America’s Birthday: What Were America’s First Leaders Like 241 Years Ago Today?

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WPCNR PROFILES IN CHARACTER. By John F. Bailey. July 4, 2017 Reprinted from the WPCNR Archives:

It is the 241st birthday of our  nation, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1776.

I usually run this column on George Washington’s birthday, however, in light of the character-challenged behavior being shown lately by our leaders and congress in Washington, it is instructive to look at our first leader, George Washington, the father of our nation.

One cannot help be reminded of the snowy winter at Valley Forge, when the bedraggled, poorly equipped rebel army suffered but held together, and attacked the Hessians in Trenton on Christmas Eve, 1776, crossing the Delaware River at night.

What kind of man was he that George Washington could inspire his troops against all odds?

Washington was a man of tremendous character. Where did he get this character? He specialized in self-control at an early age.

Reenacters Marching to Raise Old Glory at Purdy House in Honor of George Washington’s Birthday. Photo, 2003 WPCNR News Archive.

According to The American President, Washington, at sixteen, had formed a code of conduct. He had written a book of etiquette with 110 “maxims” to guide his conduct in matters. In this etiquette book he had written,

Every action done in company ought to be done with a sign of respect to those who are not present. Sleep not when others speak; sit not when others stand; speak not when you should hold your peace; walk not when others stop;…Let your countenance be pleasant but in serious matters somewhat grave…Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise.

According to the character sketch provided by the authors of The American President, this personal “rulebook” was a book that Washington wrote over the years and referred to it often,

“for self-control, to avoid temptation, to elude greed, to control his temper. Reputation was everything to him. It had to do with his strength, his size, his courage, his horsemanship, his precise dress, his thorough mind, his manners, his compassion. He protected that reputation at any cost.”

Honor Guard Strikes the Colors to a Drum Roll. Photo, WPCNR News.

Earning respect by example. Quelling rebellion with a few words.

Washington inspired by example. He lived with his troops. He shared hardships with them, and so much was there respect for him that he was able to talk them out of armed rebellion at the end of the American Revolution.

Washington had been asked by the army to join them to over throw the Continental Congress, and make himself King.

Washington had been asked by one of the officers of the rebels to join them, and he wrote them,

You could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable. Banish these thoughts from your mind.

Hearing that the rebels who were planning insurrection against the new country due to not having been paid by the Continental Congress, Washington rode to Newburgh, New York, on March 15, 1783, to meet with the dissident insurgents. Washington spoke to the rebellious group, saying,

“Gentlemen, as I was among the first who embarked in the cause of our common Country; as I never left your side one moment, but when called from you on public duty; as I have been the constant companion and witness of your Distresses…it can scarcely be supposed …that I am indifferent to your interests. But…this dreadful alternative, of either deserting our Country in the extremest hour of her distress, or turning our Arms against it…has something so shocking in it that humanity revolts from the idea…I spurn it, as every Man who regards liberty…undoubtedly must.”

The would-be rebels fell silent, digesting what he had said. Then Washington withdrew a letter from Congress, but could not read the text, withdrawing some eyeglasses from his tunic, remarking,

“Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.”

The men present were reported to have tears in their eyes at this gesture of Washington’s and abandoned their plot out of respect for their leader.

Washington retired from the military, surprising the entire new country. His action surprised King George III of England, who was astonished that Washington had refused to hold on to his military authority and use it for political or financial gain. The defeated King of England, remarked, “If true, then he is the greatest man in the world.”

 Members of Common Council, 2003: Tom Roach, Rita Malmud, Benjamin Boykin and Glen Hockley, (center of Picture) and observers of the ceremony salute the Colors. Photo, WPCNR News.
Seeker of Diverse Views

As President, George Washington invented the Presidential Cabinet, whom he referred to as “the first Characters,” persons who possessed the best reputations in fields and areas of the jobs he was filling. Washington said on political appointments,

“My political conduct and nominations must be exceedingly circumspect. No slip into partiality will pass unnoticed…”

Washington tolerated the relentless clashes between Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State, and Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, but lectured them on the necessity for tolerance and moving beyond partisanship:

“I believe the view of both of you are pure, and well meant. Why then, when some of the best Citizens in the United States, Men…who have no sinister view to promote, are to be found, some on one side, some on the other…should either of you be so tenacious of your opinions as to make no allowances for those of the other? I have great esteem for you both, and ardently wish that some line could be marked out by which both of you could walk.”

The Constitution Should be Protected

When George Washington left office after two terms, he made a farewell address which warned future generations of Americans about foreign entanglements and partisanship in the republic:

I shall carry to my grave the hope that your Union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the Constitution may be sacredly maintained; and that free government…the ever favorite object of my heart…will be the happy reward of our mutual cares, labors and dangers.”

Washington died in 1800, three years after leaving office in 1797. He was saluted on the floor of congress as being “First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.”

His comments above resonate today in some of the most cantankerous rhetoric and partisan stands the country has experienced in years.

We should also remember that the signers of the Declaration of Independence in Independence Hall in Philadelphia today in 1776, were putting their lives at risk be meeting and discussing, arguing, the Declaration wording, despite knowledge that if British occupying troops learned of the meeting, they could have been arrested and hung.

That is a pressure the crybaby congress of today which cannot seek a way to compromise and seek compassionate solutions to the health care debate, and are “on recess,” do not have on them.

Compromise and respect for the other point of view and the millions who will be affected by what some would say are “reckless,” “feckless,” “cruel” and “dangerous” changes to traditional American policies are missing in today’s political discourse, if you can dignify it with that remark.

I’d like to introduce a new term, “transminder,” the ability to listen to those whose views are opposite of yours. Find between you what you feel is the ultimate goal of a policy change and how the good can be accommodated and the bad eliminated, without hurt with fairness to all. The more you talk in terms of the common good, the better what you come up with gets.

Can we do that?

I challenge every person in government to read the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and the Constition carefully today. It will not take long. Then measure your hates, prejudices, positions, and behaviors against those documents.

And, for all you “leaders” out there, wherever you are, George Washington’s word above are what you should measure yourself against.

He was the greatest leader of them all.

 

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Remembering the Eternal Earhart: Lost at Sea 80 Years Ago Today

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13-Amelia

Lost today eighty years ago. She lives today eternally flying  into the sun.

WPCNR THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY. July 2, 2017:

There were no stories that I could find in the area papers on Amelia Earhart, the most accomplished woman pilot of all time who was lost at sea on July 2, 1937.

No remembrances accounting her accomplishments. Her advocacy for women’s rights. Her multi-talents.  Her own courage, and building respect for women’s abilities and inspiring millions of women and men with her aviation “firsts”.

  • October 22, 1922 – Broke women’s altitude record when she rose to 14,000 feet
  • June 17-18, 1928 – First woman to fly across the Atlantic (as a passenger); 20hrs 40min (Fokker F7, Friendship)
  • Summer 1928 – Bought an Avro Avian, a small English plane famous because Lady Mary Heath, Britain’s foremost woman pilot, had flown it solo from Capetown, South Africa, to London
  • Fall 1928 – Published book, 20 Hours 40 Minutes, toured, and lectured; became aviation editor of Cosmopolitan magazine
  • August 1929 – Placed third in the First Women’s Air Derby, also known as the Powder Puff Derby; upgraded from her Avian to a Lockheed Vega
  • Fall 1929 – Elected as an official for National Aeronautic Association and encouraged the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) to establish separate world altitude, speed, and endurance records for women
  • June 25, 1930 – Set women’s speed record for 100 kilometers with no load and with a load of 500 kilograms
  • July 5, 1930 – Set speed record for of 181.18mph over a 3K course
  • September 1930 – Helped to organize and became vice president of public relations for new airline, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington Airways
  • April 8, 1931 – Set woman’s autogiro altitude record with 18,415 feet (in a Pitcairn autogiro)
  • May 20-21, 1932 – First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic; 14 hrs 56 min (it was also the 5th anniversary of Lindberg’s Atlantic flight; awarded National Geographic Society’s gold medal from President Herbert Hoover; Congress awarded her the Distinguished Flying Cross; wrote The Fun of It about her journey
  • August 24-25, 1932 – First woman to fly solo nonstop coast to coast; set women’s nonstop transcontinental speed record, flying 2,447.8 miles in 19hrs 5min
  • Fall 1932 – Elected president of the Ninety Nines, a new women’s aviation club which she helped to form
  • July 7-8, 1933 – Broke her previous transcontinental speed record by making the same flight in 17hrs 7min
  • January 11, 1935 – First person to solo the 2,408-mile distance across the Pacific between Honolulu and Oakland, California; also first flight where a civilian aircraft carried a two-way radio
  • April l9 – 20, 1935 – First person to fly solo from Los Angeles to Mexico City; 13hrs 23min
  • May 8, 1935 – First person to fly solo nonstop from Mexico City to Newark; 14hrs 19min
  • March 17, 1937 – Amelia and her navigator, Fred Noonan, along with Captain Harry Manning and stunt pilot Paul Mantz, fly the first leg of the trip from Oakland, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii, in 15 hours and 47 minutes
  • June 1, 1937 – Began flight around the world June 1937; first person to fly from the Red Sea to India

Susan Butler, the author of  East to the Dawn, (Addison Wesley Publisher) the definitive biography of Amelia published in 1997, 60 years after Amelia’s disappearance on route to Howland Island in the South Pacific: wrote this paragraph describing her contribution to aviation and her ability to inspire the American public. I could not write a better one, so I wanted to share Ms. Butler’s  next to last page comment on Amelia’s contributions and hold on us today:

“Amelia came into the public eye because she was an adventurer, but she was more: she was America’s sweetheart. America’s shield.

