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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Carl Paladino. September 1, 2018:
Editor’s Note: Carl Paladino, the Buffalo NY political activist and long time critic of the Buffalo school system, posted this to his wide mailing list: the test that 8th graders in 1895 in Salina Kansas had to pass to prove they were ready to move up. It is one of the most insightful comments Mr. Paladino has ever sent along.
I daresay, I could not past this test. Those schoolmarms were tough!
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ON THE INTERNET NOW
YOUTUBE:
WESTCHESTER’S MOST NEED-TO-KNOW NEWS
ON
THE HEAT WAVE WILTS WESTCHESTER-101 IN THE SHADE
WHY JUDGE RULED FOR THE CITY AND FASNY
THE RUSH TO SHARE SERVICES PLAN–EXCLUSIVE VIDEO OF PUBLIC HEARING ON LATIMER PLAN
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S ENROLLMENT–WILL IT HANDLE THE GROWTH WITHOUT CONSTRUCTION?
GOVERNOR CUOMO SHOWS OFF THE NEW EASTBOUND CUOMO BRIDGE SPAN–TOO LATE FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND
JIM BENEROFE ON TWO NEW TRUMP BOOKS
THE BULLY PULPIT–BETSY DEVOS ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT
AND MORE!
REPEATED MONDAY AT 7 FIOS CH. 45, ALTICE CH. 76
AND
www.wpcommunitymedia.org
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THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND SPECIAL
NOW ON THE INTERNET INSTANTLY AT
PEOPLE TO BE HEARD
INTERVIEWS
Lenore Friedlaender,
Assistant to the President of 32BJ SEIU
John Ryan,
Superintendent at 11 Westview Ave in White Plains Member of the Residential Contract Bargaining Committee Dealing with the the Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region Inc. AFFECTING 150,000 Westchester Residents
WHAT UNION WANTS.
EFFECT OF A STRIKE
WHAT PUBLIC CAN EXPECT
EFFECT OF SUPREME COURT DECISION REQUIRING ARBITRATION TO SETTLE INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINTS, PROHIBITING CLASS ACTION SUITS
THE EFFECT OF THE DECISION OUTLAWING DEDUCTION OF UNION DUES FROM NON-UNION EMPLOYEES
THE SETTLEMENT OF
THE DISPLACED WORKERS LAWSUIT AGAINST THE BUILDING NEXT TO CITY HALL
7 PM SATURDAY NIGHT
VERIZON FIOS CH. 45
ALTICE CH. 76
ON THE NET NOW AT
www.wpcommunitymedia.org
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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. August 30, 2018:
Earlier this year the NYS Legislature authorized local governments and school districts to accept charitable donations in lieu of tax payments so residents would be able to get a tax deduction. The town will be collecting school taxes for the school districts (which are independent of the town) in September.
The new state law requires school districts that choose to opt into the law to pass a resolution in order for the town to accept charitable donations.
I sent a few letters to each of the school districts within the town. None of the school districts in Greenburgh will be accepting the donations for the September tax payments.
Last week the federal government took action steps to make it harder for residents to get the deductions.
I also contacted fellow Town Supervisors in Westchester. School districts throughout the county have also decided not to implement the charitable tax deduction option. Only two communities, to the best of my knowledge, have signed on so far: Scarsdale and Rye Brook.
RESPONSES FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN GREENBURGH…IRVINGTON, EDGEMONT, HASTINGS
GREENBURGH CENTRAL SCHOOLS: consulted with counsel (Judd Siebert from Keane & Beane) and shared background information and his advice with the board. Board members requested that we discuss this issue at our 9/4/18 BOE work session. It is likely that we will wait until next year to decide whether we will implement this. However, I will confirm this after 9/4.
HASTINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT
Per your request of August 14, our board president Doug Sundheim asked me to send you the statement that the Hastings-On-Hudson Union Free School District emailed its families regarding the school district’s position on accepting charitable donations instead of tax payments.
It is posted on our website at: https://www.hohschools.org/cms/lib/NY01913703/Centricity/Domain/4/8.7.18%20Charitable%20Donations%20In%20Lieu%20of%20Taxes.pdf
IRVINGTON
This is in response to your letter dated August 14, 2018 related to the acceptance of charitable donations instead of tax payments. The district consulted with our counsel and per his advice and after a discussion at our August 21, 2018 School Board meeting, the Board has decided to wait for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide final guidance before taking any action.
EDGEMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Following up on our conversations, the Edgemont School Board voted to continue to evaluate the potential for a charitable contribution in lieu of taxes option. We are keenly aware of the potential importance of SALT deduction work-arounds. Indeed, the board members are a local taxpayers ourselves. However, we do not yet have sufficient information to decide whether we can make this option available, and want to work with you to figure out the following:
1. Potential Legal Exposure: The opportunity to implement a new program arises in a very unsettled area of law that pits state/local authorities against federal authorities. We need to determine whether proceeding with a program exposes the Town or school district to potential liability, now or in the future.
2. Mechanics: What is the process by which a charitable contribution program would be created and implemented? What does the school need to do? It is complicated to create a new program from scratch — and it is essential to do it correctly.
3. Burden & Cost to the District: Whether and how any charitable contribution program unduly burdens Edgemont administrators and/or imposes costs on the school district certainly will affect its appeal.
4. Best Practices: To the extent other communities have implemented programs, what are the things we can learn/copy?
Please let me know what next steps will be to advance the discussion. As you and I discussed, I realize there is no way to answer these questions in time to get on track for a September roll-out. But, perhaps, we can target December (in advance of the 2nd tax payment deadline).
HAVEN’T RECEIVED RESPONSES FROM THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE TOWN BUT PRESUME THEY ARE ALSO NOT AUTHORIZING THE CHARITABLE DONATIONS.
PAUL FEINER
Article from associated press follows…
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WPCNR FUTURE FORECAST. From Congresswoman Nita Lowey’s Office. August 29, 2018:
Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey and Pace University President Marvin Krislov Convene Roundtable on College Affordability and Accessibility
As Washington debates the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, local leaders explain what it means for students, parents and education institutions in our area
The Promoting Real Opportunity, Success and Prosperity Through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act is the current legislation being considered in Congress to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. But what does it mean for current and future college students and their parents? The impact of the bill and what families in Westchester, Rockland, and the surrounding area need to know will be discussed. Some of the major changes in the PROSPER Act include:
WHO:
Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey, 17th District New York
Marvin Krislov, President, Pace University
Dr. Belinda Miles, President, Westchester Community College
Financial Aid & Enrollment Administrators from:
Westchester Community College, Dominican College, Purchase College, Manhattanville College, Mercy College
College students affected by the legislation
WHAT:
Discussion and analysis of legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act with key stakeholders.
WHEN:
Thursday, August 30th
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
WHERE:
Pace University, 861 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, NY
Goldstein Academic Center, Room 100
Campus Entrance #3
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. August 26, 2018:
With dozens of transit workers cheering on, County Executive George Latimer and Liberty Lines announced a new five year partnership that includes $20M in savings to Westchester County taxpayers.
The deal, which runs through 2023, was reached with the County paying $13M less to Liberty Lines and an additional savings of $7M from insurance costs.
The deal also calls for the shifting of insurance providers from AIG to New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal – a not-for-profit entity – all while still providing the same services that thousands of Westchester residents rely on.
Over the term of the contract, Westchester County and Liberty Lines also agree to work together and continue to evaluate the cost of fuel. Any further savings generated from these efforts will be in addition to those already quantified.
Latimer said: “The deal we are approving today will save Westchester County taxpayers $20M over a five year span. When my Administration took office on January 1, we had on the table the willingness to negotiate a new contract.
This negotiation back and forth between the County and the company – which both sides were able to agree upon – has a definite benefit.
We talk a lot about the deficit we are facing in Westchester County, and the government and taxpayers owe a debt of gratitude to Liberty Lines for their flexibility in being willing to help close that gap.”
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The abandoned former Ridgeway Country Club on Ridgeway Avenue White Plains NY USA–site of planned new French American School of New York. The school plans have cleared another legal obstacle pending possible appeal. Photo WPCNR archive.
WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. Special to WPCNR From the French American School of New York. (EDITED) August 26, 2018:
State Supreme Court Judge Joan Lefkowitz rejected two separate legal challenges to the White Plains Common Council’s grant of Special Permit and Site Plan approval for a reduced School on 27 acres of the 129-acre former Ridgeway Country Club in a decision handed down Friday.
Future entrance to the school: Hathaway Lane, adjacent to the abandoned clubhouse. New school facilities will be built on former fairways extending into the distance. Photo from WPCNR archive
The August 24th Court decision comes after seven years of reviews by the City and lawsuits by the Gedney Association.
