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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2019.From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. Edited. June 13, 2019:
The Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Voting Reform Working Group has completed its review of New York State election law
In January, the state enacted a number of voting reforms.
Among the changes is early voting — this year early voting will begin Saturday October 26 and run through Sunday November 3. In addition, where New York used to have two separate primary days, one for local and state races and another for federal races, there is now one primary day — the fourth Tuesday in June, which this year is June 25.
Also, when voters move from one location to another in New York State, their voter registration will automatically be transferred to the new location when they register a change of address with a state agency or submit an affidavit ballot. And beginning in 2020, 16- and 17-year-olds will be able to pre-register to vote so that their registrations will automatically become effective on their 18th birthdays.
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The group, formed in January 2019 by Board Chairman Ben Boykin, was tasked with examining the new laws and the effect they will have on voters, candidates and the Board of Legislators itself.
In a 14-page report, the Group recommended several changes which the full Board will now consider – including recommendations for the number and location of early polling sites, how to deal with Board vacancies under the state’s new election calendar, what changes of County laws might need to be passed to conform to the new state laws, and more.
The Group was chaired by Legislator Christopher Johnson (D – Yonkers), and included other legislators, County Attorney John Nonna, and members of the BOL and County Executive’s staff.
Leg. Johnson said, “I’m excited that the state has taken action to make it easier for more people to vote, and I’m looking forward to future action in Albany to expand voter participation. The Working Group took a deep dive into these changes, not only to assess their impact on voters and candidates, but also to assess what actions the Board and the County will need to take to implement these changes. While I’m sure there will be a learning curve as we begin conducting our first elections under these new rules, I believe the Working Group’s thorough examination will help the County get off on the right foot, and I’d like to thank all the Group’s members for their diligent efforts.”
Boykin (D – White Plains, Scarsdale, Harrison) said, “I’d like to thank Legislator Johnson and all the Working Group participants. These are major changes in the way people in Westchester vote, and it was important for the Board to get out in front and proactively evaluate what steps will need to be taken to implement the changes as smoothly as possible for voters, candidates and everyone in Westchester.”
WPCNR STREET LEGAL. By John F. Bailey. June 13, 2019:
The Service Employees International Union 32BJ announced at a demonstration in front of 1 Barker Avenue Thursday afternoon they would strike commercial buildings in Westchester County midnight, December 31st if higher wages and improved benefits have not been agreed to.
Crowd gathering for SEIU 32BJ demonstration at building complex, 1 and 3 Barker Avenue–the future home of the state Department of Motor Vehicles in White Plains which has agreed to move from the White Plains Mall. WPCNR NEWS ACTUALITY.
The union was supported in their demands by the Communications Workers of America whose representative said the CWA appreciated the SEIU 32BJ support in the CWA strike against Verizon three years that won the CWA “a great contract.” The representative said the CWA would do whatever SEIU needed. The CWA is, WPCNR believes is the first major union to support the SEIU in its crusade for its fired workers, fairer treatment and realistic contracts.
The SEIU was supported by a number of County Board of Legislators and County Executive George Latimer. Legislator Katherine Parker introduced Legislator Kitley Covill, who announced the County Board of Legislators would introduce legislation she and other supportive legislators had written on Monday that would close the loophole allowing a plaza of two buildings to be considered separate businesses allowing the advantage of dismissing presently employed staff. The loophole allowed the new owners to fire the five SEIU workers last fall in favor of a below union wage cleaning contractor.
After the purchase, the new owner of 1 and 3 Barker Avenue dismissed the 5 SEIU janitorial staff and hired a non-union contractor. paying below union wage.
Leonore Friedlaender, Assistant to the President of 32BJ explained the new legislation and outlined the possibility of a strike to WPCNR:
LEONORA FRIEDLAENDER OF THE SEIU 32BJ ON WHAT THE NEW PROPOSED COUNTY LAW DOES; HOW MANY COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN WESTCHESTER ARE AFFECTED. NEGOTIATIONS WITH COMMERCIAL OFFICE BUILDING OWNERS BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER. WPCNR RAW VIDEO.
MARIA BILBAO AND JOSE LUACES (UPFRONT) BRING BACK GLORIA AND THE BEAT AT WBT’S SEXY, SALSALICIOUS, SAMBAMAD CONGARAMA, ON YOUR FEET
White Plains CitizeNetReporter STAGE DOOR. Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. June 12, 2019:
You can’t tell them apart. You can’t hear them apart.
Who are the real Estefans?
Gloria and Emilio Estefan–1980s
Or these Estefans?—The delicious Maria Bilbao, the swashbuckling Jose Luaces–2019 Photos, John Vechiola, courtesy WBT
Together they bring back the breakthrough Latin entertainers of the 80s Gloria and Emilio Estefan who took the world of sound based on their native Cuba and sold out concerts throughout the world as they broke through to be the first latin superstar singers.
The alchemists of entertainment Director Donna Drake, Choreographer Rhonda Miller and Producer Lisa Tiso at Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford, NY USA have done it again: telling the Estefans’ courageous and uplifting story and performing their music – bringing back the Broadway hit of 2015, and getting Westchester salsa-ing again, clapping to the conga, disco-ing to Dr. Beat, and moving to energetic sambaizations. It’s The Miami Sound Machine and their amazing story. Cuban refugees fleeing from the Castro regime to international stardom only to be struck by tragedy and coming back.
Ms. Bilbao and Mr.
Luaces “chem” it up in this real love story that has lasted 40 years (they are
still married). From Gloria’s first song, Anything
for You (he’s too old for her, but
he’s hooked). As the romance weaves between performances of Miami Sound Machine
it grows–the two duet their mutual attraction in such a young lovers’ duet you
will remember, I See Your Smile.
Maria Bilbao bringing the house down with her Coming Out of the Dark big song in Act II
Throughout Ms. Bilbao (above) gets deep and high into the Gloria Estafan style: holding the notes long and plaintively on the ballads; athleticism in fast spins, leaps , long arms reaching for the spots, and swiveling hips with boundless energy while singing at the same time in “Gloria-ous”continuity.
Her colorata-mezzo soprano the deep intimate sound of commitment and regret and assurance, and rises to the emotions of unbearably sad and joyous feeling. She covers the Malacon.
Gloria’s father’s illness thought to have been caused by his
service in the Vietnam war, makes him an
invalid is tastefully and uplifting portrayed and the sacrifices it requires. Isabella Prestion and Camila Sander are the
charismatic little girls who sing of their love for their father, singing Cuando Sali De Cuba (When I left Cuba), and Tradicio’n. Young aspiring actresses
will identify with these two young ladies.
I liked Byron St. Cyr as Gloria’s father (above) who establishes just-right father-daughter traditions that all we fathers of daughters experience, his missing her when he goes to fight in Cuba, and his declining health after his Vietnam stint show the bonds between daughter and father.
Gloria’s mother played with every bit of assertiveness as Gloria herself, Karmine Alers flashes back to her stardom in Cuba, and this causes jealousy on the part of the mother and Gloria the daughter’s growing success. Mom does not want her to marry Emilio.
Allers shows just how good she was in the number Mi Tierra. Allers is so good at spats with Gloria over where Gloria is going with her life and how it hurts the family, that it brings home everyone’s family dramas and conflicts and makes the motivations very real, highlighting the dramatics.
This musical is about family and all that goes with it. The songs all by Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan come out of their life experience. That’s why the songs hit home and won an international following.
The first act wraps with the breakthrough hit Conga at a make or break concert in a
park attracting thousands in Miami that Emilio conceived as a way of breaking
their music into the main stream and leading to their star tours abroad. Mr.
Luaces is strong in his negotiating scenes with record executives who claim the
Miami Sound Machine is only for the latin audience.
Second Act the arc of
their careers soars. The awesome effects
of a concert given by Gloria and Emilio Estefan are rendered as well as
possible at WBT, but Ms. Bilbao and Mr. Luaces more than overwhelm the
enthusiastic press night audience with Conga, Get On Your Feet, Live for Loving You
and You’ll Be Mine. Then the famous Kennedy Concert where Gloria sings Cuba Libre.
As conflict grows as the tours continue Gloria and her mother are in
conflict over what is happening with her own little sister.
As the group goes on the road on a bus tour, Gloria’s life
is changed when at the top of their growing popularity their bus is hit by a
truck. Gloria is paralyzed. Is this the end? Of course we know it is not. The
staging of the accident comes as a complete surprise with one of the great
effects Set Designer Steve Loftus and Light man Andrew Gmoser—so real you think
the truck is going to hit the audience. It made me start in fear.
This crisis is a teachable moment. How quickly life as you
know it can turn on a twist of fate.
Karmine Alers, Gloria’s mother and Emilio (Mr. Luaces)
combine on the plaintive, If I Never Get to Tell You sung to an unconscious
Gloria as she awaits surgery. Gloria’s
memories flash by as she, herself as a little girl, her father Jose and the
ensemble sing of her past in Wrapped.
Through the long recovery of a year, Emilio (Luaces)
sings Don’t Wanna Lose You with a sincerity and a will that transmits in
my opinion the will to fight to come back.
Does she come back? She does with her return to the stage at
the American Music Awards, singing Coming
Out of the Dark.
Having seen On Your Feet during its Broadway run, this revival brings you much closer to the people who lived this rousing, uplifting human drama of self-made success, comflict, adversity through their devotion to each other.
