WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR—65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

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WPCNR THE SEWER REPORT. By John F. Bailey. November 24, 2008 UPDATED 10:40 P.M.: White Plains Residents in the Mamaroneck Valley Sewer District in Westchester ( approximately east of Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains, according to White Plains Commissioner of Public Works )  may be facing an unspecified increase in their sewer taxes, in addition to  a Westchester County property tax hike.

Those residents  affected by the surprise sewer project, are  receiving a public notice from Commissioner Tom Lauro of the Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities, informing them that Westchester County is being mandated by the state and federal government  (with no financial aid for the repairs from either state or Washington) to execute $235.7 Million in sewer repairs to eliminate discharging nitrogen into Long Island Sound. 

The Board of Legislators set a public hearing on floating a bond for that amount  for Monday, December 8 at 10:30 A.M.

Senator Charles Schumer speaking in Purchase, New York, Monday morning said this was one infrastructure project that County Executive Andrew Spano said the county might receive infrastructure aid on as part of the Obama Administration “stimulus” package.

This additional burden on the taxpayer is brought about by the county agreeing  to fulfill an agreement between the state of New York and the Federal Government executed in 1998. The County Board of Legislators was scheduled to conduct consideration of bonding for those improvements Monday afternoon.

White Plains Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti, queried about this by WPCNR Monday evening was unaware of the mandate. According to the public notice, the sewers in the Blind Brook Sewer District, the Mamaroneck Valley, New Rochelle and Port Chester sewer districts are affected.

White Plains officials were unaware of this mandate when asked about it Monday evening. White Plains residents served by the Mamaroneck Valley Sewer District may be expected to pay for any debt service incurred by the county to execute these repairs.

Monday evening the Board of Legislators issued this curt summary of the scheduled hearing:

The following public hearings have been set for Monday, December 8, 2008 at 10:30 AM:

• BNR Consent Order

Proposed Consent Order with New York State concerning nitrogen reduction of sewage drained into the Long Island Sound, in ultimate compliance with the federal Clean Water Act. The legislation includes a bond act in the amount of approximately $235 million to fund the design and construction of improvements needed to upgrade the New Rochelle and Mamaroneck Sewage Treatment Plants.  The agreement must be approved by the end of the year in order for the county to avoid having to pay heavy fines imposed by the state. (16-1; No: Maisano)

It is interesting to note this mandate was not mentioned in today’s report issued out of the County  Legislature Budget and Appropriations Committee detailing the 2009  County Department of Public Works budget.

The complete consent order may be read at http://meetings.westchesterlegislators.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Download=Attachments&AttachmentID=1905&agencyname=westchestercounty

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. November 24, 2008: Senator Charles Schumer today described the stimulus package that congress will be working to deliver when the Obama Adminstration assumes power January 20,  and how it will work its way into Westchester County in an address to the Westchester County Association today at a meeting of the Westchester County Association.

Senator Schumer at Mastercard Headquarters in Purchase Monday morning, addressing the Westchester County Association.

He said the package would affect the county in five ways:  providing sharply increased federal funding for infrastructure particularly for flood remediation for the Bronx River Parkway, the Sprain Parkway and the Sound Shore (that is mandated for the Blind Brook, Mamaroneck Valley, New Rochelle and Port Chester sewer districts according to the County Department of Environmental Facilities.

He promised there would be millions in additional loans for small businesses through the Small Business Administration for the county; sharply increased reimbursement for Medicaid for New York State; increased funding for the Federal Housing Administration that will be used to refinance homeowners facing possible foreclosure, and millions more in community development grants that can be used to rehabilitate homes foreclosed and shore up their values to stimulate the economy. He also promised funding and incentives for  “green jobs” that would benefit the county.

Details in a later report.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. November 24, 2008: Senator Charles Schumer and Congresswoman Nita Lowey indicated today they would seek  Medicaid relief for New York State to cover part or possibly all of the projected $15 Billion shortfall New York faces in 2009. Lowey said she would work hard to include funding for the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement as part of the infrastructure stimulus package anticipated by the new Obama administration. Senator Schumer said it was up to New York counties to target infrastructure projects for government aid.

