THE
CityREVIEW NewRochelle March 11 & 18, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 5 | www.cityreviewnr.com
BOE leans toward pricier bond options
A NEW DEAL?
By SARAH VARNEY Education Reporter
Westchester County and its planned Playland operator, Standard Amusements, have renegotiated a deal for the company to manage the historic amusement park. For story, see page 3. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
Rye councilwoman to challenge Latimer for state Senate By CHRISTIAN FALCONE Editor-in-Chief 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
Columbus Elementary School was the setting for the March 2 meeting of the City School District of New Rochelle Board of Education, at which several board members expressed support for either of the two proposed capital bond options for school building repairs and renovations that would cost $79 million or $104 million, respectively. Both of these proposed bonds expand the scope of repairs and replacements included in the $49.5 million bond voted down on Dec. 17, 2015. A current buildings condition report, which is still in progress, shows that all of the schools’ buildings rank in the “unsatisfactory” category. Most schools also have multiple health and safety issues that need to be remedied, according to school district officials. The $104 million proposed bond would put the school system on the right track for the next decade, according to Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Osborne. A major correction of the district’s facilities’ woes would enable a long-range facilities plan that would take into consider-
ation enrollment projections, air quality standards and security and safety reviews. It would allow a school system to plan facilities’ usage to fit with a district’s vision for education. “For at least the past 10 years there has been no long-term facilities plan,” Osborne said. At a Feb. 23 Board of Education meeting, Jeffrey White, assistant superintendent for business and administration, presented four versions of a proposed bond to address critical needs throughout the district. Option No. 1 would cost $38 million and pay for critical roof replacements, some masonry repairs and some window and door replacements. Option No. 2 replicates the $49.5 million rejected bond. However, that bond would probably necessitate a second bond for facilities repairs just one year out, Osborne said. That $49.5 million bond proposal provides roof replacements, repair and reconstruction of failing masonry, replacement and repair of windows and the replacement of exterior doors at school buildings on the district’s 10 campuses. The money would also make the buildings compliant BOND continued on page 11
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2 • The city review • March 11 & 18, 2016
March 11 & 18, 2016 • The city review • 3
County to fund $58M in Rye Playland projects
County Executive Rob Astorino has amended his Playland agreement with Standard Amusements that includes the addition of 11 capital projects totaling $58 million, which will come at the county’s expense. File photo
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer In an effort to address a significant number of crucial renovations at Rye Playland, an agreement between Republican Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and the park’s management company, Standard Amusements, was amended on Feb. 22 to include $58 million in county-funded capital projects. However, the amended contract still requires approval of the Westchester County Board of Legislators by a March 31 deadline, otherwise the agreement can be terminated by Standard. The amended contract also allows for the extension of the co-management period between the county and Standard into the fall of this year. The amendment comes after an extension of the co-management period that occurred last October, which prolonged the period until March 31. The projects included in the amended deal—which would see Standard Amusements increase its investment in the park by $5 million to about $30 million—would tackle 11 different capital projects, at a total cost of $58 million, to provide renovations to various rides and structures, in addition to the rehabilitation of the park’s shoreline, all of which would be paid for by the county. According to the amended agreement, the two parties will outline a date for when the
capital projects will be carried out by the county, a timeline that the agreements states must be finalized before by Aug. 31. The original deal between Standard Amusements and the county was finalized in June 2015 after lengthy deliberations between the county and multiple management companies. Under the terms of the amended agreement, after a lump sum of $2.75 million, the county will receive a $300,000 annual fee from Standard Amusements, which would increase by 2 percent every year, putting the county’s total amount of money received from the deal at about $13 million over the next 30 years. Yet, the county will now spend millions of dollars on capital infrastructure upgrades that were not part of the initial agreement. According to Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, this disparity of investment would put taxpayers on the line. “The entire idea was that in having the partnership it would reduce the burden to the taxpayer,” she said. “With the number as it stands, I don’t know that we [can] get to that place.” Parker said a more reasonable amount of money for the county to receive annually from the agreement would be about $1 million per year with a 2 percent increase; a figure that would bring the county to about $41 million during the lifetime of the agreement.
Parker also said she doesn’t currently have a plan to fight the amended agreement, but will continue to review the terms until the March 31 deadline. “The entire Board of Legislators needs to take a look at what the changes are,” she said. According to Ned McCormack, communications director for the county executive, however, there are other aspects of the deal that work in the county’s favor. While the original agreement had the county bringing in about 7.5 percent of the park’s profits, the amended agreement will see that rate rise in 10-year increments, with the county earning 8 percent for the first decade, 10 percent for the next, and finally 12 percent for the last. The amendment does add another $18 million to the $40 million in known capital projects to the park, which the county outlined in a five-year list of capital projects, he said. According to McCormack, he’s hopeful that the new agreement—which is currently being reviewed by the county Board of Legislators and three board subcommittees—will be approved before the March 31 deadline. “This agreement provides a very serious path to save Playland,” he said. Nick Singer, of Standard Amusements, could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
4 • The city review • March 11 & 18, 2016
What’s going on... New Rochelle Public Library
Concert: Caroline Doctorow Caroline Doctorow will be giving a concert on Saturday, March 12 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Ossie Davis Theater. A tribute to songwriters of the 1960s, this concert, called “The Great American Song Revival,” will focus on the folk music of performers such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Tom Paxton, Donovan, Richard and Mimi Farina, John Hartford and Dave Van Ronk. Doctorow will also share some of her original compositions and her reminiscences about growing up in New Rochelle as the daughter of author E. L. Doctorow. The concert is free and open to the public with a suggested donation of $2 per person. For more information, call 632-7878.
Concert: Celtic harp music The Westchester Harp Ensemble returns for another concert on Sunday, March 13 from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the Ossie Davis Theater. As a warmup for St. Patrick’s Day, the ensemble will be playing lively Celtic music appropriate for all. The
concert is free and open to the public. It is made possible by the New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District in conjunction with the New Rochelle Public Library, City School District and Department of Parks & Recreation. For more information, call 632-7878.
Olympic gold at both the judo and wrestling world championships. Running time: 70 minutes. This film screening is free and open to the public, and it is made possible by the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library and in partnership with Zonta Club New Rochelle.
English lessons for ESL students
Fundamentals of Microsoft Powerpoint
Advanced ESL students can improve their English with classes on Monday, March 14 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the first floor Meeting Room. This casual and fun conversation will take place in a learning circle with trained volunteers, Janice Agatston and Judy Pinals. Class space is limited, so registration is required. For more information or to register for the class, contact the Community Relations Office at 813-3706 or email them at community relations@nrpl.org.
Learn how to create a simple presentation, create and edit slides, insert clip art, apply designs, work with views and run a slideshow in Microsoft Powerpoint on Wednesday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to noon on the third floor Computer Lab. This is a four-session, hands-on class for new users. A basic understanding of Windows and working knowledge of keyboard/mouse is required. Participants must attend all sessions. Registration is required for this class. For more information or to register, call 632-7878, ext. 3737, or stop by the second floor Reference Desk.
Film screening “Winning Girl,” the third film in the library’s “Extraordinary Women in Film” series will be screened on Tuesday, March 15 from 7 p.m. to 8:10 p.m. in the Ossie Davis Theater. From awardwinning Hawaiian filmmaker Kimberlee Bassford, “Winning Girl” is an inspirational film that follows the four-year journey of Teshya Alo, a partPolynesian, teenage judo and wrestling phenomenon from Hawaii. Alo is only 16 years old and 125 pounds, but on the judo and wrestling mats, she dominates women twice her age and pounds heavier. Now she has her sights set on taking the
Health care navigation Health care navigators will be available to meet with patrons by appointment to provide free information and assistance with the NY State Department of Health: The Official Healthplan Marketplace on Wednesday, March 16 from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the second floor Conference Room. To schedule an appointment, call 813-5192.
Senior Benefits Information Center Trained volunteers will help senior citizens find
out which benefits they may be entitled to receive on Friday, March 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the second floor Conference Room. Benefits that will be discussed include Medicare health and prescription, food stamps, HEAP, EPIC, weatherization, minor home repair and tax relief programs. For more information, call 632-7878.
League of Women Voters Coffee and Conversation The League of Women Voters will be hosting a Coffee and Conversation program on Friday, March 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the New Rochelle Public Library’s Meeting Room. The program will feature Westchester County Legislator Jim Maisano. Maisano will begin the program by giving an informal presentation on county matters, followed by a Q & A session. The program is free and open to the public. Complementary coffee and a light breakfast fare will be served. For more information, email lwvnewrochelle@gmail.com. Deadline for our What’s Going On section is every Thursday at noon. Though space is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate your listing. Please send all items to news@hometwn.com.
