The Bush Bucket List: How’s He Doin’?

Hits: 0

WPCNR NEWS AND COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. October 12, 2008: Monday is a landmark day.


The WPCNR Bush Countdown Clock World Center issued a press release worldwide today, noting Monday is the first of the last 100 days of the George W. Bush “Presidency,” “The Presidency of Ineptacy,” “The Era of Error,” which will give Mr. Bush the distinction of being what some would say, the worst American President in the country’s history, going down in history with other leaders of infamy who singlehandedly presided over the weakening of their countries. However, the rich, the powerful, and he connected may think he is quite effective. Here’s why:


 But he still has 100 Days left. We write about the President’s ineptitude, but he is actually accomplishing things rather rapidly. WPCNR created the Bush Bucket List on September 23, just 19 days ago. 


The Bush Bucket List listed the 25 things the President might want to achieve before he leaves office January 20, 2009, and turns over what’s left of America to Mr. McCain or Mr. Obama. 


Some  of the 25, of course, are unthinkable, such as war with Iran, but he was heading that way 19 days ago


. In 19 days, Mr. Bush has been very effective, he has already achieved 11 of the 25 Bucket List Tasks. Let’s run down the Bush Bucket List and see  how Mr. Bush and his boys are doin’  as his administration “winds down” and winds down America in the process:


The Bush Bucket List


Still To Do with 100 Days to Go:


1.       Ram through “Paulson’s Ploy”  the Bailout. (DONE)


 


2.       Bailout the automobile industry on the verge of collapse next.


 


DONE — $25 BILLION in Loans supposedly for energy-efficient cars — we’ll see won’t we>]?)


 


3.       Assure no money is available for developing electric, hydrogen or air cars to replace oil.


 


(DONE.)


 


4.       Eliminate environmental restrictions on drilling, tapping for American resources.


 


 (IN WORKS. McCain campaign paves way.)


 


5.       Start a war with Iran.


 


(No CHANCE. WE LOVE IRAN NOW. They’re next to go off the  Terror List.)


 


6.       Start a war with Pakistan over Taliban raids.


 


( IN WORKS! Missiles keep being fired in!)


 


7.       Assure U.S. Oil reserves are not tapped.


 


( DONE! No effort to tap so far)


 


8.       Put their buddies, the outlaw investment banks back in business by allowing them to act as banks (almost done).


 


DONE! with only two left – Morgan Stanley and surprise, Goldman-Sachs –how did we know that was going to happen?)


 


9.       Make any congressional restrictions on Wall Street cosmetic and “self-policing” by establishing a task force.


 


( Backburnered. Regulation to come but NO regulations yet on how the banks are to use the Loan injections)


 


10.   Solvensize banks’ balance sheets but do not force them to lend their new found cash


 


(DONE– no compelling legislation to force the money out into the lending stream — as the European governments are doing as of Sunday)


 


11.   Freeze current tax rates on the over $200,000 a year crowd.


 


(On HOLD, he still has 100 Days)


 


12.   Assure oil company windfall profits are not touched.


 


 (  DONE. No TALK at all by congress on this. Not touched as yet. not even a whisper!)


 


13.   Reestablish the military draft.


 


(To do— Troops come out of Iran go to the Hindu Kush — stage is set for it with lame duck congress. Also creates jobs!)


 


14.   Push through a defense renewal plan to requip military for billions before January 20, 2009 


 


(To do)


 


15.   Turn worthless assets now held by financial institutions, FANNIE and FREDDIE into fortunes by inflating the value of the assets.


 


(On hold for now.)


 


16.   Make Treasury Secretary a financial czar with iron-fisted control of economy, out of control of Congress.


 


(DONE!)


 


17.   Assure American dependence on foreign oil.


 


 (DONE!  Lowered oil prices achieved megifying oil company profits  rest of year, with oil prices accepted by most Americans– this in just 19 days)


 


18.   Issue Internet Website Licenses under control of FCC, effectively limiting free speech on the internet. Tax Internet Sales nationally.


 


(On hold.)


 


19.   Finance bailout by extending age Social Security is Collected, and tapping current social security reserves.


 


(On hold, but he has 100 days with a lame duck congress, a very dangerous situation.)


