TRAFFIC, R.I.P.,(Rest in Parking) SUNRISE TOXIC. MACY Bloomis $1.8M BLOW

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey, December 4, 2012:


 


The White Plains Traffic Department


 


Born 1979. Died 2012


 


R.I.P.


 


A funeral service was held for the nationally recognized White Plains Traffic Department Monday night.


 


The service was solemn. The fate of the Department of  Traffic was not deterred, despite the impassioned pleas of its founder and first Commissioner, Bernard Adler, who eulogized the national achievements and recognition the WPTD has earned in its short 33 year life since it was founded in the Alfred Del Vecchio administration in 1979


 


A handful of mourners showed up at last night’s public hearing, three of whom came to praise Commissioner of Traffic Tom Soyk, the certified traffic engineer who will move over to the Department of Parking under the direction of Commissioner of Parking, John Larson.


 


The Common Council voted unanimously to fold the TD into the Parking Department in the name of accomplishing efficiencies.


 


All Councilpersons except Milagros Lecuona said the move was made in light of the  efficiencies accomplished by Mr. Soyk and Mr. Larson’s joining their two maintenance forces over the past year. At no time in the short hearing did any member of the Council put a dollar figure on the savings, or how much the amalgamation was saving.   Lecouna questioned consolidating the department after only a year, and why it had to be done so fast without exploring how combined traffic and parking departments worked in other communities.


 


Bernard Adler recounted the founding of the Traffic Department in the late 1970s to address specifically management of traffic in the city. He noted in his remarks (that can be seen on the city website in the “consent agenda section”) how the traffic department designed and installed the first computer-run traffic light system that could sequence lights throughout the city, among a number of national honors.


 


He closed his remarks saying he had no doubt that as long as Mr. Soyk was Deputy Commissioner of  Parking for Transportation Engineering (his new title, retaining his present salary of $131,580 a year), he felt traffic management would be in good hands:


 


 “While Commissioner Soyk is still employed by the city, the streets will move efficiently, the planning board, zoning board and this Common Council will receive thorough and thoughtful reviews of  (traffic) matters before the city. However,  it is my considerate professional opinion that after Tom Soyk leaves, and  without a person functioning with the title of Commissioner of Traffic, the caliber of succeeding candidates will be well below the standards that the city has expected and has enjoyed these last thirty years. Without  an independent Commissioner of Traffic,important traffic innovations will languish in this city.”


 


The Mayor dismissed the notion the city would not be able to attract high quality traffic experts to serve in the city because the city is very attractive and has not had trouble doing so in the past. He also said the city is now embracing a concept he called “Complete Streets,” which he said recognizes that streets are for everyone, and not just cars, and moving cars in an efficient (“speedy”) manner. The Mayor said  it is good to move traffic well but “it makes a big difference if they hit someone.”


 


Mayor Thomas Roach noted after the hearing was closed that the city would have no trouble attracting worthy and competent individuals to fill any future  vacancy in the position.


 


In January a hearing will be held to change the zoning ordinances to reflect the responsibilities and procedures under the new arrangement.



 


In other action,


 


WATER RATES RAISED. $10 More a Year Average


 


The Common Council Raised water rates by passing ordinances on the consent agenda, but no one on the Council explained in the live television broadcast what the new rates were. The Mayor remarked the rates are going up because New York City is raising its rates for water, and White Plains gets 90% of its water


 


WPCNR notes that the Council backup material explains that for the first 5,000 cubic feet of water used, the rate goes up to $1.73 per 100 cubic feet for residential customers for the first 10,000 cubic feet, this is about a 6% increase from this year’s rate of  $1.63.


 


Commercial users ( who use120,000 cubic feet and over quarterly) will pay $3.27 per 100 cubic feet for the first 2,500 cubic feet and $3.66 /100 cubic feet after they exceed 5,000 square feet.


 


An example: A three-member family in a typical home paid $141 for 84 100 cubic feet units in October for the last six months. This will go up to $145 and change about a 3% increase. A complete list of  the new water rates is in the backup material viewable on the city website.


 


Commissioner of Public Works explained  during the consent agenda portion of the meeting why the rates were going up:


 


“The city has had raises (from New York City) that have averaged 13% a year for the last five years and that’s certainly been my experience it’s been going on a lot longer, but we just have records for the last five years. That accounts for the majority of it.


