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Six to 8 inches of wet heavy snow fell overnight in White Plains NY USA
George Washington: The First and Role Model for Those Who Would Lead
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WPCNR MILESTONES. Reprinted from the WPCNR ARCHIVES. February 18, 2018:
Thursday is George Washington’s Birthday again. The time when we remember the first leader and the best. It is instructive to look at our first leader, George Washington, the father of our nation as we begin President’s Week
One cannot help be reminded of the snowy winter at Valley Forge, when the bedraggled, poorly equipped rebel army suffered but held together, and attacked the Hessians in Trenton on Christmas Eve, 1776, crossing the Delaware River at night. What kind of man was he that George Washington could inspire his troops against all odds?
Washington was a man of tremendous character. Of principle.
Where did he get this character?
He specialized in self-control at an early age. That congressmen, lobbyists, and pundits and yes, Presidents, means mind-control, reason and responsibility.
According to the book, The American President, Washington, at sixteen, had formed a code of conduct. He had written a book of etiquette with 110 “maxims” to guide his conduct in matters. In this etiquette book he had written,
Every action done in company ought to be done with a sign of respect to those who are not present. Sleep not when others speak; sit not when others stand; speak not when you should hold your peace; walk not when others stop;…Let your countenance be pleasant but in serious matters somewhat grave…Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise.
The character sketch provided by the authors of The American President, indicates this personal “rulebook” was a book that Washington wrote over the years and referred to it often, for, they write, for the following reasons:
“for self-control, to avoid temptation, to elude greed, to control his temper. Reputation was everything to him. It had to do with his strength, his size, his courage, his horsemanship, his precise dress, his thorough mind, his manners, his compassion. He protected that reputation at any cost.”
Earning respect by example. Quelling rebellion with a few words.
Washington inspired by example. He lived with his troops. He shared hardships with them, and there was so much respect for him that he was able to talk them out of armed rebellion at the end of the American Revolution.
Washington had been asked by the army to join them to overthrow the Continental Congress, and make himself King.
Washington had been asked by one of the officers of the rebels to join them, and he wrote them,
You could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable. Banish these thoughts from your mind.
Hearing that the rebels who were planning insurrection against the new country due to not having been paid by the Continental Congress, Washington rode to Newburgh, New York, on March 15, 1783, to meet with the dissident insurgents. Washington spoke to the rebellious group, saying,
“Gentlemen, as I was among the first who embarked in the cause of our common Country; as I never left your side one moment, but when called from you on public duty; as I have been the constant companion and witness of your Distresses…it can scarcely be supposed …that I am indifferent to your interests. But…this dreadful alternative, of either deserting our Country in the extremest hour of her distress, or turning our Arms against it…has something so shocking in it that humanity revolts from the idea…I spurn it, as every Man who regards liberty…undoubtedly must.”
The would-be rebels fell silent, digesting what he had said. Then Washington withdrew a letter from Congress, but could not read the text, withdrawing some eyeglasses from his tunic, remarking,
“Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.”
The men present were reported to have tears in their eyes at this gesture of Washington’s and abandoned their plot out of respect for their leader.
Washington retired from the military, surprising the entire new country. His action surprised King George III of England, who was astonished that Washington had refused to hold on to his military authority and use it for political or financial gain. The defeated King of England, remarked, “If true, then he is the greatest man in the world.”
Seeker of Diverse Views. How to pick a cabinet.
As President, George Washington invented the Presidential Cabinet, whom he referred to as “the first Characters,” persons who possessed the best reputations in fields and areas of the jobs he was filling. Washington said on political appointments, “My political conduct and nominations must be exceedingly circumspect. No slip into partiality will pass unnoticed…”
Washington tolerated the relentless clashes between Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State, and Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, but lectured them on the necessity for tolerance and moving beyond partisanship:
“I believe the view of both of you are pure, and well meant. Why then, when some of the best Citizens in the United States, Men…who have no sinister view to promote, are to be found, some on one side, some on the other…should either of you be so tenacious of your opinions as to make no allowances for those of the other? I have great esteem for you both, and ardently wish that some line could be marked out by which both of you could walk.”
The Constitution Should be Protected
When George Washington left office after two terms, he made a farewell address which warned future generations of Americans about foreign entanglements and partisanship in the republic:
I shall carry to my grave the hope that your Union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the Constitution may be sacredly maintained; and that free government…the ever favorite object of my heart…will be the happy reward of our mutual cares, labors and dangers.”
Washington died in 1800, three years after leaving office in 1797. He was saluted on the floor of congress as being “First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.”
He was the first and best. The ultimate role model for any leader.
Note: The American President By Philip B. Kunhardt, Jr., Philip B. Kunhardt III, and Peter W. Kunhardt (Riverhead Books. Penguin-Putnam, Inc.,1999) is the source for this information on George Washington.
