Casino Gambling Passes: Governor. At 11:40 P.M. mark, Astorino maintains 10% lead, 7,784 vote margin over Bramson. Boykin, Roach, Smayda, Martin, Kirkpatrick Appear elected in WP

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2013. November 5, 2013:

Now that 49% percent of the county vote is in and unofficially counted as of 11:15  P..M. incumbent County Executive Robert  Astorino holds a 7,784  vote margin over challenger Noam Bramson, a 55% to 45% spread.

In two new developments, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that Proposition One, allowing 7 casinos in New York State, 4 in the Southern Tier, and 3 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County in 7 years has passed. The Governor in a statement wrote:

“The passage of Proposal One is a big win for local governments, school districts, and taxpayers across New York State. This vote will keep hundreds of millions of dollars spent each year in neighboring states right here in New York, while increasing revenue for local schools, lowering property tax taxes, and bringing proper regulation to the industry. This vote builds on the landmark agreements we reached with Native American tribes this year, ending expensive court battles and unnecessary discord and restoring hundreds of millions of dollars to local governments. Since taking office, my administration has focused on reviving the state’s economy, and today’s vote will further pave the way for the creation of new jobs, construction, and increased tourism in communities across the state.”

The Albany Times-Union-Record reported:” Although the new amendment will ultimately allow seven casinos in the state, the first four will be built in three upstate regions: the Capital-Saratoga region, the Southern Tier region and the Catskills/Hudson Valley.”

Back in the voting races—

Timothy Idoni, the incumbent County Clerk is in a close race against Mary Beth Murphy. leading by 54% to 46% ( 5,801 votes) with half the vote still to go.

Meanwhile, in County Legislative District 5, with 43% of the vote counted, representing White Plains, Scarsdale and part of Harrison, White Plains Benjamin Boykin continues to lead Scardale’s Miriam Levitt-Flisser, 60% to 40%, and appears headed for a seat in the Michaelian Building on the County Legislature.

In the other  County Legislature races, the margin at this time is  12 Democratics leading to 5 Republicans. Only one race,  the District 7 Race between Catherine Parker and John Verni is still too close to call, and the District 9 contest  involving  Catherine Borgia and Peter Tripodi III, is seeing Ms. Borgia pull  away.

However Andrea Rendo is making a move on  Peter Harckham in District 2, trailing by just 539 votes, 6 percentage points behind, after having been substantially behind.

In the local City of White Plains elections, Mayor Thomas Roach  leads challenger Cass Cibelli by a 3 to 1 margin with 52% of the vote counted. Mr. Roach has won his first four year term as Mayor since winning a Special Election in 2011 to complete the term of Adam Bradley leading Mr. Cibelli by a 77% to 23% margin at this time.

24 of  46 Districts reporting in White Plains, 52% of the vote,  Beth Smayda and John Martin, incumbent councilpersons and John Kirkpatrick, seeking election for the first time are leading rivals Claudia Murphy by 21% to 15% margins with Anne Marie Encarnacao and Carl Albanese sitting on about 12% of the vote. Murphy trails Kirkpatrick now  by 1,195 votes as of 11:15 P.M. It looks as Smayda, Martin and Kirkpatrick have been elected.

All Propositions except Proposition 6 (that extends judges’ retirements)  continue to pass in Westchester County.


New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has just issued this statement 45 minutes ago upon the election of Bill de Blasio as the new Mayor of New York City

“Tonight New York City voters have opened an exciting new chapter in our State’s largest city with the :election of incoming Mayor Bill de Blasio. On a personal level, it is particularly gratifying to see Bill, a true friend and former colleague, win tonight. He has the experience to run New York City, a compelling vision for its future and he and his family epitomize the New York story. As New York City’s next Mayor, I know Bill will be a tremendous partner in moving this great City forward.”

Returns come from the official Board of Elections website, which is working beautifully, we might add.

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Happy Election Day.Pencil In Your Choices and Cross Your Fingers.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2013. News and Comment by John F. Bailey November 5, 2013:

HAPPY ELECTION DAY, THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO BE CHOSEN WE SALUTE YOU—DO SOME WORK AND MAY YOU PAY AS MUCH ATTENTION TO US TOMORROW AS YOU DID UP UNTIL TODAY.

WILL THIS BE THE YEAR THAT DEMOCRATS THE TRADITIONAL “GOOD PARTY” IS REJECTED BY VOTERS? CAN THE REPUBLICANS RECLAIM  AND RETURN TO THE MORAL CENTER OF THE COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVE DAYS IN WESTCHESTER BY WINNING WITH A HOLD THE LINE ON TAXES MESSAGE. TODAY WILL TELL.

WILL THIS DAY BE  FLOP DAY  OF A CANDIDATE WITH A 2 TO 1 DEMOCRATS TO REPUBLICANS VOTER REGISTRATION? LETTING DOWN THE BIG PERSONALITIES: CLINTON, SCHUMER, CUOMO? THE ASTORINO CAMP IS CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO SAY THEIR POLL MARGINS 8 POINTS.

BRAMSON’S LAST MINUTE MESSAGE TO HIS SUPPORTERS LAST NIGHT READ LIKE A PRE CONCESSION GOOD BYE, WRITING, “I wanted to take just a moment to express my heartfelt thanks to you.

Catie and I are filled with gratitude for friends who have extended themselves beyond any expectation, for a staff that has labored with intensity, dedication and skill, and for every person who has given time, energy, money – and trust – to our effort. 

Working with so many people whom I admire has been one of the great privileges of my life. I have done my very best to justify your confidence, and I conclude the campaign more committed than ever to public service and excited about what we can accomplish together. Let’s Win this thing.”

Well, today we will KNOW.

If the Democrat loses, this will be a colossal flop, and they will have to find another spot for him. A loss by Bramson who has not taken charge of his own campaign or defended his record, would mean that the Democrat lie of being the only party that cares has LOST its power and appeal.

A Bramson win would mean that the believers in the Democrat message of change for the better is still believed, despite screwing up national health care; despite creating the sequestration legislation; despite delivering an outrageous slap in New York’s face by loaning us $1.6 Billion instead of giving it to us like the Senate gave $3 Billion to Kentucky for a dam.

Mr. Bramson’s triumph will give every politician in the state the message that Westchesterites do not care about their taxes, which means Westchester will become more unaffordable  next year. We face more hiring of every Democrat hack that has been without a job the last 4 years. The Tax Terrorists will be back. 

If Noam wins, he has a lot to learn. He has to take charge. He has to learn County finance in a hurry, otherwise we the taxpayers face at least a 2%Tax Increase. More task forces not up to the task  and do-everything-to-you Government will return. He is a lightweight and he has to make the weight before the weigh-in.

A Bramson supporter even pulled off a November surprise last Thursday the Westchester County Independence Party sued in Federal Court County Executive Robert Astorino, asking for a million dollars in damages from him and 119 other persons, plus $100 Million in triple damages for alleged attempting to rig the Independence Party Primary in September by having Republicans switch affiliation to the Independence Party. The New York State Supreme Court denied the interloper petitions in court at the time, saying they failed to meet the deadlines required. Will this have an effect and put Noam in? Who knows.

I also have a strategy for voters to use on the six propositions on the back of the ballot.

If you go under the assumption that anything the government wants approval for to “help” you will actually hurt you in the long run, you should vote “No” on all six, bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang. Because reading them does not make them clear. And bring a cup of coffee if you have not read the propositions.

Oh, and another thing. On the White  Plains city website today, there is no explanation readily apparent about where you can vote. What a mistake. 

That just shows you how seriously our leaders are about getting you out to vote.

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What New York Can Expect from Casino Gambling

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE . John Bailey Interviews Mark Pilarski, syndicated gaming columnist. November 4, 2013:

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Mark Pilarski, writer of the nationally syndicated column, DEAL ME IN

On the eve of Election Day,2013, one proposition looms very big. New York State is asking voters to approve casino gambling in 7 areas, specific locations not disclosed.

I interviewed a gaming expert, Mark Pilarski, this morning from his home in Michigan,  who has worked for 18 years in 7 different casinos. He writes a syndicated gambling column for the Detroit Free Press and is read in many papers across the country. WPCNR asked Mr. Pilarski about the impact of a casino when it comes to an area.

WPCNR: How much revenue does a state usually get from a casino?

Mark Pulaski: Every jurisdiction in America sets up their own deal with a casino, whether it be Indian, or what the government makes with the local jurisdiction. It really depends. I’ll give you an example,you know Detroit is in bankruptcy.  After all of the accounting, 25% of their revenue for the whole city (of Detroit)   is coming from three casinos.

