Sep 14, 2022 Town Board- Regular

MOVE TO TRIBUTE, WE NEED TO DO ROLL CALL PAUL, FINAL TOWN SUPERVISOR HERE, COUNCILWOMAN ELLEN HENDRICKS, PRESENT, COUNCILMAN JACKSON PRESENT, COUNCILMAN KEN JONES.

AND NEXT, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A, A TRIBUTE TO, UM, VIC, UH, UM, TON WHO, UM, REALLY WAS A, A GIANT AND DESERVES, UM, THE, THE RECOGNITION AND, UM, AND HONOR.

PAUL, BEFORE WE

[ 7:35 PM - ROLL CALL: Town Clerk]

PRESENT, COUNCILMAN PRESENT AND INTERIM ATTORNEY JUDGE PRESENT

[ 7:50 PM - PRESENTATION - Honoring Victor (Vic) Leviatin]

VS.

LEVIAN.

VIC LEVIATHAN'S WIFE, PARTNER THROUGH LIFE, MOTHER OF HIS CHILDREN, AND JUST THE AMAZING WOMAN IN HIS LIFE SHARED THIS PHOTO AND SAID THIS WAS ONE OF HER FAVORITE PHOTOS OF VIC.

VIC VIDAN WAS AN EDUCATIONAL SEER AND A VISIONARY WHO SAW WHAT COULD BE AND WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

PART OF A STATEMENT SUBMITTED BY DAVID GREEN THAT WILL BE READ BY VINNY BAGWELL, KNOWN FOR HIS A STATEMENT, NEVER GIVE UP AND NEVER GIVE IN THE STATEMENT OF MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION THAT HE SHARED WITH YOUNG PEOPLE FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

I DIDN'T GO TO WOODLANDS HIGH SCHOOL, BUT I DID GO TO VALHALLA HIGH SCHOOL, ONE OF THE 10 SCHOOLS WITHIN THE TOWN OF GREENBERG.

AND WHEN I CAME HERE 14 YEARS AGO AS TOWN CLERK, I HAPPENED TO MEET VIC AND I'D HEARD HIS NAME MENTIONED FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS IN EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES.

AND WHEN I FOUND OUT WHO HE WAS, I TOLD HIM THAT I WANTED TO CREATE AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM HERE AT GREENBURG TOWN HALL.

HE BECAME A COACH, AN ADVISOR, AND A FRIEND TO ME, GUIDING ME IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A, OF AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT STARTED OUT WITH FEWER THAN 10 STUDENTS.

AND THIS PAST SUMMER HAD 44 STUDENTS, THE WISE PROGRAM, WHICH VIC WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS, IS CREATED IN 1973.

IS THAT CORRECT, ROSS? AND, AND, UH, ALSO ROSS IS HERE AND HIS SON DANIEL.

THAT GOT PUSHED OUT TO THE PUBLIC IN THE MID 1980S BY TONY MORRISON, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

OH, UH OH.

SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE, ARE CALLING OUT EARLIER DATES.

ALL RIGHT.

THE EARLY 70 71 WAS THE TRIAL.

OKAY, EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CORRECTION.

UM, VIC CAME TO WOODLANDS AS A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER IN 1961, AND ALONG WITH SEVERAL COLLEAGUES CREATED THE WOODLANDS INDIVIDUALIZED SENIOR EXPERIENCE.

YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THAT VERY MEANINGFUL, LIFELONG, UH, UH, EXPERIENCE THROUGH WHICH STUDENTS LEARNED CERTAIN PRINCIPLES, CERTAIN VALUES, AND CERTAIN, UH, SKILLS THAT HAVE CONTINUED TO RESOUND IN THEIR LIVES TODAY.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I BRING TO YOU ANDREW COURTNEY.

HELLO, EVERYBODY.

UM, OKAY.

A LITTLE SPONTANEOUS.

UH, IT IT COMES TO MY MIND, UH, JUST NOW A FEW MOMENTS AGO THAT THERE'S A VERY WELL KNOWN WEST AFRICAN PROVERB

[00:10:01]

AND THAT PROVERB IS, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.

AND IF YOU THINK HARD ON THAT AND DIGEST IT AND READ, DIGEST IT, YOU COULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE IDEA OF VILLAGE AND WHAT IS A VILLAGE AND WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN, YOU KNOW? AND, UM, I SIGNED ON WITH VIC IN 1971 FOR THE WISE PROJECT.

I THOUGHT HE HAD AN ART PROJECT IN MIND BECAUSE THE WISE PROGRAM, AS HE PRESENTED IT TO ME, HAD ALL THE FEATURES OF WHAT MAKING ART IS ALL ABOUT.

IT REALLY DID, AND IT STILL DOES.

UH, WHAT WAS IN ADDITION TO IT MOST FASCINATING WAS THE VILLAGE PROSPECT IN THE WISE PROGRAM.

SO IN THE VERY BEGINNING, THE VILLAGE WAS MAYBE WOODLANDS HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, TEACHERS, AND SOME STUFF NEARBY, PRETTY NEARBY.

VERY QUICKLY, THE PASSION THAT WAS EXPRESSED BY THE STUDENTS AT WOODLANDS HIGH SCHOOL TO REACH OUT AND WITHIN, OUT AND IN THE PROGRAM, BROUGHT THEM TO OTHER VILLAGES.

THE VILLAGE STARTED TO GROW, OKAY? WHITE PLAINS, THE BRONX THAT TRAINED TO MANHATTAN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, METROPOLITAN NEW YORK WAS PART OF THE GREENBERG VILLAGE FOR THE WISE PROGRAM.

THERE WAS SOME YEARS LATER WHEN A GROUP OF STUDENTS RESEARCHED DOLPHINS IN DOLPHIN CANALS IN FLORIDA FOR THEIR PROJECT.

I HEARD TONIGHT REMINDED THIS WOMAN IN THIS ROOM HERE WHO DID HER PROJECT WITH THE WIZ DOWN IN BROADWAY.

THE VILLAGE EXPANDED FROM JUST THE CLASSROOM.

HOW DO YOU BRIDGE FROM BEING A STUDENT IN A SCHOOL TO REAL LIFE AFTERWARDS, WHATEVER THAT IS, WORK, COLLEGE, MILITARY, YOU KNOW, DO, DO YOU, HOW DO YOU TAKE OUTTA THAT BOX? WELL, VICK'S PROJECT, THE WISE PROGRAM DID EXACTLY THAT AND CONTINUES TO, THAT VILLAGE WENT ON.

AND WHEN HE RETIRED IN 1991, AND I DID TOO, UH, ONE ASKED ME ABOUT IT LATER, UH, ASKED ME ABOUT IT LATER, I WANT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT THE SCHOOL ON THE CHEYENNE RIVER LAKOTA RESERVATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PRAIRIE, THE GOVERNMENT SAID, YOU GOTTA HAVE A FOOTBALL FIELD.

SO THEY HAVE A FOOTBALL FIELD, BUT THEY ONLY HAD 12 SENIORS, BOYS AND GIRLS, NO FOOTBALL TEAM.

THE BUFFALO ARE GRAZING ON THE OFFICIAL FOOTBALL FIELD.

AND WE HAD A WISE PROGRAM OUT THERE.

I NEED TO TELL SOME FOLKS ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENED WITH THE, WITH THE LAKOTA PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FAMOUS FOR TRUSTING TWO WHITE MEN COMING FROM THE EAST IN A ROOM, YOU KNOW? AND IT HAPPENED.

SO THAT'S THE VILLAGE EXPANDING.

I MADE A LITTLE FILM.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY HERE.

UH, JUDITH.

IT'S READY.

IT'S A SHORT FILM.

UH, SO ENJOY IT, PLEASE.

AND BY THE WAY, THAT PHOTOGRAPH IS BY JOHN SHEER.

OH, YES.

MANY OF US PROBABLY KNOW JOHN SHEER WAS A GRADUATE OF WOODLANDS HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.

AND HE WENT ON TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST, IF NOT THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER FOR LOOK MAGAZINE.

AND WAS LATER IN HIS YEARS, BROUGHT INTO WORK WITH LIFE MAGAZINE WITH HIS MENTOR GORDON PARKS, THE PHOTO THAT WE SEE MOST OFTEN OF, UH, A SAD PHOTO OF JACQUELINE KENNEDY AND HER CHILDREN AS THEIR SON SALUTES THE CASKET.

THAT PHOTO WAS, WAS TAKEN BY JOHN SHERA WHEN HE WAS ONLY ABOUT 16 YEARS OLD.

AND, UM, UH, BROUGHT TO WASHINGTON, UH, ALONG WITH A LOOK, UH, A WRITER, JOURNALIST, AND, AND TOLD, TAKE SOME PHOTOS.

UM, SECRET SERVICEMAN GRABBED HIM, AND HE, HE FELL, AND THE LENS OF HIS CAMERA BROKE.

BUT HE SAID, I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THAT PICTURE.

THAT IS THE MOST COMMONLY SEEN PICTURE OF JOHN KENNEDY JR.

SALUTING HIS FATHER'S CASKET.

UM, MAY WE PLEASE HAVE THE RUN OF THE VIDEO YES.

ON THE PRESS BUTTON.

SPIRIT CAN WORSHIP CHERISHING FEELINGS, FINDING HEART, CHERISHING THE LOVING SPIRIT FOREVER.

AJ.

AJ, AJ, COULD YOU PLEASE FLIP THE LIGHTS THERE FOR ME? THANK YOU.

THE TOP, THE TOP CHERISHING

[00:15:03]

AND LET US THANK VS.

DEAR FRIEND ANDREW COURTNEY, FOR PUTTING THIS VIDEO TOGETHER.

A TWO DAY WALKOUT AND SIT IN UNTIL EVERY ONE OF OUR DEMANDS WERE MET.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IN THIS TRIBUTE IS, IS IMANI BOWLING, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF AN AMAZING EDUCATOR.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

ALL LIVES ARE VALUABLE.

ALL PEOPLE HAVE INTRINSIC WORTH.

VIC CERTAINLY BELIEVED THIS, BUT WHILE ALL LIVES ARE SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT, SOME INDIVIDUALS HAVE A GREATER IMPACT THAN OTHERS.

VICTOR LEVIATHAN WAS SUCH A MAN.

HE TRULY EMBODIED THE SPIRIT OF JUSTICE, DIGNITY, AND LIBERTY FOR ALL.

I MET DICK WHEN I WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND I THOUGHT HE WAS THE COOLEST TEACHER I'D EVER ENCOUNTERED.

HE WAS YOUNG AND HANDSOME AND FULL OF ENERGY, BUT MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, HE ALWAYS TREATED ME AS THOUGH WHAT I THOUGHT MATTERED.

HE LISTENED INTENTLY TO MY IDEAS AND GAVE ME THOUGHTFUL FEEDBACK.

AND HE WAS LIKE THAT WITH EVERY STUDENT.

DURING THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES, GREENBERG WAS DESIGNATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS A MODEL FOR INTEGRATION.

IN REALITY, WHILE THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES WERE INTEGRATED, THE HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC CLASSES WERE TRACKED AND THEREFORE QUITE SEGREGATED.

BUT VIC AND HERB CAMON AND DID SOMETHING QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.

THEY CREATED AND TAUGHT A COLLEGE LEVEL SOCIOLOGY COURSE, WHICH ALL SENIORS HAD TO TAKE TO MEET THEIR FOURTH YEAR SOCIAL STUDIES REQUIREMENT.

THE CLASSES WERE HETEROGENEOUS AND CO-TAUGHT BY THEM.

THIS WAS TRULY REVOLUTIONARY.

IT WAS THE BEST COURSE I TOOK IN HIGH SCHOOL AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST COURSES I EVER TOOK.

AND IT OPENED MY MIND TO A WAY OF THINKING, WHICH INFORMED MY LIFE GOING FORWARD.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY THING VIC DID.

IN THE FALL OF 1968, MY SENIOR YEAR AT WOODLANDS VIC, ANDREW COURTNEY AND JUDY CALVIN HELPED SOME INCREDIBLY ANGRY STUDENTS, BOTH BLACK AND WHITE, CHANNEL OUR CONCERNS INTO ACTION.

SEVERAL BLACK MALE STUDENTS HAD BEEN EXPELLED WITHOUT DUE PROCESS, AND ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO DUE PROCESS LAWS FOR STUDENTS AT THE TIME, THOSE ACTIONS SEEMED ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS.

SO WITH THE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT OF VIC, ANDREW, AND JUDY, WE STAGED

[00:20:01]

THOSE DEMANDS INCLUDED AMNESTY, REINSTATEMENT OF THE STUDENTS, ADDING CLASSES IN SWAHILI, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, AND AFRICAN HISTORY, AND HIRING ADDITIONAL BLACK FACULTY.

I'VE BEEN A SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIOR EVER SINCE.

AND AS A SO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER FOR 40 YEARS AT WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS COMMITTED TO HELPING STUDENTS FIND THEIR VOICES AND GUIDING THEM IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THE VIC DID FOR US.

FINALLY, I WANT TO MENTION THE WISE PROJECT, WHICH VIC CREATED.

ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT A BENEFICIARY OF THIS INCREDIBLE PROGRAM, I WAS A WISE ADVISOR TO SEVERAL STUDENTS AT WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT CHANGED THEIR LIVES.

WHEN WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING THE PROGRAM, VIC TOLD ME THAT HE WAS INSPIRED TO DEVELOP WISE BECAUSE THE VALEDICTORIAN OF MY CLASS DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL IN THE SPRING OF OUR SENIOR YEAR DUE TO BOREDOM.

AND HE WANTED TO PREVENT THAT FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

THAT'S THE KIND OF MAN VIC WAS.

SO, VICTOR LEVIATHAN, I SALUTE YOU.

YOU WERE ONE OF A KIND, A BELOVED TEACHER, MENTOR, AND COACH, AND YOU ARE A GREENBERG LEGEND.

THE WHITE PROGRAM WAS EVENTUALLY, UH, IMPLEMENTED IN OVER A HUNDRED SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY, HERE IN OUR, UH, TOWN AND SISTER COMMUNITIES.

THE PROGRAM WAS IN WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL, BRONXVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, SCARSDALE HIGH SCHOOL, SOLOMON SCHEER, AND SEVERAL OTHERS.

I JUST THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING FACT.

SISTINE CHAPEL MASTERPIECE.

ERIC KATZ.

WOW.

I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN YEARS.

APATHY, THAT'S A WORD THAT WAS NEVER USED FOR VIK LEVI.

ALTHOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HE EVER DROVE A CONESTOGA WAGON, AND HE RARELY HAVE EVER TAUGHT US WESTWOOD EXPANSION.

VIK LEVI'S PRODIGIOUS BEARD ALONE QUALIFIED HIM AS A P PIONEER, BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE BEARD THAT PUT HIM IN THE CATEGORY OF REBELS AND REVOLUTIONARIES.

PEOPLE WHO BLAZE A TRAIL FORWARD FOR THE REST OF US WITH A ZEAL.

AND THE OUTSTRETCHED ARM OF A MISSIONARY VIC BROUGHT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY IN THE WISE PROGRAM TO GENERATIONS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THIS TOWN AND BEYOND.

AFTER TEACHING AT WOODLANDS FROM 1961 TO 1991, AS HIS CONTEMPORARIES EASED BACK INTO THEIR LOUNGE CHAIRS AND PREPARED FOR THE EARLY BIRD SPECIAL IN THEIR FLORIDA CONDOS, VIC, UH, BROUGHT THE WISE PROGRAM ACROSS THE NATION.

UM, AT THE LAST COUNT THAT I KNOW OF.

IN IT'S A COUPLE YEARS OLD, 40,000 WISE GRADUATES HAD BENEFITED, BUT, UM, I IMAGINE THE NUMBERS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.

AND THIS GAVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THEIR PASSIONS AND POTENTIAL CAREER INTERESTS IN HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS, UM, A CRITICAL NEED IN OUR COUNTRY.

AS THE FOUNDER OF WISE SERVICES, VIC DONATED MORE THAN 20,000 HOURS OF OF HIS TIME.

AND, UM, THE ANDREW HERE HAS TOLD ME THAT THE WISE PROGRAM WAS V'S.

ALL ITS PARTS AND CONNECTIONS FOR STUDENTS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES CAME FROM V'S.

LIFE COMMITMENT TO AUTHENTIC, PROGRESSIVE COOPERATIVE CHANGE.

ACCORDING TO YOUR TEACHER, THE TEACHER OF MANY OF, OF THE PEOPLE IN HERE, UM, ANDREW COURTNEY, AS THOROUGHLY AS VIC, THREW HIMSELF INTO THIS ENDEAVOR WISE, WAS JUST PART OF THE VERY LARGE PICTURE OF, OF, UM, VIC'S, UM, GOOD DEEDS, THE PROMISE OF DESEGREGATION AS DES DESIRED BY THE WARBURG FAMILY WHO GAVE THEIR PROPERTY A MANSION TO ESTABLISH WOODLANDS.

AND THE CENTERPIECE FOR THE GREENBURG CENTRAL SEVEN DISTRICT WAS A PERFECT FIT FOR, UM, YOU CAN IMAGINE A YOUNG WHIPPER SNAPPER VIC LEVIAN WHEN HE ARRIVED AT WOODLANDS AS A NEW TEACHER BACK IN 1961.

AND OVER THE PAST 60 YEARS, HE'S BEEN A GUIDE AND MENTOR FOR MANY WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND MANY, MANY MORE WHO I IMAGINE WOULD LIKE TO BE.

I WAS ONE OF MANY STUDENTS, LIKE, LIKE SOME OF YOU

[00:25:01]

WHO VIC INFLUENCED IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSROOM.

I GRADUATED BACK IN 87 AND, UM, VIC INFLUENCED ME BOTH IN THE CLASSROOM THROUGH WISE AND ALSO ON THE SOCCER FIELD.

AS A LONGTIME VARSITY SOCCER COACH AT WOODLANDS.

HE WAS A FIXTURE IN THE LOCAL SOCCER COMMUNITY.

I CAN STILL REMEMBER VIC, THE VARSITY COACH, COMING OUT TO WATCH US PLAY WELL BEFORE WE REACHED HIGH SCHOOL.

HE WAS THE ONLY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER I REMEMBER WHO WAS SO COMMITTED TO OUR GROWTH THAT HE INVITED HIS PLAYERS OVER TO HIS HOUSE TO WATCH WORLD CUP FOOTAGE AND TO GET READY FOR THE SEASON EVERY FALL TODAY, E EVEN TODAY.

UM, AND, UH, THE, THE SMELL OF FRESH CUT GRASS ON A FIELD WILL, WILL, UH, REMINDS ME OF THE FALL TRYOUTS WITH MR. LEVIEN.

MAYBE IT DOES FOR, FOR SOME OF YOU AS WELL.

WHEN I BECAME A TEACHER, I TURNED TO VIC FOR ADVICE AS A HISTORY TEACHER FOR OVER 20 YEARS IN NO ROCHELLE, I'VE CONTINUED TO GAIN INSIGHT FROM VIC'S YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND WISDOM.

WHEN IN 2018 AS A MEMBER OF THE GREENBERG HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE, WE AWARDED INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY IN SOCIAL JUSTICE.

VIC LEVI WAS A NATURAL CHOICE.

BORN IN POLAND IN 1939, AND A REFUGEE HIMSELF FROM THE HOLOCAUST WHO CAME TO THE US WHEN HE WAS NINE YEARS OLD.

IN RECENT YEARS, VIC HAS WORKED IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE FOR REFUGEES, CIVIL RIGHTS, STUDENT RIGHTS, TEACHER, AND STAFF RIGHTS.

ALL WERE DEEPLY CONNECTED HUMAN RIGHTS FOR VIC, WHO VIEWED THEM INSTINCTIVELY THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER AND PROMOTED THEM THROUGHOUT HIS WORK AND HIS NON-RETIREMENT.

THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, ALL WHO KNEW VIC WERE IMPRESSED BY THE WAY IN WHICH HE ENGAGED.

HE WAS ENGAGED, DETERMINED, POSSESSED, WITH AN ENERGY AND PASSION AND DRIVE THAT WE CAN ALL ASPIRE TO.

AS A TEACHER, I HOPE TO BRING SOME OF THOSE QUALITIES TO TO MY STUDENTS.

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, VIC TOLD, TOLD ME HOW MUCH HE ENJOYED TEACHING AND WORKING IN THE SAME COMMUNITY IN WHICH HE LIVED.

VIC LEVIAN HAS GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTED AND GIVEN SO MUCH TO THIS GREENBERG COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.

AND WE, WE DO HAVE A, UM, A SWEARING IN CEREMONY FOR OUR NEW, UM, UH, CHIEF OF POLICE.

I'M JUST GOING TO ASK THAT WE KIND OF SPEED UP THE REMAINING TRIBUTES, UH, VINNIE BAGWELL.

AND FOR THE TOWN BOARD FOR HOLDING THIS, FOR THIS HONOR.

SO, YOU KNOW, FAITH IS BELIEF WITHOUT RESERVATION.

AND VICTOR LEVIATHAN WAS NOT A PARTICULARLY RELIGIOUS MAN.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE IN RITUAL, DOGMA, OR DOCTRINE TO HAVE FAITH.

FAITH IS UNIVERSAL.

I, I I'M A BELIEVER, I SWEAR, I IMAGINE AN HONOR GUARD OF ANGELS ESCORTED HIM THROUGH THE GATES TO A WAITING PARTY LED BY TONY ABRAMSON, MRS. SNO AND OTHERS WHO WE MAY REMEMBER, I'M THE MOST CERTAIN.

THEY WELCOMED HIM IN A PLACE WHERE THEY WRITE THE CURRICULUM FOR THIS JOINT.

SUCH A BURST OF ENERGY.

IF THE EARTH WERE TO BE REBORN AGAIN, VIC WOULD BE THE METER THAT HID IT.

HIS VISION WAS NEEDED SO THAT WE COULD BECOME WHO WE WERE DESTINED TO BE.

HIS ENERGY REMAINS AND US HIS STUDENTS.

WHEN WE GREW UP IN THE SEVENTIES, VIC WAS AMONG THE MOST REMARKABLE GROUP OF PEOPLE TEACHING AT GREENBURG CENTRAL SEVENTH.

THEY CARED DEEPLY ABOUT ALL OF US.

AND IT'S INTERESTING 'CAUSE THEY ALL ENTERED AT THE SAME TIME AND THEY ALL LEFT AT THE SAME TIME.

BUT VIC STOOD OUT NOBLE.

HE WALKED WITH, UH, INTEGRITY OF HEART AND REMAINED EVEN AFTER RETIREMENT.

AND PURPOSE IS FOUND IN THE PROCESS.

HIS TALENT WAS PRE-VISUALIZATION AND INSPIRATION MUST BE GATHERED, AND IDEAS DEVELOPED AND REFINED, AND THEN PRESENTED IN SOUL.

VIC WAS A SALESMAN.

HE COULD HOLD A VAST AUDIENCE SPELLBOUND.

HE UNDERSTOOD CAUSE AND EFFECT.

WE WERE KINDRED SPIRITS WITHIN HIS SOUL.

A FIRE BURNED.

AND YOU KNOW, HE AND I, WE LIVED IN THE FUTURE CARING MORE ABOUT WHAT COULD BE THAN WHAT WAS.

HE WAS A MAN WHOSE CONDUCT PRECEDED HIM FROM GOODWILL.

HE SPOKE WITH FRANKNESS, BUT ALL IT WAS SINCERITY.

HE WAS FRIENDLY, LIKE REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE AND MAKING A CONNECTION, CREATING RELATIONSHIPS.

HE BELIEVED IN THE VALUE OF MENTORSHIP AND HE ADVOCATED FOR OUR TESTING, OUR WINGS BEFORE WE SET FREE TO RES

[00:30:01]

THIS WORLD.

IT'S HIS INFLUENCE THAT CAUSED ME TO MENTOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

UM, AN OLD WHOM I THINK CAN BENEFIT FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN DICK'S YOUTH AND OURS.

HIS SHARP INTELLECT AND CRISP WHIP MADE HIM APPEAR TO BE AN OLD SOUL.

BUT IN HIS LATER YEARS, SOMEHOW REMAINED A YOUNG SPIRIT.

HE WAS CREATIVE AND A DEEP THINKER.

HIS UNCOVERED HEART REVEALED BOTH VULNERABILITY AND STRENGTH WITH AN ELEGANCE AND GRACE THAT INVITES THE HEART OF OTHERS TO OPEN ITSELF TO ITSELF.

WE ALL DERIVED FROM THE SAME PLACE AND WE'RE ALL PART OF CREATION.

WE ONLY HAVE TO OPEN UP TO DISCOVER WHAT IS REALLY THERE.

AND VIC HELPED US DO THAT.

IT'S NOT A CRIME TO DIE WITH DREAMS UNFULFILLED, BUT IT IS A CALAMITY NOT TO DREAM.

LUCKILY, VIC HAS US.

WE ARE HIS LEGACY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FULFILL HIS DREAMS. AND WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR DREAMS, VIC WOULD SAY, DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

YOUR WHOLEHEARTED COMMITTED WILL TRACK THE SUPPORT YOU NEED.

DEBBIE GREEN ASKED ME TO READ HIS, UH, PIECE AS WELL.

AND HIS IS TITLED, NEVER GIVE UP AND NEVER GIVE IN CHURCHILLIAN, OF COURSE, BUT ALSO LEVIAN VIC LEVIAN WAS AN EDUCATIONAL SEER AND A VISIONARY WHO SAW WHAT COULD BE AND WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

MOST OFTEN, HE DID.

WHETHER IT WAS CREATING A TEAM TAUGHT CLASS IN SOCIOLOGY OR PROGRAM AS GREAT AS WISE, HE WOULD NOT STOP FIGHTING UNTIL HE ACCOMPLISHED HIS GOAL TO MAKE EDUCATION BETTER FOR OTHERS.

HIS SOCCER PLAYERS WILL PROBABLY TELL YOU THE SAME ABOUT HOW HE RALLIED THEM TO BE THE BEST THEY COULD BE AS WELL.

HE CHALLENGED, HE PROBED, HE PUSHED, AND THEN HE PUSHED HARDER.

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN GREENBURG AND THE PRINCIPALS OF WOODLANDS HIGH SCHOOL, HEARD HIM.

HE NEVER, EXCUSE ME, HIS NEVER GIVE UP AND NEVER GIVE ATTITUDE MADE WISE POSSIBLE BACK IN 1973.

IF IT WASN'T FOR VIC, THERE WOULD BE NO WISE.

WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN TO THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, INCLUDING MY TWO KIDS WHO DID WISE PROJECTS THAT SHAPED THEIR LIVES? WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN TO THE HUNDREDS OF MENTORS AND SITE SUPERVISORS WHO TOOK KIDS ON THEIR PLACES INTO THEIR PLACES OF WORK, OR THE PARENTS OF WISE KIDS WHO SAW THEIR CHILDREN GROW IN WAYS THAT THEY NEVER THOUGHT A SCHOOL COULD PRODUCE? OR THE MENTORS WHO GOT TO WORK WITH THEIR MENTEES IN WAYS THAT GO FAR BEYOND WHAT A CLASSROOM ALLOWS.

WITHOUT VIC NADA, HIS FOUNDING WISE BUDDIES, ESPECIALLY TONY ABRAMSON AND ANDY COURTNEY AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE RUNNING OF WISE WOULD TELL YOU WHAT THE STORIES OF THE CONFLICTS OVER THE DIRECTION WISE AT WOODLANDS AND LATER WISE SERVICES WOULD TAKE.

THE YELLING WAS AWFULLY HEARD DOWN THE HALLS AND MAYBE AS FAR AS 100 A, BUT IT ALWAYS WORKED OUT.

THE STAFF MEMBERS OF RISE SERVICES, ANDY L SUE, THE SPY DOLLS, DEB, ANDY, H MARIA, AMY AND OTHERS WERE, REMEMBER THE SAME.

BUT ALWAYS GOING FORWARD, IMPROVING, EXPANDING THE PROGRAM UNTIL THE LAST TIME HE DECIDED TO NEVER GIVE UP OR NEVER GIVE IN.

AND UNFORTUNATELY PUT A HOLD ON IT.

WE HOPE TO FIX THAT AND CARRY HIS LEGACY FORWARD.

WHEN HE WALKED INTO A NEW SCHOOL, INTERESTED IN WISE, THE FOLKS HE VISITED DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HIT HIM.

WHO WAS THIS OLD.

AND HE ALWAYS LOOKED THE SAME AGE, SOMETIMES HONOREE, SOMETIMES SAINTLY, BITTER DUDE WITH THE SCARF, MALCO AND OR OBAMA BUTTON COMING TO TELL THEM WHAT WAS GOOD FOR THEM AND THEIR KIDS AND HOW TO DO IT.

AND AFTER A WHILE THEY KNEW AND THEY KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

VIC WAS A CONUNDRUM.

HE CARED AND CARED HARD ENOUGH NOT TO GIVE UP.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, HE WAS NEVER GIVING UP OR GIVING IN.

HE WAS ALSO COMPASSIONATE AND EMPATHETIC.

IF NOT, THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN.

WHY STARTED AT OVER A HUNDRED SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

VIC WAS THE CONSUMMATE EDUCATOR.

HE WAS A GIFTED AND CREATED TEACHER.

HE WAS A GREAT COACH AND HE WAS A GREAT MENTOR TO HIS STUDENTS, HIS WISE MENTEES, THE WISE MENTORS AT WOODLANDS, AND TO THOSE PROFESSIONALS AT THE MANY SCHOOLS TO WHICH WE SPREAD WISE.

HE CERTAINLY WAS A GREAT MENTOR TO ME, MEMBERS OF BEING TAUGHT, COACH AND MENTORED OR WORKING WITH HIM.

LAST AND LAST AND LAST.

JUST ASK AROUND, THANK YOU.

CHARLIE NORRIS, FOLLOWED BY PORTER.

ARE YOU GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS? OKAY.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A CLOSING STATEMENT.

THANK YOU CHARLIE.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

UM, I WANT, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK RAZ AND I WANT TO THANK DANIEL AND FOR VINNY FOR THROWING MY NAME IN THE HAT

[00:35:01]

'CAUSE THIS IS, UH, A MUCH MORE EMOTIONAL HONOR THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

AND I WANT TO SAY HI TO MY GREENBERG FAMILY, THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE IN THE WORLD WITH.

'CAUSE I WENT THROUGH GREENBERG AND I HAD THE EXPERIENCE.

SO MY NAME IS TUNA.

IT'S ACTUALLY CHARLIE NORRIS.

I GRADUATED FROM WOODLANDS IN 1976, AND I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD OF ED AND WHITE PLAINS FOR 16 YEARS.

BUT IN HIGH SCHOOL, VIC STARTED CALLING ME TUNA .

SO VIC AND I REMAINED IN TOUCH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE AND FOR THE REST OF VIC'S LIFE.

AND I WEAR THAT AS A BADGE OF HONOR.

'CAUSE I THINK THAT HE MEANT THAT OUT OF LOVE AND AFFECTION.

AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING ROZ DON'T TELL ME DIFFERENT .

SO WHEN WORD CAME ABOUT VIC'S PASSING, I BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT THE MOVIE.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE AND NOT ABOUT GEORGE BAILEY STANDING ON A BRIDGE THAT WOULD NEVER BE VIC, YOU KNOW, GETTING READY TO THROW HIS LIFE AWAY.

I TURNED IT AROUND.

WHAT WOULD MY LIFE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT VIC IF VIC HADN'T BEEN BORN, IF HE HADN'T GOTTEN OUTTA POLAND, AND IF HE HADN'T BEEN AT GREENBERG DURING A MAGICAL PLACE, AT A MAGICAL TIME, VIC HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON ME.

HE WAS MY SOCCER COACH, HE WAS MY TEACHER, BUT HE WAS MY MENTOR AND ULTIMATELY BECAME MY FRIEND.

AND AN EXAMPLE, THE LESSONS HE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL.

I REMEMBER TWO SPECIFIC LESSONS.

ONE WAS, THERE WAS A READING THAT HE HAD US DO THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE WORD AMERICA SPELLED BACKWARDS.

WE READ THIS PIECE AND IT WAS ABOUT PEOPLE COMING TO THE SHORES OF SOME COUNTRY SOMEPLACE AND READING ABOUT HOW THE WOMEN IN THIS OTHER SOCIETY BAKED THEIR HEADS AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER STUFF.

BUT NONE OF US REALIZED THAT IT WAS AMERICA SPELLED BACKWARDS.

WE WERE READING ABOUT OUR COUNTRY, WOMEN BAKING THEIR HEADS, OR WOMEN SITTING UNDER, UH, BLOAT, UH, HEATERS, YOU KNOW, UH, BEAUTY SALONS, HAIR DRYERS.

AND I BEGAN TO OPEN MY MIND TO WHAT IT IS LIKE TO GO TO A PLACE WITHOUT PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS AND WITHOUT IDEAS.

AND JUST TO BE OPEN TO HUMANITY AND WHO THEY ARE.

AND I GOT THAT FROM VIC.

I ALSO WALKED INTO CLASS ONE DAY AND HE WAS BREASTFEEDING A BABY THAT HAD TO DO WITH GENDER ROLES.

AND THAT AGAIN, WAS THOUGHTFUL.

THEN THERE'S THE GREAT WISE TRIP.

AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE WALKED ACROSS THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE AT DAWN, WE WENT TO THE FULTON FISH MARKET, AND WE WALKED AROUND THE BOWERY WHEN THE BOWERY WAS THE BOWERY, NOT WHAT IT IS TODAY.

AND VIC WAS TALKING TO EVERYONE.

AND I WENT WITH VIC AND WE TALKED TO EVERYBODY AND THEY WERE JUST PEOPLE.

THEY WERE PEOPLE TO LEARN THEIR STORIES AND THEIR LENS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE.

AND THAT WAS VIC.

WE HAD MANY DEEP DISCUSSIONS OVER THE YEARS, PARTICULARLY AFTER I GOT ON THE, ACTUALLY, PARTICULARLY WAY BEFORE I GOT ON THE BOARD OF ED.

WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS ENTERING KINDERGARTEN, I BEGAN THE FIGHT TO GET WISE INTO WHITE PLAINS.

ULTIMATELY, MY, MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED BEFORE IT HAPPENED, BUT MY SON DID A WISE PROJECT AND IT KIND OF INFORMED, AT LEAST IN PART WHO HE IS.

'CAUSE YOU COULD SEE HIM NOW ON A SHOW ON NETFLIX.

HE TOOK WISE AND HE WENT OUT INTO HIS VILLAGE AND DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO.

BUT WHAT I LEARNED MOST ABOUT VIC IS THAT EVERY MOMENT IN LIFE IS A TEACHABLE MOMENT.

WITH CARE CONSIDERED DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE POSITION OF THE OTHER, WE CAN HAVE RESPECTFUL, UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS.

WE CAN LEARN AND WE CAN GROW.

BECAUSE WHEN WE REMAIN COMFORTABLE, NOTHING EVER CHANGES.

WE HAVE TO GET UNCOMFORTABLE AND WE HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE US UNCOMFORTABLE.

'CAUSE THOSE ARE PROBLEMS WITH ME, NOT WITH THEM.

IN REFLECTING OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, I REALIZED THAT AT LEAST IN PART BECAUSE OF VIC, WHOM I CONSULTED 17 YEARS AGO, I RAN FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN WHITE PLAINS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, I'VE NOW BEEN ELECTED SIX TIMES.

I WANTED TO BRING THE BROADER EXPERIENCE TO GREENBERG, TO WHITE PLAINS.

I WANTED EVERYONE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AT OUR TABLE, TO FEEL HEARD, TO FEEL VALIDATED, AND TO FEEL PART OF ALL, AND TO FEEL PART OF ALL.

I WANTED TO FOSTER DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AND MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS.

I WILL DO THAT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, AT LEAST IN PART.

IN HONOR OF VIC, I AM A CITIZEN OF THE EARTH.

I AM NOT A AN AMERICAN.

I'M NOT ANYTHING.

I DON'T HAVE TO BE ANYTHING.

I'M JUST A CITIZEN OF THE EARTH.

LISTENING TO PEOPLE AND TRYING TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND HEARING THEIR LENS.

THANK YOU, VIC, FOR ALL YOU GAVE ME.

IT IS A DEBT I CAN REPAY ONLY BY PAYING IT FORWARD, BY IMBUING OTHER PEOPLE TO PICK UP THE FIGHT.

[00:40:01]

AND THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING HEARD AND FEELING VALIDATED.

PORTER CARROLL.

AND THEN CLOSING COMMENTS BY AJ SIMPSON.

OH GOSH, IF I COULD EVER GET MYSELF OUTTA HERE.

TRYING TO BE, TRYING TO BE RIGHT.

VIC WAS A CUTTING EDGE GUY, SO I'M GONNA TRY TO BE CUTTING EDGE AND READ FROM ONE OF THESE, RIGHT? LIKE THEY DO .

YOU SEE IT ON THE NEWS ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? BUT THEY'RE ALL YOUNG AND I'M NOT OBVIOUSLY.

SO, BY THE WAY, AND WE KNOW THAT'S WHAT VIC WAS ALL ABOUT.

YES, RIGHT? JUST, I, I JUST, I MEAN, WHAT COULD YOU SAY? I MEAN, EVERYONE HAS SAID EVERYTHING.

ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS HOW DID HE AFFECT ME PERSONALLY? A VERY SMALL STORY.

AND JUST MY MOTHER WOULD SAY, WHEN I'D HAVE A QUESTION, SHE'D SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW.

AND THAT PREPARED ME FOR CHANGE.

BE PREPARED AND EMBRACE CHANGE.

MY FATHER WOULD SAY, SURROUND YOURSELF WITH ENCOURAGING PEOPLE.

AND THE MOMENT IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND YOUR WAY OUT.

DON'T STAY IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS.

I HAD A SISTER WHEN I WAS MOPING AROUND ONE DAY, SHE SAID, ONLY BORING PEOPLE GET BORED.

CREATE.

I HAD ANOTHER SISTER WHO WAS AN ARTIST, AND I WOULD SAY, WHY DOES YOUR WORK LOOK SO MUCH BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE'S? THEY LOOKED REAL.

SHE SAID, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS.

YOU HAVE AN OBJECT.

BUT I SAID, WOW.

SHE WOULD DRAW THE SHADOWS AND THE SHADOWS CREATED DIMENSION.

AND THAT TOLD ME TO LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THINGS.

SO I USED THAT GENERALLY, AND I MARRIED AN EDUCATOR WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE MANY, MANY WAYS TO LEARN THE SAME THING.

WE DON'T ALL LEARN THE SAME WAY.

AND IT'S OKAY.

I CAME UP WHERE I THOUGHT IF I DIDN'T DO IT THE EXACT WAY THEY WERE TEACHING IT DOWN THE STREET, I HAD NO VALUE.

MY WIFE TAUGHT ME JUST THE OPPOSITE.

SHE SAID, THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO DO THIS.

SO, OH, WHEN I THINK OF VIC LEVITAN, HE WAS ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

HE WAS AN EXTENSION OF MY FAMILY.

HE WAS ALL ABOUT CHANGE.

HE WAS ALL ABOUT ENCOURAGEMENT.

HE WAS ALL ABOUT CREATIVITY.

HE WAS ALL ABOUT LOOKING BEYOND.

AND HE WAS ALL ABOUT, THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO LEARN, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH WISE.

THEY, I THINK WHAT THEY WOULD SAY TODAY IS HE IS A, I THINK THE KID WOULD SAY HE'S A DISRUPTOR.

YEAH, RIGHT? HE WOULD BE A DISRUPTOR, RIGHT? HE CAUSED GOOD TROUBLE.

BECAUSE HE FOUND A WAY TO MAKE NEW THINGS HAPPEN.

AND WE ALL BENEFITED FROM IT.

I'M A, I'M IN THAT FIRST GROUP OF KIDS THAT WAS ALLOWED TO DO A PROJECT THAT I THINK GOT ME OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL.

THANK GOD FOR VIC LEVI .

I WASN'T A HAPPY CHILD.

BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, THEY SAY THAT LIFE IS ABOUT SERVICE AND VIC SERVED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

HE SERVED OUR CHILDREN.

GOD BLESS YOU, ROZ.

AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM WITH ALL OF US.

WE ARE ALL BETTER FOR IT.

AND HE WILL NEVER DIE IN MY MIND.

THANK YOU, JUDY.

THE BILL JUST TOLD ME I HAD REALLY TWO MINUTES AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY CLASSMATES ARE IN THE BACK TAKING BETTS.

THAT THAT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN.

, BUT I'M GONNA TRY.

I KNOW IT HAS TO.

THAT VIC WAS NO LONGER WITH US.

SO I WANNA START BY SAYING, LEAN ON.

DO STEVE ON DOWN THE ROAD.

HOLD.

COME ON.

AND EASE ON DOWN.

EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD.

DON'T YOU CARRY NOTHING? THAT MIGHT BE A LOAD.

JUST KEEP ON EASE.

ON DOWN.

EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD.

I'M SORRY FOR BEING EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY

[00:45:01]

I WAS LIVING IN MY COVID VACATION IN FLORIDA FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

NOW THEY HAD COVID DOWN THERE TOO.

BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WHEN SOMEONE INSPIRES YOU, AND I'M NOT EVEN GONNA READ FROM THIS, BUT WHEN SOMEONE INSPIRES YOU AND YOU REMEMBER THE MEMORIES, SEE WHEN THEY, WHEN WE HAD A LOT OF PASSING THESE LAST FEW YEARS, EVERYONE I KNOW HAS BEEN AFFECTED IN SOME WAY.

AND THE THING IS, IS THAT ALL WE HAVE ARE THE MEMORIES.

NOW, I'LL BE FOR REAL.

SOME OF THE MEMORIES AREN'T SO GREAT, BUT WHEN YOU WANNA THINK ABOUT A PERSON OR WHAT THEY'VE MEANT TO YOU, THE GOOD MEMORIES COME IN.

AND THAT'S WHAT SUSTAINS YOU.

THAT'S WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

AND I LOVE THE TEACHERS.

THIS IS FOR BIG, BUT THIS IS FOR THE TEACHERS BECAUSE THE TEACHERS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED JUST LIKE WE RECOGNIZE OUR MILITARY BECAUSE THEY GO IN AND THEY FIGHT THE FIGHT FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

FOR ME.

AND SO I WANNA START THIS BY SAYING, IF ANY OF YOU EVER WATCHED DAVE CHAPPELLE, AND WHEN HE COMES IN, HE SAYS, THE FIRST TIME I MET OJ SIMPSON.

WELL, TODAY, I'M GONNA TELL YOU, THE FIRST TIME I MET VIC LEVIAN, I WAS SOMEONE WHO CAME BACK TO GREENBERG, HAVING BEEN IN AND OUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

MY FATHER WAS AN EXECUTIVE OVER AT I B M AND HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK EXECUTIVES THERE.

AND HE WAS A GENIUS.

HE WENT FROM I B M TO HEWLETT PACKARD TO UM, TEXAS INSTRUMENTS.

AND THEN HE WENT ON TO CREATE HIS OWN BUSINESS.

SO THAT MEANT WE TRAVELED A LOT.

SO BY THE TIME I WAS 12, I WAS IN ALL THE STATES IN THE MAINLAND.

I'D NEVER BEEN TO HAWAII, BUT MY SISTER TRUMPED ME BECAUSE SHE WENT TO HAWAII ON HER WEDDING.

SO NOW I'M SAYING ALL THAT IS THAT I PRETENDED TO BE SOMEONE ELSE FOR A LONG TIME.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE BROUGHT UP IN PLACES LIKE ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO, AND YOU'RE BLACK, YOU KNOW IT.

I LIVED IN NEW YORK IN GREENBURG.

AND THE KIDS THAT I GREW UP WITH, I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW I WAS BLACK.

I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I WAS BEING, UM, DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

I HAD WHITE NEIGHBORS, I HAD ITALIAN NEIGHBORS.

AND WHEN WE GOT INTO FIST FIGHTS, IT WAS FIST FIGHTS.

IT WASN'T GUNS AND VIOLENCE.

AND SO I'M SAYING ALL THAT, THAT WHEN I CAME BACK TO GREENBERG, I HAD BEEN PRETENDING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE.

AND THAT'S WHY I STARTED ACTING BECAUSE I COULD DO THAT.

AND I MET VICTOR, MR. V.

AND AFTER ABOUT A MONTH OR SO OF ME PRETENDING, STILL PRETENDING IN NEW YORK, IN WHITE PLAINS OF BEING SOMEONE ELSE, HE SAID, ALICE, JOYCE, YOU CAN'T B******T A BULLSHITTER.

AND I WENT, I SAID, OH MY GOD, WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT? WELL, I KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT 'CAUSE I WAS BULLSHITTING HIM.

AND THE THING IS, IS THAT HE SAW THROUGH ME, NOT ONLY DID HE SEE THROUGH ME, MR. C, CTO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER HIM, HE SAW STRAIGHT THROUGH ME.

UM, BOB PETILLO.

I WALKED INTO THE WRAP ROOM ONE DAY AND I WAS DRESSED IN A THREE PIECE.

AND YOU WANNA KNOW WHY? I HAD GONE TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOR TWO YEARS AND YOU WENT IN UNIFORM.

SO IN PUBLIC SCHOOL, I'M THINKING, I GOTTA DO THE SAME THING.

AND THE BLACK KIDS THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY OR WEIRD.

AND THE WHITE KIDS THOUGHT I WAS A NARC .

AND I SAT IN BOB'S WRAP ROOM.

AND WHEN I LEFT, HE SENT ANOTHER STUDENT OUT TO GET ME TO COME BACK.

THEY SAID THAT.

AND THE KID WAS LAUGHING SAYING, YOU'RE NOT A STUDENT TEACHER, ARE YOU? I WAS 15 YEARS OLD.

AND THAT'S THE PRESENCE I GAVE.

I THOUGHT THAT'S THE WAY I HAD TO LOOK.

BUT PEOPLE LIKE VIC, AND I'M SAYING THIS, ALL THAT, HE MADE ME BELIEVE IN ME.

HE TOLD ME THAT YOU CAN PRETEND IF YOU'RE GONNA BE SO MUCH OF A PRETENDER, YOU BETTER START LOOKING AT YOURSELF AND FINDING OUT WHO YOU REALLY ARE, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PRETEND IF YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

SO I'M SAYING ALL THIS TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A TEACHER THAT CARES ABOUT YOU, BECAUSE TO ME, HE WAS NOT JUST A FRIEND, HE WAS NOT JUST A BROTHER.

HE WAS A BELIEVER IN ME.

HE BELIEVED IN EVERY STUDENT, ALL OF US, WHOEVER LEARNED UNTO HIM, HE BELIEVED IN YOU.

HE LIKED YOU EVEN WHEN YOU DIDN'T LIKE YOURSELF.

SO I COULD STAND IN HERE AND TELL YOU ABOUT ALL HIS ACCOLADES, THE FACT THAT THE, THE WISE PROJECT IS IN WHAT, 60 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, MAYBE MORE.

SOMEBODY CORRECT ME HOW MANY IT WAS IN A HUNDRED.

A HUNDRED, OKAY.

IT'S AMAZING.

I'VE HEARD, WHEN I SAY WISE, I'VE HAD PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON, DC WHERE I LIVED FOR MANY YEARS.

I EVEN MET SOMEONE IN FLORIDA WHO SAID HE WENT TO SCHOOL IN, UH, I THINK LONG ISLAND, SOMEWHERE WHERE HE HAD THE WISE PROGRAM.

I'M SAYING ALL THIS IS THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY TO HONOR ONE MAN.

BUT I WANNA HONOR ALL YOU TEACHERS, EVERYONE WHO'S EVER SAT NEXT TO A STUDENT WHO REALIZE THAT WHEN THAT CHILD GOES HOME, HE WON'T GET THE SUPPORT.

[00:50:01]

BUT I CAN SUPPORT HIM RIGHT NOW, HERE AT WOODLANDS, AT GREENBURG CENTRAL SEVEN, WE LOVE OUR CHILDREN, WE LOVE EACH OTHER, AND THAT'S WHY WE CAN MEET TODAY.

SO VIC, THANK YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU.

AND I KNOW IT WAS YOU THAT BROUGHT ME BACK TO GREENBURG.

'CAUSE I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE LIKE A WEEK.

MY MOTHER, I DIDN'T WANNA END THIS WAY.

MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY A MONTH AGO.

BUT THE THING IS, IS THAT I, I FEEL HOW ELEVATION MAKES ME GROW.

MY MY MOTHER ELEVATED.

PEOPLE WHO REALLY CARE ABOUT US ARE NOW THE ANGELS.

THE ANGELS.

JUST LIKE VINNY SAID, THE ANGEL WAS VINNY, RIGHT? THE ANGELS ARE HERE.

YOUR ANGEL.

HE MAY HAVE GONE THIS PAST MONTH, BUT HE'S HERE WITH US.

HE WAS AN ANGEL ON EARTH, AND HE'S AN ANGEL IN THE UNIVERSE.

COME ON IN.

HE'S ON DOWN.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR TRIBUTES.

AND, UM, WE JUST HAD SOME AMAZING PEOPLE COME OUT TONIGHT TO SHARE WITH US.

UH, VINNY BAGWELL IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SCULPTURIST.

UM, HER ART IS, UH, ON DISPLAY IN SEVERAL CITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

UM, PORTER CARROLL WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL, UH, SINGERS, UH, WITH, UM, MUSICIANS WITH ATLANTIC STORY.

HE HAS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL, UH, YEARS, BEEN SINGING WITH INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTISTS, HALL OATS.

AND WE HAVE SEVERAL, UH, UM, UH, IMANI, UM, FOR 41 YEARS, A SOCIAL WORKER AT EDUCATOR AT WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL.

CHUCK NORRIS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.

UM, UH, DID I LEAVE ANYONE OUT? UM, SO, SO I, I JUST WANT TO, TO SAY THANK YOU AND ROZ, UM, ROZ, THE VITON AND HER SON DANIEL ARE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.

THEY, THEY, UM, DECIDED NOT TO SPEAK, BUT THEY, UM, GREATLY APPRECIATE THIS TRIBUTE TO THEIR, TO RA, UM, TO HER HUSBAND, HER LATE HUSBAND.

AND DANIEL GREATLY APPRECIATES THIS TRIBUTE TO HIS LATE FATHER.

THANK YOU ALL.

COULD YOU STAND ROSS AND DANIEL? COULD YOU, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND? I STAND SO WE COULD RECOGNIZE BOTH OF YOU? THANK YOU ALSO TO OUR SUPPORT, TO OUR STAFF WHO HELPED MAKE THIS POSSIBLE WITH THE IMAGES AND THE, AND THE VIDEO.

THANK YOU ALL.

VERY MOVING, UH, CEREMONY.

UM, SO WE'RE NOW GONNA, UM, WE, IN FACT, THE PEOPLE, UH, ARE LEAVE, WE'LL LEAVE, WE'LL WAIT A, A SECOND OR TWO IF EVERYBODY COULD, UH, WE HAVE THE REST OF THE MEETING AND IT'S GONNA GO ON SO PEOPLE COULD, UM, IF PEOPLE COULD, UH, TALK OUTSIDE.

EVERYONE MOVE OUTSIDE.

WE, WE HAVE LIKE A REALLY LONG AGENDA.

IF EVERYBODY COULD, UH, TALK OUTSIDE, IT REALLY WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

OH, THERE? YEAH.

YEP.

UH, OH, THAT'S GREAT.

WE'RE GONNA, UH, RESUME THE MEETING NOW.

SO IF, UH, PEOPLE WANNA, UH, CHAT WITH EACH OTHER, IF YOU COULD GO OUTSIDE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO INTRODUCE OUR, UM, UH, RECENTLY APPOINTED, UH, UH, POLICE CHIEF, UH, KOBE POWELL.

SO, UM, OUR, UH, CHIEF OF, UH, POLICE, KOBE POWELL, UM, IS, UH, WELL KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY AND REALLY DOESN'T NEED AN INTRODUCTION BECAUSE HE IS DEVOTED HIS WHOLE LIFE TO, UH, THE TOWN OF GREENBURG MAKING GREENBERG, UH, BETTER.

GREAT.

[00:55:01]

HE'S, UM, RISEN THROUGH THE RANKS OF, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I'LL LIST.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE ATTENTION, I THINK, I THINK YOU NEED TO GET THE ATTENTION 'CAUSE THEY'RE BRINGING EVERYBODY UP.

JUST GIVE IT A GREAT, I WE COULD START NOW.

SO I'D LIKE TO, UM, UM, BEGIN THE NEXT QUESTION OF, UH, THE MEETING, UH, BY, UM, UH, INTRODUCING OR RECOGNIZING OUR RECENTLY APPOINTED, UM, CHIEF OF POLICE, UH, COLBY, UH, POWELL.

HOLD ON.

COLBY.

WE NEED THE KOBE CHIEF.

CHIEF.

CAN YOU HAVE OKAY, EVERYONE, IF WE CAN GET STARTED, PLEASE.

OKAY,

[ 8:05 PM - POLICE DEPARTMENT CEREMONY Introduction of our recently appointed (8/12/2022) Chief of Police Kobie Powell Promotion(s) of Lieutenant Michael Muesser to Captain, Sergeant Sean Hagan to Lieutenant, Police Officer Courtney Doherty to Sergeant, and Police Officer Michael Neczesny to Sergeant]

GREAT.

SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA, UM, INTRODUCE, UM, UM, OR REINTRODUCE OUR CHIEF OF POLICE, KOBE POWELL, WHO DOESN'T NEED AN INTRODUCTION BECAUSE HE'S DEVOTED HIS WHOLE LIFE, UM, TO THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.

UM, HAS, UM, UH, RISEN THROUGH THE RANKS, UM, HAS IMPRESSED A LOT OF PEOPLE, MADE A LOT OF, UH, FRIENDS.

AND WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED THAT, UM, UM, WE HAVE A EXCEPTIONAL, UM, NEW CHIEF OF POLICE WHO IS, HAS ALWAYS MADE THE TOWN PROUD AND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE US EVEN, UM, PROUDER.

SO I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE, UM, OUR CHIEF FOR, UM, UM, HIS NEW ASSIGNMENT AND THANK HIM FOR HIS, UH, SERVICE.

AND CHIEF, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? I FEEL LIKE THE HONEYMOON IS STILL GOING ON.

I HOPE IT LASTS.

YOU CAN PICK THE MIC UP.

YEAH, I THINK YOU HAD TO TELL ME THAT LAST TIME.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD, UH, FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.

I, UH, I WROTE SOMETHING DOWN AND THEN I'LL PUT IT AWAY.

AND I'M GONNA DO WHAT I DID LAST TIME I WAS UP HERE.

FIRST.

I HAVE TO THANK GOD FOR BLESSING ME WITH OVER 24 YEARS IN THIS PROFESSION, ENABLING ME TO HELP PEOPLE DO SOME GOOD, STAY HEALTHY, PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY, AND JUST HAVE A CAREER THAT I COULD BE PROUD OF AND THAT I'VE TRULY ENJOYED.

UM, I NEED TO THANK THE TOWN BOARD FOR THE ENORMOUS FAITH AND TRUST THEY HAVE PUT IN ME TO GIVE ME THIS POSITION, TO GIVE ME THE HONOR OF LEADING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT I LOVE AND THAT I'VE BEEN VERY PROUD TO WORK FOR, FOR THE ENTIRETY OF MY CAREER.

THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE THAT I WISH COULD BE HERE TODAY THAT CAN'T, BUT, UM, I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING WITH THAT.

WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS I'VE BEEN HARD OUT WORK THE LAST THREE WEEKS, BUT YOU COULD SAY I'VE BEEN HARD OUT WORK, WORK THE LAST 24 AND A HALF YEARS.

AND WE DO, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN SERVICE ORIENTED.

WE DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF DOING A DIFFICULT JOB WELL, AND I SIMPLY WANT TO KEEP THAT BALL ROLLING, MAYBE, UH, IMPROVE THE WAY WE DO A FEW THINGS, EXPAND A FEW THINGS.

BUT IF IT AIN'T BROKE, I'M NOT GONNA TRY TO FIX IT.

I JUST WANNA THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT I WILL BE LEADING FOR THE HONOR OF LEADING THEM AND THE SUPPORT THAT I HAVE RECEIVED.

IT HAS BEEN SMILES, LAUGHTER, HUGS.

AND I'VE WORKED FOR THE PD LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS GENUINE, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN THE LAST THREE WEEKS.

[01:00:01]

SO, OH, HOW CAN I FORGET MY MOTHER, MY CHILDREN, RIGHT? FOR EVERYONE THAT THINKS I'M THE NICEST GUY IN THE WORLD, PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME REALLY WELL KNOW I'M NOT ALWAYS THAT NICE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY MY FAMILY PROBABLY KNOWS THAT BETTER THAN ANYONE.

BUT, UH, THEIR PATIENCE, THEIR SUPPORT, IT MEANS THE WORLD.

AND I THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU.

SO I'M GONNA STOP BEFORE I GET CHOKED UP AND I'M GONNA MOVE ON TO THE PART OF THIS THAT I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO, WHICH IS INTRODUCING SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE BEEN PROMOTED THAT I'M VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.

AND THANK YOU EVERYONE ELSE THAT SHOWED UP, WHETHER I KNOW YOU OR NOT.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIAR FACES.

YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO, YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE.

BUT, UM, FOR ALL OF YOU, THE DIFFERENT ROLES A LOT OF YOU HAVE PLAYED IN MY LIFE.

MICHAEL MUER WAS BORN IN MANHATTAN, GREW UP IN THE BRONX, GRADUATED FROM IONA WITH A BSS IN PSYCHOLOGY AND WAS HIRED BY THE GREENBERG POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1998.

YOU ARE ALL APPRECIATED.

SO IF I MAY MOVE ON, YOU MAY WELL, NO, NO, I'M GONNA STOP.

WE NEED TO OFFICIALLY PIN YOU.

SO I KNOW YOU ARE ALREADY PINNED, BUT YOU NEED TO BE OFFICIALLY PINNED.

SORRY.

SO MAYBE WE HAVE TO DO IT CORRECTLY.

WE HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT.

SO MAYBE YOU SHOULD PIN NO, WE ALL COME TOGETHER.

WE WERE TRYING TO CUT A CORNER TWO TONIGHT.

SO I GUESS EVERYONE THAT HAS THEIR BADGE ON ALREADY MAYBE TAKE THEIR BADGE AND BACKER OFF.

IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR ME TO PIN YOU WITHOUT THE BACKER.

YOU, YOU, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF WHERE SHE PUTS THE PIN.

YEAH, I TRUST HER .

I CAN'T SEE.

WELL, EVERYONE KNOWS, UH OH.

YOU CAN DO IT.

SEE, THE TRICK IS EVERYONE DOES THIS WHEN THEY'RE NOT WEARING THE GUESTS .

TRUE.

IT LOOKS SO NICE.

BEFORE WE GONNA DO THINGS RIGHT.

RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.

THIS, I, SO NOW IF I MAY MOVE ON TO THE PART I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.

YES, YOU CAN.

THANK YOU KNOW YOU WERE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

'CAUSE GINA WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME SAYING, WE HAVE TO PIN HIM.

, WE HAVE TO PIN HIM.

WHEN ARE WE GONNA PIN 'EM? WE HAVE TO PIN HIM.

I, I GO WITH THE FLOOR.

IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

[ PO 1 - 9/14/2022 Resolution promoting Lieutenant Michael Muesser to Captain, Sergeant Sean Hagan to Lieutenant, and Police Officer Michael Neczesny to Sergeant]

HE HAS SERVED AS A POLICE OFFICER, FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, ASSISTED WITH THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT PROGRAM, AND IS A FORMER COMMANDING OFFICER OF OUR MARINE UNIT.

MOST OF HIS FREE TIME HAS BEEN SPENT COACHING, FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, OR FULFILLING HIS DUTIES AS A HUSBAND TO HIS WIFE DEBBIE, AND INVOLVED FATHER TO THEIR THREE CHILDREN.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THE PROMOTION OF MY FRIEND, COLLEAGUE MICHAEL MUSER, TO THE RANK OF CAPTAIN.

MAY I SUGGEST WE TAKE PO O ONE OUT OF ORDER AND VOTE ON IT RIGHT NOW? YEAH.

LET ME JUST SEE.

HOLD ON.

UH, PO O ONE, UM, RESOLUTION PROMOTING LIEUTENANT MICHAEL MUER.

CAPTAIN SERGEANT.

NO, NO, NO.

LET'S JUST DO JUST MICHAEL MUER.

JUST DO MICHAEL MEUSER.

YOU WANNA DO IT AGAIN? RESOLUTION PROMOTING, UH, LIEUTENANT MICHAEL MUER TO CAPTAIN.

I'D LIKE TO SECOND.

HE WORKED AS A NEW YORK STATE COURT OFFICER FROM 1990 UNTIL JANUARY OF 98, WHEN HE WAS HIRED AS A GREENBERG POLICE OFFICER.

YEAH, WHY DON'T WE, WHY DON'T WE ALL WAIT AND WE'LL TAKE PICTURES TOGETHER.

ALRIGHT PAUL, YOU WANNA DO THE NEXT PO ONE? RIGHT? WELL, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE CHIEF AND THEN WE SHOULD JUST DO A MORE THAT'S OKAY.

SEAN HAGAN WAS BORN IN THE CITY, ALSO RAISED IN THE BRONX.

SEAN ATTENDED HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY WHERE HE PLAYED FOOTBALL AND RECEIVED THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.

AFTER GRADUATING,

[01:05:01]

ALONG WITH ME, SEAN HAS SERVED AS A POLICE OFFICER, DETECTIVE SWAT, TEAM MEMBER, PATROL SERGEANT, DETECTIVE SERGEANT, AND MOST RECENTLY AS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL TASK FORCE AND MOTORCYCLE UNIT.

HE'S JOINED HERE TONIGHT BY HIS LOVING WIFE, EILEEN, AND TWO OF THEIR THREE CHILDREN, AARON AND TARA.

FORTUNATELY, SEAN JR.

COULDN'T MAKE IT, HE'S ALSO JOINED.

THIS IS AN ADD-ON BY HIS BROTHER, FRANK AND HIS BROTHER MIKE.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THE PROMOTION OF SEAN HAGAN TO THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT AND HIS NEPHEW TOM.

AND HE DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB WITH THE BAGPIPES TOO.

YES, HE DOES.

AND HE WAS ALSO THE HEAD OF, UH, THE P V A AND I ALMOST WENT TO JAIL WHEN I DISAGREED WITH HIM.

PAUL, YOU WANNA DO THE PO ONE FOR SERGEANT? I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, RECOMMEND, UM, THAT WE, UM, UH, PROMOTE SERGEANT SEAN HAGEN TO LIEUTENANT SECOND IN FAVOR.

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST.

AND I THINK SHE WON THE CONTEST FOR THE MOST FAMILY IN ATTENDANCE.

COURTNEY DOUGHERTY WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN GREENBURG HARTSDALE.

SPECIFICALLY SHE GRADUATED FROM GOOD COUNCIL HIGH SCHOOL AND ATTENDED FORDHAM UNIVERSITY EARNING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.

SHE WAS HIRED BY THE GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 2014 AND HAS SERVED AS A DEFENSIVE TACTICS INSTRUCTOR AND FIELD TRAINING OFFICER.

JOINING HER HERE TONIGHT ARE HER PROUD PARENTS, JEFF AND LAURA DOUGHERTY AND HER BROTHER MATT AND BROTHER BRIAN, WHO IS ALSO A POLICE OFFICER IN THE GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'M FAIRLY SURE THERE ARE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS HERE THAT I JUST WASN'T PROVIDED THEIR NAMES.

SO FORGIVE ME FOR LEAVING YOU OUT, BUT WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THE PROMOTION OF COURTNEY DOUGHERTY TO THE RANKO SERGEANT.

ALRIGHT.

WE APPOINTED YOU ALREADY.

SO ? YES.

CONGRATULATIONS.

WE HAVE, HUH? HE'S GONNA TAKE A PICTURE.

GROUP SHOT.

YEAH, WE WANNA TAKE THE SHIFT.

DON'T WE HAVE MICHAEL? WE WHERE'S MICHAEL NOW? DO WE HAVE ONE MORE? OH, UM, OH, OKAY.

OKAY, NO PROBLEM.

BUT YOU WANT, YOU CAN MENTION IT, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE IT'S ON THE AGENDA SO YOU CAN JUST, YOU KNOW, IS IT EFFICIENT? THE DEPARTMENT ALSO RECENTLY PROMOTED OFFICER MICHAEL CHESNEY TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT DUE TO A PREVIOUSLY PLANNED OBLIGATION THAT WAS OUT OF HIS ABILITY TO CHANGE.

HE'S NOT HERE WITH US TONIGHT, BUT OF THE BOARD WILL BE VOTING ON HIM.

AND, UM, HE'S ALSO A NEW ADDITION TO OUR SUPERVISORY RANKS.

SO SHOULD WE MAKE, WE'LL, I'D LIKE TO, UM, RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL ZEKI, UH, TO SERGEANT SECOND.

AND HE'S ORDERED TO SHOW UP AT THE NEXT MEETING.

SO LET'S MAKE THIS THANK YOU.

AND IF I MAY TAKE A MOMENT, CHIEF, IF I MAY TAKE A MOMENT.

THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WANTED TO HONOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR MANY ACHIEVEMENTS AND YOUR DEVOTION TO GREENBERG

[01:10:17]

I KNOW I, I HAD, I HAD TO I'M USING THE RESTAURANT CHIEF, CHIEF GO TO GO TO FRANCIS.

FRANCIS.

PAUL, BEFORE YOU START CAN WE, YEAH, SORRY.

I PROMISE YOU CAN'T MAYBE NOT WAGE YOUR BEST.

I DON'T ANYTHING 20, 20, HUH? NO, I KNOW.

I, I REALLY FEEL I HAVE TO BE SAYING YOU CAN'T EXCITED TOO MUCH.

IT'S, IT'S OUTTA CONTROL.

WE'RE GOOD.

I ALSO AGREE WHAT I TOLD YOU ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

OKAY, LET'S GET STARTED.

OH, OH, JOE'S AND, UH, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING ON CONSIDER LOCAL LAW CREATING A NEW CHAPTER.

BYE, BABY.

GOODNIGHT MOM.

, SHE DIDN'T HEAR ME.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

I TRY TO MAKE CLEARED OUT THE PLACE.

WE SHOULD SEE I LISTEN.

YEP.

ARE IMPRESSED.

FIRST, UH, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

OKAY, WE READY? GOOD.

WE'RE STARTING THE MEETING NOW.

UM, OKAY.

[ To consider a Local Law creating a new Chapter 454 in the Code of the Town of Greenburgh entitled, “Tobacco Product and Electronic Cigarette Advertisements and Smoking Paraphernalia Display”]

I'D LIKE TO, UM, MOVE THAT WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER YES.

PAUL, WHAT? OH, YES.

TO CONSIDER A LOCAL ORDER CREATING A NEW CHAPTER 4, 5 4 IN THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG ENTITLED TOBACCO PRODUCT AND ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE ADVERTISEMENTS AND SMOKING PARAPHERNALIA DISPLAY.

YOU TALKING THROUGH THE MIC? OH, IT'S ON.

HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW BEFORE, SORRY.

JUST TO CONSIDER A LOCAL LAW CREATING A NEW CHAPTER 4 54 IN THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF GREENBERG ENTITLED TOBACCO PRODUCT AND ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE ADVERTISEMENTS AND SMOKING PARAPHERNALIA DISPLAY.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE OPEN THE HEARING.

EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE'RE YOU'RE DISRUPTING THE MEETING.

AND JOE, DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE? SURE.

SO THIS WAS ON FOR PUBLIC HEARING.

EXCUSE ME.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK, YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR MASK OFF, SIR.

OTHERWISE DO IT REMOTELY.

SIR, I WILL NOT BE, I WILL NOT BE TAKING MY MASK BECAUSE THE LAW LAW SAYS IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK, YOU HAVE TO SPEAK WITHOUT YOUR MASK.

OTHERWISE YOU CAN DO IT REMOTELY AS YOU HAVE, SIR, THE LAW DOES NOT SAY THAT.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU SIT DOWN, PLEASE.

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU CAN ASK ME, BUT I HAVE A RIGHT TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND SO DOES EVERYBODY ELSE.

YOU'RE DISRUPTING THE MEETING, SIR, I HAVE THE RIGHT, YOU'RE DISRUPTING THE MEETING FREE FROM COVID AND I WILL, YOU ARE DISRUPTING THE MEETING.

HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GIVE A REASON.

JUST SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER.

I WILL, I WILL SPEAK LOUDER TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE HERE.

THE LAW SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR MASK OFF.

YOU'RE DISRUPTING THE MEETING IF YOU CHOOSE TO BREAK THE LAW THAT LET

[01:15:01]

LOCAL LAW THAT WAS INTRODUCED, UH, A FEW MEETINGS AGO WAS ON FOR PUBLIC HEARING AT THE AUGUST, UH, 12TH MEETING, I BELIEVE WAS CONTINUED OVER TO TODAY.

AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE EDGEMONT COMMUNITY COUNCIL, WHO I SEE WE HAVE, UH, AT LEAST ONE MEMBER HERE TODAY.

I MADE SEVERAL CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.

WE CONTINUED THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR TODAY.

AND WHAT THOSE CHANGES DID WAS THEY, UH, INCLUDED, UH, SOME MORE DEFINITIONS TO ENCOMPASS MORE TYPES OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

AND WE ALSO, UH, INCLUDED SOME LANGUAGE TO SAY THAT NOT ONLY WOULD A FEDERAL, UH, HEALTH WARNING BE NEEDED RIGHT NOW, BUT MAYBE REASONABLY NEEDED IN THE FUTURE AS WELL.

I BELIEVE THERE WERE SOME OTHER CHANGES THAT WERE REQUESTED, UM, THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE DOCUMENT.

MY, MY OFFICE BELIEVED THAT THE CURRENT DRAFT IS APPROPRIATE.

IT WILL, UM, BE ABLE TO WITHHOLD ANY CHALLENGE FROM THE PUBLIC IN THE COURT OF LAW AND THAT IT WOULD DO A GREAT JOB IN MINIMIZING TOBACCO DISPLAYS, UH, WITHIN A 1500 FOOT RANGE FROM UH, SCHOOLS.

UM, I UNDERSTAND THOUGH THAT THERE WILL BE SOME SPEAKERS HERE TONIGHT WHO THINK IT DOESN'T, UH, GO FAR ENOUGH AND I WELCOME THEIR COMMENTS.

SO CAN WE, SHOULD WE GO TO THE LIST? YES.

SO FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, NOW THIS, THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND OUTLINED IN MY PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE TOWN BOARD MEETING ON AUGUST 10TH, UH, DURING THAT MEETING, THE E C C REQUESTED THE TOWN BOARD TO TAKE ITS TIME TO GET THIS LAW RIGHT.

UM, LENE SUBER, DO YOU WANNA SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY.

MARY BODEN.

MARY, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK? YOU ASKED TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I AGREE.

I WOULD ADDRESS THE COMMENTS OF THE ATTORNEY IF I KNEW THIS.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE LOCAL WORKER.

I AM I SPEAKING AND YOU'RE NOT TO INTERRUPT ME.

WE SHOULD REMAIN ON THE AGENDA.

YOUR TIME IS RUNNING, SIR.

YEAH, I KNOW IT'S RUNNING.

I WOULD ADDRESS THE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE IF I COULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD THEM, BUT I COULDN'T.

NOW YOU'VE BROKEN THE LAW, WHICH SAYS I HAVE A RIGHT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE I NEED TO SEE YOUR LIPS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID.

SO I CAN'T COMMENT ON WHAT YOU SAID, 'CAUSE I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.

IF YOU WANTED TO SPEAK WITHOUT, WITH A MASK, YOU COULD GO INTO ANOTHER ROOM AND DO IT ON ZOOM, WHICH YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR TWO YEARS.

SHAKE YOUR HEAD.

I HAVE A RIGHT THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER.

NO, WAIT A MINUTE.

DON'T INTERRUPT ME.

IT SAYS RIGHT ON THE THING.

I'M NOT TO BE INTERRUPTED.

I CAN'T INTERRUPT YOU.

YOU CAN'T INTERRUPT ME.

IF YOU CAN'T FOLLOW THE RULES, WHY DO YOU EXPECT ME TO FOLLOW 'EM? IS THIS A TOWN OF LAW OR IS THIS A TOWN WHERE YOU MAKE IT UP AS YOU GO ALONG? I FOUND OUT NOT ONLY CAN I NOT UNDERSTAND WHEN I CAN'T SEE YOUR LIPS, THERE ARE DOZENS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

SO I WOULD COMMENT ON WHAT YOU SAID IF I COULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD IT.

SO IF YOU WANT US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAY, GO INTO ANOTHER ROOM, TAKE YOUR MASK OFF, AND DO IT ON ZOOM.

THE SAME AS YOU HAVE FOR TWO YEARS.

YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO WEAR A MASK, BUT NOT WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING IN PUBLIC.

NEXT SPEAKER DYLAN.

IS IT DYLAN PINE? DO YOU WANT TO YOU THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING THEN? OKAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

OKAY, .

UH, GOOD EVENING.

UH, MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD.

UH, I'M HERE TONIGHT AGAIN, SPEAKING AGAINST PROPOSED TOWN CODE 4 5 4.

ON MONDAY, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EDGEMONT COMMUNITY COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO OPPOSE THE MOST RECENT DRAFT OF CHAPTER 4 5 4, AS SHARED WITH ME BY INTERIM TOWN ATTORNEY JOE DANKO ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, UH, CHAPTER 4, 5 4, AS REVISED FALLS WOEFULLY SHORT OF ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS LAID OUT BY THE E C C IN OUR LETTER DATED AUGUST 9TH,

[01:20:01]

UH, EVEN IF THAT MEANS DELAYING THE PASSAGE INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, WE STAND COMMITTED TO THAT REQUEST AND ASK AGAIN THE TOWN BOARD TO ADJOURN THIS PUBLIC HEARING, WITHDRAW THE CURRENT DRAFT, AND SCHEDULE A NEW PUBLIC HEARING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE, THE PROPOSED CHAPTER 4 54 HAS BEEN REDRAFTED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS OUTLINED IN OUR LAST TWO LETTERS.

WE CONTINUE TO BE EAGER TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOWN BOARD AND THE TOWN ATTORNEY, UH, INTERIM TOWN ATTORNEY TO CREATE THE STRONGEST LAW OR SET OF LAWS POSSIBLE, WHICH PROTECTS OUR, OUR CHILDREN'S COMMUNITY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS PROPOSED TOWN CODE 4 54 DOES NOT ADDRESS ALL OF THE ISSUES AT THE CENTER OF THE ECCS CONCERNS TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS REGULATING THE SALE, DISPLAY AND ADVERTISING OF TOBACCO, MARIJUANA PARAPHERNALIA AND GUN KNIVES, WEAPONS.

THE ADOPTION OF CHAPTER 4 54, EVEN IF REVISED IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR ADDITIONAL LAWS THAT ADDRESS THE ISSUES REMAINING TO DATE, NO COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND NO DRAFT LEGISLATION OR TIMELINE FOR DRAFT LEGISLATION HAS BEEN SHARED WITH THE E C C ON THE ISSUE OF SALE DISPLAY AND ADVERTISING OF MARIJUANA AND PARAPHERNALIA AND THAT OF THE SALES OF TOBACCO.

THE E C C STANDS FIRM IN ITS REQUEST FOR THE TOWN BOARD, UH, TO RESTRICT THE SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS, MARIJUANA, AND WEAPONS, WITH AN AGREED UPON AND REASONABLE DISTANCE FROM SCHOOLS, PUBLIC PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, DAYCARE CENTERS, AND HOUSES OF WARSHIP TO KEEP THE CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

THE SALE OF THESE PRODUCTS SHOULD BE RESTRICTED, NOT JUST THE MARKETING AND DISPLAY SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING THE MOST RECENT DRAFT OF CHAPTER 4 54.

THIS IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE CONCERNS OUTLINED IN OUR LAST LETTER, WHICH HAVE STILL NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE MOST RECENT DRAFT OF CHAPTER 4 54.

UH, WHILE THE PROPOSED TOWN CODE 4 54 SECTION FOUR, BASED ON ITS TITLE, PROHIBITED ADVERTISING AND DISPLAY IS INTENDED TO REGULATE BOTH THE ADVERTISING AND PHYSICAL DISPLAY OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND SMOKING PARAPHERNALIA.

THE LANGUAGE IS UNCLEAR AND COULD BE READ TO REGULATE ONLY NICOTINE ADVERTISEMENTS AND NOT REGULATE THE PHYSICAL DISPLAY OF, OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND SMOKING PARAPHERNALIA.

THUS, THE STATUTE STILL READS AS FOLLOWS.

NO PERSON MAY PLACE CAUSE TO BE PLACED, MAINTAIN OR CAUSE TO BE MAINTAINED.

SMOKING PARAPHERNALIA OR TOBACCO PRODUCTS OR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE OR VAPOR PRODUCTS INTENDED OR REASONABLY EXPECTED TO BE USED WITH OR FOR THE CONSUMPTION OF NICOTINE ADVERTISEMENTS IN A STOREFRONT OR EXTERIOR WINDOW OR ANY DOOR.

THE PHRASE REASONABLY UNEX, REASONABLY EXPECTED TO BE USED WITH OR FOR THE CONSUMPTION OF NICOTINE ADVERTISEMENTS DOES NOT APPEAR TO MAKE ANY SENSE.

AND WORSE COULD BE READ AS LIMITING THE SCOPE OF WHAT'S PROHIBITED TO, TO NICOTINE ADVERTISEMENTS RATHER THAN THE PHYSICAL DISPLAY OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND SMOKING PARAPHERNALIA.

WE ASKED LAST MONTH THAT THIS CRUCIAL PROVISION BE CORRECTED AND WITHOUT EXPLANATION, NO CHANGE WAS MADE.

UH, THIS LAW WOULD ONLY REGULATE STOREFRONTS EXTERIOR WINDOWS AND ANY DOOR WHICH IS USED FOR ENTRY.

UH, THIS LAW WOULD ALSO, UH, BE ENFORCEABLE BY THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, NOT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO US.

THE, THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS GENERALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING VIOLATIONS OF THE TOWN ZONING CODE CHAPTER 4 54 IS NOT PART OF THE DOWN TOWN ZONING CODE AND IS NOT INTENDED AS A ZONING AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRARY.

IT'S BEING ENACTED AS PART OF THE TOWN'S POLICE POWER TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE TOWN'S CHILDREN.

AT YESTERDAY'S WORK SESSION, INTERIM TOWN ATTORNEY CITED TOWN LAW 1 3 8 AS JUSTIFICATION FOR THE BUILDING INSPECTOR FROM FORCE THIS LAW.

THIS IS A GROSS MISUNDERSTANDING OF TOWN LAW 1 3 8.

WELL, I AM NOT A LAWYER, IT'S CLEAR EVEN TO ME.

THE TOWN LAW 1 3 8 GIVES THE ABILITY FOR A TOWN BOARD TO ADOPT A BUILDING CODE, PLUMBING CODE, ELECTRICAL CODE, HOUSING CODE, OR ORDINANCES, RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FIRE PREVENTION OR FOR THE REMOVAL OF UN OR REPAIR OF UNSAFE BUILDINGS OR COLLAPSED STRUCTURES.

AND THE INSPECTOR SHALL CHANCE, UH, HAVE CHARGE OF THE ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH CODES, ORDINANCES, RULES AND REGULATIONS, THE TOBACCO PRODUCT AND ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE ADVERTISEMENTS AND SPOKEN PARAPHERNALIA.

DISPLAY LAW IS NOT ONE OF THOSE SUCH CODES.

THE PROPER ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS THEREFORE THE TOWN'S POLICE DEPARTMENT, NOT THE TOWN'S BUILDING DEPARTMENT.

UH, ENFORCEMENT FAILS TO GO BEYOND FINES, UH, PROPRIETORS THAT, THAT ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS OF THIS LAW SHOULD BE AT RISK OF HAVING THEIR ESTABLISHMENT SHUT DOWN.

UH, THEREFORE, ENFORCEMENT SHOULD ALSO EXTEND TO THE TOWN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TAKE SUCH STEPS.

IT BELIEVES NECESSARY TO ENFORCE CHAPTER 4, 5 4, INCLUDING OBTAINING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF FROM THE COURTS.

UH, CONSIDERING THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, IF, IF THE TOWN BOARD ISN'T PLANNING ON ADJOURNING THE HEARING, I WOULD LIKE ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES.

WELL, YOU, YOU DO THAT, GET THAT OPTION, BUT WE HEAR FROM EVERYBODY.

YOUR HONOR, I, UH, AM I ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS? YOU KNOW, NOW I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.

SURE.

IT'S GOOD.

UH, THE QUESTION THAT I, I HAVE IS, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM,

[01:25:01]

WORK WITH THE EDGEMONT COMMUNITY COUNCIL.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE LAW.

WHEN I SPOKE TO THE INTERIM TOWN ATTORNEY, HIS CONCERN WAS WHETHER OR NOT, UH, THE CC'S VERSION, UM, COULD BE, UM, COULD WITHSTAND A, YOU KNOW, COURT CHALLENGE.

UM, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, ASK SOME OF THE LAWYERS WHO ARE, UM, WORKING WITH THE E C C TO PROVIDE US WITH, UM, SORT OF LIKE MAYBE A MEMO JUST ADDRESSING, YOU KNOW, THAT CONCERN? BECAUSE PERSONALLY SPEAKING, YOU KNOW, I'M, I WOULD RATHER GO ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE LAW.

SURE.

AND IF THERE'S A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT, UM, THAT IT COULD WITHSTAND A COURT, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGE, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE, WE'RE LISTENING AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE RESPONSIVE.

SO IF YOU DO, IF YOU COULD DO THAT QUICKLY, I CAN SURE.

I I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'D, WE'D EASILY BE ABLE TO DO IF, IF THIS HEARING WAS ADJOURNED, WE CAN PULL TOGETHER.

YEAH, I, I WILL, LAWYERS, I WOULD, UH, EXERCISE MY, UM, YOU KNOW, MY RIGHT TO HOLD OVER THE HEARING.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE WILL NOT, WE WILL NOT CLOSE THE HEARING TODAY AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL SCHEDULE A CONVERSATION AND, AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, UH, WHILE WE COULD DO IS, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE A MEETING WITH THE TA, INTERIM TOWN ATTORNEY, UH, ANY BOARD MEMBER WHO'S INTERESTED AND THE EDGEMONT COMMUNITY COUNCIL, AND THEN WE COULD, YOU KNOW, DISCUSS IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S ASPECTS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD BE, YOUR MEMBERS WOULD BE PERSUADED, COULD BE LEFT OUT, AND THERE MAY BE SURE ASPECTS THAT WE INCLUDE, I'LL, I'LL CALL AT, AT THIS POINT WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR A CONVERSATION.

YOU KNOW WHAT I, I WOULD THINK BEST, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THERE WAS ALSO A REFERRAL OF A, UH, ZONING ORDINANCE CHANGE.

IT WAS REFERRED TO THE PLANNING BOARD.

IT HASN'T BEEN HEARD YET.

SO THIS WOULDN'T BE THE ONLY LAW IN REGARDS TO THE TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

HOWEVER, IF THE BOARD FELT THAT THIS SHOULD BE ADJOURNED TO A LATER TIME, I'D BE WILLING TO DISCUSS WITH THE EDGEMONT COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY WHO LIKE ADDITIONAL INPUT.

BUT I, I, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER SPEAKERS.

AND I SHOULD MENTION, YOU KNOW, I BICYCLE ON THAT STREET AT THE CORNER OF LIKE, AT LEAST THREE, FOUR TIMES A WEEK.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY FAMILIAR.

SO I HAVE SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS THAT, THAT YOU HAVE.

IT'S VERY, VERY CLOSE TO THE, TO A SCHOOL.

UH, WE, YOU KNOW, WE JUST MADE, UH, MOUNT JOY, YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE WAY.

YEP.

IT'S, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, YOUNG KIDS WHO ARE CONGREGATING.

YOU COULD LOOK AT INSIDE THE WINDOW AND YOU COULD SEE THINGS THAT, THAT, AND WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY TARGETING ONE STORE, BUT, BUT THERE IS THAT.

NO, BUT I, I'M SAYING THERE, THERE'S OTHER S WHEN I'M THERE, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

AND AGAIN, IF WE COULD ADOPT SOMETHING THAT COULD WITHSTAND THE COURT CHALLENGE, I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

VERY WELL.

SO, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL HEAR FROM ANYBODY ELSE AND THEN WE'LL ADJOURN THE HEARING AND WE'LL SET.

WE COULD SET UP, YOU COULD GIVE US SOME TIMES AND I'LL SIT IN AT THE MEETING.

ALRIGHT, SO THERE WILL NOT BE A SECOND ROUND IF IT'S BEING HELD OVER.

LOUISE KO.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS LUIS CHARCO AND I'M A RESIDENT OF GREENBURG.

AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE MURAL.

THIS IS, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

THEY SAID THERE IS NO, THAT'S GONNA BE, YES.

THERE'LL BE A PERIOD OF PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON A SPECIFIC TOPIC.

THIS IS, THIS IS A HEARING JUST ON THE SMOKING.

SO AFTER THAT, THEN WE GO INTO PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE.

OH, IT WILL BE, IT COULD BE IF WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS.

NO, WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR HOURS.

LOUISE, YOU'RE ON THE LIST.

WELL, MAYBE I'LL, I'LL RESIGN AND TALK ABOUT THE TOBACCO.

CAN I TALK ABOUT THAT? YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE TOBACCO AND THEN COME BACK AND MAKE MY OTHER COMMENT.

IN GREENBURG ARE NOT ENTITLED TO THE SAME RIGHTS AS EVERYBODY ELSE.

I'M ALWAYS, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THE TOBACCO.

I'M, ARE WE REALLY TALKING ABOUT TOBACCO OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, UH, MARIJUANA, TOBACCO? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOCAL LAW.

TOBACCO, IS IT, IS IT LOCAL? UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ONLY THING IS THAT I'M REALLY BAFFLED ABOUT HOW OTHER TOWNS WITHIN THE VILLAGES IN GREENBURG HAVE DIFFERENT STANDARDS THAN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.

AND WHEREAS WE'RE, THERE ARE SMOKE SHOPS IN WHITE PLAINS.

THERE'S SMOKE SHOPS IN, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ONE IN TARRYTOWN, BUT DIFFERENT PLACES.

THEY'RE ALL PART OF GREENBURG, WHICH, AND INCLUDING LIKE DISPENSARIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT ARE IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE RESIDENTS OF RUNNING CORPORATE

[01:30:01]

THAT IS PART OF GREENBURG.

NOW, MY HUSBAND'S VERY ILL TERMINAL CANCER.

I GO TO WHITE PLAINS ABOUT EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS.

I SPEND ABOUT 50, A HUNDRED DOLLARS AND GIVING THEM THE TAXES TO BUY HIM THE MARIJUANA HE NEEDS.

SO HIS, HIS APPETITE CAN, CAN INCREASE.

I BEG THIS BOARD TO GO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT DISPENSARY TO GO SEE HOW IT OPERATES.

IT'S NOT, THERE'S NOBODY HANGING OUT.

IT'S NOT ATTRACTING TERRIBLE PEOPLE.

CHILDREN ARE NOT STARING THROUGH THE WINDOW.

CURIOUS, WANTING THE CANDY IN THE CANDY STORE.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE TO GET OUR PRIORITY STRAIGHT.

THERE'S A LOT MORE ISSUES GOING ON IN THE WORLD THAN WHETHER, LISTEN, MY KID, MY HUSBAND SMOKES, MY DAUGHTER WILL NEVER SMOKE.

SHE HATES IT.

AND IT IS SOMETHING, JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE DOES SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GONNA INFLUENCE OTHER PEOPLE.

THIS IS A REAL WORLD.

THERE'S BARS AND LIQUOR STORES, KIDS WALK BY, THEY, THEIR PARENTS DRINK IN THE HOUSE AND THE TOWN HAS TO REGULATE WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TO DO, WHAT ADULTS WANNA DO.

YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S MY BEEF WITH THE TOWN WITH UNINCORPORATED GREENBERG.

AND THEN I'LL SPEAK ON MY OTHER ISSUE.

AND DEAR BO BOWEN ON PUBLIC COMMENT.

UM, UH, KEITH LAWSON, IS HE HERE? OKAY, I'M NOT SURE.

I CAN'T READ THE SIGNATURE.

IT LOOKS LIKE AN R UM, S R S R FORM.

SO THAT'S, IS THAT FOR, YOU HAVE, THE NAME IS IN BOTH PUBLIC HEARING AND IN PUBLIC COMMENT.

DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? DO YOU WANNA SPEAK ON THE TOBACCO ISSUE? NO, MA'AM.

RIGHT TO DO IT, THAT THIS WHOLE THING IS BEING ORCHESTRATED BY THE EDGEMONT COMMUNITY COUNCIL.

UM, LOOKS LIKE, UH, THERE'S A, A J AND A B I CAN'T FIGURE THIS OUT.

JAN.

JANINE, HOW'S SAMUS? WHAT THE TOWN BOARD ALREADY KNOWS IF THEY READ MY EMAILS IS THAT I AM NOT A SMOKER OF TOBACCO.

I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY MARIJUANA IF I COULD AFFORD IT.

BUT WHAT STRIKES ME IS THE NAIVETE OF THIS TOWN BOARD IN PURSUING THIS ENTIRE MATTER, WHEN THEY HAVE THE ALTERNATE VERSION OF AVAILABILITY OF SEEKING A HOME RULE EXCEPTION, TO GET AWAY FROM THIS 1500 FOOT RULE, PUBLIC HEALTH LAW OR SOMETHING OR OTHER.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT LOOKING AT TOBACCO ALONE, THAT FOR THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF GREENBURG CENTRAL AVENUE, FROM MIDWAY SHOPPING CENTER TO THE WHITE PLAINS BORDER, ALL THE EXCLUSIONS THAT YOU THROW IN AND MR. DILLON WANTS TO ADD TO IN TERMS OF PARKS, SCHOOLS, ANYWHERE, KIDS MIGHT BE, THAT THERE IS NO PLACE ON THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF CENTRAL AVENUE WHERE TOBACCO COULD BE SOLD.

YOU'RE NOT MAKING THAT VERY CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE ADULTS OUT THERE WHO DO SMOKE CIGARETTES.

IF YOU LOOK ON THE HARSDALE AVENUES BETWEEN THE COMBINATION OF PARKS AND SCHOOLS, BOTH SIDES OF CENTER OF HARTSDALE AVENUE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SELL TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

IF YOU LOOK ALONG HILL, UH, IF YOU LOOK ALONG TARRYTOWN ROAD THE SAME, THIS IS TRUE BETWEEN THE LIBRARY, BETWEEN THE YOSEMITE PARK, BETWEEN THE THEATER, YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER, THE BAILEY SCHOOL.

YOU CAN'T SELL TOBACCO BECAUSE OF 1500 FEET.

AND 1500 FEET IS NOT STRAIGHT LINEAR FEET.

IT'S A RADIUS FROM THE ORIGIN OF THE STORE ALL AROUND IT.

NOW, AS GOING BEYOND THE AREAS I'VE TOLD, I DON'T GET AROUND THAT MUCH.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I IMAGINE IT'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENT IN OTHER PARTS OF TOWN.

WHAT I DO OBJECT IS, AND THEY CERTAINLY HAVE A

[01:35:01]

AT THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING, YOU ALLOWED THE IDEA OF FORMING A COMMITTEE TOWN-WIDE TO DISCUSS THIS MR. FINER, AND IT WENT NO FURTHER THAN THAT.

I SENT A REQUEST TO BE ON A COMMITTEE.

THE COMMITTEE NEVER EXISTED.

SO, SO FAR, ALL WE'RE HEARING FROM IS EDGEMONT, WHICH I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A CONCERN FOR THEIR STUDENTS, HUGE CHILDREN.

AND EVEN THOUGH THAT IS A REAL CONCERN, I WOULD BUCKET MYSELF BECAUSE I'M A CONTRARIAN AND A LIBERAL.

WHEN I SEE THIS TOWN BOARD LISTENING, QUIESCENT TO ALL THIS TALK, I SEE A TOWN BOARD, WHICH REALLY IS STILL IN THE TRUMP ERA.

WE ARE ALL MOVING TO THE RIGHT HERE.

IT'S A VERY CONSERVATIVE POSTURE HERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE PASSED AN ADMITTANCE TO SELLING MARIJUANA, BUT WHERE YOU WANNA SELL IT IS THE MOST REMOTEST CORNER OF GREENBERG THAT NO ONE CAN GET TO, YOU KNOW, PRODUCTS.

AND WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE ABOUT ADVERTISING PRODUCTS IN THE WINDOW? YOU MEAN THESE STORES WON'T SELL A CAN OF SODA, THAT SOME CHILD MIGHT WANDER IN SOMEDAY TO BUY A CAN OF SODA AND NOTICE WHAT'S INSIDE THE STORE, BUT YOU ONLY WANNA PROTECT THEM FROM LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOW.

I MEAN, THIS IS SUCH A RIDICULOUS POSTURE HERE.

AND LIKE KIDS DON'T TALK TO EACH OTHER.

THERE'S NO INTERNET OUT THERE.

IF ANYTHING, THE PROBLEM IS, IS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE AKIN TO EDGE MOUNTS, AFFLUENCE, BECAUSE WHERE ARE THE KIDS GONNA GET THE A HUNDRED, 200, $300 TO BIPO IN THE FIRST PLACE UNLESS THEIR PARENTS GIVE IT TO 'EM? THIS USED TO BE, UH, A COMMUNITY WHERE PARENTS TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR RAISING THEIR CHILDREN.

EDGEMONT CERTAINLY HAS FINE SCHOOLS, WELL APPRECIATED.

IF VALUES CAN'T BE TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOLS OR MAINTAINED BY PARENTS, THEN WHY IS THE TOWN STEPPING INTO THE ROLE OF LOCO PARENTIS? SO YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET AWAY FROM THIS 1500 FOOT, WHICH IS AN ARTIFICIAL NUMBER TO BEGIN WITH.

AND IN COMMON TERMS OF NEW YORK CITY, WHICH CUTS IT DOWN TO 500 FEET, 500 FEET ON ANY BLOCK IN NEW YORK CITY WILL PROBABLY AFFECT 10,000 PEOPLE.

1500 FEET IN GREENBURG MIGHT AFFECT 300.

SO REALLY THE ROLE THAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING IS SEEKING HOME RULE EXCEPTION FROM THE 1500 FEET.

CLIFTON ABRAMS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. VILLE, THERE'S ONE SPEAKER ON ZOOM.

UH, MOLLY FRANCO.

UH, OKAY.

AND THERE IS SOMEONE, WHAT IS YOUR NAME? OKAY.

WE DON'T HAVE YOUR NAME HERE.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE APOLOGIZE FOR NOT CALLING YOU.

WE DON'T HAVE YOUR NAME ON THE LIST.

SO LET'S TAKE LINDA, WHY DON'T WE TAKE, UH, HER OKAY.

'CAUSE SHE'S HERE.

AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THE, UM, UH, THE ZOOM AFTER.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE STENOGRAPHER.

THERE ARE MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES.

HI, I'M LINDA RICHTER.

UM, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK FOR A COUPLE MINUTES.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO, UH, CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I HAVE WORKED FOR 25 YEARS, UM, AS IN THE FIELD OF SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION, UH, RESEARCH AND POLICY.

AND, UM, I JUST WANNA, I THINK A LOT OF TIMES SOME OF THESE ISSUES ARE CON CONFLATED.

AND I JUST WANNA KIND OF CLARIFY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

SO THERE ARE THE SMOKE SHOPS.

THEY'RE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.

UM, AND THE SMOKE SHOPS ARE MEANT TO SELL TOBACCO AND NICOTINE PRODUCTS TO ADULTS.

UM, OUR CONCERN IS NOT JUST FOR THE EDGE ON COMMUNITY IS FOR IT IS FOR GREENBERG AT LARGE.

UH, THERE WERE SCHOOLS UP AND DOWNS, THE AREAS THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED BEFORE.

AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO RESTRICT THIS JUST TO EDGEMONT BY ANY MEANS.

I'D LIKE TO ALSO JUST SAY THAT I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE RESEARCH EVIDENCE ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF, UM, RETAIL DISPENSARY, RETAIL OUTLETS AND ADVERTISING ON YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND THEY HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THEIR RISK OF USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS, OTHER NICOTINE PRODUCTS.

AND SAME FOR ALCOHOL.

WE TELL OUTLETS WHEN IT COMES TO ALCOHOL, SAME FOR MARIJUANA, WHEN IT COMES TO MARIJUANA.

UM, SO OUR CONCERN REALLY IS NOT TO RESTRICT, UM, YOU KNOW, AVAILABILITY AMONG ADULTS TO BUY A LEGAL COMMERCIALIZED PRODUCT.

IT IS TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM BEING, UH, FROM ACCESSING AND BEING EXPOSED TO THOSE PRODUCTS AND THEN USING THEM.

THE EXPOSURE AND USE ARE

[01:40:01]

VERY TIGHTLY LINKED AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

IT IS PEOPLE'S TENDENCY TO SAY THIS SHOULD BE ON PARENTS.

UM, THERE'S A LOT PARENTS CAN DO TO HELP PREVENT SUBSTANCE USE AMONG THEIR KIDS.

HOWEVER, THE IMPACT OF, UM, ACCESS AND EXPOSURE THROUGH ADVERTISING AND DISPLAYS AND THE DENSITY OF RETAIL OUTLETS, UH, HAS A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON KIDS.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT PARENTS DO OR DON'T DO IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

WE TEND TO PUT A TREMENDOUS BURDEN ON PARENTS TO, UH, PREVENT SUBSTANCE USE IN THEIR KIDS.

ANY OF US WHO HAVE BEEN PARENTS OR OUR PARENTS KNOW THAT OUR INFLUENCE IS IMPORTANT BUT LIMITED.

AND YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE RIGHT MESSAGES IN YOUR HOME.

BUT WHEN YOUR CHILD LEAVES THE HOUSE AND IS EXPOSED TO ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS AND NORMALIZATION OF THE USE OF TOBACCO, NICOTINE, ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA PRODUCTS ALL AROUND THEM, YOUR INFLUENCE IS JUST NOT AS STRONG AS YOU WOULD HOPE IT COULD BE IN AREAS THAT HAVE RESTRICTED RETAIL OUTLETS, UH, FOR TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

UM, USE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IS LOWER IN AREAS THAT DO NOT ALLOW DISPLAYS AND ADVERTISING.

UM, WHERE KIDS ARE NOT EXPOSED TO THESE PRODUCTS AS OFTEN AS THEY ARE IN PLACES WHERE IT IS ALLOWED USE IS LOWER.

THERE ARE DIRECT RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THESE, BETWEEN THESE VARIABLES.

SO IT'S NOT AN, IT'S NOT AN ATTEMPT TO KIND OF RESTRICT THE USE OF ADULTS OR THE AVAILABILITY AMONG ADULTS.

ADULTS ARE FREE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT.

IT IS DEFINITELY A CONSEQUENCE THAT IF YOU RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF RETAIL OUTLETS, THERE WILL BE, IT WILL BE HARDER FOR ADULTS TO ACCESS THESE PRODUCTS.

THAT IS TRUE.

BUT THE GOAL AND THE INTENTION HERE IS REALLY TO PROTECT KIDS.

AND WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM IN GREENBURG AND MORE BROADLY, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE.

AND WE REALLY DO NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN.

THE OTHER POINT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT IT IS ALREADY IN NEW YORK STATE LAW THAT, UM, UM, RETAIL OUTLETS THAT ARE WITHIN 1500 FEET OF SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT DISPLAY OR ADVERTISE TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

SO WE'RE NOT REALLY ASKING FOR ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S ALREADY IN NEW YORK STATE LAW EXCEPT TO ENFORCE THAT AND TO MAKE IT A LOCAL LAW AS WELL.

UM, SO THE 500 FOOT LIMITATION ONLY APPLIES TO NEW YORK CITY.

THE REST OF THE STATE IS FOR 1500 FEET.

SO THAT, THAT'S REALLY THE CONCERN HERE.

AND WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO WORK WITH THE TOWN TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO PROTECT KIDS FROM THE EXPOSURE THAT THEY HAVE.

THESE STORES HAVE BIG, BROAD WINDOWS.

ALL THE ITEMS ARE CLEARLY ON DISPLAY.

THEY SELL BACKPACKS WITH CARTOON CHARACTERS ON IT.

THEY SELL CANDY RIGHT UP FRONT.

UM, AND, AND CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, DO GO IN THERE.

THEY DO ACCESS VAPING PRODUCTS AND ELICIT MARIJUANA PRODUCTS, WHICH ARE NOT MEANT TO BE SOLD IN THESE SMOKE SHOPS, BUT THEY DO SELL THEM IN SOME CASES.

AND THAT IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF THESE PRODUCTS FOR TEENAGERS, PRE-TEENS, UM, UH, AND YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT 21 YET IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

NOT JUST IN EDGEMONT, BUT IN GREENBURG ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO THAT IS REALLY OUR CONCERN AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS.

I JUST HAD A QUESTION.

YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE'S ALREADY A STATE LAW.

AND, UM, IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT STATE LAW.

UM, AND THE PROPO, THE PROPOSAL THAT THAT EDGEMONT COMMUNITY COUNCIL IS RECOMMENDING, UM, HOW MUCH STRONGER WOULD, YOU KNOW, THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S MISSING IN THE STATE LAW? UH, MISSING IN THE STATE LAW IS THE ABILITY TO SELL THE PRODUCTS WITHIN 1500 FEET.

THE STATE LAW, UM, UH, TALKS PRIMARILY ABOUT ADVERTISING AND DISPLAYS OF THE PRODUCTS.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, THAT THIS, THIS WOULD TAKE IT FARTHER THAN THAT.

FOR THE RECORD, THE PROPOSED TOWN LAW MIMICS THE STATE LAW.

THE, THE POINT OF GETTING THIS, UH, IN OUR CODE WAS TO ALLOW OUR TOWN TO ENFORCE THE CODE, UH, WHICH I'VE SPOKEN TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, AND THEY WERE, UH, READY AND WILLING AND ABLE TO ENFORCE THIS, MIMICS A LOT OF THE LANGUAGE OF THE STATE CODE, WHICH ALSO JUST DEALS WITH ADVERTISING WITHIN A 1500 FOOT RANGE FROM A SCHOOL ONLY NOT PARKS OR, OR ANYWHERE ELSE.

SO IF WE WERE TO PASS THIS, WE'D ESSENTIALLY BE FOLLOWING THE STATE LAW, BUT ALLOWING ENFORCEMENT AT A LOCAL LEVEL, UM, AND GETTING THE ENFORCEMENT DONE QUICKER AND EASIER.

WHY WOULD THE STATE HAVE A LAW THAT NOBODY COULD ENFORCE UNLESS YOU ADOPT THE, THE LOCAL NO, THE STATE, THE STATE CAN ENFORCE.

HOWEVER, WE, WE WOULD LIKE THE ABILITY FOR THE TOWN TO ENFORCE, WHICH IT'S, IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR ME TO REACH OUT TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT UPSTAIRS OR WALK UPSTAIRS AND ASK THEM TO ENFORCE IT, AS OPPOSED TO REACHING OUT TO SOMEONE FROM THE COUNTY.

UM, SO THIS WAS JUST A WAY TO CODIFY IT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THAT WHEN THE STATE PASSES A LAW, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE CREATURE ARE, GET THEIR AUTHORITY FROM THE STATE.

BUT THE, THE QUESTION I'M JUST SORT OF CONFUSED BECAUSE LIKE, IF THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES A LAW, UM, I WOULD WAS UNDER, UNDER THE IMPRESSION OVER, YOU KNOW, MY CAREER,

[01:45:01]

SO WE WOULD HAVE THE POWER ABILITY TO PA TO, UH, ENFORCE A LAW THAT'S ON THE STATE WHERE, WHERE OFFICERS OF THE STATE.

SO, UM, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO TIGHTEN UP THE, THE LAW, CAN WE TELL THE BUILDING INSPECTORS THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE STATE LAW BECAUSE THAT'S THE LAW OF THE STATE.

SO LET ME TRY.

RIGHT NOW, THE TOWN DOESN'T HAVE JURISDICTION TO ENFORCE IT.

THE STATE LAW GIVES THE COUNTY THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE IT.

BUT WE'RE EXPECTING THE COUNTY TO DO AN AWFUL LOT.

WHAT THE PROPOSED LAW IS, IS IT BASICALLY MIMICS THE STATE LAW, BUT INSTEAD OF HAVING SOLELY THE COUNTY, THE ENFORCING AGENT, IT ALLOWS THE TOWN TO DO IT.

AND IT'S THE POSITION OF OUR INTERIM TOWN ATTORNEY THAT IT'S BETTER TO GET THAT ON THE BOOKS, WHICH IS, WHICH IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR SOMEBODY TO CHALLENGE THAN TO MERGE IT WITH.

YOU CAN'T DISPLAY WEAPONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AT THE SAME TIME.

THERE'S A PLACE FOR THAT.

BUT WHY NOT DO A LOCAL LAW THAT SIMPLY DOES WHAT THE, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DO AND TAKE JURISDICTION AT THE TOWN LEVEL TO DO WHAT THE COUNTY CAN DO, BUT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO.

DID I SAY THAT PROPERLY? YES.

AND THEN SUPPLEMENT THAT WITH STRICTER LAWS THAT MAY BE CUTTING EDGE AND MAY BE A FIRST IMPRESSION, BUT COULD BE CHALLENGED.

AND RATHER THAN HAVE EVERYTHING, UH, POSSIBLY CHALLENGED AND THROWN OUT, WE WOULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO RELY ON AT LEAST THE, THIS INITIAL ONE, WHICH IS BASED ON THE STATE LAW.

AND ONE OF THOSE OTHER LAWS WAS ALREADY REFERRED TO THE PLANNING BOARD WHO HAS YET TO MEET ON THAT LAW.

BUT I KNOW THERE WAS SOME PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS AND IT SHOULD BE ON AN UPCOMING MEETING.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, UH, GARRETT'S ON THE LINE HERE THAT THEY'RE MAKING A NEGATIVE RECOMMENDATION.

IS THAT CORRECT? UH, YEAH.

I I THINK IT'S PREMATURE AT THIS POINT, UM, TO, TO, TO STATE THAT.

I KNOW SOME PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS HAVE, HAVE MAYBE INDICATED TO THE TOWN BOARD.

THEY FEEL THAT WAY.

BUT, UH, ULTIMATELY I BELIEVE THE PLANNING BOARD WILL TAKE UP THE CHAPTER 2 85 LAW IN, UH, THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

COULD YOU JUST, UH, EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC IF THE PLANNING BOARD HAS A NEGATIVE DECLARATION? WELL, LET, LET, LET'S NOT PRE JUDGE DOWN.

NO, I'M JUST ASKING.

I'M JUST GOING BY WHAT I, I'M HEARD.

NO, I'M JUST ASSUME I JUST WANT TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION.

UM, IF THE PLANNING BOARD MAKES A NEGATIVE DECLARATION ON ANYTHING, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ON THIS.

DOES TOWN BOARD, YOU KNOW, DOES A TOWN BOARD HAVE TO FOLLOW THE, UH, THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND HOW COULD DOES A TOWN BOARD HAVE THE ABILITY TO OVERRIDE? AND BY WHAT PERCENTAGE WOULD WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO OVERRIDE? SUPER MAJORITY? THE SUPER MAJORITY? SO THAT WOULD BE FOUR OUT OF FIVE, FIVE BOARD MEMBERS WOULD HAVE TO RIGHT VOTE OVERALL THE NEGATIVE DECLARATION OF THE PLANNING BOARD.

BRIGHT COLORS, ROWS OF PRODUCTS AND SPECIAL DISCOUNTS.

BUT, BUT REMEMBER IF, IF THERE IS A NEGATIVE DECLARATION ON THAT FIRST LAW THAT WAS SENT TO THEM, YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND THAT LAW OR CREATE ANOTHER LAW THAT HAS THE SAME DESIRED EFFECTS AND REFER IT BACK TO THE PLANNING BOARD.

SO GARRETT, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ONE LAST SPEAKER ON THE PUBLIC HEARING.

YEAH, SHE'S, SHE'S, YES.

UM, MS. MOLLY FRANCO IS, IS ON AND READY TO GO.

HI, CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? YES.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.

SURE.

MY NAME IS MOLLY FRANCO.

I SERVE AS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR POWER AGAINST TOBACCO.

WE'RE A GRANTEE OF THE STATE'S ADVANCING TOBACCO-FREE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM, AND WE'RE HOUSED OUT OF THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION.

AND OUR BROADER MISSION IS TO WORK TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF ALL PEOPLE THROUGH TOBACCO CONTROL, POLICY, AND EDUCATION.

OUR BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE BELIEVE EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO BREATHE CLEAN, SMOKE-FREE AIR WHERE THEY LIVE, WORK, SHOP, AND PLAY.

SMOKING KILLS ABOUT 28,000 ADULT NEW YORKERS EVERY YEAR.

AND ABOUT 750,000 ADULTS IN NEW YORK STATE LIVE WITH A SERIOUS SMOKING RELATED ILLNESS.

TOBACCO USE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DISEASE AND DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND NEARLY ALL TOBACCO PRODUCT USE BEGINS DURING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTHOOD.

AND THE AVERAGE AGE OF A NEW SMOKER IS 13.

IT'S COME TO MY TEAM'S ATTENTION THAT RESIDENTS HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS REGARDING THE RAPID INCREASE OF SMOKE SHOPS THROUGHOUT THEIR COMMUNITY.

THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY SPENDS OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A DAY IN NEW YORK STATE TO MARKET ITS PRODUCTS, AND 90% OF IT IS DEVOTED TO IN-STORE ADVERTISING WITH

[01:50:01]

TO SUCCESSFULLY RECRUIT NEW YOUNG SMOKERS AND MAINTAIN AS MANY CURRENT SMOKERS AS POSSIBLE, TOBACCO COMPANIES NEED TO KEEP THEIR DEADLY PRODUCTS AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE AND ATTRACTIVE.

RETAIL AVAILABILITY OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS HAS SEVERAL IMPACTS AND IMPLICATIONS.

UH, FIRST IT PERPETUATES SOCIAL NORMS ABOUT TOBACCO USE.

IT INCREASES EXPOSURE TO TOBACCO INDUSTRY ADVERTISING.

IT CAN LEAD TO HIGHER SMOKING RATES, CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INEQUITIES IN AND ENCOURAGES IMPULSE PURCHASES OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS, HUGHES CRAVINGS AND UNDERMINES QUIT ATTEMPTS.

I ADMIRE THE STEPS THE TOWN BOARD HAS TAKEN TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS, BUT I'D, UH, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE ON GREENBERG'S OPTIONS TO ADDRESS TOBACCO RETAILERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND SHINE A LIGHT ON WHAT OTHER NEW YORK STATE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE FOUND.

THESE ARE SOLUTIONS THAT MY TEAM, AS WELL AS OTHER GRANTEES ACROSS THE STATE HAVE WORKED WITH MUNICIPALITIES TO DO.

UH, FIRST I'LL TOUCH ON LICENSING JUST BRIEFLY.

UH, TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL REQUIRES THAT THE CITY OR COUNTY ISSUE BUSINESSES NEW AND EXISTING A LICENSE BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO SELL TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

THIS CAN BE A GREAT TOOL TO MONITOR THE SALE OF TOBACCO AND NICOTINE PRODUCTS BY REQUIRING A LOCAL LICENSE.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS BETTER EQUIPPED TO CONTROL WHERE AND BY WHOM TOBACCO PRODUCTS ARE BEING SOLD.

ADDITIONALLY, PERMITS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO JUST THAT.

IN ENFORCE, WHICH I KNOW IS A MAJOR CONCERN, LICENSING ENABLES, UM, THE GOVERNING BODY TO MAINTAIN A CURRENT AND A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF BUSINESSES THAT SELL TOBACCO.

AND YOU CAN EVEN POTENTIALLY REDUCE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RETAILERS BY SETTING MORATORIUMS ON THE NUMBER OF NEW LICENSES THAT ARE GRANTED.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2015, POWER AGAINST TOBACCO WORK WITH THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.

AND THE CITY ADOPTED A LOCAL LAW THAT REQUIRED TOBACCO RETAILERS TO OBTAIN A LOCAL LICENSE REGISTERING WITH THE CITY CLERK.

AND THE CITY SET ITS OWN CRITERIA THAT NEEDED TO BE MET BEFORE NEW RETAIL LICENSES GIVEN OUT.

AND ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S A FEE COLLECTED TO OBTAIN THIS LICENSE.

AND A FINE FOR ANY SHOT THAT VIOLATES THEIR STRICT GUIDELINES THAT THEY HAVE OUTLINED.

ADDITIONALLY IS ZONING, WHICH I'M GONNA, I'M NOT GONNA REALLY TOUCH ON BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S BEEN ADDRESSED TODAY.

UM, THAT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE POLICY.

POWER AGAINST TOBACCO.

IS WILLING TO PROVIDE FREE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE TOWN OF GREENBERG IN NAVIGATING POLICY OPTIONS.

I WOULD LOVE TO CONNECT WITH YOU, UH, WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW CENTER.

IF YOUR ATTORNEYS ARE INTERESTED AT ALL, THEY RUN THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AS INTO TOBACCO POLICY AND HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

UH, SIMILARLY TO MYSELF.

THEY CAN'T LOBBY FOR OR AGAINST PENDING LEGISLATION, BUT THEY CAN PROVIDE COMMENT IF IT'S REQUESTED BY THE BOARD OR THE ATTORNEY.

THE ATTORNEY ARE.

UM, AND I CAN PROVIDE YOU THAT AFTER, UM, AFTER THIS HEARING.

AND I PROVIDED IT IN MY TESTIMONY THAT I SUBMITTED.

UM, I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT, SO I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THERE ARE NO FURTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

SO YOU'RE HOLDING THIS? YEAH, I'M HOLDING IT OVER AND WE'LL SET UP A MEETING.

SO THIS WILL BE ADJOURNED UNTIL THE 28TH.

AND, UH, ALL, ALL, FOR ALL PURPOSE, WE'LL SET UP A MEETING AND YOU'LL GIVE US SOME DATES AND TIMES AND I'LL PARTICIPATE IN IT.

, ANYBODY COULD PARTICIPATE IN YOU CONTACT ME? YEAH.

WELL, WE COULD LET PEOPLE KNOW WHEN WE'RE MEETING.

WELL, YOU NEED TO MAKE THE MOTION.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADJOURN.

ADJOURN, ACTUALLY ADJOURN THE HEARING.

I WILL, UH, TO THE NEXT MEETING.

ADJOURNING FOR ALL PURPOSES.

FOR THE, FOR ALL PURPOSES.

DO YOU THINK, UH, WE COULD DO IT WITHIN, YOU KNOW, TWO WEEKS? OR WOULD YOU RATHER, UH, UH, ADJOURN? UH, I, I WOULD PROPOSE THAT THE OCTOBER 12TH MEETING WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE.

YEAH, I THINK THAT MIGHT MAKE SENSE.

THAT GIVES US A LITTLE MORE TIME.

TILL OCTOBER 12TH.

WELL, ANY SECOND? SECOND.

UM, UH, THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, COMMENTS AND AGAIN, JUST REMINDING PEOPLE THAT, UH, THERE'S FIVE MINUTE LIMIT PER SPEAKER, UH, NO PERSONAL ATTACKS, UM, WILL BE, YOU KNOW, ALLOWED.

UM, NOW, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE,

[ PUBLIC COMMENT Advance signup is required. A continuous five minute limit per speaker will be strictly enforced. The clock will start when a speaker begins speaking and will not be stopped for any reason until the speaker is finished or five minutes has elapsed, whichever occurs first. Interruptions by Town Board members, the Town Clerk or the public will not be permitted. If a speaker insists on an immediate answer, should an answer be provided, it shall be part of the speaker's five minute allocation and not be interrupted. There will not be a second five minute round. Any written comments sent to PublicComment@GreenburghNY.com by 6 PM the day of the hearing will be forwarded to all Town Board members in advance of the meeting for their consideration. Written comments will not be read at the meeting unless the original author is present to do so.]

AND, UM, IF, UH, PEOPLE ARE INTERRUPTING, WE WILL JUST STOP THE MEETING.

AND THOSE ON ZOOM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, IF YOU COULD RAISE YOUR HAND.

UM, AND, UH, YOU'LL BE HEARD AFTER, AFTER THOSE THAT ARE PRESENT.

UH, SPEAK.

ALINE SUBER.

[01:55:04]

HELLO? MARK'S GOING BE JUST SHORT.

I JUST WANT TO, UM, ALINE SUBER.

I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT.

ALINE FOR BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI.

I WANT TO, UM, THANK THE BOARD.

I JUST REALLY PULL THE MICROPHONE DOWN.

YOU CAN'T HEAR ME? PULL THE MICROPHONE DOWN? NO, JUST THE MICROPHONE DOWN.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YEAH.

I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET HIM.

I JUST WANNA, UM, BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION.

I WANNA THANK THE BOARD FOR EVERYTHING AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT ALL OF YOU CAME OUT TO SUPPORT, SUPPORT EVERYTHING FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY.

I GOING TO APOLOGIZE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

I HAVE, I WAS SAYING TO MYSELF, I DID SOMETHING WRONG.

I REALLY APOLOGIZED BECAUSE I SUPPOSED TO THANK YOU GUYS AT THE END FOR THE BOARD AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AND MY, I KNOW MY MOTHER AND EVERYBODY WILL SAY, NO, NO, NO, NO.

YOU SUPPOSED TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT WORKED TOGETHER TO HELP YOU GET THIS THING GOING ON FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY.

SO I JUST WANNA APOLOGIZE TO THE BOY ON THAT AREA.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS.

I WANT TO JUST THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN.

NEXT WEDNESDAY.

ASLINE, DO YOU WANNA TELL PEOPLE WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT WEDNESDAY? , I WAS THINKING NEXT, NEXT WEDNESDAY, UM, I CAME TO THE BOARD AND ASKED THE BOARD TO NAME THE STREET OF ANDRE LEO TALLEY WAY THE BOY GAVE ME THAT NAME.

GAVE DISCREET ON SEPTEMBER THE 21ST.

AT 10 O'CLOCK WE WOULD HAVE HIS STREET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING TO HAPPEN THAT DAY FOR ANDRE LEO TALLEY.

HE WAS AN ICON.

I'M QUITE SURE EVERYBODY KNOW ABOUT ANDRE, LEO TALLEY.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BOY FROM THE YOUNG LADY FROM BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI AND CAME UP HERE AND MADE A DIFFERENT, I FEEL GOOD.

I AM SO PROUD THAT EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD TOOK THE TIME OUT TO HEAR ME AND WORK WITH ME.

I WANT TO THANK JUDY.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY.

ONE THING I WANT TO LET YOU GOT, UH, LET YOU KNOW.

JUDY HAD A, UM, THE KIDS AND THEY LOVE WHEN I CAME OUT TO SPEAK, I SPOKE ABOUT KINDNESS, LOVE, AND RESPECT.

EVERYBODY KNOW I WORK IN FASHION NOW AND EVERYONE, ALL THE LITTLE GIRLS CAME TO MY STORE AND WE SHOP AND I SENT THEM BACK TO SCHOOL WITH NEW CLOTHES.

THAT'S NICE.

THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

AND IT TAKE A VILLAGE TO RAISE A FAMILY.

WE CAN'T LOOK AT WHO THEY, OUR KIDS IS OUR NEXT GENERATION.

IF WE LIVE LONG ENOUGH, THEY ARE NEXT GENERATION.

THEY, THEY'RE GONNA BE THE NEXT COMMITTEE, THE NEXT DOCTORS AND LAWYERS.

SO IT TAKE ALL OF US.

AND I AM SO PROUD THAT ALL THE GIRLS, I MEAN, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE YOUNG LADIES.

THEY WALKED OUTTA THERE WITH THREE PIECE SUITS.

MELISSA THAT'S WORKING IN WASHINGTON, DC GOT FOUR OUTFIT TO WORK WITH.

UH, UH, THE SENATORS IN WASHINGTON, DC UH, JACKIE CAME, SHE GOT, JACKIE LIKED TIGHT JEANS, SO SHE GOT JEANS, .

SO IT, IT WAS JUST SO WARMER THAT ALL, EVERYBODY CAME ALONG AND I WAS ABLE TO HELP THEM TO GET CLOTHES.

THE YOUNG MEN'S CAME.

I GOT T-SHIRT, YOUNG MEN'S LOVE T-SHIRT AND JEANS.

AND I'M GOING TO ANNOUNCE THAT IT'S CLOSED FREEZE CLOTHES FOR OUR KIDS OUT THERE.

AND THEY NEED TO COME AND GET THESE CLOTHES.

AND I'M GOING TO BE THE ONE TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW EACH STORE IN THE WESTCHESTER MALL, THEY WAS GETTING GUCCI.

ALL THEM, THEY HAVE A THING THEY PUT ASIDE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

AND BY ME WORKING IN THE FASHION, I KNOW THIS RIGHT? AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BOARD.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND I SEE ALL OF Y'ALL NEXT WEDNESDAY.

I WILL.

I'LL BE SEEING Y'ALL BEFORE NEXT WEDNESDAY.

'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA GO OVER THERE AND CHECK EVERYTHING OUT.

BUT ANYWAY, COULD I ASK, COULD I JUST ASK FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT, UH, INTO, YOU KNOW, FASHION, COULD YOU JUST HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE SIGNIFICANT, UM, IMPORTANCE OF, UM, OF ANDRE AND WHAT HE MEANT TO THE, UH, THE FASHION WORLD AND YOU KNOW, AND GREENBERG BECAUSE HE LIVED HERE? WELL, I CAN SPEAK THAT AND ANDREA MEANT A LOT.

[02:00:01]

UNFORTUNATELY, I MET HIM COMING FROM CHURCH AND I WENT INTO CITY LIMIT.

I HAD, YOU CAN CONTINUE.

OKAY, WELL, I HAD SOMETHING HE LIKED.

I ALWAYS, AS A LITTLE GIRL, LOOKED AT FASHION.

SO WHAT HAVE I SAW HIM ON THE TYRA BANK SHOW.

AND WHEN HE WAS ON THE TYRA BANK, I SAID, WHO IS THIS MAN? AND YOU KNOW, ANDRE, LEO TYLER WAS A BIG MAN, BUT HE SPOKE ABOUT GREAT THINGS.

AND I SAID, WHO? AND ONE DAY I WALKED IN CITY LIMIT AND I HAD SOMETHING NICE THAT HE LIKED IT AND HE COMPLIMENTED ME.

AND FROM THAT DAY ON, I BEEN INTO FASHION.

I DO A LOT OF FASHION NOW AFTER I WORKED FROM MY OTHER JOB, DELTA.

AND THEN FASHION.

I WORK FOR NEMA.

I DO A LOT OF FASHION FOR NEMA.

I DO A LOT OF FASHION FOR, SO WHAT I'M SAYING ABOUT ANDRE, ANDRE GAVE ME THAT INSPIRED ME TO MOVE UP.

MY MOTHER AND FATHER GAVE IT TO ME, MY FAMILY REALLY.

BUT GOD PUT ME IN THE WORD TO MEET ANDRE.

AND WHEN I'M SAYING TO YOU THAT HE MEAN A LOT TO ME, BECAUSE HE WAS THE FIRST AFRICA BLACK MAN OF VOTE.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, NO OTHER STREET NAME HAVE NAME IN A FASHION DESIGNER.

NOW THINK ABOUT IT.

LOOK AT MARVIN GAYE JUST GETTING A STREET NOW.

MAMA GAVE YOU GUYS KNOW, SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAD A STREET.

LOOK AT THE TEMPTATION.

NOW THEY GETTING READY TO GIVE THE TEMPTATION.

YOU GUYS KNOW TEMPTATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAD A STREET.

BUT IT TAKE A PERSON LIKE ME OR SOMEBODY TO GET UP AND COME TO THE BOARD.

NOW, IF I WAS IN DETROIT, I WOULD'VE BEEN UP THERE TALKING TO SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.

IT SHOULDN'T HAVE WAIT THIS LONG FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE.

NOT ONLY SO MANY OTHER, BUT WE GOTTA DO IT.

WE CAN'T SIT BACK.

WE GOTTA MAKE IT HAPPEN.

WE CAN LOOK GOOD.

WE CAN FEEL GOOD.

WHEN WE LOOK GOOD, WE FEEL GOOD.

WE CAN DO GOOD.

AND GOD SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? IF YOU LOVE GOD, YOU GOING TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO HELP THE KIDS.

THE KIDS IS OUR FUTURE.

I'M WORKING FOR THE CHILDREN NOW AND I LOVE KIDS.

SO ANDRE MEANS A LOT.

I CAN TELL YOU HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT.

AND SO YOU WOULD KNOW NEXT, NEXT WEDNESDAY.

THANK YOU, BOY.

I LOVE YOU GUYS.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT ALL OF YOU GUYS CAME OUT TO SUPPORT ME FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY.

'CAUSE WE GOING TO PARTY.

SO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING AT HOMES NEXT, NEXT WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND.

SEPTEMBER 21ST.

MM-HMM.

AT 10:00 AM OKAY.

AT THE CORNER OF WORTHINGTON ROAD, RIGHT.

AND SAWMILL RIVER ROAD.

MM-HMM.

, WE WILL BE DEDICATING ANDRE LEON TALLEY WAY.

RIGHT? AND FROM THERE AND FROM THERE, THERE WILL BE A RECEPTION AFTERWARDS AT THE CITY LIMITS.

DI YES.

V I P.

'CAUSE YOU KNOW, AND IF YOU DON'T WANT SAY ANY CELEBRITIES DON'T SHOW UP.

WELL, THEY BEEN NOT, THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW UP.

NO, I SAID YOU DON'T WANT, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO, IF YOU DON'T LIKE MINGLING WITH CELEBRITIES, UH, OR DON'T WANT TO MEET ANYBODY WHO'S WELL KNOWN, THEN DON'T COME TO THIS.

WELL, EVERYBODY GONNA COME TO US.

SO WE DON'T, WE GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME.

OKAY? I'M NOT GONNA GO FURTHER WITH THAT, BUT I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

AND YOU GUYS KNOW IT'S ONLY FROM THAT DAY, YOU KNOW THE DEAL.

I AIN'T GONNA SAY NO MORE.

IN THAT SAME COURTESY.

COURTESY, THAT SAME COURTESY.

AS WHEN THEY DON'T AGREE WITH YOU PAUL.

RIGHT? RILEY FARMER.

OH, HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH.

GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING.

EXCUSE ME.

I'M, I'M A LITTLE TIRED.

I START MY DAY REAL EARLY IN THE MORNING.

THREE 30 IN THE MORNING.

IT'S WELL PAST MY BEDTIME.

WELL PAST MY BEDTIME.

YOU COULD PICK IT UP AS WELL, SIR.

OH, GOODY, GOODY, GOODY.

PICK IT UP AS WELL.

FOLLOW, TO APPRECIATE THE FIGHT THAT WE AS BLACK PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH SINCE THIS COUNTRY'S INCEPTION.

I, UH, HERE TO TALK ON BEHALF OF, UH, THE BLACK LIVES AND MURAL AND, UH, MANHATTAN AVENUE.

MANHATTAN AVENUE.

I'M THINKING, BRO.

AND, UH, I'M TROUBLED.

I'M TROUBLED.

I'M TROUBLED BY THE BOARDS.

I DARE TO HAVE THE DEPICTION OF THE MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHAN REMOVED.

I CAN'T GO TO ANY OTHER COMMUNITY.

I CAN'T CHANGE THE PEOPLE ON THE FACES OF OUR MONEY.

THE MANY SLAVE OWNERS.

I CAN'T DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

YOU CAN'T COME TO MY COMMUNITY AND TELL ME WHO TO BELIEVE IN, TO

[02:05:01]

I AM TROUBLED, PAUL.

FINER.

I'M TROUBLED BECAUSE IN LIKE 1984 WHEN I WAS REMOVED FROM THE SERVICE, RIGHT? I CAME TO YOU.

I KNOW YOU DON'T REMEMBER THIS AND YOU HELP ME OUT, MAN.

AND I'VE ADMIRED YOU.

I'VE WATCHED YOU, I'VE VOTED FOR YOU.

AND, UH, THIS TIME, I I I MAKE MY STAND.

'CAUSE YOU WERE SO ADAMANT THAT AND JUST ONCE, WHAT I LIKE YOU TO SHOW ME, ANYTHING WHERE HE'S FILLED WITH HATE.

'CAUSE I WON'T SUPPORT HIM.

I DON'T SUPPORT HATE.

AND THIS ONE TIME, THIS ONE PLACE, HE'S ONLY TOLD THE TRUTH.

HE'S ONLY TOLD THE TRUTH, HIS OPINION OF THAT TRUTH FROM THIS COUNTRY.

AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING DOWN SINCE THIS COUNTRY'S INCEPTION.

INCEPTION.

SO I JUST WANNA SAY, MAN, LIKE, LIKE PLEASE PAUL, IF YOU COULD RETHINK, IF YOU COULD REVISIT THIS.

'CAUSE THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY, AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME LOOK AT IT.

IT'S REAL SIMPLE TO ME.

THANK YOU LASH MCCULLOUGH.

WHEN I WALKED IN HERE TODAY, I HAD TWO EYES AND YEAH, FOR SOME STRANGE REASON, NOW I ONLY HAVE ONE .

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO A FAST WEEKEND TRIP TO FLORIDA AND YOU COME RIGHT BACK.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TO YOU IN FLORIDA.

ALL RIGHT, SO I'M GONNA TRY TO DO THIS AS BEST AS I CAN WITH ONE EYE.

I WANNA SPEAK TO EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

UM, I'VE BEEN A GREENBERG RESIDENT FOR ABOUT NINE YEARS NOW.

I'M PROUD RESIDENT GREENBERG T-SHIRT.

SO YOU CAN SEE, AND I AM SO PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY.

I GREW UP IN THE NORTHEAST BRONX.

AND EVEN THOUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD WAS VERY CLOSE, I NEVER FELT, UM, A SENSE OF BELONGING UNTIL I CAME HERE.

I, I, I TRULY, UH, APPRECIATE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE TOWN'S PEOPLE.

THE FACT THAT I'M ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THEM AT SOCIAL EVENTS ON A DAILY BASIS AND EASILY COMMUNICATE WITH, UM, ALL THE TOWN MEMBERS, INCLUDING OUR, UH, TOWN SUPERVISOR.

I APPRECIATE HIS PROMPT RESPONSES TO EMAILS AND CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS THAT I, I I TRADITIONALLY HAVE ABOUT A VARIETY OF THINGS.

UH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I WAS ON THE CELEBRATION MURAL CELEBRATION, UH, COMMITTEE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WERE PLANNING A CELEBRATION TO UNVEIL A BEAUTIFUL MURAL.

AND NOW IT'S TURNED INTO SOMETHING POLITICAL.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT IT IS FORTUNATE THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

SO I'D LIKE TO QUICKLY SAY THAT LOUIS FARRAKHAN IS A PART OF THE BLACK HISTORY.

HE IS A, HE IS GREATLY ADMIRED BY THE BLACK LIBERATION AND EQUALITY MOVEMENT.

NO ONE WHO ADMIRES HIS WORK ADMIRES HIS RHETORIC.

HIS IMAGE IS IMPORTANT TO OUR HISTORY.

PROTEST IS NOT ALWAYS ELOQUENT AND NONVIOLENT.

IT CAN BE RUDE AND CRUDE, BUT THE END GOAL IS THE SAME.

I IMPLORE EACH OF YOU TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE POSITION OF THE OVER 200 PERSONS WHO SIGNED THE PETITION.

WE AS A PEOPLE HAVE NO HISTORY OF ANTI-SEMITIC BEHAVIOR OR OPPRESSION.

WE ARE BLACK, THE DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES.

WE HAVE NO POWER TO INFLUENCE OR DESIRE TO OPPRESS ALL THE LIVES OR OPPRESS ALL THE LIVES ON THAT MIRROR MATTER TO BLACK PEOPLE.

THESE IMAGES, NOT ONLY FOR THE MURDERED BLACK PEOPLE, BUT PEOPLE ON THE MEMORIAL WHO ARE, WHO ARE BLACK.

YOU MUST BREAK FREE OF THIS NEW FOUND INTOLERANCE FOR A BLACK LEADER WHO IS CONTROVERSIAL FOR BECAUSE BECAUSE

[02:10:01]

OF HIS ARGUMENT.

IT IS, IT'S HIS, HIS MESSAGE IS ABOUT UNEQUAL TREATMENT OF BLACK LIVES.

WE ASK YOU TO FORGIVE HIS TRANSGRESSIONS IN THE PAST AND ACCEPT HIM AS A BLACK LEADER.

I WOULD LIKE TO, TO QUOTE CORNER WEST.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ FROM THIS BOOK ABOUT THE INTELLECTUALS CONFRONT AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCES DISPATCHES FROM THE EBONY TOWER.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS THAT THEY OFTEN HAVE TREMENDOUS DIFFICULTY KEEPING FOCUSED ON BLACK SUFFERING AND ARE MUCH MORE PREOCCUPIED WITH WHITE FEARS AND ANXIETIES.

THAT'S VERY TRUE.

IT'S VERY SAD ACTUALLY, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT ENGAGE IN A DIALOGUE WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT VOICES OF BLACK FOLK WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE VOICE OF LOUIS FARRAKHAN.

IT'S IMPORTANT.

WHY? BECAUSE LOUIS FARRAKHAN FUNDAMENTAL FOCUS IS ON BLACK SUFFERING.

NOW, YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH HOW HE UNDERSTANDS IT.

YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH HIS VISION OF HOW TO OVERCOME IT.

BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE MASS MEDIA WOULD HAVE YOU THINK THAT LOUIS FARRAKHAN PRIMARILY, PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON WHITE FOLK AND JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

HE GETS TO THEM AFTER THE FOCUS ON BLACK SUFFERING, TRYING TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT SUFFERING.

LEWIS FARRAKHAN, THERE'S A, AND OTHER VARIETIES OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES IN THE BLACK NATIONAL TRADITION.

HE'S JUST ONE OF THOSE BLACK NATIONALISM HAS ALWAYS BEEN INTEGRAL TO THE BLACK FREEDOM STRUGGLE.

NOW, I AM NOT A BLACK NATURALIST, BUT I AM PART OF A STRUGGLE WHICH BLACK NATIONALISTS ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR.

THEREFORE, THE FACT REMAINS THAT WHEN BLACK NATIONALIST TENDENCY VOICES AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE GAINING POWER, THERE IS NO ACCIDENT THAT THIS WILL, OH, WELL I, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

OH, OKAY.

AND LOUIS FARRAKHAN HAPPENS TO BE A MAJOR ARTICULATE OF THE PARTICULAR TENDENCIES IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO IMPLORE AND MAKE YOU PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT BLACK PEOPLE STRUGGLE HAS MANY FACES, ALL THOSE FACES ON THE MURAL, A PART OF OUR HISTORY AND OUR STRUGGLE.

IT DOESN'T ALWAYS LOOK PRETTY IN A BOW TIE.

IT DOESN'T ALWAYS LOOK LIKE A REVEREND WITH A BIBLE.

OKAY? AND WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THE OVERALL GOAL IS TO GIVE BLACK PEOPLE EQUAL TREATMENT.

AND AS A BLACK PERSON WHO IS A DESCENDANT OF IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING LOUIS FARRAKHAN, WHICH MOST OF YOU DO NOT KNOW, HE CAME FROM TWO IMMIGRANT PARENTS TO SEE THAT BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WERE NOT ONLY SUBJECTED TO SLAVERY LIKE WE WERE IN THE CARIBBEAN, BUT THEY WERE ALSO, UM, SUBJECTED TO SEGREGATION, WHICH MADE THEIR SUFFERING A HUNDRED YEARS MORE THAN OURS.

AND IT MAY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE RESPONSES THAT MARCUS GARVEY AND LOUIS FARRAKHAN AND BOB MARLEY HAD TO SEEING OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN AMERICA TREATED AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS BEING BEAT IN THE STREET TO FIGHT FOR THEIR FREEDOM.

IT DOESN'T ALWAYS SOUND ELOQUENT.

I DON'T AGREE WITH MANY THINGS THAT LOUIS FARRAKHAN HAS SAID, BUT I DO AGREE WITH THE INTENTION OF MA MAKING BLACK PEOPLE EQUAL TO ALL PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND I PLEASE ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR POSITION, ESPECIALLY MR. FINER.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE JEWISH.

MY MY ANCESTORS ARE ALSO JEWISH.

I HAVE LEVI'S IN MY FAMILY BECAUSE OF THE PLANTATION THAT MY FATHER CAME FROM, WAS OWNED BY MR. LEVI.

AND THEY HAVE A FAMILY REUNION EVERY FIVE YEARS.

AND I WAS INVITED TO THAT FAMILY REUNION THROUGH ANCESTRY.COM.

THAT'S HOW THEY FOUND ME.

AND I MUST SAY TO YOU THAT WE AS BLACK PEOPLE, WE HATE NO ONE.

WE HAVE OPPRESSED, NO ONE IN OUR HISTORY.

WE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR EQUALITY.

AND WE ADMIRE ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRIED TO STRUGGLE ON BEHALF OF OUR SITUATION.

BUT WE NEVER WOULD SUPPORT ANYTHING NEGATIVE THAT ANYONE BRINGS TO THE TABLE.

WE ONLY SUPPORT THEIR POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION FOR STRUGGLE.

DYLAN, DYLAN PINE? NO.

LOUISE CHARCO.

PLEASE STICK TO THE FIVE MINUTE RULE, WHICH IS, UM, A ROLE THAT WE ENFORCE AT EVERY MEETING.

COULD I ASK PLEASE THAT ALL FUTURE SPEAKERS

[02:15:01]

I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

HI EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS LUIS CHAMA, AGAIN, A RESIDENT OF GREENBURG 33 OAK STREET.

AND I WISH THE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE BEFORE STAYED THE PEOPLE THAT WERE HONORING VIC.

UH, THIS ONE GENTLEMAN HERE THAT I FOUND OUT I KNEW FROM CHILDHOOD SAID THAT HISTORY'S NOT ALWAYS COMFORTABLE.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS COMFORTABLE.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME I COME HERE AND THERE'S AN ISSUE, I I I'M ON LIVE TELEVISION, YET I FEEL LIKE I HAD TO DISCLOSE MY ENTIRE LIFE WHERE IT GOES OUT INTO MILLIONS OF HOMES.

BUT IT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN EXPRESS WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

SO IT DOES NOT GET MISCONSTRUED.

UM, LET'S SEE.

UH, OKAY, SO TODAY I'D LIKE TO KNOW RIGHT NOW WHO IN THIS ROOM HAS COME HERE TO WANT TO REMOVE THE MURAL.

SO THERE'S NOBODY HERE THAT WANTS IT.

WHO'S OFFENDED BY IT? SO THERE'S NOBODY THAT SHOWED UP THAT'S OFFENDED BY IT.

IT'S NOT QUESTIONS.

SO ANYWAY, UM, SO REALLY WHAT I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE IMAGE OF ONE MAN.

IT IS ABOUT JUSTICE TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY TO TELL THEIR OWN HISTORY REGARDLESS OF WHO IT MAY OFFEND.

AND NOW I'M GONNA SPEAK TO YOU AS A PRACTICING JEW.

THIS IS ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE.

UH, AND I PRACTICE THE JEWISH SPACE, MY MYSELF.

WHAT DOES SOCIAL JUSTICE MEAN IN JUDAISM? THE FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH, POWER, OPPORTUNITY, AND STATUS IN SOCIETY.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING I WAS TAUGHT? THERE ARE NO SAINTS IN THE JEWISH RELIGION.

THEREFORE, WHY ARE WE JUDGING A MAN? THERE'S A LOT.

PEOPLE KILLED THEIR BROTHER.

PEOPLE DID EVERYTHING IN THE BIBLE.

THERE ARE NO SAINTS THERE AND THERE ARE NO SAINTS IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

AND THERE ARE NO SAINTS ANYWHERE AS ITALIAN.

WE STILL KIND OF WORSHIP JUNK TI OKAY, I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

OKAY? THE OTHER THING IS I'M ON TRADITIONAL JEWISH CHECKS ON JUDGES.

IT REMINDS US HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ENSUE THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF BIAS IN THE SYSTEM AND NOT TO PACK A COURT OR MAKE DECISIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SPECIAL INTERESTS, WHICH IS AIKEN TO ONE OF THE GREATEST SINS AGAINST JEWISH TRADITION IS FOR THIS REASON THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR ANY OTHER GROUP TO DICTATE AND TO CONTROL THE NARRATIVE OF THE JEWISH HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE, OF THE JEWS, JUST AS IT'S EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATE FOR OTHER GROUPS TO CONTROL THE NARRATIVE OF BLACK HISTORY.

AND IF YOU PAINT OVER THIS MURAL, YOU'LL BE DOING THE ABSOLUTELY WRONG THING AND INTENT AND GOING AGAINST JEWISH LAW.

AND IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, YOU SHOULD REREAD YOUR JEWISH BIBLE.

SEE? OKAY.

AND IF YOU'RE CATHOLIC, YOU SHOULD GO HOME AND READ ABOUT THE LIFE OF CHRIST WHO WOULD NEVER WANT THAT MURAL.

PAINTS IT OVER.

THANK YOU ENDURABLE BOWEN.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

AND UM, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE MURAL.

I'M HERE 'CAUSE WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN GREENBURG.

[02:20:01]

THE PROBLEM THAT I SEE BEGAN IN FEBRUARY, UM, OF THIS YEAR.

UM, DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I NOTICED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH, UM, WE MADE A RESOLUTION, UM, AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM IN A MONTH THAT'S SUPPOSED TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY.

FAST FORWARD TO APRIL, UM, THERE WAS A PRESENTATION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GIVEN ON THE 13TH.

AND FOR SOME REASON THE BOARD DIDN'T WANNA GIVE THAT PRESENTATION.

AND I JUST HAD A FEELING THAT THE NEXT DAY WHEN THE BOARD CAME TO FRUITION, THAT THE BLACK LIVES MATTER SIGNS WOULD BE GONE BECAUSE IT WAS A UKRAINE CEREMONY AND A POLICE CEREMONY.

AND THE BLACK MATTERS LIVES SIGNS THAT WERE UP HERE WERE REMOVED IN ONE DAY.

AND IT TROUBLED ME THAT I HAD THAT FEELING AND THAT I KNEW IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.

AND THEN I KNEW THAT I WASN'T IN THE GREENBERG THAT I GREW UP TO KNOW.

SO I'M NOT SURPRISED.

FAST FORWARD TO AUGUST, SEPTEMBER THAT NOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BLACK LIVES MURAL, THE MANHATTAN AVENUE MURAL WITH FARRAKHAN.

UM, I FEEL LIKE NO ONE'S TAKEN THE TIME TO CONSIDER OUR COMMUNITY'S FEELINGS.

I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVEN'T REALLY LOOKED AT THE MURAL TO UNDERSTAND IT.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT AT FIRST.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY NOT HAVE PUT FARRAKHAN UP THERE, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE, EVEN JEWISH PEOPLE, ONCE THEY REALIZE WHAT THE MURAL IS SAYING, THEY DON'T DISAGREE WITH IT.

IF YOU TAKE FIVE MINUTES TO LOOK AT THE MURAL, IT'S NOT JUST FARRAKHAN, IT'S A ACTUAL STORY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE IMAGES, YOU'LL NOTICE SOMEBODY SAID TO ME, WHAT'S THE WHITE HOUSE DOING UP THERE? WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH BLACK HISTORY? I SAID, I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET IT, THEN I SAW IT.

WHAT IT'S TELLING FARRAKHAN IS NOT A PORTRAIT OF FARRAKHAN.

IT'S A STORY.

IT'S SHOWING THE CONTRAST BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MILLION MAN MARCH AND WHAT HAPPENED JULY 6TH, 2021.

IT'S SHOWING THAT A MAN WHO EVERYBODY CALLED A MONSTER, HE CAME AND ADDRESSED OVER 800,000 BLACK MEN IN DC AND TOLD THEM TO GO HOME TO BUILD UP THEIR COMMUNITIES AND TO ATONE.

HE TOLD THEM, HE TALKED TO THEM IN PEACE.

NOW, JANUARY 6TH, 2021 WITH ONLY 2000 PEOPLE AND THEY STORMED THE WHITE HOUSE.

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPEN IF THIS GUY WHO YOU SAY PREACHES SO MUCH HATE, TOLD 800,000 MEN TO STORM THE WHITE HOUSE? EXACTLY.

SO WHERE IS THE REAL HATE COMING FROM AS A BLACK COMMUNITY OR AMERICA AS A WHOLE? JEWISH PEOPLE, LESBIAN AND GAY PEOPLE, ASIAN PEOPLE.

WE HAD TO ENDURE FOUR YEARS OF TRUMP WHO WAS A WICKEDLY GREAT MAN.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I ADMIRE ABOUT TRUMP, BUT HE WAS WICKEDLY GREAT.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS HE DID TERRIBLE THINGS, BUT THERE'S SOME GOOD THINGS HE DID.

BUT I CAN SAY HE'S WICKEDLY GREAT.

SO WE HAD TO ENDURE FOUR YEARS OF THAT ALL THE TIME WE'VE HAD FARRAKHAN.

UM, ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN TRUMP STARTED RUNNING HATE CRIMES ROSE, 226% IN THE UNITED STATES, 226% NEW HATE GROUPS FORMED.

UM, A WHOLE BUNCH OF ATROCITIES WERE DONE.

BUT YET WE'RE HERE VILLAINIZING FARRAKHAN.

AND WE HAVE A HISTORY OF DOING THAT IN THIS COUNTRY.

VILLAINIZING PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LETTING OTHER COMMUNITIES GET BY WITH THE SAME THING.

SO I ASKED THAT THE BOARD TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT THE MURAL.

IT'S TELLING A STORY.

IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT PRAISING FARRAKHAN FOR THE 10% OF THINGS HE SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY OFFEND YOU, IT'S PRAISING WHAT HE'S DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S BASICALLY TELLING A MESSAGE THAT WE ARE MORE THAN WHAT YOU SEE.

AND BASICALLY IT'S JUST POINTING A CONTRAST BETWEEN WHAT AMERICA SEES AND WHAT AMERICA DOES, AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUMP AND A PERSON LIKE FARRAKHAN.

SO JUST PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE MURAL AND RECEIVE THE MESSAGE.

IT'S MORE THAN FARRAKHAN.

IT'S NOT A PORTRAIT.

I JUST WONDER,

[02:25:04]

I I JUST HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING.

UM, NOT HAVING TO DO WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, OTHER THAN I'M RE I'M RECOVERING FROM A HEAD INJURY.

SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT.

I'M SORRY.

I'M RECOVERING FROM A HEAD INJURY AND I'M GOING TO PUT SUNGLASSES ON BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE BOTHERING ME.

BUT I MEAN, NO DISRESPECT.

SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT.

CAN I JUST SAY THIS? NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, THIS PUBLIC COMMENT.

A PUBLIC COMMENT.

I'M SORRY.

I DON'T SEE KEITH LAWSON.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHETHER HE LEFT OR NOT? MURRAY? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

I'M GOING IN ORDER OF NAMES AND I JUST, I SEE KEITH LAWSON'S NAME, BUT I DON'T SEE HIM IN HERE.

KING BROUGHT LOVE, ASSASSINATED.

UM, JOE KIN.

I AM JOE BOYKIN.

I'M A, I'VE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY ALL MY LIFE, AND, UH, MY MOTHER AND FATHER CAME FROM THE SOUTH.

MY MOTHER FROM GEORGIA, AND MY FATHER FROM NORTH CAROLINA.

AND THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY LIVED THROUGH RACISM AND ALL THE HATE AND THE CRIMES.

AND THEY, THEY TAUGHT ME AND MY FAMILY TO COME AND LOVE AND RESPECT EVERYBODY.

UH, AND IN AMERICA, IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN YOU LOVE YOUR CULTURE, YOU LOVE, ESPECIALLY BLACK PEOPLE.

WE LOVE OUR CULTURE.

PEOPLE SEEM TO SEE HAT IN THAT THERE'S NO HATE AND LOVE.

THEY CAN'T, THAT CAN'T MIX.

MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME THAT.

AND THE MURAL THAT BROTHER ABRAM, UH, ABRAMS, UH, UM, AND HIS INCEPTION, HIS, HIS IDEA, HIS HIS VISION WAS ABOUT A LOVING PIECE AND TELLING OUR HISTORY AND NOT YOUR HISTORY, PAUL, OR THEIR HISTORY, THE TRUE HISTORY.

YOU KNOW, I'M A HISTORIAN RIGHT NOW.

I, I STUDIED THE TRUTH AND I STUDIED SPIRITUAL AFRICA, AFRICAN SPIRITUALITY AND EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING BEFORE CHRIST.

AND, AND THERE'S A HISTORY.

IT'S ABOUT EVERY, WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS.

IT IS ALL ONE RACE.

ONE, ONE HUMAN THING.

WE ALL CAME FROM AFRICA.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

LIKE IT OR NOT.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

AND, UH, EVERYTHING STARTED FROM THAT.

AND THE MURAL, GETTING TO THAT, GETTING TO MY POINT, I HAVE SO MUCH IN MY MIND, BUT, AND THERE WAS SO ELOQUENT IN WHAT SHE SAID.

SHE SPOKE, SHE TOOK THE WORDS OUTTA MY MOUTH TO LOVE.

ONE'S CULTURE IS NOT TO HATE.

AND THE MINISTERS TALKING.

HE TALKS ABOUT LOVE AND ATONEMENT AND, AND DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE.

NOT HATE LIKE OTHER PEOPLE.

NOT LIKE THE BLACK PANTHERS.

THEY, THEY BROUGHT A BREAKFAST PROGRAM TO AMERICA, BUT THEY WERE VILIFIED AND THEY KILLED US AND ASSASSINATED DR.

UH, THE KENNEDY BROTHERS TRIED IT TO AND, UH, AND, AND BRING LOVE.

THEY WERE ASSASSINATED.

IT'S NOT ABOUT, IT'S NOT ABOUT, IT'S ABOUT LOVE, MAN.

IT'S ABOUT THE, IT'S ABOUT THE TRUTH TOO.

AND THIS BROTHER WAS TRYING TO BRING THE TRUTH IN TELLING A STORY, A HISTORY STORY, THE REAL STORY, NOT LIES THAT HAVE BEEN TOLD.

BECAUSE WE CAN START WITH COLUMBUS.

I MEAN, COLUMBUS DIDN'T DISCOVER, DISCOVER AMERICA.

'CAUSE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY HERE.

WE CAN START WITH, WE WANNA GO TALKING ABOUT THE TRUTH, ABOUT, ABOUT, UH, THE TRUTH OF EVERYTHING.

SO I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I'M SAYING BECAUSE IT'S REALLY, IT, IT HURT ME BECAUSE I SUPPORTED YOU, PAUL, WHEN YOU FIRST CAME ON THE SCENE.

YOU KNOW, I LEARNED A LONG TIME, MAN, YOU KNOW, BUT THIS ISSUE, WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS DIALOGUE.

IT'S LIKE IN, IN, IN THE SPIRIT OF MR. LUVATO, MY TEACHER, WE HAVE TO, IT'S, WE'LL BE DOING A GREENBERG.

WE SPEAK THE TRUTH, MAN.

I SPEAK THE TRUTH.

MY MOTHER, FATHER TOLD ME TO SPEAK THE TRUTH.

BRING IT WITH LOVE, BUT SPEAK THE TRUTH.

I'M GONNA DO THAT.

NOT ON MY, MY PARENTS.

I'M GONNA ALWAYS DO THAT.

WE'D LIKE IT OR NOT.

I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TRY TO BRING THE TRUTH.

AND THE TRUTH IS, YOU, YOU CAN'T, IT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO, PAUL, TO DO THAT, TO TAKE THE, TO PAINT OVER THAT.

WE CAN'T GO IN YOUR COMMUNITY, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, AND PAINT ALREADY ANYTHING.

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

YES, WE'D BE PUT IN JAIL OVER LIKE THE INSURRECTION.

IF WE, IF WE WERE IN, IF WE US IN DC BLACK PEOPLE DID THAT, WE'D HAVE BEEN A, IT'D BEEN A, A BLOOD BATH OUT THERE.

SO COME ON, MAN.

THIS IS AMERICA, MAN.

THAT'S AMERICA'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT, UH, UH, LOVE AND, AND, AND, AND, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY.

ALSO THE TRUTH.

SO I, I'M, I'M KIND OF DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU KNOW THAT THIS, IT COMES TO, UH, POLITICAL THING.

SOMETHING THAT THAT MADE IT FROM LOVE AND AND RESPECT IS TURNED POLITICAL AND UGLY.

AND IT SHOULDN'T BE UGLY.

IT SHOULD BE, IT SHOULD.

IT'S A PEACEFUL THING.

WE SHOULD HAVE A CELEBRATION ABOUT THAT SO PEOPLE CAN DIALOGUE AND TALK AND, AND, AND LOVE AND PEACE AND RESPECT.

IT'S ABOUT RESPECT AND THAT'S ALL WE WANT.

RESPECT.

'CAUSE OUR PEOPLE, WE BUILT THIS COUNTRY, BUT YET WE GOT MURDER.

WE FARHAN DIDN'T HANG ANYBODY.

HE DIDN'T MURDER ANYBODY.

BUT YET WE .

COME ON, LET'S SPEAK THE TRUTH HERE.

IT'S ABOUT THE TRUTH, LIKE IT OR NOT, BUT I BRING IT IN PEACE AND LOVE.

HOWEVER, IT'S THE TRUTH.

[02:30:01]

REALLY? THANK YOU, JUDITH.

TOWN'S INTENTIONAL DELAY, HOSTILITY AND BIAS TOWARDS THE CHURCH'S APPLICATION AND SANCTIONS THE TOWN OF GREENBURG FOR DESTROYING AND FAILING TO PRO TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE.

SOUND BOARD.

YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M SORRY, I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE.

NO PROBLEM.

WHEN I INTRODUCED YOU, I SHOULD SAY THE HONORABLE SONYA BROWN, BECAUSE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL YES.

SHOULD BE INTRODUCED, SORT OF LIKE HOW GINA WAS THE OFFICER, RIGHT? EVEN IN FORMER ELECTED RESPECT SHOULD BE INTRODUCED WITH HONORABLE.

SO HONORABLE SONYA BROWN.

I APPRECIATE THAT, JUDITH.

I'VE TRULY, UM, UM, DO, AND, AND, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT.

UM, BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT AND I'M SORRY, I'M JUST GONNA READ SOME OF WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TONIGHT.

UM, REGARDING, UM, I'M GONNA TAKE THIS DOWN REGARDING THE MURAL.

CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? PULL IT UP SOME.

FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BEING BEHIND THE SCENES, I WOULD LIKE EACH OF YOU TO REFRAIN FROM ANY DISCRIMINATION OR RETALIATION AGAINST ME OR MY FAMILY, UM, FOR WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY.

I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING ABOUT? WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING ABOUT? WHAT BRINGS US HERE TODAY? AND WHY ARE YOU NOT JUST AS LOUD AS SPEAKING UP ON ALL RACISTS AND DISCRIMINATION, UM, ALL THE WRONG ACTIONS COMMITTED HERE IN THE TOWN OF GREENBERG WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION, ACTS OF RACISM AND INJUSTICES RIGHT HERE IN OUR VERY OWN TOWN, EVEN BY YOU TOWN SUPERVISOR AND A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD.

WHAT BRINGS US HERE? WHY ARE YOU SO SILENT ON THE OTHER ISSUES DEALING WITH RACE? LET'S TALK ABOUT THE, UM, GNET, THE PARENT COMPANY OF THE JOURNAL NEWS, WHO SUED THE TOWN OF GREENBURG FOR FAILING TO DISCLOSE THE DISCIPLINARIAN FLY FLY FILES OF ITS POLICE OFFICERS FOLLOWING A PUBLIC RECORD REQUEST MADE IN 2020 TO SHED LIGHT ON THE QUALITY OF POLICING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

QUOTE, WHEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SEE THESE RECORDS, THIS CAN PROVIDE IMPROVEMENTS WHERE NEEDED AND ALSO DETER OFFICERS FROM FUTURE ABUSES AND DISCLOSURE SENDS A SIGNAL TO VICTIMS OF POLICE VIOLENCE OR OTHER MISCONDUCT THAT THEIR, THAT THEIR EXPERIENCES CAN AND SHOULD BE KNOWN.

THAT'S A QUOTE FROM A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PAPER.

WHAT BRINGS US HERE WHEN GREENBERG AGREES TO PAY REAL ESTATE COMPANY SS N R DEVELOPMENT ESTATE 9.5 MILLION FAIR HOUSING SETTLEMENT TO BUILD 45 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OFF CENTRAL AVENUE IN EDGEMONT TO ADD WHERE GREENBERG HAS ALREADY PAID OUT MORE THAN 4.2 MILLION AND LEGAL COSTS IN THE CASE.

ON TOP OF THAT, WHY ARE WE HERE? WHEN YOU'VE BEEN, WHEN YOU'VE NOT BEEN AS LOUD ON THE RACIAL ISSUES AFFECTING GREENBERG, AFFECTING OUR BLACK COMMUNITY, AFFECTING OUR LOW INCOME FAMILIES, WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION IN THIS TYPE OF MANNER WHEN IN 2013 AND WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE LARGEST AMOUNT EVER PAID TO SETTLE RELIGIOUS LAND USE AND INSTITUTIONALIZED PERSONS ACT LITIGATION? THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, NEW YORK HAS AGREED TO PAY FORTRESS BIBLE THE CHURCH 6.5 MILLION TO RESOLVE ITS CLAIMS THAT THE TOWN VIOLATED FORTRESS BIBLE CHURCH, A PENTECOSTAL CONGREGATION SEEKING TO BUILD A CHURCH AND SCHOOL.

US DISTRICT JUDGE STEVEN ROBINSON FOUND GREENBURG TOWN SUPERVISOR PAUL FINER AND TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS GUILTY OF VIOLATING THE FORTRESS BIBLE CHURCH'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF FREE SPEECH, FREE ASSEMBLY, EQUAL PROTECTION AND DUE PROCESS IN PREVENTING THE MOUNT VERNON CHURCH FROM GAINING APPROVAL FOR THE APPLICATION TO CONSTRUCT A NEW FACILITY ALONG DOBBS FERRY ROAD, NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE SP SPRINGBROOK PARKWAY AND HARTSDALE, THE RULING SITES, THE

[02:35:01]

WHAT BRINGS US HERE TALKING ABOUT MINISTER FARRAKHAN IN A MANNER THAT IS DISRESPECTFUL TO THE BLACK COMMUNITIES.

WHY ARE WE HERE DOING IT THIS WAY WHEN YOU'VE BEEN NOT AS LOUD ON THE ISSUE OF THE 2022 BISEXUAL OFFICER WHO FILED A DEMI, A DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT AGAINST TOWN OF GREENBURG NEW YORK, MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR, OR, OR, OR THE 2003 PURDY VERSUS TOWN OF GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR AGE DISCRIMINATION.

WHY ARE WE HAVING NOT THESE DISCUSSIONS IN 2013? YOU'VE NOT BEEN AS, AS LOUD WHEN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG HAS REACHED A 6.5 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH FORTRESS BIBLE CHURCH SAID THAT SHE'S REPEATING THIS.

WHY ARE WE HERE? I'VE BEEN PRIVY TO STUDY UNDER YOU, PAUL FOR FIVE YEARS AND IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD FOR ME BECAUSE ALL THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY HAS BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

I STOOD UP HERE, I HAD MEETINGS WITH, IN, WITH THE TOWN BOARD AT THE TIME WITH PAUL, UM, FINER.

AND I'VE ALSO MADE THESE SAME COMMENTS IN PUBLIC.

SO I'M NOT SAYING, AND I'VE REACHED OUT TO PAUL A, A DAY OR TWO AGO, PAUL AND PAUL HAS TAKEN MY CALL AND HE HAS HAD, WE HAD A GREAT DIALOGUE, BUT I SAT UP ON THE SAME DAY AS WHEN I TOLD YOU, AND AGAIN, I SAID THIS BEFORE IN PUBLIC, I'VE SAID IT TO PAUL BEFORE, I'VE SAID IT TO THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHEN PAUL FINER TOLD US, MYSELF AND JUDY DON'T CAMPAIGN IN FAIRVIEW.

PEOPLE THERE ARE NOT SMART ENOUGH, THEY DON'T VOTE.

YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME.

I'M FROM FAIRVIEW.

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING TO ME? AND JUDY, OKAY, CUT HER OFF.

WHEN CHIEF KAKA SAID, WHEN CHIEF KAKA SAID, NO, I DID NOT, I DID NOT SAY THAT.

YOU CAN'T JUST GO OFF.

EXCUSE ME.

NO, NO, I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

SO ALENE SAID, JUDY, DID YOU SAY THAT? AND I SAID, NO, DIDN'T, NO, JUDY DID NOT SAY THAT.

I DID NOT SAY THAT EITHER.

I NEVER SAID THAT, THAT I'M, I'M SORRY, BUT THAT, THAT IS A PERSONAL ATTACK AND THAT'S NOT TRUE.

IFI THE FIVE MINUTES, THIS IS MY STORY AND THIS IS FACTUAL AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.

AND WHEN YOU WERE NOT THE, I THINK YOU'RE THE ATTORNEY NOW, TIM, TIM, UM, LEWIS WAS HERE AND THESE SAME CONVERSATIONS WENT ON.

I I APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT TONIGHT, BUT I DO HAVE TO STICK TO THE FIVE MINUTE RULE FOR RESPECT FOR REMAIN SPEAKER, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER SPEAKERS BEFORE ME THAT WENT OVER THE FIVE MINUTE RULE AND WAS ALLOWED TO SPEAK.

I I I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND BY YOU TALKING TO ME, YOU'RE WASTING MORE MINUTES.

AND I WOULD JUST ASK FOR YOU TO GIVE ME THE SAME COURTESY PAUL, PAUL AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I KNOW SOMEONE JUST MADE A COMMENT THAT THE ONLY TIME THAT PEOPLE ARE STOPPED FROM TALKING IS WHEN THEY ARE IN DISAGREEMENT WITH SOME MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

WE, WE, WE ALLOWED ONE, BUT WHEN IT'S AN OKAY CON, BUT WHEN IT'S AN OKAY CONVERSATION, THEN YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO GO.

AND I'M ASKING YOU, YOU GAVE PEOPLE MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES UP HERE, AND I'M ASKING YOU TO LET ME FINISH AND EXTEND THE SAME COURTESY TO ME AND DON'T BE BIASED AGAINST MEM AND WHAT I'M SAYING, I'M BEING PLEASE, I'M NOT, I RESPECT YOUR OPINION.

I WE DID ALLOW THAT FIRST SPEAKER TO GO OVER TO FIVE MINUTE MARK.

YOU YOU ALLOWED MORE THAN FIRST SPEAKER.

CAN I FINISH? PLEASE? YES.

I'M SORRY.

YOU, YOU'VE ALSO WENT WELL BEYOND THE FIVE MINUTE POINT WHEN, WHEN I STEPPED IN, RIGHT? BUT I COULD HAVE, I COULD HAVE FINISHED AND I WOULD LIKE TO FINISH.

WHEN YOU ARE THE ONE WHO TOLD ME THAT THE, YOU AND THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD HAD TO LET HIM GO BECAUSE OF STEALING HOT DOG MONEY.

WHEN CHIEF KAKA SAT IN A ROOM AND HE SAID THE WAY THAT YOU STOP CRIME WITH OUR BLACK YOUNG MEN IS TO SHAKE IN THE FAIRVIEW AREA, IS TO SHAKE A NOOSE IN FRONT OF THEIR FACE AND FIRST BRING THEM BEHIND THE POLICE STATION AND SHAKE A NOOSE IN FRONT OF THEIR FACE SO THAT THEY'LL BE GOOD.

WHEN I TOLD YOU ABOUT CHIEF CAPA'S LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO ME, DID THIS, THIS DOCUMENT ANYWHERE, I MEAN AN TO AN ATTORNEY, YOU NOT MAKE, MAKING COMMENTS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HERE BECAUSE I'M WRAPPING IT UP AND YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING, FRANCIS, THANK YOU.

WHEN I TOLD YOU ABOUT CHIEF CAP'S LETTER THAT I MAKE A PERSONAL ATTACK ABOUT, SOMEONE'S NOT EVEN HERE ALSO ALSO SAID, TAKE SONYA BROWN AND HER FAMILY BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY BECAUSE SHE'S HELPING EVERY SWAMP N WORD.

BUT IT WAS SPELLED OUT HERE IN THE FAIRVIEW AREA.

WHY WOULD YOU WANNA ADD TED YOUNG'S PICTURE, WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE ADDED

[02:40:01]

YOU'RE, YOU'RE, WE'RE NOT ALLOWING, UH, SO WHAT I'M SAYING TO PERSONAL, WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU IS THAT THE TOWN BOARD MEMBER, YOU CAN'T DEFAME SOMEBODY'S NAME WHEN THEY TOWN BOARD MEMBER.

I WITNESSED A LOT.

I WITNESSED A LOT, AND I TRIED MY BEST TO GET TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS MURAL? WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS MURAL? IS POLICY AND PROCEDURE FAILED IN THIS SITUATION? BASED ON MY CONVERSATION WITH YOU, PAUL, BASED ON MY CONVERSATION WITH CLIFF, BASED ON MY CONVERSATION WITH THE ARTIST, THERE WERE CERTAIN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT WAS NOT PUT IN PLACE.

THERE WAS NOT AN OVERSEER FROM THE BOARD TO SAY, HEY, LET THIS CAN'T HAPPEN.

MONEY WAS GIVEN AND IT WAS EXCHANGED.

AND IS IT TRUE THAT YOU ARE ASKING THE ARTIST TO SIGN A SECOND AGREEMENT BACKDATED TO THE FIRST WHERE IT'S LISTING A LOT OF STIPULATIONS? TO ME, THAT'S NOT FAIR.

NOT BASED ON THE THINGS THAT I SAID TO YOU.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE WORLD, WE'RE ALREADY LIKE 10 MINUTES OVER THE TIME, INCLUDING YOU BASED ON WHAT LAWSUITS WE'VE HAD.

SHOULD WE ERASE YOU, PAUL? SHOULD WE ASK YOU TO STEP DOWN? I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE A GOOD PERSON.

AND I TOLD YOU THIS OVER THE PHONE.

YOU STARTED OUT GOOD, BUT SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD SOMETHING HAPPENED.

AND ALL I'M ASKING YOU PAUL, IS TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT IN THIS SITUATION RIGHT HERE.

THAT'S IT.

MANY OF YOU DON'T EVEN WALK DOWN FAIRVIEW AVENUE TO EVEN CARE.

IF YOU GO TO WASHINGTON DC IF YOU GO TO UH, UH, SAN FRANCISCO, IF YOU GO TO OAKLAND, YOU WILL SEE MURALS ALL OVER THE PLACE OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DIFFERENT BLACK FACES.

WHY ARE WE STUCK ON THIS ONE MURAL WHEN IT SHOULD BE MILLIONS OF THEM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

I FEEL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A, AT FIRST I FELT SORRY FOR OUR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY CJ WITNESSING THIS.

WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING TO HAVE ME AND MY DAD'S FACE OFF? THEY'RE BLACK.

THEY'RE BLACK, BUT THIS IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR EVERY ONE OF THE BLACK, EVERY ONE OF OUR CHILDREN OF COLOR, ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, ALL OF OUR FAMILIES, TO SEE WI AND WITNESS THIS RIGHT HERE.

AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, HAL, SAM.

TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.

I HOPE WE HAVE A ARCHIVE VIDEO WHICH WILL HAVE EVERYTHING AND IT JUST MYSTERIOUSLY WON'T BE EDITED OUT.

UH, MY NAME IS HAL SAMIS, I'M JEWISH AND I SUPPORT THE MURAL.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TOLD YOU YESTERDAY RELATIVE TO THE FINANCIAL REPORT THAT THE TOWN HAS PRODUCED IS NOT REALLY ABOUT THE VERACITY OR THE INTEGRITY OR THE ACTUALITY OF THAT ACCORDING TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT.

NOW WHAT I CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THOUGH.

WHAT IF I TOLD EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM THAT IF THEY WENT ON THE INTERNET AND WOULD GET PAID FOR EVERY LIKE THAT THEY POST ON THE INTERNET? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TUESDAY, YESTERDAY AT THE WORK SESSION WHEN THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS CAME BEFORE THE WORK SESSION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP OF YOUR AGENDA, YOU'LL SEE SINCE 1987, THE TOWN OF GREENBURG HAS ANNUALLY BEEN GRANTED THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

THAT'S A TRADE ASSOCIATION AND IT'S NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY GOVERNMENT ENTITY.

THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TO JOIN THAT IN THIS SIZE COMMUNITY IS $640.

THE ANNUAL FEE FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENT IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR THIS SIZE COMMUNITY IS $610.

SO TO PUT THIS ON THE TOP OF THE AGENDA, IT'S COSTING TAXPAYERS $1,240 A YEAR TO SEE THAT.

AND WHAT IS THAT AWARD THAT WE HAVE? ACCORDING TO THEM, THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS NOT TO ASSESS THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF PARTICIPATING GOVERNMENTS, BUT RATHER TO ENSURE THAT USERS OF THEIR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED FOR THEMSELVES.

SO EVERYTHING THE

[02:45:01]

SO WE ARE SPENDING ONLY $1,240 SO THAT MR. FINER AND THE TOWN BOARD, MR. FINER, BY THE WAY, IS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE TOWN, THE TOWN BOARD AND MR. FINER MAKE THE FINANCIAL DECISIONS FOR THIS TOWN.

THE COMPTROLLER MERELY EXECUTES THEM, SEES THAT THE NUMBERS MATCH INCOME AND EXPENSES MATCH EACH YEAR.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF HOLES IN THAT.

WHAT THEY TOLD YOU YESTERDAY WAS RELATIVE TO 2021, WHICH IS WHAT THEY WERE DISCUSSING WAS, LOOK WHAT A GREAT JOB WE DID.

WE RETAINED $12,400,000 IN THE FUND BALANCE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SPEND IT ON A COURTHOUSE.

WELL, IF YOU LOOKED AHEAD INTO 2022, WHICH THEY WEREN'T DOING THAT 12,000,004 IS NOW 7,000,005.

AND THE $5 MILLION WHICH DISAPPEARED, WAS TO COVER THE EXPENSES AND THE, UH, THAT THE TOWN DIDN'T ANTICIPATE.

NOT REALLY VERY GOOD FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE WHERE WE HAVE A CAPITAL BUDGET IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

WE NEVER BONDED IT YET BECAUSE THE TOWN COMPTROLLER IS SPENDING HOURS AFTER CLOSING OF BUSINESS HOURS JUST TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THE NONSENSE THAT THEY'RE THROWING AT HER.

SO WHILE WE ARE SITTING AROUND WITH A CAPITAL BUDGET, IT REMAINS UNFRIENDED WHILE INTEREST RATES ARE CONTINUING TO RISE AND THE COMPTROLLER CAN'T GET AROUND TO THAT BECAUSE SHE'S BUSY NOW DOING THE TOWN BUDGET.

SO I SEE WE'LL HAVE ONE OR TWO MORE RATE INCREASES BEFORE WE EVER FINANCE ANYTHING.

NOW WHAT HAPPENED, BY THE WAY, TO THE POLICE STATION ON DOPPS FERRY ROAD? WELL, LET'S HEAR FROM THE BOND COUNCIL, BUT GEE, THAT WAS OVER A MONTH AGO AND THE TOWN BOARD HAS CERTAINLY BEEN QUIET ABOUT THAT.

THAT WAS THE FASTEST WE'VE EVER DISPOSED OF A POLICE HEADQUARTERS, ISN'T IT? EIGHT DAYS IT LASTED BEFORE IT DISAPPEARED.

AND HERE A MONTH LATER AFTER YOU'VE BEEN TAKING A VACATION FOR A MONTH AND OUR MEETING FINALLY, WE'RE NOT HEARING A WORD ABOUT THAT EITHER, ARE WE? SO OUR FINANCIAL ABILITIES ARE NOT EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE CONVEYED TO.

IN FACT, THE MEETING WITH THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS YESTERDAY MADE THE EMMY AWARDS TOO LATE.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT CATEGORY THAT FINANCIAL REPORT SHOULD BE IN, WHETHER COMEDY OR DRAMA, CERTAINLY NOT DOCUMENTARY.

THIS TOWN IS IN DEEP DO-DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN 2020.

WELL, NOW YOU'RE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST WHITE PEOPLE.

HOW EQUAL MINDED YOU ARE.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS IN RESPECT TO THE SPEAKERS WHO ARE YET TO COME.

WE NEED TO STICK TO THE .

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS TOWN BOARD MEETING STARTED AT SEVEN 30 AT THE WORK SESSION YESTERDAY.

YOU ASKED HOW MUCH TIME IS GONNA BE ALLOCATED TO THOSE TWO PRESENTATIONS AND MR. FINER SAID 15 MINUTES EACH.

AND YOU ALL NODDED YOUR HEAD YES.

SO WHEN DID THE BUSINESS PART OF THE TOWN BOARD MEETING ACTUALLY START? JUST 10 MINUTES BEFORE NINE O'CLOCK.

SO YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT I'M GOING OVER A FEW MINUTES WHILE YOU'VE KEPT PEOPLE SITTING HERE ALL NIGHT FOR YOUR FOOLISHNESS, RIGHT? BUT ANYWAY, I'M FINISHED.

I THINK I'VE GET PAID THE IMPRESSION THAT ANYONE WHO WATCHED THAT PERFORMANCE YESTERDAY, THINGS ARE A LOT WORSE THAN THAT PERFORMANCE INDICATED.

ALL THEY TALKED ABOUT WAS 2021 AND THAT REPORT WAS ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER.

THE 2020 REPORT WAS DATED JUNE ONE A YEAR AGO FOR TWO OR THREE MONTHS LATER.

WE HAVE DEEP DODO THANK

[02:50:03]

BODEN.

I'M SORRY MY MICROPHONE WASN'T ON MURRAY BODEN.

THAT'S ME, RIGHT? YES, THAT'S YOU.

THAT'S 'CAUSE I HAVE TROUBLE LISTENING WHEN YOU SPEAK WITH A MASK, ALAN, WHEN SOMEBODY SAID THEY COULDN'T HEAR YOU SPEAK, IT WAS FROM BACK THERE.

IT WASN'T ME.

AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR MASK DOWN SO WE COULD UNDERSTAND YOU.

WHAT I'M GONNA SPEAK ABOUT TONIGHT IS HOSTS THE ZOOM MEETINGS.

AND WHY WAS FRANCIS SHEEN DESIGNATE HIMSELF AS THE HOST? GARRETT IS A TOWN EMPLOYEE.

HE'S AN INDEPENDENT WORKER FOR THE TOWN, AND HE WAS ON BRINGING PEOPLE IN AND OUT WHO GAVE FRANCIS SHEEN THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THE QUESTION I SUBMIT FOR A ZOOM MEETING GETS ADDRESSED OR NOT.

BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED THAT I SENT THE MEETING YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND FOR YOU ALL TO KNOW.

THIS GOES BACK TO WHEN FRANCIS SHANE AND I WERE ON THE ANTENNA REVIEW BOARD AND AN ISSUER HOURS.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

PAUL IS WELL AWARE OF IT.

I'LL ADDRESS IT AT ANOTHER TIME.

FRANCIS SHEEN HAS TAKEN OVER CONTROL OF THIS MEETING, ALL MEETINGS OF THE TOWN BOARD.

HE HAS NO RIGHT TO DESIGNATE HIMSELF AS ZOOM COORDINATOR.

THAT'S A STAFF FUNCTION OF THE TOWN AND SUPERVISOR.

NOW UNTIL THIS HAS TO STOP.

YOU WALKED AROUND HERE THIS EVENING AND NOBODY HAD MASKS ON AND THERE WERE DOZENS AND DOZENS.

DON'T SMILE AT ME.

YOU'RE ONLY ENCOURAGING ME DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PEOPLE WALKING AROUND HERE WITH NO MASK ON.

AND THEY WERE HUGGING EACH OTHER.

AND THEN YOU GO UP THERE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIR CHANGED.

WHY? WHY ARE YOU ALL I CAN UNDERSTAND IF THERE IS A PERSONAL PROBLEM THAT YOU CANNOT YES.

THAT, THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY PERMITTED TO DO THAT.

BUT NOT IN A PUBLIC MEETING.

YOU GO OUT TO ANOTHER LOCATION AND YOU SPEAK WITHOUT THE MASK.

SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.

THAT IS THE LAW.

NOW, IS THIS TOWN THE LAW? YOU'VE ALL DISCUSSED THE LAW TONIGHT.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU, YOUR ISSUES WERE WELL LOOKED AT.

