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$114 Million Shortfall, Astorino Says. Vows No New Taxes, no tax increase, cuts
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Office of the County Executive. October 5, 2011:
In a preliminary view of Westchester’s 2012 finances, County Executive Robert P. Astorino said today that the county was facing a $114 million budget shortfall next year and that he planned to close the gap without raising taxes by cutting spending, instituting a one-week furlough and having union workers start contributing toward their health insurance as a trade off to avoid approximately 250 layoffs.
“A tax increase is off the table,” said Astorino. “With Westchester residents already paying the highest property taxes in the
Expenses in next year’s budget are currently projected to increase by 5 percent to $1.802 billion. In contrast, revenues are projected to be up just 1 percent, coming in at $1.688 billion and leaving a gap of $114 million. By law, Astorino must present a plan for a balanced budget to the Board of Legislators by Nov. 15.
To balance the budget, Astorino outlined the following initiatives.
· Recurring savings: $52 million. All department heads have been asked to reduce their respective budgets between 10 and 20 percent. Details of the specific plans are still being finalized. Every department and program is being scrutinized, but the county’s safety net will remain in place. “The budget will not be balanced on the backs of the county’s most needy,” Astorino said. “While we expect to find savings in all departments, including the Department of Social Services, it appears likely that spending in DSS for 2012 will come in about the same as 2011.”
· One-time savings: $39 million. These savings include lower interest rates on county bonds, lower retirement costs because of last year’s 10 percent workforce reduction and lower insurance claims in 2011. Any money taken from the county’s fund balance or so-called “rainy day fund” would also be part of this category. The money here is limited because the fund balance is now approaching 5 percent of operating expenses. Dipping close to or below that level could jeopardize the county’s triple A bond ratings, which in turn could increase its borrowing costs. “Over my objections, the Board of Legislators took more out of the fund balance for the 2011 budget than I thought was prudent,” Astorino said. “The consequence is that there is less money available for next year. This isn’t alarmist. It is an economic fact that we will have to manage the fund balance carefully this year.”
· Jobs for savings: $23 million. The money here would come from a one week furlough ($4 million) and contributions by union employees to the cost of their health insurance ($19 million) or approximately 250 layoffs.
Astorino said he hoped to keep layoffs to a minimum, but he needed the help of the county’s unions. Saying the time had come for union members to start contributing toward their healthcare benefits, he made the following case:
· The county’s non-union employees already contribute toward their healthcare insurance, as do almost all public and private sector employees in the
· The healthcare contribution the county is seeking is the same one proposed by Governor Cuomo and agreed to by the state Civil Service Employees Association. The CSEA is the county’s largest union.
· The after-tax cost to a typical employee would be $16.75 a week for individual coverage and $85.50 a week for family coverage.
· The wages earned by county employees, as a group, are higher than their private sector and fellow public sector counterparts working in
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Astorino will host a town hall style meeting with county employees tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the
The biggest challenge in balancing the budget, Astorino said, was that many large expenses such as labor, pension and Medicaid have crushing automatic cost increases built into them. For example,
“On January 1, the cost of government automatically goes up each year,” said Astorino. “Balancing the budget is like Sisyphus endlessly trying to push the boulder up the hill. Despite all we’ve accomplished, it is hard to make any real progress. That is why we need to make structural reforms like having all employees pay for healthcare and pushing
This year, the cost of state unfunded mandates to county taxpayers was $416.5 million. Astorino said
“I support the legislation calling for
County property taxes account for about 15 to 20 percent of a property tax bills. The remainder is levied by school districts, local governments and special districts. For 2011, the county government share of property taxes was reduced by 2 percent. Astorino announced earlier this year he would not raise property taxes for 2012.
The
WAL MART FIGHTING FISH FOR SALE APPEAR IN POOR HEALTH.
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WPCNR THE WHISTLEBLOWER. From a WPCNR Correspondent. October 5, 2011:
WPCNR received a call from an expert fish hobbyist who keeps Japenese fighting fish in their home. The Betta fancier was distressed by a visit to Wal Mart in downtown
Photograph White Plains Wal Mart betta fish October 1, 2011.
