Croton's own Robert Scott deftly addresses the recent Gazette letter by Virpi Demarchis on the Harmon re-zoning for housing. Read it at Croton Local: http://crotonlocal.blogspot.com/2012/02/setting-record-straight.html
Or you can see it below.
February 24, 2012
Setting the Record Straight
OP ED
The distortions of truth engaged in by proponents of zoning change in Croton are beyond belief and merit the attention of a truth squad. I will here attempt to perform that office.
In a letter to the editor in the February 22nd issue of The Gazette, one Virpi De Marchis, by admission not a resident of Harmon, bemoans its appearance and cites "abandoned buildings, wrecked cars, and vacant lots that not only look awful, but are lowering property values in the surrounding area.”
She continues: “Lower property values mean lower school tax revenue, which ultimately will lower the quality of our schools." This is arrant nonsense and reveals a willful distortion of the facts. I live in Harmon and know of no abandoned buildings.
As for the "wrecked cars," the Village itself is responsible for the storage in Harmon of vehicles involved in accidents. Croton could easily find a less visible site for the impoundment of such inoperable vehicles. This is an excellent example of this Village Board’s ability to speak out of both sides of its mouth. The impoundment is a violation of the Village’s own Gateway Law.
And as for empty lots, since when is undeveloped land an eyesore and government's responsibility?
Ms. De Marchis is obviously ignorant of the steps involved in determining school tax revenues. (1) The school district develops and adopts a budget reflecting future needs. (2) Revenues from sources other than the property tax (state aid, etc.) are subtracted from the budget. The remainder becomes the tax levy, which is raised through the property tax. (3) To determine the tax rate, the tax levy is divided by the total taxable assessed value of all property in the school district. Temporary up-or-down fluctuations in property valuations in a neighborhood are not reflected by changes in individual tax assessments.
Hitler knew the value of the “big lie.” Another big lie frequently used by proponents of Harmon zoning changes is the charge that in engaging in court actions, opponents of the legislation are guilty of barratry--persistently instigating groundless lawsuits designed to bleed Croton white with legal fees.
It so happens that the actions brought are specified by law as the proper avenues to challenge the Village’s frivolities. Avoidance of so many blatant errors by Croton would have made citizen action unnecessary.
Those of every political stripe who oppose the misguided zoning changes have done nothing to disgrace Croton by pointing out the many errors committed in the name of planning. Yet, by its disastrous legal maneuvering and by opposing its own citizens so patronizingly, Village Board members have managed to do everything possible to disgrace themselves.
Or you can see it below.
February 24, 2012
Setting the Record Straight
OP ED
The distortions of truth engaged in by proponents of zoning change in Croton are beyond belief and merit the attention of a truth squad. I will here attempt to perform that office.
In a letter to the editor in the February 22nd issue of The Gazette, one Virpi De Marchis, by admission not a resident of Harmon, bemoans its appearance and cites "abandoned buildings, wrecked cars, and vacant lots that not only look awful, but are lowering property values in the surrounding area.”
She continues: “Lower property values mean lower school tax revenue, which ultimately will lower the quality of our schools." This is arrant nonsense and reveals a willful distortion of the facts. I live in Harmon and know of no abandoned buildings.
As for the "wrecked cars," the Village itself is responsible for the storage in Harmon of vehicles involved in accidents. Croton could easily find a less visible site for the impoundment of such inoperable vehicles. This is an excellent example of this Village Board’s ability to speak out of both sides of its mouth. The impoundment is a violation of the Village’s own Gateway Law.
And as for empty lots, since when is undeveloped land an eyesore and government's responsibility?
Ms. De Marchis is obviously ignorant of the steps involved in determining school tax revenues. (1) The school district develops and adopts a budget reflecting future needs. (2) Revenues from sources other than the property tax (state aid, etc.) are subtracted from the budget. The remainder becomes the tax levy, which is raised through the property tax. (3) To determine the tax rate, the tax levy is divided by the total taxable assessed value of all property in the school district. Temporary up-or-down fluctuations in property valuations in a neighborhood are not reflected by changes in individual tax assessments.
Hitler knew the value of the “big lie.” Another big lie frequently used by proponents of Harmon zoning changes is the charge that in engaging in court actions, opponents of the legislation are guilty of barratry--persistently instigating groundless lawsuits designed to bleed Croton white with legal fees.
It so happens that the actions brought are specified by law as the proper avenues to challenge the Village’s frivolities. Avoidance of so many blatant errors by Croton would have made citizen action unnecessary.
Those of every political stripe who oppose the misguided zoning changes have done nothing to disgrace Croton by pointing out the many errors committed in the name of planning. Yet, by its disastrous legal maneuvering and by opposing its own citizens so patronizingly, Village Board members have managed to do everything possible to disgrace themselves.
THANK YOU for this one. How can you pay school taxes here and not understand how all this is arrived at. Some people really shouldn't "write" letters to the papers. As usual, Mr. Scott you've handled these folks again.
ReplyDeleteDobbs