THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

Assembly Education Committee Adds to Governor’s Budget on Education, Disabled Housing, Workers Serving Disabled. Rejects $27.4 Million for Charter Schools

Posted on March 23, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti. March 23, 2016:

Assemblyman Abinanti, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries & Education Technology, was appointed as one of the Assembly’s representatives to the Education General Budget Conference Committee where the Assembly and Senate negotiate their differences in education.

Click the image below to view Assemblyman Abinanti’s comments at the 11:15 mark:

Here are some of the Assembly’s changes:

Education

The Assembly provides an increase of $2.13 billion in education aid over last year’s funding levels, an increase of $1.2 billion over the Governor’s proposal. The Assembly budget:

increases Foundation Aid by $1.1 billion, an increase of $875 million over the Governor’s proposal;
fully restores the GEA of $434 million, an additional $244 million over the Governor’s proposal;
rejects the Governor’s proposal linking school aid increases to school districts’ annual teacher and principal evaluation plans;
proposes $200 million on a school year basis in Community Schools Aid for struggling schools, an increase of $100 million over the Governor’s proposal;
includes $14.3 million to fully restore funding for Teacher Resources and Computer Training Centers;
increases funding 2% for Special Acts, 853 and 4201 Schools for the Blind and Deaf, $2 million over the Governor’s proposal; and
rejects the Governor’s proposed $27.4 million in direct funding to charter schools.

Higher Education

The Assembly invests an additional $1.7 billion in higher education, providing for a two-year tuition freeze for CUNY and SUNY students in addition to a 20% increase for opportunity programs. The Assembly proposal also increases the base operating aid for community colleges by $100 per full-time equivalent and raises the maximum TAP award by $100 to $5,265 per student.

Libraries

The Assembly provides $96.6 million in aid to public libraries – a 5.5% increase of $5 million over the Governor’s proposal and $24 million in the Public Library Construction Aid Program – a 70% increase of $10 million over the Governor’s proposal.

People with Special Needs

The Assembly rejects the Governor’s proposed changes to early intervention which would have impeded access to services. The Assembly proposal commits $200 million to cover the costs of a minimum wage increase for direct care workers who provide services to people with special needs. In addition, the Assembly proposal invests $100 million over five years for additional housing opportunities for people with special needs.

Ethics

While passing the budget, the Assembly also passed an ethics reform proposal to increase transparency in government and to limit the influence of special interests. The Assembly bill:

bars legislators from receiving outside income unless it is directly related to work actually performed – proportional to the services rendered;
prohibits elected officials working as lawyers from receiving referral fees for simply recommending a lawyer;
limits outside income for legislators to 40% of the annual salary of state Supreme Court justices;
closes the “LLC Loophole” – subjecting LLCs to the same $5,000 aggregate campaign contribution limit that currently exists for corporations; and
increases public disclosure for groups that lobby in New York.

Business Council of Westchester Using Survey Results, asks Westchester Albany Reps to Reject $15 Minimum Wage

Posted on March 22, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Business Council of Westchester. March 22, 2016:

The Business Council of Westchester (BCW) today announced its strong opposition to Governor Cuomo’s proposed increase in the State Minimum Wage to $15 an hour and called on the members of Westchester’s State Legislative delegation to reject the increase.

The Council’s decision was reached following the results of an in-depth survey of chief executive officers and senior executives of BCW member businesses and organizations. Nearly two thirds opposed the increase with a significant number stating that the increase would result in reduced hiring, curtailed expansion plans and possible layoffs.

John Ravitz, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Westchester’s largest business membership organization, said that “rather than having a knee-jerk reaction to the proposed increase, we asked our members to examine the consequences to their businesses including payroll taxes, benefits, overtime and hiring of seasonal employees and Workforce Development youth. We created a detailed member-survey. The results clearly demonstrate that the downsides to the increase far outweigh any gains and, in fact, could have unintended negative impacts on the low wage earners that it is intended to help.”

BCW President and Chief Executive Officer Marsha Gordon said that “while some of our members expressed support for the increase, the results and particularly the comments offered by many of those responding, demonstrated that however well-intended, the increase will damage New York’s competitive position and encourage some businesses to leave the state or cease operations entirely. Obviously that is not acceptable and the legislature should not enact the increase. We are sharing the survey findings with our Westchester state legislative delegation so that the members can understand the concerns of businesses and non-profits in their districts.”

Mount Kisco-based DataKey Consulting conducted the survey over a period of three weeks in February. Of those responding, 77 percent were for profit businesses and the balance non-profits, with 96 percent of the respondents being CEOs or executive managers able to speak for their respective organizations. The respondents employ from 10 to more than 100 employees representing 30 different industries and organizations.

Among the key conclusions of those who expressed opposition to the $15 wage:

97% said it would decrease their hiring from youth workforce development programs.
91% would likely or definitely hire fewer employees.
47% said it would somewhat or significantly drive up wages for other employees.
46% would likely or definitely curtail expansion plans.
42% would likley or definitely reduce employee benefits to make up for the increase.
37% said it would likely or definitely cause layoffs.
15% said they would need to close their businesses.

Ravitz said the BCW was particularly concerned about the potential impact on hiring young people who are in job training programs such as the Westchester-Putnam Youth Workforce Development Board that is managed by the BCW. “We place 225 young people in summer jobs each year and these positions could be eliminated as a result of having a $15 minimum wage. If the higher wage means fewer job opportunities, especially for young people, then it is self-defeating.”

The comments offered by many of the survey respondents about the impact of a 50 precent hike in the minimum wage were revealing. Here are several:

“I believe it could have a very negative effect on many small businesses and non-profits. Our organization has many young employees (students) who work part-time. In most cases they are not supporting families, rent or mortgages. It is not practical to pay a 16 or 17 year old $15 an hour for their first job.”

“My employees would not end up making more money because if they kept their job their hours would be reduced, therefore netting the same amount or not being employed by us.”

“I think the compression issue alone would be daunting as our long-tenured employees would resent entry-level employees coming in at a rate that is so high.”

“Increased wages won’t magically increase productivity.”

FEINER ON REASSESSMENT SITUATION–ASSESSOR TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS ON VIDEO.

Posted on March 22, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, March 22, 2016:

(Editor’s Note: The controversy among Greenburgh homeowners unhappy with their reassessments by Tyler Technologies and the company methods is abating somewhat. Supervisor Feiner tells us the situation as of Monday:)

REASSESSMENT UPDATE–A REQUEST BY ARDSLEY VETERANS FOR STATE TO PICK UP COSTS OF TAX BREAKS

Have spent some time today (Monday) discussing Reassessment concerns with Assessor Edye McCarthy.

Most of the people who contacted me over the weekend- highlighted the difficulty they had getting an appointment with Tyler Technologies.

The good news: Not as big a problem Monday.

Most were able to reach Tyler today. Meetings have been scheduled with Tyler & taxpayers beginning this week. There still were a few people who have tried calling and haven’t been able to get through. Hopefully, Tyler will be able to handle the call volume and schedule appointments with everyone who believes that their projected assessments need to be corrected.

A number of people have question about the assessment process. Edye McCarthy will be taping a short info-mercial today that I will post a link to (by Wednesday) answering the questions that have been raised by taxpayers regarding the reassessment. Hopefully this will help.

I spoke with State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins and Assemblyman Tom Abinanti.

I suggested that they consider introducing legislation that would increase the amount of income senior citizens can earn to be eligible for senior citizen tax breaks. The current dollar amount, according to the Assessor, is $37,000–which is not practical for seniors living in Westchester. Trying to think of other initiatives that could be taken to help those who will be facing tax hikes as a result of reassessment.

PAUL FEINER

(Editor’s Note: a short history of the attempt to ease the burden on veterans is noted by a letter Mr. Feiner included in his update:)

From: Frank Pagani

Subject: Veterans Urge Action to Pass A 966 to Reform Property Tax Exemption.

The members of the Ardsley American Legion Post 458 urge the NY State Legislature to pass A 966 that was introduced recently by Assemblyman Tom Abinanti and which Senator Carlucci has sponsored in the Senate. It would reimburse school districts that adopt the veterans alternative property tax exemption so that veterans everywhere throughout the state enjoy the benefit, not just some of us.

As you well know, the alternative veterans property tax exemption is not the first time a well-intended piece of legislation missed the mark, either at the local, town, county, state or federal level. By leaving it to the school districts to pass the measure, the result was a “Tale of 2 Cities” in which about 50% of the school districts signed on and 50% did not, most citing that the state should pick up the cost instead of the taxpayers. That is what Assemblyman Abinanti’s legislation will do, ending once and for all this glaring and unfair disparity.

Frank Pagani

Ardsley American Legion Post 458

Senator Latimer Supports State Senate Budget.

Posted on March 22, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the office of District 37 State Senator George Latimer. March 22, 2016:

Senator George Latimer (D-Westchester) backed the Senate Republican’s One-House Budget Bill last Monday, as part of the process to finalize the NYS 2016-17 Budget, due to close by March 31.

“No budget bill is ever perfect”, Senator Latimer stated “but there were key negotiating points in the Republican bill that made sense to be included in the coming Senate-Assembly negotiations”.

Specifically, Senator Latimer cited the positives in the Republican bill:

* Full restoration of GEA funding to schools

* Rejection of Executive plans to restructure STAR program benefits

* Presence of a proposed middle-class tax cuts for residents

* Increased library funding

* Rejection of Executive Budget transfer of MTA costs to utility ratepayers

* Additional highway repair funds for road repairs (CHIPS)

* Freezes SUNY tuition rates for 2016-17 School Year

* Increases TAP funding to assist college students

* Supports small business tax cuts

“The resolution also referenced a paid Family Leave program, and other important provisions, that I expect will be negotiated in the days ahead”, Latimer said. There were areas where Senator Latimer felt the resolution was deficient: assistance to our local governments through AIM; stronger Foundation aid support to schools; and minimum wage provisions.

“We have too much partisanship in Albany – we’re fighting the next election instead of finding compromise and agreement. I think this was another good time to take a stand for cooperation”, Latimer concluded.