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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Interim White Plains Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors and Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Sieler talk about the $199.9 Million School Budget Tonight on PEOPLE TO BE HEARD, the talk show “Where People Who Have Something to say have their say.” Tune in Cablevision Channel 76 in White Plains or Verizon FIOS Channel 45 for the revealing, hard-hitting interview.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. May 5, 2014: 

Tonight citizens have the opportunity to come on down to City Hall and give the Common Council their thoughts on the proposed 2014-15 city budget, currently sitting on giving the citizens another property tax increase of 2.3%. The proposed $176.1 Million budget is up 4 Million from last years $172.1 Million budget, and does not include money to pay for any settlement of the police contract, now in binding arbitration process.

Citizens may come and down and make suggestions and air out their concerns about the budget, beginning at 7:30 P.M.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the City of White Plains Department of Public Safety. May 5, 2014:

Lieutenant Eric Fisher of the White Plains Department of Public Safety confirmed to WPCNR today that a Teachers Aide at Highlands Middle School, White Plains, was arrested and charged Friday, April 25 with Endangering the Welfare of a Child after a female student filed a complaint with the police department the day before, Thursday, April 24.

Fisher told WPCNR, the incident in question happened at 2 P.M. April 24  at the Highlands Middle School in a study hall situation.

Fisher said the individual, “was acting in an inappropriate way in front of 3 or 4 female minor students. The complaint came from one of the students. That’s how we got it. We called him in the next day, and based on that complaint, there was more than enough probable cause (to charge him).”

Fisher said the aide was charged at White Plains City Court and prosecution would be handled by the White Plains local district attorney’s office. Fisher said the possible penalty as a result of the outcome of the case  would be determined by the court.

The suspect is 67 and a resident of White Plains.

The interim Superintendent of Schools in White Plains, Timothy Connors told WPCNR the suspect was suspended without pay at the present time and the school district would  be conducting its own investigation of the incident.

Lieutenant Fisher told WPCNR the police department was not in any way at this time participating in the school district investigation.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers. May 3, 2014:

More than 400 distinguished guests including local, county, state and federal officials, prominent educators, supporters and current and future teachers joined Friday in kicking off the 20^th Anniversary “Living the Vision” Celebration of Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers ™(TSTT) at the organization’s Annual Recognition Breakfast. The event, which precedes Teacher Appreciation Week May 5th- 9^th-, was held at the Westchester Marriott Hotel, Tarrytown.

Dr. Bettye H. Perkins, Ed.D, TSTT’s founder, President and CEO, said that the milestone will be observed with a year-long series of TSTT-sponsored high-profile education forums that will feature addresses by prominent individuals. It is TSTT’s strategy to expand its ground-breaking and successful mentoring program nationally.

“Our theme “Living the Vision”, speaks to the fact that TSTT is fulfilling its mission  to mentor, train and place students of color back in their communities as caring, competent and committed teachers who can help to close the achievement gap and reverse the increasing shortage of teachers of color in our nation’s schools,” Dr.Perkins explained.

In a video keynote address, Congressman James E. Clyburn of the 6^th Congressional District, South Carolina, said that TSTT had emerged as a viable and valuable national teacher mentoring program to address the need of creating a new generation of teachers of color who will inspire their students to succeed. “Failing to do that, America is at risk of losing its competitive edge at home and on the international stage,” warned Congressman Clyburn.

Dr. Perkins invited Congressman Clyburn to be the keynote speaker because of the inspiring role he played in her life.

It was also announced that Congressman Clyburn had agreed to serve as Chairman of TSTT’s 20^th Anniversary Committee and that he would do all he can to assure TSTT’s future success by lending his voice of support, especially in the year ahead when there will be a big fundraising push by the ground-breaking teacher mentoring non-profit. “We are so grateful for his participation on TSTT’s behalf. It speaks to the recognition that TSTT has gained on the national stage by attracting the attention of prominent educators and influential policy makers like Congressman Clyburn,” Dr. Perkins stated.

