Section: Croton-on-Hudson Letters
May 3, 2008
For The Dogs
To the editor:
I am one of those village residents involved in the Croton Ad Hoc Dog Committee, hereafter referred to as CAHDC. Since last fall, we have been meeting with the Village Board and the Recreation Advisory Committee in an attempt to have one of the village’s existing recreational areas designated as “dog-friendly”, where dogs and their humans can meet and socialize on an informal basis. We have never requested access to all parks, nor have we worked to obtain a “dog park.” If you’d like more information, please feel free to write to me at crotondogs@gmail.com and either one of the members of CAHDC or myself will be happy to answer your questions.
— Jane Murtaugh
Tools: 
Print
| 
Comments (0)
Redundant and Excessive Expenses
To the editor:
Can anyone tell me of even one single service or government function that is not or could not be provided by our own local government?
We have so many layers of government doing things for us and duplicating services already provided, it’s no wonder our taxes are among the very highest in the nation.
Someone has to put the brakes on and have the courage to seriously look at the 1000 pound gorilla that’s grown over the years.
Continue reading "Redundant and Excessive Expenses."
Tools: Print
| Comments (1)
April 22, 2008
Happy Earth Day!
To the editor:
On Earth Day we are faced with the intransigence of the Bush Administration and the danger they are unleashing on the environment.
At the same time, we see a panoply of green solutions to our problems, and a growing majority in Congress and the public who are ready to take action.
The Bush EPA may refuse to produce an endangerment finding or regulations for CO2 emissions, but the Arlington High School Action Club did the legwork and brainwork to put photovoltaic solar power on the roof of their school.
The CEOs of the top oil companies testified with straight faces that they don’t know if there is demand for biofuels, but citizens from the 19th District have jammed every forum we have held on biodiesel and other alternatives.
Continue reading "Happy Earth Day!."
Tools: Print
| Comments (0)
March 20, 2008
What is the Train Station Parking Lot Really Worth to the Village?
To the editor:
Each year I make it a point to review the proposed budget to see where my tax dollars are going, and each year this exercise raises the same question for me; “What is the train station parking lot really worth to the village?” One would think that in reviewing the village budget this simple question could be answered, but it cannot.
In order to determine what the train station parking lot is really worth to the village, we need to calculate its net annual profit or loss by subtracting its expenses from its revenues. This seems like a very easy calculation since the village budget is made up of two main components; revenues and expenses.
Unfortunately the village budget only isolates the revenue side of the train station parking lot equation. Its expenses are spread throughout a variety of expense appropriations making it impossible to calculate its net profit or loss.
I would argue that the operation of the train station parking lot carries significant expense to the village in the form of but not limited to:
- Personnel Costs
- Maintenance
- Lighting
- Snow Removal
- Insurance
- Traffic Control
- Weather Monitoring and Communications
- Police and Fire Coverage
- Tax Revenue Lost Opportunity Costs
We really need to take apportionments of these expense appropriations applicable to the operation of the train station parking lot and finally understand the true benefit of the village being in the parking lot operation business.
Some may argue this is a daunting exercise that in the end cannot be accomplished accurately. To those I say how do we do it for the Water and Sewer fund in the village budget each year.
How can we make any intelligent decisions about future expenditures regarding the train station parking lot without being able to compute the return on investment?
Let this serve as a challenge to our newly elected village board to finally determine “What is the train station parking lot really worth to the village.”
— Kieran Murray
Tools: Print
| Comments (4)
A Bronx Tale
To the editor:
I was disheartened to hear of a negative reference to the fine Borough of the Bronx on your website today (See: “Thoughts While Strolling (10),” March 17, 2008). Some of us love that place.
Now that we have selected capable Trustees for the upcoming two board seats, the Village of Croton-on-Hudson and its residents should be thankful for those who dedicate their time and efforts to improving the safety and quality of life of our residents and families, particularly with regard to bicycle and pedestrian safety, which one of the recent candidates that did not win the election has fought tirelessly to promote.
