ABINANTI: YOU CAN FIGHT CITY HALL
– AND WIN!

"Big cities and big developers must follow the law just like everyone else." -- Abinanti

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 4, 2006

Contact: Thomas J. Abinanti
Tel:(914)328-9000 or (914)995-2821

Westchester County Legislator Thomas J. Abinanti (D, I, WF- Greenburgh), chair of the Westchester Legislature's Committee on the Environment & Energy, today applauded this week’s Supreme Court’s ruling on the controversial Ridge Hill project in Yonkers, on the Greenburgh border.

At issue was the Yonkers City Council's vote to reduce the number of votes necessary for rezoning from a super majority to a simple majority, in attempt to “pave the way” for developer Forest City Ratner to proceed with their plans for the proposed development of the mountaintop across the Thruway from Home Depot and Stew Leonard’s.

Now, the development is on hold once again due to the Court’s ruling reversing the City Council's vote, which many say was illegal.

"Big cities and big developers must follow the law just like everyone else," said Abinanti, who, along with his Legislative colleagues, approved legislation in December instructing the County Attorney to sue the City of Yonkers for not following County Law. “The law clearly requires municipalities to notify the County Planning Board before changing their zoning ordinances.”

“The Supreme Court’s ruling found that the Yonkers City Council's action violated several laws governing the procedure for changing zoning ordinances,” Abinanti added.