WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. November 13, 2015:

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino today proposed a $1.8 billion budget for 2016 that preserves essential services, maintains the safety net for the county’s neediest residents and for the sixth straight year does not raise the county tax levy.

“This budget demonstrates that the county can live within its means,” said Astorino. “Every year there are challenges. This year sales tax revenues are down and unfunded mandates from the state and federal government continue to rise, but through smart management we have put together a budget that balances our dual obligation of providing essential services and keeping Westchester affordable for our seniors, young families, and businesses.”

The proposed 2016 budget holds spending flat to the 2015 level of $1.8 billion, which is still lower than when Astorino took office in 2010.

Once again, Astorino has crafted a budget that operates within what he calls the two “goal posts” of no increase in the tax levy and no raiding of the unrestricted fund balance – the so-called rainy day or emergency fund – to pay for day-to-day expenses. As a result, there is no increase in the tax levy, which stays at $548 million, or the unrestricted fund balance, which stays at just under $140 million.

Protecting Taxpayers

Astorino said keeping taxes flat was critical to protecting taxpayers in Westchester, which is the highest taxed county in the United States. After five years of no tax increases, he said, pressure would mount from some this year to raise taxes. But he said that would be a step backwards, pointing out that if the county had raised the tax levy just 2% a year since 2011 when the state’s cap went into effect, the cumulative cost to Westchester taxpayers would have been $167 million.

“By anyone’s standards $167 million is real money,” said Astorino. “That’s money that has stayed in the pockets of seniors, young families and business owners for them to spend on the necessities in their lives. The zero tax increase is how we keep essential services affordable to the people paying the bills.”

AAA Credit Ratings Affirmed

Astorino used the occasion of his budget announcement to note that both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch reaffirmed Westchester’s AAA credit ratings, the highest levels, this week.

The ratings agencies also gave Westchester a “stable outlook,” as did Moody’s, which gave Westchester its second highest rating AA1. No county in New York has a higher credit rating from the three agencies than Westchester, which means the county gets the most favorable interest rates on its borrowings.

“These ratings are a vote of confidence in how the county’s finances are being managed,” Astorino said.

Mandates from Washington and Albany Cost Westchester $900 Million

Unfunded mandates from the state and federal government remain the county’s biggest financial hurdle. Requirements from Washington and Albany will consume 75 cents of every dollar in the 2016 budget. This money pays for jails, Medicaid, and a variety of other worthwhile health and social services programs. The challenges for the county are that it has little to no control over the cost of these programs and that Washington and Albany pay only a third of the bill.

“Here’s the math,” said Astorino. “Washington and Albany tell us we have to spend $1.35 billion on their programs, but only give us $424 million to pay the bill. That means county taxpayers have to make up the $926 million difference and once that’s done, there’s only $450 million left to pay for all of the county’s own expenses – the money that goes to buses, roads, bridges, parks, police, libraries, arts and not-for-profits.”

Astorino added that the stress on local taxpayers is made worse by the lack of local say in how state and federal programs are administered. “The issue isn’t the programs themselves, it’s that we have little to no say when it comes to making the programs more accountable and efficient. The one-size-fits-all mentality from Washington and Albany is a prescription for ever escalating costs.”

The county’s finances are also being hit by a decline in sales tax revenue, caused primarily by lower energy prices and bad weather earlier this year. The budget projects that sales tax collections will rebound in 2016, but the 4% increase is calculated off a lower baseline because 2015 collections are running about $24 million behind initial projections.

Another negative factor is a decrease in aid from Washington. Federal aid in 2016 is budgeted at $182 million, a decline of $7 million or about 4% from this year. State aid is projected at $241 million, which is roughly flat to this year.

No Cuts to Child Care, Libraries and Bus Routes

Despite the financial challenges, the budget maintains Astorino’s commitment to serving the county’s neediest residents. Spending for the Department of Social Services (DSS), which administers the county’s safety net programs, is budgeted at $595 million, the same level as this year. This means there will be no cuts to the funding for child care, or a need to raise parent contributions from the current level of 27 %, which is lower than New York City and many other counties around the state. Westchester’s program is also open to more applicants than most other counties.  Funding will be at 2015 budget levels with capacity maintained at 2,637 slots for the low-income program and 175 slots for the Title XX program.

