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WPCNR PHOTOS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. November 3, 2013:
God, the resident artist has creates autumn masterpieces daily everywhere you drive around Westchester and Putnam Counties. Foiliage is at its height. The WPCNR Roving Photographer captured Saturday’s daily masterpiece of spiritual color on the way to Cold Spring.
CSX LAZY LONG FREIGHT SKIRTS THE HUDSON IN THE HUDSON HIGHLANDS
Ducks Castle
Castle Rock on Route 9D
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THE BRAMSON NOVEMBER SURPRISE!
BRAMSON’S BUDDIES CLINTON, CUOMO SCHUMER ARE WITH NOAM.
THE APPROVAL OF THE TIFIA $1.6 BILLION LOAN.
THE 6 PROPOSITIONS
THE THRUWAY BOND RATING TAKE DOWN
EDCUATION COMMISSIONER JOHN KING COMES TO PORT CHESTER,
SAYS ASSESSMENTS WILL CONTINUE DESPITE MASSIVE OPPOSITION.
A VISIT TO THE NEW, DELIGHTFUL BRYANT & MAMARONECK WALKING TRAIL
WHAT’S GOING UP IN WHITE PLAINS BESIDES THE TAXES
ALL ON
WHITE PLAINS WEEK NOW
WITH
JOHN BAILEY
JIM BENEROFE
PETER KATZ
ON THE INTERNET AT
www.whiteplainsweek.com
WHERE YOU CAN ALSO SEE
PEOPLE TO BE HEARD
MONDAY AT 10 P.M. CHANNELS 45 AND 76
INTERVIEW WITH
PAUL FEINER
GREENBURGH TOWN SUPERVISOR FOR 22 YEARS
TALKS ABOUT
HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN GOVERNMENT
BY REALLY TRYING VERY HARD, RETURNING ALL CALLS AND CHOOSING THE BEST PEOPLE
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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From Governor Cuomo’s Office. November 1, 2013:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that individuals who drive drunk with a conditional license will now face a felony, which is the same penalty for those who drive drunk with a revoked license. Prior to today, driving drunk with a conditional license was only a traffic infraction.
“Today, tough new laws are going into effect to keep drunk drivers off our roads,” Governor Cuomo said. “Strengthening Leandra’s Law and increasing penalties will continue the State’s efforts to keep dangerous and irresponsible drivers from getting behind the wheel and putting themselves and others at risk. Drinking and driving have no place in New York, and we will make sure those who break the law will be properly penalized for it.”
Conditional licenses are issued to drivers who lose their license for drunk driving but have enrolled in an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program run by the Department of Motor Vehicles. A conditional license may be used only for driving to and from essential destinations such as work, school, and medical appointments.
Also taking effect today are several provisions that strengthen Leandra’s Law, specifically those that deal with the required installation of an ignition interlock device on vehicles owned, or operated, by a person convicted of misdemeanor or felony driving while intoxicated or other alcohol-related offenses. Ignition interlock devices prevent a driver under the influence of alcohol from operating a motor vehicle.
Leandra’s Law, which took effect in December 2009, is named after 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, who was killed in a crash while riding in a car driven by a drunken driver. In addition to the ignition interlock requirement, the law also made it a felony to drive drunk with a child under the age of 16 in a vehicle. Since the law took effect to October 22, 2013, more than 3,300 individuals across New York State have been arrested under Leandra’s Law.
The new provisions that take effect today:
· Limit the circumstances in which a court can waive the installation of an interlock device to only when a person under oath attests that he or she is not the owner of a motor vehicle and will not operate any vehicle during the period of the interlock restriction. Lying under oath would be considered perjury. As of June 2013, more than 14,000 drivers had ignition interlock devices installed in their vehicles.
· Clarify that youthful offenders are subject to the same ignition interlock requirements that are applicable to adults.
· Authorize the imposition of ignition interlock devices prior to sentencing as a preventive measure.
· Increase the minimum requirement for installation of an ignition interlock device from six months to one year.
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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. From The Westchester County Independence Party and material from WPCNR. October 31, 2013:
Four days before the Westchester County Elections, a Federal lawsuit was filed Thursday by The Westchester County Independence Party in U.S. District Court, Southern District, against County Executive Robert P. Astorino and 119 others by the Westchester County Independence Party which alleges according to a 58-page brief filed Thursday,
“…each and every Co-Conspirator Defendant was directly linked in some capacity (i.e.,employees, relatives, friends or high-ranking employees in the administration of County Executive Robert P. Astorino), to the County Executive and numerous Defendants enrolled in the Independence Party, typically at the proverbial midnight hour for the sole purpose of assisting the Candidate for County Executive, Co-Conspirator Defendant Robert P. Astorino in his plan to “raid” and take over the Independence Party and rig the outcome of its Primary Election.”
Details of the suit, not filed until Thursday, were discussed in a recent Westchester Guardian. A news conference on the suit is scheduled for noon on Friday in front of the Charles Brient Federal Courthouse in White Plains.
The Co-Conspirator Defendants are a “Who’s Who” of the Westchester County government.
The 123 defendants have 21 Days to respond.
The suit asks $1,000,000 in actual damages from the Co-Conspirator Defendents and $100,000,000 against the Co-Conspirator Defendants for violations of RICO plus all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs from the prosecution.
Barry Caro, a spokesman for the Bramson Campaign said at 12:30 A.M., Mr. Astorino’s opponent in the County Executive election next Tuesday, said the campaign had not read the lawsuit and could not comment on it at this time.
Asked if Noam Bramson was going to attend the news conference Friday, Barry Caro told WPCNR in a written statement:
“It’s not our event in any way, so no. Our campaign has literally nothing to do with this lawsuit, and any suggestion otherwise is yet another desperate attempt by Mr. O’Reilly to distract from his campaign’s utter lack of positive ideas.”
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications with information from WPCNR. October 31, 2013:
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the award of a $1.58 billion TIFIA loan to the Thruway Authority for partial funding of the new Tappan Zee Bridge at about 2 P.M. this afternoon:
“Approval of New York State’s request for this loan is great news for the tens of thousands of commuters who depend on the Tappan Zee every day, for communities in the Lower Hudson Valley, and for our entire state,” Governor Cuomo said. “This is a huge win for New York State, creating thousands of jobs, and an endorsement of one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in our history. It shows that despite over a decade of delay, New York can continue to build big. I thank Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx for his hard work helping New York secure this loan.”
The following is a statement from Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino regarding the federal government’s approval of a $1.58 billion loan to help finance construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge:
“I congratulate Governor Cuomo on this good news. The next step is how do we finance the rest of the bridge and the mass transit improvements to and from the bridge, while keeping tolls as low as possible. The governor has my full support to help the state come up with the best financing plans possible.”
The approval comes three days after Standard & Poor’s downgraded New York State Thruway Authority credit rating from A+ to A.
The S&P News Release on the downgrade said: “The downgrade reflects our view of the NYSTA’s (New York State Thruway Authority) significant increase in leverage and reliance on frequent rate increases to maintain margins.
Joseph Pezzimenti, S&P Credit Analyst said: “Although we have a general idea of how much tolls will be increased to fund the replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge and ongoing capital needs for the rest of the (thruway) system, the combination of the lack of a specific tolling plan and the potential for lower traffic levels at a time when the NYSTA will incread its leverage significantly led to the the downgrade.”
The lowering of the rating is expected to add millions to the cost of the thruway borrowing the balance of $2.7 BILLION more to build the $4.2 Billion bridge, including loan costs.
The Federal Highway Agency took approximately one year to approve the loan during which time the TIFIA interest rate for a 35-year loan went from 3.1% a year to 3.62% as of today.“Approval of New York State’s request for this loan is great news for the tens of thousands of commuters who depend on the Tappan Zee every day, for communities in the Lower Hudson Valley, and for our entire state,” Governor Cuomo said. “This is a huge win for New York State, creating thousands of jobs, and an endorsement of one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in our history. It shows that despite over a decade of delay, New York can continue to build big. I thank Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx for his hard work helping New York secure this loan.”
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Cynthia Rubino of Yorktown, and a native of White Plains, daughter of former Mayor of White Plains, Joseph Delfino, was tapped by the YMCA of Northern and Central Westchester
WPCNR PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE. OCTOBER 30, 2013:
The YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester has been serving the community for more than 100 years, has appointed Cynthia Rubino as CEO. She will begin in January of 2014.
Ms. Rubino is well-known in White Plains as the daughter of former White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino
Rubino, who was previously COO and Vice President for Government Relations for Berkeley College, will guide the YMCA’s funding and operations to include its branches in White Plains, Somers, Mt. Vernon and Camp Combe in Putnam Valley, NY.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to lead the incredible team of professionals, board members and other volunteers at the YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester,” Rubino said. “The mission of the Y is Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility, 3 very important goals for a strong Westchester County.”
