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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. January 8, 2007: Proposals to give tax relief to county property taxpayers and to better ensure public safety dominate the list in a proposed state legislative package that County Executive Andy Spano released today.

Highlights of the package include proposals:

·        to reform  the pistol-permit licensing process,

·         to decrease distracted driving by teens by barring them from using, while they drive, any cell phone or mobile device  (including hands-free),

·         to continue the cap on Medicaid costs and to add a new cap on costs of programs to educate handicapped pre-schoolers,

·        to require the state to issue a fiscal statement on any proposal that might impact local governments,

·        to strengthen the county’s ability to go after dead-beat parents.

 

 

The package has been sent to the county Board of Legislators for review and additions. It will then be given to the county’s Albany delegation as a joint package from the county executive and the county legislature.

 “Each year we closely examine what actions we should advocate for on the state and federal levels,” Spano said. “This package includes some new proposals and some that we have sent to Albany in the past. We know some proposals take time to accomplish. I am hopeful that Albany will be receptive to our many ideas that will protect public safety and give our residents critically important tax relief.”

 

Here are some of the specifics:

 

• Extension of the county’s Property Tax Stabilization and Relief Act: This 1.5 percent sales tax has t

since its inception in 1992 provided revenues of $541 million to the county, $692 million to municipalities and $235 million to school districts for a total of $1.5 billion. Without an extension, this sales tax would expire and the county, local governments and school districts would have to raise property taxes to make up the revenue.

 

• Pistol permit licensing: Currently, the process for issuing licenses to carry and possess firearms in  Westchester is administered by the office of the County Clerk despite the fact that all background investigations, the bulk of the responsibility with respect to license applications, are performed by the County’s Department of Public Safety.  The purpose of this legislation is to transfer all aspects of the licensing functions relating to pistol permits to the Department of Public Safety. Consolidating all of the functions related to the issuance of a license to carry or possess a firearm in the Department of Public Safety is both efficient and sensible. The change is supported by the County Clerk Tim Idoni, District Attorney Janet Difiore and District Administrative Judge Francis Nicolai.




• Teen driving: Westchester was at the forefront in the state – and the nation – in adopting a law that banned the use of hand-held cell phones by drivers. Spano would like to go further by banning the use of any cell phone or any mobile devise (hands free or otherwise) by drivers under the age of 18. According to auto industry research, teen drivers are four times more distracted than adults by cell phone use. As a separate but related measure, Spano is proposing to increase the number of supervised driving hours required before a teen may get a driver’s license.




• Underage drinking: Spano is continuing to advocate for a number of proposals aimed at reducing underage drinking. These include ones to suspend the liquor and lottery licenses of merchants who sell  alcohol to minors and to expand penalties for underage drinking.  




• Fiscal disclosure notes: Each year the state passes numerous bills that have a financial impact on local governments and local property taxpayers. There is currently no requirement that the local fiscal impact of a bill be analyzed in any systematic way. This proposal would require that every proposed state law  that would affect the revenues or expenditures of local governments include a written statement fiscal impact statement. In 2004, County Executive Spano issued an executive order requiring that a fiscal impact statement accompany all legislation submitted by the county administration.  

 

• Medicaid cap: Spano worked hard to get the state to enact a cap on the costs to local governments of Medicaid, and this has provided significant relief to county taxpayers and stabilized future growth in expenditures. The Medicaid cap must be permanently authorized in statute. This cap has already helped counties such as Westchester stabilize property taxes.




• Other caps: Similar to the Medicaid cap, Spano is calling for a cap on the costs to local governments of the state- and federal-mandated programs to educate handicapped pre-schoolers. Between 1997 and 2007, the cost of this program tripled, from $25.9 million to an estimated $83.1 million. The burden on Westchester property taxpayers increased even more dramatically — by 3.6 times. The tax levy burden shot up from $10.8 million to $39 million in this ten year period, a 261 percent increase




• Medicaid tracking and health insurance: A county survey of employed Medicaid recipients released last year revealed that many are not provided adequate health insurance by their employers and have turned instead to the government for health care, at an estimated cost to Westchester taxpayers of $11.5 – $34.5 million. Spano wants the state to better track this information so appropriate legislative remedies can be found.




• Deadbeat parents: Westchester has an aggressive approach to finding deadbeat parents using telephone records. This proposal would ask the state to take the lead in expediting the release of these records. 

·        Wireless network security: Westchester last year adopted a unique local law to require that commercial 

entities that provide public Internet access to the public via wireless or local area network connections provide 

minimum security measures to prevent the disclosure of electronically stored personal information. 

Spano believes the state should adopt a statewide law similar to that of Westchester.

·        Sex offenders:  Spano reiterated a call for a law that would allow convicted sex offenders to be 

held in civil confinement. 

WPCNR PRESS BOX. By “Edges” Bailey. January 5, 2007 UPDATED WITH NEW PIX 2:15 PM EST UPDATED January 7, 2007 10:45 P.M.: The Skyliners, Westchester- New Jersey and Connecticut’s  Junior Synchronized Skating team compete in the Colonial Classic synchronized skating competition this weekend, Friday evening and Saturday afternoon at the  Junior World Cup Qualifier at the fabulous Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Massachussetts with the class of the eastern and midwestern teams.

 

The Skyliners Junior Team putting on a great skate Saturday evening after their Friday evening short program,  finished 4th in the country of the 11 Junior synchronized skating teams competing in the skate-out to determine which team would represent the United States in the World Synchro Championships in Nottingham, England in March.  The Junior Skyliners skated to a 4th place finish behind the elite Chicago Jazz (1st), The Colonials of  Massachussetts(2nd), and Team Braemar of Minnesota (3rd). 

 

The Juniors competed in the short program again Saturday evening in the Colonial Classic portion of the competition, finished first, easing out the Skokie Valley (Illinois) Starlights by less than a point in a splendid rematch. The Skyliners Novice Team finished fourth in their highly competitive division, while the Juvenile team skating Sunday finished third behind The Colonials (1st) and the Skokie Valley Starlights. Details later on WPCNR.

 

Skating for the Governor! The Skyliners, the tri-state Junior Synchronized Skating Team sponsored by The Skating Club of New York, skating their Spread Eagle Splice in the very friendly confines of the Executive Plaza Rink,  wowing the crowd to Proud Mary at the Albany Statehouse Monday afternoon as part of Celebrate New York. Photos, WPCNR Sports

 

The team is fresh off a flawless performance on the Executive Plaza Rink in Albany at the Inaugural of Governor Eliot Spitzer  Monday afternoon.  They participated with 18 other performing groups across the state in the Celebrate New York  entertainment extravaganza to honor the Governor and entertain some 8,000 estimated guests.

 

The Skyliners — Rockettes on Skates –Skating to Proud Mary–at the Statehouse.

The Skyliners, sponsored by the Figure Skating Club of New York, finished 7^th at the Porter Classic in Ann Arbor, Michigan of 13 teams, but less than a point out of fourth place. The team followed that debut performance up with a first place at the Bourne Cape Cod Classic the second week in September against a strong eastern field. They have also made two public skates at The Pond in Bryant Park, entertaining crowds of holiday shoppers and skaters and followed that up with their performance at the New York State Inauguration.

 

 

The skating exhibition was put together by Ice Theatre of New York, at the request of the Inaugural organizers. Ice Threatre had only three weeks before the Inaugural and contacted the Skyliners. Josh Babb, Skyliner Director of Synchronized Skating and the Skyliners Junior team Coach with Jenny Gibson. Babb, who performed with Ice Threatre in 2001, accepted the short-notice invitation and the team gave up their New Years Day for the Governor and to spread the synchro “gospel,” skating’s fastest growing sport.

 

The only hitch was the Albany rink on the Executive Plaza is almost square, only 120 x 100. Babby reworked the Skyliners Proud Mary short program, slowing it down and fitting the team’s spread eagle splice, ladders, pinwheel and spiral glides to the limited surface. The team had one week before Christmas and one week after to prepare for their “condensed” skate.

 

Leaving from Westchester Skating Academy in pouring rain on New Year’s Day by luxury bus, the Skyliners did not know whether they would skate or not. The arrived in Albany at 10:30, and discovered the rink was smaller than expected. Coach Babb cautioned them “not to push,” and they practiced.

 

The New York National Guard Field Artillery Troop from Jamaica, Queens, on hand at the Inauguration to fire off the Spitzer 19-gun salute,  precisionists themselves stopped when they saw The Skyliners practicing and watched and watched with respect.

 

When The Skyliners skate, people watch. Even the U.S. military. A contingent of the New York National Guard from Jamaica, Queens saw the girls practicing and watched attentively, respectively, appreciating the precision and the spectacle.

 

The Skyliners made new friends for synchro! The Girls with their new fans — the Field Artillery contingent from Queens!

 

After the Inaugural Ceremony the skating spectacle began the Celebrate New York program as crowds were walking across the plaza. Individual skaters came first in the show.

 

The Skyliners were last to go on,  following “got it” skates by  the amazing 10 year old Olivia Serafini to Can Can  and 14 year old Michaelee Scarincio of South Glens Falls New York to Sentimental Waltz, the Finland Ice Dance Champions, Jessica Huot and Juha Valkama skating to Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu. They were followed by Rye’s  Katrina Hacker, the 16 year old 2007 U.S. Figure Skating North Atlantic Divisional Champion, skating divinely to Con Te Partiro sung by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.

 

 

Olivia Serafini, 10 years old and she owns the ice!

 

Micjaelee Scarincio, Glens Falls, 14 year old Phenom

 

The Ice Dance Champions from Finland Honor the Governor: Jessica  Huot and Juha Valkama

 

The immaculate 16 year old Katrina Hacker. 2007 USFSA North Atlantic Divisional Champion

 

The Skyliners took the ice for the finale, receiving the most applause and wining new friends and fans of synchronized skating.

 

The Skyliners double line in the Shadow of The Capitol.

 

The Big Pin Wheel Spread Eagle slow to a stop closing the Show.