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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. May 13, 2008: The Common Council will deliberate on possible cuts to the city-proposed $161.7 Million budget this evening. Mayor Joseph Delfino last week challenged the council wo “caucus” and suggest changes in the budget. The council may choose to remove or trim certain budgeted items this evening, prior to voing on the budget May 22. This evening’s discussion begins at 6 P.M. in the Mayor’s Conference Room.
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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By “Bull” Allen. May 12, 2008: Well, pro football has a lot to explain. It seems that 8 new video “sideline surveillance tapes” showing both offensive and defensive signals of 6 games involving 5 opponents from the New England Phonies have been turned over to the pro football league offices by a former Phonies employee. We wonder what the Commissioner is going to do about these?
Old Yankee Stadium, 1956– BVE (Before Video Era)
The paragon coaching genius of the league – the defensive “guru” – the man whom of it has been said, give him two weeks of preparation and he can stop any offense, wasn’t that much of a genius without his tapes, was he? Well, now we know why, don’t we?
Where’s the investigation, National Phony League?
However, let’s think for a moment.
Videotape shot during a game in progress could conceivably have been analyzed on the fly as a game was unfolding, enabling the Phonies’ defense to be perhaps more successful in the secondhalf, and their offense to exploit defensive sets – especially if the New England masterminds knew the signal that had called a defensive set or an offensive play that went for a big stop or a long gainer earlier in the game.
One of the tapes turned over by the former Phonies employee, according to the Times was of the Pittsburgh Steelers- Phonies Championship of January 27, 2002!
How indicting is that?
Think for a moment what such a tape might mean?
Were the Phonies taping Steeler signals, matching them up in the first and second quarters to plays, preparing for the second half? That’s what the tape of the Steeler game showed according to The Times: the tape shows Steeler coaches calling a signal and the play that ensued (easy to do if you have a simultaneous video switching system to feed two different video feeds into the same master recording tape).
It is instant replay you can use! If the Phonies were doing this , sounds like cheating to me. Big time cheating.
Do we have to draw a picture here? The reason to tape signals in a championship game – is to figure them out instantly – and know every play the hapless Steeler staff is going to call offensively and defensively in the last three quarters. You can blitz, you can nickel, you can man-to-man with confidence. Think of it this way, it would be as if a batter were getting each pitch signal sent to him, fast ball, change, curve, slider, etc.
If the National Phony League does not corral the New England Phonies who played in that Championship and ask such questions, it is very suspicious.
More to the point, I believe they should launch a major investigation as to how all these tapes were used, when the information was used, and of course, the all important question were they analyzed during a game as soon as they were made?
Tell you fans, they really don’t want to know. Do you?
According to Times reporter Greg Bishop’s report, of May 8, “In that (championship) game, the tape had been edited to show Steelers coaches signaling plays, followed by two different camera angles of the actual plays that were called.” The Times noted the eight tapes were of regular-season games with the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills, the Cleveland Browns and the San Diego Chargers, and the Steeler Championship game.
In games against teams that the tapes were taken of, Mr. Bishop’s story reports the Phonies had a solid winning record. Bishop reports the Phonies were 9-6 against Miami after the taping,12-1 against Buffalo, 3-0 against Cleveland, 4-1 against Pittsburgh and 3-1 against the Chargers. What kind of “competition” is that? Sounds like the Phonies knew what was coming doesn’t it?
It’s bogus football.
Denison Hatch the marketing writer first called attention to this when the New England Phonies were discovered video-taping the New York Jets (why you would bother taping the Jets is beyond belief), from the sideline. Hatch a season ticket holder with the Philadelphia Eagles wondered out loud if the genius coach of the Phonies hadn’t been taping his Philadelphia Eagles, and that was why the Phonies sniffed out every play in the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss to the Phonies.
How many more oodles of the New England Phonies’ tapes have been destroyed? How come New England has not had their franchise revoked for breaking league video taping rules? What kind of security exists in this league?
How many other successful teams are cheating in different ways: with long distance digital cameras? Long distance close circuit cameras? Is it widespread?
What the rather sedate New York Times reports on the new tapes turned over to the League indicate is that the New England spying operation which their head coach has admitted to using since 2000, was far more sophisticated than the league officials would have us believe.
But the Times sports section misses the much larger moral issue– as do the pro football owners and executives. The Commissioner of the National Phony League has said the taping did not taint the Phonies accomplishments.
No kidding. Who is he kidding?
It taints it big time.
No one should ever watch a pro football game again without a suspicious eye.
But, the real shame is – the players had to know this was happening. All of them knew.
The Eagle Quarterback said he was astonished how New England Phonies always seemed to know what plays the Eagles were going to run in that Super Bowl.
