GREENBURGH TOWN BOARD APPROVES A NEW SUPERMARKET ON 119 (Next to SHERATON, ON BORDER OF TARRYOWN)
The Greenburgh Town Board approved an exciting new supermarket at our Town Board meeting today: a new Stop & Shop Supermarket on the border of Tarrytown:: approximately 58,735 sq. ft. supermarket. In addition, we approved an amended site plan that will allow for approximately 30,000 sq. ft. of retail space and approximately 3,600 sq. ft. of commercial space as part of the first phase “Phase I” and approximately 7,500 sq. ft. of additional at-grade retail/restaurant space and approximately 48,000 sq. ft. of office space on four (4) floors above the retail space as part of the second phase “Phase II”. Construction should start soon –the new supermarket should be open in 2012. The more competition—the better deals offered to consumers!
I VOTED AT 9 AM—I WAS ONLY THE 8TH PERSON TO VOTE IN MY DISTRICT OUT OF 907 ELIGIBLE VOTERS
Highlights need to change election law to allow voting by mail…
Democracy is desired in the Middle East. People are willing to give their lives for the cause of free elections. Here, in the United States we take contested elections for granted. I voted at 9 AM (three hours after the polls opened). There are 907 eligible voters in my election district. I was only the 8th person to vote. This is sad. The winner of the special election for Westchester County Legislator will be casting important votes pertaining to child care, mental health, public transportation, recreation, health care and the environment. If you stay home and don’t vote, you really should not complain about your government and the decisions being made.
One of the reasons for the light turnout is because there are no other elections in February. Our democracy depends on citizen participation. New York State should reform the election law and have elections by ballot (voting by mail) over a two week period when a special election is held for County Executive, Congress, the NYS Senate, Assembly or County Legislator. This is similar to a successful election process that currently exists in Oregon and other states. .
Voting by mail would make it easier for people to vote. Turnout would increase and taxpayers would save significant dollars because there would be no need for election day expenses. Voting by mail is easier. Voters can reflect on the ballot at home in a less stressful environment. If they have questions about referenda they have more time to ask their questions. At my polling place 600 paper ballots were printed—most will be thrown out.
In Oregon voter turnout has increased significantly --by as much as 40%. Having elections by mail would result in no election inspectors & pollworkers,no extra paychecks, no rentals of voting locations, no early morning hours for election inspectors, no election day set up problems, no confusion where people have to go to vote. And, since everyone would vote by mail - no need for absentee ballots.
Voter lists are easier to maintain because ballots that are returned as undeliverable will cause the Board of Elections to check the registration and to remove the name from the ballot.
In Oregan voters have two weeks to cast their ballot. This provides the electorate with the chance to study the issues carefully and to have questions answered.
PAUL FEINER
PS: At 9 AM the other election district where I voted reported that only 4 people had voted out of 626!