Check Out Your Real Estate Taxes: 2021 Assessment Roll is Online
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Wondering how much your real estate taxes will be next year? The Village of Scarsdale has posted the 2021 assessment roll and your can look up your home here:
If you did not do any construction on your house this past year, your assessment should remain unchanged. And this year, the equalization rate for Scarsdale is 100%, meaning that the value shown is considered the fair market value and you don’t need to do any complicated math to figure out how much you will pay.
However that also means that you might not have much success filing a grievance this year. In recent months homes have been selling at far above their assessed value, so your taxes, for now, may appear reasonable.
If you do want to grieve your taxes, see a link to instructions on how to do so. You only have until June 15, 2021, so act quickly.
Here is an interpretation on the Village’s 2021 assessment roll from local expert Robert Berg. He said, “This will be I believe my ninth year serving on the Board of Assessment Review. Because of an odd statistical coincidence, the State's equalization rate for the Village of Scarsdale this year is 100%. This suggests that the assessed value of a property equals its fair market value. But for most properties, that's not true. The last town-wide assessment was the highly criticized Ryan revaluation conducted in 2016 which led to several thousand property tax grievances over the subsequent years. So our current assessment roll is a hodgepodge of grieved, settled, or court-determined assessments, along with residual Ryan-era assessments. Basically, it's a mess. Moreover, because of the rather spectacular rise in market values over the past year, the assessment valuations, on average, substantially understate the fair market valuations of the properties, even using the July 1, 2020 valuation date for this year's property grievance proceedings.
What this all means is that last year was the year to file a property grievance, not this year. For most Scarsdale properties, filing a property grievance this year will be a losing proposition. My advice this year -- check your tentative assessment value. If you think it is significantly above the fair market value of your property as of July 1, 2020, then contact our Assessor, Victoria Sirota, immediately. If she has time to review your assessment, she will be happy to give you her opinion as to its appropriateness. Indeed, if she feels your property is over assessed, she likely will propose lowering your assessment. If you don't agree with her, you can still file a grievance as long as you file it on or before Grievance Day. Victoria and her staff are extremely courteous and professional, and I encourage you to contact them if you have any questions about the grievance process.”
If you do want to grieve, click here for instructions and forms:
Gun Violence Awareness Day Declared for June 4th
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- Written by Jordi Wiener
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Pat Colella and members of the Westchester Chapter of Moms Demand Action Against Gun Violence gathered at Village Hall at noon on June 1 to receive a proclamation from Scarsdale Mayor Jane Veron declaring June 4 as Gun Violence Awareness Day in Scarsdale.
Before reading the proclamation, Veron thanked the group for their devotion and standing up for their beliefs. She said, “what you do is so important.”
She read the proclamation which was followed by remarks from Pat Colella, the co-lead of the Westchester chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
Pat Colella said,“National Gun VIolence Awareness is an annual event that takes place on the first Friday in June, and is the beginning of Wear Orange Weekend. Wear Orange is dedicated to honoring the lives of people in the United States affected by gun violence and elevating the voice of those demanding an end to gun violence.
Wear Orange originated on June 2, 2015 - what would have been Hadiya Pendelton’s 18th
Shelly Katz, Amy Stern, Elee Bernd, Pat Collela, Ginny Srere, Nan Berke, Sara Kober, Kelly Rogers and Mayor Jane Veron. birthday. It began with teenagers in Chicago, who wanted to honor their friend, Hadiya, after she was shot and killed one week after performing in President Obama’s second Inaugural Parade in 2013.
Gun violence didn’t stop because of COVID-19 - in fact, it worsened. In 2020, the number of people killed by gun violence exceeded 40,000 - the highest rate of gun deaths in two decades.
But as gun violence has grown, so has the movement to stop it. I’m here as a volunteer with the Westchester County Local Group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, which was founded in the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In the 8 years since that tragic day, Moms Demand Action has expanded to include a chapter in every state, with more than 6 million volunteers dedicated to ending the epidemic of gun violence in our nation.
Across the country, Moms Demand Action works with students, survivors of gun violence, law enforcement officers, faith leaders, teachers, doctors, and all kinds of Americans who know there is more we can do to prevent gun violence.
Together, we advocate for stronger laws and policies that will save lives, and we are proud to be a driving force behind many Wear Orange events.
On behalf of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, I thank Mayor Veron and the Village of Scarsdale for supporting us in this important movement.”
Scarsdale Library Celebrates Opening After Ten Years of Planning and Building
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Bermel Cuts the Blue Ribbon: Photo Credit Andi SchreiberIn a triumph of community collaboration, generosity and optimism Scarsdale celebrated the long awaited ribbon cutting for the newly renovated and expanded Scarsdale Public Library on a crisp spring morning on Friday May 7, 2021.
In the audience were about 70 believers who took the transformation of the library from an antiquated and cramped warren of shelves and offices to a 30,000 square foot glass and steel media hub that will serve the community in the century to come. In the process they reimagined the purpose and function of libraries, creating a model of how a library can facilitate an entire town from toddlers to seniors. The inviting suite of rooms spaces will attract first time readers, teens, scholars, at-home workers and seniors and meeting rooms will host speakers, meetings, classes and events
The process spanned ten years and encountered many hurdles. The first was to convince a reluctant Village Board to commit to a public private partnership that required an ambitious fundraising plan. A dedicated campaign committee, formed by the Friends of the Scarsdale Library, sought training in how to fundraise and then embarked on a multi-year initiative to garner $7.5 million in donations, the largest campaign in Scarsdale’s history.
Current and former Village Trustees: Photo Credit Andi SchreiberAnother hurdle included "right sizing" the project. Early plans came in with a high price tag and had to be scaled back by more than $2 million to align with community tolerances. Then ground testing revealed that site conditions would require more design engineering. Luckily, creative solutions were available at every turn, generated by dedicated consultants in consultation with a determined building committee. A bond was passed and Scarsdale donors stepped up.
In 16 months, the Campaign raised $8M, exceeding their goal by half a million dollars and demonstrating Scarsdale’s commitment to improving the library. Even when cost overruns occurred, Library leaders identified funds to cover construction without putting an added burden on taxpayers. But securing the funds was only one the initial hurdle.
During construction an interim home had to be found for the library. Another $750,000 including $500,000 from a state grant secured by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, was used to build out a satellite library at Supply Field which served as the library’s home for two years,
Jane Veron, Elyse Klayman, Felicia Block, Dara Gruenberg, Amy Paulin, Elizabeth Bermel, Diane Greenwald and Margot Millberg
Throughout this period, a changing roster of Friends of the Library and Library Board members in cooperation with the Village and Library Director Elizabeth Bermel remained determined to meet their goal. And even when the library was finally complete in the fall of 2020, yet another obstacle fell in its path. The corona virus prevented the public from entering the dazzling building which remained virtually empty until March 2021.
It’s no surprise that many choked back tears as their dream came to fruition last week when they watched Elizabeth Bermel struggle to get through her remarks and cut the official ribbon to mark the library’s opening.
Among the attendees were the Mayor, former and current Village Trustees, Friends of the Scarsdale Library, former and current members of the Library Board, Village staff, representatives from the Westchester Library Association, neighborhood association presidents, county and state officials, library employees and community members who gave time and money to the effort.
Library Board President Felicia Block opened the ceremonies and thanked many who were responsible for bringing the project to fruition. She said, “This project was the result of years of hard work, a beautiful public private partnership, under the leadership of so many. So please forgive me as I begin by thanking the Scarsdale Library Presidents from the past ten years.
Diane Greenwald
Margot Millberg and Elyse Klayman. Photo Credit: Andi Schreiber
Elyse Klayman
Barbara Josselsohn
Terri Simon
Michelle Lichtenberg
Margot Milberg
From dreaming it - to planning it - to building it. You led us through it all. While you are not standing with me physically, you are all up here with me as we share this incredible day together.”
Dara Gruenberg, the President of the Friends of the Scarsdale Library and co-chair of the capital campaign, thanked fundraising consultants Plan A for “turning a group of amateurs, many of whom were afraid to ask anyone for money, into fundraising ninjas.” She called the process, “magic.”
Gruenberg said, “What a fantastic, albeit circuitous, journey this has been -- from the glimmer of an idea for a 21st century library a decade ago to the reality of this incredible building behind me – it is hard to believe this day has come! This reimagined library is truly the most special project I have ever been a part of. It is not just because the building is magnificent and the possibilities for the space are endless, it is because of all of you. The teamwork, partnership, and perseverance demonstrated by so many imbue every square inch of this building. It is remarkable. And perhaps, the theme throughout this chapter in our library’s history is a community coming together to reimagine its center for lifelong learning and to ensure that it will benefit Scarsdale for generations. The relationships that were forged along the way are so dear, and the magic, because really there is no other word for it, surrounding this project is unforgettable.”
Andrew Sereysky, Michelle Lichtenberg and Mona LongmanMayor Jane Veron said, “Today is a day that dreams come true. I’m overcome with pure joy and tremendous appreciation. How exciting that we’re all here together to celebrate our beloved community treasure and to mark an important moment in Scarsdale’s history. When I look at our newly renovated and expanded library, I see not only exquisitely modernized inviting space but also the embodiment of what makes Scarsdale so special: a commitment to lifelong learning, inclusiveness, and community engagement. Very personally, this gorgeous building is also a symbol, a reminder to me, of what we can accomplish when we all pull together.
