April Newsletter

Hello Hartsdale Community, We hope this email finds you well. We are sending out this newsletter because there are some important issues you should be aware of that will impact our Hartsdale community.

GCSD ELECTION UPDATE Budget and Bond The 2023-24 GCSD budget was tentively adopted by the Board at the April 18th meeting. The budget of $78 million represents a 4.67% increase with a proposed tax levy increase of  3% which is below the tax levy limit set by the state of 6.08%. The full budget can be viewed at GCSD website. The final budget hearing is scheduled for May 2nd and the Budget Vote is scheduled for May 16th.  The full timeline can be found on the GCSD website. The GCSD BOE will not be adding a bond to the vote on May 16th, but will schedule a separate public vote later in the year. The bond would be used to replace the roofs on all school district school buildings.  School Board Election Incumbent Tracy Mairs and newcomer Erin Jacobson are running unopposed in the May 16th election for the two open seats on GCSD school board. Samantha Ives on behalf of HNA will meet with the candidates in a taped Q&A. If you have any questions for the candidates please email them to info@hartsdaleneighbors.org by May 1st. The sessions will be posted on HNA YouTube channel, HNA website and social media in early May.

UPCOMING HNA EVENT  Please mark your calendars and join Eric Zinger and the HNA on May 18th at 8pm for a moderated discussion with NYState Assembly Representative for the 92nd district MaryJane Shimskey. Assemblywoman Shimskey was elected in November and represents most of Greenburgh, including Hartsdale. Previously she was on the Westchester County Board of Legislators for over 10 years. This is a live event and we will allow time at the end for public Q&A, but we request that If you have questions or topics of interest you would like to have addressed, please email them to info@hartsdaleneighbors.org to help tailor the content for the event. Information on how to attend the online event will be published prior to the event.

OTHER NEWS HAWK LIGHT ON CENTRAL AVENUE The new Hawk light in front of Sacred Heart Church will be operational in the next few weeks. Thank you to Councilman Francis Sheehan, Supervisor Paul Feiner and the entire TOG Board for making this a priority and working with the state to get the Hawk light installed.   Since 2019, when HNA formed a public safety committee led by Patrice Ingressia, HNA has been focused on the safety of pedestrians in Hartsdale. The HNA Public Safety Committee advocated for improved pedestrian safety, held a Public Forum at Sacred Heart School with then Police Chief Ryan in January 2020, and represented our community on the TOG Safety Board. Councilman Sheehan presented a tutorial on the Hawk light at a recent working session. When the Hawk Light is operational, HNA will post an updated tutorial on our web site and social media.  LEAF BLOWER LAW A public hearing on a newly revised proposed law will be held tomorrow Wednesday, April 26th at 7:30pm during the Town Board Meeting. This proposed law aims to reduce noise from leaf blowers, while also being easier to enforce. The proposed law would: – Apply to commercial properties and residential properties. Previous versions applied only to residential properties.  – Prohibit the simultaneous operation of more than one leaf blower on property of 10,000 sq ft or less in area is prohibited. – Prohibit the simultaneous operation of four or more leaf blowers on any size parcel.  SAVING GREENBURGH COALITION EVENT A public meeting will be held on Thursday April 27th at 7pm at to discuss the renewed activity by Edgemont residents to incorporate and the economic and community impact on all residents in the Unincorporated area of Greenburgh. The coalition behind the event is proposing a new law by passed in the State of NY that would allow all Unincorporated area residents the right to vote on Edgemont Incorporation. Currently only Residents in the area to be incorporated have the right to vote. HNA is not a sponsor or affiliated with the event but HNA representatives do plan on attending to learn more.   In Person:  Christ Temple Church 25 Oak Street White Plains NYVia Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6272578776 CONDOMINIUM TAX LAW PASSED BY TOG The Town Board voted to pass a new law that would assess new Condos at the same rate as single family homes on April 18th. In February, the Town Board initiated public hearings for a local law that would permanently change the assessment methodology of any new condominiums built in the Town of Greenburgh, assessing them in the same manner as single-family homes and would result in property taxes for these developments 30-40% HIGHER than under the current system. No change would occur to existing dwellings. This was kicked off by a state law that allowed the Town to do this. The governor vetoed a similar state law to enact this state-wide. The HNA executive committee opposed this legislation, believing it will severely limit development in our town including on the Central & Hartsdale Avenues corridor.  HNA will still continue to spearhead and work with TOG resources to bring much needed development to the area.

HNA MEMBER INFORMATION The Hartsdale Neighbors Association (HNA) is a group of passionate volunteers who are driven to improve our community.  We foster neighborhood engagement and community-based problem solving, enhance civic awareness and provide a vehicle for community-based efforts.  If you’d like to be more involved with HNA and join the Executive Board, one of our committees or other efforts, please contact us at info@hartsdaleneighbors.org.

IMPORTANT DATES Town Board Meeting – April 26 Saving Greenburgh Meeting – April 27 Town Taxes Due – May 1 GCSD Budget Hearing – May 2 Hartsdale Fire District Monthly – May 9th  School Board Elections – May 16 Odell House Event – May 20 NYS Primaries – June 27