Mayor Adam Bradley’s First Act: Celebrating New Years Eve in WP Renn Square

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. January 1, 2010: White Plains favorite son Adam Bradley became the seventeenth Mayor of  White Plains officially at midnight last night, and within minutes of the balldrop in Renaissance Square in downtown wished viewers on News 12 a happy new year and remarked on the festive atmosphere. The new First Lady of White Plains, Mrs. Bradley, wished viewers “Happy New Year” in Japanese.



New Mayor in Town: Adam Bradley greeting viewers on News 12 in Renaissance Square in downtown White Plains a little after midnight when his term began.



Outgoing Mayor Joseph Delfino could be seen, in his trademark broadbrimmed brown sombrero in the distance in an earlier News 12 shot, a lone  figure on the 2010 Rec and Parks traveling stage, watching his twelve-years as Mayor officially end in a “tradition” he began six years ago in 2003.



News 12 described the downtown crowd as about 10,000 people lined up down Court Street and Mamaroneck Avenue. Twelve’s reporters interviewed a number of revelers, from as far away as Brooklyn, Montrose, Yonkers. Streets filled up closer to midnight as a light wet snow fell. Reporters described it as a very family atmosphere.


Mayor Bradley will officially greet all residents of White Plains Sunday afternoon at 3 P.M. at his ceremonial inauguration in the rotunda at City Hall…You all come.

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Police Apprehend 3 in 34-car Break-In Spree Over last Week.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From news reports. December 31, 2009: The Journal News reported today that three White Plains youths, aged 20,17, and 15 were apprehended and were about to face charges in connection with ‘as many as 34’ car break-ins in the last week. The arrests were not reported to any other media,  nor were the rash of crimes reported by the police alerting residents to the existence of the threat.

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Mayor Authorizes Law Dept to Aid Bradley Team in Preparing the Monday Genda

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. December 31, 2009: Carol Van Scoyoc of the White Plains Law Department advised WPCNR today that Mayor Joseph Delfino had “graciously” authorized the law department and city personnel to “pitch in” and assist the new Bradley Administration in preparing the agenda for Monday’s first Common Council meeting of the new administration.


Van Scoyoc said the Delfino legal staff were working “collectively” with John Callahan, the Bradley Administration’s  Executive Officer/Corporation Counsel designee to get the Monday meeting agenda out Friday on the website. As of 6:30 P.M. New Year’s Eve, it was not up on the website.


Vab Scoyoc explained the agenda was expected to be out Friday, with documents containing Mayor Adam Bradley’s signatures, and therefore the agenda would meet the requirement of the Charter that the agenda be available in the City Clerk’s office three days  before the council meeting.


Van Scoyoc reported that for the agenda to be out earlier would have created the need for a double agenda with two sets of signatures one with Mayor Delfino signatures, and one agenda with incoming Mayor Bradley’s signatures. Van Scoyoc noted delaying agenda to New Year’s Day enabled one agenda to be created, instead of two. “the Council could not pass resolutions (on the agenda)  with Mayor Delfino’s signature, when Mr. Bradley is the Mayor,”Van Scoyk told WPCNR.


Asked if Bradley operatives were working side by side in the law department with Ms. Van Scoyoc and her colleagues, Ms. Van Scoyk, said she and her law department were working “collectively.”


 

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Kay Conroy, “White Plains Best Neighbor” Departs

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WPCNR MILESTONES. December 31, 2009: Katherine Conroy of Havilands Manor, passed away Wednesday evening in Greenwich,Connecticut,  surrounded by friends, at 95 years of age, her family reports to WPCNR.  She resided for decades on Mansfield Road, and was a well-known, respected and loved volunteer for dozens of organizations in White Plains.


 


A former school teacher, Mrs. Conroy, mother of six children, was known in the neighborhood for her always putting up a holiday decoration on her cheery frontdoor.  A turkey for Thanksgiving. A rabbit for Easter. February was her toughest month. She would put up a picture of Abraham Lincoln for Lincoln’s Birthday on the 12th, switch it immediately to a heart for Valentine’s Day the 14th  then put up a picture of George Washington for February 22.


 


She was a neighbor who looked out for you, worried when you stayed up too late, and always said a cheery hello and chatted animatedly about the goings on around town when she saw you. She spoke her mind and was never shy about telling things the way they were. She was an old-time neighbor who never let you down.


 


Her civic spirit, (she never missed a Woman’s Club meeting), her care for her community was always uplifting and she was always upbeat. She was the kind of person you would meet in an ongoing television series and eagerly await the next episode, only Mrs. Conroy was better  — she was real, warm and always growing.


 


Arrangements are pending at this time.


 


We should all have a next door neighbor like Kay Conroy.

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Astorino Names Last 4 Commissioners, Retains 14

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. December 30,2009: County Executive Elect Rob Asorino appointed the last 4 key Commissioners in his new administration which takes over Thursday at midnight at a news conference this morning.


Astorino said he and all his commissioners,including holdovers announced this morning would be meeting Tuesday, and going over the 2010 county budgets for their departments, evaluating budgeted expenditures to see where savings could be achieved. Astorino said forecasts of revenues would be closely evaluated by his new Budget Director, Lawrence Soule, for their accuracy and reliability. No budget targets were announced.



George N. Longworth, (far left) former Dobbs Ferry Police Chief and currently President of the Police Chiefs of Westchester County was appointed Public Safety Commissioner replacing Thomas Belfiore; Lawrence Soule, (second from left),formerly of Banc of America Securities, LLC, Bank of America and financial advisor to the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Government of Guam from 1998 to 2002 while at Union Capital Markets/Wachovia Securities, was appointed Budget Director, replacing Anne Reasoner; current Town of Eastchester Comptroller Ann Marie Berg (second from right) will serve as Commissioner of Finance, and the present White Plains Deputy Personnel Officer, Kerry M. Oristano (far right)will serve as Human Resources Commissioner in County Executive Rob Astorino’s administration.


In remarks to the press this afternoon,Mr.Astorino said he would be retaining 14 present Commissioners in his administration, including Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, Joe Stout;RoccoPozzi, Probation Commissioner; Anthony Sutton, Emergency Services Commissioner; Thomas Lauro, Environmental Facilities Commissioner; Kevin Mahon, Social Services Commissioner, and Larry Salley, Transportation Commissioner. Astorino said the retained Commissioners would be retained on a probation status so he “could get to work with them, and see how they fit in.”


Astorino announced present Deputy Commissioners had been elevated to Acting Commissioners to fill out the Administration roster. The Deputies promoted to “Acting” Commissioners are: John Hsu, Acting Public Works Commissioner; Kevin Cheverko,Acting Corrections Commissioner; Ed Burroughs, Acting Planning Commissioner;and Patsy Yang, M.D.PH, Acting Health Commissioner.


 

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Battle Hill Withdraws from Council of Neighborhood Associations. Cites Lack of P

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WPCNR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS. From the Battle Hill Association. December 29,2009: The Battle Hill Association has officially severed ties with the Council of Neighborhood Associations after a disagreement with the Association on the Board’s reluctance to take stances on issues and provide support to associations with specific neighborhood-centered concerns with the city.


According to a letter sent to the Council of Neighborhood Associations, shared with news media,  the Battle Hill Association states:


 At the December 8, 2009 meeting, Lou Bruno and Joel Rudikoff stated, CNA organization is for informational purposes only and does not consider voicing eighborhood concerns at council meetings beneficial. The CNA elected officers statements and discussion on December 8, 2009 confirmed that the by-laws prevents and restricts the ability to “voice” issues and concerns with the appropriate city departments on behalf of those affected  neighborhoods in need of a “voice”.

The Battle Hill Association is a productive, vocal and action oriented group of citizens that encourages residents to have a voice on neighborhood issues.

The Battle Hill Association Board of Directors has voted unanimously not to renew our membership with the White Plains Council of Neighborhoods.

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White Plains ER Doctor Offers Advice for a Safe New Years Celebration

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS ROUNDS. From White Plains Hospital Center. December 29, 2009:  As a physician who has specialized in emergency medicine for more than 30 years, Dr. Timothy Haydock has seen his share of the effects of excessive drinking on New Year’s Eve at hospitals he has worked at in Boston and at White Plains Hospital Center where he has been head of the emergency for the past five years.



Dr. Thomas Haydock, Director of Emergency Services,


White Plains Hospital Medical Center advises on regulating alcohol, food intake to stay safe.


Photo, WPCNR News Archive.


 


“When it comes to partying, New Year’s Eve ranks near the top for people drinking alcohol more than they should,” Dr. Haydock says. The consequences run the gamut from miserable hangovers to more serious and sometimes deadly incidents.


 


 



 As it turns out, New Year’s Day may well be the busiest day of the year at the Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) when people are looking for relief from headaches, nausea, vomiting and upset stomachs because they drank too much the night before. Other visits to the ER are to mend broken ankles and other injuries sustained from nasty falls attributed to loss of balance, one of the effects of being intoxicated.


 “A trip to the ER can be avoided simply by saying ‘no’ to having that next drink and making sure you have a plan for getting home safely if you over indulge.”