Over a decade ago, we embarked on a journey. And every one of you here played an important part. To push this project forward, you shared huge quantities of your time, talent, insight and expertise. I don’t need to tell you - the path to today was not easy. There were many ups and downs, advances and setbacks, challenges and small victories. But this group was undeterred, truly unstoppable. A reimagined library became a community movement.”
Choking back tears, Library Director Elizabeth Bermel, who was with the team every step of the way said, “As I look around this crowd, which I didn’t even think would be possible a couple months ago, I feel like I’m a guest on “This Is Your Life.” Because, let’s be honest, this project has dominated my life for about a decade, and every one of you has played a significant role in some way. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here.”
“The ups and downs are too many to mention, but no project can exist without them. But, really, a pandemic? There were tears, there was cursing, but there was a lot of laughter and celebration as well. The support and encouragement during the downs and the shared joy during the ups mean more to me than you will ever know. I cannot possibly publicly acknowledge all of you individually, but I echo the sentiments of earlier speakers, and I hope each of you knows what you have done for this project and for me, personally and professionally, and you have my deepest gratitude.”
Jon Mark and John Harris
“….. Scarsdale prides itself on its spirit of volunteerism, and this project proves it in spades. I can’t even begin to calculate the hours your friends and neighbors have contributed to making this dream come true. And for that, I say: Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“So, cheers to every last one of you. May the Scarsdale community enjoy the fruits of our labor for generations to come.”
On May 10, The library announced expanded in-person hours and services. Visit the new library during these hours:
Mondays: 1 PM - 8 PM
Tuesday: 11 AM – 4 PM
Wednesday: 1 PM – 8 PM
Thursday: 11 AM – 4 PM
Friday: 11 AM - 4 PM
Saturday: 11 AM – 4PM
Attend the "Love our Library" Spring Celebration for families, Saturday May 15 from 10 am to 4pm. Sign up here:
Armed Robbery at Rite Aid in Hartsdale
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Late Sunday afternoon May 23, Greenacres residents reported an ongoing police search and the sound of helicopters overhead. Now we know why.
According to the Greenburgh Police Department, three men, armed with a knife and a gun robbed the Rite Aid at 196 East Hartsdale Avenue at around 4:55 pm. They stole merchandise and fled toward the Hartsdale Train Station. Police located two of the suspects at the train station and they were identified by witnesses and arrested. The stolen merchandise was recovered. The third fled onto the Bronx River Parkway bike path and a search ensued. Scarsdale police canvassed Greenacres but were unable to locate the suspect.
He was described as a black male, approximately 20 years old, 5'10-", thin build with a light blue backpack, gray sweats and a white doo rag. The knife and gun that were displayed at the robbery were not recovered.
Here are the identities of the two defendents who were arrested
Elijah McLendon
658 E 234th Street
Bronx, NY
Age 21
Elijah Walls
658 E 234th Street
Bronx, NY
Age 19
All Restrictions on Restaurant Dining to be Lifted May 19, COVID Counts Going in the Right Direction
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Though only 40% of Westchester’s 967,000 residents have been fully vaccinated, it’s not an issue of availability. At his weekly briefing on Monday May 3, 2021, County Executive George Latimer reported that between the Westchester County Center, the Yonkers Armory and two county clinics, 338,000 people have been vaccinated. And when you add in other locations, the total is 380,217 vaccinated people in Westchester. In fact, he projects that the county’s supply of the vaccine will soon outstrip demand.
In order to vaccinate more residents, the county is opening pop-up or satellite locations so that they can bring the vaccine to neighborhoods where people will have an easier time accessing them. The county has collaborated with the NY Knicks to launch a campaign to encourage younger adults to get vaccinated. The campaign targets younger adults and their parents with posters, a video and a social media campaign in English and Spanish that says, “I Kicked COVID to the Curb.” Watch the video here.
In the meantime, all COVID statistics for the county are moving in the right direction. As of Sunday May 2, there were 2,187 active COVID cases in Westchester, a decline of more than 1,000 cases from 3,208 the prior week.
In Scarsdale there are only 14 active cases.
As of Sunday Saturday May 2, 116 people were hospitalized due to COVID, down from 131 the prior week and weekly deaths have fallen into the single digits.
Another positive sign is the news that all capacity limits on restaurants are expected to be eliminated on May 19, though tables will still be required to be six feet apart.
Bicycle Sundays on the Bronx River Parkway kicked off on Sunday May 3 and will continue throughout the summer until the end of October. This is a change from prior years when Bicycle Sundays were suspended during the summer months.
In other news, the MTA reports that subways will resume 24 hour service on May 17, 2021, ending months of nighttime closures.
