Bronxville Insider: Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin Weekly Column: Mayor's Column Week of April 25th.

 

Mayor’s Column: April 25, 2022.

As I customarily do it this time of year, the following is a synopsis of the new 2022-23 New York State budget recently passed in Albany. The approved budget is $220 billion up $47 billion or 27% from 2021 fiscal year budget.

As you can imagine, there are hundreds of spending appropriations, agreements and policy implications in a budget that is larger than many small countries.

The following is just a highlight of items that, when you drill down, could or will affect a village taxpayer. 

Overall there are no new tax increases

• 1.2 billion is allocated to frontline healthcare worker bonuses with a maximum of $2000 for those making less than $125,000.
• Included is $7.4 billion to support the wage increases for home care workers, which translates into approximately a raise of three dollars per hour. Advocates say this is not nearly enough to address the shortage in home care workers.
• A $25 billion 5-year plan was enacted to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes.
• The emergency rental assistance program, originally funded with $800 million, was replenished to provide another $125 million.
• $100 million was placed in a program that would cover health insurance for undocumented seniors over 65 and undocumented new mothers.
• An additional $500 million was added to the water and sewer infrastructure fund, which would address the quality of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
• New York State gas tax of 16% per gallon will be suspended from June 1 to December 31.
• State and local government workers hired under new Tier 5 and Tier 6 regulations were formerly required to work 10 years to be vested in the state pension plan. This has been rolled back to five years for vesting.
• A total of $375 million will be spent over the next three years on expanding pre-K programs.
• An additional $100 million allocated for mental health grants for school districts in BOCES.
• Star benefits will increase statewide giving property tax relief to certain categories of taxpayers.
• Items that did not make it into the budget were tax breaks for developers to build multi-unit housing projects in New York City if they included affordable housing.
• The $2.1 billion fund providing unemployment like benefits to undocumented workers and others who cannot get traditional unemployment ran out and it was not re-funded.
• The New York City Mayor’s office, which had control over the New York City public schools since 2000, did not have such authority extended for a requested four more years.
• Buffalo Bills football team owners will receive a total of $650 million in state funding to build their new $1.4 billion stadium. The money comes with a promise to keep the franchise in Buffalo for 30 years.
• Citing accessibility as reason, the new budget requires a polling place at every New York college campus that has 300 or more registered voting students. The same is not required at assisted-living or nursing homes with 300 or more registered residents.
• Boards of Election are now required to provide prepaid postage for absentee ballots.
• Effective immediately, restaurants, bars and taverns and other establishments holding an on premise liquor license can now sell cocktails and wine to go if they are accompanied by a purchase of a “substantial food item.” The provision has a sunset of three years.

Policy changes were made as part of this budget relating to the 2019 bail reform legislation. As history, under the 2019 law, judges were no longer able to set bail for a wide-ranging list of misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies including burglary, stalking, assault without serious injuries, many drug offenses and certain arson and robbery. All those charged with these crimes were released to await trial.

In New York State, bail is imposed solely to ensure that people return to court. Judges are not supposed to set bail for defendants who they think might be a public safety risk. New York stands alone as the only state without a so-called dangerousness standard.

The changes enacted now allow judges more discretion but they still must choose the least restrictive means to ensure a defendant returns to court and cannot explicitly assess the defendant’s dangerousness.

However, they can now weigh specific factors in setting bail, including whether a defendant is accused of causing serious harm to someone and whether the defendant has a history of using or possessing a gun.

The new law also expands the number of crimes for which defendants can be required to post bail including stricter rules for people accused of repeated offensives that harmed people or property, gun possession on school grounds, repeat property theft, altered weapons, gun sales to minors and all hate crimes.

No new monies were funneled to local governments for the thirteenth year in a row.

Bronxville Insider: Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin Weekly Column.

 

Mayor’s Column: April 11, 2022.

After speaking with friends and neighbors over the past few weeks, I realized that we are not getting the word out in the way we should about our new movie theater, so named The Picture House Regional Film Center, which has first run movies 365 days a year. It is so appreciated if you frequent the theater, but even more important, if you become a member of The Picture House family and ensure that this community resource will keep thriving.

The Picture House is a mission driven nonprofit that has year round film, and educational programming for literally every age resulting in a major art hub. So few municipalities have an arts center in their hometown of this caliber and access. If you become a member of The Picture House, the plethora of art programs available is unique. You can see the biggest box office hits, festival favorite Indies and the best in the world in documentary cinema. It is also a great place to learn and explore whether through film classes for adults or children, forums with industry VIPs or live performances.