There’s no two states alike. I’ve followed it a little bit, I started in Nevada state, when Atlantic City wasn’t open yet.  As I’ve seen all these jurisdictions come on , they all cut their own deals.

WPCNR: Would you feel 7 more casinos would solve New York’s money problems?

MARK: I’ve followed it a little bit. They’ve promised some 6,700 construction jobs. I’m not an expert in construction so I’m not qualified to answer that.  They’re also saying, 2,900 permanent jobs. I’m going to take a shot here and say that’s a light figure, I think they ’ll end up being more (permanent jobs).  An example I’ll give you is I worked at Harrahs Lake Tahoe, and we had 2,500 employees in one casino. So I think that 2,900 figure might be a little bit light. I don’t know the size of casinos, but if you’re running 3 or 4 thousand slots,150 table games, you’re going to need a lot of employees.

WPCNR: Does crime go up when a casino comes to an area?

MARK: I’m going to answer this two ways. Do I want a casino down the street from me, which I do by the way. I would vote no. There’s traffic, I know the business, I’ve been in the business for 18 years. It’s not that they’re not good for the economy. I kind of like the quiet lifestyle now, I’d probably vote no.

As for crime, it’s not going to stay the same. Plan on it going up. Gambling is a vice business.You people at a slot machine with a Pall Mall hanging out of their lips and they’ve got a vodka orange juice in their right hand. It does raise crime.

But here’s the deal. At least where I’ve worked, they have standalone casinos. I lived at the Hyatt Regency,  300 yards from Harrah’s,  I never saw any of those casino patrons in my neighborhood. They were not wandering around neighborhoods breaking into houses. Now muggings in the parking lot,  they will probably go up. A lot of times when you cut a deal with the government they’re going to supply additional police. Every little bit of crime is going to go up some. But I would use the word between some and substantial, find me a word in-between those and I’ll buy it. You’re going to have more prostitution, more muggings, and petty crimes, random breaking into cars. The number one business that is going to go up is pawn shops.

WPCNR: Can there be too many casinos in an area, cannibalizing each other?

MARK: Absolutely. In September (2013) I saw a figure that floored me. Every single gaming jurisdiction in the United States of America of which 30-some states have casino gambling of one form or another showed a downtrend in the revenues for the state for the month of September, with the exception of Detroit which was flat and Louisiana which had not reported.

I’m at the point right now where I think there are too many casinos everywhere. In New York what you’re trying to do is to capture people that are going to Pennsylvania, that are going Maryland, that are going to Massachusetts, that are going to New Jersey. Then they won’t make that drive there.  They will relatively stay local because you don’t drive 300 miles to Atlantic City from upstate New York  to gamble there when you’ve got one twenty miles away.

Having too many casinos, there’s one positive: That always makes it more competitive. The player gets a better deal. You have a standalone in the Catskills,  they can set odds for games they are able to do like slots, craps, whatever they want, change the machine on video poker to whatever they want if they’re the only one out there, but no competition.

WPCNR: Do you think New York can support 7 casinos.

MARK:  Yes, they can support that. They have the largest population next to California. The big bonanza is whoever gets in the area first, about 7 to 10 years down the road.  If you have a stand alone casino in the Catskills that is not going to have a hard time supporting itself.

If you have a restaurant near a casino, it is tough to make it. Because the casino will try to keep you in their “shop,” and keep you there as long as they want. They’ll discount food prices, that will be a bit competitive. You do have a lot of local traffic, plus the problem gamblers, the vices that come with it, that will increase and I would say a 60% local, 40% out of the area.  In Traverse City, Michigan, it is about 40% out of the area, 60% local in the casino.

If it’s a tourist destination area, and you’re a stand-alone casino with no amenities to do other things Figure it’s going to be 80-20 locals.

WPCNR: What’s honest and dishonest about a casino?

MARK: Almost everything is honest about a casino in this respect. Every state in the union has a gaming jurisdiction. To get licensed as an employee. Forget about the upper  management, and the income is so scrutinized. I as a key operating officer in a casino was scrutinized almost as much as owning a casino  in the state of Nevada. If you’re a waitress, you have to be fingerprinted in Nevada, and your fingerprints run through the FBI 

The casino, they do not need to cheat, steal or do anything to you.  They rely on a simple mathematical formula. If you and I flip a coin and every time you win I have to pay you 80 cents. Every time I win you have to pay me a dollar. That’s the percentage they have on a lot of the games. 

