New Rochelle, NY -- When New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson's end run to get control of the New Rochelle Naval Armory was discovered, the Save Our Armory (SOA) Committee jumped into action. An emergency meeting was called by the committee when it was learned that Mayor Bramson had enlisted State legislators to change the Armory's deeded conditions. The City of New Rochelle was deeded the Naval Armory by the State of New York in August 1997 for $1. The deed stipulated that the premises were to be "improved and maintained" and used for public purposes, "for park, recreation, street and highway purposes, including incidental, necessary municipal business..." Bramson's proposed bill was supported in the State legislature by Senators Jeff Klein and Suzi Oppenheimer and in the Assembly by members George Latimer and Amy Paulin. All four claimed they had heard the problems associated with the New Rochelle Armory had been resolved locally. When Klein learned this was not true, he immediately withdrew his support of the bill, as did the others.
A sizable contingent of citizens, community leaders, some local political leaders, and some candidates for public office attended this emergency meeting held Monday June 28 at the American Legion Post 8, called by Peter Parente, co-chair of the Save Our Armory (SoA)group. Recently elected Republican County Legislator Sheila Marcotte, who now represents New Rochelle, was introduced to the group by Parente at the beginning of the meeting. State Senator Jeff Klein also sent a representative to the meeting. The other SoA co-chair, Ron Tocci, set the tone of the meeting, saying the group was "excited over the events in the last 24 hours". He cited the bill that had been drafted by Bramson and sent to the State to override the deed restrictions on the Armory Building. Clearly, Mayor Bramson had requested these changes without any deliberations by the New Rochelle City Council. Anthony Galletta, an original co-chair of the SoA Committee, who initially learned about this proposed State bill, credited the founder and editor of the New Rochelle Talk of the Sound blog, Bob Cox, for helping to get the news of this proposed bill to the public's attention. It was noted that Forest City Residential's rights to the property lasts until December 2010. New Rochelle Councilman Lou Trangucci, who has asserted it would cost $30 million to move the City Yard so that the developer could use that land, said this could translate to seven and a quarter percent increase in real estate taxes for New Rochelle taxpayers. A north end resident, Ken Lewis, said he supports the Save Our Armory Committee and feels the promoters of this State bill were "trying to hide something." Vigilance is needed so it will not happen again, he said.
Co-chair Ron Tocci, a former New York State Assemblyman, claimed "we don't have people in Albany now to represent us", and felt the building was allowed to become "in disrepair purposely by the City of New Rochelle." The lawyer for the SoA Committee, John Verni, said this bill was "one way to get around the deed." He noted Andrew Cuomo did not respond to his correspondence.
The loudest applause of the evening came when former New Rochelle Mayor Leonard Paduano spoke. He emphasized that if the three Republicans on City Council stuck together, the City Yard cannot be approved for bonding. He felt they should make Bramson understand that he cannot get all the things he wants passed, especially if it would necessitate bonding for this project that would raise property taxes. Claiming, "I've been silent for too long," he said "the gloves are off now" and he plans to get involved in the next local election.
The latest reports according to Parente have been that Forest City Residential wants to downsize the project to two parcels from the City. Tocci claimed that despite "the purposeful neglect" by the City, an engineering review reported that the Armory Building was in "remarkable shape." He cited many potential uses for the land and showed a detailed alternative plan he had developed for the area. He insisted the group in attendance should not leave until they decided on a strategy for further action. Ken Lewis, Steve Mayo and others said as a reaction to the Mayor, the group should use all the public access that is available: local television, and cable, radio, blogs, and all the city associations such as the Confederation of Neighborhood Associations and the New Rochelle Citizens Reform Club. It was emphasized that everyone should be encouraged to speak at the next City Council meeting. Councilman Trangucci suggested that the group request time for making a presentation at the next Committee of the Whole session on July 13 and to get a large number of people to show up at Citizens to be Heard at 7 p.m. Other candidates, such as Jim Russell who is running against U. S. Representative Nita Lowey, also attended this meeting.
John D'Alois, an east end New Rochelle resident, summed up the feelings of the more than 75 people present saying, "We dodged a bullet this week." He continued, "I am able to criticize because of the Veterans who saved us and our Country". He felt the Armory could be a regional place to support them.