Asked by WPCNR in a post Westchester County Association news conference this morning,  if Senator Schumer was working on a relief package to get a $15 Billion commitment by New York State in 2009 related to the plummet in state revenue from Wall Street, Schumer shared the hope that Washington paying a greater share of New York Medicaid would enable New York to trim that deficit:

“If we do a significant Medicaid (cut) some help with the Medicaid mess, I think that will help New York more than any other state, because our Medicaid burden is the greatest of any state and that is along the lines of what we’re thinking about (on the New York deficit).”

WPCNR asked  the Senator if he was working on $16 Billion in aid for Tappan Zee Bridge replacement as part of the infrastructure plan he promised  was on the way to Westchester County during his talk to the Westchester County Association this morning, said it was up to the counties to ask for what infrastructure aid they wanted:

“That will be up to…what the infrastructure program will be, will be allowing localities to come in and apply, so we’re not going to tell Westchester you have to have this and you have to have that. Andy Spano mentioned that they have a $300 Million water and sewer upgrade coming up and no federal help thus far. It would be a lot better if that will be a part of the package rather having the taxpayers pay for it.”

Congresswoman Nita Lowey, responding to WPCNR’S question about the Tappan Zee Bridge funding,  was more direct.  She said she was actively working to include the Tappan Zee replacement cost as part of the Obama stimulus package:

 “As I’ve said to many people, the Tappan Zee Bridge is absolutely critical to Westchester and Rockland County, and I intend to work with my colleagues to do whatever we can to make it (the Tappan Zee replacement) part of the  stimulus package.  At this point, this  new administration, lead by extraordinary President-elect Senator Obama – has committed to a major stimulus package  of approximately $600 to $700 Billion, roads, bridges, highways, jobs that will put [pepo[;e to work and I intend to advocate for the Tappan Zee Bridge to be a part of that effort.”

Lowey speaking separately from Senator Schumer out of earshot, confirmed separately that Medicaid relief was being looked on as the vehicle to ease New York’s budget shortage by relieving the state Medicaid burden and freeing up money for the projected deficit:

WPCNR asked Ms. Lowey if New York state might be treated as some kind of financial disaster which would indicate a need for a bail out of the $15 Billion deficit the state faces next year, Lowey said seemed to echo Senator Schumer’s thinking that increased Medicaid aid to New York would ease the budget deficit projected for 2009:

Lowey said: “There is an important relationship between New York and the United States of America and between the stimulus package and other programs like FMAP  that will give the federal government greater responsibility for the Medicaid expenses. These will all be important items that I hope will be included in the stimulus package.”

I asked if the MEDICAID relief could cover the $15 Billion shortfall. Lowey said, “I can’t predict how much –  but we’re going to work all of us to make sure NY gets its share of the stimulus package.”

FMAP is the Federal Medical Assistance Program

FMAP is the percent of state medicaid expenditures that the federal government reimburses to states. “rich states,” get the smallest reimbursement.  50%.  For every dollar New York spends on Medicaid, the federal government pays us back 50 cents. Poorer states like West Virginia and Missouri at 75 cents back.

The Associated Press and The New York Times have reported  that congress is considering an increase in the FMAP reimbursement now that the election is past.

The House passed a stimulus bill in late September that included an FMAP increase, but the senate did not pass it because the bill was left out of the bail out package.

According  to Senator Schumer’s news release on his address this morning at Purchase, New York State “ranks first nationally in Medicaid costs per person spending $45 Billion last year.” Schumer’s release reports that Westchester County expects to spend $2.4 million more in 2009 on Medicaid, a total of $197 Million.

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WPCNR SPORTS NOTE. From Bruce Zakalik. November 24, 2008:  We are filling 2 remaining spots in the 1 remaining session of Coach Wohlbach’s winter batting clinic.  Only players in high school are eligible.  In addition to being the Iona Head Softball Coach, Jaime Wohlbach played both in college and professionally, and is renowned for her hitting ability.  Each 90-minute session is limited to 4 players maximum.  The majority of players who attended last winter’s session are returning this winter.



Two openings remain in the Thursday evening sessions at Frozen Ropes in Elmsford from 6pm to 7:30pm.  The clinic runs for 6 weeks.  The dates are January 8, 15, 22, 29, and February 5, 12.   The commitment must be 100%, as we are limiting it to 4 players to maximize personal attention, and the clinic requires all 4 players to be in attendance every week.

The total cost for 6 sessions of 90 minutes each is $495, due by December 1 to secure your place.  If you want either of the remaining spots, please email me at this address right away and I will provide the payment details.  We will honor responses on a first-come first-serve basis.  Any responses after the clinic is full will be waitlisted.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From County Board of Legislators. November 23, 2008: In a news release furnished the media last week, the County Legislature Budget & Appropriations Committee presented its analysis of the budgets for the District Attorney Office, the County Labs and the Department of Social Services. Here is that analysis.

Labs & Research Department

The mission of the county’s Labs & Research Department is to conduct laboratory analysis, death investigations and to act as the state’s agent in implementing and managing the state’s public health program. The department is broken out into four programs and services: the Medical Examiner’s Office, Public Health Labs, Microbiology/Virology/Environmental Health and Toxicological and Forensic Sciences.

The department’s proposed 2009 operating budget of $17.4 million is about $500,000 less than its 2008 budget and is primarily attributable to a proposed reduction in equipment, materials and supplies, expenses and interdepartmental charges. No programs will be eliminated. Though cutting three positions, two funded through the operating budget and one through grants, the department’s salaries will increase $230,000 from 2008 levels.

“Evidence that’s collected from Labs & Research plays an extremely important role for the District Attorney to conduct its caseload,” said County Legislator Vito Pinto, Chair of the Public Safety Committee.  “In the last few years, juries are now demanding DNA to solidify cases in addition to more traditional evidence. That has added considerably to Labs workload.”   

“Eighty percent of the Labs & Research Department’s workload is done for the county’s 43 municipal police departments and the District Attorney,” said County Legislator José Alvarado, Chair of the Budget & Appropriations Committee. “There is no charge-back to the municipalities for their services, which ultimately is a significant savings to taxpayers.  This is a prime example of the critical and cost effective role the county plays in local government.” 

District Attorney Office

The District Attorney is the county’s chief law enforcement officer, responsible under the state constitution for investigating and prosecuting all crimes committed in the county.  County taxpayers are the primary source of the department’s proposed 2009 $33 million budget; grant revenue of about $7 millionand state aid– fixed at $55,557–account for the departments other sources of revenue.  The department will continue its 205 staffing level in 2009 despite a projected increase in cases and complaints. For example, the number of cases prosecuted in local criminal courts climbed from 38,673 in 2007 to over 40,000 in 2008.

“The District Attorney must be commended for her well-managed budget which this past year actually contributed a little more than a million dollars to county coffers,” said County Legislator José Alvarado, Chair of the Budget & Appropriations Committee. “In addition, by aggressively seeking state and federal grant revenues, the District Attorney has reduced the department’s share of the tax levy by more than $7 million.” 

“The Westchester Intelligence Center, opened May 21, 2008, has proven to be a great initiative,” said County Legislator Vito Pinto, Chair of the Public Safety Committee. “So many crimes cross local boundaries. The Intelligence Center is a central clearinghouse of law enforcement intelligence that supports the criminal investigative efforts of all of the county’s 43 local police departments.”

 Social Services Department  

“When the economy goes down, the need for social services goes up. Given projections regarding a worsening economy, coupled with possible cuts in state and federal funding, the Social Services Department’s budget is in uncharted waters,” said County Legislator José Alvarado, Chair of the Budget & Appropriations Committee. “That being said, I think the department is appropriately focused in its proposed 2009 budget on maintaining the capacity to meet core services.”

The Department of Social Services ensures the health, safety and welfare of the county’s vulnerable adults and children. 

The proposed 2009 budget of $579 million will support the work of a staff of 1,258 — 22 vacant positions were eliminated.  The worsening economy has driven up the demand for the department’s services, with dramatic increases in temporary assistance which increased 7% this year as of last month and food program applications which has increase by 20%. State funding for 2009 will be cut by about $6 million, including more than a $2 million cut in the child care block grant.  The department’s budget proposes a tax levy of $295 million, an increase of less than 1%. 

A more aggressive effort this past year increased child support collections by $2 million and a pilot Medicaid fraud program that audited 25 cases revealed about $6 million in as yet uncollected funds.

Click here for an At-A-Glance overview of each department’s proposed budget or visit the home page of the Westchester County Board’s Web site at www.westchesterlegislators.com.