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William Hanauer
Street Address: 11 Fairview Place Ossining
Race: Ossining village Mayor
More Ossining village Mayor candidates:
Linda Cabral Marrero |
Political and civic experience: Mayor.Village of Ossining, since 2007
Trustee, Village of Ossining, 2005-2007
Chair, Unions for the Performing Arts (21 union legislative action coalition), 1985-1998
Age: 66
Family: Dr. A. M. Stahl, Spouse.
Residency: 11 Fairview Place, Ossining, NY 10562 since 1996
Incumbent?: Yes
Ballot lines:
Democratic
Working Families
Party Registration:
Democratic
Education: B. A., Communications,Queens College, CUNY
Occupation: Mayor; Former Entertainment Industry Executive
Why are you running for office or seeking re-election?
I seek re-election to continue leading the rennaisance of the Village. Despite the economy, 137 units of new
housing have been developed or are near completion, 205 more are approved, and 325 more are at the Planning Board. 70 units were built during my first and second terms. These
737 units compare favorably with the 400 units completed in the 20 years before I became Mayor. 40,000 square feet of new commercial space,much of which is occupied,and 137,000 square feet of fully occupied, completely
rehabilitated square feet have been constructed since I became Mayor. This compares favorably to the 71,000 square feet built in the previous 20 years.
Pursuant to the 2009 Comprehensive Plan (the first since 1959) which I spearheaded to completion, I want to continue to sharply focus on economic development, working with our new Downtown/Economic Development Manager and the Westchester County Association’s Young Professionals Group to make Ossining a magnet to attract and retain this demographic, pursuing an aggressive program of building inspection and code enforcement.
I want to continue aggresive progam of major improvements in infrastructure, resurfacing roads, replacing water and sewer mains, replacing sidewalks, and continue to expand and improve our parks system, planting new trees; in 2012, we added USTA-donated stadium lighting to our tennis courts in Nelson Park, a playground and gazebo in Sparta Park and constructed the initial Ossining section of RiverWalk, a trail system that will eventually run the length of the County along the Hudson.
We have completed the renovation of the water filtration plant, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in operating costs and producing so significantly more purified water that we purchase less and less water from the New York City System. In 2013, we will complete the renovation of the dam intake system and the spillway.
With 15 years as leader of entertainment industry unions, We have completed collective bargaining with the two unions that represent our organized workers, reaching agreements fair and equitable to them and to Village taxpayers. The agreements expire in 2013 and feel I am most qualified to lead negotiations for a successor agreement.
In 2012, in our continuing effort to increase inefficiency and hold tax increases to a minimum, the Village dissolved its Justice Court and consolidated it with the Town’s Court and we completed a thirteenth major inter-municipal agreement with the Town of Ossining, this one for the Village to provide engineering services to the Town.
I want to continue developing such agreements.
What in your personal, civic or professional experience recommends your election or return to office?
I am the 1st Vice President of Westchester Municipal Officials Association, Secretary-Treasurer of Historic Hudson River Towns, founding member of Northern Westchester Energy Action Consortium, Associate Member of Independent Hose Company #6, Board Member of Communities That Care, and a Rotarian. I was six term elected President of the Sparta Association, Ossining's most engaged neighborhood legislative action group.From 1985 until 200, I serially led and was chief contract negotiator of three entertainment industry unions.
What would be your top three priorities if you are elected or re-elected?
• Keep taxes down by broadening our tax base with new commercial and residential development for all income levels,consolidating services with neighboring communities
• Develop and improve Ossining’s Historic Downtown, with new buildings replacing parking lots, encouraging facade improvements, increasing walkability and implementing safer, more efficient and calmed traffic patterns, and connecting it to a re-developing historic Hudson riverfront with a mix of residences and recreational destinations, including a museum in an underused building of Sing Sing improving all neighborhoods
• Energize Ossining with sustainable retrofitting of municipal buildings, homes, and businesses, and green future construction, leading to energy savings and a smaller carbon footprint