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Letter To The Editor: Oppose Ossining Roundabout

OSSINING, N.Y. -- Ossining Daily Voice accepts signed letters to the editor. Send signed letters to Ossining@dailyvoice.com.

A roundabout is being proposed for downtown Ossining

A roundabout is being proposed for downtown Ossining

Photo Credit: Contributed

To the editor:

Ossining’s Village Board (OVB) has voted to expend $500,000 to construct a "roundabout" at Spring Street and Main Street (across from the Market Square – which will be effectively destroyed -- and the Post Office), for which it has provided little concrete evidence to establish the actual cost, need, community desire, or advantage to the downtown. This high handedness has sparked outrage among village residents, particularly our village’s downtown business community, and (in an unusual turn) with the Greater Ossining Chamber of Commerce. As a result, we've witnessed the formation of STORM ("Stop The Ossining Roundabout Madness").

I am participating in STORM's petition drive for a referendum - not because I am adamantly opposed to a "roundabout" per se, but because of lack of evidence – and cannot simply accept the OVB's determination to spend $500,000 without some proof. For example, as to "cost" - the actual expenditure for a "roundabout" will almost certainly be well into the millions of dollars. In fact, at various forums the mayor and board members have pointed to a "roundabout" in Glens Falls, N.Y., as the mirror “example” for Ossining – which was built in 2007 for $9,000,000!

That the OVB should be so out of tune with the desires of its residents is surely incredible. I have found by knocking on doors that about 90 percent of people are quite happy to sign, with those outright "opposed" to the very thought of a "roundabout" at Spring and Main being some 75 percent.

I and others have urged the OVB to reconsider the roundabout or to at least place this issue on the ballot and make their case to the electorate as to the true costs, need, desire and actual advantages Ossining's downtown would reap. These requests have fallen on deaf ears. I hope that each and all of your readers who are registered to vote in the village of Ossining will reach out to sign a STORM petition!

Respectfully,

Steven Felsenfeld

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