WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR NEWS COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. September 25, 2008: In Congress’s 7 Day Drill, reminiscent of an Eli Manning Super Bowl Drive,  the “Hurry-Up-and-Save-Our-Fortunes-Stop-the-Bleeding-Save the Economy-Stop-the-Madness”  hearings on the Wall Street bailout Wednesday, after some 10 or more hours of hearings in two days, of all the Senators and Congresspersons wringing hands, taunting  the money white knights, Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve Chairman  and Henry Paulson, the Treasury “Czar,”  one congressman showed he is by far the smartest man in Congress.

Congressman Gregory Meeks, Democrat from the 6^th District in Good Old  Jamaica, Queens, was the last questioner and the man who asked the last question in the Financial Services Committee Hearing Wednesday. Mr. Meeks had the business smarts to ask Ben and Hank what assurance  there is that the $700 Billion would actually be used by the financial institutions to give out loans instead of using the money to reward stockholders, keeping the bailout money on their balance sheets to attract investment and raise their stock price.

Mr. Bernanke dodged “The  $750 Billion Question,”  saying,  and,  Mr. Money said, (I’m paraphrasing) well that’s what these institutions do make loans  extend credit  – but  he did not guarantee in any way,  the money received for toxic assets would be  spent with asset holders with the explicit imperative it would be earmarked for credit liquidity. Mr. Bernanke did not say it would or give any assurances. He and Hank expect, hope  the robber barons will get religion and start making loans with it.

This was the most important question and most intelligent question asked in two days and Mr. Meeks is to be commended for asking it. He has brains. He’s from Queens not from the Upper East Side. And, I don’t think he owns a house on the New York Riviera in the Hamps, or the Dominican Republic yet.

Considering that Barney Frank who runs the House Committee announced early in the Wednesday afternoon hearing the house had already worked up a 42-page bill to send the Senate, it became increasingly clear this is a dog and pony show with the bailout a certainty with no certitudes.

Mr. Meeks question landed at the end of the hearing like a large elephant feces in the middle of Mamaroneck Avenue in the  Columbus Day Parade.  It stunk up the house chamber with its aroma of truth, as Frank gaveled the hearing to a close.

Mr. Meeks’ intelligence grenade highlighted that this money is being given without restrictions, without purpose, other than to restore “confidence.”

People on Wall Street say we need to restore confidence in the markets. Who can have confidence in this stock market that makes money on failure, insider trades, and misrepresents value?

Poppycock.

It is being given to save our fortunes – maybe. We are to believe that all these firms – and how about a list of all the firms that are going to get this money? Hundeds? No one has asked that.

Magically, it is supposed to unjam the credit system with Ben and Hank’s faithful promise that they think this is the best way to do it.

It’s good for the companies getting the money, I assure you. That’s where these guys are coming from.

Congress getting hung up on restricting the salaries of these people at companies getting the money is not productive.

Could we please follow the money through the system, as Mr. Meeks so intelligently, bluntly pointed out?

Could we please say in the bill – money received for assets will be used for new loans only or at least a goodly percentage of it?

Frankly, I have no confidence these companies will be altruistic. Once they get their manicured fingertips on the money, they will consider it their money.  Hire more interns.

No Wall Street firm is altruistic. Haven’t we learned that through scam after scam: The Keating Savings and Loan Debacle, (John McCain must remember that one) (going way back) Teapot Dome, the Transcontinental  Railroad scam,  the Dot Com Runup, the Oil Price runup, the subprime scam. They’re con men and women.  

Congress is giving this money away for them to build up confidence? Why should we have confidence in them? We have confidenced ourselves into a depression believing in them.

Of course, Hank says you cannot put restrictions on the money or limit how it is used because that would restrict the market and the ability to evaluate the assets. But, supposedly these places need the money.

I say Congressman Meeks is one smart man. How did he ever get  nominated to run?  Must have slipped through the  6^Th District Nomination Committee undected.  He better watch it asking intelligent questions. The Queens County Democratic Committee may have to recall him.

Thank you Mr. Meeks for asking the $750 Billion Dollar Question: how will we be sure the money will result in more credit being opened up? And Ben and Hank would not answer it or assure it.

