WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR WASHINGTON DESK. Special to WPCNR by  Doris Sassower. (EDITED). December 20, 2004:  The mother of White Plains own Elena Sassower, the Center for Judicial Accountability attorney jailed for “Disruption of Congress” may be released from prison in the District of Columbia on Thursday. Her mother, Dorris Sassower, has been working tirelessly for her release, with no support or political intervention by any Westchester County official or politician, who have not lifted any voices to protest the jailing of this Westchester citizen. Here is Ms. Sassower’s report:

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!  ELENA SASSOWER OUT OF THE WASHINGTON, D.C. GULAG? Photo, Courtesy, Center for Judicial Accountability.

 

Wish we had better news to report as to a possible earlier release than the scheduled Christmas Day.

 

Unfortunately, ignoring our ongoing efforts and protests, D.C. prison authorities have continued their pattern and practice, up to and including the present day, of deliberate obstruction and delay of Elena’s legal rights relating to her release from her present continued illegal incarceration.

 

This, notwithstanding the prison’s own investigator concluded in her report that proper procedure had not been followed and that Elena was wrongfully deprived of her “good time” class credits, such as would have legally entitled her to release on December 7th, under the Jail’s Inmates’ Handbook.   

 

 

By its failure and refusal to follow its own published rules, the DC prison authorities have kept her from having her appeals from her illegal detention adjudicated in a proper and timely manner. This was specifically mandated where prisoner Elena asserted that she has been retaliated against, threatened and intimidated for asserting her prisoners’ rights and subjected to attempted coercion to waive the prison’s liability for its deprivations of such rights.

 

Putting the Screws On.

Jail personnel have repeatedly informed us that she would not be released before she serves her full maximum six month sentence, “no exceptions.” Luckily, this sadistic intent may be thwarted because Christmas Day falls on a Saturday and the preceding day is considered a federal holiday, when we have been told that the prison will be without the personnel to perform necessary processing of her release paperwork. No time off whatever is being given Elena for good behavior all these many months in jail.

 

Press Blackout

The jail has also denied the press its rightful access, wrongfully failing to respond to, and actually denying, requests for appointments for in-jail interviews of Elena. This plainly is calculated to prevent exposure of just how badly the DC jail treats its prisoners, especially one who is blowing the whistle on the Jail’s human rights violations.

As of now, we have been led to believe that Elena will be released on Thursday, December 23rd.  However, we have also been   told that such can be anytime “up to 12 midnight of that day.” As late as today, the Jail was telling callers that Elena will not be released until the 25th, Chris tmas Day!

 

Presumably, the jail wants to keep her locked up until the very last moment so as to prevent her supporters from being on hand to give her the hero’s triumphal welcome she deserves for her principled defense of our Bill of Rights.

 

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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By John F. Bailey.  December 20, 2004:  The geniuses who run Section I have perpetrated another inept move, aided and abetted by the Recreation and Parks Geniuses at the County, and a distinct lack of comprehension of what  the spirit of Title IX means.

 

THE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN OF WESTCHESTER: THE ART DECO MASTERPIECE, THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY CENTER: FOR MEN ONLY.

Photo, WPCNR Sports Archive

Last week Section I announced that they have found a way to move 4 of 5 boys high school basketball championships into the Westchester County Center. However, surprise!

 

They have not moved any of the girls championships there. Instead the high flying fillies will play not even in Westchester County. They will play in Dutchess County or on the Bronx border in Iona, or possibly at Pace. They will not have the thrill of the County Center upper deck looking down on them. They will not play in the arena from the 30s –the Madison Square Garden of Westchester County.

 

Because they are girls. If they were boys. They’d be in.

 

 

Is this fair? No.

 

Does it make sense? No.

 

Is it defensible? No.

 

And, no one has said anything about it.

 

Well I’m sitting up here in the smokey rafters of the old Madison Square Garden and I’m blowing the whistle.

It is a slam-dunk multi-million dollar Title IX lawsuit.

 

Some lawyer-parent of a girls basketball player should sue Section I and Westchester County for a violation of Title IX which calls for equal treatment of male and female athletes, or you lose your federal funding on educational matters.

 

Another Lame Call by the Section I Boys.

 

These are the same Section I Geniuses who are attempting to prevent Thanksgiving Day football games being played to preserve their demented playoff system which leaves only one football team in the state happy in each Class after a good season.

 

Now, pardon me, but Westchester County shares the blame, too.

 

Part of the reason for not having the championships in the County Center is blamed on the fact they have the circus booked there and do not want to give up the revenue.

 

Calls to Susan Tolchin, Chief Advisor to County Executive Andy Spano and Director of Communications to respond on the county’s rationale for this decision have not been responded to as of Monday morning.

 

What’s a little loss?

 

Since when has that bothered Westchester County Recreation and Parks, losing a little revenue?

 

Kick out the circus for two to three days, so the girls and the boys can have their championships there! Come on!

 

If the circus doesn’t want to do it, pay them anyway. We now have this $9 Million surplus, don’t we, Andy and Joe (Stout)?  Dissing the Women’s basketball players is much easier than telling the boys they can’t play in the County Center (a tradition).

 

Since when has the county cared anything about wasting money on recreation?

 

Hudson Hills cost $20 Million. Hudson Hills loses money. The county golf courses lose money. And we cannot keep the County Center open for our best teen athletes because of the circus?

 

We love the Royal Hannaford Circus. This is not their fault, this is the county’s fault and the Section’s fault who cannot schedule intelligently.

 

An embarrassment.

 

The head of County recreation and parks should be called on the carpet for this scheduling mess.

 

The county also should check with their lawyer on the Title IX aspects of this cold decision to shut the Long Tall Sallys  out of the County Center venue.

 

If that is not discrimination against women I do not know what is. How politically correct are we on this one? We can hold controversial art exhibits in the County Center, but we cannot give the top classes of Women’s High School Basketball equal treatment with the boys?

 

Wrong-O!

 

I am sick of men running Section I and making lousy decisions for female athletes.

 

I have a conflict of interest. I have a daughter.

 

Every man and woman who has a daughter should be on the phone to Section I, their athletic directors and principals at their high schools, and The County Executive’s Office  and telling the county this is a WRONG-O.

 

Allowing four Boys Championships to be played in the Center and shuttling the girls up to the middle of the state into small gyms  is cruel, blatant unusual prejudice against every women’s athletic program in the county.

 

All coaches of women’s sports, male or female should be up in arms, and simply say we’re not going to do it.

 

Every father of a daughter should blast the Section I Girls Basketball Brains, for agreeing to go along with old boy thinking. How is this action representing the best interest of his female athletes? Could you tell me that?

 

Where is Mario Scarano when you need him? You can be assured he would never let this happen, and no athletic director should send their women’s team to the sectionals. Let’s get rid of them once and for all.

 

Play the top Classes of Women and Men in the Center

 

Would it be such a hurt for the boys and girls to play the larger class championships in the County Center, A and AA, and the smaller class championships elsewhere?

 

No.  The reason given saying it is o.k. for Westchester girls to play in satellite arenas (out of Westchester County) is that they have done it before for many years is weak.

 

Think of it, the White Plains Tigers, the New Rochelle Huguenots, the Mount Vernon Knights playing perhaps in Iona, or way up in Dutchess County.  Does that make sense?

 

No, it does not.

 

It’s just an easy out for the Sectional bosses and the county.

 

Being fair to women’s sports is always a great idea for the men who run section I, until it involves a little work, and saying “no” to other male coaches.

 

Girls basketball is being discriminated against here.

 

 Wake up and blow the whistle, girls, and girls basketball coaches, male or female, stand up for your ladies.

 

Throw these guys who run Section I out of there and replace them with fair-minded individuals.  They do not have the best interests of the athletes at heart in the least.

 

The children could run Section I better than they do.

 

Ready for the Sanctimonious Sachems.

 

Now, a response to this column from Section will be very sanctimonious saying they looked very hard at it and there was no way they could do this. It just happened, and will never happen again, and that I am being unfair to men and women who work very hard on high school sports.

 

Bunk.

 

I reject that. You haven’t worked hard on it at all. I also say if you all had your way you would dump women’s sports altogether, because they are a nuisance to you. That’s the mindset of a decision like this.

 

Booting Soccer to Fall Another Example.

 

Oh, and the movement of women’s soccer to the fall  because of fear of a lawsuit. That’s another dopey decision because it forces women to choose from 5 sports in the fall and only 3 in the spring, and prevents girls from playing field hockey, if they love soccer.

 

You – all of you in Section I have done the easy thing on the County Center.

 

You always do the easy thing.

 

What do the Boys Say?

And Girls Stand up for yourselves.

No one else will.

 

 

Male athletes have far more respect for their lady athlete counterparts than the adults who are running women sports.

 

This Women-Men’s basketball decision is another example of why women should be touchy about the least hint of unfairness. Women are always asked to cooperate and go along with an unfair decision, using the excuse, “it’s in the best interests of all, and it’s the best we can do, and this won’t happen again. Believe us, we had no idea.”

 

The men who usually force these kind of decision acceptances on women rely on women’s capacity to be conciliatory. They use it against you.

 

Lady basketball players and directors of women’s programs it’s time for you to pick up a Technical on this one, come off the bench jumping up and down, turning over gatorade kegs and throwing basketballs into the stands. 

 

There is plenty of time to get some Women’s Games into the County Center. The season is just started.

 

Let’s get them in there. (The County Center).

 

No Comment.

 

In fact, Section knows it is wrong and trying to pull a fast one.

 

 

 WPCNR attempted last week to contact the head of Section I responsible for this decision, the Athletic Director at Carmel, to get his side, we did so twice. The gentleman did not return our phone calls to discuss this matter.

 

Flagrant Foul.

 

This is a flagrant foul on Women’s basketball by Section I and the Women should shoot 2, and retain possession.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. December 18, 2004. UPDATED December 21:  Police Spokesman Daniel Jackson confirmed that  White Plains Police are investigating what is believed to be a series of four burglaries in the Hartsdale Aveue-Midchester area of the Highlands Saturday evening. Inspector Jackson said two homes were burglarized on Hartsdale Avenue, another on Midchester, and a fourth on Ralph Avenue.

Jackson reports the break-ins took place between 7 and 10 P.M. Wednesday evening by “forcible entry” through doors and windows. Computer equipment, jewelry and cash were taken, and there appears to have been a vehicle involved considering the nature of the goods taken. He said the perpetrators do not appear to be professional.  Jackson said the three burglaries reported Saturday evening, and the fourth on Sunday evening.

The Inspector is asking any neighbors who noticed anything suspicious Saturday evening in that neighborhood, or anyone at all with information on the crimes to contact 422-6111 and report what they may have seen.

Inspector Jackson reminds citizens to keep homes securely locked, keep lights on in the house when you depart and keep eyes open to any goings on that appear in the least bit suspicious in your neighborhood. If you see something that does not look right, he urges you to report the incident to the police and they will investigate.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS WEEK NEWS. December 17, 2004: Robert Levine, Mike Graessle, former Commissioner of Planning, and Robert Stackpole of the White Plains Planning Board, members of the Citizens’ Plan Committee will discuss why they felt compelled to launch their 66-page report on matters that should be considered in reviewing the City 1997 Comprehensive Plan Monday evening on White Plains Week, the City News Roundup Show. The “CPC- 3” are interviewed by John Bailey, the CitizeNetReporter, and Jim Benerofe of Suburbanstreet.com at 7:00 P.M. on WPPA-TV, White Plains Public Access, “The Spirit of 76” on Channel 76 Monday evening.

The Big Three With The Dynamic Duo: John Bailey, left, Co-host of White Plains Week, with left to right, Mike Graessle, Commissioner of Planning Emeritus, Robert Levine, Robert Stackpole, and Co-Host Jim Benerofe will appear on White Plains Week Monday at 7:00 discussing their ideas on the Comprehensive Review of the City Comprehensive Plan. Photo for WPCNR News by Gary Stukes.

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WPCNR County Clarion-Ledger. By John F. Bailey. December 17, 2004: WPCNR News has learned Westchester County will announce today  whether Samaritan House, the women’s homeless shelter at Grace Church on Church Street will remain open or close by the New Year.

 

County Legislator William Ryan told WPCNR Thursday afternoon that Nancy Travers, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Social Services, had assured him closing was not an option as previously reported by other publications, that the rent was the last remaining issue.

 

Rent the Last Hurdle.

 

Ryan made it clear to WPCNR it was his understanding the Samaritan House homeless shelter situation had been resolved between the two parties with the goal to stay open, and only the final rent was left to discuss.

 

He said that staying open, meant Samaritan House would stay open without any interruption in service as the goal, and the attempt would be made that residents would not be sheltered elsewhere while other arrangements to keep Samaritan House open were worked out.

 

The county and Grace Community Services have kept the residents of Samaritan House “in the dark” for a week, not advising them or the management staff supervising the residents whether they will still have a home or a job as of the first of the year. A source who works for Grace Community Church in a management capacity, interviewed by WPCNR said they were operating with two mandates: 1.) To close the shelter, and 2.) To keep it open.

 

The source employed by the Grace Community Services operation, said the organization had just begun an effort to contact and hire the “5 or 6 persons” back they needed to keep Samaritan House open, (as of Wednesday), and that the day-to-day operations staff were very stressed over the ambiguity of their fate. Samaritan House has been operating by shifting personnel back and forth between the men’s shelter, Open Arms, and Samaritan House, they said

 

Gifts from the Santa Spano and the 17 Legislators in Spano’s Workshop.

Coal for Samaritan?

 

The County Legislature started awarding early holiday gifts of its $9 Million surplus this week.

 

One of them was an additional $750,000 in funding for the arts and county service agencies, including  My Sister’s Place, the county-contracted service for battered women, long supported by Amy Paulin, the State Assemblywoman  for the 88^th District.

 

Three Weeks to debate less than half the Arts and Social Services Windfall.

 

On the other hand, the county has spent three weeks deliberating how to deal with a requested increase less than half the “gift” announced Monday to the arts and other social service agencies.

 

 The month-long hissy fit between the D.S.S. and Samaritan House, which according to Ryan, Samaritan House overreacted defensively to D.S.S. budget questioning, has been causing residents to fret and go through anxiety over having to leave to go to other shelters. This has been confirmed by WPCNR by speaking to our insider employee sources at Samaritan.

 

The Samaritan House budget increase request was for less than half that amount that the County showered as a bonus to the arts and social service agencies. A sum settling in the $225,000 range was the Samaritan House figure that stirred the Department of Social Services scrutiny.

 

Tolchin Not Talkin’

 

It should be noted that WPCNR has repeatedly asked Susan Tolchin, Chief Advisor to County Executive Andy Spano, and Director of Communications to have Kevin Mahon or Ms. Travers of the D.S.S. explain to WPCNR, whether it was a management problem at Samaritan House, an accounting problem, or a staffing problem that caused them to balk at the figure.

 

WPCNR  asked  Ms. Tolchin, for the Department of Social Services could explain how many staff persons were required by law to operate a homeless shelter for 19 persons on each 8-hour shift, since Samaritan House dismissed six employees in mid-November and has been operating with 1 to 2 employees on every 8-hour shift.  

 

How many do you need on shift anyway?

 

The D.S.S. has yet to contact WPCNR, even though Ms. Tolchin has been asked to prod them to do so.  The source WPCNR has who is familiar with personnel matters there could not explain to WPCNR how many staff they had to have per shift. The reason this question is key is that if Samaritan House was billing the D.S.S. for 9 persons and only paying for say, six, or five when occupancy of the home dipped, that might be a cause for concern. On the other hand if for the last month it is o.k. to operate with 3 persons supervising,  then why did Samaritan House need 9 in the first place.

 

Samaritan House the Final Hours or a Christmas Miracle.

 

The WPCNR source at Samaritan House, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that Samaritan House management (Grace Community Services) had had a meeting with Larry Schwartz, Deputy County Executive, and Kevin Mahon, Commissioner of the Department of Social Services last Wednesday where a cut budget (according to County Legislator Ryan) was submitted.

 

The Samaritan House source said the D.S.S. asked some questions about it, and Grace sent back answers to those questions on Friday, and were queried some more. The source said the second round of answers were submitted to the Department of Social Services Monday, and as of  late Wednesday evening Grace Community Services had not heard back.

 

Ryan: Closing Not an Option. Rent’s the Hurdle.

 

Today after Ms. Travers was quoted in The Journal News as still considering the “close option,” we asked Legislator Ryan why there had been no response on the part of the D.S.S. since Monday.

 

Ryan who has been closely monitoring the association told WPCNR Thursday afternoon by phone that “all differences have been resolved except one. They are now negotiating on the rent issue.”

 

According to published reports, Grace Community Services was charging Samaritan House in its building a $70,000 increase in rent, (paying rent to itself). Sources attempting to explain the situation to WPCNR said that the church was trying to cover its deficits in running the program.

 

Ryan told WPCNR he was expecting an agreement to be arranged.

 

A call to the Department of Communications at 6 P.M. yielded no information as to when any announcement was to come.

 

Nevertheless, the question remains, will County Executive Spano have one more check left in his bag? Or is this just fool’s gold?