Not only does a membership keep our theater thriving financially, it also allows The Picture House to offer free programming to underserved groups allowing everyone to be part of an arts education.

In addition, you will get a host of club members’ only benefits including discounted tickets, access to the film club, early access to popular events and free popcorn rated the best movie popcorn in Westchester County by Westchester magazine!

To put into context, our theater was originally part of the Metropolitan Playhouse chain of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut The “Bronxville Playhouse” began operations on September 1, 1926 when it was listed with a seating capacity of 1116. It was remodeled in 1960 to the plans of architect John Jay McNamara after a fire gutted the auditorium. On August 15, 1980, United Artist opened a triplex theater, followed by Clearview Cinemas, which took over in the 1990s followed by Bowtie Cinema in 2013.  The synergy and activity a theater brings to a walkable community like ours cannot be under estimated. Theater goers often have a drink, dinner or an ice cream and even window shop and come back in daytime hours to purchase items they may have seen while walking prior to the start of their movie.

The following are all of the avenues available to support our local theater:

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

 

SENIOR/TEACHER/YOUTH - $50 ($50 is tax-deductible)

OR

INDIVIDUAL - $70 ($70 is tax-deductible)

• Discounted regular admission (member only)
• One free member popcorn at every screening
• Members-free events (member only)
• 10% discount on education programs
• 10% discount on concessions and Picture House merchandise
• Priority seating for The Picture House Film Club and select theater events
• Half-price Tuesdays!

DUAL SENIOR - $90 ($90 is tax-deductible)

OR

DUAL - $100 ($100 is tax-deductible)

**All of the above (member + one) plus:

Two free member popcorns at every screening

FAMILY - $160 ($90 is tax-deductible)

**All of the above (member + three), plus:

Four complimentary tickets for regular screenings (annually)

Discounts on birthday parties at the theater

FILM BUFF - $250 ($160 is tax-deductible)

**All of the above, plus:

One trial class of an education program of your choice

THE LEADERSHIP CIRCLE

In The Leadership Circle members support The Picture House at philanthropic levels:

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE - $500 ($345 is tax-deductible)

• Discounted regular admission (up to four per screening)
• Two free member popcorns at every screening
• Four complimentary tickets for regular screenings (annually)
• Members-free events (members only)
• 10% discount on concessions and Picture House merchandise
• 10% discount on education programs
• Discounts on birthday parties at the theater
• Exclusive Leadership Circle cocktail party and events
• Invitation to TPH annual strategy meeting
• One complimentary Individual gift membership
• Priority seating for The Picture House Film Club and select theater events
• Listing on Picture House website and on the big screen
• Half-price Tuesdays!

PRODUCER’S CIRCLE - $1,000 ($865 is tax-deductible)

Director’s Circle benefits, plus: 

• 1 Full-Access Theater Pass*
• Reserved seating for up to two guests at select events

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - $2,500 ($2,345 is tax-deductible)

Director’s Circle benefits, plus: 

• 2 Full-Access Theater Passes*
• Complimentary tickets to select special events
• Reserved seating for up to four guests at select events

OSCAR WINNER - $5,000+up ($4,825 is tax-deductible)

Director’s Circle benefits, plus: 

• 4 Full-Access Theater Passes*
• Complimentary tickets to select special events
• Reserved seating for up to six guests at select events
• Private rental in the main theater on a weeknight
• Engraved name plate on a seat in the theater

*Full-Access Theater Passes provide free admission to all regular programs during your membership year!

 

For more information go to www.thepicturehouse.org or call 914-738-3161.

 

Bronxville Insider: Westchester County: Latimer Announces Bronxville Footbridge Replacement Project.

Latimer Announces Bronxville Footbridge Replacement Project.

 

(White Plains, NY) – Heeding the calls of residents’ eager to take advantage of the County’s award winning parks system, County Executive George Latimer is pleased to announce the Bronxville footbridge pedestrian footbridge on the Bronx River Pathway located off Pondfield Road will be fully replaced. The footbridge was destroyed during the remnants of Hurricane Ida which passed through Westchester County late last year.

 

Latimer said: “Living in Westchester means having easy access to miles and miles of trails to walk and hike – it is part of what makes our County one of the best places to live nationwide. This footbridge was a part of a trail often used, and enjoyed, by countless outdoor enthusiasts. Working with our DPW/T and Parks, Recreation and Conservation Departments and Legislator Nolan, we look forward to its full restoration.”

 

The bridge’s abutments, borings, and deck were washed away during last year’s flooding and will need complete replacement. This parks infrastructure upgrade also comes at the behest of County Legislator James Nolan, who, like Latimer, heard from residents about the need to repair the footbridge.

