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WPCNR NEWS FROM BEYOND THE GAME. August 10, 2010:
New York Jet #44, James Ihedigbo, swung by White Plains Public Access TV’s BEYOND THE GAME to chat with Host, John Vorperian about his off-season adventures, NFL training camp, and Gang Green gossip.
Ihedigbo’s foundation actively supports relief efforts in
Ihedigbo also comments about Jets Camp being covered by HBO’s Hard Knocks and Dallas Cowboy Dez Bryant’s recent rant. BEYOND THE GAME can be seen Tuesday
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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. By John F. Bailey. August 9, 2010:
A spokesperson for the New York State Budget Division press office, Eric Kriss denied today that stimulus money from the ARRA (American Reinvestment and Recovery Act) was directly figured into closing the $9.2 Billion budget gap last week, as reported by 89th District (White Plains-Lewisboro) Assemblyman Robert Castelli Friday. The $5.7 Billion (in unused stimulus money) going to plug the budget gap was reported by Castelli to WPCNR Friday.
However, on closer questioning, Kriss allowed that $5.7 Billion in stimulus money was in the budget, so in a sense, “it was true,” that the ARRA money was balancing the budget.
Robert Whelan of the Comptroller’s Press Office confirmed to WPCNR that $5.7 Billion of stimulus (ARRA funds) was included in the budget, and contributed to filling the budget gap, and was indeed unspent. He said it depended on what you spent it on during the course of the current year, but it would be spent. Whelan added that the Comptroller’s Office pointed out in July that$14.8 Billion in the present 2010-11 budget passed last week was based on “non-recurring revenues.” “We have a balanced budget, not a good budget. We have balanced the budget on hope,” Whelan told WPCNR.
Asked if the Comptroller would be breaking down how the $9.2 Billion gap is actually being met, said the Comptroller’s Office was in the process of analyzing the budget passed last week.
Kriss, the press spokesperson for the budget office denied that the $5.7 Billion of ARRA money was filling the major portion of the budget gap, because “none of it (the ARRA $5.7 Million) was included in figuring the gap. We used $800 Million of the FMAP (federal Medicaid reimbursement funds), but did not include the stimulus money.” Kriss said that Castelli probably got that information that the $5.7 Billion stimulus funds were balancing the budget from the Comptroller’s Office.
Kriss maintained the $9.2 Billion gap was closed by withholding tax credits from businesses, tax increases, sales tax increases, fee increases and cuts made previously in interim spending bills passed over the last three months were used to eliminate the $9.2 Billion gap.
WPCNR asked if the state was borrowing from the pension fund as Assemblyman Castelli reported. Kriss denied the pension fund involvement “in the traditional sense,” because, he said the $1 billion attributed as “pension borrowing” by Castelli was not borrowing, and that it has not been decided whether or not to do this yet, that the state was instead, going to “amortize” part of the state pension fund costs for this year, but would not actually decide to do that until March of 2011.
Kriss asked by WPCNR today if unused ARA money was still in the budget allowed that “ARRA funds in the amount of $5.7 Billion were included in the (passed) budget, so I suppose in that sense, (of being included in the budget) it is true.”
The July Comptroller’s Analysis
On page 5 of a news release from the Comptroller’s office analyzing the revenue plan, the Comptroller’s office writes:
“The State Fiscal Year 2010-11 Executive Budget included approximately $12.8 billion in non-recurring or temporary resources, most of which were accepted int the Enacted Budget.This includes $5.7 Billion in federal stimulous funds as well as $5.5 billion from the temporary increase in the Personal Income Tax enacted last year, both of which are scheduled to expire in the near future.”
Tab for State Government: $374 Million a Day.
Given that the 2010-11 New York State budget passed last week is $136.5 Billion, it costs New Yorkers $373,972,600 a Day to open New York State every day.
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WPCNR
Assemblyman Robert Castelli of the White Plains/Lewisboro 89th Assembly District, just back from Albany Friday afternoon, detailed for the first time exclusively to WPCNR precisely how the
They are making up more than half the gap with stimulus money from
Castelli told WPCNR today that the legislators used $5.7 Billion awarded
He reports that the state will defer $2 Billion in tax credits held back in 2010, and the state will “borrow” $1 Billion from the state pension fund to close the gap.
In official news releases from the governor’s office, it has not been made clear the step-by-step, cash building blocks that were put together to eliminate the $9.2 Gap. WPCNR was curious about that and we contacted Mr. Castelli to get his analysis of the “Gap Cap.”
Asked what financial conditions created the $9.2 Billion gap legislators were wringing their hands over last week, Castelli said $4 Billion of the gap was debt service the state owed and $4 billion in revenue shortfalls in sales taxes and tax receipts, Medicaid cuts, and pension shortfalls.
WPCNR asked Castelli the sources of actual funds that make up the gap. Castelli said “I’m no economist, but first of all you need a Ph.D in economics to figure this out. The gap was created originally by falling revenues, the decline in Medicaid funds (from
The Senate passed the budget Wednesday of $136.5 Billion, a 2% increase over the 2009-2010 budget.
