January 11, 2022
MAYOR'S UPDATE
From the desk of Mayor Rika Levin
I have had the honor of being Ossining’s Village Mayor for the past year and look forward to the upcoming second half of my current term. With the support of my colleagues on the Board of Trustees, we have passed more legislation than any other administration in any single year. I have spent many years working on building and leveraging relationships across our community, including staff, the police department, the fire department, as well as with county, state, and federal government representatives so that Ossining gets its fair share of attention, support, and grants to help the many needs of our highly diverse community. I am happy to report that this effort paid off in 2021, and I am sure it will pay dividends in 2022. 

As a legislative body, we have passed more legislation than any other administration, garnered more grants in 2021 in number and dollars than the Village has ever seen, dealt well and with empathy and heart in managing the shifting tides of the pandemic providing food, tests, and vaccinations whenever possible. All of this legislation, relationship building, with revenue and grants management is designed with the singular intention of improving the lives of the people of the Village of Ossining with its over 27,000 residents.

In 2022 we will continue to do great things for the Village. In addition to our oversight of the budgets, fire department, police department, and municipality at large, here are a few examples of what is on the plate for 2022:
  • 109 additional affordable housing units at the old DPW site, which includes environmental improvements, additional parking for the public, and the building itself plus community and commercial space that will connect people to the waterfront, the Sing Sing Kill walkway, and our community center.
  • Many environmental initiatives which will bring us closer to being the Greenest Village in the Country.
  • The beginning of multi-year infrastructure improvements to our beloved and much used Community Center and public parks.
  • Additional parking for our Downtown and Waterfront areas to support businesses, commuters, and residents.
  • Infrastructure investments at the five corners in the middle of our downtown will improve safety, car, and pedestrian mobility and support our downtown businesses.
  • Continue to leverage the work approved by the past board to build a much-needed modern water plant. What is more important to our people than clean water?!
  • Re-engineer the one mile of route 9 that bisects our Village to create more walkability, connectivity, and small business support.
As Mayor, I will continue to look for ways to improve communications. That will be a better way to gain community input, engagement, and insights while keeping the public well informed about happenings in and around the Village, which affects our quality of life. I will continue with my weekly Mayor updates. We are adding Village Hall-style meetings throughout the year to hear more topically from our constituents. You will also be hearing more regarding the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), which NYS awarded Ossining in 2021, for rollout over the next few years. Information specific to the DRI will be updated on our website on a regular basis.

This is a sampling of what I believe will be in play in 2022 and which will significantly improve the lives of the people of this Village. 
  • Our Superintendent of Water/Sewer will guide a discussion, accompanied by John Fry of Nexus, on Nexus’s proposal for design and bid documents for our 16 Croton Avenue Elevator Rehabilitation Project. 
  • The Village does not currently have a Vehicle Use Policy. Establishing a policy used to determine how Village vehicles may be used will help reduce liability, keep our vehicles in good working order, and set parameters around the use of take-home vehicles.
  • Westchester County received a grant to update their Hazard Mitigation Plan, which must be in place in each municipality to be eligible for FEMA reimbursements—the Village was part of the consortium, and staff has rigorously reviewed the Ossining-specific annex to the document. There is a resolution on for the Special Meeting to adopt the plan.
  • There are (4) cabaret licenses to be discussed: Sing Sing Kill Brewery, Atlantic Bar, Karma Lounge, and Sirenita Lounge.
The agendas for this week’s Work Session and Special Meetings can be found here:

Members of the public can view the meeting via computer or mobile app:
Webinar ID: 883 1973 0651

Members of the public can listen to the meeting by dialing in via phone: +1 929 205 6099
NYS Mask Protocol effect until January 15th, 2022
Governor Kathy Hochul announced yesterday that the mask protocol for all indoor public places announced Friday is now in effect until January 15, 2022, after which the State will re-evaluate based on current conditions. The State has also released a Frequently Asked Questions resource for business owners and the general public.

Please note the following:
  • The new policy applies to any indoor space that is not a public residence. The list of such spaces includes restaurants, office buildings, shopping centers, grocery stores, pharmacies, houses of worship, and common areas in residential buildings.
  • For restaurants, masks may be removed for eating and drinking only. Otherwise, masks are to be worn.
  • The mask mandate applies to anyone more than two years old and medically able to tolerate a mask. If proof of vaccination is required instead of a mask requirement, an individual must show that they are fully vaccinated, defined as 14 days past an individual’s last vaccination does in the initial vaccine series. For children ages 5-11, for whom vaccinations have only been available since November 2021, proof of at least one dose of the vaccine is required. Having the booster is not a requirement for being considered fully vaccinated. Again, the indoor location must select either a mask requirement or a vaccination requirement. The indoor location may not mix and match (i.e., allow some patrons with masks and others who show proof of vaccination).
  • It is also recommended that appropriate social distancing be maintained in such indoor locations. 

For information on how businesses and venues can implement a proof of vaccination requirement or a mask-wearing requirement, see the Frequently Asked Questions here.

COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses are free and widely available in the area. You can go to www.vaccines.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 to find a vaccination location near you.

New Yorkers can retrieve their Excelsior Pass or Excelsior Pass Plus here. Businesses and venues can download the Excelsior Pass Scanner app-free for any business nationwide and available in more than ten languages here.
Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org