RiverArts presents “A Jazz Conversation, Collaboration and Performance in Progress“
- Open Mike Night
- "Susanna" along with Hudson Valley Singers accompanied by New York Metamorphoses Orchestra
Details & Links can all be found here http://www.rivertownsguide.com
JCC on the Hudson: Spring Class Registration
Community registration begins Friday, January 8. Check The Daily Feed for link to classes, programs and activities.
Upcoming Films at Irvington Town Hall Theater
-- "Don Giovanni by Mozart”: Sunday, January 24 @ 1pm
-- “CoCo before Chanel”: Wednesday, January 27 @ 8pm
-- “The Damned United”: Wednesday, February 10 @ 8pm
-- “Romeo and Juliette” by Gounod: Saturday, February 14 @ 1pm
-- “Carmen” by Bizet: Sunday, February 21 @ 1pm
http://thehudsonindependent.com/--ALSO HAS GREAT INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS AND NEWS. They focus on the River Villages (Tarrytown, Irvington).
Paul Feiner
Town of Greenburgh
Work Session Agenda of the Greenburgh Town Board
Tuesday – January 12, 2010 – 9:15AM
(Please note that, although the Work Session Agenda is shared with the public prior to each Work Session, the Agenda may be revised at any point up to the start of the meeting as well as during the meeting, if necessary.)
(All Work Sessions are Televised Live on Cablevision Channel 76, Verizon 35 and are streamed live. Work Sessions and Town Board Meetings will be aired each Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 7:02am and 4:45pm. Each segment will run for approximately 6 to 7 hours,
depending upon the length of the two meetings.)
09:15 AM Veteran Park (pool) Facility –We anticipate spending between 4 -8 million dollars on replacing the pool at Anthony Veteran Town Park within the next five or six years. The reason: The pool is aging (1979)—any improvement to the facility must meet updated sanitary code. Because of this expense – some people are suggesting that the town reopen the discussion of pool membership. Should village residents have the ability to use the pool if they pay their fair share and contribute to all upcoming capital costs? If a change is made should a mandatory referendum be held? Unincorporated Greenburgh residents would have the ability to vote on allowing non unincorporated Greenburgh residents into the pool. Another option: Mayor Leon of Ardsley will appear at this meeting—with another proposal. Question: Would the NYS Legislature have to amend the Finneran Law if the town wishes to open up our pool facilities? What amendments should we advocate?
09:45 AM Letter to Employees Seeking Cost Savings Suggestions
10:00 AM Traffic Safety Mitigation – Ridge Hill
10:15 AM Executive Session – Legal
10:45 AM 2010 Objectives / 2011 Initiatives
11:00 AM Executive Session – Boards and Commissions, Personnel/Legal
11:45 AM Executive Session – Boards and Commissions – Interview
ANOTHER NEW BUSINESS…
a change of occupancy application to take the vacant space next to the proposed Autozone at 420 Tarrytown Road
The name of the new company is RACK & GO
Website: www.RACKANDGO.COM
They specialize in car racks/turtle covers as well as other automotive accessories.
http://www.rivertownsguide.com
Follow us in Twitter http://twitter.com/rivertownsguide
This Weekend
- Exhibition Opening Charles A. Platt and Kirsten Kucer
- New Star Show "Beyond the Dome: 2009 Roundup"
- Levon Helm performs in Tarrytown
- Hastings Winter Farmers Market: Indoors
- Good Night Moon Puppet Theater
- Dinosaurs!
- A Toast to Solutions: Solar Punch CD release party & Solar Symposium at Toast
- Opening Exhibit: Banish Modern Slavery!
- The Beast with 1000 Eyes -- Winter blahs?