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WPCNR HEALTHCARE HERALD TRIBUNE. From Stellaris Network. August 4, 2010:
Stellaris Health Network and Empire BlueCross BlueShield have agreed to a new three-year contract, effective August 1, 2010. The contract restores in-network access to Stellaris facilities and providers for Empire policyholders and employer groups. No action is required by Empire members to continue services at any Stellaris Health Network facility
The previous contract expired April 1, 2010. The new agreement covers Stellaris Health Network hospitals, including:
Empire members enrolled in commercial HMO, EPO, POS, PPO or indemnity products or Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO products may again receive covered services at Stellaris facilities and from physicians who are contracted with Stellaris with the highest level of benefits and lowest out-of-pocket cost.
In a joint statement, Arthur A. Nizza, President and CEO of Stellaris Health Network and Mark Wagar, President and CEO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield said: “We recognize how difficult the out-of-network situation has been for our patients and members. We are pleased that we now have a new agreement on a three-year contract that allows Empire and Stellaris to partner in a way that recognizes our joint responsibilities in helping to improve the quality and affordability of healthcare.”
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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. August 4, 2010:
Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong hosted a block party for the neighborhoods on Public Safety Headquarters last night, attracting some 500 persons through the evening. He hoped would introduce members of the community to the number of services provided to enhance public safety of residents in the city. This was the first time White Plains has participated in the national police event, “National Night Out,” and Chong told WPCNR he would definitely bring the various organizations back next year for another “Night Out.”
On hand were the the Westchester K-9 unit, the Fire Bureau Rescue 88 truck, the Domestic Violence Unit, the New York State Troopers, the Westchester County Police, the Visiting Nurse Service, and others. Citizens could meet and greet leading personalities of the White Plains Department of Public Safety: the Commissioner, the Police Chief, and Assistant Police Chief, members of the Fire Bureau on an informal basis. Information tables were set up for the various services with literature available.
Councilpersons Benjamin Boykin, David Buchwald, Dennis Power, Tom Roach, Beth Smayda and Mayor Bradley attended and mingled with the crowd.
As of 8 P.M. the event attracted a crowd as diverse as White Plains itself, enjoying rock and roll music, a boxing exhibition featuring the Youth Bureau, and all had the options of viewing the inner workings of the emergency and service vehicles available.
Chong said it was the first time persons in White Plains had the chance to make themselves aware of all the services provided for their well-being and learn how to work with them. He said, in his opinion it was very successful,well-attended and he thanked the organizations that participated.
Here is how it looked to the WPCNR Roving Photographer:
The Night Out at 8:15 P.M down at the Public Safety Building. For more photos, click READ MORE
Information Tables.
The Scene on Lexington Avenue
County K-9 Unit was a star attraction…TransCare ambulance was available for inspection.
The kids loved Rescue 88
R
White Plains Youth Bureau staged an exciting boxing exhibition.
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WPCNR INTERNET NEWS. August 4, 2010:
The White Plains Professional Firefighters have launched an internet website.
The site airs concerns, distributes information, and appears to be a vehicle to continue the fight to retain health benefits and retiree benefits the city is attempting to take away by legislation. (Currently the matter of whether the city has the right to collect health premiums from fire department retirees going forward is in litigation in the U.S. Southern District Court, which has issued an injunction.) Various comments note the need to remove members of the Common Council one-by-one through the election process.
The site may be viewed at www.wpruff.wordpress.com.
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WPCNR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS. AUGUST 4, 2010: ‘
White Plains Common Council President Thomas Roach will be the Guest Speaker at the August meeting of the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations. Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino will also address the meeting and hold a Q&A session afterward.
The August meeting of the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) will be held at Education House at 5 Homeside Lane in White Plains, NY at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, August 10, 2010. Council President Tom Roach will explore “Leadership in a Fiscal Crisis ” in his keynote address. County Executive Rob Astorino will round out the evening with a brief topical presentation followed by a question and answer period. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend and participate.
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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS WEEK NEWS. AUGUST 4, 2010:
The White Plains Week Voting Machine Special which may be seen on the internet now at www.whiteplainsweek.com, may be seen on local television all week long on Verizon FIOS at Channel 45, and on Cablevision Channel 76, at 8:30 A.M.
Because of the significance of the debut of new voting machines in elections this fall and going forward, the program will be repeated on Channels 45 and 76 all week long at 8:30 A.M. — Start your day with WHITE PLAINS WEEK– “News that really bites!”
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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. AUGUST 2,2010:
White Plains Youth Bureau is hosting a Homecoming Barbeque on Saturday, August, 14, 2010, Noon-6pm at Gardella Park. This is the first in a series of celebrations for the White Plains Youth Bureau’s 40th anniversary year. Anyone ever involved in the life of the Youth Bureau is welcome to attend and bring their family and friends. There will be tennis, swimming, games, sporting activities and much more!!!
The White Plains Youth Bureau has touched thousands of young lives since it became a formal office of city government in 1970. The White Plains Youth Bureau has one mission: helping youth grow into successful adults. Today, the Youth Bureau works with over 2000 youth each day with 50 programs backed by our proud tradition of 40 years of service.
Bring your White Plains Youth Bureau stories, some sun screen a great appetite!!
ADMISSION IS FREE TO ALL!!!
For more info, please contact the White Plains Youth Bureau, 914-422-1378.
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WPCNR PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT. August 1, 2010:
A smokey fire resulted in evacuation of the White Plains YMCA on Mamaroneck Avenu Sunday morning, according to Jim Benerofe. Benerofe advised WPCNR the fire began about 11:15 A.M. and was under control by 11:45 A.M. No one was injured.Benerofe could not confirm exactly where the fire was, but had heard it started in the sauna. No one was injured.