The State of Westchester County: The Right County Executive you Needed at the Right Time.

Hits: 574

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. News & Comment By John F. Bailey. April 23, 20222:

On Friday evening, on my weekly news roundup on WPTV, White Plains Week, I delivered a short report on Westchester County Executive George Latimer’s State of the County Address. Here is the transcript of that report:

Westchester County Executive George Latimer’s State of the County Address Thursday evening at the Board of Legislators Chamber in the Michaelian Building, presented an impressive list of accomplishments of his administration.

He is lowering property taxes $7 million in the 2022 budget. He has put Westchester back into financial solvency ending last year with a $64 million surplus.

He  noted increasing child care opportunities to respond to the covid pandemic need for child care sites serving 600 children so both parents or single parents could go to their jobs. His administration delivered 416,593 covid innoculations through 200 satellite  vaccination locations and conducted  274,167 tests in schools across the county. His listing of the thousands of covid related tasks the county conducted last year was beyond impressive.

The County Executive reaffirmed his administration commitment to affordable housing projects with $50 Million committed to new affordable housing projects in 2022. He said the county affordable facility building mandates ordered by the federal government 4 years ago  was deemed brought to a “successful completion,” by the HUD Monitor. He pointed out the county is adding 4,400 more afordable housing units ‘in the pipeline’.

He rattled off commitments made to infrastructure and  how the county is growing in population now over 1 million.

You can see the complete address for yourself on the County Facebook website.

He touted the fact that crime in Westchester was down 27%.

He emphasized how “everyone pulls together in Westchester County, because we don’t go it alone. We all help each other. 

The body of work the county executive and his team whom he recognized repeatedly during the address is impressive and he promised a master plan for the airport would be coming starting in june with additional public input.

He cited improvements to historical places, parks, trails, and outreach efforts to include more involvement with all minorities.

Addressing the state of war in the world, he said “in the end it is “all we have in the end is love and acceptance.” 

The accomplishments were striking.

Westchester there is a lot to be proud of during the last toughest four years any county executive has ever faced.

George Latimer came along when you needed a hands-on leader to be perhaps the best County Executive in decades when westchester needed one and his administration came through.

Posted in Uncategorized

FORMER NASSAU COUNTY LONG ISLAND COUNTY EXECUTIVE & WIFE GIVEN 12 YEARS, & 15 MONTHS FOR CONVICTIONS ON BRIBERY KICKBACKS AND CONSPIRACY TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE RESPECTIVELY.

Hits: 1427

WPCNR FBI WIRE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. April 23, 2022:

Friday, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Edward Mangano, the former Nassau County Executive, and his wife Linda Mangano were sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 12 years, and 15 months’, imprisonment, respectively, following their convictions after a seven-week trial. 

Edward Mangano was convicted of multiple counts of accepting bribes and kickbacks in exchange for official government action, and for conspiracy to obstruct justice.  

Linda Mangano was also convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice and making false statements to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in connection with her employment by Long Island restaurateur Harendra Singh.  Edward Mangano was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, FBI, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentences.

“Edward Mangano, as County Executive, gave Nassau residents widespread corruption and dishonesty instead of truth and integrity. Linda Mangano took affirmative steps to mislead a federal investigation to keep her husband in power and to maintain their way of life,” U.S. Attorney Peace stated.  “Today’s sentence should send a strong, unambiguous message to any public official willing to place their personal interest above the public’s, and to those inner circle members who corruptly attempt to protect them from prosecution: my Office will employ all resources at its disposal to investigate, prosecute, and convict you in order to restore the public’s faith in our elected officials.” 

Mr. Peace thanked the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation for their work on the case.

The evidence at trial established that between January 2010 and February 2015, Edward Mangano engaged in schemes to solicit and receive bribes and kickbacks from Singh.  In return for the cash and personal benefits he received, Mangano, who served as Nassau County Executive from January 2010 to December 2017, performed official actions to benefit Singh in connection with his businesses.

The Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) Loan Scheme

Several weeks after Edward Mangano took office as Nassau County Executive in January 2010, he urged TOB Supervisor to help Singh obtain financing in order to make required capital improvements at TOB Beach and The Woodlands at the TOB golf course, by authorizing the TOB to indirectly guarantee four bank loans totaling approximately $20 million. 

Mangano used his official position to ensure that the TOB backed the loans. 

In April 2010, Singh hired Linda Mangano for a sham job as the purported Director of Marketing for Singh’s businesses.  Shortly thereafter, the TOB indirectly guaranteed the first of four personal loans to Singh related to the beach and the golf course. 

