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Bronxville Mayor Reflects On Sandy, Con Edison

BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – Trees were toppled, wires were downed, houses were flooded, and some residents were left without power for a week, but Bronxville came together as a community and survived Hurricane Sandy.

Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin said that although Consolidated Edison’s response wasn't textbook, it shouldn't be vilified for political gain.

Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin said that although Consolidated Edison’s response wasn't textbook, it shouldn't be vilified for political gain.

Photo Credit: L.Snedeker

More than 1,000 Consolidated Edison customers in Bronxville lost power because of Sandy. Many residents were left unable to shower or charge their phones and were stuck in the dark without heat in 30-degree weather.

But residents came together and persevered. The Bronxville School opened its doors to village residents without power to warm up and to charge their electronic devices. Steven Ircha of Aegis Capital offered his office space to residents who needed Internet access and electricity. And Park 143 Bistro offered dinner discounts for residents. Residents also flocked to Starbucks for its free Wi-Fi access.

The Department of Public Works cleaned drains, filled and distributed sandbags, collected leaves, and trimmed trees, said Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin.

Because of the damage Bronxville sustained, village officials declared a state of emergency to qualify for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“Though we were thankfully spared any flood and our school never lost power, the damage from winds and fallen trees was widespread,” Marvin said. “As a percentage of residents, Bronxville had more folks without power (94%) than any other Westchester community."

Many of Bronxville’s repairs didn't involve the simple reset of a transformer, but rather complicated procedures involving downed trees and wires, Marvin said. 

"Upon reflection, I think Con Ed’s own worst enemy was Con Ed," she said. "Our cooperation with our Con Ed representatives was friendly in spite of escalating tensions, and the extraordinary restraint and perspective of all of our residents in acknowledging frustration but also seeing the village as part of a whole, far bigger, spectrum of loss on the East Coast.”

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