State Releases HALF the questions on 2014 Assessment Tests.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS.From the New York State Education Department (Edited). August 7:

As WPCNR and White Plains Week first reported  last June, and again reported last week, the New York State Education Department  released approximately 50 percent of the questions used on the 2014 Grades 3 – 8 assessments Wednesday.

The released questions will, the Department said in a news release, help students, families, educators, and the public understand the breadth and depth with which the state tests measure college and career readiness.

IMG_1570[1]

Education Commissioner  John King, Jr.(center) after a meeting of the Westchester Business Council June  11 when he first said in response to a WPCNR question, that Common Core Assessment Test Questions would be released this month.

“The test questions we are releasing today (Wednesday), coupled with item level data analysis and instructional reports made available in July, are important components of a comprehensive approach to instructional planning and professional development,” said   Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr.  “We’ve listened to New York State educators make the case that having more test questions available would benefit our kids so we’ve doubled the number and provided a thorough explanation for every student response.”

The released questions represent a range of difficulty and illustrate how student performance is assessed in accordance with the learning expectations and instructional shifts established by the New York State Common Core Learning Standards.  Released questions can help inform classroom instruction and local assessment practices.

The released questions are posted here: https://www.engageny.org/resource/new-york-state-common-core-sample-questions 

For each released multiple-choice question, explanations are provided, detailing how the question measures the intended learning standard and why the right answer is correct and why wrong answers are incorrect.

For constructed response questions, several examples of student work are provided, with explanations of why the responses received the scores they did.

“New York State students and their teachers are rising to the challenge,” said Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch.  “Educators can use this information together with student work from throughout the school year to help understand whether their instruction, assignments and classroom assessments reflect the rigor and depth of our learning standards and our statewide assessments.”

The 3-8 assessments are only one indicator among multiple measures of student performance and are intended to be used in conjunction with other tools to gauge student performance, educator effectiveness and school accountability. All Regional Information Centers (RICs) offer reports that allow educators to see the percentage of students that answered each test question correctly and (for released test questions) the percentage of students who selected each incorrect response.

This year, NYSED requested additional funding in the New York State Budget to increase the number of test forms – because more test forms would enable the Department to release more test questions and eliminate stand-alone multiple choice field tests. The request was not funded in this year’s budget.

The federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires that states annually administer tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics in grades 3 – 8 and high school. The 2014 Grades 3–8 Common Core ELA and Mathematics New York State Testing Program (NYSTP) has been designed to measure student knowledge and skills as defined by grade-level New York state standards in ELA and Mathematics.

A wide range of resources are available to parents and educators on State Assessments:

Performance Level Descriptions for 3-8 ELA and Math Tests that describe the knowledge and skills students should display at each performance level:

https://www.engageny.org/resource/performance-level-descriptions-for-ela-and-mathematics

Suggested analyses for 3-8 ELA and Math Tests that support student learning:

https://www.engageny.org/resource/suggested-data-analyses-for-3-8-ela-and-mathematics-state-tests

Test Guides for each grade and subject that contain specific details about the number of questions on each test, which standards are measured on each test, and how students will be graded on their performance:

https://www.engageny.org/resource/test-guides-for-english-language-arts-and-mathematics

Item and passage selection criteria for the 3-8 Assessments:

https://www.engageny.org/resource/new-york-state-passage-selection-resources-for-grade-3-8-assessments

https://www.engageny.org/resource/new-york-state-item-review-criteria-for-grade-3-8-english-language-arts-tests

At the high school level new Regents exams aligned to the NYS Common Core learning standards are being phased in and the complete exams were posted in June.

The Common Core Regents Exam in ELA (including annotated questions) is posted at:

https://www.engageny.org/resource/spring-2014-regents-examination-ela-common-core-resources

The Common Core Regents Exam in Algebra I (including annotated questions) is posted at:

https://www.engageny.org/resource/spring-2014-regents-examination-mathematics-algebra-i-common-core-resources

 

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69 Years Ago Today: Hiroshima was Bombed

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WPCNR OBSERVATIONS. August 6, 2014:

Sixty-nine years ago in 1945 today, the Enola Gay, a single American bomber dropped an Atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan.

The terrible effects of that single bomb are a horror that has never been repeated

A second bomber, Bock’s Car on August 9, dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

Unknown thousands of Japanese citizens’ lives were vaporized, burned,  and maimed and two cities leveled to the ground in an instant in both bombings.

