Newsletter

April 2024

Petition season is over! The Stony Point Democratic Committee and their supporters gathered many more than the 5% of Democratic voter signatures necessary to get our candidates on the ballot. Thank you to everyone who took time from your busy schedule to gather signatures and to those who signed.

One of the benefits of gathering signatures is getting out in the community and speaking with people. As our canvassers reported back they confirmed several trends we thought were happening:

Since the Covid epidemic many new families have moved into the Hudson Valley and Stony Point. They bring with them the excitement of first time homebuyers and an appreciation for open space and the safety of moving to a suburban/rural area.

Along with the influx of new neighbors the demographics of Stony Point are changing. According to the 2020 Census we are a community that is 19% Hispanic and 9% African American. These percentages may be even greater today since the Census numbers don't reflect the post-epidemic migration of families from NYC to Stony Point.

So far these demographic changes haven't been reflected in the makeup of our town board, the planning board, zoning board, the architectural review boards, and most other areas of town government.

It's a shame that our town leadership and governance is such a closed loop. Years of one party rule have created an environment where the only people allowed into the system are the people who think like those running it. This creates an atmosphere where differing ideas and points of view aren’t welcome, and where those outside the in-group, no matter how well meaning, are perceived as enemies.

Qualified and talented people from substantially different backgrounds and experiences are shut out of the process in favor of the familiar faces and the familiar ideas of the current leaderships' friends and supporters.

Unfortunately, we all lose when town leadership becomes more and more homogeneous and single minded.

Ellie Kassner Honored

Stony Point's own Ellie Kassner was honored with the Extraordinary Women Award presented by Assemblyman Chris Eachus. The award focused on Ellie's public service as Board President of the Tomkins Cove Public Library, present Board member and former President of the Ramapo Catskill Library System, as well as her success as a local business owner, and her many hours of volunteer work on Boards throughout the county. Congratulations Ellie!

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Palisades Parkway Trash Revisited

In our last newsletter we noted that the trash keeps piling up at both entrances and exits to the Palisades Parkway in Stony Point. What used to be a once or twice a year Spring cleanup now requires monthly trash cleanups by Stony Point Democratic Committee volunteers.

Since our last post Democratic Committee volunteers have done several cleanups but the trash keeps coming. Unfortunately the litter is not just a the entrances and exits of the Palisades but is beginning to show up at other spots in town.

It's time for the Town Board to take this issue seriously and to make an effort to monitor, identify, and fine the worst offenders.

As we've said before, we'll continue to be out there regularly cleaning up, but our hope is that the Town will take some action to stop this worsening quality of life issue.

If you'd like to be part of our cleanup crew on April 20th or to help with our regular cleanups sign up at the link below.

Gran Fondo World Championship Bicycle Race Sunday May 19th

This year's Gran Fondo Race will be extra special as it will includes the inaugural UCI 1.2 men elite pro race "Gran Premio New York City" will be held on May 19, 2024 on the same course and same day as the 12th annual mass participation race "Michelob ULTRA GFNY World Championship NYC".

In this revolutionary format for cycling, the 180 pros from 25 teams will line up 15 minutes before thousands of amateurs on the closed-to-traffic lower level of the world's busiest bridge, George Washington Bridge on May 19, 2024. Both races will follow the one-loop, 137 km (85-mile) GFNY course through Bergen County, NJ and Rockland County, NY with 2000 m (6500 ft) of climbing.

"Holding a professional and mass-participation race at the same time on the same course is an event format never held before in cycling says GFNY CEO and GP NYC race director Uli Fluhme.

"GFNY is taking a revolutionary step to bring professional and mass participation road bike racing together to augment both race fields and take advantage of existing operations, logistics and exposure."

If you're interested in helping the Stony Point Democratic Team operate the Stony Point Aid Station please contact us at the "I'm Interested" link on this page.

Working at the aid station is tons of fun and a great volunteering opportunity.

New Religious Housing Bill Being

Considered in the NYS Legislature

Religious groups in New York would be given a streamlined path to build affordable housing on their properties under a religious housing bill that would enable them to bypass local zoning and lengthy approval steps.

In areas outside New York City, faith-based organizations would be entitled to build multi-family housing at densities of up to either 30 or 50 units per acre, regardless of the development restrictions for that site. The conditions are that they build at least four homes, adhere to height limits and meet income requirements in the legislation.

Proponents argue the bill would help meet mounting demand for affordable homes while giving religious groups a dual benefit: they can both serve a social good and raise money to support themselves.

Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann, a Republican, vowed to fight any attempt to overrule home-rule authority and "dictate the character of our local community." He argued the bill would undermine the extensive studies and rezoning his Rockland County town had done to attract affordable housing to areas that could handle the higher density.

Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, a Democrat, said he worried about land owners abusing the law by posing as religious organizations if it's enacted. He said he prefers offering incentives to spur more affordable housing, such as state payments for residents in towns that welcome those projects.

"Once you start saying you don't have to comply with zoning laws and planning laws, then the community is losing a lot in terms of maintaining the character of the community," Feiner said.

The Stony Point Democratic Committee is strongly opposed to this Bill as it's presently written and is actively working against its passage.

You can read more about the Religious Housing Bill here: https://www.aol.com/ny-bill-clear-path-religious-070116287.html

And the text of the Bill here: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S7791 

Please forward this newsletter to a family member, friend, or neighbor.

Stony Point Updates Town Zoning

You can access the proposed recent changes to the Town's Zoning regulations here:

https://mega.nz/file/Tzxw1YYD#DlNX0t5D3842Lh8p_nX6vIJx8Fh86bhiXZk3a9Lqfkw

Note: Special thanks to George Potanovic Jr. for providing access to this information.

Rockland County is investing federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds toward local open space projects, including parks and gardens, and upgrading playgrounds for children.

The county government dispersed grants from a $10 million kitty for 24 Urban Green Space projects through the Rockland Resilient Recreation Grant Program. The federal government's American Rescue Plan Act funds grants to municipalities and nonprofits. The awards range up to $200,000 for each project.

LoHud Article:

https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/rockland/2023/11/27/rockland-ny-disperses-millions-in-federal-dollars-for-parks-open-space/71597929007/

Ramapo:

Repairs Memorial Park Beautification Spring Valley $200,000 Moleston Fire District Hillcrest $85,700

Roosevelt Avenue Pocket Park New Square $200,000

Town of Ramapo Picnic Area Suffern $100,000

Garden of Hope Kennedy Park Playground Improvement Project Spring Valley $200,000

Memorial Park Playground Spring Valley $200,000

Memorial Park Bridge Spring Valley $200,000

Garden Lorna Lane Park Airmont $200,000.00

Children's Park Playgrounds Chestnut Ridge $200,000

Besen Park Playground Airmont $200,000

Sandy Brook Park Play Area New Hempstead $200,000

Good Samaritan Suffern $200,000

Orangetown:

Basketball Courts Orangetown (South Nyack) $200,000

Franklin Street Park Improvements Town of Orangetown (South Nyack) $200,000

Maple Ave Park Kaser $200,000

Piermont Community Center Playground Restoration Piermont $200,000

Long Distance Trails Crew in Rockland County NY/NJ Trails $13,230

Elizabeth Park $200,000

Playground Improvements Memorial Park ADA Access Pathway and Entry Gate Project Village of Nyack $200,000

Restoration of the Half Moon Park Playground $200,000

Memorial Park Playground Equipment Village of Nyack $195,000 Memorial Park Great Lawn Restoration Village of Nyack $200,000

Memorial Park ADA Surfacing Village of Nayck $200,000

Town of Haverstraw:

Construction of New Basketball Courts Village of Havertraw $200,000

Jefferson Park International Garden Village of Haver traw $200,000

Burgess Meredith playground upgrade and extension Pomona $200,000.00

Secor Park Pomona $200,000

Haverstraw Bay Park Playground Improvements Haverstraw $191,000

Viohl Park Art Installation West Haverstraw $50,000

Peck’s Pond Park Family Celebration Circle West Haverstraw $200,000

Town of Stony Point:

Pickle Ball Courts Stony Point $200,000

Why so little for Stony Point?

Were we shortchanged or is this all the town requested?

Surely we have more recreation needs than just new pickleball courts.

Did the Town Board reach out to the community for suggestions for projects?

Read "The Bloc"

by Sasha Linden Cohen

New York Advocacy Day 2024

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 9:30 AM -  4:00 PM ET

New York State Capitol Building, State Street & Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12224

Join New York Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action, Survivors, partners, and Moms Demand Action Executive Director, Angela Ferrell-Zabala, as we meet in Albany to discuss gun safety legislation with our lawmakers. Training and materials for all will be provided. Please RSVP and learn more about this important day to have our voices heard!

.

Signup: Click Here

Get Involved!

Join SP Dems

Community Service Team!

Neighbors Helping Neighbors!

Each month the Stony Point Democratic Committee performs a public service for our community. You don't have to be a committee member or a Democrat to participate. Just let us know you're interested and we'll invite you to our next project.

To learn more email: spdc@stonypointdemocrats.org

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Want To Get More Involved?

Join us for one of our monthly Clean Ups

For Dates and Times:

email: spdc@stonypointdemocrats.org

Or

Drop into one of our monthly SPDC meetings. All are welcome!

email: spdc@stonypointdemocrats.org

for more information