RyeCity REVIEW THE
August 4, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 31 | www.ryecityreview.com
Master plan update moves forward, stokes tensions By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
with heart
Big Picture Foundation brought children from the U.S. and Syria together to enjoy an afternoon at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The foundation works with children to help fundraise through works of art they create. For story, see page 6. Photo courtesy Roundhillcolormill.com
String of larcenies prompts Rye, Harrison PD search By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Rye and Harrison police departments are separately searching for several suspects that have been breaking into motor vehicles. According to the Harrison police Chief Michael Olsey, eight break-ins have been reported just in the last several weeks in the town/village of Harrison. Most recently, there were two reported larcenies that occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 1, during the night at Irving Place, which is located near Halstead Avenue. “I would really urge residents
and commuters to lock their car doors,” Olsey told the Review, adding that the department has several suspects that are believed to not be from any of the surrounding communities. Since the larcenies occurred, the Harrison police have adjusted their patrols to help deter any future break-ins that may occur, according to Olsey. According to Rye City Manager Marcus Serrano, a number of similar larcenies have occurred in the city of Rye within the last several weeks which has promoted their Police Department to issue an official safety advisory, warning homeowners and com-
muters to lock their car doors and keep a close watch on suspicious activity. The city manager said cars that were left unlocked were specifically targeted, and a number of small exposed portable items, including cellphones and wallets, as well as loose change were stolen. “In these instances, the [burglar] usually takes loose change and anything valuable they can find,” Serrano told the Review. “It’s important to lock your doors and to also report to the police if you see somebody lurking around at night.” Serrano added that on one oc-
casion in the last couple of weeks, the suspect was able to steal one resident’s car after not having any issue opening an unlocked door. There is currently no information on the model of that car or when the larceny occurred. Around the same time last year, a number of homes were burglarized on Harbor Lane, Oakland Beach Avenue and Riverside View in Rye. The string of intrusions sparked a search for a suspect believed to be a resident of Rye who was targeting homes with unlocked doors. LARCENIES continued on page 7
An effort to revamp the city’s master plan has been gaining steam as committee meetings and discussions crop up with greater frequency. Though talks of updating the comprehensive plan—which is an all-encompassing document meant to steer future development and vision for the city of Rye—have been on the table for more than two years, the push toward materializing a new plan has never been as tangible. Since June, a Master Plan Steering Committee responsible for formulating recommendations has held multiple meetings discussing major demographics research, goals and opportunities. This month, the city also rolled out a new website—ryeplan. com—devoted solely to documenting and publicizing continual updates. According to Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican and member of the steering committee, the pace of deliberations over the master plan has been accelerated by the hiring of a consultant—BFJ Planning—in late April. “We have a consultant now,” she said. “That always gets things going.” Killian said updating the master plan, which hasn’t undergone a major revamp since its adoption in 1985, will help guide the city in two major arenas: sustainability and technology. “We have to account for what we have in place now and what there will be going forward,” she said. “Like, right now there’s Uber, and in the future, there will be driverless cars. What does solving our parking problem
mean if there are more driverless cars?” A recent ad hoc public survey conducted on July 27 prompted residents to predict where they see Rye in the next five to 10 years and garnered responses like “too little land” and “sustainable and green.” While the process has brought members of the Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Committee, Planning Department, City Council, Board of Education and the community together, it has also riled some partisan tensions. According to Councilwoman Emily Hurd, a Democrat, the process, she feels, has been less than transparent. “I only heard about the last meeting from a resident,” Hurd told the Review. Hurd said that while meetings have been posted online, there has been little effort on the part of her Republican council colleagues to ensure that Democrats are kept abreast of updates. Currently, members of the Master Plan Steering Committee include Mayor Joe Sack, Killian and Councilman Terry McCartney, all Republicans. The process of updating the plan will likely continue on throughout the year and possibly the next as the steering committee gathers data and insight into how to proceed with the revamp, according to Killian. A meeting scheduled for Sept. 26 will mark the first public meeting on the plan where residents will be free to give their input on an update. Sack, McCartney and Councilwoman Danielle Tagger-Epstein, a Democrat, could not be reached for comment as of press time. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com