She did everything better than anyone else—beckoned us on, and set more records, and she did it seemingly effortlessly.

She made us proud to be an American.

Perhaps she was cut down in her prime(39 years of age)—perhaps because she did not quite have time to fulfill her potential, but we can’t let her go.

She is thirty-nine forever. She has become America’s dream woman.”

America needs to remember and be reminded of excellence as demonstrated by Ms. Earhart so poignantly.

The author Susan Butler quotes the epitaph Ms. Earhart wrote for her friend, the pilot Wiley Post, noting that it might have served as Ms. Earhart’s own and I paraphrase it:

“So close was she to her profession that she could not know the sheen on her own wings.”

 

Editor’s Note: You can see newsreel clips selected by Peter Katz of Ms. Earhart on White Plains Week on YouTube    https://youtu.be/WH2dfpOwX-s on www.whiteplainsweek.com at http://whiteplainsweek.com/

. The program will be on White Plains Television Monday evening at 7  on Verizon Fios Channel 45 countywide and on Altice Cablevision Channel 76.

 

 

 

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THE AMERICAN GRILLMAN: KING OF THE 4-DAY WEEKEND

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WPCNR GRILLMAN GAZETTE. By The Grillin Gourmet. ReInternetted from The CitizeNetReporter Archives of the Ancient Past. July 2, 2017:

 No matter whether you’re a New York Liberal, a Michigan Wolverine, A Trump supporter, or California free spirit, there’s still one phenomenon the country still believes in this Independence Day weekend.

Thanks to the chimney charcoal starter and its glowing orange coals, the backyard American barbeque DNA macho in the amateur chef is once again sizzling in the 80 degree heat.

Steak was raised outside, it was born to be cooked outside, and the barbequed steak puts the Cartier- priced steakhouse in its place!

In this griller’s opinion, outdoor grilling proves once again to be the equal and superior to the overpriced artificial-tasting steak. Sleek decor and atmosphere cannot duplicate backyard origins. The economy may be slogging, your home equity quiting, but  take heart even the hobo can grill!

To do real steak right , you have to do it outside on charcoal.

The instinct of generations of the American backyard barbeque tradition passed up from  the cave, enjoyed at Valley Forge. Lewis and Clark bit into venison discovering the Northwest. Cowboys sunk teeth into rare beef around chuck wagons on the prairie and up from the Southland , barbeque inbred and passed on from American father to American son – cutting across nationality and station – gives you real steak – not $100 technology  enhanced cuts. Flaming charcoal makes steak a living thing in your mouth!

As your born-to-grill reporter watched fireworks from a Gatsbyesque setting overlooking Long Island Sound last night with barebequed hamburghers, pulled pork sandwiches, and beer pong being played,

I thought America can pull itself out of this. As long as the American grilling tradition is handed down, the pioneer “can-do” spirit lives!

Why go out for dinner when you can tap your inner griller and say I can cook steak better?  The difference is the air, the smoke, the way marinade just drips down into the coals and gets into the meat. It’s chemistry,  Americans!

What is it about the American Grillman that’s so special that his or hers backyard cuts beat the insider  professionals’ inflation-friendly ostentatious steaks?

It’s the unique chemistry of being American and believing in the charcoal flames.

On Independence Day Weekend, it’s not July 4 unless you’re grillin’. On Labor Day, if you’re not workin’, you’re grillin’.

There’s just something about the searing intensity of glowing charcoal combining mystically with the testosterone and instinctual synergy between red meat and the dedicated outdoor griller –  it beats in taste, juiciness and texture the contrived technology of the most expensive restaurant equipment.

No matter how tasty the megabuck meat is in the swank sticker shock steak palaces, there’s always that articificialness packaged taste that marks the indoor steak. The butteryness. The soft crust of the black topped surface of the indoor steak just does not have the nubile grizzled roughhewn flamed yield of the outdoor one-on-one grilled steak that fights your bicuspids every cillemeter.

“UNN! Meat good, Kemo Sabbee!”

The chimney starter – the secret to the hot start. No more charcoal fluid needed. Take a copy of The Journal News and scrunch up the news section or the sports section in the bottom of the Chimney Starter. (Experience shows that copies of the Journal News – any Gannett paper – burn better than the New York Times which is very slow-starting and always slightly behind the story)

Pour in a helping of those ultimate black beauties, Kingsford charcoal briquettes into the chimney top.

Fifteen minutes before the wife has the sides ready, take a wooden match to the aperatures in the base of the starter and light up the edges of the newsprint. Within 10-15 minutes you’ve got coals a firey orange red. You’re ready to outcook the pros.

After the Griller’s wife has marinated the meat –  New York Strips sizzling in the caressing deep searing heat of glowing orange briquettes – 3 minutes a side and deft turning and surgical “rareness checks” – the seasoned grillista simply has a feel for the meat – passed genetically down from generations of American grillers.

The combination of cauldron, flavored steel grill rods and perfect flames creates the grillmark “brand” let’s you know just by looking at the cut, you’re going to get the natural taste of the backyard steak –  No one can do a great cut like you can!

As any redblooded American Grillman will tell you when doing a steak – you can’t deliver a steak by manual or instructions.

You have to feel the meat. Feel it cook. You just know its time. Hearty smoke promising juicy meat that melts in your mouth creates an experience only the grillman or GrillGam knows.

Every cut is not the same. Each deserves a surgeon’s attention to cooking timing and detail. And surgical checks are necessary.

The American Grillman becomes one with the meat. With eye and knowledge of the hue of red – you just  know  by instinct when she’s done. Cooking is slowed down by moving the meats to the side off the heat to keep the American beauties warm

With the wife’s deft presentation, sweet potato fries, corn pudding, fresh beans and mushrooms the Grillman’s natural art creates the taste of the Fourth of July

Get those grills handy and ready to fire up to get that taste of American Independence once again.

When you’re over the grill, you’re King of the Hill.

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ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD and on THE INTERNET NOW: THE STATE OF THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS WITH ACTING SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DR. HOWARD SMITH

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 NOW SEE DR. HOWARD SMITH’S ANALYSIS OF THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS AS HE DEPARTS

ON THE INTERNET NOW ON

Youtube Link is

 
The link to whiteplainsweek.com is
 

WP_20170623_15_45_25_Pro

ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

THE TRI-STATE AREA’S MOST RELEVANT INTERVIEW PROGRAM

YOU’VE GOT 

DR. HOWARD SMITH

ACTING SUPERINTENDENT OF WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS

THE EXIT INTERVIEW

ON 

THE STATE OF THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS

JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS DR. SMITH ON

THE TEACHERS SETTLEMENT — THE ADVANTAGE TO THE DISTRICT

ASSESSMENT TESTS THIS SPRING– BETTER OR NOT?

ISSUES FACING THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

DR. JOSEPH RICCA

THE TAX CAP FALLACY THAT PREVENTS BUDGET CUTTING

AND MORE

 

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RIDE-SHARING BEGINS TODAY. OVER 2,000 DRIVERS WAITING YOUR SMARTPHONE CALL. DEMOCRATS WILL MONITOR SAFETY BY TASK FORCE. County to Lose $1 Million in Fine Revenue

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Democratic Legislators Caucus AND Reporting by John Bailey. June 29, 2017:

After yesterday’s public hearing on ride-sharing, Democrats announced they will take the lead in coordinating discussion and action steps on the important continuing public safety & economic issue of allowing ride-sharing in Westchester County.

“While we have always been advocates for safe ride-sharing, we are excited to form a team that will help ensure a smooth roll-out in Westchester County,” said Majority Leader Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining). “This task force will closely observe public safety, economic, customer service, and traffic congestion concerns and make sure Westchester is utilizing best practices. We look forward to productive conversations with Uber & Lyft in the coming months.”

Editor’s Note: WPCNR asked a press spokesman for the Democratic caucus how many drivers Uber already has based in Westchester. Joseph Sgammato  told WPCNR Uber has some 2,000 drivers based in Yonkers alone.  He said did not have the figures for ride-sharing drivers presently based throughout the entire county  Sgammato said persons can only order a ride-sharing driver through the app (on their smart phone), giving their location through GPS. The company then sends back to their smarphone a picture of the car, its license-plate number and a picture of the driver.

Asked if Westchester drivers who are already authorized by ride-sharing companies, (ready now to pick up calls in the County) have indicated they would pay the $90 fee for fingerprinting through the Westchester County Taxi and Limousine Commission, Sgammato said Uber got a mixed reaction from drivers as to whether they would submit fingerprints through the commission, some drivers saying they would, others saying they felt the application process and records checking with Uber was thorough. Sgammato described the reaction from Uber drivers as a “mixed”.

Asked if the companies had provided statistics on the number of incidents involving Uber drivers in the last year in the area, Sgammato described the number of incidents as just “a handful.”

Asked if the Democrats were seeking to obtain some sort of revenue from the ride-sharing companies to replace the $1 Million the county has collected from ride-sharing companies caught operating previously unauthorized to operate in the county, Sgammato said the Democrats could not. That would have to be done by the state, Sgammato said.

Asked if the state was planning to amend the law to require ride-sharing companies to pay fees to operate, Sgammato said he was not aware of any movement to do so.

