By Jann Mirchandani, Candidate for Yorktown Town Supervisor

People ask me how the campaign is going. While it is a lot of hard work, by myself and others, it is gratifying. I have had the opportunity to reconnect with friends my kids went to school with, business associates I haven’t seen in awhile, and meet residents from every corner of town to share the vision for “A New Day For Yorktown.”

Recently, while out canvassing, Diana Quast and I met with an older couple in their home. They have lived in town for decades and have no plans to move. She asked me to do one thing for her, should we be successful in November: “Don’t pander to me. Don’t use seniors like a prop.” She went on to say that the new developments going up in town were not for her or seniors like her. She would never be able to sell her home and afford to move into any of these places.

We talked briefly about the difference between redevelopment and new development and why it makes more sense to update and find new uses for the blighted properties scattered around town, rather than focusing on new development in previously undeveloped land.

The conversation then turned to transportation and I shared with my new friends my idea for a trolley system connecting our five hamlets. They perked up and we talked about how it would help those who don’t drive to live more independently; seniors could get to shopping and doctor’s appointments, and teens could get from the northern side of town to the Teen Center. I recalled taking my kids on a trolley ride in Georgetown when they were young; it was a highlight of the trip!

Convenient micro-transit systems encourage people to leave their cars behind, and when paired with electric vehicles can reduce the climate impact of our transportation system.

We talked about starting a pilot program with grant money from the County, State or Federal government available for transportation or environmental projects and growing routes and schedules over time.

They knew we were not “their party” and we knew they were not Dems. We were just neighbors talking, sharing concerns, having a few laughs and looking at what we can do to make a difference. As we were getting ready to leave, the couple thanked us for taking the time to speak with them, to listen to their concerns and to share our ideas for Yorktown.

I look forward to continuing our canvassing efforts and talking to more neighbors and having more conversations like this one. I also look forward to debating our opponents in October, giving our community the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about our ideas for Yorktown’s future.

By Jann Mirchandani, Candidate for Yorktown Town Supervisor

Following last night’s torrential rainstorm many residents have water in their home, and many roads remain closed.

The state of emergency will allow the Town to utilize new vendors for trash disposal during the emergency. I am calling on the Town to immediately use this authority to find a new, temporary, vendor. If Competitive clearly cannot be trusted to pick up on a regular day, they cannot be trusted when a half dozen roads are flooded.

I feel it is important to use the platform I have to promote tools or information which may be of assistance.

If your home has been flooded, this link contains important information: https://health.ny.gov/publications/6552/index.htm

This link contains information on how to deal with damaged electrical equipment: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/utilities-major-systems.html

This link contains information on how to pursue a flood insurance claim: https://www.floodsmart.gov/how-do-i-start-my-flood-claim

Documenting the damages to your home in detail will assist with any insurance claims or – if FEMA gets involved – any damage assistance from FEMA.

If our campaign can be of any assistance, please feel free to leave us a voice message or send us a text at: (646) 397-6720

By Jann Mirchandani, Candidate for Yorktown Town Supervisor

As we approach Independence Day, I remember a trip to Philadelphia I took about seven years ago with the Boy Scouts.

One of the highlights of the trip was our tour of Independence Hall. Our guide talked about the Declaration of Independence – the document that launched the Great Experiment we call democracy.

It was interesting to learn about the heated debates that went into forging the document – to say nothing of the Republic itself. Our founders were not of one mind but of one mission. They disagreed. They fought. As we know, they were flawed. But they worked to create something new that was better, that served more people, than what came before. I think about that as the campaign rolls on.

In talking to our neighbors while out canvassing, I hear the same thing repeatedly: “It’s time for change.” Or “It’s not right what is going on – the same people making the same decisions that benefit the few.” 

It doesn’t matter what door I’m knocking on. I am just as likely to hear this from “the other side” as I am from “our side.”

In Leadership Westchester we would say “meet people where they are.” It became our shorthand for facilitating connections with others: Accepting that everyone views the world according to their lived experience.

Democracy is messy and can, at times, be unpleasant. Getting things right is not a one-election-cycle endeavor. But we need to do as our founders did; take on the responsibility of this hard work to get something done that does better for more people.

Toward that end, we need to win this election and create a more inclusive Town government. We need to meet people where they are. We need to get out there and have conversations with our neighbors, whether we agree or disagree with them, because that’s the only way this Great Experiment keeps rolling on.

I wish everyone a happy Independence Day, and I hope you’ll join me in the coming weeks as we keep working to start a new day here in Yorktown.

By Jann Mirchandani, Candidate for Yorktown Town Supervisor

It was disheartening to watch the Town Board pass an unannounced resolution related to the Underhill Farms project at the work session on 5/9. It was especially troubling given the tax implications for Yorktown residents.

The agenda was fairly sparse, including only two items for the open session; the Bird Bus certificate of occupancy and a presentation by The Capa Space, and a number of resolutions spelled out. Just shy of 30 minutes into the meeting, a previously unannounced resolution was introduced.

The resolution accepts from the project’s developer “two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ($225,000) toward Town parks and recreation purposes…” The resolution does not make clear that that “contribution” is not a contribution at all, but “cash in lieu of land dedication for park, playground and recreational purposes” per our Town code; and only 38% of the fee schedule based on the interpretation of the Recreation Commission. (At the March 8th special Joint Meeting “Commissioner Cumiskey said the Commission understands the recreational requirement to mean that there are 148 units at $4,000 per unit and there is $592,000 of potential recreational fees. This is a value that the Commission expects.” per the official minutes of that meeting.)

The resolution goes on to support Underhill Farms’ application to the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency (WCIDA) for a tax abatement for “intersection improvements.” The developer’s contribution toward these improvements – which are really mitigation efforts against the negative impact of the development on an already problematic intersection – is capped at $627,918.88. The remaining, and uncapped balance, of the cost falls to the taxpayers. Unfortunately, based on the criteria on the WCIDA website this project does not seem to qualify nor is there a deadline specified which would warrant fast-tracking the resolution.

Reasonable people can argue the relative merits of tax incentives to attract responsible development. And I have not seen any objections to development as a rule. Nor have I heard anyone argue that Yorktown does not need additional housing units, quite the contrary. 

What I have heard consistently is community stakeholders expressing their desire to be included in the decision-making process.

Passing a resolution during a work session without it being on the agenda, following negotiations in Executive Session, raises concerns about transparency. This is particularly concerning given the expressed concerns of residents and advisory boards. It is crucial to promote a sense of community and unite stakeholders around a project that, as acknowledged by the developer, would bring significant changes to the physical and metaphorical landscape of Yorktown.

Where there are tax implications for the residents of Yorktown, it should be the policy of the Town Board to err always on the side of transparency and open government. — Jann Mirchandani