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

Hits: 0

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. January 27, 2008: WPCNR  noted briefly in last week’s report on the Common Council Work Session Thursday that the proposal to increase the affordable housing set-aside on new construction rentals from 6% to 10% had not been referred out to departments as yet. Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel advised WPCNR of the more intricate status of the proposal today. WPCNR had reported that Ms. Habel had stated it had not been referred out and would be on February 4. Ms. Habel explains:

In your e-article on the Common Council work session, you state that “It was announced by the Commissioner of Planning that details of the Common Council proposal to raise the number of affordable housing units required in any new multiple dwelling residential projects to 10%, together with higher buyout fees, had not yet been referred out to departments but would be on the February 4 Council meeting.”

That is not what I said. I said that two proposals for changes to the affordable housing regulations were submitted, one by some members of the Common Council and a second by the Mayor and two Council members. A communication addressing both of these was prepared by the Planning Department and provided to the Common Council this past fall.

What is being submitted to the Common Council for the February 4 meeting is revised regulations for both the Affordable Rental Program and Affordable Home Ownership Program which incorporate elements of each of the proposals and the comments from the Planning Department.

You can not refer to a Common Council proposal as there were different proposals by Common Council members, including the Mayor and two Council members, and there was the analysis by the Planning Department.

The revised regulations being referred out at the February 4, 2008 meeting do not reflect any one of these alone, but an integration of proposals from each that the Planning Department feels are appropriate. The Council will discuss the proposed revisions at the February  work session.

 

Hits: 0

WPCNR MAIN STREET Journal. From the Gannett Foundation. January 25, 2008: The Gannett Foundation has awarded The Mental Health Association of Westchester County, Inc. (MHA) a $10,000 grant in support of Family Abuse Court Services (FACS), the County’s only volunteer court advocacy program for victims of domestic abuse.  Founded by MHA in 1977, FACS is an on-site service available free of charge at all three Westchester Family Courts.  FACS volunteers receive intensive training to provide domestic violence victims with specialized services that include crisis support, advocacy, referrals and safety planning.  The new grant will help FACS provide services to the more than 2,000 domestic violence victims expected by MHA to seek help through the program in 2008.

MHA Assistant Executive Director Carla Quail, LCSW, emphasized the key role played by volunteer counselors in the program’s three decades of success.  “The staff and trained volunteers of Family Abuse Court Services are guides to vulnerable families in a time of crisis.  Without these committed and skilled volunteers, frightened individuals seeking to protect themselves and their children from an abusive partner may never have the courage to go through the challenges of the court system.  Committed volunteers are always needed for such rewarding work.”  Information about how to become a FACS volunteer is available from Program Director Blanche Goodman at (914) 345-5900, extension 245.

The Mental Health Association of Westchester County, Inc. (MHA), a not-for profit organization, is the leading resource for mental health services in Westchester.  Through its advocacy, education and direct services, MHA meets a broad spectrum of critical needs of thousands of children, adults and families each year.  Prevention of domestic violence, treatment for the trauma experienced by its victims and support for affected family members constitute a major component of MHA’s program activities.  Visit MHA’s website, www.mhawestchester.org, for information on critical mental health issues and services in Westchester County.

Hits: 0

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. January 24, 2008: The Hispanic Business & Professional Association of Westchester County honored Gregorio Malena, Vice Consul of the Dominican Republic Mission to the United Nations last night at the Prophecy Club, and Vice Consul Melena thanked the White Plains Business community and Common Councilman Glen Hockley for continuing the drive to support the victims of the Dominican floods last fall.

United for Dominican Republic Relief Effort, far left, Reverend Miguel Amadis of Washington Heights; third from left, Leonardo Espinol, Dominican business man, resident of White Plains; Councilman Glen Hockley, third from right. Vice Consul Gregorio Malena, center, next to Mr. Hockley. Hosting the party were Dan Couglin, owner of Prophesy, with his wife, far right.