March 11 & 18, 2016 • The city review • 5
Oakland Beach area may be redeveloped By ANGELA JORDAN Staff Writer Officials overseeing Rye Town Park, the area surrounding Oakland Beach, are looking for someone to modernize the park for the foreseeable future. The Rye Town Park Commission, the governing body that sets policy at the park and beach, is awaiting responses to a Request for Qualifications, RFQ, for management and operation of the park that was sent out in January. The commission is seeking conceptual ideas and plans for the development of the park over the next two decades. The RFQ calls for respondents with a history of successfully managing and maintaining public parks, restaurants and snack bars, or public beaches. The park, which sits on Forest Avenue in the city of Rye, is currently managed by the town of Rye. According to Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat, no formal proposals have been submitted to the town
yet. However, he added that they are hopeful that applications will be filed before the March 18 deadline. “In January, we sent out the current RFQ, hoping for a better response,” Zuckerman said. “The license for Seaside Johnnies [restaurant] is expiring, which makes the RFQ more attractive.” The current licenses for the restaurant and concession stands at the park and adjoining Oakland Beach will expire at the end of 2016. However, Zuckerman said that the current license holders for Seaside Johnnies, the seasonal restaurant that overlooks the beach and Long Island Sound, have expressed interest in renewing their license, and attended a site tour with other prospective developers on Feb. 4. Several issues are outlined in the RFQ that the commission asks applicants to consider, including ways to improve parking on the site, promote yearround use, and update the buildings while maintaining their “historical, architectural, and
social significance.” “My vision is for a park that is accessible to all residents, and that is a joy to walk in, a joy to visit, and that makes the residents and taxpayers proud,” Zuckerman said. The 62-acre park was established in 1909 and includes 34 acres of parkland and 28 acres of beach land on the Long Island Sound, with a large duck pond, a marsh plantings building complex that includes a restaurant, pavilions, concessions stands, public restroom and shower facilities, and an administration building. The Rye Town Park Commission consists of one member from the town of Rye, two from the city of Rye, and one each from the villages of Port Chester and Rye Brook and the Rye Neck section of the village of Mamaroneck. John Ambrose, the owner of Seaside Johnnies, could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: angela@hometwn.com
Rye Town Park, which consists of Oakland Beach and 62 acres of parkland in the city of Rye, is being solicited for possible redevelopment and an overall new management approach. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
St. Patrick’s Day parades around Westchester No matter where you reside in Westchester, there are numerous events throughout the county for you to enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
Eastchester/Bronxville/ Tuckahoe Sunday, March 13 at 3 p.m. Steps off from Immaculate Conception School on North Main Street, ends at Lake Isle Country Club
White Plains Saturday, March 12 at noon Steps off from Livingston and Mamaroneck avenues, ends at City Hall Info: whiteplainssaintpatricksday.com
Info: eastchesterirish.org/st-patrick-s-day-parade
Mahopac Sunday, March 13 at 2 p.m. Steps off from Route 6 and Mount Hope Road, ends at Knights of Columbus Info: saintpatricksdayparade.net
Mamaroneck Sunday, March 20 at 1:30 p.m. Info: soundshoreparade.com
Yonkers Saturday, March 19 at 1 p.m. Steps off from Hyatt and McLean Avenue, ends at McLean Avenue and McCollum Place Info: yonkersstpatricksparade.org
6 • The city review • March 11 & 18, 2016 THE
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Business council visits Cuba
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A peak into a room at Ernest Hemingway’s Cuban home named Finca Vigia, meaning “lookout house.” The home, which houses the Hemingway Museum, is located 10 miles outside of Havana.
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Community Events
Twenty-eight members and guests of the Business Council of Westchester embarked on a six-day trip to Cuba in February. Photos courtesy Marsha Gordon
By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Editorial Assistant The Business Council of Westchester took advantage of improved relations between the U.S. and Cuba by sending a group of members and guests off to the country for a six-day culture trip in February. Marsha Gordon, president and CEO of the BCW, was one of 28 council members and guests who traveled to Cuba. “The purpose of a people-to-people exchange
is to really see what is going on in [a foreign] community,” Gordon told the Review, adding that it was not a business or trade trip, rather an opportunity for the BCW to see Cuba during such a unique time in its history. It had been more than 50 years since U.S. citizens were able to visit Cuba due to government and economic sanctions placed on the country. The six-day trip included tours of Havana and Old Havana, an American antique car ride and
visits to the Arte Corte Community Project, the Muraleando Community Project and a local tobacco farm and cigar plant. Gordon called the trip an eyeopener in terms of being exposed to Cuba’s culture and history and the community-oriented projects that the group visited. One such project they learned about was The Arte Corte project. The project is a hairdressing salon that also features a school for barbers run out of someone’s home, with tools and memora-
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Marsha Gordon, president and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester, said one of her trip highlights was touring Old Havana ahead of Cuba modernizing, as tourism is expected to increase now that U.S. and Cuba ties have improved.
