| League of Women Voters of White Plains Candidates Forum for Democratic Primary Monday June 17 7:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. White Plains Public Library Auditorium A Candidates Forum for candidates running in the Democratic Primary will be held on Monday June 17 from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. in the White Plains Public Library Auditorium. The proceedings will be video recorded and streamed live. Audience questions may be submitted:By email in advance of the meeting no later than 5:00 P.M. on Sunday June 16 to [email protected] with the subject line “Question for Candidates” OR In-person at the Forum. Doors will open at 6:30 P.M. Cards will be available for audience members to submit questions. Please include your name and address on your email or in-person question. Your address will not be made public. Spontanious “adlib” Questions will not be taken from the floor during the Forum. For additional information please email the manager of Candidate Forums using the subject line “Candidates Forum” at [email protected]. Information about what’s on the ballot in your election district, the location of your polling place, who the candidates are and what their positions are on issues, be sure to visit VOTE411.ORG The Primary Election is on Tuesday June 25. Polls will be open 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. |
County Board Recommends Voting Changes. Votes on them next.
WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2019. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. Edited. June 13, 2019:
The Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Voting Reform Working Group has completed its review of New York State election law
In January, the state enacted a number of voting reforms.
Among the changes is early voting — this year early voting will begin Saturday October 26 and run through Sunday November 3. In addition, where New York used to have two separate primary days, one for local and state races and another for federal races, there is now one primary day — the fourth Tuesday in June, which this year is June 25.
Also, when voters move from one location to another in New York State, their voter registration will automatically be transferred to the new location when they register a change of address with a state agency or submit an affidavit ballot. And beginning in 2020, 16- and 17-year-olds will be able to pre-register to vote so that their registrations will automatically become effective on their 18th birthdays.
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The group, formed in January 2019 by Board Chairman Ben Boykin, was tasked with examining the new laws and the effect they will have on voters, candidates and the Board of Legislators itself.
In a 14-page report, the Group recommended several changes which the full Board will now consider – including recommendations for the number and location of early polling sites, how to deal with Board vacancies under the state’s new election calendar, what changes of County laws might need to be passed to conform to the new state laws, and more.
The Group was chaired by Legislator Christopher Johnson (D – Yonkers), and included other legislators, County Attorney John Nonna, and members of the BOL and County Executive’s staff.
Leg. Johnson said, “I’m excited that the state has taken action to make it easier for more people to vote, and I’m looking forward to future action in Albany to expand voter participation. The Working Group took a deep dive into these changes, not only to assess their impact on voters and candidates, but also to assess what actions the Board and the County will need to take to implement these changes. While I’m sure there will be a learning curve as we begin conducting our first elections under these new rules, I believe the Working Group’s thorough examination will help the County get off on the right foot, and I’d like to thank all the Group’s members for their diligent efforts.”
Boykin (D – White Plains, Scarsdale, Harrison) said, “I’d like to thank Legislator Johnson and all the Working Group participants. These are major changes in the way people in Westchester vote, and it was important for the Board to get out in front and proactively evaluate what steps will need to be taken to implement the changes as smoothly as possible for voters, candidates and everyone in Westchester.”
The Working Group’s full report is available on the Board’s website:https://www.westchesterlegislators.com/images/PDF/2019vrwgfinalreport.pdf
SEIU 32BJ THREATENS STRIKE OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IF THERE IS NOT HIGHER PAY, MORE BENEFITS AGREED BY DEC 31. VOW JUSTICE FOR 5 SEIU MEMBERS FIRED BY NEW OWNERS OF 1 & 3 BARKER AVE DOWNTOWN — NEW HOME FOR NY DMV IN WHITE PLAINS
WPCNR STREET LEGAL. By John F. Bailey. June 13, 2019:
The Service Employees International Union 32BJ announced at a demonstration in front of 1 Barker Avenue Thursday afternoon they would strike commercial buildings in Westchester County midnight, December 31st if higher wages and improved benefits have not been agreed to.
