We believe the City's regulations are vulnerable on two fronts:
1) The questionable legality of the exorbitant and discriminatory fee of $250.
There is little rational basis for the high amount of the fee and it looks like a "de facto"
illegal denial of access. Is there a dog-owning non-resident lawyer out there who would like to tie up the City
for a year or more on this? $240 gets a Westchester family (2 adults and any children) an "all season" pass to FIVE
county-wide swimming pools!
2) The potential public relations disaster Mayor Bramson and the Council are courting.
There is traditionally alot of reciprocity of use of parks among the cities and towns of Westchester.
Does our bright, young Mayor really want to be known county-wide as the mayor who excluded his Westchester neighbors from
this lovely Park? Does he really want to risk igniting a tit-for-tat park access war in lower Westchester?
So, non-residents, HELP US ADVOCATE FOR FAIR WARD ACRES POLICIES!
Publicize in your towns and across the county. Let people know about the discriminatory policies
of the New Rochelle City Council. Start now. They are all up for REELECTION this November. Many New Rochelle voters
would be embarassed by our treatment of our county neighbors.
Email or call your local Mayors and Town or City officials. Tell them you are facing a $250
charge to walk your dog in New Rochelle's 62 acre nature preserve. I would think your local officials would be alarmed...
