WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. March 30, 2016:

Westchester legislators today voted unanimously (with not the full Board in attendance) to extend the deadline for Standard Amusements and Westchester County to finalize the arrangement under which Standard would take over management of the park.

The county is seeking a 50-50 investment split between Standard and the County on investment in the park refurbishment going forward.

The spokesman for the Westchester County Board of Legislators told WPCNR, the board and “worked out the issues with the (Astorino) Administration,” and that Standard Amusements was considering the county issues with the $20 Million on the refurbishment of the Colonnades. Matt Richter, the Board spokesperson said the Board will now take up direct negotiations with Standard Amusements which he described has willing to consider adjustments to the deal.

In another development…

Richter also confirmed that approximately $3.4 Million had been received from FEMA for repair of the North Boardwalk which has been closed from Hurricane Sandy damage sustained 4 years ago in 2012. Richter thought that the money had not been expended yet because the county had been waiting to see what kind of arrangement could be made with a possible future operator of Playland.

In still another development…

A news conference held by County Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, recorded March 18 (shown above) in which he detailed for the press his plan for a restructured Playland-Standard Amusements agreement, and the case for savA ing Playland will be televised on the White Plains Television program PEOPLE TO BE HEARD (Westchester County’s most relevant interview program) in its entirety, including Press questions and answers PEOPLE TO BE HEARD  on Thursday evening March 31 at 8 PM countywide on VERIZON FIOS CHANNEL 45 and WHITE PLAINS CABLEVISION IN WHITE PLAINS CHANNEL 76, and Saturday, April 2.

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WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. March 25, 2016. Republished from WPCNR of the Distant Past.:

He died 2,000 years ago on a cross. There was no CNN, no internet, no newspapers,radio or television. No Twitter or Facebook. No Instagram,Skype, or Google.

Nevertheless the message of the man who died on Calvary (The Place of the Skull) spread around the world without mass communication.

His followers, twelve of them were so devoted to His message of love and code of behavior they became the first pacifist activists who spread a message the man they called their Lord had preached to them.

He was Jesus of Nazareth.  He had no last name.

Today He is now known all over the world for the message he delivered.

Whether you believe He is the Son of God, or not, he ranks as one of the foremost influences on mankind. More than Plato, more than Socrates, more than any leader or politician, or entertainer whoever lived.

His selfless acts of embracing lepers, the poor, those who sinned were unique.

Such compassion for the downtrodden was unheard of during the time He lived.

It was a time of slavery. No human rights. No care for the sick. When cities were razed and populations slaughtered or enslaved much like the genocides of today.

Jesus of Nazareth introduced a new philosophy that spread throughout the world after His death by crucifixation on this day (maybe, we do not know the exact date), because the community leaders of his own people thought him a threat to their power. And that should be a lesson to us all.

If you live by His philosophy of foregiveness you are a person at peace with yourself. If you accept those who are different from you without  fear or prejudice, you are a force for spreading His message of peace towards others and good will.

I f you help the poor and the sick because you sympathize with them, you are following His way.

If you stand up for truth, point out what is wrong as He did with the Pharisees. You are doing his will.

If you go about doing good for the sake of doing good, you are following His virtue of selflessness.

Jesus of Nazareth’s message whether divine or a code of how we conduct our lives resonated with millions and it spread.

There is no denying He is one of the great philosophers of the human experience, kin to Socrates, the other giant of antiquity thought.

The above print of “The Return from Calvary” painted by Herbert Schmalz shows the last hours of Jesus of Nazareth’s crucifixation around 33 A.D. on Calvary Hill, “the place of the Skull” outside of Jerusalem late in the day He was crucified.

The description on the print describes the somber scene:

The darkness which was on the earth (during His suffering) is clearing away.

One long, dark cloud is hanging over the city like a pall.

The Virgin Mother, weighted down by fatigue and grief, knowing not wither she goes, is being led up some steps, toward “his own” home, by St. John and Mary Magalene.

In the distance on the top of Cavalry, you can make out the three crosses.

The grief so eloquently captured by this print depicts the very personal loss all of us endure when someone we love passes away because of all they did for us.

Jesus of Nazareth was a human being who affects us to this day.

One of the great gifts of this man, Jesus of Nazareth, is the celebration of humanity and capacity to care and feel for others that aids persons whether they believe He was the Son of God or not. Or that you will have eternal life if you believe in him.

His philosophies of care, courage, compassion and benevolent action serve their practioners well because they leave a great personal satisfaction in the heart, the mind, and the spirit.

You do not have to second guess yourself, when you do what is right, humane, merciful, and serves the less fortunate without superiority with nothing to gain for yourself. And if you do not do what is right, if you weaken, you always regret it and remember when you failed to do right.

The peace of mind of action is the least of the  great gift of Jesus of Nazareth whose death on the cross is marked this day.

If you act as Jesus did, you will be remembered by all you meet fondly and lovingly, and be comforted that you will live in memories of those you have  touched with your love and kindness and caring  for eternity to the end of the age.

His simple teachings have great power. Use it.

They give meaning to our mystery of life.

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THIS IS JOHN BAILEY

ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD,

WESTCHESTER’S MOST RELEVANT INTERVIEW PROGRAM

I TAKE UP A VERY PERSONAL MATTER THAT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES AND IS RECOMMENDED VIEWING FOR WOMEN AND PARENTS EXPECTING A BABY.

