George Washington: The Peerless Leader

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WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. February 22, 2006: It is the birthday of our first President, George Washington, the father of our nation.  One cannot help be reminded of the snowy winter at Valley Forge, when the bedraggled, poorly equipped rebel army suffered but held together, and attacked the Hessians in Trenton on Christmas Eve, 1776, crossing the Delaware River at night. What kind of man was he that George Washington could inspire his troops against all odds?

Washington was a man of tremendous character. Where did he get this character? He specialized in self-control at an early age.



Reenacters Marching to Raise Old Glory at Purdy House Sunday in Honor of George Washington’s Birthday. Photo, WPCNR News.




According to The American President, Washington, at sixteen, had formed a code of conduct. He had written a book of etiquette with 110 “maxims” to guide his conduct in matters. In this etiquette book he had written, Every action done in company ought to be done with a sign of respect to those who are not present. Sleep not when others speak; sit not whwn others stand; speak not when you should hold your peace; walk not when others stop;…Let your countenance be pleasant but in serious matters somewhat grave…Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise.

According to the character sketch provided by the authors of The American President, this personal “rulebook” was a book that Washington wrote over the years and referred to it often, “for self-control, to avoid temptation, to elude greed, to control his temper. Reputation was everything to him. It had to do with his strength, his size, his courage, his horsemanship, his precise dress, his thorough mind, his manners, his compassion. He protected that reputation at any cost.”


 



Honor Guard Strikes the Colors Sunday to a Drum Roll. Photo, WPCNR News.




Earning respect by example. Quelling rebellion with a few words.

Washington inspired by example. He lived with his troops. He shared hardships with them, and so much was there respect for him that he was able to talk them out of armed rebellion at the end of the American Revolution. Washington had been asked by the army to join them to over throw the Continental Congress, and make himself King.

Washington had been asked by one of the officers of the rebels to join them, and he wrote them,

You could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable. Banish these thoughts from your mind.

Hearing that the rebels who were planning insurrection against the new country due to not having been paid by the Continental Congress, Washington rode to Newburgh, New York, on March 15, 1783, to meet with the dissident insurgents. Washington spoke to the rebellious group, saying,

“Gentlemen, as I was among the first who embarked in the cause of our common Country; as I never left your side one moment, but when called from you on public duty; as I have been the constant companion and witness of your Distresses…it can scarcely be supposed …that I am indifferent to your interests. But…this dreadful alternative, of either deserting our Country in the extremest hour of her distress, or turning our Arms against it…has something so shocking in it that humanity revolts from the idea…I spurn it, as every Man who regards liberty…undoubtedly must.”

The would-be rebels fell silent, digesting what he had said. Then Washington withdrew a letter from Congress, but could not read the text, withdrawing some eyeglasses from his tunic, remarking,

“Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.”

The men present were reported to have tears in their eyes at this gesture of Washington’s and abandoned their plot out of respect for their leader.

Washington retired from the military, surprising the entire new country. His action surprised King George III of England, who was astonished that Washington had refused to hold on to his military authority and use it for political or financial gain. The defeated King of England, remarked, “If true, then he is the greatest man in the world.”



Members of Common Council: Tom Roach, Rita Malmud, Benjamin Boykin and Glen Hockley, (center of Picture) and observers of the ceremony salute the Colors. Photo, WPCNR News.




Seeker of Diverse Views

As President, George Washington invented the Presidential Cabinet, whom he referred to as “the first Characters,” persons who possessed the best reputations in fields and areas of the jobs he was filling. Washington said on political appointments, “My political conduct and nominations must be exceedingly circumspect. No slip into partiality will pass unnoticed…”

Washington tolerated the relentless clashes between Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State, and Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, but lectured them on the necessity for tolerance and moving beyond partisanship: “I believe the view of both of you are pure, and well meant. Why then, when some of the best Citizens in the United States, Men…who have no sinister view to promote, are to be found, some on one side, some on the other…should either of you be so tenacious of your opinions as to make no allowances for those of the other? I have great esteem for you both, and ardently wish that some line could be marked out by which both of you could walk.”

The Constitution Should be Protected

When George Washington left office after two terms, he made a farewell address which warned future generations of Americans about foreign entanglements and partisanship in the republic:

I shall carry to my grave the hope that your Union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the Constitution may be sacredly maintained; and that free government…the ever favorite object of my heart…will be the happy reward of our mutual cares, labors and dangers.”

Washington died in 1800, three years after leaving office in 1797. He was saluted on the floor of congress as being “First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.”