 


We purchase almost all of our raw water from New York City and we’re at the mercy of that even though we’ve challenged  their ability to have rate increases like that (through) the coalition of a number of other communities , Yonkers, Scarsdale, Mount Vernon, North Castle . The state has said they do have the right to charge us what they feel is right in the name of conservation, so those rate increases stand  and they have absolutely nothing to do with the cost of living.


That, and there are a number of increase requirements: testing has to be done on a more frequent basis, more elaborate tests, more pathogens we’re required to look for, so the cost of that as well as a number of capital projects are contributing to this increase, and we’re still in the lowest five of the fifty water purveyors.”


 


The Daily News reported this spring the City of New York water rates have gone up because “the Bloomberg administration has pushed forward billions of dollars worth of upgrades to the city’s (New York City) water and sewer system, including building a mammoth third water tunnel and a state-of-the-art water filtration plantin the Bronx.”


 


The News also reported part of the latest round of increases to cities like White Plains to make up for $40 Million in added costs to the improving of the Croton Water Filtration Plant, that serves reservoirs and lakes upstate. The reporters were Barry Paddock and Reuven Blau.



 


 


Macy’s Bloomingdales Property Tax Refunds Approved.


 


Assessments Lowered Impacting 2012-13 Assessment Roll


 


The city’s two largest retailers were awarded $405,000 in property tax refunds from the city for assessments lowered  for the years 09/10,10/11,11/12 and the upcoming tax year 2012-13. This means, according to the city Assessor’s Office that the reduced assessments totaling $405,000  will come off the 2012-13 Assessment Roll, due March 1, 2013.



 


 


SUNRISE DETOX HEARING CLOSED AFTER TOXIC HEARING.


 


The evening ended with the controversial hearing on the CFI Inc. Sunrise Detox Center matter where CFI Inc. Sunrise is seeking a Special Permit to run a short –term residence detox program for individuals at 37 DeKalb Avenue, the former Nathan Miller Nursing Home in the middle of the Carhart neighborhood.


 


After a stormy hearing, the hearing was closed, clearing the way for a vote on the project and its needed Special Permit that could take place in January.


 


The Sunrise representatives began the hearing disputing the allegations of criminal incidents taking place at their Sterling New Jersey and Lake Worth Florida facilities, saying a law enforcement consultant investigated the complaints and found no incidents were any criminal activity affected residents around those facilities.


 


Representatives of the Carhart  Neighborhood Association, said that saying there was not any criminal activity or charges filed, may be true, but that was because the majority of call-ins to othe police from the home involved missing persons, Ken Kristol of the Carhart Association read police reports of three such missing persons incidents.


 


Mayor Roach took exception to one resident’s remarks pointing out that if this project were proposed for neighborhoods in the south end it would not have been considered. She also noted how three representatives of the CFI-Sunrise project are well-known in the city,  and have conducted business with the city for a long time. Mayor Roach defended the city considering the project:


 


“I’ll just say there’s something that’s not a joke to me which is allegations of impropriety or suggesting  that this is only being entertained because of the neighborhood it’s (going to be) in because we have to entertain any application that’s permitted under the zoning, anywhere in the city.


 


“This isn’t  us sitting in a lawn chair behind city hall just on a whim deciding to bring an application in here. That’s offensive. And it’s not fair to this council, who I know put so much time, work and effort in preserving this city. When you throw those things around,  I mean, to say something like someone contributed to a (city) charity, somehow that makes this improper? God help us if we get to the point where no one in this city can contribute to any charity because we really count on that. We have a very activist city.


 


And you know what, it’s a small city. People get know each other, I can understand when people are emotional and worry about an outcome they can seize on that. But the reality is being cordial to someone. I’ve been a trial lawyer for 26 years, I would be fighting my tail off in court, and I go out in the hallway and say to the guy I’ve just been arguing, have a nice weekend. It doesn’t mean I’m undermining my client.”


 


The final speaker living for seven years at 24 Carhart Avenue, took up the matter that from the standpoint of why would the city entertain putting the project in the neighborhood. He said he was so proud of the way the city responded to the hurricane October 29, that the Mayor had spoke of at the top of the Council meeting,  “ I was so proud of it, but at the same time, I can’t  even imagine that we are entertaining to put such a detox….”


 


The Mayor interrupted him talking over him, “Understand we have a legal obligation (unintelligle).Let me just say something I don’t take this personally. I understand your frustration, your concern. When we  take office, we raise our right hand and we swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the State of New York,and the Charter of the City of White Plains,and we mean it. Part of that is to entertain applications that we legally have to entertain. What I’ve tried to do is create a hearing environment in which the neighbors and proponents of the application can be heard in a civilized atmosphere.


