Impounded! Machines to be Recanvassed in the 89th.

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WPCNR MILKMAN’S MATINEE NEWS DELIVERY. September 11, 2002 UPDATED NEW PHOTO & BOARD OF ELECTIONS NUMBERS AS OF 1:10 PM EDT: Adam Bradley filed a court order at approximately 11:30 PM to midnight Tuesday evening, impounding the voting machines in the eight towns in the 89th Assembly District, saying the race was “too close to call.”

The Board of Elections website as of 1:10 PM Wednesday afternoon was still reporting only 85% of election districts accounted for in their unofficially posted results which show Ms. Matusow leading Mr. Bradley by 86 votes. This margin has remained the same on the Board of Elections website without being updated since 10:15 PM Tuesday evening.



HERE WE GO AGAIN: The impoundment order filed by Adam Bradley near midnight last night which calls for rounding up the approximately 50 to 60 voting machines in the 78 Election Districts making up the 89th Assembly District, pending a recanvass to determine the winner in Bradley’s primary challenge of Naomi Matusow. Bradley said he spoke with Matusow approximately 12:45 AM and she “agreed it was too close to call,” according to Bradley and that she had 11 districts she did not have numbers for, but did not disclose her numbers to him. Asked if she had commented that he had run a good race, Bradley said, she did not.

Photo by WPCNR

The numbers as reported on the Board of Elections website as of 1:10 PM:

Office ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 89

PARTY 67 Districts out of 78 Reporting (85)% Votes Percent

73% of Absentee Ballots Counted

DEM BRADLEY, ADAM T 2,131 49%

DEM MATUSOW, NAOMI C 2,217 51%

Office Totals 4,348 100%

TURN-OUT 15%

Bradley’s campaign manager, Jonathan Appel, was confident that according to the Bradley camp’s unofficial reports from the machines on site around the district that Mr. Bradley was maintaining a winning margin over Naomi Matusow of approximately 200 votes based on the White Plains numbers they had in their possession.



PRIMARY ANALYSTS: Jonathan Appel, left, and B. J. Markus, right, monitored Board of Election Returns, and compared them with their unofficial reports from the 78 Election Districts across the 89th.
Photo by WPCNR


Appel said conservatively he felt Bradley had a 120 to 150-vote margin, even though as of 1:30 AM, two districts from Lewisboro, two districts in Bedford and one from Mount Kisco, and one from White Plains had not reported in to him yet. Appel said he did not expect the Bedford and Lewisboro numbers to impact the Bradley lead because the Andrew Cuomo “pull-out” had held down the Bedford count, in his opinion.



BRADLEY BRIGADES CAMPAIGNED STRONGLY UP UNTIL 9 PM,POLLS DEADLINE:Jane Silverman and Maureen Keating Tsuchiya, volunteers for Adam Bradley’s 89th Assembly campaign, chatted with President Bill Clinton Tuesday evening at the Chappaqua Train Station. President Clinton was waiting for his daughter Chelsea to arrive from Grand Central Station. Silverman and Tsuchiya were making their final appeal to commuters to vote for Bradley, Markus & Schlaff before the polls closed.
Photo From Maureen Keating Tsuchiya


In an eerie replay of the Larry Delgado-Glen Hockley election count scenario of November of last year, The Board of Elections posted no results after 10:15 PM, when they showed with 85% of the districts counted that Matusow lead by a 51% to 49% margin. Both camps only had their own numbers to rely on.

White Plains Puts Bradley in Driver’s Seat

In early returns, Ms. Matusow was doing better leading Bradley at one time by 52% to 48% at 10 PM with 47 Districts In. Five minutes later, the gap had narrowed to 49%-51%, Matusow with half the districts in. Appel was optimistic because the bulk of White Plains returns had not come in yet.



HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Arnold Bernstein, (center), Adam Bradley’s Co-Chair announced the Bradley team’s unofficial White Plains results that as of this writing appear, according the Bradley number-crunchers, to have Mr. Bradley leading the race, pending the recanvass.
Photo by WPCNR


Optimism increased in the lively room when Bradley and Matusow were tied with 50% of the vote each with 63% of the districts reporting. It was the next-to-the-last Board of Elections results for the evening by our count.

Then Arnold Bernstein rode to the rescue at 10:20 PM. Bradley’s Co-Chairman of his campaign had figures from White Plains, with 66 of 78 districts reporting, his personal reports from the White Plains E.D.’s showed Bradley running ahead of Matusow 1,071 to 399, or 3 to 1.



INTO THE NIGHT: Assemblyman-Maybe Adam Bradley leaving the Gedney Grille at 1:30 AM this morning, looking forward to the recanvass of the vote and a new political future.
Photo by WPCNR

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Adam Bradley Expected to Win Assembly Primary by 2 to 300 votes.

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WPCNR EVENING CITY STAR REPORTER. September 10, 2002: At 11:15 PM Tuesday evening, Jonathan Appel, Adam Bradley’s Campaign Manager, based on unofficial returns retrieved by their “Election District Runners” said he expected Adam Bradley to wind up with approximately 2,600 votes to incumbent Assemblywoman Naomi Matusow’s 2,400 votes.

The numbers at the time were awaiting results from four districts, District 4 in White Plains and 3 districts in Lewisboro. Bradley’s numbers people were confident based on their unofficial counts that the challenger was going to win.



“TOO CLOSE TO CALL:” Adam Bradley addressing his campaign workers at the Gedney Grille Tuesday evening prior to his impounding the voting machines. He said, “I want to thank you for all you have done,” and that the day’s vote showed White Plains and the towns of the district wanted a representative to represent them “ably.” He said the sales tax issue “resonated” with the voters, as did Ms. Matusow’s too little, too late position on Indian Point. He said later upon returning from filing the petition to impound that he was “cautiously optimistic” going into the recanvass, which he said might be begin Friday, depending on the Board of Elections, which would determine when the recount would begin. Johnathan Appel, Campaign Manger is in center, and B.J. Marcus, another Election Night Analyst is in background.
Photo by WPCNR

The strength lay in Bradley’s sweeping White Plains districts by a 3 to 1 margin, unofficially 1,070 votes to Matusow’s 399 in White Plains districts.

Bradley addressing his supporters at the Gedney Grille in White Plains said the race was too close to call. At 11:10 PM he left the gathering to file an impoundment order on the voting machines.

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McMahon, DePaso, Hilliard, Rosenthal to the Hall of Fame

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WPCNR School Days Report Card Dispatch. September 10, 2002: Four distinguished White Plains High School graduates were announced as the 2002 inductees into the White Plains High School Hall of Fame Monday evening at the Board of Education meeting at Education House.

The graduates are Frank McMahon, Class of 1933; Joseph DePaso, Class of 1941; Verdell Hilliard, Class of 1947, and Steven Rosenthal, Class of 1984. The four will be officially inducted on Tuesday, November 19.



THE FOUR HONOREES were announced by new WPHS Principal Dr. Christine Robbins who said , “I am especially pleased that inductees into the White Plains Hall of Fame spend time with students and have an opportunity to share their insights and experiences in the classroom and in group sessions. This year, with the memory and impact of the events of 9/11 still fresh, it is fitting and appropriate that all four of the inductees have devoted their lives, and in some cases, their professional careers, to helping others and to community service.”
Photo by WPCNR


Frank McMahon: A Household Name in the City.

Mr. McMahon graduated from WPHS in 1933 and buildt the largest funeral home business in Westchester County, while serving the city as a White Plains City Councilman, as President of the White Plains Firemen’s Relief Association, and as a Commissioner of the White Plains Parking Authority. He was also a volunteer fireman for nearly 60 years.

Joseph DePaso: Teacher Who Made a Difference.

A graduate of WPHS in 1941, Mr. DePaso served four years with the Marines in the South Pacific and then returned to the high school to teach in 1954. From 1954 to 1984, he eventually became Chairman of the Fine and Practical Arts Department, coached basketball, cross-country and football. He was also Senior Class Advisor and was named Teacher of the Year. In the community he was a volunteer fireman, a scoutmaster and Salvation Army volunteer. He passed away in 1997.

Verdell Hilliard: Fifty Years A Nurse in White Plains.

Ms. Hilliard is a member of the WPHS Class of 1947. During her career as a nurse, she was a school nurse at White Plains Middle School and Archbishop Stepinac High School. She served 14 years on the White Plains Youth Board and is active today in community service organizations. She has won local and regional awards for her service and community leadership.

Steven Rosenthal: Internationalist. Aid in 9/11 Rescue Effort.

Mr. Rosenthal graduated White Plains High in 1984, and founded Cross-Cultural Solutions in 1995 with one volunteer program in India. His organization today is active in seven countries in four continents and it is described by the Board of Education as “a leading catalyst for social development worldwide.”

Rosenthal and his organization, headquartered in New Rochelle, volunteered to help after the 9/11 attacks, eventually taking over the task of providing up to 10,000 meals a day to rescue workers at the Trade Center disaster site, placing some 6,500 volunteers in position during the recovery efforts.

Dr. Robbins invited the community to attend induction ceremonies for the 2002 Four on Tuesday of American Education Week, November 19 at White Plains High School. The four persons announced Monday evening join the 30 White Plains High School graduates previously selected.

Robbins said, in her remarks, that “Other scholls I’ve worked at had Halls of Fame and I have found that they are a terrific way to not only celebrate the achievements of outstanding graudates, but to also recognize the contributions of the high school teachers and staff, both past and present.”

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Paulin Lauded on Administering Children’s Medications Legal Solution

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VOICE. From Lottie Harris of Child Care Council of Westchester. September 9, 2002: Assemblywoman Amy Paulin’s office shares these comments about the Assemblywoman’s role in recent legislation affecting medication of children.
August 30, 2002

To The Editor:

This letter is to express appreciation for Assemblywoman Amy Paulin’s efforts, which resulted in an amendment to the Nurse Practitioners Act. For three years, child care directors, advocates, and representatives of the Bureau of Early Childhood Services tried to find a solution to issues raised about a practice that had been in place for many years. The regulations of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services governing the provision of medication and treatment of children in child care permitted a very necessary practice for many children. However, within the past three years, child care programs suddenly became legally vulnerable for doing what they were permitted to do by regulation for many years.

It was only when Assemblywoman Paulin took on this issue that all the State agencies involved were brought together and a solution was agreed upon, even though it is temporary. Child care representatives and parents are very grateful for her interest, persistence, and success.

Thank you, Assemblywoman Paulin, for being so supportive of child care issues.

Sincerely,

Lottie Harris

Executive Director, Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc.

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King Komments: Calls for New Fountain Cost Breakdown

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WPCNR’S KING KOMMENTS. By Councilman William King. September 9, 2002: The councilman takes a look at the White Plains downtown fountain and raises some concerns about the $3 Million fountain project described to the Common Council last week.


MAKEOVER FOR DOWNTOWN FOUNTAIN PLAZA: The White Plains Main Street and Mamaroneck Avenue fountain on Monday, September 9, 2002.

Photo by WPCNR


How sure are you of the general $#’s for the Main-Mamaroneck Fountain Plaza work? Do you know what the annual costs of operation and maintenance will be? Can you give a breakdown of the construction costs? i.e., how much to remove the 15-20 trees, how much for regrading and resurfacing, how much for demolishing the existing fountain (will the new proposed fountain utilize any of the existing underground pumps, etc.?), how much for the new fountains themselves?



SHADE TREES TO BE REMOVED: The Main and Mamaroneck Fountain as it appears in bright sunlight Monday. As part of the city’s second phase of Revitalization, the city proposes removing the present plaza and trees for a new fountain/lightshow/ plaza (See last week’s story), at a projected cost of approximately $3 Million. The fountain has been criticised by the city administration as in poor repair, dark and uninviting, and an encouragement to loiterers.
Photo by WPCNR


I went to the plaza yesterday to give it a good look, to see what actually has to be dealt with and to size it up and picture what it would look like with the new design. It struck me how many trees are there now (all of the same variety which I could not identify), how well they are actually doing in an otherwise paved-over, shady space with a lot of traffic going by, and how many pigeons actually sit up in the branches (a lot).

It struck me when I heard the church bells sounding from Grace Church that there was no way to actually see Grace Church from the Court Street side of the plaza, so thick are the trees. I wondered if it was actually necessary to cut down and uproot the trees nearest the buildings, in order to plant new trees that the landscape architect is proposing (I forgot the variety Sasaki said would do well there).


PROPOSED DESIGN, as seen from Macy’s looking back towards the City Center. The three green squares to the right are “greens,” the four blue areas are proposed fountains that would stage a “choreography of waters” at various times throughout the day and evening to recorded music.
Photo by WPCNR

In essence, I would just like to know how much would it cost to “open up” the plaza by removing most of the trees, demolishing the existing fountain, removing the earthen barrier on the Main Street side, and replanting the whole area with grass or grass and new sidewalks and how much will it cost just for the new fountains proposed? How much for regular fountains versus the high-tech, software-dependent ones?

I would like to be assured that the high-tech sound and light shows don’t cost an arm and a leg over and above everything else (would that be what Cappelli would be paying for?).

I am concerned that the City, and specifically the Downtown, also has other needs where we have to spend money, including the Community Theater at the City Center, fixing up Tibbits Park more and doing the Court Street extension. But, believe me, I would like that ugly fountain out of there quickly and the plaza area fixed up.

Councilman William King

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Super Lawyers File for White Plains. Move to 360 Ham

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. From Reckson Associates. September 7, 2002: Reckson Associates Realty Corporation and the Mayor’s Office jointly announced that the nation’s largest law firm, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom will park their attache cases at Reckson Metro Center, 360 Hamilton Avenue, leasing 48,842 square feet at the Center.
Skadden Arps ranks first in the dollar value of merger and acquisition agreements in the United States in 2002. The firm serves a clientele of leading corporations. They will occupy the space vacated by Metromedia Fiber.

Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains, in a statement, welcomed the “Super Lawyers” to Westchester’s fastest growing city and business center: “I want to take this opportunity to welcome Skadden, Arps to the White Plains Central Business District. I also want to commend the Reckson Metro Center on its ability to attract firms like Skadden, Arps to White Plains and contributing to a flourishing Central Business District.”

Skadden Arps joins a roster of bluechip tenants at Reckson’s gleaming 360 Hamilton venue which Merrill Lynch, Prudential Insurance and Heineken USA, Inc.

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Bradley Campaign Irked by Spano’s “Dial-A-Democrat” Calls.

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WPCNR NEWSREEL. By John F. Bailey September 7,9 2002 UPDATED MONDAY 3:30 PM EDT: The Bradley campaign contacted WPCNR Friday to register an official protest of what some District 89 Democrats described as “heavy-handed” tactics by County Executive Andy Spano in the September 10 Democratic Primary race.

In a “Dial-A-Democrat” Campaign of their own, a prerecorded phone message from White Plains Councilperson Rita Malmud was being automatedly sent out to Democrats Monday. In it, Malmud urged Democrats to vote “for our own Adam Bradley.”
Mr. Bradley’s Campaign Manager reported Friday and the Westchester County Department of Communications office confirmed, that District 89 Democrats were telephoned Thursday evening and received a pre-recorded message from County Executive Spano urging them to vote for the Spano-endorsed District Leaders, rather than the Bradley candidates because “he needed their support.”

Maureen Keating-Tsuchiya, Co-Chair of the New Castle Democratic Party said a number of Democratic voters registered to vote in the Tuesday primary had contacted her protesting the pressure tactic. She said this was “unprecedented” in a primary campaign, “disturbing” and “heavy handed.”

Asked if such calls were made, the Westchester County Department of Communications responded, “Yes.” No other comment was made.

Speculation in the Bradley camp was rampant Saturday evening as to what organization paid for the pep talk, and where Mr. Spano’s pep talk calls were made from, since no political action committees exist for the Spano-endorsed delegates, according to B. J. Marcus, a District Leader candidate running with Adam Bradley, targeted by the calls.

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Matusow Supported by Democratic Gubernatorial Nominees

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WPCNR NEWSREEL. From the Naomi Matusow Campaign. September 7, 2002: State Comptroller and Democratic gubernatorial candidate H. Carl McCall and his running mate Dennis Mehiel today endorsed Naomi Matusow in her bid for re-election to the State Assembly.
“Naomi Matusow’s record of looking out for our families and children is unsurpassed,” McCall said. “It takes a solid commitment and a lot of hard work to get the kind of results Naomi has. I look forward to continuing to work with Naomi to make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

In particular, McCall noted Matusow, a former teacher, has a distinguished record of improving children’s lives. Not only has she secured a record $20 million increase in aid for local schools during her tenure, Matusow authored historic legislation to protect children, including measures to ban assault weapons and require background check on school employees.

“New York needs more leaders like Naomi Matusow,” Mehiel said. “She’s demonstrated strong leadership on the economy, and she understands what’s necessary to get our state back on track and stay competitive with the rest of the country.”

“I’m honored to have this endorsement, which affirms all the hard work I’m putting into making Westchester County and New York State a better place for our families,” Matusow said. “Carl, Dennis and I share many of the same goals for our working families – providing a first-class education for all our children, creating good jobs, and making health care and prescription drugs more affordable. Working together, we can accomplish great things for New York.”

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County Says “No” to White Plains Shuttle Bus.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Councilman William King. September 6, 2002: White Plains Councilman William King reports that County Transportation Commissioner Lawrence Salley has ended White Plains hopes for a county-subsidized shuttle bus between Westchester Avenue corporate parks and the White Plains residential neighborhoods.
The final answer is “no” from County DOT Commissioner Larry Salley on adjusting Westchester Avenue office park shuttle bus routes for 2-way commuter bus service serving White Plains residential neighborhoods (like the Highlands, Gedney Farms, Bryant Gardens, the Dales, Soundview, Reynal Park, Colonial Corners, Havilands Manor …).

The only option now is for the City of White Plains to buy one or more of the County’s older shuttle buses for $1 each and pay for bus drivers and maintenance out of city funds. State or federal subsidies might be a possibility but requires someone to apply for a grant. I have fyi’ed state and federal elected officials. – Bill King

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Connors, New Superintendent of Schools Visits CNA Tuesday

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WPCNR TOAST OF THE TOWN. From Marc Pollitzer, Council of Neighborhood Associations. September 6, 2002: Residents of White Plains are invited to meet Timothy Connors, new White Plains Superintendent of Schools, Tuesday evening at the monthly Council of Neighborhood Associations meeting. The meeting begins at 7:45 at Education House, 5 Homeside Lane, White Plains.

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