Well now, we know, don’t we?
What these surveillance tapes call into question is the integrity of every player on the New England Phonies roster. How could the players live with the knowledge that their success was not based on their skill but, instead, perhaps knowing the plays they were going to be run at them on each play, and knowing the defensive set that has just been called?
The genius coach was not such a genius against the in this year’s Super Bowl was he?
How could the players not know?
Why didn’t they speak out that this was wrong?
A half million dollar fine on the genius coach – for breaking league rules for eight years, and losing a couple of draft picks for basically stealing every game by cheating – that’s like a false start penalty
Perhaps the only reason the Phonies lost a game was a sense of overconfidence.
But again, the integrity of every player on the team – who knew – and did not speak out – well that is just pathetic.
It also goes back to the genius coach earlier in his career. Did he tape signals then? Do other coaches tape and “spy” in ways different and more sophisticated than the exposed genius?
It’s fascinating that not too many sports shows are even covering this story. They want it to be over.
But I have a feeling it is just beginning.
Shame on the New England Phonies for committing the biggest scandal in sports since the Black Sox Scandal in 1919.
Shame on the National Phony League for not throwing the book at them, disbanding the team, and kicking out the franchise, and banning every Phony Coach, player and executive who knew this was going on for eight years — for life.
Don’t tell me it’s part of the game.
Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns (the real Cleveland Browns of Marion Motley, Jim Brown, Otto Graham), when he was coaching the Cincinnati Bengals always sent in his plays by guard substitutions for exactly that reason. He was laughed at in the days of videotape and electronics. But he still did. He was afraid someone would steal his play signs.
The original Mr. Brown was right all along.
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WPCNR POET IN RESIDENCE. May 13, 2007:
Hey Mom!
Hey Mom, bring me two waters so I’m set?
Where’s my under armor? And my visor?
Are my tights washed? My skates are dull.
Hey Mom, can you call, go, get, call the advisor?
Hey Mom, I wasn’t yelling at you.
I didn’t mean to! You were yelling at me!
You never let me do anything my friends do
Hey Mom, would you chill, lighten up, just do!
Hey Mom, I don’t like the way this looks for the prom —
I don’t like the color, how could you think this was me?
I just can’t wear this, it’s this, it’s that it’s…Oh, Mom!?!
Hey Mom, I’ve been studying all morning getting knowledge.
Can’t I go out, I’ll be back by ten.
But, I know the material, gone over it again and again.
Oh, Mom – I hate my life! I can hardly wait until college.
Hey Mom – But I did call and let you know
Don’t you understand, I couldn’t call at that time.
No, you can’t not let me go – it’s a great band
Oh, Mom – I hate you! You never understand!
Hey, Mom, please don’t embarrass me at the game
By screaming so loud, it’s just so tacky
But, hey mom, I like that you’re over there in the stand
Watching me play, you know that don’t you Mom, you understand.
Hey Mom, can you get me to the rink
At 5 – I know you have to take off from work early?
Thanks, Mom, I’m so sorry but the team has a special thing
I have to be there, thanks Mom – I love you—dearly.
Hey, Mom, please when you pick me up at the dorm
Don’t come inside. Just wait outside, call me on the cell
I’ll be right down — it’s the norm.
Don’t ring the bell.
Hey, Mom, I’ve read the classifieds
There are no jobs, I can’t make all those calls.
Well, OK, I guess I can send that resume you made for me (sigh).
OK, I’m lost, where’s the post office, down Lexington to what?
Hey Mom, well I’m bringing my friends by,
Don’t let Dad embarrass me with his jokes, OK?
I’ll just die if he’s silly again — you won’t let him do that?
You’ll talk to him about that?
All right, Mom I’ll take that extra course.
But I’ve just been going to school for months it never ends!
Can’t I have a little vacation, I don’t know what’s worse
Can’t I spend a little time with my friends?
You do like him Mom?
Oh, I hoped you would.
Yes, I really do
I am so glad you do too!
Hey Mom, can you take care of the kids this weekend?
We’re going to Vermont with a friend.
And Mom, the cats get kibble in morning and meat at night,
We love you mom, sorry for the short notice, talk to you tonight.
Hey Mom, I’m sorry I can’t see you Mother’s Day.
Are you all right, what will you be doing today?
Going to the club – great – you know we love you in every way?
Though we may not show it you’re always with us
even when you’re away.