Since acquiring the Ridgeway Country Club property in January of 2011, FASNY followed all environmental reviews and made multiple revisions of its plan in order to address community concerns, including substantially reducing the scope of the project and adopting a comprehensive traffic management plan.
Based upon a prior successful legal challenge by FASNY, the City and FASNY entered into a Stipulation of Settlement in 2016, in which FASNY filed a reduced Upper School only plan for no more than 640 students that limited all construction to one parcel of the former Ridgeway site.
After a year of further review, in November 2017, the City Council approved FASNY’s revised application, and the Gedney Association and various of its supporters brought two separate legal challenges against the City Council and FASNY.
In a 26-page opinion, Judge Lefkowitz rejected the plaintiffs’ initial argument that the former Ridgeway Country Club could not be used for an educational institution because of a Covenant filed in 1925, prohibiting the use of the property for “any institution, other than a club.”
The Court held that while the 1925 Covenant “unequivocally prohibits many uses […] it contains no like prohibition of any use related to education.”
The Court rejected arguments that the 1925 Covenant’s prohibition of “noxious” uses applied to a school, noting that under New York law, in fact, “such uses are presumed to have a beneficial effect on the community in which they are located,” and that the “law has long favored free and unencumbered use of real property. ”
The Court also summarily rejected various arguments made challenging the Council’s review, finding that “[t]he Record establishes that the Common Council did take the requisite hard look at all of the potential impacts” related to the school.
The Court specifically rejected the Gedney Association’s and its supporters’ contention that the Council failed to consider traffic issues raised by the challengers’ consultant, noting that, under the controlling law, the reviewing agency “has discretion to choose between conflicting experts,” and that various of the plaintiffs’ claims were no more than “rank speculation based on hypothetical circumstances.”
“We are gratified that the Court appreciated the tremendous efforts that both we and the City of White Plains went through to make sure that our project is good for FASNY and for the community as a whole,” said Emmanuèle Vinciguerra, Chair of the FASNY Board of Trustees.
She went on to say, “FASNY would like to extend special thanks to all the members of the White Plains community who have supported us throughout these years, as well as, again, extend an open hand to those residents who had concerns about the project.”
Vinciguerra noted that “FASNY had already recorded a 51-acre publicly accessible conservancy on its property, and looks forward to sharing this incredible open space with its neighbors and other members of the White Plains community.”
FASNY’s counsel, Michael Zarin of Zarin and Steinmetz, added: “Judge Lefkowitz’s decision confirms that the Courts will sustain environmental reviews that are the product of a careful and comprehensive review of the issues. FASNY has demonstrated great commitment to its constituents and to the larger community, and we are very proud to have been part of this long journey.”
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Leonore Friedlaender, left and John Ryan, Superintendent of 111 Westview Avenue, White Plains at White Plains TV Friday. They announced an end to the dismissed SEIU workers dispute with 235-245 Main Street next to City Hall.
WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. August 25, 2018:
The Service Employees International Union 32BJ announced on White Plains TV Friday the union and Integrated Building Management have agreed to bring back all previous SEIU dismissed workers to the cleaning service. Integrated had let them go for being members of the union, who were paid at a higher wage scale.
Lenore Friedlaender, Assistant to the President at 32BJ SEIU, announced the mutual agreement on the timely WPTV program People to Be Heard, Friday morning in the WPCNR studios, when discussing the value and effect of class action suits of the U.S.Supreme Court approval of limiting actions against employers to arbitration only.
She said the suit filed by the SEIU 32bj against Integrated Building Management/Greenway Maintenance had not had a decision yet in suits filed with the National Labor Relations Board and NY Supreme Court.
She announced the parties had mutually negotiated a settlement bringing all 7 SEIU workers who had been dismissed back to work with the new cleaning service Integrated Building Management.
The owners of the building, Caspi Development and the new cleaning contractor (Integrated) have agreed to hire back the SEIU “7” with a series of step increases on a PAY schedule that would restore them to full union pay and benefits (working out a compromise).
The SEIU suit(s) had been filed in April by the union charging violation of the Westchester County Displaced Workers law by Integrated Building Management which dismissed 7 SEIU union workers when it took over maintenance of 234-245 Main Street.
The Westchester County Displaced Workers Law guarantees that workers cannot lose their jobs due to a change in building management.
County Executive George Latimer wrote a letter to the President of Caspi Development urging Caspi “do the right thing” and rehire the workers. The new cleaning contractor, Integrated Building Management told the union it would rehire all seven workers.
MaryJane Shimksy in May, told WPCNR, Westchester County could not sue Caspi Development owners of the 235-245 Main Street White Plains or IBM/Greenway (Caspi new private maintenance contractor) because the law specifically provides only a private right to sue to enforce the law.
According to an SEIU spokesperson Frank Soults, the seven workers were made an offer to bring back the 7 dismissed rehired at minimum wage instead of the contractual union rate, and offered none of their previous benefits.
Soults said four of the seven workers took back their jobs because they needed the money.
Several county legislators protested the nature of the offer as a violation of the Displaced Workers Act back in May.
Since then, the union and Integrated Building Management have negotiated a solution, Friedlaender said. Integrated brings back all seven workers on an arrangement where graduated increases on the pay schedule would bring all seven back up to their previous union wages.
The program People to Be Heard, with John Bailey and Peter Katz, recorded yesterday discusses opening negotiations with The Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and Mid-Hudson Region, Inc. will be telecast countywide on FIOS channel 45 and in White Plains Altice Ch. 76, on Thursday, August 30 at 8 PM and Saturday, Labor Day Weekend at 7 PM. It is also internetcast around the world on www.wpcommunitymedia.org, www.whiteplainsweek.com and YouTube beginning Friday August 31.
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THE WHITE PLAINS WEEK TEAM
BAILEY
KATZ
BENEROFE
WHITE PLANS WEEK for 8-24 has been posted the youtube link is
www.wpcommunitymedia.org
ON
MAKING SENSE OF THE MANAFORT CONVICTION AND COHEN PLEA
ECONOMIC JOY IN WESTCHESTER
THE COUNTY ECONOMY–HAPPY DOLLARS CONTINUE-RECORD GROWTH IN SALES TAXES
WHITE PLAINS BEATS COUNTY SALES TAX REVENUE PACE IN JULY
SEIU BJ SETTLES JOBS LOSS IN WHITE PLAINS. ALL 7 FIRED WORKERS WILL GET JOBS BACK AND INCREASE BACK TO UNION PAY LEVELS
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION DAWDLES ON NYSEG CON ED REPORT
WHITE PLAINS TAKES YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NEW WESTCHESTER INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT MOBILE DENTAL FAN
TONIGHT.
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THE $376,826 MOBILE DENTAL CARE FAN WAS ON THE ROAD THIS WEEK TO THE DISABLED FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT WAS FUNDED BY THE STATEWIDE HEALTH CARE TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM WITH THE INTENSE SUPPORT OF WESTCHESTER’S ALBANY DELEGATION
DR. SUSAN FOX (FOREGROUND, BELOW) WITH WIHD’S TRAVELING DENTAL SPECIALISTS WHO DEDICATED THE VAN TODAY AT WESTCHESTER INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.
WPCNR HEALTH PROGRESSIVE. By John F. Bailey. August 22, 2018:
A custom built Mobile Dental Van for the Westchester Institute for Human Development in Valhalla debuted today replacing an 11 year old van, that will be rehabbed and sent to Haiti for that country’s use.
Dr. Susan Fox, President and Chief Executive Officer of the WIHD said the van is capable of examining disabled patients requiring light oral relaxants such as valium, and is now available to serve the disabled living at care facilities as well as individual homes. Disabled needing anesthetized dental work could have it arranged through WIHD at the Westchester County Medical Center adjacent WIHD complex.
She thanked the New York State Dental Foundation donation of equipment for the van and funds from the Miles Hodson Vernon Foundation.
To inquire about your health care agency or parents as individuals can work with the van’s services through programs they are in and agencies the children or adult disabled participate with, contact 914-493-8081.
Dr. Pat Segriff, WIHD Dental Director told the audience the new van is now in service to continue the Mobile Dental Service which in the last year made 1,700 visits to 1,000 individuals. WIHD she said received 6,800 appointments caring for 2,300 disabled persons.
Dr. Fox said “Our new Mobile Dental Clinic will give us the ability to serve more individuals, provide more consistent and reliable scheduling of visits, and better meet the complex dental care needs of this population.”
Dr. David O’Hara, Chief Operating Officer of WIHD told WPCNR that mobile services are the future of delivery of medical services to the disabled. He said WIHD is working towards acquiring a second mobile van that would doctor visits, procedures, x-rays, checkups to the disabled much as the new Mobile Dental Van is now doing.
