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

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. May 13, 2008: The White Plains Board of Education considers itself to be “mindful” of the $184.4 Million school budget pressure on White Plains taxpayers, but offered no assurances or plans to rein in district costs next year. The Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Connors, entering the last year of his current contract in June said property tax relief was up to Albany legislators to have “courage” to establish a separate commercial property tax rate.  

Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Connors, explaining a fine point of the school budget last night at the public hearing on the $184.4 Million Budget. President of Board of Education, Donna Mclaughlin, is at right.

The School District in a second public meeting opportunity to report the state STAR cuts,  did not disclose the additional $200 increase in property taxes White Plains taxpayers (and taxpayers across the state) will pay automatically as a result of the state legislature quietly  cutting the Basic and Enhanced Star Exemptions by 10%, the largest cut the exemptions have taken since their inception  in 1997– despite having two public meetings in which to make full disclosure of this secret cut.

The unreported “cut” when figured into one’s school taxes makes the tax White Plainsians will pay, 8% more, not 5.98% as consistently proclaimed by the school district  again last night, despite having the knowledge of the Basic and Enhanced STAR cuts for three weeks.

While not reporting the STAR cuts, the district  last night did report that the Middle Class STAR Rebates of last fall would still be in effect.

Budget Committee Mandate

Connors and President of the Board of Education Donna Mclaughlin said the Board was carrying out the sentiments of the Annual Budget Committee in crafting the budget.  Connors said the Budget Committee asked the district to maintain small class sizes ( 20 at the elementary level, 24-25 students at high school level) Pre-K indergarten programs,  and minority academic improvement programs without any new programs.  

A total of 7 persons came out from the public to comment on the $184.4 Million budget.

Fuming

 Scathing criticism from six persons, representing  two senior citizens, 3 business executives, and a former resident of Irvington – attacked the cost for educating  each student  in White Plains ($25,732), one describing it as “absolutely insane,” and comparable to private school tuition; attacked the new artificial turf fields as being uneducational; expressed shock at the average teacher’s salary ($94,000) as being “big bucks;” chided  the high salaries of administrators  ($149,000 for the Coordinator of Technology was criticized as too high by a technology executive, “it’s crazy,” was the comment).

The Superintendent of Schools defended the district as being 5^th in the county in spending per student, and less than Scarsdale ($27,000 per student),  and when  a speaker compared  White Plains to the New Rochelle District ($17,000 per student), Donna McLaughlin pointed out that New Rochelle had larger class sizes and no All Day Kindergarten.

Staff Cutting

Connors defended administrative staff numbers, saying the district had 1,200 employees, of whom there were 800 teachers and assistants, 45 administrators, 110 support staff, and 100 custodial staff and that the number of teaching assistants had been cut in recent years.

In response to a question on whether more administrators were going to be added this year, Mr. Connors said, none.

In an accounting last month, as reported by WPCNR, Mr. Connors described the staff in more detail:

 For 2008-2009, there are 47 Administrators (down by 2).  

The district plans to hire two new data processing executives, a Manager of Information Systems ($150,000) and a Data Base Manager ($100,000)  plus benefits,  plus acquire a new district software package for $200,000, while retaining the present Coordinator of Technology, earning $149,502, and the present Coordinator, Research, Testing & Evaluations, earning $149,502.  Another criticized the Coordinator for Physical Education and Health being paid $149,502, wanting to know what the person did.

New Administrative Positions

The new positions and software are being, added , as reported by WPCNR previously,  because BOCES has been unable to provide the data tracking of student performance on tests  that the district has long desired.

A new Manager of Information Systems being sought is expected to redesign the data system to customize the data to the district reporting wish list.  It should be observed that for eight years the Board of Education has requested longitudinal studies of student and class performances on tests year to year through the grades, and the present data configuration of the district administered by the present coordinators has been unable to execute these studies due to technical limitations of the software and input process.

There would also be a new part-time Coordinator of  Private Schools Placement (to coordinate placement of Special Education students) for $80,000; a new Science Teacher at the high school for $70,000 .

The Detail on Staff 2008-2009

Adminstrators: 47 (down 2, with 2 to be added)

Clerical Staff: 113

Certified Teachers: 659 (down 2)

Teaching Assistants: 238 (down by 5)

Custodial: 90

Part-time: 106

Total: 1,253

Connors defended the school budget as “the cost of doing business in this area.” The resident of the Board of Education, Donna McLaughlin, defended the district cost per student, criticized as being comparable to private school tuition, by noting that the district paid the cost of Special Education services and transit to students going to Private School (77 such students exist, she said).

The synthetic turf fields came under attack.

Asked what the cost of Parker Stadium and Loucks Field was, the Assistant Superintendent for Business said the cost was $6.2 Million, (which WPCNR points out, does not include the architect commission of about $2 Million more for designing the two structures). The Superintendent of Schools noted that the community passed the referendum authorizing $66 Million in bonds for the construction of the fields, “representing an investment for all students,”  in effect dismissing the fields as a moot issue, though payment for the fields and the rehabilation of individual schools takes up $1.7 Million of the budget debt service increase (up about $3 Million). $1.5 million in certiorari payments is  being borrowed for in addition tothe $1.7 Million debt for Post Road School and Mamaroneck Avenue School.)

Ms. McLaughlin defended the new stadia as being part of the complete educational experience, when two disgruntled citizens criticized the fields as having nothing to do with education.

In another exchange, a citizen decried the certiorari problem the district is dealing with perpetually. Connors made clear that certioraris had to be paid, that they could not be issued as credits towards future taxes.

One of the critics tempered the cantankerous tone of the questions being flung at the Board, saying White Plains students “were getting a good education for dollars spent. They do a good job.”

55 or 65 Which Is it?

There was also criticism from one senior citizen that school was harder in his day at Brooklyn Poly Tech where he went to school. He criticized the 55 passing grade for regents examinations. There was not a definitive answer from the Board of Education as to whether the passing grade for Regents exams was now 65 at White Plains or remained at 55. The Board noted that they had moved in advance of the State of New York policy to advance passing grades to 65 on the Regents examinations

WPCNR notes that when the Board first wanted to move passing grades to 65 three years ago, faculty leaders urged the Board to go slowly and not raise the grades due to the possibility that many borderline students would fail the Regents with less than 65.

In 2005-2006, WPCNR believes the Board voted to require graduating students to have to have 2 Regents examinations (of 5) passed with grades of 65 in the 07 year, increasing to three exams with passing over 65 by 08, 4  exams in 2009, to all 5 Regents exams passed with 65s  by 2010, ahead of the State schedule for when Regents passing grades would move to 65.

WPCNR awaits the Guidance Department confirmation of this sequence and what the present policy is. The Board of Education did not provide a definitive answer to that question last night.

Seniors Have to Go Out and Get Jobs

A senior citizen lamented his present $800 a month property tax bill that has been going up and up over the last several years, while his and his friends’ income has remained the same. He reported 75 year olds out looking for jobs to make their tax expenses. Connors, in response said, “Without some help from legislators on the equalization rate, we need help on the revenue side.They have to do something about that (the equalization rate),” and later, this comment, “They (the legislators) have to have the will to do that, and show real political courage.”

Bill Pollak, School Board member said the answer was revaluation, but he cautioned that would raise taxes on White Plains homeowners substantially if it were undertaken.

A Criticism of the Illegal Immigrant problem

One of the senior citizens, somewhat apologetic,  and in the context of  the district being forced to provide education for children born in this country of illegal immigrants, asked the district to take a position with national school boards on the necessity of dealing with the increase in children of illegals,  said of the ever-growing budget simply “This is killing us.”

Future: More of Same

One citizen asked what could be done about future budgets. To this Mr. Connors said it was up to Albany to change the property tax laws. Connors also said the district attempts to trim personnel each year and was currently negotiating with the teachers’ union for givebacks, pointing to such givebacks (on benefits) negotiated last year where teachers agreed to pay 5% of their health care benefits. Previously all benefits were fully paid by the district.

WPCNR estimates that if this year’s year-to-year increase is duplicated next year, the school budget will rise to $195 Million. Should increased energy costs and inflationary pressures and the new teacher contract drive expenses higher, the district could hit $200 Million.

 

 

 

 

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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By “Bull” Allen. May 12, 2008: Well,  pro football has a lot to explain.  It seems that 8 new video “sideline surveillance tapes” showing both offensive and defensive signals  of  6 games involving 5 opponents from the New England Phonies have been turned over to the pro football league offices by a former Phonies employee. We wonder what the Commissioner is going to do about these?

Old Yankee Stadium, 1956– BVE  (Before Video Era)

The paragon coaching genius of the league – the defensive “guru” – the man whom of it has been said, give him two weeks of preparation and he can stop any offense, wasn’t that much of a genius without his tapes, was he? Well, now we know why, don’t we?

 

The last eight years of the New England Phonies  success  may very well be due in large part to being very good at breaking down tape of sideline signals, (perhaps during the games to be used at halftime to make adjustments),  matching them to plays called,  and by virtue of painstaking analysis, and comparison of tapes —  knowledge of every play as it was about to come at them, defensive and offensive when they played those teams again.

Where’s the investigation, National Phony League?

However, let’s think for a moment.

Videotape shot during  a game in progress could conceivably have been analyzed on the fly as a game was unfolding, enabling the Phonies’ defense to be perhaps more successful in the secondhalf, and their offense to exploit defensive sets – especially if the New England masterminds knew the signal that had called a defensive set or an offensive play that went for a big stop or a long gainer earlier in the game.

One of the tapes turned over by the former Phonies employee, according to the Times was of the Pittsburgh Steelers- Phonies Championship of January 27, 2002!

How indicting is that?

Think for a moment what such a tape might mean?

Were the Phonies taping Steeler signals, matching them up in the first and second quarters to plays, preparing for the second half? That’s what the tape of the Steeler game showed according to The Times:  the tape shows Steeler coaches calling a signal and the play that ensued (easy to do if you have a simultaneous video switching system to feed two different video feeds into the same master recording tape).

It is instant replay you can use! If the Phonies  were doing this , sounds like cheating to me. Big time cheating.

Do we have to draw a picture here? The reason to tape signals in a championship game – is to figure them out instantly – and know every play the hapless Steeler staff is going to call offensively and defensively in the last three quarters.  You can blitz, you can nickel, you can man-to-man with confidence.  Think of it this way, it would be as if a batter were getting each pitch signal sent to him, fast ball, change, curve, slider, etc.

If the National Phony League does not corral the New England Phonies who played in that Championship and ask such questions, it is very suspicious.

More to the point, I believe they should launch a major investigation as to how all these tapes were used,  when the information was used, and of course, the all important question were they analyzed during a game as soon as they were made?

Tell you fans, they really don’t want to know. Do you?

According to  Times reporter Greg Bishop’s report, of May 8, “In that (championship) game, the tape had been edited to show Steelers coaches signaling plays, followed by two different camera angles of the actual plays that were called.”  The Times noted the eight tapes were of regular-season games with the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills, the Cleveland Browns and the San Diego Chargers, and the Steeler Championship game.

 In games against teams that the tapes were taken of,  Mr. Bishop’s story reports  the Phonies had a solid winning record. Bishop reports the Phonies were 9-6 against Miami after the taping,12-1 against Buffalo, 3-0 against Cleveland, 4-1 against Pittsburgh and 3-1 against the Chargers.  What kind of “competition” is that? Sounds like the Phonies knew what was coming doesn’t it?

It’s bogus football.

Denison Hatch the marketing writer first called attention to this when the New England Phonies were discovered video-taping the New York Jets (why you would bother taping the Jets is beyond belief), from the sideline. Hatch a season ticket holder with the Philadelphia Eagles wondered out loud if the genius coach of the Phonies  hadn’t been taping his Philadelphia Eagles, and that was why the Phonies sniffed out every play in the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss to the Phonies.

 How many more oodles of the New England Phonies’ tapes have been destroyed?  How come New England has not had their franchise revoked for breaking league video taping rules? What kind of security exists in this league?

How many other successful teams are cheating in different ways: with long distance digital cameras? Long distance close circuit cameras? Is it widespread?

What the rather sedate New York Times reports on the new tapes turned over to the League indicate is that the New England spying operation which their head coach has admitted to using since 2000, was far more sophisticated than the league officials would have us believe.

 

 

But the Times sports section misses the much larger moral issue– as do the pro football owners and executives.  The Commissioner of the National Phony League has said the taping did not taint the Phonies accomplishments.

 

No kidding. Who is he kidding?

 

It taints it big time.

 

It taints every New England player, coach, and forever gives the National Phony League a pall of shame for all time.

 

No one should ever watch a pro football game again without a suspicious eye.

 

But, the real shame is – the players had to know this was happening. All of them knew.

 

The Eagle Quarterback said he was astonished how New England Phonies always seemed to know what plays the Eagles were going to run in that Super Bowl.

 

Well now, we know, don’t we?

 

What  these surveillance tapes  call into question is the integrity of every player on the New England Phonies  roster. How could the players live with the knowledge that their success was not based on their skill but, instead, perhaps knowing the plays they were going to be run at them on each play, and knowing the defensive set that has just been called?

 

Did they think this was all right?

 

How could you put on the uniform and play knowing you were cheating every week.

 

The genius coach was not such a genius against the in this year’s Super Bowl was he?

 

How could the players not know?

 

Why didn’t they speak out that this was wrong?

 

A  half million dollar fine on the genius coach – for breaking  league rules for eight years, and losing a couple of draft picks for basically stealing every game by cheating – that’s like a false start penalty

 

Perhaps the only reason the Phonies lost a game was a sense of overconfidence.

 

But again, the integrity of every player on the team – who knew – and did not speak out – well that is just pathetic.

 

It also goes back to the genius coach earlier in his career. Did he tape signals then? Do other coaches tape and “spy” in ways different and more sophisticated than the exposed genius?

 

It’s fascinating that not too many sports shows are even covering this story. They want it to be over.

 

But I have a feeling it is just beginning.

 

Shame on the New England Phonies for committing the biggest scandal in sports since the Black Sox Scandal in 1919.

 

Shame on the National Phony League for not throwing the book at them, disbanding the team, and kicking out the franchise, and banning every Phony Coach, player and executive who knew this was going on for eight years  — for life.

 

Don’t tell me it’s part of the game.

 

Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns (the real Cleveland Browns of Marion Motley, Jim Brown, Otto Graham), when he was coaching the Cincinnati Bengals always sent in his plays by guard substitutions for exactly that reason. He was laughed at in the days of videotape and electronics. But he still did. He was afraid someone would steal his play signs.

 

The original Mr. Brown was right all along.

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WPCNR’S The Real Deal By The Wedding Jeannie, Jeannie Uyanik of Cap and Gown Weddings. The Mother’s Day Column May 10, 2008:

 

I have an almost two-year old son. He does not sleep, never stops moving, and more often than not, unlike my friends with little girls, needs to be constantly entertained.  I am told though that while the first few years with a boy are harder, I will be laughing through the teenage years and wedding planning while those with girls struggle.  While I am far from knowledgeable about children and teenagers, I can impart wisdom about mothers and daughters during the wedding planning process; from what I see and have learned personally, it might just rival moments with a teenager and for many of the same reasons.

 

Jeannie Uyanik, Planner to the World

The Wedding Jeannie

 

Much like turning 13, planning a wedding is a milestone in a woman’s life.  She needs the support and love of her mother, but has her own ideas about what to do and how.  While the everyday guidance of a mother to a bride is not as essential as it might be for a teenager, the approval and tacit support is, even in just the assurance that disapproval is not soon coming.  Hopefully this column will serve to provide a backbone of a few do’s and don’ts because at the end of the day, a mother/daughter relationship is more important than any venue, florist, caterer or schedule. 

 

 

 

A few key rules:

 

1)      Remember how much you love each other; clearly, neither the bride nor the mother of the bride says or does things to intentionally irritate the other.  On the contrary, I am sure that each side would be thrilled if everyone could just get along.  So keep in perspective that just because you disagree does not mean that changes the level of love and respect that you have for each other, or that you are trying to hurt the other person. 

