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

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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.”

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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.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. January 23, 2008: The Common Council will hold a special meeting Thursday evening at 6 to discuss the following items:

1.                        126 Barton Road – community residential facility for developmentally disabled.

2.                        Consolidated Edison – New Street

3.                        55 Bank Street – site plan revisions.

4.                        Renaissance Square – traffic island.

5.                        Air Rights Building.

6.                                          Zoning Ordinance – proposed amendment – additional story.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From The Mayor’s Office. January 22,  2008: Mayor Joseph Delfino announced today that the City of White Plains has reduced overall, serious or Part 1 Crimes to their lowest levels in 42 years. The numbers of specific crimes such as robbery, burglary and auto theft are the lowest since 1965. Most importantly, there were no homicides in the City during 2007.  The last occurred in May 2006.

The city said these statistics are reflective of the success of several initiatives implemented over the past few years, such as:
   
–    Weekly CompStat meetings
–    Neighborhood Conditions Unit
–    Traffic Unit
–    Community Policing Division 
–    Partnership with the Pace Women’s Justice Center
–    Step-Up and Youth Police Initiative
–    Training of Police Officers as Emergency Psychological and/or
Crisis Intervention  Technicians

The Commissioner of Public Safety and Mayor Joseph Delfino have announced they will be available for media interviews on the crime statistics Thursday.

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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Bull Allen. January 20, 2008: Congratulations are in order tonight to Eli Manning for quarterbacking the Giants to the National Football Conference Championship.  But also my admiration goes to Mr. Manning for the awesome poise he has shown under the scorn and criticism heaped upon him by the underachieving vultures of the New York sports press which only five weeks ago were saying the jury was out on him “in a big spot,” that he has not shown he can lead and that the Giants needed to go in a different direction. They killed him for clock management, interceptions, not calling timeouts. Well we want to hear from those “experts” tomorrow. It is time for them to eat big time crow — but crow is not good enough — a whole turkey is in order.

Mr. Manning now has the last laugh on  all the experts, the armchair coaches  the babble-heads who have made fun of him in print and on the air since he arrived in New York. As Cole Porter wrote, who has the last laugh now? I admire that kind of inner strength.

Kudos to the kid for his cool handling of adversity Sunday night in Green Bay. His precise Quarterbacking performance — and too, for Plaxico the Magnificent who lit up the Packer Al What’s His Name? for a zillion acrobatic catches all BIG.  Mr. Burress snagged 11 catches for 154 yards. The Weapon!  

 Hat’s off to to the New York Giant defense that exposed an overrated Packer offense as unimaginative when a game plan did not work. But mostly it is Eli Manning who should be pointed to by mentors everywhere as how to react and work through adversity: believe in yourself and play and work on to the prize.

 Last night the ghosts of Huff, Svare, Lynch, Patton and Tunnel  were in those Giant whites.

The Packers kicked away break after break. The Giants found a way to try and hand the game to the Packers, thanks to the incredibly lousy officiating, and Mr. Favre threw the rookie mistakes tonight, not Mr. Manning. I mean the Packers had no plays! No answers. The Packer coaching staff did not make adjustments in the second half. You had to double team Plax and they did not. You had to stop the run and they did not. They could not overpower the Giant line which gave Mr. Manning protection beyond the call of duty. One sack the entire game.  

The only drawback to the game was as usual the uneven NFL officiating which had Favre not thrown the pick in overtime — would have been excoriated for all time. You know the one I’m talking about — the hold on a Giant that took away the winning touchdown from the Giants in the last minute of regulation. That was an astounding bad call — as if the officials were trying to give one back to the Packers.

The Giants got the benefit of two key penalties too that helped their third quarter drive to take the lead. One was reasonable; the late hit on Manning was very disputable.

But despite the amateur NFL officiating — and it is amateur — always has been, without which the Giants would have won this in regulation — the night belonged to young Mr. Manning.

Mr. Manning has been treated  the way the jackels of  the NY sports “press” treated Phil Simms in the Parcells era here in New York. Simms was blasted until he won. Then he became brilliant.

I have never seen the scorn heaped on anyone the way the talk show guys and the writers have slammed Manning for courage, lack of game sense etc. Mr. Manning was, week after week, subjected to dripping, superior invective from scribes, talkshow hosts and color analysts. He  treated like the Ed Whitson of football.

But Eli Manning was stronger than the critics were. What a magnificently brought-up and prepared young man.  (Updating this piece on Tuesday — not one writer or talk show host has apologized or admitted they were wrong,  that I have heard — the mark of the cowards and underachievers, the parasites of the press box.)

Well, they can never say  Eli Manning cannot win again after last night. Eli Manning ate up the clock, moving the ball steadily against a Green Bay defense that could not adjust. The Giant ball control was dominant. Manning made no mistakes.

I believe the way Mr. Manning comported himself under the onslaught of character assassination, physical criticism and downright meanness that he had to take from the press since being in New York is a valuable lesson.

When you’re criticised, your best effort is to ignore it and try and do better. It is what a professional does. Every writer every loudmouth talkshow host  who has written and said on air how Eli Manning cannot get it done, owes him a personal handshake and thank you since they can now free load to Glendale on his achievement and the Giants’ achievement last night.

No team has been criticised as more underachieving than the Giants the last several years and they answered that in the last six weeks.

Mr. Manning has such class and poise. A lesser man could have broken under the scorn.

Believe me criticism really hurts and it makes you hard because you can never answer it except by being right all along.

Mr. Manning did that last night.

Did he gloat?

No.

Was he satisfied?

Oh yes. He has earned the right to feel good.

Because the press has made him the scapegoat for so long.

Eli Manning showed what a real winner is last night.

Class. Poise. Focus on the next play.

Last night made up for 49 years of overtime heartbreak.

Thank you Mr. Manning and Mr. Burris and all those guys.

Now it is time to burst the bubble of the New England Cheat Squad.

(Does anyone know whether New England had to turnover the last 5 years of secret sideline tapes?)

If ever a team needed beating it is New England which has been cheating for years before the Jets exposed them.

They need to be taken out so they can be forgotten and go down in infamy for the cheaters they were.

 Their coach could possibly have had foreknowledge of plays in previous Super Bowls New England has won, thanks to his cheating system of stealing signals. My colleague Denny Hatch has raised this very possibility.

The press has not written about that aspect of New England’s vaunted defense as just possibly why they were so successful in those Super Bowls.

So it is up to the New York Giants to stand up for truth justice and fair play and take New England off the glory pedestal the sports press is so eager to place them on. Miami would kill them.

And one final word on officiating: there is no other professional sport where the officiating is so egregiously bad and such a factor in the game. Game after game is decided by flags thrown inconsistently and killing or aiding big drives. It needs to be addressed.

I have to apologize myself for thinking the Giants should have been out to Green Bay earlier to get used to the cold. Just trying to help out, guys.

Now if there is any justice we will run into a monsoon in Arizona — it’s getting to be monsoon season in Arizona, isn’t it?

Congratulations, Mr. Manning.

Thank you for showing who and what  a real winner is.