Bramson’s the One.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2013. April 25, 2013:


The Westchester Democratic Party nominated Mayor Noam Bramson of New Rochelle to be its candidate for County Executive opposing Robert P. Astorino last night at the party convention in White Plains.


Bill Ryan, County Legislator for District 5, representing White Plains was defeated in the first ballot, and Bramson won the runoff delegate tally defeating Ken Jenkins, the Chair of the County Board of Legislators in the second ballot.


In a statement to the Westchester County Association, Bramson speaking to his supporters said,


“Competing for the nomination has been an extraordinary experience, and we can take a moment to savor our success – but not more than a moment, because now the really tough challenge begins. To bring positive change to Westchester, we must win in November, and I feel a deep sense of responsibility to justify the trust placed in me tonight.”


Jessica Proud, a spokesperson for the Astorino Campaign issued this statement:


“We congratulate Mr. Bramson on his nomination tonight and look forward to a healthy debate in the fall election season, based on the issues. County Executive Astorino has delivered on the promises he made to Westchester voters four years ago — like his no tax increase pledge — and he is laying the groundwork for a healthy and economically vibrant Westchester going forward. It is a record anyone would be proud to discuss.”


 


Bramson was reelected Mayor of New Rochelle for a second term in 2011. Previously he had been Mayor since 2006 when he was appointed interim Mayor by the New Rochelle City Council when Mayor Timothy Idoni was elected County Clerk in 2005. Bramson became interim Mayor, winning election outright to a full term in 2007. He was first elected to the New Rochelle City Council at age 25 in 1995 and was reelected in 1999 and 2003. Unlike nomination rivals Bill Ryan and Ken Jenkins, He has not held any elected County Government positions spending his entire political career in New Rochelle city government.



In accepting the nomination, Mr. Bramson made these remarks:



I know the hour is late, but I hope you’ll permit me to say a few words to this convention and to all the people of Westchester.


And I want to begin by recognizing two extraordinary public servants, two men who have proven their strength and skill and dedication to the values of our party, and who tonight showed the generosity of spirit and sense of common purpose that are the hallmarks of true leadership.


I ask every person in this hall to please stand – please stand up – and join me in saluting Ken Jenkins and Bill Ryan.


Ken and Bill, we began this journey as friends. We are ending this journey as friends. And, as we move forward together, I will be proud to call you partners.


To all who supported us tonight, and labored so hard for this milestone, Catie and I are honored beyond words by your trust.


And to all who supported others, please take well-earned pride in your service to a good cause.


We may have arrived here on different teams, but now – strong, united and determined – we go forth as one team.


And, together, for the hundreds of thousands of people who count on us to be their advocates and their champions, we will win a resounding victory this November.


My friends, that is much more than a partisan political objective. Because what’s at stake in this election is nothing less than the character, and the future, of our County.


And our choice this year is different from any we’ve faced before.


Here in Westchester, as long as any of us can remember, Democrats and Republicans have stood side by side to deliver good government – to provide value for our dollar, to strengthen public services . . . to invest in tomorrow.


These haven’t been partisan questions. We’ve never been a county of extremists or ideologues, on either the right or the left. We believe in balanced priorities, and we measure our actions by their practical effect on real people and real communities.


So when the people of Westchester elected Rob Astorino four years ago, many of us assumed that he would govern in that moderate, mainstream tradition.


Four years later, our eyes have been opened, and the hard truth is all too clear.


Rob Astorino may campaign like Nelson Rockefeller, but he governs like Newt Gingrich, and this is the most partisan, right-wing and short-sighted administration of our lives.


Don’t get me wrong. I like Rob. This isn’t about personal character. This is about the character of our leadership.


And he really believes the less we do, the better.


So there’s no strategy for growth, no goal for reforming government, no vision for expanding opportunity, no plan to cut waste, no effort at all to come to grips with the great challenges of land use, and transportation, and human capital that will define the future of our economy and environment.


And every one of us is paying the price in tax bills that go up, a quality of life that goes down, and opportunities that pass by.


This is a time when every public servant needs to rise to the occasion, and accept the full responsibility of their office. And we deserve a County Executive who will show up for work.


And there’s more. Because it’s not just the laws we pass, it’s also the values we uphold.


In this day and age, why on Earth does Westchester have a County Executive who won’t trust women to make their own decisions about reproductive health? Why does Westchester have a County Executive who thinks two committed adults should be denied their right to marry? Why does Westchester have a County Executive who can’t say – straight and plain – whether he supports common sense gun safety laws?


Those aren’t the values of this community.


And if every person in Westchester has full knowledge of the record, views and plans of the candidates, we will win this election in a landslide. We know this.


Problem is, our opponents know this, too. So they will try to win this campaign through fear and distortion.


If you doubt that for a second, just take a look at the State of the County Address that Rob Astorino delivered last night. The heart of the speech? A promise to fight tooth and nail against the quote-unquote “new” federal requirements for fair and affordable housing.


Now, you might ask, exactly what are these new requirements?


Well, to hear Rob tell it, it’s: 11,000 housing units, up from 750, at a cost of a billion dollars, paid for with a 200% tax increase, plus an end to all of our local zoning codes, so the feds can put a high-rise on every block. He really said this.


All very scary.


And all completely made up. Not a little made-up – like they kind of fudged it. Made-up, from beginning to end, from A to Z.


So while I’m sure we all appreciate Rob’s heartfelt pledge to protect us from this imaginary, make-believe threat.


Would it be too much to ask for a little calm, deliberative leadership to solve the actual problem that exists in the real world?


When you lose every court case, when your defiance and mismanagement is costing the County millions of our dollars, when editorial boards are comparing Westchester in 2013 to Alabama in 1963. When even the U.S. Attorney is threatening to hold you in contempt, then the last refuge of a political candidate is to scare people into voting against their own interests.


Enough already.


If this County Executive can’t offer the constructive leadership and sense of responsibility to finally get this expensive and divisive mess behind us, then please step aside for someone else who will.


On this issue, on every issue, we know we can do better. This isn’t rocket science.


Don’t tell me the only way to balance our budget is by cutting child care and neighborhood health centers.


Don’t tell me that a region with so many strengths can’t shape its own economic and environmental future.


We have no shortage of talent and creativity. All we’re missing is leadership, leadership equal to the task.


I’ve seen it.


As parents, Catie and I appreciate every day the difference that a healthy community makes in the lives of our children.


As a mayor, I brought people together to face tough challenges head-on, brought new investment and hope to a struggling urban center, and delivered millions in savings for taxpayers.


As a New Yorker, I was proud of our Governor for giving every one of us the right to marry.


As a citizen and a leader, I stand firmly in support of gun safety, and I will always fight for a woman’s right to choose.


And as County Executive, with your help, we will take action to grow our economy, create new jobs, end the waste and duplication in government, provide real leadership for taxpayers, and invest in our shared future.


The choice in this election is between a plan of action that honors the mainstream values of Westchester . . . or a record of neglect that honors only the extreme agenda of the Tea Party.


So I repeat. Four years later, our eyes have been opened, and the hard truth is clear.


But you know the old saying: fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. And ladies and gentlemen, today, on behalf of all the people of Westchester, we say in a strong, clear voice: we will not be fooled again.


During the course of this campaign, many of you have heard me speak of my parents, who became refugees during the Second World War and then came to this country with almost nothing.


Of the sacrifices they made to give their four sons every opportunity to succeed. And of their profound gratitude for our nation’s freedoms.


My father died nearly twenty years ago. My mother is here tonight. And I am very proud of both of them.


But the truth is that, here in Westchester, there’s nothing remarkable about our family’s story, because there are so many other stories that are just as compelling.


The immigrants who work three jobs to give their kids a better chance.


The volunteers who devote untold hours to libraries, and parks, and soup kitchens and schools.


The doctors and lawyers, entrepreneurs and artists, who make Westchester a global icon of talent and culture.


And the men and women who do the people’s business, who keep our streets clean and safe, who respond bravely to emergencies, and accept the duties of defense, with solemn dedication and not an ounce of boastful pride.


All of us are Westchester. Each contributing to the whole. Going up or down together. And we deserve leadership that appeals to our best instincts.


I know we face big challenges today. But when I consider who we are, what we have done, and what we can do, I am filled with determination. And I cannot wait to get to work.


So with humility and gratitude, with a full and hopeful heart, and with faith that we will together shape a better future in which everybody has a chance to succeed and everybody counts, I accept your nomination for Westchester County Executive.

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Lagrangeville Woman Charged with Defrauding IRS

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WPCNR FBI WIRE. Special to WPCNR from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. April 24, 2013:


Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; George Venizelos, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Toni Weirauch, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), today announced the arrest of Melanie Ferreira for engaging in a series of frauds, which included cheating the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of nearly half-a-million dollars and perpetrating a bank fraud scheme.


Ferreira was arrested by FBI and IRS agents this morning at her residence in Dutchess County, New York, and was presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa M. Smith in White Plains federal court.


 


U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “As alleged, Melanie Ferreira thumbed her nose at the IRS, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in refunds to which she was not entitled, and forged a check to satisfy a debt. We enjoy many rights and privileges in this country but not among them is the right to enjoy the fruits of law-abiding taxpayers’ money while evading the tax laws and defrauding the government and thereby your fellow citizens.”


FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos said, “As alleged, the defendant committed tax fraud that was as unsophisticated as it was audacious. She simply lied about the amount of taxes already paid in 2008. The method of Ferreira’s alleged bank fraud may be tied to her questioning the legitimacy of the government. Regardless, she apparently had no qualms stealing from the treasury.”


IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Toni Weirauch said, “The privilege of living in the United States carries certain responsibilities, one of which is that one must pay his or her fair share of taxes. Filing a false claim with the IRS is stealing, not only from the U.S. Treasury, but from all law-abiding taxpayers. Whether through claiming fictitious deductions, exemptions or withholding amounts, the charge is serious, and so are the consequences.”


According to the allegations in the complaint unsealed today in White Plains federal court:


On October 15, 2009, Ferreira filed a U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040, for the year 2008 (“2008 return”). In her 2008 return, she falsely reported interest income of $661,600 from three different banks. She then falsely claimed that she had paid taxes in the amount of $661,536 to the IRS for tax year 2008. On that basis, she claimed a refund of $440,924. In reality, she actually earned only $17 in interest income from those three banks. Furthermore, contrary to her claim on her 2008 return that she had already paid $661,536 in federal taxes, she actually paid only $236.


On October 23, 2009, the IRS wired $440,924 to Ferreira’s bank account.


The following spring, on April 15, 2010, Ferreira tried to carry out the same type of scheme when she filed her Form 1040 for the year 2009, but this time, the IRS rejected her refund request.


In addition, Ferreira also perpetrated a bank fraud scheme against the Bank of America (BOA), which was the bank that held the mortgage for her house in Dutchess County, New York (“house 1”). In May 2010, she caused a forged cashier’s check for $316,966.05, purporting to be drawn on the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Ohio (“check 1”), to be sent to BOA in satisfaction of the mortgage on house 1. Believing that check 1 was legitimate, BOA filed a satisfaction of mortgage with the Dutchess County Clerk’s Office. BOA subsequently determined that check 1 was fraudulent and filed suit in New York State Supreme Court in order to have the mortgage reinstated.


Similarly, on June 2, 2012, Ferreira sent a check in the amount of $305,000 (“check 2”) to BOA, purporting to pay off the balance of her mortgage from BOA on house 1. When BOA tried to negotiate check 2, it was returned since the originating bank account had been closed. On the memo line of check 2, Ferreira wrote, in red ink, “For discharge of debit EFT only.” On the back of the check, she wrote several lines in a different color of ink, including the following: “Not for deposit; EFT only; discharge of debt.”


Ferreira’s scheme—sometimes known as an electronic funds transfer or EFT scheme—is a scheme often used by adherents to the Sovereign Citizens Movement, a group composed of individuals who, although they reside in the United States, assert the position that they do not have to answer to any government authority, including courts, taxing entities, motor vehicle departments, or law enforcement.


* * *


Ferreira, 60, of Lagrangeville, New York, is charged with one count of wire fraud, one count of filing false claims with the IRS, and one count of bank fraud. She faces a maximum sentence of 55 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000, or twice the gross gain or gross loss from the offense.


Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the IRS.


This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Jason P.W. Halperin is in charge of the prosecution.


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

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Astorino: No Tax Increase. Preserve Essentials. Defend Zoning.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. April 23, 2013:


 


No property tax levy increase next year, continued protection of essential services and promotion of economic growth and resisting federal efforts to dismantle local zoning – these were among the pledges from County Executive Robert P. Astorino Tuesday, as he delivered his fourth State of the County address.


 


In the almost hour-long speech delivered in the Westchester County Courthouse in White Plains, Astorino reflected on the accomplishments and challenges he has faced since taking office in 2010 and talked about his priorities ahead. The speech was delivered to the Board of Legislators and the general public, and was broadcast live on News 12.


 


“From day one, our goal has been to deliver results,” he said. “The public wants and deserves results. But results don’t come easy. Priorities must be set. Hard choices must be made. Partisanship must give way to partnership. Rhetoric must yield to leadership.”


 


His priorities remain what he calls the “three Ps” – Protecting taxpayers, preserving essential services and promoting economic growth. “Westchester County continues to move forward carefully and steadily. We pledged to protect taxpayers, and we did just that. We pledged to preserve essential services, and we did just that. We pledged to promote economic growth, and we did just that. And working together, we will continue moving Westchester County toward an even brighter future.”


