RyeCity REVIEW THE
July 2, 2021 | Vol. 9, Number 24 | www.ryecityreview.com
County to strengthen Co-op Disclosure Law
Open for business Playland Park in Rye officially reopened for the 2021 season on Saturday, June 26. It marked the first time the park had been open since 2019. For more, see page 6. File photo
Westchester welcomes USGA back for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Westchester County will continue to build on its stellar golf legacy this year when the USGA brings the 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship to Westchester Country Club in Rye this August. The best female amateur golfers in the world will play the challenging “West Course” Aug. 2-8. Among this year’s competitors will be WMGA board member Ina KimSchaad. A record-breaking 1,560 women applied to play in the championship, with 26 of them exempt into the field and more than 1,500 set to vie for a spot in the 156-player field at Westchester County Club through
qualifying. Two rounds of stroke play will be contested Aug. 2-3, with the top 64 players earning a spot for the match-play rounds beginning Wednesday. The final 36-hole match will be conducted on Sunday, Aug. 8. The championship is free and open to spectators, and will air on the Golf Channel and Peacock. “We are pleased to welcome our friends at USGA and golf enthusiasts back to the County after hosting last year’s U.S. Open at Winged Foot,” County Executive George Latimer said. “We are proud to show off our world-class courses and share our slice of NY State with the
competitors and fans. Westchester County knows outdoor recreation: with thousands of acres of public parks, preserves, beaches, golf courses and trails, but it is also steeped in historical and cultural attractions. Whether you’re here for the day or a longer retreat, we’re confident you’ll have a memorable time here.” Westchester County plays an essential role in the history of golf and many claim Westchester as the birthplace of American golf. It was in Westchester where the first national amateur championship was played and the first national “Open” that in-
cluded professionals. “We are so pleased to be back in Westchester County, a place that has so much golf and USGA history,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director, championships. “The U.S. Women’s Amateur is one of our fastest growing championship, something that was evident this year with record-breaking entry numbers, and something that is not surprising given the growing popularity and momentum in women’s golf. We cannot wait to crown a champion at Westchester Country Club in just a few short weeks. (Submitted)
On Monday, June 28, the Westchester County Board of Legislators approved a measure to require co-op boards to provide written notice of a reason for rejection when a prospective buyer’s application is declined. Under the measure, the reason for rejection must be included when the co-op files notice of a rejection with the county Human Rights Commission. The legislation passed Monday by a vote of 15-2. The measure is similar to one that has been in effect in Suffolk County since 2009. The new provision does not change any of the reasons that co-op boards may legally reject buyers. Co-ops have wide-ranging discretion in choosing who to approve and why. Applicants can be rejected for anything from financial reasons to the belief that the applicant would be a bad neighbor. However, under fair housing laws, applicants cannot be rejected on the basis of race, familial status, national origin, religion, disability or sex. The requirement to provide a reason for rejection will allow the Human Rights Commission to better identify any pattern of illegal discrimination if it occurs. The Human Right Commission will prepare a form that co-ops will have to use for the notification. The new legislation also requires co-ops to inform prospective buyers of their co-op’s minimum financial requirements or financial preferences before home seekers file an application, and requires fair housing training for co-op board members. Catherine Borgia, the legisla-
tion’s chief sponsor, said, “This measure increases transparency and in the co-op buying process. Buyers will know in advance what the financial requirements are—before they spend money on application fees; and they’ll know after the fact, if they’re rejected, exactly why. Furthermore, the Human Rights Commission will have the information it needs to protect Westchester residents if discrimination is taking place. That’s been a missing tool in the fair housing tool kit to date. With private home and condo sales, testers can pose as buyers and ferret out discrimination in lending or discriminatory steering in ways that cannot really be done with co-op sales.” Damon Maher, chairman of the board’s Labor & Housing Committee, said, “This is an important strengthening of the coop disclosure law we passed in 2018. It will open up the process of buying and selling co-ops, which will be good for buyers and sellers. Providing a reason won’t have any negative impact for co-ops that aren’t discriminating illegally. Suffolk County has had a provision like this in place for more than a decade, and that law has not led to increased litigation or insurance costs, as some co-op boards feared that it would. There’s really no evidence that this will have a negative impact on any co-ops that are behaving properly. In fact, having a reason for rejection in writing, and having co-op board members get fair housing training will probably protect co-op boards from possible litigation.” (Submitted)