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WHITE PLAINS TEAM SWEEPS! Bernstein, Boykin, Greer, Ryan Rout Republicans

Posted on November 4, 2003 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2003 CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. November 4, 2003. Updated November 6, 2003 2 P.M. E.S.T. with FINAL LOCAL RESULTS: With 39 of 43 Districts in White Plains reporting as of 2:00 A.M Wednesday morning, the Democratic candidates for council have wept their Republican rivals. White Plains voters have overwhelmingly endorsed Robert Greer for a fourth consecutive term as councilman, given high marks to Benjamin Boykin, Jr., for a second term, and voted Arnold Bernstein onto the Common Council for his first.

Democrat projections hold up. Win going away.

As of 2 P.M Thursday afternoon, the Board of Elections is reporting that with ALL 43 WP districts reporting,and with 87% of Absentee Ballots counted, Mr. Boykin gathered 5,258 votes, Mr. Greer has received 5,224 votes, Mr. Boykin, and Mr. Bernstein, 4,349. Mr. Sheehan has pulled 3,763 votes, Mr. Binder, 3,596, Mr. Hickey, 3,123. Rosa Munoz the Conservative and Independence Party candidate has received 951 votes. For “What-Might-Have-Been Pundits,” even had Ms. Munoz’s votes gone to Mr. Hickey’s total, (3,123 plus 951, for a total of 4,074), Mr. Hickey would still lose to Mr. Bernstein by 275 votes.

In a note on the Supreme Court Race, Jo Ann Friia, the White Plains judge, with 991 of 1,021 districts reporting, is the leading vote getter with 97% of the districts reporting at 69,043. Duffy is second at 66,268, and Horowitz is third at 65,057. Friia was projected to lose in this race as of Tuesday evening, but as of Thursday afternoon at 2 PM, she has come back in totals.

Back on the Council Races, on a remarkable show of strength, Arnold Bernstein outpolled Tim Sheehan, the highest vote-gathering Republican by 586 votes. The Democrats rolled up totals from the Tuesday evening projection. The 2004 White Plains Common Council will be made up of Benjamin Boykin, Robert Greer, Arnold Bernstein, Tom Roach, Glen Hockley, and Rita Malmud, giving the Democrats a 6-1 council majority. A total of 29% of registered White Plains voters turned out to vote in the election.

THE WHITE PLAINS TEAM SWEEPS: Newly elected Councilmen Robert Greer, left, Arnold Bernstein, center, and Council President Benjamin Boykin all smiles as the Republicans run out of districts at 10 PM Tuesday evening.At 10 PM, with 36 of 43 White Plains districts in, Mr. Boykin was the leading votegetter with 4,346, Mr. Greer second with 4,337, Mr. Bernstein had 3,556. Timothy Sheehan was a distant fourth at 3,066, Mr. Binder had 2,438, and Daniel Hickey had 2,527. As of 1:30 A.M. Wednesday morning, the Board of Elections is reporting that with 39 of 43 WP districts reporting, Mr. Greer has received 4,845 votes, Mr. Boykin, 4, 841, and Mr. Bernstein, 3,998. Mr. Sheehan has pulled 3,547 votes, Mr. Binder,3,369, Mr. Hickey, 2,954. Rosa Munoz the Conservative and Independence Party candidate received 860 votes. It is all over for the Republicans. Photo by WPCNR News

IT WASN’T TOO CLOSE TO CALL AT DEMOCRAT CENTRAL: Reporters got to go home early Tuesday evening. Here Rita Malmud, left, and Robert Greer are crunching the numbers, while Tom Roach stands by, confirming that it’s all over at the 36 district mark. Photo by WPCNR News.

The computer model at Democratic Headquarters at the Nick Wolf Century 21 Offices projected at 10:30 P.M. Tuesday evening that Mr. Greer would finish with 5,293 votes, Mr. Boykin with 5,387, and Mr. Bernstein, 4,331. Republican Tim Sheehan is projected to finish with 3,729 votes, Jeffrey Binder, 3,567 and Daniel Hickey, 3,080. Jim Benerofe, of suburbanstreet.com reported on arriving at Sam’s of Gedney Way at 11:30 P.M. that Republicans Tim Sheehan and Jeffrey Binder had conceded their defeats.

RYAN EXPRESS GATHERS MOMENTUM FOR THE FUTURE: County Legislator William Ryan, Democratic candidate for County Legislator had a 1,200 vote lead over Republican Legislative candidate, Frank Cantatore with all White Plains districts counted, 3,952to 2,754, 1,198 votes, as of 12:15 A.M. E.S.T., beating Mr. Cantatore by a 59% to 41%. As of 1:30 A.M., with all districts in Scarsdale and White Plains reporting, Mr. Ryan has lengthened his lead over Mr. Cantatore to 1,971 votes. Mr. Ryan is shown waving to Congresswoman Nita Lowey as she enters Sam’s of Gedney Way near midnight Election Night, as jubilant Democrats celebrated their demolition of the Republican Party in White Plains. Photo by WPCNR News.

All incumbents except two won back their County Legislator Positions, in addition to Mr. Ryan in White Plains-Scarsdale, District 5, returning to the legislature are George Oros, District 1; Ursula Lamotte, District 2; newly elected is Robert Astorino in District 3; Michael Kaplowitz, District 4; Martin Rogowsky, District 6; George Latimer, District 7; Lois Bronz, District 8; Richard Wishnie, District 9; Vito Pinto, District 10; James Maisano, District 11; Thomas Abinanti, District 12; Clinton Young, Jr., District 13; Bernice Spreckman, District 14; Louis Mosiello, District 15; Andrea Stewart-Cousins, District 16; Jose Avarado; District 17, newly elected.

Mr. Oros, Ms. Bronz, Mr. Wishnie, Mr. Pinto, and Mr. Abinanti ran unopposed.

LEGISLATOR RYAN SALUTES MS. LOWEY AT SAM’S OF GEDNEY WAY: Bill Ryan, speaking in a hoarse voice due to a illness, noted that Congresswoman Nita Lowery “is always there with help and support,” and he thanked her for it. Ms. Lowey said she and the Democrats were “partners, and we are ready to partner to move White Plains forward.” Photo by WPCNR News.

Propostion One Passes; Propostion Two lifting bonding limits for School Districts Appears to Win

In the Proposition Issues, Proposition One was passed, and as of Thursday afternoon at 2 PM, the Board of Elections reports Proposition Two raising the debt limit for which school districts could borrow, was passing by 252 votes with 988 of 1,021 Districts Reporting, (96% in) and appears to be passing at this time.

In a reversal of results publicly reported by The Journal News Wednesday, in the Supreme Court Judgeship race, the returns from all counties with 992 of 1,021 districts reporting now show that White Plains Judge Jo Ann Friia is the leading vote-getter with 97% of the districts reported in, Larry Horowitz is second, and Colleen Duffy is third. Don’t put on those robes, yet, folks.

For County Judge, Joseph Alessandro at 112,452 votes (he had both Republican and Democratic lines), Rory Bellantoni with 68,410 votes, and Robert Dibella with 69, 218 votes appear to have made the bench over Robert Neary and Susan Cacace.

In the Family Court result, Kathie Davidson, the Democrat has defeated Annette Guarino, the Republican.

MR. BOYKIN, TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THE DEMOCRATIC SWEEP?: Susan Elan, Journal News City Beat Reporter interviews Benjamin Boykin as the “Democratic Tide” swept away the Republican ticket. Robert Greer is shown at the Democrat Central Computer Consoles, punching in the numbers and making the projections. Boykin told WPCNR later at Sam’s of Gedney way that the Republicans had “the wind blown out of their sails” by the Mayor’s announcement two weeks ago that the New York Presbyterian Hospital had reached a land swap deal. Boykin said the Republicans had banked on one issue, the Presbyterian Hospital negative vote in 2000. He also noted that voters were “very happy the way things were going in White Plains,” and that the slogan “Wake Up the Common Council” was poorly conceived given the present condition of the city that the Common Council was responsible for creating. Photo by WPCNR News.

WINNERS TAKE ALL: Bill Ryan, Nita Lowey, Benjamin Boykin, and Robert Greer enjoying the Winners’ Circle at Sam’s Tuesday night. Photo by WPCNR News

THE ANTI-HICKEY CAMPAIGN: Republicans Pay for Fire Dept Letter Trashing Hickey

Posted on November 3, 2003 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2003 CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. November 3, 2003: On the eve of the Common Council elections in White Plains, the White Plains Professional Firefighters Association has sent out a letter to voters in White Plains, urging them not to vote for Republican candidate for Common Council, Dan Hickey, the former Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety. However, the Firefighters union has paid for the mailing using the same Postage Permit No 633, as that used on Republican Party literature, in an alliance of organizations that generally do not consort together or see eye-to-eye politically. The Hickey candidacy has united them.

FIRE UNION HEAD TRASHES HICKEY ADMINISTRATION OF SAFETY DEPARTMENT: In a letter signed by Jim Donahoe, President of the firefighters union, The White Plains Professional Firefighters criticize Dan Hickey for demoralizing the fire department during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, and it takes Hickey to task for criticising new spending by the present Public Safety Department. Photo by WPCNR DocuLabCam.

MATCHING PERMITS, REPUBLICANS AND FIRE UNION IN CONSORT? The intriguing feature of the Donahoe letter is that it is mailed under the same Postage Permit, Number 633 as that used by Republican Common Council candidates, indicating the Republican Party has at least underwritten the postage for the White Plains Professional Firefighters Union to mail out the Donahoe letter. Photo by WPCNR DocuLabCam

A CLOSER LOOK: The White Plains Professional Firefighters Association piece indicia at left, reads, Permit No. 633, the Jeffrey Binder piece, with blue, has an indicia also reading Permit No. 633, indicating that the Republican Party is either paying for the Fire Department piece, or lending use of its permit to discourage voters from voting for Dan Hickey, the Republican Party Candidate by virtue of Mr. Hickey’s primary victory over Rosa Munoz. Photo by WPCNR DocULab Cam.

In the letter, Donahoe writes, “I have grown increasingly dismayed and disappointed by the election effort waged by Dan Hickey…His assertions that our City became a safer place under his stewardship are totally without merit and I am compelled to set the record straight because the people need to know the truth.”

Donahoe takes Hickey to task for lowering fire department manpower: “Under Mr. Hickey’s leadership or lack thereof, the Fire Department saw manpower levels drop to their lowest levil in the last 20 years!” Donahoe says firefighters and officers were not replaced when they retired.

Donahoe writes that Hickey “made irresponsible statements regarding wild and wasteful spending by the new Public Safety leadership.” Instead Donahoe supports the spending of the current department leadership, noting, “The spending taking place is both necessary and prudent and is a direct result of Mr. Hickey’s pooer management decisions.”

The fire union leader suggests his membership “cannot fathom Mr. Hickey as a member of the Common Council given thefact that his performance as both Deputy and Acting Public Safety Commissioner was so poor — despite what his campaign literature states.”

Donahone unequivocably urges voters not to vote for Mr. Hickey: “It makes absolutely no sense to me to put someone with such a dubious record as Commissioner in another position of public trust. Mr. Hickey’s antiquated and archaic views regarding White Plains will only hinder the progress taking place throughout this great city and will leave you and me in the same condition in which he left the Public Safety Department, in a state of desperation and disrepair.”

W.A.V.E. Head Urges “Yes” Vote on Schools Bonding Proposal

Posted on November 3, 2003 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Steven Rabinowitz, President. White Plains Alliance for Vision in Education. November 3, 2003: I am writing to all of you to urge you to vote Yes on Proposal Two on Tuesday. Proposal Two is an amendment to the State Constitution which will allow small cities like White Plains to encumber debt (through bonds, etc.) up to 10% of total real property values in the district, as non-city school
districts are currently allowed to do.

Currently small cities are capped at 5% of property values, which is a hold-over from the days when small cities
did not have to put their budgets before the voters for approval. Nothing in the proposal changes school district’s requirement to have individual bond issues approved by the voters, nor does it require any
district to increase its debt. It is simply about flexibility and equity.

Superintendent Connors wrote a fine summary of the issues around this proposal in a letter published in last Sunday’s Journal News, and there is a more detailed press release on the issue at the NY State School Boards Association website at www.nyssba.org. Needless to say, NYSSBA is in full support of this proposal. In the difficult budgetary times that are certainly ahead, our district and other small cities like us will need this ability to be more flexile in dealing with its need to maintain its schools and keep up with growing operating costs. It will serve our children and the educational system well to have this happen.

So please don’t skip over this important proposal when you go out to vote on
Tuesday.

Bradley Condemns MTA for Considering Eliminating Commuter Discounts.

Posted on November 2, 2003 by John Bailey

WPCNR’S Traffic Report. From NY State Assemblyman Adam Bradley. October 29, 2003: Adam Bradley urged the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Thursday not to eliminate discount programs that benefit millions of daily commuters. MTA officials announced this week that they may decrease or eliminate discounts now offered to drivers and public-transit riders.

“The MTA appears to be at it again,” Bradley said. “Earlier this year, they slapped commuters with hefty fare hikes by using deceptive accounting tactics to justify those increases. Now, New Yorkers may get hit again if cost-saving discounts are scaled back or completely eliminated. We don’t need more fiscal tricks and price gouging – we need fiscal accountability and fair prices.”

Although MTA officials expect transit fares and tolls will remain the same through 2007, there are no guarantees that will happen. Bradley said he was particularly troubled over comments made by MTA officials who would not rule out raising prices for discounts offered on monthly Metro-North passes and MetroCards for subways and buses, and E-ZPass for bridge and tunnel tolls.

“Westchester County commuters still haven’t recovered from the last fare hike. The proposals mentioned by the MTA would essentially be a fare increase on those who most often use their services. Our families can’t afford to pay hundreds of dollars more on transportation,” Bradley said. “I urge the governor and his appointees on the MTA not to further undermine our families by rejecting any changes to Metro-North, MetroCard and E-ZPass.”

In response to the MTA’s significant fare hikes and questionable financial practices earlier this year, Bradley sponsored reform legislation in the Assembly that would provide independent oversight of the MTA, improve the contracting process, and end unjustified fare increases (A.7998-D). Bradley called on the governor and Senate to join with the Assembly to support the MTA reform measures.