The news release continued, “We welcome the opportunity to continue a dialogue with members of the legislature. We thank Majority Leader Borgia and Legislator Ben Boykin for their efforts on this front,” added Josh Gold, New York Public Policy Director, Uber.

The task force will monitor the ride-share operations over the first six months and come up with financial solutions and safety recommendations for the Board of Legislators and County Executive to consider. Due to current New York State law, Westchester will stand to lose over $1M in revenue on June 29th regardless of what action was taken by the County. For Westchester to enact any of these recommendations, changes to state law must be made. Creating this task-force will increase the Board’s ability to raise the issues that may need adjustment.

“We applaud Majority Leader Borgia and Legislator Ben Boykin for their leadership on ridesharing and look forward to continuing to work with policymakers to ensure a positive experience for Lyft passengers and riders,” said Adrian Durbin, Director of Communications, Lyft.

“Since the State Legislature passed a law in April permitting ride-sharing in New York, I have been looking forward to the benefits that companies like Uber and Lyft bring to our communities.  Across the country, ride-sharing has proven to be a significant driver of economic opportunity, a safe and affordable transportation option, and a means of reducing traffic and pollution,” said Legislator Ben Boykin (D-White Plains), Chair of the Board’s Committee on Public Safety & Social Services. “While I welcome ride-share apps in our communities, it will be on us as legislators to stay vigilant and work with Uber, Lyft, and New York State for the best safety options and financial arrangements for ride-sharing in Westchester.”

The City of White Plains has not issued a statement though asked by WPCNR, as to how ride-sharing drivers are expected to operate in White Plains going forward. The County has decided to allow Uber and Lyft to operate in Westchester and accept ride calls from within the County and has declared they are legal to operate throughout the county.

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Uber Lyft Negotiations began 3 days before Ride Sharing Was Scheduled to Begin: Boykin

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER From County Legislator Benjamin Boykin. June 28, 2017:

Editor’s Note: Yesterday, as County spokesperson, Gerald McKinstry told WPCNR, the Westchestery County compromise with Uber and Lyft creating a voluntary fingerprinting procedure to screen Uber and Lyft drivers, old and new applicants to come, the compromise talks began 3 days before, according to County Legislator Benjamin Boykin.

County Executive Robert Astorino announced the agreement with Uber and Lyft yesterday afternoon (see previous story below) in a news conference announced at 11:30 A.M., for 2:30 P.M. the event’s telecast was not even announced on the county website as of 2 PM. The news conference was televised on Facebook, but that was not displayed on the county website either as of 2 PM.

The inception of talks coincided (by WPCNR’s analysis) with the strong broadcast and local media advertising by Uber on LoHud and News12 and WVOX backed by a telephone robo call blitz and an encouraged call-in campaign to the County Executive by the public to tell the County Executive to approve Uber.. 

County Legislator Benjamin Boykin today confirmed the last minute nature of the compromise Fingerprinting in this statement emailed throughout district 5  this morning:

The E-Mail Statement from Legislator Boykin:

“Ride-sharing companies, such as Uber and Lyft, will begin operating legally in Westchester County on Thursday, June 29.

The Board of Legislators did not vote this morning to opt-out of ride-sharing.

As Chair of the Public Safety and Social Services Committee (PSSS), I welcome safe ride-sharing to Westchester County. The last minute “deal” negotiated between the Astorino Administration and Uber and Lyft provides for voluntary fingerprinting for the drivers.

I have repeatedly asked the Administration to come to the PSSS Committee to have an open discussion on how to best bring ride-sharing to Westchester.

The first such meeting with all stakeholders (Administration, Board of Legislators, Uber, Lyft, Taxi and Limousine Representative and the traveling public) took place on Monday, June 26, just three days before the start date for ride-sharing.

Since the State Legislature passed a law in April permitting ride-sharing in New York, I have been looking forward to the benefits that companies like Uber and Lyft bring to our communities.  Across the country, ride-sharing has proven to be a significant driver of economic opportunity, a safe and affordable transportation option, and a means of reducing traffic and pollution.

Not only will consumers benefit from ride-sharing services, but Uber and Lyft have thousands of potential drivers interested in signing up. Ride-sharing companies provide a flexible and innovative way to provide jobs for people across all communities, including students and retirees. The benefits to ride-sharing far outweigh the potential downside.

Under the New York State law that regulates ride-sharing companies (outside of New York City which regulates ride-sharing under its Taxi and Limousine Commission):

  • 4% of each ride will go to NY State without any revenue sharing with counties or local municipalities
  • Counties and local municipalities are prohibited from regulating ride-sharing companies
  • Any changes to the regulations for ride-sharing companies must be done by NY State law
  • Fingerprinting is not required under the NY State law
  • The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the regulating agency for ride-sharing companies
  • A county or municipality (with a population greater than 100,000 people) can opt out of ride-sharing at any time through a local law/ordinance.  Likewise, opt back in can happen at any time

I want to thank each of you for your emails, phone calls and meetings to provide your comments on this very important transportation option for Westchester County.

