The Scarsdale News You Need to Know

June 12, 2018

• State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction Hearing Set for Tonight, June 12, 8pm at Village Hall
• Update on Free Speech Lawsuit Against the Village of Scarsdale
• Scarsdale Village Attorney Resigns After 19 Years

CALL TO ACTION: YOUR VOICE MATTERS

SALT TAX CREDIT HEARING TONIGHT @ 8PM, Village Hall, 1001 Post Rd.

Attend the BOT meeting tomorrow night and voice your opinions about Scarsdale Village government’s impending adoption of Governor Cuomo’s tax evasion scheme. Virtually all professionals believe that the plan to allow “charitable deductions” to local governments to offset 95% of local property tax has no chance of passing muster with the US Treasury. Instead of providing false hope of tax relief to residents, the Village should adopt the VCP’s suggestions to: find efficiencies by consolidating services with neighboring communities; privatize certain services that are not purely public goods (e.g., sanitation pick-up), and cut all budgets by 10%, allowing managers to present their cases for restoration of half of that cut.

Can’t attend the hearing? Email the Mayor at mayor@Scarsdale.com or the BOT at clerk@scarsdale.com

Scarsdale Board of Trustees Continues Fight Against Your Free Speech Rights…
Using Your Tax Money

Earlier this year, lawn signs supporting the school bond began disappearing from our front lawns. When residents reported these as having been stolen, they learned that the Scarsdale police was instructed to remove them by Scarsdale Village government.

Scarsdale resident, school bond supporter, and attorney Robert Berg, took up the defense of our First Amendment rights on a pro bono basis. He brought a case against the Village in federal court for this violation of Scarsdale residents’ constitutional right to free speech. He seeks $1 in damages. Attorney Berg has already won an early victory for Scarsdale residents. U.S. District Judge Nelson Román ruled on February 6 that the Village may not impede Scarsdale residents from posting political signs in the Village right of way in front of their homes as long as the signs pose no safety or traffic hazards. Judge Román granted a temporary restraining order.

When the court reconvened on June 7, we learned that the Board of Trustees (BOT) intends to continue litigating against a permanent injunction. The Village refuses to settle, and is paying an outside law firm, using our tax money, to fight a lawsuit it has no chance of winning.

Moreover, the Village intends to revise the Village Code to require residents to register with the Village when they plan to post political lawn signs in front of their houses. What possible legitimate purpose is served by such a notice requirement? None. Instead, the politicians in power will be able to monitor the residents who support/oppose them and create a database of political expression. Residents will be reluctant to subject themselves to potential retribution.

Indeed, residents who have supported alternative candidates have already been summarily ejected from Village boards.

This is a pernicious assault on our Constitutional rights by an administration that criticizes residents who speak out during public comment sessions at Village Board meetings, rushes residents to complete their remarks, and then seemingly ignores what residents have to say.

Scarsdale Village Attorney, Wayne Esannason, Announces Resignation After 19 Years

On Friday, June 8, Village Manager Steve Pappalardo announced Mr. Esannason’s retirement after 19 years as Village attorney, effective June 30.

CALL TO ACTION: YOUR VOICE MATTERS
Scarsdale residents must have a voice in the selection of our new Village Attorney. Email the Mayor (mayor@Scarsdale.com) and Board of Trustees (clerk@scarsdale.com) to demand a seat at the table.

This information is brought to you by the Scarsdale Voters Choice Party (VCP), a non-partisan organization created in January 2017 to: promote transparency and accountability at Village Hall; give voters a choice of mayoral and trustee candidates; and increase civic engagement and voter turnout.

Sign up for the voters Choice Party Newsletter by writing VotersChoiceParty@Gmail.com or by scanning the QR code.

www.VotersChoiceParty.com

Facebook Page @ScarsdaleVotersChoiceParty