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EASTER SUNRISE: A BECALMING AND A BEGINNING EVERY YEAR
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WPCNR EXTENDS GRACIOUS WISHES TO THOSE OF ALL FAITHS ON THIS DAY
ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD:DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR WP COMMON COUNCIL in JUNE 25 PRIMARY INTERVIEWED SEE THE INTERVIEW ANYTIME ON www.wpcommunitymedia.org (just scroll down the video wall to “White Plains Week–People to be Heard,” and Punch it Up.
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PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION BEGINS ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST UTILITIES FOR 2018 STORM OUTAGE RESPONSE. SHAREHOLDERS WILL FACE FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR 10 DAY POWER OUTAGES: CON ED, NYSEG, O&R UTLITIES “WORSE PERFORMING” IN 2018 DOUBLE-STORM
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WPCNR THE POWER STORY. From the The New York State Public Service Commission . APRIL 19, 2019:
The NY Public Service Commisson announced late Friday afternoon, completion of a detailed and thorough Department of Public Service (DPS) investigation into the preparation and response of the State’s major utilities to five major storms that swept through New York in 2018, each leaving more than 100,000 customers without electricity.
As a result of the investigation, utilities’ shareholders could face potential storm-related financial penalties for failing to comply with their state-approved emergency plans.
Friday, the Commission also approved a settlement that resolves storm response failures by NYSEG and RG&E in 2017 IN THE AMOUNT OF $3.9 MILLION and further directed counsel to bring an enforcement proceeding in State Supreme Court to address recurring violations by these companies.
“When storms knock out power, it is the job of utilities to restore electricity to customers in a timely and safe manner,” Commission Chair John B. Rhodes said. “Utilities are responsible for pre-storm preparation, and the implementation of restoration efforts after a storm to assure safe and adequate electric service to the public.
“In recent years, the State has faced an increased frequency of severe weather events that have impacted utility infrastructure. It is mission-critical that our utilities are adequately prepared to meet and address these new realities and respond appropriately, including concretely improving plans and practices with each cycle. When a utility fails to meet its responsibilities and commitments, they must and will be held accountable.”
2018 Storm Investigation Winter Storms Riley and Quinn, which hit the mid-Hudson region five days apart in March, had peak outages of approximately 500,000 and 162,000, respectively, resulting in some customers being without power for more than a week.
In addition to storms Riley and Quinn, the Department’s investigation focused on three other storms in 2018: a windstorm in Western New York in April; a windstorm in the Plattsburgh and Glens Falls areas in early May; and a severe thunderstorm in the mid-Hudson region in mid-May.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s 2013-14 State Budget provided for significantly more stringent assessment and overview of utility activity requirements in New York. The Commission is now required to approve electric emergency response plans filed annually by electric corporations every December, and specifies areas covered in the emergency response plans.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the investigation shortly after storm restorations had been made. The DPS investigation identified 43 potential violations and instances where Emergency Response Plans (ERP) were not followed.
While each of the regulated major electric utilities in the state were allegedly found to be at fault, New York State Electric & Gas Corp. (NYSEG), Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R), and Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) were allegedly the poorest performers according to the DPS report.
Among the issues identified were issues with operations, such as planning, internal staffing, as well as crew acquisition and crew management.
DPS staff uncovered information that NYSEG and Con Edison have been steadily reducing the number of line workers, which has had a direct result in the utilities’ poor initial responses and contributed overall to poor storm performance.
Further, the investigation found that utility communications with customers and public officials were ineffective.
In addition, slow road-clearing efforts was identified as impeding the delivery of the necessary resources and appropriate coordination with other partners, particularly municipal governments.
Enforcement Plan
The Commission today issued an order to show cause directing the companies to respond to the Staff’s investigation and explain why they should not be found to have violated the emergency response plans, regulations, and orders.
The order to show cause starts an enforcement proceeding; the PSC will review the record in the case before making a final determination regarding any potential penalties for Con Edison, NYSEG, RG&E, O&R, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation and National Grid.
The now-concluded investigation determined that PSEG Long Island did not deviate from its emergency response plan. The Commission may order the utilities to implement the recommendations to improve emergency preparedness and response contained in Staff’s investigation report; many of the recommendations have already been adopted by the utilities.
Staff’s findings of poor performance by NYSEG and RG&E follows a previous staff investigation of the company’s response to a windstorm in 2017 that found similar failures.
Because of concerns of recurring failures at NYSEG, the PSC also directed the General Counsel to bring an enforcement proceeding in State Supreme Court to seek injunctive relief in the form of a court order that mandates improvements to emergency preparedness and response and improved internal controls to ensure improved processes are fully implemented.
NYSEG, RG&E Past Failures
The Commission today also adopted the terms of a joint settlement proposal signed by NYSEG, RG&E and DPS staff, and an investment joint proposal executed by NYSEG, RG&E, DPS staff, the NYS Utility Intervention Unit, the City of Rochester, and IBEW Local 10 to resolve utility failures related to a severe windstorm on March 8, 2017 in Western New York.
The weather events impacted areas served by the companies, with peak outages of approximately 123,000 and 48,000 for RG&E and NYSEG, respectively. The investigation into the 2017 storm identified several areas where the companies did not follow their emergency response plans, and identified areas where improvement was necessary.
Under the terms of today’s settlement, the companies will pay $3.9 million from shareholder funds, to be allocated $2.8 million to RG&E electric and $1.1 million to NYSEG electric, based on the outages experienced in each service territory.
The settlement resolves the companies’ liability for a penalty. Under the terms of the settlement, the money will be used for more effective event response prioritization, greater electric system resiliency, enhanced storm response capabilities, faster restoration of critical facilities, improved communications between the companies and customers having life support equipment, and improved wires-down procedures.
The $3.9 million is the largest ever for failure to follow an emergency response plan.
WHITE PLAINS WEEK THE APRIL 19 PROGRAM TONIGHT AT 7:30 ON YOUTUBE AND WHITEPLAINSWEEK.COM AND ALTICE CH. 76, FIOS CH.45.
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WpWeek for 4-19 has been posted the YouTube link is
https://youtu.be/d4kpjh4nuhY
the whiteplainsweek.com link is
http://www.whiteplainsweek.com/
JOHN NONA, COUNTY ATTORNEY ON FIRE FOAM POLLUTION AT THE WESTCHESTER AIRPORT–WHERE IT STANDS.
KAT BREZLER JUNE 25 DEM PRIMARY CANDIDATE INTERVIEWED–ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD ANY TIME ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG…Scroll down the video wall to White Plains Week–People to Be Heard
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5 Arrested in Port Chester area on drug distribution charges.
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Five defendants listed below were arraigned late Wednesday afternoon – here are the details from court in addition to the press release below and attached. No photos available.
Next court dates and remand status. All were remanded into custody – bail only set for one.
Eleonay Narvaez April 30
Javelle Ross April 30 > Bail set for $75K cash/150k bond
Kaley Herring April 30
Andre Price 5/1
Eugene Rodrigues 5/1P
WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the Westchester County District Attorney. April 17, 2019:
Multijurisdictional collaboration continues to bring down opioid dealers in the region.
In another focused action to inflict significant damage to narcotics trafficking throughout the region, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. and Village of Port Chester Police Chief Richard Conway announce a series of arrests on indictments of drug dealers operating in and around Port Chester, neighboring Connecticut and the Bronx.
Today’s sweep was a culmination of a yearlong investigation stemming from fatal heroin overdoses. Port Chester Police, in collaboration with Greenwich (Connecticut) Police, began investigating dealers in their communities working across state lines.
With the District Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies, the wider investigation showed the dealers also had strong ties to Mount Vernon and the Bronx.
The indictments allege all of these defendants sold heroin, often packaged in glassine envelopes (“glassines”) bearing a brand stamp that resembled the New York Yankees logo—with the letters “NY” in the distinctive blue font.
The investigation leading to Wednesday’s arrests and indictments was led by the Village of Port Chester Police Department; the Greenwich (Connecticut) Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, prosecutors from the District Attorney’s Investigation Division as well as the Office of the New York Attorney General.
Five men were taken into custody in early-morning raids (Wednesday) in multiple locations in Port Chester. The arrests were conducted by Village of Port Chester Police, Greenwich (Connecticut) Police, Westchester County Police, and District Attorney’s Criminal Investigators with assistance from the New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force.
In addition to the Wednesday arrests, this investigation also provided critical evidence which sparked the 68-count indictment of 12 defendants arrested in Mount Vernon and the Bronx last week.
The investigation also resulted in the New York Attorney General’s Office arrest of four individuals in the Bronx last week and who were charged in five felony complaints detailing a broad scheme to sell dangerous narcotics throughout Bronx and Westchester counties, including narcotics containing the mock-NY Yankees logo.
In total six defendants were indicted by a Westchester County Grand Jury. The four separate multicount indictments were unsealed today and five defendants were arraigned in Westchester County Court before Judge George Fufidio.
The five defendants arraigned today:
· Eleonay Narvaez (DOB 8/17/68)
· Javelle Ross (DOB 8/19/89)
· Kaley Herring (DOB 7/30/62)
· Andre Price (DOB 5/30/76)
· Eugene Rodrigues aka Jay (DOB 11/01/58)
The sixth defendant named in the indictments, Olivera, is being held in Rikers Island, New York City, after his arrest in the Bronx last week. His arraignment on these charges is pending.
The defendants were taken into custody t without incident. Along with the arrests, police seized heroin bundles ready to be sold.
Statement from Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr.:
“Working collaboratively with many agencies is what will help us stop the scourge of heroin and other opioids. The Village of Port Chester Police, our Investigations Division prosecutors, and Greenwich Police are to be commended for this intensive investigation that led to the arrest of drug dealers plaguing our area. We also thank the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force and members of the New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force for their collaboration on this case and others. The opioid crisis is ruining lives and killing too many right here in Westchester County. Pooling our resources on the local and state levels is our best chance of stopping the flow of deadly drugs before more lives are lost.”
Statement from Chief Richard Conway of the Village of Port Chester Police:
“Today’s arrests are the culmination of an investigation that began in late 2018 after the Port Chester Police Detective Bureau, and the Greenwich Police Department noted an upsurge in overdose deaths attributable to heroin and fentanyl. Acting with a sense of urgency, the agencies involved functioned seamlessly in a combined effort. Most notable among them; the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the Westchester County Police Narcotics unit, the Greenwich Connecticut Police Department, the New York State Atty. Gen.’s Office, and the New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force. The officers involved performed admirably. They did so often under the most challenging and dangerous conditions. I could not be more proud of our Departments participation in this endeavor, and could not be more grateful than I am to every law enforcement officer who participated.”
Statement from New York Attorney General Letitia James:
“These individuals led a multi-jurisdiction operation to bring illicit drugs into our communities and put our residents in harm’s way. The strong partnership between our local and state law enforcement was critical to obtaining these individuals and those who my office arrested last week. In order to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic that is killing far too many, we must continue to work together and I thank the Westchester District Attorney’s Office and the Port Chester Police for their diligent work on this.”
Statement from Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason of the Department of Public Safety:
“I would like to commend the Port Chester Police Department and all the participating agencies for their work in this successful investigation. These partnerships with local law enforcement are crucial to our ability to combat the distribution and sale of heroin in Westchester County.”
Earned Sick Leave Law Takes Effect in County
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| I am writing to let you know some important information about Westchester County’s Earned Sick Leave law, which recently took effect. The following notice is courtesy of the Westchester County Human Rights Commission: On April 10, 2019, the Earned Sick Leave law went into effect in Westchester County. Under this new law, beginning on July 10, 2019 (or on the date of first employment, if hired after July 10, 2019), employees may begin earning one hour of sick leave for every thirty hours worked. Some employees will be entitled to paid sick leave. Employees can use sick leave to access medical or mental health diagnosis, treatment, or preventative care for themselves or a family member. If you have any questions or concerns about the law, please visit the Human Rights Commission’s Earned Sick Leave webpage at https://humanrights.westchestergov.com/resources/earned-sick-leave-law, or call (914) 995-7710. |
COMIN’ UP WHITE PLAINS YOUTH BUREAU OPS AND EVENTS!
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LOOK OUT, STREETS–HERE I COME! STREETS FOOTBALL IS BACK IN THE USA AT THE COUNTY CENTER THIS SATURDAY
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY QB GEORGE “GO LONG” LATIMER LAUNCHES A LONG ONE DEEP WAY DOWN FIELD….HE’S GOT A RECEIVER OPEN, HE LEAPS! TouchDOWN! TouchDOWN WESTCHESTER . AT THE KICKOFF OF STREETS FOOTBALL IN WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK USA
On the steps of Classic Westchester County Center, Westchester County Executive George Latimer welcomed the New York Streets Arena Football team to their new home that has the classical architectural ambience and inspiration as old Soldiers Field in Chicago.
WPCNR VIEW FROM THE 25 YARDLINE. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. April 16, 2019:
Latimer said: “We want to show them a great Westchester welcome. We want the people of this County to come to the games, give the Streets a home-field advantage, and be able to say ‘we remember when it all started.’”
NEW YORK STREETS PLAYERS ENJOYING WALTER’S HOT DOGS:L-R: Rob Thomas, RB, Ray Durrett LB, Herbert Moore DE
Joined by Streets Owners Corey and Tamara Galloway, Head Coach Rick Marsilio, National Arena League Commissioner Chris Siegfried and Streets players and dancers, Latimer gave a true “Westchester Welcome” including hot dogs from Walter’s and tickets to Playland Park to ride the Dragon Coaster.
All Photos, Courtesy, Westchester Department of Communications
The New York Streets, the National Arena League’s newest franchise is set to begin play at the Westchester County Center on April 20 when they host the Orlando Predators. The Streets, who won their inaugural game Saturday night defeating the Jacksonville Sharks, 52-41, are owned by Corey Galloway and Tamara Galloway, New Rochelle residents.
Corey Galloway, who handed the County Executive a football as he went to the podium, said: “We are so proud to call the Westchester County Center the home of the Streets. It was a goal we started three years ago and are happy to be here today. My wife and I are New Rochelle residents and we are excited to continue to serve this community.”
Tamara Galloway said: “We hope this team will not only add to the economic development of Westchester but add to the community and bring a sense of pride. This team isn’t just a business, it’s a family and we are committed always putting our finest foot forward. Corey and I are so humbled to be the first black owners of a professional sports team in New York and are so happy Westchester is part of that story.”
Arena Football has a rich history in the New York/New Jersey area dating back to the New York Knights which played at Madison Square Garden in 1988. New York had been without an Arena Football team since 2008 when the New York Dragons completed an eight-year run at the Nassau Coliseum. Galloway attended many Dragons games as a fan and now has fulfilled a dream. He has brought Arena Football back to New York and now the Streets are ready to hit the gridiron this spring.
Marsilio said: “Speaking for our coaches and our players, we are excited to be here and be accepted into the community. We want do some really great things here, both on and off the field, and it is my job to prepare us to do that. We will be entrenched in this community and we are going to bring great things.”
Siegfried said: “Coming here, helps our league’s footprint for what we want to do nationally. This weekend we have two franchises, a young one and the most well-known one in the Orlando Predators, which sets up for an amazing game. Thank you to all for supporting the New York Streets, we are so excited for them to coming to the National Arena League.”
Arena Football features an eight on eight format played on a 50-yard field surrounded by dasher boards. The Streets are led by veteran Arena Football Head Coach Marsilio and former Syracuse quarterback David Legree. Visit nystreetsfootball.com for the latest news including player signings, merchandise, and promotions as well as details on how you can order season tickets, purchase individual tickets or book your group to come out and see the Streets in action. Tickets are also available on Ticketmaster.com.