To grasp what one atomic bomb did to Nagasaki. Readers may see the photographs Japanese photographer Yosuki Yamato took of the aftermath of Nagasaki the day it happened at http://www.exploratorium.edu/nagasaki/photos.html#journey/63.jpg

The decision to drop the bombs was made after the United States, Great Britain and the Republic of China demanded Japan  surrender in the Potsdam Declaration on July 26 or face  “prompt and utter destruction”.

The Japanese government did not surrender.

The United States deployed two nuclear weapons  dropping one on Hiroshimi today, 69 years ago and one on Nagasaki on August 9.

Over four months the bombs resulted in the deaths of   90,000–166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000–80,000 in Nagasaki, half dying the day the bombs fell.

The Hiroshima prefecture health department estimated that, of the people who died on the day of the explosion, 60% died from flash or flame burns, 30% from falling debris and 10% from other causes. During the following months, large numbers died from the effect of burns, radiation sickness, and other injuries, compounded by illness.

In a US estimate of the total immediate and short term cause of death, 15–20% died from radiation sickness, 20–30% from burns, and 50–60% from other injuries, compounded by illness. In both cities, most of the dead were civilians, although Hiroshima had a sizeable garrison.

The horror of those two bombings and the aftermath, the injuries created have resulted in an effort and reluctance on the part of nuclear-armed powers to avoid any nuclear attacks since that date.

Within a few days of those bombings, Japan surrendered unconditionally, officially ending World War II.

The decision to use the bombs by the United States has long been debated. A dialogue on what the bombs did, why the decision was made was collected in 1995, the fiftieth year since the bombings. It is available at http://www.exploratorium.edu/nagasaki/commentary/decision.html

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Solar Energy Growth Report Presented.

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WPCNR ENERGY & ANSWERS. From the Office of State Senator 35th Senate District, Andrea Stewart-Cousins. (Edited) August 5, 2014:

Today, Environment New York Research & Policy Center released a new report: “Lighting the Way” showing strong solar growth across the nation including a 30% increase in New York in 2013.

The report emphasizes that it is not availability of sunlight that makes states solar leaders, but the degree to which state and local governments have created effective public policy to help capture the virtually unlimited and pollution-free energy from the sun.

New York’s progress on solar has helped fuel a tripling of solar energy nationwide between 2011 and 2013. In 2013, solar capacity in New York grew from 175 MW to 250 MW. (Editor’s Note: this is comparable to the output of the Indian Point nuclear power plant in one year.)

 “Solar energy is emerging as a go-to energy option here in New York and across the country,” said Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York. “Thanks to the commitment of New York’s leaders, this pollution-free energy option is poised to play a major role in helping us meet New York’s goal of a 44% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.”

Here in New York, solar progress is attributed to a number of programs; including; Governor Cuomo’s NY-Sun Initiative.

“New York officials deserve tremendous credit for recognizing the environmental and economic benefits of solar energy and taking action to make it a reality,” said Leibowitz. “As more people see the benefits of solar energy, we’re confident clean, limitless energy from the sun will be a growing part of New York’s plan to reduce pollution from power plants.”

“The Solarize Westchester team is proud to be part of New York State’s ambitious efforts to maximize the economic and environmental benefits from solar technology,” said Nina Orville from Solarize Westchester.

“Through the Solarize Westchester initiative, we are focused on driving down the non-hardware costs of solar installations to make Westchester County New York State’s leader in solar installations.  Our efforts include assisting Westchester municipalities to adopt solar-friendly permitting and zoning policies and also leading Solarize campaigns, aggregating demand for solar installations at reduced costs, in eight Westchester communities.  We anticipate that these campaigns will result in approximately 400 installations during these 20-week campaigns. We’re proud to have the support of our funder, NYSERDA, and to work to deliver great results in Westchester County that can be replicated elsewhere in New York State.”

 

Democratic Conference Leader, State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (White Plains 35TH Senate District) of Yonkers, said,

“Let’s make New York number one for solar energy use. We may not be in the top ten states now, according to Environment New York’s report, but we are committed with our government partners to expand solar because using the sun to generate electricity makes sense and reduces greenhouse gases.”