bilia collected over the years. The money the salon raises goes toward helping to build a playground for children and to help a local senior citizen center. “They are training people to become barbers, including four deaf people, which I though was amazing,” Gordon said. The Muraleando Community Project, started by two Cuban artists in a Havana barrio, centers on painting murals in local streets and holding classes on site. Gordon called the murals works of art, adding that one of the artists sells prints of the murals to support various community projects. In order for the trip to materialize, the BCW teamed up with Chamber Discoveries, a Fresno, California-based travel company that caters to chambers of commerce nationwide. Chamber Discoveries provided a guide and organized fun activities for the council, like a visit to Ernest Hemingway’s home 10 miles east of Havana, which is perhaps Gordon’s favorite highlight of the trip. The program that allowed BCW members to visit Cuba was organized under the peopleto-people license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The license came to be in 1999, following policy changes that allowed Americans to travel to Cuba with the goal of enhancing cultural relations between the two countries. Although travel restrictions were enforced in 2003, the license was revived again in 2011, with one company legally allowed to bring American tourists to Cuba. Differences between the two countries began in 1959, when Fidel Castro came to power. Castro’s regime started to develop ties with the Soviet Union, and he nationalized property owned by the U.S. and increased taxes
on American imports. The U.S. retaliated by imposing a full economic embargo, which included tough travel constraints, and ending diplomatic ties. Isolation became the policy of the U.S. toward Cuba over the years, and the embargo was strengthened in the 1990s. But in December 2014, with Castro’s health failing, President Barack Obama and Raul Castro, Fidel’s younger brother, announced that the two countries would restore full diplomatic ties. Despite the stark differences between the two countries over the years, some similarities are evident today. While there, Gordon took notice of Cuba’s booming farm-to-table industry, a food movement that focuses on locally producing and delivering food to consumers. “There were some really fine restaurants,” she said. “The farmto-table [trend] is [as much] a phenomenon there as it is here.” And yet, according to Gordon, most people work for the government and doctors make less than taxi drivers. “While it was very interesting, boy, did we all come home proud to be Americans and thankful to have been born in America,” she said. Gordon said looking at Cuba’s history and seeing its remnants made her think about the country’s future, such as upgrades to tourism facilities now that more Americans are able to visit. “I think when there are more opportunities and the rules are less stringent, [Cuba] will probably—just by the nature of the market—have to modernize,” she added. “Just being there and having the opportunity to see Cuba at this moment [in time] was fascinating.” CONTACT: sibylla@hometwn.com
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Mamaroneck passes unprecedented dog law By KILEY STEVENS Staff Writer The village of Mamaroneck is the first municipality in the state of New York to ban the sale of commercially bred animals in local pet stores. This unprecedented law was passed by a 4-0 vote, with one trustee abstaining, at a raucous Feb. 22 Board of Trustees meeting after weeks of discussion and public hearings. The law, dubbed “Public Local Law D-2016” was proposed by Mayor Norman Rosenblum, a Republican, and passed with the help of Susan Chana Lask, an attorney based in Manhattan. Lask said she became involved with the local legislation when a village resident emailed her asking for help. Although Lask is a litigator, she speaks to towns nationwide about animal protection. “I do that out of passion, pro bono,” she said. Though Lask and Rosenblum faced opposition from some members of the village board citing concerns over the constitutionality of the mayor’s pro-
posal, Lask told the Review that she has worked on at least four federal cases that would upheld the legality of the law. “You’re not prohibiting the sale of all animals, you’re just regulating the source,” she said. The law, as written, states that pet stores within the village may only sell animals that come from animal shelters or humane societies within New York state. Under the law, no animal that comes from a breeder or puppy mill is permissible to be sold in the village of Mamaroneck. The push for legislation began in August 2015 when residents began protesting a local pet store on Mamaroneck Avenue, then named Best Breeds Puppies and Kittens. The owner of the store at the time, Richard Doyle, of Mahopac, New York, has been in trouble with the law multiple times. He has been charged with three counts of misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, and one count of selling a diseased animal. One of his store fronts, located in Wappingers Falls, New York, has since closed. In December 2015, he was arrested
at one of his other store fronts in Mohegan Lake on two felony counts of witness tampering. The storefront in Mamaroneck was sold to a new owner in December, Kevin Casiraghi, who renamed the store National Breeders. However, Lask investigated the license number posted on a dog cage in the store, which was connected to a breeder in the Midwest who, according to Lask, was laden with violations. Some of the violations included shivering animals, the use of unapproved medications and animals who had not been examined by veterinarians. When reached by phone on Tuesday, an employee at National Breeders declined to comment. Part of the problem with regulating the source of animals, according to Lask, is the 120 U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors that inspect breeders nationwide “do not have the resources to police these puppy mills.” She told the Review that their job is to simply give breeders in violation a notice—not to fine them or shut them down.
