Harrison REVIEW THE
May 31, 2019 | Vol. 7, Number 22 | www.harrisonreview.com
Westchester moves to aide Airport Master Plan
Going retro The vintage “Dragon” and “Kiddy” roller coasters at Playland were recently featured in the Los Angeles Times along with 19 other vintage coasters from around the world. For more, see page 6.
Burglars found guilty in Harrison, New Rochelle incidents Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino announced a guilty verdict in the burglary trial of Steven Santiago, 31, and Ivan Bonilla, 30, for breaking into homes in Harrison and New Rochelle. Westchester County Court Judge David Zuckerman presided over the trial. Both defendants were convicted in less than an hour on May 24. • Specifically, they were found guilty of • Two counts of Burglary in the second degree, class C
violent felonies • Grand Larceny in the fourth degree, a class D felony • Attempted Grand Larceny in the fourth degree, a class E felony They are scheduled for sentencing on July 3. Santiago, as a mandatory persistent violent felony offender, faces life in prison. Bonilla faces two consecutive 15-year sentences, exposing him to a possible 30 years in prison. Santiago, of Manhattan, and Bonilla, of the Bronx, broke into an apartment on Halstead
Avenue in Harrison on June 11, 2018. The homeowner walked in on the burglary in progress and both burglars jumped out of a second-floor window. One defendant suffered a broken bone and both travelled to St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. Harrison police scoured town surveillance video and immediately identified the getaway car. This information led them to the registered owner who provided GPS information to this car. The GPS information along with surveillance video and DNA evidence both
at the scene and at St. Barnabas Hospital helped identify these defendants. A similar burglary took place in New Rochelle on May 29, 2018 inside an apartment at 39 Fountain Place. The defendants entered through the front door but escaped using a rear fire escape where they were observed by an apartment dweller. GPS and license plate readers in the city of New Rochelle corroborated the defendants’ involvement in this second residential burglary. (Submitted)
After substantial public comment where the business community, environmentalists and the general public contributed comments, the Westchester County Department of Planning has issued a request for proposals, RFP, to supplement to the Westchester County Airport master plan and associated environmental impact study. The RFP incorporates public recommendations and focuses on economic impacts, environmental concerns and overall safety at the airport. “When we submitted the master plan last summer to the FAA we did so knowing the plan needed to have a supplement,” Westchester County Executive George Latimer said. “I’m pleased today that we heard from the public on a variety of issues and are now moving forward with a RFP to create a supplement. The airport is an important part of our County, and while I have no intention of expanding it, we must have a plan to move forward to help business and protect the environment.” Latimer made a commitment to look at the airport operations and their impacts and develop a new vision for the airport based on greater participation of the public. The supplement to the master plan with additional analysis of the airport, particularly with respect to the physical conditions of the airport property, buildings and infrastructure, additional analysis of noise and other impacts of the airport, and the local and regional economic impact of the airport. The supplement will also explore additional alternatives for improved safety and performance and reduced environmental impacts. However, there will be no expansion of airport operations. “This administration has worked with and will continue to work closely with all of the environmental advocates around the entire gamut of concerns and
issues—including noise, water, and air,” said Peter McCart, the county director of Energy Conservation and Sustainability. “We have tight relationships with every group, so they’re involved with the plans and operations of our internal specialists and scientists, as well as those hired as consultants.” The county is seeking the services of a professional consulting firm or team of firms with extensive experience in airport planning, economics and New York State and federal environmental regulations to assist in developing an update of management and development policies related to Westchester County Airport and performing the appropriate environmental review. Tasks include: • Evaluating the airport as a unique resource and economic generator for the county and region. • Developing and evaluating alternatives to improve operational safety and efficiency of the airport, including facility modifications and modernizations as necessary. • Evaluating and developing alternatives to continue to improve environmental performance at the airport considering the forecast conducted in Task 1 (a). • Working with a second consultant, to be identified by a separate Request for Proposals, to implement a public engagement program, developed by that consultant, throughout and beyond the planning process. The public engagement program will utilize a wide variety of methods to engage the public, including online tools as well as community charrettes and workshops. The county anticipates that, subject to the recommendation of the other consultant, the successful consultant from this RFP will work closely with the county AIRPORT continued on page 10