 


It’s surprising to me after what I’ve just said that you would say you can’t  be believe we are entertaining it. Well I don’t know where to go with that.”


 


The citizen attempted to explain:


 


“I’ll continue with that because that is the appearance what the citizens of  White Plains are getting it…and that’s what I’m conveying to you.”


 


Then Council President Beth Smayda interrupted the citizen again, overriding him saying,


 


“I think if we weren’t doing it in public then you may have something to complain (about) but this Mayor and this council is very committed to abiding by the charter and  we are legally bound to review applications and we’re doing them in public. I hope there isn’t any intimation that that is not the case.”


 


The citizen was not to be deterred, responding:


 


“There is no such intimation. What we want to point out  is the fact that we talked about Sandy, we talked about city is committed to residents there. At the same time there was a national disaster and here is a human-made disaster (the detox center) that is supposed to happen when we are going to put a detox center right there in a residential neighborhood.


 


In the example what was given was, there were two houses next to the facility in Florida. Two houses, two familes? There are nearly a  thousand houses in that (Carhart) Neighborhood which are a stone’s throw away. So that (Sunrise) comparison of two houses is totally out of order.”


 


The Mayor then asked, “Anyone else?”


 


Bill Null, the Sunrise attorney came to the podium, and reminded the chamber that the Sunrise proposal  for the community residence was a permitted use subject to a special permit, meets the definition of the city building code and of the zoning ordinance. He said the neighborhood’s contention that drug addiction and alcohol addiction are not disabilities is not correct, citing  under New York Mental Hygiene Law Section 103, definitions,  a mental disability “means mental illness, mental retardation, developmental disability, alcoholism, substance dependence, or chemical dependence.”


 


He noted: “So this is a facility that is legally treating disabled individuals  under the zoning ordinance.”

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D.A. isolates 4 circumstances that were present in 26 infant deaths in 6 years.

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WPCNR D.A. Report. From Lucian Chalfin, Office of the Westchester County District Attorney. December 4, 2012:


 


The Westchester County District Attorney’s office has isolated four common circumstances that have been typically found involved in 26 infant deaths in Westchester County in the last six years.


 


The Westchester County Child Fatality Review Team was established six years ago to review every suspicious death of a child in Westchester County. To date, it has investigated the deaths of 63 children of which the vast majority – 26 deaths – occurred while the infants were in unsafe sleeping environments – by far the largest subset of the deaths reviewed.


 


All twenty six of the infants were just weeks to a few months old. Although the cause and circumstances of their deaths were specific to each case, a number of troubling similarities became evident:


 



  • the use of inappropriate bedding,
  • the use of pillows or stuffed animals in the sleeping area,
  • sleeping in an adult bed with one or more other individuals,
  • the use of drugs or alcohol by adults before bed time.

 


In an effort to combat this continuing trend, the District Attorneys Office, a founding member of the CFRT, along with 8 Hospitals throughout Westchester County, has developed a safe sleeping campaign to inform and educate both parents and caregivers.


 


The primary element in the campaign is: “The ABC’s of Safe Sleeping”, a six minute video produced with support from Lawrence Hospital Center and narrated by Dr. Jennifer Canter, the Director of Child Protection for the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center and the CFRT’s forensic pediatrician. Dr. Canter guides new parents or caregivers through safe sleeping practices for their baby. The practices are based on guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics.


 


In the video, Dr. Canter explains why a baby:


 


·        sleeps safest Alone,


·        on its Back,


·        in a Crib,


The campaign will begin with video’s distribution to the 8 participating Westchester hospitals, in both English and Spanish:


 


Initial funding for the video was provided by Lawrence Hospital Center.


 


The participating hospitals are:


 



  • Hudson Valley Hospital Center,

  • Lawrence Hospital Center,

  • Westchester Medical Center; Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center,

  • Northern Westchester Hospital,

  • Phelps Memorial Hospital,

  • St. John’s Riverside Medical Center,

  • Sound Shore Medial Center of Westchester,

  • White Plains Hospital Center.

 


In addition, the campaign will include a door hanger and a poster with the safe sleeping message.


 


The hospitals will use a number of channels for communicating the safe sleeping message such as:


 



  • showing “The ABC’s of Safe Sleeping” to new parents in their maternity departments, and consider including it in their discharge materials;

  • showing the video in other appropriate settings, such as classes for new parents;

  • posting the video on their websites;

  • distributing the “The ABC’s of Safe Sleeping” door hanger to new parents;

  • displaying the “The ABC’s of Safe Sleeping” poster in appropriate locations within the hospital.