Five truckloads of nonperishable food and supplies have been collected through the facilities of Aries Wine & Spirits and delivered and distributed through the auspices of the First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Vice Consul Melena told WPCNR. The food drive is continuing. It was also announced that the  Dominican Independence Day would be celebrated in White Plains February 23 to continue to focus attention on the Domincan Republic need. So far the Vice Consul said some 200 homes have been rebuilt (thanks to  Mayor Michael Bloomberg-spearheaded relief effort) for the 70,000 residents displaced by the floods. He said the Republic has pulled together behind its President. He thanked Mr. Hockley and the White Plains community for their support of the effort, but the country is still in need of food supplies and relief and construction help.

To inquire how you can help and what can be donated contact Mr. Hockley or Aries Wine Spirits at 914-946-0191.

Hits: 0

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. Conference with Mayor Joseph Delfino and Commissioner of Public Safety, Dr. Frank Straub on Crime Reduction. January 24, 2008: In a Conference Call today with WPCNR, Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Frank Straub and Mayor Joseph Delfino discussed the decrease  in crime trends in the city and the community team effort that has made the city one of the safest cities you can  live. White Plains is a city where the  Part I crime most often committed in 2007  was shoplifting by young persons; where assaults are mostly street scuffles, robberies  mostly involving taking I-pods and cellphones committed again by the younger segment, and where home burglaries were lowered 35% in one year.

Dr. Frank Straub, White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety, left and Mayor Joseph Delfino, September, 2007 WPCNR News Archives

In one year, Robberies were reduced by 40%; Aggravated Assaults by 19% to an 18 year low; Burglaries by 35%. Over a 42 year period (when the city was smaller). In 1965 there were 1,925 Part I crimes and in 2007, there were 1,162 Part I Crimes.  In the last 5 years, Larcenies (mostly shoplifting) have been reduced 35%; Burglaries, 70%, Aggravated Assaults, 37%.

In a wide ranging conversation today, The Commissioner said there was no gang presence in White Plains mainly due to extensive networking with youth by the city’s Youth Bureau. He stated  narcotics trafficking was very low, and that the street homeless presented no crime threat to the citizens.  The department maintains such effective outreach with criminals who are released back into White Plains that only 9 of 84 were rearrested in one year, the Commissioner noted.

Commissioner Straub said he was not surprised by the dramatic drop in crime since his department monitors incidents daily, identifies hotspots: “We are very precise at measuring crime data, we look at our numbers every 24 hours 7 days a week. We’re very attuned to emerging trends, public safety issues and we try to put things in place to prevent crimes rather than waiting to react until the horse is out of the barn.”

Outreach the Equalizer

Mayor Delfino  said police outreach to persons at risk was unique in making the “safe” difference:   “I think the other thing that’s so important is there have been so many programs implemented  in the last five years by our police department particularly those in high risk, the program we won the award for from the National League of Cities, the Step-Up Youth Program where our police officers have a one-on-one with our young high-risk teens in our city where the relationship between the high risk and the police department has gotten much, much closer, and the relationship  has gotten so much better that it’s been a tremendous help in the reduction of crime. 

Another thing is the training of our police officers has made so much a difference. One that has been exceptional is the Pyschological and Crisis Intervention Technicians where these men and women are trained how to handle the situation, particularly those who have mental issues, and the homeless, and handle the situation in a manner which reduces physical injuries to the people of White Plains and the police officer. Those types of programs make a difference in getting our crime down. To think with all we’ve had from traffic, to crime, the number of people with the Renaissance we’ve had,  that Part I Crimes have been reduced to the lowest level in 42 years is an outstanding accomplishment .

 Safer Roads

The Mayor also said the roads were demonstrably safer:

“Last year we only had 285 injuries in traffic accidents, which is a record low. We have not had a traffic fatality in White Plains in 2007, nor have we had a homicide since May of 2006. How did this happen with traffic? The summonses we’ve given were really to support national safety programs, inspections to make sure cars were in the condition they were. Between the traffic department, where Tom Soyk does an unbelievable job, and the police working together we were able to accomplish that.”

Asked the effect  the Traffic Initiative, in effect for the last four years, whether it was a crime suppressant,  Dr. Straub said it was definitely a crime deterrent, and credited a city team effort:

“I think we have an incredibly unique city. The Mayor has this saying, there’s nothing we can’t do when we work together. When you look at two things, one being traffic. We’re very aggressive in writing summonses; very aggressive in driver education checkpoints, DWI checkpoints. But, reductions, no fatalities, a reduction as significant as this is in serious injuries, that doesn’t happen without the cooperation of the Parking Department and the Traffic Department. It also happens because of the Planning Department.  As we open up new streets, plan construction projects, we all talk about things as projects start, allows the city to plan effectively so that all tools and resources are brought to bear on the situation.”

Teamwork

On crime reduction, Straub credited teamwork with other city departments, too:

“We look at the crime numbers. We’re very active as the Mayor said with programs like Step Up, and the Youth Police Initiative. That’s because we’re working with  the Youth Bureau, Parks and Recreation, service providers not-for-profit and other government agencies. It really happens because the message from the Mayor to the commissioners is we have to work in concert. Clearly, the crime statistics show  pretty dramatically what happens after 5-plus years of everybody putting their heads together and putting their best ideas on the table to deal with issues.”

The Traffic Enforcement Effect, Straub said traffic enforcement had a definite impact on crime reduction:

“You know, coming into White Plains, you’re going to have contact with a White Plains Police Officer and a Parking Enforcement Officer, so I think there is clearly a preventive value there. Also,  just the mere interaction of police officers with motorists sends a message that you’re again going to come in contact with a police officer so you need to conduct yourself in a manner that is consistent with “no crime.” You’re not going to be coming into the city with a gun in your car. You’re not going to be coming into the city with drugs in your car. Because there is a high probability that there’s going to be an interaction with an enforcement type person.”

A Safe Place to Visit

I asked if White Plains has a reputation among those prone to commit crimes as a place not to commit crimes.

Mayor Delfino took this question. “I’m out there a lot as you know, John. I’m in common places, I visit downtown a lot. I’m around young people a lot, 21 and older. I can tell you the feeling is, when you’re in White Plains you have to behave. It’s proactive in a sense we work with our colleges to assure their students who come here are comfortable, safe, and get back to colleges safe. We’ve had recent meetings about that.  We want to be sure  when you come here we want you to enjoy the city. The Renaissance is for everyone. But, in turn, you live by the rules when you’re here.

The police presence isn’t because we have high crime, obviously, you can see by the numbers, the fact is the presence is there and we have concern. They come here and they say, in White Plains, you can have a good time, but you better be careful  because you have to live by the rules. That’s the way we want it to be. That’s why we do the DWI checks. It’s a safety for them, for pedestrian issues. It works for everybody’s benefit. The comment of there’s a lot of cops around that comment is only because we are concerned about them and our residents.”

Presence is Real

I asked the Commissioner how the sense of police presence is created

“ I go back to our concept of data gathering and analysis. The idea is to put the police out on the street when they are most needed. As we pick up a pattern or a trend that’s where we deploy our resources. One of the examples is the Neighborhood Conditions Unit. They work from 6 at night to 4 in the morning, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Saturday. They work primarily in the Central Business District.

What you just heard the Mayor say, people come to White Plains because they feel safe here bringing their families, bringing there friends, because of the police presence. We’ve moved police resources based on the data we’re gathering in those 24 hour cycles.”

The Downtown Connection

The Mayor added, “You mentioned the hot spots in our city, Frank,  when we think there’s an issue in a specific neighborhood, if we see a high concentration there, that’s where we put the people. I don’t know if you know this John, but   we meet with the restaurant and pub owners semi-annually and we discuss with them the roles, we’re there to help them, and whatever actions they should be taking.