The correspondent noticed the Wal Mart Bettas had split fins, floated listlessly at the bottom of their containers which were filled with cloudy water. The split-fin condition, our correspondent says, is a sign the fish are in poor health, and is concerned that Wal Mart is not providing or selling healthy betta fish. The correspondent felt that the fish were living creatures that deserved an effort by the store at keeping them in a healthy environment.
Here is our correspondent’s report after revisiting the store Monday of this week:
I have just arrived home from another expedition to Wal Mart, only to find my concerns multiplied.
Yesterday (10/2) I went in to the store and spoke with a manager named
Her lack of knowledge was appalling. I simply stated to her, “Anyone can see those fish are sick and dying. You don’t need to be an expert to know it.” She promised me the fish would be tended to…but, as you can see from pictures I took tonight (Tuesday evening), that is simply not the case.
I will call Corporate again tomorrow and get the name of whomever I speak with. I still have two voice mail messages from the local store (in response to my call to Corporate) on Friday.
I am also sending you some pics of what healthy Betta fish look like–they are often called “Japanese Fighting Fish” and you’ll probably recognize them right away.
Notice how the same garbage was strewn on the shelves day after day. No one cares about these creatures…right in the shadow of City Hall, animal abuse exists!!!!
As an aside, if you visit Petco on
Our correspondent had a discussion with a “
“I spoke with “Laney” of Wal Mart’s Corporate Headquarters in Arkansas; she is the Supervisor of the Priority Customer Relations Line. When I informed her of my concerns for the fishes’ health and welfare and advised her that I had spoken with Beverly (an in-store Manager on Saturday), that I had placed calls to Corporate on Friday and nothing had been done, she stated, “We have 5 business days to address your concerns.”
I suggested to her that I would need to phone the local SPCA to report abuse of the fish and she stated, “That’s your prerogative,” and when I asked to speak with HER supervisor, she stated, “There is no one above me” and disconnected the call.”
Photograph of the Day
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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. October 5, 2011:
The Roving Photographer lurked around the South End of White Plains, New York, USA, at twilight Tuesday evening and discovered the neighborhood near the controversial Ridgeway club property has grown signs. As you drive down Ridgeway “STOP FASNY NOW” and “FASNO” signs have sprung up around the property.
Fairway Drive and Ridgeway Last night.
Cook of Champions: Working Author Publishes Cancer-fighting Recipes Easy to Prep
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WPCNR BOOK CHAT. October 5, 2011:
If you stop by Starbucks at Renaissance Square in downtown White Plains, New York, USA, the chatty, high energy morning manager, Theresa McCarty serves you with efficiency and a smile.
But, did you know she is “The Cook of Champions,” accomplished personal chef, having been Yankee Manager Joe Torre’s personal cook for Joe and his family for years? Now, she’s also a published author having held a book signing this week for her new cook-philospher book, Step Up to the Plate: My Recipes for Life.
Theresa McCarty Philosopher-Chef
Her new cookbook, Step Up to the Plate has a unique niche. In addition to Ms.McCarty’s insights as to how to make the most of yourself and be ready to seize opportunities she shares everyday and special day recipes she made for Joe Torre’s family and many Yankee greats you’ll recognize.
What is significant and helpful about the easy-to-follow recipes for dishes (45 of them) she prepared in a special way for the Torres, they were prepared with special ingredients that help the body fight cancer with the same tasty result. As many know, Mr.Torre, having contracted prostate cancer and survived it, and together with Ms. McCarty and his nutritionist, the author prepared dishes he enjoyed prepared with powerful, documented cancer-fighting incredients and nutrients.
She gives you definitions of key cancer-fighting ingredients and weaves them into staple dishes as well as appetizers, desserts, hors d’oeuvres. Drop on by Starbuck’s any weekday morning in downtown White Plains New York USA and discuss her book with her and how they can help you prepare fare that is tasty, mainstream, hearty and helps your body strengthen itself against cancer.
Jogger Collapses and Dies on Loucks Field Track. Police Identify him.
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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. October 4, 2011 UPDATED OCTOBER 7, 2011:
White Plains Police reported Friday afternoon that the jogger who died on the White Plains School Track Tuesday was Ralph Eckhouse, a resident of White Plains. He was 65 years old.
Police responded to the report of the jogger collapsed on the White Plains High School track at Loucks Field Tuesday morning.
Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong provided this statement to WPCNR at the time of the incident:
“This Morning the White Plains Police and EMS responded to a “person down call” at the High School track.
Responding Units found a unresponsive male, approximately 65 years of age, a White Plains resident, lying on the side of the track.
This person appears to have suffered some type of medical condition and was unfortunately pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives were on the scene and there is no foul play suspected. The Medical Examiner will investigate cause of death.”
Assistant Superintendent for Business of the White Plains school district said the person was not a member of the school district staff or a student. Mr. Seiler said the person was legally allowed to use the Loucks Field track as long as students and school activities were not going on at the time. Tuesday is a regular school day in White Plains and the high school was in session.
Moratorium Extended. Pro-FASNY Supporters Dominate Scope Hearing
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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. October 4, 2011:
The Council as expected extending the moratorium on decision-making involving development of recreation lands not owned by the city Monday evening, with Councilpersons emphasizing the moratorium does not in any way restrict the march to a decision on the French American School of New York project.
In the opening hearing on the FASNY project that proposes to build three schools, a gymnasium and performing arts facility on the former Ridgeway club property, 43 persons had signed up to speak. As it turned out the majority were in favor of the FASNY project with 20 speakers supporting FASNY, and 8 speaking opposing the project. A number of speakers whose names were called by Mayor Tom Roach had left the building.
Robert Stackpole, a Gedney resident and Terrence Guerriere, President of the Gedney Association lead off the Scoping action. Stackpole raised the issue that the French American School had not clarified in detail what they would do with the Gedney Preserve they propose to hand over to the city. Stackpole under SEQRA law any property where development is proposed has to make proposal in specifics for all the property, not just the area the developer wants to build on. For that reason alone, with no specific details on the preserve proposed, Stackpole said the process should start over. Stackpole also argued that the wetlands and the alleged “dam” at the lake inside the Ridgeway property that experience high water in recent weeks, had to be addressed (though a detailed presentation last week, noted the school plans to address stormwater and the lake with more remediation equipment than has ever been used or in use while the property was a golf course.
Guerriere agreed on the segmentation charge, and followed up saying his organization had sent a letter to city hall asking for the cancellation of tonight’s hearing for that reason that the project was being sermented. The Mayor noted to Mr. Guerriere the letter had been received by e-mail by the Mayor at 3:40 Monday afternoon, not in time to be considered in depth. Guerriere asked that the people of Gedney Farms be considered, and demanded an examination of the noise the new school would cause as well as the traffic considerations.
The majority of FASNY supporters had children attending the French American School and spoke of positives the school presence at Ridgeway would bring. A realtor who lives in Larchmont on a boat, said she worked for FASNY and it is her experience that Larchmont has had a number of parents of FASNY students move into Larchmont as a result. FASNY ability to attract homebuyers to White Plains had been doubted by several of the anti-FASNY speakers.
At the close of the hearing a represnetative for FASNY rebutted the Stackpole segmentation argument saying that the school would provide specific details on the finished Draft Environmental Impact Statement and questions on parking, traffic, bussed students versus drop-off students, hours of operation, a host of issues would be answered in the process.
The meeting adjourned at 11 P.M., with the Common Council allowing the public to send in written comments to the City Clerk, 255 Main Street up until 5 P.M. November 4.
Cuomo Quietly Claws Back 2% of Health Premiums from State Retirees
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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. Special to WPCNR from Peter Katz. October 3, 2011:
Civil Service Employee Association members received postcards this afternoon announcing that effective October 1, “All state division retirees: effective October 1, 2011 the state is requiring you pay 2% of your health care costs.” The postcard states that CSEA did not negotiate this “clawback,” and urges members to contact the governor and protest it at 1-877-255-9417.
It is not clear whether there is only a special class of retirees who are affected by this, or whether all retirees are affected. WPCNR is working on this story.
Castelli, Paulin Intro Bill to Freeze Medicaid.
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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Office of Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli. October 3, 2011:
Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli was joined by state and local officials from across the
“This is one of the most historic pieces of legislation to be introduced in decades,” said Stephen Acquario, president of the New York Association of Counties. “Counties have made a tremendous sacrifice over the last 50 years.”
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The legislation has garnered widespread support from local officials across the
The proposal initially freezes local Medicaid costs, providing $180 million in immediate local savings by eliminating the automatic three percent annual spending increase currently required by statute. Starting in the third quarter of 2012, the local share would then be reduced by five percent, providing counties with an additional $75 million – totaling $255 million in savings for county governments.
Between 2012 and 2019, local Medicaid costs will continue to be gradually reduced as the state assumes an increasing share of the burden. The end result would completely eliminate Medicaid costs from county budgets, providing municipal governments with the flexibility to substantially reduce local property taxes.
In attendance with Castelli were State Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R, C , I –
“Without comprehensive changes to the cost structure of Medicaid, county governments are going to be faced with extremely regrettable choices. The tax cap will only work as intended to address the property tax burden in
Under
“This is a great step towards providing the unfunded mandate relief that our Counties so desperately need,” Katz said. “I fully support Assemblymembers Castelli and Paulin in this effort, and I am proud to stand here today with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue the fight to make
Local Medicaid costs are expected to increase $2.6 billion by 2025 if nothing is done to provide county governments with some form of Medicaid mandate relief.
“Freezing local costs for next fiscal year by eliminating the automatic three percent increase in Medicaid will provide immediate relief to local governments struggling to make ends meet under the constraints of the new property tax cap,” Gallivan said. “This legislation implements responsible and realistic reforms that will ensure taxpayers won’t continue to bear the brunt of county governments’ ever increasing Medicaid burden.”
Senator McDonald added, “Medicaid is the largest unfunded mandate imposed on local governments by the State. This has resulted in New Yorkers paying the highest local taxes in the nation. It is essential that we address the unsustainable local costs of Medicaid and implement responsible and realistic reforms to relieve the local mandate and tax burden.”
The issue is too important, McDonald insisted, for dialogue among state representatives to be put off until the opening of the legislative session in January 2012: “The session begins now.”
The new legislation takes advantage of the Medicaid spending cap provision enacted in this year’s State Budget prohibiting the State from increasing spending on Medicaid by more than the ten year rolling average of the medical component of the consumer price index. Absent future legislation stripping the spending cap of its teeth, Medicaid will cost taxpayers $10 billion less than if the program continued to be funded jointly with local governments.
“The constraints of a hard spending cap will force additional reforms to Medicaid’s structure, and present a perfect opportunity to implement and expand upon the recommendations put forth by the Medicaid Redesign Team assembled by the Governor Cuomo in January,” Gallivan said.
The lawmakers were also insistent that this legislation in no way precludes the Legislature or Governor Cuomo from continuing to identify and eliminate burdensome unfunded or underfunded mandates aside from Medicaid.
By calling for an initial spending freeze coupled with a multi-year transition of the local share of Medicaid costs, the legislation intentionally allows the Governor, the Legislature and the State Department of Health a reasonable period of time to prepare and adjust the program to ensure that New York State’s Medicaid program is compliant with the new healthcare provisions and state mandates contained in the federal Affordable Care Act, enacted in 2010.
Once a Lady, Always a Fair Lady:Babiak spunky, Heart-Winning. Galantich, Dashing
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WPCNR STAGE RIGHT. Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. October 3, 2011:
She is 56 years old and still has it goin’ on!
She’s My Fair Lady, the all-time best family musical (out of a time warp from 1956) arriving again with class, dignity, emotion, and such proper English you have to pay attention at Elmsford’s Westchester Broadway. She charmed young and old without dirty words, without sleaze, and with Broadway’s best-ever score. My date, Brenda Starr, said, “Every song’s a winner!”
Jennifer Babiak creates a spunky, Eliza Doolittle (who wants Mr. Higgins to Show Me) divinely reaches out and touches hearts and wins you over to her corner. You root for her. Tom Galantich is pompous Henry Higgins (who’s “grown accustomed to her face”). They’re the odd couple who play out Pygmalion the spirited George Bernard Shaw satiric battle of the sexes musically in the Jay Lerner & Frederick Leowe classic revival production now receiving lovers of musical theater Wednedays through Sundays at the Westchester Broadway. Photos, Courtesy Westchester Broadway Theatre, by John Vecchiolla
This is a show the ladies who lunch will flock to see for its nostalgia, the elegant costumes and an
Eliza’s lilting rippling, glorious I could Have Danced All Night gives an emotional uplift when Higgins dances with Eliza after she learns “The Rain In Spain Falls Mainly in the Plain.” The two leads showing a wary resistance to each other gradually thawing to needing each other despite pride and reason.
Higgins, on a bet with fellow linguist Colonel Pickering (ably second-banana-ed by William McCauley) says he can transform virtually unintelligible flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a lady who will fit into high English society. After Higgins makes the proposition to train Eliza, she and the terrific ensemble deliver a delightful, Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?
My Fair Lady has the tightest, liveliest, realistic book in show biz with dialogue that’s not just a few lines into the next song, but good, snappy give-and-take between characters. The MFL songs explain what’s happening emotionally with the characters in case you do not get it.
The cockney accents thick as stilton are so thick you may not understand what’s going on there. You have to listen carefully to the opening scene in
When Tom Galantich’s Henry Higgins, first encountering Eliza sings Why Can’t the English Learn to Speak? all becomes perfectly clear. You know what’s going on. Perhaps Director Charles Repole is making a point by exaggerating actors’ brogues in the opening scene to drive home Mr. Higgins’ disgust with the daily murdering of the King’s English.
Mr. Galantich is introspective, and self-righteous on I’m an Ordinary Man after taking on the exasperating challenge of Eliza. He is sure he will never let a woman into his life. But, he has, and you are about to see a romance that could never happen, happen. The old opposites attract romantic dream lives forever in My Fair Lady.
The show gets into high spirits when Eliza’s father( manic, comic and limber Bill Dietrich) and his 12 chronies of the fabulous ensemble deliver a high-flying With a Little Bit of Luck with leaps and bounds daringly choreographed by Michael Lichtefeld. Mr. Dietrich returns again in a rollicking I’m Getting Married in the Morning (above)Both numbers pleased the full house.
Higgins life indeed runs amuck as lessons with Eliza Doolittle commence. Babiak engages the audience’s sympathies…as her loathing for Professor Higgins’ deprecating and high-faluting attiudes towards her as she learns to say her “a’s”, singing Just You Wait. Then there’s the magical day when Eliza says the sentence, “The rain is
Higgins is so proud of her her dances her around his fabulously recreated study. Eliza is so pleased she has pleased him and thinks he is starting to care for her that she sings I Could Have Danced All Night. Ms Babiak uses all she has on this song…trilling up the scale…mellowing down the scale on the famous lines, letting her voice of joy shimmer in incandescence that opens your heart. From right there, she has the audience rooting for the plucky little lady.
DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME AT ASCOT
On to
Act Two begins with Higgens winning his bet with
Meeting Mother
Eliza, a character who is a modern woman, before the concept of a modern woman was invented, walks out, laments what is to become of her Without You.
How will they get back together? The audience is left to worry this out through the twists and turns of Higgins’ pride, Eliza’s pride, and a lot of love.
You almost get to thinking it will never work out. Especially when Professor Higgins alone in his study, sings softly I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face sketched with regret inwardly touched for the very first time. Reaching to an old gramophone recorder, he switches it on to hear her voice one last time.
You know how it ends,don’t you? If you do not, do go see for yourself.
I never get tired of seeing My Fair Lady. I could see it every night. Like
She is receiving guests through November 27 and returns after the Christmas holiday December 28 through January 29. Go to www.broadwaytheatre.org for ducat information or call (914) 592-2222.