— Josh Moreinis, Village of Croton-on-Hudson Bicycle/Pedestrian Planning Committee
Tools: Print
| Comments (6)
March 19, 2008
Thanks For Your Support
To the editor:
We want to thank all of the many residents in Croton who participated in the Village election on March 18. We pledge to do our utmost to fulfill our commitment to be a strong voice on the Board for all residents to fight against spiraling cost increases, seek new revenue ideas, and very importantly, involve you in the discussion. We feel fortunate and honored that you have selected us to be Trustees for the next two years.
Thank you,
— Ann Gallelli, Richard Olver
Tools: Print
| Comments (0)
March 17, 2008
An Open Letter to Residents of Half Moon Bay
To the editor,
I am very pleased that many of you have taken the trouble to ask me about the truth of what you are receiving in the mail from our opposition regarding whether I am committed to keeping trash out of Croton. As many of you heard me say at our Soup Supper, and have heard me say throughout the campaign, Rick Olver and I have the same position: The Metro Enviro waste transfer station must and will remain closed. I will work to find a lasting solution to this seemingly-endless saga that does not result in Croton’s taxpayers taking a triple hit of enormous legal bills, huge costs of eminent domain, and taking the property permanently off the tax rolls.
Further, as I also mentioned at the Soup Supper, my efforts on the Comprehensive Plan committee resulted in waste transfer facilities being prohibited in Croton. Finally, the cartoon in last Thursday’s Gazette with me depicted as “The Last Indian Standing” seems to imply I am personally responsible for bringing the waste industry to Croton over a decade ago. This nasty story is utterly WRONG and UNTRUE. Here is why, to sum up:
- The waste industry already was in Croton for decades before the 1990s.
- I was NOT on the planning board when it approved construction of the rail spur at 1A Croton Point Avenue (1995).
- I was NEVER on the Zoning Board which approved the variance for Metro-Enviro’s building enclosure to extend over the already existing rail spur at 1A Croton Point (1998). 4. I chaired the Comprehensive Plan Committee that wrote the new law that forbids waste transfer stations in the village (2003).
- Both my running mate, Rick Olver, and I are firmly opposed to the re-opening of the waste transfer station. But we think finding a clean, allowable use is better for the village than the mayor’s fixation over buying the site (2008).
— Ann Gallelli, Trustee, Village of Croton-on-Hudson
Tools: Print
| Comments (0)
March 15, 2008
Candidate Gallelli Refutes Anonymous Lies on North County News Forum
To the editor,
It has come to my attention that certain individuals are stating that I am the President of the Westchester Planning Commission. Such is not the case. Cheryl Lewy, former Mayor of Scarsdale is the Chair of that Commission—a commission that works with the County Board of Legislators and the County Executive in making and carrying out planning policy. I take this attempt at misinformation seriously because those making it imply that, as a member of this commission, I have been instrumental in setting Affordable Housing goals for municipalities in the County. Be clear that I am not on the County Planning Commission and I have no policy-making role in County government in any capacity.
I am, however, the President of the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation (WMPF), an organization of member municipalities. WMPF does not create policy; rather the mission of the federation is:
“To create an effective and permanent countywide organization for the exchange of information on matters of planning interest.”
The Federation offers training programs for municipal planning and zoning board members and conducts programs and an annual Training Institute on topical planning issues. The Federation also conducts an annual awards programs to recognize the accomplishments of municipalities and residents who have made significant contributions to planning in Westchester County. Additionally, the Federation offers an annual scholarship for a planning student with Westchester connections.
There seems to be a motivation in spreading this fabrication, which is to stir up a negative reaction to my candidacy based on a misrepresenting the board on which I serve. Beware of literature or messages you may receive which misrepresents the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation or me.