“We are thrilled with the appointment of Cynthia Rubino as CEO,” said YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester Chairman of the Board of Governors Ralph Penny. “She is a results-oriented civic-minded leader with a talent for team-building and gaining community loyalty. She is just the person needed to lead the YMCA forward as we plan for a strong presence in Westchester to fulfill our mission.”
The YMCA CNW is a multi-faceted operation that is one of the largest providers of childcare services in the county with more than 500 children a day in afterschool programs serving seven school districts. The Y branches provide day care, fitness & pool facilities, housing, summer camps, and fitness classes. Camp Combe located on 80 rustic acres in the town of Putnam Valley services over 550 children and teens each day during the summer months.
“My many years of service to local governments and the college community have prepared me to lead an organization that focuses on service to the Westchester families and youth,” Rubino said. “What better way to help create a stronger Westchester than to focus on Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility
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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2013.News Comment .October 30, 2013:
WPCNR usually does not report endorsements in political campaigns, but when a candidate’s hometown media radio station that has had the opportunity to view Mr. Bramson’s performance as councilmember and Mayor first hand in New Rochelle for 16 years, declines to endorse Noam Bramson, that’s news. If anything, a hometown radio station would be the first to endorse him. Here is that editorial broadcast by station owner William O-Shaughnessy Tuesday.
William O’Shaughnessy, the President and Editorial Director of WVOX Radio (where WPCNR does an unpaid commentary once a week on Tuesdays, 7:35 A.M.) broadcast the following editorial Tuesday:
Astorino for County Executive
A Whitney Media Editorial of the Air
by William O’Shaughnessy
broadcast October 29, 2013
Despite what you’ve heard … we are endorsing Noam Bramson … for
Congress!
We’re sorry. But Noam Bramson has been running a “Congressional
Campaign” from the get go. Young Mr. Bramson, I tell you, has all
the Kennedy-esque moves. All the gestures. The pace. The cadence.
The rhythm. All the Harvard elocution. He’s got the moves.
But. But downtown New Rochelle, with rare exception (a few good
restaurants, an art gallery, a couple of jewelry stores) is essentially
all “dollar” stores and a for-profit college owned by out-of-towners.
For you see Mayor Bramson has practically turned over most of our
faded and beleaguered downtown to Monroe College and the Jerome
family’s for-profit empire. And he’s trying to jam that ill-conceived
Echo Bay so-called “development” down everyone’s throat. But the
concerned, sensible residents of his city are asking what the hell
Forest City Ratner has ever done for New Rochelle! We can answer
that: absolutely nothing!
We’ve been at the People’s Business for 50 years, ladies and
gentlemen … covering politics and government here in Westchester
… and we’ve had Mayor Bramson at this microphone often during his
tenure as our part-time mayor. He’s articulate. He talks a very good
game of policy-speak. But he’s gone missing during his recent
bewildering “Congressional Campaign.”
Noam Bramson is precocious. He’s brilliant. And he lets everyone
know it. He’s a policy wonk very much at ease with the jargon of
governance and lingo of text book public policy .
But the Westchester county executive is supposed to run the damn
county parks, the county parkways, the county police. And preside
over the 1.7 billion dollar county budget. Mr. Astorino does that all
with great skill and sound judgment.
Our friends at the Journal News have blessed Mr. Bramson’s lofty
aspirations … saying he offers a “holistic” approach. With all due
respect, I’m not sure what the hell that means (we’re sure our friend
Phil Reisman, their star feature columnist, didn’t write that Holy
Holistic headline!) Have it as you will, we believe Rob Astorino offers
a sensible, prudent, common sense approach to regional, local
government.
Mr. Bramson has shoveled hundreds of thousands of dollars down to
Washington, DC consultants and political gurus in the state of
Virginia. But he has almost completely ignored local media – the
local newspapers, and indeed, our local radio stations. There’s no
question he’s shooting for the big time. He’s really … running … for
Congress. And it was ever thus.
Indeed, Mr. Bramson has even ignored the elders of his own Democratic Party in Westchester. No, like I said, I think our mayor is shooting for bigger fish. He wants to go National. We don’t think he’s at all interested in this job of Westchester County Executive.
We go all the way back in this county to Edwin Gilbert Michaelian, the
legendary county executive of sainted memory. The county office
building is named after Mr. Michaelian. He was a wonderful man.
And a great county executive. So too was Andy O’Rourke who we
lost just recently after a long, distinguished career in public service.
Rob Astorino is cut from the same bi-partisan, sensible cloth as
Michaelian and O’Rourke.