Trustee David Finch, a Democrat, expressed concerns that the business model that would come with passage of the law would not be viable for business owners. Brian Shapiro, the state director of the Humane Society, told the Review in a previous interview that more and more pet stores have been adopting what he referred to as a “humane model,” by sourcing their animals from shelters and humane societies. Although Finch was concerned about engaging the village in protracted litigation, he did vote for the law. “If I had voted against it, I would be labeled as anti-puppy for the rest of my life,” he said. Finch added that he voted yes partially because Lask agreed to defend the village pro bono should they be hit with a lawsuit in the coming weeks. Trustee Leon Potok, a Democrat, abstained from the vote out of fear of a potential lawsuit. Lask told the Review she is very happy that the law passed in spite of the opposition it faced initially. “What we showed is that you shouldn’t cower in the face of adversity, which we had a lot of,” she said.
The village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees passed Public Local Law D-2016 on Feb. 22. The law prohibits the sale of commercially bred animals in pet stores, the first of its kind in New York state. It is unclear how the law will affect National Breeders, pictured at 154 Mamaroneck Ave., since the pet store does not currently source its collections of dogs for sale from shelters. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
As for Rosenblum, the vote proved to be a victory he was eager to celebrate. “I could not be prouder to be part of any community, anywhere in the United States,” the mayor said. An initial proposed law concerning the health care and treatment of pet store animals, pro-
posed in January, is still being discussed by the village board. That conversation will continue at the board’s March 7 meeting after some board members expressed the desire to go over its legislation with the state attorney general. CONTACT: kiley@hometwn.com
March 11 & 18, 2016 • The city review • 9
Westchester names third female police chief By SUZY BERKOWITZ Editorial Assistant Westchester County recently gained its third female police chief when Anne FitzSimmons was sworn into the position on Monday, Feb. 22 in the city of White Plains’ Department of Public Safety. FitzSimmons, 61, who has worked on the force for 36 years, said she’s proud to have been given this opportunity and is excited to examine and improve the department’s everyday operations. White Plains Police Commissioner David Chong said although it’s nice for the department to have a female police chief, FitzSimmons’ gender played no part in her promotion from assistant chief; rather, he said, it was something she earned through her hard work and merit. “When you make a decision to go into a male-dominated field, you have to have tough skin and just keep going,” FitzSimmons said. “I’ve always worked hard and gave more than
what I had to.” She is now the third appointed and second currently employed female police chief in the county. Betsy Gelardi was hired in Dobbs Ferry in 2007 and still serves on the force, and Barbara Duncan was hired in Mount Vernon in 2008, but moved on to a chief position in Salisbury, Maryland, in 2010. Gelardi, who recently attended a conference with FitzSimmons, said she always admired her over the years and says she is well-deserving of this promotion. She said FitzSimmons’ strong leadership skills will help propel the department forward. After entering the force in 1985 and maintaining her position as police chief of the Dobbs Ferry Police Department for almost a decade, Gelardi said her gender has become less of a cause for commotion over time. “I never walk into this building thinking, ‘I’m a female police chief,’” she said. “Your job becomes a part of you; it becomes your life.” Gelardi said she didn’t understand the depth of making histo-
ry as the first female police chief of Westchester County municipality until she saw the crowd that showed up to her swearingin ceremony back in 2007. She said people were more resistant to her success when she first broke into the force in 1985, but over time, she’s gained people’s respect and recognition. As a founding board member of the organization New York Women in Law Enforcement, FitzSimmons said being one of the first female police officers to have ascended the ranks has allowed her to help pave the way for younger women to be given the opportunities she’s had. FitzSimmons said all officers have to undergo a process in order to be promoted, but women are still rising to the top. “Women have been moving up since we’ve become police officers; there are just less of us so it’s not as noticeable,” she said. FitzSimmons’ responsibilities as police chief include overseeing patrol, communication, administration and personnel operations, and she said she will be