The Setup

With the Senate Leader Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer of the Senate Joint Economic Committee and the House leader Mr. Benoit saying they’ve agreed in Principle on the bailout means this was in the works all along. After all, all those well-heeled contributors to congresspersons, the contributors who stand to lose a lot of money in their personal fortunes have to be saved.

It is a setup for another government agency that does not work: Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, TSA. 

Not to mention the reams of hearings  next year on regulating Wall Street to come,  with a “saved” and prosperous economy bringing America back to Number 1, and our fortunes saved

Then —

One more huge patronage bureaucracy coming up. Bring on the interns. Hire press offices. Hire more hacks. Bring on the clowns. Bring on your favorite Wall Street lobbyists and give them jobs.

Remember it’s all for the American family, to save our fortunes.

We are truly grateful, congress for your oversight, piercing questions, and canny financial acumen in vetting this $750 Billion measure in a week.

I want more Gregory Meeks-es in Congress. Or at least one Gregory Meeks on the White Plains Common Council and School Board.

Thank you Mr. Meeks, keep asking that question.

We who are about to pay, salute you.

Could we please get in free to your next fundraisers, Senators and Congresspersons in the Hamptons? Or Lincoln Center.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey.September 24, 2008: Kerry Broderick, President of the White Plains Teachers Association, currently without a contract with the school district and negotiating, said the teachers and the district are not at an impasse. She told WPCNR the teachers have scheduled talks October 6 with the Superintendent of Schools. Broderick told WPCNR the negotiations were centered on salary only and that the district has agreed to negotiate a two year contract with salary details not decided.

The sticking point, she said were the increases in premiums paid the district health care provider the teachers have had to pay out of their salaries the last year and increases in the co-pays. She said the teachers are seeking to make up those costs.

Fred Seiler, Assistant Superintendent for Business for the district confirmed that premiums with the Statewide Schools Cooperative Health Plan, the consortium the district has contracted with for health benefits have gone up 17% since July 2007. He said, Co-Pays have doubled from $10 to $20 for doctors visits.

Teacher Share of Health Premium, 7%.

Seiler said the total premium for an individual with “SWSCHP” as it is known, this year is $7,293, of which a teacher pays $625  annually (8.6%) . For a two-person family, the premium is $15,388, the teacher share they pay is $1,075 annually (7%). The premium for a family Two Person, is $16,336, of which a teacher on the family plan pays $1,220 (7% of the cost).

Seiler told WPCNR, “That changed in July, 2007, a year and a half ago. What that meant on an individual basis  It went $15 to $20 a visit for a individual visit. The deductible stayed the same. It’s the CoPay for either your primary physician or your medical prescriptions, but also at the same time, was introduced a plan with MEDCO there, where people could buy 90 days supply of their regular medication at a much lower than what they were paying before. For some employees they actually were saving money.”

Seiler said he was a member of the SWSCP Board (with the state). He said he had heard nothing criticizing the increases that took place in mid-2007.

 Seiler recalled that when the SWSCHP increases took place, “Everyone understood it was an increase in the premium and an adjustment in the CoPay(s), you need a little bit of both to make it (the health plan) reasonable.”

A year and a half ago it went up 9% plus a change in the CoPay. This year, there were no change in benefits, coPays, or anything, then the overall increase was 8- 8-1/2% (in the premium). It was the first time in 12 years it was less than double digits.  Not as low as we’d like it to be, but that’s true of every health plan.”

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS.  By John F. Bailey. September 23, 2008 UPDATED 5:55 P.M. EDT WITH LEADERSHIP PROFILE ASSESSMENT you can send in plus EXCLUSIVE PIX: Councilperson Emeritus Mary Ann Keenan commented at the close of the last public gathering held Tuesday morning by the School District,( the purpose to gather “public input” on what the city would desire in a new Superintendent of Schools), that  White Plains teachers earn an average $95,000 in the school district and district principals  and administrators make an average of $145,000,  saying “That’s pathetic. Anyone would say White Plains teachers are well-paid. In picking a trait (in a new Superintendent of Schools) frugality would be Number One.”

In the four meetings so far, 171 persons have appeared, 100 alone at the Centro Hispano edition (held after church). A total of 36 showed up at Bethel Baptist Church last week, 26 Monday evening at the high school and 9 this morning. Keenan ((first on left, background of picture),and another resident Tuesday morning were just  two of five persons who noted the inexorably increasing school budget as an issue for any new Superintendent. John Chambers, of Hazard, Young and Attea the  Superintendent search consultants chairs the meeting on far right.

Keenan criticized the motives of the district in staging its vote on the $66 Million bond issue in October when no citizen is used to voting, and for assuring that all its supporters got out to vote. Keenan also wandered what the details of the district Strategic Plan were.

Monday Evening Superintendent Search gathering at the high school. 26 Attended.

The plan has been praised  in the three previous meetings this reporter has attended,  as important for any new Superintendent to support by other attendees. Generalities only  of the strategic plan objectives and no specifics of how to achieve those generalities have been distributed publicly to date since the Strategic Plan was adopted. The Strategic Plan has to date offered no specifics on bringing the school budget growth  ( up 35% in the five years the present Superintendent has prepared the budget from $135 Million in 2003-04, to $184.4 Million in 2008-2009) under control

Mrs. Keenan’s sentiments were preceded by another resident who called for a new Superintendent with “experience in tightening budgets,” in previous districts, with “an eye to (have) not as much fat in the budget.” (The White Plains School District budget will most likely top $200 Million in 2009-2010.). The resident noted “the fiscal integrity of the new person will be challenged.”

Mrs. Keenan noted  the district budget has grown at twice the rate of inflation this year, (but as noted previously, 36% in five years).

No Concern About the Money

Mrs. Keenan and the other budgeting critic today were only the 4^th and 5^th persons to demand a Superintendent with ability to reign in budget growth in the three meetings observed by WPCNR. In fact several persons, including Bill Pollac, the former member of the Board of Education expressed the observance that any new Superintendent should not sacrifice education quality by cutting the budget. Pollac did say there was need for efficient analysis and interpretation of testing data to move the district forward in raising test scores.

The comments at the Tuesday morning started off listing district strengths, concerns then qualities the participants would like to see in a new Superintendent.

Strengths of the district  

The three meetings WPCNR has attended praised the diversity of the district, its programs, the concern and dedication of teachers, their ability to engage parents and be there for parents’ questions.

Advanced courses and course availabilities were praised. Hispanic parents at the Centro Hispano meeting praised the way the district supported them and expressed satisfaction with how the district was dealing with their children, and said they believed in their children learning English.

Others expressed how colleges liked admitting White Plains High School graduates because of their experience with diversity. Parent volunterism was listed as a strength. Timothy Connors, the present Superintendent, scheduled to retire in June, 2009, earned high marks for his accessibility and availability to parents and his presence in the community. Consensus was the district parents at least would love another Timothy Connors or Tabitha Connors.

A Few Grumbles

Dissatisfactions noted were a need for more parent outreach to the African-American community. A disappointment among the African-American community was expressed that teachers did not work more directly with underachieving black youth, or pay them as much attention as white youths or blacks doing well.  Illegal students was an issue that was brought up.

A criticism of relying on testing too much was frequently leveled by parents. The need for more advanced course selection recognizing minorities was expressed.  The need for more public relations work by the district to “tell our story” was mentioned at all three meetings I attended.  The need to raise test scores was voiced. The African American  parents speaking at Bethel Baptist Church though generally pleased with the district, expressed concern their children were being left behind, the district’s concerns not withstanding. There was concern that with the economy in recession, that private schools would lose enrollment and that would inflate the district enrollment (already ahead of 2010 projections).

What They Want in a Superintendent

The qualities most wanted in a new Superintendent were concern for the minority community, accessibility, community relations, allegiance to and support of the yet-to-be-fleshed out Strategic Plan, and attention to closing the Achievement Gap and raising test scores.

Aside from the handful of persons criticizing budget issues, no one expressed unhappiness with district management or school taxes, salaries, or the current construction program or the adminstration bureaucracy.

Hire from Within?  

There were several suggestions the search firm, Hazard, Young and Attea should consider a person from within the district for Superintendent. Terri Klemm, Principal of George Washington School was mentioned as one person highly respected who would be excellent as Superintendent because she knew the district and “the issues.”

John Chambers and Deborah Raizes, shown Monday evening, the consultants conducting the superintendent search said they would report their findings  from their 4 meetings with the community, the Mayor, district teachers, administrators to the Board of Education on October 6  at the Board of Education Meeting and present a slate of candidates to the Board in December, with the Board expected to hire a new Superintendent in January.

Persons wishing to add comment to what is needed in a Superintendent are encouraged to go to the Board of Education website and complete a Leadership Profile Assessment that is available on the site at http://www.wpcsd.k12.ny.us.

Or simply answer the questions below and e-mail them to Hazard, Young and Attea at office@hyasearch.com  by the end of this week.

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WPCNR CRISIS CHRONICLE. From the Office of New York Senator Hillary Clinton.(Edited) September 22, 2008: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton met  Monday with New York Federal Reserve Bank President Tim Geithner to discuss needed steps to address both the market crisis and its impact on New York. Senator Clinton outlined principles for action that would offer relief to homeowners, stabilize the markets, and provide broader economic reform.  Senator Clinton today also welcomed news that the Treasury Department has acknowledged the need to provide mortgage relief to some homeowners and is considering providing equity in bailed out companies to taxpayers, but underscored the necessity of bold and comprehensive action to rescue both Wall Street and Main Street.

“I am encouraged by reports that the Treasury Department is beginning to recognize the imperative of providing immediate relief to homeowners facing foreclosure and is considering some share of equity for the American people so that they have an interest in the companies rescued under the Treasury’s proposal.  I will continue to brief the Treasury Department and my colleagues on my proposals which can serve as a basis for these initiatives. “

 “As currently written, the administration’s proposal does not go far enough in providing the real reform we need to rescue both Wall Street and Main Street. I have outlined the principles I think must guide our efforts to restore confidence in our markets and provide broader economic reform. In discussions with Congressional leaders, administration officials, and financial leaders in the days ahead, I will continue to champion these principles as well as the needs of New Yorkers impacted by this crisis,” Senator Clinton said.

Following her meeting with President Geithner, Senator Clinton made a brief statement. A transcript of the Senator’s comments follows.

 Senator Clinton: “As you know we face a very serious set of challenges to our economy and to our financial system. I’ve just discussed a number of those in a meeting with New York Federal Reserve President Tim Geithner, and talked with him about some of my concerns over the current proposal from the Treasury and ways that it can be strengthened. Today I’m focused on the steps that I believe we need to take right now to stave off further turmoil in the short term and address the root causes of this crisis shortly thereafter.

 As a senator from New York I am especially concerned about the economic impact on our city and state – tens of thousands of good, hardworking people have already lost jobs or are fearful of losing them and tens of thousands more are threatened. Now for two years I have called for action as millions of homeowners have fallen into default and the securities backed by these mortgages have plummeted in value – revealing deep cracks in the foundation of the credit markets, igniting a financial crisis, and jeopardizing the stability of the American economy.

These warnings have been ignored for too long and the consequence of that was last week’s emergency announcement. As the Senate considers the proposal by Treasury Secretary Paulson at a cost of $700 billion at least, I’m outlining a series of principles that must be part of broader economic reform as we stabilize markets after eight years of failed policies which set the stage for this crisis.

            I’ve been calling for sweeping intervention to restore the normal functioning of the markets and bring us back from the brink. Now regrettably, the Treasury Department’s plan may be necessary but let’s be clear – this is not a silver bullet and should not be considered as one. Much more needs to be done to address the housing crisis, which is at the root of the current financial crisis, which is at the root of the economic crisis. We have two million homeowners underwater with negative equity and trillions in mortgage debt and millions more with adjustable rate mortgages ready to reset in the next two years – that is a clear and present danger not addressed in the Treasury’s proposal.

Mortgage Modification– Out of the 1930s Proposed

So I’m highlighting one of my key principles and proposals – we need a significant mortgage modification effort that directly helps families with troubled mortgages stay in their homes and stave off foreclosures. This effort should be proportional to the market intervention to prevent a worsening home mortgage crisis and should be embraced with the same sense of urgency.

I spoke with Chairman Barney Frank yesterday and today I know that he has also joined the call for mortgage modification to be part of this proposal. I also was the first, along with Chairman Frank, to propose a modern day Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) – that was created in 1933 during the Great Depression – the original HOLC saved one million homes and returned a profit to the Treasury.

Now with today’s homeownership rate a modern day equivalent could roughly save three times as many homes and more importantly stabilize the housing market which is part of what we have to try to do in the weeks and months ahead. Taking action now to prevent a deepening crisis in the credit markets is an essential step one but this will only work if there is a step two that focuses on action in the home mortgage markets on the behalf of borrowers which will strengthen lenders and the broader credit markets.      

I also think it’s essential that we begin now to work on an updated regulatory framework that should be on the desks of Congress as soon as we possibly can get to it after the election. I’ve discussed this plan with the Treasury Secretary and others in the administration as well as Congressional leadership and I’m calling on Congress to immediately begin considering legislation to create a new entity modeled on the HOLC. We have been reactive for too long, it’s time now to look to the future and be decisive.

But let me just conclude by saying this, I have absolute confidence we will weather this crisis. I am optimistic about the American economy and about our strength as a nation. But we need good, smart, effective leadership in the private sector as well as the public sector. It is no longer something to talk about – we have to begin acting. But we have faced difficult situations before, we have weathered them and we have come out stronger and we will again if we now start taking the right action. So I appreciate Secretary Paulson’s unprecedented proposal for the intervention he’s proposing – but it must be seen as a part of a larger whole that we have to step up and begin addressing immediately. So thank you very much for what you all do here every day for the American economy and for all of us to have more prosperity.”

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. September 22, 2008: The City School District and Deborah Raizes of Hazard, Young  and Attia, will hold the third of community input sessions tonight designed to determine an ideal profile of the kind of executive White Plains parents and citizens want in considering whom to select for the 2009-2010 Superintendent of Schools. (Present Superintendent Timothy Connors is retiring in June 2009, after seven years.) The community session will be held at White Plains High School at 7:30 P.M. in building B-1.

Superintendent Profiling Taking Place at Bethel Baptist Church last week. Session three is at the High School this evening. All welcome.

The first two sessions so far were held at St. Bernard’s Church (after church), and at Bethel Baptist Church, conducted by Deborah Raizes, above, shown Monday evening at Bethel Baptist, who spearheaded the last search in 2002 which brought Mr. Connors to the district. In the first session, the St. Bernard’s crown indicated they wanted more advanced classes for Hispanics and minorities, which was echoed by the 35 African-American attendents at the Bethel Baptist meeting.

The Bethel Baptist meeting held last Monday, was more critical of the White Plains teachers’ collective abilities to get the most out of minority students, Hispanic and African-American, saying preconceived notions existed, though  the group agreed the district teachers were on the whole very good – though help was not as easy to get if students were minorities. Hispanic parents were happy with the district, and insisted their children wanted to learn English and thought that was important, Ms. Raizes told WPCNR

So far the commentary from both meetings, though praising Mr. Connors’ ability to reach out to the communities, called for a new Superintendent who had experienced with minorities-dominated district like White Plains, with a track record of closing the achievement gap. A majority of African-American parents said a new Suprintendent had to concentrate on doing more at closing the performance gap of their youth.

Individuals painted cases, naming Ridgeway School, in particular as a place where if you were an underperforming minority you were “labeled” and did not receive the attention needed to upgrade performance, while if you were performing well as a minority student, you were encouraged. More  ability to single out and make more of an effort , a handful of speakers said, has to be made with underperforming minority youths in the elementary schools.

Only one parent brought up the need for a new Superintendent to be more sensitive to the growth of the school budget.

The session begins this evening at 7:30 P.M in B-1 at White Plains High School