- Opening Reception: Second Annual Blue Door Gallery Artist Association Members Juried Exhibition
- Alycea Performing
- Gillen and Turk Performing
- NYC DJ, Dr Don from In Concert Audio, spinning 70's 80's music
- Renewed Conviction Performing
- 2nd Annual Zumba-Thon Fund Raiser for SPCA of Westchester
- Jazz Brunch with Jazz Soloist Bill Galanin
- Final Days: Holiday Train Show with Gingerbread Adventures
- Matt Turk Performing
- RiverArts presents “A Jazz Conversation, Collaboration and Performance in Progress“
- Open Mike Night
- "Susanna" along with Hudson Valley Singers accompanied by New York Metamorphoses Orchestra
Details & Links can all be found here http://www.rivertownsguide.com
JCC on the Hudson: Spring Class Registration
Community registration begins Friday, January 8. Check The Daily Feed for link to classes, programs and activities.
Upcoming Films at Irvington Town Hall Theater
-- "Don Giovanni by Mozart”: Sunday, January 24 @ 1pm
-- “CoCo before Chanel”: Wednesday, January 27 @ 8pm
-- “The Damned United”: Wednesday, February 10 @ 8pm
-- “Romeo and Juliette” by Gounod: Saturday, February 14 @ 1pm
-- “Carmen” by Bizet: Sunday, February 21 @ 1pm
http://thehudsonindependent.com/--ALSO HAS GREAT INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS AND NEWS. They focus on the River Villages (Tarrytown, Irvington).
Thursday, January 07, 2010
TOWN MAY REOPEN RIDGE HILL LAWSUIT
2 years ago the Greenburgh Town Board settled a lawsuit regarding the Ridge Hill development. We had originally filed the lawsuit because Greenburgh and villages within the town were concerned about traffic impacts, poor planning, size of the project. We settled the lawsuit (even though members of the Board were concerned about traffic impacts, size of the development on the Greenburgh border) because we were advised that we had little chance of success in the lawsuit we had filed because the Yonkers Council was in support of the project.
Yesterday, a member of the Yonkers City Council, Sandy Annabi, was indicted on charges of accepting a $160,000 bribe. She was the swing vote. As a result, the Town Board will vote on a resolution at next Wednesday’s Town Board meeting directing the Greenburgh Town Attorney to review whether we have any legal recourse re: Ridge Hill.
If former Councilwoman Annabi sold her vote the integrity of the SEQR process may have been compromised. The actions Yonkers took could then be illegal. I believe that the town should explore legal options including damages and injunctive relief.
The Town Board will vote on the resolution at our meeting on Wednesday evening, January 13, 2010. The meeting starts at 7:30 PM.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
From January 11, 2007 Greenburgh town website.
Town settles Ridge Hill--legal fees to be reimbursed to town! YONKERS/GREENBURGH FIGHTING ENDS!
Release Date: January 11, 2007
BORDER WARS BETWEEN YONKERS/GREENBURGH ARE OVER…RIDGE HILL LAWSUIT SETTLED…TOWN LEGAL FEES REIMBURSED…ROAD IMPROVEMENTS TO BE FUNDED!
The Town Board unanimously approved a resolution settling the Ridge Hill lawsuit. Yonkershad previously approved a mixed use commercial, retail and residential project on an approximately 80 acre parcel of property located in Yonkers, on the Greenburgh border.
As part of the agreement – which has also been approved by Yonkers, Ardsley and Hastings as well as the chair of the citizens committee that had opposed Ridge Hill (Mary Jane Shimsky)- Yonkers will remit directly to the town of Greenburgh $450,000 as a reimbursement for expenses certified by the Town’s Comptroller as having been incurred by the town in connection with the project.
Yonkerswill also make available to Greenburgh, Ardsley and Hastings the sum of 5 million dollars to be used to improve certain intersections and roads within our respective municipalities. A task force will be created to explore the feasibility of, design and seek funding and approvals to allow for the construction of entry and exit ramps connecting the property to the Sprain Brook Parkway. The Task Force will be under the direction of an independent, qualified task force manager who will be selected by unanimous vote of the Task Force members.
