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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. 11 A.M. E.D.T. July 5, 2018:

Governor Cuomo today issued an open letter to SUNY Board of Trustees Chair H. Carl McCall and CUNY Board of Trustees Chair William C. Thompson Jr. directing them to maintain their diversity and inclusion plans after the Trump administration rescinded guidelines on using race in college admissions. The letter directs the Chairs to continue existing policies that promote racial diversity and inclusion and to prepare a report by August 15 on how they will further expand and increase diversity on campuses.

The full text of the letter is available below:

Dear Chairman McCall and Chairman Thompson,

The Trump administration’s move to rescind the guidelines on using race in college admissions is a blatant attempt to limit the participation of minorities in higher education.  It is part of a troubling trend by the President and his administration to alienate minorities and build walls to diversity and equal participation in society

As you know, this issue has been going through the courts since 1978 (Regents of the University of California V. Bakke), most recently with the 2016 decision in Fisher V. University of Texas. The courts have determined that diversity is a valuable and allowable part of higher education.

New York’s two university systems have long been bastions of diversity and engines of social mobility. SUNY is nearly 45% minority and CUNY is 76% minority.  This diversity broadens understanding and breaks down barriers and stereotypes, and it ensures all New Yorkers have the opportunity to succeed.

In this state, we embrace diversity and we encourage it. I am directing you to continue your existing diversity and inclusion plans. The new federal action should have no bearing on admission policies and should not interfere with SUNY’s and CUNY’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive student body.

In addition, I am directing you to reexamine your existing plans to ensure these plans are furthering New York’s goals of diversity and inclusion. To that end, SUNY and CUNY should each prepare a report due by August 15, 2018 outlining how they will expand and increase diversity representation on our campuses.

The Trump administration wants to take this country backwards, but in New York we are moving forward. We will continue to work together to dismantle barriers to social and economic mobility and extend the promise of equal opportunity to all New Yorkers.

Sincerely,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Warning sign on southbound Mamaroneck Avenue just before the Redlight/video camera at the Bryant Avenue intersection in White Plains, look for these at the intersections below. Photo sent in by a WPCNR CitizeNetReporter Observer.

WPCNR TRAFFIC TALK. July 4, 2018:

On its website the City of White Plains has posted an explanation of how motorists can avoid getting a ticket issued from the new City Redlight camera/video devices at  6 intersections in the city.

The intersections are:

SB Mamaroneck Ave @ Bryant Ave

EB Main St @ Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

NB Bank St @ Hamilton Ave

WB Hamilton Ave @ Bank St

WB Westchester Ave @ South Kensico Ave

SB North Broadway @ Hamilton Ave

The following photos of the press release on the city website  posted Monday, explain how motorists avoid getting tickets approaching a red light.

Of note:

1. Motorists can still make a right on red after a full stop before the crosswalk/stopline.

2. Police will review all photographs before violation notices are issued.

3. The city says the system is being instituted as a safety device, but gives no figures showing whether redlight accidents are up substantially.

4. The system apparently will be in effect through 2020, when the legislature will take the redlight authorization legislation passed in 2015 under review for renewal.

5. The cameras are operating as of now, but in a transition period, when violations will be sent to motorists, but no fines due. The transition period will last until August 1 when the violations motorists receive will be subject to fines.

Here is what the city says about how to avoid getting redlight photo tickets.