The Jacob Purdy House Sunday, where George Washington planned strategy at  the Battle of White    Plains, was scene of a gathering in honor of President Washington Sunday, hosted by the White Plains Historical Society. Photo, WPCNR News.




Note: The American President By Philip B. Kunhardt, Jr., Philip B. Kunhardt III, and Peter W. Kunhardt (Riverhead Books. Penguin-Putnam, Inc.,1999) is the source for this information on George Washington.


This article originally appeared in The CitizeNetReporter in 2003.

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County Executive Calls for Uniform School Attendance Reporting Policy Statewide

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. February 21, 2006:  County Executive Andy Spano has called on the state’s Education Commissioner to come up with a uniform policy for reporting illegal absences from school in an effort to help detect child abuse in the home.

 


“Right now there is no consistent policy for reporting these absences to Child Protective Services so there are delays in following up on what might be a clue to child abuse in the home,’’ said Spano. “In some cases, schools wait until the end of the school year to report these absences, making it difficult for CPS to follow up on the information.’’


 In a letter to State Education Commissioner Richard Mills, Spano pointed to the recent high-profile child death case of Nixzmary Brown as evidence that more must be done to improve the sharing of information between schools and CPS. The seven-year-old girl, who was allegedly beaten to death by her step-father, had 20 unexplained absences from school which were never reported to the NYC Administration for Children’s Services.


Spano added that sometimes a school’s report of unexplained absences can be used by CPS as additional evidence to convince a judge to force uncooperative parents to comply with a CPS investigation.


“We understand that many cases of unexplained absences, especially with older children, will not lead to a finding of neglect, but there is certainly a chance that in some cases, a tragedy might be averted,’’ said Spano. “We need the cooperation of school officials to ensure the health, safety and well being of Westchester County’s children.’’

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Forming Downtown Residents Assoc., First meeting will be in February

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As a resident of 30 Lake Street (a building that has never been part of any neighborhood/ neighborhood association), I am looking for volunteers to Step Up to create a neighborhood Association within the downtown area.

Our first meeting is scheduled for “late February” at a downtown restaurant or diner location.

Sign up below for our mailing list or further info.
Our goals will be to have a voice in the city and the C.N.A., creating a neighborhood crime watch, creating fun activities and events [co-sponsered by neighborhood restaurants and companies], creating better sidewalks [there are many broken sidewalks around the Lake Street area]; improving our parks, parking issues, creating lecture series with downtown colleges, creating more arts and art events downtown, addressing the county in skirting Megan’s Law, housing sex offenders [in any secure site] THEN dropping them off unsupervised within blocks of downtown schools and daycare centers; working on safe, logical solutions to the “White Plains Homeless” population [creating a liason for our City and County government agencies]. Also working with the city and dept. stores to improve our safety in parking lots and parking garages.

***All condo and co-op board members are encouraged to join***

Our rough neighborhood borders will be from [West] The Bronx River Parkway, to [North] Route 119/ Main St. and Lake St., to [East] I-287, and south to Maple Avenue (then to S. Lexington Ave. to Bank Street).

We would very much appreciate help from our neighboring associations: Battle Hill, Fisher Hill, Carhart, The Highlands, and The North Broadway Associations.

In a nutshell this will be about information, quality of life issues, promoting safety, creating fun events, and lobbying our leaders so we too “have a voice”.
Soon we will have a website available.
To get on our new mailing list, please contact:
Rob Tamboia 428-4477
30 Lake Street, WP 10603 or
rob@championlife.com SUBJT: Downtown Assoc. thank you for your help!

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WPHS CLASS OF ’66 40TH REUNION TO BE HELD AT CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL

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THE WPHS CLASS OF ’66 WILL BE HOLDING ITS 40TH REUNION ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2006 AT THE CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL FOLLOWING ATTENDANCE AT A HOME FOOTBALL GAME AT THE HIGH SCHOOL

ALL MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF ’66 ARE URGED TO SIGN UP AT THE CLASS’ WEBSITE

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/whiteplains66/

SO YOU WILL BE IN ON THE HAPPENINGS. IF YOU KNOW A MEMBER OF THE CLAS SOF ’66,

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

PATRICIA CARTER COLEMAN
JANUARY 19, 2006

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Old Mamaroneck Road Reduced to One Lane Monday.

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WPCNR BUMPER TO BUMPER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. February 19, 2006: Old Mamaroneck Road will be reduced to one lane of alternating traffic controlled by flag persons weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Monday, February 20 through mid-September. 