 


In his speech, he detailed how he has kept focused on these three priorities.



                                     



PROTECTING TAXPAYERS


            Of property taxes, Astorino said, “For our social contract to survive, we need to strike the right balance between what the government takes and what the people can afford to give. My administration works every day on trying to get that balance right. Taxpayers are not faceless, bottomless ATM machines.”


            County property taxes account for about 15-20 percent of a taxpayer’s bill. The other taxes are levied by schools, local governments and special districts.


            On Astorino’s watch, the county property tax levy was reduced 2 percent in 2011 and was kept flat in 2012 and 2013. He pledged that the budget he submits in November for 2013 will again include no tax increase.


            “Cynics will say a 2 percent cut isn’t much. But contrast it to the 17 percent tax increase over the previous five years. We’re heading in the right direction,” Astorino said, noting that Westchester has the highest property taxes in the nation.


            Unfunded state mandates remain the largest obstacle to greater tax relief. These are state-mandated programs the county government must pay for, yet has no say over, such as the soaring costs of employee pensions and Medicaid. Just nine unfunded mandates will cost Westchester $466 million this year, or 85 percent of the county’s $548 million property tax levy.


            “To advocate for relief, my administration has been working with our schools and businesses – through the Westchester-Putnam School Boards Association, the Business Council and the Westchester County Association – to bring a unified message to Albany: We need relief now,” Astorino said.


 


PRESERVING ESSENTIAL SERVICES 


            Despite the challenges, “smart choices” have enabled Astorino to cut property taxes – and still preserve essential services (roads, bridges, airports, public safety, health and education, parks, open space, the environment, etc.) and protect the county’s most needy.


            The county’s ability to protect public safety was tested during Hurricane Sandy, an event that claimed three lives locally, downed hundreds of trees and left more than 200,000 households without power for days. Damage to county government property alone amount to more than $50 million, including $12 million in damage to Playland.


            Every county department was mobilized in response, Astorino said. “This was a team effort at every level to get our residents through the storm.”


            The county government also mobilized resources on a broad scale to address the issues of violence prevention, in the aftermath of the Newtown, Conn. school shootings. The result was Astorino’s Safer


Communities initiative, which included two symposiums that drew a total of 700 people, one that focused on public safety, particularly for schools; and the other on health and mental health issues. The purpose was to build coalitions, share resources and best practices to tackle this complex problem. 


            “Going forward you have my commitment that Westchester County will continue to lead a ceaseless effort to keep our kids, our schools and our communitiess as safe as they can be,” Astorino said. .


            Beyond what is accomplished in response to an emergency, it is imperative that the county continue to protect its most needy residents who don’t have economic security,  Astorino said.  


            Said Astorino: “One of the things I am most proud of is that Westchester’s commitment to the needy has been strengthened under my administration.”


             Some examples he mentioned:


·         Since coming into office Astorino has increased the budget of the Department of Social Services by $14 million, from $542 million to $556 million. During this same time, the federal and state governments have cut social services aid to the county.


·         The number of slots for subsidized day care for the working poor is up by 18 percent, to almost 6,000.


·          Adoptions are up 41 percent over the past three years and foster care caseloads are at an all-time low.


Astorino also touted a soon-to-be-launched food rescue initiative that seeks to reduce hunger in Westchester by recovering leftover food from local schools, hospitals, hotels and restaurants and redistributing it to food pantries and soup kitchens.


 


PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH


            Economic growth is essential to keeping taxes down and paying for essential services. Towards that end, Astorino said his administration continues to aggressively court new business and work to retain those that are already here.


            “In Westchester, our approach is to show both our smallest entrepreneurs and largest global corporations that we want their business and that we will work hard to help them be successful in Westchester. We do that by creating an environment that allows businesses to prosper.”


            Among the accomplishments:


·         Since January 2010, the Westchester Industrial Development Agency (IDA), the county’s main outreach organization to businesses, has provided various financial incentives to 29 companies of every size. This has led to more than $500 million of additional capital investment in the county, the retention of 4,800 existing jobs and the creation of 4,600 new jobs. The biggest project to date – in fact in the history of the IDA – involves Pepsi’s decision to stay in Westchester and completely modernize its global corporate headquarters in Purchase.


·         The county’s new Local Development Corp. (LDC) is able to provide low-cost and tax-exempt financing to nonprofit agencies at no risk to county taxpayers. Northern Westchester Hospital and nursing home Kendal on Hudson are among the first to take advantage of the LDC.