Am I happy with the settlement? I have mixed feelings. I would have preferred density reduction. I still believe that the project is too large. However, I realize that under the current state laws it would have been unlikely for the town to have prevailed if we pursued litigation. If we had pursued litigation we probably would have incurred an additional $300,000- $400,000 in legal expenses. At the end of the day we would have lost. The taxpayers would have spent $800,000 – maybe more- on legal fees and would have nothing to show. Now, our legal fees are being reimbursed. If we pursued litigation we would not have received the 5 million in road improvements.
I also hope that the settlement will end the border wars between Greenburgh and Yonkers. The Task Force will provide Yonkers/Greenburgh with an opportunity to have a dialogue…to get to know each other…to get to work with each other. Hopefully, if we establish a good working relationship with each other there will be more regional cooperation on planning issues.
Paul Feiner
GreenburghTownSupervisor
Yesterday, a member of the Yonkers City Council, Sandy Annabi, was indicted on charges of accepting a $160,000 bribe. She was the swing vote. As a result, the Town Board will vote on a resolution at next Wednesday’s Town Board meeting directing the Greenburgh Town Attorney to review whether we have any legal recourse re: Ridge Hill.
If former Councilwoman Annabi sold her vote the integrity of the SEQR process may have been compromised. The actions Yonkers took could then be illegal. I believe that the town should explore legal options including damages and injunctive relief.
The Town Board will vote on the resolution at our meeting on Wednesday evening, January 13, 2010. The meeting starts at 7:30 PM.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
From January 11, 2007 Greenburgh town website.
Town settles Ridge Hill--legal fees to be reimbursed to town! YONKERS/GREENBURGH FIGHTING ENDS!
Release Date: January 11, 2007
BORDER WARS BETWEEN YONKERS/GREENBURGH ARE OVER…RIDGE HILL LAWSUIT SETTLED…TOWN LEGAL FEES REIMBURSED…ROAD IMPROVEMENTS TO BE FUNDED!
The Town Board unanimously approved a resolution settling the Ridge Hill lawsuit. Yonkershad previously approved a mixed use commercial, retail and residential project on an approximately 80 acre parcel of property located in Yonkers, on the Greenburgh border.
As part of the agreement – which has also been approved by Yonkers, Ardsley and Hastings as well as the chair of the citizens committee that had opposed Ridge Hill (Mary Jane Shimsky)- Yonkers will remit directly to the town of Greenburgh $450,000 as a reimbursement for expenses certified by the Town’s Comptroller as having been incurred by the town in connection with the project.
Yonkerswill also make available to Greenburgh, Ardsley and Hastings the sum of 5 million dollars to be used to improve certain intersections and roads within our respective municipalities. A task force will be created to explore the feasibility of, design and seek funding and approvals to allow for the construction of entry and exit ramps connecting the property to the Sprain Brook Parkway. The Task Force will be under the direction of an independent, qualified task force manager who will be selected by unanimous vote of the Task Force members.
Am I happy with the settlement? I have mixed feelings. I would have preferred density reduction. I still believe that the project is too large. However, I realize that under the current state laws it would have been unlikely for the town to have prevailed if we pursued litigation. If we had pursued litigation we probably would have incurred an additional $300,000- $400,000 in legal expenses. At the end of the day we would have lost. The taxpayers would have spent $800,000 – maybe more- on legal fees and would have nothing to show. Now, our legal fees are being reimbursed. If we pursued litigation we would not have received the 5 million in road improvements.
I also hope that the settlement will end the border wars between Greenburgh and Yonkers. The Task Force will provide Yonkers/Greenburgh with an opportunity to have a dialogue…to get to know each other…to get to work with each other. Hopefully, if we establish a good working relationship with each other there will be more regional cooperation on planning issues.
Paul Feiner
GreenburghTownSupervisor
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
AG JOB OPENING
OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Executive - New York City - Executive Receptionist
Reference No. XRECPT072009
The Executive Division, located at 120 Broadway, in New York City, seeks an experienced and
energetic person with exceptional telephone etiquette and a professional speaking voice, above
average oral and written communication skills, ability to multi-task, and work efficiently with
minimal supervision. This position requires someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and
is flexible to take on additional duties as assigned. Punctuality is a must.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
2-5 years of experience as a receptionist or administrative assistant.
