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WPCNR PHOTO OF THE DAY. April 26, 2006: With the Havilands Manor Association warning this week of the city having designs on selling empty wooded lots for housing at the merge of Ridgeway and Havilands Lane, in a repeat of the city selloff of lots adjacent The Greenway, a photographer, Carl Albanese submits this Ode to the Greenway and what space like that in a city means:
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WPCNR PRESS BOX. April 26, 2006: At a special ceremony in the White Plains High School Guidance and Career Center yesterday, Danica Covington of the 2006 WPHS New York State Runnerup Girls Basketball Team, joined her teammate, Elise Bronzo, in the Scholarship Circle as Ms. Covington inked a Letter of Intent to attend Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut, on a four year “full-ride” Scholarship. Ms. Covington is the fifth WPHS athlete to earn a 4-year athletic scholarship this school year, the most athletic scholarships ever achieved in WPHS annals, and perhaps the most scholarships in the state, though we’re checking on that claim.
Covington is a 6-1 forward who led the Tigers in scoring with 12.6 points per game. She was also names League I-A Player of the Year. She’ll be playing for a developing Blue Devils team and expected to lend scoring and rebounding punch to a club poised to move into the elite of the North East Conference.
Covington joins fellow WPHS seniors Elise Bronzo, Whitney Ford, Kelsey Kulk, and Conor Gilmartin-Donahue as members of the Class 0f 2006 earning four year rides to the college of their choice, and the fourth young woman to win an athletic scholarship this year through the efforts of the WPHS Guidance and coaching staff efforts.
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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey.
Boykin reports another issue is the city’s Reserve for Financing, that Boykin said was usually 1% of budget, but currently is budgeted for 7/10 of 1%.
The Councilman revealed the Committee is concerned about how the city is being run, and managed. He said, “We’ve had a lot of growth, and we need to look at the city again, to see whether we have the right people doing the right things.” The councilman did not elaborate.
On the revenue front, Councilman Boykin said that Budget Director Anne Reasoner said the city was “on target” to make its project $42.5 Million sales tax projection, and that the missing 3 days of sales tax from the second quarter would be coming in along with a figure for the third quarter (January through March) by the end of the week.
Don Hughes, a citizen in attendance told WPCNR, this evening that Mayor Delfino, observing the meeting said that his staff and City Commissioners would be receiving raises in line with city labor contracts (4%).
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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. April 25, 2006. From Ric Swierat, Westchester ARC. :On April 21st, in Tarrytown, NYS Attorney General and candidate for governor, Eliot Spitzer, addressed over 200 attendees at the annual Westchester Arc Employers’ Breakfast. This is an event that shows appreciation and recognition to those local businesses that provide real opportunities for employment of people with developmental disabilities. I thought you would enjoy reading Mr. Sptizer’s remarks.
It is often said that New York is a family. Those with disabilities are members of this family and it is our obligation as a State to offer them the same opportunity, independence and empowerment that we aspire to for all members of our family.
Today, I want to address the developmental disability community, the transition they face and how government can make the inputs necessary to ensure we continue to move towards a culture of inclusion, independence and empowerment. Today, rates of autism and other developmental disabilities are at an all time high. The legal landscape continues to evolve and a growing “self-advocate” movement has emerged to challenge all of us to take a fresh look at the way we approach these issues and even the way we talk about them.
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Just as Westchester Arc has adapted to changing times, so too should the State. New York has come a long way since the days of Willowbrook, but times are changing and the State’s support system needs to catch up once again. From core government services like education, workforce development, housing and health care to nontraditional services like caregiver support and life planning, State government must continue to think creatively about the way we approach these issues.
I first want to make clear what our starting point must be. Justin Dart, the father of the disabled rights movement, put it best. He called on all of us to lead a “revolution of empowerment.” As we rethink our public policy, we must start from this premise. We must start with the idea of putting people at the center of the support system, of empowering them and their caregivers with the supports necessary to live fulfilling, normal and productive lives.
And we must do this not because it’s politically the right thing to do or because it may garner more votes from one constituency or another. We must lead a “revolution of empowerment” because, in the end, the choice we face isn’t about politics. It’s about who we are as human beings. It’s about our core belief in the moral obligation of government. And it’s about what kind of community we want to live in. Is it one where we look after each other like a family? Or is it one where each of us is left to fend for ourselves? I know that if we work together – bound by a shared vision and determination – we can give meaning to Justin Dart’s inspiring words.
Early Intervention and Support for Special Education
Take education, which is perhaps the single best way to empower people. This is especially important for those with developmental disabilities. But we currently face a number of challenges. First, we must do a better job of identifying those children and families in need of developmental and educational services. I often say preventive care is one of the pillars of lowering health care costs in New York. I think early intervention in the education system works the same way. We have a window of opportunity to establish a life of independence and we need to seize it so these children can live fulfilling and productive lives, independent to the extent possible of costly government services.
The State’s Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education Programs have done a commendable job for our infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities. We must continue to make sure that at every transition point, from early intervention to pre-school to kindergarten to middle school to high school and beyond, we maintain an appropriate level of services throughout what should be a seamless system. Unless we commit to appropriate early intervention and education services, we will have missed an opportunity to enhance lives and futures. Having said that, we also must recognize that these services are costly and in great demand. We must continually evaluate the efficacy of these programs and make sure their delivery is coordinated and accountable to avoid waste and abuse. We also must make sure these services go to those infants, toddlers and children who need it most.
The second challenge is providing the right support. Intervention is not enough. Even if we identify every child who has a developmental disability, we still must provide the right supports to ensure those children receive the education they need to live independent lives. Currently, New York has a shortage of special education teachers, speech and language therapists and other support personnel. In addition to an emphasis on math and science teachers, we should launch an aggressive effort through scholarship programs and other incentive programs to encourage a new generation of special education teachers and therapists. Incentives should be tied directly to service in our public schools so teachers and therapists are not only encouraged to get into the field, but into schools where children of all income levels can have access to their support.
In bolstering our education supports, we must also confront the growing autism rate in this country. The National Institute for Mental Health estimates that 1 in 334 children is diagnosed with autism today versus 1 in 10,000 just 20 years ago. Many cases of autism require intensive one-on-one instruction, which can be prohibitively expensive. We must look for ways to make this kind of education affordable and attainable for those New Yorkers who can’t afford private instruction.
We also must address the hostile environment that confronts children with disabilities in many of our schools. It’s hard enough to be bullied as a young kid, but when you speak differently, look differently or act differently than the rest of the kids, it’s even harder. We should make sure our public schools raise awareness and understanding of people living with disabilities – that when they teach about the Civil Rights Movement, they make sure to include the historic struggle of the disabled, how far they’ve come and how much more we need to do.
Jobs and Workforce Development
Transitioning from the education system into the real world also must be addressed. Once people with developmental disabilities leave the education system, they face many daunting challenges such as finding a job. Currently, about two-thirds of the disabled population are unemployed – a figure that actually worsened during the economic boom of the 1990s. This is unacceptable and the next governor must make it a priority to reduce this number.
If people can’t be convinced by the moral imperative, surely they can understand the economic imperative. Franklin Roosevelt put it this way: “No country, no matter how rich, can afford to waste its human resources.” And yet here in New York and around the country, that’s just what we’re doing. The pool of people with disabilities is a large untapped resource for employers and we need to provide the skills, supports and connections for that resource to be tapped.
The benefits to companies who employ qualified disabled workers are well-documented and the hundreds of employers in this room are testaments to that fact. Plus, jobs mean freedom for people living with disabilities – freedom not just from the isolation of a sheltered life, but freedom from costly government services.
The State should call on local One-Stop Career Centers to develop a database of people with disabilities seeking employment and employers seeking to hire. Too often I hear that employers who want to hire people with disabilities have trouble because there is no single location where they can find qualified candidates. Similarly, qualified people with disabilities who want to get a job have trouble because there is no single location where they can find interested employers. The State must help close this gap.
We should also use our local Workforce Investment Boards, which include representatives from business, labor and academia to identify the issues or concerns, real or perceived, which prevent companies from hiring qualified people with disabilities. This information should inform our workforce development system so we can provide the right kinds of skills and supports necessary for employability.
Another way the State can encourage employment of the disabled is through its procurement process. In 2004, the State entered into 41,000 contracts worth $28 billion. As a purchaser of so many goods and services, we must protect and enforce important procurement practices like the New York State Preferred Source Program so organizations like the New York State Industries for the Disabled can continue to connect the working disabled population to government contracts.
Community-Based Housing
Besides employment, housing is another challenge people with developmental disabilities face. Until recently, most adults with developmental disabilities had two choices when it came to housing: live with your family or move to a large institution. Through programs like “New York State CARES”, the State has been able to offer alternative living arrangements in community-based settings that bring support services into an individual home. We should build on the success of NYS-CARES by committing to NYS-CARES II through 2014.
Given that the number of elderly disabled is increasing, we must make sure they have the option of staying in their home where quality of care is better and the financial costs are cheaper. One way to help people stay in their homes is for New York State’s mortgage agency to launch a reverse mortgage product – with the necessary consumer protection elements – to allow the elderly to tap into the equity in their homes to make the necessary retrofits to stay in their homes.
Medicaid Reform to Encourage Best Models of Care
A discussion on reforming and modernizing the State’s support infrastructure cannot be complete without addressing Medicaid. In January, I outlined a host of reform measures to make sure our Medicaid system continues to help the neediest New Yorkers without bankrupting the State.
One particular point I want to reemphasize today is that we must redesign our health care system to reward the right kind of care. Unfortunately, too often our system pays for the treatment of a disease, but not the prevention of it. Care for individuals with disabilities is no different.
We must make sure that New Yorkers are not forced to choose between taking a job and keeping their health care and other necessary supports. We should reevaluate the definition of “home care” support, which provides support to individuals with disabilities in their home, but not when they leave their home to go to work, for example. Unfortunately, a person’s disability does not disappear when they leave their home. New York’s support system should follow that person wherever he or she goes so they can have the freedom and incentive to get a job and live as independent a life as possible. Similarly, we currently offer higher reimbursement rates for agencies that house sheltered workshops than we do for a job coach and finder services that can help move individuals with disabilities into integrated job settings. We must correct these and other backwards incentives to make sure State dollars encourage behavior that reflects values of empowerment, inclusion and independence instead of isolation and dependence.
We must also ensure that the introduction of Medicare Part-D does not leave our disabled population without the services that they have come to rely on from Medicaid. I will continue to track this issue closely to make sure our disabled population does not fall through the cracks.
Life and Financial Planning
I also want to take this opportunity to touch on an issue set that does not get nearly the attention it deserves. Anyone who has cared for a person with a disability is all too familiar with the haunting question: What happens when I’m gone? Answers to this question go beyond housing solutions and employment issues. They get at another set of issues that government is only beginning to grapple with – issues like life planning, financial planning, surrogate decision making and guardianship. The State must begin to take a fresh look at how we support these services.
Westchester Arc’s Life Planning Center is a model for this kind of approach. The Center helped people like Bob Smith start his own business. Bob can’t speak, walk or care for himself on his own. He has cerebral palsy and was raised in an institution where he was locked in his room and neglected. When Bob came to Arc, the Planning Center’s staff discovered that he had been writing poetry by pointing his thumb to letters and symbols on a communication board attached to his wheelchair. Bob and his team felt that publishing his poetry could potentially lead to a form of self-employment. Bob has now written a book, launched his own business, and has gained a level of independence he never had before. This kind of model should be replicated across the State.
Life planning also includes services like financial planning. The Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University is launching a Center for Financial Innovation that will explore innovative ways for families to meet short- and long-term needs through asset development, training, private sector collaboration and access to venture capital so people with disabilities have an equal chance at starting their own businesses or, if they are unable to do so, at least have an opportunity to plan for their long-term care expenses. The State should track these efforts and encourage creative thinking in this area.
Caregiver Support
Finally, I cannot end this discussion without speaking to those caregivers and guardians who care for and support those living with developmental disabilities. Your lives have been forever changed. Sacrifices have been made and you should be commended for your commitment. But more than our gratitude, you deserve our support. You should not be punished because you care for your child, your sibling or your parent. You take on the responsibility the State would otherwise have to bear and we need to think more creatively as to how we support your efforts through respite care and other services. We must also call on the federal government to reform the Family Leave Act so that parents don’t have to make the choice between caring for their disabled child and having a career.
We have come a long way since “Christmas in Purgatory,” when Burton Blatt opened our eyes to the horrors of State institutionalization or what he described as “hell on earth.” And while the Willowbrooks of New York are no more – thanks in part to past governors like Hugh Carey – we must continue to make sure those living with disabilities are empowered to live independent, integrated and productive lives. Whether it’s through the stem cell initiative Senator David Paterson and I announced last week or updating our support system as I have outlined today, the we must make the disability community and these issues a priority.
Thank you.
Eliot Spitzer
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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. April 25, 2006: The Fort Hill Players Summer Production of Robin Hood has scheduled audition dates May 16 and 18 at “The Roch” (Rochambeau School) for its July production. For info on the new production, click “Read More.”
Brace yourselves, theatergoers: Sherwood Forest has had quite the shakeup.
Mary Lynn Dobson’s play is not only a romp through Sherwood, but also a hilarious take on the swaggering guy-in-green who always tries his best in The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood. This frantically funny, Pythonesque retelling of the classic legend portrays Hood’s never-ending quest to aid the needy. This time, he encounters a lovely damsel-in-distress. Of course, since this isn’t the typical Robin Hood, this isn’t the typical Damsel.
Add to that an ever-scheming sheriff, who would rather bowl a strike than hit a bulls eye; a bad-guy monarch wannabe; and a good-natured “Town’s Guy” who manages to make his way into every scene, and you’ve got an irreverent jaunt you won’t soon forget.
Audition Info
May 16 & 18 – 7:30pm
Rochambeau School, 228 Fisher Ave, White Plains (click for directions)
Performances: July 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18 at 7 pm
Additional information 914-946-5143
Character Descriptions
10 Adult Actors needed. 4 men, 2 women, 4 men or women.
Robin Hood: Male Should be played as a 20-something. Dashing Hero.
Cross between Dudley Do Right & Frasier’s Niles Crane. Always impressed with himself. Good intentions to help the homeless & poor of England; oversized ego. Master sportsman.
Lady Marian: Female Should be played as a 20-something. Lovely damsel in distress. Niece of King Richard & Prince John, Robin Hood’s true love. Cross between Miss Piggy & the actress Emma Thompson. Kind, charming, and shares Robin’s quest to aid the needy. Also has a strange obsession with skin conditions.
Prince John: Male Head bad guy. Typically evil, selfish, greedy and has no regard for the welfare of England & his people. Should be disliked by all.
Sheriff of Nottingham: Male Typically evil, selfish, greedy and has no regard for the welfare of England & its people. Is a master sportsman and Robin’s chief rival. Hopes to marry Marian. Also disliked by all.
Town’s Guy: Male or Female Narrator/Friend of Robin.
Lady In Waiting: Female Marian’s attendant.
Friar Tuck: Male Holy presence for Robin & his Merry Men.
Will Scarlet: Male or Female One of Robin’s Merry Men. Wise Guy.
Little John: Male or Female One of Robin’s Merry Men. Dim witted, large in size.
Allan Adale: Male or Female One of Robin’s Merry Men. Slightly dim witted.
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WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. April 24, 2006: A reader doing some idle math this morning, asks how the city comes up with $2 Billion of development in the last four years:
Dear John,
In this morning’s “Journal News,” a story on the White Plains budget referred to $2-billion in new construction projects during Mayor Delfino’s last term, which would be years 2001-2005. I’ve heard that $2-billion number before. Has City Hall ever provided a complete list of the projects which total $2-billion? It would be interesting to see if they’d give you, a reporter, a complete list. I’ve tried making my own list, but it doesn’t come to anywhere near $2-billion worth. Maybe I’m missing a few projects here and there. It would be good to find out precisely what City Hall is talking about.
Anonymous
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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. April 24, 2006: WPCNR received a report of a new ploy in telephone credit card scams from one of our readers. WPCNR asked the White Plains Department of Public Safety about its possibility. Martin Gleeson, spokesperson for Public Safety reports, “What you describe appears to be a real scheme to defraud that is known to law enforcement. It’s unclear wheather any White Plains residents have been victimized.” Here is how the scam works, and should you experience such a call, contact the police:
Just a heads up, in case you come across this…
This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.
Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you’ll be better prepared to protect yourself.
One of our employees was called on Wednesday from “VISA”, and I was called
on Thursday from “Master Card.”
The scam works like this: Person calling says, “This is (name), and I’m calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I’m calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in Arizona?”
When you say “No”, the caller continues with, “Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?”
You say “Yes”. The caller continues – “I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1-800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number.”
The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. “Do you need me to read it again?”
Here’s the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, “I
need to verify you are in possession of your card.”
He’ll ask you to turn your card over and look for some numbers. There are 7 numbers; the first 4
are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor
of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him.
After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he’ll say, “That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?” After you say “no,” the caller then thanks you and states, “Don’t hesitate to call back if you do,” and hangs up.
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.
Long story made short – we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don’t give it to them.
Instead, tell them you’ll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the
card!
If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you’re receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you’ll seecharges for purchases you didn’t make, and by then it’s almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a “Jason Richardson of Master Card” with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn’t let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA.
The police urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening. Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.
(A WPCNR reader)
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From NFTE. April 24, 2006: The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) today announced that Laura DeLucia, of
Ms. DeLucia developed an interest in business while working for her grandfather. Her desire to learn more about running a business led her to NFTE. “NFTE gave me greater confidence in myself and my capabilities and in dealing with people in general. I’m doing better in my school work and plan on attending college. NFTE ch
Healing Hearts, One Basket at a Time, is the name of DeLucia’s business, a novel gift basket venture that promotes a heart healthy lifestyle. Using her grandmother’s recipes, which have been altered to meet the requirements of a healthy diet, DeLucia fills baskets with goodies she bakes herself and sells at American Heart Association events.
“Nothing is more rewarding than empowering young people with the belief that they can make a difference in their lives,” comments Joel Warren, Executive Director of NFTE’s Fairchester Division. “The remarkable results prove that NFTE’s unique entrepreneurial curriculum works and provides a structure for channeling creativity into profits.”
The three students will be honored at the New York City NFTE’s “Salute to the Entrepreneurial Spirit” awards dinner on April 25. Winners receive a cash prize to serve as working capital for their businesses or to fund future educational pursuits.
The award winners were selected from competitors nationwide. Scott Zuckerman and Fernando Arias, the other two winners are both seniors in
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Libby Hollahan. April 23, 2006 (Edited): The League of Women Voters of White Plains and the Junior Section of the Woman’s Club of White Plains will jointly sponsor a public forum for candidates for the 2006 White Plains Board of Education election. The meeting will be held on
Three seats on the seven-member board will be available in this year’s election. The seats are currently held by Peter Bassano, Terry McGuire, and Donna McLaughlin. All candidates who have filed petitions by the April 26 deadline will be invited to participate in the meeting. Board members serve without pay, and terms of office are for three years, effective July 1.
Polls will be open on May 16 from
As of Friday, April 23, 2006, WPCNR received no indication from the Clerk to the School Board that there are any opposition candidates seeking to oppose the three incumbents, Mr. McGuire, Mr. Bassano and Ms. McLaughlin, who all took out petitions to run.
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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. April 23, 2006: The shows featuring the acerbic and popular Jackie Mason, one of the WPPAC’s top box office shows last season, and the highlight of the WPPAC spring season which were to have the comedian spinning his one-liners for Mr. and Mrs. White Plains next weekend have been cancelled according to the WPPAC Box Office. A spokesperson for WPPAC said Mr. Mason cancelled the performances because he is “shooting a TV pilot at the time.”
Jackie Mason Performances for April 29, 30 are OFF. The Box Office reports “we’re hoping to get him for the fall, but nothing’s been set yet.” The cancellation has not been reported on the White Plains Performing Arts Center website, though Mr. Mason’s performances are no longer on the calendar appearing on the website. The standard contract between performer and venue, normally calls for 30 days cancellation notice to the producers. Photo of WPPAC Poster, WPCNR News Archive.