CUPON April Meeting Wednesday, April 3 at 7:00 PM William P. Faist Ambulance Corps. 3 Red Schoolhouse Rd.
Message from Hilda Kogut to all Chestnut Ridge residents (March 2019):
Hello Chestnut Ridge residents- so much has happened in the last few weeks that it makes one wonder where to start. Let’s start with the Election! First, thanks to all who got out and voted. Not enough of us, however, and the difference in the vote leaves us wondering why the difference between the incumbents and our candidates was only 200 votes. But the positive here is that more voters came out AGAIN, than ever before in a Village election. And, that this was the First time there was ever a contest in an election for Trustee in this Village.
We learn from each election and will take this forward for the next election in 2 short years. PEOPLE MUST VOTE!!!! First we must all be LOUD and DETERMINED in advising the Village at the next Board meeting on 3/28/19 and by phone or letter or email!! that the conditions under which this election was held were abominable! The Village did not provide enough machines- knowing full well that the turnout was going to be large. The Village failed to employ enough screeners and thus the time taken to vote was terribly long and the screeners could not do their job efficiently and DID NOT do their job per the law- covering all signatures and challenging voters who had seemed not to belong at the polls!! Also, Allan Rubin was terrific in a terrible situation. How could anyone have possible thought that this election could be managed by just one person? The Village must consider adding another person to work with him to insure that the integrity of the process is protected and that breaks can be taken and a lunch/dinner can be eaten!
Sadly, our poll watchers and the voters who observed Grant Valentine’s less than professional and classless approach to the election process had no success in stopping him/or shaming him. Grant went back and forth into the voting area telling people he was checking on his wife who was one of his team’s poll watchers. He moved over the 100 foot line and , in general, showed little respect for the election process or the community at large. Ladies and gentleman , it took a while but we all have seen the real Grant Valentine over this election cycle. We are considering the results of the election and will consider the most productive way to review it. And, improve our performance as a group going forward.
ENOUGH about the Election- Let’s talk about the Article 78 Lawsuit which was electronically filed to the NYS Supreme Court In New City on Thursday, March 21. The Village Government will receive their voluminous copies on Tuesday, March 26. The law suit is available for your review on this website..Read it and consider the work and facts that have been poured into this document. This suit is factual and substantive. This matter will take time but I believe we have a good chance of prevailing- the Village simply thinks that there will be NO Environmental impact on 90% of the land in the Village. How can that be!!! The facts are indisputable. Please note that this suit does not come to CUPON of Chestnut Ridge cheaply. Our superb attorney, Steve Mogel has worked over tirelessly along with the planner, Alan Sorenson, to craft this document. His work hours for March alone totaled 76 hours- or roughly $17,000. Steve has been very gracious and has discounted this work as a donation to CUPON of Chestnut Ridge in the amount of $4000- so we now owe him roughly $13,000. This is a large amount of money but well spent I believe and I know many of you do as well. I ask all of you to think about this matter and the future of this Village . Please , if you have already donated, donate again. And, if you been a watcher, it is time to be a participant in this fight. This work is for all of us- it is for the future of Chestnut Ridge, the beautiful, diverse community that we all love!! I want to take this opportunity to ask you all to offer your time to help the few of us shouldering a good amount of this work We need people to FOIL plans and documents and to attend meetings and report meeting. Going forward, there should be NO public meeting in this village without a CUPON member attending. The party is over, folks!!! We must make the Village government accountable for its actions- nothing can occur in silent or secret going forward. Watching and asking questions is what will save this village. And, to coin a phrase used by my friend’s in law Enforcement- IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING and take a picture, too! The next CUPON of Chestnut Ridge meeting is 4/3/19.