JUNE 19–JUNETEENTH THE FIGHT GOES ON.

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WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey June 19,2025:

June 19 is a day that is more important than ever  today.

It is in a time when the political climate is  attempting to reframe the image of America to  downplay the role of diverse ethnic and inclusivity of different nationalities in building America.

The anti-DEI  effort seeks to give the white settlers and  leaders of the old South the lead role in American history.

America’s bloodiest war was the civil war — fought because the southern states leaders mostly aristocratic landowners who bought slaves to till their plantations and kept slaves in bondage for 200 years using them to build their businesses. The cotton industry used them as free labor  and treated them like property to be  used for whatever whim that satisfied them.

The novel Gone With the Wind the book published in the 1930s white washed the antebellum south as idyllic a harmonious family of white aristocracy and their slaves.  The movie also promoted this image of the south. Both book and the movie made of it projected not  the true history of slavery and horrifying true nature of slavery.

The book softened the way  slavery was, sweetened  it with good relations between slaveholder and slaves.  Though somewhat unintentionally the best seller and movie performed a public relations effort across the country to lift up the white race role in building America and misleadingly glamorized how the ruling elite of America treated the people who worked for them—free for life.

The “masters” underpaid them. Whipped them. Made them live in squalid conditions. I have seen the slave quarters on President Andrew Jackson’s property in Nashville. I saw a building that housed 19 persons, smaller than my first apartment.

If you want to believe slavery was ok. It was not. Slavery has long been the best source of labor.

Slavery was the way civilizations were built for the last 7,000 years.

if you conquered a tribe or an empire, you enslaved the people and used them as free labor. To build your ziggurats, palaces, baths, forums, pyramids, tombs.

The  monuments  of  The Roman Empire so glamorized by history courses i took built their monuments, the forums, the roads, the  arches the markets, their palaces with captured slave labor. Romans did not work.  S laves did.  The Persian Empire, the Greek city states, they all used slaves.

America was the first nation to outlaw slavery when Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves.

It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States.

Today is the day when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War.[8][9]

 Slavery came to an end in various areas of the United States at different times. Many enslaved southerners escaped, demanded wages, stopped work, or took up arms against the confederacy of slave states. In january 1865, congress finally proposed the thirteenth amendment to the United States Constitution for national abolition of slavery.

By June 1865, almost all enslaved were freed by the victorious union army, or abolition laws in some of the remaining U.S. States. when the national abolition amendment was ratified in December, the remaining enslaved in Delaware and in Kentucky were freed.

After the Civil War President Andrew Jackson, a southern sympathizer, adopted policies that allowed southerner leaders to return to govern and the policy of Jim Crow began and gangs of whites terrorized former slaves. When President Ulysses S. Grant assumed the Presidency he rounded up and prosecuted the raiding gangs and repressed the violence toward the former slaves.

However prejudice towards blacks, and other immigrant races continued, labor practices paid low wages and the corporate leaders of business mad them work long hours, employed child labor. The union movement arose because of the way workers were exploited by the “Captains” of industries Standard Oil, the owners of the railroads, where President Grover Cleveland sent in Federal Troops to stop the Pullman Strike and Federal troops  killed strikers.

Sadly prejudice against people of color, immigrants continued through to today.

Today the banks, the insurance industry, the healthcare industry, the real estate industry, the financial investment industries continue to practice their businesses by the owners for the owners and for the biggest bottom line and stockholders benefit and fire employees to show profits.

How do they do that?

The Uria Heeps of  American business continue practices that by their present practices prevent the poor and the disadvantaged whether persons of color or white, legal immigrants or persons just starting their careers are given unfair demands to advance, high costs of education, usurious loans and high loan interest rates because the Uriah Heeps make more profit that way.

Slavery is was the most barbarian practice.

Now we have a more insidious continuation of the utter disdain and sang froid of policies that today’s “Captains of Industry” share with the plantation owners. Which todays congressmen and women, and Senators, and yes, cabinet members have for the people that they share with the slaveowners of the past down through the decades, that have been used to take advantage of people.

The fight for truth, justice, and the American way is not over.

The havenots have been traditionally treated poorly by American business, in a sense it is not prejudice against any one group, but it is prejudice against the poor—and of course women of all races or people the establishment leaders don’t approve of, whom business likes to exploit and want to keep in their place and continue being exploitees.

The role of the impoverished, the minority, the havenot is to work for the Captains of Industry, making the most money as possible for the “Captains of Industry” and be paid as little as possible, and given benefits that hardly cover what they need, while the Captains of Industry break laws, discriminate, cheat and  are admired for doing it.

