NEW WEATHER UPDATE:
DUE TO WET FIELD CONDITIONS, THE ART SHOW WILL BE CANCELLED ON SATURDAY
BUT WILL STILL BE OPEN FROM 10:00AM-5:00PM SUNDAY OCT 1st AS SCHEDULED.

Please wear appropriate footwear.
Any activity changes will be posted.

Riverdale Bronx community residents will hold a rally on Sunday, September 24th, 2023. The rally will be held in reaction to the potential conversion of a former Manhattan College Dormitory into a facility to house migrants. The cite is located at 3810 Waldo Avenue, Bronx, NY. The cross streets are W.238th and Waldo. Political activist and radio talk show host, Curtis Sliwa will be the guest speaker.  It is scheduled for 2pm.

The proposed site would be the second migrant shelter in Riverdale. The first is located at the Van Cortlandt Motel, which is across the street from Van Cortland Park. Photos of the facility show mopeds parked on the sidewalk in front of the motel. According to NYC law, it is illegal to park motorcycles and mopeds on NYC sidewalks. 

"Motorcycle, Motor Scooter, and Moped Parking

When you park a motorcycle, motor scooter, or moped, you must follow the same rules that apply to other vehicles. It is illegal to park motorcycles, motor scooters, and mopeds on the sidewalk." https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01026#:~:text=It%20is%20illegal%20to%20park%20motorcycles%2C%20motor%20scooters%2C%20and%20mopeds,6%20feet%20from%20the%20curb.

In addition, there is drug use in the immediate vicinity of the Van Cortlandt Motel. 

The new location in dispute was recently purchased by the Stagg Group.  The developer maintains a contentious relationship with the Riverdale/Kingsbridge community.  https://news.hamlethub.com/swyonkers/politics/2760-homeless-shelter-planned-for-riverdale-neighborhood

The Stagg Group has applied to the City of New York to convert 3810 Waldo Avenue into a migrant housing facility. 

The building previously housed 400 students.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj_XgW2BnIU

There  are several NYC agencies that are instrumental in providing housing for migrants. One of those agencies is Housing Preservation and Development a.k.a. HPD.  The head of HPD is former Bronx Borough President, Adolfo Carrion.  He was hired by  Mayor Eric Adams’s administration in 2022 as the city’s commissioner of Housing Preservation and Development. 

In 2014, Carrion joined the Stagg Group as an Executive Vice President. At that time, Mark Stagg stated:"We are excited to have Adolfo on our team and recognize the value of his broad experience and knowledge in urban planning, housing and economic development.  We have been investing in the Bronx for almost two decades now; we think the quality of our work speaks for itself; and we are ready to expand into the other boroughs.” https://rew-online.com/adolfo-carrion-joins-the-stagg-group/

The  NYC Department of buildings is presently reviewing a permit request from the Stagg Group to convert the former Manhattan College dormitory into a facility for migrants. 

And so it begins. Contrary to both public and politicians opinions, the Stagg group has applied to the NYC building department to convert the former Manhattan College dormitory located at 3810 Waldo Avenue, into a migrant shelter.  The NYC Dept of Buildings lists two applications dated 9/11/2023 and 9/13/2023  https://a810-dobnow.nyc.gov/publish/Index.html#!/search

The dormitory was sold to the Stagg Group in June 2023 for $18 million dollars. At the time of the sale, Riverdale City Councilman, Eric Dinowitz met with Manhattan College. 

"Councilman Eric Dinowitz met with Manhattan College, and together, they discussed the intentions for Stagg to build a new affordable housing site.

“Riverdale — absolutely needs more affordable housing, there no doubt,” Councilman Eric Dinowitz said. “I’m absolutely against another single men shelter,” "  - Riverdale Press    

Historically, the Stagg Group has had a contentious relationship with the Riverdale and Kingsbridge communities.  Known for the bait and switch approach of pledging affordable housing and subsequently changing that promise to homeless shelters, they have received little support.

https://www.change.org/p/stagg-group-deny-stagg-lies-affordable-housing-bait-and-switch-in-the-bronx

https://nypost.com/2017/07/25/developer-cuts-deal-to-build-homeless-shelter-instead-of-apartments/

The corridor on W. 238th where the proposed migrant shelter would be located is a vibrant commercial zone. There are two popular restaurants, two delis and numerous other business establishments. In addition, there are co op buildings and middle income apartment buildings that  have withstood the tide of economic downfalls over the years.  

In the wake of the unprecedented migrant influx, the City of New York is running out of options to house new arrivals.  Asylum seekers are arriving in New York City at the rate of 2,000 per week.  Although Mayor Adams has questioned the mandatory NYC Right to Shelter law, he still seeks new venues to house migrants. Many migrants now reside in homeless shelters.  It is unclear if they will be the new occupants should the City sign off on Stagg's application. HPD Commissioner, Adolfo Carrion is one of the City officials in the decision making process. Carrion served as Executive Vice President for the Stagg Group in 2014.

It remains to be seen if the W.238th Street neighborhood will succumb to Stagg Nation.

Dr. Peter Wasserman and his father have been dentists at 6011 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, NY for 45 years. Wasserman Sr. purchased the building decades ago. They serve clients in the Bronx and Yonkers.  

Due to their popularity, their practice has grown exponentially. The building itself is well maintained and periodically updated. Yet recently, things began to change. Wasserman dreads when it rains. 

Peter Wasserman states that new construction on neighboring buildings has lead to flooding and a shift in the direction of water flow from the area above and behind his building. His building has been flooded twice in two years. Water as high as six inches destroyed flooring, computers, and dental equipment. Laminated flooring installed six months ago will now have to be stripped  and replaced. 

An investigation by DEP reports that the storm drains servicing 6011 Riverdale Avenue are intact. Wasserman maintains that it is the rear of the building that is vulnerable. Calls to the NYC Dept. of Buildings have been frustrating and produced few results. 

On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, a weary Peter Wasserman continued to receive patients. Due to the rain and the flooding, he had remained at the office from Monday night until 1:00am Tuesday morning. The office was open replete with pumps, fans, water and a dedicated staff. 

Sometimes, the effect of climate change is local. 

In April 2023, SW Yonkers Hamlet Hub reported on a fire in an abandoned building on Warburton Avenue. https://news.hamlethub.com/swyonkers/publicsafety/2735-yonkers-warburton-avenue-fire-scare

In May 2023, SW Yonkers Hamlet Hub reported a broken sidewalk condition at the site of the Warburton fire.  https://news.hamlethub.com/swyonkers/politics/2745-yonkers-broken-sidewalks-equal-broken-promises

To date, the abandoned building remains open to vagrants. The conditions for another fire remain present. There are several homes in the immediate vicinity of the location at Willow and Warburton.  The sidewalk has not been repaired. Pedestrians must use the opposite side of the street. It is unclear whether the City of Yonkers would be liable in the event of a pedestrian injury due to the sidewalk condition. Ultimately, the cost would be absorbed by the taxpayer. 

Yonkers Mayoralty candidate and City Councilman, Anthony Merante, surveyed the area on Saturday, September 2nd and was shocked as a result. Merante is the first Yonkers government official to visit the location. He vowed to initiate a thorough investigation and possible remedy for the residents impacted. 

Neighboring towns such as Hastings on Hudson are now able to convert garages, attics, and basements in privately owned houses to apartments. Home owners may also build tiny houses in their backyards. Will Yonkers be next to allow conversions? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njo0FfXA5WQ&t=8s     https://hcr.ny.gov/adu

The City of Yonkers and the City of New York must be doing something right regarding migrant meals at the Ramada Inn located in Yonkers, NY.  

A recent post from Greenburgh Town Supervisor, Paul Feiner, did not include the Yonkers Ramada on a list of hotels where migrants found food to be inedible. In addition, food vendors are sought to provide catered meals for migrant residents in the area.  The post on popular community forum, NEXT DOOR, stated the following:

LOOKING FOR LOCAL RESTAURANTS WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN BIDDING ON CONTRACT TO PREPARE 3 MEALS A DAY FOR MIGRANTS STAYING AT HOTELS IN ARDSLEY, WHITE PLAINS ASYLUM SEEKERS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT POOR QUALITY OF FOOD---DOCGO PROMISES TO FIND LOCAL VENDORS WHO WILL IMPROVE FOOD QUALITY

 During the past seven weeks 46 Greenburgh student interns have been focusing part of their internships assisting asylum seekers who are staying at an Ardsley hotel. A picnic for the migrants was held last week. Some of the students have been teaching migrants English. Some are involved in a food drive.

 A few weeks ago two student interns appeared before the Greenburgh Town Board advising the Board that the asylum seekers were complaining about the poor quality of the food--which they were told was not eatable.

 We reached out to DocGo and have some good news to report: An official at DocGo who I spoke with today indicated that the company which is being paid to serve the migrants will work hard to improve the quality of meals delivered.

