COUNCIL TORPEDOS SALES TAX BID; VOWS TO CUT MAYOR’S BUDGET; HANSBURY APPOINTED.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. May 5, 2009 UPDATES IN ITALICS, 10:50 A.M. E.D.T.: Monday night the Common Council, with the exception of Councilman Glen Hockley collectively rejected Mayor Joseph Delfino’s proposed 2009-2010 $160.7 Million budget, with Councilpersons Roach, Power, Malmud and Boykin all calling the budget inadequate and “dire.”


 



 


Councilperson Malmud vowed she would do everything “in my power” to limit increases in salaries of the union personnel. Roach, Power, Boykin and Malmud decried the $12 Million budget gap and vowed to cut the budget and reform it.


 



 


Grim Council Trashes Mayor’s Budget. Vows Cuts. Situation Called “Dire.”





Mayor Joseph Delfino welcomed the council resolve to cut, and said he looked forward to their “working together” to solve the deficit and their revenue suggestions. Boykin said the council would look for revenues to cut down on the budget gap and said that the city could not be left with a $5 Million deficit, for 2010-11, because only $1 Million of that $5 Million could be used.


 


After vowing to cut the budget deficit,  the Council voted 5-2, with Hockley and Mayor Delfino voting “Nay,” to kill a home rule request for an extra ¼% in sales tax from Albany, torpedoing one of the Mayor’s “tools” for eliminating half the budget gap. Mayor Delfino told WPCNR afterwards “they just cost us $5.6 Million, can you believe that?”


 


After the Common Council delivered their negative reviews, Malmud calling it “inadequate,” Dennis Power, disingenuously informing the television audience that  the Council had not had year-round budget “hands-on” responsibility for the budget or a Council-endorsed Budget Director to supervise the budget, while also claiming the Council had raised concerns over the budget last summer and in approving the current 2008-09 budget. 


 


The only question that concerned the council on the budget before the economic plunge in the stock market in late fall was the whereabouts of the LCOR $5.5 Million default payment on the commuter lot property on Bank Street (paid in August). This reporter does not remember hearing any council concerns about budget building for 2009-10 until after the Mayor’s staff reported a turn down in revenues in October, and even at that point they did not press the mayor for specific cut information, or make suggestions and further cuts. The council did not question or raise concerns when the Mayor reported 2008-09 budget numbers were “on track” in September.


 



 


Mayor Delfino, listening with a bemused expression to the council comments, (tip of his glasses in his mouth), appeared to be listening to the comments with amusement. In his comments, the Mayor defended the just-maligned budget by saying the budget was in trouble “because of the economy,” which had caused revenue sources such as mortgage tax, sales tax and permit fees to soften.


 


Councilwoman Rita Malmud’s comments notwithstanding about holding the line on salary increases in the new budget, the Council did not discuss or suggest any guidelines for union negotiations, in public sessions leading up to their rejection of the 3.5%, 4%, 4% settlement on wages in late fall. No suggestions were made by the council to trim benefits costs to this reporter’s recollection. To be fair, the council may have suggested wage restraint in executive sessions, but never in public.


 


Have they or haven’t they filed for arbitration?


 


Regarding the status of negotiations with the police and fire unions, which has been for weeks described as headed for binding arbitration,   this was still unclear at the end of the evening.


 


The Mayor told WPCNR he did not know whether the police and fire unions had filed for binding arbitration through the Taylor Law. The Mayor told WPCNR he assumed they had, but he did not know. Asked if he would intervene and convince the union to continue negotiations as the budget crafting was now being taken over by the Common Council, the Mayor said he would not.


 


The Council takeover of the budget process begins Wednesday evening when the Budget and Management meets to give their recommendations on what revenue measures they feel the council should consider. This will be followed by a Special Meeting on the Budget Thursday evening at 6 P.M.


 


Save the Library Funding Main Mr. and Mrs. White Plains Issue.


 


The budget hearing tonight saw the most galvanizing comments having to do with the cutting of the library budget by $400,000. About five speakers, each speaking to sustained applause of library supporters, numbering about 25, urged the council to restore library funding. One speaker supported restoring $100,000 in funding to the Performing Arts Center, which she compared the city’s eliminating the $100,000 to New York City refusing to aid Broadway and Paris rejecting the Moulin Rouge. Paula Piekos, the activist, suggested stiffer fines for soil retention violators and other developer and homeowner violationists of  city environmental laws.


 


League of Women Voters Pans Budget


 


Marjorie Davies of the League of Women Voters delivered a rare thumbs-down verdict from the League on the Mayor’s budget, deploring the $12 million budget gap, and rejecting leasing of the Galleria and Library garages, the selling of firehouses 4 and 5,and the sales tax as revenue measures.


 


Common Council candidate Democrat Beth Smayda, a financial marketing analyst, deplored the presented budget fund balance depletion, saying “To the extent fund balance is depleted, multiple notch downgrades (in city bond-rating) are possible, in such instances, access to future capital financing could be limited…Without access to capital markets, the City would have to rely more on its own ongoing cash flow for fixing roads, water and sewer system improvements, renovations to city facilities, leaving even lessmoney for employees and for providing services to residents….in short, poor financial decisions can set off a cascade of negative effects which could take years to repair.”


 


In other council action,


 


The Council approved referring out the Item 78, a zoning change allowing 5.11 acres of the Winbrook public housing to be rezoned residential-commercial so middle income, senior housing assised living, and professional offices could be built in that space, and expanding it to include both sides of Lexington Avenue. The council did not comment on this, and no explanation of the issue was given. The Mayor said “There will be plenty of discussion of this ahead, it is only being referred out.”


 


The Council closed the hearing on 1133 Westchester Avenue property developer, Robert Weisz request for a three year extension on his property, which would be taken up in a future work session.


 



 


The council reappointed City Judge J. Brian Hansbury in a move that was not officially on the agenda, to another 10-year term. This was vehemently projested by Elena Sassower during the Citizens to Be Heard portion of the meeting at 7 P.M. before CBS TV television cameras, which withdrew after the Sassowers’ comments.  Sassower and her mother, Doris Sassower urged Hansbury not be reappointed. Elena Sassower shouted he was a “corrupt judge,” and alleged the Mayor’s Corporation Counsel had not transmitted their testimony on Judge Hansbury’s handling of a recent case involving the younger Ms. Sassower to the Judicial Screening Committee.


 


Rita Malmud in discussing resolutions on scheduled parades, urged that all parades with the exception of Memorial Day, require the sponsors to pay the cost of clean-up.

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Speak on Budget at Council 2Nite. 3 Year Extensions Anyone? Gentrifying Winbrook

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. May 4,2009: Tonight the Common Council holds a public hearing on the Mayor’s Proposed $160.7 Million Budget with its attendent 4.9% Property Tax Increase.


The Council will also consider a public hearing on the developer Robert Weisz request to extend his site plan on the hotel and new office proposal for his 1133 Westchester Avenue site for 3 years, which would be history making. The council has never granted a three-year site plan extension.


Also of intriguing interest is Item 78 to be referred out to departments. It is a zoning change for the Winbrook project and inclusion of both sides of Lexington Avenue for that change. It essentially paves was for commercial development of the Winbrook site in addition to replacing the low income housing there.


The agenda:


May 4, 2009
7:30 P.M.


PLEDGE TO THE FLAG:                        Hon. Rita Malmud




INVOCATION:                                         Rev. Carol Huston
                                                    Community Unitarian Church


ROLL CALL:                                                  City Clerk

EMPLOYEE OF                                       Mary Ann Solano
OF THE MONTH:                                           Secretary
                                                          Department of Finance


APPOINTMENT:


1.        Communication from the Mayor regarding re-appointment to the White Plains City Court of a Full Time City Court Judge for a term of ten years.


ADJOURNED
PUBLIC HEARING:


2.        Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted on behalf of 1133-300/1133-399 Westchester Avenue LLC, (“Applicant”) owner of property known as 1133/1135 Westchester Avenue (Section 131.20, Block 1, Lot 1.1) containing environmentally sensitive features, for (A) a one (1) year extension of the previously approved amendment to the Special Permit/Site Plan for a four (4) story extended stay hotel granted by the Common Council by resolution adopted November 7, 2007; (B) an amendment to the aforementioned previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan for the construction of a new office building on the same property at 1133/1135 Westchester Avenue; and ( C) an application for a Special Permit for same under Sections 3.5.5 and 6.7.27 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains to permit the utilization of the permitted building coverage percentage on that portion of the site which is located in the C-O (Campus Office) Zoning District.


3.                   Communication from the City Clerk




PUBLIC HEARING:


4.        Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted on behalf of Prophecy for a one (1) year renewal of a Special Permit to operate a cabaret at 15 South Broadway.


5.                   Communication from Environmental Officer


6.                   Environmental Findings Resolution


7.                   Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains approving the application submitted by Coughlan, Inc. for a one year renewal of a Special Permit to operate a Cabaret known as The Prophecy Restaurant/Bar at 15 South Broadway (Section 125.76, Block 1, Lot 4) subject to certain conditions contained herein.


8.        Public Hearing on the Tax Budget of the City of White Plains for Fiscal Year 2009 – 2010.


FIRST READING
ORDINANCES:


9.        Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to an amendment to a previously adopted ordinance entitled, “Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Complus Data Innovations, Inc., to provide full service parking ticket processing services for a term of five years,” to reflect the third year cost for processing as $2.80.


10.                 Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Complus Data Innovations, Inc. to provide full service parking ticket processing services for a term of five years.”             


11.      Communication from Commissioner of Public Works requesting authorization to apply for and submit applications for grants pursuant to the Federal Economic Stimulus Program for various energy efficiency and alternate fuel vehicle projects.


12.                 Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor to direct the Commissioner of Public Works to apply for and submit applications for grants pursuant to the Federal Economic Stimulus Program.


13.      Communication from Commissioner of Public Works in relation to an Inter-municipal Agreement between the City and the New York Power Authority


14.                Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor to direct the Commissioner of Public Works to enter into an Energy Services Program Agreement, formerly known as an Energy Efficiency Technologies Agreement, with the New York State Power Authority.


15.      Communication from Commissioner of Public Works in relation to the closure of certain streets and appropriate parking restrictions for the following events to be held in the City: Semi-Annual Rising Stars Sidewalk Sales; Memorial Day Parade; White Plains Clean and Green; White Plains City Fest 2009 Block Party; Juneteenth Parade and Festival; White Plains Child Safety Day; The Taste of Downtown White Plains; Columbus Parade and Festival; Hispanic Day Parade and Festival; White Plains New Year’s Eve Event Spectacular.


16.                 Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the closure of certain portions of public streets and designating May 25 through May 31, 2009, June 13, 2009, September 9 through September 13, 2009, and October 4 and 18, 2009 as the White Plains Downtown “Rising Star Sidewalk Sales” days; May 30, 2009 as White Plains Clean and Green Day; May 31, 2009 as a White Plains City Fest 2009 Block Party Event; June 27, 2009 as White Plains Child Safety Day; and September 13, 2009 as the Taste of Downtown White Plains Event, events sponsored by the City of White Plains and the White Plains Business Improvement District.


17.                 Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the closure of certain portions of public streets and appropriate parking restrictions on December 31, 2009 and January 1, 2010, for the City’s Downtown New Year’s Eve Spectacular sponsored by the White Plains Downtown Business Improvement District (BID).


18.                 Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the closure of certain public streets and appropriate parking restrictions on Monday, May 25, 2009 for a Memorial Day Parade; Saturday, June 13, 2009 for a Juneteenth Parade and Festival; Sunday, October 4, 2009, for a Columbus Day Parade and Festival; and Sunday October 18, 2009 for an Hispanic Day Parade and Festival.


19.      Communication from Commissioner of Public Works in relation to the closure of a portion of a certain City street for the Annual Spring Exhibition of the Westchester Arts Council.


20.                 Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the closure of a portion of Mamaroneck Avenue on Friday, May 15, 2009 for the Annual Spring Exhibition of “Rubbish! Arts and the Ecosystem” sponsored by the Westchester Arts Council.


21.      Communication from Commissioner of Public Safety in relation a license agreement between the City and the County of Westchester for the use of a foam trailer to extinguish fires.


22.                 Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a license agreement with the County of Westchester for the use of a foam trailer to be used to extinguish fires.


23.      Communication from Commissioner of Public Safety in relation to a license agreement with the County of Westchester to permit the location of a trailer containing shelter supplies to be utilized during a disaster or emergency to be housed within the City of White Plains.


24.                 Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a license agreement with the County of Westchester for the provision of a container or trailer containing shelter supplies to be utilized during a disaster and/or emergency.


25.      Communication from the Mayor in relation to a Community Development Rehabilitation Grant in the amount of $30,000 for Slater Center to make the necessary improvements and changes to accommodate the relocation of the Ecumenical Food Pantry to the Slater Center, 2 Fisher Court.


26.                 Ordinance authorizing a Community Development Rehabilitation Program Grant not to exceed $30,000 to Slater Center, Inc. for improvements to the storage areas and multipurpose room at Slater Center to accommodate the relocation of the Ecumenical Food Pantry to the Slater Center, 2 Fisher Court.


27.      Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance with respect to establishing new and increasing existing fees charged for applications made pursuant, inter alia, to Sections 6, 7, 9.5, 10.3.5, 10.3.6 and 10.3.7 of the Zoning Ordinance.


28.                 Communications from            Westchester County Planning Board


29.                                                                Environmental Officer


30.                 Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “The Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains” at Section 11.5 with respect to fees charge for applications made pursuant to Sections 6, 7, 9.5, 10.3.5, 10.3.6 and 10.3.7 of the Ordinance.


31.      Communication from Commissioner of Finance in relation to a transfer of funds from Reserve for Financing to increase funding of the unemployment component of the Self Insurance Fund.


32.                 Ordinance authorizing the transfer of funds from the Reserve for Financing to increase the contribution to the Self Insurance Fund in both the General Fund and Library Fund Budgets for Fiscal Year 2008 – 2009 and to amend the Fiscal Year 2008 – 2009 Self Insurance Fund Budget.


33.      Communication from Commissioner of Finance in relation to an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 – 2009 Self Insurance Budget to reflect an additional contribution from the Community Development Fund for an increase in its unemployment insurance payments.


34.                 Ordinance authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 – 2009 Self Insurance Fund Budget to reflect an additional contribution from the Community Development Fund for an increase in its unemployment insurance payments.


35.      Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to additional funds from the County of Westchester for the Workforce Investment Act Youth Employment Services Out-of-School Program.


36.                 Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the County of Westchester (Office of Workforce Investment) to receive up to $247,352 in funding for an Out-of-School Youth Program under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).”


37.      Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a donation in the amount of $1,500 to cover the cost of the Annual National Volunteer Recognition Month.


38.                 Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor to accept, on behalf of the City of White Plains Youth Bureau, a donation from Walmart to cover costs of the Annual National Volunteer Recognition Month.


39.      Communication from Personnel Officer in relation to an amendment to the hourly pay scales portion of the Compensation and Leave Plan to reflect the new Federal minimum wage requirement to $7.25 per hour effective July 1, 2009.


40.                 Ordinance amending Section 2-5-80 of the White Plains Municipal Code by amending the hourly pay scale.


41.      Communication from Chairman, Traffic Commission, in relation to amendments to the Traffic Ordinance at various locations around the City.


42.                 Ordinance amending the Traffic Ordinance of the City of White Plains in relation to On Street Parking, Meter Zones, No Parking, One Hour Parking, Two Hour Parking, Fifteen Minute Parking and Designated Handicapped Parking Spaces-Streets (Non-Metered).


43.                 Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance amending the Traffic Ordinance of the City of White Plains in relation to On Street Parking, Meter Zones, No Parking, One Hour Parking, Three Hour Parking – Monday through Friday, No Standing, No Parking 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M., Monday through Friday, Stop Intersections, Yield Intersections, and Right Turns Prohibited.”


RESOLUTIONS:


44.      Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to a request submitted on behalf of North Street Community, LLC, for an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance regarding Planned Senior Residential Development District to increasing the percentage in Section 5.8.5.2 for assisted living beds and domiciliary care facilities from 35% to 45%, and to authorize stacked attendant parking and automated mechanized parking in the Planned Senior Residential Development District.


45.                 Communication from              Planning Board


46.                                                                Commissioner of Building


47.                 Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling a public hearing for June 1, 2009 in relation to an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains submitted by North Street Community, LLC to amend Section 5.8.5.2 of the Zoning Ordinance to increase the ratio of the number of assisted living beds to independent living units in the Planned Senior Residential Development District from 35% to 45% and to authorized stacked attendant parking and automated mechanized parking in the Planned Senior Residential Development District.


48.      Communication from Executive Director, Urban Renewal Agency, in relation to scheduling a public hearing for June 1, 2009 on an amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan for the Central Renewal Project, Project No. R-37 Plan Modification No. 49, to extend the Central Renewal Plan for a period of ten (10) years, effective July 7, 2009.


49.                 Resolution setting a public hearing for June 1, 2009, on Urban Renewal Plan Modification No. 49, a proposed amendment to Section C(2)( c) of the Urban Renewal Plan for the Central Renewal Project, Project No. N.Y. R-37, to extend the regulations and controls of the Plan for 10 years from July 6, 2009 to July 5, 2019, with respect to properties in the Central Renewal Project Area owned by the City of White Plains or the White Plains Urban Renewal Agency, or conveyed to a private redeveloper for which a Certification of Completion has not yet been issued by the White Plains Urban Renewal Agency.


50.      Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted on behalf of CorePlus Properties, LLC, CPP Bloomingdale LLC and ROF Core 120 Bloomingdale LLC, for a one year extension of a previously approved site plan to construct The Venue on Bloomingdale Road, a proposed retail development.


51.                 Communications from            Design Review Board


52.                                                                Commissioner of Planning


53.                                                                Planning Board


54.                                                                Commissioner of Public Safety


55.                                                                Commissioner of Public Works


56.                                                                Commissioner of Traffic


57.                                                                Traffic Commission


58.                                                                Commissioner of Parking


59.                                                                Environmental Officer


60.                 Environmental Findings Resolution


61.                 Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains extending for one (1) year the amended Special Permit/Site Plan Approval, originally granted on May 5, 2008 to CorePlus Properties, LLC and CPP Bloomingdale LLC (“Applicant”) for amended site plan approval under Section 7 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains (“Zoning Ordinance”) to construct approximately 46,833 square feet of new retail use to the existing site, currently developed with an approximately 141,427 square foot office building, and for a Special Permit under Section 6 of the Zoning Ordinance to establish restaurants and outdoor dining associated with such restaurants for approximately 6,000 square feet, for a total of approximately 52,833 square feet of retail/restaurant use, for the new development to be known as “The Venue” to be located at the approximately 5.8 acre site at 120 Bloomingdale Road, an environmentally sensitive site under Section 4.4.25 of the Zoning Ordinance (Section131.21, Block 3, Lot 2.1).


62.      Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted on behalf of Hamilton Condominiums, for a one year extension of a previously approved site plan to construct a thirteen story, eighty-six unit residential condominium at 116 – 120 Church Street.


63.                 Communications from            Design Review Board


64.                                                                Commissioner of Planning


65.                                                                Planning Board


66.                                                                Commissioner of Public Safety


67.                                                                Commissioner of Public Works


68.                                                                Commissioner of Traffic


69.                                                                Traffic Commission


70.                                                                Commissioner of Parking


71.                                                                Environmental Officer


72.                 Environmental Findings Resolution


73.                 Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains extending for an additional one year the Special Permit approval originally granted to ASB Management Inc. and Spaulding & Slye Colliers International for Hamilton Park LLC by resolution adopted June 6, 2005 and extended by resolutions adopted August 7, 2006, July 9, 2007, and April 7, 2008 to construct a thirteen (13) story (125 feet in height), eighty-six (86) unit, residential condominium building, with three (3) stories above grade and one (1) story below grade to be used to provide one hundred and forth-five (145) off-street parking spaces for a project to be known as the Hamilton Condominiums at 116-120 Church Street (Section 125.67, Block 3, Lot 1) in the RM-0.35 Zoning District.


74.      Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to an amendment to the Affordable Rental Housing Program Rules and Regulations and the Affordable Home Ownership Program Rules and Regulations to adjust family income limits to reflect the 2009/10 family income limits for Westchester County.


75.                 Resolution amending the Affordable Housing Program Rules and Regulations and the Affordable Home Ownership Program Rules and Regulations of the City of White Plains initially adopted March 2003 and June 4, 2004, respectively, to adjust family income limits to reflect the 2009/10 family income limits for Westchester County based on family size.


76.      Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains supporting the introduction and adoption of New York State Legislation to amend the Tax Law in relation to authorizing the City of White Plains to impose an additional one-quarter of one percent Sales and Compensating Use Tax.


REFERRAL:   


77.      Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to an application submitted on behalf of Antipasti Restaurant, 1 North Broadway, for a one year renewal of a Special Permit for Cabaret Use


78.      Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to an application submitted on behalf of the White Plains Housing Authority to amend the Zoning Ordinance by remapping an approximately 5.11 acre portion of the Winbrook Community from RM-0.35 to B-3, extending the Central Parking Area to encompass the entire Winbrook Community , as well as amending the Comprehensive Plan to increase the number of and diversity of the dwelling units and adding commercial spaces for retail and support services.


ITEMS FOR INFORMATION:


79.      Communication from the City Clerk transmitting a request submitted on behalf of Calano & Calano Realty Corp. and Keith J. Ahlers, owners of a building located at 14 Mamaroneck Avenue, to withdrawn a petition to amend the Municipal Code to add “Electronic Message Board Ordinance.”


80.      Communication from Commissioner of Finance transmitting the Interim Financial Report for the Third Quarter Ending March 31, 2009.

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Cut For God’s Sake, Bradley Says.Cementing Delfino Legacy. GOP Throws In Towel?

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WPCNR BACK ROOM BULLETIN. News & Comment By John F. Bailey. May 4, 2009: Sunday’s far-reaching Keith Eddings Journal News interview with Democrat Mayoral nominee Adam Bradley, in which Mr. Bradley levels a number of charges that lame duck Mayor Joseph Delfino is submitting a budget that understates the city deficit is striking, in  that Bradley is not running against Joseph Delfino.


 


Bradley and the present Common Council can slash the budget all they want now.





What Delfino recommends now — should not be used as an excuse to perpetuate financial make-believe, and collectively moan and groan a year from now when the city faces financial ruin.


 


 His budget makes a difference, especially if the council accepts it as is.  The council needs a reality check here, as they go into tonight’s hearing on the City Budget.


 


Will they jawbone? Will they yada yada yada yada the voters for television?


 


The Council is approving Adam Bradley’s budget – not Delfino’s – since Delfino is not going to be living with it – Adam Bradley, though, will be living with it.


 


Bradley and the Council next year will have nobody to blame except themselves if the budget goes through as presented tonight.


 


In the excellent Jennings interview, Bradley declines to give his formula for bringing the “deficit” under control. 


 


However there is no commentary on the constipation in the budget — the binding arbitration the city and the unions are entering into, or have entered into, or may enter into. No one seems to know for sure.


 


For that matter the city going to binding arbitration with the unions is a convenient Common Council cop out. If the council tells the public a year from now that they had no choice but to go to binding arbitration and that’s why they have to raise taxes and parking fees, or cut services, that just will not wash.


 


The binding arbitration the city may or may not have entered into already for the unions (no one will say), sets a scenario up for a total Democrat-lead city next year to blame Delfino for the 3.5% labor settlement likely from the arbitrators. 


 


But the council can put a stop to this – if the unions have not already agreed to an arbitrator.


 


City Hall has been mum on whether or not the unions have accepted the city choice of arbitrator yet.


 


Tip to Unions: better agree to that arbitrator like now, because the longer you delay, the city may just change its mind on arbitration.


 


If I’m in the union, I have to ask,  demand you get  anyone, even Scoop the News Duck in there to arbitrate, just start arbitrating or we could be jaw-boned back into talks!


 


Where is the Common Council on this?  They’re hiding behind the Charter of the city, which grants the Mayor the right to negotiate. But, shouldn’t the council intervene when the arbitration flag of surrender is raised?


 


Any arbitrator decision granting the unions a 3% across-the-board increase (compatible with recent settlements countywide) will eliminate any use of undesignated fund balance in 2010-11 because there won’t be any fund balance, it will already be “designateed” and “burned.” They’ll have to sell City Hall to pay the unions.


 


 What’s left at the end of 2009-10 will only be $5.3 Million, just about what would be needed to fund a round of 3% raises in 20010-11. Then you’ll be looking at tax increases of well over 30%.


 


Should be fun watching the Democrats fire union personnel next year, shouldn’t it? It will not be pretty.


 


But, perhaps the city is using the wrong strategy?


 


A Yonkers-like injection of stimulus for the city to preserve jobs may save  the Bradley administration down the road. The economy could turn around. After all, Yonkers seems to receive about  $20 Million every month or so from the state to help their consistent shortfalls. But maybe Yonkers is smart. Run things badly, wring hands, and you get helped. You’re too big to fail. (The mantra of Obamanomics.)


 


Bradley in the Eddings  interview says more (budget-cutting) must be done. He says he’s been counseling with the Democrat council members giving them his thoughts. So obviously Bradley must have some ideas.


 


Well, now is the time. Let’s have them. Now is the  time to cut or raise taxes.


 


I figure the council has to slash about $2 Million of the budget at a minimum, and $5 Million ideally to fund the union raises if the binding arbitration “cop out” strategy is followed – instead of negotiating the unions down using jobs as a ploy.


 


Of course there is the biting the bullet: Run in a 30% tax increase to eliminate the alleged deficit, and gives the city a chance to come back as the economy limps through 2009.


 


You can also roll in a tax rebate, or cut taxes substantially next year to relieve the tax payers.


 


A 15% tax increase  this year is a good middle position. It hedges your bet and preserves fund balance use and funds the coming arbitration settlement.


 


But, WPCNR asks why doesn’t the council do the tax thing?


 


Bradley is not running against anybody except perhaps his own fellow Democrats, whom he says he is advising of his thoughts on the budget.


 


If the Democratic Council does not slash and burn that budget or increase taxes, and the economy does not come back locally in White Plains, including the housing market, they will sow the seeds of financial havoc aplenty next year.


 


Do not forget the declining real estate prices on homes – that will only create more assessed value carnage – lowering city revenues – necessitating a tax hike next year of considerable proportions — in the city budget and (shudder) the school budget.


 


You just know the commercial properties are already getting their second round of certioraris under way. They are licking their chops and simmering those books.


 


Bradley needs some major budget cuts now – as a precautionary measure.


 


But blaming Delfino is not going to wash, next year.The Democratic Council went along with all the budgets and decisions that created the present situation. They cut a “whopping” $500,000 last year out of the Reserve for Financing. What prudence! How tough they were.


 


Ironically, the Common Council now is being presented with cleaning up its own mess, created by years of being walked through the numbers, never asking hard questions, never telling Commissioners “no.”


 


Delfino is out in 7 months and 27 days.


 


He is a lame duck.


 


The council needs to take over his budget big time, and slash the heck out of it, otherwise I can hear the wailing now: “If Delfino had managed finances better, we would not be in this mess. If we had a municipally experienced Budget Director, yada…yada…yada.”


Spare us the rhetoric, Councilpeople!


 


Let’s hear you tonight. Bring something to the table.


 


The mess is yours because you approved it every step of the way.


 


 


To date the council has shown admiration in the budget meetings for all the presentations and have not asked one tough question in the sessions this reporter has attended. Only Tom Roach, the councilman has shown any sense of budget urgency. Mr. Boykin has expressed concern the deficit may be more than predicted.


 


Concern must be taken out of the lineup and replaced with action!


 


Ask not what you can do to keep your $36,471 a year, but what you can do for your constituents.


 


 


How about, the council saying – no more cars for commissioners or anyone.


 


How about the council saying 10% wage cuts across the board.


 


 


The tough question I would ask would be – how will arbitration settlements in line with settlements in the area – effect the budget in year 2010-11? No one on the Council has asked that question publicly of the Mayor and his budget “strategists.”


 


 


The current Mayor has 7 months and 27 days before possibly retiring to his condominium in Portsmouth Rhode Island on the Sakonnet River  (where, coincidentally,  former Building Commissioner Mike Gismondi also has a condo, maybe they’ll reminisce about old times?)


 


The Mayor has presented a budget. He has had his commissioners parade in and tell the council how much they have cut – but in general terms. We have not seen the total number of laid off positions across all departments – yet.


 


When is the Council going to demand such a list of firings?


 


When are we going to have a total of millions cut from the administration? A little transparency, please?


 


When will the council have the leadership to demand the cuts that have to be made?


 


Now is the time for the Common Council to come to the aid of the Mayorally-annointed, Mr. Bradley, before the city faces economic Armageddon one year from now.


 


That’s when the assessment decline doubles to $10 Million, you have to cut union staff sharply, and plead with Mr. Bradley’s successor in Albany for a bailout.  But, maybe that is the ultimate strategy?


 


Perhaps Mr. Bradley might want to reconsider that run for Mayor. He will be mopping up the Delfino red ink.


 


He’s going to get it.


 


It appears the Republican Party in White Plains could be de facto endorsing Bradley as next Mayor by not nominating anyone to run for Mayor.


 


Tim Sheehan has told WPCNR he is considering running. But, why spend your own money on your own campaign when the numbers are overwhelmingly Bradley? Sheehan is too smart to be suckered in when the numbers of voters just aren’t there. 


 


Now if Glen Hockley should rise from the Democrats’ Burial Ground and snag the Working Families Party or Independence Party nomination for Mayor or both – that could make things interesting and give Tim Sheehan a chance – or even Bob Hyland.   Hockley might get union support, split the vote enough to sneak Sheehan in. But,most likely this will not help Sheehan either, since the lead Demo usually wins on the numbers anyway.


 


Or have the Republicans silently decided to clear the way for Bradley and not nominate anyone for Mayor seeing Bradley as unbeatable?


 


Anyhow – Joseph Delfino has 7 months and 27 days and the Common Council should realize and remember  the damage to America that another lame duck did to America in about the same time last year. Remember the George W. Bush “reign of recession?”


 


The Lame Duck is starting now to put together his last big deals, cementing the Delfino legacy very quietly — shapping the course of White Plains for decades.


 


The Mayor is setting up a Winbrook “gentrification” project that will gut the West Side of White Plains for years to come while rewarding  architects, planning firms,and consultants of the city.


 


If the federal government ends up buying out properties up and down Lexington Avenue, it will create a windfall for over 100 owners of property up and down Lex for years.


 


The Mayor is slipping through a tidy little item (# 78) Monday night that sets Winbrook in motion under the guise that in order to get stimulus money from Washington, the zoning change enabling Winbrook must be done now.


 


But, why does Winbrook have to be changed to residential/commercial? Some one tell me?


 


Because assisted senior living, middle income housing, personal service and professional offices and commercial retail are envisioned in the zoning proposal and the Request for Qualifications  which went out last week from the White Plains Housing Authority.


 


The item, number 78,  IS innocuously third to last on the agenda  for referral Monday night that proposes zoning Winbrook commercial as well as residential, and expanding Windbrook to include both sides of Lexington Avenue. This is a major zoning change and no one knows its possibilities.


 


This project will dominate the Bradley Administration for years to come. And put White Plains not in control of its own destiny but, control of that area under the planning wisdom of HUD and the Federal Government.


 


What is to prevent, HUD and the Federal Government super consultants from telling the Housing Authority: look, this idea of building new buildings first so the folks can move into the new buildings, does not work and is too expensive. We can’t do that. If you do not relocate them so the project can be designed all at once and built all at once, we’re not going to fund the project.


 


You can put any conditions you want, but as Eliot Spitzer learned when he tried to give drivers licenses to illegals in New York State, the Federal Government rules and does things the way they want to do it, regardless of what any state or local Housing Authority wants to do.


 


People of Winbrook should be well aware of that.


 


What’s pathetic is the planners, engineers,and consultants being used on the Winbrook project which just serviced officially last week, are not even minorities consulting on what is clearly a minority section of town.


 


But wait, I forgot, if you’re white in White Plains, you now are a minority. Perhaps the reason for giving consulting work (pro buono or for pay) to the city’s well-known “go-to” consulting firms, could be considered minority hiring.


 


The excuse for the quickie zoning change is to have the work on rebuilding Winbrook be eligible for “stimulus” money – i.e., shovel-ready.


 


The project (Winbrook) is not shovel-ready by a long shot.


 


The stimulus “rush” to push this zoning change is a sham, in my opinion — to ram through zoning and make one last killing for the well-connected, the sycophants who suck up tax dollars under the guise of public projects.


 


Another project the Mayor may be pushing through is privatization of the White Plains Performing Arts Center, or purchase of the Ridgeway Country Club.


 


There is all sorts of “creative stuff”  and “enduring legacies” a creative lame duck can create in 7 months and 27 days.


 


Is the George W. Bush “Reign of Recession” so quickly forgotten?


 


 

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BEYOND THE GAME NFL HOPEFULS GET CHANCES WITH RAIDERS, EAGLES.

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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By John Vorperian, Host WPPAC-TV’s BEYOND THE GAME. May 3, 2009: WPCNR recently noted Florida Atlantic gridders Franz Joseph and Jervonte Jackson appeared on White Plains Cable TV’s BEYOND THE GAME to chat about their hopes and dreams in being picked in the 2009 NFL Draft.  Neither pro prospect was selected, but today with NFL Mini-camps opening, both men find themselves suiting up.



White Plains Johnny Vorperian, Host of White Plains Public Access TV’s BEYOND THE GAME interviewing Frantz  Joseph, linebacker, second from right, and Jevonte Jackson, Defensive Tackle, far right on BTG last week. Joseph and Jackson are going to the camps of the Oakland Raiders, and Philadelphia Eagles for tryouts.



Outside linebacker Joseph, (left) second in the nation in tackles with 154, was offered a free-agent deal by Al Davis and his Oakland Raiders.  Football pundits are already pontificating Joseph (pictured on right by FAU Sports) can shore up the porous Silver n’ Black defense.


Defensive tackle Jackson (right) will be in the City of Brotherly Love.  He has a tryout with, the New York Football Giants arch rivals, Eagles. Come September, Jackson could be playing with his half-brother, Jamall, who is Philly’s starting center.


BEYOND THE GAME will follow their progress.


Florida Atlantic University reports: “Franz Joseph is in a good place. Oakland’s defense is bad, and its run defense worse and they only drafted one linebacker, so we think if he can stay healthy, and do what he did so well for three seaons at FAU, he could make the roster.”


 



 .”

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Gedney Farms Calls Town Meeting on Ridgeway Country Club Proposed Sale

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WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. April 30, 2009: The Gedney Farms Association, expressing concern over the possible sale of the Ridgeway Country Club, (located in the heart of one of White Plains most desirable neighborhoods,  has called a town meeting to discuss the issues and impacts of the possible sale.


The town meeting will be held Wednesday May 6 at Ridgeway School Auditorium at 7:30 P.M. The Association has announced that a representative of Ridgeway Country Club will attend as will a representative of the Westchester Land Trust, who is expected to discuss ways the property could be acquired with government assistance. The city of White Plains has yet to comment on whether it will entertain an initiative to acquire the property.



Historic Ridgeway Country Club: For Sale, $20 Million.

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Winbrook Plan Afoot. Urgent.Master Devlper Sought.Multi-Use Seen.Stim $$ Sought

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WPCNR WEST SIDE STORY. By John F. Bailey. April 30, 2009: The White Plains Housing Authority today advertised for Requests for Qualifications for private developers with experience in public housing development in the next step in rehabilitating Winbrook, the  World War II-vintage public housing project on White Plains’ West Side. The Request for Qualifications  describes the  Housing Authority as looking to partner with a “master developer” with experience in working with the Federal Government in developing large-scale low income housing projects.


 



Creating the Winbrook of Tomorrow Begins. A partial view of the buildings to be replaced while residents wait,  as part of the Winbrook Rehabilitation Project. Planning the design of the project has begun.


 


The Request for Qualifications notes that the Winbrook development is planned to contain a mix of low income housing, assisted living housing, and commercial use, and extensive tax-friendly forms of government developer assistance and financing are expected to be made available on a project that the Department of Housing and Urban Development is described as looking on with favor.


 


The Request notes that each of the existing 5 Winbrook buildings will have replacement buildings built and completed with Winbrook residents being given “prority,” for the new housing.


 


The RFQ report obtained by WPCNR at the Housing  Authority Thursday states on page 6 that a pre-development planning team has been put together to execute preliminary designs and possible development plans for the site, to wit, “a process to define preliminary needs, design concepts and plans that will guide the development process is underway.”


 


White Plains Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel was asked by WPCNR if the Planning Department has been working inconjunction with the WPHA “Pre-Development Planning Team on the project, consisting of  Saccardi & Schiff(planning), Warshauer, Mellusi & Warshauer (architects) and Divney, Tung, Schwalbe (engineers) and a national planning firm that executes major federal projects.


 


Habel, in a written statement, explained, “The Housing Authority has been working with its consultant and design team to develop a plan for the redevelopment if the Winbrook site. They have met with their residents. They are making a submission to the city for a rezoning which will be referred out at the May Council meeting and they will be scheduling meetings with a range of community groups and neighborhoods, area property owners,etc.


 


The Planning Department will be reviewing their proposed rezoning when it is referred to the Department.


 


Because of the schedule for submissions for Federal Stimulus funding, the Housing Authority mist work on a tight timeframe.”


 


 


A call to Mack Carter, Executive Director of the White Plains Housing Authority for more details of the plans for the rebuilding of  Winbrook which has apparently been proceeding quietly. Mr. Carter had not returned the WPCNR call as of Thursday evening, as he was out of the office Thursday for a meeting, staff said.


 


The Winbrook project is the second major government-involved project to show progress. Last month the U.S. Post Office announced intentions to develop the Post Office property on Fisher Avenue with a major complex, directly across the street from Winbrook.

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H1N1 Thursday Evening Briefing from Homeland Security

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WPCNR HOMELAND SECURITY NEWS. From Secretary of  Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. April 30, 2009: Last night we heard President Obama speak directly to the country about the H1N1 virus. The President made clear that the number one priority is the safety of the American people. That’s our focus and will continue to be our focus throughout the duration of this outbreak. Every action we are taking is meant to stop the spread of the virus and to mitigate its effect on our communities. Our decisions are being made based on the best science and best epidemiology that we know, and that is informing all of our decisions here. 

 Prioritized states are now receiving antivirals. And let me—there has been some confusion about the difference between a vaccine and an antiviral. A vaccine is something that one takes to prevent the occurrence of a disease. An antiviral is something one takes after you’ve already become sick.



We have stockpiled in this country 50 million courses of the right kinds of antivirals for this particular flu, Tamiflu and Relenza—50 million courses. In addition, the states have another 23 million courses stockpiled, and the Department of Defense has a number of millions of courses stockpiled. From the national stockpile, we’re already moving Tamiflu and Relenza out to the states where the priority—to states that have confirmed incidents of disease, and the complete deployment of 25 percent of the relevant part of the stockpile will be out to the states by the third of May.

 In addition, we are sending—in addition to the antivirals, we’re sending out gloves and masks and other similar equipment. As of this afternoon, antivirals and assets have already reached New York City, Indiana, Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, and of course the District of Columbia. And as I said, more continue to get distributed every day until we’re complete with the initial wave of distribution by the third of May.


 We are also working with our private sector and critical infrastructure partners to make sure they’re doing what they need to do to educate their employees. And they are making sure they’re working through their own planning checklists on what to do in this type of a situation.


 With respect to the borders, based on the information supplied to us by the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and the World Health Organization, our position has not changed. Customs and border patrol gents continue to watch for travelers who demonstrate signs of illness to make sure that they are taking appropriate action. We are also taking similar action at our nation’s airports. But as the President noted last night, closing the entire borders would have no benefit at this point because the virus is already present in the United States. The comparison is clear. It’s like closing the barn door well after the horse has left.


 In addition, the CDC continues to issue community guidance and guidelines for what localities can do, schools, school districts can do as we go through this. If you are a parent and you may believe that at some point your school, the school or schools where your children go may be temporarily closed, be sure you have thought ahead about what you will do with your children and how you make sure that that’s appropriately taken care of.


 And importantly, if a school is closed, it is not closed so that kids can go out to the mall or go out into the community at large. They’re being asked to stay home because the entire purpose is to limit containment and communication within the community. So if a school is closed, the guidance is and the request is to keep your young ones at home.


 Washing hands often with soap and water, covering your mouth if you cough or sneeze, staying home if you are sick, and contacting your health care provider or doctor if you have severe flu-like symptoms are all part of the common sense that we are following.

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District Retirees Double Sick Pay Money on Departure. Buyouts Use 08/09 $$

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. April 30, 2009:  White Plains Administrators eligible to retire this year are being offered $25,000 substantially more than double their payment for unused sick days they would have received, as an incentive to retire by the School District.


Civil Service Employees Association members eligible to retire are being offered $10,000  incentives going forward  with the same generosity.


The incentive payments to clear the payroll of high salaried employees are being funded out of the current 2008-2009 salary line, Assistant Supertintendent for Business Fred Seiler told WPCNR Wednesday. The payments are cash incentives that replace payment for unused sick days.


Both the Administrators and Supervisors Association and the Civil Service Employees Association have approved the new “incentive” policy, eliminating payment for unused sick days in future years, “booking” the $25,000 and $10,000 payments as being out there for Administrators and CSEA employees to take with them into retirement. The$25,000 and $10,000 Retirement Incentives Policy was approved by the Board of Education Monday evening.


 


Seiler, asked what was the difference between unused sick day pay and the cash incentive payouts, said the maximum amount any administrator could be paid if they had not been sick in twenty years was approximately $12,500, meaning administrators opting to retire were getting double the maximum sick day payout as an “incentive” to retire.Seiler did not mention whether the CSEA employees were getting the same doubling effect. 


The Assistant Superintendent for Business said the district anticipates hiring replacement administrators for perhaps some $25,000 less in salary, if the administrators retiring (five are anticipated to accept the incentives)are replaced, realizing savings in the 2009-2010 budget. Seiler left open the possibility the administrators would not be replaced. He said that by offering the incentives the district could also avoid layoffs of teachers and teaching assistants next year.


Asked what the overall anticipated savings anticipated from the incentives, Seiler said it depended on whether or not the administrators were replaced and whether savings from CSEA personnel taking the $10,000 retirement incentives would be used to rehire other personnel, preventing layoffs. The district proposed 2009-10 budget anticipates the firings of about 50 persons, including 24 teachers and 20 teaching assistants. An estimated 58 layoffs including those 44 might be possible.


Dr. Leonora Boehlert, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, told WPCNR the $25,000 incentive for administrators to retire and the $10,000 incentive to ease CSEA members into retirement was not based on the number of unused sick days at all. She said the payments “were not pro-rated and not related to the number of sick days, only retirement eligibility.”


Boehlert, asked how many sick days per year administrators and district CSEA employees were entitled to, said in a statement, “Each contract has different amounts and calculations. The amounts are higher than the sick leave incentive for CSEA and administrators.”

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Field of 6 Contends for 3 School Board Seats

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. April 30,2009: Six candidates have filed petitions to contend for the three open seats on the White Plains Board of Education at the annual School Board Budget and  Board of Education election May 19.


 


The candidates are:


 


Peter Bassano, a local attorney ( a Board of Education Member since 2002). They are being contested by 


 


Jim Hricay, former Deputy Budget Director for White Plains, now with the City of Stamford  Budget Department.


 


Dr. Elsie Lahrmann, retired Director of Emergency Planning, Natural Medicine Practioner;


 


Reynolds Longfield, a former sales and marketing cosmetics executive, now an educator;


 


Donna McLaughlin, Board of Education President.


 


Augie Zicca, Jr. Westchester County Correction Officer (retired), IBN System Analyst (retired).

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Homeland Security Chief Update on H1N1 Virus

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WPCNR HOMELAND SECURITY NEWS. News Briefing from Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. April 30, 2009: This is the daily briefing to bring everybody up to speed on where things are with respect to the 2009 H1N1 virus. 

 We now have 10 states with confirmed incidents of H1N1—Arizona, California, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Ohio, and Texas. We are likely to see more states, more cases, and some more hospitalizations over the coming days, and we are prepared for that.


 As you know, and I’m sad today to report, that today we had our first confirmed death as a result of the H1N1 virus in the United States. It was a 23-month-old child, and our sympathies go out to her family out of this. But as I said and have been saying, this is a flu, and a flu cycle. We think we’re at the beginning of a flu cycle, which typically brings with it some severe illness and death. Indeed, in the normal seasonal flu cycle, we will have about 36,000 deaths in the United States. That’s a fact that surprises many. But it is part and parcel of an influenza cycle. So our thoughts are with those who have contracted the virus now, and of course for the family of the child who died.


 Every American should know that we are aggressively responding to this outbreak. Antiviral medications are en route to states to supplement their own stockpiles. Indiana, New York, New York City, already have their allocations. Several other states will receive their allocations by today. And all states will receive theirs no later than the third of May.


 Let me point out an important difference here. There’s been some confusion between antiviral and vaccine. A vaccine is administered to prevent the flu from occurring. An antiviral is occurred after you get sick to mitigate the symptoms so that you feel better. So it is the antiviral stockpile that I’m referring to now.


 We’re also actively monitoring travelers at our land, sea, and air ports. We’re watching them for signs of illness, and we have appropriate protocols in place to deal with those who are sick. Precautions are being taken to protect travelers and border personnel. Anyone exhibiting symptoms is being referred to an isolation room where they can be evaluated by a public health official before proceeding to their destruction.


 I know there have been some calls to close the border. I want to address that directly. First of all, it is important to know that we are making all of our decisions based on the science and the epidemiology as recommended to us by the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC, the public health community, and the World Health Organization [WHO] all have said that closing our nation’s borders is not merited here, that the focus, the public health focus, should be on mitigating the impact of this virus. And so we are following those recommendations now. 


 As I said, we continue to actively monitor those coming across the borders and at our airports, as we’ve been doing all week. And we are also distributing flyers and public health information to individuals. As of today, Customs and Border Protection has referred a total of 49 suspected cases to the CDC or state and local officials. All the results have been negative, except the eight that are still under study.


 I know that in addition to travelers, many parents across the country are concerned about school closures, and President Obama spoke about this earlier today. The Centers for Disease Control has recommended that schools with confirmed cases of H1N1 virus or schools with suspected cases linked to a confirmed case consider closing on a temporary basis. Some schools have already followed that advice. The best thing parents can do right now is to make sure you have a contingency plan in place so that you’ve made arrangements to care for your child in the event of a school closure.


This is also a good reminder for businesses to think about contingency planning as well.  As I said, we’re going to be working through this for a while. You have to anticipate what happens if you have employees who are parents. The schools have closed. The employees need to stay home. How do you continue with your business operations? And so all of us should be dusting off our business contingency plans, looking at things such as telecommuting and the like so that operations keep on going.


 And of course, we advise anyone with flu symptoms to stay home or consult a doctor if you have severe symptoms. This is a problem that every individual can help us with by adopting common sense solutions or precautions. Cover your mouth or nose when you sneeze. Don’t go to work or school or go on a plane or a bus if you are sick so that you don’t communicate the disease to others. And wash your hands often.


 


 


 

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