Carolina Johnson I was delighted to hear about the grassroots write-in campaign to keep Carolina Johnson on the City Council. Her priority is mine – flooding. For many years, Carolina has been finding solutions to Rye’s flooding issues and she’ll make sure that remains the main focus of our local government.
Her other areas of leadership have been environmental protection and responsible zoning and development. On the City Council, Carolina has worked with the Planning Commission and helped to:
·Protect steep slopes.
·Curb flag lots.
·Bolster the BAR.
·Craft a thoughtful, balanced approach to tree legislation.
Our elected officials need to guard Rye’s environment and quality of life and they also need the courage to welcome positive change. Not all of them do. Carolina has supported two extremely valuable projects despite some opposition.
One is the zoning amendment for the old Avon property. Thanks in part to Carolina’s support, this will be the site of the New York Blood Center, an ideal tenant and neighbor with a low impact on the surrounding residential area. It will bring dozens of good science/technology jobs to Rye. At the groundbreaking, Senator Chuck Schumer lauded the “life-saving impact” it will have in Westchester and beyond.
Finally, this City Council, with Carolina’s help, has accomplished more positive things than any Council in my memory:
·Enactment of sensible legislation on leaf blowers and rock removal.
·Approving a bond of over $13 million for capital expenditures at a very favorable rate.
·Securing multi-million dollar grants for City projects.
Carolina is a political independent with no strings attached. We’ll be better served with her experience and tenacity on the Council.