Transportation is also being protected. All of the Bee-Line Bus System’s current routes will remain intact as a result of more than $27 million subsidies from the county budget. However, late-night and weekend bus runs on a few routes are being discontinued due to extremely low ridership.

Funding from the county to Westchester’s public library system is untouched, with the contribution for 2016 remaining at its current level of $1 million.

Balancing the budget will require some reductions to the money the county gives to not-for profits.  The proposed budget calls for grants of $2.3 million to Legal Services of Hudson Valley, $1.3 million to Arts Westchester, and $577,000 for the Hudson River Museum and $200,000 for Cornell Cooperative.

“The decreases were the result of financial necessity and don’t reflect on the value of the programs,” said Astorino. “We were forced to make tough decisions, and we have tried to make them in a reasonable way.”

Efficiency Initiatives

To bring expenses in line with revenues, county departments have launched a number of initiatives. For example, DSS is digitizing application forms and setting up on-line kiosks to reduce paperwork and man hours and improve record keeping; moving the homeless into permanent housing faster; and expanding job training opportunities to move people from welfare to work. The Information Technology Department expects to save $50,000 a year by cutting back the number of county issued cell phones.

“We have literally looked at every expense,” said Astorino. “Some of them are not that big, but every dollar of savings counts.”

One new program is called “A Job Is Waiting for You.” This is a partnership between DSS, the county’s Industrial Development Agency and Workforce Investment Board, area colleges and the health care industry in Westchester. The idea is to provide training for good paying jobs to the hard to employ in the field of health care in areas where companies are struggling with a shortage of workers, as is the case with MRI technicians. The program’s first “boot camp” is underway.

Average Compensation for a County Worker Is More Than $128,000

The biggest single expense in the budget is employee compensation. The average salary of a county worker is $79,350, compared to $66,765 for private sector workers. Total compensation for county workers jumps to $128,333, when health care, pensions and other benefits are added.

Since coming into office, Astorino has worked to control the cost of fringe benefits, which amount to 62 percent of salary, by negotiating contracts that require employees to pay a portion of their health insurance. Seven of the county’s eight unions currently contribute to their health care, saving taxpayers about $5 million a year. The county’s largest union, the Civil Service Employees Association, is the one hold out and rejected a neutral fact-finder’s recommendation last year, which Astorino accepted, that would have included health care contributions.

Workforce Reduction Includes 25 Layoffs

Astorino has steadily moved to control employee costs. Earlier this year, he offered a separation incentive, which was accepted by 158 employees and is expected to save $3 million this year. To further reduce costs, the proposed budget calls for reducing headcount in 2016 to 4,783 with 25 of the 84 position eliminations coming through layoffs.

“As I have mentioned repeatedly, our county employees are terrific, but they are very expensive,” Astorino said. “If we can’t bring down the cost of our employees, we have to operate with fewer of them. Our preference is attrition and buyouts, but unfortunately the financial situation this year also requires layoffs to balance the budget.”

Since coming into office Astorino has reduced the size of county government by about 900 positions. The smaller workforce means the county can also reduce its real estate footprint. The county has a pending sale of 375 Executive Boulevard in Elmsford whose proceeds will be applied to the 2016 budget.

The county has also been in talks to sell a property in Yonkers on Austin Avenue, which is owned by the County’s Industrial Development Agency. However, no agreement has been reached at this point and may not be reached in the foreseeable future. Without an agreement, any potential revenue cannot be booked in the budget because it would simply be too speculative.

To minimize layoffs, the county will be bonding $11 million to pay for anticipated tax certioraris. Tax certs, as they are commonly called, are claims made against the county by property owners challenging the assessments on which their tax bills are based.

Because of the county’s very good credit rating, bonding $11 million for tax certs will costs about $60,000 in interest per year.  In contrast, it would take 110 layoffs to make up the $11 million saved by bonding the certs.

“Bonding for tax certs is something we do reluctantly,” said Astorino. “But it is a tool that makes sense to use judiciously because it allows us to keep services available and more people on the job.”