“The latest incident at Prophecy, I cannot thank them enough.( Editor’s Note: the restaurant Prophecy called the police when they noticed some teens arriving for a party who needed help.)  The owner of Prophecy was in attendance at the last meeting we had with restaurant owners. We told them, if there’s an incident at your place, call the police department, we’re here to help you. I was in a place last night, where the comment was made, by a person who owns pubs in other communities, said, one thing about White Plains, they are there (the police) and they are helpful. That’s the difference, Frank, even the owners here feel comfortable that we are here to help.”

Asked how he had contributed to building this atmosphere, Dr. Straub said, “I think the police department always enjoyed a good relationship with the community. I’ve said this at neighborhood meetings. We’re public servants. The White Plains community pays our salaries, our obligation every day is to deliver the highest caliber of service that we can. Going into a bar or restaurant and writing a summons after an incident accomplishes nothing. Having Lieutenant  (Kevin) Christopher out there talking to them every day, talking to them and building relationships that prevents problems and that’s what really policing needs to be about.”

Hits: 0

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. (EDITED) January 23, 2008:

Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced the signing of an Executive Order creating the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief. This bipartisan commission, which will have Moreland Act powers, will examine the root causes of high property taxes, identify ways to make the State’s property tax system fairer, and develop a fair and effective school property tax cap to hold the line on property tax growth. The Commission has been charged to make preliminary recomendations by May 15 and final recommendations by December 1.

The Commission will be chaired by Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi who has been outspoken on the issue of property tax relief. The Commission’s members are Nicholas J. Pirro, former Onondaga County Executive; Paul A. Tokasz, former member of the State Assembly; Basil A. Paterson, former Secretary of State and former State Senator; Merryl H. Tisch, member, State Board of Regents; Shirley Strum Kenny, President, SUNY Stony Brook; and Michael Solomon, Director, Merrill Lynch & Co.

Under the Executive Order, the Commission will study, examine, investigate, review and make recommendations in the following areas:

– the root causes of New York’s high property tax burden, including the expenditures of local governments and school districts, unfunded mandates imposed by the State, and other factors driving the growth of local property tax levies;

– the effectiveness of the various state mechanisms to provide property tax relief to different classes of taxpayers;

– the effectiveness of property tax caps as a mechanism to control growth in school district tax levies, the experience of other states in implementing such caps, and the potential impact of such caps on educational achievement;

– the most effective approach to imposing a limit on school property tax growth in New York State without adversely impacting the ability of school districts to provide a quality education to all schoolchildren;

– the impact of increased state financial support and state taxpayer relief and rebate programs on local school district budgets and tax levies; and

– the extent of public involvement in the development and approval of school and other local government budgets.

John Reid, Deputy Director of State Operations and Executive Director of the Commission on Higher Education, will serve as Executive Director of the Commission. The announcement today in the Red Room at the State Capitol was one of three events today where the Governor stressed the importance of the Commission to address the property tax relief concerns for all New Yorkers.

Commission Members:

Thomas R. Suozzi is in his second term as Nassau County Executive. He is known as a government reformer and he has also worked as an attorney, certified public accountant, and former Mayor of Glen Cove for eight years. Mr. Suozzi continues to work to bring strong management, fiscal discipline, compassion, and vision to Nassau County. Under Mr. Suozzi, Nassau has its lowest crime rate in 30 years and is the safest place in the nation with over a million people. The parks system is making a comeback, and for the first time in the county’s history voters approved $150 million in bonds to preserve open space.

Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny is the President of Stony Brook University. After a distinguished career as a literary scholar, teacher, and academic administrator, she came to Stony Brook as its fourth President in 1994. Since then, she has worked to strengthen the core academic and research operations of the University, fostered close links with business and industry, and established new working relationships with the Long Island community. Concerned about the state of undergraduate education at major research universities, Dr. Kenny headed a national initiative to address the issue. She launched and chaired the Boyer Commission on Educating Undergraduates in the Research University with funding from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Dr. Kenny holds bachelor’s degrees in English and Journalism from the University of Texas, an M.A. from the University of Minnesota, a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, and honorary doctorates from the University of Rochester, and Chonnam National, Dongguk, and Ajou Universities in Korea.

Basil A. Paterson is a partner in the law firm of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. Mr. Paterson has served as New York’s Secretary of State and as New York City Deputy Mayor for Labor Relations and Personnel. He has also served as a New York State Senator, and as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Mr. Paterson chaired the New York City Mayor’s Judiciary Committee for four years; chaired the Governor’s Judicial Screening Panel for the Second Department for eight years, and served on the Commission on Judicial Nomination for twelve years. He is presently the Chairperson of the KeySpan Foundation Board of Directors. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from St. John’s College and a Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s Law School.

Nicholas J. Pirro served as Onondaga County Executive for 20 years, retiring at the end of 2007. He has been credited for fiscally conservative policies aimed at reducing taxes and government spending, while improving services. Mr. Pirro began his career in public service in 1965 when he was appointed to the Onondaga County Board of Supervisors (now the Onondaga County Legislature). He was elected Onondaga County Executive in 1987 and was instrumental in many landmark initiatives during his career, including the establishment of the Onondaga Community College Campus, reestablishing the City-County Drug Abuse Commission, implementing a 911 Emergency Communications System, and initiating a county-wide recycling program. He also helped create the Onondaga County Public Library System, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, the Center for Forensic Sciences, and the County’s Veteran’s Cemetery. Mr. Pirro was elected by his peers to serve as President of the New York State Association of Counties for 2000-01.

Michael Solomon is a municipal finance professional having provided investment banking and advisory services to state and local governments for over 20 years. He is employed in the Public Finance department at Merril Lynch & Co. headquartered in lower Manhattan. In his work for the state of Michigan, he helped to create the nation’s first revolving fund program for school construction, which was recognized by the Bond Buyer as the Midwest Deal of the Year for 2007. In addition, Solomon’s experience with education includes providing short term funding for the operating budgets on over 400 school districts in Michigan and working with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in developing its new educational funding entity, the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which fundamentally transformed how the commonwealth funds its financial support to school districts. Mr. Solomon graduated from SUNY Albany with a degree in Financial Management Systems. He is a native of Oceanside, Long Island and now resides in Bedford, NY.

Merryl H. Tisch has been a member of the New York State Board of Regents since April 1996, and has served as Vice Chancellor of the Board since April 2007. From 1977-1984 she taught first grade at the Ramaz School and Bnail Jeshurun School in New York City. She serves as the New York City Mayor’s appointee to the Commission on the Status of Women and the Mayor’s representative to the Tenement Museum of the City of New York. Regent Tisch also serves UJA-Federation of New York as a member of the Board of Trustees, member of the Executive Committee, member of the Planning and Allocation Committee, and Chair of the Government Relations Committee. She is President of the Metropolitan New York Coordinating Council on Poverty. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Barnard College, a Master of Arts degree in Education from New York University and an Ed.D. from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

Paul A. Tokasz is a partner in the government affairs and media relations firm of Patricia Lynch Associates and the former Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly. Mr. Tokasz has a long and distinguished career of more than three decades in public service. Prior to being appointed Majority Leader, Mr. Tokasz served as Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Sports Development. Serving in that role from 1997, he proved to be a strong advocate for arts and tourism. He received his Bachelors of Arts Degree in History from Hobart College and furthered his education at Buffalo State College where he obtained his Master’s Degree in Education.

Special Advisors to the Commission:

Lisa Donner is the founding Co-Director of the Center for Working Families. Previously, she worked as an organizer for the Service Employees International Union for four years, mostly dedicated to the Justice for Janitors campaign in Washington, DC. Ms. Donner subsequently worked for ACORN for 11 years, first as a Legislative Representative and then in turn as Legislative Director, National Campaign Director, Director of ACORN’s Financial Justice Center, and as ACORN’s National Director of Public Policy. Ms. Donner graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in Social Studies.

