GRASSROOTS FOR GREENBURGH
P.O. Box 877, Elmsford, NY 10523
GfG E-MAIL UPDATE: PRIVACY ALERT
June 30, 2000
GfG advises our subscribers and the community at large that the Town of Greenburgh has posted all your property information, with identifying names and addresses, on its web site. The site address is http://www.gis.town.greenburgh.ny.us/
The information on each home includes a property record, in some instances, a picture of your home, current and preceding assessment and taxes and property sales.
Although this information is public if one visits Town Hall, such a visit takes some effort. However, for the information to be posted for anyone with a computer to access, raises some serious privacy concerns. These concerns do not seem to have any impact on the Town Board or the Town Supervisor, Paul Feiner.
GfG points out that at present, Mr. Feiner's information is not on the web site. Additionally, information on the property of Town Board members is also not posted, or, in the case of one member, is posted under a family name. Parenthetically, it does appear that assessment information on some of the Town's vocal critics is posted, along with information on each of their family members. Coincidence, perhaps?
The web site, called the Geographical Information System Website (GIS), still has major operational glitches. First of all, it does not seem to work with the Netscape browser. It functions with the Internet Explorer browser. Secondly, for many residents, the information is not yet available or the links to the information are broken. On the first page in very small print, there is a notice posted which reads: Any property owner who wishes not to have their assessment information on this web site should contact the Assessment Department at the Town of Greenburgh at 914 993-1520.
However, AND IT IS A BIG HOWEVER!, the Assessment Department is demanding that to opt out, a homeowner has to submit a form to the Town with a COPY OF YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE!
Your driver's license then gives the Town even more information about you, such as your date of birth, eye color, height, etc. As the Town of Greenburgh has already shown a great deal of insensitivity in posting your property information without your permission, and then asking you if you wish to opt out, GfG is advising that you do not supply your driver's license. The Town does not seem ready or even aware of how to use personal information. You can verify your identity by attaching copy of a water bill, utility bill or tax bill.
Please advise GfG if the Town refuses to accept such information as identification and demands copy of your driver's license or some other personally identifying information. We will help launch a battle for privacy rights.
To register concerns and/or complaints on privacy and other tax issues, contact the Town Assessor, Mr. Gerry Iagallo.