THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

BEACON – The CSEA Westchester Local 860 and Southern Region Political Action Committees are pleased to announce their candidate endorsements for the following political campaigns in Westchester County.

County-Wide

County Executive Andrew Spano (D)

County Clerk Leonard Spano (R)

District Attorney Jeanine Pirro (R)

Westchester County Legislature

LD 1 George Oros (R)

LD 2 Nick Vazzana (D)

LD 3 Suzanne Swanson (R)

LD 4 Michael Kaplowitz (D)

LD 5 Bill Ryan (D)

LD 6 Martin Rogowsky (D)

LD 7 George Latimer (D)

LD 8 Lois Bronz (D)

LD 9 Richard Whisnie (D)

LD 10 Vito Pinto (D)

LD 11 James Maisano (R)

LD 12 Tom Abinanti (D)

LD 13 Clinton Young (D)

LD 14 Bernice Spreckman (R)

LD 15 Louis Mosiello (R)

LD 16 Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D)

LD 17 Jose Alvarado (D)

City of White Plains

Mayor Robert Greer (WFP)

City Council Glen Hockley (WFP)

City Council Rita Malmud (WFP)

City Council Thomas Roach (WFP)

Town of Greenburgh

Town Council Steven Bass (D)

Town of Eastchester

Supervisor James Cavanaugh (R)

Town Council David Levy (WFP)

Two of the candidates from Westchester County are also CSEA members. Jose Alvarado of Yonkers is running for the Westchester County Legislature from the 17th District. He is a CSEA employee of Westchester County. Steven Bass, also a CSEA employee of Westchester County, is running for a Town Council position in the Town of Greenburgh. As CSEA members, these candidates have a firm understanding of the issues that concern labor unions throughout Westchester County. They are also committed to fighting for the interests of all working families in the county.

CSEA is also endorsing Robert Greer for Mayor of the City of White Plains, where the union had been embroiled in a contract dispute for three years under the current administration headed by Mayor Joseph Delfino. CSEA, which represents 400 City of White Plains employees and nearly 2,000 White Plains residents, signed a contract with the city in December 2000 after three years of difficult negotiations.

All of the endorsed candidates running for county and municipal offices in Westchester County have demonstrated to CSEA strong support for labor, as well as a firm commitment to fight for all working families in Westchester County. They have been endorsed by the union not only because of their strong support of working families, but because of their competence and accountability to their constituents.

“We are backing these candidates because we have carefully reviewed the records of each one of them,” CSEA Westchester Local 860 President Gary Conley said. “Some of these candidates have supported us in the past, so we are supporting them again. Other candidates are people we’re supporting for the first time because the incumbents in their respective offices have treated CSEA poorly and we want a change. In the City of White Plains, for instance, we are supporting Bob Greer because he is a breath of fresh air for both the workers and residents of the city. Mayor Delfino grossly mismanaged the city workers and union contract negotiations. Unlike his opponent, I am certain that Mr. Greer and his team will show city workers the dignity and respect they deserve.”

“These candidates represent what is truly needed in government – competence, a strong ability to address issues and accountability to their constituents,” CSEA Southern Region President Carmine DiBattista said. “Of particular notes are Jose Alvarado, who is running for the County Legislature from the 17th District. He truly reflects the district he will represent. Steven Bass, who is running for the Greenburgh Town Council, is also a strong labor candidate. I am confident that both of these candidates, who are affiliated with CSEA, as well as the other candidates we have endorsed will serve Westchester County with pride and excellence.”

-30-

Millie Hernandez-Becker, President of Westchester Air, White Plains, gives viewers of White Plains Week a glimpse into air travel of the future Friday on the White Plains weekly news review show. Ms. Hernandez-Becker comments on air travel security, the ability of the major airlines to recover, and how air travel will change in the future. She reports charter airlines are booming, and does not expect the commercial airlines to recover because of their thin margins.
The woman who went from ticket agent to the President of her own airline, and Northeast Hispanic Businesswoman of the year, talks with John Bailey, of WPCNR, Jim Benerofe of SuburbanStreet.com and Alex Philippidis, Editor of the Westchester County Business Journal on White Plains Week at 7:30PM Friday on Channel 71.

Millie Hernandez-Becker, President and CEO, Westchester Air with one of her babies for hire, a Gulfstream Jet at Westchester County Airport. She is interviewed tonight on White Plains Week by John Bailey, Alex Philippidis and Jim Benerfore. Cabletime is 7 PM on Channel 71.Photo by JOHN VECCHIOLLA

Ms. Hernandez-Becker states on the show that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has reviewed and made extensive suggestions for security at the airport among all the carriers. She reveals that her charter air travel service, Westchester Air has been fully booked since the World Trade Center attack, and has made arrangements to double the size of their air fleet by next year.

Becker expects that the major air carriers are not going to make it despite billions in federal aid. “I know how thin their margins are,” Becker says, on the show, implying that no amount of money can replace the lack of flying customers.

Charters nationally offering direct routes. Westchester Air inaugerates Palm Beach shuttle.

Becker reports that companies around the nation are now actively booking up companies for regular company flights to cities those companies fly to on a regular basis. Becker, who pioneered the marketing of charter flights to businesses in the mid-90s, remarked that her airline has originated a Palm Beach shuttle as a regular service for $2,500 roundtrip which departs for the weekends.

She also reports that her airline is working on inaugurating regular non-stop shuttles to Cleveland and Detroit shortly. She says, this is a trend she sees rapidly developing: companies arranging charter direct flights that eliminate the commercial carrier hub system annoyance of flying to Atlanta to get to Dallas, or flying to Charlotte to reach Atlanta.

“I can’t see the hub system surviving,” she says on the show, and tells you why. The program will be repeated Friday at 7:30 PM.

Comment on “no fly zone.”

Ms. Hernandez-Becker also said in remarks after the completion of the video taping that air space over Westchester County is being tightly controlled. She remarked that private aircraft as well have to file a VFR (visual flight rules) Flight Plan. There are no more joy rides. She said that if you as a pilot deviate from your flight plan route you are told to get back on your course and if you do not immediately comply you will be told to land and subject to pursuit. “You cannot, for instance, linger over the Indian Point facility,” Hernandez-Becker said. “Military aircraft will engage.”