County Exec Says Communities Must Rely on Grass-Roots

Federal and State Aid Is “Too Uncertain” in Emergencies

by Harold Wolfson

(May 22, 2008) Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano believes that if future County emergencies are to be handled well and a high quality of life is to be maintained locally, “People at the grass-roots are going to have to make these things happen.”

County Executive Andy Spano said communities must look to grass-roots organizations when emergencies occur. Photo by John Gitliz

This is what he told social service agencies, local government officials and activists at the Local Summit’s May 20th meeting at the Nautilus Diner.

He indicated that the buck stopped with the very people in that room. He suggested that officials at the state and federal level have proven too distant and uninvolved to be relied upon to help solve local needs, especially when things have to happen fast.

His comments were part of a question and answer session designed to shed light on opportunities for collaboration by the County with non-profit agencies and local governments.

Mr. Spano said he likes to think of the County government as the government of all 43 Westchester municipalities. He said the County “tries to do what you ask….our attitude is whatever works, we’ll do…we will partner with anyone if it makes programs more effective.”

Social Service Program

Much of the County’s mental health and other social programs “have been run through not-for-profits,” he said. This has meant a more efficient and precisely targeted delivery of services to those who need it. He also pointed to the County’s support of United Way’s 211 program that connects residents to the health and human services they need, 24 hours, 7 days a week, through a free, easy-to-dial multi-lingual information and referral service. This has been a big success.

Transportation Issue

Larchmont Trustee Richard Ward asked Mr. Spano where he came out on resolving problems of Stewart Airport and the Tappan Zee Bridge.

Mr. Spano was somewhat ambivalent about what is happening with the airport. He said that the Port Authority bought Stewart Airport, “but they can’t run the three other airports” they own. He said that the airport needs a rail link between it and New York City to make it work and also noted the Port Authority has already received a $5 million grant to study this. But he warned that if the Authority replicates at Stewart how it operates its other airports, we will simply get the same problems.

In regard to what to do about the ailing Tappan Zee Bridge, Mr. Spano believed it was important to look at all options in terms of what they mean to the quality of life in Westchester in general and Tarrytown in particular. “Our biggest asset is quality of life,” he said. That is why we should “not widen Route 287,” which would encourage excessive vehicular traffic. What is needed in the redesigned bridge is “a mass transit component.” That could be a light rail, commuter rail or rapid transit solution, he said. He reemphasized there was a point beyond which traffic volume could overrun Tarrytown and the area around it.

The overarching “problem is there is no current government money to build this bridge,” which could run between $2-$5 billion, he said. All of the money allocated for transportation infrastructure improvements for several years ahead has already been spoken for. He did indicate there was the possibility of private investment capital available, such as from hedge funds, but this would require a lot of study.

He noted, as an aside, that since the rapid rise in the cost of gasoline, Westchester County’s bus system ridership has gone up 12%, a possible signal about where future transportation improvement might come.

Affordable Housing

Mary McDonald, a Summit board member, asked what Mr. Spano thought could be done to increase the availability of affordable housing. He said that “there are money and builders to do this, but the problem is localities tend to stymie efforts with regulations and lack of willpower.”

“Affordable housing is my most difficult problem,” he said. “We are way ahead of where we used to be,” but not where we want to be. He said that the County is talking to various groups about the possibility of building affordable housing above storefronts and in shopping centers for teachers and others who are eligible. He said it would be very helpful if houses of worship built housing and that the County was looking into various ways to secure housing for its own workers.

Food Pantry Needs

James McDonald, a volunteer with the local Food Pantry, asked about the mounting problem of getting food for those who need it. Mr. Spano said that the County participates with Westchester food pantry groups in providing 7 million meals a year. This is mostly for working poor - those whose salaries do not cover the cost of necessities. He explained that food pantries buy food from the Food Bank, which has not had a warehouse big enough to store all the food the food pantries need.

The County, however, plans to build a large food warehouse jointly with the Food Bank. It will be a dual purpose building. In normal times it will be used to house food supplies, but in emergencies it will be used as an emergency shelter.

He said food needs often relate to the lack of affordable housing. If a working family has to pay 50% of its income for housing, there often isn’t enough left for food.

Flooding

Keith Yizar, chairman of the Greater Mamaroneck Community Action Program Center and a board member of the Summit, asked what the County was doing in regard to flood remediation.

Mr. Spano said this was an ongoing problem and that possibly global warming played a role. He noted, as has been previously reported, that the County has committed $50 million for flood remediation over the next five years. “We cannot wait for the federal government, or the state or the Corps of Engineers.” He said that the program, which has specific requirements for applicants, now has received five municipal applications, all from Sound Shore communities.

He said that the County was in discussion with the Army Corps of Engineers on flooding affecting Westchester’s park system.

Looking at Mamaroneck’s flooding problems, he said the confluence of the Sheldrake and Mamaroneck Rivers was a real problem. During periods of high water, there is no way the water from the two rivers can pass through their confluence without overflowing.

He said that one possible solution being examined was to divert one of the rivers to Long Island Sound through a different route. “This might be able to be done,” he said.

But he added that there are many practical flooding issues to be reckoned with. “If you build on a flood plain, you will have problems. If your heating and cooling system is in a basement which floods, you will have problems.” He said new regulations are needed as to where and how to build in areas prone to flooding.

Harold Wolfson is is a board member of The Local Summit, an informal community council which tries to make the community a better place to live for everyone. Its monthly public meetings are held at the Nautilus Diner at 7:45 am on the third Tuesday of the month. Meetings are not held in July and August.

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