 


“In the interest of promoting safe sleeping practices, we created these important resources for parents and caregivers that these participating Westchester hospitals have agreed to show to new parents following the birth of a baby,” explained Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore. “We know that these deaths were preventable and that is why we are committed to communicating this potentially life-saving information before the new parent or parents leave the hospital. We also urge all parents to share this information or watch the video with any caregiver so there is no misunderstanding of what is best for the newborn.”


 


“At Lawrence Hospital Center we deliver nearly two thousand babies each year,” said Edward M. Dinan, President and CEO of Lawrence Hospital Center.  “We work with mothers from pre-pregnancy through delivery to do all we possibly can to bring healthy babies into the world.  It only makes sense that we take the added step and join in with our District Attorney Janet DiFiore to support the creation and promotion of “The ABC’s of Safe Sleeping” video to educate parents and caregivers about the dangers of unsafe sleeping habits.  This is about saving babies’ lives, and we’ll be taking this message directly to every one of our maternity patients.”


 


“We thank the District Attorney for including us in this very important project to educate parents on safe sleeping practices,” said Hudson Valley Hospital President John Federspiel. “The information imparted to the community will go a long way towards keeping our children safe.”


 


“Northern Westchester Hospital supports the District Attorney’s safe sleeping initiative and the American Academy of Pediatrics Safe Sleeping guidelines. For us at NWH, that means ‘modeling’ the safe sleep environment in the way we care for the over 1,700 newborns we welcome into the world each year. We encourage and support mothers who have chosen to breastfeed by offering lactation consultants during and after their stay, and we encourage immunization which has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. And of course, we disseminate appropriate literature to educate families, which will now include the DA’s excellent video The ABC’s of Safe Sleeping,” Joel Seligman, President and CEO.


 


Dr. Jennifer Canter, the Director of Child Protection at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center and the Medical Director of the Westchester County Child Fatality Review Team said, “Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center is in the process of conducting research as to the potential impact of this safe sleep educational program. We are hopeful that our results will demonstrate the program’s effectiveness in increasing awareness of safe sleep risk factors analogous to our successful statewide abusive head trauma prevention initiative, which resulted in a 75% reduction of abusive head trauma in our region.”


 


President and CEO of Phelps Memorial Hospital, Keith Safian, supports the initiative designed to prevent infant deaths associated with unsafe sleep environments, stating, “The educational materials provided through this program will enhance our efforts to address this important issue with all of our new parents, and we look forward to collaborating with other hospitals and agencies to increase awareness for greater infant safety.  We commend District Attorney Janet DiFiore for her leadership with this noteworthy initiative.”


 


“St. John’s Riverside Hospital is the only maternity Services provider in the City of Yonkers and is proud to be part of this Safe Sleeping Initiative,” said Ronald J. Corti, President and CEO of St. John’s. “We believe in the power of education and in this case, educating our new parents and other caregivers on the importance of safe sleeping practices for infants.”


 


President and CEO of Sound Shore Medical Center John Spicer said, “As a New York State Department of Health designated Prenatal Hospital with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sound Shore has always had a keen interest in babies and safeguarding their health and well-being. Just last year, we delivered 1,077 reasons to encourage parents to adopt Westchester County‘s Safe Sleeping practices.”


Jon Schandler CEO and President of White Plains Hospital said, “We feel we have a responsibility to ensure that the over 2,000 babies born at White Plains Hospital each year have the very best start in life.  We are pleased to be able to partner with Westchester County on this important public health initiative to educate parents, grandparents and other caregivers on these essential guidelines to ensure newborns stay healthy and safe once they leave the hospital.”


 


Additionally, the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital will be conducting a research project entitled: the “Newborn Sleep Practices”. The research project’s goal is to evaluate the potential impact of the new Safe Sleep Video on newborn parents’ knowledge about safe sleeping. This project, led by Dr. Jennifer Canter and Child Abuse Pediatrics fellow Dr. Vinod Rao, has undergone review and approval through the New York Medical College‘s Institutional Review Board prior to its initiation. 


 


Extensive surveys regarding sleep practice knowledge and planning will be statistically analyzed before and after the video’s implementation to determine if the video had a positive impact as a preventative measure.

