Westchester County Executive George Latimer, center, with Yorktown Democrats and candidates for Supervisor and Town Board at the Grange Fair
By Yorktown Democrats
The Town of Yorktown has issued an emergency trash contract to CRP, after 40,000 missed garbage pickups and nine months of unanswered questions by Tom Diana and the Town Board’s preferred vendor, Competitive Carting. This new contract represents a 25% increase in garbage costs for Yorktown over a 12 month period, putting pressure on the Town’s already stretched budget.
Competitive Carting’s contract cost Yorktown roughly $288,000 per month, which would have increased to roughly $300,000 per month in 2024. Over the next 12 months, Yorktown would have paid about $3.4 million under this contract.
The new contract with CRP Sanitation Inc. will cost the town $358,000 per month. Now, the Town will pay about $4.3 million over the next 12 months – a 25% increase on the old contract.
The Town’s payment history to Competitive and new contract with CRP are available here: bit.ly/ANDYLINKTREE
Yorktown’s finances are already stretched thin under Tom Diana and the Town Board, with the Town’s delayed sewer project costs escalating by $5 million or more this year, an ongoing lawsuit from AAA Carting strengthened by the Town’s belated cancellation of Competitive’s contract, increases in paving costs, and more. Worse, rumors are circulating that Competitive Carting may sue the Town, exacerbating already significant legal costs.
Last year, Tom Diana and the Town Board predicted that a 9% tax increase would be necessary by 2024 in order to keep the Town operational. Now, Yorktown will either need to dramatically hike taxes or dip into its reserves – risking a downgrade in its bond rating, and a further escalation of costs – to keep the lights on at Town Hall.
Mirchandani said, “Residents have demanded financial transparency from this Board. Instead, Tom Diana and the Town Board meet behind closed doors, and promise that we’re saving money because of $150,000 in fines. Look at the transaction history. Five minutes with a calculator and anyone can see how wrong they are. CRP gets $70,000 more than Competitive each paycheck. They get 25% more over 12 months. That isn’t saving money! This same thing happened when Yorktown hired Competitive in 2012.”
Marron said: “This Town Board is mismanaging Yorktown. Not only have they kept residents in the dark time and time again, but they refuse to acknowledge the serious financial problems the Town is facing. How are regular people supposed to live here if the Board’s hiking our taxes every year to pay for their mistakes?”
Shaw said: “Yorktown has new costs coming in from every direction. Even with the raise Competitive would’ve gotten in the new year, under the new emergency contract we’re still paying about $400,000 more than we would have over these next 6 months. Why? Because Tom Diana and the Town Board ignored the obvious issues with Competitive’s track record, ignored concerns raised by residents throughout the contract process, and then ignored residents’ complaints about the inevitable problems for the last nine months. Yorktown needs accountable, honest leadership.”
Election Day is on Tuesday, November 7th: Yorktown will need a new garbage contract when the 12 month emergency contract with CRP expires in 2024. This year’s election will decide who navigates that bidding process, and who will vote on that new contract.
Support is growing for a government that puts Yorktown first. Tom Diana and the Town Board have made serious mistakes and continue to do their work behind closed doors, where the public can’t be heard. Residents want open government, new ideas, and solutions – not excuses. #ANewDayforYorktown stands ready with solutions.
