October 22, 2025

I'm proud to report on the community engagement forum hosted by the Police Reform Advisory Committee (PRAC) on October 16th, which focused entirely on Professional Development within the Ossining Police Department (OPD).

Our OPD leaders presented a clear picture of their comprehensive, year-round training program. This training exceeds New York State accreditation standards and begins right after the academy with intensive, personalized field training.

The core of their work includes frequent, rigorous qualification in firearms (four times a year) and defensive tactics (at least six times a year), alongside training in use of force, legal updates, and Taser use.

Crucially, the OPD has deeply embedded de-escalation into all training. This goes beyond simple communication ("verbal judo") and utilizes cutting-edge tools like Axon virtual-reality modules and stress-inoculation drills to build officer empathy and improve crisis response.

We also discussed key accountability measures:

• Quality Assurance is maintained through weekly, randomized reviews of officer body-worn camera footage.
• Wellness is prioritized, with debriefings provided after difficult calls.

Finally, we addressed our community’s questions regarding operational policies: the department maintains a limited role with ICE (assisting only with judicial warrants) and follows clear guidelines for charging decisions.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to keep this dialogue transparent and constructive. Your participation ensures our Police Department remains well-trained, accountable, and dedicated to serving our diverse community.

When you see an Ossining Police officer wearing a pink patch this month, you're seeing a commitment to the Pink Patch Project—a national campaign to raise awareness and funds to fight breast cancer.

This initiative is a powerful way for our police to engage the community on a critical public health issue. We applaud their efforts to champion early detection and raise money for treatment programs.

Thank you, Ossining Police Department, for your dedication to this life-saving mission!

Updates

Over the past few years, the Village of Ossining has invested in parking and transportation projects designed to encourage mass transit, electric vehicle and alternative mobility options. It has also invested heavily in projects that provide affordable and market rate housing, including affordable home ownership with an upcoming private initiative at 34 State Street. Following are selected updates which I thought might be of public interest. 

Multi-Modal Transportation Hub and Project Mover 

• Building a new Multi-Modal Transportation Hub (MMTH) within Downtown Ossining supports the Village’s revitalization efforts and enhances alternative mobility options from the Main Street corridor to the waterfront. Today, the Village-owned Brandreth Street parking lot provides surface parking for a mix of short- and long-term parking. To facilitate infill development in Downtown Ossining, the MMTH will be built on the Brandreth Street parking lot supporting residential, business, and parking availability for tourism.
• The new MMTH is designed to support alternative mobility options within Downtown Ossining. As part of the Village’s Project MOVER program and will become a hub for electric bicycling. Project MOVER will expand access to shared and personal e-bikes through e-bike charging docks and parking, low-cost lease-to-own e-bikes, and reduced fare shared e-bike trips. Project MOVER is a partner consortium led by InnoEnergy and currently includes Nelson\Nygaard, Shared Mobility, Inc., Cityfi, six municipalities in Westchester County including the Town of Ossining and the Villages of Ossining, Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Croton-on-Hudson, and Dobbs Ferry, as well as several local community-based organizations. Construction of the MMTH and E-Bike Facility has begun, and is estimated to be completed by March, 2027.

Spring street X Main Street– Market Rate, Mixed Use residential and Business Development

WBP Development and the Village of Ossining are in the design phase for the Spring on Main, a mixed-use development. The goal of this project is to redevelop the site into a residential building that features first-floor retail and is architecturally reminiscent of the historic buildings across Main Street. The project is expected to include 110 residential rental units (with an allotment of 10% affordable) . This project is a key part of the Village's effort to reverse the negative impact of "urban renewal" from the 1970’s and reactivate a block-long segment of Main Street.

30 Water Street (aka Station Plaza)

This project is well underway to provide affordable housing, parking, community space and some commercial space.  Another required component is the completion of the Sing Kill Greenway through the site onto Water Street, which currently ends at Central Avenue. In 2020, the Village Board of Trustees reviewed the submissions and selected Wilder Balter Partners to undertake the project, which will provide 109 all-affordable units at between 30% and 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) and parking facilities strategically located within walking distance to public transportation. 30 Water Street broke ground in April 2025, remediation of this brownfield site is nearly complete and we anticipate that construction will be complete by the Spring of 2027.

Crescent Manor

Public/ Private Development is underway at a former nursery and garden center site on Croton Avenue / Route 133 in Ossining. Once complete, Crescent Manor will provide 74 units of affordable, senior rental housing and amenities, along with ground floor retail space.