 


PLAYLAND


            Playland will open on May 11 for its 85th season.  In his speech, Astorino gave an update on his plan to “reinvent Playland for the 21st century.” Earlier this month, an asset management agreement was approved with Sustainable Playland, a team of world-class operators to run the park (instead of the county) and reverse declining attendance and million of dollars in annual losses to the county. Sustainable will invest $34 million of its own money to make the park a year-round-destination and pay the county more than $1 million annually.


          The hope is to have all the approvals – including those from the Board of Legislators – in place by October so that Sustainable can begin the reinvention of the park.


(For more information go to www.sustainableplayland.org.)


 


HUD


            The county was sued in 2006 under the False Claims Act of 1863.  The charge was that the county accepted federal dollars from the department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) but failed to study whether race was a factor in housing opportunities. In 2009, former County Executive Andrew Spano and the Board of Legislators settled the case.


          “Critically important: There was never a finding of fact of wrongdoing on the part of the county nor an admission of guilt,” Astorino noted.


            As part of the settlement, the county agreed to help facilitate the construction of 750 units of affordable housing in 31 so-called “eligible” (predominantly white) communities by 2016. The agreement included annual benchmarks. To date, the county remains a year ahead of schedule in getting units approved and financing in place, through a cooperative effort with the local governments that are involved.


            “Everyone in the county should be proud of that record,” Astorino said. “I know I am. Not just because we are meeting our obligations. But because of the way we are doing it: By working smartly and cooperatively with our towns and villages.”


            Westchester, the county executive pointed out, has a long and proud history of diversity, with the county being the 4th most diverse county in the state in terms of the number of African Americans and Hispanics.              


          “I will defend with every tool at my disposal the right of people to live in any neighborhood in Westchester, in any home that they can afford.” Astorino said. “Let me say this loud and clear:  there is absolutely no place for discrimination in our county.”


            HUD for its part has a very different agenda and approach, Astorino said – noting that HUD has called Westchester its “grand experiment.” 


 


            He said: “Washington bureaucrats, who you will never see or meet, want the power to determine who will live where and how each neighborhood will look. What’s at stake is the fundamental right of our cities, towns, and villages to plan and zone for themselves. This home rule is guaranteed by the New York State Constitution. HUD thinks it can trample on Westchester because it has the misguided notion that zoning and discrimination are the same thing. They are not.”


 


            He added: “Zoning exists to keep traffic from endangering kids on their way to school, to prevent factory noise and smoke from invading residential neighborhoods, and to stop raw sewage from polluting our drinking water.”


 


            Recently, the Board of Legislators joined with Astorino in authorizing a legal action to prevent HUD from reallocating $7.4 million in federal funds that had been promised to the county and its communities. 


 


OTHER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


            Astorino used the occasion, as he has in the past, to pay his respects to the men and women of Westchester who are serving in the nation’s armed forces. In the last year, not one county resident died in combat. He paid special tribute to Nancy Schiliro of Eastchester, who was in attendance, a veteran who was injured in Iraq in 2009, but now works to help other injured veterans through Project Odyssey, which is part of the Wounded Warrior program. 


            The county executive also paid his respect to the memory of former County Executive Andrew P. O’Rourke who died in January.


            And he recognized three Westchester students who are Intel Finalists this year: Jiayi Peng of Horace Greeley High School; Chris Traver of Croton-Harmon High School; Daniel McQuaid of Ossining High School; two student athletes, Mary Cain of Bronxville and Saniya Chong of Ossining; and two sets of foster parents, Anthony and Brenda Gears of Mount Vernon and Marisol and Eduardo Gonzalez of Scarsdale.


            Also: Scott Vaccaro, the owner and head brewer of Captain Lawrence in Elmsford, and  Maria and Pablo Morales, owners up a small bakery, Bake-Me-A-Wish in Peekskill were honored as small business success stories.   


            The National Anthem was sung by Melinda Ademi of Yonkers, who made it to the top 40 of Season 12 of “American Idol.”  

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Police Seek Suspected Child Molestor in Wal-Mart Incident

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WPCNR Police Gazette. April 23, 2013:


White Plains police have asked the public’s help in locating a man suspected of inappropriately molesting a 7 year old girl Saturday evening in the Wal-Mart store in White Plains.


The man is 5 foot 10, was seen on Wal-Mart security video wearing an Louis Vuittone baseball cap, dark clothing and green sneakers. The child was approached when she became separated from her mother and wandered into the toy department. The suspect being sought took the child into room and touched her inappropriately.


