Underclass Awards Night Releases Its Winners.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michelle Schoenfeld. May 14, 2003:Over 150 students received awards at the annual White Plains High School Underclass Awards Night held on May 1st. Included were the following book awards from various colleges and universities:

Mara Gay received the Barnard in Westchester Book Award; Wendy Culp, the Brown University Book Award; Cheryl Mae Velasco, the Bryn Mawr College President’s Book Award;
Christina Guhl, the Colgate Book Award; Allison Wing, the Columbia University Book Award; Sarah Pickman, the Cornell University Book Award; Sean Mascali, the Harvard Prize Book Award; Andrea Del Pilar Ramirez, the Mt. Holyoke Book Award; Tyler Lein, the Oberlin College Alumni Book Award; Rachel von Glahn, the Rutgers University Book Award; Kerry Cook, the Smith College Club Book Award; Evan McGuirek, the University of Michigan Club of Westchester Book
Award; Asuka Nakamura, the University of Pennsylvania Book Award; Kelly O’Neil, the Wellesley College Book Award; Camille Marquis, the Williams College Book Award; and Aditya Shirali, the Yale Book Award.

In other presentations, Sean McLaughlin received the West Point Award; Morgan Kellogg and Cornell Scarborough received the Scholastic Art Awards; and Yu Shi received the Rensselaer Medal.

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White Plains Students Can Parlez Plenty and Can Quo Vadis to the Maximus.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michelle Schoenfeld. May 14, 2003:At the May 12th meeting of the White Plains Board of Education, Foreign Language Coordinator Joan Kass presented students who excelled in recent competitions.

In the National French Contest, 11 Middle School students placed in the top ten in their academic levels, based on years of study. Diana Bohorquez and Jacob Herrmann placed first and second in their level in the County. In National results, Diana Bohorquez and Brendan Daly placed third in their levels. The students’ French teachers are Rose Morochnick and Rebecca Peters.

In the Latin Certamen competition, sponsored by Westchester County Latin Teachers, the ninth grade team of Nicole DeGroat, Zachary Drillings, Melissa Genadri and Souyma Sanyal placed first in the County. Their teacher is Sue Gillen.

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Theatre: City Wrestles with Public’s Right to Know With Negotiation Leverage.

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. May 13, 2003: A spokesman for the Mayor’s Office reported to WPCNR last night that the city has not decided whether the fourth organization to apply to run the White Plains Performing Arts Center, scheduled to premier this October at the Cappelli Enterprises City Center, is legally allowed to be considered due to the fact their response to the city’s proposal was three weeks late.
George Gretsas said the City Corporation Counsel, Edward Dunphy, is still reviewing the fairness of accepting the proposal. Because of the question of whether it is legal for the city to consider a Proposal received after “the deadline” for proposals, Mr. Gretsas said he could not release the fourth organization’s identity.

Presentation Format Under Review

In a wide-ranging telephone discussion of theatre issues, Gretsas and his Economic Development Director, Paul Wood, said the format of “Presentation Night,” presents a conumdrum for the city.

“We’re trying to balance the public’s right to know with the best interests of the city in view of once we select one operator, we are going to have to negotiate with that operator on terms,” Gretsas explained. He pointed out that if each presenter were to see the other’s presentation and specifics, the competitor’s could adjust their proposals to appear more attractive to the Common Council which, Gretsas said will make the choice of who manages the new theatre.

Shroud of Executive Session

Professional Facilities Management of Providence, Rhode Island, White Plains’ new Centerpoint Stage lead by Jonathan Mann, and Westco Productions under the direction of Susan Katz are scheduled to make presentations to the Common Council next Monday at 6 PM, May 19. Gretsas hinted that the presentations may be made in Executive Session.

The situations in which the Common Council is legally permitted to shroud the public’s business in Executive Session are 1.)Discussions of the Sale of Land; 2.) Discussion of Legal Matters with Counsel, and 3.) Matters involving Personal, i.e., union negotiations, etc. There are several options open.

There are several possibilities that could be considered: 1.) The fine line of justifying an impresario’s credentials and preserving the city’s and that impresario’s negotiating positions could be balanced by having credentials and plans presented publicly and the financial details and arrangements presented privately. 2.) The city could keep the entire process open and accept sealed bids, based on demanding a “best offer.”
Obviously, the Mayor’s Office concerns on negotiation leverage, as well as being fair to all presenters are well founded.

Waiting Tables Until You Get a Part.

The process is unusual in that the theatre has no budget in place because the endowment for the theatre has not been raised.

Two organizations, Centerpoint Stage and Westco Productions have said they are in position to launch fundraising efforts. How such operator-generated fundraising would be executed by the two organizations obviously would have to be part of negotiations. Professional Facilities Management told WPCNR they were not a fundraising organization and would handle the programming based on the budget of the White Plains Performaing Arts Center.

The Community-Corporate Relationship Piece.

Another piece that has to be considered is the procedural role the two citizen committees structured in Duncan Webb’s original plan on how the theatre would be managed. One citizens’ committee is envisioned as a fund-raising group of businesses and citizens. The other committee oversees the production content. This raises questions of management.

For example, in deciding the programming of the theatre who has the veto power? Who decides the distribution of dates? How profitable does the “non-profit” theatre have to be to avoid subsidies by the city? Where will the “Angel Money” come from for the programming needed to be in place within five months to pay the theatre’s first performers (if they are commercial acts).

Calling All Angels. Calling All Angels.

The Mayor’s Office says that no corporate angels are actively being sought at this time to bankroll the theatre’s start-up. However, there are deep pockets with a susbtantial stake in the city who could be readily solicited as the theatre’s “angels:” Fortunoff’s, Cappelli Enterprises, Mills Properties, Target, Circuit City, Gannett, Cablevision, Pepsi, Westin Hotels, Marriott, Legal Seafood, LCOR, the Clayton Park owners, are all all players in town with deep pockets. Some of the city’s exemplary corporate citizens can be expected to want to “be a part of it.” Heineken USA, Merrill Lynch, Prudential Financial, Combe, Inc., Entergy, Washington Mutual, Morgan Chase, and the new bank in town taking over the Sea Star. There are also a number of other sources in the city for funds: the universities — Pace, Berkeley College, Mercy College, SUNY, Westchester County Community College who could expect to use the Performing Arts Center. That’s 24 sources. If each contributed $500,000 that would give the theatre a $12 Million endowment, if each contributed $1,000,000, a $24 Million endowment results.

Gretsas said a decision of the Council was expected to be reached shortly after May 19, in order that the Common Council could vote on and approve the operator at the Common Council meeting of June 2.

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School District: Governor Veto By Wednesday. Concerned About Health Plan

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. May 12. 2003: Banking on an override of a sure Governor Pataki veto, the School Board adopted the School Report Card last night calling for a 6.9% tax increase, with a veto override, and an 8.9% increase if the Governor’s veto is sustained.

On Scholar Athletes’ Night at the White Plains High School, 7 of 9 Spring teams (3 of them, Golf, Tennis, and Men’s Track, Championship Teams), were introduced by their coaches and recognized for maintaining a team average of 90 or better.

In a move that generated considerable discussion, the White Plains School Board voted to approve a lifting of an increase cap (of 90% of any competing plan) in their State-Wide Schools Cooperative Health Plan, on their self-insured health benefits program by a 4-0 margin.



FROM ROOKIE TO BOSS: The Board approved the appointment of Gail Epstein from Assistant Principal to Principal of Mamaroneck Avenue School, replacing Hugh McKiernan who is retiring. Ms. Epstein received a glowing recommendation from Mr. McKiernan. Epstein went to White Plains schools, and has educated all four of her children in the White Plains system. She started her teaching career at MAS, where she never dreamed she’d become Principal there some day. Ms. Epstein is one of the rare instances in recent memory where an Assistant Principal has ascended to the Principal position in White Plains.
Photo by WPCNR News


Donna McLaughlin, William Pollak and Susan Kirkpatrick called for an examination of the long term effects of lifting the cap, and future discussions with the district unions on possible changes in the health plan. Mr. Lasselle said that discussions would have to held with the union to explore other plans other than the health plan the district now particpates in with 15 other New York School Districts. Health Insurance benefits costs rose from $9,801,369 in 2001/2002 to a record $13, 272,108 (budgeted in 2003-04), up 8.3% from 2002-03.

McLaughlin, long a voice for fiscal restraint and scrutiny on the School Board, said she made the suggestion to examine alternatives because she felt it would be “good to have a reference” on what a private carrier would charge the district. Lasselle said that could be explored. He added that the state insurance department decreed that White Plains and the 15 other School Districts supporting the plan could not continue to maintain a cap on increases because of rising health costs, and they did not wish insurers to go out of business.

In other news, Assistant Superintendent for Business Richard Lasselle, said the School Disctrict expects Governor George Pataki to decide whether or not to veto the New York State Legislature’s budget by Wednesday. Lasselle said that if the veto were not overridden by the State Legislature, the district would face a tax increase of 8.9% instead of the current 6.9% made possible by the legislature restoring 1.8 Million in state aid to the budget they passed last week.