Proficient in WordPerfect/Word, GroupWise and/or Outlook, and Excel.
Strong organizational skills.
College preferred but not required.
DUTIES:
Answering, directing, and placing telephone calls;
Greeting and directing visitors;
Faxing, copying, ordering and maintaining office supplies;
Scheduling meetings and making conference rooms reservations;
Arranging/coordinating conference room setup and equipment needs;
Troubleshooting fax machines, copiers and other basic office equipment.
Applicants should have a thorough understanding of the role of the Office of the Attorney General,
including but not limited to, the functions of the divisions and bureaus. Applicants should also
know the names, titles and functions of the Attorney General’s senior staff. For more information
on the work of the Attorney General’s Office as well as the senior staff, please visit our website at
www.oag.state.ny.us and follow the link to the section “Our Office.”
HOURS OF WORK: 8:00 – 5:00 (A half-hour of overtime from 8:00 - 8:30 is required.)
Please submit an Internal Application for Transfer or Promotion along with a cover letter 1
and resume as soon a possible to: Tasha Bartlett, Executive Division Office Manager, Office of
the New York State Attorney General, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271 or
Tasha.Bartlett@oag.state.ny.us. Indicate Reference No. and position in your cover letter.
Applications will be considered until the position is filled.
Executive - New York City - Executive Receptionist
Reference No. XRECPT072009
The Executive Division, located at 120 Broadway, in New York City, seeks an experienced and
energetic person with exceptional telephone etiquette and a professional speaking voice, above
average oral and written communication skills, ability to multi-task, and work efficiently with
minimal supervision. This position requires someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and
is flexible to take on additional duties as assigned. Punctuality is a must.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
2-5 years of experience as a receptionist or administrative assistant.
Proficient in WordPerfect/Word, GroupWise and/or Outlook, and Excel.
Strong organizational skills.
College preferred but not required.
DUTIES:
Answering, directing, and placing telephone calls;
Greeting and directing visitors;
Faxing, copying, ordering and maintaining office supplies;
Scheduling meetings and making conference rooms reservations;
Arranging/coordinating conference room setup and equipment needs;
Troubleshooting fax machines, copiers and other basic office equipment.
Applicants should have a thorough understanding of the role of the Office of the Attorney General,
including but not limited to, the functions of the divisions and bureaus. Applicants should also
know the names, titles and functions of the Attorney General’s senior staff. For more information
on the work of the Attorney General’s Office as well as the senior staff, please visit our website at
www.oag.state.ny.us and follow the link to the section “Our Office.”
HOURS OF WORK: 8:00 – 5:00 (A half-hour of overtime from 8:00 - 8:30 is required.)
Please submit an Internal Application for Transfer or Promotion along with a cover letter 1
and resume as soon a possible to: Tasha Bartlett, Executive Division Office Manager, Office of
the New York State Attorney General, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271 or
Tasha.Bartlett@oag.state.ny.us. Indicate Reference No. and position in your cover letter.
Applications will be considered until the position is filled.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
ELMSFORD ANIMAL SHELTER SEEKS NEW BD MEMBERS...REMINDER: JOB CLUB PROGRAM
The Elmsford Animal Shelter provides shelter to dogs/cats waiting permanent homes. They are seeking to enlarge their Board of Directors and are also looking for new volunteers. They will be holding two open meetings this Wednesday: January 6th at 11 AM and at 7 PM at Greenburgh Town Hall. If you are interested in volunteering your time and helping this worthy organization - please e mail Hartsdale resident Wayne Osnow at wosnow1@yahoo.com or attend the meeting. The shelter is located in unincorporated Greenburgh, in N Elmsford off of 9A.