34 State Street 

The most recent of our initiatives by WBP Development. This project includes 100 affordable homeownership units – Condos, and 50 market rate rental units at 34 State Street in Ossining. WE are told that up to 30% of the units will be available first to Ossining residents. This long abandoned site, with stunning views of the Hudson River, is ripe for redevelopment that is within walking distance to Main Street and the train station.

Hello neighbors! I wanted to give you a quick heads-up about an important closure coming up this Friday, October 24th.

The Joseph G. Caputo Community Center (including the Aquatic Center) will be closed all day this Friday for the installation of our dehumidification system.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to your Friday routine and appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you back on Saturday!

Please note that the location for the Ossining’s Annual Trunk of Treat has moved! We'll now be setting up in the lower parking lot at the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center, located at 95 Broadway.

Mark your calendars! The event will take place on Halloween, October 31st, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Gather your little monsters and come join us for a safe and fun evening of treats and community spirit!

The Villages Department of Public Works Department has secured $1.2 million through a PFOA settlement, a type of financial award resulting from successful litigation against chemical manufacturers responsible for contaminating our water supply. This is distinct from a PFOA grant, which is funding proactively provided by a government agency (like the EPA or a state program) to water systems to help pay for testing, treatment, or infrastructure upgrades, regardless of legal action. This settlement money, which holds the manufacturers financially accountable has been awarded to the Village. Thank you to our staff for the necessary due diligence and thorough report writing and data gathering that established the basis for this successful claim and the recovery of these funds.

Early voting for the upcoming election begins next Saturday, October 25th! This is a nine (9) day period where your vote can make a difference, allowing you to vote in person before Election Day in Westchester County. You can do so in Ossining at the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center at 95 Broadway.

What is Early Voting?

Early voting for the General Election is a nine (9) day period where voters can vote in-person before Election Day in Westchester County.

Who can vote early?

For the November 4, 2025 General Election – All registered voters in the County of Westchester can vote early.

When can I vote early?

Early Voting will begin prior to the General Election. The early voting period will be from Saturday, October 25, 2025 through Sunday, November 2, 2025.

How will I vote during early voting?

Voting during early voting is the same as voting on Election Day. When you get to the early voting center, you will check in to vote, receive your ballot and vote as any other election.

There will be instructions available at the early voting centers to familiarize you with the ballot. There will also be a notice to voter and bill of rights. You may ask an election inspector to explain how to vote, or if you need any assistance.

If you vote during the early voting period, you are not eligible to vote on Election Day.

When will early voting results be posted?

Early voting results will be canvassed and reported after 9 pm on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 for the General Election.

Can I still vote by an early vote by mail ballot?

Yes. Any registered voter in Westchester County may apply for an early mail ballot.

Can I still vote by absentee ballot?

Yes. If you are out of your home county, or if you live in New York City, are outside of the five boroughs, or if you are permanently or temporarily disabled, ill or are the primary care giver for one or more people who are ill or physically disabled, or a resident of a Veterans Hospital, or detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or incarcerated for an offense other than a felony you may apply for an absentee ballot.

Days and Hours as follows:

• Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
• Sunday, October 26, 2025 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
• Monday, October 27, 2025 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 28, 2025 from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
• Thursday, October 30, 2025 from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m.
• Friday, October 31, 2025 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
• Saturday, November 1, 2025 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
• Sunday, November 2, 2025 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

• Ossining Children’s Center Honors Longtime Supporters with “From Here to There” Storytelling Evening (
• New & Noteworthy: Serenity, Sustainability, Style
• ‘No Kings’ protest comes to Ossining park

This week’s meeting will be held at 16 Croton and will begin at 7:30PM on Wednesday, October 22^nd, 2025.

The Work Session agenda will be as follows:

• We are hoping to have a conversation on the WBP petition that was filed a few weeks back that proposes to tweak portions of the Village’s Affordable Housing Policy.
• Village Manager Karen D’Attore will present on proposed updates to the Village’s Event Policy—
• The remainder of the meeting includes several agenda items led by Corporation Counsel Kahan, including:
• A proposed local law to make amendments to the Village law governing tow;
• A proposed local law to make amendments to the Village law that clarifies liability and property-owner responsibility for Village sidewalks;
• A proposed local law that seeks to disallow the issuance a of certificate of occupancy (or compliance) when there are pending violations anywhere on a property; and
• A discussion on the upcoming renewal of the Village’s Cable Franchise Agreement with Cablevision.
• Corporation Counsel Kahan will also provide an update on the Sing Sing Prison Museum’s request to borrow exhibits from the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center Museum to display at their new space at the Olive Opera House.

We will also have a short Special Meeting to approve a) the litigation settlement and b) two operational support programs for OPD.

Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org