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UPDATE: County legislators Judy Myers (D-Larchmont) and Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers) responded Friday to County Executive Robert P. Astorino's veto of the approval for a lease at Playland for the Westchester Children's Museum.
"“I am shocked and disappointed by the County Executive’s veto, especially after the lease legislation received unanimous, bi-partisan approval,” said Myers, who sponsored the lease bill in the Board of Legislators (BOL) Budget & Appropriations Committee.
Astorino stated that he took issue with the timing of the lease, which comes in the midst of a plans to redevelop Playland. The county exectutive said he would like the reviewing process for all proposals for redevelopment to be completed before a lease is considered for the museum.
“It is reckless and not in the best interest of the county or the museum to contemplate a long-term lease with any tenant until the RFP (request for proposal) process is complete and a plan for the long-term viability of the park has been established,” Astorino said.
Regardless, county legislators would like the lease to move forward irrespective of the RFP process.
“The reason this project has such wide, bi-partisan support is because it fits into the idea of maintaining Playland as an important destination while also bolstering its stature as a strong economic engine,” said Jenkins, BOL Chairman. “The County Executive’s veto of the Children’s Museum bill is inconsistent with the approach his Administration has taken in similar circumstances."
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- County Executive Robert P. Astorino Friday vetoed a plan to lease the North Bathhouse at Rye Playland for the Westchester Children's Museum.
"My issue is not with the idea of a children's museum," said Astorino. "My issues are the timing of the lease and protecting the financial interests of county's taxpayers."
The lease was approved Aug. 8 by the County Board of Legislators in a unanimous vote, which county Communications Director Ned McCormack said indicated a high probability of an override of the county executive's veto by the Legislature.
"I was elected to do what I believe is right," said Astorino. "Not only what is popular."
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Comments (3)
This article doesn't give any explanation of Mr. Astorino's reasons for the veto. He says, "My issues are the timing of the lease and protecting the financial interests of county's taxpayers." but the article doesn't explain why the timing is a factor and how the financial interests of the county are harmed by leasing the building for the museum. We need more facts before we can form an educated opinion, rather than just perpetuating speculation.
That's the whole point. The lease is probably for less than what the county can get. The Democrats have no problem using Playland as a patronage mill. Republicans do and have sought to have Playland run at least at a break-even, if not profitable point.
So leasing property and making money is not in the counties interests? Playland amazes me. People run amusement parks around the country for a profit but the county cant? why dont we get someone in there and really run the place like an amusement park. charge for admission like any other park, use the profit to subsidize our high taxes. I wouldn't be surprised if our county is trying to loose money on playland so they can sell it to some corporation.