Elizabeth Lynam is the Deputy Research Director at the Citizens Budget Commission, a non-partisan, nonprofit civic organization devoted to influencing constructive change in the finances and services of New York State and New York City governments. Ms. Lynam covers the New York State and City budgets and other policy issues important to State and local government. She works closely with the media, and has designed and authored studies on local tax relief, reforming New York State’s fiscal practices, Medicaid, special education policy, collective bargaining, and alternatives to incarceration for drug offenders. Prior to the Citizens Budget Commission, Ms. Lynam was the Deputy Director of the Office of Special Education Initiatives at the New York City Department of Education, where she helped manage the transformation of the way special education services are delivered in New York City public schools. She received her BS from Cornell University and an M.S. in Urban Policy and Management from the New School University.

Karen Scharff has served as the Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York since 1984. Citizen Action is a statewide grassroots organization that empowers New Yorkers to fight for social, economic and racial justice, with a focus on policy change at the state level. She was one of the founders of the Alliance for Quality Education, and she co-chairs AQE’s statewide board. Ms. Scharff chairs the Steering Committee of the Coalition for After-School Funding, which was founded in 2000 to advocate for increased state and federal resources for after school programs. She co-chairs the Policy Committee of the New York State After School Network, and serves on NYSAN’s Steering Committee. Ms. Scharff graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from Harvard University in 1979.

Robert B. Ward is Deputy Director/Director of Fiscal Studies for the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. He is author of New York State Government: Second Edition, published by the Rockefeller Institute Press; and of The $163 Lightbulb: How Albany’s Mandates Drive Up Your Local Taxes, published by the Public Policy Institute of New York State. Ward has previously served as Director of Research for the Public Policy Institute of New York State/the Business Council of New York State; and as Assistant to the Chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. He is a founding member of Parents For Excellence, a parents group in the Bethlehem Central School District. A graduate of Syracuse University, Mr.Ward lives in Delmar.

Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced the signing of an Executive Order creating the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief. This bipartisan commission, which will have Moreland Act powers, will examine the root causes of high property taxes, identify ways to make the State’s property tax system fairer, and develop a fair and effective school property tax cap to hold the line on property tax growth.

“Ever-growing local property taxes impose a tremendous burden on New York taxpayers, force seniors out of their homes, drive our young people out of our state, and discourage the formation and expansion of businesses,” said Governor Spitzer. “Our efforts to address this crisis – including unprecedented increases in State education aid and more than $5 billion in STAR school tax relief – have not slowed the growth in local property taxes. We need to explore new approaches, including reducing unfunded mandates and placing a cap on the growth of school property taxes. The creation of this Commission is the first step in this process.”

The Commission will be chaired by Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi who has been outspoken on the issue of property tax relief. The Commission’s members are Nicholas J. Pirro, former Onondaga County Executive; Paul A. Tokasz, former member of the State Assembly; Basil A. Paterson, former Secretary of State and former State Senator; Merryl H. Tisch, member, State Board of Regents; Shirley Strum Kenny, President, SUNY Stony Brook; and Michael Solomon, Director, Merrill Lynch & Co.

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi said: “New Yorkers pay the highest property taxes in the nation, a burden our residents and businesses can no longer bear. We need to take a comprehensive look at the root causes and recommend ways to reduce them. I commend Governor Spitzer for making this issue a top priority, and I appreciate the confidence he has placed in me by asking me to chair the Commission. I look forward to the challenge and to working with all the distinguished Commission members on an issue I have spent much of my career in public service tackling.”