Anne FitzSimmons is sworn in as the White Plains Police Department’s new police chief on Monday, Feb. 22. Fitzsimmons, a resident of White Plains, has been working on the force since 1979. Photo courtesy Barry Rothman
working on new ways to implement technology within the department on a daily basis. Chong said FitzSimmons has been part of his executive staff for years and has risen up through the ranks during her time on the force, making her a highly recommended candidate for the position. “Her breadth of experience in all the different areas of this department speaks for itself,” Chong said. “I truly believe she’s
the one to guide this department forward as we work diligently to keep crime down and keep our community safe.” He said FitzSimmons will also be a great asset to the department’s mission to work toward implementing technology and social media in an effort to maintain transparency and communication with the public. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Pace University and a master’s in public admin-
istration from Marist College, FitzSimmons joined the White Plains Police Department in 1979. FitzSimmons said her department’s administration has always been supportive and encouraging of her success, and although she has faced some resistance from colleagues, she said it comes with the territory of choosing this career to pursue. CONTACT: suzy@hometwn.com
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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 Latimer by calling his record of bipartisanship hollow, adding that he has voted with the Democratic leadership more than 98 percent of the time. “He has aligned himself with the Bill DiBlasio New York City agenda,” he said, referring to the liberal mayor of New York City. For Latimer, 62, the criticism is nothing new, as he seems to
with American Disabilities Act access requirements and would upgrade electrical systems at some schools. Again, Osborne said that another bond to remedy more of the facilities’ deficit would likely be necessary within three to five years. Option No. 3 would cover a $79 million menu of improvements with the addition of correcting all health and safety deficits identified in the building conditions survey, and would also encompass all of the Option No. 2 bond. Option No. 4 is the $104 milCity of Rye Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican, plans on launching a campaign for state Senate. Killian will try to upend popular Democrat lion proposal that would bring George Latimer. Both candidates live in the city of Rye. all of the district buildings up to File photo
always be the target of state Republicans, who want to maintain control of the Senate. The senator told the Review that he has a bull’s-eye on his back. “It’s because I don’t have personal wealth,” he said. “I have lived within my means. Given the fact that my salary as an elected official is all the income I have, that is not a lot of money in a place like Rye. It’s probably laughable to people [with] successful business careers. [Republicans] know they can always outspend me.” But Latimer, who is seeking his third term in the Senate, said there is a reason why he has been consistently re-elected. “I don’t think anyone has proven they care more about the people they represent than I do, day after day,” he said. Latimer has never lost an election, winning 14 consecutive races dating back to his one term on the Rye City Council in 1987. Killian’s campaign is likely to be well-financed with a high level of organization and full of support from some of the top Republicans throughout the state. However, the last time the GOP put an all-out assault on Latimer, it backfired. In 2012, with Latimer seeking the Senate seat following
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the retirement of longtime Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer, a Democrat, the state Republicans ran Bob Cohen, who nearly defeated Oppenheimer just two years prior. Many pundits predicted 2012 was Cohen’s time. Cohen and Latimer battled it out before a statewide audience. The duo set the record for campaign expenditures in a state race at the time; the Cohen campaign spent more than $4 million on attack ads, including radio spots and TV commercials. But Latimer won the seat in surprisingly easy fashion, with 54 percent of the vote, and celebrated his hardest fought victory to date. In 2014, Latimer defeated Republican Joe Dillon, a late entry who didn’t launch his campaign until July. The district encompasses the cities of Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle and Rye; and the towns of Eastchester, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Rye, Bedford and North Castle. Candidates are elected to the Senate for two-year terms with an annual base salary of $79,500. Killian could not be reached for comment as of press time.
CONTACT: chris@hometwn.com
sarah varney
sarah@hometwn.com
satisfactory condition, and replace or repair all building systems or components tagged with unsatisfactory, nonfunctioning or critical failure ratings. All, but the least expensive bond option, address health and safety items identified in the building conditions survey. Despite the big price tag, several board members expressed their support for either bond option No. 3 or No. 4. Board of Education member David Lacher was the most voluble about his concerns with bond options 1 and 2. “We have been told that with the first two options there would still be unsatisfactory conditions in our schools and I don’t think that should be
happening,” he said. “I would go with Option No. 4 and get it all done at once.” Board member Dr. Salvador Fernandez said that he had spoken with several people who expressed support for the two pricier options. “I don’t think the superintendent should spend any more time on Nos. 1 and 2, because they are useless,” he said. Osborne noted that regardless of which bond option is chosen, the district is committed to keeping debt service costs low. A final decision on which version will be presented to voters in a May 17 referendum is due by March 29. CONTACT: sarah@hometwn.com
City School District of New Rochelle Superintendent Dr. Brian Osborne, right, lays out the four capital bond options for Board of Education Trustee David Lacher and board President Lianne Merchant. The most expensive proposed bond would cost $104 million. Photo/Sarah Varney
12 • The city review • March 11 & 18, 2016
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March 11 & 18, 2016 • The city review • 13
King Tut’s treasures on display on Fifth Avenue Legislators join ArtsWestchester to present grants RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy
On Nov. 26, 1922, Howard Carter took out the little chisel his grandmother gave him on his 17th birthday when he, an English lad, was already obsessed with ancient Egypt. Now pushing 50, a middle-aged archeologist who’d seemed promising, then washed up, then possibly promising again, Carter was standing in a hole in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, sweating. Hoping against hope, he tapped his childhood chisel on the underground doorway of what looked like a tomb, or at least some kind of repository. Once he finally made a hole, he poked a candle through. “Can you see anything?” asked his companion and benefactor, George Herbert. “Yes,” Carter replied. “Wonderful things.” And I just saw them, too: The gold and glories—and tchachkes—of King Tut’s tomb. At The Discovery of King Tut, a midtown exhibit that faithfully recreates exactly what Carter saw when he became the first human to lay eyes on Tut’s tomb in 3,000 years, you wander through room after room of amazing artifacts, with the special excitement of seeing them just the way they were when first discovered. Which is to say, in a jumble. The room full of “amazing things” that Carter saw looks exactly like the attic of an eccentric aunt. There are beds shaped like animals, wheels leaning against each other like a bunch of ancient bike tires, and trunks, stools, vases and—oh yes—a baby throne made out of gold. It’s sitting in the back, abandoned as any highchair you’d
put in your own attic once your child—or child king—outgrew it. Weirdest of all are the dozens of egg-shaped containers slightly larger than footballs. These held food for the afterlife—the sacred lunchboxes of their day. As you wind your way through the exhibit, chock-ablock with dazzling golden coffins and surprising hieroglyphics (including a whole wall done in a baboon motif), your audio guide informs you that Carter had been searching for King Tut’s tomb ever since he learned that the statue of a later pharaoh once actually had another name on it: “Tutankhamun.” The later pharaoh had chiseled Tut’s name off the front and replaced it with his own. But, like lazy criminals in any era, he forgot to remove Tut’s name from the back. An ancient cup also inscribed with Tut’s name made Carter increasingly certain that history had not accounted for King Tut, and neither had archeologists. But who was Tut? There was no other trace of him. If he had ruled, where was he buried? Why had no one found him yet? Carter convinced Herbert, the fifth Earl of Carnarvon, to fund his search, and spent years digging fruitlessly—well, directing a lot of Egyptian workers to dig fruitlessly—searching for Tut’s tomb. Carnarvon was about to call it quits when Carter begged him for one more season of funding. Reportedly worried that Carter would finally find the tomb just when he pulled out, the earl signed another check. (And, weirdly enough, you can see how the earl could have afforded this hobby if you watch PBS Masterpiece: “Downton Abbey” was filmed in his modest little home.) Around the time of this final, funded season, one of Carter’s minions—a boy who brought
jars of water to the workers— dug into the sand to make a little hole to hold one of the jars. He always did this, to make them stand upright. But this time, his hand hit a smooth, flat surface. It was the top of a long-buried staircase. The rest is history—ancient history. But the exhibit is so vibrant, this history doesn’t feel that far removed. In an era when ISIS is blowing up monuments because it wants to erase the past, Tut’s successor chiseling his name off of statues seems familiar. And once you learn the soap opera of Tut’s family—his grandfather was a great and beloved ruler; his dad reversed everything the grandpa had done, even changing the country’s religion and capital, then Tut changed all it back— the young king doesn’t seem so unreachable. You see the tiny coffin that contained his stillborn daughter. You learn there were flowers still on his casket when Carter uncovered it. It’s as if you could reach out and (sorry) Tut him. Then you exit back to the modern kingdom of New York City: dazzling, magnificent, invincible; and you wonder who will wander an exhibit about us? Information on admission and hours is available at tutnyc.com/ visit/#tickets. The exhibition is located at 417 Fifth Ave. on 38th Street. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $27 for adults; $17 for children ages 5 to 16; $22 for seniors, college students, AAA and the military; $15 on Museum Mondays; and $65 for a “Family 4 Pack” (two-child minimum).
