This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

FASNY'S MAGICAL THINKING

ear Mayor Roach and Common Council Members:

 This past Monday night you accepted as complete FASNY’s FEIS for development of a regional educational complex.   During the comments prior to voting on completeness, Mr. Boykin noted the presence of an 800 pound gorilla in the room, a brilliant metaphor to describe the current state of FASNY’s addressing inexorable traffic problems with flaccid mitigation proposals.  

How FASNY and the FEIS address traffic and safety issues is the most blatant example of what is wrong but is symptomatic of how almost every other issue has been treated. As an economist, I read carefully the chapters in the DEIS and FEIS as well as FASNY’s responses to substantive criticism.   A great deal was made of the IMPLAN model estimates of the economic benefits of the regional campus.  The problem is that the estimates are not statistically reliable and IMPLAN always gives a positive outcome.   FASNY’s response in the FEIS response section was to say that reporting statistical error rates are not required by SEQRA.

That is the same as saying that I can offer any estimate that I want and do not have to give you any way to evaluate that answer.   FASNY asserted that new families would move into White Plains but they merely replace current residents moving out, a zero sum game.  This is very inadequate analysis.   FASNY at least now refrains from making broad statements about its economic impact because there is none that they can reliably demonstrate.   I am not a traffic expert but I was struck by similar sophistry plaguing this issue.   

Traffic congestion and safety problems are systemic involving interchanges on the Hutchinson Parkway over two miles away as well as close-by roads like Ridgeway, Bryant and North Streets.  Initial versions of the DEIS claimed little or no traffic or safety issues.   Once cornered by public opposition in the form of questions on the DEIS, public hearings and neighborhood paid for expert analysis, FASNY proposed a blinding array of technological fixes that have largely been abandoned in the FEIS.In simple logic, FASNY’s argument is that while there may be serious (they refuse to acknowledge this is true) traffic and safety issues, stating in the FEIS that mandatory busing will be imposed solves the problem.    No reasonable proof that busing will solve the problem or that the policy can be implemented or enforced is given.

FASNY’s argument that traffic and safety issues can be successfully mitigated rises or falls short depending on the empirical verifiability, reasonableness and enforceability of its mandatory busing policy.   The evidence is weak and enforcement lacks credibility.


Magical thinking is a belief that thoughts by themselves can bring about effects in the world or thinking something corresponds with doing it.  FASNY states without foundation that a policy of mandatory busing will solve all problems with its mega-development.  This is magical thinking.  I find no evidence that FASNY principals involved, Mr. Zabotin, nor agents, Mr. Zarin or Mr. Thompson, have even explained to FASNY parents of kindergarten or high school students of driving age that they will be subject to mandatory busing.    

Now all the previous technical fixes of the traffic and safety issues have been abandoned in preference for magical thinking.    I predict that shortly a petition will be signed by a multitude of FASNY parents stating that they “intend” to participate in a busing program.   The road to Gedney Farm’s destruction is being paved with “intentions” and magical thinking.

I lifted the following passage on traffic management from FASNY’s “Greens to Green” website which demonstrates what FASNY believes and has been telling the public about its “intentions.”   Where’s the mention of mandatory busing?   TRAFFIC PLANFASNY has used state-of-the-art traffic modeling software to identify potential traffic impacts associated with the Campus and Conservancy, and to reflect and to better understand any impacts to community character resulting from the traffic generated from the proposed project. Using these tools, FASNY has identified a set of roadway improvements, which are intended to avoid or minimize potential traffic impacts to the maximum extent practicable. FASNY would be responsible for paying for all of these improvements. In addition, FASNY would implement a Traffic Management Plan, which would prevent FASNY vehicles from cutting through the local neighborhoods. FASNY is also proposing staggered morning start and afternoon dismissal times for the different school divisions specifically developed to minimize impacts to the local road network.  (downloaded 9/18/13) 

The other mitigating policy in the FEIS of constructing an alternative entrance at North Street across from the high school was so thoroughly trashed by FASNY itself in earlier versions of the DEIS, that it becomes very obvious that something is wrong.   Besides, creating another untenable entrance does not reduce systemic traffic and safety issues.   The North Street option was always a straw-man intending to resurrect the Ridgeway entrance as the single option.     

Why not stop the madness and exercise in magical thinking by voting "no" to FASNY's request for a special permit and finding at your next meeting that the problems attendant to FASNY's development are insurmountable? 

Charles Diamond, Ph.D. (Economics)39 Hathaway Lane 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?