Westchester Insider: Press Release: WESTCHESTER COUNTY LEGISLATOR JOSE ALVARADO: UNHAPPY WITH PLAYLAND SETTLEMENT BUT SAYS 'YES' VOTE THE ONLY LOGICAL CHOICE.

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 13, 2021

 LEGISLATOR JOSE ALVARADO: UNHAPPY WITH PLAYLAND SETTLEMENT BUT SAYS 'YES' VOTE THE ONLY LOGICAL CHOICE.

 White Plains, NY — The Board of Legislators on Monday voted to approve a bankruptcy court settlement between  Westchester County and Standard Amusements regarding the management of Playland. 

 The settlement ends a bankruptcy court dispute over a 2016 contract that gave Standard the rights to management of the park for three decades.  Both the County and Standard are required to invest millions of dollars into the park during this period.

 The 2016 deal, brokered by former County Executive Rob Astorino, became the subject of litigation in bankruptcy court after our current County Executive sought to terminate the deal citing Standard’s failure to comply with a number of its requirements.  Standard sought federal bankruptcy protection to enforce the 2016 contract, but the judge urged both sides to negotiate an amended agreement.

 The settlement is much more favorable to the County than the 2016 agreement – giving the County rights to approve Standard’s annual management plan for the park, approval over new rides, better financial terms and approval over Standard’s building plans for the park, rights that were not part of the agreement in 2016.  Still, Legislator Alvarado, a former Budget Committee and Parks Committee Chair, voiced his uneasiness over the vote.  But he expressed his hope that Standard could work with the County and perform in a manner that would elevate the park, considering the bickering of the recent past. 

 In his view, it is now time to move forward and work together for the successful future of Playland.  Alvarado said, “Playland remains a County treasure that is important to Westchester families.  Its preservation and success is the most important thing.  I’m encouraging everyone to come out this summer and enjoy our historic park.”

 While expressing hope for the future, Alvarado leveled criticism at Rob Astorino, who set the outsourcing of the park’s management irretrievably on this course.  In a statement issued in the Chamber Monday, Legislator Alvarado said:

 “The legislation before us is the result of an unfortunate set of circumstances.  In my heart, I believe it was a serious mistake for the previous administration to abandon its responsibilities to Playland by outsourcing its management.  After all, let’s not forget the County has managed and cared for Playland for some 92 years.  During the course of that time, Playland has created magic for millions of children and their families while establishing lifetime memories.  Under the County’s care, Playland has been an award-winning park, famous throughout the country and the industry.

 The 2016 management agreement was not a good one for the park in terms of County input and involvement, as well as in other areas.  I applaud our current County Executive George Latimer’s efforts to forge a new path.  Despite his best efforts, that path led to bankruptcy court.  That court now brings us here.  While I still believe we should not be outsourcing management of Playland, I recognize that due to the legal proceedings we have no choice.  In fact, failure to vote for this agreement will return us to the 2016 agreement, which we all know would be a giant step backwards. 

 The new and improved agreement before us, while not something I would  wish to support under perfect circumstances, is much better than the 2016 agreement. As I said at the outset of my remarks, this is unfortunate.  While I am not pleased by this, the only responsible thing to do is to vote ‘yes’ for the new agreement.”