Under the Executive Order, the Commission will study, examine, investigate, review and make recommendations in the following areas:

– the root causes of New York’s high property tax burden, including the expenditures of local governments and school districts, unfunded mandates imposed by the State, and other factors driving the growth of local property tax levies;

– the effectiveness of the various state mechanisms to provide property tax relief to different classes of taxpayers;

– the effectiveness of property tax caps as a mechanism to control growth in school district tax levies, the experience of other states in implementing such caps, and the potential impact of such caps on educational achievement;

– the most effective approach to imposing a limit on school property tax growth in New York State without adversely impacting the ability of school districts to provide a quality education to all schoolchildren;

– the impact of increased state financial support and state taxpayer relief and rebate programs on local school district budgets and tax levies; and

– the extent of public involvement in the development and approval of school and other local government budgets.

The Commission is to make preliminary recommendations for a statutory school property tax cap by May 15, 2008, and report its final recommendations by December 1, 2008. John Reid, Deputy Director of State Operations and Executive Director of the Commission on Higher Education, will serve as Executive Director of the Commission. The announcement today in the Red Room at the State Capitol was one of three events today where the Governor stressed the importance of the Commission to address the property tax relief concerns for all New Yorkers.

Commission Members:

Thomas R. Suozzi is in his second term as Nassau County Executive. He is known as a government reformer and he has also worked as an attorney, certified public accountant, and former Mayor of Glen Cove for eight years. Mr. Suozzi continues to work to bring strong management, fiscal discipline, compassion, and vision to Nassau County. Under Mr. Suozzi, Nassau has its lowest crime rate in 30 years and is the safest place in the nation with over a million people. The parks system is making a comeback, and for the first time in the county’s history voters approved $150 million in bonds to preserve open space.

Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny is the President of Stony Brook University. After a distinguished career as a literary scholar, teacher, and academic administrator, she came to Stony Brook as its fourth President in 1994. Since then, she has worked to strengthen the core academic and research operations of the University, fostered close links with business and industry, and established new working relationships with the Long Island community. Concerned about the state of undergraduate education at major research universities, Dr. Kenny headed a national initiative to address the issue. She launched and chaired the Boyer Commission on Educating Undergraduates in the Research University with funding from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Dr. Kenny holds bachelor’s degrees in English and Journalism from the University of Texas, an M.A. from the University of Minnesota, a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, and honorary doctorates from the University of Rochester, and Chonnam National, Dongguk, and Ajou Universities in Korea.

Basil A. Paterson is a partner in the law firm of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. Mr. Paterson has served as New York’s Secretary of State and as New York City Deputy Mayor for Labor Relations and Personnel. He has also served as a New York State Senator, and as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Mr. Paterson chaired the New York City Mayor’s Judiciary Committee for four years; chaired the Governor’s Judicial Screening Panel for the Second Department for eight years, and served on the Commission on Judicial Nomination for twelve years. He is presently the Chairperson of the KeySpan Foundation Board of Directors. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from St. John’s College and a Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s Law School.

Nicholas J. Pirro served as Onondaga County Executive for 20 years, retiring at the end of 2007. He has been credited for fiscally conservative policies aimed at reducing taxes and government spending, while improving services. Mr. Pirro began his career in public service in 1965 when he was appointed to the Onondaga County Board of Supervisors (now the Onondaga County Legislature). He was elected Onondaga County Executive in 1987 and was instrumental in many landmark initiatives during his career, including the establishment of the Onondaga Community College Campus, reestablishing the City-County Drug Abuse Commission, implementing a 911 Emergency Communications System, and initiating a county-wide recycling program. He also helped create the Onondaga County Public Library System, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, the Center for Forensic Sciences, and the County’s Veteran’s Cemetery. Mr. Pirro was elected by his peers to serve as President of the New York State Association of Counties for 2000-01.

Michael Solomon is a municipal finance professional having provided investment banking and advisory services to state and local governments for over 20 years. He is employed in the Public Finance department at Merril Lynch & Co. headquartered in lower Manhattan. In his work for the state of Michigan, he helped to create the nation’s first revolving fund program for school construction, which was recognized by the Bond Buyer as the Midwest Deal of the Year for 2007. In addition, Solomon’s experience with education includes providing short term funding for the operating budgets on over 400 school districts in Michigan and working with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in developing its new educational funding entity, the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which fundamentally transformed how the commonwealth funds its financial support to school districts. Mr. Solomon graduated from SUNY Albany with a degree in Financial Management Systems. He is a native of Oceanside, Long Island and now resides in Bedford, NY.