Persons with knowledge of the individual should contact police confidentially at 914-422-6200, or 914-422-6006

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Ralph Lauren Clothing Agrees to Pay Penalty for Bribing Argentine Officials

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WPCNR FBI WIRE. Special to WPCNR from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. April 22, 2013:


Ralph Lauren Corporation (RLC), a New York-based apparel company, has agreed to pay an $882,000 penalty to resolve allegations that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by bribing government officials in Argentina to obtain improper customs clearance of merchandise, announced Mythili Raman, the Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, and Loretta E. Lynch, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.


According to the agreement, the manager of RLC’s subsidiary in Argentina bribed customs officials in Argentina over the span of five years to improperly obtain paperwork necessary for goods to clear customs; permit clearance of items without the necessary paperwork and/or the clearance of prohibited items; and on occasion, to avoid inspection entirely.


RLC’s employee disguised the payments by funneling them through a customs clearance agency, which created fake invoices to justify the improper payments. During these five years, RLC did not have an anti-corruption program and did not provide any anti-corruption training or oversight with respect to its subsidiary in Argentina.


In addition to the monetary penalty, RLC agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice, to report periodically to the department concerning RLC’s compliance efforts, and to continue to implement an enhanced compliance program and internal controls designed to prevent and detect FCPA violations. If RLC abides by the terms of the agreement, the Department will not prosecute RLC in connection with the conduct.


The agreement acknowledges RLC’s extensive, thorough, and timely cooperation, including self-disclosure of the misconduct, voluntarily making employees available for interviews, making voluntary document disclosures, conducting a worldwide risk assessment, and making multiple presentations to the Department on the status and findings of the internal investigation and the risk assessment.


In addition, RLC has engaged in early and extensive remediation, including conducting extensive FCPA training for employees worldwide; enhancing the company’s existing FCPA policy; implementing an enhanced gift policy and other enhanced compliance, control, and anti-corruption policies and procedures; enhancing its due diligence protocol for third-party agents; terminating culpable employees and a third-party agent; instituting a whistleblower hotline; and hiring a designated corporate compliance attorney.


In a related matter, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission today announced a non-prosecution agreement with RLC in which RLC agreed to pay $$734,846 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest.


The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Daniel S. Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Sarah Coyne, Chief of the Business and Securities Fraud Section of the Eastern District of New York. The case was investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office. The department acknowledges and expresses its appreciation for the assistance provided by the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.

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Police Press on to Binding Arbitration on any New Contract with City

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. April 22, 2013:


The President of the White Plains Police Benevolent Association told the CitizeNetReport today that the police union, currently without a contract with the city since 2009-10, entered binding arbitration with the City of White Plains last Friday.


Officer Robert Riley told WPCNR that the union presented their positions to the arbitrator Friday, and they would have two more meetings, after which the arbitrator would present his or her findings that the city and the police would have to abide by.


Riley said the union chose to take their chances in arbitration rather than forgo  pay increases voluntarily in contract years 2009-10 and 2010-11 as they White Plains Professional Firefighters chose to do last week.


The firefighters union, according to its President, Joseph Carrier approved a five year contract last week.

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Mathew Anthony Solano, 1916-2013

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WPCNR MILESTONES. From Mary Ann Solano. April 21, 2013:

 

My Dad is Matthew Anthony Solano. He was born a full term twin at 2 pounds in Mount Vernon, New York on February 18, 1916. He grew in Mount Vernon and received a college scholarship for art. His step father would not allow such frivolity and sent him to work instead.

 

Following his marriage to my beautiful Irish mother,Catherine Patricia McCauley,who he met at work, and two sons later (Matthew Anthony Junior and Edward John), my dad lost his right hand in a printing press machine. He was to tell me many years later that two weeks after his accident a young woman at the plant lost her hand as well.



My grandmother is quoted as saying, “you had four hands between you and now you have three!” My then family moved to Queens Village where they owned & operated the corner stationary store, “Matty’s Candy Store” on the corner of Springfield Blvd. where my younger sister Kathryn Ellen and I were born. My mother worked evenings as a waitress as well as in the store. She washed all our clothes by hand and we enjoyed a home cooked meal every evening, except Mondays when my Dad took my sister and I to the local diner for a treat.



Although there were arguments about what words were acceptable in scrabble or which car was more practical, I never heard my mother or my father complain about life.



