Moratorium Extended. Pro-FASNY Supporters Dominate Scope Hearing

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. October 4, 2011:


The Council as expected extending the moratorium on decision-making involving development of recreation lands not owned by the city Monday evening, with Councilpersons emphasizing the moratorium does not in any way restrict the march to a decision on the French American School of New York project.


In the opening hearing on the FASNY project that proposes to build three schools, a gymnasium and performing arts facility on the former Ridgeway club property, 43 persons had signed up to speak. As it turned out the majority were in favor of the FASNY project with 20 speakers supporting FASNY, and  8 speaking opposing the project. A number of speakers whose names were called by Mayor Tom Roach had left the building.


Robert Stackpole, a Gedney resident and Terrence Guerriere, President of the Gedney Association lead off the Scoping action. Stackpole raised the issue that the French American School had not clarified in detail what they would do with the Gedney Preserve they propose to hand over to the city. Stackpole under SEQRA law any property where development is proposed has to make proposal in specifics for all the property, not just the area the developer wants to build on. For that reason alone, with no specific details on the preserve proposed, Stackpole said the process should start over. Stackpole also argued that the wetlands and the alleged “dam” at the lake inside the Ridgeway property that experience high water in recent weeks, had to be addressed (though a detailed presentation last week, noted the school plans to address stormwater and the lake with more remediation equipment than has ever been used or in use while the property was a golf course. 


Guerriere agreed on the segmentation charge, and followed up saying his organization had sent a letter to city hall asking for the cancellation of tonight’s hearing for that reason that the project was being sermented. The Mayor noted to Mr. Guerriere the letter had been received by e-mail by the Mayor at 3:40 Monday afternoon, not in time to be considered in depth. Guerriere asked that the people of Gedney Farms be considered, and demanded an examination of the noise the new school would cause as well as the traffic considerations.


The majority of FASNY supporters had children attending the French American School and spoke of positives the school presence at Ridgeway would bring. A realtor who lives in Larchmont on a boat, said she worked for FASNY and it is her experience that Larchmont has had a number of parents of FASNY students move into Larchmont as a result. FASNY ability to attract homebuyers to White Plains had been doubted by several of the anti-FASNY speakers.


At the close of the hearing a represnetative for FASNY rebutted the Stackpole segmentation argument saying that the school would provide specific details on the finished Draft Environmental Impact Statement and questions on parking, traffic, bussed students versus drop-off students, hours of operation, a host of issues would be answered in the process.


The meeting adjourned at 11 P.M., with the Common Council allowing the public to send in written comments to the City Clerk, 255 Main Street up until 5 P.M. November 4.


 

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Cuomo Quietly Claws Back 2% of Health Premiums from State Retirees

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. Special to WPCNR from Peter Katz. October 3, 2011:


Civil Service Employee Association members received postcards this afternoon announcing that effective October 1, “All state division retirees: effective October 1, 2011 the state is requiring you pay 2% of  your health care costs.” The postcard states  that CSEA did not negotiate this “clawback,” and urges members to contact the governor and protest it at 1-877-255-9417.


It is not clear whether there is only a special class of retirees who are affected by this, or whether all retirees are affected. WPCNR is working on this story.

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Castelli, Paulin Intro Bill to Freeze Medicaid.

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Office of Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli. October 3, 2011:


Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli was joined by state and local officials from across the Hudson Valley on Monday to announce bipartisan legislation (A.8644) that will structurally reform the cost administration of New York State’s Medicaid system by incrementally transferring full responsibility for funding the $44 billion program to the State – gradually eliminating the local share traditionally paid by county governments.


“This is one of the most historic pieces of legislation to be introduced in decades,” said Stephen Acquario, president of the New York Association of Counties. “Counties have made a tremendous sacrifice over the last 50 years.”



“Westchester’s property owners face the highest real property tax rates in the country, with tax rates going higher every year,” Castelli said. “The burden of federally mandated services is already difficult enough for counties to bear. With the active assistance of the state in mandating almost every optional service that may become available under Medicaid, it is critical to note that New York is one of only a handful of states that requires local government pay any portion of Medicaid costs. If the state wishes to provide an optional service, it is time for the state to pay for that service.”    



The legislation has garnered widespread support from local officials across the New York State. It mirrors similar legislation (A.1334) Castelli had introduced after taking office in 2010, that required the State to immediately assume responsibility for funding Medicaid. 


The proposal initially freezes local Medicaid costs, providing $180 million in immediate local savings by eliminating the automatic three percent annual spending increase currently required by statute. Starting in the third quarter of 2012, the local share would then be reduced by five percent, providing counties with an additional $75 million – totaling $255 million in savings for county governments.



Between 2012 and 2019, local Medicaid costs will continue to be gradually reduced as the state assumes an increasing share of the burden. The end result would completely eliminate Medicaid costs from county budgets, providing municipal governments with the flexibility to substantially reduce local property taxes. 


In attendance with Castelli were State Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R, C , I – Erie, Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario), Roy McDonald (R, C – Saratoga), and David Carlucci (D, I – Clarkstown), as well as Assemblymembers Amy Paulin (D, I, WF – Scarsdale), Dr. Steve Katz (R, I – Mohegan Lake), Ellen Jaffee (D – Suffern) and local officials.



“Without comprehensive changes to the cost structure of Medicaid, county governments are going to be faced with extremely regrettable choices.  The tax cap will only work as intended to address the property tax burden in New York State if we provide the corresponding mandate relief on local budgets,” Paulin said. “This proposal will permit local governments to control taxes, while ensuring they are able to continue providing the essential services working families rely on.” 


Under New York’s current Medicaid structure, the program is funded by state and local governments, with matching funds provided by the federal government. Medicaid costs mandated by the state represent the largest item in nearly every county’s budget: on average, Medicaid accounts for 45 percent of an individual county’s local property tax levy.  In Westchester County, property owners pay the highest real estate taxes in the United States.



“This is a great step towards providing the unfunded mandate relief that our Counties so desperately need,” Katz said. “I fully support Assemblymembers Castelli and Paulin in this effort, and I am proud to stand here today with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue the fight to make New York more affordable.” 


Local Medicaid costs are expected to increase $2.6 billion by 2025 if nothing is done to provide county governments with some form of Medicaid mandate relief.



“Freezing local costs for next fiscal year by eliminating the automatic three percent increase in Medicaid will provide immediate relief to local governments struggling to make ends meet under the constraints of the new property tax cap,” Gallivan said. “This legislation implements responsible and realistic reforms that will ensure taxpayers won’t continue to bear the brunt of county governments’ ever increasing Medicaid burden.” 


Senator McDonald added, “Medicaid is the largest unfunded mandate imposed on local governments by the State. This has resulted in New Yorkers paying the highest local taxes in the nation. It is essential that we address the unsustainable local costs of Medicaid and implement responsible and realistic reforms to relieve the local mandate and tax burden.” 


The issue is too important, McDonald insisted, for dialogue among state representatives to be put off until the opening of the legislative session in January 2012:  “The session begins now.”



The new legislation takes advantage of the Medicaid spending cap provision enacted in this year’s State Budget prohibiting the State from increasing spending on Medicaid by more than the ten year rolling average of the medical component of the consumer price index. Absent future legislation stripping the spending cap of its teeth, Medicaid will cost taxpayers $10 billion less than if the program continued to be funded jointly with local governments. 


“The constraints of a hard spending cap will force additional reforms to Medicaid’s structure, and present a perfect opportunity to implement and expand upon the recommendations put forth by the Medicaid Redesign Team assembled by the Governor Cuomo in January,” Gallivan said.



The lawmakers were also insistent that this legislation in no way precludes the Legislature or Governor Cuomo from continuing to identify and eliminate burdensome unfunded or underfunded mandates aside from Medicaid. 


By calling for an initial spending freeze coupled with a multi-year transition of the local share of Medicaid costs, the legislation intentionally allows the Governor, the Legislature and the State Department of Health a reasonable period of time to prepare and adjust the program to ensure that New York State’s Medicaid program is compliant with the new healthcare provisions and state mandates contained in the federal Affordable Care Act, enacted in 2010.

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Once a Lady, Always a Fair Lady:Babiak spunky, Heart-Winning. Galantich, Dashing

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WPCNR STAGE RIGHT. Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. October 3, 2011: 


 


She is 56 years old and still has it goin’ on!


 


She’s My Fair Lady, the all-time best family musical (out of a time warp from 1956) arriving again with class, dignity, emotion, and such proper English  you have to pay attention at Elmsford’s Westchester Broadway. She  charmed young and old without dirty words, without sleaze, and with Broadway’s best-ever score.  My date, Brenda Starr, said, “Every song’s a winner!”


 



 


Jennifer Babiak creates a spunky, Eliza Doolittle (who wants Mr. Higgins to Show Me) divinely reaches out and touches hearts and wins you over to her corner. You root for her. Tom Galantich is pompous Henry Higgins (who’s “grown accustomed to her face”). They’re the odd couple who play out Pygmalion the spirited George Bernard Shaw satiric battle of the sexes musically in the Jay Lerner & Frederick Leowe classic revival production now receiving lovers of musical theater Wednedays through Sundays at the Westchester Broadway. Photos, Courtesy Westchester Broadway Theatre, by John Vecchiolla


 


 





This is a show the ladies who lunch will flock to see for its nostalgia, the elegant costumes and an England that will never grow old. A show lovers will enjoy for its clever “true-to-the-heart” songs everyone will recognize. It moves absolutely ripping, it will hold young childrens’ attentions.


 


Eliza’s lilting rippling, glorious I could Have Danced All Night gives an emotional uplift when Higgins dances with Eliza after she learns “The Rain In Spain Falls Mainly in the Plain.” The two leads showing a wary resistance to each other gradually thawing to needing each other despite pride and reason.


 



 


Higgins, on a bet with fellow linguist Colonel Pickering (ably second-banana-ed by William McCauley) says he can transform virtually unintelligible flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a lady who will fit into high English society. After Higgins makes the proposition to train Eliza, she and the terrific ensemble deliver a delightful, Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?


 


My Fair Lady has the tightest, liveliest, realistic book in show biz with dialogue that’s not just a few lines into the next song, but good, snappy give-and-take between characters. The MFL songs explain what’s happening emotionally with the characters in case you do not get it.


 


The cockney accents thick as stilton are so thick you may not understand what’s going on there. You have to listen carefully to the opening scene in Covent Garden. With all the cockney brogue, (perhaps distorted by the sound system, and delivered a little too fast), children and reporters hard of hearing are challenged.


 


When Tom Galantich’s Henry Higgins, first encountering Eliza sings Why Can’t the English Learn to Speak? all becomes perfectly clear. You know what’s going on. Perhaps Director Charles Repole is making a point by exaggerating actors’ brogues in the opening scene to drive home Mr. Higgins’ disgust with the daily murdering of the King’s English.


 


Mr.  Galantich is introspective, and self-righteous on I’m an Ordinary Man after taking on the exasperating challenge of Eliza. He is sure he will never let a woman into his life. But, he has, and you are about to see a romance that could never happen, happen. The old opposites attract romantic dream lives forever in My Fair Lady.


 



 


The show gets into high spirits when Eliza’s father( manic, comic and limber Bill Dietrich) and his 12 chronies of the fabulous ensemble  deliver a high-flying With a Little Bit of Luck with leaps and bounds daringly choreographed by Michael Lichtefeld. Mr. Dietrich returns again in a rollicking I’m Getting Married in the Morning (above)Both numbers pleased the full house.


