Union Leaders Protest Cutbacks at Westchester Medical Center

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. Special to WPCNR from Nancy King, County Roving Correspondent. November 21, 2011:


Members of the New York State Nurses Association and members of CSEA local 9201 staged a demonstration Monday on the grounds of the Westchester Medical Center.   Union leaders state that they are fed up with hospital CEO Michael Israel and claim that over the past several years, he has quietly cut many of the vital services that the hospital once provided.  These cuts have included the Taylor Care Facility that once housed long term and rehabilitative care.  Most recently, Israel and the board eliminated the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, a mobile mental health crisis unit that responded to the community with first responders. 


According to NYSNA President Sam Caquias, the Medical Center intends to lay off as many as 250 nurses and is intending to bring in nurses from private agencies to provide basic patient care.  These “traveling” nurses require no fringe benefits and work at a reduced pay rate.   The nursing staff is already countering that there are too few nurses on staff and that patient care is currently being compromised by a bare bones staff.


Also joining in today’s demonstration were members of CSEA local 9201.  These employees range from ancillary medical staff, facilities engineers and clerical help.   At stake for this local are approximately 350 jobs.  John Staino, President of Westchester County CSEA states that:


“We have top-heavy, over-paid administration making all of these decisions at WMC without any oversight or transparency. At one time, the elected county Board of Legislators had some oversight but we’re now faced with hospital board that seems made up largely by pre-selected insiders who rubber stamp everything that Michael Israel wants.”


Both unions are in the process of negotiating new contracts with the Westchester Medical Center.  Both unions have been asked to contribute heavily to their health and pension benefits.  Currently, both unions do not contribute to their health care benefits. 


 At the time of the demonstration which included two large blow up rats, both union officials claimed that Mr. Israel has claimed that there will be massive layoffs even if those budgetary concessions are made. 


Despite a large police presence from the Westchester County Police Department, demonstrators were orderly if not spirited as they marched around the large oval just outside the emergency room. 


No matter what, 2011 and 2012 will prove to be a difficult year for union members here in Westchester County.  Earlier this month, County Executive Rob Astorino laid out his prospective budget that includes the layoffs of 250 county union employees.  He as well as hospital administrators claim that even if concessions are made, layoffs are likely. 

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Mayor Joseph Delfino’s wife passes away.

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WPCNR MILESTONES. November 20, 2011:



Elvira  Delfino


1933-2011


WPCNR has been informed by a spokesperson for McMahon, Lynon & Hartnett Funeral Home in White Plains that Elvira A. Delfino,78, wife of former White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino for fifty-eight years has died.


She died in White Plains Hospital Medical Center today after a long illness. She was born November 27, 1933. She and Mr. Delfino were married in 1953. Mrs. Delfino is survived by her husband and two children, a son, Joseph, and a daughter Cynthia Rubino, and her husband, John.


Elli was born on November 27, 1932, to Paul and Emily Trapp of Elmsford and spent most of her life in White Plains .After graduation from Alexander Hamilton High School she worked for many years as an administrator at several of Westchester’s corporate headquarters.



In 1953 she married former White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino. She was a great support to him in his work to make White Plains the great city that it is today. She is survived by her son Joseph and daughter Cynthia Rubino and her husband John. Elli was known for her kindness and generous spirit. An accomplished floral arranger and crafter, she made others smile through her work.


A wake for Mrs. Delfino will be held Monday evening from 5  to 9 P.M. at the McMahon Lyon & Hartnett funeral home in White Plains, and Tuesday afternoon from 3 to 9 P.M. A mass will be held 10 A.M. Wednesday at St. Anthony of Padua church, West Harrison. Interment will be at Mount Calvary Cemetary.


For more details visit http://mcmahonfh.frontrunnerpro.com/runtime/70664/runtime.php?SiteId=70664&NavigatorId=269034&op=moreinfo&viewOpt=dpaneOnly&ItemId=1039357


 

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Man Theatening Police Officers with Hatchet, Butcher Knife at Winbrook Shot,Dies

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. November 19, 2011 (Updated 3:47 P.M. E.S.T.: 


 A Winbrook resident died after receiving two gunshot wounds fired by a White Plains Police officer responding with about 5 or 6 other officers to a call for help via a Lifeline service at 135 South Lexington Avenue  in White Plains Saturday morning.


Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong announced the shooting this morning at a news conference at police headquarters. A full investigation of the incident is now under way, the Commissioner said.


“Hearing screams inside,” the officers, Chong said, attempted to breach the locked metal door.


After police succeeded  in breaching the locked door,they discovered a second lock on the interior. The individual inside, identified as Kenneth Chamberlin, 68, (Chong said), swung a hatchet through the opening of the door at the police officers attempting to breach the second lock keeping the lock from opening. 