Solar in the United States increased more than 120-fold in the last 10 years. In the first quarter of 2014, solar energy accounted for 74 percent of all the new electric generation capacity installed in the United States. Ten states with the most solar installed per/capita are driving 89% of the solar installed in the U.S, while, representing only 26 percent of the population and 20 percent of the electricity consumption. 

And as the solar industry grows, the cost for installation decreases; making it more accessible. The price of installed solar systems fell 60 percent between the beginning of 2011 and the end of 2013.  Jobs in the solar industry are also growing rapidly. In 2013, there were more than 140,000 solar jobs in the U.S., including 5,000 in New York. 

“I am cheered by the belief that our collective conscience is at a tipping point, and that folks are waking up to the fact that renewable energy is the path to a healthy future for our planet, and our existence. Solar, wind, water power will guide our way,” added Weschester County Legislator Catherine Parker.

“I believe good news is upon us. New York State while an honorable mention today for its use of solar, has paved a way for New Yorkers to embrace solar, not as an alternative energy, something to be tossed into the mix like a cherry on an ice cream sundae, but as a renewable, dependable, affordable choice for running our businesses, our homes, our cars.  We have leaders who get this, who understand that solar power is not just for states like California, Arizona, and those that have warmer climates. Those of us who see what countries like Germany have done, know that we can get there too. It just takes persistence to keep banging the drum, and Environment New York is banging that drum today.”

Another major driver for solar energy is that it produces no pollution; including climate-altering carbon emissions.  According to the report, solar power produces 96 percent less global warming pollution than coal-fired power plants over its entire life-cycle and 91 percent less global warming pollution than natural gas-fired power plants.

“Environment New York’s report on solar states identifies and fosters an open forum for discussion of the smartest next steps that states can take now to capture the value and grow the market for solar power in a manner that protects ratepayers and strengthens the reliability of our grid while boosting clean energy jobs and the clean energy economy” said Tom Thompson of New York Solar Energy Society.

Several strong policies adopted by the top 10 solar states, like New York helped encourage homeowners and businesses to “go solar:”

  •  9 states have strong net metering policies. In nearly all of the leading states, consumers are compensated at the full retail rate for the excess electricity they supply to the grid.
  • 9 states have strong statewide interconnection policies. Good interconnection policies reduce the time and hassle required for individuals and companies to connect solar energy systems to the grid.
  • All 10 states have renewable electricity standards that set minimum requirements for the share of a utility’s electricity that must come from renewable sources, and 8 of them have solar carve-outs that set specific targets for solar or other forms of clean, distributed electricity.
  • 9 states allow for creative financing options such as third-party power purchase agreements, and 8 allow property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing. 

 

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Third and (Possibly) Final FASNY HEARINGS MOVED UP TO September 8. Reduced Number Speak at Two Hearings Monday Evening.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. Special to WPCNR. August 5, 2014:

Mayor Tom Roach, responding to citizen-generated complaints that holding the third set of French American School of New York hearings the day after Labor Day might unduly limit persons’ ability to attend, announced the third (and potentially last) hearings on the school site plan and Special Permit application would take place on Monday September 8 at 6:30 P.M.

The hearings on the site plan/special permit application and closing of Hathaway Lane saw about 25 persons speak, according to a WPCNR correspondent. The observer told us  two new perspectives were brought up by the leader of the North Street Civic Association who pointed out that the North Street neighborhood motorists have no other place to go except North Street in the mornings and afternoons when French American School of New York traffic is expected to impact North Street at the proposed new entrance opposite the White Plains High School entrance. The North Street spokesperson said motorists would avoid possible backed up traffic by driving over Ridgeway to get to Mamaroneck Avenue.

Our correspondent also observed that the Lees who live on the impacted street the city would close, Hathaway Lane, complained the city never came to them and told the closing of the street was being considered.

Our observer noted the Common Council again listened and did not ask any questions of French American School of New York representatives who were there in the audience to elaborate and make clear any  matters the citizens speaking brought up.

He mentioned there was questioning of the Common Council and the administration’s leadership on the project. He reported one resident asked the Common Council to make clear their reasons, if they approved the project, whey they thought it would be good for the city and the neighborhood.

He said FASNY did not make any statement on the cost of the project, the site plan revelation that the project would be built in two phases and could take as long as 10 years to complete, because of the need to “replenish” financing. (This new element indicating financing was not in place in its entirety came up in some questioning, but no one from FASNY stepped up to explain it, and the Common Council did not ask FASNY reps to explain it.)