 We are looking to find restaurants who can provide the following:

 THIS IS THE MEMO I RECEIVED FROM DOCGO A SHORT TIME AGO " we will put together something with our marketing team for RFPs. For now, if we can start finding local restaurants that we can start rotating in weekly for special lunches and dinners.

 Please let anyone you know that might be interested in the following: Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner options Budget of $11 per meal Food must be delivered Hot food is great, if served cold please make sure its in a microwave safe container NYC Dietary Guidelines Latin American dishes, Venezuelan dishes, Halal dishes, Spanish dishes, all great options Individual meals are great and preffered, catering cafeteria style is an option, like the picnic.

 3 locations that could benefit from local establishments: 90 individuals – Ardsley Acres Hotel Court – 560 Saw Mill River Pkwy, Ardsley, NY 10706 100 individuals – Central Motel Courtyard- 441 Central Ave. White Plains, NY 10606 60 individuals – El Rancho – 3701 White Plains Rd. Bronx, NY 10467

 If you know of restaurants or caterers who can meet these requirements please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. I will immediately contact DocGo with your contact info.

 I would like to thank Town Clerk Judith Beville for coordinating the summer internship program and Ardsley Mayor Nancy Kaboolian, Congressman Jamaal Bowman and Kathy Wolf for working with the summer interns on this initiative -trying to help the asylum seekers have a better quality of life while they are in our community. 

PAUL FEINER Greenburgh Town Supervisor

Head back out to the Bronx River Parkway with us for more Bicycle Sundays, as the event returns, Sunday, Sept. 10 and will run through Oct. 1 for the season!

The last Sundays of the season in which Bicycle Sundays will take place are Sept. 10, 17 and 24 and Oct. 1. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, “September Bicycle Sundays are a special time as it feels like an extended summer. I’m delighted to welcome cyclists, joggers and families back to the Bronx River Parkway for the fall installment of the 2023 series.”

Westchester County Parks Commissioner Kathy O'Connor said, “Just because summer’s over doesn’t mean it’s time to put away our bikes or running shoes. I encourage folks to get out and ride or jog the Bronx River Parkway to keep moving well into the fall.”

Chairperson of the Westchester Parks Foundation (WPF), Seth Mandelbaum said, “Bicycle Sundays embodies the WPF mission to invest, advocate, and enhance all 50 Westchester County Parks. We thank NewYork-Presbyterian and Con Edison for their continued support of this iconic program and look forward to seeing everyone along the Bronx River Parkway this Fall.”

During Bicycle Sundays, a portion of the Bronx River Parkway is closed to cars from for the exclusive use of bicyclists, joggers, walkers, scooters and strollers. The course runs from the Westchester County Center in White Plains, south to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers, a round-trip of 13.1 miles. There are many points of entry and exit along the way.

Bicycle Sundays is presented by Westchester County Parks and sponsored by Westchester Parks Foundation and its partners, through generous donations from co-presenting sponsors NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester and Con Edison, with Jen’s Cycles in Yonkers as the official Bicycle Sponsor.

Westchester Parks Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, philanthropic organization which provides private support to preserve the County’s Park system and improve the quality of life in our communities. Westchester Parks Foundation’s mission is to invest in, advocate for, and enhance the over 50 parks of the Westchester County Parks system. For more information, visit http://www.thewpf.org

The Ramada Inn located in Yonkers NY, is host to approximately 100 migrant families. Arrivals began in May 2023. The Ramada is located on Tuckahoe Road. 

Young mothers pass through with baby carriages and security personnel remain alert to all activity. Outside, a pile of bikes and moped scooters sit in a heap. 

New York law is specific in regards to bike riders. https://nybc.net/education/bike-law/2-uncategorised/68-a-summary-of-ny-state-bike-laws

In addition, both NYC and the Yonkers Police Department have been diligent in removing unregistered and unlicensed mopeds and electric scooters from the streets. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voI1RdECqNI

This presents a dilemma of how unlicensed migrants driving unregistered scooters will be able to work. If they are unfamiliar with NY traffic and roadways, will they be able to navigate safely on bikes?  Yet, without the means of transportation, many will not be able to earn a living. 

Well wishers and Bike NY have been instrumental in donating bikes to migrants. However, little has been done to educate riders on the safe operation of those bikes. https://www.bike.nyc/blog/news/bike-new-york-offers-free-bikes-to-asylum-seekers/

More needs to be done for the safety of the rider and the safety of the public. 

Robison Summer Concert Series continues on Thursday, Aug. 17 with Zac n’ Fried - A Zach Brown Tribute Band from 7 to 9 p.m. at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla.

Concerts begin at 7 p.m., admission and parking are free. Please bring blankets and lawn chairs for general seating and coolers are permitted.

And, mark your calendars for Thursday, Aug. 31, the final concert in the summer series is The Dave Matthews Tribute Band!

The Robison Summer Concert Series is presented by Westchester County Parks and Sharc Creative with Westchester Parks Foundation, and support from 100.7 WHUD, 107.1 The Peak, Captain Lawrence Brewing Co., Hamlethub, Inspiria Outdoor Advertising, Morano Group Landscapes and Hardscapes, Westchester Magazine and White Plains Hospital.

Kensico Dam Plaza is located at 1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla. For more information, call (914) 864-PARK or click here.

There is a salmonella outbreak that is possibly linked to some Shop Rite stores in the North East. There is no recall to date. 

Consumers are advised to handle and cook ground beef appropriately. https://nypost.com/2023/07/26/salmonella-outbreak-linked-to-ground-beef-in-northeast-sickens-16-hospitalizes-6/

The fate of a small patch of land located in North West Yonkers rests in the hands of a relatively unknown developer, the Yonkers Zoning Board of Appeals and some irate vocal local residents.

A lot located at 289 Warburton Avenue is slated to become a multi unit apartment complex that many say will add to an already crowded corridor of Warburton Avenue.

The rapid expansion of both luxury and middle income development in Yonkers continues to elicit protests. Many feel that not enough is being done for affordable housing. In addition, the lack of sufficient parking and infrastructure fuel the debate. The alleged lack of transparency involving this project and others on the part of the Yonkers ZBA is driving the consternation of the naysayers. 

WARBURTON EQUITIES LLC was established on Sep 28 2022 as a domestic limited liability company type registered at 365 Rt 59 #204 Monsey, New York. Although they are the developer of record for the property on Warburton, there has been no interaction with their company and concerned residents impacted by the project. 

On July 18th, 2023, a meeting was held at the Beczak Center to discuss this project and others in the immediate area. In attendance were several community groups in the Northwest Yonkers area including HRCA a long established activist coalition of North Yonkers residents. 

Topics discussed were the negative impact of new developments on green space and the perceived efforts of the Yonkers ZBA to minimize information to the general public. Yonkers ZBA meeting announcements can be found on the Yonkers Government page. However, pertinent info regarding planning board agendas and the Yonkers ZBA slate are buried under an intricate layer of bureaucratic minutiae. https://www.yonkersny.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/38838/638252810639170000

The Yonkers Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a meeting at 6pm on July 19, 2023 that will be open to the public. It will be held at City Hall on the fourth floor. The venue is a statement on participatory government and that is where the future of 289 Warburton Avenue lies. 

Summer is just around the corner and the time is right for free live music in the park. So mark your calendar for Tramps Like Us, a Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band, to kick off the Robison Summer Concert Series on Thursday, July 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla.

County Executive George Latimer said: “Music brings people together by creating a sense of unity and understanding. It’s been linked to forming social closeness and familial bonds. The beauty of Kensico Dam Plaza sets the perfect atmosphere for residents and their family and friends to smile and unwind.”

Parks Commissioner Kathleen O’Connor said: “We have a terrific lineup this year! Kensico is one of the County’s most popular parks. We want everyone who attends the concerts to sit back, relax and take in the terrific tunes.”

Concerts begin at 7 p.m., admission and parking are free. Please bring blankets and lawn chairs for general seating and coolers are permitted.

The other concerts in the series are:

Thursday, July 27 - Rikki Nicks - A Tribute to Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac
Thursday, Aug. 17 - Zac n’ Fried - A Zach Brown Tribute Band
Thursday, Aug. 31 - The Dave Matthews Tribute Band
The Robison Summer Concert Series is presented by Westchester County Parks and Sharc Creative with Westchester Parks Foundation, and support from 100.7 WHUD, 107.1 The Peak, Captain Lawrence Brewing Co., Hamlethub, Inspiria Outdoor Advertising, Morano Group Landscapes and Hardscapes, Westchester Magazine and White Plains Hospital.

Kensico Dam Plaza is located at 1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla. For more information, call (914) 864-PARK.

Westchester County Parks and Sharc Creative present the White Plains Hospital Screenings Under the Stars series, which kicks off with the musical comedy, Minions: The Rise of Gru on Friday, July 14, at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla. The series features four lighthearted films, all rated PG and released in 2022.