Greenburgh Insider: Town Bd unanimously approves resolution asking Albany to let every resident vote on incorporation.

 

Town Board and the Saving Greenburgh Coalition want to end 100 years of voter suppression
click on link to discussion.

 GREENBURGH TOWN BOARD UNANIMOUSLY PASSES A RESOLUTION FOR A “HOME RULE”AMENDMENT TO NYS VILLAGE LAW, WHICH IF PASSED BY THE             NYS LEGISLATURE,WOULD END 100 YEARS OF VOTER SUPPRESSION

LINK TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND VOTE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NTFdbDokCM

I am pleased and proud to announce the Town Board unanimously passed a resolution on Wednesday evening, February 9, 2023, asking the Greenburgh NYS Legislative Delegation, composed of Senator Andrea-Stewart Cousins and Assemblywomen Mary Jane Shimsky and Amy Paulin, to sponsor and support an amendment to NYS Village Law. The legislation, if passed, would amend NYS Village Law, section 2-216, which relates to which Town residents are eligible to vote in an incorporation referendum. The “Home Rule” status of the amendment would render it solely applicable to the Unincorporated Town of Greenburgh, not affecting any other region in NYS.

The impetus for this action by the Town Board was the recent formation of a grassroots coalition of prestigious religious, civic association and community leaders, “Saving Greenburgh Coalition.” The group has closely studied the devastating financial and social effects which Edgemont’s proposed incorporation would have on those remaining in Unincorporated Greenburgh. Equally important to the members of the Coalition, is the appalling voter suppression mandated by the existing 100-year-old NYS statute which bars those most affected by incorporation from voting in their interest. Currently NYS Village law provides only eligible voters residing in Edgemont,with the right to vote in an incorporation referendum. The law bars the vast majority, 85%, of Unincorporated Greenburgh residents, all residing outside of Edgemont, from voting and was described by the “Saving Greenburgh Coalition” as a clear and dangerous form of voter suppression. 

I am told the Coalition has expanded rapidly, adding many additional community leaders, and is in the early stages of a community organizing campaign determined to “stop voter suppression” by “amending NYS Village Law, Section 2-216.” I have been informed by the committee that it is their expectation that a very aggressive lobbying effort will be organized to encourage our State Legislators to support this request.

It is my honor as Town Supervisor to be associated with these dedicated community leaders working for the rights of their neighbors.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE ATTACHED LINK TO VIEW THE COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS AT THE MEETING, RELATED TO THE TOWN BOARD’S RESOLUTION. I BELIEVE THESE STATEMENTS ARE IMPORTANT TO VIEW,

Respectfully,

Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor