District Acheivement Scores STUNNINGLY UP At Elementary, Middle School 5th and 8

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. April 16, 2010: The 2009-2009, White Plains City School District School Report Card shows the district Elementary and Middle School populations improved substantially on English and Math performance on the new 08-09 achievements last year. The April 15 release of the previous year Report Cards was a first for the New York State Education Department, which traditionally have issued those reports in June, substantially after all school budgets are presented to voters in May.


Early analysis of the test results by WPCNR, show stunning improvement at the elementary levels. In 5th Grade English Language Testing, results were even with 2007-08 80%  402) of 499 students passing, and 14% scoring in the highest level as opposed to 7% in the highest achievement level.


In 5th Grade Mathematics, 87% of the Elementaries (443 of 501 students taking the test) passed compaged to 76% in 2007-2008.


The Middle School results were even more impressive. In 8th Grade English Language, 75% (389 of 502) passed compared to 58% in 2007-08, a 17%  improvement.


On the Mathematics Side, 90% (474 of 520 students) passed, compared to 80% in 07-08.


The High School Results on Regents exams were comparable for the most part with previous years.

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Decline in jobs Turns Around.

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WPCNR EMPLOYMENTARIAN. By Johny Nelson, New York State Department of Labor Analyst April 15, 2010: The region’s job market has begun to show signs of life as over-the-year losses have started to narrow.  For the 12-month period ending March 2010, private sector jobs declined by only 2.7 percent.  This was an improvement from the 3.1 percent year-over-year decline recorded in February and the 3.3 percent drop in January. 

 

The public sector continues to struggle locally as it shed 3,600 jobs over the year in March. Job losses in that sector are likely to continue as budget woes mount. 

Private sector employment in the Hudson Valley Region decreased 19,200 or 2.7 percent, to 694,600 for the 12-month period ending March 2010. 

 

Employment gains were only recorded in educational and health services (+1,800). 

 

Job losses were centered in the following industries: natural resources, mining and construction (-6,400), trade, transportation and utilities (-4,100), manufacturing (-3,600), professional and business services (-3,500), financial activities (-1,400), information (-1,200) and leisure and hospitality (-500).  The Government sector shed 3,600 jobs over the year.

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Sustainability Commitee Report–UPDATED WITH MAY AGENDA!

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WPCNR SUSTAINABLE TIMES. By Dan Seidel. April 15, 2010 UPDATED APRIL 17 WITH MAY AGENDA AND PRIORITIES: I was present from the beginning of the Sustainable Committee meeting to the end. The group broke down into 6 or 7 tables, each handling a different aspect of “green”, the matrices developed being the type the County Global Warming task Force used, so we are not reinventing the wheel.

 

 

 

 

 

The ideas deduced from the first session, which were written on 3×5 cards and handed in to the Steering Committee, were all listed, and each table went over what was listed and what should be included – so the macro version was increased – now we have to scale down exactitudes.

 

Bice made the statement at the beginning that the commissioners should be involved at these meetings to comment on what is being done or not, so if we come up with the same “solutions” that are ALREADY being done, we should go on to something else instead of wasting time and effort on something that is being done already. Sue Habel kind of squashed that and said let’s see what concerns the community and then we’ll comment on it.

 

I completely disagreed. Dennis Power stated that this was being done in tandem with our meetings – Well, if Bud and Sue are really the only two people with jurisdiction to comment on what is or not being done right now, and they were both there last night (Bud came in late) why not do it now?

 

So Bud sat with the energy Table and that was my table and we went thru the short term and long term goals and Bud , from his head, came up with pretty much many things being done, but he did not offer to write them all down, which is what we need if we are to see what is being done and what needs improvements, etc.

 

This is not to second guess the Commissioners, but maybe we have some additional ideas that were not/have not been considered, like the Energy Bank Units (capacitor devices) that can show instant electrical usage bringdown and verifiable CO2 tonnage/carbon offsets which can be sold as credits on the carbon exch in Chicago – make an income stream from carbon (verifiable as per Kyoto Treaty Stands on the UN Website – EcoSecurities of Wall Street will but the tonnage at $5-7 per ton – need to come up with 20,000-30,000 tons displaced annually – its can be a steady $$ producer) so since Rick Ammirato had a reach out with EB Unit guy/area rep (last week?) maybe we can do this now, to get ready for the July 8 event of Clean and Green.  Other things were done.

 

The group is kind of adrift however – need Commissioners to put together a brief outline of what initiatives have been undertaken already, what is happening now, and with the Rx’s of our group, where we can go.

 

I think I am more optimistic now that the “energy group” knows each other, have similar contacts and “a can do attitude”, regardless of what is happening at the very top.

 

NYPA, NYSERDA, Reckson, WP Housing, Lou bruno, myself, a few others were in Energy. I can fax the matrices – I will try for a scan – colored headings with short term and long term goals and ideas. Trying for no/low $$ loads in the beginning (budget) and trying to use other’s money where the energy savings will initially pay for loans and then it’s free sailing after 1.5 years on the EB Unit at least.



Sustainability & Environmental Enhancement Committee (SEEC)
Committee Meeting – April 14, 2010, 7:30 – 9:00pm
AGENDA

1.  Welcome new SEEC members    

2.  Minutes from March 10th Formation Meeting     

3.  Purpose of tonight’s meeting: review and refine the suggestions for sustainability Initiatives made at our initial meeting on March 10, 2010 which have been sorted into the areas of study outlined in the SEEC Mission Statement:       


ENERGY
WASTE REDUCTION
TRANSPORTATION
LAND USE
WATER MANAGEMENT
GENERAL

a.  Members of the Committee are asked to join a PROJECT TEAM for one or even two of these subject areas to discuss the list of proposed initiatives supplement them as appropriate and begin the process of preparing a formal recommendation to the Mayor and Common Council. A Member of the Steering Committee will moderate the PROJECT TEAM discussions and request the project team to document the results of their discussions.  

b.  By the May 12, 2010 SEEC Committee Meeting, it is requested that each of the PROJECT TEAMS be prepared to finalize their recommendations to the full Committee so all suggestions can be incorporated into a DRAFT recommendation to the Mayor and Council by the June 9, 2010 meeting as described in the SEEC Mission Statement which is partially excerpted below.

 “Develop prioritized and cost effective short and long-term recommendations for presentation to the Mayor and Common Council on ways to make White Plains a healthier, safer, more sustainable and more livable community”

2.  Wrap-up discussion on how to proceed with Project Team assignments     

3.  Announcement about local EARTH WEEK events       

4.  Next SEEC Meeting: Wednesday, May 12th, 7:30-9:00pm   

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Coyote Sighting

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WPCNR WILD LIFE. From a CitizeNetReporter April 15, 2010: Just received this email from a neighbor. We feel the responsible thing to do is bring this to your attention.


Hello there, Just wanted to pass along this information. My husband and I spotted an animal that appears to have been a coyote.
Friday night, April 9th, about midnight.
At the intersection of Greenacres Way and Greenacres Ave.


We stopped the car, observed its appearance so as to search online when we got home (Bogert Ave)  Based on what we saw, we surmised it was indeed a coyote.

Warning to residents with small pets and small children: recently, in Rye, a small poodle was killed by a coyote.   The dog had no chance to run because it had been let out on a rope that was secured to the ground.

They have also been known to attack small children.

I don’t want to set people into a panic, but I felt responsible to pass this along to residents.

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Police, Fire Prez’s Would Come to Discuss with Mayor, Council How to Cut $$$$

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. April 14,2010: The Carrier Brothers, Jim, President of the White Plains Police Benevolent Association, and Joe, President of White Plains Firefighters Local #274, each told WPCNR they recognize the city is in financial trouble, and are willing to come to the table and talk with city management and the Common Council about ways to ease the city deficit, pegged at $9 Million,  and to discuss ways to trim the projected19% tax increase.


 



 


Joe Carrier, Head of White Plains Fire Fighters Union listening to Michael Genito discussing city budget woes Monday evening.


 


Both union presidents said neither the Mayor, or any of his staff, or any member of the Common Council has contacted them to come to the table and help work on the budget to cut down the planned 19% tax increase.


 


WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. April 14,2010: The Carrier Brothers, Jim, President of the White Plains Police Benevolent Association, and Joe, President of White Plains Firefighters Local #274, each told WPCNR they recognize the city is in financial trouble, and are willing to come to the table and talk with city management and the Common Council about ways to ease the city deficit, pegged at $9 Million,  and to discuss ways to trim the projected19% tax increase.


 


Both union presidents said neither the Mayor, or any of his staff, or any member of the Common Council has contacted them to come to the table and help work on the budget to cut down the planned 19% tax increase.


 


WPCNR reached out to Joe Carrier this afternoon, after noting the Common Council had no suggestions on how to cut the budget substantially at Monday’s Budget & Management Committee meeting. I asked if the firefighters were willing to discuss short-term solutions to trim expenses, salary increases in 2010-11.


 


Joe Carrier of the Firefighters told WCPNR, “It’s important to let you know, speaking for White Plains Firefighters Union Local 274, we are open to sit down. We recognize the financial crisis the city is in, and are willing to sit down and are open for any and all suggestions. (As of Wednesday afternoon, we have not been contacted by either the Mayor (Adam Bradley) or his staff or any members of the Common Council.”


 


WPCNR asked what the firefighters might be prepared to do. Carrier said he was not going to negotiate in the press. He said the firefighters were not in good position to agree to layoffs, noting: “We are currently 12 (firefighters) down. We have 9 rigs in the city, 5 engines,. 3 trucks, and 1 emergency unit. Presently, we do not have the men to run Ladder 34,andwe are down to staff to run only 2 trucks. Without the overtime provisions in the budget we cannot staff those trucks.”


 


Wednesday evening, WPCNR asked Jim Carrier, President of the White Plains Police Benevolent Association, if his union would be willing to forego raises, put in a wage freeze, or make other kinds of temporary money-saving if the city dropped its court action to have the 12-hour shifts for police controls voided.


 


Carrier echoed his brother, Jim’s thoughts: “I’m aware of the city’s financial problems and fiscal situation. I have not been contacted by Mayor Bradley, his staff, or any member of the Common Council either.  I’m not going to talk of any proposals or negotiate in the press. I’ve always been willing to do that (talk) to the Public Safety Commissioner (David Chong), and the Mayor and his staff.”

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Mayor Adam Bradley’s Statement: I am Not Resigning

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WPCNR FOR THE RECORD. Mayor Adam Bradley’s Statement to the Media, April 12, 2010: Below is the text of Mayor Bradley’s statement this afternoon, which reiterarted his statement to The CitizeNetReporter Sunday afternoon that he was not resigning his position as Mayor:



I would like to make clear from the beginning: I am not resigning as Mayor of White Plains, a post to which I was duly elected by a large majority of the citizens of this city.

Nor do I intend to step aside while the judicial process works its way toward a resolution.

I recognize, in light of the media attention, rampant speculation and my decision to refrain from discussing these matters out of respect for my children, some people have unfortunately made a rush to judgment.

I would respectfully remind these people, including my fellow elected officials, to afford me the same rights as any other citizen, namely the right to due process and the opportunity to address this matter in its proper forum: a court of law.

The presumption of innocence exists to protect all of us, we are all entitled to our day in court, and we all have the right to put our case before the proper authorities.

I will conclude by assuring the people of White Plains in the strongest possible manner that I am grateful to them for entrusting me to address their concerns and I will continue to fulfill that commitment.

As we all know, the city is in a major financial crisis, a crisis I had no role in creating, however I will continue to roll up my sleeves, work with the common council and do what I have sworn to do for the people of White Plains.

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Bradley Does NOT Resign, Coolly Chairs Budget Meeting with Seething Council

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. April 10,2010: Mayor Adam Bradley of White Plains answered 5 Common Council members’ call for him to resign from his position Monday (because of the effects of his ongoing domestic abuse case), by saying, “I am not resigning.”


After a brief statement, he took questions from an assembly of media, and an observer for WPCNR, reports he handled the questions very well and was at ease, then conducted a budget and management committee meeting with no new budget changes from last week. The budget remains calling for a 19% tax increase, but two members of the committee and Councilperson Benjamin Boykin said layoffs had to come.



“I am not going to resign.” Adam Bradley addressing the media below, answering the call by 5 members of the Common Council for him to resign because they feel his court case over domestic abuse is distracting. Photos for WPCNR by Peter Katz






Forty-five minutes later Mr. Bradley chaired the first meeting of the Budget & Management Committee, in which Commissioner of Finance Michael Genito presented the budget.


In attendance were Councilmen Benjamin Boykin, Thomas Roach, Beth Smayda, Milagros Lecouna, Dennis Power, and David Buchwald. Mr. Boykin made the suggestion during a discussion of the sales tax that the city survey how much retail space was vacant in the downtown to see what needs to be done to improve the city’s retail sales tax take.


David Buchwald asked the administration about the feasibility of bonding for health care expenses and benefits, and Mr. Genito and Eileen Earl Bradley said the state frowns on borrowing for operational expenses and pointed out various pitfalls involved in that strategy.


Beth Smayda raised the matter of certioraris (refunds for taxes overcollected, due to lowered assessments), one of the main budget problems, and Mr. Genito said the city was expecting a resurgence of ceritiorari filings over the next few years due to the poor economy last year and this year, holding out little turn around. He said the assessor and he would be developing a closer look at this.


Other than these comments, the councilmembers who have had the budget for a week,offerred no other suggestions for trimming the budget which going forward still calls for a 19% tax increase in city property taxes.


 Councilman Benjamin Boykin, speaking of the city’s budget condition said, layoffs and personnel cuts to come were unavoidable, (even though city sales tax collections were up and the the sales tax fall off year to year declined only 2.4% in the Third quarter. The city is down 11% through three quarters.


Mr. Bradley was in command of the meeting, and relations were cool but cordial after the duelling news conferences of the afternoon when Mr. Roach, Mr. Boykin, Mr. Buchwald, Ms. Lecouna and Ms. Smayda united before the media called on Mr. Bradley to resign.


 


Earlier today, the Mayor’s domestic abuse case was carried over to May 10, with the Mayor agreeing to be evaluated for any possible potential for domestic violence by pyschiatrists and medical personnel of SANCIA, 20 Church Street, White Plains. The Mayor did not plead guilty to any charges, and did not agree to attend any domestic violence classes as is being reported erroneously by several media. The agreement to be evaluated by SANCIA was in exchange for remaining free in his own recognizance



Media Trucks parked outside city hall.  We hope they were paying their parking meters.

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Council Calls on Mayor to Resign..one vote short at this time.

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B U L L E T I N!


 


WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. April 12,2010: At a news conference at city hall concluding at 2:30 P.M, Thomas Roach, President of the Common Council, joined by several members of the Common Council, read a statement saying five of the six Common Council members, “call on Mayor Bradley to resign immediately,” though recognizing that Mayor Adam Bradley was innocent until proven guilty, are calling on Mayor Bradley to resign his position, because the charges he faces involving alleged spousal abuse have become too much of a distraction and they feel he is unable to lead effectively.


David Buchwald in a statement in the news conference, said he looked forward to exploring the possibilities of how the council could remove the Mayor from office.


The Mayor issued a statement Sunday, saying he was not going to resign.  Mayor Bradley has announced he will hold his own news conference at 5 P.M. at city hall.


Antoinette Biordi, Communications Director for the Bradley Administration, said Mr. Bradley had employed  a publicist to handle media questions on his ongoing court case. The publicist was identified by Ms. Biordi,as Marcus Reese.

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Sales Tax Up 11% in March..$4.3 M sales Tax Shortfall .

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. April 12, 2010: White Plains generated $3,724,875 in sales tax receipts in March, according to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, an 11% increase over March of 2009, bringing the sales tax total through three quarters to $32,454,035. It was only the second month the last nine that sales tax receipts were up, however if the city continues this rate of spending, or even meets the last quarter figures of 2009, the city will possibly meet its $43.5 Million revised projection of the sales tax, though falling short of the Delfino Administration prediction of $47.3 Million. The sales tax deficit still looks to be $4.3 Million, but the 11% increase is good news, reflecting merchants’ reflections that March sales were up.

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MAYOR SPOUSAL ABUSE CASE RETURNS MAY 10. AGREES TO EVALUATION. NO PLEA. NO TRIAL

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. April 12, 2010: Mayor Adam Bradley appearing in Westchester County Domestic Violence Court this morning, agreed to have himself evaluated by the county-run program SANCIA, as a condition of remaining free in his own recognizance. In a motion of Attorney Audrey Stone, Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Prosecutions Unit,  the three misdemeanor charges the Mayor was charged with Thursday of last week were consolidated into the present case.


Judge Susan Capeci set a return date “for all purposes” of May 10, so the case against the Mayor continues.


The District Attorney’s office asked for a Full Order of Protection which forbids the Mayor to contact or see his wife, Fumiko, and the Judge granted the Full Order, and Mr. Bradley’s attorney and Mr. Bradley accepted that. He is still able to see his children.


The events of this morning effectively mean that the case will not have resolution until past the date when  if there became a vacancy in the Mayor’s office, a special election to pick a new Mayor would be held within two months.


Mayor Bradley did not meet with the media after he left court, to this reporter’s knowledge.


Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Prosecutions Unit, Audrey Stone introduced two new charges against Mr. Bradley for alleged assault in the third degree, and harrassment, classified as violations stemming from an alleged tea throwing incident on January 11, in addition to assault in the third degree and three other counts stemming from February 28 when the Mayor was charged for alledgedly slamming his wife, Fumiko Bradley’s finger in the door.


The charges of  Witness Tampering, 4th Degree, Harassment, 2nd Degree and Contempt in the 2nd Degree, stemming from the Mayor’s alleged violating of the Order of protection five times were added to the six charges, for a total of 9.


The SANCIA program, District Attorney spokesperson Lucian Chalfen, told WPCNR the SANCIA program which will evaluate Mr. Bradley was a routine program defendents are asked to go into in most domestic violence cases, though this was not applied when Mr. Bradley’s case began. On April 1 the District Attorney’s office had said they would consider disposition of the original charges if the Mayor would plead guilty and enter an anger management program. 


 

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