He noted that one of the pitfalls of excessive drinking—especially for young people— is a sense of euphoria that tricks the person into thinking that this good feeling will be sustained if they continue drinking. “There is a lag time when the reveler does not feel impacted by the drinking but that quickly changes.  The warning signs that you are crossing over into a dangerous zone are slurred speech, poor coordination and lack of judgment.”


Alcoholic poisoning can lead to death. “When the individual passes out and is unconscious, breathing can stop. Or they can asphyxiate on their own vomit,” Dr. Haydock stated.


 “A little self discipline never hurts when it comes to alcoholic consumption,” Dr. Haydock added. But so is remaining safe from harm after the party is over. “Don’t count on your friends to help assure you will begin the new year in one piece as they may not be in any condition to look after you,” he stated.


“Alcohol is a drug that impairs judgment. Among other things, one cannot drive in this condition. Nor cross a busy intersection or walk up a flight of steps unassisted. That’s why you need to have someone you can absolutely trust who will make sure you get home OK,” Dr. Haydock noted.


There is some good news about drinking and New Year’s Eve. In recent years, Dr. Haydock has seen a decline in ER admissions for auto accidents and fatalities caused by DWI, a testimonial to the effectiveness of public education and law enforcement. “New Year’s Eve at White Plains Hospital Center’s ER like any other night these days. Our wish is that it remain that way. Please drink responsibly and avoid a needless visit to our ER.”


 


 


 

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Comptroller:Stimulus Money Covered 09-10 School Aid Gaps.Not There in 2010

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the Office of the State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. December 23, 2009(EDITED): School districts across New York state, including White Plains and New York City, face a potential funding gap of at least $2 billion when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding runs out in 2011-12 unless federal aid is renewed or replaced by state aid, according to analysis released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Property taxpayers could face on average a 7.7-percent tax increase in 2011-12 to make up the loss in ARRA funds, assuming school budgets and state aid remain constant.


The White Plains School District according to Comptroller DiNapoli’s Office  received $3,876,166 of its $13,736,444 in school aid this year from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding that is due to expire. If the funds are not restored by Washington,  the district faces a 2.1% tax increase to replace those funds. This would based on other factors cited last week by the school district send the district budget well over the$200 Million mark in 2010-11.


Last week the School District Finance Committee heard Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler detail that the district faced a $15 Million increase in expenses made up of $$2 Million (now $3.9 Million according to the Comptroller’s figures) deficit in state aid, a STAR EXEMPTION DECREASE, $3 MILLION more in salaries, $3.5 Million more in pension costs, $4 Million in Health benefits, and replacement of about $3 Million decline in the assessment roll. The increase indicated by the Comptroller this week, if the ARRA is not extended, would mean if the City School District Budget does not cut expenses, the budget will top $203 Million.


 


“ARRA funding has helped ease some of the budget pain for school districts and taxpayers,” DiNapoli said. “But that money stops in 2011-12, and when it does, New York’s schools face a $2 billion funding gap. That’s a big hole to fill. The time to start thinking about how to fill that hole is now, not when the money is already gone. It won’t be easy; schools are already facing financial problems. But this won’t just go away.”


DiNapoli’s analysis found ARRA funds made up on average 5.3 percent of total school budgets in 2009-10. The school budgets most reliant on ARRA funds in their 2009-10 budgets are New York City (5.7 percent), the big four districts (5.1 percent) and high-need schools (4.9 percent). Low-need school districts face the smallest gap as ARRA funds represented just 2.4 percent of their 2009-10 budgets.


In upstate New York, school districts in Central New York, the Capital Region and the Finger Lakes ARRA funds made up 5.5 percent, 5.2 percent and 5.1 percent of their budgets on average in 2009-10 respectively. ARRA funds represented just 3.2 percent of Long Island school districts’ budgets and 3.3 percent of Mid-Hudson Valley school districts’ budgets.


DiNapoli’s analysis also found ARRA funding helped independent school districts hold tax levy increases to 2.1 percent on average, rather than an estimated 7.7-percent increase had ARRA funds not been available. Alternatively, school districts would have had to cut costs by as much as 3.2 percent without ARRA funds.


The state projects that foundation aid (the main source of school aid to most districts) will increase by 17 percent over the next three years. To backfill the stimulus funding and meet this commitment, the state would need to increase its share of funding by $4.1 billion, or 31 percent, between 2010-11 and 2012-13, an unlikely scenario given the state’s fiscal difficulties.


To view DiNapoli’s analysis, visit: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/arra-snapshot-121709.pdf.