Singh paid for five vacations, hardwood flooring, a custom-made office chair, a massage chair and a watch for the Manganos, as well as over $450,000 in total for Linda Mangano’s no-show job.  

Obstruction of Justice

Edward and Linda Mangano conspired to obstruct a federal grand jury investigation when they schemed with Singh to fabricate examples of work never performed by Linda Mangano at the Water’s Edge, in an attempt to thwart a grand jury investigation.  On May 20, 2015 and May 22, 2015, Linda Mangano made false statements to the FBI and federal prosecutors about the work she claimed to have performed for Singh.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Catherine M. Mirabile, Christopher Caffarone and former Eastern District Assistant United States Attorney Lara Treinis Gatz are in charge of the prosecution.  Assistant United States Attorney Madeline O’Connor is responsible for the forfeiture of assets.

The Defendants:

EDWARD MANGANO
Age:  60
Bethpage, New York

LINDA MANGANO
Age:  59
Bethpage, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-540 (S-2) (JMA)

Posted in Uncategorized

BULLETIN: APPELLATE COURT, 4TH DEPARTMENT RENDERS SPLIT DECISION ON REDISTRICTING MAPS.

Hits: 331

RULES CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS BREAK STATE LAW. STATE REDISTRICTING “CONSTITUTIONAL” GOVERNOR WILL APPEAL TO COURT OF APPEALS. STAY EXTENDED.

WPCNR BULLETIN: WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. From the New York State Appellate Division, 4th Department. April 22, 2022:

Bulletin: Late yesterday the State Appellate Division, Fourth Department in Rochester in a 14-page decision decided by a 3-2 margin that the State Senate and Assembly redrawn maps were constitutional and could be used in the Democratic and Republican primaries June 28.

The court found the congressional districts involving U.S. Senator Districts and U.S. Congressional Districts to be “gerrymandered,” had told the Legislature a new map had to be drawn up by April 30, one week from Saturday and submitted to the Supreme Court for review.

It is not clear whether this decision would, based on Governor Hochul’s filing an appeal to the Court of Appeals, would result in the Court of Appeals reviewing the Appellate decision prior to the 30th date. he decision indicates parties respondents to the decision are due Sunday with a session scheduled Tuesday at 11 A.M.

Posted in Uncategorized

BLACK COFFEE WITH WHITE PLAINS WEEK-THE APRIL 22 REPORT ANYTIME on www.wpcommunitymedia.org…SCROLL THE ROTATING VIDEO WALL AND LOOK FOR WHITE PLAINS WEEK!

Hits: 193

JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS
22 YEARS COVERING WHITE PLAINS
THIS WEEK EVERY WEEK ON
YOUR WHITE PLAINS WEEK THIS WEEK
THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER STATE OF THE COUNTY
COUNTY EXECUTIVE WARNS OF SHARP COVID INCREASE
U.S. SENATOR CHARLES SCHUMER
WHERE PRESCRIPTION PRICING RELIEF BILL STANDS NOW–
HOPES PASSAGE BY MAY 31
THE RACE TO FINISH PLAYLAND ON TIME
JOHN BAILEY’S COVID DAILY REAL TIME ANALYSIS FIRST 5 DAYS OF THIS WEEK
Posted in Uncategorized

WPCNR COVID DAILY APRIL 21: LOWER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE BEING TESTED COULD MEAN MORE SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF POSITIVES ARE OUT THERE. EACH PERSON TESTED POSITIVE APRIL 7 SPREAD THE COVID TO 7 PERSONS.

Hits: 322

COVID CASES RISING AT 278 A DAY—TRACKING TO TOP 2,000 CASES FOR WEEK. RAISES QUESTION MORE WESTCHESTER PERSONS SHOULD TEST.  4,973 AVERAGE TESTED DAILY IN 13 DAYS.

WPCNR COVID DAILY. From the New York State Covid Tracker. Analysis & Observation by John  F.Bailey. April 21, 2022:

From Sunday through Tuesday, Westchester County reported 238,273 and 321 new persons testing positive for covid . Tuesday’s result, showed a positive rate of 6% on 4,751 persons taking the tests.

The testing is voluntary with only those persons worried they might have the disease, apparently getting tested.

This raises the issue that many persons are not choosing to test which could possibly mean the more persons tested the higher number positives the county may actually have walking about, socializing, in the workplace, the restaurants and bars, on airplanes, or coming into the New York area not being tested.

In the past Westchester has tested upwards of 8,000 persons. On April 7, just 2 weeks ago, Westchester tested 8,774 persons and 397 persons tested positive. In recent days the testing quantities are sinking to very low levels. Last week, the 397 persons testing positive April 7 after 14 days infected as of Tuesday, 2,859 persons.

The 2,859 new infections in 14 days traced to that one day April 7,  computes to a spread rate for  each of those 397 persons one day on April spreading the covid disease to 7 persons over two weeks.

Yet, the Tracker reports show numbers of persons tested are dropping as most tests are now voluntary or home based.

Tests of Westchester residents through last 14 days FROM April 7 through August 19 are only averaging 5,000 a day the last 14 days and infected 7 persons per day, so conceivably if you tested more you would find more persons with covid than the 321 you had  an Tuesday when Westchester had 321. The Wednesday figure is due this after

April 19: 4,751

April 18: 3,380

April 17: 2,755

April 16, 3,937

April 15: 5,212

April 14: 5,191

April 13: 5,233

April 12: 5,152

April 11: 3,387

April 10: 3,586

April 9: 6,481

April 8: 6,815

April 7:  8,774

The average number of tests over those 13  days of 64,654 is 4,973 tests per day. If 8,000 tested, you conceivably could find 400 more new positives using the  mathematical calculation that 397 persons infected April 7 infected   7 other persons  (2,859)  the last 13 days.

There could be many more persons who have self-tested, or not tested at all, who are walking around with potential to spread the disease.

The 9 Mid-Hudson Counties, plus  Nassau and Suffolk  reported  1,573 Persons testing positive, up 345. Westchester County was up 48 new cases to 321 from 273 Monday.

The five New York City Boroughs doubled the number of positive cases from 1,823 Monday to  3,999 Tuesday, up 2,176 new covid cases.

The Biden Administration appealed the striking down of mask requirements on public transportation ruling made by a Federal Judge yesterday. New York Governor Kathy Hochul kept the masking requirement on transit in New York State pending the appeal being resolved.

Posted in Uncategorized

STATE OF PLAYLAND — 5 WEEKS BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY- 9 WEEKS BEFORE JULY 4TH WEEKEND.

Hits: 316

WPCNR PLAYLAND-GO-ROUND. PHOTO TOUR OF PLAYLAND CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS by John F. Bailey April 20, 2022:

The story so far: Construction on rehabilitating Playland by a county-selected contractor began in September shortly after Playland closed for the season, after the county had settled with Standard Amusements over the county contention that Standard had not fulfilled their contract.

The Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Drain had ruled in spring of 2021 the county and Standard Amusements had to negotiate an arrangement. The two parties settled their dispute with the county agreeing to pay $125 Million in Playland infrastructure improvements, and Standard Amusements taking over management of the park in January of this year.

The $125 Million the county is paying includes $40 million for a new family pool still under construction. Construction was begun in September on the infrastructure improvements . The county changed contractors in December because they deemed the work was progressing too slowly. Work has been progressing at a brisk pace through very tough cold and weather conditions.

How it looks this week:

WPCNR walked around the park last week and this is what WPCNR saw:

The Entrance: Interiors of the two entrance/admission structure on left, and the County Police/Administration building, featuring a new copper dome are barebones on the interior from what this reporter could observe.
The Fountain Plaza: Paving needs to be completed, and the Admissions building to the left is in first stages from what WPCNR observed of constructing the new interior.
The Family Pool: Side steps to left and interior construction of the bathhouses still ongoing.
Reverse angle from the Playland Pier showing current state of Bathhouse renovations.
Reverse angle of Administration Structure on left and Admissions Structure on right seen from The Ice Casino, which is in operation and no construction is planned for the Ice Casino at this time.
The Zombie Castle, the Dragon Coaster seen from the Boardwalk half way around the park from the Boardwalk. There has not been a walkthrough or detailed briefing of what is being done while construction is in progress, either by Westchester County Recreation & Parks, the County Communications Office or Standard Amusements or perhaps a combination of the three to describe the plans as to which of the old structures will go and what will stay and what is being done to the infrastructure and how it is either on schedule or how behind it is, and what new rides are coming in. Just a suggestion.
The Lake Pavilion: No construction seems in progress yet, but more to the point will the Lake Boat rides be resumed? Or a new “boat ride” be available to take patrons on a cruise around the islands. The former Steamboat is gone from the premises (perhaps it is just being restored).
The East End Collonades are in process of being restored from scratch. previous wood structure collonades were removed.
North to South Cross-Park Midway: It is under major renovation, formerly a midway devoted to games and the Old Mill Inn ride–what is being constructed there is unclear.
The Dragon Coaster: Wood is being replaced and restored. At this date it looks like painting as well as more replacement of support and horizontal wood timbers is to come. But we really do not know.
Back at the original entrance and Kiddyland: needs extensive retracking of the Playland Express below:
Posted in Uncategorized