Westchester County Officials Condemn Violence and Announce Increased Security Through Inauguration Day
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Joint Statement Against Violence and Hate From Westchester County Chiefs Of Police Association And The Office Of The Westchester County District Attorney
The Westchester County Chiefs of Police Association and the Office of the Westchester County District Attorney strongly condemn the violent assault on our nation’s Capitol on January 6 and stand united against hate.
We recognize that this is an uncertain and uneasy time in our county and across the country. We pledge that law enforcement agencies will continue to protect and serve the people and communities of Westchester County and maintain public safety in a fair and unbiased manner.
We also want the people of Westchester to know that law enforcement agencies across the county stand ready and willing to work closely with our federal law enforcement partners on investigations of the insurrection in Washington.
We send our condolences to the families of Capitol Police Officers Brian D. Sicknick and Howard Liebengood and those who were injured trying to protect the Capitol and its inhabitants.
Westchester County Statement on Security Efforts through Inauguration Day
The Westchester County Department of Public Safety continues to follow events in Washington D.C. and is monitoring all available law enforcement intelligence information about any potential protests in New York. The County Police are working in conjunction with all of its federal, state and local law enforcement partners in this effort.
In addition, the County Police have detectives assigned to several federal task forces, including the FBI Joint Terrorist Task Force, which gives us real-time access to any credible threats against Westchester or the New York metropolitan region.
Additional police patrols will be deployed from now through Inauguration Day to enhance public safety and ensure our ability to respond to any situation that may arise.
Local Leaders Comment on Attempted Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol
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The storming of the capitol on Wednesday January 6, 2021 spurred comments from our local leaders. Newly elected Congressman Jamaal Bowman witnessed the breach firsthand, and is calling for Trump to be removed from office. See below. Also find comments from State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, County Exectuive George Latimer and Rabbi Jonathan Blake.
Congressman Jamaal Bowman
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) is safe and secure following the breach of the Capitol today by white supremacist extremists incited by President Trump and called for Trump’s immediate removal from office.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to check in. Myself and my staff are safe and sheltering,” Bowman said. “What we saw today was an attempted coup, fueled by white supremacy and a fascist in the White House—the logical extension of our failure to reconcile our history. This IS America. As a start, we must remove Trump from office immediately. Then we must get to work to pursue a mission of truth and reconciliation with our country’s racist and violent past and present.”
Bowman will vote to certify the results of the Electoral College and Vice President Joe Biden’s victory in the election. He joins Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) in calling for the expulsion of the Republican members of Congress who incited the attack on the Capitol and calls for impeachment proceedings against President Trump for his open sedition.
State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin
Dear Scarsdale Community,
What started out as a day of hope, confirming the vote count for our new, democratically elected President, has now shockingly descended into ugliness and sadness. The peaceful transition of power is a cornerstone of our democracy and country. The rioters who have stormed the Capitol are criminals who have no regard for democracy. They do not represent America. I have faith in this country. In two weeks we will have a new president, and I have every hope that the new administration will heal this divide. It must happen. We will get through this.
These rioters have tried to damage and upend our democracy today but we will not let them. We must turn a corner so that we instead thrive on peace, justice and love for each other. In that way we can heal and make this country a better place. As your elected leader I will always represent every member of our community so that we can all contribute to society in a positive way and live under an ethos of justice and love.
County Executive George Latimer
“We’ve all watched television this afternoon with some sense of horror about the attack at the Capitol that has happened when a large group of individuals stormed the Senate and House of Representatives. They marched inside into the chambers and disrupted the work of both houses as they seek to complete the electoral process of the Electoral College. I had to remind myself, and all of us, that this is a nation of law - not of men. We set rules and standards for a reason - and we pride ourselves as nation on following those rules because it gives equal opportunity for all and an equal sense of responsibility we have to each other as fellow residents and citizens.
“In the history of this nation, no matter how much conflict we have had - and there is conflict built in every day in the halls of government - we never go from disagreements as fellow Americans to inciting violence or expecting that a mob can control a legislative body in order to impose its will outside of its legislative structures.
“We have the right to free speech and the right to free assembly but you don’t have the right to impose you will, which you perceive to be the truth, upon all the rest of Americans because you feel so strongly about it. We all feel strongly about the things we believe in but we don’t go beyond that in the world of violence to impose that.
“We have a situation that represents today what is culmination of a number of years where we have broken down the proper barriers that protect us as a democracy. We have existed for over 250 years as a democracy, but no democracy has existed indefinitely. Totalitarianism always knocks. It’s always easier to rule completely if one man rules the whole nation, without a need for messy debate.