The Broadway On Your
Feet thrilled with its booming colorful, astounding pace and special
effects and left you with your body throbbing to the beat and delivering the
signature of the Estefans’ musical legacy.
The Westchester Broadway Theatre extravaganza entertains and puts you up close in the midst of personal drama inspiring you, feeling the emotions in a very caring way. The final Megamix extravagant finale will have you jumpin’ and longing for Havana. Be careful on those one foot spins!
The musicians all 11 of them just fill the theatre with the Miami Sound Machine style that gets into you when it first took the world by beat. Ole’s to Bob Bray, Jessica Glover, David Dunaway, Brian Uhl, Steve Bliefuss, David Shoup, Crispian Fordham, Jay Mack, Carlos Padon, Yuri Yamashita, you’re ready to go on tour!
This is how family should be. On Your Feet is in every sense a family musical. With the Estefans it’s always been each other and family.
You should try the Cuban Pork
dinner before hand with black beans. On Your Feet the intimate, booming, up-close
and personal Estafans will be at the WBT until August 4. Go to www.BroadwayTheatre.com or call the box office at 914-592-2222.
There is one line from this show that really says it all. When Mr. Luaces is negotiating with a CBS producer who tells him they are only Spanish market recording artists, Luaces is silent. He looks him in the eye and touches his own face and says:
“This is the face of an American.”
On Your Feet is an American musical by Americans for Americans.
Walk into the Board of Elections and pick up an Absentee Ballot Application (shown above), fill it out and hand it in to the friendly Board of Elections clerk and within 10 minutes or less, if you wait, the clerk will return with your absentee ballot for the primary election coming up. They will hand you the absentee ballot below:
You need to fill out and turn in the Application for an absentee ballot by Tuesday June 18 in order to acquire an Absentee Ballot. You must mail or turn in your absentee ballot in person at the Board of Elections, or mail it so it is postmarked one day before the June 25 primary.
If you want to acquire an absentee ballot for a member of the family, relative, or friend who will be away June 25 and is unable to come into the Board of Elections and you want to pick up the Absentee ballot for them, that individual must fill out an application for an absentee ballot, and authorize you to pick it up for them on the application
REGISTERING TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
And while we are on the topic of absentee ballots, if you know of persons who are not registered voters, who want to vote in the November election for Common Council, County elections, you may walk into the Board of Elections on
25 Quaropas St. White Plains and pick one up. Or call the Board of Elections at 995-2000, ask for the Board of Elections and press the Registration prompt.
A friendly Board of Elections clerk will take your name and address and mail you the form above to register to vote. To register for the November election this fall when county legislators and judges will be up for election in addition to the White Plains Common Council you must turn in the registration by October 11.
WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2019. From the Westchester County Board of Elections, June 10, 2019:
The Board of Elections HAS informed WPCNR that absentee ballots are now available for those who will be out of town on June 25, and want their vote to be counted.
The Board told WPCNR the deadline to apply for absentee ballots is June 18 (7 days before the primary). This means registered Democratic voters in White Plains have 14 days from today to apply,
The Board told WPCNR voters may pick up an application at the Board of Elections 25 Quorropas Street, White Plains, 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday.
Absentee ballots once completed can be turned in at the Board of Elections any time before the election in person, or you may mail it back and it will be counted if postmarked ONE DAY before the Election, June 25.
June 25 is the date of the Democratic Primary in which Nadine Hunt-Robinson, Victoria Presser, Jennifer Puja and Katherine Brezler are competing for three seats on the Democratic line for Common Council .
Absentee ballots are available for registered Democratic Voters to pick up at 25 Quaropus Street in White Plains opposite Mulino’s restaurant.
The ballots must be picked up in person at the Board of Elections , and a form must be submitted.
To print out an Absentee Ballot Application to complete at home go to the bold highlight links below and print it out. On the Application you can designate a person to pick one up for you if wish,
Obtaining your Absentee Ballot
If you know you will not be in your voting district on a given Election Day, you may vote by absentee ballot.
Voters who are qualified to vote by absentee ballot must first apply for the absentee ballot; and the request is only valid for the calendar year of that particular request.
You may vote by absentee ballot if you will be:
Unavoidably absent from your county on Election Day
Unable to appear at the polls due to illness or disability
A patient in a veteran’s administration hospital
Detained in jail awaiting grand jury action or confined in prison after conviction of an offense other than a felony.
Absentee ballot application When completing the application form, be sure to print clearly.
Upon completion of the absentee ballot application, you must mail it to the Board of Elections. Once we are in receipt of your application, a ballot will be mailed to you, or you can bring it in in person and the absentee ballot will be given to you. You can also bring the absentee ballot back before the election and turn in your vote!