 


Higgins life indeed runs amuck as lessons with Eliza Doolittle commence. Babiak engages the audience’s sympathies…as her loathing for Professor Higgins’ deprecating and high-faluting attiudes towards her as she learns to say her “a’s”, singing Just You Wait. Then there’s the magical day when Eliza says the sentence, “The rain  is Spain falls mainly in the plain.” Higgins is ecstatic and of course the nonsense of The Rain in Spain.


 


Higgins is so proud of her her dances her around his fabulously recreated study. Eliza is so pleased she has pleased him and thinks he is starting to care for her that she sings I Could Have Danced All Night. Ms Babiak uses all she has on this song…trilling up the scale…mellowing down the scale on the famous lines, letting her voice of joy shimmer in incandescence that opens your heart. From right there, she has the audience rooting for the plucky little lady.


 



DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME AT ASCOT


 


On to Ascot and the races. Higgins is so confident he feels he shall introduce Eliza to society at the races. We meet Higgins mother, drolly played by Kathleen Huber who has the best lines in the show. She is quite taken with Eliza, as is Freddy a young ne’er-do-well society fop. Eliza does fine in a brilliantly staged racetrack scene cleverly rendered by the ensemble top hats and spats, gorgeous dresses and slow motion choreography by Mr. Lichtefeld. Eliza makes one hilarious mistake to end the scene.


 


Act Two begins with Higgens winning his bet with Pickering after Eliza’s fabulous debut at the ball, as Pickering sings “You Did It!”  the emphasis being on you (Professor Higgins), Eliza does a slow burn.


 



Meeting Mother


 


Eliza, a character who is a modern woman, before the concept of a modern woman was invented, walks out, laments what is to become of her Without You.


 


How will they get back together? The audience is left to worry this out through the twists and turns of Higgins’ pride, Eliza’s pride, and a lot of love.


 


You almost get to thinking it will never work out. Especially when Professor Higgins alone in his study, sings softly I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face sketched with regret inwardly touched for the very first time. Reaching to an old gramophone recorder, he switches it on to hear her voice one last time.


 


You know how it ends,don’t you? If you do not, do go see for yourself.


 


I never get tired of seeing My Fair Lady. I could see it every night. Like England,there will always be a My Fair Lady.


 


She is receiving guests through November 27 and returns after the Christmas holiday December 28 through January 29. Go to www.broadwaytheatre.org for ducat information or call (914) 592-2222.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

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Homeless Families Decline. WestHelp’s Last Day. Ferncliffe, School for Disabled

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. October 2, 2011 UPDATED OCTOBER 3, 2011 10:30 A.M.EDT UPDATED 3 P.M. E.D.T. UPDATED 8:30 P.M. E.D.T.:


On Friday, September 30th a 20 year partnership between Westchester County, WESTHELP and Greenburgh came to an end.


Last year the Westchester County Executive announced plans to close down WESTHELP–the transitional facility that served the homeless population. WESTHELP was located on a six acre county property adjacent to Westchester Community College.  The organization, which provides transitional services to the homeless, was started by Andrew Cuomo–when his father was Governor.


The Town of Greenburgh is now negotiating with FerncliffManor, a school for the developmentally disabled to occupy the building at a lease comparable to what WESTHELP was paying.


Westhelp had received significant notice from the county that they would be closing. The facility housed 108 families. I assume that the county is placing the former residents at other county shelters.


Donna Greene Deputy Communications Director of Westchester County said that the county closed the doors on September 16. They weren’t housing 108 families, as that was one of the issues associated with closing the facility (low occupancy).We froze any new placements effective June, 2011, and a number of families secured transitional or permanent housing since June. In the end,  we moved the remaining families into existing shelter capacity in White Plains or Mt. Vernon. As of September 16, there were just 5 families left. This included 2 that had been relocated at the shelter due to the storm issues from Mamaroneck.They (the 5)  were brought to The Coachman in White Plains


Ms. Greene also indicated Westhelp is no longer needed because homeless families have declined in the county:


We have seen significant declines in our DSS shelter population as a result of a multipronged approach, including use of shelter supplements and local rental assistance programs to prevent homelessness, decreased length of stays in shelters, and increased focus on rapid rehousing in either transitional and/or permanent housing.


Ms. Greene referred WPCNR to the County budget which contains this commentary:


The simple answer is that the county’s 12‐shelter system has excess capacity – and will continue to have excess capacity even when the two shelters are closed. Currently, WestHelp in Greenburgh and Oasis in New Rochelle have vacancy rates of 55 percent and 64 percent, respectively. Closing these shelters will save $1.9 million – funds that can be better spent on other services. Empty shelter beds cost the county money because its contracts with shelter operators are based on full occupancy. For example, the $93 a day rate that the county pays the operators of WestHelp assumes full occupancy of the 108‐unit shelter. However, when vacancies are factored and the rate is based on actual occupancy, the cost to the county doubles to $182 per day for the average family.


Even with the closings, the county’s 10 other shelters will have excess capacity of about 20 percent. This is the level recommended


 


The details:






 


During the past twenty years WESTHELP has helped hundreds of families transition from homeless to productive members of the community. Over the years I have received very few complaints from residents who lived near the homeless facility.

 

At the time WESTHELP was built the county agreed to turn over the property to the town after the original lease expired. The town can collect rent for 30 years and acts as  a landlord for the property. After the first 10 lease expired WESTHELP paid the town $1.2 million a year in rent. It was a win-win situtation. WESTHELP continued to serve the homeless population in Greenburgh and our taxpayers benefitted from the rental income. 

 

 We had worked out an agreement with the civic association and Valhalla school district to give some of the income to the school district. That was found improper by the State Comptroller.   Now that WESTHELP is not serving the homeless population the town stands to lose $1.2 million a year–money that was used to keep taxes lower in both the unincoporated section of the town and the villages.

 

The town needs the revenue from Westhelp.  We are currently negotiating a new sublease agreement for the remaining lease term with a not for profit organization that is Westchester based that would provide housing and educational services for approximately 35 develomentally disabled children and adults. We had issued a request for proposals for the use of the property earlier this year. There was some interest in the property from colleges (for college dorms), veterans (to house veterans on the property) and affordable housing organizations (low income/affordable housing).  

 

 Ferncliff indicated to the town  if we leased the property to them that they would be able to pay the town close to one million a year. They would provide housing and educational services for 35 developmentally disabled children and adults.

 

We have been negotiating with Ferncliff Manor for a number of months. They need state approvals and also need county approval to extend the terms of the master lease and modification of lease provisions limiting the property’s use to low income housing.  We have been discussing Ferncliff’s needs with the county regarding modifications to the master lease and expect to receive a decision soon. We believe there is a good chance that an agreement will be reached.

 

As of September 30th we are no longer receiving any rental income from Westhelp or from the county. We hope to finalize a rental agreement with Ferncliff soon so we can start receiving the rent that is needed by the town. The following is a summary of the mission statement, philosophy and history of Ferncliff Manor, an organization that has a very good reputation in the county.

I hope to welcome Ferncliff to our town soon. The campus setting will provide the developmentally disabled with a great quality of life.







MISSION STATEMENT OF FERNCLIFF MANOR (from their website)


Sail (The School for Adaptive & Integrative Learning) at Ferncliff Manor is an organization dedicated to meeting the needs of people with developmental disabilities, their families and the community utilizing research-based, adaptive and integrative strategies. Services provided include educational, rehabilitative, specialized residential, health care, creative arts therapies and recreation programs. The mission of our organization is to enable each individual to learn, develop and enjoy a meaningful and personally rewarding life.


Our Students Receive Close Personal Attention, Structure and Stimulation in a Safe Environment That Fosters Growth and Development!












 
 
 



PHILOSOPHY


Sail (The School for Adaptive & Integrative Learning) at Ferncliff Manor provides a full range of high quality educational, therapeutic and health care services to children with developmental disabilities offering close personal attention, structure and stimulation in a safe, secure environment that fosters growth and development. We believe that the combination of professional expertise, teamwork, concentrated effort, and nurturing care is the key to success with each child.


Utilizing a family-centered approach to designing and implementing the child’s program, we recognize the primacy of the family-child unit and regard our role as supportive in nature. Parents and family members play a central role in the educational and therapeutic effort and are assisted in the process of exercising their right of self-determination. An ongoing exchange of ideas and information between staff and family serves to preserve and enrich the family unit.




 


 



 


 

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Fountain cost too much money? You tell the City.

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WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WHITE PLAINS POLL. September 30, 2011: 


Today a feature appearing in the Journal News, written by veteran White Plains newsman, Rich Liebson, using information obtained from Freedom of Information Requests of the city, revealed that the Renaissance Square Fountain costs the city an average $49,000 a year to run, not counting repairs. What do Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains think? Should it be shut down and removed to save money, or should it be kept flowing as an aesthetic attraction? Give us your opinion at the right.

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New Deputy Commish of Planning Assisted in Securing HUD Winbrook Grant Lauded

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. September 30, 2011:


Chief of Staff for Mayor Tom Roach, John Callahan, asked if Linda Puoplo’s recent promotion to Deputy Commissioner of Planning was in part because she had helped obtain the recent $3.5 Million from HUD to begin the Winbrook Revitalization Project, said Ms. Puoplo did have a role in preparing the application that brought in the money. 


Callahan explained Ms. Puoplo’s role in obtaining the grant in a statement Thursday evening:

 

“It was the Housing Authority’s grant application and it was supported by the city. Deputy Commissioner Linda Puoplo assisted in preparing parts of the grant application.

 

While her appointment to her new position as Deputy Commissioner of Planning was made by Planning Commissioner Habel, it was certainly supported by Mayor Roach.

 

 I am sure Deputy Commissioner Puoplo’s entire body of work for the city was taken into consideration in connection with the decision to appoint her to her new position. Linda is a highly regarded, dedicated and valued member of the city’s management team. I am sure you are aware of how instrumental she has been in the success of the Youth Bureau and in securing many grants for it. In her new role she will, among other things, be assisting Commissioner Habel with securing grants being sought by the Planning Department, as well as overseeing and coordinating the grants process on a city-wide basis. “

 

The application, prepared in the second half of 2010 after the Housing Authority missed the June 2010 deadline to apply for HUD funding, convinced HUD to award $3.5 Million to White Plains for a Winbrook Community Education Center.

 

White Plains is one of only five cities to receive such a HUD grant, thanks in part to Ms. Puoplo’s efforts. The HUD $3.5 Million will be matched by $1.5 Million of White Plains funds to start the Winbrook revitalization project.

 

The Winbrook Revitalization project announced in July 2009  has gone two years without showing any tangible progress or funding sources until the securing of this grant.

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Candidates Debate Shifted to October 13

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2011. From Fran Jones, Council of Neighborhood Associations. September 29, 2011:


The White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) and the Woman’s Club of White Plains will jointly sponsor a Candidates Night to be held on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 7:15 pm.

The joint Candidates Night will be held at the Woman’s Club, 305 Ridgeway, White Plains, NY 10605-4114 (914-948-0958).

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.

WPCNA Members Please Note:  This event will be held INSTEAD OF the previously announced WPCNA Candidates Night originally scheduled for Tuesday, October 11.

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FEMA WILL DELIVER DISASTER RELIEF AID TO ORANGE COUNTY

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WPCNR WASHINGTON WIRE. From the Offices of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand. Exclusive photographs by Andy Sealfon for WPCNR September 28, 2011:


U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Orange County public assistance to help rebuild and repair infrastructure damaged by tropical storm Lee.