I INTERVIEW

GEORGANNE CHAPIN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INTACT AMERICA,

A TARRYTOWN ORGANIZATION

WORKING TO ENLIGHTEN EXPECTANT PARENTS ON

 CIRCUMCISION

THIS SERIOUS INTERVIEW

MAY BE SEEN SATURDAY NIGHT

AND ON THE INTERNET AT

www.whiteplainsweek.com

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti. March 23, 2016:

Assemblyman Abinanti, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Libraries & Education Technology, was appointed as one of the Assembly’s representatives to the Education General Budget Conference Committee where the Assembly and Senate negotiate their differences in education.

Click the image below to view Assemblyman Abinanti’s comments at the 11:15 mark:

Here are some of the Assembly’s changes:

Education

The Assembly provides an increase of $2.13 billion in education aid over last year’s funding levels, an increase of $1.2 billion over the Governor’s proposal. The Assembly budget:

• increases Foundation Aid by $1.1 billion, an increase of $875 million over the Governor’s proposal;
• fully restores the GEA of $434 million, an additional $244 million over the Governor’s proposal;
• rejects the Governor’s proposal linking school aid increases to school districts’ annual teacher and principal evaluation plans;
• proposes $200 million on a school year basis in Community Schools Aid for struggling schools, an increase of $100 million over the Governor’s proposal;
• includes $14.3 million to fully restore funding for Teacher Resources and Computer Training Centers;
• increases funding 2% for Special Acts, 853 and 4201 Schools for the Blind and Deaf,  $2 million over the Governor’s proposal; and
• rejects the Governor’s proposed $27.4 million in direct funding to charter schools.

Higher Education

The Assembly invests an additional $1.7 billion in higher education, providing for a two-year tuition freeze for CUNY and SUNY students in addition to a 20% increase for opportunity programs. The Assembly proposal also increases the base operating aid for community colleges by $100 per full-time equivalent and raises the maximum TAP award by $100 to $5,265 per student.

Libraries

The Assembly provides $96.6 million in aid to public libraries – a 5.5% increase of $5 million over the Governor’s proposal and $24 million in the Public Library Construction Aid Program – a 70% increase of $10 million over the Governor’s proposal.

People with Special Needs

The Assembly rejects the Governor’s proposed changes to early intervention which would have impeded access to services. The Assembly proposal commits $200 million to cover the costs of a minimum wage increase for direct care workers who provide services to people with special needs. In addition, the Assembly proposal invests $100 million over five years for additional housing opportunities for people with special needs.

Ethics

While passing the budget, the Assembly also passed an ethics reform proposal to increase transparency in government and to limit the influence of special interests. The Assembly bill:

• bars legislators from receiving outside income unless it is directly related to work actually performed – proportional to the services rendered;
• prohibits elected officials working as lawyers from receiving referral fees for simply recommending a lawyer;
• limits outside income for legislators to 40% of the annual salary of state Supreme Court justices;
• closes the “LLC Loophole” – subjecting LLCs to the same $5,000 aggregate campaign  contribution limit that currently exists for corporations; and
• increases public disclosure for groups that lobby in New York.

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, March 22, 2016:

(Editor’s Note: The controversy among Greenburgh homeowners unhappy with their reassessments by Tyler Technologies and the company methods is abating somewhat. Supervisor Feiner tells us the situation as of Monday:)

REASSESSMENT UPDATE–A REQUEST BY ARDSLEY VETERANS FOR STATE TO PICK UP COSTS OF TAX BREAKS

Have spent some time today (Monday) discussing  Reassessment  concerns with Assessor Edye McCarthy.

Most of the people who contacted me over the weekend- highlighted the difficulty they had getting an appointment with Tyler Technologies.

The good news: Not as big a problem Monday.

Most were able to reach Tyler today. Meetings have been scheduled with Tyler & taxpayers beginning this week. There still were a few people who have tried calling and haven’t been able to get through. Hopefully, Tyler will be able to handle the call volume and schedule appointments with everyone who believes that their projected assessments need to be corrected.

A number of people have question about the  assessment process. Edye McCarthy will be taping a short  info-mercial today that I will post a link to  (by Wednesday) answering the questions that have been raised by taxpayers regarding the reassessment.  Hopefully this will help.

I spoke with State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins and Assemblyman Tom Abinanti.

I suggested that they consider introducing legislation that would increase the amount of income senior citizens can earn to be eligible for senior citizen tax breaks. The current dollar amount, according to the Assessor, is $37,000–which is not practical for seniors living in Westchester. Trying to think of other initiatives that could be taken to help those who will be facing tax hikes as a result of reassessment.

PAUL FEINER

 (Editor’s Note: a short history of the attempt to ease the burden on veterans is noted by a letter Mr. Feiner included in his update:)

From: Frank Pagani

Subject: Veterans Urge  Action to Pass A 966 to Reform Property Tax Exemption.

The members of the Ardsley American Legion Post 458 urge the NY State Legislature to  pass A 966 that was introduced recently by Assemblyman Tom Abinanti and which Senator Carlucci has sponsored in the Senate. It would reimburse school districts that adopt the veterans alternative property tax exemption so that veterans everywhere throughout the state enjoy the benefit, not just some of us.

As you well know, the alternative veterans property tax exemption is not the first time a well-intended piece of legislation missed the mark, either at the local, town, county, state or federal level. By leaving it to the school districts to pass the measure, the result was a “Tale of 2 Cities” in which about 50% of the school districts signed on and 50% did not, most citing that the state should pick up the cost instead of the taxpayers. That is what Assemblyman Abinanti’s legislation will do, ending once and for all this glaring and unfair disparity.

Frank Pagani

Ardsley American Legion Post 458