So why do they need to cheat you? The other reason they wouldn’t cheat you, the MGMs, the Harrahs, the Ceasars, the Sands all trade on the New York Stock Exchange. The last thing they want  is dishonesty in any way shape or form. They have the mathematics in their favor.

What’s dishonest about a casino is the fact that they think it’s just adult entertainment. They don’t like the word gambling it’s “gaming,”  you’re here to have fun.

Well, no, you’re losing money. If you go to a football game, or a play, you come out of there relatively happy. You come out of a casino, losing four or five thousand dollars, you didn’t have fun. It wasn’t entertaining. I’ve seen people put a trash can through the window of a casino because they lost $500

WPCNR: Can an area surrounding a casino expect a rise in services due to the effects of casino presence?

MARK:  It is a service industry job. The highest position I got was as a casino shift manager. My job driving services was to look at you and say “I’m going to take all your money,” (Because that’s the business we’re in, taking your money}, “ try to give you nothing in return and hopefully put a smile on your face that you’ll come back again.”

You get good quality service in a casino, and I wrote a column recently about some of the benefits that come with casino gambling. There’s other activities, great golf courses, swimming pools, dining, all that stuff is there. But you’re not going to move someone off a machine if he/(she) is winning.

The casino is an equal opportunity employer. It is easy to move up the ladder. I don’t care your gender, race, it’s easy to make easy pay. It’s become much more family oriented now, so you’re not discriminated against in any way. If you’re an eager beaver and you show up on time, you’re going to climb the ladder relatively fast to any other industry. Because it’s very transcient.  That’s the number one positive about casino gambling.There are people I was the boss of who are now running casinos all over the United States.

WPCNR: Would the area of a new casino have to expect more people who develop personal problems?

Mark: That’s going to happen. Gamblers Anonymous says there’s 10% people who are going to walk into a casino that have problems or are going to have problems,(they’re not gambling yet) with gambling.  It’s all walks of life. In my area, a priest, an administrator of church the past year. It’s up to the newspaper to report this, scare people straight sometimes. I would say there’s a 10% group that’s going to have a problem.

I’ve given speeches in the past and said at the very beginning,  let’s say you’re an alcoholic, drug addict, or prostitute, or you’re a gambler, what’s the worst? I guy can go through a $100 a day on alcohol; maybe triple that for drugs; but the casino  can legally take your house in one day. You can’t take title to it, but you can go out and get second or third mortgages on it in one day.

There’s no limit on what you can blow, and that’s the thing.

 

About Mark Pilarski 

A recognized authority on casino gambling, Pilarski survived 18 years in the casino trenches, working for seven different casinos. Mark now writes a nationally syndicated gambling column, is a university lecturer, reviewer and contributing editor for numerous gaming periodicals, and is the creator of the best-selling, award-winning audio book series on casino gambling, Hooked on Winning.

Pilarski has worked in the following casino areas: Casino Shift Manager,Games Shift Manager,Pit Boss, Floorman, Boxman, Dealer of all Table Games, Sports Book, Cashier Cage, Hard Count, Soft Count, Slots, Keno.

He is the author of a series of books and videos, and audio tapes on gambling smart and writes a gambling column and has contributed to Chicago Sun-Times, San Jose Mercury-News, Detroit Free Press,The Sun-Herald, San Diego Union-Tribune, The Sacramento Bee, The Detroit News, Reno-Gazette-Journal,The Arizona Repubic, The Discovery Channel. His website is www.markpulaski.com

 

 

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AUTUMN IN BLOOM IN COLD SPRING

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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.

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CSX LAZY LONG FREIGHT SKIRTS THE HUDSON IN THE HUDSON HIGHLANDS

 

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Ducks Castle

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Castle Rock on Route 9D

 

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WHITE PLAINS WEEK PRE-ELECTION SHOW ON THE NET. PAUL FEINER INTERVIEWED ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

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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

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JOHN BAILEY

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JIM BENEROFE

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 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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NEW DWI LAWS IN EFFECT IN NY STARTING TODAY

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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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$100,000,000 Election Rigging Suit Filed Against County Executive and 119 Others in Federal Court

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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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Governor ANNOUNCES TIFIA LOAN APPROVAL FOR NEW TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE: $1.58 BILLION.

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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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Local Lady Makes Good: Cynthia Rubino Named Head of YMCA of Northern/Central Westchester

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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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