White Plains CitizeNetReporter

WPCNR NEWS AND COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. August 8, 2017:

Ivanka and Mellania Trump are our only answer.

They have to get Donald back on his “meds” now.

Impeachment proceedings have be be launched because Don is an unstable, irrational individual who does not realize the consequences of his actions. He does not think 5 minutes ahead.

Today we had the ludicrous, insane spectacle right out of Dr. Strangelove of the President of the United States threatening “fury” if North Korea does what?

His absolutely unacceptable temper tantrum “look how powerful I am” statement  issued a few hours ago at North Korea is reminiscent of Saddam Hussein’s rants against the United States before the first Iraq War and the second. It’s right out of Adolf Hitler.

He is the ranting President. He does not think things through. Does he think?

Trump is a 17 year old  gang leader,  right down to the phony pompadour, dealing with a testosterone-heavy 25 year old gang leader of North Korea. It’s West Side Story.

This behavior is unacceptable. Donnie has to do some damage control somehow.

But the Republicans and the Democrats in congress have to launch impeachment proceedings within the hour.

Now.

The nuclear codes have to be quietly taken away from him.

Nicky Haley the Ambassador to the U.N. has to make a face saving statement;

The U.S.A. does not go around threatening countries with “fire”.

Photographs I just saw of Mr. Trump, are reminiscent of Adolf Hitler. The livid expression, the slashing motions.

It is time for the congress to get off of their protocol collective backsides, and visit the President — long touted as the best businessman in the U.S whoever thought he was?– and tell him he is putting the world at risk by his irrational behavior.

I learned when threatened years ago, never to say what I would do. Not to respond. I learned to ignore it. When politicians threatened to sue me, I just ignored it. When they did sue me, I got lawyer to negotiate.

This guy who is running the country doesn’t even know how to do that? For God’s sake. Did he ever raise his own children?

A 25 year old is full of himself. The fact that that a 25 year old runs a possible nuclear power means his need for attention has to be placated. Has to be stroked. Doesn’t Donald the great dealmaker know that?

He doesn’t.

Doesn’t he know that threatening a strike back and hopefully not a preemptive strike is daring Kim Jung Un– there I think that might be right– might press every button he has.

He doesn’t.

The point is if Trump had any intelligence he would call a face-to-face with Kim Jung- Un and chat him up. Go to him. Play to his ego.

Is Donnie too inexperienced to know this?

He is.

But, now is the time for the U.S. Congress to go on mass to the “President” and say this is not good for you, your administration, America, or the world to act this way. You can’t do it.

He is sounding like a leader of ISIS and Al Queda.

He is not cute anymore.

He is no longer entertaining. He is no longer funny.

He deserves no respect any more.

I am tired of this respecting the President crap. You acquire respect through your behavior.

He’s a lousy President. The worst ever elected.

In six months he has proven he is the worst President since Andrew Johnson. But Donnie does not even know who that is or why.

WPCNR WESTCHESTER COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. August 7, 2017:

Joined by Westchester County’s largest Hispanic law enforcement organization, members of the county’s Departments of Public Safety and Correction, and union leaders from the Department of Correction, County Executive Robert P. Astorino today promised to veto legislation that would make Westchester a sanctuary county because it would jeopardize public safety, particularly those in our immigrant communities, would cost taxpayers millions of dollars and would be nearly impossible to enforce.

The Immigration Protection Act was approved 10-5 by the Board of Legislators earlier today. The county executive now has 10 days to veto the Act.

“Westchester is a diverse county with vibrant immigrant communities that are welcomed and valued,” Astorino said. “I’m opposed to this Act because it puts public safety at risk, especially those in our immigrant communities; puts Westchester at odds with our own federal government; creates rights not available to ordinary citizens; will jeopardize approximately $13 million in federal funds and is so confusing as to be unenforceable. It all adds up to be a dangerous idea, and for those reasons I will veto this legislation.”

In addressing issues with the Act, Astorino noted that enforcing immigration laws and deportations are the responsibility of the federal government, not county police, and that this Act severely restricts how local communities and law enforcement communicate with federal agencies, such as the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.

The county executive also said that his Administration had long worked with legislators and immigration groups to come up with workable legislation. But after much testimony from advocates, public safety, corrections and social services, the grave flaws in the Act were apparent and unworkable. In this case, political grandstanding was put before public safety, Astorino said.

“Just because proponents of the bill say it doesn’t create a sanctuary county, doesn’t make it so,” Astorino said. “Our County Attorney has given us an opinion that passage of this act makes Westchester a sanctuary county and at odds with the federal government.”

In his legal opinion, County Attorney Robert Meehan raised concerns that the law established “sanctuary policies,” jeopardizes millions of dollars in federal funds, and raises substantial questions as to whether it violates federal law.

“There are several provisions of the IPA which specifically limit the discretion of and prohibit county law enforcement agencies and officers from cooperating with federal law enforcement authorities,” Meehan wrote. “As such, the legislation, based upon a review of recent statements by the Attorney General of the United States and the Department of Justice, establishes ‘sanctuary policies’ which jeopardize receipt by the county of federal law enforcement grants.”

Hector Lopez, president of the Westchester Hispanic Law Enforcement Association, the county’s largest law enforcement group representing Hispanic officers, said that while his members respect and understand the vital role that immigrants play in this county, passage of the law endangers law-abiding residents while providing a safe haven for undocumented immigrants who have broken the law.

“The passing of this Act opens the doors for undocumented immigrants involved in criminal activity, such as the ruthless MS-13 gang, to migrate to Westchester and prey on other immigrants, many of whom will not report crimes committed against them for fear of retribution,” Lopez said.  “This act is placing handcuffs on our law enforcement officers, not the criminals.”

George Longworth, commissioner of the Westchester County Office of Public Safety, called it reckless.

“I want to be 100 percent clear: This bill is being passed over the objections of Westchester County law enforcement authorities,” Longworth said. “It will make Westchester families and police officers less safe. Anything that inhibits our ability to work with federal law enforcement partners like the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies is a bad and reckless idea.”

In working closely with the county, Legal Aid Society of Westchester Executive Director Clare J. Degnan lauded the valid goals of this Act, but was concerned with its potential for unintended consequences. She was particularly concerned with areas relating to sharing information with federal authorities and issuing of judicial warrants for inmates, along with conflicting and contradictory language within the law itself.

Immigration reform is needed, Astorino said, but it is the duty of Congress, not local legislatures.

“Let me also stress that I support immigration reform. For more than two decades, Republicans and Democrats have failed to fix our nation’s immigration system. That failure is why we are here today. So yes, reform is needed. But this legislation is not it. Good intentions do not make good law.”

WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. From the National Association of Sports Officials. August 7, 2017:

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2017. From the Latimer Campaign. August 4, 2017:

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. August 4, 2017 (Provided to WPCNR with request for publication):

Open letter to Hon. Mayor Thomas M. Roach

Dear Mayor Roach:

We understand that you, John Martin, John Kirkpatrick, and Justin Brasch have filed a challenge with the Board of Elections regarding the signatures that were collected on petitions for Milagros Lecuona, Alan Goldman, Saad Siddiqui, and Michael Kraver to get their names put on the ballot for a Democratic primary this September.

This is well within your right. The procedure that is in place with the Board of Elections should provide enough assurance that, if the signatures on these petitions are deemed invalid, your opponents will not be allowed to run. What we do not understand, however, is why a lawsuit has also been filed against them. It is unclear to us what purpose this lawsuit serves.

Saad Siddiqui in particular is a longtime friend of the Greer family. He has been friends with Alexis since their years at White Plains High School, and he spent a great deal of time at our house speaking about politics and history with Councilman Bob Greer, who as you may recall served on the White Plains Common Council for over 15 years.

Saad is the kind of candidate Bob would have endorsed: an honest, intelligent, idealistic, concerned citizen who has gotten involved in politics for the good of this city and its residents. He has dedicated his professional career to helping those in need, from his early work as a legal aid attorney to his current private practice. He has consistently devoted his considerable energy to community service and social justice, and he is a District Leader for the White Plains Democratic City Committee.

Saad and his family cannot support his portion of the burden of this lawsuit with their own money, and lawsuits are so expensive that his campaign dollars may run dry simply to help his slate pay legal fees. If this occurs, Saad and at least some of the other members of his slate may become unable to run at all.

We would like to believe that using a lawsuit to drain the campaign coffers of fellow Democrats is not your intent. However, with an established challenge procedure already in place that does not involve such costly measures, it is difficult to see any other intent behind the lawsuit.

Perhaps even more troublingly, the lawsuit as filed by you and the other members of your slate seeks to invalidate all the signatures collected by the members of Saad’s slate.

Doing so would effectively silence the voices of many of those you are sworn to serve and runs counter to the Democratic ideals Bob held so dear. Again, it is within your right to challenge petitions before the Board of Elections, but we respectfully request that you withdraw this unnecessary lawsuit.

Sincerely,

Helen Greer and Alexis Greer Heidenberg