With the November 3rd elections just around the corner, it's time for MyRye.com to introduce you to the candidates looking for your vote. This is your city and your election, so tell us what you think of the candidates and of our coverage. Leave your comments below.
Today we introduce you to city council candidate Richard Filippi.
Your Name:Richard Filippi
Position You’d Like To Have: I am running for Rye City Council
Your Day Job: Senior Consultant at Oracle Financial Services, where I provide solutions for financial institutions in identifying and managing risk and compliance issues.
If MyRye.com asked your co-workers for one word to describe you, what one word would they use?
Innovative
Candidate closing statement at The Osborn Debate (October 19, 2009):
Your Political Affiliation:
I am not a member of any political party.
Why are you running for elected office?
I was approached by both parties to run as a candidate for City Council based on my problem solving skills. I feel that the City of Rye will require innovative thinking and management to tackle the problems it will confront in the next few years. I also felt very strongly that Doug French and my fellow candidates were a stronger team to affect real change within the City.
City elections are coming up this fall. What should we know about the elections this fall? Who else on the ticket are you supporting?
According to a member of the current Council the City is facing a deficit of $800,000 to $1 million in revenue shortfall. We need to find alternative sources of revenue. One idea is to place a small cell phone tower on the Milton Fire house to generate alternate sources of income. Flood mitigation needs to be addressed first within the city and in partnership with upstream communities. I will make this a priority if elected.
What are the three most important issues facing Rye over the next five years?
1. Revenue deficit and Minimal Reserve Funds – Despite the 4.5% tax increase the City is facing a decline in Revenues with increasing expenditures due to decisions that were made in prior years. These Reserve Funds which are set aside for infrastructure and long term capital spending have been depleted over the years to meet short term spending deficits despite the boom years.
2. Long Term Planning– The City needs to prioritize its infrastructure spending and work with various utilities to insure newly paved roads will not be torn up and patched, creating a rough road surface again. This requires a focused plan on what we want to achieve and how we intend to achieve these goals.
3. Addressing the problems of Rye such as Flooding with a consistent and unrelenting focus on the various plans and programs we have and will initiate.
Rye sustained $80 million in damage in the April 15, 2007 flood. Is Rye prepared for the next “100 Year” flood?
No it is not prepared. The dredging of the Harbor has no effect as flooding occurs at high tide.
What are the most important things we need to do to prepare, how much will they cost and how should Rye pay for them?
1. The Sluice Gate combined with expanding the ability to retain more water. This should be funded through the County, State and various enterprise funds.
2. Multiple water runoff retention projects, such as dry wells to capture large parking lot runoff.
3. We need to insure the City has a continued focus on protecting upstream wetlands; Starting in Rye with the property across from the YMCA and focused action by County, State and neighboring communities.
Teachers in Rye public schools have been operating without a contract for over two years due to a stalemate between Rye’s Board of Education and the Rye Teacher’s Association. What specifically should be done to resolve this stalemate, if anything?
This is not a City Council responsibility. The newly elected Board of Education of the Rye City School District is handling this issue.
Grade Rye’s handling of the following issues over the last two years on an A, B, C, D or F scale
Flooding and flood mitigation (Bowman Avenue dam, Elm Place Wall, Central Avenue Bridge, etc.) - D
The City has had decades to act but it took the 2007 floods for some limited action.
Fiscal responsibility including taxes, budgeting and labor relations (Overall budget, taxes, litigation) - D
We are facing revenue shortfalls and have limited reserves. Excessive amounts are spent on legal fees defending the City, such as the Dredging Company, Paul Shew and Mr. Schubert or Consulting fees such as the three different consulting studies of the CVS building. Why is the city not managed better to avoid these fees and why not use highly qualified city employees instead of Consulting firms.
Public works including condition of sidewalks and roads and snow, leaf, garbage and recycling removal - A for 1 and D for 2
1. snow, leaf, garbage and recycling removal
2. sidewalks and roads have been ignored for many years and it shows
Safety including policing, fire and traffic - C
Overall satisfactory, but the City has been slow to act on pedestrian safety. According to Mike Genito, former City Comptroller, it took a child being hit on Boston Post Road to put in a crosswalk.
Schools including quality and labor relations N/A
Not Applicable – the School District is a separate taxing entity
Public recreation including parks and recreational programs
Rye has terrific recreational opportunities for all.
Other Issue: Blind Brook retaining walls
In the years since the Floods only one area along the Brook in town has had the retaining wall fixed. The lack of repair or long term plan will increase the silting process in the Harbor, which will silt up in less than the last 10 year cycle.
What are your three greatest contributions to Rye?
1. Water Runoff Committee – We devised regulations for handling water runoff to minimize flooding while improving water quality. The report was submitted in March 2008; however it was never brought to the City Council to vote for approval. It was used to obtain promised funding from the County for the Bowman Avenue sluice gate.
3. Conservation Commission/Advisory Council - This commission guides the regulation, use, improvement, and maintenance of conservation facilities and programs within the City of Rye.
4. Friends of Rye Nature Center, Member of The Board of Directors of this 47 acre urban nature sanctuary. The Board is busy improving its long term plans for growth and financial stability.
What are the three best reasons to live in Rye?
1. Open spaces and big trees that you unfortunately simply do not see in other Sound Shore Communities
2. Sense of community, which my wife & I did not detect in many other Westchester towns when we were house hunting 15 years ago.
3. Excellent School system.
Where can we find you on a Saturday morning?
My family & I can be seen on a four mile power walk around town. I also enjoy working around the house and gardening.
What are your three favorite restaurants in Rye that deliver?
1. Sunrise Pizza, half sausage is our standard.
2. Ice Cream at Longford’s
What is your favorite restaurant in Rye for a family meal?
Morgan’s has great fish specials.
Where do you live in Rye?
I live on Loewen Court near the Blind Brook, which is in the Osborn elementary school district and walking distance to the Middle & High Schools.
How else are you involved in the community?
Adult Volunteer with the Boy Scouts Of America Rye Troop 2.
Previously:
• Sunday school teacher at Resurrection Church
• CYO Basketball
• Rye Little League
• Rye Youth Soccer
Tell us your contact information:
Your web site: http://changeforrye.com
Your phone: 646-942-2876
Your email address: Richard.Filippi@ChangeForRye.com
Thanks, Richard!
The Fillippi Flip-Flop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgLkn1oMCow
I don’t think there has ever been a bigger “Dick” on the Rye City Council.
“Dick” has proven time and again he is a clueless fool.
We hear “Dick” is out trying to get signatures for Jovanovich.
These guys don’t get it. Just leave.
Several of Richard’s Council Waterloo moments!
His babbling Dapolite diatribe. Andrew did nothing wrong but report the truth.
Filippi’s statement calling the proposed
City Tree ordinance the Council’s most important legislation.
Summary -there are many reasons why French never appointed Richard Deputy Mayor.
This video is a gem! Here’s a Filippi-flop I’d add: At the May 9, 2012 City Council meeting, Filippi commented on neighborhood requests for a flood-study amid concerns that the Central Ave Bridge may cause worse flooding if something like a tree or a dumpster (both went down Blind Brook during hurricanes) were to cause a backup. Here’s what Dickie had to say on 5/9/12: “Some people have made certain statements which are false and misleading. Um, the fact is, we do, the the they point to flooding. We flooded in ‘07 when the [Central Avenue] Bridge was there. We flooded in 2011 when the Bridge was gone. So, having a bridge there or not has no impact on flooding” (arrogant sneer here). He’s entitled to his opinion. Sure. But is he consistent? No way. Less than a year later, at a 2013 City Council Meeting, The Dick requested demolition of the Loewenstein Bridge (roughly 100 yards from The Dick’s den) agreeing that the reason he was requesting demolition of that bridge was because debris would cause a backup and worse flooding. THE REALITY IS Loewen and Barbara Courts are built on wetlands. Many of those houses get ground-water, always have, always will. So, having a bridge there or not has no impact on flooding. Is Dickie Filippi a flip-flopper? Frankly, that’s generous. Seems to me, he’s a self-serving power monger. Oh, as a side-note, the Central Ave Bridge won’t be opening on August 18th.
The Central Ave Bridge has reopened. Now that the sensitive issue of whether the Bridge should be rebuilt (or whether we should wait and wait and wait for the financing) has resolved itself, I’d like to revisit a particularly ugly talking point and share data points that discredit it.
In May 2012, in support of rebuilding the Central Ave Bridge, 19 households in Loewen and Barbara Court signed a letter to the Rye Record saying residents of Central Ave, “…bargained for, received, and expected to live on a busy thoroughfare but now find themselves with something better: a cul-de-sac of their own”. Speaking at a City Council meeting, trial attorney and Barbara Court resident, Mark Hyland went further by adding that the prices of homes on Central Avenue reflected life on a busy street while the prices of homes on Loewen Court reflected a life of quiet. No supporting data was provided. At the time, his comments struck me as ignorant and off-base.
So, let’s look at year-to-date real estate transactions in both neighborhoods, shall we? 3 homes have sold on lower Central Ave at an average price of $470 per square foot. 2 homes have sold on Loewen/Barbara Court at an average price of $433 per square foot. Don’t like averages? How about the highest price per square foot? It goes to 7 Central Ave at $514 per square foot. Lowest price per square foot goes to 26 Loewen Court at $376 per square foot. These data points show buyers have found Central Avenue more attractive than Loewen/Barbara Court. People choose neighborhoods for different reasons. I looked at a house on Loewen Court before buying my home on Central Ave. My choice had zero to do with market price and everything to do with location. All of us in Rye “bargain for and expect to receive” a neighborhood with well-maintained public space. I don’t fault people for touting their neighborhood but not with misinformation and not at my expense.
Anne,
Are you kidding! “Misinformation” Richard Filippi, NEVER?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgLkn1oMCow&feature=c4-overview&list=UUSKIv_k38Xqk1FmYNjQDnzA
Joe Sack’s loyal thugs are now doing Joe Sack math. With a sample size of 2 and a sample size of 3 , the genius is claiming she’s been misinformed and Mr. Flotie agrees.
Genius here. Um, it’s probably about 7 houses that would be considered “lower Central Ave”. So, a sample size of 3 is a pretty strong indicator. If I expand the sample sizes, it just gets worse for the Loewen Court Goon Squad. I don’t see you on the tax rolls. I know where to look…and it isn’t under genius.
43% of “lower Central Ave.” homeowners have sold their homes in the last 9 months and our Joe Sack supporters interpret that as a positive for the area. Can we now assume if 100% of lower Central Ave homeowners sold, it would make lower Central Ave. the most desired area of Rye to live in.
Genius Thug here again.
Desirability would depend on the price paid and the days on the market, not the turnover.
The reason there has been turnover is because we hadn’t been able to transact at reasonable market levels for the 5 1/2+ years while the bridge’s financing was in limbo. During that time, the Central Ave/Boston Post Road area wasn’t maintained. One Rye realtor compared it to a bomb zone. Scott Pickup would say Rye couldn’t clean up the area because they wouldn’t be reimbursed for it from the State until yada, yada, yada. When a house was for sale, buyers never visited and said, “My what a lovely cul-de-sac.”. It was more like, “WTF? This is Rye?”.
As soon as the area started to be cleaned up, we were able to transact. I simply reported the levels vs. recent Loewen/Barbara Court levels. These levels show -at least in 2013 – buyer’s are paying up for a “busy thoroughfare” but not for the former swamp that is Loewen/Barbara Court.