Firefighters Go Door-to-Door, Urging Citizens to Pressure Council to Halt Layoff

WPCNR THE LABOR FRONT. By John F. Bailey. May 12, 2010: Members of the White Plains Firefighters canvassed neighborhoods in the single family residential neighborhoods of White Plains yesterday “leafletting” the households with a flyer containing the telephone numbers and e-mail addressesd of all seven Common Council members asking the residents to “tell Mayor Adam Bradley and the Common Council that these cuts are UNACCEPTABLE.”



According to the flyer, Mayor Bradley is considering cuts that will “eliminate the hazardous materials unit, heavy rescue operations, collapse response vehicles, ability to respond to terrorist attacks, current fire prevention programs, public education programs and mutual aide contracts (with other fire departments).”


A fire department source familiar with city/union negotiations wrote WPCNR, 


“The Fire Union offered Mayor Bradley $884,000, the amount requested by his office, as our portion of assistance to help lower the property tax. All we asked for in return was to put off the contract discussions until the tax issue was resolved AND get, in writing, an assurance from the City that they would TRY to maintain the Fire dept staffing levels at  160, exactly where we are today.


As of July, we will drop to 158 due to retirements. Bradley said “NO, I want more.” We have made sincere attempts to help the citizens of this great City but are being rebuffed by a man who has a vendetta out for us and the cops. Ask each Council member if the mayor told them these facts because he is certainly misleading the public by saying that we continue to work towards a settlement. The only talking taking place is the mayor saying take it or leave it. No negotiations!


Then he has the (expletive deleted)  to say that it will be up to the Council to fire cops and fireman. He is a coward. Both unions are seriously contemplating public ” no confidence votes for the Mayor.”


The city could have had the money already if he simply agreed to TRY to keep staffing levels at todays number , which is 160. Not too much to ask when we are willing to give back such a large amount of our money to help the City.  The city has violated the Taylor Law by printing stipulation offers on the JN website.”


Yesterday afternoon Decision Night was posponed by the city from tomorrow, Thursday to Monday May 17 at 7:30 P.M.


Police and fire unions are still saying their cellphones are on awaiting further talks with the city.

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Council Passes 1/4% Sales Tax Increase to Dedicate to Fund Balance

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. From The City Clerk. May 11, 2010: The Common Council passed the 1/4% increase in the sales tax signed by New York Governor David Paterson last week as part of Mayor Adam Bradley’s effort to increase the city fund balance. The increase raises the city take of the sales tax to 2-1/2% (a total of  8.375 % comparable to other cities in the county.  The tax will begin to be collected June 1, adding to expected June sales tax receipts.  The additional 1/4% according to the legislation will be dedicated to a separate fund balance replenishment reserve to build up the city fund balance. The council, however by 5 votes, can dedicate the money in that reserve to expenses in the general fund, if they so wish.

 


  Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance of the City of White Plains imposing taxes on sales and uses of tangible personal property and on certain services, and on occupancy of hotel rooms, admission charges and club dues, pursuant to Article 29 of the Tax Law of the State of New York,” to provide for an increase in the rate of Sales and Compensating Use Taxes.


 

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Mayor’s Court Proceeding on Domestic Violence Charges Enters Discovery Phase.

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. May 10, 2010: Mayor Adam Bradley entered Judge Susan Capeci’s Courtroom this morning at 9:48 A.M., accompanied by his attorney Louis Penichet, to proceed to the next phase of his court case in which he is charged with 9 different misdemeanors involving alleged domestic violence charges in separate disputes with his wife, Fumiko Bradley.


Mr. Penichet and  Head of the District Attorney’s Special Investigations Unit, Audrey Stone were bade to approach Judge Capeci. After five minutes of discussion, the judge set a schedule to begin the discovery phase of the case in which evidence supporting each side in the case is presented for mutual analysis. Ms. Stone requested that testimony from Fumiko Bradley’s mother, a witness in the case be allowed to be video-taped because she is returning to Japan June 24. A date to determine readiness for trial was set for July 22, the next date the Mayor is scheduled to appear in court.


In a brief question and answer session with the media, Lucian Chalfen told the assembled press that Mr. Bradley has been attending the SANCIA pyschiatric evaluation workup he (Bradley) had agreed to attend in his April court appearance. The report has not been completed yet, Chalfen said.


Mr. Bradley is accused of  alleged assault in the third degree, and harrassment,  violations stemming from an alleged tea throwing incident on January 11, in addition to assault in the third degree and three other counts stemming from February 28 when the Mayor was charged for alledgedly slamming his wife’s finger in the door.


The charges of  Witness Tampering, 4th Degree, Harassment, 2nd Degree and Contempt in the 2nd Degree, stemming from the Mayor’s alleged violating of the Order of protection five times were added to the six charges, for a total of 9.


The SANCIA program, District Attorney spokesperson Lucian Chalfen, told WPCNR last month the SANCIA program will evaluate Mr. Bradley was a routine program defendents are asked to go into in most domestic violence cases, though this was not applied when Mr. Bradley’s case began.


 

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Hey Mom!

Hey Mom, bring me two waters so I’m set?


Where’s my under armor? And my visor?


Are my tights washed? My skates are dull.


Hey Mom, can you call the advisor?


 


Hey Mom,  I wasn’t yelling at you.


I didn’t mean to! You were yelling at me!


You never let me do anything my friends do


Hey Mom, would you chill, lighten up, just do!


 


Hey Mom, I don’t like the way this looks for the prom —


I don’t like the color, how could you think this was me?


I just can’t wear this, it’s this, it’s that it’s…Oh, Mom!?!


 


Hey Mom, I’ve been studying all morning getting knowledge.


Can’t I go out, I’ll be back by ten.


But, I know the material, gone over it again and again.


Oh, Mom – I hate my life! I can hardly wait until college.


 


Hey Mom – But I did call and let you know


Don’t you understand, I couldn’t call at that time.


No, you can’t not let me go – it’s a great band


Oh, Mom – I hate you! You never understand!


 


Hey, Mom, please don’t embarrass me at the game


By screaming so loud, it’s just so tacky


But, hey mom, I like that you’re over there in the stand


Watching me play, you know that don’t you Mom, you understand.


 


Hey Mom, can you get me to the rink


At 5 – I know you have to take off from work early?


Thanks, Mom, I’m so sorry but the team has a special thing


I have to be there, thanks Mom – I love you—dearly.


 


Hey, Mom, please when you pick me up at the dorm


Don’t come inside. Just wait outside, call me on the cell


I’ll be right down — it’s the norm.


Don’t ring the bell.


 


Hey, Mom, I’ve read the classifieds


There are no jobs, I can’t make all those calls.


Well, OK, I guess  I can send that resume you made for me (sigh).


OK, I’m lost, where’s the post office, down Lexington to what?


 


Hey Mom, well I’m bringing my friends by,


Don’t let Dad embarrass me with his jokes, OK?


I’ll just die if he’s silly again — you won’t let him do that?


You’ll talk to him about that?


 


All right, Mom I’ll take that extra course.


But I’ve just been going to school for months it never ends!


Can’t I have a little vacation, I don’t know what’s worse


Can’t I spend a little time with my friends?


 


You do like him Mom?


Oh, I hoped you would.


Yes, I really do


I am so glad you do too!


 


Hey Mom, can you take care of the kids this weekend?


We’re going to Vermont with a friend.


And Mom, the cats get kibble in morning and meat at night,


We love you mom, sorry for the short notice, talk to you tonight.


 


Hey Mom, I’m sorry I can’t see you Mother’s Day.


Are you all right, what will you be doing today?


Going to the club – great – you know we love you in every way?


Though we may not show it you’re always with us


even when you’re away.


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