FEINER: POSTAL SERVICE LOCALLY A DISGRACE. SCHOOL BUS PASSES UNDELIVERED IN GREENBURGH. ABC NEWS: POSTAL SERVICE TO CLOSE 3,700 REVENUE LOSING POST OFFICES NATIONALLY. LOCALS SOUND OFF IN LETTER DULUGE

Posted on September 2, 2018 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor. September 2, 2018:

Editor’s Note: This weekend ABC News reported the U.S. Postal Service announced it was seeking to close 3,700 money-losing postal offices nationwide.

Paul Feiner, the Greenburgh Town Supervisor, filed this report on the deterioration of postal services in his town, and provided some comments from his constituents. Mr. Feiner is the only politician to my knowledge who has consistently reported the “unreliable” post office service in his town and of course, elsewhere in Westchester County.

Should postal services close down, it raises the question of how you send mail, something local politicians might want to ask their Senators and Representatives. Just an issue that might want to be explored, just sayin’.

Now, Mr. Feiner’s report:

In recent years I have complained about postal service problems. The service is not reliable. Earlier this year the US Postal Service responded by hiring a Westchester Postal Service manager who is working very hard – addressing individual problems and getting results for some people. A new Hartsdale postmaster was hired. Have received fewer complaints than I was receiving at the beginning of the year.

But–postal service problems continue. It’s not only a local problem. It’s a national problem. The following are just a few of the complaints I received from residents and businesses in recent days (most are a few days old).

If the Postal Service doesn’t get their act together more and more people will stop using the mail and the Postal Service won’t survive.

We can’t depend on mail delivery for checks, bills, prescriptions. There have been stories in the national media about mail being thrown away.

What should be done?
The US Congress should hold public hearings on the postal service problems and come up with specific recommendations. I believe that the US Postmaster General should visit Greenburgh and Westchester -and hear, first hand, what the complaints are.

Something needs to be done.

Every complaint I receive is not only sent to the Westchester district manager, regional manager but is also sent to the United States Postmaster General, other high ranking officials at the US Postal Service and to our Westchester congressional delegation. I have sent hundreds of complaints to them in recent months.

PAUL FEINER

E MAILS RECEIVED TODAY, YESTERDAY AND THE PAST TEN DAYS (JUST SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED)

I DELETED NAMES OF THOSE WHO SENT COMPLAINT TO ME FROM THIS POSTING

Good Sunday morning Paul.

The problem with mail delivery in Hartsdale is really quite serious and is not improving despite all the hoopla you and Nita Lowey display. It is Labor Day week-end and my grandson’s bus tag and pick up/drop off information from the school (Greenburgh) transportation still has not been delivered.

I spoke yesterday with the director of the transportation department – yes, on a holiday week-end. He told me all bus tags were mailed out in mid-August and many, many people did not receive them – I am one of them.

How am I supposed to put my grandson on his school bus and get to work when I have no information about it. I believe the transportation department that information was mailed. I am very certain it is sitting in a bin in the Hartsdale post office. You really need to get something done about this.

Denise

Dear Mr. Feiner,

I have just spoken to the Board of Ed. concerning two very important pieces of mail that have not been delivered, but have been sent out. They are concerning my son’s first grade teacher and the school calendar. All the other Moms have received them. They are two weeks over due.

Can you please contact the responsible parties. We have had numerous problems with our mail in the past and recent past. This is unacceptable.

Sincerely,

Sandra

Dear Town Supervisor Feiner,

I have read that we have problems with the USPS mail delivery in Greenburgh. On most days I receive someone else’s email on East Hartsdale Avenue.

As as example yesterday I received mail from 68 EHA, though I live at 45EHA. I was kind enough to personally walk the mail to 68EHA. Apparently no attention of care is exhibited by the mail carriers.

I could have dropped in the mail box but don’t know if the recipient would receive it.

I didn’t want to discuss with my mail carrier since they could take out retribution on me by not delivering my mail to be properly.

This seems to be a systemic problem and want to make you aware of it by sending you the attached photos/mail of the mail delivered.

I am reaching out to you because I read your communication re: mail problems that you issued a few months ago. We have been having problems with your mail here in Irvington for at least the past 3 years and I have made a few complaints to the Irvington post office. Complaints have included

– receiving other peoples’ mail, including mail not even from our street and sometimes not even from our town

– delivery occurring very late in the day – almost always after 6PM, sometimes as late as 8PM

– not receiving our own mail – ( have had several past due bills because I did not receive the original bills

– at the time of my son’s bar mitzvah three different families left cards with checks in our mail box when their children were not able to attend the part – – all three envelopes were taken from our mailbox and never returned to us

These pictures represent mail that was delivered to us Thursday evening some time after 7:30. As you can see, in addition to getting our own mail we got mail delivered to 4 different families including one family in Elmsford.