COFFEE WITH WHITE PLAINS WEEK SATURDAY MORNING :SING SING, GUNS, TAXES AND CHARITY, REVAL, TRUMP TRAMPS ON, AND MORE OR INSTANTLY ON INTERNET AT YOUTUBE AND WHITE PLAINS WEEK DOT COM
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WESTCHESTER’S NUMBER ONE NEWS TALK PROGRAM FOR 18 YEARS
PETER KATZ JOHN BAILEY JIM BENEROFE
OUR EIGHTEENTH YEAR REPORTING REAL NEWS WEEKLY NOW ON THE INTERNET
on youtube at
the whiteplainsweek.com line is
SIGNING OFF GUNS ON COUNTY PROPERTY
THE TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GUNS
REAL ESTATE THREAT IN WHITE PLAINS AND SELLERS MARKET
CHARITY WILL BE HURT BY TAX PLAN
PATHWAY TO PAID SICK DAYS LAW IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE YEARS OF SERVICE
THE SING SING PRISON MUSEUM PROPOSED
AND MORE
Maisano Appointed Head of Westchester County Consumer Protection
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. February 19, 2018:
County Executive George Latimer named longtime County Legislator Jim Maisano (R-New Rochelle) as the Director of the Department of Consumer Protection in a news conference today at the Michaelian Building in White Plains
Latimer said: “We are of different political parties, and we remain in different political parties, but we have a shared commitment to the people of Westchester County.”
Maisano said: “I am so excited and grateful that this Administration has given me this opportunity. It is incredible that George reached across party lines to show that the most important thing is the County of Westchester. We have a fabulous County government and everyone, Democrats, Republicans and Independents should be working together to make this an even better County.
Maisano was elected to the County Board of Legislators in 1997, Maisano served in numerous leadership positions, including most recently as Vice-Chairman of the Board from 2014-2017, and Minority Leader from 2010-2013.
For over two decades as a legislator Maisano focused, on the areas of governmental and fiscal reform, environmental protection and improving municipal recreation and parks.
In addition to his public service, Maisano brings a wealth of legal experience to the job. He currently practices law at his own firm in New Rochelle, concentrating his practice on business litigation, real estate, wills, estates and probate actions.
Maisano, raised in New Rochelle, is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he worked as a landing support specialist in embarkation and logistics. Maisano served as platoon sergeant, supervising and training a platoon of marines. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant, and received several awards and commendations during his service to our country.
Latimer said: “Jim and I have a long history of working together to tackle the challenges facing our County – no matter our party affiliation. He has always advocated for the people of this County based on what he thought was the right thing to do, regardless of politics. I look forward to continuing our work together as he heads this department, which serves as the peoples’ watchdog.”
Maisano said: “I am very pleased to continue my public service in a ‘hands on’ position where I can really help the people of Westchester County. The Department of Consumer Protection is important and I am honored that County Executive Latimer has entrusted me to direct the County’s efforts to safeguard our residents from unscrupulous businesses and dangerous products. I will make sure that the Department of Consumer Protection is a robust, efficient and transparent operation.”
Maisano will officially begin his new duties on February 26.
LINK TO PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/WSaN17khbI4
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Sing Sing Prison Museum Launches. Fund Raising Drive for $650,000 in matching funds from State sought to Renovate, County may contribute.
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Site of planned Sing Sing Prison Museum: former power house serving the prison. Plans for the 2025 targeted opening were announced today in Ossining.
WPCNR County Clarion Ledger. By John F. Bailey. February 15, 2018:
Just outside Sing Sing Prison this afternoon County Executive George Latimer, the Mayor of Ossining, Assembly woman Sandy Galef and other dignataries announced a $25 Million to $30 Million project to create a museum of prison history, focusing on Sing Sing Prison which is approaching its 200th anniversary of its founding in 1825.
The project seeks to renovate the abandoned power house (adjacent the entrance to the prison) into a 4 story museum.
The project, Latimer said, would generate 135,000 visitors to the facility and the town of Ossining, generating 230 full-time jobs, plus construction jobs. The Mayor of Ossining, Victoria Gearity (left) hailed the project as bringing a halo affect of jobs and revenue to the city. Sandy Galef, Assemblywoman, right, thanked Mr. Latimer for throwing the County support for the project. Latimer said the county may contribute funds to the project, depending on how the county budget unfolds in 2018.
The project director said the museum would contain memorabilia and exhibits of the Sing Sing past, including a model of an electric chair; uniforms of guards and prisoners, typical cells, and lecture halls.
There would be a movie theater that would exhibit prison-based films. He also said there would be exhibits emphasizing the rehabilitation of prisoners that has made Sing Sing a model of incarceration success with a recidivism rate of released prisoners, just 4% compared to other prison average of as high as 70%.
Sing Sing Prison Museum expects to renovate the rusted girders and railingless stairways leading to its upper floors and replace windows of the old power house by the beginning of 2019. By the end of 2019 they expect to complete design and exhibit plans. The project is expected to be completed tentatively in the beginning of 2025.
A major feature of the museum will be restoration of the original 1825 cell block shown here in the heart of the Sing Sing complex, which will be connected to the museum building,
Ms. Gold said the cost of the project is expected to be at least $25 Million or higher.The County Executive said the county might contribute financing to the project depending on how the county financial status evolves.
The wall of Sing Sing Prison today.
SATURDAY AT 7 PM AND ON THE INTERNET NOW–JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS WHITE PLAINS NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ON THE BUDGET, DIRECTION OF THE SCHOOLS, NEW INITIATIVES ON FIOS CH. 45 AND ALTICE CABLEVISION 76
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DR. RICCA DISCUSSES HIS FIRST 7 MONTHS AND WHAT’S AHEAD
At 7 PM SATURDAY NIGHT
on FIOS CH 45, ALTICE CH. 76
AND ON YOU TUBE AND WHITE PLAINS WEEK DOT COM WORLDWIDE INSTANTLY
YOU TUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/nQ1FN2pxvEA
WhitePlainsWeek.com link is
www.wpcommunitymedia.org
The upcoming School Budget
Review of test evaluations at all grades
His take on the State Assessment Test Issue
The future of the District, Budget Growth Issues
and more
Catherine Borgia and Unions Rally. Will Introduce Paid Sick Leave Bill. Formula Would Have Employees Earn Days of Paid Sick Time By Hours WORKED going Forward. Retroactive Service May be Considered.
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Legislator Catherine Borgia (in red jacket left of podium) with Legislators, Nancy Barr (Port Chester and County Chair of the Board of Legislators, Benjamin Boykin, behind podium, leading raucous rally in the Michaelian Building rotunda today in White Plains, NY USA
WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. February 14, 2018:
County Legislator Catherine Borgia and numerous labor organizations representing some 70,000 transit bus monitors, custodians, and other job positions announced she would reintroduce her paid sick leave bill that was held in committee last fall by the Astorino administration.
The bill, if passed, would make it law that businesses with more than 5 employees and offering no paid sick leave would have to count the number of hours per week an employee worked and total them up to provide paid sick days for the employee.
The bill allows an employ to accumulate one hour towards a paid sick day for each 40 hours worked. If the bill as constituted became law, if an employee did not without paid sick leave, he or she would for each 40 hours worked earn an hour of a paid sick day.
WPCNR asked Ms. Borgia how many paid sick days would be earned if an employee worked 50 weeks with approximately 40 hours a week.
The employee would have earned 5 full sick days with pay, Borgia told WPCNR.
She told WPCNR the bill may change in committee to build in a retroactive feature, that loyal employees could use past work history to earn paid sick days more quickly.
Currently the bill does not include any retroactive service “credit.”
The news conference featured employees telling of their need to stay home to tend sick children and their loss of pay, and possible loss of job.
Chair of White Plains Board of Ethics, Critic of Mayor’s Choice of City Judge, Removed from Ethics Board
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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. February 14, 2018:
It was the number one item on the Common Council Agenda of February 5, it read:
“Communication from Council President recommending the appointment of David Schiff, as Chair of the Board of Ethics to a term which will expire on December 31, 2021, and appointment of Rev. Gregory Smith, and the re-appointment of Damon Amadio, Nancy Barry and Larry Delgado to terms which will expire on December 31,2019.”
It appeared routine. But it was, as it turns out, the appointments of a new Chairman, David Schiff (in effect, removing then current Chairman, Mark Elliott) and appointing a new member, Reverend Gregory Smith, replacing Mr. Elliot on the Board.
Mr. Elliott throughout last year had criticized the Mayor for appointing Elizabeth Schollenberger to the City Court, instead of other recommendations for the judgeship of the City Judicial Review Committee charged with making recommendations of judicial candidates for the empty post. Elliot had noted in his criticism that Ms. Schollenberger was the former head of the City Democratic Committee who had long championed Mr. Roach and was his Campaign Manager. Mr. Elliot’s e-mails criticizing Mr. Roach for appointing Schollenberger, long a political ally, had been sent to many persons in the city and covered by
During the Common Council meeting announcing the Board of Ethics changes, effectively removing Mr. Elliott from the Board, there was no mention of Mr. Elliott’s years of service on the Board or any public thank you for those years of service, or any mention of his dismissal from the Board.
The announcement came as a surprise.
One councilmember told WPCNR, the change was not announced to the Council before the agenda was released, and they only noticed it when Elliott’s name was not on the reconstituted board of ethics.