While I welcome ride-share apps in our communities, it will be on us as legislators to stay vigilant and work with Uber, Lyft and New York State for the best safety options and financial arrangements for ride-sharing in Westchester.”

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Uber and Lyft Good to Go with Astorino Voluntary $90 a Driver Fingerprinting Program to Establish a “Safe” Pool of Drivers. UBER AND LYFT LEGAL IN WESTCHESTER TOMORRO

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. (Edited with additional reporting by The CitizeNetReporter) Photo, Courtesy Westchester County Department of Communications. June 27, 2017 UPDATED, June 28, 2017 with Uber and Lyft application website addresses:

Joined by executives from Lyft and Uber, County Executive Robert P. Astorino today announced an innovative solution to allow ride-sharing companies to operate in Westchester while increasing rider safety by creating a voluntary pool of fingerprinted drivers from which companies like Lyft, Uber and others could hire.

A spokesman told WPCNR that Uber and Lyft had not guaranteed they would hire only fingerprint-checked drivers, or require present Uber and Lyft drivers to be fingerprinted.

A Lyft email received last week by WPCNR last week shows that Lyft does do extensive criminal background checks on Lyft potential drivers before hiring them.

The press release continues:

“New state regulations, which go into effect on Thursday, contain a major flaw that put the safety of Westchester residents at risk because they do not require ride-sharing drivers outside of New York City to be fingerprinted.

Working with Lyft and Uber, Astorino developed a plan that will enable Westchester residents to know whether their ridesharing driver’s background screening includes a fingerprint check.

“Our goal was to find the right balance between safety and convenience,” said Astorino. “Ride-sharing companies provide the public with an important transportation option. But if that convenient ride is not safe, it’s not really an option at all.”

The new program, the first of its kind in the country, is called “Thumbs Up.”

Participating drivers whose fingerprints show they have no criminal record will be issued a “Thumbs Up” decal by the county to be posted on their windshield to alert customers that their driver has undergone this critical level of screening.

Gerald McKinstry, press spokesperson for Mr. Astorino told WPCNR that a potential Uber or Lyft driver had to be hired first by Uber or Lyft, then apply for the fingerprinting process. Asked how one applies to Uber or Lyft to be a driver, McKinstry said you would have  to contact Uber for how one does that.

Editor’s Note,June 28: In a Lyft email received by WPCNR last week, the company explains how you apply to be a Lyft driver for the first time, and notes the apparently thorough effort Lyft makes to screen drivers and new potential drivers. That link to this information is

https://www.lyft.com/drive-with-lyft?ref=EMAIL500&utm_source=xbaemail&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=59_390042_

On the Uber website, there is an application on how to become an Uber driver (you simply copy the following and place it in your browser) at

https://www.uber.com/a/carousel-vs-1?var=uni2&exp=70612_t1&city_name=national&utm_source=Bing_Brand&utm_campaign=search-bing-brand_1_-99_us-nationaltier1_d_txt_acq_cpc_en-us_%2Buber%20%2Bbecome%20%2Bdriver_kwd-35394648041_%7Bcreative%7D_4372379289_b_c_track-jan21generalupdate_restructure&cid=112583973&adg_id=4372379289&fi_id=%7Bfeeditemid%7D&match=b&net=o&dev=c&dev_m=%7Bdevicemodel%7D&cre=%7Bcreative%7D&kwid=kwd-35394648041&kw=%2Buber%20%2Bbecome%20%2Bdriver&placement=%7Bplacement%7D&tar=%7Btarget%7D&gclid=CJnmzIXJ4NQCFZMSNwoduS0GPA&gclsrc=ds&dclid=CLW-0oXJ4NQCFc8JNwodx9IM1Q

WPCNR asked if a potential Uber customer wanted a “Fingerprint Cleared” driver, could get such a driver, McKinstry said Uber and Lyft were “working on that.”

He said the program has just been hammered out within the last 24 hours. Asked if this had anything to do with Senator George Latimer’s press release earlier this week criticising the county position, McKinstry said no, that the county was aware of the worldwide popularity of ride-sharing services and wanted assurances that Westchester residents using a ride-sharing service could be assured they were riding with confidence in the driver they received.

According to the County news release on the news conference,

“While no screening can be 100 percent foolproof, law enforcement officials say fingerprinting provides the best safeguards. Not only does fingerprinting offer access to the best data bases of criminal activity, but those data bases are constantly being updated. This means law enforcement can be alerted to criminal activity that occurs after a driver is hired, not just before.”