On the Westchester Pavilion…

In another public hearing on the change of zoning for the Westchester Pavilion property, owned by Urstadt-Biddle, two representative from the Carhart Association, said they supported the rezoning (that would allow an increase in height to 280 feet, and parking ratios allowing residential and mixed use development). However they expressed they had concerns about the scope of the project and awaited a more detailed explanation of the project, currently seen only in renderings.

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Board of Legislators Votes full risk assessment on new gas pipeline right of way Proposal

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION LEDGER. From the WCBOL Press Office. August 4, 2014:

The Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) announced today passage of a resolution calling for a stricter review process and full risk assessments in regard to the proposed expansion of the Algonquin natural gas pipeline through the county by Houston, Texas-based Spectra Gas Corporation.

The major construction project would replace existing section of the existing 26-inch diameter pipe for pressurized gas with new 42-inch pipe from Rockland County to Massachusetts via Northern Westchester and Putnam County. Included in the project would be a tunnel built for the pipeline beneath the Hudson River and expansion of compressor stations situated in Stony Point and Southeast, plus metering and regulating stations along the way.

The approved resolution from the BOL, which was approved in a vote of 15 to 1 at its regular meeting held this morning, focuses primarily on two specific risks regarding the proposed pipeline:

its location in highly populated areas in Westchester, where potential accidents and regular emissions could be harmful to the populace, and

2) proximity to the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant and two geological faults.

“Our first concern must be for the protection of our residents and the environment,” said BOL Chairman Michael Kaplowitz (D-Somers). “This resolution embodies important safety and environmental standards that must be upheld before permission is granted to construct the pipeline.”

In its resolution, the BOL notes that the resource report submitted by Spectra Energy Partners does not reflect aggregate and cumulative emissions from compressor stations, metering stations and pipelines in the proposed expansion project. A number of health problems have been associated with emissions from compressor stations, which push the pressurized natural gas through the pipeline. These emissions typically include a number of toxic chemicals and compounds that result in ground level ozone and degraded air quality.

“We’re asking all Federal and State agencies involved with this process to make the health and safety of residents, workers and all other stakeholders their top priority,” said BOL Majority Leader Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining). “We agree that meeting our region’s energy needs is a priority for further economic development, but the review, permitting, and approval process must be stringent to ensure environmental and safety concerns are addressed and needed mitigation plans are in place.”

Added Legislator Catherine Parker (D-Rye), chair of the BOL Environment & Energy Committee, where the resolution was first passed by BOL members,

“No one should sign off on this project until we know for sure that air quality for Westchester residents will not be affected, and that every conceivable safety measure and emergency contingency plan is in place. The bar for this project has to be at the highest level imaginable. Anything less simply increases the chances of a catastrophe and long-term health risks.”

A chief concern for the BOL members is that the significant risks inherent in the proposed gas pipeline aren’t covered in the usual state and federal review processes for projects as such.

“This particular project definitely calls for a more stringent review,” said Legislator Pete Harckham (D-North Salem). “There will need to be independent assessments and monitoring completed before permitting takes place, all of which should be funded by Spectra, and then continuous monitoring of air, water and land around the pipeline after its built.”

Harckham remarked that his BOL colleagues worry about blowdowns:

— when the gas is removed from the pipeline at various stations for maintenance. One such station is to be situated in Peekskill, where the equipment for a Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG) launching and staging area, will be adjacent to a school and playground. In the resolution, the BOL asks for immediate notifications of unplanned blowdowns are given to municipal and County officials, and that health impact assessments for these incidents are made as well.

Susan Van Dolsen, co-founder of Stop the Algonquin Pipeline Expansion (SAPE) and co-chair of Westchester for Change, said, “We thank our pro-active Westchester legislators for protecting us by passing this resolution calling for the imperative measures of a risk assessment, baseline air testing, SEQR, and a Health Impact Assessment to ensure health and safety for Westchester residents.”

Suzannah Glidden, SAPE co-founder and board director of Community Watersheds Clean Water Coalition, stated, “We count on our Westchester legislators’ strenuous advocacy and follow through to make sure all resolution measures are executed before permits are issued on Spectra Energy’s ill-conceived and unacceptably dangerous proposed high-pressure, forty-two-inch diameter Algonquin natural gas pipeline right next to Indian Point.”