WPCNR contacted Mr. Elliott to see if he was still a member of the Board, after noting his not being mentioned in the agenda, I believed, at the time, he was still on the Board:
Mr. Elliott issued this statement to WPCNR:
“John:
I am no longer a member of the City’s Board of Ethics. I was not reappointed to the Board. I did not resign. The Mayor’s office did not inform me in advance of their plans.
I am very honored to have served the Board for approximately 19 years. Among other things, our Board made history when our charges led directly to the resignation of Mayor Adam Bradley.
I hope that the new Board member and the new Chair will uphold the tradition – established by such fine public servants as the Honorable Larry Delgado and Nancy Barry – of deciding ethics matters based on the law and the best interests of the City without regard to partisan or political considerations.”
White Plains residents will remember after Mr. Bradley resigned in 2011, then Common Council President Tom Roach became Acting Mayor.
Mr. Roach defeated Robert Hyland in a Special Election and Roach became Mayor to fill out Bradley’s unexpired term of 2 years and 9 months.
In 2013, Mr. Roach defeated Republican Cass Cibelli and was reelected for a full 4 year term in 2013.
Roach again was reelected for a second 4 year term in November, 2017, after defeating Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona in a September primary and then defeating Ms. Lecuona, running on the Republican ticket in the General Election.
County Executive Recognizes Lois Bronz contribution.
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WPCNR MILESTONES. From the Westchester County Office of Communications. February 13, 2018:
County Executive George Latimer today issued this statement on the death today of Lois Bronz:
“Today, Westchester lost a true friend in Lois Bronz. Having served with her during my time at the Board of Legislators, I saw first-hand just what kind of impact Lois had on Westchester.
Our time serving together resulted in meaningful legislation that changed the course of the County for the better, most notably the creation of the Westchester County Human Rights Commission.
Lois was the definition of a trailblazer in Westchester County, having been elected as the first and only woman, and the first African-American, Chair of the County Board of Legislators. She fought for civil rights, women’s rights and human rights.
Lois leaves behind a legacy of commitment to the people of Westchester. I extend my deepest condolences to the Bronz family during this difficult time.”
County Executive Signs Bill Prohibiting Gun Shows on County-Owned Property
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. February 12, 2018:
County Executive George Latimer signed into law a bill that prohibits the sale of guns on Westchester County property. This legislation, which was passed by the County Board, also codifies the Executive Order signed by Latimer during the first week of his administration.
“Plain and simple, Westchester should not – and will not – profit off the sale of guns in our facilities,” said Latimer. “We just announced that the WNBA’s New York Liberty will call the County Center home, the NBA G-League’s Westchester Knicks have proven that this facility is a dynamic arena for live events throughout the year, and recently we held another successful Toy & Train Show. We can find much better uses of our property that can generate just as much revenue. This is the right step for Westchester County, and I applaud the Board of Legislators for turning my revocable Executive Order into law.”
Board Chairman Ben Boykin said: “It is so significant that County Executive George Latimer’s first Executive Order was to ban gun shows on County-owned property, and that the Board of Legislators first major piece of legislation in 2018 was to do the same. By codifying his Executive Order, and by putting this law on the books through his signing, we eliminate the threat of a future County Executive acting on his or her own. This progressive legislation points to the strength, and the possibilities of a Board and County Executive working in tandem for the people of Westchester.”
Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “I first introduced this bill as a legislator after the previous County Executive re-opened the County Center to gun shows, unfortunately our attempts at making it law were thwarted by his veto. But, today is a new day in Westchester County and I am so proud to stand here with County Executive Latimer and my former colleagues to sign this prohibition of gun shows into law. The County Center will once again be used for the family friendly events it was intended for.”
Legislator Virginia Perez, who tragically lost her brother to gun violence, said: “This is a special and emotional day for me, when it comes to gun violence I personally know the pain that families go through. The passage of this bill is so important because we do not want to promote a culture of guns and gun violence in our County and in our County facilities.”
Legislator Catherine Borgia said: “This is an exciting day. I know my former colleague and Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins worked hard on this issue from the time he first introduced it nearly a decade ago and I am proud to be here with him today. The measure does nothing to impede on the Second Amendment, but rather represents the values for which this county stands. I want to thank the people of Westchester who made their voices heard to make this law a possibility.”
Majority Leader Catherine Parker said: “All 12 members of the Democratic Caucus believed whole-heartedly that this is good policy, and we are immensely proud to pass this legislation right out of the gate. Westchester County does not need to be in the business of promoting and profiting from the sale guns – and that is what this legislation stands for.”
In 1999, Gun shows were banned at the Westchester County Center by former County Executive Andrew J. Spano in the wake of the mass shooting at Columbine High School. That prohibition was later revoked by Latimer’s immediate predecessor.