Government

Sleepy Hollow is moving to crack down on illegal housing in the village by enacting new laws and changing others that will make it easier to expose overcrowded dwellings and increase fines against landlords that own buildings where violations occur. A public hearing on the legislation is scheduled for March 9.

Fines for the owner or person in charge of a building found initially in violation of the rules aimed at over- occupancy would be hit with a fine of at least $1,000. It could be as much as $3,500. Subsequent violations could incur fines up to $7,500.  more »

Developing budgets for the coming fiscal year that avoid either hefty increases in taxes, or cuts in services, are proving to be a tough assignment for the villages this year. The administrators of Tarrytown, Irvington and Sleepy Hollow all voiced common concerns in describing the chores that they and their village boards are facing.

The decline in housing prices have spurred rising certiorari filings and homeowner grievances requesting that their homes be assessed for taxes at lower values. In Irvington, those challenges tripled last year, from a higher than usual figure of about 50 in 2008 to150 last year, according to Lawrence Schopfer, Irvington’s Administrator.  more »

Early last month, the Tarrytown Village Board of Trustees submitted a formal resolution requesting the New York State Legislature amend Section 1202 of NYS Tax Law to permit the Town of Greenburgh and the villages within the Town of Greenburgh to adopt a Local Law Imposing a Room “Occupancy Tax” on Persons Occupying any Hotel or Motel Room for Hire.

The resolution is similar to legislation currently authorized by the New York State Legislature for counties and cities in New York State, including White Plains, New Rochelle and Rye. Westchester County, for example, has an Occupancy Tax law but monies support only county initiatives.  more »

Trying to hold down tax increases in developing budgets for the upcoming fiscal year is proving to be a tough chore for village officials. Bob Kimmel reports: See video

By a slim 9-8 margin, the Westchester Board of Legislators approved a $1.8 billion budget for 2010 with a tax increase of 2.9%.

Exiting County Executive Andrew Spano had proposed a spending plan with a 4.9% tax hike but legislators scrutinized every department in an effort to reduce spending and lower the tax burden on residents.

The split vote was a result of some legislators maintaining more consolidation and reductions could have been accomplished. Others insisted reducing the budget any further would have jeopardized many vital programs and services.  more »

Greenburgh resident Lois Bronz has been a groundbreaker in Westchester County politics, but she nearly did not live long enough to be a force for change.

In what she believed was a racially motivated attack, Bronz barely escaped a bombing of her home when she lived in New Orleans in the early 1960s.

Bronz, who retired from the county Board of Legislators at the end of 2009 after serving nine two-year terms, recounted the incident while reviewing her life and career during an interview at her legislative office in White Plains in December. She represented the Eighth District, which includes Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Elmsford and Greenburgh.  more »

It was “Law Day” about 25 years ago at Westlake High School when Tarrytown resident Kevin J. Plunkett first met Rob Astorino, the newly elected county executive in Westchester.

At the time, Astorino was a senior and president of the student body. Plunkett was legal counsel for the Mount Pleasant School District.

“He was a leader at the time and he’s a leader now,” said Plunkett. “The trend is obvious.”

Plunkett, now 60, went on to serve as village attorney for Irvington (1984-2007), Tarrytown (1999-2003) and Dobbs Ferry (1989-2009) and is currently a partner in the White Plains law firm DelBello Weingarten Wise & Wiederkehr.  more »

In his 12th and final budget proposal, Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano released a $1.819 billion spending plan that calls for an average tax increase countywide of 4.9%.

Coming off a humbling defeat to former county legislator Rob Astorino, Spano’s budget also includes the elimination of 37 positions (34 of which are currently vacant), a five-day unpaid furlough for most county workers and the end to the county executive’s security detail and taxpayer-funded automobile.

“This budget is unique in a lot of ways,” Spano said. “I tried to be responsible in terms of taxes, preserving any quality of life issues and maintaining our triple A bond rating. This is a little different for me, not hard. There were easier decisions for me being that I lost the election.”  more »

The Westchester County Housing Settlement breaks new ground in the fight against racially segregated housing in Westchester and radically changes the County’s role in land use. The following are Frequently Asked Questions about the 39-page settlement and how it affects Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow and Irvington.

