THE FIRST DEBATE

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 BCW to Hold First Head-to-Head Debate in Westchester County Executive Race

 

WHEN:               Tuesday, October 10, 5-7 p.m.

                 

WHERE:  The Reckson Center, 360 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains.

 

WHAT:      Continuing its leadership role of keeping the business community informed on important issues, The Business Council of Westchester will hold the first head-to-head debate in the race for Westchester County Executive between Republican incumbent Rob Astorino and Democratic challenger NYS Senator George Latimer. The candidates will debate key issues from the closing of Indian Point and the future of Westchester County Airport.

 

WHO:            The debate will be moderated by nationally respected pollster and political expert Lee Miringoff, Director, Marist Institute for Public Opinion.

 

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State Senator Latimer Collects Support of Lowey, Engel, Meng,

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2017.From the Latimer Campaign. October 8, 2017:

George Latimer Saturday received the endorsement of Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-Queens), Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, and Congressman Eliot Engel (D-Westchester/Bronx).

Latimer, Meng, Lowey, and Engel were joined by Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and all took part in a voter registration drive in front of the H-Mart supermarket immediately following the press conference.

“We are here together, united for our common values and for the hopes of every Westchester resident. Standing with me today are the Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Senior ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee and ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. I deeply admire their leadership and the dedication to their constituents, and I know that together, we can restore our nation’s hope on the same foundation of values and beliefs I am basing my campaign on,” said Latimer.

 “I am proud to endorse George Latimer for Westchester County Executive. George has been a friend and colleague with whom I have worked for many years both during his time on the Westchester County Board and in the New York State Legislature. George is a leader in protecting a woman’s right to choose and has been a strong advocate for common sense gun laws. I look forward to continuing our work together on these important issues, as well as many others, to ensure that Westchester County is an even better place to live, work and raise our families,” said Congresswoman Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland).

“I am proud to endorse George Latimer and look forward to working with him,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng. “While we fight the destructive attacks on the middle class in Washington, we need leaders like George Latimer standing up and fighting for our values here in New York, particularly at a time when those values are targeted by the President, the GOP-led Congress, and their enablers here in Westchester,”said Congresswoman Meng (D-Queens).

“I am happy to join my colleagues in endorsing George Latimer for Westchester County Executive. I have worked directly with George since his days as a County Legislator and have seen first hand his effective leadership and strong insight into the critical issues in Westchester,” said Congressman Engel (D- Bronx/Westchester).

Currently, Congresswoman Meng is the DNC’s only Asian-American officer and has focused much of her grassroots outreach on emerging communities. “With immigrants and the American Dream facing unprecedented attacks from the extreme right, we wanted to host this voter registration drive to empower, mobilize and invigorate voters in one of the most important races in the state,” said Meng.

The endorsement and voter registration drive add to Latimer’s growing momentum with only four weeks left until the November 7th general election. Latimer  is running on the Democratic, Independent, Reform, Working Families, and Women’s Equality ballot lines.

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Saturday in Puerto Rico: Department of Defense Systematically Expanding Relief, Reconstruction, Supplies

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WPCNR PUERTO RICO RECOVERY. From the U.S. Navy Northern Command. Saturday, October 7, 5 P.M. E.D.T.:

Today, the Department of Defense has deployed the 35th Expeditionary Signal Brigade to provide command, control, communications and computer support for DoD and FEMA responders; the 393rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion for logistic support to DoD responder teams; a Movement Control Team to support transportation and movement in Puerto Rico. In addition, a veterinary detachment arrived in Puerto Rico to help treat livestock and local animals.

U.S. Northern Command continues to distribute commodities via ground and air Saturday in support of FEMA’s ongoing relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

Approximately 71,000 liters of water and 35,000 meals are being distributed to nine municipalities and the Defense Logistics Agency is executing a water plan to distribute up to 2,500,000 gallons of water in Puerto Rico.

Friday, the DoD supplied over 162,000 gallons of bulk water, 44,000 gallons of bulk fuel, 1,500,000 meals, and 2,990,000 bottles of water to Regional Support Areas; additionally, 106,000 meals and 244,000 bottles of water were delivered directly to Puerto Rico municipalities.

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is currently conducting central route clearance Saturday in order to open up roadways into the interior of Puerto Rico.

Additionally, the 26th MEU, along with Marine aviation units, continue support operations today at the Guajataca Dam to assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to repair the Guajataca Dam.

Saturday, the hospital ship, USNS Comfort, continues to engage with Health and Human Services and the Puerto Rico Department of Health representatives in its continued support to patients on the island.

Reachout to St. Croix

In addition, 13 flights were scheduled Saturday to transport hospital units to St. Croix and Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, as well as sustainment and transportation units for Puerto Rico.

Yesterday, the USNS Comfort was near the coast of Arecibo-Manati when she received four critical patients from Hospital Menonita in Caguas after its generator failed.

Patients were medically evacuated by helicopters from the USS Wasp and USNS Comfort. Comfort, with the assistance of Army Black Hawk helicopters, had also received critical patients from Ryder Memorial Hospital in Humacao two days prior after its generator also failed.

Comfort has treated 75 patients ranging from six months to 89 years in age and performed numerous procedures such as gastrostomy tube placement, colectomies, sacral-decubitus ulcer debridement, as well as treated for wounds, hernias and pneumonia.

Currently we have more than 6,600 active duty service members and 56 helicopters operating in and around Puerto Rico.

To date approximately 7.4 million meals, 5.8 million liters of water, and 294 generators have been delivered to Puerto Rico in support of FEMA and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

USNORTHCOM’s mission is to assist lead federal relief agencies in helping those affected by natural disasters to minimize suffering while continuing its mission of defending the Homeland.

– 30 –

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Help Puerto Rico. Not Wall Street.

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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. OCTOBER 7, 2017:

Tell Congress: Help Puerto Rico, not Wall Street
Petition to Congress:
“Immediately pass a major Puerto Rico relief package, including billions in direct aid and grants, not loans and cover the reconstruction of the island’s electric grid and infrastructure. Restore control of Puerto Rico’s budget and spending to the island’s elected officials by eliminating the Financial Oversight and Management Board, and forgive Puerto Rico’s Washington-manufactured debts so the island can make a lasting recovery.”

Add your name:

https://act.credoaction.com/sign/puerto_rico?t=3&akid=25328.12040589.nuzueu

Dear John,

https://act.credoaction.com/sign/puerto_rico?t=4&akid=25328.12040589.nuzueu

Long after Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico, millions of American citizens there are still without electricity and reliable access to basic necessities like food and water.1

The quick and overwhelming response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma has been utterly missing in Puerto Rico. Instead, the Trump administration took a week to waive shipping restrictions, causing massive delays in aid efforts even as the elderly were dying due to the lack of medicine or electricity for ventilators and dialysis.2

Instead of springing into action, Donald Trump has tweeted that Puerto Ricans “want everything to be done for them,” accused San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz of criticizing the disaster response only because Democrats put her up to it insisted that Wall Street be able to profit off loans to Puerto Rico and said the disaster wasn’t a “real catastrophe” like Katrina during a trip where he tossed paper towels to desperate people like he was a game show host.3,4,5

After decades of exploiting Puerto Rico to help Wall Street, our government is now ignoring American citizens in desperate need. So we are standing with our friends at Democracy for America to demand that Congress act immediately to provide a massive aid package and end Wall Street’s hedge fund exploitation of Puerto Rico.

Tell Congress: Help Puerto Rico, not Wall Street. Click here to sign the petition.

After the Trump administration labelled the disaster response a “good-news story,” Mayor Cruz declared “this is a ‘people are dying’ story.”6 Once again, Trump flew off the handle when a person of color dared to criticize him. But while the mayor was sleeping on a cot and is doing all she can for her people, Trump was enjoying a day of golf.7 Only recently were there reports that Trump would request aid for Puerto Rico, with no guarantees that it will be enough or free the island from the hands of hedge funds.8

The crisis in Puerto Rico is decades in the making, and the result of a racist, colonial approach to the island. First, it was sugarcane industry exploitation. Then, Congress turned Puerto Rico into a tax haven for manufacturing and pharmaceutical companies. When Congress allowed those tax breaks to expire, the economy collapsed and the island plunged into debt.9

Wall Street hedge funds bought the debt and used that leverage to force Puerto Rico’s government to slash infrastructure and the social safety net while paying them billions in interest and fees. Washington has since imposed an unelected, Wall Street-backed “fiscal control board” to institute harsh austerity measures.10 The hedge funds that bought up Puerto Rico’s manufactured debt even pushed a new deal just days ago in an attempt to profit off of the disaster.11

Puerto Rico does not need more racist, colonial micromanaging. Congress must immediately pass a massive relief package like the ones for Irma and Harvey, end Wall Street control over the island, and forgive the island’s debts.

