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Dr. Clifford Gevirtz, a Democratic Leader from Harrison, has announced  he will seek the Democratic nomination to fill the assembly seat being vacated by Adam Bradley in the New York State 89^th Assembly District. 

 

His announcement was made before The New York State Society of Anesthesiologists Governmental and Legislative Affairs Committee.  Speaking before a large group anesthesiologists from across New York State, he stated: “The people of the 89^th Assembly District are totally fed up with tax increase after tax increase.  The fastest rising component of these increases is Medicaid and I have specific solutions to limit this out of control growth.  We must change re-imbursement models from pay per service to block grants for specialty providers.   We must free our physicians from having to practice wasteful defensive medicine with effective tort reform.”

 

 

 

“I also hope to improve the public health by insisting that the State Department of Health coordinate and carry out mass vaccinations should any future epidemic develop.  The response to the swine flu epidemic has been disgracefully inept and unnecessarily expensive.  I plan to make sure the people of New York are well taken care of as changes in the health care system are discussed and implemented.”

 

Dr. Gevirtz is a board certified anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist who has been practicing in the metropolitan area for the past 25 years.  Among his accomplishments, Dr. Gevirtz has been named to the Best Doctors List in New York and Westchester magazines, has lead the development of a new method of detoxification from narcotics (The New York Times, Dec. 4, 2001) and a new approach to the induction of anesthesia (US Patent #5,635,204).  He has published over 40 peer reviewed scientific papers and book chapters on pain and addiction.  He is a Democratic district leader in Harrison, where he lives with his wife and two sons.

 

Peter Harckham, a County Legislator from Katonah-Lewisboro has also declared candidacy for the Bradley seat, which Adam Bradley will resign when he assumes the Mayoral office of the City of White Plains January 1.

 

In addition, Allison Greene of Greenburgh, and Charlotte Watson of Mount Kisco have said they are interested in the seat but have not sent out official news releases or held news conferences announcing their candidacy to this medium’s knowledge.

 

 

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. (Edited) December 14, 2009: The Westchester County Board of Legislators reached final agreement on the 2010 budget today, and, tonight, voted to approve it by one vote, 9-8 in a sharply divided decision. The $1.8 Billion budget offers an overall 2.9% tax increase as opposed to County Executive Andrew Spano’s previously proposed 4.9% tax increase.

 

However, in White Plains the property tax increase actually amounts to a WPNCR estimated 11% for residents due to the higher assessed property values in White Plains. If tax rates stay the same in White Plains the typical $650,000 median priced home would pay $283 more in county property taxes when the county property tax, sewer tax and sanitary taxes are taken into account. County property tax rates vary from city to city and municipality in the county.

 

The County $1.8 billion dollar budget includes 3.3% estimate of sales tax growth in 2010. If the county sales tax collections equals last year’s sales tax collections in November and December (the figures for November are due out this week), the county will finish the year at $418,032456 in sales tax for 2009.

 

An assumption of a 3.3% increase in collections in 2010 is very modest and if it comes to pass in 2010, the county would gross $431,827,527 in 2010–a far cry from the 2009 budget of $478,000,000 in sales tax. 

 

However if the 11.5% rate of decline in sales taxes experienced the first 10 months of 2009 continues in November and December of this year, the sales tax handle will go down another $8.5 Million, reaching $53.5 Million, and hitting only $409.5 Million for 2009.

 

 The budget eliminates a combination of twelve filled and vacant staff positions and took a vacancy factor in almost all county departments for added savings, includes a consolidation of the county’s departments of health and mental health and continues the transfer of non-mandated programs.  Furloughs of county personnel previously discussed were eliminated.

 

The Budget includes keeping vital day-care slots available for needy families and preserves programs for county seniors.

Highlights of the 2010 proposed budget include:

·  Millions in savings in federal aid from Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP)

· Transfer of non-mandated programs to local providers

· Reduction of staff positions countywide (transfer of non-mandated programs & vacancy factors)

· $13.6 million dollar Capital program for road  and other critical infrastructure projects

· No raises for Commissioners or Deputy Commissioners

· Full restoration on proposed countywide furloughs for all employees

 This budget includes a 4% increase of in contractual raises for union employees; millions in additional state and federally mandated social services; and other mandated costs. If these costs were not addressed, it could have resulted in a 4.9% property tax increase.  

 

FINAL VOTE TALLY: