WHY ADD SUCH SUBSTANTIAL RISK, WHEN THE POTENTIAL REWARD IS SO MINIMAL?
SIZE PROMOTES STABILITY AND ALLOWS THE COST OF ERRORS AND UNTOWARD EVENTS TO BE AMORTIZED OVER A LARGER GROUP, DRASTICALLY REDUCING RISK.
INCORPORATION GENERATES RISK!
1. PARKS:
Why should a substantial number of our neighbors LOSE ACCESS TO PARKS AND REC. services which they have utilized for years, including swimming and tennis at Veteran Park, use of the swimming facilities for our Edgemont Day Camp, EHS Tennis Team practice courts and the loss of W Rumbrook Field for Little League? Is it not the responsibility of a government to meet the needs of all of its residents, even those who can’t afford or choose not to join a private golf and tennis club or expensive day or sleep-away camp?
2. COMMUTER PARKING:
Only 264 designated parking spots for 329 Edgemont Commuter Parkers
Why RISK the loss of commuter parking at Hartsdale Station, which will be decided by litigation WITHOUT GUARANTEE OF RESULT? Even if successful, who will administer the new Parking Authority and how would the cost of purchasing the land affect DEBT and PARKING FEES? Where are those costs in the EIC budget? THEY ARE NOT!
3. EMS:
Who will provide ambulance service, as the EIC budget does not include this expense?
Who will provide Basic Life Support Services currently being provided by trained GPD officers? Is the cost of training every Edgemont PD officer as an EMT included in the EIC budget?
4. POLICE:
If there is an EMERGENCY OR CRISIS how will a minimally staffed PD, with minimal supervisory personnel, protect us? Should the drastic budget cuts looming for Greenburgh diminish “mutual aid,” where will we find back-up services?
5. DPW:
Why GIVE UP a large well staffed and excellently equipped DPW, in exchange for a bare bones and minimally equipped operation, which cannot offer the same level of service? In the event of a massive storm or untoward series of events, how will you transport your children to school and get to work?
6. DEBT:
Why incur a MINIMUM of $14,795,000 in new construction debt, along with a MINIMUM of $11,000,000 in historical Greenburgh Town Debt, while “THROWING AWAY” nearly $20,000,000 representing our lost share of Greenburgh’s Town Assets? Are there other looming debt liabilities the EIC missed?
The cost of Debt Service EACH YEAR for new debt only, non-inclusive of the historical debt, is projected by the EIC to be $843,850 in year one, accelerating to $1,168,850 in year five, without any contingency funding.
7. GOVERNANCE:
Why add and pay for another layer of government? Who will be running our Village? There is no way to ensure that the first and future elected governments will follow the EIC model. Will the first slate of candidates be chosen by the Edgemont Community Council/EIC, by a small group of individuals without full community involvement, in the same manner as the Edgemont School Board?
BASIC LOGIC:
WHY ATTEMPT TO FIX A SYSTEM WHICH IS NOT BROKEN, WHEN THE ENORMOUS RISK, IN TERMS OF REDUCTION OF SERVICE, LONG TERM DEBT, HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES AND POTENTIAL LIFE-SAFETY IS SO CLEAR?????
WHY PAY THE SAME AMOUNT OF TAXES OR MORE, FOR FEWER AND POORER SERVICES?????