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Cnty Sewage Plant Resumes Fully Treated Sewage. Ban Lifted 2.8 B Gals Later

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WPCNR WATCH ON THE RIVER. From Caren Halbfinger, the Westchester County Department of Health. December 4, 2012  (EDITED):


 


 The advisory cautioning against contact with the Hudson River in Westchester was lifted today by the Westchester County Department of Health.


People who use the Hudson River waters for recreational purposes, namely swimmers, boaters, kayakers and windsurfers, are free to resume direct contact with the water.


The advisory had been issued as a precaution during Super Storm Sandy on Oct 29, after the Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant was shut down to protect equipment and for the safety of employees. The plant was flooded and sustained heavy damage as a result of the storm.  The plant began achieving secondary wastewater treatment on Nov. 22 and test results of the plant effluent demonstrate that the effluent limits are being met. Although the plant is fully functioning, repairs are ongoing and are expected to cost $12.65 million.


 


(Editor’s Note: The Health Department told WPCNR that from 80 million to 100 million gallons a day of partially treated sewage (screened, chlorine-treated only) was fed into the river during the 36 days the plant was undergoing repairs. WPCNR estimates about 2.8 billion to 3 billion gallons of substandard effluent (below Environmental Protection Agency approved levels) were released into the Hudson since October 29.)

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4,896 Register for FEMA $$ in two weeks.

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WPCNR THE RECOVERY REPORT. Special to WPCNR. December 3, 2012:


According to Nathan Custer, spokesperson for FEMA, in a statement to WPCNR this morning,  242,947 survivors have registered with FEMA in the 13 counties in New York for which Individual Assistance (IA) was approved.


·         In Westchester County,  Custer reports, 4,986 have registered in the two weeks FEMA has had representeatives available in the County Center to register persons seeking FEMA financial help.


ToToday, FEMEA issued a news release detailing additional steps you need to take to preserve FEMA aid eligibility if your insurance company is taking more than 5 days since you registered with FEMA  to determine your insurance reimbursement.


Keep in mind that you need to file your insurance claim with your insurance company as soon as possible. Failure to file a claim may affect a policyholder’s eligibility for disaster assistance.


 


After filing a claim, if any of the following situations occur, FEMA may be able to provide some assistance:


 


Your insurance settlement is delayed.


·                  “Delayed” means a decision on your insurance settlement has been delayed longer than 30 days from the time you filed the claim.


·                  If a decision on your insurance settlement has been delayed, you will need to mail or fax a letter to FEMA explaining the circumstance. Mail or fax your letter to:


FEMA IHP


National Processing Service Center


PO Box 10055


Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055


 


Fax: 1-800-827-8112


 


·                  You should include documentation from the insurance company proving that you filed the claim. 


 


·                  If you filed your claim over the telephone, you should include the claim number, date when you applied, and the estimated time of how long it will take to receive your settlement.


·                  If you receive FEMA assistance and you later find that your insurance will cover what your FEMA assistance was for, then you must return that money to FEMA because it is considered a duplicate benefit.


 


You have exhausted the Additional Living Expenses (ALE) provided by your insurance company.


·                  If you have received the maximum settlement from your insurance for Additional Living Expenses and still need help with your disaster-related temporary housing need, mail or fax a letter to FEMA at the above address indicating why you continue to have a temporary housing need.


·                  You will also need to provide documentation to prove use of ALE from insurance, and a permanent housing plan.


 


You have up to 12 months from the date of registration with FEMA to submit insurance information for review.


 


For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4085, http://twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog


 


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Teamsters Picket WP Transfer Station. City Garbage Trucks Honor Picket Line.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. November 29, 2012 UPDATED 11:25 A.M E.S.T.:


Teamsters Local 813 is picketing the White Plains garbage transfer station on Brockway Place this morning.



City of White Plains Sanitation Truck being waved off entrance to garbage offloading area this morning by Teamsters Pickets.


The picketing protests the Westchester County garbage hauling contractor hiring non-union drivers to drive the transfer trucks that cart garbage from White Plains to the county disposal plant  in Peekskill.


Phil Oliva, of the County Executive Robert Astorino’s office, told WPCNR at midday that he expected the dispute to be resolved today (and not interrupt garbage collection). He said the Carting Company had the right to hire non-union workers as long as the company paid the “prevailing wage.”


Karen Pasquale, Advisor to the Mayor of White Plains, told WPCNR this afternoon the action is not affecting city pick-up or disposal.


