Established in 2015, the mantra of Unite Sleepy Hollow is:
“Believing that national parties have no role in Village issues, Unite Sleepy Hollow (USH) is a non-partisan independent political committee created to provide voters in Sleepy Hollow with an alternative to polarizing traditional party politics.”
This founding principle remains truer than ever today. Our Village, and our neighborhoods, are no place for divisive, exclusionary governance.
Unite Sleepy Hollow, our Mayoral candidate Jim Husselbee, and Trustee candidates Tom Andruss, Carol Banino and Jim Garvey, are committed to non-partisan community engagement. This means informing and engaging with ALL taxpayers, residents and business owners on the issues that matter most to them.
Our team also stands by a sound fiscal policy that will result in sensible tax levies. Like most residents, we were appalled at the nearly 24% property tax increase put into effect by the TAG-dominated vote over the last two years. These tax increases were unnecessary. Through reasonable budgeting and additional tax revenues from the Edge-on-Hudson development, the Village could have managed with significantly smaller tax increases. And USH has a sensible plan to roll back property taxes over the next two years (read about it at UniteSleepyHollow.com).
In addition, we intend to seek a variety of non-property tax revenue initiatives, including advocating for a greater share of sales tax from the State, monetizing Halloween tourism activities, and seeking the highest price on the sale of Village-owned properties including the current public works garage on River Street, the old UAW lot, and the recently acquired 64-68 Beekman Ave property. These Village-owned properties are ripe for private re-development.
Responsible development is the third pillar of the USH platform. Key initiatives include the completion of a new park at the Common, building a parking garage across from Village Hall, and working with existing and prospective business owners to reduce the number of vacant storefronts. These initiatives are intended to enhance the Village’s connectivity and spur economic development in the downtown area.
Sleepy Hollow governance can once again be competent, providing our Village employees, fire, police, and public works personnel with the resources needed to serve residents safely and efficiently. Steady financial stewardship of annual operations is key to meeting these requirements. USH will prioritize significant development projects and seek innovative ways to obtain the necessary private and public funding.
USH is not waiting for the election to do the work. Our analysis, policies and priorities are thoughtful, realistic, and reflect the comprehensive feedback of the Sleepy Hollow community. We are ready to proceed immediately and look forward to delivering on your demands for a safe, clean, and financially sound Village.
River Journal invited all candidates to submit position statements. We do not issue endorsements.