Merryl H. Tisch has been a member of the New York State Board of Regents since April 1996, and has served as Vice Chancellor of the Board since April 2007. From 1977-1984 she taught first grade at the Ramaz School and Bnail Jeshurun School in New York City. She serves as the New York City Mayor’s appointee to the Commission on the Status of Women and the Mayor’s representative to the Tenement Museum of the City of New York. Regent Tisch also serves UJA-Federation of New York as a member of the Board of Trustees, member of the Executive Committee, member of the Planning and Allocation Committee, and Chair of the Government Relations Committee. She is President of the Metropolitan New York Coordinating Council on Poverty. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Barnard College, a Master of Arts degree in Education from New York University and an Ed.D. from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

Paul A. Tokasz is a partner in the government affairs and media relations firm of Patricia Lynch Associates and the former Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly. Mr. Tokasz has a long and distinguished career of more than three decades in public service. Prior to being appointed Majority Leader, Mr. Tokasz served as Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Sports Development. Serving in that role from 1997, he proved to be a strong advocate for arts and tourism. He received his Bachelors of Arts Degree in History from Hobart College and furthered his education at Buffalo State College where he obtained his Master’s Degree in Education.

Special Advisors to the Commission:

Lisa Donner is the founding Co-Director of the Center for Working Families. Previously, she worked as an organizer for the Service Employees International Union for four years, mostly dedicated to the Justice for Janitors campaign in Washington, DC. Ms. Donner subsequently worked for ACORN for 11 years, first as a Legislative Representative and then in turn as Legislative Director, National Campaign Director, Director of ACORN’s Financial Justice Center, and as ACORN’s National Director of Public Policy. Ms. Donner graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in Social Studies.

Elizabeth Lynam is the Deputy Research Director at the Citizens Budget Commission, a non-partisan, nonprofit civic organization devoted to influencing constructive change in the finances and services of New York State and New York City governments. Ms. Lynam covers the New York State and City budgets and other policy issues important to State and local government. She works closely with the media, and has designed and authored studies on local tax relief, reforming New York State’s fiscal practices, Medicaid, special education policy, collective bargaining, and alternatives to incarceration for drug offenders. Prior to the Citizens Budget Commission, Ms. Lynam was the Deputy Director of the Office of Special Education Initiatives at the New York City Department of Education, where she helped manage the transformation of the way special education services are delivered in New York City public schools. She received her BS from Cornell University and an M.S. in Urban Policy and Management from the New School University.

Karen Scharff has served as the Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York since 1984. Citizen Action is a statewide grassroots organization that empowers New Yorkers to fight for social, economic and racial justice, with a focus on policy change at the state level. She was one of the founders of the Alliance for Quality Education, and she co-chairs AQE’s statewide board. Ms. Scharff chairs the Steering Committee of the Coalition for After-School Funding, which was founded in 2000 to advocate for increased state and federal resources for after school programs. She co-chairs the Policy Committee of the New York State After School Network, and serves on NYSAN’s Steering Committee. Ms. Scharff graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from Harvard University in 1979.

Robert B. Ward is Deputy Director/Director of Fiscal Studies for the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. He is author of New York State Government: Second Edition, published by the Rockefeller Institute Press; and of The $163 Lightbulb: How Albany’s Mandates Drive Up Your Local Taxes, published by the Public Policy Institute of New York State. Ward has previously served as Director of Research for the Public Policy Institute of New York State/the Business Council of New York State; and as Assistant to the Chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. He is a founding member of Parents For Excellence, a parents group in the Bethlehem Central School District. A graduate of Syracuse University, Mr.Ward lives in Delmar.