Astorino is also astute and smart enough to repair to the wise
counsel of some very intelligent individuals who know Westchester
well … such as his deputy Kevin Plunkett and Kevin’s estimable brother William Plunkett … as well as John Cahill, who, indeed, ran the State of New York at one time as chief of staff to a former governor … whereas Mr. Bramson seems to have wrapped himself in the bosom of those paid gun political strategists from Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. who see big things for him. But the bottom line is: Noam Bramson is … not … a … good … fit … for this job.
We’re sorry but guns and abortion are national issues. And so is gay
marriage. And while we’re at it, it’s one thing to say you’re Pro
Choice. Everybody should be Pro Choice. A state can’t legislate
where it has no power, that is, in a woman’s body. But, in the very
next breath, we think you’ve got to say how horrible and vulgar and
violent abortion is. We haven’t heard that from Noam Bramson.
On his record, on the issues that should count in this race, Mr.
Astorino has been, in fact, a very brave and able executive. He’s
taken bold and, at the same time, prudent, sensible steps to curb the
excesses and sweep away the rubble of the Spano years. And he’s
done it all thoughtfully and carefully and fairly.
The battered and discredited national GOP in Washington can
certainly take a lesson from our enlightened Republican county
executive. He’s reached across the aisle and actually cooperated
with (God-forbid) Democrats.
Astorino has worked especially well with our Westchester neighbor
Governor Andrew Cuomo in whom we are so well pleased. And, in
case anyone failed to notice – the Governor, in what was supposed to
be a huge, momentous endorsement of Mayor Bramson last weekend
… opted instead to just do a perfunctory “shout-out” to Rockland and
Westchester Democratic candidates in general.
And say what you will about wily Bill Clinton. He’s not stupid. And
Bill Clinton’s so-called “endorsement” of Mr. Bramson was along the
same lines. (Anyway, we think he endorsed Mr. Bramson. It’s
“rumored” that he did anyway). But notice that no members of the
press were allowed to witness the grand event. Not one. In fact, the
media was summarily banned from the proceedings (something thatwas very pointedly noted by News 12’s great Janine Rose during the recent debate).
Now despite the outstanding job he’s been doing, Astorino has some
formidable obstacles. He’s got registration numbers against him.
Westchester, in case you haven’t noticed, is heavily Democratic. He’s
most likely got my beloved New York Times against him. He’s
certainly got our friends at “Mother Gannett” – the Journal News –
against him. And to his great credit, he’s got shy, modest retiring
Senator Chuck Schumer against him.
Rob Astorino has also had a lot of endorsements. But he’s going to have one more. We’re very pleased to announce this morning that WVOX and WVIP are endorsing Mr. Astorino, the very able and dedicated … Republican and Conservative candidate for County Executive of Westchester.
We’re glad to stand with Mr. Astorino.
This is a WVOX and WVIP Editorial of the Air. This is William
O’Shaughnessy.
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From The WPSNPTA. October 28, 2013:
The White Plains Special Needs PTA will conduct a resource fair for the special needs community to bring together parents, educators and special needs service providers. A broad range of services for special needs families and their children will be on display, including therapists, recreational specialists, advocates, social groups, educators, doctors, and legal & financial planning advisors.
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October 24, 2013:
Mr. Bailey,
I commend you on pressing elected officials and State Education Department officials to address the CCLS (Common Core Learning Standards). While I am not at the level of the individuals you spoke with and received the standard stock answer, I will say this to you: Interview the field: teachers, administrators and parents to get the “feel” of what this movement means.
Then I’ll say to you, going back to Goals 2000 (initiated) by President Clinton, we have shifted from states running schools to the feds (Federal Government) running schools. Please keep in mind that the CCLS is a result of school districts across the country qualifying for federal money–a ton of money, unprecedented money–if they–1. Support and open a plethora of Charter Schools
2. Adapt their performance metrics to federal requirements thus the APPR which hold principals and teachers to unprecedented and unrealistic accountability standards.Susie Oppenheimer authored that bill to satisfy the feds request….and then she retired……………We’ve lost the point of education because the children are “measures” interpreted by data that holds their performance directly related to the professionals in their lives; and we have dismissed childrens’ affective growth, maturity etc as incidentals that are not figured in the equation.IN NYC I can not tell you how many fragile lives have been disrupted because of DATA for one or two points between a summer vacation with parents or a sweltering classroom with marginal remedial programs.I share this with you because I know you care. There is no hidden agenda here.The Educator(Editor’s Note: the writer agreed to the publication of this letter with the understanding their name would not be published for fear of professional reprisal.)