WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.
County Executive George Latimer is releasing the following statement regarding Holtec informing the Indian Point Energy Center Decommissioning Oversight Board its plan to begin releasing treated wastewater from the shutdown nuclear power plant into the Hudson River next month.
“The announcement by Holtec to expedite this plan, in the midst of ongoing discussions with State officials, community stakeholders and local municipalities, is an outrageous one.
The impacted communities have far too much at stake for any treated water dumping to occur on a timeline quicker than what was expected.
It is a mistake for Holtec to act before full public vetting of all options and acting without convincing residents and local governments why the other options have been overridden for consideration.
Through the Indian Point Decommissioning Board, which the County has a seat at the table on, the County is requesting an exact list of all elements and components which will be tested for.
I am urging Holtec and all parties involved to suspend their current plans, and to hold continued conversations on this decision and any subsequent actions that may be taken in order to ensure that residents of and visitors to our beautiful, scenic riverfronts are best protected.”
WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER.From Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. April 5, 2023:
On the 5th of each month the town of Greenburgh posts comparisons on the Greenburgh website – Con Ed rates vs Sustainable Westchester rates. Residents of 29 municipalities in Westchester- including Greenburgh -have enrolled in the ESCO. Residents are automatically enrolled unless they opt out. Sustainable Westchester rates can’t go up or down until October 2024. Con Ed rates can fluctuate. Sustainable Westchester purchases green power (solar, wind)–that is good for the environment.
In recent months Con Ed rates have been lower than the ESCO rates. In March the average Con Ed standard rates was 8.01 cents per kWh. The rates for Sustainable Westchester’s Westchester Power ESCO was 15.13 cents per kWh. Sustainable Westchester also offers residents in the 29 municipalities a non green option which was 13.36 per kWh.
Sustainable Westchester has agreed to send a letter to residents in each of the 29 municipalities advising them that Con Ed rates are currently lower than the ESCOs and providing ratepayers with information as to how to opt out if they wish to. People can opt in or out anytime. The letter from Sustainable Westchester should be sent out next week.
This is what I posted on the town website (click link). The information was provided by Sustainable Westchester
Our customers helped us take the fight to scammers last year by reporting suspicious emails, texts, and phone calls. Each report matters. In 2022, we made significant strides to protect our customers:
We initiated takedowns of more than 20,000 phishing websites and 10,000 phone numbers that were used as part of impersonation scams.
We referred 100s of bad actors across the globe to law enforcement to help them ensure these scammers are held accountable.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMMERS
Be careful installing apps or software
Amazon will not ask you to install an app or download software in order to receive a refund or to get help from customer service.
Never pay over the phone
Amazon will not ask you to provide payment information, including gift cards (or “verification cards,” as some scammers call them), for products or services over the phone.
Always verify orders directly with Amazon
Amazon will not include purchased product information in order confirmation and shipping confirmation emails we send to customers. For any questions related to an order, always check Your Orders on Amazon.com or via the “Amazon Shopping” app.
Be wary of false urgency
Amazon will not pressure you to act now. Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking.
If you receive communication — a call, text, or email — that you think may not be from Amazon, please report it to us at amazon.com/reportascam
Visit the Message Center on our website to review emails from Amazon. For more information on how to stay safe online, visit Security & Privacy on the Amazon Customer Service page.
Events like COVID-19 and mass shootings are hugely impactful to our society. Unfortunately, as time passes, we don’t do a great job at recalling events, integrating those events into our lives, or using those experiences to make future decisions/judgments.
Simply put, we forget.
Why and how
The mechanics of memories are relatively clear: a combination of neurons, a memory center in our brain, a process to consolidate memories during sleep, and a process to retrieve memories.
However, social psychologists have been grappling with a very different and challenging question for almost 100 years—not how we forget, but why.
The field has essentially settled on two overarching reasons:
Infodemic. We are simply inundated with too much information to retain it all. This information overload is at least partially responsible for our forgetfulness.
Biases. To wade through all of this information, we use shortcuts, or heuristics. These are mostly good and effective, but the human brain isn’t like a computer—it’s not just data in, data out. The way we think about things is not purely logical; biases and mental shortcuts have a large effect on memories.
Four biases influence memory
How we remember and make decisions is largely driven by our experiences. It makes it easier to remember certain things while forgetting others. There are many biases contributing to this, but four that are especially relevant:
Immune neglect. Just like our body’s physical immune system helps us stay healthy, we also have an emotional immune system that helps us be psychologically resilient. On balance, this is a good thing, allowing us to bounce back from difficult situations more quickly. The fear, outrage, or other negative emotions that big events arouse often don’t last that long, which impacts judgment and decision-making in the future.
Example: The motivation to make a change feels so strong in the immediate aftermath of a mass shooting, but is often shorter-lived than necessary to implement change. Most people get back to their lives as their emotional immune systems allow them to return to normal.
Availability (or recency) bias. When we make decisions, we don’t weigh the pros and cons equally; some things count more than others for individuals. Things that readily come to mind will sway us more, regardless of their actual importance or value, than those that are harder to recall.
Example: The early days of lockdowns, sanitizing groceries, and masking are, for many people, in the past. This makes the details of those bygone times difficult to recall and causes more recent, less frantic memories to impact our decisions.
Example: News coverage is a two-way street. As time from an event increases, people are less likely to click on articles about it, and articles are therefore less likely to cover these topics. The media coverage of mass shootings significantly declines over time. This makes it easier to forget for those outside of the directly impacted community.
Hindsight bias. “I knew it all along!” Humans tend to overestimate their ability to predict what, in reality, was an unpredictable event. This can negatively affect our memory and decision-making in the future.
Example: “We shoulda known _____!” This will negatively contribute to decisions about preparing for the future of COVID—or even the possibility of the next pandemic. Overconfidence can be detrimental, as some will feel like they will be able to predict or foresee the next big thing.
Cognitive dissonance. Early 2020 was horrible, and things are much better now . . . but not all the way better. This reconsideration of a past big event—that sucked, but now things are good—can feel off-putting or inconsistent. Wanting to resolve that inconsistency, people may discount how bad things were then, instead focusing on how good they are now.
Example: Each time a mass shooting occurs, millions of people could have the same reaction: wow, that’s horrifying, but I wasn’t personally affected. This inconsistency of thought feels uncomfortable, as we might think we should be feeling 100% bad. To make ourselves feel better, we might convince ourselves that, actually, the shooting wasn’t so bad; these cognitive gymnastics could hinder large-scale responses like long-term government action.
What we can do about it
Although these biases are generally unavoidable, the news isn’t all bad. Studies show that we are particularly prone to using these shortcuts in certain situations, like when we are tired, hungry, or stressed out. Addressing these, before or during decision-making, can help.
What’s more, research indicates that simple awareness of the biases can reduce their influence on us. In other words, we can help short-circuit them by simply shining light.
Bottom line
Memories of the same event do not look the same for everyone. Sometimes the event doesn’t even become a memory at all. Humans have evolved to use mental shortcuts to more smoothly navigate the world.
Unfortunately, this typically means normalizing events—like a pandemic or mass shootings—which will ultimately hurt us in the end, leading to a lack of pandemic preparedness or insufficient pushes for gun reform. This can lead us into the never-ending cycle of panic and neglect unless we actively fight against it.
“Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE)” is written by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, data scientist, wife. During the day she works at a nonpartisan health policy think tank and is a senior scientific consultant to a number of organizations, including the CDC. At night she writes this newsletter. Her main goal is to “translate” the ever-evolving public health science so that people will be well equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support this effort, subscribe below:
Con Ed is seeking permission from the NYS Public Service Commission to raise electric rates over a three year period by an average of 20% for electric rates and 31% for gas rates. They are seeking to upgrade their electric delivery system and upgrade its gas system.
I believe that addressing infrastructure is important. But, also believe that the rate hikes should not be paid for by Con Ed customers instead of by Con Ed stockholders Con Ed continues to report large profits. In 2022 Con Ed reported net income for common stock of $1,620 million or $4.68 a share compared with $1,346 million or $3.86 a share in 2021. Adjusted earnings were $1,620 million or $4.57 a share in 2022 compared with $1,528 million or $4.39 a share in 2021.
The NYS Public Service Commission should take into account Con Ed’s profits when deciding whether a rate hike should be approved.
Con Ed is seeking a rate hike. If you would like to comment before the Public Service Commission please click onto the following link.
WPCNR QUARTERLY STATE OF LIFE SERIES # 7. News & Comment By John F. Bailey. March 29, 2023:
It’s coming.
It is coming up.It is one week away.Good Friday.Let us imagine what it was like.
It is late afternoon now in the Jerusalem of 33 A.D. Jesus of Nazereth has died on the cross in between two thieves. The three crosses can be seen on the distant hill.
He died 1,990 years ago on that cross this April 7. There was no CNN, No Fox News, showing live coverage, no internet, no newspapers,radio or television. No Twitter or Facebook. No Instagram,Skype, or Google.
Nevertheless the message of the man who died on Calvary (The Place of the Skull) spread around the world without mass communication.
His followers, twelve of them were so devoted to His message of love and code of behavior they became the first pacifist activists who spread a message the man they called their Lord had preached to them.
He was Jesus of Nazareth. He had no last name.
Today He is now known all over the world for the message he delivered.
Whether you believe He is the Son of God, or not, He ranks as one of the foremost influences on mankind. More than Plato, more than Socrates, more than any leader or politician, or entertainer whoever lived.
His selfless acts of embracing lepers, the poor, those who sinned were unique.
Such compassion for the downtrodden was unheard of during the time He lived.
It was a time of slavery. No human rights. No care for the sick. When cities were razed and populations slaughtered or enslaved much like the genocides of today. Our world today must feel the same way as it did then.
Jesus of Nazareth introduced a new philosophy that spread throughout the world after His death by crucifixion on this day (maybe, we do not know the exact date), because the community leaders of his own people thought him a threat to their power. And that fear that this simple man was a threat should be a lesson to us all.
If you live by His philosophy of forgiveness you are a person at peace with yourself. If you accept those who are different from you without fear or prejudice, you are a force for spreading His message of peace towards others and good will.
If you help the poor and the sick because you sympathize with them, you are following His way.
If you stand up for truth, point out what is wrong as He did with the Pharisees. You are doing his will.
If you go about doing good for the sake of doing good, you are following His virtue of selflessness.
Jesus of Nazareth’s message whether divine or a code of how we conduct our lives resonated with millions and it spread.
There is no denying He is one of the great philosophers of the human experience, kin to Socrates, the other giant of antiquity thought.
The above print of “The Return from Calvary” painted by Herbert Schmalz shows the last hours of Jesus of Nazareth’s crucifixation around 33 A.D. on Calvary Hill, “the place of the Skull” outside of Jerusalem late in the day He was crucified.
The description on the print describes the somber scene:
The darkness which was on the earth (during His suffering) is clearing away.
One long, dark cloud is hanging over the city like a pall.
The Virgin Mother, weighted down by fatigue and grief, knowing not wither she goes, is being led up some steps, toward “his own” home, by St. John and Mary Magdalene.
In the distance on the top of Cavalry, you can make out the three crosses.
The grief so eloquently captured by this print depicts the very personal loss all of us endure when someone we love passes away, realizing our loss because of all they did for us.
Jesus of Nazareth was a human being who affects us to this day.
One of the great gifts of this man, Jesus of Nazareth, is the celebration of humanity and capacity to care and feel for others that aids persons whether they believe He was the Son of God or not. Or that you will have eternal life if you believe in him.
His philosophies of care, courage, compassion and benevolent action serve the people who try to do those behaviors well because they leave a great personal satisfaction in the heart, the mind, and the spirit.
You do not have to second guess yourself, when you do what is right, humane, merciful, and serves the less fortunate without superiority with nothing to gain for yourself. And if you do not do what is right, if you weaken, you always regret it and remember when you failed to do right.
The peace of mind of action is the least of the great gift of Jesus of Nazareth whose death on the cross is marked the Good Friday coming in one week, April 7
If you act as Jesus did, you will be remembered by all you meet fondly and lovingly, and be comforted that you will live in memories of those you have touched with your love and kindness and caring for eternity to the end of the age.
His simple teachings have great power. Use them. Implement them.
They give meaning to our mystery of life.
They give meaning and purpose to anyone’s life.
For 1,990 years they have made a violent world a better place.
WPCNR QUARTERLY STATE OF LIFE SERIES # 6. News & Comment By John F. Bailey. March 29, 2023:
It’s coming.
Time to be a kid again
Ball is coming back
This year it really is a brand new ball game.
Pitch Clocks. Batter clocks. Big Bases. No overshifting — and we do not know a lot of the nuances of these new rules. Limiting throws to first. The 10th inning Tiebreaker which I hate.
What if a center moves past straightaway center– is that “offside?” Or after the ball is pitched can the outfielders take off into gaps in anticipation of the direction the batter is going to hit to? It may absolutely help outfield defenders. Is a ball called by the umpire, or does the centerfielder have to spend time in a penalty box for an inning and they have to play two outfielders? I shouldn’t have suggested I hope Joe Torre does not see this column!
I have not seen any telecasts of “Exhibition Games” from Florida for the Bombers train and the Metropolitans train, nor heard any radio broadcasts from Florida.
Baseball is the worst sold, worst promoted professional sport. The owners do not promote to young fans. They rely on websites and all sports radio to get their news out. Radio telecasts of Exhibition games on a lazy cold miserable March are like an oasis or were. I guess John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman did some games but at odd times of games. When they break up that play-by-play team it will be a sad day because Waldman is by far the best color commentary on baseball, never gives you cliches like the other announcers.
Look for sponsors on every pitch soon on the radio. “The payoff pitch is brought to you by Republic Bank.” The commercializing of the Yankee radio broadcasts is tough to take. I do not understand how Sterling and Waldman stand it. Sterling (“It is high, it is far, it is gone!”)s now an easy listening announcer similar to the broadcasters when I was growing up: Harry Kalas, By Saam, Bob Prince (“You can kiss it Goodbye”), Ernie Harwell (“For the Taggas,” “Long Gone”)
I loved Exhibition games because it did not matter who won the game. It was for fun for the fans.
But it is a tense time. Baseball is so competitive. Every player is competing and hoping they do not get hurt. The pressure is intense.
The big worry is getting injured and that has happened a lot this spring.
However starting the baseball season on March 31 in the north for the most part is crazy. MLB does a March opener to play nothing but single games. There no more 2 for the price of one doubleheaders scheduled. And when the make-up games come they do it as a day night separate admission doubleheader or the awful twilight-nighter that gets you home at midnight from Da Bronx.
You will be playing possibly in snow at the Yankee opener or Met opener. I remember getting snowed out on April 6 in the 1990s when I went to an opener.
Cold means pulled muscles more injuries. Or worse sore arms. Teams do not hit their stride until June when it starts getting really warm.
Now we have very expanded playoffs, getting more like the NBA, NHL and NFL every year.
The trouble is baseball has no form. The best team over a season can get taken out when three pitchers get hot in a short series.
As the late Commissioner Fay Vincent said baseball is a game that breaks your heart. They do it every year.
Some other observations, I think the games will be just as slow as they ever have due to the pitching changes.
I think strategies have to be invented to play the tie breaker better. Defend third base is the key — to snuff the push to hit the ball to right. that gets the runner to third to score on an out. Of course few hitters can hit specifically to an area.
The larger bases may help stealing but pitchouts will be key after the your throws over twice. You have go after the first throw over, so they will be ready for that, too.
The stealing will not be as successful as you think. Hit run? Hitters strike out too much to risk a base runner getting caught by a throw down. Incidentally, does the catcher get to throw down to first at will, no limit? Really baseball’s explanations of these rules has been amateurishly vague. They should offer a Free rules guide to fans.
Pitching management is the key. Bullpens are the name of the game now.
No, I no longer love the game. But you never forget your first love. There is nothing like being in the ballpark. The shadows, the sun, the scoreboards. The beer.
As Bogie once said, “Baseball. It’s my game. Sunshine. Pretty girls, lots of them. A hot dog at the game beats roast beef at The Ritz.”
The State of Ball is always on my mind.
I married Brenda Starr because she sat through a doubleheader (scheduled) in 1970 when the Mets were playing the Big Red Machine. It had rained most of the morning. I said we’ll go to the game anyway. We go. We pay the usual fortune to park..go up to front row seats in the upper deck just off first. There are 6 inches of water under our seats.
I decide well it’s still raining, so we left and I drove back to Jersey, but a strange force drew me to the radio and I said let’s just see…and Bob Murphy is saying…”Well they are taking the tarp off the field and we’ll be playing.”
I turned the car around and drove us back to Shea. Paid to park again. Got in our seats by the time it started.
The Mets split two 1-run games.
I figured that I would never meet another woman who would ever do that.
So here is my poem “Opening Day” I wrote many years ago for all you fans out there
OPENING DAY is better than Christmas Day,
When you look out and know they’ll play,
Dreary gray or brilliant spring sunray
Opening Day means The Big Show is back today.
Decades past, Opening Day for fanatics starved,
Eager for sharp crack of ash on horsehide carved;
Pennants snapping in northwest winds
Top ramparts of inviting walls arches and sculpted friezes wistfully escarped.
Fans lucky to get away with ducats
Marvel at flannels sharp whites pristine,
To play in the warm zephyrs in NY blazened caps,
Dashing specks of white warmup on the greenest green.
Motor cars pant in traffic jams on the Deegan, Down Yawkey Way, on 35th and Shields or Waveland’s jam.
The first glimpse of storied Park,
The place where ball is played, where ghosts of Ted, Babe, Duke
Mel, Spahnie, Whitey, Mickey, Willie, Yaz, Minnie and Sandy lark.
Pay a fortune to park, pass stogie smoking old men at the same gates for a hundred years,
Now out into the street
You go, aroma of roasting chestnuts, pungent cigars sweet,
Cries of “scorecard heah” “programs,heah” shout out, neath light towers to heaven.
Fans in cap and uniform, little boys and girls gawk in awe hoping to make the Anthem Never seeing such sheer walls, topped with the legend “GameToday 1:30 PM.”
Clutching slim cardboard tix to Section 14 Upper Deck up to the turnstiles Festooned with souvenirs more dear as diamonds, beyond, the lure of endless aisles.
Into press of crowd, grizzled usher,
RIPS YOUR TICKET. Turnstile turns, clicks, and into the cathedral of ball you go Into the rotunda greeted with magic signs dazzling the senses — UPPER LEVELS SECTIONS 1 to 39, 2 to 40
Hawkers shout –Voices of Flatbush — colorful books in hand
“Yeabook heah,” “Dodger Yearbook here,” “Hot dog, heah,”
Assail ears! Up ramps you climb to the sign “NEXT HOMESTAND”
Walking the catwalk,sliver of blue is first look of the magic sphere
Into the sunlight splaying the vast rake of the mighty stand.
Below are baseball knights of the diamond in white hues Cavorting, snapping throws across immaculate red clay As majestic fungo bats — CRACK! send white spheres soaring to filling bleachers a mile away, Bunting flutter from the deck rails red, white and true blues.
Old Glory furls on highest pole in centerfield Colorful signage deliver the manly flavor of the only real game, GILLETTE To Look Sharp, The Red Sox use Lifeboy, Schaefer It’s A Hit Hey, Neighbor Have a Gansett, White Owl Cigars, Hit Sign Win Suit
From old friendly walls, to Gladys Gooding on the organ Comfy old green scoreboard display Today’s games in the bigs BETTER THAN CNN CHI CLE BOS DET, CHI STL, NY WAS make you king for a day. Two Bits for a scorecard, usher wipes your seat, ballpark fills your heart.
Starters wheel,deal, kicking high on sidelines fueling expectancy
Men in blue, arms folded solemnly conduct the home plate regimen Casey, Ralph , Walter, Joe,Sparky exchange lineup cards and knowing Ground rules by heart, go over them for ritual’s sake. Bob Shepard “The Voice of God” entones “Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Welcome to Yankee Stadium.”
“Please rise for the playing of our national anthem,” Nancy Faust at organ note by note renders baseball’s theme song Rising on the breeze, uniting do-rag and ball cap, Fedora, ponytail and bouffant in the spirit of the great game.
Grass is never greener on opening days Strikes are louder, long drives electrify alleys Beers with whiter than white high creamy heads, Taste crisp cold mellow best brew you drink all year
Smashes laser through short in the gap in raucous rallies
Magicians without wands start 6-4-3s, (if you’re scoring at home)
Backhand sure hits losing their caps
“Oh what a play”s crackle on WGN with “CUBS WIN!”‘S
Jack and Mel, Vince, Red, Curt and Murph , Gussie, Marty, John and Suzyn , Ernie, The Gunner, are back at mikes turning mundane days
Into joy with a ninth inning elixir and “happy recaps”
The Great Pete Rose, “Charlie Hustle” at the Plate,1975, Wrigley Field (Photo by John Bailey)
Thunderous ROARS AWARD the 2-out winner again creating big kids’ grins.
WPCNR QUARTERLY STATE OF LIFE SERIES # 5. News & Comment By John F. Bailey. March 28, 2023:
I remember her to this day from when I was in Junior High School in Pleasantville.
She was a young woman from India, I believe or Pakistan. She always held her head down. She always was being teased by the girls.
I felt so sorry for her. But did I speak to her. Did I try to show her some courtesy or respect. I did not. I wanted to, but she never spoke her big brown eyes always widened in fear when the teacher called on her. When people came up to her she shyed away turned her head.
I wonder how her life turned out.
What a brave young person she was handling those Pleasantville students all staring at her and poking fun at her.
That was the days when Pleasantville only had one black family living in Pleasantville and he was Sidney Portier the actor.
In viewing the “We Are White Plains” exhibit at the high school last Friday showing persons we know in White Plains dressed as we never see them in shabby clothes, athletic wear and wearing stern expressions it hit home to me the artist Bayete’ Ross Smith concept of showing people differently not having them smile. The exhibit shows us our real insecurities.
When I see a person coming at us, big, in a cap, bearded in a big coat. I at least am a little worried and I give them an ” excuse me” with a smile, which I don’t always do, but is my way of being civil. The exhibit at White Plains High explains to me how hard it is to get along with other people, because we have impression absorbed over the years that we fall back on.
When my parents used to drive me into the city and my father always took the Triboro Bridge down the FDR and turned onto 125 Street exit to avoid traffic, he would tell me to lock door, as we were entering Harlem.
The mindsets you get young you carry with you.
However if you are a person of low income, a person just starting a marriage, just out of school, the county does not really care about your survival.
You cannot find an affordable apartment. You cannot save enough down payment for a house. You are cheated with low salaries. You are used as interns, the modern word for “slave.”
Mara Gay’s latest editorial in the New York Times Thursday was another “tell it like it is” editorial that took the New York State Legislature apart on their pompous rejection of Governor Hochul’s Housing Compact.
Her point was nothing has changed and how the leaders of this state, its towns and cities do not wake up and smell the coffee.
The poor, especial minorities, immigrants,young persons people we hope will lead us into the future we treat very badly. Even when organizations try and help it can be a patronizing experience, in my opinion.
Because nothing has changed in 73 years from the 1950s. Now it is not just minorities who are discriminated against and exploited it is youth and people trying to grow their careers, start families, the dreams they are taught to have but they cannot afford it.
This is part of a script for White Plains Week–it is written in all caps and I apologize.
THE STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY MUST THINK GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS A REPUBLICAN THE WAY THEY GUTTED HER PROPOSALS FOR NO TAX INCREASES, TRASHED HER HOUSING COMPACT PLAN AND JUST RAISED TAXES ON UPPER INCOMES. IS THIS THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MOONLIGHTING IN ALBANY THIS WEEK?