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WPCNR’S The Real Deal By The Wedding Jeannie, Jeannie Uyanik of Cap and Gown Weddings. The Mother’s Day Column May 10, 2008:
I have an almost two-year old son. He does not sleep, never stops moving, and more often than not, unlike my friends with little girls, needs to be constantly entertained. I am told though that while the first few years with a boy are harder, I will be laughing through the teenage years and wedding planning while those with girls struggle. While I am far from knowledgeable about children and teenagers, I can impart wisdom about mothers and daughters during the wedding planning process; from what I see and have learned personally, it might just rival moments with a teenager and for many of the same reasons.
Much like turning 13, planning a wedding is a milestone in a woman’s life. She needs the support and love of her mother, but has her own ideas about what to do and how. While the everyday guidance of a mother to a bride is not as essential as it might be for a teenager, the approval and tacit support is, even in just the assurance that disapproval is not soon coming. Hopefully this column will serve to provide a backbone of a few do’s and don’ts because at the end of the day, a mother/daughter relationship is more important than any venue, florist, caterer or schedule.
A few key rules:
1) Remember how much you love each other; clearly, neither the bride nor the mother of the bride says or does things to intentionally irritate the other. On the contrary, I am sure that each side would be thrilled if everyone could just get along. So keep in perspective that just because you disagree does not mean that changes the level of love and respect that you have for each other, or that you are trying to hurt the other person.
Why would any mother want to see her daughter unhappy? Remember, they might just think that they know better; on the flip side, why wouldn’t a bride want her mother to love everything that she is doing? There are probably no bad intentions, just a lot of bad discussions.
2) Embrace the differences; mothers and daughters, even with the closest relationships, will not see eye to eye on everything. As the bride, this is your day, your time to make choices and even mistakes, but don’t let them be relationship changing. Focus on the things that are most important to you, compromise for those that are most important to your mom. But each side has to understand that planning a wedding is less about logistics and décor and more about personalities.
In appreciating how what you want is different from your mother, explain that. In understanding how your daughter is not doing what you think is right, allow her to express herself as long as it’s not putting a strain on the finances and causing family controversy. If you are both clear with each other on why something is important, this will eliminate much of the angst. And, 10 to 1, if you listen to each other and compromise, it will be a better solution in the end. Each of you brings something different to the table.
3) Be sensitive; we tend to forget how much planning a wedding can raise and/or heighten sensitivities on both sides. Take the time to be cautious about the way that issues are discussed. Try not to have conversations about important issues by phone or on the fly; this can exacerbate the feeling that the other side just does not care. Focus on how you feel, why and where you might be willing to compromise.
4) Don’t loose perspective; don’t do something that you will regret forever in the name of one day. And don’t let the smallest details overshadow your relationship. The most important thing to remember during this time is that it’s the celebration of a life changing event and the recognition of that change with all of your friends and family. (N.B. brides, that may probably be why your parents always want to invite more guests than you would prefer; accommodate them in as much as you can, its an important day for everyone).
My own mother in times of crisis or stress is the wisest, calmest person that I have ever known and perhaps that’s why she handled my own screw-up with grace, but it haunts me to this day. As a wedding planner, I had my eye constantly on the schedule the day I got married and suddenly noticed that we were of course running late (its harder to run your own wedding than other peoples).
Unfortunately, this was just as I was about to put on my wedding dress. I told my mother she had to leave right away in order not to be late, just as the dress was about to go on. As my 6 bridesmaids surrounded me, I noticed as she was leaving with tears in her eyes, but she smiled and left saying she loved me. It’s a moment that I remember to this day. I was wrong for the right reasons in theory, but what a waste.
I was so focused on what needed to be done and how, I forgot so seamlessly the importance of what was being done. My mother in an effort to mitigate my stress did not argue or impart that she had been waiting my whole life to help me with my dress, and though I see how wrong I was, had she fought, it probably would have been more stressful. She was and always will be smarter than I am.
My mother continues to be my best friend, even if she did not help me put my dress on, but it’s a moment that I wish I could take back. As you read this, remember my story and if even only once, hold your tongue when you would like not to, smile and laugh when you want to scream and just be mother and daughter instead of mother of the bride and bride; the first will last a lifetime.
Not surprisingly, I have to give all credit of this column to my mother; I was telling her about how hard it can be for mothers and daughters during the planning process these days and she said that I should probably write about it in one of my columns. She did not even realize mother’s day was this weekend. This one is for you mom – Happy Mother’s Day and I love you.
And, thank goodness I have a son.
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WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. May 8, 2008: The Horton’s Mill Town Homes, built as “work force housing units” available only to families earning 80% of median income, opened officially Wednesday morning with Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz and Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains anchoring the ceremonies.
A total of 14 families have already gone to contract on 14 of the 17 Horton’s Mill Village homes available on the market for about $200,000 to $225,000. A number of the families, it was announced, had loaned money for their downpayments to be able to go to contract, arranged through Westchester Residential Opportunities and the Housing Action Council.