A police officer succeeded in taking the hatchet out of Mr. Chamberlin’s hand and police were able to breach the second lock.


Chamberlin, Chong said, in a sequence that took up “only a matter of seconds,” approached officers with a butcher knife in his hand, as they entered the apartment after breaching the second lock. 


Police, Chong said, discharged a Taser to attempt to calm the individual, but the taser had no effect on him.


A non-lethal bean bag shotgun discharge (discharging four bean bags at once), was next discharged by police to attempt to subdue Mr. Chamberlin still armed with the butcher knife but “it (the bean bag blast) had no effect,” Chong reported.


Despite this Mr.Chamerlin persisted, Chong said


Chamberlin closed in close proximity with a butcher knife to one of the police officers Chong said who discharged two rounds from his service revolver striking Mr. Chamberlin. Chong noted this was “very close quarters” in which the action was taking place.


(Editor’s note, added to first report of this incident after reviewing reporter notes: After Mr. Chamberlin was shot, while first aid was being attempted, Mr. Chamberlin attempted to slash his own throat with the butcher knife. Toxology reports will be checked after an autopsy by the medical examiner.)


Chamberlin was given first aid at the scene by EMS workers, Chong said, he was taken to White Plains Hospital where Chamberlin died at  7:09 A.M.


The police officer, an eight-year veteran of the White Plains Police Department is being treated for chest pains and trauma at White Plains Hospital, as are two other police officers who responded.


White Plains Housing Authority Executive Director Mack Carter (appearing at the news conference)which manages the 135 South Lexington Building told WPCNR,  federal law prohibits denying any potential tenant residency due to personal conditions. Carter did say the only condition in which the Housing Authority could deny residency to a potential tenant was if the applicant had a criminal record within the last five years.


Commissioner Chong said in the news conference that Mr. Chamberlin, the deceased, was “known to the police.” Mr. Chong declined to tell WPCNR what the police “knew” of the deceased.

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Adam Bradley Turns Self In to Police. Charged. Released in His Own Recognizance

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. Special to WPCNR. November 18, 2011:


Former Mayor Adam Bradley has turned himself in at White Plains Police Headquarters Friday evening for alleged violations of his probation terms when he was sentenced for being convicted of Attempted Assault of his wife in December 2010.


Bradley reportedly had contacted his former wife four times by phone in violation of his probation arrangements.


Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong issued this statement to WPCNR:


“Former Mayor Adam Bradley was charged tonight at approximately 7 PM at Police  Headquarters with Criminal Contempt 2 a Misdemeanor.  He was booked in the  company of his attorney, arraigned, before White Plains City Judge Eric Preiss,  and Released on his own recognizance.”

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City Releases Costs of Bengal Tiger Parking Lot. $100,000 per Space.

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WPCNR CITY CIRCUIT. Special to WPNCR from the Mayor’s Office.  November 18, 2011:


The Mayor’s Office has released the costs involved in purchasing and constructing the new Bengal Tiger parking lot at Court Street and East Post Road, to confirm WPCNR’s report stated the cost to be $1.1 Million for land acquisition of the site from the Bengal Tiger owners and $550,000 for construction, for a cost of $91,666 per parking space.


However the cost is actually $100,000 per parking space, according to the Mayor’s Office. Karen Pasquale, Senior Advisor to Mayor Tom Roach furnished the details today:


“Regarding the East Post Road parking lot, the property was acquired for $1,400,000 (approved by the Common Council on December 6, 2010)(Editor’s note during the Adam Bradley administration) and construction costs were approximately $400,000.

 

This included LED lighting for the lot, multi-space meters, landscaping, new sidewalk, curbing, curb cuts on the two adjacent streets, relocation of the existing bus stop, state-of-the-art storm water treatment system, connection ramp to the existing Court Street lot (not anticipated in the original cost estimates), etc. Some of these were general improvements to the public right-of-way which were done in conjunction with the lot to take advantage of the economies of scale. As you know, the lot is now open and providing a needed service to nearby businesses.

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Adam Bradley May Turn Himself in to WP Police for Violating Probation

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. Special to WPCNR from Nancy King. November 17, 2011 UPDATED 12:20 A.M.November 18, 2011 UPDATED 2:20 P.M. E.S.T. UPDATED 4:15 P.M. E.S.T.  UPDATED 4:35 P.M. E.S.T.:


Nancy King reported Thursday evening that Adam Bradley, after appearing before Judge Susan Capeche Thursday afternoon, may turn himself in to White Plains police Friday morning at for alleged violations of his terms of probation.


Since her report, four hours later WPCNR has learned from Mr. Bradley that his coming to the White Plains Police Department may or may not take place depending on how the matter is handled Friday morning by the White Plains Police. Adam Bradley, speaking to WPCNR at midnight, when asked would neither confirm nor deny that he was committed to go in to the police Friday.