 



The protest started Thursday afternoon, pickets told WPCNR this morning and is over a contract dispute with City Carting, the county-contracted garbage hauler that has the county contract. WPCNR was told the picketing is also in effect at Yonkers and Mount Vernon. The dispute is not with City of White Plains practices.


Pickets said the teamsters  have been without a contract with City Carting for  a year and recently Carting had laid off five union drivers and started using non-union drivers to transfer the trash at least in White Plains.


The picket told WPCNR the teamsters voted down City Carting’s recent contract offering because it called for almost zero raise increase over the next three years and  raising union members’ share of medical benefits of $30 a month share the first year, $60 the second year and $66 the third year. The picketer WPCNR spoke with, who requested anonymity because of fear of retaliation said the union realizes paying more for medical benefits is needed, but said it was too much of an increase. He also said the 7 year contract over raised wages only 75 cents an hour over seven years.


Several White Plains sanitation trucks with full loads were prevented from delivering their load of leaves to the transfer area during WPCNR observation this morning.


WPCNR  has a call in to the Mayor’s Office to ascertain how the inability to transfer garbage will affect garbage collection today and tomorrow.


Other transfer stations in Yonkers and Mount Vernon are also possible picket locations, a picket told WPCNR.


Mr. Oliva, speaking for the County Executive’s office, said he had no knowledge that those cities were affected at this time.

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Sewer Plant Repair: $12.65 Million. Feeds 2.3B GalsSubstandard Effluent in Huds

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WPCNR WATCH ON THE RIVER. By John F. Bailey. November 27 UPDATED November 28,  1:50 A.M. E.S.T.:


The Yonkers  Water Treatment Plant is still pouring 80 to 100 Million gallons of below E.P.A.  standard effluent into the Hudson River, after 30 Days. The WPCNR- estimated total of substandard treated effluent dumped into the Hudson is about 2.3 Billion gallons as of Tuesday. Repairs to the extensively damaged plant have so far cost $12.65 Million according the Department of Health.


The unacceptable levels of effludent have been pouring into the Hudson River since October 29.


On that day, the 14 foot tide of  Hurricane Sandy engulfed the sewage treatment plant, flooding and short-circuiting the plant’s pumps. The tidal surge crested across Fernbrook Street, damaging the County Bus Company offices as well.


Spokesperson for the  Westchester County Department of Health, Caren Halbfinger advised WPCNR Tuesday that repairs are still being made to the Ludlow Street plant after 30 days.


Ms. Halbfinger told WPCNR all effluent (80 million to 100 million gallons per day) is being “screened, disinfected and chlorinated but is below the Environmental Protection Agency standard.” Ms. Halbfinger said no solid effluent is being dumped into the Hudson, that solid wastes are being removed and trucked elsewhere.


Asked the degree of how substandard the effluent is, Halbfinger said she did not have that figure.


Halbfinger said it could take another 14 days to complete repairs at the plant, which she said are ongoing. Tuesday evening Halbfinger got back to WPCNR and reported the total cost of repairs to the plant so far was $12.65 Million.


The Federal Emergency Management Agency management was unaware last week of the damages the plant suffered, WPCNR has learned.


An advisory to avoid contact with Hudson River waters remains in effect, Halbfinger said.


Halbfinger in a previous WPCNR interview three weeks ago explained the extent of the damage when the tide of Hurricane Sandy engulfed the plant:


1.     WPCNR:  What caused the Yonkers sewage plant to discharge the raw sewage into the Hudson?



Halbfinger: The equipment was shut down to prevent an explosion and fire that could be caused by water hitting high voltage lines. In addition, the storm surge washed the Hudson into the basement of the plant, where much of the pumps and electrical equipment are located. All of the motors had to be taken apart, cleaned and repaired and parts had to be replaced, along with electrical controls. The whole plant had to be pumped out washed and disinfected and treated to prevent mold. All the insulation on the pipes had to be removed, the pipes had to be cleaned and the pipes will be reinsulated.



WPCNR: When is it expected to be fixed? 


Halbfinger:  Secondary treatment is expected in the next few days, but it will take at least a week for this biological process to start providing treatment.


 WPCNR: What was the delay in getting it fixed? What caused the delay?


Halbfinger: We’re making steady progress, but the sheer size and scope of the work involved has been a tremendous undertaking by the Department of Environmental Facilities. The plant is about a half-mile long, and for most of this length, the basement was filled with water that had to be pumped out. 


Then the basement had to be dried out. All of the pipes had to have their insulation removed, the salt water had to be washed from the pipe and then new insulation will be installed.


We had 250 motors that had to be removed, repaired and reinstalled. It all takes time. Two 5,000 gallon tanks of polymer ruptured in the basement and that had to be cleaned up. It took time to get the needed parts and to make the repairs. And we’re in good company. Sewage treatment plants throughout the tri-state area have all been faced with similar problems.

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Employment Rose in County Last Month

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WPCNR LABOR NEWS. From the NY State Department of  Labor. November 27, 2012:

 

For the 12-month period ending in October 2012, private sector employment in the Hudson Valley Region increased 9,400 or 1.3 percent. Employment gains were strongest in trade, transportation and utilities (+4,500), followed by educational and health services (+3,900), professional and business services (+2,900), leisure and hospitality (+2,700), and other services (+500).

 

Job losses were centered in the following industries: natural resources, mining and construction (-3,600), manufacturing (-1,200), and information (-600). The government sector shed 1,700 jobs over the year.

 







Labor market analyst observations

 


The Hudson Valley Region’s job market has continued to trend positively as evidenced by the 1.3 percent growth in the private sector job count. Led by strong growth in the trade, transportation and utilities (+ 2.5 percent), the Hudson Valley Region’s private sector posted its second largest October over the year increase since 2004.

 

Growth was widespread with employment in four sectors growing by two percent or more since last October. Within the region, growth was strongest in the Kinston MSA (+2.6%), while the bulk of the new jobs were created in the Putnam-Rockland-Westchester labor market area (+1.7 percent or 8,000). The latter accounted for about 85 percent of total jobs gained in the region.


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America’s Hometown: Plymouth, Massachusetts

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WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. Thanksgiving Portfolio: On this Thanksgiving, let us remember the band of hardy intrepid souls who crossed an ocean in a boat no more bigger than a large Chris Craft and settled in an unforgiving landscape and started a country in the cold landscape of New England.


They were helped by Indians who welcomed them, without whom they would not have survived. A salute to this brave band. They sailed into a bay, dropped anchor and just carved out a living after living in incredible conditions in a ship’s hold for weeks, crossing the storm-tossed North Atlantic. Here are some views of America’s first hometown captured by the WPCNR Roving Photographer.



Plymouth Rock Landing. Plymouth, Massachusetts.


The Mayflower II. Plymouth Harbor.



Indian Statue welcoming the Pilgrim Settlers. Plymouth.



Governor William Bradford Statue on the Shores of Plymouth Harbor



“Plymouth Rock,” The landing place of the pilgrims.


Settlers Home, left, circa 1690.


Church, Plymouth late 1700s. .



The Jury: Old Burial Ground, Plymouth. Last resting place of the pilgrims overlooking Plymouth Harbor. The sacrifices, bravery and perseverence of these persons stand as examples to Americans today.



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Ode to The Holiday Maker

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Everything has to be just right


She gets out her cook books the previous night.


Makes copious notes putting together the special day


That remembers the passings of our lives’ way.


 



The little dynamo proceeds not to be disturbed.


Selecting the keepsakes collected laying undisturbed


Appropriate to the special holiday symbols turning cloudy days to sunnies


From reindeer, to turkeys to Easter Bunnies


 



No nonsense, no hanging around the kitchen door


No licking bowls, no sampling the dough.


Rules on cooking day were strict and violations were scolded,


As each holiday production unfolded


 



Trips to markets; journeys to gift shops to flower shops,


She sought to round out menus just right, her holidays were never flops.


As enticing baking aromas filled the old homeplace,


Pesky kitties, furred and human hung about curious at ritual taking place.


 



Bustling about, red hair frizzed from heat,


Toothpicks ever handy to sample a crust neat,


Rescue strategies to save a sticky cake stubborn in its pan


Always ready to be deployed, she executed with love her holiday plan.


 



The long holiday table, old leaves stained with memories past,


Long since needing replacing but host to gatherings that still last


In memory as children grow up and leave


Awaited its annual set on holiday eve.





As turkey,ham, lamb, squash,taters, yams beans and sprouts simmered


Old dining room and parlor with seductions of the palate shimmered,


She would lay a clean tablecloth, set candles and deploy


The talismans of the season, the sleigh of holiday cards, the gay bunnies’ joy.


 



As children grown return to the homeplace,


Uncles and nieces, nephews and cousins, brothers and sisters took their place,


The holiday maker, presided over a reality of love, a feast


Renewing love for one another anew.