To view a district-by-district breakdown of ARRA funding as a percent of school district 2009-10 budgets, visit: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/arra-percent-budget-by-dist-2009-10.xls.

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Oros Named County Executive-Elect Astorino’s Chief of Staff.7 Commissioners Out

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From County Executive-Elect Rob Astorino Transition Office. (EDITED) December 23, 2009: Westchestert County Executive-elect Rob Astorino (R-I) today  announced that he has selected Westchester County Minority Leader George Oros (R-C Cortlandt) to serve as his Chief of Staff.



County Legislator George Oros — Expected to Retire — Instead to Return as Astorino Chief of Staff.


The Journal News Reporter, Gerald McKinstry, reported Wednesday morning that the new Administration that takes office in 9 days has informed Commissioner of Public Safety Thomas Belfiore, Correction Commissioner Joseph Spano, Budget Director Anne Reasoner, Health Commissioner Joshua Lipsman, Commissioner of Public Works Ralph Butler, Personnel Commissioner Paula Redd Zeman and Commissioner of Finance Kathy Thorsberg, they will not be held over as Commissioners in the new administration. The decisions on the Commissioners were not announced by the Transition Office.





Mr. Oros, an attorney and seven-term County Legislator, currently represents Westchester’s First Legislative District, which includes the City of Peekskill, the Village of Buchanan, and portions of Cortlandt  and Yorktown.  Mr. Oros, 55, chose not to run for re-election this year.

As Chief of Staff to the County Executive, Mr. Oros will serve as a senior advisor, coordinate intergovernmental relations, supervise constituent services, and act as liaison to the Board of Legislators.

“No one knows the ins and outs of Westchester County government better than George does and he will be invaluable to me in shaping my reform agenda for this county, Mr. Astorino said.  “As Minority Leader, George has been one of the few consistent voices for cutting taxes and reducing the cost of government. I am proud to have him on my team.”

“There is much work to be done in reducing the burden of government on Westchester taxpayers,” Mr. Oros said. “County Executive-elect Astorino and I have long shared a vision of a smarter and more efficient Westchester County government. As Chief of Staff and a senior advisor to the County Executive, I will do everything in my power to make that vision a reality.” 

Mr. Oros began his career in politics on Cortlandt’s Zoning Board of Appeals before being elected to the Town Board, and then to the County Board of Legislators in 1995. Mr. Oros sits on the Board of Directors of the Hudson Valley Hospital Center, and also served on the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Board.

Mr. Oros holds a B.B.A. and J.D. from Pace University. He served for eight years, as the Assistant to the Director of Pace’s Michaelian Institute of Suburban Governance. He is married to Marianne and resides in Cortlandt with his two children John 19 and Christina 16.


 

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Mayor-Elect Bradley Taps John Callahan Chief of Staff/Corp Counsel in new Gov.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From the Transition Team of Mayor-Elect Adam Bradley. December 22, 2009:  White Plains Mayor-Elect Adam Bradley has selected John G. Callahan, a former Corporation Counsel for the City, as his Chief of Staff.  Callahan is an attorney who has spent most of his career representing government entities.

“I’m confident that John Callahan shares my vision for the future of White Plains. His experience and professionalism will help me lead the city in a new direction”, said Adam Bradley.

Callahan will take on a dual role as Chief of Staff and Corporation Counsel for the City of White Plains.  He will oversee the day to day functions of the city and will supervise the City’s Law Department as well. Callahan says, “I am honored that Mayor-Elect Bradley chose me and I am looking forward to the challenge of holding both positions.”


Callahan informed Commissioner of Finance Gina Cuneo-Harwood, Commissioner of Recreation and Parks, Arne Abramowitz and Deputy Commissioner Debra Clay they would not be part of the Bradley administration Friday and rehired Commissioner of Building, Damon Amadeo Friday in the first steps towards shaping the new Bradley administration which takes over the city in 9 Days, Januart 1





Mayor-Elect Bradley is assigning one person to hold the two positions in an effort to save more than $175,000 for the taxpayers of White Plains. He has inherited an $18 million dollar budget deficit and this will be the first of many cost-cutting initiatives that won’t jeopardize services. “I wouldn’t give this job to just anyone.  I know that John will be able to handle the additional responsibility.”

Callahan has years of municipal and governmental experience and is accustomed to working hard and getting results. He has held many positions as an attorney since 1976 in his own successful private practice and in local and state government representing the Cities of New Rochelle and Yonkers, the Town of Eastchester, and New York State. Callahan was also the Corporation Counsel for the City of White Plains from 1994-1998.  “I am coming back home to a city I’ve represented in the past, with more energy and enthusiasm than ever before.”





 

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