Rally Held in White Plains Supporting French-American School

WHITE PLAINS, NY - White Plains City hall was the scene Thursday of a rally in favor of building a new French-American School of New York.

One White Plains resident who spoke at the rally, according to lohud.com, said the project would not only bring an international educational institute to the city but also create a large park, all without burdening the taxpayers.

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The rally came on the heels of a state Supreme Court denial of the city’s desire to dismiss a lawsuit the school filed.

State Supreme Court Judge Joan Lefkowitz said the school had made concessions and accommodations on its original proposal but that the Common Council had “illegally placed the 2014 application in administrative limbo.”

Lefkowitz had previously ordered the council to bring the site plan to a vote, which the council did not do. That prompted FASNY to bring suit against the city.

Karen Pasquale, senior advisor to Mayor Thomas Roach, issued a statement that said the city had spent $72,000 defending the lawsuit that FASNY brought against it, but insurance will cover $50,000 of it.

“The French American School of NY has commenced a legal action against the City of White Plains,” Pasquale wrote in an email.

"The City must respond to this litigation, as it must respond to any litigation brought against it to protect the interests of the City and its residents,” she said.

Pasquale said that, while the mayor and three other council members supported the proposal and voted in favor of the partial closure of Hathaway Lane, there was not a super majority—meaning five votes—that a road closure requires.

“Therefore, the partial closing of Hathaway Lane, a necessary component of the proposed site plan, could not be approved,” she said. “Without the approval of the partial closure of Hathaway Lane, the site plan was rendered moot as by its berms it required the partial closure.”

For the complete lohud.com article, including a video of people speaking at the rally, go here.