Letter to the Editor: An Opposing View of Irvington Bond Vote

Despite what supporters for these candidates have stated, Arlene and Larry were explicitly aware that the village’s plan for the firehouse/administrative building required the taking of a resident’s property via eminent domain. It was discussed during the July 12, 2023, work session. (watch for yourself here) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn0xQ768a-8&list=PLno4r3JuM3HqQHYcujJNbyoqEWMPKE47O&index=18&t=2320s

A less expensive scenario that would have cost $11 million and did not include the taking of a resident’s property was discussed, but the plan that was brought to residents and approved unanimously by the board July 17, 2023, which included Arlene and Larry, was the $18 million plan that included the taking of a resident’s property (see the meeting minutes page 23) https://irvingtonny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11425/2023-07-17

I am exhausted from many different people gaslighting the community regarding this fact. I view the lack of transparency on this issue as entirely disqualifying. These candidates knowingly put forth a proposal to take a resident’s property by force and hid it from the main disclosures regarding the bond vote. They cannot tell us in good faith they were not aware of this – it was discussed in a public meeting of the board five days before the vote occurred. They cannot tell us they didn’t support the $18 million proposal – they had the opportunity to vote against the bond proposal, and they did not. They had the opportunity to push for a smaller plan to be brought to residents for a vote, and they chose not to.