Politics & Government

State: Local Mayors Not Invited to Cuomo's Speech Due to Oversight

Laird-White of Nyack, Lynn of Grand View not at the Gov.'s Piermont speech

When Gov. Andrew Cuomo , leaders from across the Hudson Valley gathered to watch him exhort the need for a new Hudson span.

Lawmakers from Mount Vernon, Yonkers, Ramapo and other municipalities listened as Cuomo addressed the drive to secure federal funds to finance the $5.2 billion project.

But a few familiar faces — local river village mayors — were absent. , mayor Nyack, and , mayor of Grand View, were not in attendance. Both mayors told Patch they did not receive invitations.

Find out what's happening in Nyack-Piermontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Other local leaders were at the Flywheel Park conference. Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, D-Suffern, and Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef flanked Cuomo during his talk.

Brian Conybeare, a spokesman for Cuomo and public liaison for the Tappan Zee bridge project, said any missing officials or lack of invitations were accidental.

Find out what's happening in Nyack-Piermontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"If we missed any local officials, it was an oversight on our part," he said.

Laird-White called the oversight "disappointing."

"He is correct—I was certainly not invited," she said.

"Since those of us that live at the base of the bridge will certainly endure the brunt of the construction, the negative river impact and the hefty tolls, it would be nice if we were all in this together, rather than part of an oversight," Laird-White added.

Larry Lynn, the mayor of Grand View, did not receive an invitation, either.

"Do I take it to mean anything? No," Lynn said. "I accept their explanation, [but] it would just be nice if they called the river village mayors."

Lynn said Grand View is currently working with the governor's office to set up a public meetings with residents and bridge officials. A similar meeting , and several others throughout Rockland and Westchester.

"I'm looking forward to it," Lynn said.

Patch was unable to reach Piermont Mayor Christopher Sanders, who was away on vacation Monday, and remains out of town.

South Nyack mayor Patricia DuBow—whose village will likely be most affected by the build—was at the speech. She was invited by Jaffee, DuBow said.

"I got no calls from any of the guys on the [Tappan Zee Brigde] team," she said. "It seemed to me it was a slip up in their organization.

"All of the river village leaders should have been invited," she added.

Jaffee noted she was invited directly by state leaders.

"The governor's office staff called to invite me to the event and to say a few words," she said.


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