It is still the way it is in the land of the free and the home of the Brave.

You have to be brave, courageous to be a havenot and survive.

The powerful run things to keep the havenots from not having anything.

The book “There is No Place For Us,” by the intrepid Brian Gladstone, (Crown Publishing)  documents in horrifying detail the experiences of 5 families trying to live in Georgia and the legal fees apartment owners are charge that the state has enacted that have resulted in  people who have jobs that are so low-paid they cannot afford a home or rental of their own.

 

So Juneteenth celebrants, the fight is ongoing.

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JUNE 19—COUNTY EXECUTIVE KEN JENKINS ON JUNE 19

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WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE KEN JENKINS STATEMENT ON JUNETEENTH

“Juneteenth is a day of profound significance. It reminds us of a painful chapter in our nation’s history and celebrates the enduring hope and strength of those who were denied their freedom for far too long. In Westchester County, we observe Juneteenth with reverence and resolve. We recognize the generations of struggle and the progress made by activists, leaders and everyday people committed to justice. But we also acknowledge that the work is not finished.

 

As we gather with friends, neighbors and family, let us reflect on the importance of this day and take time to participate in local events, support Black-owned businesses and learn about the history and contributions of African Americans in our communities and across the nation.”

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A Tale of Two Cities

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WPCNR. THE LETTER TICKER JUNE 18,2025

 

The new Traffic “Vision Zero Action Plan” is another example of WP’s own “Tale of Two Cities”
 

Dear WP Common Council Members:

The new “Vision Zero Action Plan” on Traffic has been used in other cities to promote roadway safety and is well-needed in WP to deal with our distracted and safety-deficient drivers.

Unfortunately, at first glance most of the traffic projects listed appear to be for the Downtown. . .and not for the residential neighborhoods.  We point this out because 18 months ago one of our daughters while walking was hit by an aggressive driver by the firehouse on Old Mamaroneck Road.  Thanks to the rapid response of WP fire and police she is back to good health now.  However, since her accident the only thing the City Staff did to make that intersection safer was to put a Stop Sign a block away which is good however would not have prevented or minimized our daughter’s injuries 18 months ago.  Our question is. . .what about having the same Traffic Technology equipment at the intersection of Old Mamaroneck and Gedney Way that is used Downtown so it is safer for nearby residents going forward?

And why doesn’t the intersection of Heatherbloom and Mamaroneck Avenue also have the same updated Traffic Technology as the Downtown intersections.  There have been more accidents by this entrance to Burke than we can remember over 46 years of living in Gedney Farms, including our own decades ago after getting rear-ended by another car.  Nothing has changed at this intersection over our 46 years in WP.  The City Staff was rumored to be studying improvements at this intersection however it still hasn’t surfaced yet as a real safety solution.  And the excuse that these intersections are County roads. . .in our opinion is really an excuse to do nothing.

While we are on the discussion of Traffic. . .are you aware that the on new development plan for Farrell Estates that the Planning Board asked zero questions of the Farrell consultants at the public meetings while also never answering any resident questions going all the way back to our questions on the Scoping Document?  So, as the Planning Board is in the process of passing the Farrell Project over to the Common Council for review will our elected leaders be conducting any “real due diligence”?

There are a lot of unanswered questions particularly on Water and Traffic.  So, we’ll give you a heads up on Traffic. . .your own City Staff is forcing the Farrell Developer to have more wider cut-thru streets than is currently the case in the rest of Gedney Farms today.  And the use of cul-de-sacs which Farrell likely prefers would cut down on the need for the City Staff’s new cut-thru streets while being a safer solution for current residents as well as the future new Farrell home owners.

We all know election season is about to start.  And with the way WP appears to work today with the current administration’s exclusive focus on the Downtown area along with few of the City Staff Commissioners even living in WP we feel that residential neighborhoods are being ignored.  WP truly has its own “Tale of Two Cities” so maybe we really need 2 Mayors.

One Mayor for the Downtown area to focus on changing from high-priced rental apartments to affordable housing for current residents and City employees.  And a Second Mayor for the residential areas who knows and understands our neighborhoods and homeowner concerns, can get the City Staff to be more resident-focused and who will implement Traffic safety solutions in the residential neighborhoods.

