Final Statement from Ossining Village Trustee Omar J. Herrera

Ossining, NY, December 4, 2019: This year marks my 12th year in public and civic service at the local, county and state level. Tonight, is my last meeting as an elected local public servant. Its remarkable how much can be accomplished in a little over a decade together and it has been a privilege and greatest challenge to have served my community.

I began this term by setting the tone very clear right on my Inauguration Day in January 2018, I said: "You cannot let the fear of failure, the fear of judgment stop you from doing what will make you/us great. We must take these risks. Do what’s uncomfortable,make them uncomfortable, let yourself fail. Fail, pick yourself up and fail again because without this struggle what is our success. Don’t let fear stop you." #OssiningRiseUP

During the past five years both on and off the Ossining Village Board of Trustees I along with some colleagues have:

Fought and worked to make your Village government, departments and its operations more Transparent and Accessible by:

-Advocating publicly for almost a year in 2014 to stop the censorship of the public sessions of the Legislative Sessions of the Board. As a Trustee, I worked with all members of the Board to “turn the cameras back on” during the public comment sections.

-Launched mobile and virtual office hours throughout the village in 2015.

-Creating social media accounts that are updated frequently to keep residents engaged and informed through live-streaming, photos and links to important village information.

-Requesting that public budget meetings be recorded and streamed for public access and future review & accountability. Residents have the right to watch and review every single decision relating to how their municipal budget came to be.

-Speaking up about the prompt Departure of previous Village Manager this past spring 2019 and how the new appointment of an Interim Manager was not approved or discuss by the entire board. This was the 5th manager in 6 years.

-Proposing the Villages 1st ever Language Access Policy and implementation steps for interpreters, transcription and procedures to truly make the Village inclusive and equitable for all.

-Making it clear I wouldn’t support the current Ossining Waterfront Dock Extension project on public property if its use and design was not fit for the majority of current village residents (fishing and kayaking vs. parking for big boats and visitors).

Supported Our Immigrant Community and Stood Up Against Hate by:

-Beginning the year by sharing my story as a low-income life-long Village of Ossining child of immigrants at my 2nd inauguration.

-I served on the NeighborsLink Exploratory Committee before and after its Ossining site opening, worked with their staff and ED to address community concerns.

-Called Ossining Village Police Commissioners (this Village Board) along with my colleague Trustee Quantel Bazemore to give a directive to our the Ossining Police Department to stop their practice of escorting and/or observing ICE during questioning, raids or arrest in our community because if it's unintentional perception it causes and how much more harm that does.

-Supported and advocated for the NYS Green Light NY Bill- which now provides a legal and fair pathway to obtain drivers license for our undocumented residents.

-Invited the NYLCU Westchester County Chapter to educate the board on our disentanglement policies between local governments and ICE. They provide many recommendations on how to revise and edit our resolution.

-Condemned the unfortunate Noose incident at our Waterfront on August 1, 2019 by issuing a joint statement with Trustee Bazemore stating “As it triggered memories and it a reminder that racism is alive and well even in a place that celebrates "diversity". We should all be offended by all symbols and acts of racism and rise up against it.”

Fought for Affordable, Accessible and Equitable Housing and Tenant Rights
By voting in favor of the 2nd Housing Needs Assessment to determine if the Village had a Housing Emergency.

-By voting in favor of establishing the Emergency Tenant Protection Act in Ossining.

-By voting in favor of the Senior Citizen Income Exception (SCRIE) and Disability Rent Exemption Program (DRIE) for the neediest in our community.

-By voting against the evil attempt to repeal then revise ETPA, right after its passage stripping away rights, protections and rent stabilization from hundreds.

-By advocating & lobbying in Albany to make sure that when New York’s rent laws expired this past June 15, they were strengthened and expanded to cover all tenants in #Ossining, #Westchester and overall NY- especially after coming from a board that critiqued it so much. In June 2019 the landmark Housing Stability And Tenant Protections Act of 2019 passed.

-Became a founding volunteer member of the Ossining Emergency Shelter Partnership Project bringing much needed attention that we indeed did have a homeless population and a role in addressing. It is now independently run by local houses of worship.

I Fought, Celebrated and Embraced LGBTQ+ Equality

-By voting in in Favor of Gender Neutral Restrooms for already existing unisex restrooms in select municpal buildings, the next step now is to finally educate residents on what it means.

-I represented The Village of #Ossining at the inaugural Westchester County Government Flag Raising as well as attended and supported Ossining’s 1st Pride Month Flag Raising Ceremony.

-I shared my personal coming out story as politics, blackmail and threats came my way.

-I joined the National LGBTQ+ Caucus of the National Young Elected Officials Network

As the Ossining Chamber Liaison & past Board of Director

-I assisted them in the
1st Inaugural Small Business Milestone Awards Ceremony & Breakfast, recognizing dozens of our businesses and organizations on their important milestones in our community!

-I got down and dirty with local businesses apply to help fill out their sidewalk cafe permits, work on their facades or deal with small business procurement within village and try to address their challenges.

-I worked with the WCC Ossining Extension Center team on building relationships and programming between our businesses, municipality and schools.

-I sponsored 2 community cleanup and beautification days within our downtown with the help of our Chamber & Recreation Department.

-I assisted with chambers Uptown Initiative, and requested additional beautification efforts by done from the village in those business districts.

-Established a “One Day Cabaret” License, giving businesses and organizations the flexibility to be allowed to have live music, entertainment and dancing.

-Supported efforts to address vacant properties and welcome new businesses.
Called on Village manager to investigate 7+ year history of on-going discussion with NYS DOT regarding Route 9 concerns and request for long-term plan to alleviate a challenging intersection and its impact to our residents and business community.

Supported Our Youth

-By voting in favor of the village funding the newly established BEAMS After-school program for teens in our community at the Ossining Public Library.

-Worked and mentored the 2 cohorts of the The Brieant Youth Alliance’s Future Leaders Academy.

-Hosted 2 voter registration drives with our local middle and high school students to get them engaged and ready for the democratic process.

Supported those who serve our community and risk their lives:

-By voting in favor of the Cold War Veterans & Ossining Fire Department Tax Exemption.

I am deeply grateful for the the village employees and residents who have dealt with the villages constant transition of staff changes and departures while life still happened for you. Thank you for your patience, it wasn’t easy for any of us.

During my time as Trustee I can say I have reached out to many communities and people who for years were not reached out to and lit their fire to become involved, active or i we say now “woke” on what was going on in their government- demand their seat at the table. I have engaged and mobilized many tenants, businesses, youth and residents to organize and fight for what they want and need in their communities instead of so many speaking for them on their interest. Ossining is more aware and involved now more than ever. I have spoken up for those too scared to speak up and I have stayed an independent thinker to serve you directly.

Thank you for electing me, hearing me out, allowing me to be a human at times during chaos in a toxic board and environment at times and most importantly creating the #OneOssining movement which is still alive and well as we continue to strive for a true and authentic #OneOssining. You all now have the responsibility to organize and hold your officials accountable for their actions and promises or lack thereof. My advice to you all is put everything i writing, always have a 2nd person next to you when addressing a village official or elected and stay consistent and in the battle for what you may want to achieve.

You were all worth it and I thank you. Let's continue fighting the good fight while also embracing the good spirit of who Ossining really is.

Have a Happy Holidays & Blessed New Year

Yours Truly & Unapologetic,
Omar Herrera