Playland: Public Hearing on Privatization This Tuesday!

THE SECOND OF ONLY TWO, THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD BEFORE THE JUNE 15th B.O.L. VOTE ON THE PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH STANDARD AMUSEMENTS TO FULLY PRIVATIZE MANAGEMENT OF PLAYLAND.

The meeting will be taped by the Westchester County BOL. It is unclear at this time if it will also be broadcast live and taped by Rye City TV.

All speakers must SIGN IN before speaking and are only allowed three minutes each.

In a process that has been sorely lacking public involvement and input this will be the General Public’s last opportunity prior to the BOL’s June 15th vote to speak to the Westchester County Board of Legislators. It will be County Residents‘ last opportunity to voice their feelings, questions, concerns and preferences over the current proposed plan to fully privatize management of Playland Amusement Park, Beach, Boardwalk & Pool.

Please put this on your calendar and try to attend. Public turn out at the first event on 5/20/15 was dismal.

Please also contact your own Legislator in writing, as well as the County Executive’s office and Parks Commissioners to let them know how you feel. All letters and emails become a matter of public record on this issue, so writing to them counts!

To find contact information for your Westchester County Legislator visit this link: www.westchesterlegislators.com

For information on how to contact County Executive Rob Astorino and the Parks Commissioners Kathy O’Connor and Peter Tartaglia visit this link:

http://www3.westchestergov.com/contact-us

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
*The proposed Standard deal would have Standard Amusements contributing $25 million dollars, with an estimated additional $50 -$75 million contribution needed by Westchester County Residents to fully repair/restore/complete all the Capital Projects still outstanding at the Park after decades of deferred maintenance. After Standard Amusements recoups their $25 million investment, they will retain 92.5% of all profits, giving the County a 7.5% share of any profits and an annual payment of $300k “rent”. It is unclear how the County Taxpayers will recoup any of the substantial investment they will need to make towards Capital Projects and ongoing Infrastructure operation and maintenance in order for the entire project to work successfully and many consider the “rent” payment and potential profit sharing margin to be negligible in light of the extensive funding the County will still be responsible for as owner and Landlord of the property. Lists of Capital Improvements projects cited below based on numbers from 1998 & 2009 have those costs at approx. $40 million. Standard has already stated their investment will not go towards these improvements as they are the County’s responsibility as Owner/Landlord. With years in increased deterioration and inflation, the costs of these projects has no doubt gone up significantly. An estimate of a needed County investment of between $50 - $75 million is not unrealistic. Without it, the Park will crumble and nothing Standard tries to do there will be successful.

*At the present time, Westchester County residents enjoy free admission to the Park. Any County resident can present proof of residency at the gate and proceed inside with a free “spectator” wristband. People not interested in going on a lot of rides can walk around, enjoy the Park, buy food, play games and visit with family members and friends who are also visiting. For those County residents who would like a wristband to go on unlimited rides, there is a reduced price option available for purchase. If Standard Amusements takes over management of the Park, this will no longer be the case; no one - including County residents - will ever have any type of access to the Park without paying an admission fee, and it will be an increased price over what is currently in place. Many lower income County residents may be disenfranchised from using the Park under the proposed private industry pricing structure.

*It is currently highly questionable whether or not Standard Amusements plans to retain the public swimming pool at Playland as a public pool, or re-purpose the area for other uses. There is no clarity on what other uses may be presented.

*There is significant concern over the potential loss under a private management agreement of all the full time County Maintenance Employees with decades of institutional knowledge and specialized skill sets (Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers, Mechanics) who are the backbone of the Park and keep it running and safe for everyone to enjoy while taking care of the classic rides and Park infrastructure that are almost 100 years old. Losing these experienced employees and the years of specialized hands-on and invaluable training they have received in this Historic Landmark Park may pose a very serious public safety issue and cost the County significant money down the road.

*There are many ”loopholes” in the contract via which Standard Amusements can exit the agreement, possibly to the detriment of the County.

*Loss of County control of this valuable and beloved County asset.

You can click on this link and scroll down to ”Playland Improvement Plan Links” to view the:

• Standard Contract “Playland Mngmt Agrmnt-Standard Amusements LLC (05/15/15) “ -
  
• 1998 Study for rebuilding Towers & Colonnades (project still outstanding) “Playland Study for Rebuilding Towers & Colonnades-Feb 1998 (05/06/15)” - estimated at $7-$10 million in 1998 - Standard not paying for this.
  
• 2009 List of Capital Improvements (still outstanding) “Playland Small Building Study (05/06/15) - estimated at $28-$30 million in 2009 - Standard not paying for this.
  
• All other Playland related documents filed with the BOL during this review process
  

The Public Hearing is open to EVERYONE, not just Rye residents. It starts at 7pm.

It will be held in City Hall (NOT the Library!)

See this link for directions and info on Rye City Hall: http://www.ryeny.gov/

Please try to attend. Playland needs the Public’s involvement in this important discussion about its future.

For more timely updates and information you can “like” and follow Friends Of Playland on Facebook by clicking here

FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE PLEASE VISIT THESE OTHER PATCH ARTICLES:

A TWO-PARTER ON RYE PATCH: “Privatizing Playland: Rob Astorino’s $25 Million Joke on Westchester?”
PART ONE
PART TWO