The union was supported in their demands by the Communications Workers of America whose representative said the CWA appreciated the SEIU 32BJ support in the CWA strike against Verizon three years that won the CWA “a great contract.” The representative said the CWA would do whatever SEIU needed. The CWA is, WPCNR believes is the first major union to support the SEIU in its crusade for its fired workers, fairer treatment and realistic contracts.
The SEIU was supported by a number of County Board of Legislators and County Executive George Latimer. Legislator Katherine Parker introduced Legislator Kitley Covill, who announced the County Board of Legislators would introduce legislation she and other supportive legislators had written on Monday that would close the loophole allowing a plaza of two buildings to be considered separate businesses allowing the advantage of dismissing presently employed staff. The loophole allowed the new owners to fire the five SEIU workers last fall in favor of a below union wage cleaning contractor.
After the purchase, the new owner of 1 and 3 Barker Avenue dismissed the 5 SEIU janitorial staff and hired a non-union contractor. paying below union wage.
Leonore Friedlaender, Assistant to the President of 32BJ explained the new legislation and outlined the possibility of a strike to WPCNR:
The Estefans—déjà vu !
MARIA BILBAO AND JOSE LUACES (UPFRONT) BRING BACK GLORIA AND THE BEAT AT WBT’S SEXY, SALSALICIOUS, SAMBAMAD CONGARAMA, ON YOUR FEET
White Plains CitizeNetReporter STAGE DOOR. Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. June 12, 2019:
You can’t tell them apart. You can’t hear them apart.
Who are the real Estefans?
Or these Estefans?—The delicious Maria Bilbao, the swashbuckling Jose Luaces–2019 Photos, John Vechiola, courtesy WBT
Together they bring back the breakthrough Latin entertainers of the 80s Gloria and Emilio Estefan who took the world of sound based on their native Cuba and sold out concerts throughout the world as they broke through to be the first latin superstar singers.
The alchemists of entertainment Director Donna Drake, Choreographer Rhonda Miller and Producer Lisa Tiso at Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford, NY USA have done it again: telling the Estefans’ courageous and uplifting story and performing their music – bringing back the Broadway hit of 2015, and getting Westchester salsa-ing again, clapping to the conga, disco-ing to Dr. Beat, and moving to energetic sambaizations. It’s The Miami Sound Machine and their amazing story. Cuban refugees fleeing from the Castro regime to international stardom only to be struck by tragedy and coming back.
Ms. Bilbao and Mr. Luaces “chem” it up in this real love story that has lasted 40 years (they are still married). From Gloria’s first song, Anything for You (he’s too old for her, but he’s hooked). As the romance weaves between performances of Miami Sound Machine it grows–the two duet their mutual attraction in such a young lovers’ duet you will remember, I See Your Smile.
Throughout Ms. Bilbao (above) gets deep and high into the Gloria Estafan style: holding the notes long and plaintively on the ballads; athleticism in fast spins, leaps , long arms reaching for the spots, and swiveling hips with boundless energy while singing at the same time in “Gloria-ous”continuity.
Her colorata-mezzo soprano the deep intimate sound of commitment and regret and assurance, and rises to the emotions of unbearably sad and joyous feeling. She covers the Malacon.
Gloria’s father’s illness thought to have been caused by his service in the Vietnam war, makes him an invalid is tastefully and uplifting portrayed and the sacrifices it requires. Isabella Prestion and Camila Sander are the charismatic little girls who sing of their love for their father, singing Cuando Sali De Cuba (When I left Cuba), and Tradicio’n. Young aspiring actresses will identify with these two young ladies.
I liked Byron St. Cyr as Gloria’s father (above) who establishes just-right father-daughter traditions that all we fathers of daughters experience, his missing her when he goes to fight in Cuba, and his declining health after his Vietnam stint show the bonds between daughter and father.
Gloria’s mother played with every bit of assertiveness as Gloria herself, Karmine Alers flashes back to her stardom in Cuba, and this causes jealousy on the part of the mother and Gloria the daughter’s growing success. Mom does not want her to marry Emilio.
Allers shows just how good she was in the number Mi Tierra. Allers is so good at spats with Gloria over where Gloria is going with her life and how it hurts the family, that it brings home everyone’s family dramas and conflicts and makes the motivations very real, highlighting the dramatics.
This musical is about family and all that goes with it. The songs all by Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan come out of their life experience. That’s why the songs hit home and won an international following.
The first act wraps with the breakthrough hit Conga at a make or break concert in a park attracting thousands in Miami that Emilio conceived as a way of breaking their music into the main stream and leading to their star tours abroad. Mr. Luaces is strong in his negotiating scenes with record executives who claim the Miami Sound Machine is only for the latin audience.
Second Act the arc of their careers soars. The awesome effects of a concert given by Gloria and Emilio Estefan are rendered as well as possible at WBT, but Ms. Bilbao and Mr. Luaces more than overwhelm the enthusiastic press night audience with Conga, Get On Your Feet, Live for Loving You and You’ll Be Mine. Then the famous Kennedy Concert where Gloria sings Cuba Libre. As conflict grows as the tours continue Gloria and her mother are in conflict over what is happening with her own little sister.
As the group goes on the road on a bus tour, Gloria’s life is changed when at the top of their growing popularity their bus is hit by a truck. Gloria is paralyzed. Is this the end? Of course we know it is not. The staging of the accident comes as a complete surprise with one of the great effects Set Designer Steve Loftus and Light man Andrew Gmoser—so real you think the truck is going to hit the audience. It made me start in fear.
This crisis is a teachable moment. How quickly life as you know it can turn on a twist of fate.
Karmine Alers, Gloria’s mother and Emilio (Mr. Luaces) combine on the plaintive, If I Never Get to Tell You sung to an unconscious Gloria as she awaits surgery. Gloria’s memories flash by as she, herself as a little girl, her father Jose and the ensemble sing of her past in Wrapped.
Through the long recovery of a year, Emilio (Luaces) sings Don’t Wanna Lose You with a sincerity and a will that transmits in my opinion the will to fight to come back.
Does she come back? She does with her return to the stage at the American Music Awards, singing Coming Out of the Dark.
Having seen On Your Feet during its Broadway run, this revival brings you much closer to the people who lived this rousing, uplifting human drama of self-made success, comflict, adversity through their devotion to each other.
The Broadway On Your Feet thrilled with its booming colorful, astounding pace and special effects and left you with your body throbbing to the beat and delivering the signature of the Estefans’ musical legacy.
The Westchester Broadway Theatre extravaganza entertains and puts you up close in the midst of personal drama inspiring you, feeling the emotions in a very caring way. The final Megamix extravagant finale will have you jumpin’ and longing for Havana. Be careful on those one foot spins!
The musicians all 11 of them just fill the theatre with the Miami Sound Machine style that gets into you when it first took the world by beat. Ole’s to Bob Bray, Jessica Glover, David Dunaway, Brian Uhl, Steve Bliefuss, David Shoup, Crispian Fordham, Jay Mack, Carlos Padon, Yuri Yamashita, you’re ready to go on tour!
This is how family should be. On Your Feet is in every sense a family musical. With the Estefans it’s always been each other and family.
You should try the Cuban Pork dinner before hand with black beans. On Your Feet the intimate, booming, up-close and personal Estafans will be at the WBT until August 4. Go to www.BroadwayTheatre.com or call the box office at 914-592-2222.
There is one line from this show that really says it all. When Mr. Luaces is negotiating with a CBS producer who tells him they are only Spanish market recording artists, Luaces is silent. He looks him in the eye and touches his own face and says:
“This is the face of an American.”
On Your Feet is an American musical by Americans for Americans.