I LISTENED TO 'EM.

I WENT THROUGH, I KNOW, DO YOU OBEY THE LAW OR NOT? I SAY YOU DON'T.

I SAY THERE'S A DOUBLE STANDARD.

HAL JUST ADDRESSED THE DOUBLE STANDARD BECAUSE YOU TOLD HAL TO STOP.

NICE WHITE MAN, YOU TOLD TO STOP, BUT PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE NOT STOPPED.

I CALL THAT DISCRIMINATION.

I WAS DISCRIMINATED AS A WHITE MALE.

I RESENT THAT.

FOUND EQUAL JUSTICE THEN.

YEARS OLD AND I'M LOSING IT.

I MEAN, WHICH, WHICH STANDARD DO YOU FOLLOW? YOU EITHER RESPECT PEOPLE AND YOU RESPECT THE FACT THAT I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WHEN YOU ARE WEARING A MASK.

NOW YOU'VE ESTABLISHED THE PRINCIPLE OF ZOOM MEETINGS.

GARRETT, WHEN I GO TO IMMEDIATE, GARRETT IS THE HOST OF, AND I SEND A QUESTION AND THE QUESTION GETS ANSWERED.

BUT BECAUSE FRANCIS AND I HAVE THIS THING GOING BACK TO THE INTERNAL REVIEW BOARD, IF I ASK FRANCIS A QUESTION, IT DOESN'T NEVER, EVER.

SO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS COMMUNITY IS TO DEMAND THAT GARRETT OR SOME EMPLOYEE IS THE ZOOM COORDINATOR AND THE POWER IS NOT FRANCIS' BECAUSE FRANCIS HAS TAKEN OVER THIS TOWN.

HE IS NOT THE SUPERVISOR, EVEN THOUGH HE THINKS HE IS.

AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE I CAN'T, I'M 89

[02:55:01]

IT'S CALLED EARLY DEMENTIA.

THERE WERE 16 PEOPLE OUT THERE TODAY.

I HAD TO ASK WHO THEY WERE AND I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THEM FOR 20 YEARS.

YOU THINK I LIKE IT? I DON'T NOW THE CLOCK IS GONNA RUN OUT AND YOU'RE GONNA SAY, OH, YOUR TIME IS UP.

GO AHEAD TELL ME BEEP, YOUR TIME IS UP.

TELL ME MY TIME'S UP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT AND YOUR TIME IS UP.

IF WE COULD HAVE THE NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.

YOU DIDN'T TELL IT TO THE OTHER PEOPLE.

I DID.

IT WENT BY HERE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AGAIN, MR. JONES, YOU GOT YOUR MASK OFF.

YOU BREATHE THE SAME AIR WHEN YOU'RE UP THERE THAT WE BREATHE THE SAME AIR WHEN WE ARE DOWN HERE.

WHAT REASON IS THERE FOR YOU TO WEAR A MASK UP THERE? NONE.

I WENT TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD THIS WEEK AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT MASKS ARE OVER.

YOU DON'T WEAR A MASK ON A BUS.

YOU KNOW, WE REALLY, THE TIMES UP AND BASICALLY WE HAVE TO FOLLOW RULE, WE HAVE RULES AND WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING IT.

IT'S GETTING RIDICULOUS.

YOU, YOU DID NOTICE THAT THERE IS A DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE WHITE MALE, RIGHT? OR AM I WRONG OUTTA YOUR HEAD? YOU CARD ME.

I SAID YOU'RE RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE FIVE PEOPLE ON ZOOM.

DO WE HAVE ANY MORE IN PERSON? YES.

ALL RIGHT.

AND IT'S 25 MINUTES TO 11 CLIFF ABRAMS. GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING.

UM, IN MY HAND HERE, I HAVE ALMOST 200 SIGNATURES OF PEOPLE WHO WANT THE MURAL TO STAY.

AND I I WILL HAVE NEXT TIME ONLINE THAT WE HAVE OVER 125.

YOU KNOW, UM, WE HAD A RALLY ON FRIDAY, A PEACEFUL RALLY, A RALLY ABOUT LOVE THAT NO HATE INVOLVED BECAUSE US, OF COURSE, YOU COULD BE UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK AND PROUD.

DON'T MEAN THAT YOU HATE ANYBODY.

AND WE MADE EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WHEN THEY CAME TO THE RALLY TO BE AT PEACE, I TALKED TO THE POLICE CHIEF, I MEAN NOT THE CHIEF, THE UM, CAPTAIN.

AND I SAID WE COULD POLICE OURSELF.

AND HE SAID, NO PROBLEM.

I WOULD, WE WOULD STAY OUTTA SIGHT BUT NEAR.

AND I SAID, LET'S WORK AS A TEAM.

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S UPSETTING TO ME IS THAT, AND PAUL, YOU KNOW THAT I ALWAYS SUPPORTED YOU IN THE BEGINNING.

AND FOR US TO MAKE THIS A HATE, WHEN THE VISION CAME TO PICTURE THIS TOGETHER, CAUCASIAN EUROPEANS, ASIANS, JEWISH WASN'T EVEN IN A THOUGHT.

IT WAS ABOUT OUR CULTURE.

A STORY TO TALK ABOUT OUR HISTORY.

AND FOR PAUL, FOR YOU TO TAKE IT TO THIS LEVEL, I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU MAN, BECAUSE IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU OR THE JEWISH RACE WHO ARE EUROPEAN THAT WE LOVE AND THAT WE RESPECT.

I JUST WANNA READ, BECAUSE GINA SAID A WHILE AGO ABOUT, IT'S ABOUT THE CONTRACT.

AND WE SAY, YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT IS ABOUT THE CONTRACT.

YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE ALL THE OTHER STUFF IS JUST PEOPLE JUST TALKING.

AND WE KNOW PAUL, THAT YOU TRIED TO SEND ANOTHER CONTRACT TO THE ARTIST KENDALL TO RE TO, UM, FOR HIM TO, UM, REDO HIS CONTRACT OVER, WHICH HE DENIED.

LET JUST READ WHAT'S IN THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT.

IT IS MUTUALLY AGREED BY AND BETWEEN THE PARTY HERE TOO, THAT ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE CONTRACTOR INCLUDED, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE MANNER OF SPECIFICITY OF THE WORK, OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK.

THE DISPUTE MATTERS FOLLOWING MUTUAL MEDIC MEDIA EFFORT SHALL BE SETTLED IN EITHER THE TOWN OF GREENBURG JUSTICE COURT OR THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

[03:00:01]

THAT'S THE CONTRACT.

YOU KNOW, AND AS GENUS SAID THAT WE SHOULD BE FOLLOWING THAT.

AND HOW DO WE GET TO, YOU JUST SAID PAUL, YOU NEVER CONSIDER ONCE OF HOW THE BLACK COMMUNITY FEEL.

I'M EVEN MORE DISAPPOINTED THAT WE HAVE TWO BLACK REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF GREENBERG SITTING ON THAT BOARD AND THAT ONE AND ON FELT LIKE TO SAY, HEY PAUL, HEY BOY, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS JUST AS A BLACK COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE LIKE TO LIKE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

LIKE ELLEN SAID, THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE GOTTA WAIT FROM 37 30.

IT'S ALMOST 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.

IT USED TO BE, I REMEMBER YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS COMING HERE, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS AT SEVEN 30 WHEN THE MEETING FIRST START, YOU GET THREE MINUTES.

THEN IF YOU WANTED TO GET THE FIVE MINUTES, YOU HAD TO STAY LATER.

AND I'VE BEEN ASKING THAT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

WE SHOULD GO BACK TO THAT RULE BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR THAT YOU WANT PEOPLE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT TO SIT HERE FOR FOUR HOURS TO WAIT TO GET FIVE MINUTES.

SO ANYWAY, IT GOES BACK TO THE CONTRACT AND IT STATES THAT FOR ANY SAME DISPUTE WITH PAUL, YOU SUPPOSED TO PUT HIM RIGHT? AND IF YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT IT, Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE PUT HIM WRITING INTO THE, TO THE ARTIST.

ALSO.

YOU PAID HIM ON AUGUST 20, ON AUGUST 12TH, GAR DAIN, WHO'S WORKING THE MACHINE BACK THERE? SARAH BRACY, WHITE PASTOR WILLIAMS. THESE ARE PEOPLE Y'ALL ENTRUSTED AND KEN NOCO.

WE CAME BACK, THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE MURAL CAME BACK TO KEN TO MEET THAT HIM AND FRANCIS SHARED AND SHARED WITH THEM, AND Y'ALL GAVE THE ARTISTS THE MONEY WITH MINISTER FARHAN UPON THE MURAL.

AND THEN A WEEK LATER, PAUL, YOU HAD A PROBLEM.

YOU MUST HAVE GOT PHONE CALLS.

BUT IT GOES BACK TO THE CONTRACT, GINA, AND I JUST WISH THAT YOU LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL.

I'M GONNA END.

I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE OVERTIME.

I'M GOING TO END.

AND I JUST WISH THAT YOU WILL LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT, NOT THE CONTRACT THAT PAUL ASKED THE ARTIST KENDALL HARPER TO, TO REDO OVER.

AND THEN Y'ALL GOT ALL THE RULES IN IT.

WE HAVE TO MEET WITH Y'ALL.

HE HAD TO FIND OUT THEN HE AIN'T DOING ARTWORK.

SO JUST LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT, WHICH YOU BRUNG UP BEFORE.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE FIVE SPEAKERS VIA ZOOM.

GARRETT? YES.

UM, AARON JACOBSON.

AARON JACOBSON.

I JUST ASK, WE JUST HANG, I'M SORRY, I APOLOGIZE.

UM, I LOOKED HERE, I DIDN'T SEE YOU'RE NOT TAKING A VOTE TONIGHT, ARE YOU? 'CAUSE IF YOUR IT'S NOT IN HERE, VOTE WHAT? WHAT WE VOTE ON.

VOTE ON WHAT? VOTE ON THERE'S NO VOTE.

VOTE ON AN AGENDA TONIGHT.

ON WHAT? I DON'T KNOW GARRETT.

UH, WHO ARE THE FIVE INDIVIDUALS PLEASE? OKAY, SO, UH, ERIN JACOBSON, KENDO HARPER, MICHELLE BROWN, PATRICIA WEEMS, IKA ANDREWS, UH, I DIDN'T HEAR THE LAST ONE.

HI, CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME OKAY? YES.

MATTER CONSISTENT WITH THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND CANNOT DO SO IN A VAGUE OR VIEWPOINT BASED WAY.

MY NAME IS ERIN JACOBSON AND I AM A TAX PAYING HOMEOWNER IN GREENBURG.

MY CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL IN THE GREENBURG CENTRAL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THEY GO TO GREENBERG SUMMER CAMPS AND WE'RE MEMBERS OF THE GREENBERG NATURE CENTER AND ACTIVE USERS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE ARE INTEGRATED IN THIS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH HOW I BECAME ONE OF THE ARTISTS ON THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MANHATTAN AVENUE MURAL PROJECT.

I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT ABOUT THE RECENT CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE DEPICTION OF MINISTER FARRAKHAN ON THE MURAL IN WHICH TO CHALLENGE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ON SOME OF THE RECENT PUBLIC STATEMENTS REGARDING THE MURAL ITSELF AND ITS CREATION.

TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I ANSWERED A PUBLIC FACEBOOK POST ASKING FOR PARTICIPANTS ON THE MURAL, I COMMITTED MYSELF TO THIS LARGE COMMUNITY ART PROJECT AS AN ART THERAPIST BY PROFESSION.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF ART, THE WAY IT SPEAKS WHEN WORDS FAIL, ITS ABILITY TO CONNECT THE ARTIST WITH THE VIEWER AND THE WAY IT CAN CHALLENGE THE VIEWER TO SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND GAIN PERSPECTIVE.

THIS PROJECT DOES THIS.

IT WAS CHARGED WITH TELLING THE STORY OF BLACK HISTORY IN ALL OF ITS COMPLEXITIES.

IT SEEKS TO PUBLICLY DECLARE THAT BLACK LIVES DO MATTER REGARDLESS OF WHAT OTHERS MAY SAY.

IT LAYS BARE THE STRUGGLE THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAS ENDURED FOR CENTURIES AND HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR AMERICAN HISTORY TO HONOR ITS BLACK HISTORY.

I COMMEND GREENBERG FOR HAVING THE FORESIGHT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE STORY OF THE BLACK EXPERIENCE NEEDS

[03:05:01]

TO BE TOLD.

AND FOR EMPOWERING THE ARTIST TO TELL THAT STORY.

AND WE HAVE DONE THAT.

WE STILL HAVE HALF OF IT TO DO.

YET NOW THE COUNCIL WAS COMING IN AFTER THE FACT TELLING THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT THEY TOLD THEIR STORY WRONG, THAT THEY NEED TO EDIT IT AND CHANGE IT TO FIT THE COMFORT OF OTHERS.

ISN'T THAT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR CENTURIES? THE COMFORT OF OTHERS TAKES PRIORITY OVER THE FEELINGS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

MR. FIER HAS PUBLICLY STATED MANY TIMES THAT HE WANTS THIS MURAL TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND NOT FEATURE ANY FIGURES WHO HAVE TALKED ILL OF OTHERS, BUT LET'S BE HONEST, WHO COULD MEET THAT UNREALISTIC ASK.

ALL PUBLIC LEADERS ARE HUMAN.

THEY HAVE STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, BIASES, ET CETERA.

AND WE AS AMERICANS MAKE DECISIONS EVERY DAY WHO TO RECOGNIZE AND FOR WHAT REASONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE FAIRVIEW SECTION OF GREENBURG WHERE THE MURAL IS LOCATED, HOUSES THE FOURTH LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN NEW YORK STATE.

IN THE SAME AREA THERE IS WASHINGTON AVENUE, A STATE THAT CARRIES THE NAME OF OUR FIRST PRESIDENT AND ALSO A SLAVE OWNER IN PELLET'S CORNER.

THERE'S KIPLING STREET NAMED FOR BRITAIN'S FIRST NOBEL LAUREATE IN LITERATURE.

IN RECENT YEARS, HE'S BEEN LABELED A RACIST, AN ANTISEMITE, AND A MISOGYNIST AMONG OTHER THINGS.

NOW, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE CHANGE THE NAMES OF THESE STREETS, BUT RATHER HOPE THESE EXAMPLES HELP YOU RECOGNIZE THE SLIPPERY SLOPE.

YOU START WHEN YOU START TO ELIMINATE IMAGES LIKE MINISTER FARRAKHAN.

MY FEELINGS ABOUT LEWIS FARRAKHAN DO NOT MATTER HERE.

YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS AROUND LEWIS FARRAKHAN DON'T EITHER.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM OR THAT THEY AREN'T VALUABLE, BUT THEY ARE YOURS ALONE AND SHOULD NOT BE PRESENTED AS THE FEELINGS OF YOUR CONSTITUENCY.

I AM A MEMBER OF THAT CONSTITUENCY.

I AM ONE OF THE TAXPAYERS YOU LIKE TO SPEAK OF MY FELLOW ARTIST, IAN CHESTNUT IS AS WELL.

PLEASE DO NOT SPEAK FOR US.

USING YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS, YOUR POSITION OF POWER DEMANDS THAT YOU HONOR AND KNOW THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN YOUR PERSONAL THOUGHTS AND THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY YOU REPRESENT.

I FEEL YOU'VE CROSSED THAT BOUNDARY YOU TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWS 12 BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS, EXPLORING OPTIONS, AND SEEKING UNDERSTANDING.

DESPITE MY WORK WITH THE MURAL, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THERE WAS CONTROVERSY UNTIL ANOTHER COMMUNITY MEMBER TOLD ME THAT THEY SAW YOUR POSTS ON FACEBOOK AND FELT THAT IT CAME OUTTA NOWHERE.

NOW THAT WE'VE ALSO GONE TO THE PRESS AT A VIRTUAL TOWN HALL AND A PUBLIC RALLY, MR. FINER REQUESTED A PERSONAL MEETING WITH THE LEAD ARTIST KENDO.

TO ME, THIS FEELS DISINGENUOUS AND WAY TOO LATE.

GREENBERG IS BETTER THAN THIS.

WE ARE SMART ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE MURAL IS NOT A MEMORIAL OR PAYING HOMAGE TO ANYONE.

IT IS A TELLING OF BLACK HISTORY BY THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND SHOULD STAND AS SUCH.

THE LARGER GREENBERG POPULATION WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT EACH FIGURE THROUGH QR CODES.

SO IT WILL NOT BE WITHOUT CONTEXT IF WE TRUST OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS TO LEARN ABOUT OUR NATION'S LEADERS ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS WELL AS THEIR FAULTS.

I DO NOT SEE WHY WE CAN'T DO THIS HERE AND EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY TO DO THE SAME.

JUST AS WE HEARD EARLIER THAT VIC , LEVI LEVIAN, I WANNA SAY HIS NAME RIGHT, LEVIAN DID AS A REPRESENTATIVE, YOU SHOULD BE PART OF THAT MOVEMENT.

IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT ALL LIVES CANNOT MATTER UNTIL BLACK LIVES DO THEN SUPPORT THE NEED FOR THEIR HISTORY TO BE TOLD IN THEIR OWN WORDS.

THANK YOU KENDALL HARPER, GO AHEAD.

UM, FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THANK YOU TO THE TOWN FOR ACTUALLY, UM, ALLOWING CLIFTON AND THE MURAL SUBCOMMITTEE TO PUT THIS PROJECT TOGETHER.

AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR ACTUALLY HAVING ME, UH, BE THE LEAD ARTIST ON IT.

I THINK YOU GUYS MADE A GREAT DECISION AND UM, I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING ON TO THE SECOND WALL.

I'D LIKE TO START OUT BY SAYING REST IN PEACE TO VIC AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW POLICE CHIEF.

UM, HOPEFULLY HE CAN HELP US FIND ANY INFORMATION LEADING US TO THE THIEF WHO STOLE A LITTLE UNDER $5,000 IN VIDEO AND CAMERA EQUIPMENT BELONGING TO MY NEPHEW WHO, UH, USED THAT CAMERA EQUIPMENT TO FILM AND CAPTURE THE CREATION OF THE AMAZING MURAL.

UH, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYONE SINCE WE FILED THE POLICE REPORT.

AND, UH, AN UPDATE WOULD BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL.

UM, YOU KNOW, BACK IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, I WAS ASKED BY THE TOWN BOARD TO PRESENT A FINAL DRAFT OF BOTH SIDES OF THE WALL.

YOU KNOW, THE DRAFT I PROVIDED WAS REVIEWED IN GREAT DETAIL, SO MUCH SO THAT I MADE ACCOMMODATIONS TO MY ORIGINAL DESIGN BY ADDING CERTAIN HISTORICAL FIGURES TO THE TOWN, UM, THAT THE TOWN BOARD EXPRESSED AN

[03:10:01]

INTEREST IN SEEING.

IN THIS MEETING, UH, BOTH SIDES, MYSELF AND THE TOWN, AGREED TO STAY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE ORIGINAL VISION THAT CLIFTON AND THE MURAL SUBCOMMITTEE LAID OUT AS WELL AS MY INTERPRETATION OF THAT VISION.

UNFORTUNATELY, DURING THIS TIME, MY CONTRACT WAS STILL IN THE NEGOTIATION PHASE.

UM, WE RECEIVED THE CONTRACT FROM THE TOWN IN THE SECOND WEEK OF APRIL, AND I DIDN'T GET THE SIGNED AND NOTARIZED CONTRACT BACK UNTIL JULY OF 2022.

AND I EXPLAINED TO THE TOWN THAT THAT MADE ME PRETTY UNCOMFORTABLE AS I WAS BEING ASKED TO ISSUE WORK WITHOUT ANY PROTECTIONS.

BUT I STILL MADE THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT THEY ASKED FOR AND EXPLAINED THAT ANY BARE SPACE ON THE WALL, UM, DUE TO MY FIRST DRAFT NOT BEING TRUE TO SCALE, UH, THE TRUE SCALE AND SIZE OF THE MURAL, UH, THE WALL, RATHER AT 90 MANHATTAN AVENUE, IT WOULD BE CREATIVELY TIED INTO THE MURAL BY THE 13 AND 15 ARTISTS THAT WOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE TOWN.

UM, NOT ONLY DID THE TOWN BOARD AGREE TO GRANT ME THIS LEVEL OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARTISTS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDED DID NOT SHOW UP.

UM, THAT LEFT MY LEAD ASSISTANT, MAHAD HARVIN, WHO TOOK LEAD FROM HIS JOB AND TWO-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FOR A MONTH TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT, A KEON CHESTNUT WHO'S IN A WHEELCHAIR AND HAD TO WALK HIMSELF UP THE PLATFORM STEPS USING HIS HANDS.

UM, SHANEIKA BENNETT, WHO WOULD WORK 12 HOURS INTO THE NIGHT WITH US WHILE CLIFTON WOULD WATCH OVER HER THREE YEAR OLD SON, UM, WHO SHE NEEDED TO BE WITH HER AT THE SITE.

UH, AARON JACOBSON, WHO WENT BEFORE ME, WHO PROVIDED HER TIME, ART MATERIALS AND VIVACIOUS SPIRIT THAT KEPT THE PROJECT MOVING ALONG.

UM, OMAR WATSON, WHO HAD THE DRIVE IN FROM OUT OF TOWN TO PROVIDE HIS TALENT TO HELP BOOST OF THE PROJECT.

AND, UM, ARIANA HOOVER, WHO'S 15 YEARS OLD AND MADE SURE HER MOTHER BROUGHT HER TO AND FROM THE PROJECT, DESPITE A FULL SCHEDULE OF SCHOLASTIC ENDEAVORS.

SO TOGETHER THROUGH, UH, AN AVERAGE OF 13 HOUR DAYS, WE DID THE WORK OF THOSE 15 ARTISTS AND DID IT VERY WELL.

I WOULD SAY CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES, UM, ALL OF THESE ARTISTS WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, EDUCATIONAL AND HONEST.

UH, WE CHOSE FACES THAT TELL STORIES, STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED, REWRITTEN, AND REPURPOSED BY THOSE WHO ARE ACCUSTOMED TO HAVING MORE POWER THAN MOST.

UH, PAYMENT WAS REMITTED TO ME TWICE UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST DRAFTS AND THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST WALL.

UM, AFTER RECEIVING MY SECOND PAYMENT, I RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO AN IMPROMPTU ZOOM CALL WHERE ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF ON THIS TOWN BOARD THREATENED OUR HARD WORK AS WELL AS ANY FURTHER WORK UNLESS ALTERATIONS WERE MADE.

UH, THERE WAS NEVER ANY NEGOTIATION PERIOD AS MY CONTRACT STATES.

UH, THERE WAS ONLY DICTATION, EVEN THOUGH I MADE SURE TO STAY WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE TOWN'S GUIDELINES AND MY CONTRACT.

UM, THAT CONTRACT WAS SIGNED AND NOTARIZED BY PAUL AND MYSELF, UM, TO HAVE MEMBERS WHO ARE SITTING ON THIS TOWN BOARD WHO MADE IT VERBALLY CLEAR THAT THIS IS CENSORSHIP, UH, TO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE MURAL SUBCOMMITTEE TELL ME HE WHO HOLDS THE GOLD, MAKES THE RULES, UM, TO HAVE THE ARTIST FUNDS, WHICH I WAS TOLD WERE ALREADY ALLOCATED INTO THIS BUDGET, USED AS LEVERAGE TO CARRY OUT THAT CENSORSHIP.

I THINK BOTH, IT'S BOTH SHAMEFUL AND DISAPPOINTING.

PERSONALLY, NO, I HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE TOWN GIVE SERIOUS THOUGHT ABOUT SPENDING $68,000 FOR A FENCE AND, UH, $18,000 ON SECURITY CAMERAS.

WHILE THE ARTISTS STILL WEREN'T COMPENSATED.

I WAS TOLD VERBAL AGREEMENTS AREN'T VIABLE.

SO I'VE HAD A HARD TIME TAKING ANY OF THE TOWN BOARD MEMBERS AT THEIR WORD AT THIS TIME, AND, UH, I THINK IT'S A SHAME THAT THE MURAL WE ALL WORKED ON SO HARD IS CURRENTLY FALLING VICTIM TO THIS.

I HAVE TWO MORE THINGS I WANNA SAY AND, UM, GET OUT, GET ON OUTTA HERE.

I'M, I'M SORRY, BUD.

I HAVE TO, BUT IN AND SAY FIVE MINUTES.

ARTISTS AND PRODUCERS TEST THE SOCIETY STANDARDS AND DECENCY, UM, SOCIETY ARE PARTS OF IT.

THEY RESPOND TO THESE CONTROVERSIAL WORKS WITH HARSH CRITICISM AND SCORN IN FREE SOCIETIES.

ARTISTS MAY PRODUCE ANY TYPE OF WORK THAT THEIR TALENT, IMAGINATION AND MEANS CAN SUPPORT WHETHER IT'S CONTROVERSIAL OR NOT.

HOWEVER THE QUESTION DOES ARISE, YOU KNOW, DO ARTISTS HAVE THE SAME FREEDOM WITHOUT ARTISTS PUBLICLY FUNDED BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS? NOW, THE US SUPREME COURT MADE IT REAL CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO SUBSIDIZE ARTISTIC EXPRESSION WITH PUBLIC FUNDS.

UH, THE COURT ALSO FOUND THAT ONCE IT DOES DECIDE TO PROVIDE THOSE FUNDS FOR ARTS PROGRAMS, THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT WITHDRAW THAT FUNDING CENSORING CERTAIN WORKS BECAUSE IT DISAGREES WITH THE VIEWPOINT EXPRESSED IN THE WORK IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, WHILE THE GOVERNMENT HAS GREAT FLEXIBILITY IN DETERMINING WHICH ARTISTS AND PRO PROGRAMS TO FUND IT MUST DO SO IN A

[03:15:01]

AND THAT WAS STATED BY THE NATIONAL COALITION AGAINST CENSORSHIP, WHICH REACHED OUT TO EACH OF YOU GUYS AND, UM, GAVE YOU A VERY WELL WRITTEN LETTER.

I, I WISH I HAD THE TIME TO SAY IT, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA LET THE OTHER SPEAKERS GO FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

MICHELLE BROWN.

HI, GOOD EVENING.

UM, SORRY, COULDN'T BE THERE THIS EVENING.

I AM, UM, CONFUSED BUT VERY, UM, HONORED TO KNOW THAT THE MURAL HAS BEEN PUT UP AT ALL.

AND IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT IT COMES, UM, WITH CONTROVERSY.

NOTHING THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN, UM, IN GREENBURG HAS NOT AS BLACK PEOPLE COME WITH OUR CONTROVERSY.

AND WHAT'S BEEN POLARIZING IS THE BELIEF, PAUL, THAT YOU HAVE POWER TO BULLY AND LIE AND MANIPULATE IN ORDER TO COVER THE FEAR YOU HAVE OF A MAN THAT IS GREATER GRANDER AND HONORED MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER BE.

YOU HAVE THREATENED ARTISTS, YOU HAVE SAID WHATEVER YOU NEEDED TO SAY TO ATTEMPT TO, UM, JUST LIE ABOUT MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHAN.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'RE AFRAID OF HIM.

YOU'RE AFRAID OF WHO HE STANDS FOR YOU.

YOU DON'T RESPECT HIM BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE YOU DO NOT HAVE TO.

AND YOU ARE OUT HERE TRYING TO RALLY OTHER PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR FEAR AND YOU'RE DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ON JUST DISCREDIT HIM.

AND YOU SAT THERE EARLIER AND YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE NOT GONNA PERMIT THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR.

UM, WHEN SOMEONE WALKS UP TO THE PODIUM, THERE'S GONNA BE NO DISCREDITING OF OTHER PEOPLE.

AND EVERY TURN YOU'VE ATTEMPTED TO DISCREDIT MINISTER FARRAKHAN, HE IS PART OF OUR HISTORY.

YOU CAN TAKE HIM OFF THE WALL, BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE HIM OUT OF OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AND YOU CAN NEVER REMOVE WHAT HE'S DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO.

AND IT'S A SHAME THAT MANY HAVE SUPPORTED YOU.

AND I SAW YOU AS A POWERFUL GUY, YOU KNOW, THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE SOMEONE TO WORK WITH AND, AND, AND SUPPORT.

BUT IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE WIZARD OF OZ.

THEY PULL BACK THE, THE CURTAIN AND THEY REALLY SEE YOU.

YOU'RE AFRAID AND YOU'RE FRAGILE AND YOU'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROTECT THOSE FEARS.

AND IT WOULD'VE SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS YOU STEP ASIDE BECAUSE YOU ARE LEADING THIS COMMUNITY INTO PLACES THAT THEY DON'T WANNA GO.

AND YOU KEEP SAYING THAT THEY DO.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE, ARE STANDING BEFORE YOU THAT YOU REFUSE TO SEE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU AND YOU REFUSE TO HEAR BECAUSE YOU ARE AFRAID OF A MAN.

HE'S JUST A MAN PAUL.

AND YOU ARE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO, UM, REWRITE HISTORY.

BUT WE, WE SEE THAT YOU'RE NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DO THAT BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU THIS, IF YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD THAT POWER, YOU WOULD'VE TAKEN 'EM OFF THE WALL AS YOU THREATENED TO DO THREE WEEKS AGO AND THEN THE FRIDAY AFTER THAT, IF YOU HAVE SO MUCH POWER, YOU WOULD BE TRYING TO MANIPULATE THIS ARTIST INTO THINKING THAT HE HAS POWER, ASKING HIM TO AMEND THE CONTRACT, BACKDATING IT AS IF WE'RE SO FOOLISH.