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors said the Public Hearing on the School Budget would be held May 21, with the vote occuring on the School Budget June 3, as well as School Board Elections. In addition to the three incumbents on the Board of Education who are running for reelection, (Donna McLaughlin, Michelle Tratoros, and Peter Bassano), new contenders Terence McGuire and Michael Seymour were in attendance at the meeting, introducing themselves. Four seats are up for election.

In other employment news, Dr. Linda Ochser, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, said she had received 30 applications from candidates for Richard Lasselle’s position as Assistant Superintendent for Business. She also said the District has vacancies for Assistant Principals at Eastview School and Mamaroneck Avenue School.

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Adam In Albany: Bipartisan Budget Rights Governor’s Wrong Choices:

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. May 11, 2003: In the face of an unprecedented economic crisis, tough decisions must be made – but we must make the right decisions when it comes to our families, even if the choices are difficult. We cannot abandon the values that are important to us, like providing our children with a solid education and ensuring our loved ones and seniors get the health care they need.

In the face of an unprecedented economic crisis, tough decisions must be made – but we must make the right decisions when it comes to our families, even if the choices are difficult. We cannot abandon the values that are important to us, like providing our children with a solid education and ensuring our loved ones and seniors get the health care they need.

That’s why the Assembly and Senate have come together in a bipartisan fashion and passed a budget that restores $1.1 billion of the governor’s $1.4 billion cut to education, and secures $1.2 billion more back into health care funding than was originally proposed in his executive budget.

Budget invests in tomorrow’s leaders

While the governor wants to abandon New York’s commitment to our students, the Legislature’s budget makes real investments in our future leaders. The Legislature’s plan provides nearly $4.8 million more than the governor’s budget for school districts in the 89th Assembly District, including:

• $2,146,565 for White Plains

• $749,970 for Katonah-Lewisboro
• $537,348 for Chappaqua
• $489,202 for Bedford
• $373,715 for Bryam Hills
• $342,169 for Harrison
• $157,513 for Valhalla

As a result, effective education programs will be spared and school districts will get the help they need to stave off teacher layoffs and elimination of programs, such as pre-K and smaller classes, which many districts would have been forced into under governor Pataki’s proposal. Most importantly, school districts will be able to operate with our help and property taxes, which are already too high, will be stabilized.

Undoing the governor’s cuts to higher education

Under the administration’s initial plan, SUNY students would have seen their tuitions increase by $1,400, while Tuition Assistance Program grants would have been cut by a third. The Legislature completely restored the cuts to TAP, and reduced the administration’s original tuition hike proposal by more than one third, to $950 for resident students. We also restored base aid to community colleges.

Our plan ensures more students are able to attain the degrees they need to achieve their dreams and succeed in a modern world. Equally important, it means New York will be better able to attract knowledge-based business and the high-paying jobs associated with these industries.

Legislature’s budget makes quality health care a priority

Under the governor’s plan, the state’s health care system faced funding cuts of more than $2 billion. Under the Legislature’s plan, hospitals in 89th Assembly District will see over $40.5 million in restorations. Furthermore, our refusal to go along with the governor’s so-called Medicaid “swap” will save New York State a net $259 million, and Westchester County over $8.3 million.

Additionally, the Legislature’s budget restores $2.5 million to the Westchester County Department of Health, which serves as a frontline defense against emerging diseases like SARS, West Nile and potential bioterror attacks.

The governor insists the Legislature is rejecting his “reforms” and “cost containments” — pretty words that conceal devastating cuts in health care, which would put our loved ones at risk.

Again, the Legislature stepped up to block another bad choice by the governor, restoring $1.2 billion more in funds for Medicaid, public health and Health Care Reform Act programs. The legislative budget cuts out unnecessary expenses and is a reduction from spending in prior years. However, it also protects health care from devastating cuts which would seriously jeopardize quality, affordable health care.

Our plan also saves a number of programs benefiting seniors, like adult day care, Alzheimer’s programs, senior meals programs, and a host of others. Moreover, we rejected the governor’s proposed “sick tax” that would have penalized hospitals and health care providers and the governor’s 10 percent fee increase for seniors enrolled in the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program.

These restorations will ensure more New Yorkers receive the kind of quality, affordable care they need when they need it. In addition, we protected the STAR program for seniors, which the governor wanted to cap. Again, the legislature focused on much needed property-tax relief.

The governor must follow the Legislature’s lead and make the right choice

While acknowledging that these are tough times, the Legislature’s budget is a fair one which will ultimately help New York move forward. The Assembly and Senate put their political differences aside to do what is right for our children, our seniors and all of our families by investing in education and quality, affordable health care. I urge the governor not to stand in the way and sign this budget into law.

Adam T. Bradley,
Albany, May 9, 2003.

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The Sea Chase Week 8: Great American Flying on the High Seas 400 Miles UP

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WPCNR ADVENTURER’S LOG. By Cynthia Goss. May 8, 2003 / 2°52’S 24°42’W / Atlantic Ocean: Two American adventurers, one of whom hails from Westchester’s own Larchmont, are attempting a record sailing passage from Hong Kong to New York enjoyed a two-day lead Thursday, over the mark set 154 years ago but were
preparing for a slow and difficult crossing of the doldrums with its
squalls, fickle winds and glassy calms.

Approaching the equator and still 3,900 miles from New York, Rich Wilson (Rockport, Mass.) and “Captain Larchmont,” Rich du Moulin (Larchmont, N.Y.) aboard the trimaran Great American II had built a lead of 400 miles over the pace set by the extreme clipper ship Sea Witch in the China tea trade a century-and-a-half ago.

Since leaving Hong Kong on March 16, the 53-foot trimaran, with its two crew sailing watch-and-watch, has waged a see-saw battle with the ghost of the legendary 192-foot clipper, trailing it in the China Sea and the Indian Ocean. Sea Witch recorded 74 days 14 hours for the voyage and to beat this time Great American II must arrive in New York before May 29th in the afternoon.

A Great Run on Wednesday. 220 MPD Average.

On Wednesday, the 7th, Great American II continued to open out on Sea Witch, logging 270 miles for the 24-hour period, her best day’s run during the passage. During the last seven days she sailed 1,543 miles for an average distance of 220 miles a day.

The Doom of the Doldrums

Ken Campbell, the boat’s shore-based weather router at Commanders
Weather in Nashua, N.H., predicted that Great American II and her crew
would slow as they entered the doldrums late on Friday and might take as long as two days to pick their way through the squalls and calms before hitting the steady breezes of the northeast trades sometime on Monday.

Fighting the African Coast Doldrums.

A week ago weather conditions were continually forcing the boat on a
northwards course closer to the African coast and away from the direct
route to New York.

“They did an excellent job during the last week of getting out of an
area of light winds and getting west,” Campbell said. “Closer to the
African coast, the doldrums are gigantic, stretching 500 to 1,000 miles
north to south. Once you’re in them the only way out is going straight
north, and at only 100 miles a day in those conditions it could take a
long, long time.”

Campbell said he would have preferred the boat to be even further west and closer to the South American coast but predicted Great American II could make a good crossing in a thin portion of the doldrums at 28 to 30 degrees longitude west, close to its current position.

“That’s the sweet spot,” he said.

Renegade Squall Report from the High Seas

Rainsqualls present the danger of too much wind and are usually followed by lighter breezes. For the next few days Great American II’s crew must be especially vigilant to avoid the black clouds associated with squalls as they pick their way northward.

“We sailed through enormous, ominous black clouds throughout the day,” Wilson said in a satellite email message Thursday. “There was rain in most clouds. We outran two but were finally caught late in the afternoon by a rainsquall. We sailed on into the night, changing sail from spinnaker to reacher and back again before setting a jib and then the reacher again to deal with the changing conditions.”

Schooldchildren Follow the Action

Some 360,000 schoolchildren are following the adventure of Great
American II on a daily basis through the sitesALIVE! educational
program. Some of these students hope to be in New York when the vessel reaches its final destination.

* * * Jibs and Reaches

HOW THE PUBLIC CAN FOLLOW GREAT AMERICAN II: The website tracking the voyage of Great American II is http://www.sitesalive.com. Daily position reports and a Captain’s Log are posted on the site so classrooms, students, and families who purchase licenses can follow the progress of the boat. For information, go to
http://www.sitesalive.com/oceanchallengelive/.

The saga of GAII will also be published in a number of national,
regional, and local papers, in the Newspaper In Education supplements, and tracked on the AOL@SCHOOL program (keyword: sitesalive).

Great American II’s Newspaper In Education participation is supported by the sitesALIVE Foundation. Established in 2002, the Foundation addresses teacher training in computer technology and funding for
budget-constrained schools. The mission of the foundation is to enhance K-12 education by promoting the use of technology with real-world, real-time content from around the globe.

Some 360,000 students are expected to follow the voyage of Great
American II.

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Whole Foods Market Coming to Fortunoffs in White Plains

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WPCNR EAST END INQUIRER. From the Mayor’s Press Office. May 9, 2003: UPDATED May 12, 2003 The Mayor’s Office announced Thursday evening that Whole Foods Market, the nation’s largest organic food market has signed a lease to occupy a portion of the new Fortunoffs now under construction at Bloomingdale Road and Maple Avenue in White Plains.

Whole Foods Market will give White Plains two supermarkets within one block of each other on Bloomingdale Road, as WFM joins the recently opened Stop N Shop on Westchester Avenue.

According to the company’s website at www.wholefoods.com, Whole Foods Market has 143 locations across the country. Its nearest location in the New York metropolitan area is in Greenwich and Marlton, New Jersey. It currently has plans to open New York stores at 59th Street and Columbus Circle and Union Square in Manhattan and Jericho, Long Island.

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Democrats Nominate Bernstein, Boykin, Greer for Council. Camacho Quinn Rejected

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WPCNR Backroom Bulletin. By John F. Bailey. May 9, 2003 UPDATED WITH PICTURES: At the Democratic City Committee meeting at the Party Headquarters at 170 East Post Road Thursday evening, Democratic Party District Leaders nominated incumbents Robert Greer for his fourth term for Common Council, and City Council President Benjamin Boykin, Jr. for his second term. They also nominated long term campaign manager, Arnold Bernstein to run for William King’s council seat which Mr. King is vacating.



BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN: Benjamin Boykin and Robert Greer were nominated last evening. Both candidates said it was important to manage White Plains’ growth carefully in the next three years and that was the major challenge and issue the city faced. Both said they would continue to work for all the people of White Plains.
Photo by WPCNR News

After listening to speeches by Boykin, Greer, Bernstein and Eridania Camacho Quinn, who was challenging the Nominating Committee selection of Bernstein, instead of her candidacy, District Leaders voted by secret ballot to reject her bid by what was described to this reporter as a decisive margin.



FAVORITE SON: Arnold Bernstein, left, with Nominating Committee Chairman Howard Glassman right, after Mr. Bernstein received the vote of confidence he was looking for from District Leaders last night. Former Campaign Manager for Adam Bradley, Robert Greer, Glen Hockley, and Rita Malmud, Bernstein now will take a run of his own.
Photo by WPCNR News




SUPPORTING THE TICKET AFTER HER CHALLENGE: Eridania Camacho Quinn, the woman candidate supported by minority leaders and encouraged to challenge the Committee slate, said in the aftermath, “I agreed I would work for the slate. I was assured they would run me at the very next opportunity. I will make sure there is going to be a next time.” She thanked the party for the opportunity to challenge Mr. Bernstein for the nomination to the Common Council. She said she did not think she would primary the other three nominees in September.
Photo by WPCNR News


Mr. Bernstein, commenting on the Camacho Quinn challenge, said “She exercised her rights and we welcome it. She’s a very classy lady.”

When asked about reaching out to the Hispanic community, whose leaders exiting the meeting were very upset with the outcome of the vote, Mr. Bernstein said the party was committed to “putting people first.”

Bernstein said his next step in his campaign would be gathering petition signatures, due by the beginning of July.

Bradley: Strength of Democratic Party

Adam Bradley chatting amiably with WPCNR after emerging from 170 East Post Road said this was one of the strengths of the Democratic Party that people could disagree then come together. He said the party was fortunate to have four such highly qualified candidates.



THE BACK ROOM AT 170 EAST POST ROAD: District Leaders listening to Dennis Power report on a registration effort. Seconds later, WPCNR was asked to leave the meeting.
Photo by WPCNR News


When I arrived at 8 PM, I was announced loudly by Mr. Bernstein at the door of the meeting already in progress. Adam Bradley, New York State Assemblyman, and City Democratic Committee leader, left the head of the meeting and came to the door. He politely said the meeting was not public and was closed to the press, to prevent any further reporting of what he said were “mischaracterizations” of committee actions in the media. For the second time in three years, WPCNR had been ejected from a Democratic City Committee Nominating Convention.

The Last Activist Challenges Bradley Gag Order

Within about 15 minutes of my cooling my heels on East Post Road, Ron Jackson (who gave up his aspirations for the Council in favor of Ms.Camacho Quinn), trooped
down out of the entrance of 170 East Post Road, where I was encamped, awaiting the close of the meeting.



THE LAST ACTIVIST HITS THE STREET: Ron Jackson said he had left the meeting in disgust. He said Adam Bradley had opened the meeting by admonishing committee members not to speak to the press.
Photo by WPCNR News


Jackson told me he was furious. He said he told Bradley and the District Leaders, “When I woke up this morning I thought I was in America. We live in a city that’s diverse. Once the minority community learns this Hispanic woman, a great candidate was rejected, there is going to be some bullet voting.”

After cooling off, Mr. Jackson returned upstairs.

The Hispanic Hope Fades.

Hispanic leaders WPCNR overheard in the hall were discussing primary possibilities at one point. One delegate suggested that on primary day, they figured there were about 450 homes they needed to target to pull out registered Hispanics to vote for Ms. Camacho Quinn. The two persons talking about this talked in low meaningful tones, speaking of organizing phone banks to get out the vote, and organizing a fleet of latino and African American taxicabs to transport voters to the polls.

Speech well-received.

Mr. Jackson came back down at approximately 9:25 to tell me the voting was commencing. He said Ms. Camacho Quinn’s speech was very well received. Whether Mr. Bernstein, Mr. Boykin and Mr. Greer made lengthy speeches, it was hard to determine, given our listening post on the street.

Ms. Camacho Quinn Calls on the Leaders to Make the Effort.

In her speech to the Leaders, acquired by WPCNR, Ms. Camacho Quinn said her nomination would give the party of person familiar with a segment of the city their ticket did not represent, noting,

“I believe in diversity. In a city where, according to the U.S. Census, 15% of its residents are seniors 65 and over, 23% are children under 18, 52.7% of us are women, and 40%, like me, are people of color, we really do need to make a greater effort to have a government that is truly representative of the people. Having this as my mission, I will work hard to keep our party and our city committee united under the one big tent.”

She pledged to support the ticket, no matter what the decision in her speech, and said, “I promise you this: I am qualified to hold office and I assure you that no one will harder for you than I will.”

The Minority Street.

The decisive dismissal of Camacho Quinn’s credentials did not play well to District Leaders of Minority descent.

After the vote was announced, the applause was about half the volume for the Camacho Quinn speech. Minority delegates exited to the street with a look of resignation, puzzlement, and realization on their faces. They appeared sobered by the margin of Ms. Camacho Quinn’s defeat.

Anjel Tejada and Ms. Camacho Quinn’s brother, Hector, talked in slow measured tones about the result, Mr. Tejada saying, “Here you have a woman with a political science degree, extensive campaign experience, and she is not qualified? In four years they haven’t been able to do this. It is not acceptable why we can’t. It can be done.”



“THIS WAS A FIX:” William Campbell of the White Plains Tenants Council was blunt and asked that WPCNR quote his remarks: “I participated in the freedom marches in Selma, Alabama, and I saw more discrimination in this room tonight than I ever saw down there.This deck was stacked right from the beginning. It was fixed.”
Photo by WPCNR News


Meanwhile, in Another Part of Town

After the meeting, WPCNR was contacted by Jeffrey Binder, declared Republican Candidate for Common Council, who reported the Republicans were talking to two women of Hispanic ethnicity to challenge for the Hispanic and minority communities.



THE CITIZEN NET REPORTER TOSSED AGAIN: I await on the street for the completion of another secret Democratic City Committee Meeting. The Journal News did not send a reporter to cover the action.
Photo by WPCNR News

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Thursday Night Fights? Camacho-Quinn Seethes at “Good of the Party Calls.

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WPCNR Backroom Bulletin. By John F. Bailey. May 8, 2003: The most reliable sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, report to WPCNR that Eridania Camacho-Quinn is furious at the lobbying calls she has been receiving from Democrats asking her not to seek to overturn the City Committee’s Nominating Committee choice of Arnold Bernstein to run for outgoing Councilman William King’s seat.

The Committee will place the names of incumbent Common Council President Benjamin Boykin and Robert Greer and that of Mr. Bernstein, Adam Bradley’s Campaign Manager in nomination tonight at the upstairs Democratic Headquarters at 170 East Post Road.

Camacho-Quinn is reported to be determined to go ahead with a floor challenge of the nomination, and is receiving strong advice through phone calls not to make that fight.

Sources close to Ms. Camacho-Quinn report she is receiving calls from Democrats asking her not to mount a challenge “for the good of the Democratic Party.”

Councilwoman Rita Malmud Makes a Personal Call

WPCNR has learned that one of those calls to Ms. Camacho-Quinn was from Rita Malmud, who, when she first ran for the Common Council came to it through her work with the League of Women Voters, and was a housewife herself, according to persons who knew her at the time. Malmud, it is reported, pointed out to Ms. Camacho-Quinn, a new mother, that the council job was very time-consuming, and that Ms. Camacho-Quinn had no idea of how demanding it would be, implying that the council seat responsibilities would take her away from her newborn son, Sebastian.

Sources report Ms. Camacho-Quinn felt this was “condescending” of Ms. Malmud to approach her this way.

Nominating Committee Did Not Like Camacho-Quinn’s Independence on the Issues.

Sources in the Nominating Committee have told Democratic Councilman that Camacho Quinn’s presentation showed a lack of understanding of the issues in White Plains and that they were stunned by her inept presentation.

Camacho-Quinn reportedly is furious at this “official” version of her nominating interview events being fed the media and District Leaders and Democrats by the Nominating Committee, saying that she feels she gave “the wrong answer” when the Nominating Committee asked her how she would make decisions on issues.

Ms. Camacho-Quinn has told friends she answered that she would listen to Mayor Delfino, examine all sides of the issue, and make the decision she felt represented the interests of all the people of White Plains. Friends said Ms. Camacho-Quinn reported she sensed a definite “chill” in the air on the part of the four Nominating Committeepersons interviewing her, believed to be: Adam Bradley, Howard Glassman, Barbara Schwartz, Jim Payne and Robert Wall. Friends report her confiding to them that “It (the interview) went downhill from there, after I indicated I would make up my own mind.”

The Nominating Committee story of the interview, related by White Plains Democrats who reported what they had been told by the Committee, is that Ms. Camacho-Quinn spoke poorly on the issues, and they were shocked at how unready she was to run. On the other hand, the Nominating Committee asked her to interview to run for Council. One Councilman told WPCNR , “They’ll kill me if you tell them I said this, but she would have made a dynamite ticket.”

Experience Needed?

The official story on the Camacho-Quinn rejection maintains she does not have the experience to run for the Common Council. However, experience and familiarity with issues has not distinguished any recent newcomers to Common Council candidacy in the past. Numerous errors of fact, perception, memory and reality were committed by recent successful Democratic candidates for Council, including incumbents, so experience is no guarantee of intelligent, factual campaigning or performance in a Council seat.

The refusal of Ms. Camacho-Quinn, who is described as working terribly hard getting out the vote for Adam Bradley’s upset of Naomi Matusow in last September’s primary, to accept her dismissal is motivated, her friends say by the circumstance that she was never prepped for the nominating committee interview, she was lead to believe she was wanted to run, and that she has a track record of successful, grass roots connection with voters.

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Buying Into the Blood: The Dennis Alvarez-Hernandez Verdict

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. Commentary By S. Richard Blassberg, WPCNR Legal Affairs Correspondent. With Introduction by John F. Bailey. May 8, 2003: The jury spoke yesterday at the Westchester County Courthouse, handing up a verdict of Guilty on All 14 Counts in the matter of the capital punishment Murder Trial of Dennis Alvarez-Hernandez, finding him to have committed First Degree Murder in causing the deaths of Patricia Torres and two of her children.

The jury’s decision makes the death penalty an option for the twelve to sentence Mr. Alvarez-Hernandez to death after they begin deliberations on the sentence next Wednesday. The two summations offered Monday were in stark contrast, and clearly pointed to two paths the jury might have taken on their way to a decision. Herewith, WPCNR’s Legal Affairs Correspondent S. Richard Blassberg examines the summations to determine the jury’s path to judgment as he observed them take place in court Monday:



WPCNR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT
S. RICHARD BLASSBERG
Photo by WPCNR News


It appeared in discussions with Mr. Blassberg, after the verdict, that of the two summations offered by Mr. Alvarez-Hernandez counsel and the Prosecution, and the highly explicit 2-hours of instructions Judge Kenneth Lange presented to the jury, that the jury reacted and responded and only saw the drama of the Prosecution’s relentless recreation of the crimes. They took less than 24 hours to come to their unanimous verdict. The early verdict concerned defense attorneys Spiegel and Aiello when they arrived for the verdict Wednesday.

Now Mr. Blassberg, picks up the court action:

The Final Arguments

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure in the State Court, the Defense presented its summation first. Defense counsel Robort Aiello delivered an account of the events which led up to the killings of Patricia Torres and two of her children, as well as the scenario by which they died.

Aiello commanded the rapt attention of each juror from the moment he opened by holding up enlarged photographs of each of the victims declaring, “Ladies and gentlemen, Dennis Alvarez-Hernandez did this, did this, and did this!” He held their intense interest thereafter for more than two hours in a presentation distinguished in its organization and brilliant in its common logic.