 

Why would any mother want to see her daughter unhappy?  Remember, they might just think that they know better; on the flip side, why wouldn’t a bride want her mother to love everything that she is doing?  There are probably no bad intentions, just a lot of bad discussions.

 

2)      Embrace the differences; mothers and daughters, even with the closest relationships, will not see eye to eye on everything. As the bride, this is your day, your time to make choices and even mistakes, but don’t let them be relationship changing.  Focus on the things that are most important to you, compromise for those that are most important to your mom.  But each side has to understand that planning a wedding is less about logistics and décor and more about personalities. 

 

In appreciating how what you want is different from your mother, explain that.  In understanding how your daughter is not doing what you think is right, allow her to express herself as long as it’s not putting a strain on the finances and causing family controversy.  If you are both clear with each other on why something is important, this will eliminate much of the angst.  And, 10 to 1, if you listen to each other and compromise, it will be a better solution in the end.  Each of you brings something different to the table. 

 

3)      Be sensitive; we tend to forget how much planning a wedding can raise and/or heighten sensitivities on both sides.  Take the time to be cautious about the way that issues are discussed. Try not to have conversations about important issues by phone or on the fly; this can exacerbate the feeling that the other side just does not care.  Focus on how you feel, why and where you might be willing to compromise. 

 

4)      Don’t loose perspective; don’t do something that you will regret forever in the name of one day.  And don’t let the smallest details overshadow your relationship. The most important thing to remember during this time is that it’s the celebration of a life changing event and the recognition of that change with all of your friends and family. (N.B. brides, that may probably be why your parents always want to invite more guests than you would prefer; accommodate them in as much as you can, its an important day for everyone).  

 

My own mother in times of crisis or stress is the wisest, calmest person that I have ever known and perhaps that’s why she handled my own screw-up with grace, but it haunts me to this day.   As a wedding planner, I had my eye constantly on the schedule the day I got married and suddenly noticed that we were of course running late (its harder to run your own wedding than other peoples). 

 

Unfortunately, this was just as I was about to put on my wedding dress.  I told my mother she had to leave right away in order not to be late, just as the dress was about to go on.  As my 6 bridesmaids surrounded me, I noticed as she was leaving with tears in her eyes, but she smiled and left saying she loved me.  It’s a moment that I remember to this day.  I was wrong for the right reasons in theory, but what a waste. 

 

I was so focused on what needed to be done and how, I forgot so seamlessly the importance of what was being done.  My mother in an effort to mitigate my stress did not argue or impart that she had been waiting my whole life to help me with my dress, and though I see how wrong I was, had she fought, it probably would have been more stressful.  She was and always will be smarter than I am. 

 

My mother continues to be my best friend, even if she did not help me put my dress on, but it’s a moment that I wish I could take back.  As you read this, remember my story and if even only once, hold your tongue when you would like not to, smile and laugh when you want to scream and just be mother and daughter instead of mother of the bride and bride; the first will last a lifetime. 

 

Not surprisingly, I have to give all credit of this column to my mother; I was telling her about how hard it can be for mothers and daughters during the planning process these days and she said that I should probably write about it in one of my columns.  She did not even realize mother’s day was this weekend.  This one is for you mom – Happy Mother’s Day and I love you. 

 

And, thank goodness I have a son.

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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE  EIGHTH AVENUE MEZZANINE. By “Goal” Gordon. May 7, 2008:

Let me tilt back my fedora, light up a Lucky, and pound this out on my  Royal Corona keys while in the quiet of the old Garden press gondola. The real  Garden. The one with the blue haze of cigar smoke hanging in the upper deck, when the ice was made by hand cart and the players played without helmets, when Gumper was in Goal and Andy Bathgate, Camille Henry and Andy Hebenton were my favorites, and the New York World Telegram and Sun called them the Blueshirts, and they used to run 1-inch ads in the sports sections, reading “Hockey Tonight Toronto 7 PM Fastest Game on Earth.”

 

Madison Square Garden 1950s. Eighth Avenue and 49th Street.