 

 

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FASNY CONSTRUCTION COULD LAST 10 YEARS. SITE PLAN: NEEDS TO “REPLENISH” FINANCING. BUILD 2, THEN 3

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6-WPW-Building by Building

The new French American School of New York proposed structures for the former Ridgeway Country Club property  (in green shading) are anticipated to be opened by 2016 if construction begins this fall. The site plan has revealed that construction of the three additonal structures (in orange) could take until 2025 to complete because of the need to “replenish” financing.

 

WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. By John F. Bailey. August 4, 2014:

The new site plan of the proposed French American School of New York indicates the school does not have enough financing already in place to build the campus in one continuous sequence.

WPCNR notes the site plan is the first time the school has indicated the project may take 10 years to complete. In Section 10, page 4 of the site plan under the heading “Deferred Phasing of the Elements,” the site plan states:

4-WPW-Phase 1

And Phase II is hoped to be completed by 2025, but the start could be delayed until 2025:

3-PTBH-PHASE 2

 

Another issue which has not previously been disclosed is that the school does not have capital sources in place to pay for three of the buildings proposed in Phase II of the project, according to this statement in the site plan, it will need to “replenish its capital funds” and appears to hold the city responsible for hurting its fund-raising efforts:

5-PTBH-THE 2025 FACTOR

 

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You can drink the tap water in Ossining now.

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WPCNR HEALTH LINE. From the Westchester County Department of Health. Manual pdf August 3, 2014:

The boil water advisory for residents of a section of the Village of Ossining and the unincorporated area of the Town of Ossining who are served by the Village of Ossining Water Department has been lifted by the Westchester County Department of Health. Water sample results were satisfactory. Manual pdf

Since Friday, approximately 5,000 people in the affected area, which included streets as far west as Route 9; as far east as Morningside Drive; as far north as Hawkes Avenue at Bridle Path Road and as far south as Macy Road at Wolden Road, were strongly advised to boil their water before drinking it or using it to prepare food.

The boil water advisory was in effect until now as a precaution to protect from any contamination caused by potential ground water infiltration into water mains as a result of the reduction in water main pressure caused by a water main break. Manual pdf

For more information, residents can contact the Village of Ossining Water Department at 914-941-4661 or 914-941-4660 or visit their website at www.villageofossining.org  or the Town of Ossining website at www.townofossining.com.

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Sorry doesn’t excuse it, Ray. Not Enough, Roger. Not Acceptable, Stephen. My Sister’s Place Comments on the Rice-NFL Aftermath

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. A Statement on Domestic Violence from My Sisters Place, White Plains. August 1, 2014:

The recent events surrounding Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, and the NFL’s lack of response and accountability is bigger than the NFL.

In fact the NFL is simply reflecting the views of our larger society which too often demonstrates a lack of respect for women and girls.

Moreover, our society excuses the violence and abuse men inflict on women as witnessed by both the criminal legal response as well as the response from the NFL.  Even in the aftermath, we see the entitlements and privilege many men believe they have which were glaring within the ignorant and inappropriate comments by Stephen A. Smith, and, show total disregard for the lives and safety of women.

It is 2014 and My Sisters’ Place will continue to give voice to this issue.

It bears repeating—domestic violence is a serious, life threatening issue, not to be demeaned or discounted because “she didn’t leave”.

We hope the NFL will commit to significant change in their policy around intimate partner abuse and send a clear message of zero tolerance.  A two game suspension isolates all victims who have not been taken seriously.

My Sisters’ Place and our Project Team On! initiative have been working to educate athletes of all ages on healthy relationships and respect.  We work to redefine strength and manhood so everyone can engage in safe and equal relationships.

It is important to teach young men the distinction between their “on field” and “off field” relationships.  MSP is immensely proud of Project Team On! and the athletes that affirm that violence is neither a sign of strength nor a solution.

Join us– Take the Pledge!  A world of respect starts today and it starts with us.

Take The Pledge at www.mspny.org.

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132 Subsidized Day Care Slots Unfilled, DSS Commish Says. Urges Persons Needing Day Care in September to Inquire.

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WPCNR WESTCHESTER COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. August 1,2014:

Kevin McGuire, Commissioner of the County’s Department of Social Services (DSS), noted in his presentation to the Board of Legislators Community Services Committee that as of June 2014 only 67 children were enrolled in the Title XX program, although there is funding for 199 slots for the same period of time in the 2014 County Budget, 132 slots are unfilled.

McGuire is urging persons interested and needing Day Care beginning in September, to apply now.

Projections presented to the BOL yesterday show 261 available Title XX slots for December 2014, but the rate of enrollment only generating 145 children for those slots.

Several day care professionals have voiced displeasure with the enrollment process this year. A number of Westchester residents reported having trouble enrolling into the program, with many applicants turned away for minor and nettlesome reasons.

Invitations to use the program first went out to people on a waiting list, many of whom had already aged out of the program. Short deadlines for supporting documentation in the application process apparently discouraged others from following through, as they were required to start from scratch once the deadline was missed.

“I’m disappointed that more than a hundred young Westchester residents and their parents are missing out on this important day care program,” said Legislator Williams. “Working families struggling to make ends meet need the help that programs like Title XX provide, and the children benefit from being in a safe and nurturing environment. These slots should all be filled.”

Williams pointed out that families should contact Westchester County at (914) 995-2294 to speak with the application supervisor or visit online www.socialservices.westchestergov.com/adult,-child,-family-services/day-care-services for more information about signing up for the child care subsidy.

Residents having problems applying for the subsidized child care program are requested to contact Legislator Williams by phone: (914) 995-2833 or email: aaw3@westchestertgov.com.

The Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc. is also ready to help: call (914)761-3456, email childcare@cccwny.org or visit online www.childcarewestchester.org for more info.

 

 

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Couple on Robin Hood Road Chides Mayor, Common Council for Accepting not Questioning Impact Statement; Challenges French American School Submitting Plans to Educate Student Population Larger than they are applying for at the Ridgeway Club Site

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WPCNR LETTER TICKER. Letter to the Mayor and Common Council Shared with WPCNR July 30, 2014:

Dear Mayor and Common Council,
 
We believe we have uncovered another FASNY manipulation of the facts. . .if FASNY and the City Staff were supposed to perform Mitigation to make all the Traffic Problems significantly less or disappear entirely in the SEQRA Findings and the Special Permit documents. . .it didn’t happen… in fact with our calculations Traffic numbers for FASNY are a disaster!
First let’s review what we have found so far with FASNY’s Traffic information. . .
By our own calculations FASNY’s presence in our neighborhood assuming 950 students shows additional Vehicle Trips of 973 for an increases of 157% over base levels assuming FASNY’s 50% bus usage level. . .
And looking at just Bus Trips alone an increase of 90 bus trips if their 50% rate occurs in the real world.  Our figure of 973 Vehicle Trips is a lot higher than the 530 number the FASNY Leaders were throwing around in their presentations and submissions.
And we also revealed FASNY’s biggest lie to date that. . .there is no such thing as mandatory busing.
Also while FASNY did stagger their start times with WP High. . .FASNY ignored the start times of the other 9 schools with combined students and staff of 2,500 already traveling each day into our neighborhood.
We’ll repeat the school list again because the FASNY proposal would increase the Traffic Safety Risk for each school:
First you have the German School which itself is expanding from 375 students to 500, then there are nursery  schools (at Burke, Memorial Methodist, First Baptist, YWCA and Ridgeway Alliance), elementary schools ( Ridgeway and OLS) and Stepinac High School.  You also have workers changing shifts at Burke, other commuters coming into White Plains for work as our own neighborhood residents commuting out to work on weekday mornings.
Getting back to the current problem we uncovered now with FASNY’s manipulation of the facts. . .we don’t think their 950 student number is real or is consistent with FASNY’s planned construction in their Site Plan Submission.
First let’s review some changes that took place between the Sequa Findings and the Site Plan submission:
→ FASNY’s student population was reduced from 1,200 to 950 in the SEQUA findings. . .a 21% reduction.
→ In their Site Plan submission FASNY increased their building construction square footage to 261,200 sq. ft. from their 230,863 sq. ft in the Seqra Findings and FEIS. . .for an increase of increase of 13%.
→ And FASNY in their Site Plan is now building on 53.2 acres, up from 45.69 in the SEQUA Findings and FEIS, for an increase of more than 16%.
 