WELL GOVERNOR HOCHUL WAS NOT HAPPY SHE SENT OUT FLYERS TO VOTERS ASKING FOR THEM TO TELL STATE SENATORS AND ASSEMBLY PERSONS TO SUPPORT HER BUDGET.
SHE HAS BEEN EMBARRASSED TWICE NOW BY THE STATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY LOVING THEIR POWER. REJECTION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS JUSTICE AND NOW THIS KILL OF A LONG NEEDED FOCUS ON GETTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILT IN AREAS QUICKLY NOW WHEN IT’S REALLY NEEDED THAT TOWNS AND VILLAGES – (YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE)HAVE USED SANCROSANCT ZONINGS TO DENY PROJECTS THEY DON’T WANT.
WHY? TO PRESERVE COMMUNITY CHARACTER. THESE VERY ATTITUDES DOCUMENTED BY MARA GAY IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ON THE OP PAGE TWO WEEKS AGO SHOW THAT THOSE RESTRICTIVE, ANTI MULTI FAMILY HOUSING TOWNS HAVE NEITHER CHARACTER, RESPONSIBITYITY OR RESPECT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMUTE FROM THE OUTLYING COUNTIES TO NEW YORK CITY TO WORK.
FOR THAT MATTER THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS BEEN JAWBONING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IGNORED DOING SOMETHING TOUGH ABOUT IT FOR 20 YEARS NOW 10% of a building for affordable units is nothing. Lip service. Politicians will tell you it’s a start.
But you know what they never finish what they start.
COME ON! AS WARNER WOLF WOULD SAY,
THE SENATE IS GOING TO GIVE $500 MILLION IN MONETARY INCENTIVES TO THE SWANKY TOWNS INSURING THEIR SUPPORT IN THE ELECTIONS TO COME FROM THE AREAS THAT NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEY GIVE THEM THE RIGHT TO DESIGN THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENTS? THAT IS A JOKE.
THE MONEY WILL BE CHEWED UP IN STUDIES, TASK FORCES, LOCAL CONSULTANTS IT WILL DRAG ON TAKE YEARS. ONCE AGAIN THIS IS BRAIN-DEAD ANALYSIS BY THE SENATE.
THE TOWNS ARE GOING TO STUDY WHAT’S NEEDED? REALLY.
THEY HAVE NOT DONE THAT IN WHAT 73 YEARS.
THE MONEY — HOW DOES STATE SENATE HOUSING PROBLEM SOLVERS “PLANNERS” SAY HOW THE $500 MILLION MUST BE USED BY A COMMUNITY.
DO THEY GET IT UPFRONT? OR BASED ON A LONG DRAWN OUT DISCUSSED PROPOSAL?
THEY PROBABLY HAVEN’T THOUGHT THAT OUT YET. BECAUSE THEY HAVE TROUBLE WITH THINKING.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A GO-TO-WHEN-THERE’S AN ELECTION ISSUE FOR THEM, NOT A “WE ARE GOING TO BUILD IT ISSUE”
Does anyone remember the Westchester County HOUSING ASSESSMENT ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO?
I DO.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S STUDY CONCLUDED THAT 11,703 WERE NEEDED IMMEDIATELY FOR THE OVERCROWDED, OR HOMELESS AS WELL AS NON-WESTCHESTER RESIDENTS.
OVER ALL THE NEED THE COUNTY’S OWN STUDY SAID THE REAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEED IS 82,451 UNITS IN ONE COUNTY!
WHAT? WHAT MUST IT BE THE HOUSING NEED ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE?
GOVERNOR HOCHUL WANTED TO BUILD 800,000 UNITS AND STARTED FINALLY THE CONVERSATION AND NOW THE LEGISLATURE THINKS IT CAN SOLVE IT WITH SEED MONEY THAT THE TOWNS WILL USE AT THEIR LEISURE…NO CONDITIONS…WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?
THE STATE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO SPEND $500 MILLION NO STRINGS ATTACHED!
MORE PORK BARREL MONEY FOR STATUS QUO LEADERS IN TOWNS THAT HAVE IGNORED NEEDS OF THE OTHER HALF FOR YEARS.
OH—COUNTY EXECUTIVE LATIMER’S STUDY ALSO RECOMMENDED JUST WHAT MUCH OF GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S HOUSING COMPACT WANTED TO DO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORKSHOPS FOR PUBLIC
FUND TUITION FOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS IN HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD WORKS AMERICA
2 YEAR UPDATES OF EXITING AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVENTORY TRACK ALL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS OVER 10 UNITS
CAPTURE FORECLOSURES AS EVICTION PREVENTION STRATEGY
PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MUNICIPALITIES TO DRAFT MODEL ZONING ORDINANCES FOR ACCESSOR DWELLING UNITS
REUSE OF UNDER UTILIZED PROPERTY
HOUSING COMPACT BETWEEN COUNTY & MUNICIPALITIES (SOUND FAMILIAR)
NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES USING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT DATA (AGAIN SOUNDS FAMILIAR)
EXPAND ANTI EVICTION PROGRAMS
PRE-DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OPTIONS—FUNDING FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT HOUSING AGENCIES FOR PRE DEVELOPMENT COSTS FOR PRESERVATION AND CONSTRUCTION
AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO START THOSE PROGRAMS.
I THINK THE STATE SENATE NEEDS TO PAY THE COUNTY A CONSULTING FEE FOR FOLLOWING MR. LATIMER’S STUDY SUGGESTIONS AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL, TOO.
HOWEVER I DO NOT UNDERSTAND MR. LATIMER SAYING HE BELIEVES THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IMPLEMENTATION HAS TO BE LEFT TO THE TOWNS AND MUNICIPALITIES TO DECIDE.
DESPITE WESTCHESTER’S WHOLESOME ATMOSPHERE.
THE HISTORY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF THEY HAVE NOT DONE IT.
THEY WON’T DO IT.
THE REPUBLICAN MR. ASTORINO FOUGHT HUD ON IT AND WON AND NOW THE DEMOCRATS ARE FIGHTING THE GOVERNOR OVER THIS ZONING OVERRIDE BY DOING SO THEY ARE SUPPORTING EXCLUSIONARY HOUSING.
OVERRIDING IS THE NAME OF THE GAME OVERRIDING THE YOUNG, THE UNDERPAID, THE STRIVING, THE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK WHO JUST WANT A HOME OR APARTMENT OF THEIR OWN SAFE SECURE AND NOT COSTING THEM $2,000 A MONTH OR $3,000 A MONTH FOR A LITTLE BOX
IT’S DISGUSTING HOW THE DEMOCRATS ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO MAKE THE GOVERNOR POSITION ONE OF A STATE MANAGER. THEY SHOULD BE CAREFUL WHAT THEY WISH FOR BECAUSE THEY WHO WOULD BE GOVERNOR NEXT WILL SEE THE FOOLISHNESS OF THIS ASSEMBLY-STATE SENATE DOES WHATEVER THEY WANT.
THE DEMOCRATS ARE DUPLICATING THE CHARADE OF GOVERNING GOING DOWN IN WASHINGTON D.C.–
WHERE NO WANTS TO COMPROMISE. NO ONE THINKS THE LITTLE GUYS LIVING DAY TO DAY WORKING TWO JOBS OR THE SINGLE MOM JUST WANTING A SAFE CLEAN TO LIVE.
EVERYONE WANTS TO BE THE BOSS AND DO WHAT THEY WANT WITHOUT THINKING OF THE EFFECT ON THE STATE OF LIFE.
I wish when I was in a position to speak to Marianne that I had. Because I did not know howl
Our leaders have to be fearless and not be the go-fors of the prejudiced, the privileged, and the power brokers.
The leaders of the last 73 years have condoned the redlining foreclosing, high mortgage down payments, and poorly maintained properties.
It’s worse than ever now.
The leaders up there do not have consciences!
Mine still bothers me when I think about Marianne.