Now that hockey, figure skating, (I remember the Ice Capades), has grown and now faces an ice crisis. I think The Rangers have the oppportunity to give back to the community a favor that will never be forgotten, and make a memory as warm as the 1994 Stanley Cup. A selfless gesture that will be appreciated so much by the community that has loved them so long.

What We Would Give for some Ice — like Yost Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Just 10 Hours Away

 

You see they have closed the New Roc rink in New Rochelle.  New Rochelle city government is reported thinking about building a new rink. Meanwhile New Rochelle High School, Rye,  and some other hockey teams, not to mention the Team Image of Yonkers, the Synchronized Skating 4th  Ranked National Team,  have no place to skate or practice. Most of the rink slots in Mount Vernon, E. J. Murray Rink, Westchester Skating Academy, Katonah Harvey School, and in Stamford and Greenwich are filled.

But there is a rink that is only used eight months a year.

And the New York Rangers are not using it now.

 

It opened in 2002 in Greenburgh. It is the practice home of the New York Rangers. It is a private facility that only is used by the Rangers, Knickerbockers (not  enough), and the New York Liberty in Tarrytown.

WPCNR contacted the Rangers public relations department, leaving phone messages and two e-mails asking if the Rangers could possibly have an interest in stepping up and really helping the hockey teams, the  figure skaters and the Team Image Synchronized Skating team by working out  a plan to share their ice.

The Rangers as usual have made their early exit from the playoffs and that ice is just there. The Rangers could charge for the ice time, and win so much good will from hockey, figure skating teams, and of course the figure skating community, if they could work out a plan. Even during the hockey season, the Rangers only use the rink certain hours of the day.

However, the Broadway Blues publicity department apparently did not want to explore this one with the press.

It is a natural idea if the corporate legal types can work out the liability issues.

Sports teams help a lot with the community, mainly giving gift drives, and public appearances for a good cause.

Here, the Rangers now have what a lot of teams and kids and parents who love skating need – ice.

With Ranger stars putting in occasional appearances when local teams practice, the public relations value would do the Garden a lot of good, considering the horrid publicity a certain basketball team enjoyed last fall.

Since many teams pay for the ice anyway they would most likely be willing to pay the Rangers for their precious ice.

The Rangers could score a hat trick with this idea.

All it takes is a few phone calls to explore the possibility.

Let’s Go Rangers!

Make that call to New Rochelle High School, Rye, and Team Image. Explore needs how you can help.

This is really for the kids and they would love the Rangers for life.

High school hockey players and figure skaters grow up to be season ticketholders some day.

With the right handling, this could be the greatest thing a sports team has ever done for so many people who love hockey and the ice sports.

All it takes is Jim Dolan to reach out, figure out how to share the ice (for pay, of course), and tell his lawyers to make it work and it can get done.

Teams have already been trying to book ice, but to show you how crowded the rinks already are, Team Image, shown at the Providence Rhode Island National Syncronized Skating Championships could only find ice at 4 in the morning at Westchester Skating Academy.

Is hockey doomed for New Ro and the other hockey sixes that used New Roc?

The Rangers have the closest rink.

They are the local team to our southern Westchester hockey teams.

The youngsters need the Blues to come through.

The Devils and the Islanders are too far away to be practical.

But if the Rangers don’t, the Devils and the Islanders could step up, too.

Hockey and figure skating and synchro skating are sports that the players and the athletes love. They admire the Ranger players and live and die with them.

The Rangers could pay them back this year with a gesture of sharing their ice that will be talked out for decades.

 

 

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. May 5, 2008: The Common Council approved construction of The Venue this evening, an upscale mini-mall to be built on the present parking lot opposite Bloomingdale’s. The vote was 6-1, with Milagros Lecuona voting against.

The Venue, approved this evening, will be a 15 store plus restaurant shopping center at 120 Bloomingdale Road, across the way from Bloomingdale’s department store. It is described as a 46,000 square foot retail development to go on the parking lot of the former Nestle building (currently the offices of the New York State Department of Labor). The site is shown above, across from the entrance of Bloomingdale’s, looking West. The shopping center would be built on the parking lot.