Thanks for your consideration,

 Marie and Ron Rhodes
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WHAT MY FATHER GAVE ME. CHARLES F. BAILEY OF PLEASANTVILLE NY. A FATHER’S DAY MEMORY

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MY PARENTS: CHARLES F. BAILEY AND MILDRED PINNEO BAILEY

WPCNR THE SUNDAY  BAILEY. By John F. Bailey. Republished from The CitizeNetReporter of June 17, 2007:

This week celebrates a great American Father, mine and the other fathers across time who provide an eternal legacy their sons and daughters rely on every day and think about their fathers every day.

Charles F. Bailey.

He is my father. He was born November 17, 1918.

My father gave me four pieces of advice in life: Always drive an air-conditioned car. Always central air-condition your home. Stay out of court.

And, oh yes, don’t sit in traffic. Take the next exit and wing it.

Always take the service road on the Long Island Expressway. (He would have loved a Garmin.)

In retrospect, his advice has served me well.  I am always comfortable. I sit out traffic delays in comfort. I have not made lawyers rich.

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CHARLES F. BAILEY MY DAD OF PLEASANTVILLE, NY 1918-1986

He was not an emotional man. He was a banker and always wore suits crisp white shirts with French Cuffs to work. Starched.  To work.

I have fond memories of going to meet him in the days of steam engines in Pleasantville – when train tracks were at grade with Manville Road at the old stone station.

I was most impressed as a young child by how he always smelled of coal cinders when he got off the train – like commuter’s cologne.

Sadly on today’s electric trains you do not get that. You always heard those steam engines coming. Chuffing doing serious work.

You could see them coming around the bend but you heard them first.

Bell ringing ,chuffing, puffing : Clouds of very busy, inspiring industrious black smoke streaming at the horizon down the line. The steam engines of the past were living things to me, always moving.

He’d get off the train.

My mother would move over and he’d drive the old Hudson Hornet home. He always spoke quietly. Never raised his voice. Drank scotch and soda in the winter. “G & T’s” in the summer, martinis with George and Howard two close friends. He smoked Chesterfield, Philip Morris, Marlboros, Kents with the micronite filter.

He set up a Lionel train set in our basement – perhaps our unspoken connection.

When I was sent in by train for the first time to meet him at the office during Christmas time, he’d have his secretary Margie greet me at Grand Central Terminal which still is a very big and scary place to me .

He would take me to lunch at Jack’s Monte Rosa Restaurant on 49th Street – which I thought was a very great place. Hub bub, tinkling glasses. Sharp-dressed waiters in white jackets black bow ties.

When I first went to it with him, I was a little disappointed that it was not more glamorous but I was really impressed that Jack the owner greeted him by name.

“Hi, Mr. Bailey. How are you doing?”

I thought that was great that my Dad was greeted with respect.

When I first started working in Washington, D.C. in 1968 I ate regularly at a restaurant below the television station WMAL-TV where I worked, it was called Marty’s Italian Village.

Marty, the owner (who looked like Humphrey Bogart, the only thing missing was the white sport coat) started calling me when I came in around 7 PM, ‘Hi John, how are you?” People would look at me. They thought I was big.  I liked that. Feeling big in my small world at $90 a week.)

When my father came to visit me in Washington where I worked. I took him around town. I told him when he got off the plane. “Hi, Dad, welcome to my town.” I wanted to impress him. We’re always trying to impress our fathers. At least I was.

Another Father time was when my Dad came out for Dad’s Day at college.

I mean this was a big thing to me. He watched me do play-by-play of a football game from atop the press box in 15 degree weather. It was cold. But he watched. Acted impressed. He hated cold weather. No watching from the warm press box for him.

Another time he impressed was when I lost a job where I was working at the television station that I was being considered for. I told him how unfair it was, he put things in perspective:

“Puggy, he said,  “The film manager wasn’t going to put you in as his Assistant if you were going to be bucking him all the time.”

It put things in perspective. No false sentiment. No making me feel better, he was tough enough to teach by being realistic while telling me not to feel sorry for myself.

It was one of my first lessons in how telling the truth puts situations in perspective. You know the truth, should we recognize it when it is told to us is a way to stop feeling sorry for yourself, that whatever event happened to you it happened not because you handled it wrong, but because others were weak.

Then later in my career, I was fired out of a job completely blindsided. He again intervened, saying to me he thought what the agency head had done was a terrible thing. I needed that at the time.

It taught me then, when bad things are done to you, the person doing them was a coward and took the easy way out.

He also, in a very supportive move, told me if I could make $1,000 a night writing a free lance direct mail package, I should keep trying to do that.

I really needed that. It started my career, working for myself. If I did not like a client or they treated me badly or they stiffed me (common behavior in the advertising business). I did not take a job with them again, and with new clients I took half the fee upfront. When I asked for upfront money, the possible clients simpered “don’t you trust me?” I would simply answer “It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s my policy.”

Dads are there to say the right things to you at the right time. Sometimes it is not always the right thing, but they try. Often, if you’re lucky, as I was, they say the right thing. Always — when you really really really need it. Not the wrong thing.

With my father, who was not really my father, since I was an adopted child, it was never all about him, it was all about you. Making me better, even when it hurt him to say things that were the truth.

When I bought my first house in White Plains. He never criticized the house. But when I sold it, he complimented me, “I think it’s great how you came out of it (the crummy first house).” He was a personal trainer.

The good ones  train you to run a race. If you stumble, no one hurts more than they do. When you succeed, no one is prouder. The good ones push you in front of the cameras, they say interview her or him. They did it.

They know what you should do, but they can’t tell you, because you won’t do it if you’re a kid.

But the more subtler of them tell you anyway in hopes it will sink into the rebellious offspring mind. My dad was subtle.

Another fond memory: My father took me camping once at a friend’s cabin in Pennsylvania. Funny thing was there was such a great comic collection we wound up sleeping in sleeping bags on the porch of the cabin. That was funny.

Another time when I was being threatened in college over a position at the radio station, I asked him if I should just abdicate and assign a play-by-play position to the person who was being forced on me. He advised me to “stick to your guns,” so I reported the threat to the Dean.

The position was compromised, but I was never threatened again.  He never shared my love for baseball and sports.

In fact he never played catch with me all that well or that often.

I mean I could have made the big leagues (pipe dream) if he played catch with me more. But that’s a small criticism.  I wish I had more of his financial acumen. But I do not. I married that.

As you grow into your 30s and 40s, little things they say to you you begin to understand.

My father never struck me.

He always disciplined me with quiet words. I have not always been that way as a parent myself, being somewhat volatile. I wish I had his even temperament. He always asked me to take care of my mother. And the only time he really got mad at me was when I had made my mother upset with me.

He was a little like Humphrey Bogart in movie roles in the way he disciplined, I remember he would say admonitions quietly. Such as when I got an F in an English course at college.

He told me, that was the last F I would get at Ohio Wesleyan, because the next one he would stop paying my tuition.

That had an effect. And that was when tuition was only $3,000 a year.

I have taken to, after my children have grown, telling them always “Be careful,” “Don’t do anything stupid because someone suggests it,” “Do not go anywhere alone without telling people where you are going,” “Don’t lose your temper,” “Don’t tailgate,” “Don’t stand close to the edge  of a severe drop.” In hopes that when I am not with them, they will remember it when they need to remember what you said.

I think of him every day of my life. I become more like him every day. He is always lingering in the background of my thoughts. I do not know what he would think of what I am doing now.  But, he’d say — “If that’s what you want to do. Do it.” He also would say,

“You have to make yourself happy.”

I also think, even today of what advice (laconic as always) he’d give me in a situation.

I wish I could discuss property taxes with him. Banking today and how it has become a predator system.

I especially have to salute him, because I am an adopted child.

That alone makes me appreciate his love and acceptance with a sense of awe to this day. He loved me like his own son. Because in his mind, I was.

He took responsibility. He did what had to be done.

You never outgrow your need for Dad.

The good ones are immortal, alive and with you in your head when you need them.

They are the  ghosts that comfort always. Haunt you in memory. You’re always  glad when they drop in on you.

You feel them warmly when you do good.

You feel their sympathy when you have done wrong. They are your conscience. They are the God of Judgement in your head. Your trusted advisor.

Immortality is leaving a good memory of you with the ones who knew you.

Because what you give them, lives on for generations.

Your children will talk of you because of the good things and behaviors you gave them when you needed them and you never lose those tools Dad and mom (it is a team effort) gave you.

I miss my Dad and Mom. They probably have discussions over me to this day.

Charles Bailey. He died in 1986.

His legacy and my mother’s to me keeps me going every day.

I also remember my wife’s parents who welcomed me into their family when I married and who raised an extraordinary woman.

I think there should be another holiday.

Parents’ Day.

Don’t you?

 

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THE MINNESOTA ASSASSINATIONS

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WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE KEN JENKINS STATEMENT ON POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN MINNESOTA

“I, along with Westchester County residents and Americans, am outraged by the horrific and senseless assassination of State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the brutal attack on State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. These acts of political violence are an attack not only on these devoted public servants and their families, but on the very foundation of our democracy.

“In moments like this, we are reminded how critical it is to safeguard stability, competence and civility in public life. We must recommit ourselves to respectful dialogue, to protecting our democratic institutions, and to building a future grounded in decency and peace.

 

“Let us honor Representative Hortman’s legacy by upholding these values in everything we do.”

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JUNE 14—-DA CACACE STATEMENT ON PROPOSAL TO CLOSE “VOLUNTARY INTOXICATION” LOOPHOLE BILL– ELIMINATES INTOXICATION AS RAPE DEFENSE STRATEGY

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District Attorney Seal

SUSAN CACACE
WESTCHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

 

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace released the following statement urging passage of A.101-A, a bill pending before the New York State Assembly that would close the so-called ‘voluntary intoxication’ loophole.

DA Cacace said: “Under current law, survivors of sexual abuse are penalized for being assaulted if they consume alcohol or other intoxicants before their assault.

This status quo relies on outdated notions of consent and victimhood that have rightfully been relegated to the dustbin of history.

“New York is sometimes slow to modernize its laws in the face of obvious injustice. But on certain subjects, such as bail and discovery reform, New York lawmakers worked quickly to address a perceived need. Survivors of sexual abuse are no less deserving of justice than these other constituencies. We should consider their needs, too.

“Other states, including Michigan and Minnesota, have recognized the need to eliminate this archaic penalty on survivors in recent years. New York should lead this growing coalition rather than stand in its way.

“In the strongest possible terms, I urge Speaker Heastie to bring A.101-A to the floor for a full vote before the Assembly. Survivors can’t wait another minute. Let’s not leave them behind.”

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JUNE 13 — ATTORNEY CHARGED WITH HARASSMENT OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY JUDGE

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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. –
Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced TODAY that a Yonkers man was arrested and charged with Aggravated Harassment of a Judge, a class E felony, for allegedly sending threatening communications to acting state Supreme Court Justice Susan M. Capeci.

Nicholas Leo, 57, of Yonkers, was arraigned Friday afternoon before White Plains City Court Judge John P. Collins Jr. He was remanded to the Westchester County Jail pending further proceedings. Judge Collins further issued a temporary order of protection on behalf of Justice Capeci.

DA Cacace said: “At a time of increasing threats to members of the judiciary, the defendant’s alleged conduct is especially alarming.

“As U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts observed in his 2024 report on the federal judiciary, ‘violence, intimidation, and defiance directed at judges because of their work undermine our Republic, and are wholly unacceptable.’

“We must never allow this type of conduct to become normalized. The sanctity of our legal process demands nothing less.”

Leo, a litigant before Justice Capeci in criminal and matrimonial proceedings, is accused of sending her electronic messages containing threatening communications. Justice Capeci presides over Westchester County’s Integrated Domestic Violence court.

In one message dated May 27, as alleged in a felony complaint, Leo told her, “I’m going to beat you.” In another message, dated May 30, he is accused of saying, “I wish you die tonight in a car fire.”

And on June 11, Leo stated in yet another message, “I warned you month after month after month. If you take my kids from me for no reason, which you did, it’s not gonna go well,” and “I hope you die,” according to the felony complaint.

Leo is a Yonkers-based attorney with an active registration status. He is scheduled to return to court on June 18.

The investigation was conducted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

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JUNE 14– WHITE PLAINS WEEK MONDAY AT 7 PM SHARP EDT THE FRIDAY THE 13TH REPORT– WESTCHESTER WIDE CH 45 FIOS, WP OPTIMUM CH 76 AND WORLDWIDE ANYTIME ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

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ARCHITECT WALKS YOU THROUGH THE GALLERIA NEW SITE PLAN–SHARPLY REVISED– 3,000 UNITS 800 AFORDABLE UNITS. 

INTRODUCING THE WHITE PLAINS OF THE FUTURE VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN APPROVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL 132 PAGES. HOW TO ANALYZE IT

MUST SEE “SUGGGESTIONS” FOR BRINGING SAFER DRIVING, WALKING BIKING TO THE MOST DANGEROUS ACCIDENT PRONE AREAS IN THE  CITY– WHY EVERY WHITE PLAINS RESIDENT SHOULD REVIEW EACH HIGHLIGHT SECTION TO SEE THE WHITE PLAINS OF THE FUTURE.

 

THE ALL NEW SHARPLY SCALED BACK GALLERIA CITY. 800 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS

 

WASHINGTON’S IMPACT ON NORTHEAST AMTRAK– COUNTY EXECUTIVE FURIOUS AT CUTS, CONGRESSMAN LATIMER SAYS NO WAY HE CAN VOTE FOR THE CUT

GOVERNOR HOCHUL SPEAKS TRUTH TO CONGRESS  ON NY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION AND CONGRESS FAILING TO AGREE ON IMMIGRATION POLICY

THE RIDGEWAY 100 HOUSE SUBDIVISION– NO HEARING UNTIL SEPT 2 — NO DETAILS EITHER — LOTS OF QUESTIONS STILL NOT CLEARLY ANSWERED

JOHN BAILEY ON MAYORAL REFORM–NO MATTER WHO WINS  THE MAYORALTY, HERE IS WHAT THE NEW MAYOR HAS TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE TO CREATE A WHITE PLAINS FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THE PEOPLE WANTING  TO COME TO WHITE PLAINS AND BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO SUCCEED.

JOHN  BAILEY ON THE NEW MINDSET TO CHOOSE YOUR NEXT  DISTRICT 5 COUNTY LEGISLATOR

JOHN BAILEY  THE CITIZENETREPORTER AT CITY LIMITS

 THE NEWS 

THIS WEEK EVERY WEEK ON

WHITE PLAINS WEEK EVERY WEEK

SINCE 2001 A.D.

BLACK COFFEE AND NEWSREALITY

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JUNE 12—GOVERNOR HOCHUL SPEAKS TRUTH TO CONGRESS

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REMARKS AS PREPARED: GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL’S OPENING STATEMENT TO THE UNITED STATES HOUSE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM

Additional Written Testimony Provided to the Committee Available Here

Chairman Comer, Ranking Member Lynch, and Members of the Committee, as we speak the streets of an American City have been militarized over the objections of the Governor. This is nothing short of a flagrant abuse of power, an assault on our American values.

My views on immigration are simple and direct — our nation needs secure borders. Our nation needs comprehensive immigration reform from this Congress. Our state laws dictate that we cooperate with ICE in criminal cases. And our values dictate that we treat all law-abiding families with dignity and respect.

The America I believe in is a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants — abandoning either threatens the very foundation on which our great country was built. For 400 years New York has prospered from hard-working newcomers — people like my grandparents who fled poverty in Ireland — they had the same American Dream that immigrant families have today. They’re not here for handouts. They want to work, earn their place and raise their families.

Yet every day we see another story of children ripped from the arms of their mothers. Wives separated from their husbands. Families arrested while attending legal immigration appointments. Not long ago, in the small town of Sackets Harbor, New York masked and armed ICE agents stormed into a home before dawn, abducted a mother and three children — including a third grader. They were cast into a living hell in a detention facility in Texas. I immediately contacted Border Czar Tom Homan and demanded their release.

In Jefferson County, where more than 60 percent of voters supported Donald Trump, people protested in the streets. Local Republican lawmakers, business owners, and school leaders all spoke out. Finally, after nearly two weeks the family was returned home.

In New York, we understand the difference between going after criminals and traumatizing law-abiding families.

Now some will use this hearing to stoke fear but I’m here to give you the facts. New York has managed an unprecedented influx of migrants because of a broken border.

And yet at the same time our state has become stronger and safer.

Today, New York State has the lowest homicide rate among the nation’s ten largest states. We’ve achieved this not with indiscriminate roundups, not by tearing apart innocent families, but by investing over $2.6 billion in public safety. By engaging in smart, targeted policing and by partnering with federal agencies to apprehend and deport serious criminals.

Since I became Governor we’ve cooperated in handing over more than 1,300 convicted criminals to ICE. What we don’t do is enforce civil immigration violations — that’s the federal government’s job.

New Yorkers need their State Troopers seizing guns and drugs and patrolling highways. States like mine are doing our part but we can’t be expected to fix this nation’s broken immigration system.

The very people who go on cable news to rail about ‘chaos at the border’ are the ones who torpedo bipartisan immigration reform each and every time it’s within reach.

So here’s my message: If you truly care about public safety — if you truly care about the economy — if you truly care about human dignity then sit down, negotiate and deliver real reform. Secure the border. Revive legal pathways. Let people work.

At the end of today, I’ll go home and do my job of keeping New Yorkers safe. I hope you’ll do yours too.

Thank you.

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