Among the misdelivered mail were 2 bills, which, if I had been lazy, I could have just tossed in the trash (but of course did not). Most of the mail contained type written addresses which should have easily been scanned and read by any mail sorting device that might be used by the postal system.

This is really a disgrace. I have lived in White Plains, West Harrison and North White Plains over the years and it wasn’t until I moved to Irvington that I started encountering problems. I have spoken to my neighbors just on my immediate street and they have had the same issues as well.

If you can weld any influence in improving the situation it would most definitely be appreciated my me and the rest of my neighbors.

Sincerely,

Stacy

Good afternoon to whom it may concern yesterday August 31 was one of the worst experiences I had dealing with the postal service. I first received an email that my package can Could not be deliver because the mailman could not get in my front door however I received my mail in my mailbox.

That same night when I got home I saw a bin of mail in my lobby with all the undeliverable mail and all the mail that was put in the outgoing mail box Sitting in a us postal mail bin my lobby.

Photos attached I find this very disturbing not only was my Nila delivery but others peoples mail was left out to the public. From a concerned Postal customer Stephen

Something is terribly wrong here with the mail.

We are not getting our mail and it’s 6:30 and no sign of anyone delivering mail. I understand Marcus left the route and two girls have taken over the route but we are not getting mail. Mail has been found on the sidewalk and a neighbor picked it up and brought it over to the person. Please look into this matter as it is serious. Besides medication there are bills that are not coming and then being charged late fees. Thank you.

Good morning Paul,

Hope all is well. I have written you previously about the USPS, and you have responded, thank you.

In the past month, our company, ( DELETED NAME OF COMPANY FOR THIS POSTING), have had checks from our customers, commercial and residential, returned to them undeliverable from various towns, cities in Westchester County.

Our address they used was correct, and we confirmed that with them when they finally received their checks back. Today we received 2 phone calls from commercial customers that had their checks for us were returned, undeliverable, with our correct business name & address.

I know mistakes happen, but I feel that this is a growing trend. When our regular mail lady who we love and are NOT complaining about, we always receive all mail, 1^st class , etc. When she is on vacation, we intermittently receive 1^st class mail.

As a small business owners, who have been in the same location for 24 years, who rely on their customers’ payments to keep doing business, this is a frustration that we don’t think is acceptable. I know you are in regular contact with the USPS due to many complaints.

As of this minute,7:13am Friday, no mail was delivered Thursday, August 23rd. I’m certain of this because I left a letter to be picked up, and there is a bar code in my letter box that must be scanned at the end of the route. No storm, no rain , no mail!

SCHOOL STARTS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 5 IN WHITE PLAINS NY USA. YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A LOT EASIER ACHIEVEMENT TESTS THAN STUDENTS IN 1895 in Salina, Kansas took 123 Years Ago. Bring back those SchoolMarms!

Posted on September 1, 2018 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Carl Paladino. September 1, 2018:

Editor’s Note: Carl Paladino, the Buffalo NY political activist and long time critic of the Buffalo school system, posted this to his wide mailing list: the test that 8th graders in 1895 in Salina Kansas had to pass to prove they were ready to move up. It is one of the most insightful comments Mr. Paladino has ever sent along.

I daresay, I could not past this test. Those schoolmarms were tough!

1895 8th grade final exam

Take this test and pass it on

What it took to get an 8th-grade education in 1895.

Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th-grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?

This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina, Kansas, USA.
It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, and reprinted by the Salina Journal.

8th Grade Final Exam: Salina, KS – 1895

Grammar (Time, one hour)

1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.

2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.

3. Define verse, stanza, and paragraph

4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of ‘lie,”play,’ and ‘run.’

5. Define case; illustrate each case.

6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.

7 – 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time,1 hour 15 minutes)

1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.

2. A wagon box is 2 ft. Deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. Wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?

3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1,050 lbs. For tare?

4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?

5. Find the cost of 6,720 lbs. Coal at $6.00 per ton.

6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.

7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. Long at $20 per metre?

8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.

9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?

10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt

U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)

1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided

2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus

3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.

4. Show the territorial growth of the United States

5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas

6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.

7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?