We moved to Patchogue, Long Island and upon my mother’s passing my Dad moved to Franklin Avenue in White Plains. He could be seen at various city events, shopping, watching the buildings rise in White Plains and enjoying the people and life here in the city. The Senior Center may remember a police escort to accompany my Dad home from Atlantic City to meet the bus (he thought it was an overnight trip) or the Police Chief warning seniors not to allow strangers to accompany them to their residences, (my Dad at 86 years overpowered someone on his doorstep who dared this ruse).



Last year his health necessitated a move to Ridgefield Nursing Facility where he passed on Saturday morning at 97 years. He referred to his residence as a hotel and treated that professional staff accordingly. He is survived by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I know that Kenny and, Dillon Jefferies, Peter and Alice Dobrie will carry his inspiration and his gifts.



As for me, I imagine he and my mother slipping away as they did on rare evenings from the store in Queens to an adventure away in Coney Island, their idea of heaven. God bless you, Dad.

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White Plains Firemen Settle Contract Before Arbitration Begins. 2% Raises Next 2

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WPCNR LABOR NEWS. April 20, 2013:


The President of the White Plains Professional Firefighters, Joseph Carrier announced to the Journal News in the Sunday edition that the firefighters without a contract for two and a half years have settled with the city on a five year contract.


Carrier told The Journal News the union settled for no raises in the contract years 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2% raises in the current year, 2012-13, and 2% raises in 2013-14, 2014-15. Carrier told the newspaper in an article by Reporter Richard Liebson firefighters active and retired also agreed to pay 15% of their health care insurance


The deal came, according to Liebson just before arbitration between the city and the union was about to begin.


The White Plains Police union has yet to settle.


 

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Washington To WP Work on Getting More Minority Students Into Advanced Courses

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. Special to WPCNR From the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights. April 19, 2013:


The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Thursday that it has entered into a resolution agreement with the White Plains, N.Y., Public Schools. The agreement commits the district to ensuring that all students, including African American, Hispanic and English Language Learner (ELL) students, are provided with equal opportunity and equal access to challenging classes and programs that will put students on a pathway for success in college and careers.


(Editor’s note: At no time before yesterday did the Board of Education ever announce publicly the district was under scrutiny by the Office of Civil Rights. Several Board members recently have made public statements about the need to focus on the brighter students in the district as well as those not doing as well.)


Under the agreement, the district will, as necessary:



  • Expand criteria to determine eligibility and selection for enrollment in programs and courses.
  • Expand student, parent, and community outreach about the available courses and programs; and
  • Make improvements to the academic counseling services at the middle and high school levels and training for relevant district and school site administrators and personnel.

These changes will be based on recommendations from an expert consultant, feedback from students, parents and staff, and a comprehensive self-assessment.


“Every student, regardless of his or her race, color, or national origin, must have an equal opportunity to participate in rigorous programs and courses that will put them on the right track toward being ready for college and careers,” said Seth Galanter, acting assistant secretary for civil rights. “I applaud the steps the White Plains Public Schools have agreed to take to help ensure their compliance with Title VI.”


OCR initiated a compliance review at White Plains under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to assess whether the district discriminated against minority students by establishing and implementing policies and procedures that resulted in their exclusion from enrichment programs, advanced/honors courses and Advanced Placement (AP) courses.


Because the district begins identifying students for its enrichment program as early as the end of second grade, it is critical that the process, criteria and communication about entry to the enrichment program ensure an equal opportunity for all students to access and participate in the program. These types of programs frequently serve as a path to advanced/honors courses and AP courses at the high school level. African American, Hispanic and ELL students had disproportionately lower enrollment in all those program and courses.


The district worked closely with OCR and voluntarily entered into a resolution agreement prior to the completion of the investigation.


As a result, OCR made no findings on lack of compliance. The office’s investigation revealed, however, that a disproportionately low number of minority students were participating in the district’s high school Honors and AP high school courses and in earlier enrichment programs and advanced courses at the elementary and middle school levels.


For example, during school year 2011-2012, African American students represented 18 percent of the high school student enrollment, but less than 10 percent (37 of 395 students), of the Honors and AP enrollment.


That same year, Hispanic students represented 47 percent of the high school student enrollment, but only 31 percent (122 of 395) of the Honors and AP enrollment; and ELL students represented 9 percent of the high school enrollment, but only 3 percent (10 of 395) of the Honors and AP enrollment. If minority students were provided equal opportunities to participate in enrichment programs in their earlier years, they would have been more likely to participate in Honors and AP classes proportionate to their high school enrollment; over 100 additional minority students would have been enrolled in Honors and AP.


A copy of the resolution letter is posted at: http://www2.ed.gov/documents/press-releases/white-plains-school-district-letter.doc, and the agreement at: http://www2.ed.gov/documents/press-releases/white-plains-school-district-resolution.doc.


