Councilman Louis Trangucci is known as the defender of the taxpayers, not only for those who live in his district, but also for any one living in the city. His interest in making New Rochelle a better place to live extends to all aspects of city government which impact the lives of residents. Only a few days ago the New Rochelle Talk of the Sound blog reported that Trangucci had asked when the City Council had approved joining ICLEI and was answered by Chuck Strome the City Manager that the joining was “implied” by the virtue of an ICLEI representative being invited to speak before the City Council. Westchester Guardian explored his views in this interview.
Godfrey: 1. You are now serving a second term on New Rochelle City Council. Based on your experience on Council do you feel there any areas of the Council’s policy making powers that you want to change or de-emphasize.
Trangucci: I think one of the more important things are that IDA (Industrial Development Corporation) abatements given to developers should be changed to make developers come to Council for their approval. Also term limits were discussed at Council last year and I feel that the Mayor and Council should be limited to two terms and be out. We have people serving beyond two terms now.
Godfrey. 2. Your efforts in exposing corruption in this City are now well documented. Do you have any opinion on whether any more corruption exists anywhere in City Government?
Trangucci: I don’t at this time, but I want to recognize Pat Pappalardi for coming forward and helping us uncover the situation that was going on in the Department of Public Works. My door is always open to anyone who wants to come forth with information.
Godfrey 3. This year you voted against the budget which included the 2% tax cap and an increase of the refuse fee from $66 to $233. Do you feel the City should continue this or use other fees to raise revenue in the future?
Trangucci: Even though the City had an 2% tax cap it was allowed 5.96% because of pension obligations. When you include the refuse fee which was equivalent to an 9.1% increase, it was really equivalent to an 15% tax increase. I do not support this kind of increase. Republicans had put $800,000 of cost savings and none of it was supported by the majority of Council. I think the refuse fee should be a tax, not a fee, so that people could write if off.
Godfrey 4. Do you feel more retail and/or residential development is necessary in downtown New Rochelle? Are you in favor of the development consultant which was recently approved? Why did you feel the staff of the City and the BID could not attract retail that would be successful, especially in the downtown?
Trangucci: I do support the development consultant and feel there should be a moratorium on any residential development in the short term. We need to explore retail and commercial in downtown and I do support that. I would encourage mixed residential, with a primary use of commercial and retail
and a limited residential component.
Godfrey 5. Do you feel the City Council stresses their policy making power, or do you feel they tend to approve the initiatives of the City Manager?
Trangucci: We, as Council members with the economy the way it is, need to challenge every initiative to make sure it’s in the best interests of the taxpayers.
Godfrey 6. Do appointments to various boards and commissions which have powers, such as the IDA or Planning Board, reduce the power of the electorate to influence important decisions in the City?
Trangucci: Only in the way they are appointed, because the IDA should have a member chosen from each district. Planning Board members also should be appointed by Council and not just by the Mayor. If you want truly open government that’s the way it should be done.
Godfrey 7. What do you envision as the best way for citizens and civic organizations to present their concerns to the City Council?
Trangucci: I think the best way for citizens is to reach out to their Council member and Mayor through a group such as a neighborhood association. That would get the best response, especially if there is follow-up speaking to the Council at Citizens to be Heard.
Godfrey: 8. Echo Bay’s developer may be given another MOU (memorandum of understanding) extension. What do you feel is the best course of action for the City at this time?
Trangucci No, I do not feel the MOU should be approved, based on what the developer has presented to the Council. They have not presented any cost-.benefit analysis to the taxpayers. This project will cause an undue amount of financial and infrastructure burden to the residents of New Rochelle.
Godfrey: 9. Do you have any ideas or suggestions you would like to share?
Trangucci: I want to focus on revenue generating projects in terms of retail and commercial as the primary developments. We need to develop projects that have a combination of retail, commercial and resldential to alleviate the financial burdens on the taxpayers.
In the April 19, 2012 issue of the Westchester Guardian