Anniversary “Living the Vision” Celebration

TSTT began in 1994 with only seven students as part of a strategy Dr. Perkins recommended to the  Ossining School District to help recruit teachers of color to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population. “TSTT has grown dramatically. Today, there are over 115 TSTT alumni teachers who are changing the lives of more than 150,000 students in 10 states, and more than 800 high school and colleges students who are on their way to becoming teachers in four states,” she stated.

Underscoring the critical mass that TSTT has reached in becoming a national model is the recent significant expansion of its program in Greater Boston area and suburbs. “Our program has proven to be relevant in both small suburban school districts and large urban school districts. What they all have in common is a lack of teachers that mirror the diversity of the student population. TSTT is committed to correcting that imbalance,” stated Dr. Perkins.

As in the past, the Recognition Breakfast provided an opportunity for TSTT to salute its collaborative partners and supporters, leaders in education, dedicated TSTT teachers and its future educators.

The 2014 honorees were Dennis McDermott, Retired Vice President of JP Morgan Chase Foundation who will be presented with the Legacy Award;

Rev. Dr. Verlin D. Williams of Union Baptist Church, White Plains, recipient of the Leadership Award. Entergy was presented with the Corporate Award.

In addition, eight teachers were honored as Perkins Scholars and presented with the 2014 golden apples for reaching their 10-year milestone as TSTT mentored teachers.

They joined 35 TSTT teachers who reached their 5-year milestone and 59 teachers who have taught for three years. In addition, 23 graduating college seniors and Master’s Degree Candidates were inducted into TSTT’s Hall of Fame while 67 high school seniors in four states who comprise the 2014 graduating class were acknowledged. (Note: The accompanying lists of this press release provide the names of TSTT teachers and students from the organization’s Westchester/Hudson Valley, Connecticut and Virginia regions who were acknowledged at the May 2 event. TSTT’s other teachers and students in the Worcester and Greater Boston, Massachusetts and upstate New York regions will be recognized in separate ceremonies during Teacher Appreciation Week).

Among those participating in the awards ceremony were U.S. Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (17^th District); State Senator Andrea Stewart–Cousins (35^th District); Deputy Westchester County Executive Kevin Plunkett; Ken Theobalds, Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Entergy and Michael Haberman, Managing Director, Northeast Region, Global Philanthropy, JP Morgan Chase

Marc Laffer, President of the New York State Teachers Union, presented  a check in the amount of $6,000 as part of its ongoing support for TSTT.

Dr. Perkins praised TSTT’s collaborative partnerships with 41 school districts  that participate in the program and 24 colleges and universities that have provided students with much needed financial assistance by way of scholarships as much as 50% of the tuition costs.

About Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers™ TSTT is an innovative career development model that addresses teacher shortages by recruiting culturally diverse and economically challenged high school students, mentors and trains them throughout college, and then helps place them as effective teachers in schools in their communities.

TSTT was founded in 1994 by Dr. Bettye H. Perkins, President and Chief Executive Officer. as an early teacher preparation program.  According to Dr. Perkins, “Our goal is to close the achievement gap and to ensure that these deserving young people will ultimately be equipped to become highly effective teachers, role models, and leaders in their communities.”

For more information visit:  www.tstt.org.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. May 1, 2014:

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino tonight pledged a sixth year next year  of no tax increase in his 2015 budget;  said he would replace $5 million of HUD-withheld community development funds by bonding for it at a cost of $1 per taxpayer a year, saying he would not back down on Westchester County community right to have their own zoning, and buttressed his position by pointing out that communities have been cooperating with the county Planning Department, approving 403 affordable units of 750 required by HUD, and the count already funding 385 of them.

Here is the official county news release on the County Executive’s State of the County speech tonight, delivered at the Michaelian Building in White Plains, New York, USA

“Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino stated that Westchester was “moving in the right direction” as a result of strong collaboration inside and outside county government and a constant focus on the things that matter most to residents – protecting taxpayers, preserving essential services and promoting economic growth.

For the fifth straight year, Astorino pledged not to increase the county property tax levy.  Astorino has either cut, or held flat, the tax levy each year he has been in office.  In the five years prior to Astorino taking office the tax levy was increased by 17 percent.

           “The payoff for taxpayers is that we have remained true to our word,” Astorino said. “We promised tax relief and we’re delivering it.”