OCR’s mission is to ensure equal access to education and promote educational excellence throughout the nation through the vigorous enforcement of civil rights. OCR is responsible for enforcing federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination by educational institutions on the basis of disability, race, color, national origin, sex, and age, as well as the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act of 2001.


For more information about the Office for Civil Rights, see http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html. For details on how OCR handles civil rights cases, visit http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintprocess.html.

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NY Public Service Commission Approves Canada to Queens Transmission Line

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WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. From the NYS Public Service Commission. April 18, 2013:


The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved the construction and operation of a 1,000 megawatt (MW) transmission line stretching 330 miles from the Canadian border to Astoria, Queens, primarily through Lake Champlain and the Hudson River, with some segments on land, primarily in railroad or state highway rights-of-way.



The line would terminate at a converter station located in Consolidated Edison’s Astoria annex. From there, one high voltage, alternating current (HVAC) circuit will connect, via underground conduit, to the nearby substation of the New York Power Authority (NYPA). From the NYPA substation, another set of HVAC cables would be located under the streets for about three miles to Con Edison’s Rainey substation.











The transmission line, estimated by the developer to cost $2 billion, would be built either underwater or underground along the entire length of the route, avoiding or minimizing visual and other potential environmental impacts.



“With this order, we grant the developer a certificate to construct and operate a transmission project known as the Champlain Hudson Power Express Project,” said Commission Chairman Garry Brown. “The certificate will adopt most of the terms and conditions presented to us in a joint proposal and in stipulations that have the full or partial support of a wide range of parties to this case.”



A critical factor in the Commission’s decision to approve the project is the fact that the financial risk to ratepayers is minimized since ratepayers will not be required to assume the financial risks to build the project; ratepayers will be protected from construction and operation costs.



While the Commission’s decision represents a major step to build the privately funded transmission line, it is not the final step; project developers still need to obtain several Federal permits, as well as secure private financing. The project owners, Champlain Hudson Power Express, Inc. and CHPE Properties, Inc., applied for a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need for the siting of major utility transmission facilities to construct and operate the high voltage, direct current transmission line under Article VII of the Public Service Law. The regulatory review of the project under Article VII was rigorous and complete.



In addition to providing renewable energy and shielding ratepayers, the project offers other significant benefits:




  • The facility would provide substantial annual air pollutant emissions benefits;
  • Bringing hydroelectric power to New York City would enhance fuel diversity as New York City currently relies significantly on gas- and oil-fired generation, which raises both fuel diversity and electric reliability concerns. The energy imported could amount to more than 10 percent of the energy consumption in the city, a significant amount of added capability that would enhance energy security by providing another source of power;
  • The interconnection with the Quebec, Canada regional transmission system would provide stronger transmission ties into New York City, one of the most congested load pockets in the state;
  • The new power line would help reduce strain on the gas transportation system by allowing imports of electricity from outside the city. Demand for natural gas use is increasing in New York City due to increased use of gas for electric generation and the gas conversion needs resulting from New York City’s phase out of use of #4 and #6 oils for home and business heating purposes. The increase in gas demand could strain the gas transportation system into and within New York City;
  • The addition of a major new supplier would help reduce the ability of various players to exercise market power. New York City is an area with pivotal suppliers having the ability to exercise market power, but suppliers are constrained by federal market rules.; and
  • There would be significant environmental enhancements. While negative environmental impacts are minimal, the applicants have agreed to create and fund a $117.15 million trust for the enhancement of aquatic habitats and fisheries resources in Lake Champlain and the Hudson, Harlem, and East rivers and their tributaries.


The proceeding began with an application filed March 30, 2010 and, after several supplements, ultimately deemed compliant as of August 11, 2010. Negotiations among the parties resulted in the joint proposal filed in February 2012 and further stipulations in June, July and October 2012.



The joint proposal used as the basis for the Commission’s decision was supported by several state agencies, the cities of New York and Yonkers, Consolidated Edison, and several environmental organizations, including Riverkeeper, Inc. and Scenic Hudson, Inc. Changes in the route from what was initially proposed helped reduce environmental impact.



Full evidentiary hearings were conducted on the joint proposal in July 2012, followed by post-hearing briefs. There were two rounds of public statement hearings conducted along the route of the project, both early in the case and following the submission of the joint proposal, and members of the public have submitted written comments as well.



The Commission’s decision today, when issued, may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 10-T-0139 in the input box labeled “Search for Case/Matter Number.” Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission orders may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.


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