8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour)
[Do we even know what this is??]

1. What is meant by the following: alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication

2. What are the elementary sounds? How classified?

3. What are the following, and give examples of each: trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals

4. Give four substitutes for caret ‘u.’ (HUH?)

5. Give two rules for spelling words with final ‘e.’ Name two exceptions under each rule.

6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.

7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis-mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.

8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.

9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.

10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks
and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)
1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?

2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?

3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?

4. Describe the mountains of North America

5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall, and Orinoco.

6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.

8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?

9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.

10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete.

Gives the saying ‘he only had an 8th-grade education’ a whole new meaning, doesn’t it?!

No wonder they dropped out after 8th grade. They already knew more than they needed to know.

No, I don’t have the answers!

WHITE PLAINS WEEK ON THE INTERNET

Posted on August 31, 2018 by John Bailey

ON THE INTERNET NOW

http://www.whiteplainsweek.com/

YOUTUBE:

https://youtu.be/PU8hQUG4ll0

WESTCHESTER’S MOST NEED-TO-KNOW NEWS

THE HEAT WAVE WILTS WESTCHESTER-101 IN THE SHADE

WHY JUDGE RULED FOR THE CITY AND FASNY

THE RUSH TO SHARE SERVICES PLAN–EXCLUSIVE VIDEO OF PUBLIC HEARING ON LATIMER PLAN

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S ENROLLMENT–WILL IT HANDLE THE GROWTH WITHOUT CONSTRUCTION?

GOVERNOR CUOMO SHOWS OFF THE NEW EASTBOUND CUOMO BRIDGE SPAN–TOO LATE FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND

JIM BENEROFE ON TWO NEW TRUMP BOOKS

THE BULLY PULPIT–BETSY DEVOS ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT

AND MORE!

REPEATED MONDAY AT 7 FIOS CH. 45, ALTICE CH. 76

AND

www.wpcommunitymedia.org

SATURDAY at 7 SEIU 32BJ TO BE HEARD ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD 7 PM COUNTYWIDE ON FIOS CH 45 AND ALTICE CH 75 IN WHITE PLAINS. AND RIGHT NOW ON THE INTERNET–YOU TUBE AND WHITE PLAINS WEEK DOT COM

Posted on August 30, 2018 by John Bailey

THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND SPECIAL

NOW ON THE INTERNET INSTANTLY AT

http://www.whiteplainsweek.com/

AND

https://youtu.be/uyWiQSobvYw

PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

INTERVIEWS

Lenore Friedlaender,

Assistant to the President of 32BJ SEIU

John Ryan,

Superintendent at 11 Westview Ave in White Plains Member of the Residential Contract Bargaining Committee Dealing with the the Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region Inc. AFFECTING 150,000 Westchester Residents

WHAT UNION WANTS.

EFFECT OF A STRIKE

WHAT PUBLIC CAN EXPECT

EFFECT OF SUPREME COURT DECISION REQUIRING ARBITRATION TO SETTLE INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINTS, PROHIBITING CLASS ACTION SUITS

THE EFFECT OF THE DECISION OUTLAWING DEDUCTION OF UNION DUES FROM NON-UNION EMPLOYEES

THE SETTLEMENT OF

THE DISPLACED WORKERS LAWSUIT AGAINST THE BUILDING NEXT TO CITY HALL

7 PM SATURDAY NIGHT

VERIZON FIOS CH. 45

ALTICE CH. 76

ON THE NET NOW AT

www.wpcommunitymedia.org

Greenburgh Towns Not Accepting Tax Payments as Charitable Donations

Posted on August 30, 2018 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. August 30, 2018:

Earlier this year the NYS Legislature authorized local governments and school districts to accept charitable donations in lieu of tax payments so residents would be able to get a tax deduction. The town will be collecting school taxes for the school districts (which are independent of the town) in September.

The new state law requires school districts that choose to opt into the law to pass a resolution in order for the town to accept charitable donations.

I sent a few letters to each of the school districts within the town. None of the school districts in Greenburgh will be accepting the donations for the September tax payments.

Last week the federal government took action steps to make it harder for residents to get the deductions.

I also contacted fellow Town Supervisors in Westchester. School districts throughout the county have also decided not to implement the charitable tax deduction option. Only two communities, to the best of my knowledge, have signed on so far: Scarsdale and Rye Brook.

RESPONSES FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN GREENBURGH…IRVINGTON, EDGEMONT, HASTINGS

GREENBURGH CENTRAL SCHOOLS: consulted with counsel (Judd Siebert from Keane & Beane) and shared background information and his advice with the board. Board members requested that we discuss this issue at our 9/4/18 BOE work session. It is likely that we will wait until next year to decide whether we will implement this. However, I will confirm this after 9/4.

HASTINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Per your request of August 14, our board president Doug Sundheim asked me to send you the statement that the Hastings-On-Hudson Union Free School District emailed its families regarding the school district’s position on accepting charitable donations instead of tax payments.

It is posted on our website at: https://www.hohschools.org/cms/lib/NY01913703/Centricity/Domain/4/8.7.18%20Charitable%20Donations%20In%20Lieu%20of%20Taxes.pdf

IRVINGTON

This is in response to your letter dated August 14, 2018 related to the acceptance of charitable donations instead of tax payments. The district consulted with our counsel and per his advice and after a discussion at our August 21, 2018 School Board meeting, the Board has decided to wait for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide final guidance before taking any action.

EDGEMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Following up on our conversations, the Edgemont School Board voted to continue to evaluate the potential for a charitable contribution in lieu of taxes option. We are keenly aware of the potential importance of SALT deduction work-arounds. Indeed, the board members are a local taxpayers ourselves. However, we do not yet have sufficient information to decide whether we can make this option available, and want to work with you to figure out the following:

1. Potential Legal Exposure: The opportunity to implement a new program arises in a very unsettled area of law that pits state/local authorities against federal authorities. We need to determine whether proceeding with a program exposes the Town or school district to potential liability, now or in the future.

2. Mechanics: What is the process by which a charitable contribution program would be created and implemented? What does the school need to do? It is complicated to create a new program from scratch — and it is essential to do it correctly.

3. Burden & Cost to the District: Whether and how any charitable contribution program unduly burdens Edgemont administrators and/or imposes costs on the school district certainly will affect its appeal.

4. Best Practices: To the extent other communities have implemented programs, what are the things we can learn/copy?

Please let me know what next steps will be to advance the discussion. As you and I discussed, I realize there is no way to answer these questions in time to get on track for a September roll-out. But, perhaps, we can target December (in advance of the 2nd tax payment deadline).

HAVEN’T RECEIVED RESPONSES FROM THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE TOWN BUT PRESUME THEY ARE ALSO NOT AUTHORIZING THE CHARITABLE DONATIONS.

PAUL FEINER

Article from associated press follows…

Congresswoman Lowey Convenes Conference on College Necessity Thursday in Pleasantville. 11 AM

Posted on August 29, 2018 by John Bailey

WPCNR FUTURE FORECAST. From Congresswoman Nita Lowey’s Office. August 29, 2018:

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey and Pace University President Marvin Krislov Convene Roundtable on College Affordability and Accessibility

As Washington debates the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, local leaders explain what it means for students, parents and education institutions in our area

The Promoting Real Opportunity, Success and Prosperity Through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act is the current legislation being considered in Congress to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. But what does it mean for current and future college students and their parents? The impact of the bill and what families in Westchester, Rockland, and the surrounding area need to know will be discussed. Some of the major changes in the PROSPER Act include:

Elimination of in-school interest subsidy for middle-and-low-income students
A new annual limit on loans for graduate students ($28,500 per year, aggregate limit of $150,000)
A new annual limit on parent loans
Elimination of loan forgiveness
More restrictive loan repayment options

WHO:

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey, 17^th District New York

Marvin Krislov, President, Pace University

Dr. Belinda Miles, President, Westchester Community College

Financial Aid & Enrollment Administrators from:

Westchester Community College, Dominican College, Purchase College, Manhattanville College, Mercy College

College students affected by the legislation

WHAT:

Discussion and analysis of legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act with key stakeholders.
WHEN:

Thursday, August 30^th

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

WHERE:

Pace University, 861 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, NY

Goldstein Academic Center, Room 100

Campus Entrance #3

Campus map

Latimer Touts Liberty Lines 5 Year Deal. Saves County $20 Million

Posted on August 27, 2018 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. August 26, 2018:

With dozens of transit workers cheering on, County Executive George Latimer and Liberty Lines announced a new five year partnership that includes $20M in savings to Westchester County taxpayers.

The deal, which runs through 2023, was reached with the County paying $13M less to Liberty Lines and an additional savings of $7M from insurance costs.

The deal also calls for the shifting of insurance providers from AIG to New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal – a not-for-profit entity – all while still providing the same services that thousands of Westchester residents rely on.

