We need an Assembly member who we can trust to protect our interests. Greenburgh residents feel betrayed by the incumbent – Assembly member Abinanti’s successor. She did not continue Abinanti’s efforts to protect Greenburgh, but instead sponsored a new law that exempts the Edgemont section of Greenburgh from state requirements that apply to every other town in New York State.
THE PROBLEM: SHIMSKY’S EDGEMONT EXEMPTION
The law sponsored by Assembly member MaryJane Shimsky waives the mandated review and approval by a state commission. It waives requirements that the new village must not have a detrimental impact on the fiscal condition, services, and taxation of residents in the rest of the town. In other words, Edgemont’s incorporation can occur even though it will cause a dramatic property tax increase on those least able to afford it and imperil the financial stability of Greenburgh.
Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said that incorporating Edgemont, one of the more affluent areas, would likely cause spiraling tax increases and loss of services for everyone else. Greenburgh would likely have trouble affording some of its services such as many of its recreational programs.
Supervisor Feiner said the Assembly race is really about one-issue: “Do we have a representative in Albany that’s going to fight to keep the town whole or is somebody going to stab the town in the back? I’m very disappointed with the state legislation.”
THE ANSWER: