My Rye

Rye People: Matt Fahey

Your Name: Matt Fahey

Your Elected Position: Rye City Councilman

Your Day Job: Director at Credit Suisse. I am responsible for financial planning and analysis of all fixed income products within the Investment banking division of the firm.

MyRye.com: What is your political affiliation?

Republican. When I came of political age, I was firmly convinced that Ronald Reagan’s vision of a smaller, less intrusive government would guarantee us more freedoms, and I still believe this. I also believe that party labels at the local level are much less important than sound judgment.

Why did you run for elected office?

I ran 4 years ago on a platform of fiscal responsibility, as I was alarmed at the double digit increases we had seen in the late 90’s/early 00’s. I’m proud to say we’ve kept city taxes in check while still providing the residents with a superior level of service they’ve come to expect – and brought back some civility to boot! Prior to being elected, I had served on the city’s Finance Committee, which is charged with providing fiscal advice to the city council.

City Council elections are coming up this fall. What should we know about the elections and why should Rye citizens support your candidacy?

At the time of this writing (July 2007), the election has already been decided for us by the GOP and Democratic party heads, who have created a “fusion ticket”, naming 3 candidates for 3 spots. Democracy has been replaced with oligarchy, the ruling by an unelected few. This is most unfortunate, as the city is facing potential significant financial burdens in the near-term future – a new $15MM police station, Durland Scout Center, flooding mitigation, to name some. The voters have been robbed of a choice. Although I informed the GOP head of my interest in running, I was not asked to run – and I’m quite sure that other qualified residents would have been interested in providing the voters with a choice in this campaign cycle.

Rye sustained $80 million in damage from the April 15th flood. What are the three most important things Rye needs to do to prepare for the next “100 Year” flood?

1. Provide homeowners with the tools necessary to prepare for the next flood. This includes changing city building codes, making it easier for homeowners to flood-proof their home by streamlining the process, and encouraging compliance through education about their alternatives.

2. Clear out the retention area behind the Bowman Avenue spillway. The space is currently full of deadwood, rocks, silt, trash and excessive vegetation. Removing all this will make more room for water to collect, and will reduce the potential for disastrous damming activity downstream. While it will not eliminate the potential for flooding, it will help alleviate the impact - inches matter a great deal to the victims of flooding.

3. Dredge the drainage area at the mouth of the brook, underneath Oakland Beach Avenue bridge. Anyone taking a kayak trip “upriver” will see the importance of this, as the current silt buildup acts as a cork to the brook. Removing this silt will allow for faster draining of upstream areas, reducing floodwater impact.

Besides flood mitigation, what are the three most important issues facing Rye over the next five years?

1. Capital projects – namely, the proposed new Police station. There has been growing talk of building a new police station on the site of the old CVS building, across from Citibank. Before we move forward on this project, the Rye City Council must assess the needs of the police station, and separate out those things that are nice to have vs. those things that are necessary. We did this with the Locust Firehouse, changing the project from a complete re-build to a renovation and repair project, saving the taxpayer $1.6MM without sacrificing safety.

2. Continued financial discipline. It sounds boring, but it is vital if we are to contain our taxes – we live in the most heavily taxed county in the most heavily taxed state, so every little bit of control helps! Understanding what drives up costs is critical to controlling our tax bill, and keeping our tax bill in check protects the value of our most significant financial investment, our homes.

3. Promoting and increasing volunteerism. Rye can only continue to provide a good value to the homeowner through active participation of its residents on all local issues, which reduces the need for hiring paid employees. If residents become less willing to participate in such efforts as volunteer firefighting and auxiliary police, our tax burden will skyrocket.

What are the three best reasons to live in Rye?

1. Our neighborhood, which is full of kids in the same age range, and whose parents are an interesting mix of long-term residents and newcomers, all with a great sense of humor and a good perspective on what is important in life.

2. The continual and active dialog of our city - whether the conversation is on flooding, building codes, tax levels, school budgets or any other matter, we are assured of hearing from many different sources!

3. Proximity to the water, which allows for sailing, fishing, kayaking, swimming, and building sand castles – what better place can you imagine in the summer?

What are your three favorite restaurants in Rye that deliver?

We usually order pick-up, and flip a coin to see who makes the drive. This expands the number of ethnic cuisines we can order from. Some of my favorites:

1. A Taste of India (Indian, in Port Chester) – Though they don’t deliver, they make exceptionally good Chicken Tikka Masala, and their na’an is always freshly baked. Ordering ahead of time guarantees a quick in and out. 937-2727 (163 North Main Street, Port Chester).

2. Taku (Chinese, in Harrison) – my standard, artery clogging fare is an egg roll, steamed pork dumplings and General Tsao’s Chicken (by the way, does anyone know if General Tsao was related to Colonel Saunders?) Missie has a finer palate, and usually opts out of joining me on this cheap and quick Chinese fix. 835-2424 (371 Halstead Ave, Harrison).

3. Pizza 2000 (Pizza, in Harrison) – favorite pie toppings are sausage, black olives, onions and green peppers. The pizza is delivered quickly and is always excellent. 835-8000.

What is your favorite restaurant in Rye for a family meal?
Town Dock, without a doubt. This cross between a fish house and bar serves a fresh daily catch, has a kid’s menu with lots of choices, a pleasant and knowledgeable staff and a reasonably priced wine list. There’s always a game on at the bar, but the clientele aren’t overly loud, which allows you to hear about what your kids are thinking. Located on Purdy Street, down from the Post Office, and their phone number is 967-2497 (15 Purdy Avenue).

Where do you live in Rye?
Missie and I live on Franklin Street, in an area known by some as Rye Gardens. Our kids attend the Osborn School.

How else are you involved in the community?
I serve as city council liaison to the Rye Golf Club and the Traffic and Transportation Committee, and have been a Commissioner of the Rye Town Park. I’m a parishioner at Resurrection, Missie belongs to Christ Church. We are members of the American Yacht Club. Missie was actively involved in the Twig Organization, is an active member of the Osborn PTO (headed the Osborn Carnival twice!), runs the AYC Junior JAYC day camp and has her own interior design business.

What's the best way for Rye citizens to contact you?

Office - (212) 538-3118; Home - (914) 921-9320; Mobile - (914) 417-5481; email - mattfahey (AT) optonline.com

Thanks, Matt!

Fahey: If Konigsberg Won't Sell Bowman Avenue Property, We'll Take It

Rye City Councilman Matt Fahey is fed up and is not going to take it any more.

Responding to MyRye.com's story yesterday on Rye Brook's approval of Kip Konigsberg's Bowman Avenue development, Fahey posted a comment on MyRye.com suggesting public officials use eminent domain the seize Konigsberg's Bowman Avenue Property to protect Rye residents downstream from flooding. Fahey:

When asked, our county representatives did not want to pursue eminent domain, believing they could negotiate with Konigsberg to achieve a mutually agreeable solution. This option has failed. What is needed is a politician willing to do the difficult - but right - task of ensuring the hundreds of downstream families won't pay collective hundreds of millions in flood damage so that a single property owner can profit by this sale.

Fahey's full comment can be read here. Looks like George Latimer and Judy Myers might be drinking a lot of coffee this Saturday with Rye Flood Action Committee members and Fahey.

 

Rye Brook Trustees Votes Condos for Konigsberg; RFAC Considers Legal Action

Tuesday evening the Rye Brook Trustees approved Kip Konigsberg Bowman Avenue development. One of two things just happened: A. one of the most obvious flood mitigation opportunities just went down the proverbial drain; or B. the buyout price for the land just went way up for Rye City and Westchester County.

If government can’t organize itself a little better, that $50 million over five years Andy Spano set aside won’t mitigate very much.

MyRye.com received this update from the Rye Flood Action Coalition in reaction to the Bowman development:

It was not an unexpected setback for the Rye Flood Action Coalition. The development was approved after one of the Trustees tried to rationalize for 20 min. how she came up to her decision. It sounded more like an apology to us than an endorsement for the project.

Our legal department is following up on what options we might have. There's a 30 day window in which we or the City can act.

The next Council meeting is Aug. 15th and we should be there to push for some legal action.

