Westchester LWV Presents “Reassessing Property Property “Reassessing Presents LWV Westchester
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Green for a Cause at Iona Grammar School Coffee & Conversation with 8 Andrea Stewart-Cousins 10 April 2013 newrochellereview Volume 9, Issue 4 Heated Forest City/Echo Bay Discussions Continue By Stephen E. Lipken Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome,” Past Korean War Veterans Commander Jack Lotz stated. A relatively calm “You have Ray Rice—so make this your New Rochelle City ‘Super Bowl.’ Bring it home to your veterans, Council Committee Mayor. of the Whole (COW) You can be one of the most valuable players. meeting in City Hall And I didn’t hear anything about apartments for Conference Room veterans,” Lotz exclaimed, referring to the pro- on March 12 was fol- jected 285 residential units. lowed by often acri- Former New York State (NYS) Assembly Vet- monious discussions erans Affairs Chairman Ronald C. Tocci empha- of the disposition of sized that the Annex and Armory, “are one. Tear Echo Bay and Armory it down and you destroy the whole Armory.” waterfront develop- During Citizens to be Heard, many residents ments that evening. opposed the Council Resolution supporting Tempers flared Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Safe and Fair Gun as many citizens Policy and Secure Ammunition and Firearms En- Former Korean War Veterans Commander Jack Lotz lashed out against the Police express concerns about salaries and personnel cuts both in and outside City Hall forcement Act (NYSAFE), passed at the preceding Forest City Residen- COW meeting. Frank Morganthaler, Concerned ing staff shortages, low pay and “badge drain,” tial Development Echo Bay Draft Environmental this green area belongs to the Armory,” explain- Residents of Westchester advocated retaining Ray Andolina, President New Rochelle Police Impact Statement (DEIS) during Public Hear- ing that the grassy area was designated for recre- mentally ill in facilities “where they would not Association (NRPA) expressed intense concern, ings. Holding up an architect’s rendering of the ational purposes and could not be converted to be able to get guns. Why would Council want to “regarding the safety of our members, safety of Armory development, United Veterans Patriotic a parking lot. support an Unconstitutional act?” the public and the apparent unwillingness of Association and American Legion Post 8 First “I speak for veterans buried overseas or who And as City Police Officers held up placards the City to negotiate a fair collective bargaining Vice Commander Peter Parente stressed that, “all came home in body bags, hospitalized or having both outside and in Council Chambers, scor- agreement.” Westchester LWV Presents “Reassessing Property in Westchester: Fair or Foul?” By Stephen E. Lipken fending certioraris as well as refunds, budgeted at $12 million dollars a year at County level.” League of Women Voters of Westchester (LWVW) Casandra noted that Town of Pelham was first and LWV New Rochelle presented “Reassessment of to reassess in 1998. “After the Stock Market Crash of Property in Westchester: Fair or Foul” in City Hall 1987, market values declined and 10% of the Town Council Chambers on Wednesday, March 20. filed complaints.Our last evaluation was in 1971. A panel of distinguished officials, moderated by Assessments were maintained piecemeal. If some- LWVW President Sharon Lindsay included Pelham one took out a permit they were reassessed; other- Town Assessor Michele Casandra; Greenburgh Asses- wise they weren’t touched. sor Edye McCarthy; Rye Town Assessor Mitchell Mar- “The State approached us in 1999 about main- kowitz; George Oros, Chief of Staff to County Execu- taining our assessment rolls. In 2000 we began our tive Rob Astorino; Bronxville Administrator Harold Annual Assessment Program which has continued. Porr III; Yonkers Assessor Mark Russell and John Wol- Our assessments are defensible and certioraris have ham, Regional Director, Southern Region New York declined,” Casandra added. State Office of Real Property Tax Services(ORPS). Porr pointed out that the Co-efficient of Dis- Welcoming the audience, City Manager Charles persion (error factor of Roll) for Bronxville is 10%. B. Strome III said, “My predecessor and I have profes- “Homes are assessed at 100% full value; records are sionally recommended reassessment as bringing tax digitized with photography of all properties. We be- fairness to our community but it is ultimately a politi- gan in 2005 and had not reassessed since 1967. Our cal, not financial decision.” COD was 20% with some homes seven times too “Property Tax represents the towns, cities, vil- high or too low although of similar value. lages, school districts and Special District Authority,” “Bronxville has 1,781 property parcels with 85% Wolham remarked. “Reassessment saves costs of de- Left to right: Bronxville Administrator Harold Porr III; Greenburgh Assessor Edye McCarthy; New continued on page 5 Rochelle City Manager Charles B. Strome III Visit www.newrochellereview.com for all your community’s news and event information! PERMIT 5121 PERMIT WHITE PLAINS, NY PLAINS, WHITE U.S. POSTAGE PAID PAID POSTAGE U.S. STANDARD STANDARD PRESORTED PRESORTED WHY PAY RENT WHEN YOU CAN OWN YOUR OWN HOME? IT IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY A CO-OP AND GET INTO THE REAL ESTATE MARKET WHILE PRICES AND INTEREST RATES ARE STILL SO LOW! VERNON WOODS -- Drastically reduced for immedi- VERNON WOODS -- Extremely spacious 3 BR, 2 ate sale, 2 BR, 1 bath in gated community with fitness bath with upgraded kitchen, gleaming hardwood floors, center, tennis & racquetball, bike storage, picnic area & recently renovated baths, new windows, free shuttle to playground. $68,000 Pelham RR. $130,000 GLEN Manor -- On the border of Glen Island, just SCHUYLER PARK -- Beautiful living room with decorative reduced ground floor 2 BR, 1 bath with dining area and fpl, stunning eat-in-kitchen, large master BR with 2 walk in outdoor patio, parking space and brand new carpeting. closets, updated bath, high ceilings. $199,000 $159,000 CAROLINE GARDENS -- Located in Pelham Manor, SCHUYLER PARK -- Spacious, bright and very attractive large living room with balcony, 2 BRs, 1 updated bath, 2 BR, 1 bath co-op in pre-war brick building in Pelham new eat-in-kitchen, new plumbing throughout, walk to Manor, large living room plus formal dining room. shopping. $278,000 $339,900 Sound Shore Medical Center Announces Sixth Annual 5K Walk & Run Sound Shore Medi- Junior League of Westchester on the event registration begins at 7:30 AM and the race cal Center of Westches- Sound, Blackboard Pizza Shop, WVIP starts at 9:00 AM. Fees are $20 for walkers; $30 ter (SSMC) is pleased to and WVOX, Lilly, Jan-Mar Awards and for runners. For more information on SSMC’s announce its upcoming, Friends of Sound Shore Medical Center. The Stride 5K Run/Walk, including sponsorship sixth annual fundraiser Commenting on the upcoming opportunities and registration of individuals and for the Jacee Lynn Cap- event, John R. Spicer, President and CEO teams, please visit www.thestride.net or contact pelli Diabetes Center of Sound Shore Medical Center com- Angela Turco at 914.365.3468 or by email at atur- for the treatment and mented, “Sound Shore Medical Center [email protected]. If unable to participate the day of education of juvenile and The Stride are fortunate to have the the event, caring citizens are encouraged to make and adult diabetes. The support of so many organizations in our donations to further SSMC’s effort to combat dia- Stride 5K – Walk & Run effort to combat diabetes.” He contin- betes. Donations can be made through the web- is scheduled for Sunday, ued, “Since all of us know someone af- site, www.thestride.net . April 14 in New Ro- fected by diabetes, I am looking forward For physician referrals in all specialties, call chelle. This year’s event to a big turnout for The Stride.” MDs-LINE (914.637.5463); and for additional again features the beauti- Participants are encouraged to pre- information on Sound Shore Medical Center’s ful tree-lined race course register at www.thestride.net and create Care. For Life. services, visit www.soundshore.org that starts and finishes at their participation page. The day of the today! the Montgomery Gate entrance to Iona College in New Rochelle. This much anticipated event will bring pre- miere area runners as well as amateur enthusiasts of all ages and abilities to the Queen City on the Sound. Whether as individuals or as teams – rep- resenting families, friends, neighbors, or co-work- ers or those touched by the disease – participants will join forces and focus attention on the fifth deadliest disease in the U.S. They will also raise money to benefit SSMC’s Diabetes Center that is named for real estate developer Louis R. Cappelli’s niece, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age three. The Cappelli Diabetes Center – a 6,000 square foot dedicated facility, which houses the Elaine and Melvin Merians Education and Con- ference Center – is the only diabetes center in Westchester County with comprehensive educa- tion and treatment for both juvenile and adult di- abetes – all under one roof. The Center is support- ed by SSMC’s long-established American Diabetes Association certified Diabetes Education Program, which features two certified diabetes educators and a clinical nutritionist and assures high-qual- ity education for patient self-care. Sound Shore Medical Center’s Outpatient Diabetes Education Center is an award-winning program. Among the many supporters are Commu- nity Sponsors, including Shop Rite of New Ro- chelle; City of New Rochelle, New Rochelle Parks and Recreation, New Rochelle Chamber of Com- merce, Iona College, Westchester Road Runners, www.shorelinepub.com newrochellereview April 2013 • 3 Accents on Antiques Plans Westchester Library System’s 18th Anniversary Celebration 22nd Annual Book & Author The Pelham Chapter of the Friends of Sound Luncheon Features Shore Medical Cen- ter (SSMC) invites the public to cele- Three Outstanding Authors brate the 18th Anni- The Westchester luminary best known for versary of Accents on Library System (WLS) his postwar New Yorker Antiques (Accents).