Keeping Yonkersites in the Dark By Hezi Aris

Chuck Lesnick, Yonkers City Council President and Real Estate Co-chair, and Patricia McDow, Yonkers City Councilwoman (1^st District) and Real Estate Co-chair, via fax, had sent a three page letter (Download Letter2AlfredDelBello7-23-2008VIAFAX.pdf ) addressed to Alfred DelBello, lead counsel on the SFC Yonkers, Inc. Project. The letter touched on three points. The first stipulated that review by SFC or their counsel had not been fully reviewed, and that inquiries did not always receive full attention, and that those to which response was given, were at times only 60 percent complete, thereby impeding the process for completion of the Preliminary Final Environmental Impact Statement (pFEIS). Secondly, that a memorandum, stipulating “The City Council has agreed to an accelerated schedule for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), with a series of key dates for submission.” In this letter, Lesnick and McDow write, “…it is crucial to note that the dates contained in the memo are target dates.” Thirdly, and lastly, that as of June 26, 2008, the consultants had not been paid, an assertion dismissed by Joe Apicella of Cappelli Enterprises.

Powered by Qumana

The fickle finger of fate and blame could equally and easily point toward the conduct of the Yonkers City Council President’s office, and the Yonkers City Council membership represented by Chuck Lesnick, as well as by City Hall. Angst has insinuated itself into the fabric comprising this and other economic development projects. The anxiety is distilled from the difficulties heard daily encountered on international and national stock exchanges, financial institutions taking write-offs that shake confidence in stock brokerage firms, banking institutions, and most recently, Governor David Paterson’s summation of the financial crisis that confronts New York State, and similarly may impact Yonkers, Westchester County, and the nation.

America’s greatest strength, perhaps it is a human trait, more than a patriotic attribute, is our ability to confront crisis. We exhibit this adrenalin-like quality only when exacerbated into action bolstered by awareness of facts.

The round robin which saw the letter herein travel from Lesnick/McDow to DelBello, to City Hall, the Yonkers City Council membership, the press, and then the public, exposes our collective Achille’s Heel. Some branches of government, and within those branches, certain individuals, have far too long conducted business on what they believe is a need to know basis. In none of these esoteric situations are the public invited to know reality, instead, the public is kept ignorant of the facts and circumstances. While we are told we are the ratinale for economic development, we are never invited to the table. Those that speak for us believe they are doing our bidding, yet they are often unconcerned over our plight, involved in private messages similar to those herein simply to clear the way for their benefit, not ours.

Is Lesnick painting the facts as they are or is he now grandfathering standards that have been permitted to endure until a time convenient for him to expose them? Or does City Hall now bring about this issue because they would like to soften the public’s sensibilities in considering Lesnick the fall guy, should the process atrophy before our eyes, no matter the reason. Whether it is the seduction of development in Sullivan County by the respective developers that comprise some or all of SFC Yonkers, Inc., the debacle yet to be fully comprehended on the financial markets, or the state of New York’s fiscal health, Lesnick has been chosen expendable and prone to fry. Is he at fault? To some extent, the answer is, “Yes!” City Hall, if it were to be honest with itself, should admit that they have not been forthright either.

If SFC Yonkers, Inc. has not been complete in responding to questions posed to it by AKRF, Inc. and Saccardi & Schiff, Inc., why are we hearing about it now? Why were we not told sooner? No matter which side of the economic development issue one would find themselves, the public has much to say about the alleged situation. Had the public been advised earlier, the allegations in this letter would be more credible today. Instead, it is now seen more like a red herring or fallacy.

Had the inquiries presented to SFC Yonkers, Inc. been received tardily and if the allegedly deficient responses were made public, the assertion of their lack of scope in this letter might be met with greater credibility. Presently, they are simply suspect. These communications may even be construed to be mind tricks played upon one another to “create” a fact that never existed.

The inference made by many listeners and readers of the agreed upon dates for completion of the process noted in the letter is based upon the language used. This letter suggests that the timeline initially inferred to have been iron clad are instead targets. When there is little trust, language may temper nerves by being more exact. It may behoove each protagonist to measure their use of language to avoid the use of nebulous terminology. Exactitude of meaning and intent does build bridges of understanding. It’s time we work as a team to better the City of Yonkers, our home and concern. Measure every word.

Lastly, the letter asserts that the consultants had not been paid. Four days after the letter was sent, payment to the consultants that satisfied accrued bills up to April 2008 had been received. As of August 1, 2008, SFC Yonkers, Inc. will be delinquent in its remuneration to the consultants for an additional three months. It would be of interest to know what the public thinks is the rationale behind this behavior?

The letter shows that conducting business for the public good without sharing the facts with the public as they occur is a poorly devised strategy. Tell us the truth. We have a right to know. There is nothing worth hiding.

Comments

Oh please, do people want a library written in response to questions. What constitutes a 100% response to a question? It's simply answered. This is quite enough already. I, for one, am sure these people have been paid, that the money is held up somehow in some city office.....I can guesse which one. No more delays, no more saying a "target" date can be missed for some redicuous reason. This process is sinking fast. And I believe it is Lesnick that has punched a hole in the boat, but he waves a flag like he's a great captain so snap a picture of him. You take Yonkers down, you go down Lesnick.

The consultants are not answering all the questions, according to this article about the letter, soooooo now they demand to get paid as if they have done their job? Sounds like Cappelli ought to be angry about now. What are the terms for them to be paid. They don't seem to be too stressed when you see them at city hall. What, they don't get enough perks? Is city council staff cooperating with these consultants promptly.

Nobody is making Lesnick a "fall guy." He can't keep focus. Very sad to say that. He may usher away a huge opportunity and then shrug his sholders about it. Why should he care? His parking facilities for Yankee statium were not delayed, no sir.

The issue here is whether SFC wants to leave for economic reasens and/or whether thet will use that as an excuse to force the Council to capitulate on every issue. Are they looking for an excuse to leave?

Hezi is trying to make an issue out of whether the Council should have released the letter to the public and made the public part of the dialog. Lesnick prefers to keep the details internal and only involve the public on issues of substance. In this case the Mayor released the letter because he is onceagian trying to blame the Council for going slow. However if you read the text of the letter you can see that the council can not go any faster if they do not get the information. It is their responsibility to take a "hard look" at this project.

I am glad that Lesnick and McDow stood up for their team. Cappelli should not expect that the consultants work for free. This is a huge project and the Consultants have done a great job advising the Council and the public on the potential pitfalls.

I used to think that Lesnick was in the pocket of the Developrs. He finally grew a set of ..... and is pushing back in a firm but respectful manner. I think that the Council will ultimately approve this project, but the devel is in the details.

No, they are stretching the answer phase into la la land. Books to be written by the consultants. I don't think so. This is some kind of dance to prolong the process, and consultants get paid for as long as it takes, so its in their interest to delayit all. And what the definition of a complete answer, If you don't like the answer it's not complete? This is splitting hairs, and the project will be dead for this nonsense.

I for one am letting go of the best dream this city has ever had. I just can't take this any more. What a selfish bunch of "leaders" in this economy to stomp all over first rate investors like this. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. And perhaps SFC should just go where they are wanted, because this council doesn't want them. That's clear. Nothing is good enough. NOt millions spent, not all these meetings and compromises. A bunch of losers. So, pack your bags SFC, and put your flag where people will welcome your great teams, your investments, your talent and vision. This city council is blind.

what, someone posts that Lesnick grew a pair of _____, as if this is some kind of sick duel for manliness? Are you kidding. What kind of process do you think this is?

The letter goes on to say they are determining the "negative impacts" of the project.....hey what? The whole downtown is one fu_____negative place. Are you kidding!!!!Just who is grand standing as if they want to spare Yonkers from Godzilla, the developer. Look around. ARe you blind! Do you read the Paper? Its a slum, and people are getting mugged and shot. And these developers are WAITING and even more money has been demanded of them while they have to WAIT some more.

I hope that the project is approved soon. I think that the council has done a good job of focusing on the issues. In this economy I hope it is approved soon.

Hezi said it all about a year or so ago when he gave Lesnick a name. The name was LESNICK THE LIAR. Nothing has changed but the date on the calendar.

Also, a report due tomorrow from a professional organization will state that construction costs in NY are going up at a rate of one percent per month.

Nice work, Lesnick and Council. Does McDow even know what one percent is? Probably not. It's above her level. But McDow, and you too Lesnick the Liar, that adds up to 12 percent a year.

So just keep screwing around. PS: Ridge Hill already would have been open and bringing in dollars to Yonkers except for the same b.s.

with cuts going on with the state. yonkers will follow. this means less services. police, fire and dpw services will be cut.

The council has done a good review up to now. I hope that they do not fold in the final round.

What a team. Lesnick wants to keep Yonkers in the dark and McDow just wants to keep Yonkers dark.

It's so crazy to think we are going to look past this...down the road like 10 years and wish we didn't blow this opportunity. SFC is the best & only thing Yonkers has going for it to envigorate the entire city. With all the stae issues, city issues, county issues how is there not a cohesive understanding amongst all parties that this needs to be worked on together. Unity for One time in this city's life. becasue lesnicks got Mayor on his mind, Liam is looking to be a judge, Mcdow term limitted, Murtaugh term limmited w senate on his mind...It's a 7 headed serpent with agendas before the well being of the city.

This so bad...so so bad. I bet forest city ratner loves that they are in the midst of building a community within a city about to goto shit. Downtown Yonkers is in such bad condition and it's plain as day and their is still no way to pull this thing together and complete it with dignity. Only in Yonkers NY will we ruin this opportunity.

I have to assume that Phils people are on this thing, dave simpson or someone is looking on here to see what people are saying to Hezi's article. Phil, are you reallyu going to let this be your legacy? all that touting, all those public speaches on billions being pumped into the city, a new Yonkers. Dont you have any control onm this situation or was that all a pitch on a hope and & dream???

at this point this has all been a fools errand and the people of Yonkers are holding the bag. yeah you might live here but 199k other do to and now this is closer to going bad than it is to going well.

with all of the potential the downtown has inside itself with the river, the views, the character and we are really going to lose this project. Pass it on, Yonkers politics are a sham...Yonkers deserves what it's going to get, karma is a boomerang!

I think Lesnick or his staff are posting here to defend him as if they are members of the public.

Exactly right. It's Lesnick and/or his staff doing that.

apicella is a real dope -

[Woodstocker]

Well, I'm not on his staff and I don't get what all the hubbub's about. All over Yonkers we've got some big-assed projects that need to be reviewed, and that takes some time. Saying we have to get it done before the economy goes bad seems... a little late. The Alexander Street project's looking great now. If Council had just rubber-stamped the whole thing, we'd be miserable. Chuck's working his ass off, give him a break.

ehhhhhh...What's up Chuck?

right, what's up. HE needs a break now? And from another story on this site, one of his staff members needs a VERY LONG break also....gotta tip toe around that office.
Me thinks Lesnick's staff posted 10:23, so give us a break.
If Lesnick is working his ass off, it's for text messaging. Teenagers could give him a lesson in manners about that. When to do it, when not to.

No one was going to rubber stamp anything at all. The naysayers wanted nothing there, some kind of park- and that's even in Scenic Hudson's plans. They pushed. Hello? Where's reality. What we have now is substantial park land AND developments needed to create density with Green Buildings (you never ever see that in Scenic Hudson's plans for Yonkers) so the CITY gets a significant tax base to benifit everyone. Everyone gains with this plan.
And not all development is bad - ironically Scenic Hudson is now developing by Beacon, and they've finaly learned something about Green Buildings - never too late.

All of you why just want to push this project... If you had to pay the bill out of your pocket wouldn't you want answers? Thats right its taxpayer money so who cares? Take your heads out of your butts and city hall give all of us the FACTS.

11:43 is another Council apologist. Blaming everyone but themselves. But that boat don't float. Chuck's canoe don't float either. It's overloaded with b.s.