“Ride sharing is not supposed to be hitchhiking with an app,” said Astorino. “The public has the right to know that the driver picking them up has been fully screened for a criminal record. The ‘Thumbs Up’ sticker in the windshield will tell riders that their driver has gone through the most complete background check. That’s a level of protection Westchester riders deserve.”

       Lyft and Uber said they will encourage their drivers (already on staff) in Westchester to participate in the program and thanked County Executive Astorino and his team for bringing ride-sharing to Westchester.

“The agreement with County Executive Astorino and the Westchester County Legislature ensures that residents and visitors will have access to safe, affordable transportation options,” said Sarfraz Maredia, General Manager, Uber Tri-State. “By working with Uber to bring the benefits of ridesharing to Westchester, County leaders recognize the importance of technology and innovation in their community.”

Airport Options to be Encouraged

In addition to supporting the “Thumbs Up” program, Lyft and Uber said they would make their technology available to the county to help with traffic management and would work with the county on potential revenue opportunities at county facilities, such as the Westchester County Airport.

Here’s how the “Thumbs Up” program works:

Starting today, interested (Uber/Lyft and would-be Uber/Lyft) drivers can go to the county’s Taxi and Limousine Commission to be finger-printed for $90.

Within 48-72 hours, the results of the background check will be returned and entered into a database of fingerprinted drivers. Drivers who pass the check will be issued a “Thumbs Up” certificate and decal for their window.

Starting in August, drivers can go to Morpho Trust, a New York State authorized fingerprinting service, and have a report run for $102. The results will be sent to the TLC. The county will receive a $15 administration fee for each check it administers.

The efforts to balance safety and convenience also have the bi-partisan support of Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz.

“I appreciate the County Executive’s compromise to create a pool of properly vetted rideshare drivers in Westchester County,” said Kaplowitz. “New York State has passed a terribly flawed TNC bill that compromises the safety of Westchester County residents and puts the County Legislature in an untenable situation. It is also clear that the residents of Westchester County want to have Uber and Lyft operating in Westchester and the County Executive’s plan to place decals on the cars of drivers who have submitted to and passed criminal background checks with fingerprinting is in my opinion the best scenario that could be reached with Uber and Lyft at this time.”

For years, companies such as Uber and Lyft have lobbied the state to allow for ride-sharing throughout New York. The state’s new ride-sharing law stipulates that the Department of Motor Vehicles has oversight over ride-sharing services, as opposed to local governments, which have oversight over taxicabs and limousines.

Under the law, Westchester County can opt out of the state law at any time. To help ensure the smooth operation of the law, Lyft and Uber have agreed to work with the county and participate in regular oversight meetings.

The county is also going to continue to work with the taxi and limousine companies already licensed in Westchester to ease their regulatory burdens so there is a level playing field for all types of for-hire transportation.  The county has also asked Uber and Lyft to develop the technology to put the “Thumbs Up” certification into their app, so that riders will know ahead of time if they’ve been fingerprinted.

Edward Stoppelmann, president of Red Oak Transportation, said his company and others will work with the county on this effort to ensure safety remains paramount in the industry.

“The Livery Industry Council of Westchester, which represents the for-hire companies in the County, will continue working with the County Executive and TLC leadership to ensure that public safety remains its top priority,” said Stoppelmann. “TLC licensed drivers have always been subject to mandatory fingerprinting and drug testing, and are an integral part of the ground transportation system here in Westchester serving our residents, corporate citizens, and visitors.”

Editor’s Note June 28: Uber and Lyft are now legal ride options beginning June 29 (tomorrow-not July 1) according to state law, and the County press release. White Plains taxi regulations  previously banned Uber/Lyft pickups in White Plains. WPCNR has asked the White Plains Mayor’s Office if this policy is now definitely obsolete. (No statement from the Mayor’s office as of 4 PM today.)

Press spokesperson Gerald McKinstry told  WPCNR that Uber Lyft operations are now legal throughout the county based on the new state law. He also said that the county still could opt out of the state law at a future date because counties with a population of over 100,000 (not 500,000 as previously reported) have that right to opt-out under the law.

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County Executive Announcement on Uber and Lyft not Streamed Live on County Government Website. No live coverage by News 12

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. JUNE 27, 2017:

The Westchester County Department of Communications announced a news conference this afternoon at 2:30 in the County Offices, 9th Floor, Michaelian Building, however the announcement that was billed as “a major announcement” on the county policy on the Uber and Lyft app-based ride-sharing services was not available via live video streaming on the Westchester County Government website.

Asked by WPCNR is the new conference was going to be streamed live, a press representative said the video person was not in and they were trying to locate one.

As of 2:30 when the news conference was supposed to begin, it was not available on the county website. At 3 PM, on News 12, there was no update and no live coverage of the event being shown.