This is due to a county construction project on Old Mamaroneck Road between Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains and Hazelton Drive in Scarsdale.  The roadway improvements planned include rehabilitation and repair of roadway pavement and shoulders, installation of new drainage structures, new pavement striping and utility work.


Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes as delays will be expected when approaching this location during construction hours.  Minor delays may also occur to Bee-Line Bus Routes 60 and 63.


            For additional information on this project, contact Westchester County Department of Public Works at 995-2555 or log on to www.westchestgov.com/dpw.

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Adam In Albany: Restore Budget Education Cuts

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley (The 89th A.D.) February 18, 2006:  I have always stood up to the governor when I disagree with his proposals and have successfully made a point to restore his drastic cuts to higher education.  Last year, I helped pass an on-time budget that provided $15 million to SUNY Purchase and $10.5 million to Westchester Community College for much needed capital projects. This year, I am fighting for the Assembly’s budget proposal which makes significant investments in New York’s higher education system and rejects the most harmful parts of the governor’s budget.


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 In total, the Assembly restores almost $320 million in state support to local colleges and universities:

·        We reject the governor’s $500 tuition hike at SUNY


·        We increase overall operating aid


·        We restore full-funding to local community colleges


·        We provide increased funding for vital opportunity programs for students


 


               Under the Assembly’s budget plan, more than $119 million in TAP funding will be restored and the successful program will be expanded for part-time students, who often balance work and school demands.  The Assembly’s plan also provides the first real operating aid increase in years for SUNY – aid that will mean 541 more SUNY faculty.


 


               Our plan will also meet the state’s obligation under New York law to provide community colleges with 33 percent in support–this means an additional $1.5 million over the next two years for Westchester Community College.  This increase will help to provide property tax relief to Westchester residents.   


 


               To help New York’s most vulnerable students, the Assembly’s plan provides a 10 percent increase to student opportunity programs, such as Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Search for Education Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK), College Discovery and the Liberty Partnership Program.  In the past thirty five years, these essential programs have extended a helping hand to nearly 30,000 disadvantaged students and provided opportunities that otherwise might not have been possible. 


 


               The last thing we need to do is create more obstacles to an affordable college education.  I have continually fought to keep the promise of a college education within the reach of Westchester students– and this year is no different.  My higher education plan creates opportunities for local families, and protects our colleges and universities which are one of New York’s fastest growing sectors and a powerful foundation of economic activity within the state. I look forward to working in a bipartisan fashion with the Senate and governor to negotiate a final budget that protects our students and taxpayers.

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Latimer Schedules Public Dollar for Dollar Speakout on NYS Budget

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WPCNR ALBANY ADVOCATE. From Assemblyman George Latimer. February 18, 2006: Westchester residents are invited to attend and speak out on the proposed 2006-07 New York State Budget at a public hearing sponsored by Assemblyman George Latimer. The Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, March 2nd at the Port Chester Village Courtroom, 350 N. Main St., in Port Chester, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.


Attendees may testify for up to five minutes on any aspect of the State
budget proposal; written testimony will also be accepted at the hearing
and over the ensuing week (until Friday, March 10th). The Governor’s
proposed budget totals approximately $110 billion; budget highlights may
be viewed on the Assembly website at www.assembly.state.ny.us.

Assemblyman Latimer is holding the hearing for the second consecutive
year to bring local residents’ opinions into the budget process. “For
the years I served as a City Councilman and County Legislator, local
budget hearings were an automatic part of the process. You ought to
listen to what people think and feel, even when input is contradictory.
There is, however, no formal mechanism for that to happen on the State
budget – so last year in Mamaroneck, and this year in Port Chester, I’m
inviting all those who choose to come to comment as they see fit”.

No appointment is required; speakers will be heard on a first-come,
first-served basis, with a few exceptions made for unique circumstances.
Latimer will be hold the hearing open for four continuous hours to
accomodate those who attend. Other state legislators have been invited
to attend as well.

For further information, contact Assemblyman Latimer’s office at
777-3832.

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Bank Robbery Foiled by Employee Tail, Minutes After Commerce Bank Job.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. February 17, 2006.: White Plains Police arrested a White Plains woman and charged her with  bank robbery Thursday evening, within twenty minutes after she allegedly passed a note to a teller at Commerce Bank on Mamaroneck Avenue, approximately 7:20 P.M..


The woman, according to police, had passed a note to a teller at the bank, which said she had a gun and demanded money. The teller complied, Police spokesperson, Martin Gleeson told WPCNR today, then said the police were aided in making an arrest when an employee from the bank followed the suspect out of the bank and down the street, observing the direction she took leaving the bank.


Gleeson said the police do not recommend following perpetrators, because the employee had no way of knowing whether the suspect actually had a weapon.  Gleeson said the bank called 911.


White Plains police were there in minutes, he said  and Sergeant Brian Fuller of the White Plains Police with other units assisting, apprehended and arrested Anisa Gasparro of 235 South Lexington Avenue, 26. She was arrested on a charge of Robbery in the First Degree. Gleeson said no weapon was found when Sergent Fuller made the arrest, and that approximately $1,100 was recovered.


Gleeson said he did not recall when the last bank robbery occurred in the city, but it is the first in sometime.

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Solid Waste Commission Rules Amodio’s Not a Waste Transfer Station.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. February 17, 2006: The Westchester County Solid Waste Commission determined Wednesday afternoon, that Amodios, the garden center long a target of neighborhood complaints on Mamaroneck Avenue for alleged soil treatment operations, is not a waste transfer station.


 


Councilman Glen Hockley, interviewed by WPCNR, reports that the Westchester County Solid Waste Commission ruled in favor of the Mamaroneck Avenue based garden center in White Plains, Amodio’s, Wednesday afternoon at a public hearing, finding that Amodio’s did not based on the observations of a consultant, in their opinion fit the definition of a waste transfer station. Had they determined it was, Amodio’s would have had to ante up $20,000 in licensing fees, Hockley said.


Hockley said the City of White Plains lawsuit against Amodio’s seeking a court-ordered “cease and desist” ruling, was on going and now in its “discovery stage.”


 A group of White Plains neighborhoods adjacent to the property had presented evidence to the  Solid Waste Commission suggesting that Amodio’s be declared a waste transfer station because of alleged and documented (via pictures) on-going soil and debris treatment procedures being conducted there for a number of years.


Consultant Watches for 4 Hours.


Hockley said the Commission employed a consultant he named as Hawthorne to make a report. Councilman Hockley said the commission said that Hawthorne observed Amodio’s operations for a total of four hours and reported they saw no rock-crushing equipment.


Hockley reported that the Commission advised the attendees at the hearing that there were sixteen other garden centers around Westchester County that had other operations conducting operations similar to Amodio’s. Commissioner Lombardi, Hockley said,  advised the audience at the hearing that Amodio’s was a White Plains problem, and not the purview of the Commission.


WPCNR observes that if other garden centers are reclaiming soil from tainted soil, that perhaps the county is missing out on close to half a million dollars in licensing fees for those sixteen properties.


Hockley said he was very upset at this attitude, and told the Commission members that “with all due respect, you have to be blind.”


The Councilman advised WPCNR that the Rosedale Neighborhood Association, the Saxon Woods Neighborhood Association and the Hillair Circle neighborhood associations have complained about these ongoing operations which the Councilman alleged to rockcrushing, soil treatment, regular deliveries by large trucks, and a sulphorous stench emanating from the property. 


Had the commission ruled that Amodio’s was a waste transfer station, it would have helped White Plains in its parallel suit which Hockley says claims Amodio’s is violating the zoning rules for that area.

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Rita Malmud’s Address on the State of the City.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. February 16, 2006: Because Rita Malmud’s traditional “rebuttal” to Mayor Joseph Delfino’s State of the City speech on February 6 was not cablecast because of a failed laser at Government Access Television in White Plains, WPCNR reprints it here. The Common Council meeting is being televised nightly at 7 on WPGA TV, White Plains Government Access, Channel 75, “The Voice of White Plains.”



White Plains Common Council President, Rita Malmud. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.


 


 


February 2006 Comments on State of the City


Thank you, Mr. Mayor for this opportunity to expand upon your remarks on behalf of the 6 Councilmembers: Arnold Bernstein, Ben Boykin, Bob Greer, Glen Hockley, Tom Roach, and myself. We also see a City that has much to be proud of and is a terrific community in which to live, work, shop, and spend our leisure hours.


First and foremost in all City actions must be the preservation or enhancement of the quality of our residential neighborhoods and our local suburban lifestyle. Each and every legislative action we take must reinforce our safety, the visual attractiveness, the cleanliness, the energetic downtown surrounded by quiet residential areas, and all the different things that add up to a healthy and supportive environment. We are an inclusive and diverse community that wants to stay that way. We want to continue to offer an impressive array of recreational and youth services, a senior center and a Performing Arts Center, services and opportunities for those with special needs, and financial help to those most in need so that all can enjoy City programs.


White Plains has been blessed recently with a bevy of development opportunities that has changed our downtown into an exciting destination for residents and visitors alike. Our challenge now is to manage this new growth, with particular attention to traffic patterns. We do not want vehicular activity overwhelming our pedestrian as well as other drivers. Remember, those driving to WP soon turn into parkers and walkers. Our downtown must be easily walkable in order to project a friendly and inviting scene. And parking must be easily and inexpensively available. With this framework in mind, we are enthusiastic about the idea of a downtown trolley that can relieve congestion.


As part of rebuilding a modern downtown and preserving residential quality, we must continue to monitor potential improvements in building methods and our own Building Code so that we can have the absolutely safest, most efficient, and healthiest WP. As an example, I want to bring to your attention the efforts of Councilman Tom Roach in pursuing legislation requiring low sulphur emission in large construction vehicles. We need to look at green roof strategies for our large new buildings. We need to re-examine how environmentally sensitive land features on any lot affect the amount of buildable space on that lot. We need to be at the cutting edge of new ideas that give us a better environment.


Necessary revitalization of the Lexington Avenue area near Post Road and Quarropas Street is now being discussed. Residents of that area (Winbrook especially) need to be consulted at the very earliest opportunity. Nearby businesses, civic organizations, non-profits, and religious institutions should also be included at the very beginning of planning. We look forward to hearing their input and incorporating it into an even better and more beautiful neighborhood.


Our three hospitals properties (the former St Agnes, NYPH, and WP Hospital) are significant land owners and developers. Hospital management, their revenue stream, and the method of delivering their services have changed dramatically over the last few years. We want to work with them in a cooperative and timely fashion, ensuring the best possible medical care to White Plains while also addressing any typical developer or expansion issues such as traffic and parking and general community character.


Affordable housing is one of our most complex issues today. It is easy to focus solely on new units. But making sure that our large number of existing affordable units remain in good and livable condition is an important part of supplying local affordable housing. What good does it do to build 10 new units, if 10 old units deteriorate and become uninhabitable? Our City’s efforts to supply help, expertise, and low interest loans to maintain our important supply of existing affordable units remains every bit as important today and tomorrow as it was yesterday. Another component of affordable housing and maintaining existing units is vigorous code enforcement. Too often affordable housing units are owned by absentee landlords. We must challenge landlords with truly burdensome penalties when unfit buildings are allowed to exist. Neglected building safety and overcrowding frequently lead to fires and loss of apartments and homes and endanger their neighbors. Vigorous enforcement is mandatory, while also respecting everyone’s privacy rights. As to new affordable units, we must re-examine our 6% number of affordable units required in large new apartment buildings to see if a larger percentage can be imposed without discouraging new housing construction.


We must not limit ourselves to only this method of building new affordable units. By working with other levels of government and other financing entities we can see development of still more new affordable units.


Interdependency with other levels of government is a fact of our life. Oftentimes decisions by higher levels of government have a profound affect on our City. By promoting discussion of impending legislation or solutions to existing issues with our elected representatives at the federal, state, and county level we will be positioning ourselves to lobby better on our own behalf. We suggest the seven members of the Common Council hold annual meetings with each of these groups of legislators to further our opportunities and goals.


Our City financial picture is strong. An important element of that continues to be our sales tax, which accounts for roughly 40% of our revenue stream. We are a regional business and shopping center supplying the needed services and infrastructure to maintain these commercial entities. As a result, we need NYS to make our sales tax rate permanent, rather than to apply to them every 2 years. We have demonstrated year after year after year ‘ in good economic times and bad ‘ that this sales tax is a relatively stable and important source of annual income to the City.


Public accessibility is essential to good government. Technology permits us to bring important local legal documents online and easily available to the public. We urge the administration to begin immediate planning to get our Zoning Ordinance online, to be quickly followed by the Charter, Municipal Code, and Building Code. For an appropriate fee, these documents should also be available on paper .


We are pleased to receive tonight the final report from the City’s Comprehensive Plan Committee. After both the Council and the public have had a sufficient amount of time to review the Committee’s report, a public hearing needs to be held to hear the public’s comments. Then the Council can decide what changes should be made to our Comprehensive Plan. Those potential changes should be published and still another public hearing held to offer the public an opportunity to critique the Council’s suggested changes. Finally, the Council should vote on additions or deletions to the Comprehensive Plan.


We thank you, Mr. Mayor, for giving the public insight to your views on the State of the City and allowing us to amplify on that.


Rita Malmud


Council President


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