Greenburgh Insider: Urging State Assembly to increase funds to repave Central Ave, Knollwood Road, DF Rd.

 

State owned roads (Central Ave, parts of Dobbs Ferry Road, Knollwood Road) are in disrepair.

The New York State Assembly had a public hearing on Friday on the proposed 2023 Governor's budget. I testified and called on the NYS Legislature to  increase funding  for road repaving on state owned roads that are in disrepair. Lots of potholes, craters. Specifically,  take a ride on Central Ave, parts of Dobbs Ferry Road  and Knollwood Road --which are  in such a bad shape that the road needs to be rebuilt, not only repaved.

I proposed to NYS that they increase the state budget and give the NYS Department of Transportation  more funds to help localities address roads that are owned by the state. Assemblywoman Mary Jane Shimsky indicated at the public hearing that she is working with state officials trying to help us repave state owned roads. That advocacy is appreciated!  I also suggested that local governments receive more state financial assistance so we can repave more roads that we own.  The town has averaged spending about 2 million a year on road repaving but more road repaving is needed to address infrastructure.

The Governor has proposed an affordable housing initiative -she wants the state to have the power to overrule local zoning if towns, villages, cities in NYS do not comply with proposed NYS mandates.  I suggested an alternative: financial incentives to local governments that comply or exceed the Governor's proposal to build housing. I don't believe that the state should overrule local zoning decisions.

PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor