Where Are the Stimulus $$ Being Spent in Westchester? County Shows You.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. November 23, 2009: In an effort to showcase transparency on stimulus funding within the county, Westchester County Board of Legislators Economic Recovery Task Force Chair Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh) announced the launch of a new website to allow county taxpayers to see precisely which entities received economic stimulus money from the federal government.  In addition to how and where the money is spent, the site displays easy-to-understand, user-friendly graphs, charts, and maps.


 “It is vitally important for the public to see how Westchester County is spending federal stimulus funds,” said Legislator Abinanti. “The site contains all categories of stimulus projects within the county and task force reports, as well as links to state, federal and other sites.”  The online resource guide can be found on the County Board’s website, www.westchesterlegislators.com.


 



 “This is one more example of how the County informs its citizens of resources through our use of technology,” said Board Chairman Bill Ryan (D, WFP-White Plains). “These ARRA funds are being used to build a foundation for economic growth by revitalizing infrastructure, job retention and to advance the creation of new jobs, especially in “green” industries.  As the fiscal crisis deepens, the County Board is doing everything possible to update taxpayers about stimulus projects being used within their communities.”


 


Earlier this year, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) at the urging of President Obama.  A direct response to the looming economic crisis, the Recovery Act has three immediate goals — the creation of new jobs, as well as retaining existing ones, the need to spur economic activity and invest in long-term economic growth and to foster unprecedented levels of accountability and transparency in government spending. 


 

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County Legislators Take Up Budget This A.M.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. November 23,2009: Westchester County Board of Legislators various committees swing into action this morning reviewing portions of the outgoing County Executive’s 2010 Budget.


On tap at 10 A.M., the Budget Committee takes up the budget of the County Clerk, Emergency Services, and the Department of Transportation/Westchester County Airport. At 3 P.M., the Environmental Committee examines the Water Distribution System including $9.8 Million for district 3.


The Schedule:


What’s Happening at the County Board: Week of November 23, 2009


Board & Committee Meeting Preview: Items for Discussion


 


Please note: Latest Board and committee meeting agendas posted online at www.westchesterlegislators.com/calendar


 


 


Monday, November 23, 2009


10:00 AM


Budget & Appropriations—Hon. Jose Alvarado, Chair; Coordinator: Sally Schecter (995-2832)


 


2010 County Operating Budget Review


The following departments are scheduled to appear:



  • County Clerk
  • Emergency Services
  • Transportation/County Airport

 


 


3:00 PM


Environment & Energy—Hon. Tom Abinanti, Chair; Committee Counsel: Christopher Crane (995-2104)



  • Water Distribution System Improvements – Water District No. 3: The Committee will review proposed legislation to finance and implement water distribution system improvements in County Water District No. 3 (total authorized amount $9,800,000).

 



  • Pest Management Committee Report: Representatives of the Pest Management Committee will report on their activities to the Committee.

 


 


7:00 PM


Regular Meeting of the County BOARD OF LEGISLATORS – Streamed Live from www.westchesterlegislators.com starting at 7:00 PM


 


 


Tuesday, November 24, 2009


10:00 AM


Budget & Appropriations—Hon. Jose Alvarado, Chair; Coordinator: Sally Schecter (995-2832)


 


2010 County Operating Budget Review


The following departments are scheduled to appear:



  • Planning
  • Information Technology
  • Public Safety

 


Joint with


Public Safety & Security—Hon. Vito Pinto, Chair; Coordinator: Sunday Vanderberg (995-4604)


 



  • Tracs Program-Use & Dissemination Agreements: Act authorizing the County to enter into Use and Dissemination Agreements with local municipalities, pursuant to which the County will act as lead agency to coordinate the local municipalities’ use of New York State‘s Traffic & Criminal Software Program and act as liaison with the New York State Police.

 



  • Prisoner Transport IMA (Greenburgh): Act authorizing the County to enter into an Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) with the Town of Greenburgh in order to provide reimbursement for prisoner transportation to the Westchester County Jail.  

  

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Hospital Scales Back Future Renovation Due to Budget Concerns:Fischer Hill

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WPCNR WEST SIDE STORY. From The Fischer Hill Association. November 23,2009: An update from Fischer Hill Neighborhood Association advises that at the November 18 meeting of the Association, the White Plains Hospital Center has scaled back its expansion plans (recently given a five year site plan window to begin that massive project) to continue to keep the main entrance of the hospital where it is instead of moving it to the Maple Avenue side.


The Association also reports that its Committee for the Preservation of the 1923 Salvation Army Church Building has received a commitment from the Salvation Army that the church will be preserved and will meet Tuesday evening with the Salvation Army architects to learn about their plans.


The Association advises residents that the official White Plains Police contact with the neighborhood is Nicholas Kralik, replacing Kevin Christopher.


 


 


 


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The Coming of Caesar

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WPCNR NEWS AND COMMENT. Guest Column by Dr. Mark W. Hendrickson, Grove City College, Grove City, Pennsylvania. November 21, 2009: We have a problem. This could be “the big one”—bigger than coping with the Ahmadinejads, Kims, and Chavezes of the world and bigger than our current economic woes. Our republic, our society, may be heading for a crackup. We are bankrupt, both financially and politically.



The source of the problem is democracy. Decades of so-called “progressive” thought have led us to abandon the limited-government, constitutional republic established by our founding fathers. In the name of putting more power into the hands of “the people,” the government has arrogated sweeping powers.






There is a famous passage (possibly cobbled together from several separate statements and authors) that explains democracy’s fatal flaw, the inherently self-destructive element that caused our founding fathers to distrust democracy (google “James Madison on democracy” for more):


 



“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.”


 



Crude, majoritarian democracy (as in, “there are more of us than there are of you, so we’re going to redistribute your wealth”) inevitably undermines the harmony of society. A free market, as competitive as it is, is based on peaceful, voluntary cooperation. When commerce is free and unfettered by government interference, both sides to a transaction normally gain, thereby promoting social harmony.


 



Democracy, by contrast, engenders social conflict. Money changes hands by force of the taxman and the threat of imprisonment, not voluntarily. Democracy pits citizens against each other in a sordid squabble whereby many strive to have the state confer benefits seized from their fellow citizens.


 



Today, Washington redistributes trillions of dollars annually, so the capital is swarmed by battalions of lobbyists, representing myriad special interests, each trying to secure more political rent from government than what government takes from them. As the late, great economist Hans Sennholz described it, the democratic “transfer society” resembles the absurd spectacle of a circle of people, each trying to pick his neighbor’s pocket. How can there be social harmony when everyone is trying to rip off someone else?


 



This process of using government to extract wealth from other citizens (dubbed “legal plunder” by the 19th-century French economist Frederic Bastiat in his brilliant essay, “The Law”) has reached the point where Uncle Sam is essentially bankrupt. (See “We’re Broke.”) With government spending and deficits soaring under the present administration, the day of reckoning approaches. If foreigners should decide to cut their losses and balk at financing any more of our debt, either interest rates will soar, collapsing the economy, or the Fed will monetize all the debt, collapsing the dollar and the economy.


 



Can that day of cataclysm be postponed? Perhaps the wealth-redistribution system can be kept on life support a while longer, if government can confiscate a much larger share of the middle class’ wealth (yes, the middle class, because there aren’t enough rich people to finance all of Uncle Sam’s promises) or by dramatically slashing benefits.



When that momentous day arrives, there will be a lot of angry Americans. One might say that the so-called “social contract” will be broken, but the problem is, there isn’t just one such “contract.” There are two, and they are fundamentally and irreconcilably opposed to each other.


 



One “contract” is the government’s long-standing promise to support those in need. Many Americans have been taught to believe that they are entitled to a share of other people’s property, even if they have contributed nothing of value to society themselves and have made poor choices. The other social “contract” is the traditional implicit promise of America: namely, that if you work hard, you are entitled to the fruits of your labor.


 



When a financial crackup occurs, those who have been taught to depend on government will demand continued government benefits. If government fails to provide them, those demands could turn violent. On the other hand, if government moves to confiscate a significant chunk of whatever wealth remains in the hands of an already-hurting middle class, then millions of peaceful, law-abiding, hard-working Americans may finally reach the breaking point and rebel, as our forebears did in the 1770s, against a government viewed as abusive and oppressive.


 



How bad could it get? If the social order breaks down, civil unrest could disrupt markets and shortages of essential goods could occur. The resulting chaos could trigger martial law. A strong leader—a Caesar—could institute some sort of command order. Millions would resent it, but it would be accepted, because the alternative—civil conflict, chronic disorder, and impending starvation—would be intolerable. In such a calamity, Caesar would be the lesser of two evils. The American Republic and Constitution would join earlier democracies in the ashbin of history.



God help us.


 



— Dr. Mark W. Hendrickson is an adjunct faculty member, economist, and contributing scholar with The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College.

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Bradley Announces His Transition Team

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From The Office of the Mayor-Elect. November 20,2009: Mayor-elect Adam Bradley officially began the process of planning his transition into office yesterday when he selected his 9 member transition team and convened its first meeting at the law office of Bleakley Platt & Schmidt. Regarding his transition efforts, the Mayor-Elect said, “I am thrilled to have such a talented, bipartisan, dedicated and capable group of professionals volunteering their time and effort to help our city. “


Tom Schwarz, President of SUNY Purchase, chairs the committee and commented, “ it is my honor and privilege to serve at the Mayor-Elect’s request and I look forward to lending my time and experience to facilitate this transition effort.”


The transition team is comprised of the following:


 


WHITE PLAINS TRANSITION TEAM


Judy Chriss, Executive Director


 w: 914-631-3334, jc@chrisscareers.com


           


Lori Hall Armstrong     



 


Adam Bradley, Mayor-Elect



 


John Callahan, Liaison for Mayor-Elect



 


Denise D’ambrosio      



 


Larry Delgado             



 


Jim Glatthaar



 


Terence McGuire        



 


Bill Mooney                 



           


Tom Schwarz, Chair    


        


 

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Special Council Meeting on Budget Update Monday.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. From the City Clerk. November 20, 2009: A Special Meeting of the Common Council will convene Monday at 6 P.M. to entertain resolutions extending the site plan of North Street Community, and to review the 2009-10 City Budget situation.


 


The agenda:



COMMON COUNCIL AGENDA


SPECIAL  MEETING


November 23, 2009


6:00 P.M.


 


 


 


RESOLUTIONS:


 



1.                  Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to the scheduling of a public hearing for December 7, 2009 on an application submitted on behalf of North Street Community, LLC, on a request for a one year extension of a previously approved site plan and for an amendment to the site plan to increase the ratio of assisted living beds to independent living units and allow for an automated mechanized parking system in lieu of traditional self parking at 303-315 North Street.


 


2.                              Communication from the City Clerk transmitting a request submitted on behalf of North Street Community, LLC for a one year extension of a previously approved site plan for the Planned Senior Residential Development District at 303-315 North Street.   F/S AND REFER TO COMMISSIONER OF BUILDING, DESIGN REVIEW BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING, PLANNING BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS, COMMISSIONER OF TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC COMMISSION, COMMISSIONER OF PARKING, CONSERVATION BOARD, WESTCHESTER COUNTY PLANNING BOARD AND ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.


 


3.                              Communication from the City Clerk transmitting a communication submitted on behalf of North Street Community, LLC, submitting addendum materials in relation to an application for a site plan amendment for the Planned Senior Residential Development District at 303-315 North Street. F/S AND REFER TO COMMISSIONER OF BUILDING, DESIGN REVIEW BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING, PLANNING BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS, COMMISSIONER OF TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC COMMISSION, COMMISSIONER OF PARKING, CONSERVATION BOARD, WESTCHESTER COUNTY PLANNING BOARD AND ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.


 


4.                              Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling a public hearing for December 7, 2009 in relation to the application submitted on behalf of North Street Community, LLC (“Applicant”) owner of property located at 303-315 North Street (Section 131.06, Block 1, Lot 1.1) containing environmentally sensitive features for: (1) an additional one year extension of a previously approved amended site plan adopted by the Common Council by resolution adopted July 9, 2007, and extended for one year by a resolution adopted December 1, 2008, for a project known as the “North Street Community:” and (2) an amendment to the aforementioned previously approved amended site plan pursuant to Sections 5.8.3, 5.8.5.2, 5.8.8.8 and 8.5.4 fo the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains to (A) increase the ratio of assisted living beds to independent living units in the Planned Senior Residential Development District from 35% to 45%; and (B) provide an automated (mechanized) parking system in lieu of traditional self parking.


 


 


5.                  Communication from Executive Director, Urban Renewal Agency, in relation to the scheduling of a public hearing for December 7, 2009, on the Notice of Availability for Public Examination the Redeveloper’s Statement for Public Disclosure and the Contract for Sale of Land for private redevelopment by and between the White Plains Urban Renewal Agency, The City of White Plains and 4 Cromwell Place LLC, on the disposition of the reconfigured 4 Cromwell Place, located in the East Post Road Phase II Urban Renewal Project, WPUR-9B.


 


6.                              Resolution (1) authorizing publication of the Notice of Availability for Public Examination of the Redeveloper’s Statement for Public Disclosure and the Contract for Sale of Land for private redevelopment by and between the White Plains Urban Renewal Agency (“Agency”), the City of White Plains (“City”), and 4 Cromwell Place LLC (4 Cromwell Place LDA”), respecting disposition of the reconfigured 4 Cromwell Place, located in the East Post Road Phase II Urban Renewal Project, Project WPUR-9B, and (2) scheduling a public hearing thereon for the Common Council Meeting of December 7, 2009.


 


 


 


REFERRAL:


 


7.                  Communication from the City Clerk transmitting a communication submitted on behalf of Heyman Properties, LLC, One North Broadway, for an amendment to a previously approved site plan for approval to modify the formula by which the size of a sign for the retail space correlates to the linear feet of a tenant’s frontage, eliminating any uncertainty about the permitted signage should the space by divided into more than three tenant spaces.  F/S AND REFER TO COMMISSIONER OF BUILDING, DESIGN REVIEW BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING, PLANNING BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS, COMMISSIONER OF TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC COMMISSION, COMMISSIONER OF PARKING, CONSERVATION BOARD, WESTCHESTER COUNTY PLANNING BOARD AND ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.


 


 


DISCUSSION:


 


8.                  Senior Center Catering.


 


9.                  2009/2010 Budget Update


 


10.              Entertainment of a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing termination of employment.             

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Jackson Appointed Acting Commissioner of Public Safety

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. November 20,2009: Mayor Joseph Delfino confirmed to reporter Richard Liebson of The Journal News Thursday that Daniel Jackson was appointed Acting Commissioner of Public Safety Wednesday, replacing the departed Dr. Frank Straub who resigned abruptly last Friday. The Mayor had been considering a national search, but was quoted by Liebson as saying it made more sense to appoint Jackson.



Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Daniel Jackson,(head of conference table center, seated), and Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety John Cullen, (seated left). Mr. Jackson will now be Acting Commissioner of Public Safety according to Mayor Joseph Delfino until further notice.

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Rethinking Westchester Government Calls for Charter Revision Study.

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. November 19, 2009:  Rethinking Westchester Government held their first post 2009 election meeting on Thursday evening, November 19th and decided that their next initiative will be to call for a Westchester County Charter Revision Commission to  redefine the responsibilities of county government and to consider transferring some of the current county government responsibilities to either the county or state governments.  The commission could also commission a study to determine the feasibility of eliminating county government –actions that Massachusetts took in the mid 1990s. Connecticut and Rhode Island also have no county government.

The group will hold their next meeting at Greenburgh Town Hall on Monday, December 7th at 7:30 PM. Greenburgh Town Hall is located at 177 Hillside Ave, Greenburgh (off of exit 5, 287). At this meeting the group will finalize the proposal creating a county charter revision commission.


The meeting on Monday December 7th is open to the public.  We plan to invite County Executive-elect Rob Astorino and members of the Board of Legislators to upcoming meetings.


Westchester County has the distinction of having the highest property taxes in the United States. A charter revision commission would be a positive next step that could lead to the end of this distinction.

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Job Losses Mount in Hud Valley

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From Johny Nelson, New York State Department of Labor Statistics, White Plains. November 19,2009: 


White Plains showed its second consecutive monthly gain in residents employed in October, with 29,300 persons employed and 2,100 residents out of work for an unemployment rate of 6.7%, down from 7.2% two months ago. The White Plains workforce is doing better than Westchester County overall. The White Plains 6.7% figure is the highest jobless rate in 17 years.


The county unemployment rate shows 457,900 employed and 35,300 unemployed out of a workforce of 493,200 persons for an unemployment rate of 7.2%.


The region’s economy continues to feel the effects of the national recession, as private sector employment declined by 16,900, the largest October over the year job losses since 1991. Continued layoffs in the manufacturing sector is a concern.  Over the past three months (August through October 2009), the manufacturing job count declined over the year by 7.1 percent compared with a 3.1 percent over-the-year decline in August-October 2008.  Layoff announcements at Pfizer (Wyeth Pharmaceuticals) will likely further erode employment in that sector.


Private sector employment in the Hudson Valley Region decreased 16,900 or 2.2 percent, to 745,500 for the 12-month period ending October 2009.  Employment gains were only recorded in educational and health services (+5,400). 


Job losses remained broad-based, with the largest declines recorded in the following industries: trade, transportation and utilities (-6,100), manufacturing (-4,100), professional and business services (-3,700), leisure and hospitality (-2,900), natural resources, mining and construction (-2,600), financial activities (-1,600), and information (-1,300).  The Government sector shed 800 jobs over the year.

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Board Member Expert in Budget/Negotiations Recuses Himself on Teacher $$ Matters

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WPCNR  SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. November 19, 2009: Jim Hricay, newly elected Board of Education Member disclosed Monday that due to his being married to a White Plains school teacher, he would not be voting on matters pertaining to teacher contracts, nor participating in Executive Sessions on teacher negotiations. Hricay told The CitizeNetReporter when asked how his expertise (in municipal finance with the cities of Stamford and White Plains in budgeting) could contribute to economical functioning when he could not vote on the issues, said he could still make suggestions to other board members, but not on teacher negotiations.


 



BOARD OF EDUCATION  MEMBERS BASSANO, HRICAY, TAKE THEMSELVES OUT OF VOTING ON CERTIORARI AND TEACHER ISSUES, RESPECTIVELY.


 


 


At the time he ran for the Board position last spring, Mr. Hricay did not discuss the extent to which  he would have to recuse on such teacher issues. Peter Bassano, another Board member, also had a statement read by the clerk to the Board, Michele Schoenfeld, that he, Bassano would recuse himself in voting on certiorari (tax refund) matters since he is employed by a law firm in the certiorari practice.


 


Bassano and Hricay, unfortunately, are the only Board members with extensive  familiarity with municipal and labor experience, therefore become “advisory” sources in what appears to be a very limited and possibly ineffectual way. Other members of the Board can choose to ignore them in discussion and in votes on the two most sensitive areas the board has to deal with: the labor agreements with teachers, administrators, and labor and, in Bassano’s case, school acceptance of certiorari refunds. Mr. Bassano’s refusal to involve himself in certiorari matters has been known since Bassano came on the Board in 2003.


 


During the televised Board of Education meeting Thursday evening, the Board of Education approved $517,104.20 in certirorari refunds, (neglecting to announce the amount publicly),  $301,000 to JP Morgan Chase (4 Branches) and $106,000 to “North Broadway” according to district “back-up” material.

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