Flooding in Warwick from Hurricane Irene (August)  Photos for WPCNR by Andy Sealfon


After this type of assistance was not made available in the President’s initial emergency declaration, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand immediately called for Orange County to be added to the list of eligible counties.



Flooding from Hurricane Irene, August 29. Washingtonville, NY in Orange County.



Hurricane Irene Flooding August 29, 2011, Florida NY (Orange County)


The county is now eligible for assistance for debris removal, emergency protective actions, and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Schumer and Gillibrand noted that this was another important step in making sure that Orange County gets the help they needs to recover from Lee, and will continue to push for Orange County to receive Individual Assistance to help home and business owners recover.



Flooding, Town of Tuxedo (Orange County) September 18. Pilot Andy Sealfon who snapped these shots reports rains from followup to Irene, Tropical Storm Lee “wiped out a bunch of houses in Tuxedo and took out the rail lines. It was reported something like 100 million gallons was dumped into the area which caused all this damage.” 



Tracks overrun with debris washed over them by Tropical Storm Lee September 18.



Drained Echo Lake in Tuxedo,shown April 18. The rains from Lee caused the Echo Lake Dam to wash out, flooding the thruway and over the train tracks. Some of the damage from storm Lee.



“We knew all along that Orange County needed help to cope with the devastation left by tropical storm Lee,” said Schumer. “Now that FEMA has heeded our call and stepped up to the plate to make the necessary funding available, we can begin the process of helping repair and rebuild local infrastructure damaged in the storm. I will continue to push for FEMA to grant individual assistance to help home and business owners rebuild as well.”



“This is great news for families and businesses in Orange County in dire need of help to dig out from this devastating storm, and begin to recover,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Now it’s time to put all necessary resources on the ground where we need them to bring relief. I will fight to secure all the federal funding our communities need.”



Through the PA Program, FEMA provides supplemental Federal disaster grant assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities and the facilities of certain Private Non-Profit (PNP) organizations. The PA Program also encourages protection of these damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance for hazard mitigation measures during the recovery process.


 

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BID NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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WPCNR DOWNTOWN DAILY. From the White Plains Business Improvement District. September 28, 2011:


After a two month search, the White Plains Business Improvement District (WPBID) has hired Mr. Kevin Nunn as its new Executive Director. Mr. Nunn replaces Mr. Rick Ammirato who relocated to Homestead, Florida in July, 2011 after seven years with the BID. The WPBID received over 100 resumes for the Executive Director’s position from applicants both locally and throughout the country.



Kevin Nunn to run BID


Mr. Nunn has previously managed economic development corporations in The Bronx and in Bridgeport Connecticut. He has served as President of the Bridgeport Economic Resource Center and Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.


He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the NYC EDC (Economic Development Corporation  and NYC IDA (Industrial Development Agency). Mr. Nunn has experience in urban planning and economic development. He has also served as Deputy Director for Planning and as Economic Development Director for Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer.


Bonnie Silverman, Chairwoman of the WPBID, says “Kevin’s unique combination of planning, economic development and government experience made him stand out among the other applicants. We believe he is the right person to build upon the successful programs initiatedby his predecessor”.


Founded in 1998, the WPBID is a non-profit, 501©3 corporation that offers supplemental services to the bid district to enhance its economic, social, and cultural landscape. Current services include marketing and promotion, special events, streetscape improvements, sidewalk cleaning and beautification and business advocacy. The WPBID contains 145 property owners with over 300 businesses in 5.4 million square feet of floor area.


Mr. Nunn said “he was excited to have the opportunity to work with property owners and businesses within the bid. The City of White Plains and the WPBID have done a terrific job of creating a vibrant, diverse and eclectic community in downtown White Plains. I look forward to working with everyone to support, strengthen and grow these efforts

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