            Astorino added that he has approached county finances for the past four years with the goal of striking the right balance between what’s nice to have and what’s really needed – the same approach applied by every household in Westchester. 

          “If our seniors must live within their means, if our young families must live within their means, if our recent graduates must live within their means,” he said, “then their county government can and must do it as well.

          The “progress is phenomenal” is how he described the county’s efforts to meet the terms of the settlement with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to build 750 units of affordable housing. To date all 31 communities in the settlement have identified potential projects, 403 units have financing in place, 385 units have building permits, and 175 units are already occupied. Astorino thanked all the local communities for their cooperation and efforts.

         “Although it falls on deaf ears at HUD every time we mention it,” Astorino said. “Westchester County supports affordable housing.”

          Despite the progress, HUD continues to withhold federal block grants – most of the money  Astorino said was designated for communities not part of the settlement – to use, he said,  as leverage to force the county to sue its local communities to dismantle local zoning. Astorino has steadfastly refused. 

   “Two facts are irrefutable,” Astorino said. “Westchester is ahead of schedule in meeting its obligations to have 750 units of affordable housing built in the settlement’s 31 communities, and that progress would not be possible if the local zoning in those communities did not allow it.”

         “Instead of being held up by the whims of Washington, Westchester can move forward independently and do the right thing for our communities,” Astorino said. “Most important, it will remove the stranglehold that HUD has been using in its attempt to dismantle our local zoning.

Following a harsh winter that wreaked havoc on local roads, Astorino declared a “war on potholes” by setting aside $25 million over the next five years for a new initiative called the “County Road and Bridge Urgent Restoration Program.”  Astorino said there was great damage done to county roads and that while the Department of Public Works was out every day fixing potholes on county roads; a greater urgency was needed to fix roads and bridges this spring and in the future.

Immigrant Services Liaison position.

Another new initiative was the creation of the Immigrant Services Liaison position.  Astorino tapped Katherine Delgado, his Deputy Chief of Staff, to assume the additional duties of serving as a point of contact with local groups and helping new immigrants navigate government bureaucracy in seeking assistance with county services. She will also work with immigrants looking to start new businesses. She will hold a forum for immigrant entrepreneurs May 29.

Astorino touted the county’s economic progress and pledged to continue future economic growth by fostering: broader municipal cooperation; improved mass transit  (Editor’s note: without commenting on what he would support on specifics of implementation) and transit-oriented development; and tighter links between local colleges and businesses for internship and job opportunities.

***

Last year, the county’s ParaTransit vans made more than 220,000 trips around the county taking 5,500 disabled residents to jobs, school and other appointments.  The program was expanded last year to include taxi service in New Rochelle, White Plains and Peekskill.  The taxi service saves the county money, almost $500,000 since it started because taxis are significantly cheaper than traditional ParaTransit vans.  It also provides participants a potentially more convenient choice for their transportation needs.  Astorino announced that the taxi service will be expanded to Yonkers in June.

Astorino lauded the county’s ongoing Safer Communities initiative.  Launched in response to the Newtown tragedy, Safer Communities has built partnerships and collaborative efforts between health and mental health professionals, law enforcement, school officials and county government to prevent violence in our communities and schools.  To date, there have been eight forums and initiatives to educate and collaborate on how to treat the root causes of violence.  Such initiatives focused on: looking at the connection between school absenteeism and youth crime and violence; being able to recognize mental illness warning signs in kids and what to do next; and developing proper communications and protocols when responding to a crisis in school. Astorino said thousands have participated and that the popular and successful initiative continues.

Other initiatives included efforts to increase after-school science programs, Telehealth Intervention programs for seniors and several expanded environmental programs.

Astorino concluded by discussing what he called the “elephant in the room,” his decision to run for governor, which he said was based on the fact that he could make a positive difference for both Westchester and New York State. 

        “I am hoping to bring to Albany what has worked successfully in Westchester, and nothing will help Westchester more than a state government that is accountable and lives within its means,” Astorino said.

Catherine Borgia, the Majority Leader of  the County Board of Legislators published a video on You Tube in a response to Mr. Astorino’s address

It may be viewed here: