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CityREVIEW NewRochelle May 20, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 12 | www.cityreviewnr.com
City mulls banning sale of Out of this world commercially bred pets On May 9, visitors of all ages observed the Transit of Mercury from the Playland Boardwalk in Rye. The astrological event, in which the planet Mercury passes between Earth and the sun, occurs roughly 13 times per century. For story, see page 9. Contributed photo
New Rochelle school budget, $106M bond pass convincingly By SARAH VARNEY Education Reporter New Rochelle residents voted to approve the proposed 20162017 school budget of $250 million along with a $106 million bond for extensive renovations and repairs to district schools by a 70 percent margin. A smaller bond for repairs and renovations of $50 million was trounced in December 2015. Unofficial results show 2,640
votes in favor of the budget versus 1,122 votes in opposition. Similarly, the bond was successful with 2,699 votes, against 1,070 naysayers. City School District of New Rochelle Superintendent Dr. Brian Osborne expressed his gratitude to the community for supporting both the budget and the bond. “The community has reaffirmed its support for public education,” he said. “This will enable us to make the needed
improvements that our children and our community deserve.” Current Board of Education Vice President Rachel Relkin was re-elected to her seat on the board and newcomer Todd Kern won the seat vacated by Naomi Brickel. Relkin received 2,212 votes and Kern received 1,863. James O’Toole, a 2015 New Rochelle mayoral candidate, kept the race close, winning support from 1,718 voters. Fourth-place finisher Vincent
Malfetano got just 813 votes. Moments after the bond passed, Osborne and current Board of Education President Lianne Merchant sat down with Todd Ritzenthaler, the project’s architect, and signed a set of documents to trigger the bond sales and set the construction bidding process in motion. Ritzenthaler is with CSArch, the engineering and design firm budget continued on page 8
By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Editorial Assistant Looking to join the village of Mamaroneck and the town of Mount Pleasant, New Rochelle is considering banning the sale of commercially bred cats and dogs in local pet stores likely obtained from so-called “puppy mills.” If passed, pets would have to be obtained from either an animal shelter, humane society or nonprofit rescue organization registered with the New York state Department of Agriculture, according to a draft of the law. The penalty for violating the proposed law would be a $250 fine for each day the violation continues, imprisonment for no more than 15 days or both. The proposed legislation is being sponsored by Mayor Noam Bramson, a Democrat. Bramson told the Review that he received comments from the community leading up to his draft proposal. “Members of the community suggested that a law of this kind would reduce demand that supports inhumane conditions,” he said. Cindy Knowles, co-owner of Furrylicious, the only pet store in New Rochelle located at 1469 Weaver St., said that her store only uses breeders licensed and inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA. But, due to the pending city law, her business could be forced to close its doors. Knowles added that laws are not
supposed to shut down reputable stores like hers, which she coowns with her sister. “Shutting down a shop like mine that is regulated and gives consumers full consumer protection will not do one thing to close an unlicensed, substandard breeder,” she said. “We do everything right.” The New Rochelle City Council briefly discussed the proposal at its May 10 meeting, but the council decided to hold off on making a decision until an active lawsuit in New York City is settled. The New York Pet Welfare Association, a group that advocates that anyone should be able to have a purebred pet if they choose, is awaiting an appeal from the 2nd District Court after its challenge was dismissed. The group is fighting the New York City Council on two public laws recently passed that ban the sale of pets to city shops by breeders without prior veterinarian approval and the sale of purebreds/specially bred puppies less than 12 weeks old. Knowles mentioned the recent public law passed in the village of Mamaroneck which led to National Breeders, formerly located at 154 Mamaroneck Ave., closing down after residents repeatedly raised concerns about the source and treatment of the puppies on sale there. “Mamaroneck passed that law when it is really PETS continued on page 5