The homes, originally approved in spring 2003 opened to much praise, with the Deputy County Executive promising Westchester County would be building more. The developer, John Saraceno said he is anticipating building a similar project for the county in Ossining.
Larry Schwartz. Deputy County Executive and Mayor Joseph Delfino Cut the Ribbon while Councilpersons Rita Malmud and Tom Roach right observe. In background is the architect, White Plains’ Bice Wilson.
Larry Schwartz, pinch-hitting for Andrew Spano, the County Executive, whom Mr. Schwartz described as not feeling well, said the County would continue to seek such projects to improve the quality of life of all Westchester residents. Schwartz thanked Mayor Joseph Delfino, who said without the Mayor’s help the project would not have happened, and also thanked Councilman Thomas Roach for being instrumental in supporting the project. Schwartz said the project “was an example of how two governments can work together to improve quality of life.”
Typical Residence: A duplex.
The Mayor originally had suggested swapping the land the town homes now stand on to the county in exchange for leasing 30 acres owned by the county adjacent to Silver Lake, which the city turned into a now passive Liberty Park at a cost of $600,000 (approximate).
Mayor Joseph Delfino made note that the Horton’s Mill, the Pettinichi property, just to the west of the new Town Homes played a part in the American Revolution Battle of White Plains. He likened the affordable housing project as being another “battle,” that had been achieved because everyone “worked together.”
The Mayor also announced that he was pleased four White Plains city personnel had purchased or are in the process of purchasing four of the 17 homes, a policeman, an employee of the Parking Department, a member of the Department of Public Works, and a fireman. According to Executive Officer Paul Wood, Westchester Residential Opportunities reviews the applications according to city and county criteria and selects the persons they think best fitst
The Mayor said the city was the only city on the east coast to be given an award by Housing and Urban Development for its efforts in `establishing “affordable” workforce housing. He said the city was looking to open 14 more at Minerva Place next week, and noted the 42 units at Kensico Place, the 49 affordable apartments at Avalon Bay under construction; the 80-20 project at Bank Street yet to start.
Susan Kirkpatrick, speaking Legislator William Ryan, who also scheduled to attend, could not, and had Mrs. Kilpatrick read his statement, which promised the county would continue to seek and provide land for such workforce housing projects.
A representative from the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation praised the project and said that part of the reason for the project taking five years was that an artifact had been discovered on the property, and the site had to be evaluated before construction could continue.
The county news release on the opening reported that Westchester County provided $1,062,000 for land acquisition paid to the owners of the property, the Petinicchi family; $800,000 for infrastructure improvements through the Housing Implementation Fund and $259,000 from the county share of federal HOME funds.
The Math
The City of White Plains gave a grant of $327,474 from the City Affordable Housing Fund to defray increase in costs in the project due to the delay; the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation and the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal also contributed to the $5.7 Million cost.
Families eligible for the home can earn no more than 80% of the Westchester County Median Income, computed by the county as $81,300.
The 17 homes would if all sold for the prices quoted in the news release as $212,000 for a two-bedroom, and $222,000 for a three-bedroom would realize a gross of $3,700,000 for the developer.
The project according to official documents in the city legislation authorizing the Common Council grant, was to cost $1,579,015 to construct, including $501,003 Developer’s Overhead and fees. Add to this the $1,062,000 the county paid for the land, and $800,000 the county paid in infrastructure, the profit to the developer should be more than half the cost of the project.
The Ribbon-Cutters.
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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE EIGHTH AVENUE MEZZANINE. By “Goal” Gordon. May 7, 2008:
Let me tilt back my fedora, light up a Lucky, and pound this out on my Royal Corona keys while in the quiet of the old Garden press gondola. The real Garden. The one with the blue haze of cigar smoke hanging in the upper deck, when the ice was made by hand cart and the players played without helmets, when Gumper was in Goal and Andy Bathgate, Camille Henry and Andy Hebenton were my favorites, and the New York World Telegram and Sun called them the Blueshirts, and they used to run 1-inch ads in the sports sections, reading “Hockey Tonight Toronto 7 PM Fastest Game on Earth.”
Madison Square Garden 1950s. Eighth Avenue and 49th Street.
Now that hockey, figure skating, (I remember the Ice Capades), has grown and now faces an ice crisis. I think The Rangers have the oppportunity to give back to the community a favor that will never be forgotten, and make a memory as warm as the 1994 Stanley Cup. A selfless gesture that will be appreciated so much by the community that has loved them so long.
What We Would Give for some Ice — like Yost Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Just 10 Hours Away
You see they have closed the New Roc rink in New Rochelle. New Rochelle city government is reported thinking about building a new rink. Meanwhile New Rochelle High School, Rye, and some other hockey teams, not to mention the Team Image of Yonkers, the Synchronized Skating 4th Ranked National Team, have no place to skate or practice. Most of the rink slots in Mount Vernon, E. J. Murray Rink, Westchester Skating Academy, Katonah Harvey School, and in Stamford and Greenwich are filled.
But there is a rink that is only used eight months a year.
And the New York Rangers are not using it now.
WPCNR contacted the Rangers public relations department, leaving phone messages and two e-mails asking if the Rangers could possibly have an interest in stepping up and really helping the hockey teams, the figure skaters and the Team Image Synchronized Skating team by working out a plan to share their ice.
The Rangers as usual have made their early exit from the playoffs and that ice is just there. The Rangers could charge for the ice time, and win so much good will from hockey, figure skating teams, and of course the figure skating community, if they could work out a plan. Even during the hockey season, the Rangers only use the rink certain hours of the day.
However, the Broadway Blues publicity department apparently did not want to explore this one with the press.
It is a natural idea if the corporate legal types can work out the liability issues.
Sports teams help a lot with the community, mainly giving gift drives, and public appearances for a good cause.
Here, the Rangers now have what a lot of teams and kids and parents who love skating need – ice.
With Ranger stars putting in occasional appearances when local teams practice, the public relations value would do the Garden a lot of good, considering the horrid publicity a certain basketball team enjoyed last fall.
Since many teams pay for the ice anyway they would most likely be willing to pay the Rangers for their precious ice.
The Rangers could score a hat trick with this idea.
All it takes is a few phone calls to explore the possibility.
Let’s Go Rangers!
Make that call to New Rochelle High School, Rye, and Team Image. Explore needs how you can help.
This is really for the kids and they would love the Rangers for life.
High school hockey players and figure skaters grow up to be season ticketholders some day.
With the right handling, this could be the greatest thing a sports team has ever done for so many people who love hockey and the ice sports.
All it takes is Jim Dolan to reach out, figure out how to share the ice (for pay, of course), and tell his lawyers to make it work and it can get done.
Teams have already been trying to book ice, but to show you how crowded the rinks already are, Team Image, shown at the Providence Rhode Island National Syncronized Skating Championships could only find ice at 4 in the morning at Westchester Skating Academy.
Is hockey doomed for New Ro and the other hockey sixes that used New Roc?
The Rangers have the closest rink.
They are the local team to our southern Westchester hockey teams.
The youngsters need the Blues to come through.
The Devils and the Islanders are too far away to be practical.
But if the Rangers don’t, the Devils and the Islanders could step up, too.
Hockey and figure skating and synchro skating are sports that the players and the athletes love. They admire the Ranger players and live and die with them.
The Rangers could pay them back this year with a gesture of sharing their ice that will be talked out for decades.
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WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. May 7, 2008 UPDATED May 8, 2008:
It’s all going according to plan.
Barack Obama’s faltering in the stretch, the media’s unfailing cooperation with America’s political establishment, combined with Senator Obama’s main character flaw as a politician (his sense of decency), has been exploited by the Clinton campaign to frustrate Mr. Obama’s ability to achieve a first ballot Presidential nomination at the Democratic convention.
As I wrote months ago, the Clinton strategy is to deny Mr. Obama the first ballot nomination, freeing up the pledged delegates and the Super Delegates to hand it to Mrs. Clinton on the second or third ballot, with the rationale that Mrs. Clinton has shown the ability to win the big electoral states more than Senator Obama.
Doesn’t anyone see this except me?
In the remaining primaries there are 217 votes at stake. If Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton split them, Obama falls short by about 100 votes. If Mrs. Clinton runs the table winning them all as she is expected to do, it is a dead heat on first ballot.
The Michigan/Florida controversy and how the Party that staged this mess deals with that issue could cost Obama the nomination and ultimately the Democratic Party the Presidency. The Party’s petty refusal to recognized Michigan and Florida early primaries now looks downright foolhardy.
Michigan has 128 pledged delegates and 28 Super Delegates. Florida, 185 pledged delegates and 25 Super Delegates.
There is a plan to split them out there which would give Obama 156 votes that would if the remaining primaries are split with Obama getting 108 votes give him the nomination 1,815 plus 264 votes equals 2,079.
(As of May 8, the count now stands at 1,847, Obama, 1,647, Clinton, after the final counts were in.)
If Michigan and Florida continue to not be counted, it is far more realistic to assume there will be a deadlock on the first ballot.