Remember that an application for an absentee ballot is only valid for the calendar year of the request.
Designate someone to pick up your ballot If you cannot pick up your ballot, or will not be able to receive it through the mail, you have the right to designate someone to pick up your ballot for you. Only that person designated on your application in section 6 and/or section 7 of your application may pick up and deliver your ballot.
If disabled or permanently ill If you check the box indicating your illness or disability is permanent, once your application is approved you will automatically receive a ballot for each election in which you are eligible to vote, without having to apply again, unless you have moved and, therefore, you must reapply again.
Please note that a power of attorney or printed name stamp is not allowed for any voting purpose, including absentee applications
KATHERINE BREZLERNADINE HUNT-ROBINSON, JENNIFER PUJA and VICTORIA PRESSER (ON RECENT “PEOPLE TO BE HEARD” APPEARANCE
WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2019. From the League of Women Voters. June 10, 2019:
(Editors’s note: The New York Court of Appeals declined to review the Democratic City Committee appeal of the Appellate Court decision validating Council candidate Katherine Brezler’s petition originally approved by the Board of Elections. The Court of Appeals non-action meant that Ms. Brezler is back on the primary ballot and a primary will be held June 25. The League of Women Voters issued the following news release this morning reinstating their Candidates Forum next Monday, June 17 at the White Plains Public Library.)
The League of Women Voters of White Plains confirms that there will be a Candidates Forum for candidates running in the Democratic Primary. The Primary will be to select three candidates to run as Democrats in the General Election for three seats on the White Plains Common Council. All four candidates in the Democratic Primary have indicated their intentions to participate in the Forum.
The Candidates Forum will be held on Monday June 17 from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. in the White Plains Public Library Auditorium. The proceedings will be video recorded and streamed live.
In accordance with League policy and in order to ensure that a wide range of issues are addressed by the candidates, questions must be submitted in writing in one of two ways:
By email in advance of the meeting by 5:00 PM on Sunday June 16 to lwvwp.candidateforums@gmail.com with the subject line “Question for Candidates”
OR
In-person at the Forum. Doors will open at 6:30 PM. Cards will be available for audience members to submit questions.
Please include your name and address on your email or in-person question. Your address will not be made public. Questions will not be taken from the floor.
For additional information please email the manager of Candidate Forums using the subject line “Candidates Forum” at lwvwp.candidateforums@gmail.com.
Information about what’s on the ballot in your election district, the location of your polling place, who the candidates are and what their positions are on issues, be sure to visit VOTE411.ORGThe Primary Election is on Tuesday June 25. Polls will be open 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M.
The New York State Court of Appeals Friday refused to review the Appellate Court of the 2nd Circuit which declared that Katherine Brezler’s petition signatures previously approved by the Westchester County Board of Elections were valid. A lower court judge, Samuel Walker had she did not have enough valid signatures to be in the ballot. The Appellate Court in Brooklyn reversed Judge Walker’s ruling citing specific case law.
Democrats appealed that Appellate Ruling to the Court of Appeals in Albany last Monday. Yesterday the Appeals Court refused to review the case.
The New York State Court of Appeals upheld the Appellate Court ruling that puts Brezler on the ballot to stay, by refusing to review the Appellate Court decision.
KAT BREZLER in a statement to WPCNR Saturday morning said:
“The court of appeals refused to take the case. Which leaves the lower court’s decision in my favor.
There can be no further distractions.
The courts have recognized what we’ve long known, the board of elections was correct, we’re on the ballot. There is nothing left to do but knock on doors and get out the vote for our election on June 25th!”
DEMOCRATS APPEAL TO COURT OF APPEALS ON BREZLER ON THE BALLOT
COUNTY EXECUTIVE LATIMER AT GROUND ZERO CHAPPAQUA NY USA ON AIRCRAFT NOISE AND A NEW CONSULTANT, NEW LISTENING POSTS TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF SOUND, AIR TRAFFIC PATTERNSTHE STATE OF THE AIRCRAFT MARKET TODAYC, PATTERNS IN PLANE PURCHASING
JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS KATHERINE BREZLER AT 7:30 PM SATURDAY EVENING. SHE IS A WHITE PLAINS CANDIDATE FOR THE COMMON COUNCIL IN A PRIMARY JUNE 25- AT 7 PM SATURDAY EVENING, JOHN BAILEY INTRODUCES AND INTERVIEWS THE THREE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NOMINEES FOR COMMON COUNCIL WHO ARE BEING CHALLENGED AT THIS TIME IN A PRIMARY JUNE 25, PENDING AN ONGOING COURT CASE BEING APPEALED TO THE NEW YORK COURT OF APPEALS
