Stop Government Waste by New York State Agency OMRDD

On July 3, 2008, the Commissioner of New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) overruled the objection of the Town of Yorktown to a proposed group home at 2799 Evergreen Street, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. Adding this Evergreen property and one other proposed group home at 3793 Marcy Street, the town will have 18 group homes and $40,000 taxes will be eliminated from the tax rolls for these two homes.

Since November 2007, OMRDD has funded three group homes in Yorktown. But the funding for the purchases of the last two group homes at Marcy and Evergreen Streets by Opengate Inc. are excessive compared to the past ones. On 3/11/2008, the state funded $725,000 for Opengate to purchase 3793 Marcy Street, a 2,824-square-foot, 12-year-old, 4-bedroom house on .5 acres. One month later, on 4/1/2008, the state funded Opengate again to purchase yet another group home at 2799 Evergreen Street in Yorktown, this time, at $845,000 for a luxury 4-bedroom house with 2,886-square-foot on .38 acres. That is a 40% premium over a recent group home OMRDD funded on 11/18/2007. This mini estate was built fifteen years ago and has a heated in-ground pool with hot tub and waterfall valued at over $100,000. It also has a custom-designed kitchen with granite countertop and wet bar, two marble baths and a mirrored exercise room.

What’s astounding is that on top of the acquisition cost, the state will spend at least $200,000 more to retrofit the Evergreen property for the needs of the residents, which includes the removal of the pool. In total, the price for this home is an unacceptable and astounding $1,045,000, equivalent to twice the median house price in Yorktown.

As taxpayers we are outraged. Not only is the state squandering funds on the purchase and retrofit of these group homes, but also at a time when many New Yorkers face foreclosure of their own homes. Given the housing slump, there are many more economically sensible alternatives to the purchase of this luxury home. Sadly, OMRDD totally disregarded the disproportionate burden already being shouldered by our community and residents’ protest of such frivolous spending. On July 3, 2008, the Commissioner proceeded to approve the 18th group home in Yorktown. The town of Yorktown has 3.83% of Westchester County population and with this approval will house 8.28% of Westchester County group home residents.

We demand that the state be held accountable for such extravagant spending and that it justify the concentration of such homes in our community. In this economic climate, we cannot afford to add any additional financial burden to residents who may have difficulty heating and cooling their homes.

If we don’t make our voice heard, the state will continue its act irresponsibly. Don’t be silent on this issue but voice your concern by signing the following petition. For further information, please visit our website at www.yorktownunited.org. To make a comment, send an email to coordinator@yorktownunited.org. Thank you.