In the Site Plan if FASNY’s student population was reduced to 950 or 21%. . .wouldn’t you expect to see their building construction scaled back proportionally . . .as most rational building developers would rather spend less money to reduce their upfront investment.  FASNY instead in their Site Plan FASNY is increasing their building construction 13% to 261,200 sq. ft.  Does this make sense to anyone?
Since the FASNY Leaders have been around White Plains we feel that in their communications and submissions they have been less than forthright, disingenuous, misleading, manipulative, etc. . .the Common Council has seen it too.  However, the one thing you have to admit is that the FASNY people believe they are smart. . .and they believe that have fooled our Mayor, City Staff and some of our Common Council from the beginning of this review process. . . so we have to give FASNY some credit.
Thinking they are smart we believe the FASNY leaders’ real plan is to increase their student population levels not back to 1,200. . .but up to at least the 1,400 level.  What other reason would they have for their construction sq. ft. increases.  Remember the saying “if you build it, they will come”. . .the more students FASNY takes in. . .the more tuition dollars they collect to cover their upfront construction costs.
We arrived at our 1,400 student number by going back to their FEIS of September 16, 2013 where FASNY was projecting a 1,200 student population with 230,863 sq. ft. of building. . .and we assumed that if FASNY now wants its building construction to be 261,200. . .it’s probably to accommodate an increased student population so we applied a proportional growth percentage and came up with 1,400 as their real target.
 
A key question the Common Council should ask now is. . .with FASNY ‘s expanded 53.2 acre school campus and construction building of 261,200 sq. ft. . .what is the maximum number of students that this newly expanded FASNY complex can accommodate?  We wouldn’t trust FASNY to answer this. . .however we’re sure the City can find a building expert somewhere to come up with an answer.
To us what FASNY appears to be doing is since they have fooled our Mayor and a few of our Common Council so far. . .they now are submitting construction plans for the maximum number of students they will ever need. . .so FASNY will never have to come back to the City for future expansion requests.
 
The $64,000 Question is “Do our Mayor, City Staff and Common Council understand that they can’t allow FASNY to submit building plans for a student population of 1,400 along with traffic plans for a school population of only 950 (which we already showed they didn’t calculate correctly)?  If FASNY is submitting building plans for a student population of 1,400. . .then traffic has to be calculated at the same 1,400 population. . .according to our understanding of SEQRA regulations. . .and again common sense.  We’re sure the Planning Board, if asked, can provide guidance.
So we went back to relook at our Vehicle Trip numbers again and expanded some of the figures to include the 1,200 and 1,400 population levels:
→  previously with 950 students we showed Vehicle Trips 973, up 157% over base levels with 90 bus trips.
→  with 1,200 students Vehicle Trips would be 1,193, 192% over our base levels with 120 bus trips.
 
→  with 1,400 students Vehicle Trips are 1,347, 217% over our base levels with 140 bus trips.
 
We just applied the same Vehicle Trip calculation formula we used previously. . .which ever method of calculation you choose to use the basic concept is “more students = more Vehicle Trips= more Traffic Safety Risk”.
The Mitigation performed by FASNY and the City Staff reducing the student population to 950. . .by our calculations show Vehicle Trips, 90 Bus Trips and 157% increase over base levels. . .is totally unacceptable by any rational person’s standards. . .while the number of Vehicle Trips at the 1,200 and 1,400 student levels that we have newly calculated. . .are so outrageously high that just FASNY bus trip totals would exceed that of all bus trips currently coming into our neighborhood today!
 
By FASNY’s actions to date we know they don’t care about our neighborhood residents. . .however if our Mayor and this Common Council approved this FASNY project it would destroy our neighborhood character, quality of life and property values for sure. . .while violating SEQRA regulations.  
Isn’t the purpose of Mitigation under the SEQRA regulations not to make resident living conditions worse?
And here in our neighborhood not only would resident living conditions be made worse. FASNY and whoever on the Common Council votes to approve FASNY’s plan would really be putting the Traffic Safety of all current WP students as well as FASNY students at severe risk.  Isn’t there something wrong with all the FASNY misleading and stonewalling that has taken place. . .if end result of this FASNY project places School Children, Seniors and other WP Residents at risk?
 
How would you feel if someone proposed a project near your own house and neighborhood that “tripled” Vehicle Trips along with a significant increase in Traffic Safety issues?
So would you consider FASNY and the City Staff’s claim of Mitigation. . .more Spin, a misstatement or an outright lie?
We report. . .you decide.
Your Truth Police, Team Rhodes
Marie and Ron Rhodes
22 Robinhood Road
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