Hence the importance of how Michigan and Florida are counted. Will the committee free up the delegates to vote any way they please on first ballot? (Delegates are in the process of being credentialed now according to an Associated Press report.)
It is conceivable that a decision will be made freeing up the Michigan Florida delegates to vote as they see fit – ignoring the primary results in which Obama did not campaign.
Not only that, but if Michigan and Florida are invited in to the party, it is even more likely there will be a deadlock on the first ballot, because the number of delegate votes needed for first ballot nomination goes up to over 2,200.
On other hand, seating the delegations and splitting the votes could give Obama the nomination on the first ballot.
The Democratic National Committee will make that decision. Whose side will they come down on? Mr. Obama or Mrs. Clinton? Who do you think?
Freeing them up and seating them to vote, throwing out the results of the two primaries is Mrs. Clinton’s best chance, and the Democratic Party’s most face-saving move. But it is not good for Mr. Obama. I reckon it would guarantee a First ballot deadlock.
Another possibility is to give half votes to pledge delegates and full votes to the Michigan/Florida Super Delagates that would also cleverly deny Obama a first ballot nomination.
So what if there is a first ballot deadlock?
Perhaps I am naïve and I will believe that the labor leaders, the party stalwarts, the key office holders who comprise the Super Delegates will blow off the Clinton machine that has been running the party for sixteen years – and on ballot two – ignore the pressure and( there will be pressure) and award the nomination to Mr. Obama after the pledged delegates are released.
Right.
The Denver Dumping of Obama is all set up.
The Clintonista mantra was in full chant Tuesday evening on CNN. Again and again the theme was sounded: she was more electable; she has more attractiveness to white middle class voters, the polls show her beating Senator McCain. The Obama pundits had little to throw against these Barack bombs that had the purpose of being a self-fulfilling prophecy: that even though Mr. Obama pulled more votes, votes in primaries do not matter.
Except in Florida and Michigan, that is.
The May 31st Democrat meeting to decide how the votes of those two states will be handled at the convention is pivotal. If those votes are allowed in to be counted, that adds two more states into the Clinton column. Again, with the talk of how excluding those states from the convention on the propaganda outlets last night, you could see the framework and justification for counting Florida and Michigan at the convention being justified. (“We can’t win the general election if we do not make peace with Florida and Michigan, so we just have to let their votes count in the election.”) Mrs. Clinton with the face of a vampiress sinking her elongated bicuspids into Mr. Obama’s jugular, her eyes gleaming made this a telling point in her Indiana victory speech.
Mr. Obama made what looks to be a fatal tactical error in not pushing for a revote to be held in those states (obviously because he felt he did not need to, and seemed to be cruising to the nomination last spring), he is not going to win any revote there. The Michigan and Florida delegates are going to go to the Clinton camp.
Can you feel it, friends?
I sensed real unease on the part of Obama supporters in the soundbites I heard last night.
They have every reason to feel uneasy.
Their candidate has been at a loss to combat this Clinton groundswell.
And why is that?
Mr. Obama has played by the rules of the party, and now subtlely, he has been assuming the knowing look of the Coyote in the Roadrunner cartoons, of late, realizing too late that he has been set up. That the party never meant to really not count Ohio and Michigan. That despite his commercials and spending, his message of hope, change, and reason has gotten lost in the media handling of the Jeremiah Wright thing – which this commentator predicted would happen months ago. Mr. Obama was not “swift-boated,” he was “pulpited.”
Still – the media’s failure to make an equal amount of coverage to Mr. McCain’s official pastor-endorser and that pastor’s equally offensive pronouncements – shows to the media’s everlasting lack of news judgment – a distinct effort to derail the Obama campaign with a non-issue.
Who cares what one pastor thinks?
If you’re a white “Christian pastor” expressing hatred with over-the-top views, as Mr. McCain’s endorsing pastor is, well, that’s OK. If you’re a black pastor, well according to CNN, FOX and the like – well hey, that’s espousing hatred – and Obama should disassociate himself. And remember, Mr. Obama never appeared to this reporter’s knowledge with Mr. Wright in a presidential endorsing media event as Mr. McCain’s did.
Talk about your double-standard. Talk about concentrating on minutiae while thebigger issues of windfall gas profits, foreclosures, Wall Street bailouts, Federal Reserve Discounting like Korvettes. Are there any News Directors any more?
Just a slight double standard. Let’s face it. The media was given something to use against Obama and perhaps were “told” they should use it. They had something to report about John McCain on an absolutely parallel situation and downplayed it.
Wonder why?
Senator Obama is a threat to the establishment that runs this country. The establishment cuts across party lines and has worked for years together. The last eight years a little too closely.
So, when a commentator said last night – a Republican commentator – said that the Democratic nominee will be chosen by Super Delegate Elitists – which was vehemently denied by a Democrat super delegate, the Republican was saying a little more than she should.
She was right.
Look for more Obama-discrediting to follow in the next month or two.
How the Senator confronts this created groundswell against him is the political crisis of his life.
He has to come out swinging now and put the Super Delegates on the spot.
He has to challenge them and not in a nice guy way, either.
What will work to save him?
Meanwhile, the ground has been laid: You have to hand it to the Democratic Party. The Republicans have lead this country to the brink of financial ruin. They have no idea how to get us out of Iraq. They have no idea how the economy works. They think $5 a gallon gas is O.K. Their chief spokesperson says continue the tax breaks for the upper incomers permanently. While their partners in crime, the congress does nothing.
However, the Democratic Party has managed to make the fall election a toss-up.
The Clintons, ever the self-promoting, me-first Clintons have effectively shattered Obama’s candidacy by killing his credibility. They have even managed in the process to alienate the minority voter. However, they will most likely attempt to mollify Mr. Obama by offering him the vice-presidency, “the David Patterson Role.”
We have to thank Mr. Obama for his great run. For, in doing so, he has established how racist the country is the hording of power and consolidation of and maintaining the status quo. It has always been thus, but the Obama run has proven that.
Obama looks finished.
Another beautiful job by the Clintons.
Can he come back?
I doubt it.
He was so close, too.
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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. May 5, 2008: The Common Council approved construction of The Venue this evening, an upscale mini-mall to be built on the present parking lot opposite Bloomingdale’s. The vote was 6-1, with Milagros Lecuona voting against.
The Venue, approved this evening, will be a 15 store plus restaurant shopping center at 120 Bloomingdale Road, across the way from Bloomingdale’s department store. It is described as a 46,000 square foot retail development to go on the parking lot of the former Nestle building (currently the offices of the New York State Department of Labor). The site is shown above, across from the entrance of Bloomingdale’s, looking West. The shopping center would be built on the parking lot.
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WPCNR Rockola. By KKIX THE BIG 1440’S Big Melvin Mead “The Rock Daddy Show With All the Hits You Need”. May 5, 2008: He shows up minutes before concert time. Bounces on stage dressed in black, hits the keyboard with the seductive good time individual signature dum dum plunk diddee plunk plunk plunk, dum dum plunk diddee plunk plunk plunk of Lonely Too Long and you know it’s been way too long since you’ve heard that Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals sound since the 60s.
Fasten your seatbelts, rock and roll turbulence ahead! Felix Cavaliere and His Rascals Blasted the 60-Somethings at Irvington Town Hall — the latest in the White Plains Westco Gold Star “Tour” Saturday night. Irvington Town Hall Theatre will never be the same!
Felix Cavaliere and Susie The K After the Rascals Blast — White Plains own Susan Katz, founder of Westco Productions — rapidly assuming the title of “Westchester’s First Lady of Rock N Roll.
Like rocking a coin solidly into the slot – you get a big round mound of sound and all hits all the time—from the first note Mr. Cavaliere plays. Felix Cavalier’s Rascals – the latest rockologists to emerge from White Plains Westco Productions “DynamicVeebleVetzer Time Machine” they call the Gold Star Series — laid down a wall of sound of Felix’s Rascals hits splashing the sound canvas of the seething shoulder to shoulder Town Hall Theater with Jackson Pollack madness in sound, with slashing, driving, get-into-your-body and make-you-bob-to-the-beat rock and roll the way a rock and roll party should be.
Whoever coined the term rock concert got that wrong. Rock’s not a concert, man, it’s a zone – the good time zone — a party, man.
That’s what Felix Cavaliere turned the Irvington Town Hall into Saturday night. Westco Productions continued their uncanny stroke-of-genius programming: the Westco Gold Star series. Each 60s and 70s rock group they have brought back to “sophisticated Westchesta” have opened up tapped into a secret outlet, a yearning, a craving for rock-n-rollers too old too rock and roll no more, but they kinda like the music.
A sellout crowd streamed in, beeping the hand-held scanners at the rate of a supermarket cash register on Super Bowl Sunday Saturday night. The Lettermen, Judy Collins, The 5th Dimension, Gary Puckett, The Association, The Kingston Trio have all brought out different audiences, Susan Katz and Peter Katz the promoters say, and the series has struck a loyal following in Westchester County, Saturday night kept the hits coming back – sounding better than ever
Felix, working up a sweat in minutes, pounding the Hammond and making it a living, rockin thing.
Mr. Cavaliere – no stranger to playing the metro area – showed why: he delivered just the great Rascals music man – the straight ahead, fidgety, signature rock and roll keyboard style that opens up your party spirit and makes you feel “Good Lovin’” all night. Well, at least for an hour and 30 minutes, Cavaliere and his three sidemen overmodulated raucously enough to wake up Rip Van Winkle from his siesta on the Town Hall lawn.
The Pyschedlic Medley
It was all Racals there – the punctuated contrapuntal organ keys to start Lonely too Long, the swells of organ crescendos – not heard since The Happy Organ – flowing like a flood of wine across a picnic blanket on “Good Lovin”.
Cavaliere’s side men, Mark Prentice’s bass (left) sounded like a power drill. Lead guitarist Mike Severs (right) laid in clear, aggressive nasty licks like a chain saw over Mr. Cavalieri’s signature organ segues. Severs recreated the essence of psychedelia in a medley in the second half of the show, His lead guitar lent a power dimension to the Rascals hits that sounded better, danceable, and thumped into you from the feet up through the body, with the Roadway Truck backbeat of drummer Vince Santoro.
The sold-out hall bobbed its heads in sync throughout the spontaneous big beat mayhem on stage.
Cavaliere was a pied piper – an icon preaching the old time beat and exposing the rock roots of the audience with an attitude. Felix recreated the old time rebel look tonight, coming on stage and doing his thing. No anecdotes – just the hits man. The crowd was in rock and roll shock – they bobbed heads, clapped hands, but were not moved to dance as if they were awed in reverence by the sweaty, grinding crescendos of tightly tracked, pounding songs dominating the hall – not heard this way in sometime – and sounding better than records.
From Lonely Too Long, Felix and his beatmasters, Prentice and Severs mixed in those dance staples – including Midnight Hour – handled by drummer Santoro – cooling down to Groovin –getting to the heart of teen love pain on Do What You Know You Should – made all the more harsh by Felix’s full-swells of Hammond glory. His medleys were things of rock and roll genius mixing his hits with other gotcha songs.
In the second half, with little time inbetween songs, the group’s highlights included What You tryin’ to do to my Heart where the drums shook your bones – and the snarling, Ain’t Gonna be Your Clown No more. The recognition of old feelings in these songs is just right made possible by the way Felix and the Rascals confront you with the sound.
A long version of Good Lovin in the second half – complete with sing-a-along was just enough audience relationship. To tell you the truth, the audience appeared stunned by the big ball of rock and roll Felix, Mike, Mike and Vinnie throw out there Saturday night.
The slow songs, which yours truly never really liked when they were hits, were better with a little soul – How Can I Be Sure was a winner the way Felix sings it today – and the one song that Cavalieri got sentimental on, People Got to Be Free he dedicated to our servicemen and willing, expressing the thought that he hoped their sacrifices would not be in vain. A telling thought.
My favorite was Felix’s working the organ into the classic medley of Good Lovin’ into La Bamba, Bo Diddley and Mustang Sally, — topped by a pyschedelic medley, featuring Led Zepp and Jimmy Hendrix tunes. All that was missing was incense in the air.
Your rock and roll pal, Big Mel Mead has to say that the hits being recreated by the original artists on the Westco Gold Star “Tour” never sounded this good when I was spinning them on my Rock Daddy Show 1440, KKIX Hit Music Radio Clear Channel the Rock of the Midway.
There is no such thing as an old rock and roller. Felix Cavaliere and His Rascals proved rockers just rock better the older they get! Here Felix Says Good Bye to the fans, but not before he stayed for an hour meeting and signing autographs for the aficionados.
The faithful should check in at www.westcoproductions.com for a peek at the just-released Gold Star Tour this autumn.
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WPCNR MR. & MRS. & Ms. White Plains Poll. May 4, 2008: The recent poll on taxes has indicated that 93% of 346 respondents feel the present 7% annual increase in city and school taxes combined cannot be sustained. The school tax increase is 8.6% (not 6% as reported by the district newsletter) thanks to the secret BASIC STAR Cut and Enhanced STAR cuts the legisature passed quietly April 14 (and still after three weeks, no other media other than WPCNR has reported this legislative sleight of hand). In their newsletter the school district describes the tax rate increase as 5.98%, failing to mention that the amount of your taxes for a median home is a fat 8.6%. The $15,000 Assessed home paid $7012 in school taxes this year, and in 2008-2009 will pay $7,618.
Since the people have no control over the city budget, but can vote on whether to approve the school budget, we’d like to know how the public feels. Should White Plains send the school district a message to cut by voting down the school budget, effectively cutting the budget about $700,000 according to the School District newsletter, holding the budget to a 3.36% increase? .
The vote comes up May 20. There will be a public hearing on the School Budget May 12, 2008.