Was the lawsuit brought based on racial segregation?  more »

On November 3, registered voters in Westchester County will head to the polls to choose candidates running for county executive, district attorney and county clerk. All 17 seats on the Board of Legislators are also up for grabs, including District 8 (Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, Greenburgh), where longtime Legislator Lois Bronz (D) is retiring.

District 12 Legislator Thomas Abinanti (D), who represents Irvington, Greenburgh and three other river towns, is running unopposed for a 10th term.

County Executive

It’s a rematch from 2005 with three-term incumbent Democrat Andrew Spano being challenged by former Republican county legislator Rob Astorino.  more »

The race to succeed retiring 16-year incumbent Lois Bronz (D/Greenburgh) on the Westchester County Board of Legislators in the Eighth District is shaping up to be about two issues: money and taxes.

On November 3, voters will choose between Democrat Alfreda Williams and Republican Thomas Bock, both of whom are concerned about where taxpayers’ money is going and finding ways to use it more efficiently.

Williams, a former town clerk in Greenburgh, survived a hotly contested Democratic primary last month with Sleepy Hollow Trustee Karin Wompa, winning by 290 votes. (Wompa said she was proud of the work of her campaign and thanked her supporters).  more »

One day before a court ordered deadline that would have possibly triggered a long and costly trial, the Westchester County Board of Legislators last month approved a so-called landmark agreement between the county and federal government that mandates 750 “fair and affordable” housing units be built by 2016.

Since the controversial settlement also carried with it the approval of a $36 million bond act, a super majority (at least 12 out of 17 votes) was needed. The vote, 12-5, took place at approximately 1:15 a.m. on September 23 following a five-hour debate.

Among the 12 Democrats that supported the settlement was retiring Legislator Lois Bronz (D/Greenburgh).  more »

This year a major race is scheduled for the county’s Eighth District. That’s because Lois Bronz (D/Greenburgh) is retiring, which sets up a Democratic primary fight not usually associated with the county Board of Legislators. Bronz was first elected in 1993, and in 2002 she became the first woman, and the first African-American, to lead the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

The two candidates looking to succeed Bronz are former Greenburgh Town Clerk Alfreda Williams, and Sleep Hollow Trustee Karin Wompa. September 15th, primary day, will decide who will be on the Democratic ticket on Election Day.  more »

The Village of Irvington and many other municipalities in Westchester are anxiously awaiting the fallout from a federal desegregation lawsuit that calls for a maximum 750 “fair and affordable” housing units to be built in the county by 2016 in communities with less than three percent African American residents and seven percent Hispanic residents.

“We look for the opportunity to create more affordable housing,” Irvington Mayor Jonathan Siegel said. “Irvington supports fair housing for all. Affordable housing has to be available to all people, including minorities. I think it benefits Irvington and all the rivertowns to have a diverse population.”  more »

A well known local political figure, and an educator will be honored September 25 at The Hudson Valley Writers’ Center Autumn Celebration at Sleepy Hollow County Club. Tributes will go to Dr. Howard Smith, Tarrytown Superintendent of Schools, and Lois Bronz, Westchester County legislator, representing the 8th district, which encompasses Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow.  more »

The field of candidates interested in succeeding longtime Westchester County Legislator Lois Bronz (D/Greenburgh) in the eighth district became more crowded recently when Sleepy Hollow Village Trustee Karin Wompa threw her hat in the ring to set up a Democratic primary.

Standing in front of the Westchester County Office Building in White Plains, surrounded by such supporters as county legislators Thomas Abinanti (D/Greenburgh) and John Nonna (D/Mount Pleasant), Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, Sleepy Hollow Mayor Ken Wray and Tarrytown Mayor Drew Fixell, Wompa maintained she had the skills to be an effective county representative.  more »

In his 12th annual State of the County Address, Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano proclaimed the county was in the best financial position of any county in New York State while touting the many essential services the county provides for its residents.

“I believe that county government is doing exactly what it should be doing, working for you,” Spano said in a televised 45-minute speech in the chambers of the Board of Legislators in White Plains. “Working to improve your lives, working to protect your families, and yes, working to save you tax dollars.”  more »