 



I miss the holiday makers, those hostesses of love’s reality


The old homeplace with antiques and sagging old armchair


That would say, come on in, stranger you’re always loved here.


Enjoy the hearty fare and tastes seasoned unique with love’s sincerity.




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The Day President Kennedy Was Shot.

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WPCNR NEWS COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. November 22, 2012 (Originally published in 2001):


Someone made a big mistake this year.


No one in official America noticed that Thanksgiving, traditionally falling on the fourth Thursday in November, coincides with the day in Dallas 49 years ago when President John F. Kennedy was shot in his motorcade in front of the Texas Book Depository Building.


November 22,  1963. Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012. A most unfortunate coincidence that someone should have noticed.


Forty-nine years ago tommorrow on a Friday at about midday eastern standard time, President John F. Kennedy was shot.


When I heard the news, I was heading up the steps of  Gray Chapel at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. It was sobering news. Then within the hour it was reported that the President was dead, and the search was on for potential suspects.


It was the first time in my life a national event had ever affected me.


Persons in their late 60s can probably remember exactly what they were doing when they heard that electrifying news.


Disbelief. Concern. Sadness.


Who would shoot the President?  How could they? The President no matter who he was was revered and respected at that time — not ridiculed, mocked, vilified, and criticised for his every move as he is today.


President Kennedy’s popularity was ebbing at that time. The public was initially inspired by the vision of Camelot and the likable, energetic young president. However, by the time he was assassinated, President Kennedy was coming under harsh criticism for his foreign policy and his inability to move an agenda through congress. He was ridiculed by impressionists and pushed around by congressional heavyweights — eerily not too much different from our President today.


But, when Kennedy was shot, the American public, even those who disagreed with his politics and considered him in over his head in the presidency, were stunned by grief and horror.


Nothing had happened like that in America since 1901 when President William McKinley was akssassinated.


 An entire nation reflected in guilt for a week as the three television networks showed 24 hours a day assassination and funeral coverage. Walter Cronkite shed a tear on camera when he reported Kennedy was dead.


Until the Trade Center Horror in 2001, this nation had not experienced anything on that national scale of reaction to an event.


Were we a more sensitive nation then? More sensitive to what killing actually is? I wonder. In the fast-moving sensationalism of news today, would the same sensitivity be there today?


Or, have we been hardened to violence, and do we now see violence as more of an acceptable solution to problems than to be avoided at all costs?


I remember how Americans sat mesmerized in front of their televisions as the Kennedy goodbye played out. I remember, too how Kennedy’s death swiftly paved the way for the landmark Civil Rights act of 1965, legislated by Kennedy’s successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. That legislation, without Kennedy’s assassination would probably never have been passed. I believe it passed because of collective guilt over Kennedy’s demise.


For 49 years, politicians, when their charisma is measured, have always been compared to Mr. Kennedy.


However, charisma does not get things done. Does not make for change by itself. It is nice but it achieves nothing unless you have some solid ideas, management skills, and are willing to work hard for it. Even, then, as a recent Kennedyesque President found out, it may not happen.


However, the political rancor and hysterical hatred of our current President expressed in the Republican debates, on talk radio and by candidates who should know better has created an atmosphere of disrespect for the President that exceeds even that aimed at George W. Bush.


The lack of respect for the Presidency today has created an atmosphere that is far more dangerous for the President than we can ever tell.


This has been further enflamed by the whining of rich little brat Mitt Romney who has been given everything he wanted and bought everything else except the Presidency. His comments after losing last week alluding to what was needed was revolution to change things were historic as well as despicable. It was a rich boy’s whining. It was reckless and immature. No defeated presidential candidate has ever made remarks like that. Even Al Gore when he lost the election did not, to my memory come out and call for revolution. Romney’s petulance showed the voters saw right through this Guy Smiley of a candidate they in their guts knew the phoney he was.


Romney’s comments to his donors is exactly the sort of talk that can inspire violence. It was irresponsible of him. A losing Presidential candidate has one job, unite behind the new leader. Romney is the only President in my memory ever to act this way.


We should always remember Mitt’s whining. Bullies always whine.


Ideas and rhetoric are one thing, but to vilify the President on the scale of what we hear today is irresponsible.


So when you sit down to turkey today give a thought to be thankful for a nation that does not rise up in arms whenever a leader is elected that a portion of the populace does not like. Be thankful that the American people speak as one, and still do, even though we disagree. I hope they always do so.



 

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