Other highlights:

• Economic Development: A dozen IDA projects this year supported more than $800 million in private sector investment.  The projects, which involved affordable housing, housing for young professionals, millennials and empty nesters, and renovation and expansion of existing corporate spaces, accounted for the retention of more than 130 jobs, the creation of more than 550 new jobs and the need for almost 4,000 construction jobs.
• Capital Budget – In addition to the $1.8 billion operating budget, Astorino is proposing a $216 million capital budget to finance $180 million in infrastructure improvements throughout the county, as well as $18 million in projects at the county airport and another $18 million specifically for environmental conservation projects.
• Pensions – Cost are projected at $83 million with the county paying $80 million up front and $3 million through the state’s amortization program.
• Playland – The iconic amusement park in Rye will reopen on May 7^th.

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WPCNR Post Road Posting. Special to WPCNR by Ayana Meade. November 12, 2015:

“You’ve probably been reading about the train station re-development, ” said newly appointed Planning Commissioner Christopher Gomez, during Tuesday’s Nov. 10) White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) meeting, where he and Damon Amadio, Building Commissioner, addressed questions about the train station and a host of other neighborhood development projects, during a public forum meeting at the Education House.

The million dollar grant issued to the city by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERTA) will be used to look at better ways to integrate the transit connections at the station to downtown, create a walkable pedestrian friendly environment, and better integrate the different modes of transportation around the train station, says Gomez.

When asked whether creating sufficient parking at the station is a part of the plan, Gomez replied that the initial phase requires the city to work within the current infrastructure.

Strategic Vision Survey Goal.

As it stands, Gomez says developing a strategic plan is the ultimate goal during the 12-month process.  He and his team have picked a consultant for the project, and will be working with stakeholders and neighborhood community associations like WPCNA to develop a strategic vision to address the issues facing the station—i.e., whether creating a “new” train station is the goal, or better access to it, or if more open space around the train and bus stations is the plan.  Gomez also thinks addressing how the community looks at zoning codes and laws that govern future development in the area is important.

The Stakeholder Task Force was formed by the Mayor and represents, different segments and stakeholders from the community.  While Gomez says they are somewhat limited by the scope of the grant in terms of how many people can serve, the goal is to ensure that those selected represent a cross-section of the community and their constituents.

Community members at-large will have an opportunity to weigh-in on the project through an interactive web portal scheduled to launch by the end of the year, and the first public meetings will be scheduled for sometime in February—exact date TBD.

 The Prelude–Enter the new Winbrook

The other neighborhood revitalization project Gomez is excited about is the development of a mixed-use affordable housing community, and training center called The Prelude.  The Prelude is the first phase in the redevelopment of Brookfield Commons (previously known as the Winbrook Public Housing Complex).

Rising on the corner of South Lexington and Quarropas Street, the Prelude includes 104 new affordable housing apartments, and a 13,500 square foot community education and training center. This first phase in the project will cost $42.18 million.

The future phases will replace all of the older, out of date complex towers with new, green mixed income buildings.  Through partnerships with various regional organizations for adult education and training, the center will offer training in hospitality, the culinary arts and healthcare, as well as other skilled trades including technology.  Ribbon cutting of the training center is scheduled for January.

(Editor’s Note: WPCNR learned Thursday morning that residents from the Winbrook complex had begun to move in starting approximately two weeks ago according to a person familiar with the area who spoke with one of the first residents whod told an official she was very pleased. WPCNR has learned that some of the offices on the first floor are being used, in fact a meeting was being held there this morning in one of the conference rooms. Another source familiar with the building said about 40 percent of the new apartments in “The Prelude” have been moved into. They were coming from Building 135 and the Winbrook building just across from the entrance.)

Grid Properties to Include Residences on old Sholz Property at Maple/ Post Road

Other questions posed by the group included one regarding what type of development project is planned for the large section of land between Maple Avenue and East Post Road.  Amadio responded that Grid Properties acquired the land about 1-2 years ago—they’ve developed concepts for the site but haven’t submitted anything official yet.

