Letter to the Editor: Ossining Mayoral Election

To The Editor:

I write today to ask for your vote to re-elect Bill Hanauer for another term as Mayor of the Village of Ossining. Mayor Hanauer has 30 years of executive experience and 8 years as Mayor of our Village. Bill Hanauer believes that increasing the commercial and residential tax base is the best way to keep taxes down. He has done that by supporting the completion of 304 new housing units, with 233 units under construction, building permits issued for 39 units, with 188 units and a 120 bed senior housing complex submitted to the Planning Board.Over 20,000 square feet of new commercial space will be available as soon as the 7,500 square feet in front of the Planning Board is approved and constructed. More residents will bring more businesses, both increase the tax base, reducing the tax burden for everyone in our community.Mayor Hanauer continues to help negotiate inter-municipal agreements that reduce the cost of services in both the Village and Town of Ossining, most recently adding engineering and police to the list of services shared to keep operating costs, and thus your taxes, down.Mayor Hanauer is committed to reducing school overcrowding in Ossining. The new housing projects completed to date have generated over $ 2.6 million in school tax revenue, far more than what is needed to educate the 50 school-age children living in the new units. Bill also championed the repeal of the requirement to include 3 bedroom units in new construction, which will further ease the burden on Ossining schools.Mayor Hanauer believes that improving the quality of life for Ossining residents is key to the renaissance of our Village. The Crawbuckie Nature Preserve and hiking trails have grown by an additional 8.5 acres. Nelson Park’s tennis and basketball courts have been refurbished, new playgrounds, and a new Village park at Harbor Square have all been developed on Bill’s watch.With Mayor Hanauer at the helm, we will continue to revitalize downtown Ossining, continue to attract new residents and new businesses, grow our visual and performing arts community, create more green space for recreation, extend RiverWalk, and bring to fruition the historic Sing Sing Museum project to attract visitors to our village from around the world.Now is not the time to change leadership. Vote to keep Bill Hanauer Mayor on November 4.Robert R. Daraio, TrusteeVillage of Ossining, N.Y.