WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2017. From the Latimer Campaign. August 4, 2017:
WHITE PLAINS WEEK OF AUGUST 4–ON THE INTERNET NOW INSTANTLY
JOHN BAILEY JIM BENEROFE PETER KATZ
EXPLODE ON THE INTERNET NOW
THE DEMOCRATIC CITY COMMITTEE CHALLENGE OF
LECUONA, GOLDMAN, KRAVER, SIDDIQUI PETITIONS
THE ELECTRICITY SHOCK: JOULE ASSETS MAKES BID THAT WOULD GUARANTEE ELECTRICITY SAVINGS FOR 20 YEARS. TO BE OFFERED TO SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER MEMBER CITIES AND CUSUMERS IN FALL.
THE WHITE PLAIMS MALL REZONING HEARING MONDAY.
PLAYLAND ATTENDANCE AT MIDSEASON
AND
MORE
Mr. Mayor: Why You Should Withdraw Your Lawsuit Against Primary Challengers
WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. August 4, 2017 (Provided to WPCNR with request for publication):
Open letter to Hon. Mayor Thomas M. Roach
Dear Mayor Roach:
We understand that you, John Martin, John Kirkpatrick, and Justin Brasch have filed a challenge with the Board of Elections regarding the signatures that were collected on petitions for Milagros Lecuona, Alan Goldman, Saad Siddiqui, and Michael Kraver to get their names put on the ballot for a Democratic primary this September.
This is well within your right. The procedure that is in place with the Board of Elections should provide enough assurance that, if the signatures on these petitions are deemed invalid, your opponents will not be allowed to run. What we do not understand, however, is why a lawsuit has also been filed against them. It is unclear to us what purpose this lawsuit serves.
Saad Siddiqui in particular is a longtime friend of the Greer family. He has been friends with Alexis since their years at White Plains High School, and he spent a great deal of time at our house speaking about politics and history with Councilman Bob Greer, who as you may recall served on the White Plains Common Council for over 15 years.
Saad is the kind of candidate Bob would have endorsed: an honest, intelligent, idealistic, concerned citizen who has gotten involved in politics for the good of this city and its residents. He has dedicated his professional career to helping those in need, from his early work as a legal aid attorney to his current private practice. He has consistently devoted his considerable energy to community service and social justice, and he is a District Leader for the White Plains Democratic City Committee.
Saad and his family cannot support his portion of the burden of this lawsuit with their own money, and lawsuits are so expensive that his campaign dollars may run dry simply to help his slate pay legal fees. If this occurs, Saad and at least some of the other members of his slate may become unable to run at all.
We would like to believe that using a lawsuit to drain the campaign coffers of fellow Democrats is not your intent. However, with an established challenge procedure already in place that does not involve such costly measures, it is difficult to see any other intent behind the lawsuit.
Perhaps even more troublingly, the lawsuit as filed by you and the other members of your slate seeks to invalidate all the signatures collected by the members of Saad’s slate.
Doing so would effectively silence the voices of many of those you are sworn to serve and runs counter to the Democratic ideals Bob held so dear. Again, it is within your right to challenge petitions before the Board of Elections, but we respectfully request that you withdraw this unnecessary lawsuit.
Sincerely,
Helen Greer and Alexis Greer Heidenberg
Legislator Ken Jenkins Charges Astorino Refuses to Share Airport Proposals with Board of Legislators
WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From County Legislator Kenneth Jenkins. August 3, 20017:
Ken Jenkins charged Tuesday that County Executive Robert Astorino is attempting to close the Westchester County Airport request for proposals process (proposals for leasing and running the county airport were submitted Monday), without working with the Board of Legislators.
The County Executive intends to keep all airport RFP responses from the Board of Legislators,” throwing a wrench” in the recommendation process, Jenkins stated in a news release. (Editor’s Note: Jenkins is running against George Latimer in the September 12 Democratic Primary to run against Mr. Astorino in the November county executive race.)
“Astorino just wants to cover up his budget mistakes and his bad management with a deal that leaves the people of Westchester in the lurch,” said Jenkins. “A $15 million hole in the budget has Astorino itching to move forward with the RFP with his preferred deal. He’s not worried about the consequences because he will not be here to see the deal through.”
Jenkins restated that the RFP process should be scuttled until there is an Airport Master Plan approved by the BOL.
The County Executive’s office receives all RFP applications, and once they are shared the consultant, Frasca, reviews the proposals to give input on which ones are viable and responsive to the RFP. All viable proposals are then shared with the members of the Task Force, who then conduct a review and make a recommendation to the County Executive.
“Astorino once again skirts his responsibilities, and refuses to conduct a transparent process with the airport RFP,” said Jenkins. “Government is about working with each other to come to a solution that will benefit the residents of Westchester County in the long run. Westchester could save $150 million if we do nothing, and don’t move forward with the RFP.
First, it was the disaster of a draft Airport Master plan (Editor’s note:presented last week) and now this clandestine removal of legislative oversight. As always, this latest action is another example of his unwillingness to work with the Board of Legislators to accomplish real progress in Westchester.”