WPCNR  has learned that the news conference was televised on Facebook, but there was no indication on the westchester.gov website as of 2 PM that the news conference was being held, or that it could be view on the Westchester Facebook site.

 

 

 

 

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A FINAL QUESTION BEFORE THE VOTE ON FASNY–WHENEVER IT WILL BE

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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. JUNE 27, 2017:

Dear Mayor and Common Council,
We ask the above headline question because in our 38 years of living in White Plains. . .as we recall the Democratic Party only started to dominate City politics in the last 15 years or so.  We believe because their platforms of preserving Open Space, protecting Neighborhoods and fighting unwelcome development that would change the Character of our neighborhoods. . .connected and resonated with White Plains residents and voters.  We remember back on November 11, 2011 Liz Shollenberger, head of the Democratic Party in White Plains, even saying “We’re the party that cares more about people”.
Unfortunately around the same time Liz Shollenberger was making this statement the outside developer FASNY purchased the old Ridgeway golf course property and proposed a 53-acre school development that was the largest Construction project ever proposed for a White Plains residential neighborhood.  And almost immediately some of our White Plains elected officials started to help FASNY behind-the-scenes. . .and strangely for 6 years never asked any probing questions of the FASNY Representatives in any Public Meetings.
If the connection as the “people’s party” caught on with the White Plains voters and is responsible for the Democratic Party’s recent success. . .maybe it’s not a good idea for our FASNY-leaning elected officials, Mayor Roach along with Council Members Martin, Kirkpatrick and Smayda, to abandon the Democratic “people party” principles that they originally campaigned on. . .to switch their support to FASNY-type large developers. . .who are interested in zoning changes and behind-the-scenes political deals while circumventing laws and regulations.  With White Plains Citizens looking for elected officials who support the issues important to residents. . .and also having officials who are willing to solve problems. . .going forward we can see the Democratic Party and individual political careers being hurt in the process by some elected officials shifting to favor large developers away from ordinary people issues and concerns.
NYS SEQR regulations on land use, which coincide closely with the Democratic Party principles of protecting Open Space and Neighborhoods, were originally put in place to protect Citizens and the Environment.
And SEQR has a broad definition of the Environment to include Community Character, preventing significant Traffic increases, potential Water Flooding issues and other significant adverse impacts caused be a proposed development.  In other words SEQR’s goal, like our local Democratic Party’s original platform, was to look out for the “people”.
SEQR regulations require looking at the “whole action” of a development project including future expansions and land sales while also prohibiting a developer from breaking up a project into smaller parts to hide future expansion plans. . .which FASNY is doing by submitting their latest plan for only 28 acres where all their prior plans were for their full 130 acres.  While common sense tells all of us this Segmentation tactic is wrong. . .unfortunately our elected officials supporting FASNY have been silent on the issue.
In addition SEQR requires Mitigation reductions for Student Enrollment, Traffic and Construction to be “permanent” in order to protect the Public and Community from future developer-caused adverse events. . .not the short-term make-believe cosmetic changes as our FASNY-supporting elected officials have allowed FASNY to submit over the past 6 years.
SEQR regulations also require a developer to prepare and include accurate and complete information in their plans, similar to our own City’s Zoning requirements for developers. . .which unfortunately with all their multiple plan submissions over the past 6 years FASNY was never able to do.  Again all of the FASNY (Editor’s note: alleged) factual inaccurate plans were submitted under the guidance and support of Mayor Roach and Council Members Martin, Kirkpatrick and Smayda.
How else could this FASNY project drag on for 6 years. . .unless it had the support of these elected officials trying to push a “round peg into a square hole” where the rest of us could see it would never fit.
 
As the City is approaching a final vote we ask all our elected officials, including our FASNY-leaning ones, to reject FASNY’s latest plan. . .that is incomplete. . .that contains no “permanent” caps on Enrollment, Traffic, future land sales, etc. . .that violates WP laws & SEQR regulations. . .has 10-year Construction with Flooding issues in a residential neighborhood. . .and brings extremely dangerous Traffic Safety concerns for WP School Children, Seniors and their families. 
And for Mayor Roach and Council Members Martin, Kirkpatrick and Smayda. . .who stopped listening and showing respect to residents when FASNY appeared 6 years ago. . .we ask you to reconsider your support from FASNY. . .and change back to the core principals of the White Plains Democratic Party as being the “party of the people”.
And stop looking for your personal legacies in all the wrong places. . legacies of turning your backs on your neighbors, the Democratic Party and the law.  If you originally ran for office on the a platform of being the “people’s candidates” who support “neighborhoods” now is the time to follow up on your political promises by rejecting FASNY and supporting the people of White Plains.
Vote “no” on zoning changes and special permits for large developers in residential neighborhoods. . .reject FASNY.
Your Truth Police. . .Team Rhodes
Marie and Ron Rhodes
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