Lucien Chalfen, spokesman for the Westchester District Attorney advised WPCNR Friday afternoon at 4:30 P.M., that at the present time, whether or not Adam Bradley is arrested is up to the White Plains Police. He said he had no knowledge of whether Family Court has asked for Mr. Bradley to be investigated for violating the terms of his probation. He said it is up to the White Plains Police to make the investigation 


As of 2:30 P.M., asked for an update on the Adam Bradley situation, Commissioner Chong wrote in a statement,


“Not yet, probably later.”


Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong issued this statement to WPCNR Friday morning:


“As of this writing 0850 AM Friday, the Police Department has not received formal charges, instructions or requests from the District Attorney or the Court to pick up Mr. Bradley.

The Court could, within its own right, ask Mr. Bradley to appear to face any violations of existing court orders or conditions of probation and so could the Department of Probation.

The police would be involved if and when there were any new charges filed or if Mr. Bradley failed to appear as ordered in court. “


Mr. Bradley was convicted December 9,2010 of attempted assault, contempt, and three charges of harassment involving his wife. Mr. Bradley was also subject to an order of protection prohibiting him from seeing his wife, Fumiko Bradley for five years, subject to modification for custody and visitation purposes.


King reported Thursday evening that Bradley was reported by his wife, Fumiko Bradley as having called her by cellphone three times, a violation of  Bradley’s term of probation. King reports that Bradley said the calls  were made on his cellphone three times in a short period of time and were accidental while exercising. King says that Bradley may face 60 to 90 days in jail.


Mr. Bradley, Mayor of White Plains from January 2010 to February 2011, when he resigned after being convicted of attempted assault on his wife among other charges, was under probation terms forbidding him any contact with his wife.


King says that Fumiko Bradley reported the calls being made to her.

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Bengal Tiger Lot Opens.

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WPCNR CITY CIRCUIT. November 17, 2011:


Mayor Thomas Roach, Councilwoman Beth Smayda and Council President Benjamin Boykin officially opened a new parking lot at the corner of East Post Road and Court Street today just off Mamaroneneck Avenue. The new facility was created on the site of the Bengal Tiger fire that took place in July, 2010, that gutted half a city block. 


 



Bengal Tiger Lot Opens


Mayor Roach said that for now the lot would remain a parking lot, and would not say whether negotiations were taking place between the city and the owners of the vacant building between the new lot and the Court Street city municipal lot. Asked if the building being in the Urban Renewal Area might be acquired by eminent domain, Roach said there were a lot of things the city could do, but did not commit to saying the city wanted to acquire the building.



Council President Benjamin Boykin (L), Mayor Thomas Roach, and Councilwoman Beth Smayda open up the Court Street/East Post Road Lot


At the time when the lot was acquired from the former owners of the Bengal Tiger for $1.1 Million, the city stated that the lot was acquired to prevent a similar situation to that of the old railroad station which for years was known as a “the hole in the ground.”


The city needed parking in that area, Roach said today, and that was why the lot was converted into a parking lot. WPCNR awaits the exact cost of the lot construction from city hall. WPCNR recalls the construction cost to be estimated at $550,000. If that is correct, the cost of the 18 spaces per space (including purchase of the land) is about $91,666.



First Parkers arrive 11:05 A.M.


The lot has 18 parking spaces, (1 handicapped space), and connects with the Court Street lot, making it accessible two ways. Multi-space meter parking is in use in the new lot, and the Court Street lot will be converted to multi-space meters in the future.



New Lot has a cut through to access Court Street Municipal Lot.


 

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Amid Bleak Budget Outlook, Astorino Vows No Tax Hike

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER By Nancy King, WPCNR County Roving Correspondent. November 15, 2011:


County Executive Rob Astorino presented his 2012 Budget Projection this morning. While again making good on his promise of not raising the property taxes of Westchester residents, it comes with a hefty price tag…elimination of jobs.  


Astorino explained that although the tax levy of 548 million dollars remained the same as the previous year’s budget, he also offered up that  even with reductions made in staffing last year, that the cost of salaries and benefits had risen another 9 million dollars this year.


The County Executive will be  reducing the work force by about 360.  150 of those positions will be lost through attrition while the remaining 250 employees will be laid off.  It is expected that those layoffs will come from the departments of recreation, and the DPW.  No layoffs are currently planned for the Westchester County Police Department of the Department of Corrections.  


 


During the press conference, Mr. Astorino stated that the proposed cuts are in response to the union’s  lack of concessions concerning their health care benefits.  County workers currently do not contribute to their health care.  It was unclear as to whether Mr. Astorino was asking  union officials to open their contract now.  Their new contract will be negotiated in 2012.`


The upcoming year will also see an increase of $2.00 at county golf courses, the elimination of 24 hour police protection at the County Office Building and the end of a non mandated contract with three community health centers. 


