A group of developers who refuse to reveal their identities have a lot of ideas for how Rye should grow.
What could go wrong?
The proposals being spread around town in encrypted emails by the so-called “Rye Community Planning Collaborative” would have a big impact on the future of Rye.
The group has tried to interject itself into the city’s master planning process and local elections, and has criticized local officials and the zoning board of appeals.
Who does that?
Is it arrogance? Lack of sophistication? Either way, it’s clearly misguided.
By choosing this highly unusual approach to addressing serious community issues, members of the anonymous group have forfeited any credibility they might have had and have raised obvious — and deeply serious questions — about their motives.
Their Kafkaesque explanation for the secrecy is this: “We remain anonymous so the focus stays on the ideas, not on potential source bias or personal commentary.”
In other words, they assume that if members of the public knew who they were, there would be more reason to oppose their ideas.
They can be sure that by providing such a brazenly absurd explanation the focus will remain, as it should be, on why they want to remain anonymous.
And is what they’re doing even legal?
Lobbyists need to register with the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying, and the “Rye Community Planning Collaborative” has not done so. Any person or group spending more than $5,000 on lobbying efforts needs to register. We of course don’t know what this group has spent, and it could be they are working for free. But looking at the proposals they have been sending around and the time and effort they have invested, clearly there has been plenty of cost to these shenanigans.
The website of the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying says the following:
“Lobbying is an attempt to influence government decision-making. Legislative Law Article 1-A, also known as the “Lobbying Act,” requires the registration and reporting of individuals and organizations that either spend, or anticipate spending, more than the lobbying threshold on efforts to influence certain government activities including legislation, executive orders, regulations, and governmental procurements….
“The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government promotes transparency of lobbying activities through oversight and disclosure of the expenses, compensation, and activities of registered lobbyists and their clients….
“To preserve and maintain the integrity of the governmental decision-making process in this state, it is necessary that the identity, expenditures and activities of persons and organizations retained, employed, or designated to influence the passage or defeat of any legislation … be publicly and regularly disclosed.”
Rye’s corporation counsel, Kristen Wilson, declined to say if the city has reviewed whether the anonymous group is in compliance with state lobbying laws.
In the absence of transparency, it seems highly likely that these developers have some sort of financial stake in the matter or another ulterior motive. They may think their interests and those of Rye are aligned, but if they are confident of that then why the secrecy?
The future growth and development of Rye is not a game. The stakes are real.
In the last several years, both neighboring Harrison and Port Chester have changed dramatically, with massive commercial and residential developments.
Clearly there’s development pressure in Rye as well. Two large commercial and residential developments have gone up, or are going up, on Purdy Street.
And Rye is vulnerable to unrestrained growth because the city has failed to update its master plan for the last 40 years. The anonymous developer group has gone so far as to suggest nine different versions of its own master plan for Rye. It asked candidates for City Council to respond to its questions about city development and the comprehensive plan. Wisely, Rye’s elected officials and candidates have refused to engage with these people.
The anonymous group could be developers looking to cash in on Rye. Or, they could be lawyers or architects representing developers looking to cash in on Rye. They could be Rye residents — or not.
They are heavily focused on a plan they concocted for the Subaru property on Post Road, which would bring a massive influx of housing and fundamentally change downtown Rye.
Would that be a good thing for Rye? It certainly would be a good thing for whoever built it.
My guess is this group never will reveal themselves, because they are simply looking to put Rye in play — so potential builders could better connect with potential property sellers, including the group itself or the group’s clients. Building up Rye would most likely be good for them.
We like to think of Rye as an open and honest community where we can have frank discussions and debate. If Rye residents have an idea, they should share it. If they have a criticism, they should make it.
But – if their intentions are honorable – they shouldn’t do either secretly or anonymously.
The city is finally moving to create a new master plan focused on the best interests of Rye and its residents for many years to come.
Rye should include the whole community in that discussion — but not anyone who hopes to shape the future of our community while cloaked in secrecy.
Jon Elsen is the editor-in-chief and co-publisher of The Rye Record.
