Greater Bronxville Indivisible to Present Lectures on County Issues
By Bruce Anderson, Member, Greater Bronxville Indivisible
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Sep. 13, 2017: In anticipation of Westchester County elections on November 7, Greater Bronxville Indivisible (GBI) is sponsoring a series of four presentations on important local issues in Westchester. The goal is to promote public understanding, foster constructive discussion, and enhance civic engagement. The four topics are: • Closure of the Indian Point Nuclear Reactor The first presentation took place on July 25 at The Reformed Church of Bronxville. Michael Dulong, staff attorney for Riverkeeper, discussed the impact of the planned closing of Indian Point. For more than 20 years, controversy has swirled around the nuclear reactor's environmental risks, its numerous operational problems, the potential consequences of losing 25% of the region's electricity production, and the economic impact of closure. Governor Cuomo and Entergy recently agreed that the two operating reactors will be shut down in 2020 and 2021. Westchester County will lose several hundred jobs and millions of dollars of tax revenue. Alternative energy sources must be identified and implemented. Thousands of gallons of radioactive water that has already leaked from the facility and spent fuel rods must be safely remediated and stored, potentially for generations. Decisions about the future of the property must be addressed. Mr. Dulong discussed these issues and the complex legal challenges ahead, including a lawsuit filed by County Executive Rob Astorino to delay or block the closure. People tend to downplay the importance of local government, yet this issue, among others, brings to the fore the importance of decisions that are being made at the local level. The second presentation will take place on Tuesday, September 26, in the Yeager Room of the Bronxville Public Library at 7:00 pm. Westchester County Clerk Tim Idoni will speak about the functions of county government and how its decisions affect our community. The third presentation will take place on Saturday, October 14, at 2:30 pm in the Yeager Room of the Bronxville Public Library. Donald Hughes, PE, PhD, president of Hughes Environmental Consulting, will discuss the environmental and public health risks posed by hotel development currently under way on the grounds of the defunct marble quarry on Marbledale Road in Tuckahoe. The 3.5-acre lot has functioned as an open "mixed industrial waste dump" and automobile storage and repair site since the 1930s. The final presentation will be on Tuesday, October 17, at 7:30 pm in the Visual Arts Center at Sarah Lawrence College. David McKay Wilson, finance reporter and Tax Watch columnist for The Journal News, will speak about the impact of County Executive Astorino's strict "no tax increase" policy on the county government and its long-term financial outlook. The Journal News is sponsoring the event. These events are free of charge and all are welcome. Free parking is available. For further information, contact Bruce Anderson at |
