Harrison REVIEW THE
April 29, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 18 | www.harrisonreview.com
Officials speak out with Playland vote days away By JaMES pERO Staff Writer
I’ll do it! Harrison firefighter Joe Juliano shows Joseph Straface, 5, how to operate a fire hose. The Harrison Fire Department held its sixth annual volunteer recruitment drive on Sunday, April 24, drawing hundreds of attendees. For more, see page 6. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
Gov. Cuomo reaffirms plans for Soundlink connection By anGEla JORdan Staff Wrter Following the recent adoption of the New York state budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo again brought up his plan to build a bridge or tunnel across the Long Island Sound. During his remarks at the Association for a Better New York luncheon on April 12, Cuomo, a Democrat, doubled down on his initiative to build a connec-
tion between the mainland and Long Island. In early January, he proposed to connect Suffolk County to Westchester, the Bronx or Connecticut via tunnel, but during the April luncheon, he was more specific suggesting building a bridge between Nassau County and Westchester or the Bronx. “Don’t tell me [building a Soundlink bridge] is not economic; cars and trucks would save hours, literally, with that one modification,” Cuomo said.
“It’s only 12 miles, it can be done.” The first step in pursuing this project would be to conduct a feasibility study that would look at the practicality of the idea, and would measure the cost of construction and future maintenance, in addition to how it would affect factors like traffic and the environment. In January, Cuomo said he would like to spend $5 million conducting a feasibility study for his proposed tunnel.
According to state Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat, there were no funds in the adopted state budget that were specifically itemized for a feasibility study, but the money could potentially be collected by the governor’s office from a larger pool designated for multiple potential projects, most likely the state Department of Transportation’s $27 million capital budget. SOundlink continued on page 8
As the clock ticks down, Westchester County legislators and other elected officials continue to draw hard stances against an agreement between the management company Standard Amusements and the county that would cede control of Rye Playland. On Thursday, April 21, county Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat who has been critical of the latest agreement with Standard, revealed that she will be voting against the deal if it remains unchanged by its May 2 deadline. While her peers have also relayed their skepticism, Parker said that some officials—particularly Republican legislators— have felt pressure from administration officials of Republican County Executive Rob Astorino, who initially announced a deal with Standard in 2015, to vote in favor of the agreement. “I’m certainly talking to my colleagues to get them to see this for the nonsense that it is,” she said, adding that she was reticent to forecast how the vote may unfold to the Review. County Democrats have also indicated that, despite the deal’s flaws, an up or down vote is imminent. “It’s not an ideal agreement, but then again we’re not in an ideal situation,” said county
Legislator Mary Jane Shimsky, a Hastings-on-Hudson Democrat. “The park was let go for too long; the buildings are in bad shape; the rides are in bad shape…. If things stand the way they are right now, I will be voting for [Standard].” Among Parker’s chief concerns with the agreement, however, is a hefty $32 million in county-funded capital projects, which she fears would put a heavy burden on taxpayers, but also what she characterizes as a concerning profit-sharing arrangement. “When I asked Standard during the [parks] committee meeting what the estimate for their profit would be during those first 10 years [of the agreement], their answer couldn’t have been clearer,” said Parker in a released statement. “They don’t expect to see a profit.” Astorino’s administration, however, has continued to assert that the deal is a wise one for both taxpayers and the future of Playland. “The public-private partnership agreement with Standard Amusements will invest into the park about $30 million in private money by Standard Amusements, and is the best opportunity to save Playland,” said Ned McCormack, communications director for the Astorino administration. Currently, the agreement as it playland continued on page 5
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