ArtsWestchester has announced a 20 percent increase in funding from the New York State Council on the Arts’ Decentralization Grants Program for the allocation of grants totaling $55,000 to local arts organizations and artists. ArtsWestchester distributes these funds through its competitive Arts Alive grants, supporting community-based cultural activities throughout the county, as well as the creation of new work by Westchester artists. “On behalf of ArtsWestchester, we would like to thank Gov. Cuomo for increasing the state allocation to NYSCA last year by $5 million, making it possible for the 20 percent increase to all decentralization sites throughout New York state,” said CEO Janet T. Langsam. On Jan. 29, members of the New York state Legislature joined ArtsWestchester’s board of trustees for a private breakfast to present Arts Alive grants to 25 organizations. The breakfast took place at ArtsWestchester, located at 31 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains. This year’s grant recipients represent artistic expression from cultures from around the world in an array of genres that include dance, writing, visual art, music and theater. The variety of projects range from public art installations and African drum workshops to affordable jazz performances and a dance with an anti-bully-
From left, Angela Belsole and Sr. Beth Dowd, representing Arts Alive grantee Songcatchers, and New York state Sen. Andrea StewartCousins. Songcatchers of New Rochelle will use the Arts Alive grant for intergenerational community music programs.
From left, New York state Assemblyman David Buchwald, Westchester County Legislator Benjamin Boykin, Bernard Tamosaitis, Solange De Santis and William Eckfeld, representing Arts Alive grantee St. Thomas Orchestra, and New York state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins. St. Thomas Orchestra in Mamaroneck will use the Arts Alive grant for a fall 2016 concert. Photos/John Vecchiolla
CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com
From left, Billie Tucker and Karen Allen, representing Arts Alive grantee Tutti Bravi Productions Inc., with New York state Sen. Andrea StewartCousins. Tutti Bravi Productions of New Rochelle will use the Arts Alive grant for “Spirits and Souls—Huguenot Voices from the Trinity Burial Grounds.” New monologues will be written and original music composed from the perspective of Huguenot settlers buried in Trinity Burial Grounds for a new historical production.
ing message. Additionally, these grants represent 17 municipalities throughout the county, including Yonkers, Ossining, Peekskill and Mount Vernon. Arts Alive grants are awarded in two categories: Arts Alive Project Grants, which provide Westchester-based organizations and artists with financial and technical support for projects at the grassroots level; and Arts Alive Artist Grants, which support works that relate to the community in a significant way. The grants are chosen through a competitive process that includes a panel of community members and arts professionals. Arts Alive Project Grants are made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature, and administered by ArtsWestchester. (Submitted)
14 • The city review • March 11 & 18, 2016
SPORTS
March 11 & 18, 2016 • The city review • 15
First signs of spring LIVE MIKE Mike Smith
You know you’ve been missing baseball when hearing the voice of John Sterling comes as a relief. As a die-hard Red Sox fan— and, more importantly, someone with ears—I have no great love for the bombastic Yankees radio man, but even I was happy to hear John and Suzyn Waldman on the airwaves last week. Maybe I’m getting soft in my old age, or maybe I’m just pumped that spring is finally here. Spring Training games kicked off last week, marking the beginning of a wonderful time for fans of our national pastime. I, for one, couldn’t get enough. Sure, I love Opening Day. More often than not, I’ll fire up the MLB.tv app and veg out on baseball for the better part of two days until I lapse into the sort of
couch coma usually reserved for post-Thanksgiving lounging. But those first couple of days of spring training? Those are special. All winter long, I’ve got to scratch and claw just to get my baseball fix. I mean, on Feb. 11, I spent an hour-and-a-half watching a World Baseball Classic Qualifying Game between South Africa and New Zealand. Yankees-Red Sox it was most certainly not, but getting the chance to watch actual baseball on my television in the dead of winter? It’s like Christmas came early for a baseball nut like me. Of course, Major League Baseball doesn’t make it easy— at least early on in the spring. Only a few games last week were televised and a few more had radio broadcasts. As a result, I spent an inordinate amount of time glued to MLB GameCast, watching little colored dots that (probably) correspond to MLB players circle around the diamond.
It may not be a box seat at Citi Field, but it is certainly better than watching the New York Knicks. Do I plan on tuning in to each and every game for the remainder of Spring Training? Of course not. I’ve got a life, a job and plenty of other things to do with my time. March Madness is starting up soon, which provides a muchneeded respite from the doldrums of winter, but the knowledge that baseball is back still warms my heart. Right now, everything is perfect. The Yankees haven’t won the division, my Red Sox haven’t begun to underachieve, and, for the Mets, the sky is still the limit with the heaps of young, talented pitching they have locked up. That might all change by midMay, so right now, I’m simply enjoying the moment, and dreaming of a pennant race.
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For the first week of MLB Spring Training, following teams on MLB Gameday has been trying—and rewarding—for Sports Editor Mike Smith. Photo courtesy MLB.com
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16 • The city review • March 11 & 18, 2016