Confederation of
Neighborhood Associations
UNITY COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY
|
|
June 1, 2010 Dear Neighborhood Association Representative, Is it ever too early in a review process for the City Council to keep the taxpayers in its loop? Much confusion, consternation, and controversy surround the recently published GreeNR Draft Sustainability Plan. The City held a public hearing on May 11, 2010, when few, if any, residents even knew that the Plan had been published, and on May 23, 2010, Senator Gillibrand held a round-table discussion to which only a few select individuals were invited. When will the rest of New Rochelle have the opportunity to learn more about GreeNR? I am in the process of trying to organize a panel or round-table discussion of the report which you may all read at GreeNR Draft Sustainability Plan. I wrote to Deborah Newborn, the New Rochelle Sustainability Coordinator, who oversaw the development of the Plan, and asked if she and a few of her co-developers on the Sustainability Advisory Board would come and speak at our next Confederation meeting. After a week, several more emails, and a message in Deborah's voice mail, I received an email from the City Manager, Chuck Strome, stating his opinion that "it is too early in the City Council review process for any City representative to appear before a neighborhood group to discuss GreeNR. Additionally, such a presentation would be made by a member of the City staff, not community volunteers who assisted in the development of the plan." I am not defeated. I contacted some of the members of the Sustainability Advisory Board directly to see if any will come and speak. So far, I have Dr. Herb Fox, Dr. Joyce Kent, and Mr. Michael Deane. I am also expecting one or more Council represntatives. If you know anyone who is willing to participate in this panel or round-table discussion, please contact me ASAP. Following our panel/round-table discussion, NRCoNA will address any local neighborhood issues that you and the other neighborhood association representatives care to raise. One issue that has come to our attention is an attempted identity theft and we will be passing along more information at the meeting. The next NRCoNA meeting will be held on Wednesday night, June 16, 2010, in the 2nd floor meeting room at the Cabarets ♦ Letter to City Council, 9/11/12 ♦ Letter to City Council, 10/10/12 Cabarets ♦ Letter to City Council, 9/11/12 ♦ Letter to City Council, 10/10/12 Deli Variances ♦ Letter to City Council, 2/14/12 ♦ Letter to Zoning Board, 3/6/12 ♦ Letter to Zoning Board, 4/3/12 ♦ Letter to Zoning Board, 4/3/12 add. Chickens ♦ Letter to City Council, 3/13/12 Sustainable Budgets Legion Post 8 Hall, 112 North Ave., New Rochelle, NY. You may park for free on site next to the Hall or across the street in the Mormon Church lot. In the meantime, you might want to visit these other "green" websites for mroe information: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) Finally, New Rochelle is attempting to develop a hazard mitigation plan. Please click on Hazard Mitigation Plan and take the Citizens Preparedness Questionaire. Looking forward to seeing you and meeting you on June 16th. Joyce Furfero, Co-Chair |
The
Confederation
News Watch
Alfred Lord Tennyson