Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
September 23, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 39 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
Rash of overdoses spurs committee in Mamaroneck
CHIPPING AWAY
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
Town of Mamaroneck officials say they are considering further adjustments to a recently amended law, after discovering health risks associated with the removal and excavation of rocks. For story, see page 5. Photo courtesy krugerconcrete.com
Larchmont village board unveils new land use laws By JAMES PERO Staff Writer After nearly a yearlong ban on residential development in the village of Larchmont, 17 new proposed zoning and planning laws will be vetted by residents and village board members as the moratorium clock runs out. The proposed laws, which
were introduced during a Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 19, are designed to address concerns from residents who have decried what they view as the unfettered development of historic neighborhoods in Larchmont. “The 17 proposed laws are the result of many collaborative work sessions,” said Mayor Lorraine Walsh, a Democrat. “We’re
satisfied that many important issues of concern have been addressed.” Among the potential new laws and regulations are altered tenants on tree removal, subdivision, setback, and soil grading; all of which are meant to curb a growing trend of subdivision and demolitions in the village’s residential neighborhoods.
One area not specifically addressed in the new set of regulations, however, is historic preservation; an exclusion that members of a local advocacy group have highlighted as an inherent flaw in the proposed laws. A memo posted to a web page for the anti-development group, MORATORIUM continued on page 19
Amidst a rash of recent overdoses in the village of Mamaroneck, the mayor, Police Department, schools and concerned residents have begun to galvanize in an attempt to fight back against a sweeping opiate epidemic. According to village police, five overdoses have taken place in the village since July—two of which were fatal—prompting cries from concerned residents and a call to action from Mayor Norman Rosenblum, a Republican. “It’s a true epidemic,” the mayor said. “It’s one of the greatest threats to society in general.” Village police said that while toxicology reports are still pending, opiates appear to have been involved in at least several if not all of the overdoses; two of which occurred between Sept. 2 and Sept 6. According to the police, the ages of the victims are 59, 30, 28, 25 and 24. They were unable to provide any further details on the most recent overdose, but two of the overdoses were stabilized from the emergency overdose prevention drug Narcan. In response, Rosenblum said the village will form a new Committee on Drug Abuse Policy de-
signed to help combat the deadly scourge in the community. Currently, the mayor said, the committee consists of himself, Deputy Mayor Louis Santoro, a Republican, village police Chief Chris Leahy, village residents and students, as well as Westchester County District Attorney James McCarty and Village Court Justice Christie Derrico. While representatives from Mamaroneck’s school district were not invited to the first meeting, Rosenblum said that Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps was invited and will be attending the committee’s next meeting on Sept. 22. According to Rosenblum, among the specific objectives of the committee will be to raise awareness of the severity of the drug problem facing the village. By bringing members of the community together with school administrators and police, he hopes that open dialogue can affect change. “When we bury this stuff, what we’re really burying are the kids,” the mayor said. While an official policy has yet to be outlined by the committee, one area that the mayor has targeted for increased efforts is the Mamaroneck school district; an arena Rosenblum considers paramount to helping prevent OVERDOSES continued on page 19
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