YOU SIGNED A CHECK FOR $10,000,

[03:20:01]

PAUL, YOU AUTHORIZED IT TO BE PAID.

HE SUBMITTED A, HE SUBMITTED AN INVOICE, IT WAS APPROVED.

WHETHER YOUR SIGNATURE WAS ELECTRONICALLY SIGNED OR NOT, THE PROCESS TO HAVE HIM PAID WAS DONE.

HE FULFILLED HIS AGREEMENT AND THAT'S WHY THAT CHECK WAS GIVEN TO HIM.

SO PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT HE FARRAKHAN WAS NOT APPROVED.

THAT PANEL WAS APPROVED AND PAID FOR AND SIGNED FOR BY YOU.

AND THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS.

AND IF YOU CAN JUST GO TAKE 'EM OFF THE WALL, GO AHEAD.

THERE'S NOBODY DOWN THERE, GO DO IT.

STOP THREATENING PEOPLE, PAUL, STOP LYING AND STOP TRYING TO BE A BULLY.

IT DOESN'T BECOME YOU.

OKAY, MS. WILLIAMS, IF YOU CAN UNMUTE, WE'RE ALL SET FOR YOU TO SPEAK.

GARY, IT JUST CAME UP JUST NOW.

I COULDN'T GET ON BEFORE.

CAN EVERYONE, WE WE CAN HEAR YOU.

YOU'RE ALL SET.

OKAY, UM, ONE, Y'ALL SHOULD PUT THE CLOCK UP WHERE WE CAN SEE IT.

I CAN'T SEE IT, BUT I'M TRYING TO STICK TO THE, UH, AMOUNT OF TIME.

AND I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING THAT ONE THING THAT HAS HAPPENED, PAUL, THAT YOU DIDN'T PLAN TO HAPPEN IS THAT YOU WENT AND OPENED THE DOOR SO THAT DISCRIMINATION COULD RUN WILD ON THIS ONE ISSUE.

NOW I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR DISCRIMINATION AND YOU ALL KNOW IT NOW FOR OVER TWO YEARS AND HERE'S WHERE YOU OPEN THE DOOR.

I DON'T WANNA SAY THANK YOU, BUT UH, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CANNOT, THE BOARD, THE TOWN COUNCIL, NOT PAUL, THE TOWN COUNCIL, YOU CANNOT TURN AROUND FROM THIS.

THIS IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

ANYTIME I COME UP WITH THAT, UM, PAUL, HOW COULD YOU TAKE THREE JEWISH PEOPLE? YOU SAID THREE JEWISH PEOPLE SENT IN A LETTER AND SPOKE TO YOU AND YOU'RE GOING TO TURN AROUND AND TELL ME.

MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE SINCE BEFORE THE 1940S, SO THAT MEANS THEY'VE BEEN PAYING TAX TAXES ALL THAT TIME.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW, WHAT THE TERM THE TIMEFRAME IS FOR IT.

I NOW DON'T SAY WHITE JEWISH PEOPLE, I'M SAYING NON-A JEWISH PEOPLE BECAUSE WHITE PEOPLE IN GREENBURG, THEY DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT FARRAKHAN BEING ON THAT WALL.

NOW YOU'VE MADE THIS A JEWISH ISSUE CONFRONTING A BLACK ISSUE.

ME AND HOW I LOOK AT IT IS THOSE THREE JEWISH PEOPLE THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL ME WHO I BELIEVE SHOULD BE HELD IN ESTEEM AS AN ADVOCATE AND AN ACTIVIST FOR NOT ONLY JUST AFRICAN AMERICANS HERE IN IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY IN GREENBURG, BUT WE ARE TALKING GLOBALLY.

SO THIS ISSUE IS NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

SO YOU NEED TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR NOW WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO ABOUT SIS GREENBERG AND A AGAINST ANTI, WHAT IS IT? UH, SYSTEMIC RACISM BECAUSE WE ARE NOT DOING THAT GOOD.

I TOLD YOU FROM 1788 TO 20 21, 22, THAT'S OUR FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN POLICE CHIEF.

WELL, WE ARE AROUND THREE CENTURIES TOO LATE NOW.

YOU ARE REALLY, MICHELLE ACTUALLY HIT IT ON THE SPOT IS FEAR.

BUT YOUR, YOUR ISSUE IS WHAT SHOULD YOU BE AFRAID OF? AND IT'S NOT FARRAKHAN.

YOU SEE, FARRAKHAN IS ONE PERSON WHO IS ABLE TO CONTACT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY BLACK MINISTERS TO PULL IN FOR THAT MILLION MAN'S MARCH.

THE FIRST ONE WAS ALMOST 2 MILLION BLACK PEOPLE THERE.

THAT WAS BLACK MINISTERS SUPPORTING FARRAKHAN.

SO NOW PAUL, WHERE DO YOU, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE SPEAKING TO? JUST PAT WINGS.

HELLO.

I'M JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION.

I WANNA BE LIKE KING HEZEKIAH.

WHEN GOD CALLS MY NAME, I WANNA SAY I TRIED.

I'M GETTING ON HEAVEN ON I'M TRYING.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE JEWISH PEOPLE.

YOU TOLD ME WHEN I SENT YOU A LETTER STATING THAT I VOTED FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE JEWISH AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE

[03:25:01]

ISSUES.

YOU WROTE ME BACK AND TOLD ME YOU ARE BEING JEWISH WAS IRRELEVANT.

NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE KEPT IT THAT WAY BECAUSE ONCE YOU DO THESE THINGS, YOU OPEN A DOOR AND YOU KNOW, I TRY TO DO IT NICELY.

I REALLY DO.

AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS, UH, ONCE AGAIN CULTURALLY INSENSITIVE, A BIGOT RACIST, NOT LOOKING AT WHAT ACTUALLY IS TAKING PLACE.

THE SECOND MILLION MAN'S MARCH CAME OUT WITH 1.5 MILLION PLUS BLACK MALES.

WELL YOU HAD OF COURSE PEOPLE WHO CAME UNINVITED AND THAT WOULD BE THE BLACK WOMEN.

NOW I THINK, I DON'T KNOW WHO SAID IT, BUT ONE PERSON SAID UM, JANUARY THE SIXTH, YOU DIDN'T EVEN HAVE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE.

LET'S SAY 200,000 WENT OUT.

I DON'T THINK THAT MANY IN WASHINGTON DC BLACK PEOPLE WILL FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY.

WHAT I'M SEEING NOW IS, UH, DEMOCRATS PUTTING MONEY INTO REPUBLICANS CAMPAIGN CHESS BECAUSE THEY ARE MANIPULATING AND AND TRYING TO START SORT SHORTCHANGE EVERYTHING ABOUT DEMOCRACY.

THEY KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, NOTHING ABOUT IT.

AND THIS IS GREENBERG, THIS IS GREENBERG DEMOCRATS DOING THIS SLOP.

SO WHERE ARE WE HEADED? WHERE'S THE HIGH ROAD FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN GOVERNMENT WHO NEED TO BE LOOKING AT ISSUES AND YOU'RE NOT? AND THE ISSUE IS NOW DISCRIMINATION ON THAT ONE.

I ONCE AGAIN WILL CLOSE.

I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN AT THE NEXT MEETING DISCUSSING DISCRIMINATION.

AND WHERE IS GREENBERG? VIC AND ROZ? I'M SERIOUS.

THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NOW WHEN I GREW UP HERE AND WHAT I'M SEEING NOW, I'M SEEING RACISM AT ANOTHER SCALE AND I'M BEGINNING TO CALL DEMOCRATS TRUMPITES WITH THAT.

THAT'S AN INSULT.

AND LIKE I SAID, I WILL FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY.

MY ANCESTORS DIED FOR IT.

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS BORN HERE IN 1890.

SHE DIDN'T COME OVER ON QUEEN ELIZABETH.

SO THAT'S PROOF RIGHT THERE.

I WANT REPARATIONS.

NOW IF YOU CAN SEND OVER ALL $600 BILLION TO RACIST YOU CRANE AND RAISE THEIR FLAG HERE.

NO, THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME.

I WANT REPARATIONS FROM SLAVERY FROM 1600 ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO 1865 AND THEN FROM 1866 I WANT RESTITUTION FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH WE'VE BEEN TREATED AND HAD TO TOLERATE THIS MESS FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS.

IT'S UNCALLED FOR AND UNNECESSARY.

YOU TELL THOSE THREE JEWISH PEOPLE, I SAID THEY OPENED THE DOOR, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE OPENED.

WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND TALK LIKE ADULTS.

BUT OBVIOUSLY PAUL, YOU'RE NOT READY FOR THAT.

BUT THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA.

I PLAN TO SEE IT AND I WANNA SEE IT.

I WANT THAT MURAL UP THERE AND I DON'T WANT ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON IT.

IT'S UNNECESSARY.

THANK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WHAT IT'S, NO THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER? YES.

JANIKA ANDREWS.

HELLO, I'M NIKA.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS HERE TO PAUL.

PAUL IF YOU CAN, UH, SIT UP A LITTLE BIT AND GET OFF YOUR PHONE AND PAY A LITTLE ATTENTION PLEASE THAT SHOWS RESPECT.

THANK YOU PAUL.

I COMMEND THE ACT OF SADEKA, THE HONORING OF THE DEAD IN THE BEGINNING.

A TRADITION AS YOU KNOW IN THE JUDAICAL PRACTICE SHOWING CLARITY AND HONOR AND LOVE TO THE DECEASED, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARTISTS HAVE DONE WITH PAINTING MANY FIGURES ON THE WALL.

THERE IS A STORY TO BE TOLD, THE LIVES STAINED FOREVER BY THOSE KILLED AT POLICE HAND.

A REAL STAIN IN HISTORY.

AND TO SAY THE ISLAMIC TRADITION DOES THE SAME AS WELL AS MANY CHRISTIAN PRACTICES DOING SIKA, I'M A CHRISTIAN AND WE SHARE OUR LOVE FOR GOD AND JESUS.

OUR PRACTICES ARE DIFFERENT THOUGH IN ISLAMIC PRACTICE THEY CALL UPON GOD IN THE NAME OF ALLAH.

THEY DO TO STUDY THE PRACTICE OF JESUS, NOT THE MEDIA VERSION, BUT LIVING WITH GODLY SORROW.

RESPECT TO LOVE SADIKA, WHICH IS CHARITY AND FOLLOWING CERTAIN OTHER PRACTICES.

I DO NOT KNOW YET.

ALL OUR FAITHS ARE DIFFERENT, ALL OUR VIEWS ARE DIFFERENT.

WE ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

WHICH ONE IS RIGHT PERIOD OR PERFECT IN ANY WAY.

YOUR COMMENT ABOUT MINISTER FCON AND HIM BEING AN ANTI-SEMITE, WHICH IS YOU AGREEING TO OTHERS BECAUSE HE MADE STATEMENTS

[03:30:01]

REGARDING SOME AND KEYWORD ON SOME AND NOT ALL JEWS BEING SATANIC OR ALONG THE LINES THERE ARE SATANIC PEOPLE ON EVERY SINGLE RACE OR CULTURE, GOOD OR BAD PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD.

BUT ON THE HISTORY OF THOSE SUM OF JEWS AND HISTORY, HE THEN CLARIFIED IN SIMPLE TERMS HIS MEAN WITHOUT TAKING BACK A SINGLE WORD.

HE SAID HIS COMMENTS ON L G B T Q MADE HEADWAY BECAUSE OF HIS PRACTICE AS A MUSLIM AND THE TEACHINGS OF GOD HE FOLLOWS.

IT CONFUSES ME BECAUSE AS A JEW, A FOLLOWER OF GOD, ONE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS LAWS AS WELL.

HOW DOES THE JEWISH TRADITION GO IN TERMS OF THE L G B T Q COMMUNITY? DOES THAT FOLLOW ALONG GOD'S WILL OR ARE YOU PLAYING DEVIL'S ADVOCATE? AND SO DO YOU AGREE WITH MINISTER F FARRAKHAN IN THAT WAY? WOULD YOU CALL HIM BROTHER FOR HIS FIGHT FOR GOD'S WORD? CHOOSE YOUR WORDS WISELY BECAUSE GOD IS LISTENING.

BRINGING UP ANYTHING OF THE PAST MEANS FORGIVENESS ISN'T ON YOUR HEART.

WHETHER YOU BELIEVE HIM TO BE WRONG IS THAT GODLY? HIS TRUTH IS HIS TRUTH AND HE SPEAKS AS A SERVANT OF GOD IN WHICH I'D HOPE FOR YOU TO DO TOO.

BEING A STRICKEN FAITHFUL JEW, HIS PAINTING AS I AM THE ARTIST WHO WILLINGLY AND OPENLY OPTED TO PAINT HIM IS BEAUTIFULLY RENDERED IF I DON'T SAY SO MYSELF.

THAT'S A SKILL TIME AND A GIFT BY GOD.

A GIFT I DON'T WANT ERASED OR SEE ERADICATED IN ANY FORM, NOT BY THE HANDS OF MEN HE SPOKE ON, ON BEHALF OF SO MANY BLACK PEOPLE DURING THE MILLION MANS MARCH, WHO IS TO BE ON OUR SIDE BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOME AND KEYWORD ON SOME WHITE PEOPLE.

DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THAT? SOME OR THE LATTER PEOPLE LIKE M L K OR MALCOLM OR ANGELA OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE WALL WHO HAVE SAID ANYTHING CONTROVERSIAL, SUPPOSEDLY CONTROVERSIAL, ENACTED THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

HAVE YOU EVER SAID ANYTHING BIGOTED, RACIST, OR WRONG OUT LOUD OR IN YOUR OWN THOUGHTS? OR IS THAT YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH? AND DID YOU GO TO GOD FOR FORGIVENESS FOR ANY ANTI REASON? WHOSE WAY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STANDING IN YOUR OWN? THAT'S IT.

YOU OWN NOTHING ON THIS EARTH AND YOU STAND IN YOUR OWN WAY, NOT IN US AS ARTISTS DOING GOD'S WORK.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

AMEN.

NOW WE'LL GO TO THE AGENDA,

[ TB 1 - 9/14/2022 Resolution appointing Amanda Magana as Deputy Town Attorney, effective September 26, 2022]

UM, TB UM, ONE APPOINTING AMANDA MAGNA AS DEPUTY TOWN ATTORNEY, UM, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2022.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TWO ONE YEAR AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBERG AND VILLAGE OF IRVINGTON FOR FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES TO UNINCORPORATED GREENBURG RESIDENCE OF THE EAST IRVINGTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR 2021 AND 2022 AT A COST OF 1 0 6 3 1 9 FOR 2021 AND 110,000 4 3 3 FOR 2022.

TB TWO

[ TB 2 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing two one year agreements between the Town of Greenburgh and the Village of Irvington for Fire Protection Services to Unincorporated Greenburgh residents of the East Irvington Fire Protection District, for the years 2021 and 2022, at a cost of $106,319 for 2021 and $110,433 for 2022]

I'D LIKE TO MOVE WITH THAT.

AYE I RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE RELATED CLAIMS FILE NUMBER 87 22 C BY NEW YORK, UM, CENTRAL MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, UH, VINCENT CAPITAL LUPO AND THERESA ALPO FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 9,000 5 5 932.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE AYE.

[ AT 1 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing settlement of property damage related Claim, File No.: 87/22C by New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company a/s/o Vincent J. Capellupo and Theresa E. Capellupo, for an amount not to exceed $9,559.32]

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE AYE.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX S SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER JAMES KENNEDY.

[ AT 2 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner James Kennedy and Patricia Kennedy for property located at 9 Hudson Place. The Town’s share of the refund is $1,329±; the County’s share is $9,913±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $1,401±; the Tarrytown Union Free School District’s share is $62,671±. Refunds from all sources total $75,314±.]

PATRICIA KENNEDY FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT NINE HUDSON PLACE, UM, REFUNDS FROM ALL SOURCES 75 3 1 4.

[ AT 3 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Patrick Kennedy and Ann Kennedy for property located at 11 Hudson Place. The Town’s share of the refund is $1,554±; the County’s share is $11,556±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $1,639±; the Tarrytown Union Free School District’s share is $73,406±. Refunds from all sources total $88,155±.]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX ARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER PETITIONER PAT KENNEDY AND ANN KENNEDY FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 11 HUDSON PLACE.

UM, BE REFUNDS FROM ALL SOURCES TOTAL 88,000 1 55.

[ AT 4 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Michael Noviello and Vito Noviello for property located at 158 East Main Street. The Town’s share of the refund is $325±; the County’s share is $2,405±; the Bronx Valley Sewer District’s share is $322±; the Elmsford Union Free School District’s share is $12,979±. Refunds from all sources total $16,031±.]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX SEARCH YOUR RIGHT OF SETTLEMENT.

WE PETITIONER MICHAEL, UH, NOVIO AND FIDO, NO VELLO FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 58 EAST MAIN STREET TOTAL OF AMOUNT 16 0 31.

UM, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX SETTLEMENT PETITIONER IRVINGTON ESTATE OWNERS FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1114 SOUTH BROADWAY TOTAL OF AMOUNT 39 3 79.

[ AT 5 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Irvington Estates Owners, Inc. for property located at 14 South Broadway. The Town’s share of the refund is $741±; the County’s share is $5,549±; the No. Yonkers Sewer District’s share is $864±; the Irvington Union Free School District’s share is $32,225±. Refunds from all sources total $39,379±.]

[ AT 6 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner GBR Elmsford LLC for property located at 45 North Central Avenue. The Town’s share of the refund is $137±; the County’s share is $1,017±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $145±; the Elmsford Union Free School District’s share is $6,053±. Refunds from all sources total $7,351±.]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER G B R ELMSFORD, UH, REFUNDS FROM WALL SOURCES TOTAL 7 3 5 1.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER HOLY SPIRIT ASSOCIATION OF THE UNIFICATION, UH, CHURCH REFUNDS ON, UM, 316 4 86.

[ AT 7 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Holy Spirit Association of the Unification of World Christianity for property located at Gracemere Ave. and Browning Lane. The Town’s share of the refund is $6,091±; the County’s share is $45,310±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $6,388±; the Irvington Union Free School District’s share is $258,697±. Refunds from all sources total $316,486±.]

[03:35:01]

[ AT 8 - 09/14/2022 Resolution authorizing Atlantic Title Agency, Inc. to perform title reports for properties to be included in an In Rem proceeding initiated by the Town of Greenburgh, at a cost not to exceed $7,000]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ATLANTIC TITLE AGENCY TO PERFORM REPORTS FOR PROPERTIES TO BE INCLUDED IN, IN REM PROCEEDINGS INITIATED BY THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND OF COST NOT TO EXCEED 7,000.

AUTHORIZING CLOSING DORIS DRIVE AT THE OLD ARMY ROAD, DORIS DRIVE INTERSECTION ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH.

RESOLUTION

[ CL 1 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing closing Doris Drive at the Old Army Road/Doris Drive intersection, on Saturday, September 17, 2022 (Rain date: Sunday, September 18, 2022), from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM, for the Old Edgemont Association to hold its Neighborhood Block Party]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING WOOD AVENUE BETWEEN OAK STREET AND FOREST BOULEVARD SAT ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD FROM FOUR TO 8:00 PM UM, FOR THE ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY.

[ CL 2 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing closing Wood Avenue, between Oak Street and Forest Boulevard, on Saturday, September 3, 2022, from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM, for the residents of Wood Avenue to hold their Annual Neighborhood Block Party]

I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND ON FAVOR, AYE.

[ CL 3 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing closing Walbrooke Road, between Glenwood Road and Roxbury Road, on Saturday, September 10, 2022 from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM, for the residents of Walbrooke Road to hold their Annual Neighborhood Block Party]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CLOSING BROOK ROAD BETWEEN GLENWOOD ROAD AND ROXBURY ROAD FOR SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10TH.

UH, FOR THEIR, UM, BLOCK PARTY.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT IT WOULD SAY THREE TO 7:00 PM JUST IN CASE ANYBODY WANTS TO GO FROM 3:00 PM TO 7:00 PM FOR THE RESIDENCE OF WALBROOK ROAD UNTIL THEIR ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY.

AUTHORIZING, UH, CLOSING KEMPSTER ROAD, CHADWICK ROAD AND WOODINGTON ROAD, ALL BETWEEN CUSAL WAY AND HADDEN ROAD AND CLOSE HADDEN ROAD FROM KEMPSTER TO RUTLAND ROAD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 31ST FROM FIVE TWO 9:00 PM FOR RESIDENCE OF AL WAY TO HOLD THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD A HALLOWEEN PARTY.

UM, RES, UM, WAIT, THIS IS EIGHT UH, C L THREE, RIGHT? WE'RE ON FOUR NOW WE'RE ON FOUR.

UH, C RESOLUTION

[ CL 4 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing closing Kempster Road, Chedworth Road and Withington Road, all between Cotswold Way and Hadden Road, and close Hadden Road from Kempster to Rutland Road, on Monday, October 31, 2022, from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM, for the residents of Cotswold Way to hold their Neighborhood Halloween Party]

SECOND ON FAVOR, AYE.

[ CL 5 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing closing Kempster Road, between Hadden Road and Cotswold Way, on Sunday, September 18, 2022 from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM, for the residents of Kempster Road to hold their Neighborhood Block Party]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CLOSING KEMPSTER ROAD BETWEEN HADDEN AND AL WAY ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH FROM THREE TO 7:00 PM FOR RESIDENCE OF KEMPSEY ROAD HOTEL, THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR,

[ CL 6 - 9/14/2022 Resolution scheduling a Public Hearing for 7:30 PM, Wednesday, September 28, 2022, to consider Zoning Text Amendments related to Cannabis]

RESOLUTION SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING, UH, FOR, UM, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH TO CONSIDER HIS ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS WHO ADDED TO CANNABIS.

RESOLUTION SCHEDULING PUBLIC HEARING FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH TO CONSIDER A LOCAL LAW AMENDING FOUR FOUR OH OF THE CODE OF TOWN OF GREENBURG, INCREASING INCOME REQUIREMENTS FOR TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR SENIORS IN PERSONS WITH DISABILITY.

[ CL 7 - 9/14/2022 Resolution scheduling a Public Hearing for Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 7:30 PM, to consider a Local Law amending Chapter 440 of the Code of the Town of Greenburgh increasing income requirements for Tax Exemptions for Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN, UM, UH, THE TOWN OF GREENBERG AND I C C COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS, UM, FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE, UH, LASER FISH CLOUD ENTERPRISE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

UH,

[ CL 8 – 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing an agreement between the Town of Greenburgh and ICC Community Development Solutions (Formerly General Code CMS LLC) for the Purchase of the Laserfiche Cloud Enterprise Content Management System]

UM, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING IMPLEMENTATION AND FUNDING OF THE FIRST INSTANCE, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL AID ELIGIBLE, UM, CAUSE OF A TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL AID PROJECT KNOWN AS THE EAST WEST DALE CORRIDOR, PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS AND APPROPRIATION APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERE.

[ CD 1 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing the implementation, and funding in the first instance 100% of the federal-aid eligible costs, of a transportation federal-aid project known as the East-West Hartsdale Avenue Corridor Pedestrian Improvements, and appropriating funds therefore]

UH, FOR I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND.

SECOND IN FAVOR? WELL IN FAVOR, AYE.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING IMPLEMENTATION AND FUNDING IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL AID ELIGIBLE COSTS OF A TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL AID PROJECT NOTE AS THE ARY ROAD SIDEWALK AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERE FOR I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND.

[ CD 2 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing the implementation, and funding in the first instance 100% of the federal-aid eligible costs, of a transportation federal-aid project known as the Dobbs Ferry Road Sidewalk, and appropriating funds therefore]

RESOLUTION, UM, OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG DECLARING ITS INTENT TO BE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKER, UH, REVIEW FOR THE AMENDED SITE PLAN AND RELATED ACTIONS OF SUNDALE COUNTRY CLUB LOCATED AT 300 UNDERHILL ROAD.

[ CD 3 - 9/14/2022 Resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh (1) declaring its intent to be Lead Agency for the purposes of SEQRA review for the Amended Site Plan and related actions of Sunningdale Country Club located at 300 Underhill Road (P.O. Scarsdale, NY); and (2) referring the Amended Site Plan Application to the Planning Board for review and recommendation]

UM, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND.

OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG APPROVING COMPENSATION FOR CON CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS' SUPPORT OF THE MANHATTAN AVENUE WALL MURAL PROJECT.

RESOLUTION

[ CD 4 – 9/14/2022 Resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh approving compensation for contributing artist’s support of the Manhattan Avenue Wall Mural Project]

[ CO 1 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing Fiscal Year 2022 budget transfers]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FISCAL YEAR 2022.

BUDGET TRANSFERS.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TOWN SUPERVISOR TO EXECUTE AN INTO MUNICIPAL AGREEMENT, UH, BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBERG AND WESTCHESTER COUNTY TO REIMBURSE THE TOWN FOR THE CORNERSTONE HOMEWORK HELP PROGRAM AT THE THEATER YARN COMMUNITY CENTER FOR A PERIOD OF JANUARY 1ST, 2022 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2022.

[ PH 1 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to execute an Inter Municipal Agreement (IMA) between the Town of Greenburgh and Westchester County to reimburse the Town for the Cornerstone Homework Help Program at the Theodore D. Young Community Center for the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022]

ROSETOWN TO ENTER INTO A MUNICIPAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN GREENBERG AND WESTCHESTER COUNTY TO REIMBURSER TOWN FOR OPERATIONS CROSSROADS PROGRAM AT THE THEATER YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1ST, UM, TO THE END OF THE YEAR.

BOTH THE

[ PH 2 - 9/14/2022 Resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to execute an Inter Municipal Agreement (IMA) between the Town of Greenburgh and Westchester County to reimburse the Town for the Operations Crossroads Program at the Theodore D. Young Community Center for the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022]

[ PH 3 - 9/14/2022 Resolution accepting a $5,000 Grant from George and Rachel Gumina, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, designated for sponsorship of the Town of Greenburgh's Student Summer Internship Program]

ACCEPTING $5,000 GRANT FROM GEORGE AND RACHEL GAMINA.

UM, ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS DESIGNATED FOR SPONSORSHIP OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, UH, STUDENT SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

[ PH 4 - 9/14/2022 Resolution acknowledging the Philanthropy Department released $2,000 of funds for the Summer 2022 Greenburgh Summer Festival for the benefit of the residents of the Town of Greenburgh]

RESOLUTION.

ACKNOWLEDGING PHILANTHROPY DEPARTMENT RELEASING $2,000 OF FUNDS FOR THE SUMMER 2022 GREENBURG SUMMER FESTIVAL FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ART RESIDENTS OF THE ART OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.

RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A $20,000 DONATION TO GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM RAY KATINA FOR THE PURCHASE OF OPERATIONAL EQUIPMENT.

UM, WE DID THE POLICE A

[ PO 2 - 9/14/2022 Resolution accepting a $20,000 donation to the Greenburgh Police Department from Ray Catena for the Purchase of Operational Equipment]

[03:40:01]

AWARDING THE CONTRACT FOR PICKLEBALL CONSTRUCTION AND BASKETBALL COURT RESURFACING AT EAST BROOK PARK TO SPORT TECH CONSTRUCTION CORP.

3 0 3 IS HELD OVER, UH, RESOLUTION

[ PW 1 - 9/14/2022 Resolution awarding the contract for the Pickleball Construction and Basketball Court Resurfacing at East Rumbrook Park to Sport-Tech Construction Corporation, the lowest bidder, for an amount not to exceed $390,000]

THE LOWEST BIDDER FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 390,000.

RESOLUTION AWARDING THE CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE REPAIR OF THE BRIDGE ON FAIRVIEW PARK DRIVE TO KS ENGINEERS THE LOWEST BIDDER FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 17,500.

[ PW 2 - 9/14/2022 Resolution awarding the contract for Professional Engineering services for the Repair of the Bridge on Fairview Park Drive to KS Engineers, the lowest bidder, for an amount not to exceed $17,500]

I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND ON FAVOR, AYE.

RESOLUTION AWARDING THE CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE PHASE ONE BRIDGE REPAIR ON OLD JACKSON AVENUE TWO L A, UM, L ENGINEERS THE LOWEST BIDDER FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 15,000.

[ PW 3 - 9/14/2022 Resolution awarding the contract for Professional Engineering services for the Phase I Bridge Repair on Old Jackson Avenue to AI Engineers, the lowest bidder, for an amount not to exceed $15,000]

I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND.

[ PW 4 - 9/14/2022 Resolution appropriating the services of The Precision Group, from an existing contract with Onondaga County to Reline and Rehabilitate Existing Storm Drainage Pipes on Rumbrook and Taylor Roads, and Marion and Healy Avenues, for an amount not to exceed $50,879.92]

RESOLUTION APPROPRIATING THE SERVICES OF PRECISION GROUP FROM AN EXISTING CONTRACT WITH ON ONAGA COUNTY TO RELINE AND REHABILITATE EXISTING STORM DRAIN PIPES ON ROM BROOK AND TAYLOR ROADS AND MARION AND HEALY AVENUES FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 50,879, UH, YOU KNOW, DOLLARS 92 CENTS.

[ PW 5 – 9/14/2022 Resolution approving a Consulting Engineering Services Agreement with Kellard Sessions Consulting, D.P.C. for Professional Engineering Services, in an amount not to exceed the hourly billing rate of $250, and a total cost not to exceed $55,000]

ONE ON THE BAT.

ONE MORE AND FINAL IS, UM, RESOLUTION APPROVING AND CONSULTING ENGINEERING SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH KELLER SESSIONS CONSULTING FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES IN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THE HOURLY BILLING RATE OF $250 AND A TOTAL COST NOT TO EXCEED 55,000.

I MOVE RE ADJOURN SECOND.