MAYOR'S UPDATE
From the desk of Mayor Rika Levin
|
|
The Village and Town of Ossining celebrated Arbor Day this past Friday by planting a tree at the newly-established COVID-19 Memorial at Nelson Sitting Park.
Arbor Day 2021 marks the first year that the Village and Town of Ossining celebrated the Tree City distinction together. The Village received this designation for the first time in 2020, while the Town is celebrating its 21st year. Trees have the remarkable ability to eliminate waste, build defenses & strategies against native insects and diseases, and reproduce, all while remaining in one spot. For all these reasons and more, a scarlet oak tree was been planted -- oaks support over 500 different species of butterflies and moths native to our area, making them the best single pollinator. The Village and Town of Ossining continue to look for ways to care for our environment through legislation, policies, grant funding from New York State.
|
|
From left to right: Mitzi Elkes, Suzie Ross, Superintendent Sanchez, Councilwoman Elizabeth Feldman, Donna Sharrett, Legislator Catherine Borgia, Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, Trustee Dana White, Mayor Rika Levin, Supervisor Dana Levenberg, Miguel Marra, Brian Cassermere, Eric Jarama, Spencer Thomas |
|
Ossining Recreation and Parks Staff |
|
For many years, Village residents have raised concerns about speed and safety along sections of Route 9 (North and South Highland Avenue), which bisects our Village and connects us to our neighbors to the north and south. As this road is under the NYS Department of Transportation jurisdiction, the Village has been somewhat constrained in what is possible. Still, it has continued to advocate for improvements with the DOT and with our State representatives. In early 2021, the Village began a study of what a "road diet" of Route 9 may look like through the lens of safety, traffic flow, walkability, bikeability, placemaking, and economic development. While traffic engineering is a significant portion of the study, public engagement around the concept is also key to developing a project that works better for everyone in Ossining.
We recently held six focus groups, some in English and some in Spanish, for residents, business owners, and community institutions as part of our ongoing efforts for direct community engagement in decision making. Across the six meetings, several themes came up repeatedly: a need to better coordinate traffic signals and decrease speed, a desire to add bike lanes to encourage alternative mobility, crosswalks to allow safer pedestrian crossings, and a need to "soften" the look of the road to ensure the feel of the Village carries through.
As next steps, our consultants and professional staff will continue to collect needed information, investigate solutions and work with the State Department of Transportation. During the summer they will be presenting their findings and recommendations to the public and Village Board.
|
|
On March 31, 2021, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (“MRTA”) into law, making New York the latest state to legalize recreational marijuana. The MRTA allows adults aged 21 and older to possess, purchase, display, obtain, and transport marijuana in limited quantities. With this newly legalized usage and possession, it seems to be everywhere.
When it comes to allowing for the sale of cannabis, local authorities have the power to make their own regulations. This essentially means that the Board of Trustees on behalf of the Village of Ossining has a say regarding whether they will grant a license to dispensaries – and, if granted, what restrictions will govern the cultivation, processing, and distribution of cannabis at a retail dispensary.
The Village Board of Trustees will need to enact a law or opt-out by December 31 of this year. If Ossining does decide to permit the sale of cannabis, it could be a new revenue stream, as the new law imposes a 4% local tax on the retail sale of cannabis which will be distributed to the county as well as the Village.
|
|
Town Hall Date: Thursday, May 20, 2021
Time: 7:30pm-8:30pm
Members of the public can view the meeting via computer or mobile app: Webinar ID: 999 9016 4177
Members of the public can listen to the meeting by dialing in via phone: +1 929 205 6099
|
|
For the first time since spring of 2020, Ossining’s Village buildings will resume regular business hours of 9:00 to 4:30 PM to the public beginning on or before Tuesday, June 1. More detailed information on the reopening plans, including COVID related safety protocols and service updates will be distributed in the coming weeks. |
|
Zoom Info:
Members of the public can view the meeting via computer or mobile app: Webinar ID: 994 7700 4611
Members of the public can listen to the meeting by dialing in via phone: +1 929 205 6099
|
|
Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
