Rye Playland Public Hearing Brings Out Opposition to Takeover Deal

Residents concerned about plans to privatize Rye Playland showed up to give lawmakers their opinion at a public hearing Wednesday.

Westchester County Legislators will vote next month whether to approve a deal to have Standard Amusements take over operations of the county park, according to an article at FIOS1News.com.

One resident who spoke at the hearing said the proposed agreement was one-sided.

Legislator Catherine Parker who represents parts of the Sound Shore, including Rye, posted on her Facebook page where she stands on the deal.

“As it stands today, I will not be voting in favor of this agreement between Westchester County and Standad Amusements if the vote is taken May 2, 2016,” she wrote.

Parker said the agreement is still for 30 years and taxpayers will be on the hook for $32 million, down from the originally proposed $58 million.

Standard is putting in $27 million.

While there is a plan to share profits over the 30-year contract, there will only be shared profits after Standard recoups their $27 million.

Parker said she asked the company what the amount of profit would be for the first 10 years of the contract.

She said they answered that they didn’t expect to see a profit.

For the complete story, including a video report and comments from a legislator in favor of the deal, go to FIOS1News.com here.

To read Parker’s letter to constituents, go here.