RyeCity REVIEW THE
July 21, 2023 | Vol. 10, Number 29 | www.ryecityreview.com
PUTTING IN THE WORK!
Rye’s Molly Kennedy controls the ball during a summer league game at Scenic Hudson Park in Irvington on July 13. Rye and Eastchester are among 16 teams competing in the O’Hara Summer Basketball League this month. For story, see page 16. Photo/Mike Smith
Otis, Mayer secure bridge funding Assemblyman Steve Otis and state Senator Shelley Mayer announced two important state grants awarded to Sound Shore communities that will assist each community with bridge infrastructure projects that are part of broader flood mitigation plans for their respective watersheds. The city of Rye was awarded $5 million for the replacement of the Locust Avenue bridge over Blind Brook. The project will provide for better water flow in storm events and help in the city’s broader plans to mitigate flooding on the Blind Brook watershed and within Rye’s Central Business District. The town of Mamaroneck was awarded $769,000 to help fund the replacement of the superstructure of the Rockland Avenue bridge over Sheldrake River. This project will improve water flow at the Sheldrake River in Mamaroneck and is part of the multi-faceted flood mitigation program in the Village of Mamaroneck. The confluence of the Sheldrake and Mamaroneck Rivers is one of the most challenging flood damage locations in the state. Separate from these two bridge
projects, Assemblyman Otis and Senator Mayer included $17.5 million in the recently adopted state budget to provide New York State’s share of the Federal Army Corps of Engineers project for the Mamaroneck Sheldrake watershed. Assemblyman Otis said, “These are important state funds to help address flood mitigation issues on the Sound Shore. Governor Hochul has been very supportive of our water infrastructure and storm resiliency needs in Westchester. Congratulations to the Town and Village of Mamaroneck and the City of Rye for submitting successful applications that brings these state dollars to our communities. Senator Mayor and I have worked closely together on flood mitigation and water initiatives in every community we share.” Senator Mayer said, “I am pleased by Governor Hochul’s announcement that the Town of Mamaroneck and the City of Rye each received funding for bridge rehabilitation and replacement through the State’s BRIDGE NY initiative. Of the $60.1 million given to the Mid-Hudson region, I am honored that Mamaroneck
will receive $769,000 to replace the superstructure of the Rockland Avenue bridge and the City of Rye will receive $5 million to replace the Locust Avenue bridge. Given the impact of climate change and flooding in each of these communities, this funding has been a high priority. This investment is critical to ensure our bridges are resilient in the face of increased climate change-related hazards. I applaud Governor Hochul for her commitment to these issues, and thank her; Commissioner Dominguez and the staff of the State Department of Transportation; Mamaroneck Supervisor Jane Elkind Eney and the Mamaroneck Town Board; City of Rye Mayor Josh Cohn and the City of Rye Council for their efforts.” Mayor of Rye Josh Cohn said, “The Locust Avenue Bridge is one of our well-known flood trouble spots. We are delighted to have this Bridge NY funding to help replace it. We are very grateful to Senator Mayer and Assemblyman Otis for their constant support, and, of course, to Governor Hochul.”
see MAYER 14
AG James reaches deal over discrimination, harassment in Mamaroneck schools New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday an agreement with the Mamaroneck Union Free School District (Mamaroneck UFSD) over its failure to respond to instances of race- and gender-based bullying and harassment against students in schools. The settlement resolves the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) investigation, which began in June 2020 following allegations from students and parents that administrators had failed to adequately address confirmed instances of race- and gender-based bullying and harassment. The complaints alleged that the Mamaroneck UFSD’s lack of action led to students being repeatedly degraded and discriminated against by their classmates for months across various schools within the district. The severity of the harassment interfered with students’ ability to learn, socialize, and feel safe within their schooling environment. Through the settlement announced today, Mamaroneck UFSD agrees to implement substantial policy changes, provide student counseling, and engage in data collection and reporting to OAG for its responses to future instances of bullying, harassment, and discrimination. “With this agreement, the Mamaroneck Union Free School District has committed to take appropriate measures to meet its duty to children and their families and to protect students from bullying, harassment, and discrimination,” said Attorney General James. “My office will continue to do everything in its power to ensure that every child feels safe and respected in the classroom.” Federal law guarantees all students the right to a public education, and it provides that they shall not be deprived of this most basic right on the basis of
race or sex. Title VI and Title IX specifically require schools take steps to protect students from race- and gender-based misconduct. Further, New York’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) requires public schools to provide a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying. DASA requires schools to investigate and respond to instances of bullying with measures reasonably calculated to end the behavior creating a hostile environment for a student. The OAG’s investigation concluded that Mamaroneck UFSD’s failure to address student bullying and harassment constituted a violation of Title VI and Title IX. Black students and other students of color were regularly the targets of racial epithets and sexually offensive harassment. The OAG found that Mamaroneck UFSD, despite promptly investigating these incidents, failed to engage in necessary responses to limit this behavior in the future. Consequently, the inconsistent and ineffective approaches to the misconduct led to students continuing to be subjected to harassment and bullying from their peers. Students who were victims of this behavior experienced physical, mental, and emotional suffering that interfered with their ability to participate in social and educational activities within the classroom. The Mamaroneck UFSD has agreed to comply with robust reforms to improve its response to future instances of race- and gender-based bullying, harassment, and discrimination, including but not limited to: • Revising Mamaroneck UFSD’s harassment policies to ensure prompt and effective
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