Appeal for Rational Analysis

Aiello gently appealed, “All any defendant can ask for is that you will be fair and impartial.” He went on, “His actions were the result of a blind rage, not planned or calculated.” He suggested that excessive alcohol consumption, instability, and impaired judgment all contributed to the tragedy. He quickly focused the jury’s attention declaring, “The only issue is: What was Dennis’ state of mind on September 3, 2003?” He urged that the conduct was not the result of some “grand scheme” but rather a blind rage fueled by excessive alcohol consumption.

Highly Irregular Objections by the Prosecution During Defense Summation.

At several points in Aiello’s presentation, prosecutor Bolen interrupted with objections, some of which he quickly withdrew. It appeared to this reporter, that the Prosecution was uncomfortable with the effectiveness of the Defense effort and was attempting to break their momentum. Nevertheless, Aiello went on calmly, if dramatically, reasoning that all of the evidence which had been presented in nearly four weeks of testimony was “completely consistent with a frenzied madness.”

Time of Death Critical

Aiello consistently kept the Defense argument that the killings took place around 2:30 A.M. in bold relief before the jurors, frequently referring to the statements of the Prosecution’s own expert witnesses as scientific proof. The time of occurrence had been a matter of great dispute throughout the trial, with the Prosecution claiming that the killings occurred around 6:30 A.M. The issue, of course, would speak to the level of the Defendant’s intoxication at the time of the killings given the fact that he had a .09 blood-alcohol reading when tested at 8:19 A.M. when taken to the hospital.

The Prosecution Steps Up the Pressure.

Following a break for lunch, it was Patricia Murphy’s turn to present the Prosecution’s version. In a presentation described by one highly qualified observer as “a litany of everything a prosecutor should not do in a summation,” Ms. Murphy declared “Patricia Torres, William Santiago and Ashley Dominguez were not just killed, they were slaughtered.” While conceding that alocohol fueled Dennis Alvarez-Hernandez’s rage, she insisted that it was his “urge to control his girlfriend that led him to kill her and two of her children.”

Murphy once again led the jury through the model of the apartment laid out before them throughout the trial. She reminded jurors to re-examine photographs of blood stained walls in an effort to establish the brutality of the Defendant’s acts. She did her very best to inflame and motivate the jurors, as had been the Prosecution’s approach from the start. She made an effort to rehabilitate the testimony of Detective William Craft as well as that of a neighborhood “pothead,” each of whom had been effectively discredited by Aiello earlier.

The Abused Woman Syndrome Invoked.

Describing the victim, Patricia Torres, Murphy observed, “She’s not the first woman who thought she could work things out with an angry drunk man.” This was an obvious reference intended to overcome Defense evidence that Dennis had tried to move away from Patricia, following a violent incident two months before the killings, but was prevailed upon by her, and brought back by her from Maryland.

Call for a Mistrial Based on the Prosecution’s Summation.

Tuesday morning, before the Judge’s charge was delivered, Defense attorney Spiegel moved for a mistrial based upon numerous improper and misleading statements which he went on to detail for the Court from the Prosecution’s summation. Many of Spiegel’s examples involved vouching, and violation of the Unsworn Witness Rule. Additionally, Spiegel was outraged by Ms. Murphy’s reference to the Defendant’s failure to tesitify, a very serious instance of prosecutorial misconduct.

After listening to prosecutor Bolen’s response, the judge denied Defense’s application.

The Judge’s Charge

Judge Kenneth Lange, who throughout the trial had taken great pain to be both even-handed and careful in the discharge of his duties, was not disappointing in any aspect of his charge.

Taking approximately two hours to inform carefully and fully the jurors of their responsibilities, and their options under the law, he went on to discuss thoroughly the necessary elements of each crime with which the Prosecution had charged the Defendant. He explained that in each instance, they would have to find that each and every element of a crime had been satisfied “beyond a reasonable doubt” if guilt were to be found.

Judge Lange had obviously taken great care in the preparation of his instructions and now took the time and effort to inform the jury fully. He was compelled to repeat the definitions and elements of each of the fourteen counts of the original indictment which involve First Degree Murder, Second Degree Intentional Murder, Attempted Murder and Attempted Assault. To all of the charged offenses he then proceeded to add six counts of Depraved Indifference Murder, an alternative finding, which more closely conforms to the Defense theory of the killings.

The Jury Decides

Upon completion of the charge, the jury retired Tuesday afternoon to consider their verdict, which they delivered Wednesday, rejecting the Defense theory, and finding the client guilty of murder in the First Degree.

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