Cornell Cooperative Extension lost 990,000 and the Arts Council saw their budget decrease by 750,000. 


Astorino is also venturing into the area of public/private partnerships and is seeking private donors to help fund cultural events and the annual Fourth of July fireworks at the Kensico Dam. 


Astorino is also asking child care contributions to be increased by 35% for next year.


To preserve the County’s bond rating, Astorino stated very clearly that the fund balance would not be touched thus allowing Westchester to keep it’s Triple A bond rating.  This is a bit confusing though since it was reported several months ago that Westchester had been downgraded to a Double A rating. 


It was unclear as to whether there has been multiple bond ratings for the county.  Mr. Astorino also expects that there will be little or no revenue growth next year as the economic  health of the county remains fragile.


Not so surprising was the return of Playland. 


While it is alleged that the park is a consistent money loser every year, it now is the home of the controversial Children’s Museum which will pay the county an annual rent of $1.00. 


Astorino,  who waxed that he has had a difficult 684 days in office is most likely to continue having those difficult days.  The Westchester County Board of Legislators must first approve this budget.  Last year the CBOL overrode the Astorino administration 240 times.   The Board will be holding a public meeting at New Rochelle High School on November 22nd to discuss it.

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October Sales Tax in City down 9.3%–Up 2% for 1st Q. County Up 2%/YR

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. November 14, 2011:


The city sales tax receipts for October slumped 9.3% after a 15% surge in sales tax receipts in September.


October receipts, were down $380,076 from last October 2010 figure of $4,469,015, with $4,088,939 funneled into city coffers last month, due in part to a week of power outages in White Plains and the county from the October snowstorm.


White Plains, after the first quarter  of its fiscal year 2011-12, is up 2% over the 2010 pace, slightly less than the inflation rate. The first four months of  fiscal 11-12 shows the city having collected $16, 870,644 compared to $16,556,980 in the first quarter of fiscal 2010–2% ahead of last year’s pace.


Westchester County heading into the home stretch of its fiscal year ending in December continues to be 2% over last year’s pace in sales tax receipts, thanks to a solid October at the cash registers. The county through the first ten months of 2011 has received $369,262,423 in sales tax receipts compared to $361,958,134, up $7.3 Million over the same ten month period.


Westchester County is on pace, if they earn the $80 Million they collected in sales tax in November and December last year, to top $449 Million in sales tax for fiscal 2011. Up 2% on the year.


 

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Public Safety’s 1st Promotions in two years: Castelli,Farrelly, Doherty, Hickey

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. November 14, 2011:


 


The Department of Public Safety promoted four new cornerstones  to build the future of the Department this morning at Public Safety Headquarters.


 



 


First Public Safety Promotions in Two Years, Building the Future. Promoted today at the Department of Public Safety: Far  left, Newly promoted Captain Joseph Castelli of the Police Department; Third from left, Lieutenant Brian Hickey of the Fire Bureau; Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong; new Police Sergeant Kevin Farrelly, and new Police Lieutenant Dennis Doherty. Mayor Thomas Roach is second from left.


 


Mayor Thomas Roach observing, in his remarks said the promotions were a testimony to the fine men and women in the department and the men honored with promotion today were a legacy that was part of building the department  for the future.


 



 


 


Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong swears in Brian Hickey to the rank of Lieutenant in the Fire Bureau, after only six years with the Bureau.


 


Commissioner Chong recalled when  Hickey was asked during his hiring interview where he hoped to be in the bureau in six years, said, “The Rescue Truck(Engine 88).” Chong said this answer indicated his commitment to the mission of the department. Chong said Hickey’s rise to Lieutenant after only six years in the bureau was remarkable.


 


Commissioner Chong swore in Joseph Castelli to the rank of  Captain in the Police Department, whom he welcomed as a key member of the Captains’ contingent. Chong pointed out police department captains are part of his executive staff. Dennis Doherty was promoted to Lieutenant, and  Kevin Farrelly was promoted to Sergeant.


 



 


Commissioner Chong in his remarks said he felt the White Plains Department of Public Safety was the finest department anywhere, saying “Not a day goes by that I do not  get a call from someone praising the department.” To Commissioner Chong’s left are James Bradley, Chief of Police, Deputy Chief of the Fire Bureau, and Mayor Thomas Roach.


 


Chong said to the wives, children and proud parents attending that he thanked them for their understanding of the difficulties of  the jobs their husbands and sons do every day. Chong said that from his own personnel experience,   police officers and fire personnel  have to deal with difficult circumstances in the line of duty and their families are special in order to deal with that duty stress.


 


An overflow crowd of colleagues and family members attended the ceremony and a feeling of good will, pride and happiness lit up the room.


 

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