Over the term of the contract, Westchester County and Liberty Lines also agree to work together and continue to evaluate the cost of fuel. Any further savings generated from these efforts will be in addition to those already quantified.

Latimer said: “The deal we are approving today will save Westchester County taxpayers $20M over a five year span. When my Administration took office on January 1, we had on the table the willingness to negotiate a new contract.

This negotiation back and forth between the County and the company – which both sides were able to agree upon – has a definite benefit.

We talk a lot about the deficit we are facing in Westchester County, and the government and taxpayers owe a debt of gratitude to Liberty Lines for their flexibility in being willing to help close that gap.”

FLASH! Judge Lefkowitz Rules Against Gedney Association in GEDNEY vs. FASNY. & City of White Plains Association Can Appeal.

Posted on August 26, 2018 by John Bailey

The abandoned former Ridgeway Country Club on Ridgeway Avenue White Plains NY USA–site of planned new French American School of New York. The school plans have cleared another legal obstacle pending possible appeal. Photo WPCNR archive.

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. Special to WPCNR From the French American School of New York. (EDITED) August 26, 2018:

State Supreme Court Judge Joan Lefkowitz rejected two separate legal challenges to the White Plains Common Council’s grant of Special Permit and Site Plan approval for a reduced School on 27 acres of the 129-acre former Ridgeway Country Club in a decision handed down Friday.

Future entrance to the school: Hathaway Lane, adjacent to the abandoned clubhouse. New school facilities will be built on former fairways extending into the distance. Photo from WPCNR archive

The August 24th Court decision comes after seven years of reviews by the City and lawsuits by the Gedney Association.

Since acquiring the Ridgeway Country Club property in January of 2011, FASNY followed all environmental reviews and made multiple revisions of its plan in order to address community concerns, including substantially reducing the scope of the project and adopting a comprehensive traffic management plan.

Based upon a prior successful legal challenge by FASNY, the City and FASNY entered into a Stipulation of Settlement in 2016, in which FASNY filed a reduced Upper School only plan for no more than 640 students that limited all construction to one parcel of the former Ridgeway site.

After a year of further review, in November 2017, the City Council approved FASNY’s revised application, and the Gedney Association and various of its supporters brought two separate legal challenges against the City Council and FASNY.

In a 26-page opinion, Judge Lefkowitz rejected the plaintiffs’ initial argument that the former Ridgeway Country Club could not be used for an educational institution because of a Covenant filed in 1925, prohibiting the use of the property for “any institution, other than a club.”

The Court held that while the 1925 Covenant “unequivocally prohibits many uses […] it contains no like prohibition of any use related to education.”

The Court rejected arguments that the 1925 Covenant’s prohibition of “noxious” uses applied to a school, noting that under New York law, in fact, “such uses are presumed to have a beneficial effect on the community in which they are located,” and that the “law has long favored free and unencumbered use of real property. ”

The Court also summarily rejected various arguments made challenging the Council’s review, finding that “[t]he Record establishes that the Common Council did take the requisite hard look at all of the potential impacts” related to the school.

The Court specifically rejected the Gedney Association’s and its supporters’ contention that the Council failed to consider traffic issues raised by the challengers’ consultant, noting that, under the controlling law, the reviewing agency “has discretion to choose between conflicting experts,” and that various of the plaintiffs’ claims were no more than “rank speculation based on hypothetical circumstances.”

“We are gratified that the Court appreciated the tremendous efforts that both we and the City of White Plains went through to make sure that our project is good for FASNY and for the community as a whole,” said Emmanuèle Vinciguerra, Chair of the FASNY Board of Trustees.

She went on to say, “FASNY would like to extend special thanks to all the members of the White Plains community who have supported us throughout these years, as well as, again, extend an open hand to those residents who had concerns about the project.”

Vinciguerra noted that “FASNY had already recorded a 51-acre publicly accessible conservancy on its property, and looks forward to sharing this incredible open space with its neighbors and other members of the White Plains community.”

FASNY’s counsel, Michael Zarin of Zarin and Steinmetz, added: “Judge Lefkowitz’s decision confirms that the Courts will sustain environmental reviews that are the product of a careful and comprehensive review of the issues. FASNY has demonstrated great commitment to its constituents and to the larger community, and we are very proud to have been part of this long journey.”

SEIU 32BJ ANNOUNCES HAPPY ENDING WITH 235-245 MAIN STREET CLEANING CONTRACTOR– 7 DISMISSED UNION MEMBERS REHIRED WITH GRADUATED RETURN TO FULL PREVIOUS UNION PAY.

Posted on August 25, 2018 by John Bailey

Leonore Friedlaender, left and John Ryan, Superintendent of 111 Westview Avenue, White Plains at White Plains TV Friday. They announced an end to the dismissed SEIU workers dispute with 235-245 Main Street next to City Hall.

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. August 25, 2018:

The Service Employees International Union 32BJ announced on White Plains TV Friday the union and Integrated Building Management have agreed to bring back all previous SEIU dismissed workers to the cleaning service. Integrated had let them go for being members of the union, who were paid at a higher wage scale.

Lenore Friedlaender, Assistant to the President at 32BJ SEIU, announced the mutual agreement on the timely WPTV program People to Be Heard, Friday morning in the WPCNR studios, when discussing the value and effect of class action suits of the U.S.Supreme Court approval of limiting actions against employers to arbitration only.

She said the suit filed by the SEIU 32bj against Integrated Building Management/Greenway Maintenance had not had a decision yet in suits filed with the National Labor Relations Board and NY Supreme Court.

She announced the parties had mutually negotiated a settlement bringing all 7 SEIU workers who had been dismissed back to work with the new cleaning service Integrated Building Management.

The owners of the building, Caspi Development and the new cleaning contractor (Integrated) have agreed to hire back the SEIU “7” with a series of step increases on a PAY schedule that would restore them to full union pay and benefits (working out a compromise).

The SEIU suit(s) had been filed in April by the union charging violation of the Westchester County Displaced Workers law by Integrated Building Management which dismissed 7 SEIU union workers when it took over maintenance of 234-245 Main Street.

The Westchester County Displaced Workers Law guarantees that workers cannot lose their jobs due to a change in building management.

County Executive George Latimer wrote a letter to the President of Caspi Development urging Caspi “do the right thing” and rehire the workers. The new cleaning contractor, Integrated Building Management told the union it would rehire all seven workers.

MaryJane Shimksy in May, told WPCNR, Westchester County could not sue Caspi Development owners of the 235-245 Main Street White Plains or IBM/Greenway (Caspi new private maintenance contractor) because the law specifically provides only a private right to sue to enforce the law.

According to an SEIU spokesperson Frank Soults, the seven workers were made an offer to bring back the 7 dismissed rehired at minimum wage instead of the contractual union rate, and offered none of their previous benefits.

Soults said four of the seven workers took back their jobs because they needed the money.

Several county legislators protested the nature of the offer as a violation of the Displaced Workers Act back in May.

Since then, the union and Integrated Building Management have negotiated a solution, Friedlaender said. Integrated brings back all seven workers on an arrangement where graduated increases on the pay schedule would bring all seven back up to their previous union wages.

The program People to Be Heard, with John Bailey and Peter Katz, recorded yesterday discusses opening negotiations with The Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and Mid-Hudson Region, Inc. will be telecast countywide on FIOS channel 45 and in White Plains Altice Ch. 76, on Thursday, August 30 at 8 PM and Saturday, Labor Day Weekend at 7 PM. It is also internetcast around the world on www.wpcommunitymedia.org, www.whiteplainsweek.com and YouTube beginning Friday August 31.

WHITE PLAINS WEEK NOW THE AUGUST 24 REPORT ON YOUTUBE AND WHITE PLAINS WEEK DOT COM

Posted on August 24, 2018 by John Bailey

THE WHITE PLAINS WEEK TEAM

BAILEY

KATZ

BENEROFE

WHITE PLANS WEEK for 8-24 has been posted the youtube link is

https://youtu.be/T0C9mqcRfuk

the whiteplainsweek.com link is

http://www.whiteplainsweek.com/

www.wpcommunitymedia.org

MAKING SENSE OF THE MANAFORT CONVICTION AND COHEN PLEA

ECONOMIC JOY IN WESTCHESTER

THE COUNTY ECONOMY–HAPPY DOLLARS CONTINUE-RECORD GROWTH IN SALES TAXES

WHITE PLAINS BEATS COUNTY SALES TAX REVENUE PACE IN JULY

SEIU BJ SETTLES JOBS LOSS IN WHITE PLAINS. ALL 7 FIRED WORKERS WILL GET JOBS BACK AND INCREASE BACK TO UNION PAY LEVELS

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION DAWDLES ON NYSEG CON ED REPORT

WHITE PLAINS TAKES YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NEW WESTCHESTER INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT MOBILE DENTAL FAN

TONIGHT.