Tell Congress: Help Puerto Rico, not Wall Street. Click here to sign the petition.

Puerto Ricans are American citizens – but have been treated like colonial possessions to be exploited by large corporations and then told they cannot manage their own affairs. They had no voice in Congress when our government was boosting oil and gas companies, but now that climate change has supercharged storms and devastated the island, Trump has even floated the idea that Puerto Rico not be rebuilt at all.12

The rest of America has failed in our obligations to our sisters and brothers in Puerto Rico for far too long. Congress must not only pass a massive relief package, but tackle the underlying outrage by ending Wall Street control over the island and forgiving its Washington-created debt.

Tell Congress: Help Puerto Rico, not Wall Street. Click the link below to sign the petition:

https://act.credoaction.com/sign/puerto_rico?t=8&akid=25328%2E12040589%2Enuzueu

Thank you for speaking out.

Murshed Zaheed, Political Director
CREDO Action from Working Assets

Add your name:

https://act.credoaction.com/sign/puerto_rico?t=10&akid=25328.12040589.nuzueu

References:

  1. Oren Dorell, “With long lines for food, water and fuel and no electricity, Puerto Ricans help each other,” USA Today, Oct. 1, 2017.
  2. Carla Minet, “Nature caused Puerto Rico’s latest crisis. But politics are making it worse.” The Washington Post, Sept. 29, 2017.
  3. David A. Graham, “Trump Takes to Twitter as Puerto Rico’s Crisis Mounts,” The Atlantic, Oct. 1, 2017.
  4. John Wagner, “Trump declares Puerto Rico is in ‘deep trouble’ as questions mount about his commitment,” The Washington Post, Sept. 25, 2017.
  5. Chris Cillizza, “Trump’s Puerto Rico event was way worse than his tweets,” CNN, Oct. 4, 2017.
  6. Juana Summers, “Trump attacks San Juan mayor over hurricane response,” CNN, Sept. 30, 2017.
  7. Ibid.
  8. Rebecca Savransky, “Trump to request for more disaster relief funds this week: report,” The Hill, Oct. 2, 2017.
  9. Juan Gonzalez, “Puerto Rico’s $123 billion bankruptcy is the cost of U.S. colonialism,” The Intercept, May 9, 2017.
  10. Ibid.
  11. David Dayen, “Puerto Rico rejects loan offers, accusing hedge funds of trying to profit off hurricanes,” The Intercept, Sept. 28, 2017.
  12. Julia Ainsley, “Trump Administration Won’t Promise To Fix Puerto Rico’s Infrastructure,” NBCNews, Sept. 29, 2017.
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THE NEW GOVERNOR MARIO M. CUOMO BRIDGE IS NOW OPEN EAST-WEST. VIDEO FROM THE GOVERNOR

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TimeLapseTumbnail

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Office. October 7, 2017:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Friday evening that all traffic is now traveling on the first span of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, weeks earlier than planned. The iconic twin-span cable-stayed crossing opened to Rockland-bound traffic in late August.

VIDEO of a time lapse is available CLICK: here.

The last cars crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge is available on YouTube(CLICK) here and in TV Quality (h264 format) (CLICK:) here.

All four lanes of Westchester-bound traffic have officially shifted to the first span this evening, just a few weeks after the Governor announced the opening of the first span for Rockland-bound drivers.

Traffic on the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) will consist of four lanes in each direction on the first span, separated by a concrete barrier.

This will allow design-builder Tappan Zee Constructors to demolish the landings of the old bridge, which occupy the same footprint of the second span, and connect the second span to land. When completed, drivers will reap the full benefits of the 3.1-mile twin-span, which will include:

  • Eight general traffic lanes;
  • Four breakdown and emergency lanes;
  • Space for future bus rapid transit and commuter rail;
  • A bicycle and walking path with six unique viewing areas; and
  • Cashless tolling.

The original Tappan Zee Bridge, linking Rockland and Westchester, opened in December 1955 and there are now more than 140,000 vehicles crossing it daily.

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WHITE PLAINS WEEK OCT 6 SHOW ON THE INTERNET NOW

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IMG_0174

READY FOR YOUR CLOSE-UP?

PETER KATZ, JOHN BAILEY AND JIM BENEROFE –THE LOCAL LOWDOWN

ON

RKOTower

YOUTUBE AND WHITE PLAINS WEEK.COM

The YouTube link is

 
The whiteplainsweek.com link is
 
 
1-OPENER

COUNTY EXECUTIVE CAMPAIGN GETTING HOT AND PERSONAL

LAS VEGAS MASS MURDER IGNITES LOCAL GUN SHOW ISSUE AGAIN

HOW SECURE CAN HOTELS BE–NOT VERY SECURE–SHOULD THEY TIGHTEN UP THEIR “HOSPITALITY?” 

8-comfort in action

THE AGONIZING PACE OF PUERTO RICO HURRICANE RECOVERY–A FIASCO OVERLOOKS THE 80 PHARMACEUTICAL PLANTS THAT ARE THE ONLY SOURCE OF KEY SUBSCRIPTION MEDICATIONS FOR STROKES, AIDS

4-SHOCKER

BALLYHOOED HIGH SPEED INTERNET “BUNDLE” OF WHITE PLAINS, YONKERS, MOUNT VERNON AND NEW RO DOES NOT EXCITE INTERNET PROVIDERS YET AFTER A YEAR.

WHEN WE GO ALL-ELECTRIC CARS WILL WE HAVE ENOUGH OUTLETS?

5-Electric car charging

11-BOARDWALK

COUNTY STARTS PLAYLAND NORTH BOARDWALK REPAIR FIVE YEARS AFTER HURRICANE SANDY

9-TRUMP THE PRESIDENT

AND THE ONLY WEEKLY ROUNDUP OF ALL THINGS TRUMP.

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Latimer Accuses County Executive of “Pay to Play” Contracting on County Projects.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2017. From the George Latimer Campaign (Edited). October 7, 2017:

 State Senator George Latimer called on his County Executive Robert Astorino to disclose his campaign’s relationships and meetings with thirteen NYC-based firms that have received nearly $80 million in county contracts during the office’s existence.
According to the New York State Board of Elections and the Westchester County Government the list of donors includes notable contributors such as Arcadis, Harris Beach, HDR, LiRo, Tectonic, and Verde Electric Corporation.
An analysis by the Latimer camp shows that the firms have contributed over $200,000 to Astorino during his tenure as County Executive, further raising the question  of pay-to-play for the controversial Republican lawmaker.
“This is a great deal for these companies and for Rob Astorino, but a terrible deal for Westchester taxpayers,” said George Latimer. “Since Astorino won’t disclose exactly what took place at 125 Park, (the Westchester County Manhattan-based economic development office), we can’t know if these donors were meeting there with him or what was being discussed. This raises serious questions about the integrity of our County Executive that Rob Astorino should answer immediately.”
According to a review of Westchester County public records and state campaign finance reports, thirteen firms either headquartered in New York City or with a significant presence there received $79.2 million in taxpayer-funded contracts between 2015 and 2017. This coincides with the existence of the county’s Economic Development satellite office at 125 Park Avenue in Midtown, which Astorino opened to great fanfare but which  the county cannot point to any specific benefit to taxpayers having come out of the exclusive commercial space. Last month, the county announced that it would be closing the space once its current lease expires.
These thirteen firms, which provide a range of services including engineering, architecture and legal, have at the same time been major donors to Astorino’s high-profile political campaigns over the years. In total, they contributed over $213,000 in contributions to Astorino’s war chest both before and after many of the contracts were issued to them by the county.
For Latimer, this raises serious ethical questions about Astorino’s use of the Manhattan space, which the State Senator and others contend provides the Republican with a base of operations for building his donor network ahead of a rumored 2018 rematch against Governor Andrew Cuomo. As a result, Latimer is calling on his opponent in the County Executive race to release all information pertaining to his relationship with the firms in question, as well as details on any meetings that the donors may have had with Astorino and county officials at the Park Avenue office.
“Rob Astorino in his past races for County Executive and Governor made a point of criticizing his opponents for the practices that he seems to have mastered,” Latimer said.
Latimer’s request comes one week after he and fellow county lawmakers held a press conference and rally outside county offices in White Plains to call for the full disclosure of all meetings at the office. Astorino’s office has stated in the press that no meetings logs were kept and no such details are available for the taxpayer-funded space.
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Bronx Man Charged in Manhattan Federal Court with Sex Trafficking of Minors

