It’s not just about the Armory and Forest City,
New Rochelle residents need to step up and take an active role in what happens in New Rochelle. Be informed with regard to our City Government and School Board decision making and leadership. A lot of very poor decisions have been and are being made. These are the people we entrust without tax dollars, our families and our children. So many people walk up to me and say what can I do. Well people, you can speak up at Citizens To Be Heard on the second Tuesday of the month, go to School Board meeting write to a Council Member. If that doesn’t work go up the chain of command until you get a response. Politicians get stronger when they see the people have given up trying. As a matter of fact, they feed on it like sharks in a fish tank. So speak, vote attend a meeting, it could be the best investment of sixty minutes you ever made.
Last Thursday night was the meeting to get updates for the Armory. It was very informative and it was attended by many of the same people with a few new faces. Remember, this is not just about knocking out Forest City. It is about forming a plan and being resourceful to benefit The City of New Rochelle, not any developers. The dollar sales must stop. If we had a vibrant Armory that could bring people to the city to visit and shop, we could build off of that success and bring greater value to the Echo Bay area and have that vibrancy move into downtown. Peekskill, Yonkers and Port Chester have been successful at bringing people back to their downtowns and waterfronts being creative. Using Sports, The Arts, Entertainment and many different types of social events as a draw, then build on that as they have. Not build apartments and hope to fill them. What would all of the city owned property be worth then? For once let’s be the smart investors that reap the benefits of proper planning of our property. Then if developers want to buy land make them pay market rate. No more fire sales. They cost us firemen down the road.
After the meetings, speak up about how you feel. Either for or against, but speak. There were several meeting last week about projects in New Rochelle. Go to a meeting, read a review, talk to a friend and form an opinion then voice that opinion at Citizens To BE Heard Tuesday. Open the lines of two way dialogue and true communication for productive input. We need to start putting some butts in the seats!
Before you go check the city web site and see what is on the agenda. See what is going on during the City Council Sessions. Information is available to all; there are several discussion items on the agenda as well. Such as;
– CONSIDERATION OF PETITION FROM IONA COLLEGE
RE: PROPOSED EXTENSION OF OCCUPANCY LEVELS OF
NORTH AVENUE DORMITORIES
-PROPOSED SALE OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY
RE: WEYMAN A VENUE/MAIN STREET, BLOCK 0550, LOTS 50
AND 45A TO DE RAFFELE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
-PROPOSED CREATION OF CIVIC PURPOSE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR THE SOUND SHORE MEDICAL CENTER/LANDMARK HEAL THCARE
PROPERTIES PROJECT- OFFICE/MEDICAL BUILDING
-PROPOSED STIPULATION OF AGREEMENT WITH
CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION
City Council Committee of the Whole plus Public Hearing & Citizens To Be Heard:
Date: Tuesday, June 12
Time:3:45 PM - 9:00 PM
Time Details: City Council Meeting begins at 3:45 PM with any Public Hearing starting at 7:30 PM. Citizens To Be Heard follows immediately after.
(See the City Web Site for details www.newrochelleny.com)
On the Agenda:
Public Hearing on the Sale of City Owned Property-Sylvan Place:
The proposed abandonment of a portion of City-owned real property at the westerly end of Sylvan Place to the abutting property owners, subject to certain terms and conditions.
Boy I would love to know those terms and conditions. Very few have even heard of the sale, for how much, why and to whom. Please don’t say a dollar again. I am all for selling city land but it needs to be at market rate and gain the best return for the citizens as a whole. Not just a select few. If it means collecting more taxes let’s see what deals can be made. Has the research been done on the true value of the property in question? We will see. Remember, your thought should count on any move the City Staff makes on our behalf.
Wake up New Rochelle Speak your peace. Let your opinion be known. Don’t look back several years from now when things haven’t change and say I wish I had said something back when.
“Common Sense for the Common Good”