 

Nolan said: “When my office received numerous correspondence on this issue, I knew we had a partner in the County Executive who was just a phone call away. Use of the County’s extensive trail network is vital to the recreation residents enjoy and I am eager to see this project commence.”

 

Bronxville Insider: Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin: Weekly Column: Mayor's Column Week of April 4, 2022.

 

Mayor’s Column: April 4, 2022.

Every so often villagers are called upon to aid one of our venerable institutions. Many of you may recall approximately a decade ago when our historic Women’s Club met with some hard times and residents rose up to help, resulting in a now thriving institution filled with intellectual activity serving as a hub for individuals of all ages to gather for culture and festivities.

And just recently so many of you answered the call to save our iconic movie theater that had operated since 1929 but came perilously close to closing due to the effects of the Covid pandemic.

One of our other signature Village institutions, the Bronxville Adult School, was also impacted adversely by COVID and I am asking you to again step up to preserve a storied institution of learning.

By way of background, our school has an almost 80 year history. In November 1942, as Bronxville citizens were preparing themselves for whatever the war and post war years may offer, the Bronxville School and the PTA started adult education classes to fill a vacuum of uncertainty and unknowingly sparked the birth of the Bronxville Adult School (BAS).  The school opened with 180 students with aircraft drafting and blueprint reading attracting 16 students, 13 of whom were women preparing for defense jobs. The “fix it yourself” class was populated with 16 women while 29 other women were in an evening typing class with 14 specializing in stenography. An even balance of 36 men and women met weekly to study Spanish recognizing early the increasing collaboration between the United States and Spanish speaking countries. Many free classes were also offered that centered around leisure activities for children designed to alleviate wartime tension and these classes drew standing room only crowds. Dressmaking, public speaking, music appreciation and woodworking help to round out the inaugural curriculum, thus beginning an 80 year commitment to education.  Summed up perfectly by G. Gordon Studebaker, former Chairman of the BAS, who said in 1957, “It is my sincere conviction that any kind of education or recreational activity which helps people young and old grow in their understanding and abilities or improve their well-being is worthy of all our efforts.” The BAS needs our efforts now.

BAS has been self-sustaining via tuition funding with a limited amount of donations and sponsorships primarily coming from dedicated board members. As recently as 2020, the school was in relatively good financial shape with a comfortable reserve to get them through any unforeseen difficulties. However, the past two years have completely changed the dynamic with so many organizations like BAS just trying to stay afloat. Most of the programming was virtual, requiring the tuition to be much lower and frankly many participants dropped off due to the lack of in person learning. The school was fortunate enough in 2020 to receive two PPP loans and a county grant and for the first time in their history launched a major fundraising campaign, which sadly had disappointing results. These financial infusions help them get through the first year of the pandemic but such revenue avenues were not available in year two and honestly there does not seem to be community awareness that the adult school needs donor support to continue to operate. Currently, the school is relying on their reserves to keep going which is clearly not a sustainable metric.

In person classes at the Bronxville Adult School were finally able to resume in October. However, the two pandemic surges along with the state mask mandate greatly limited the number of classes offered and the school has yet to been able to resume daytime offsite classes in and around Bronxville. The one saving grace has been the new interest in Pickle ball.

Pandemic levels of operation have completely changed the paradigm. Some of the venues are no longer available; many long-term instructors have understandably moved on and their dedicated following has disbursed. To some degree, the school is starting anew in 2022 with new instructors and the hope of new students. Despite increased operating costs, the school is trying to pass on as little as possible to the students because the BAS mission has always been to provide affordably priced lifelong learning to as many students as possible. The school has always tried to keep the fees lower than any other adult program in Westchester to remain faithful to the extraordinary inaugural mission to engage learners from all of our neighboring communities. The School is located in Bronxville but its reach crosses many borders.

We are asking for your assistance and engage your voices in and around Bronxville to develop and participate in a community steering committee that will consider the most effective approaches to rallying community support and increasing classes and needed donations. The effort will hopefully include an 80th anniversary commemoration and/or other initiatives, depending upon the level of commitment and enthusiasm that we generate. It is understandable that there are many other competing priorities while everyone is still very much in recovery mode from a pandemic that is not yet over but I am asking anyone who can lend a hand with financial, creative and sustainable ideas to keep our school going for another 80 years.

Kindly reach out to me directly at Mayor@vobny.com. We need you to be a part of a new team to invigorate BAS.

In the interim, any financial support is so appreciated and can be directed to: The Bronxville Adult School, P.O. Box 334, Bronxville, NY 10708.