Eastchester REVIEW THE
March 11, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 11 | www.eastchesterreview.com
Rye councilwoman preps for state Senate run By CHRISTIAN FALCONE Editor-in-Chief
Coming of age
The town of Eastchester is seeking to upgrade the Marble Schoolhouse’s property to simultaneously beautify it and make it more accessible. For story, see page 11. File photo
Village of Tuckahoe approves fast food chain ban By KILEY STEVENS Staff Writer After nearly a year of discussion, the village of Tuckahoe Board of Trustees has passed a law that will prohibit fast food restaurants from opening up shop in the village. The controversy over these types of restaurants began in July 2015 when Subway applied for a permit to open a storefront at 73 Main St. Their permit was eventually approved, driving village residents to collect petition signatures asking the village to amend the zoning rules to prevent more chain restaurants from opening throughout Tuckahoe. Residents were also con-
cerned with how an influx of fast food chains could potentially alter the character of the village. Currently, there is a Starbucks located at the Tuckahoe MetroNorth station, but because it is located on MTA property, it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the village’s new zoning laws, which were passed by the village board at its March 7 meeting. The ban specifically applies to “formula fast food and formula quick casual restaurants,” which includes restaurants with more than seven locations state and nationwide. However, sit-down chain restaurants with a wait staff, such as Chili’s or an Applebee’s, will be permitted, even though they are considered a chain.
Before the trustees took the law to a unanimous vote, they allowed residents to voice their opinions on the manner. During the meeting, Tuckahoe resident Joseph Amano, owner of Pure Food and Drink, located on Fisher Avenue, said one of the things that drew him to Tuckahoe from the Bronx was the lack of fast food restaurant chains. “I felt [the lack of fast food restaurants] was for the wellbeing of the children, first and foremost, [who] are the future,” he said. Trustee Greg Luisi, a Republican, said that his vote in favor of the ban was based on the residents who expressed their concerns and opinions over the
possibility of allowing fast food chains in the village, and that it was clear that the residents are passionate about their community. “If there were residents in favor of allowing fast food [in the village], their silence spoke volumes to me,” Luisi said. Trustee Steven Alfasi, a Republican, said that he was in favor of the ban because of the size of Tuckahoe, and that if the law were for a larger community like the cities of Yonkers or White Plains, he might vote differently. “It’s Tuckahoe, and the smallness of our community is a major factor in my decision,” he said. CONTACT: kiley@hometwn.com
Julie Killian, a city of Rye councilwoman, will try to do what no other Republican has been able to: beat George Latimer. Killian announced that she plans to seek the New York state Senate seat for the 37th District currently occupied by Latimer, a Democrat, at a Rye City Republican Committee meeting last month, the Review has learned. She is in her first full term on the Rye City Council and earlier this year was appointed deputy mayor. Killian, a mother of five, first joined the council in 2012 after being appointed to the seat following a vacancy. Tony Sayegh, a political analyst for Fox News and News12 Westchester, said the 37th District, which stretches from the city of Yonkers north to the town of Bedford, is one of the Senate’s very few true swing districts in the state, meaning that either political party could wrestle control in a given election cycle. “It really requires somebody who is independent in some respects,” he said, adding that it’s also a very diverse district. Sayegh, also a Republican strategist, has already been retained by the Killian camp as she prepares to officially launch her candidacy with an announcement expected on Friday, after press time. According to Sayegh, she has been listening to people’s issues and gaining a better understanding of the district. “Julie is trying to understand all of the concerns and slowly we’ll be rolling out some of the solutions to those problems,”
said Sayegh, adding that as far as a platform, it’s still too early for Killian to start talking specifics. But the analyst said, based on her record of service, Killian is viewed as a problem solver. “She knows how to build consensus, she’s worked across the aisle [and] she has been a thoughtful leader in the realm of public policy,” he said. Killian, 54, has been a member of the Westchester County Charter Revision Commission, a group established to recommend changes to the county charter, as well as New Yorkers for Growth, a PAC that promotes fiscally responsible policies in the state. In Rye, she has served on the city Finance Committee, been a volunteer in the Rye school district, and a supporter of the Rye library, Rye Historical Society and Rye Arts Center. Her latest project was helping to launch an anti-drug coalition in Rye in 2015. “Julie is a positive person, that is one thing that overwhelms you when you talk to her,” Sayegh said. “I imagine she will stand up for issues she believes are right and also draw a contrast where there is a difference of opinion.” Conversely, Sayegh criticized SENATE continued on page 7
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