Au Pair Says Mrs. Bradley Did Not Say OW! During Door Closings

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. November 29, 2010:


 


The continuing trial of Mayor Adam Bradley started up again this morning with the Bradley au pair, Yuko Watanabe, who was present during the time the alleged domestic violence incident took place February 28, on the stand. The trial got back underway at 11:10A.M.


 


Defense Attorney Luis Penichet in his continuing examination of Ms. Watanabe established that during the incident where Fumiko Bradley claimed she saw Mr. Bradley and Ms. Watanabe sitting together on a daybed in the family room that there were three children present, with one of the Bradley’s daughters sitting inbetween Mr. Bradley and Ms. Watanabe, according to Ms. Watanabe’s testimony.


 


Mr. Penichet asked Ms. Watanabe if she had ever had a sexual relationship with Mr. Bradley. Prosecutor Audrey Stone objected, and Judge Susan Capeci sustained the objection.  


 


Penichet established the fact that Ms. Watanabe was told by Mrs. Bradley that the employment agency was coming to pick her up on March 24, (three weeks after the February 28 incident), and she would no longer be employed and  in the Bradley home.  Watanabe was facing deportation as a result. Ms. Watanabe said the employment agency did not offer any other employment after Mrs. Bradley. Penichet attempted to have entered into evidence a material witness subpoena requiring Ms.Watanabe to testify in the trial after this happened, but the judge did not allow inclusion of that document.


 


 


On cross-examination, Prosecutor  Stone established that since April, Ms.Watanabe had been staying at the homes of two friends of Adam Bradley, with rent and board provided at no charge. Stone questioned Watanabe about what she told two police officers, (one of whom was Detective Rodriguez, the day of the February 28 incident. Stone asked Watanabe if she told the investigators of the argument at lunchtime that took place February 27 (between Mrs. Bradley and Mr. Bradley where Mrs. Bradley was described as yelling at Mr. Bradley in front of two contractors), Ms. Watanabe said “No. I was not asked.” Watanabe also testified that she had told the two officers that day (the 28th) she thought the Bradleys needed to spend more time together.


 


 


Stone asked Watanabe about the alleged punching incident on Election Day, 2009 where Watanabe said she saw Mrs. Bradley punch Mr. Bradley. Stone started asking Watanabe what she could see from the kitchen where Watanabe said she was washing dishes. Watanabe said she could see part of the living room. Stone asked her that on previous testimony, Watanabe had said Mrs. Bradley had punched Mr. Bradley. Stone asked if “the punch” had left any marks on Bradley’s face. Watanabe said it had left a scratch by the right side of Mr. Bradley’s mouth.


 


“Was it a punch or a scratch?” Stone said quickly.


 


“It was a punch.” Watanabe said firmly.


 


 


Asking about Watanabe’s description of what the incident of February 28, which Watanabe heard taking place from her bedroom downstairs, Stone asked if Watanabe had heard Mrs. Bradley say “OW.”  Watanabe said  “No, I didn’t.”


 


Stone established that prior to the trial beginning, Ms. Watanabe had met with Mr. Penichet “about 10 times,” according to Watanabe. Stone elicited the fact that Mayor Bradley’s mother was paying for Ms. Watanabe’s lawyer.


 


Before the lunch break after Stone finihed cross-examination of Ms.Watanabe, Judge Capechi queried Watanabe closely as to whether she had seen or spoken with Adam Bradley between February 28 and March 4, Watanabe repeatedly, “No.” Asked by the judge how she had learned of a meeting with Mr. Bradley’s attorney, Watanabe said she was notified of the meeting, but not by Mr. Bradley.

Posted in Uncategorized

Cohen Closes Gap on Oppenheimer with 3,000 Absentee Ballots to go!

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2010. From Bob Cohen, Candidate for the 37th New York State Senate  District. November 28, 2010  4 P.M. E.S.T.:


I wanted to provide you with an update on the progress we’ve made.


I am happy to report that we have been gaining steadily.  We started today down only 297 votes.  We have cut the lead in half since Tuesday! 


There are just under 3000 ballots left to be counted and it will still take several days to complete the process.  


They are opening ballots at the board of elections currently.  I want to take this opportunity to thank the staff of the Board of Elections, both Republicans and Democrats, for all of the hard work and long hours that they have put in.  Many  have been working through the nights and weekends, spending time away from their family.  This is an arduous process and their work is appreciated.  


We are consistently gaining votes and this race is far from over.  While we are working to conclude the counting as swiftly as possible, it’s critical that the process is conducted thoroughly and accurately.  


I am truly grateful for your continued support.  Your hard work and words of encouragement have been invaluable to me throughout this campaign.


I will provide you with another update as soon as new information becomes available.


 

Posted in Uncategorized

Photographs of the Day

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. November 25, 2010:


As much of a tradition as the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers playing on Thanksgiving Day used to be — Archbishop Stepinac and White Plains High School are playing their annual Turkey Bowl today with a big crowd on hand. White Plains drove to the Stepinac 35 in the First Quarter, punted to the Crusader 7, with the Crusaders then marching 93 yards with a mix of passes to take the lead 7-0 midway in the second quarter. Late in the Fourth Quarter, Stepinac was on the way to an undefeated season, leading White Plains, 35-14.



KICKOFF!



FOOTBALL!



BAND!

Posted in Uncategorized

Council Receives Good Financial Report. Considers One-Man Garbage Truck Pickup

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. November 23, 2010:


 


GOOD FIRST QUARTER


 


Commissioner of Finance, Michael Genito, reported White Plains had a good first quarter with the sales tax up a net 5.7% when the ¼% sales tax receipts dedicated to the Finance Stabilization Fund were taken out of the overall 11.7% increase. $1.2 Million has been dedicated to the Finance Stabilization Fund in the first quarter, $1.6 Million is in the fund for the four months the 1/4% has been funneling into it. Genito said the rise in sales tax collections was across all applicable taxable sales and did not reflect adjustments from previous months.


 



 


Genito said hotel tax, and mortgage tax receipts were not reportable in the first quarter. Dity expenditures in departments were on target. Savings in job cuts amounting to $2 Million was used to pay for increased personnel expenses.He said he was worried about a possible $300,000 cut in state aid to the city, and possible increased mandates such as pension fund contribution increases.


 


It was not mentioned that new labor contracts with the police and fire unions have to be negotiated.  Genito said the second quarter (October, November, December) was critical for the city performance the rest of the fiscal year.



 


IN OTHER ACTION —————–


NEW WATER RATES


 




Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti issued a Water Rate Study calling for an 8% increase in residents’ water rates and a 12% increase in water charges for non-resident (commercial users). Nicoletti estimated the average cost to the White Plains residential user as $20 a year. Budget and Management Committee Chair, Councilperson Beth Smayda said the committee voted Monday evening to endorse the increase in rates.


 


VETERANS PARK TAKES FIRST STEP


 




Councilperson Milagros Lecouna introduced her personal schematic of how a new Veterans Memorial Park planned between Chatterton Parkway and Central Avenue might look. Mayor Adam Bradley said there was $150,000 in the capital budget for such a park. Acting Commissioner of Recreation and Parks, Al Moroni told WPCNR that the design for the park had not been decided on and that he expected veterans groups might hold fund-raising efforts to fund the rest of the cost of the park.


 


 


ONE MAN GARBAGE PICKUP PILOT PROGRAM


 




Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti unveiled a pilot program for introducing a garbage collection truck, similar to trucks in wide use across America in such cities as Chicago, Rochester and Virginia Beach. The truck is operated by one man, who uses a robotic boom to grip a custom garbage container specified by the city and supplied to the residents) swings the container up and dumps it into the compactor-truck. Nicoletti said a pilot program could begin this summer if the Common Council approved. It would require purchase of one such truck for $200,000 ($60,000 more than a normal backend load truck requiring a three-man crew).


 


Nicoletti picked two neighborhoods that might be candidates for the new experimental one-man truck: Prospect Park and the southeast part of town. An advantage of the program would cut down garbage collection to once a week, paper collection to once a week and commingled collection to once a week. There would be no parking on the street between 6 to 10 A.M. Another factor in play is how landscapers and lawn companies would be handled in neighborhoods where the one-man truck executes garbage pickup How the program would be implemented is not definite.


 


IN EXECUTIVE SESSION


 


In Executive Session, the Council discussed three separate matters, unconnected, WPCNR has learned from realiable sources. One item was purchase of  less than 10 acres of land; another was a personnel matter; and third was possible litigation. The possible reopening of a possible city bid on Ridgeway Country Club was not discussed. The Mayor’s ethics matter now before the City Board of Ethics was not discussed.

Posted in Uncategorized