“You have that in Russia, China, North Korea, Iran – and we don’t want the here in the United States of America. It is time for our fellow Americans to understand that the election process has played out and has given us a new President and a new Congress. In two years time, if individuals are dissatisfied with Congress, they get a chance to change the House of Representatives and 1/3 of the Senate – in 4 years they can change the President and the Congress again. And they have that opportunity at the state and local level all throughout. That’s the American system. Mob-ocracy is not the American system. I know that today people who are Democrats and Republicans will join voices to decry what happened in today in Washington. Let this be a reminder we have a civic responsibility to not only vote but to uphold the basics of our democratic society. Or else, as Ben Franklin said ‘it’s democracy only if we can keep it.’”
Rabbi Jonathan Blake
Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel used to say: on three things does the world stand: "On justice, on truth and on peace, as it is said: 'Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates' (Zechariah 8:16)."
As I compose this message at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, I, like many of you, are watching, with alarm, the scene unfolding in our nation's capital. Let us here affirm our Jewish tradition's wisdom: Rabban Gamaliel understood that civil society must rest on shared, civic commitments to Justice, Truth, and Peace. Without these, the world as we know it cannot stand.
I join you in anxiously watching this precarious situation unfold, and we will continue to monitor these disconcerting developments. As we do, let us draw strength and solidarity from the knowledge that, no matter our political party or preferences, we all care deeply about our country. Let us draw confidence from the knowledge that, no matter how we, as Reform Jews, individually understand and practice our faith, we all can draw strength, solace, and unity from the wellspring of timeless Jewish values.
Scented Gifts to Enhance Your Holidays from ScentFluence
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Scarsdale’s new ScentFluence Aroma Design Studio provides immersive sensory experiences that will help you to energize, and de-stress, improve concentration and relaxation, as well as conjure beautiful memories and leaving your space perfectly scented.
Located in the heart of the village at 22 Harwood Court ScentFluence provides individuals with options to shift their senses to an entirely different level. ScentFluence offers a wide range of scents imagined and designed by owner, scent expert and Scarsdale resident, Caroline Fabrigas
They invite you to stop in and explore ScentFluence’s library where you’ll find over 60 entirely original scents as well as some easy to use and professional diffuser options to enhance any room and suit each person on your gift list.
Some unique holiday gifting scent options include pairing any of the scents below with one of ScentFluence’s ambient aroma diffusers;
For fitness fans – Get a boost with “Full of Energy.”
Home schooling? – Give the gift of focus with “Peppermint” the historically known way to refresh your mind and elevating your focus. Pair with one of their USB scent sticks.
Create the sensation of a Home Spa – with “Clear Eucalyptus.”
Find your balance with “Tree Pose” the latest yoga inspired scent for peace during the busy holiday season.
Need a gift for childcare helpers? Their newest scent, “Child’s Pose” delivers a sense of calm.
Rest easy with “Lavender Basil” - one of three lavender aromas crafted to help you wind down at the end of a stressful day.
Recreate the memory of a night by the fire with “By the Fire.”
Compliment the chef with an assortment of wonderful “Gourmand scents” such as Whipped Berries, Brownie, Bourbon and Cognac.
Try the perfumers secret they’ve been using with our client’s for years – the art of fragrance layering for your home! Contact them to learn more.
Phone orders, curb side pick-up and delivery within the local Scarsdale area available.
Other gift options include a selection of Apotheke candles, diffusers and soaps, NEST Fragrances + Pura diffuser holiday gift sets.
ScentFluence Aroma Design Studio also offers small, social distanced, private group scent library tours by appointment. These unique tours led by Caroline are informative and entertaining Scent Library tours are a great holiday gift or a wonderful way to celebrate any special occasions into the New Year and beyond. Call 914 338 5070 or email [email protected] for your private appointment. Gift Certificates available.
Holiday Hours
Tuesday – Friday 11:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday 10:00-5:00pm
Sunday (thru end of December) 12:00pm-5:00pm
*Covid restrictions upheld and required.
www.scentfluence.com
Instagram @scentflunce
Facebook @scentflunce
A Dark Christmas for 471 Without Power in Scarsdale
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Howling winds overnight on December 24-25 knocked out power lines to 471 Scarsdale customers, primarily located in Fox Meadow. Power lines are reported to be down on Post Road and Brite Avenue
According to the Con Edison outage map as of noon on Christmas day, more work is required before they can provide an estimate of the restoration time.
As if this year had not brought enough misfortune, now about 8% of Con Edison’s Scarsdale customers will spend their holiday in the cold – and dark.
The utility reports that a total of 16,126 customers in Westchester County are without power.
If you have any information, please share it in the comments section below.... and send any storm photos to [email protected].
A downed tree took out a trampoline on Murray Hill Road.
Freightway Parking Garage Hangs in the Balance
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After negotiations to build a transit-oriented development on the Freightway site reached an impasse earlier in the year, the Village was left with a deteriorating parking garage and the need to foot the bill for yearly maintenance and long-term repairs. Then the COVID crisis hit and the garage was abandoned by commuters and parking revenues for the Village virtually dried up.
Eleven months later, the Village still faces the same problems. Should we continue to invest in the preservation of the garage or build something new on the property?
Built in 1973, the 48-year-old structure requires yearly repair and maintenance in order to keep each parking level safe and functional for town residents. In 2002, the Village of Scarsdale invested over $1.5 million in the garage for necessary restoration and upkeep work. Since then, the town authorized various smaller scale financings for Freightway, including $88,000 in 2005 for security camera installations, $33,000 in 2016 for repairs to the top deck level, $100,000 in 2018 for drainage and brickwork, and $100,000 in 2019 for concrete repairs.
As we close out 2020, the Village of Scarsdale must make critical decisions on what the future of the Freightway Garage will look like. The Village Trustees are split on the matter, with some advocating for a pause on spending, some pushing for continuing yearly maintenance repairs, and others hoping to develop the property into something else entirely.
In 2018, seven development firms presented their preliminary visions for the future of the site. These plans included various combinations of improvements, with some creating residential units, increasing parking capacity, building retail and office spaces, and adding pedestrian bridges and plazas. These models generated enthusiasm from some who visualized the property as a key to revitalizing the downtown and bringing new residents to town. However others feared the impact on school enrollment numbers, additional traffic and the effect on the existing Garth Road retailers who would be impacted by a multi-year construction project.
After considerable dissent, in January 2020, these development plans were put on hold while the Village of Scarsdale weighed its options on how to proceed with the garage and the 2 acre site.
On Tuesday December 7, the Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees held a meeting to discuss the future of Freightway Parking Garage via Zoom video conferencing. Attending the meeting was Jack Caliendo, a Senior Associate from Desman Associates, a firm hired to provide consulting engineering services and perform a condition assessment of the garage. Mr. Caliendo presented the Board of Trustees with a Condition Survey Report that can be found here.
The survey concluded that the garage is in “fair to poor physical condition... (with) cracks on the structural slab 
and traffic membrane observed throughout the parking garage.” Additionally, the firm reported that “the cracks and the failed caulk joints have permitted seepage of moisture into the concrete slab initiating corrosion of the embedded reinforcement and metal deck soffit” which then resulted in “deterioration of the supported concrete floors.” The report goes on to detail where the garage faces leeks, steel corrosion, clogged drains, and other maintenance and structural issues.
Mr. Caliendo estimated that the garage could last another 20-25 years if properly maintained. If the upkeep does not remain current, he anticipated only 10 years of future use. To plan for the future of the site, Desman Associates developed a course of action for the next 25 years that would cost an estimated $8 million. The first five years would focus on the most pressing structural fixes, waterproofing work, and drainage repairs. In later years, the firm budgets for necessary guard replacements, paintwork, and lighting and exterior improvements.
After Mr. Caliendo presented his findings and 25-year maintenance plan, several trustees expressed concerns about the cost of the project. Trustee Jonathan Lewis said that in light of Scarsdale’s current revenue challenges, he believes that the board’s efforts should be focused on establishing the budget for the next fiscal year. Trustee Lena Crandall echoed this sentiment and highlighted that “there are too many unknowns right now” amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. She suggested enlisting the Scarsdale Forum or the Scarsdale League of Women Voters to engage the community and suggest ideas for future uses of the garage.
Trustee Randall Whitestone endorsed this idea and emphasized that because we are still in the middle of the pandemic and a period of economic uncertainty, he does not think the town has the capacity to make any concrete decisions regarding the future of Freightway.
Mayor Samwick made one last attempt to restart the development process but was not able to convince others on the board. He said, “I agree with what has been said – but the potential for the Freightway site is an economic decision. Do we want to spend money on repairs – or do we want to look for a revenue opportunity?... We now have $2.4 million in revenue shortfalls in the present year and there will be shortfalls in the coming year. … There were concerns about the size and scope of previous proposals. If we don’t need that large a garage, this could have a positive effect on the Village. Let’s see if we can engage with the community. This is a fiscal discussion. What’s the harm of having some focus groups?
Justin Arest said, "Finding the best value for that site is important. This benefit would not come from many years – we need to discuss our situation now. I am concerned that we’re having these discussions when we don’t have the time for other serious discussions."
Looking at the future, Trustees wondered if work and commuting habits may have been permanently changed by the pandemic and asked whether a garage of this size would ever be fully occupied again. They discussed the need to generate revenue and ideas for alternate uses for the garage such as installing solar panels on the roof for a solar energy farm or renting out a few levels to a car rental company or an auto dealership. They agreed that more work was needed but that the Village budget, not the garage, was a priority at this time.
In conclusion, the Village of Scarsdale is currently stuck with an ailing garage and has no plans to move forward with either developing the site or investing in the necessary maintenance work. While the future remains uncertain, for the time being, the Freightway Parking Garage will stand unchanged.
