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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2006. October 13, 2006: The White Plains Republican Committee announced Thursday evening in a news release that the U.S. Office of Special Council, at their behest has “agreed to open an investigation to determine whether or not Mr. Power, the Chief Assistant to the County Executive, was violating federal law by running in a partisan election,” specifically violating the Hatch Act. 

Dennis Power, Candidate for Common Council and Assistant to the County Executive. Photo 2005, WPCNR News Archive.

The investigation was initiated by Brian Maloney, the Chairman of the White Plains Republican Party August 18 and 19, when Maloney asked the OSC, an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency to examine Mr. Power’s duties with the county and his political appointment to the Common Council. On September 21-22, the news release reports  the Federal Agency “agreed” to investigate.

According to the news release received 6:15 P.M. Thursday evening, The Office of Special Counsel “will attempt to complete its inquiry as soon as possible.”  (Mr. Power, a Democrat, is running against Cass V. Cibelli, the Republican Candidate in a Special Election November 7 to determine who will fill the remaining full year remaining in deceased Councilman Robert Greer’s term.) Alexis Greer, the deceased Councilman’s daughter had expressed interest in the seat, but was told, the news release alleges that Democratic supporters of Mr. Power had “made it clear that her nomination would not go forward.”

The Republican Party is also, the release reports, preparing a separate lawsuit with State authorities, the statement says, to “compel Mr. Power to either resign from his County employment,” which Maloney judges to present “conflicts with his duties and responsibilities as a Common Council Member.” The release notes that “if the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit Systems Protection Board determine that Mr. Power violated the Hatch Act, they may direct that the violation warrants dismissal of Mr. Power from employment; thereafter the employing agency (Westchester County) must either remove Mr. Power or forfeit a portion of the federal assistance equal to two years salary of the employee.”

The news release says the OSC investigation revolves around Federal Law 5 U.S.C. & 1502(a):

a State or local officer or employee may not: (1) use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election or a nomination for office; (2) directly or indirectly coerce, attempt to coerce, command, or advise a State or local officer or employee to pay, lend, or contribute anything of value to a party, committee, organization, agency, or person for political purposes; or (3) be a candidate for elective office.

WPCNR notes for the record that after unsuccessfully running for Mayor of White Plains in 2005, (when no other candidate would step forward), Mr. Power was offered his present position of Chief Assistant to the County Executive at a salary of $76,000 a year in early 2006. Upon the death of Mr. Greer in June, Mr. Greer was appointed to Mr. Greer’s vacant seat, when he was already on the Westchester County payroll.

Mr. Maloney is quoted in the news release as saying “(d)espite Mr. Power’s self-serving statements to the contrary, it is impossible to credibly assert that his nearly six figure IDA financed salary is not and never will be a factor in his deliberations as a Member of the Common Council.”

WPCNR notes that Mr. Power, as a member of the White Plains Common Council avocated strongly for the Westchester County senior housing project at the Board of Elections parking lot a month ago before the County Board of Legislators, supporting a county project.

Mr. Power had received a legal opinion from Charlotte Indelicato,  the County Attorney, on the propriety of his serving as a Common Council member and as an Assistant to the County Executive. Ms. Indelicato advised Mr. Power she saw no conflict as long as he recused himself in matters involving the county regarding the city, to wit “Situations may arise before you as a member to the Common Council where you may wish to recuse yourself in order to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.”

Ms. Indelicato had written Power that in her opinion he was not in violation of the Hatch Act when running  for the Common Council, to wit:

NO. Since no federal monies are spent to finance in whole or in part, your position as an Assistant to the County Executive or any of the activities you perform in your employment with the County, the Federal Hatch Act does not impose any restrictions on your political activities or your political activities as a candidate for public office…Furthermore, there is no conflict of interest or incompatibility of offices for you to be.”

Ironically, Ms. Indelicato may have to defend that opinon.

The Office of Special Counsel was not available for comment late Thursday evening.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Environmental Protection Agency (Edited) October 12, 2006:  Leading the way to cleaner air and healthier communities, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has brought the counties of Nassau, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester together with New York City, the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration to sign an unprecedented agreement detailing the specific projects and innovations they will employ to reduce harmful diesel pollution.   

Demonstrating its leadership in environmental stewardship, Westchester County has specified its commitments to fighting diesel emissions.  The five New York counties’ efforts will reduce diesel emissions, which have been identified by EPA as a contributing factor in respiratory problems, asthma and other ailments.  New York City has already employed many of its own measures and has offered to assist the counties in any way that it can.  In addition to national regulations aimed at drastically cutting pollution from diesel engines, EPA provides monetary and technical assistance to help local and state entities implement programs designed to slash diesel pollution.

EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg, the County Executives of five metropolitan area Counties, New York City and top environmental government leaders entered into the milestone agreement unveiled today in New York City.  The innovative and comprehensive agreement presents decisive actions such as retrofitting, retiring and replacing polluting engines, creating cleaner fleets of municipal vehicles, adopting cleaner fuels, designing and enforcing measures to reduce engine idling, and investing in pollution reduction technologies.

“If all politics are local, so are many sources of air pollution,” said EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg.  “By signing this Statement of Intent and committing to a plan of action, these counties along with New York State and New York City are taking the initiative in combating diesel pollution.  President Bush and the EPA are committed to making that black puff of diesel smoke from diesel engines something you only read about in history books.”

“We in Westchester have been committed to doing our part to reduce the pollutants from diesel engines and we are proud to be part of this regional effort,” said County Executive Andrew J. Spano.  “We are presently testing four hybrid buses that produce fewer emissions, and based on the results we will determine whether to procure hybrid vehicles for our future Bee-Line bus purchases.   In addition, we will continue to use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel on these buses and all county vehicles, and we will continue to help our local municipalities and school districts to obtain this ultra-low sulfur fuel for their operations.”

Westchester County’s initiatives include:

• The County will implement the provisions of Act No. 19-2006 effective September 1, 2006. This act requires the use of ultra-low sulfur fuel and best available retrofit technology for all diesel-powered on-road and off-road vehicles owned, leased, and/or operated on behalf of the County.  


• The County will continue the diesel engine retrofit program to include an additional 78 buses, bringing the total to 162 buses by the end of 2007.


• The County will undertake an evaluation of the four demonstration hybrid buses recently introduced into service. Based on performance, the County will consider procuring hybrid vehicles for its 2008 bus procurement.


• The Westchester County Airport, through its ISO 14001 Certified Airport Environmental Management System, will undertake a base-line emissions audit during 2006.

The New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have also stepped up their efforts in environmental protection, and have committed to helping the counties find ways to fund the ambitious measures they are pursuing.

Commissioner Emily Lloyd of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection said, “The Bloomberg administration is very pleased to be able to cooperate with surrounding counties and our federal and state partners to help reduce emissions from diesel equipment.  Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the City has dramatically enhanced its diesel emission controls by implementing six local laws that decrease emissions from construction equipment, sightseeing buses, school buses, sanitation trucks and the City’s own fleet of on-road diesel vehicles.  We share these goals with the surrounding counties and pledge to work hard for cleaner air for everyone.”

“Governor Pataki and the New York State Department of Transportation have long supported programs to protect air quality throughout New York State.  This new collaboration will build upon the Department’s strong environmental record by improving the air we breath in the New York City metropolitan area,” State Department of Transportation Commissioner Thomas J. Madison Jr. said.  “This initiative encourages our partners to embrace clean fuel practices and technologies, and will enable NYSDOT and the transportation sector to help significantly reduce diesel emissions.”

“We strongly support the eligibility of diesel retrofits and other cost-effective emission reduction activities under the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program (CMAQ) program,” said Federal Highway Administration Division Administrator Robert Arnold

The New York Metropolitan Air Quality Initiative is a stellar example of the work being done as part of a broader Northeast Diesel Collaborative- an EPA lead partnership of private, non-profit and government groups working together to reduce diesel pollution throughout the Northeast using a variety of strategies, including: public education; linking and expanding the scope of existing programs; creating new partnerships, programs, regulations, and agreements to reduce emissions; and demonstrating new technologies. 

For the complete text of the agreement and for more information about how to reduce diesel emissions, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/air/nymaqi.pdf and http://www.northeastdiesel.org

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WPCNR RINGSIDE. By Johnny Cannon. October 12, 2006 UPDATED WITH MORE BOXING ACTION IN PICTURES  9:00 A.M. E.D.T.: Joey Gilbert, erstwhile of The Bronx and of “Contender” fame, threw a right hand solidly to the left jaw of Keith Sims on the far ropes  midway through the 6th round last night, knocking Sims staggering across the ring to the left ropes and dropping him to the canvas ending their NABO Middleweight title fight at 1:57 of the sixth round on a TKO in the Main Event at the County Center. Gilbert dominated Sims inside with sharp jolting left jabs to the face and hard up from the floor, right hand slams to the solarplexus, softening him up, retaining his Middleweight crown, dominating all the way.

Joey Gilbert in green trunks has just clobbered Keith Sims with a haymaker of a right. Sims is about to hit the ropes and sink to the canvas ending their Middleweight title clash in the sixth round. It was a rousing climax to Star Boxing’s Pugilistic Extravaganza at the County Center last night. 7 Fights, 5 hours of boxing. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Kaboom! Terry Cauthen “The Heat” in the black trunks, jolts Dante “The Inferno” Craig 11 seconds into the 10th round with a right cross up and solid to the jaw…it sent Craig lunging into the left corner where the referee stopped the fight. Cauthen’s speedy 1-2s had softened Craig up, driving him around the ring in the 9th, and Terry finished him off with this crushing right. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Terry Cauthen of Trenton seized the USBA Junior Middleweight title from Dante Craig of Cincinnati, outboxing, outpunching the slower Craig consistently scoring a TKO at 11 seconds of the 10th round after a hurricane of punches softened Craig up in the 9th round.

Elvir Muriqi of the Bronx, “The Kosovo Kid” in the red trunks, kept ducking under Teddy Muller’s overhand rights, punishing the puncher from Moline, Illinois with combinations inside to the head, opening a cut on Muller’s right eye in the 3rd round and a cut on the left eye in the sixth. Muriqi pounded Muller and scored a unanimous 8-round decision, much to the chanting delight of his fans from Da Bronx. This right cross was delivered late in the fight. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Jab and Hook: Gilbert working Sims Over Inside in Far Corner, 5th Round. Gilbert’s body work dominated from Round 2.  Photo, WPCNR Sports.

The 10th Round Was the End of the Line for Dante Craig as Terry Cauthen delivered the roundhouse right that convinced the referee to stop the fight. Photo, WPCNR Sports

“The Heat,” Terry Cauthen’s combinations delivered staccato style through his 10 Round Rumble with Craig kept “The Inferno” in peek-a-boo mode. Here “The Heat” catches Craig with one of many left hooks  in the 9th Round going after him which set up the 10th Round coup de grace. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Kevin Johnson in the blue trunks connects with a left on Demetrice King in the heavyweight bout. Johnson 11-0-1, 5 KOs) Decisioned King (9-15, 7 KOs) in a unanimous 6-Round decision. King used his superior weight to push “The Kingpin” around the ring, put never got any combinations going, landing one punch at a time. Johnson would simply cover and move. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Johnson deflects King’s left. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Josh Snyder, (2-1, 1 KO) “The Berlin Bomber” of Berlin, Maryland  in black trunks came into the County Center, dominating Dex Pejcinivic (2-3, 1 KO) of The Bronx, who tired early in a unanimous 4-Round decision, hurting him with a solid right and left in Round 2 and landing blows at will in Round 4. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Roberto Benitez  of Ocala Florida (5-0) remained undefeated. His combinations delivered with lightning, cut-em up decision, got after and surprised “The Shiek,” Vin Rungea (1-4-1) from Queens in Round 1 knocking Vinnie to the canvas with a pulvering right cross he never saw, followed with a punishing left hook. Benitez opened a huge cut over The Shiek’s left eye in the 3rd stanza. The Shiek showed great heart hanging in all the way and getting some shots in at the speedier nimbler Benitez. Both fighters got a huge hand from the crowd in Benitez 4-Round unanimous decision. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Benitez punishes The Shiek (blue trunks) in the corner. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Brooklyn’s Khabier Suleymanov in the blue trunks won his first professional fight, Bantam Division, working Omar Carroll of Philly over on the ropes in Round One. Carroll was on the defensive the entire fight. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

It’s Just Not Boxing Without The Ringgirls! Baseball should have Innings Girls, dontcha think? Photo, WPCNR Sports.

You never have enough Ringgirls! Photo, WPCNR Sports

Star Boxing’s debut card at the County Center delivered an entertaining 7-Fight Extravaganza for the crowd that made its way to the WCC on a “Dracula Night,” with the largest applause and interest reserved for Elvir Muriqi in his bout with Teddy Muller. Shouts of “Muu REE KEY” “MUU REE KEY” thundered from the balcony as “The Kosovo Kid” from The Bronx deftly parried Muller’s haymakers.

The title bout between the two Olympians, Terry Cauthen (1996)and Dante Craig (2000) was the best fight of the night, with Cauthen’s swift 1-2s, superior boxing and power inside work systematically wore down the deft defender Craig who could not take the offensive. Cauthen, superbly conditioned stepped up the pressure relentlessly tattooing Craig in the 9th Round, hurting him with flurries of punches Craig could not ward off. Craig never recovered from the pummeling in the 9th Round, taking a shot to the left jaw sending him to his knees in the near corner, when the fight was stopped.  Cauthen, overwhelmed with his achievement fell to the canvas with emotion.

An elated Olympian, Terry “The Heat” Cauthen is interviewed. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Joey Gilbert’s Middleweight Title defense found “The Contender” star in control all the way, getting inside on Keith Sims –poking Sims with his jab and delivering body blows to the abdomen that Sims could not handle. Gilbert started taking Sims apart in Round 2 with 2 merciless rights inside. Jabbed him incessantly in the 3rd Round and delivered a hard right in the far corner the 4th round where he was able to follow Sims around the ring delivering collateral damage. Shot after shot to the body followed in the 5th.

Joey Gilbert in the Media Melee. Photo, WPCNR Sports

The Gladiators Have Entered The Arena. Let the Games Begin. Protect Yourself at All Times. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Flying Photographer. October 11, 2006: This morning’s photograph shows the new profile of White Plains — the view international visitors approaching from the West see. To the left are Westchester One, The City Center, the tallest buidling is the Ritz-Carlton, the Gray Building is the Power Authority, the gray building next to last on the right is the County Court house. In the distance is Long Island Sound.

White Plains Skyline. By the WPCNR Flying Photographer.

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. October 11, 2006: The Reverend Janet Vincent is leaving her calling at Grace Church in White Plains to become  Rector of St. Columba’s Parish in Washington, D.C.

Reverend Janet Vincent, longtime White Plains personality, shown in an interview December, 2004, at the time when Louis Cappelli announced his $1 Million contribution “in kind” towards the renovation of the Parish Hall.  The Grace Church was in delicate negotiations with renewing their rent contract with Westchester County on whether or not to continue their Samaritan House/ Open Arms services. Thanks, in part,  to Mr. Cappelli’s contribution, and a reported donation from Mr. Cappelli, the church was enabled to continue their social services to the homeless with a new $599,200 contract with the county. Photo Capture, WPCNR News Archive.

Renovated Parish Hall, shown in December, 2004. The church said at the time it was not getting all the increase they  wanted from the Department of Social Services in the rent, but that the difference is being made up by an anonymous donor. (Also believed to be Louis Cappelli) Photo by WPCNR

Reverend Vincent’s last service at Grace Church will be conducted Sunday, October 15. Afterwards, the new Grace Church Parish Hall, undergoing renovation by Louis Cappelli, her next door neighbor at The Ritz-Carlton, will be dedicated with the Super Developer, Louis Cappelli, Mayor Joseph Delfino Reverend Vincent participating.