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WPCNR FBI WIRE. Special to WPCNR from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. October 5, 2017:

Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”),announced Thuradsy that–

ADRIAN BROOKS, a/k/a “Abee,” was arrested for his alleged role as the leader of a sex trafficking and prostitution enterprise that exploited and abused women and minor girls.

BROOKS was charged in an Indictment with sex trafficking of minors and sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion.  BROOKS was also charged with the use of interstate facilities and interstate travel to promote a prostitution enterprise.

BROOKS was arrested Thursday morning and was to be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gorenstein in Manhattan federal court Thursday afternoon.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:

“As alleged, Adrian Brooks used threats and violence to coerce underaged girls into performing sex acts for money, and then kept most of the money for himself.  For his reprehensible alleged crimes, Brooks will now face federal sex trafficking charges.  This Office remains committed to protecting vulnerable children from the sick world of commercial sex trafficking.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment[1] filed in Manhattan federal court:

Since at least 2014, BROOKS directed and conducted a criminal sex trafficking and prostitution enterprise (the “Sex Trafficking Enterprise”) that recruited and exploited minor girls, and then forced them to engage in commercial sex acts for his own profit by, among other things, using an online classifieds website called Backpage.com (“Backpage”).

BROOKS operated the Sex Trafficking Enterprise out of motels in the Bronx, New York, and Yonkers, New York, as well as on the streets of the Bronx.

To evade detection by law enforcement, the Sex Trafficking Enterprise’s advertisements often purported to be offering escorts.  However, such advertisements often signaled that they were, in fact, offering individuals for commercial sex acts through a variety of cues, including pictures of partially-clothed women in sexually suggestive poses, and coded language indicating that the people being offered would perform sex acts in exchange for money.

The victims of BROOKS’s Sex Trafficking Enterprise were typically forced to engage in commercial sex acts with multiple customers in a single day.  Customers typically paid for such commercial sex acts in cash.  BROOKS kept most or all of the profits from his Sex Trafficking Enterprise.

BROOKS forced certain of his victims to take prescription pain relievers, to which they became addicted.  In addition, BROOKS set rules for his victims, controlled their actions, and punished violations of his rules and disobedience through physical violence, among other things.

BROOKS is charged with one count of sex trafficking conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and by force, fraud, or coercion, each of which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison; and one count of use of interstate facilities and interstate travel to promote a prostitution enterprise, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Any individuals who believe they have information concerning ADRIAN BROOKS, a/k/a “Abee,” that may be relevant to the investigation, or information regarding other sex trafficking crimes, should contact the FBI at (212) 384-1000 or https://tips.fbi.gov/, or the New York City Police Department at (646) 610-7272.

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “Brooks’s alleged acts are horrendous, preying on and exploiting minors. Cases like this are disgraceful examples of the worst in our society. Sadly, too often these types of crimes are unknown or ignored in our communities. The FBI simply won’t tolerate this behavior. Our Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force will be relentless in pursuing those who target our youth.  I encourage anyone with knowledge of trafficking activity to step forward to help us make a difference”

 

The investigation was conducted through the New York Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, a joint task force between the FBI and NYPD to combat human trafficking.  Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.   Mr. Kim also thanked the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey – Youth Services Unit and the New York City Administration for Children’s Services for their assistance during the investigation.

 

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Hanft, Sagar K. Ravi, and Alexandra N. Rothman are in charge of the prosecution.

 

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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