Again Mr. Konigsberg approached me and reiterated his willingness to negotiate with the County.

He said the County wanted to wait until he got his permits, Judy Myers said it's the other way around.

I wish I knew what's really going on. (Myers has already been notified)

The fact that he's open to negotiate is encouraging. The 25 of us who got there last night heard all the conditions he has to abide by to be able to build on that peninsula or to even donate the piece of park land.

This Saturday Judy Myers and George Latimer will be at On the Way Cafe from 9:30-11 am for a coffee with the community. We should be there.

RFAC: Flood the Meeting to Stop Konigsberg's Development

The Rye Flood Action Committee (RFAC) is urging Rye residents to attend The Board of Trustees of the Village of Rye Brook meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, July 24th. The board will be voting on Kip Konigsberg’s Bowman Avenue development proposal.

If permits are granted for Konigsberg’s development "it will be more difficult to buy the piece of land and expand our water retention up stream" according to RFAC.

The meeting is at 7:30pm at 938 King Street.

In Flood of Data, Rye Flood Action Committee Reports Residents Now Up to Their Neck in Difficult Conditions

So easy a caveman can do it? Not really, if you ask respondents to the Rye Flood Action Committee (RFAC) survey. Twenty-six households impacted by the April 15th flood of the Blind Brook in Rye responded to a RFAC survey reporting on their dealings with FEMA, insurance companies and more.

According to RFAC:

Over 80% of households completed at least one project for mitigation

Six families are still displaced (some who are still displaced didn't respond)

61% have no kitchen or no first floor and are living in difficult conditions

44% have NOT received any insurance money (18% got partial payments)

Of those households who received insurance payments, over 90% have had all or some of their money withheld by their bank.

38% of households received FEMA money (mostly under $2,000)

34% got denied FEMA money (excluding emergency payment)

26% did not apply for FEMA money

RFAC also found only one household has gone thru the FERM Board—the “combo” board of architectural, zoning and planning—that was designed to expedite the permitting process for those who are raising their houses. Six people are raising their house; two are considering raising their house and one family is raising part of their house.

Rye Real Estate Update July 2007

Single Family Homes in Rye (week ending July 13, 2007):
• on the market: 83
• in contract: 44

Shop Talk
Ninety one homes have sold in Rye City in the last 6 months, compared to seventy homes in the same period last year. 32 or 35% of those closings were for under $1,000,000.00 with an average closing price of around $780,584. In the $1,000,000+ category, 59 or nearly 65% of homes closed ranging from approximately $1,000,001 to $10,000,000+, for an average sales price of $2,338,726.
(*zip 10580 Rye City School District or Rye Neck Schools only)

On the Market

Location: 702 Forest Avenue

The List Price: $4,895,000

Square Feet: 6,650

Beds/Baths: 6 bedrooms, 7.1 bathrooms

Acreage: .92 acres

The story:
This is an elegant brand new construction luxury home built by Leo Tomcyzk (of Realogy) on Milton Point with fabulous details. A gracious entry portico opens to an expansive hallway with arched doorways and coffered ceiling. This attractive stone colonial features a wood paneled library with detailed moldings, a spacious gourmet kitchen with butler’s pantry that opens to a family room and French doors that open to a flagstone patio overlooking the property.

The master bedroom suite has a sitting room area, bath and elaborate closets. The home has four masonry fireplaces and an additional five bedrooms. Milton Elementary School, Rye Town Park and Oakland Beach are all within walking distance.

The listing agent:
Sula Pearlman
Coldwell Banker/ Country Properties
sulapearlman.com
914-967-0059
sula.pearlman@cbmoves.com

Information provided by Judy Croughan of Coldwell Banker/ Country Properties.
Statistics per WPMLS 1/13/07-7/13/07

Bridgeport Bluefish Baseball: Taste Great, Less Filling

The hot dogs taste great.

Why? $2.00 each versus $4.75 at Yankee Stadium or Shea.

Bud Light? Delicious—best ever. $4.75 instead of $8.00.

Parking? A dream. Across the street and $4.00 versus $14.00 when you see the Bronx Bombers.

Oh yeah… It is also great baseball.

And the kids loved it.

We are talking about the ex- major leaguer Tommy John’s Bridgeport Bluefish, a single A minor league team just 40 minutes up the road (I-95) in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Harbor Yard stadium, an impeccably clean and welcoming place, is just off the highway and is sandwiched in a no man’s land between the Interstate, the Metro-North and Amtrak lines (the train en gineers sound their horns when traveling by), the Port Jefferson Ferry and a power plant.

A recent trip to a Sunday afternoon game did start with some concern after the opposing team made three errors in a single play. I thought Walter Matthau was going to walk onto the mound and give Tatum O’Neal some tips. But that play turned out to be an aberration.

We enjoyed 11 innings of quality baseball including a walk-off home run by the Bluefish to cinch the game in the bottom of the 11th inning. Final score was 8-7 Bluefish over the York Revolution.

(PHOTO) After the game, Bluefish fans can run the bases.

(BELOW) Video shows the Bridgeport Bluefish baseball team battle the York Revolution at Harbor Yard stadium in Bridgeport, CT on June 24, 2007. The 'Fish won 8-7 with a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 11th inning.

Fireworks Light Up Playland

Shooting up in the night sky to meet the rain shooting down from the clouds, Playland put on a bright, colorful and noisy fireworks celebration last night to celebrate Independence Day. Party goers braved the rain and an extra 15 minute wait before the first fireworks hit the sky and lit-up the Playland boardwalk at 9:30pm.

 

For Rye Fireworks, Head to the Boardwalk or Food Emporium

After you have your baseball and apple pie today, leave your M-80s, roman candles and firecrackers at home and head down to the boardwalk or to the Food Emporium for a fireworks show. Really, the supermarket.

Your first choice is the tried and true Rye Playland. Anyone who is in the City of Rye on a Wednesday or Friday at 9:15pm during the summer months and thinks we have come under attack by the enemy, the Harrison football team or the next 100 year flood rolling down the block, has just not lived here long enough. Don't worry--the artillery you hear is the regular fireworks show on the waterfront at Playland.

Playland will have a special fireworks show tonight, July 4th, at 9:15pm.  You can battle your way into Playland or just park your car at a friend's house off Forest Avenue and walk down to the boardwalk at Rye Playland or to Rye Town Park. You'll see the Playland fireworks and across the water you'll see about 25 fireworks shows going on on the north shore of Long Island.

Now, back to Food Emporium. We are not taking about the frozen food aisle and you don't need your discount card. Roy Aletti, the owner of Harrison Paint (great store) and the more famous Christmas (and Halloween and every other conceivable holiday) themed house in Harrison, is sponsoring a fireworks show at 9:30pm in the Beaver Swamp Brook field across from the Food Emporium parking lot in Harrison.

Harrison is looking to put a massive amount of earth fill into this area as part of "Project Homerun", which may put some Rye and Harrison residents under water, but that is another story. Roy is a real patriot and enthusiastic citizen, so it is sure to be a good show. If he could get the permit, I'm sure he would be doing this in his yard every Saturday.

Happy birthday America and we'll see you at the fireworks!

Union Local 38-398 Pops onto Rye Village Green

We are not talking about plumbers and carpenters. They were not there to install a new drainage system in preparation for the next 100 year flood or to fix the damage to the children's reading room at the Rye Free Library.

Local 38-398, AKA the Musicians Association of Westchester County Local, make up the Westchester Pops Band. Under the direction of former Ardsley High School music teacher and conductor Joseph Greco, the band celebrated Independence Day a few days early with a concert on the Village Green this past Sunday, July 1st at 6pm.

The 200 plus crowd of Rye citizens enjoyed a varied program with a solid July 4th theme including America the Beautiful, Armed Forces Salute and The Stars and Stripes Forever.

(ABOVE) The Westchester Pops Band under the direction of Conductor Joseph Greco playing America the Beautiful. The performance was called "The Westchester Pops Band Celebrates America's Independence Day". The concert was on July 1, 2007 on the Village Green in Rye, NY. It was made possible by Rye Recreation and sponsors Sotheby's Real Estate and Commerce Bank.