Many Greenburgh residents continue to be unemployed. Over a year ago I formed an informal Greenburgh job networking group. I have been encouraging residents to advise me of job openings @ their place of business. I have been sharing the information with residents who have asked to be notified of job openings as I learn of them. I also post job notices on www.linkedin.com (greenburgh jobs group) at least a few times a week & on my facebook page. I estimate that over 30 people found jobs, thanks to this service. If you want to be personally advised of job openings as I learn of them, please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. If your business has a job opening - please advise so I can share the info with your neighbors. Neighbors helping neighbors---that is what community is all about.
Many Greenburgh residents continue to be unemployed. Over a year ago I formed an informal Greenburgh job networking group. I have been encouraging residents to advise me of job openings @ their place of business. I have been sharing the information with residents who have asked to be notified of job openings as I learn of them. I also post job notices on www.linkedin.com (greenburgh jobs group) at least a few times a week & on my facebook page. I estimate that over 30 people found jobs, thanks to this service. If you want to be personally advised of job openings as I learn of them, please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. If your business has a job opening - please advise so I can share the info with your neighbors. Neighbors helping neighbors---that is what community is all about.
Friday, January 01, 2010
AN INEXPENSIVE WAY WE CAN MAKE GREENBURGH GREENER--RESIDENTS SHOULD DONATE POTTED CHRISTMAS TREES TO TOWN AFTER HOLIDAYS
How can we make Greenburgh greener, at little or no cost to the town? Some communities around the nation encourage residents to purchase potted Christmas trees and to donate the trees to the locality in January, after the holiday season. Why throw out a tree when the tree can make the community greener?
I would like Greenburgh to initiate this program during the Christmas season, 2010. If residents donate a potted tree to the town we can plant the trees in parks, at key locations around town. Donors could receive a tax deduction for their gift. Thought you'd be interested in the following--about a program in Bayonne. This program exists around the nation--with lots of success.
PAUL FEINER
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Bayonne will now be accepting potted Christmas trees from any resident who wishes to donate them, Mayor Mark A. Smith and Public Works Director Gary Chmielewski announced.
“The City of Bayonne is committed to improving the environment," said Smith in a press release. "We can take a useful step in that direction by giving new life to potted Christmas trees in January. There is no need to waste potted trees by throwing them out. Instead, the trees can make the city greener by being replanted next month.”
Chmielewski added that some residents have already volunteered to donate potted Christmas trees to the community after the holidays.
"We would like to encourage more people to do so," he continued. "If people are torn between purchasing a cut Christmas tree and a potted one, they should consider getting a potted one and donating it to the city of Bayonne. We would plant the donated trees in municipal parks.”
Anyone interested in donating a potted Christmas tree should call the Public Works Department at (201) 858-6070. The department will pick up the donated trees after the holiday season.
I would like Greenburgh to initiate this program during the Christmas season, 2010. If residents donate a potted tree to the town we can plant the trees in parks, at key locations around town. Donors could receive a tax deduction for their gift. Thought you'd be interested in the following--about a program in Bayonne. This program exists around the nation--with lots of success.
PAUL FEINER
enc
Bayonne will now be accepting potted Christmas trees from any resident who wishes to donate them, Mayor Mark A. Smith and Public Works Director Gary Chmielewski announced.
“The City of Bayonne is committed to improving the environment," said Smith in a press release. "We can take a useful step in that direction by giving new life to potted Christmas trees in January. There is no need to waste potted trees by throwing them out. Instead, the trees can make the city greener by being replanted next month.”
Chmielewski added that some residents have already volunteered to donate potted Christmas trees to the community after the holidays.
"We would like to encourage more people to do so," he continued. "If people are torn between purchasing a cut Christmas tree and a potted one, they should consider getting a potted one and donating it to the city of Bayonne. We would plant the donated trees in municipal parks.”
Anyone interested in donating a potted Christmas tree should call the Public Works Department at (201) 858-6070. The department will pick up the donated trees after the holiday season.
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