by Cindy Goldstein -
Editor’s Note: In an era where disinformation often blurs the line between opinion and fact, it becomes crucial to distinguish reality from rhetoric. Here at The Observer, our commitment is to unbiased, fact-based reporting that clarifies rather than obscures. As divisive narratives emerge, our role is to focus on what’s verifiable, ensuring that residents can receive information rooted in truth rather than speculation.
In his final weeks in office, Trustee Lou Young apparently took an opportunity to let residents of the Village know exactly how he feels about them. His statements then drew fire from some residents during the public comment period of the October 28th Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting. Specifically, speakers expressed outrage at Young’s remarks which they described as “arrogant, dismissive and half-truths.”
Young appeared as the first guest on a new podcast titled “3Grownups in a Room,” organized and hosted by friends and former colleagues of his. The hosts talked about their perspective on disinformation and that part of their mission is to “dissect a lot of the crap” that’s out there. Young used this forum to air his grievances and frustrations with the Hunter Tier Parking Lot – an affordable housing project that he has championed during his tenure as trustee and that has also received substantial pushback from all areas of the Village. See HERE.
Young was appointed to a vacant seat on the BOT in January 2022 by then Mayor Tom Murphy. He ran and won a full two-year term in November 2022 and is not running for re-election this year. Young moved to the Village from Larchmont in 2019 where he had lived for 20 years.
Affordable Housing
The conversation with Young was meandering but primarily focused on the issue of affordable housing in Mamaroneck Village. Young took credit for advancing affordable housing, specifically the Hunter Tier Parking Lot site, and made sweeping generalizations about anyone who questioned the development and/or the process.
Under Siege
On the podcast Young also portrayed two members of the Board of Trustees (presumably Deputy Mayor Nora Lucas and Mayor Sharon Torres) as trying to thwart any affordable housing. He also stated that he and the other two BOT members were “essentially, for especially the last year since the new mayor was elected, under siege with what I consider to be bogus ethics complaints.” Young referred to fellow Trustee Manny Rawlings’ advisory ethics opinion to recuse on matters regarding the Hunter Tier Parking Lot development for his mother’s outstanding past due rent to the preferred developer. See HERE.
The Village’s Ethics Board did a review of the facts surrounding the back rent issue and delivered their advisory opinion that a conflict did exist. Rawlings has refused to follow that opinion. See HERE.
Insults For All
One speaker at the BOT meeting, Bea Cerasoli, characterized Young’s comments on the podcast as insulting virtually everyone who lives in the Village he serves. She said he insulted entire neighborhoods, when he referred to an “underclass” and made other comments that were both “classist and racist.” She found it ironic that Young currently resides in a luxury rented condo in Washingtonville – one of the neighborhoods he inaccurately describes.
Vague RFP
Another topic covered in the podcast was the flurry of emails between the Village and one of the potential bidders on the affordable housing project at the Hunter Tier Parking Lot. There is an open question whether Westhab/Washingtonville Housing Alliance had an inside track since they participated significantly in the re-zoning of the parcel to allow for housing as well as the parameters of the Request for Proposal (RFP). See HERE.
Young mused that the RFP couldn’t favor one particular developer because “it was terribly vague” so how could it be designed for them? In fact, the RFP included that special consideration would be given to a developer with experience in the Village and only one organization qualifies – Washingtonville Housing Alliance, a partner in the proposed Hunter Tier project. The recent review of emails between Westhab staff and Village officials uncovered the fact that Westhab had significant input on the RFP terms.
The investigation into potential wrongdoing is continuing.
Parking Admission
Young admitted “we’re going to lose some of the parking” at the Hunter Tier Lot if developed as proposed. Less public parking at the site is a concern of many Village residents and businesses. In the past, Young has publicly said that he would vote against any project that did not provide at least the same amount of parking now provided.
Classist and Racist
Young referred to the “phenomenon of people…who consider themselves liberals but won’t walk the walk.” He said it’s “transparently classist” with a “strong tinge of racism in it and it’s become, been very, very unpleasant.” Young went on that everyone was OK with affordable housing as long as it was in the “Flats” (Washingtonville). He pointed out that this project isn’t low income housing and said, “what we’re doing here is pretty ritzy affordable housing, so it’s literally the least you can do.”
Bashing Both Liberals and Conservatives
In some statements Young referred to “pretty extreme conservative folks” who don’t have the political power anymore to run candidates but also accused the “Democratic machinery in the Village that essentially runs everything” as all being against the project.
“They use the environmental regulations and the zoning restrictions to quash multifamily housing and to keep the texture, the atmosphere of the village” explained Young.
Editor’s Note: During his tenure as Trustee Young was a Democratic District Leader and part of the local “Democratic machinery.” Additionally, Young was never endorsed as a candidate by the Democratic Party for either the Primary or General Election.
Young accused those living in the “Uber echelons of Mamaroneck…in million dollar houses, come from very affluent families, come from a lily white background and…. didn’t grow up with people of color.” He continued “but they have no experience whatsoever with the urban, African American or Latino experience….. so, their point of view having zero sensitivity.”
He said, “What they do is they empower and feed the grievance of people who are further down the social scale, people who live in the more moderate sections of town” specifically mentioning the neighborhood of Harbor Heights.
Young appeared to suggest that only people of color need affordable housing.
In a Rush
Hurtling towards their last days in office, Trustees Young, Rawlings and Yizar-Reid appear to be trying to tie up loose ends on pet projects. At the three sessions of the October 28th BOT Meetings (Work, Executive, and Regular) the following items appeared on the agendas: Village Manager Search, Hunter Tier Update, Status of Westhab email investigation, and the Community Fridge. This is happening despite the fact that the three Trustees (the majority on the BOT) will be replaced on December 2. Decisions made before December 2nd (when the three new trustees take office) could bind the Village in the future.
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