 


20.   Assure no universal health care is possible due to debt incurred.


 


 (DONE!)


 


21.   Allow mergers of key firms creating oligopolies  and extensive foreign ownership.


 


(PROCEEDING AS WE WRITE WITH SUCCESS! – GM and Chrysler, Wells Fargo and Wachovia,  Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs just to name two achieved in 19 days, and one about to happen)


 


22.   Make Cabinet members’ policy decision not subject to congressional approval.


 


(On HOLD)


 


23.   Pardon principle figures in the sub-prime and other scandals of the last eight years, should any, by some stretch of imagination by indicted before January 20.


 


(Delayed to the night of January 19.)


 


24.   Assure no person of color, is ever nominated again for President by a major party for decades.


 


( PROCEEDING AS WE WRITE WITH SUCCESS –24 days of hate directed at the Democrat nominee to go.)


 


25.   Achieve massive cuts in entitlement programs: arts, community development, HUD, minimum wage.


 


(Entitlements will have to be curtailed in 2009 simply by the size of the ballooned deficit — this is DONE.)


 


I think we can rule out Number 5, and in view of Mayor Bloomburg’s effort to roll back term limits in New York, let’s  replace it with a new Number 5:


 


5. Extend current Presidential Term when America is in crisis.


 


 If such a Bucket List is in play, 100 days should be just enough time to do it and lay the groundwork for achieving the rest with the next presidency – with this congress.


 


 

Posted in Uncategorized

Assemblyman Bradley Tours District 89 Schools Explaining How a Bill Becomes a La

Hits: 0



WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Assemblyman Adam Bradley, 89th Assembly District. October 11, 2008:Fourth and fifth grade students in local elementary schools and High School public policy classes are gathering in auditoriums, gyms and classrooms throughout Northeastern Westchester to get a lesson in how a bill becomes a law in the State Legislature from the area’s expert:  State Assemblyman Adam Bradley (89th A.D.)


 


In his annual tour of schools throughout the Katonah-Lewisboro, Bedford, Chappaqua, Harrison and White Plains School Districts, students are treated to an interactive lesson in what the State Legislature is, what it does and how state laws are made in a dynamic presentation Bradley brings to over 25 schools every year.


 


 


 



 


“I think it is important for students to learn as early as possible about how government works, how it affects their lives and how an informed and involved public is the foundation of our democratic process,” Bradley said.


 


“The kids love it.  They ask a ton of questions and I think it’s a great learning experience for them to hear someone who works in this every day to talk about their job and what it means.  I think it helps them make some of what they read real, and I hope it ignites an interest in the minds of our young future leaders,” said Bradley.


 


So far this school year, the Assemblyman has spoken to twelfth grade Public Policy students at Horace Greeley and Fox Lane High Schools.  While the school visits are throughout the year, many of them occur in the fall.  Bradley will be visiting eight schools in the coming month, speaking to fourth and/or fifth graders.  The schedule is:


 


Robert E. Bell Middle School                             Wednesday, 10/15/08


Lewisboro Elementary School                           Thursday, 10/16/08


Increase Miller Elementary School                    Tuesday, 10/21/08


Bedford Hills Elementary School                       Wednesday, 10/22/08


West Patent Elementary                                     Thursday, 10/23/08


Mount Kisco Elementary                                    Monday, 10/27/08


Katonah Elementary                                            Thursday, 11/06/08


Samuel J. Preston Elementary                            Friday, 11/07/08


 


“We informally call it our “Back to School Program” because for me, it’s invigorating to go into classrooms, interact with the students and learn from them as much as I hope they’re learning from me,” Bradley added.

Posted in Uncategorized

Police Seek Witnesses to Hit & Run on Maple Ave Thurs.

Hits: 0

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From Department of Public Safety. October 10, 2008:  White Plains Police are seeking the driver of a silver SUV that struck a White Plains resident at 9:51 p.m. last night at Maple Avenue and South Lexington Avenue. 


. The victim is a 39 year old White Plains resident and is in critical condition at the Medical Center with head injuries.



A witness describes a small S.U.V. possibly silver in color fleeing the scene eastbound on Maple Ave. 


We are asking for any possible witnesses to come forward to assist in the investigation. They should contact the White Plains Police Detective Division at 914-422-6200

Posted in Uncategorized

The Step Up Girls Come Through!

Hits: 0

WPCNR SLATER CENTER CHRONICLE.  October 10, 2008:  The Thomas H. Slater Center recently held two fundraising events as a part of its Step-Up! Girls Program to promote the “Big Give” project, based on Oprah Winfrey’s reality show “The Big Give.”  The announcement was made today by Heather Miller, Executive Director of the Center.

 


Step Up! Girls, funded by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services, began in February 2008.  Currently, twenty-two girls, ages 14-17, are registered with the program which meets twice weekly.  In April, 10 girls traveled with Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity on a five day college tour, visiting thirteen colleges.  Other activities include life skills development, academic assistance, employment assistance, among others.  Step Up! Girls is modeled from the White Plains Youth Bureau’s Step Up! Boys, a program which is being duplicated by many communities.


  


 


  


Ms. Miller offered the challenge to the girls to use a $500 donation to raise additional funds and decide on a charity to donate the proceeds.  The girls chose the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Hurricane Relief Efforts for Haiti as the recipients of the donation.


 


Step Up! Girls held a fashion show that featured local designers, Lou Torres-Gardner, Zebulon Crawford and Tara deVere.  The models, many of who was Step Up! Girls themselves were likened to the best of the models on television series “American Next Top Model” and the designers to the best of “Project Runway.”  “The audience of over 100 was enthralled and awed by the professionalism and expertise of the young people, both the models and designers,” said Miller.


 


The girls raised $3000, between the two events. Proceeds from both events will be split amongst the two charities. 


 


Donations are still being accepted and checks should be made payable to the Thomas H. Slater Center/Big Give, and sent to 2 Fisher Court, White Plains, NY 10601.


 


Donors may also drop off non-perishable donations and items for the hurricane relief efforts for Haiti at the Center.


 


For more information on the Step Up! Girls program, please contact Martha Leonard or Naiyma Ford at (914) 948-6211 and/or mloeonard@slatercenter.net, nford@slatercenter.net.

Posted in Uncategorized

WP Advanced Placement Course Students Grows 4 X State Trend. Beat State Avg

Hits: 0

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From WPHS Guidance Center. October 9, 2008 UPDATED October 10, 2008: Lesley Tompkins, Director of Guidance and Counseling for White Plains High School delivered a report on Advanced Placement Programs (enabling students to obtain college credit based on successful passing of Advanced Placement Exams) Monday evening to the Board of Education showing the number of WPHS students taking the courses accelerated at four times the rate of  the rest of the state. White Plains students also scored higher than the New York State Average in the passing score range.


Ms. Tompkins, speaking with WPCNR Thursday, said that with 67% of the 416 students taking Advanced Placement Exams in 2008 passing with a 3,4, or 5 score that meant 278 of them received some level of college credit. She explained that the total college credits for these passing scores depends on the school.


 Between 1993 and 2008, the report shows, White Plains increased from 116 students taking 154 exams in 1993 to 416 students taking 716 exams in 2008, an increase of 259%.  By contrast the number of students taking AP tests state wide increased only 145%. (A total 46,231 New York State students took69,386 exams in 1993 grew to 113,368 students taking 193,014 exams in 2008)


Ms. Tompkins said “The AP program in White Plains is thriving. Depsite the significant increase in the number of students taking APs and the number of APs offered, when you examine the reference tables, there is not a significant decline in the percentage of students scoring a 3,4 or 5 on the exams. In many of the tests we consistently score higher than the global averages in this range of scores. In 2007 when scores of all students in New York are considered 67% of White Plains students scored a 3,4,or 5 on the exams, while 65% of all New York students was the average. In seven of the past 11 years, White Plains achieved at a higher level than the New York State average in this score range.”


Advanced Placement Courses are usually taken in the Junior year, however Ms. Tompkins did not have the advanced placement students  broken down by class.

Posted in Uncategorized

Credit Crisis Spawns Internet Scams.

Hits: 0

WPCNR SERGEANT JOE FRIDAY REPORTS. From Don Hughes October 9, 2008: A frequent contributor to WPCNR, Don Hughes advises that communications from banks received by e-mail may be covers to access personal information, and not from your bank at all:


The current financial crisis has provided a fertile new area for scam artists.  They are blasting out e-mails claiming that it necessary for you to provide account and other personal details to the firms new owners for verification purposes.  Some of the scams are quite well done, even including links to legitimate web pages.

Do NOT respond to these requests.  Financial institutions would ask for such information via regular mail, not e-mail.

Here is a link for an example claiming to be from Chase: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10057180-83.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1009_3-0-20s

Posted in Uncategorized

42 The Restaurant in the Sky Introduces a New Dining Experience: Small Plates Ab

Hits: 0

WPCNR LUSH LIFE. From 42 Restaurant. October 7, 2008 (Edited): The restaurant you go up in the sky for, 42, 42 stories above downtown White Plains in the Ritz Carlton Westchester Towers is coming down to earth. 42 invites Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains and Westchester to come on up and enjoy Chef Anthony Gonclaves’ talents, and the spectacular autumn  sunset views while dining on what the Chef introduces as Small Plates. The new dining option begins October 14.



Here’s the lowdown from haute cusine on high:


 42, the stunning restaurant perched atop The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester’s Tower I, will introduce an exciting new menu featuring casual dining options. The new category, Small Plates, will formally debut at an event on Tuesday, October 14 at 6 p.m. Coupled with the striking décor of the restaurant and extraordinary views of the Manhattan skyline, Long Island Sound, and the lower Hudson Valley, 42’s Small Plates section is destined to become one of the most popular dining options in the New York metro area.


 


“I am excited about introducing Small Plates at 42,” said Chef Anthony Goncalves. “The restaurant is well-known for the fine dining experience, but at the same time, tasting menus are a great way to experiment with different foods and flavors, which is much of what dining out should be — experimentation. We hope to help people do that with this new option.”  


Chef Goncalves’ exciting world cuisine techniques melded together with traditional favorites have already drawn great dining interest since 42 opened in January. The Small Plates concept allows guests to experience the restaurant in a new way, offering lighter fare and a different atmosphere.



Guests interested in having a cocktail and a light bite will find Small Plates at 42 to be the perfect fit. The menu will change often, as does the regular menu at the restaurant, but it lends itself to tasting multiple dishes in a casual setting. Current menu items include Baby Burgers, Crab Croquettes, PB&J made with foie gras, blistered peppers, and Kona with crème fraiche. In addition, from 5:30-6:30 Tuesday-Friday, $1 oysters are available.


 



 

Posted in Uncategorized

Council Postpones $2.6M in Bonds. Will Review Budget With Mayor Oct. 23

Hits: 0

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER By John F. Bailey. October 7, 2008 UPDATED October 8,  11:25: The Common Council under the leadership of Council President Benjamin Boykin tabled  resolutions to spend $90,000 in bonds to construct a Tot Lot at Mitchell Place; $1,555,800 in bonds to purchase garbage trucks, dump/snow plow trucks, and street sweepers; $578,000 for the purchase of 2 fire trucks; and $523,000 to purchase police cars and sedans.


The delay in approving the  total of $2,656,800 in bonds  Monday night due to the  “precarious economic times” Councilman Boykin told WPCNR Tuesday. “We need to look at where we’re at in the city budget.” Boykin said it was the collective feeling of all six councilmembers that they needed the city finance Commissioner to update them financially before the bonds could be considered to go out to the frozen financial markets. He expected that  update to happen at the next Council work session October 23.


The Council did approve $225,000 to build a conferenceroom at City Court (funding from the New York State Office of Court Administration), $100,000 for Municipal Parking Lot Rehabiliation from the General Fund, and $300,000 in bonds for rehabilitation of City parking garages.


Boykin said there was no lending  being done in the financial markets anyway, and it would take months before the bonds had they been floated would have attracted buyers. He said the projects were not eliminated, just postponed.  Boykin noted that the Wall Street Journal Tuesday had an article noting how municipalities across the country were suspending projects due to credit not being available. He said there is no liquidity, credit has dried up.


Asked if the council was giving the Mayor’s Office any direction on negotiating union contracts, Boykin said they were not, that it was the Mayor’s responsibility to negotiate contracts. He did not rule out that other councilpersons were perhaps making suggestions individually to the Mayor.

Posted in Uncategorized

Senator Clinton: Offer Credit Now to Main Street. Bailout Not Working Quickly E

Hits: 0

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From Senator Hillary Clinton’s Press Office. October 7, 2008: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today called on the Treasury Department to aid small businesses, universities, students and municipalities already feeling the damaging effects of the credit crisis. In a letter to President Bush and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Senator Clinton said the recently enacted market rescue plan might not work quickly enough to prevent additional job losses, tuition increases, and other economic challenges from hitting Main Street, and should be supplemented by immediate action to inject more short-term liquidity into the credit market.

 



“This would be an extraordinary undertaking, but we must take every step to ensure that this market crisis, which is now global, does not threaten to seize our entire economy,” Senator Clinton wrote. “It is a matter of necessity and a matter of fairness: we are helping to keep large Wall Street firms afloat with lines of credit and we should do the same for small Main Street businesses.”



Senator Clinton urged the administration to set aside $150 billion of the $700 billion rescue plan for an “Emergency Stabilization Fund” to make emergency loans and establish temporary lines of credit for small businesses, to allow schools and universities to have short term access to funding to reduce the pressure on tuition, to increase direct loans to students as private lending has dried up, and to help stabilize municipal bonds. Senator Clinton has also proposed dedicating $100 billion in new Treasury Security revenues to this effort to take advantage of the historically low Treasury bill yields.



Yesterday, Senator Clinton joined small business leaders and community advocates in New York to highlight the impact of the growing economic crisis on Main Street. Last week, Senator Clinton called for action to help New Yorkers who have lost or are at risk of losing their jobs. Senator Clinton also spoke on the floor of the Senate and laid out goals for further action to address the underlying causes of the current crisis. She proposed specific steps to protect taxpayers, ensure transparency and accountability, aid homeowners facing foreclosure, and pursue broad economic reforms. For more information on Senator Clinton’s work on this issue, see: http://clinton.senate.gov/issues/housing/subprime.



The text of Senator Clinton’s letter to President Bush and Secretary Paulson follows and is available in PDF here: http://www.clinton.senate.gov/documents/news/10_07_08_bush.pdf.

Posted in Uncategorized

District/Teachers Far Apart;Donna:Look at Budget Early; Energy Savings Eyed

Hits: 0

 


WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. October 6, 2008: Donna McLaughlin, Board of Education President, called for the board to “get involved in early with the way we do the budget” this year, saying a good way to start would on the finance committee working with the Superintendent of Schools and Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred  Seiler, and finding what components go into making up the budget. Paying close attention to “line item involvement” and “what makes up the budget.”


The Superintendent appreciated her concern, but  said that the district first had to watch and interpret what the state was doing first and be aware of what it means for the district, and what “may reoccur so we do things that make sense.”


The Superintendent made no statement on the status of negotiations with the White Plains Teachers Association. Kelly Broderick, the President of the union told WPCNR after the meeting was over, there was no progress in her meeting with the district today: “It (negotiating) is going to be a long process,” she said. The union is seeking a two-year contract and is seeking a wage increase to offset a 17% increase in the health premiums the teachers pay, which the union feels has taken away much of last year’s 3.5% wage increase. Teacher salary and health benefits currently take up 75% of the $184.4 Million budget.


In other action…



Bonding for Certs Approved in Teeth of Interest Rate Uncertainty


The district approved going out for bonds for more certioraris which were approved, the amount of which were not disclosed in the public meeting. Fred Seiler the Assistant Superintendent for Business said the district would probably go out to bond after December, but would consult with their legal advisory on the best time considering the now unstable condition of the credit markets. Both and the school district and the city will be putting out bonds in next year’s as yet unknown financial climate.


Ms. McLaughlin asked if the district was considering a way not to bond for certioraris going forward. Seiler said an alternative to financing certiorari refunds had not been explored yet.


A Superintendent Profile: Everything But Financial Magic


In other action, the district heard the report of Hazard, Young and Attea Associates outlining what the district was looking for in a superintendent whom some 379 persons and 100 questionaires felt should be very much like Mr. Connors, who is visible and active and available throughout the district. The search firm is already recruiting and will be looking for a Superintendent who will support the district Strategic Plan, is accessible and approachable, able to communicate the vision of the White Plains Schools, is a good manager, with a proven track record of success with a diverse student population. He or she should be able to change policies, bring factions of the district together, decisive and able to motivate staff; and finally able to see all areas of the district. There was nothing in the makeup of qualifications for a Superintendent that required them to show a prior expertise in slowing budget growth.


Energy Reduction Contract Approved — Seeking Technological Changes to save $700G a Year


The district approved a contract  with ECG Engineering to develop a survey from which a Request for Proposals would be formulated to have large Energy Service Companies submit proposals to supply energy to the district with a guaranteed savings, based on technology improvements across the district that would result in the savings. Seiler told WPCNR after the meeting that the district would fund such technology improvements by financing of some sort, but would realize a predicted $600,000 to $700,000 in energy savings annually once the improvements had been installed across the district.


The district  would have to buy its energy from the Services Company. No financial model was shown. ECG Engineering would not charge the district for the initial survey to develop the Request for Proposals, but would be paid by the Energy Services Company which offered the best RFP proposal.


Loucks & Parker Stadium Fees approved


The district approved rental fees to community, school, and outside groups who wished to use the new Loucks and Parker Stadiums, outfitted with artificial turf. The fees are $60 for the first two hours of rental and $30 for each additional hour. For Loucks Field rental at night, using the lights it is $60 for two hours plus $50 an hour for lights ($220 for two hours at night). Persons or groups interested in renting the new fields, should if you are a community group contact the White Plains Department of  Recreation and Parks, 914- 422-1336 School groups, should contact the School District at 914-422-2050.


Advanced Placement  Course Students Grow


Lesley Tompkins Director of Guidance announced that the number of White Plains students in advanced placement courses and taking advanced placement exams had increased 259% since 1993. Her report was not immediately available to the media, but it will be furnished tomorrow. She was asked for a breakdown of results in how many advanced placement students had passed the placement exams by Board Member Cheryl Brady, and Board Member Rosemarie Eller asked how different racial groups had done. Tompkins said  the passing percentages were often misleading due to the small number of students taking some exams. She did not have those figures based on ethnic performances, but would supply it.


After School Programs Approved but Must Prove Themselves by Spring Budget.


In a related matter, the Board voted to approve funding for academic After School Programs, over President Donna McLaughlin’s objections that the district has never been able to quantify how successful students have been in those programs.


Superintendent Connors said they were holding a meeting Friday morning at 10 to begin a study that would at last determine with Larry Killian, Director of Research and Testing,  promising to provide data tracking how students have fared after participating in these programs. 


This is a breakthrough for the school district, because for the eight years WPCNR has covered the district individual breakout data on student groups, ethnic or otherwise related to their progress after taking programs has always been reported by Dr. Killian as being inaccessible using the White Plains data systems in place.


Board Member Peter Bassano suggested they could run the After School programs for half a year then suspend them in January if found to be cost ineffective. Connors suggested instead that the evaluation would not be done until  the spring—at which time the district would have the results and could make cuts in the after school programs that were ineffective.


Incidents, violent and not so violent, down 63% in 07-08 Year.


The Superintendent said the 2007-2008 violent incident reports prepared by the School District “reporting everything” showed only 117 incidents, compared to 323 in the previous year which the state had criticized the School District for. He complimented the principals for cutting down on the incidents. Connors said the 117 included fights, and some possession of weapons but, downplayed the incidents as mostly being violations of the code of conduct such as cutting classes, attire problems and the like. He did not provide a breakdown of the 117 incidents for the media, which WPCNR will request.


The Superintendent said total enrollment in White Plains schools as of October 1 was 7,085 students.

Posted in Uncategorized