They’re proposing building a high-end small retail space—similar to those in Eastchester.   They’re currently doing marketing and obtaining tenants. There will be a small residential component that will face Maple Avenue, and the balance will be boutique-style retail space.

One attendee asked about the city’s efforts to help community members with obtaining solar panels at a reduced rate.  Amadio replied that while the city did consult with Solarized Westchester and thought the project was a good idea, it did not feel it was appropriate for municipalities to endorse the selection and contractual aspects involved with installation, and therefore opted out.

A question posed by a member of Eco Neighbors regarding the status of the city’s progress with obtaining it’s Climate Smart Communities Certification—a program that provides local governments with a robust framework to guide their climate action and enables high performing communities to achieve recognition for their leadership. Gomez responded that his staff has a conference call scheduled for next week—sitting down with the Commissioner of the DPW.  There are only 6 cities in the entire State of NY that currently have the certification, so Gomez is hopeful that White Plains can obtain the certification status.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White Plains Planning & Development Meeting

By Ayana Meade

 

“You’ve probably been reading about the train station re-development, ” said newly appointed Planning Commissioner Christopher Gomez, during Tuesday’s White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) meeting, where he and Damon Amadio, Building Commissioner, addressed questions about the train station and a host of other neighborhood development projects, during a public forum meeting at the Education House.

 

The million dollar grant issued to the city by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERTA) will be used to look at better ways to integrate the transit connections at the station to downtown, create a walkable pedestrian friendly environment, and better integrate the different modes of transportation around the train station, says Gomez. When asked whether creating sufficient parking at the station is a part of the plan, Gomez replied that the initial phase requires the city to work within the current infrastructure.

 

As it stands, Gomez says developing a strategic plan is the ultimate goal during the 12-month process.  He and his team have picked a consultant for the project, and will be working with stakeholders and neighborhood community associations like WPCNA to develop a strategic vision to address the issues facing the station—i.e., whether creating a “new” train station is the goal, or better access to it, or if more open space around the train and bus stations is the plan.  Gomez also thinks addressing how the community looks at zoning codes and laws that govern future development in the area is important.

 

The Stakeholder Task Force was formed by the Mayor and represents, different segments and stakeholders from the community.  While Gomez says they are somewhat limited by the scope of the grant in terms of how many people can serve, the goal is to ensure that those selected represent a cross-section of the community and their constituents. Community members at-large will have an opportunity to weigh-in on the project through an interactive web portal scheduled to launch by the end of the year, and the first public meetings will be scheduled for sometime in February—exact date TBD.

 

The other neighborhood revitalization project Gomez is excited about is the development of a mixed-use affordable housing community, and training center called The Prelude.  The Prelude is the first phase in the redevelopment of Brookfield Commons (previously known as the Winbrook Public Housing Complex). Rising on the corner of South Lexington and Quarropas Street, the Prelude includes 104 new affordable housing apartments, and a 13,500 square foot community education and training center. This first phase in the project will cost $42.18 million.  The future phases will replace all of the older, out of date complex towers with new, green mixed income buildings.  Through partnerships with various regional organizations for adult education and training, the center will offer training in hospitality, the culinary arts and healthcare, as well as other skilled trades including technology.  Ribbon cutting scheduled for January.

 

Other questions posed by the group included one regarding what type of development project is planned for the large section of land between Maple Avenue and East Post Road.  Amadio responded that Grid Properties acquired the land about 1-2 years ago—they’ve developed concepts for the site but haven’t submitted anything official yet.  They’re proposing building a high-end small retail space—similar to those in Eastchester.   They’re currently doing marketing and obtaining tenants. There will be a small residential component that will face Maple Avenue, and the balance will be boutique-style retail space.

 

One attendee asked about the city’s efforts to help community members with obtaining solar panels at a reduced rate.  Amadio replied that while the city did consult with Solarized Westchester and thought the project was a good idea, it did not feel it was appropriate for municipalities to endorse the selection and contractual aspects involved with installation, and therefore opted out.

