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)

California Dept. of Transportation Investigating 33% Failure Rate of Key Earthquake Proofing Rods on New Oakland Bay Bridge — Constructed by NY’s New Tappan Zee Contractor

Posted on June 19, 2013 by John Bailey

THE NEW OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE (ON LEFT)- BEING BUILT BY NY’S TAPPAN ZEE CONTRACTORS–SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN SEPTEMBER

WPCNR TAPPAN ZEE NEWS. By John F. Bailey. June 19, 2013:

Media in the Bay area are swarming over the failures of one/third of 96 seismic safety bolts installed in the main structural tower out of a total of 2,300 “suspect bolts” (California Department of Transportation words) now being tested for integrity. The new Oakland Bay Bridge ia scheduled to open in September. The official Caltrans statement may be seen at http://baybridgeinfo.org/rods

The problems with the rods were discovered in March of this year, when, as The New York Times noted in a front page article by Norimitsu Onishi last Saturday, 32 of 96 of the 17 to 34 foor long bolts installed in the main tower snapped.

In chronicling the troubles encountered by these key earthquake safety features, The Times failed to connect that the contractors of the Oakland Bay Bridge are the same contractors New York State has selected to build the new Tappan Zee Bridge, Fluor Corporation and American Bridge Company which form Tappan Zee Constructors.

According to the California Department of Transportation, The Toll Bridge Oversight Committee which had been planning on a grand September Labor Day opening of the bridge, three things must happen before they can open the bridge:

* Completion of the investigation of why the seismic bolts failed.

* Firm date for the affixing of concrete saddles to reinforce the 96 bolts in place that cannot be removed. The approximate date is July 10

* A determination of what to do about the 2,300 bolts now being tested.

The oversight committee on May 29 also detailed a laundry list of problems the bridge has before opening, including “bad welds in the tower base, corroded skyway tendons and alignment of the suspension deck and Yerba Buena Island deck off by “a couple of inches,” which have been corrected.

In reviewing Bay area news coverage of the bridge, it is reported that according to documents released by the California Department of Transportation, Caltrans own inspectors identified problems with the bolts in 2007 and 2008. The Associated Press reported it is unclear whether the problems were remedied before they were installed. Caltrans inspectors noted bolts failed structural integrity tests and the quality of erosion protection. The AP report of these earlier events may be seen at

http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2013-04-18/documents-san-francisco-oakland-bay-bridge-bolt-problems-noted-years-ago/1766889.html

The manufacturer of the bolts has not commented. American Bridge Fluor, has not commented and the California Department of Transportation has not commented.

For an overview of the bridge situation go to http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/tag/bay-bridge-bolts/

County Approves Banishing source of Income in Determining Eligibility for Rentals

Posted on June 17, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the County Board of Legislators. June 17, 2013:

The Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) approved tonight legislation banning discrimination against potential renters and home buyers based on their source income. The legislation, which has long been sought by advocates for fair and affordable housing, was a slightly modified version of the Source of Income legislation submitted by County Executive Rob Astorino to the BOL in April, and which he’d previously vetoed in 2010.

The one modification for the bill was to change a single exemption. Previously, a landlord living in and owning a rental property with four or less units and maintaining ownership or part ownership in another property of four or less units would be exempted from the law. The modified Source of Income legislation now simply exempts landlords and owners of one property of six or less units.

“This legislation will protect seniors, veterans and low-income working families struggling to find an affordable place to live and who depend on government assistance to get by,” said BOL Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers). “No form of discrimination is acceptable in Westchester. Our communities will be stronger because of this legislation, which my colleagues on the Board of Legislators should rightfully be proud of.”

The Source of Income legislation, which was passed by the BOL in June 2010 but vetoed by County Executive Astorino, received more scrutiny by the County Board than any other local law in recent years, noted Jenkins. In addition to numerous committee meetings, there were several public hearings, with a variety of stakeholders providing comment, including landlords, tenants, realtors, tenant advocacy groups and business groups. During a process of “extensive discussion and comment,” the legislation was re-drafted several times, ultimately resulting in the June 2010 legislation.

Westchester County was notified by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that it would risk having $7.4 million in 2011 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds reallocated if Astorino failed to take steps toward promoting Source of Income legislation, as stipulated in the fair and affordable housing settlement between the County and the HUD.

Moreover, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara demanded that the County Executive resubmit to the BOL the Source of Income legislation and provide written assurance he would sign the legislation, if passed by the BOL, or risk contempt of court charges and crippling fines against the County.

HUD has since declared that the County’s 2012 and 2013 CDBG funds, now totaling $17 million, are also at risk.

Although the legislation bans source of income discrimination, it allows landlords to use reasonable business judgment and level of income in evaluating potential tenants.

The legislation, which does not apply to cooperative apartments and condominiums, will sunset in five (5) years unless re-enacted, and it includes a 180-day phase-in period. Also, the County will conduct public education and outreach to inform the public about the new legislation once it is signed into law.

“The Board of Legislators has done everything possible to help County Executive Astorino promote Source of Income protections for county residents and move Westchester closer to full compliance with the housing settlement,” said Legislator Bill Ryan (D-White Plains), chair of the BOL Legislation Committee. “Now, it’s up to him to show the federal authorities that he’s serious about moving forward with the settlement and protecting our CDBG funds.”

Germs Caused Kensico Burger Bash Barfing Says Health Department. No Burger Isolated at this time.

Posted on June 17, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR HEALTH HERALD. From Caren Halbfinger, Westchester County Department of Health. June 17, 2013:

The bacteria that has sickened some residents who attended the outdoor food festival at the Kensico Dam in Valhalla on June 6 has been identified as Campylobacter. The bacteria was identified through tests done on samples from several people who became ill after attending the event.

For most, symptoms will resolve on their own without medication within three to five days, although some people can take 10 days to recover. In rare cases where a person’s immune system is weakened by other illnesses or medication, or where illness is particularly severe, antibiotics may be prescribed. Campylobacter can cause diarrhea, vomiting and fever.

“Anyone who has not already become sick following this event should no longer be at risk,” said Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD. “Anyone who continues to have symptoms should contact his or her physician and should not go to work or school until symptoms resolve.”

Due to the fact that at the June 6 event, most attendees ate food from many of the 30 food vendors, it may not be possible to identify the exact source of the bacteria at the Burger and Beer Bash at the Kensico Dam. However, the health department is actively investigating and interviewing people who attended in an effort to identify the food or foods that may have been the source.

Most cases of campylobacteriosis are associated with eating raw or undercooked poultry meat or from cross-contamination of other foods by these items and occur two to five days after consuming the contaminated food. Cross-contamination can occur when the same knife or cutting board used to cut raw poultry is then used to prepare fruits, vegetables or any other food.

The health department issues more than 500 temporary food service permits each year. This is the first time in recent memory that a food outbreak occurred following a temporary event.

“As part of our response, the health department will send sanitarians to each of the food service establishments who participated in the festival to provide a refresher to restaurant staff about food safety, with special emphasis on safe off-site practices,” Amler said. “Sanitarians will also conduct a detailed food preparation review by observing as restaurant staffers prepare the foods they served at the June 6 event.”

County Settles with County Police on 6 Year Contract thru 2014-Raises 3%, 2.75%, 2.5%, 2.5%,2.5%

Posted on June 17, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. (Edited) June 17, 2013:

The rank and file police officers in the county’s Department of Public Safety would be the fifth county union to agree to a labor contract that includes employee contributions to the cost of their health care under terms of a tentative pact between the county and the Police Benevolent Association.

The contract provides for salary increases for police officers of 3 percent retroactive to 2009; 2.75 percent retroactive to 2010; and 2.5 percent retroactive to 2011, 2012, and for 2013 and 2014.

Under the terms of the tentative agreement with the PBA, members will contribute what amounts to about $1,100 annually in health care for individuals or $3,100 for a family plan. The proposed contract continues to include other differentials, a clothing allowance and special stipends to employees assigned to the aviation or K-9 units.

A tentative six-year contract, running retroactively from 2009 to the end of 2014, was announced today by County Executive Robert P. Astorino and Michael Hagan, president of the 265-member union. It now needs to be ratified by the union and then by the county Board of Legislators.

In addition, for the first time all police officers would contribute to the cost of their health care. As such, the union becomes the fifth county union to agree to this concession, something that has been a cornerstone of union negotiations by the Astorino Administration. For current employees, this contribution will cease upon retirement. For all new hires, it will continue even upon retirement. This will begin to reduce the county’s substantial liability for health insurance for retirees.

Upon taking office, Astorino immediately initiated legislation that required nonunion workers – including himself – to contribute to the costs of what was before that free health care. Since then, agreements have been negotiated with the Teamsters Local 456, the Correction Officers PBA, the Corrections Superior Officers Association and the New York State Nurses Association.

“This agreement is in the best interests of Westchester County,” Astorino said. “This is a good contract, fair to the union and fair to our taxpayers. I thank Mike Hagan and his negotiating team for their hard work. At the same time I again call on the county’s largest union, the Civil Service Employees Association, to accept a contract where they contribute to their health care costs.”

Hagan said of the contract: “The Westchester County Police PBA is pleased to have reached a multi-year collective bargaining agreement with the County that will bring us current for the first time in nearly a decade.

This agreement is the result of the prolonged, good faith efforts by both sides, and addresses important issues, including health care costs, in a way that is fair and equitable to our membership and the residents that they serve.”

The CSEA has been working without a contract since Dec. 31, 2011. The other unions still without a contract are the superior officers union for the county police and the union for the investigators in the District Attorney’s office.

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