— Ann Gallelli
Tools: Print
| Comments (0)
March 14, 2008
Again, Joann Minett Slips into Fantasyland
To the editor,
There were an impressive number of gross inaccuracies uttered by trustee candidate Minett at last evening’s candidate forum (see video webcast), but perhaps none were more puzzling than her claim that 1A Croton Point Avenue is “beachfront” property. For anyone who has never actually visited the site of the former MetroEnviro and who might be tempted by her remarks to visualize a Riverfront property, a clarification is in order.
As illustrated above, the 1A Croton Point site lies in a low spot between 9A and both the MetroNorth yards and the Half Moon Bay condominium complex. The River is neither viewable nor accessible from the site, and the only way to make it so would be to remove both the MetroNorth yards and the condominiums and to reconfigure the course of the river farther inland by several hundred yards.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I consider a solid grasp of reality to be one of the core qualities desirable in a trustee candidate. The “beachfront” property, twice-mentioned at the forum, was only the most glaring of candidate Minett’s many slips into fantasyland.
— Ann Harbeson
Tools: Print
| Comments (0)
March 7, 2008
Fiscal Conservatives They Are Not
To the editor,
Last week a letter in the Gazette questioned whether I’ve been paying attention to Croton affairs. The writer’s problem was that I challenged the fiscal responsibility of the Republican Village administration’s idea of buying the former Metro Enviro waste transfer site or taking it by eminent domain, building a new DPW garage on that land and freeing up the current DPW site for some additional train station parking.
My days in economic development in the UN taught me how to do a usable cost-benefit analysis even in the absence of firm costs. The Republicans want to spend several million dollars to buy the Metro Enviro site for a DPW garage, and clear the current site to use it for parking generating only about $120,000 per year. This makes no sense.
Wouldn’t we be better off helping to find the best, new non-polluting business use for the 1A Croton Point Avenue property, to generate the maximum tax revenue to help us pay for our new DPW building?
And aren’t the Republicans supposed to be the fiscal conservatives?
— Rick Olver, Democratic candidate for Village Trustee
Tools: Print
| Comments (0)
Congressman John Hall to Speak at Croton Dems Annual Soup Supper
To the editor,
John Hall, US Congressman for the 19th district will join other supporters of Croton Village Trustee candidates Ann Gallelli and Rick Olver at the Croton Democrats Soup Supper event Sunday March 16, 2008, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Croton Yacht Club.
This annual event features delicious soups and desserts and is a prime opportunity to meet the candidates face to face. This year will feature the region’s U.S. Congressman, John Hall, lending his support to the candidates and speaking briefly on his current activities in Washington on behalf of the 19th congressional district.
— Paul Rolnick
Editor’s note: The author is the chairman of the Croton Democratic Committee .
Tools: Print
| Comments (0)
Streany, Minett Remain Out of Touch with Voters
To the editor,
It’s becoming more and more evident that candidates Streaney and Minett are “just not paying attention.”
They so wrapped up in their efforts to win the election on March 18th that they don’t feel they have to respond to village issues—including those raised by their opponents that threaten our quality of life. Their silence is deafening. I’ve not seen one single answer to the many concerns raised both in the press and on blogs. They claim not to read Crotonblog. We know they do and we’d be pretty stupid to believe them when they say they don’t. In addition, there’s not been a single response on their favorite North County chat room. Is this the way they’d govern if elected? Behind our backs and with no communication or comment. We’ve seen nothing,—not so much as a single word to let us know where they stand on important issues. (There have been a few scare/attack mailings, to the Half Moon Bay community where the democrats have really good supporters.) Are we to take obvious political mailings as reason to vote for them? I say no.
I want to know what their plan is to address empty storefronts, Harmon business development, taxes up 3 times the rate of inflation, enormous and extravagant legal bills, closed door meetings, rudeness and incivility at public meetings, finger-pointing and refusal to listen to colleagues, reaction to mass exodus of key village personnel, dog park and especially open and participatory government.
These are legitimate concerns and we need answers from all the candidates.
— Georgianna Grant
Tools: Print
| Comments (0)