 

A question posed by a member of Eco Neighbors regarding the status of the city’s progress with obtaining it’s Climate Smart Communities Certification—a program that provides local governments with a robust framework to guide their climate action and enables high performing communities to achieve recognition for their leadership. Gomez responded that his staff has a conference call scheduled for next week—sitting down with the Commissioner of the DPW.  There are only 6 cities in the entire State of NY that currently have the certification, so Gomez is hopeful that White Plains can obtain the certification status.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WPCNR TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE BULLETIN. From the New York State Thruway Authority Facebook Site. (Edited) November 9, 2015:

New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Robert Megna today announced at a meeting of its Board of Directors that there will be no toll adjustments along the system, including the Tappan Zee Bridge, in 2016. In addition to no toll increase, the Thruway Authority announced the formation and membership of the New NY Bridge Toll Advisory Task Force which will report its recommendations (on tolls) in mid-2016.

Reports on the Board Meeting indicate that during the Board meeting, it was announced the first new span of the New New York Bridge will not be open until spring of 2017. It was scheduled to open in 2016.

“Given our success in balancing the Thruway’s budget and the infusion of additional funding from Governor Cuomo, we have alleviated the need to implement a toll increase for the remainder of 2015 and for all of 2016,” said Executive Director Megna. “The New NY Bridge project has made tremendous progress, which anyone who drives over the Tappan Zee can see first-hand, and we will continue to work to find ways to keep tolls as low as possible for commuters.”

The announcement of no toll increase in 2016 along the Thruway marks the sixth year since the last increase took effect. The maintenance of tolls at the current level was made possible by a $1.285 billion infusion to the Thruway Stabilization Fund included in the 2015-16 state budget and a record-setting $1.6 billion low-interest Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Independent traffic engineering forecasts also include significant upward revisions from the previous forecast submitted in May 2015.

The 2016 budget forecast shows a traffic growth of 3.4 million vehicles or 1.3 percent above 2015, for total traffic volume of 259.3 million vehicles on the system and increased revenue as a result.

The Toll Advisory Task Force will review toll rates, potential commuter discount options, a resident discount program and commercial vehicle rates to secure additional funding for the bridge. The Task Force will be co-chaired by the Thruway Authority’s Executive Director and the state Department of Transportation Commissioner. The panel, which will conduct monthly meetings, and seek public input, is expected to report its findings in mid-2016. The members of the Toll Advisory Task Force are:

Gerald D. Jennings, former Mayor of the City of Albany, had a 21-year career as a teacher and high school administrator for the Albany City School District. Prior to his election victory in 1993, Jennings served 13 years as a member of the Common Council representing the 11th ward.

Matthew Rand, managing partner of Better Homes and Gardens, Rand Realty, and Rand Commercial Services along with Hudson United Home Services, previously served on the Boards of the American Red Cross in Greater New York and the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC) and currently serves on the Boards of Directors of People to People.

Joan McDonald, former Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation, previously served as the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and the Chair of Connecticut Innovations; and held senior management positions at New York City Economic Development Corporation; New York City Department of Transportation; MTA Metro-North Railroad; and Jacobs Engineering.

Lawrence C. Salley, Chairman of the White Plains Housing Authority, previously served as the Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Transportation and is the Secretary of the African American Men of Westchester. He has been an advocate for social and economic development in Westchester, working for financing for businesses and affordable housing in several New York counties.

William C. Thompson, Jr., former New York City Comptroller, currently serves as the Chief Administrative Officer and Senior Managing Director of Siebert Brandford Shank and Co., where he advises state and local governments on a variety of financial services, including  housing, health services and transportation. In 2015, Governor Cuomo appointed Mr. Thompson to Chair of the New York State Housing Finance Agency (HFA) and the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA).

The New NY Bridge project continues to have a significant economic impact in the lower Hudson Valley region and New York State. More than 5,000 people have worked on the project to date, and Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC has used 622 subcontractors and suppliers based in New York State. The project has also had an unprecedented community outreach plan which has resulted in more than 700 community meetings, educational outreach to more than 25,000 students and a community benefits program that has approved $9.6 million in grants to local residents and communities most impacted by the construction.

Megna also updated the Board on the overall construction progress on the bridge, which remains on target to open in 2018 at a total cost of $3.98 billion. Two major milestones were marked in recent weeks with the steel girder assemblies reaching the one mile point from the Rockland shoreline and the laying of the first sections of concrete road deck panels as the New NY Bridge enters the next building phase with a majority of construction rising above the Hudson River.

Megna outlined for the Board other construction progress made. To date 55 percent of concrete piers are completed; 46 percent of steel girders have been fabricated; 34 percent of the deck panels have been fabricated; 27 percent of girder assemblies placed; and, 13 percent of the main towers poured.

Other 2015 construction milestones Megna outlined include:

• I Lift NY Super Crane’s First Lift           April 2015
• Pile Driving (phase 1) Complete          June 2015
• First Steel Girder Placed                      June 2015
• Main Span Towers Begin                     Aug. 2015
• All Planned Dredging Complete           Sept. 2015
• First Concrete Deck Panels Placed      Oct. 2015

At today’s meeting, it was also announced that Jamey Barbas, P.E. has been brought on as the Executive Project Engineer.

Barbas has more than 30 years of experience in bridge management, design, construction and inspection with a special emphasis on complex and long span bridges. Her expertise in leading major structure projects in cold weather climates will continue to move the project ahead. Peter Sanderson, Thruway’s Project Manager for the New NY Bridge, will remain with the project analyzing critical issues associated with different phases of construction on the largest highway bridge infrastructure project in the North America.

Along with today’s announcement, the Thruway Authority unveiled an updated, easier-to-navigate New NY Bridge website with an interactive design featuring more photos and videos of the progress of the project.  The revamped website also includes a comprehensive project document archive and the option to sign up for project updates.  The New NY Bridge website can be viewed at: http://www.newnybridge.com/.

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KATZ BAILEY BENEROFE 

WHAT’S GOIN’ ON?

THE COUNCIL ELECTION

THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE RESULTS

THE CABLEVISION CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

THE RED LIGHT ACCIDENT DROP IN WHITE PLAINS

THE PROPOSITION ONE EFFECT

THE PAVILION AFFORDABLE HOUSING REDUCTION DOES IT MAKE SENSE?

THE TERRIBLE TURNOUT

AND MORE

SEE FRIDAY’S SHOW NOW ON

YOUTUBE

at 

or

www.whiteplainsweek.com

or

www.wpcommunitymedia.org

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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. NOVEMBER 6, 2015:

A RESPONSE TO THE ELIZABETH KURTH LETTER

Ms. Elizabeth Kurth’s recent diatribe against those opposed to the defeated FASNY project was both unfortunate and disappointing.    Ms Kurth misses what was at issue during the long FASNY saga.  The reputation of the school was never the problem.  The public record over the last four years is replete with documentation citing the real substantive issues: density, traffic, environmental degradation, hydrology, pollution, fire safety and residential values.

The election results could not be more clear:  the three Council people who voted against FASNY were resoundingly reelected.   And yes Ms. Kurth, The Gedney Association does represent the views of the overwhelming majority of residents in the neighborhood.  Ms. Kurth forgot to mention the opposition of the School Board, The Conservation Board and The Planning Board to key aspects of the FASNY plan. She also neglected to mention the seven other neighborhood associations in the south end of the City that joined the Gedney Association in publicly declaring their opposition to the FASNY complex.  Nor does she mention the other neighborhood associations outside the immediate area that also publicly opposed the FASNY project and the over 2,000 residents from all 28 of the City’s neighborhoods who signed a petition against the project.

Understandably, most of the people who spoke in favor of FASNY had some connection to the school.   Nonetheless, all those in favor as well as those opposed to the FASNY complex were entitled to their views and opinions.   

The FASNY development has been turned down and is now behind us and it’s time to move ahead.  We respectfully request that Ms. Kurth accept the differing views of the majority of her neighbors and the decision of the electorate regarding the Common Council members who rejected the FASNY project. Let’s move forward together towards a use for the former Ridgeway Country Club that preserves as much open space as possible and that is truly compatible with the environmentally sensitive property and the character of the neighborhoods that surround it. 

John E. Sheehan, President

The Gedney Association