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WPCNR’S LETTER FROM AMY. From Assemblyperson Amy Paulin, 88th District, November 19, 2008: On Tuesday, Governor David Patterson and the leaders of the New York State Assembly and Senate made no progress on cutting spending in the third quarter of the state 2008-2009 fiscal year. Ms. Paulin, Assemblyperson from the 88th Assembly District sees this as a missed opportunity:
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Board of Legislators. November 20, 2008: In part two of a continuing analysis of the county budget prepared by the Board of Legislators, WPCNR presents unedited and uncut an analysis of the the Departments of Public Safety, Correction, and Probation:
Public Safety Department
The Public Safety Department is committed to securing and protecting the safety and security of residents, visitors and workers as well as county property and infrastructure. The duties of the department’s 314-member staff (352 when including positions funded by grants) range from policing the area’s county and state highways to being an ever present resource for local law enforcement to supporting and assisting federal, state and local counter-intelligence/homeland security operations.
Public Safety’s proposed 2009 operating budget of $45.3 proposes a tax levy of $26.28 million that represents an increase of $466,058 or 1.8% over the 2008 tax levy. The increase is primarily due to anticipated salary adjustments from unsettled contracts. Revenues from other sources (grants, state and federal aid, departmental, interdepartmental) amount to about $26.67 million.
The Public Safety Department’s projected overtime budget for 2008 is $5.6 million. The cost efficiency of overtime versus hiring additional full-time staff was discussed at length during the budget hearing. While the 24/7 and ebb and flow nature of police activity makes scheduling a challenge, legislators asked what measures were in place to reduce overtime costs.
“The reduction in vacancies and the implementation of the telestat software system are key reasons the department’s projected 2009 budget reflects savings in overtime costs of $1.14 million,” said County Legislator José Alvarado, Budget & Appropriations Committee Chair. “The telestat system also enables the department to better project overtime needs, up to 3 weeks ahead. The Commissioner said this should also have a positive impact on overtime costs.”
County patrols on state highways within the county (Hutchinson River Pkwy, Saw Mill River Pkwy, Cross County Pkwy) has been an ever-increasing burden to county taxpayers which in the coming year is projected to cost approximately $4.6 million in 2009. The state will pay for just about half of that cost.
“This is not a typical state-mandate, it’s a policy choice,” said County Legislator Vito Pinto, Chair of the Public Safety & Security Committee. “The Commissioner’s assertion that county patrols are responsible for an 11% reduction in accidents, in my mind, nets much greater savings than the $2.4 million residual cost to county taxpayers.”
Department of Probation
The Department of Probation is a very integral component of
The Department’s 2009 Proposed Budget of $25.3 million anticipates a tax levy of $18.3 million. Expenditures for salaries are 7.74% higher than the 2008 budget. This is mainly due to moving up of 9 positions under NYS Expanded PINS Program to annual regular employees, anticipated salary adjustments, step increases and the inclusion of a commissioner’s full salary. The department is containing the full impact of these increases by decreasing expenditures in several areas including printing and office supplies, equipment purchase and replacements, educational training and travel & meals.
“By focusing on assisting those recently released from prison to becoming more productive in society, the Probation Departments helps to reduce recidivism,” said County Legislator Vito Pinto, Chair of the Public Safety & Security Committee. “While the department continues to focus on its more traditional role of arresting probation violators and conducting warrant sweeps, it is also pursuing other more pro-active measures that have proven effective in prevention like intervening to help at-risk families and youth and providing alternative-to-incarceration programs that increase the effectiveness of our Family and Criminal Courts.”
The Department of Correction
The Department of Correction is a state-mandated criminal justice agency that protects the public through the secure, humane and efficient confinement of offenders. Its proposed 2009 gross budget of $130.7 million requests a tax levy of $122 million. The department employs a staff of 908 to manage a census population that currently numbers 1,533.
“The Commissioner and his staff should be commended for recently earning national accreditation, the first county corrections department in the state to do so. That recognition indicates that “best practices” are in place. The department’s plan to focus on expanding the very successful re-entry program is an example of why our Corrections Department stands out,” said County Legislator Vito Pinto, chair of the Public Safety & Security Committee.
“It is very difficult to pare back on a department that operates 24/7,” said County Legislator José Alvarado, Chair of the Budget & Appropriations Committee. “The commissioner and his staff have been admirably pro-active in reducing overtime. That’s what we’re really looking for here – proactive, not reactive.”
Click here for an At-A-Glance overview of each department’s proposed budget.
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. November 19, 2008: The Board of Legislators press office has released the following analysis of the County Law Department and Department of Human Resources Budgets in County Executive Andrew Spano’s 2009 Budget proposed last week:
Focus on Proposed 2009 Budget Hearings: Law Department; Human Resources Department
Law Department
The county’s Law Department manages all the civil law business for the county and its departments. Its proposed 2009 budget of $13.35 represents a 2.2 % decrease from last year’s budget. Staffing will be reduced by one position, from its current level of 111 to 110 in 2009.
“The implementation of HAVA, the new requirements regarding E-discovery, an increased focus on pursuing child support claims and environmental consent orders with the state are driving the Law Department’s work load increase,” said County Legislator José Alvarado, Chair of the Budget & Appropriations Committee. “The proposed increase in the hourly rate charged to all county departments for law services from $135 to $139 to raise departmental and interdepartmental revenues by $450,000 is appropriate.”
“I am pleased to see that the increase in case loads has been met by growth in productivity by staff and that the impact felt by taxpayers has been reduced by cutting costs,” said County Legislator Bill Burton, Chair of the Legislation Committee which has oversight responsibility for the Law Department. “The amount of frivolous litigation concerns me. We need to be more vigilant about that.”
Department of Human Resources
The Department of Human Resources recruits, trains and supports the civil service workforce staffing for Westchester County, the Westchester Medical Center and over120 local government agencies, including fire departments, police departments and school districts for all municipal governments with the exception of the cities of Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mt. Vernon and White Plains, which have their own civil service commissions.
The Department just this past weekend successfully administered the civil service exam for police officers to about 6,000 applicants. The department’s proposed 2009 budget of $5.788 million represents a modest increase of less than $200,000 over its 2008 budget, adding one staff position to centralize administration of the Family Medical Leave Act, which has undergone numerous modifications and enhancements.
“While I certainly stand behind the goals of the Family Medical Leave Act, it has become too cumbersome to master and manage department by department. As a result, we are forced to add a position to county staff at taxpayer expense to implement an ever evolving federal policy.” said County Legislator José Alvarado, Budget Committee Chair.
“The Human Resources Department is a good example of how county government saves local municipalities money by providing quality service on a regional basis,” said
Click here for an At-A-Glance overview of each department’s proposed budget.
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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. November 19, 2008: A new website WWW.RETHINKINGWESTCHESTERGOV.COM HAS BEEN LAUNCHED.
The goal of the site and committee is to encourage Westchester residents to rethink life WITHOUT A COUNTY GOVERNMENT. It can happen. Connecticut has no county government. Rhode Island has no county government. And- Massachusetts authorized the abolishment of county government in the mid 1990s.
The website will be updated frequently –highlighting examples of WASTE in a WASTECHESTER section. We will discuss experiences states have had without county government and highlight how the county spends our tax dollars. We want a careful analysis to be done—-can Westchester taxpayers do better WITHOUT A COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
The launching of our website is only step one. We also expect to involve many new people in the review process and plan to expand the website with an interactive blog—encouraging resident feedback re: government waste and unnecessary spending.
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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. November 17, 2008: Governor David A. Patterson challenged the state legislators convening in Albany today releasing this statement:
“The State’s 212 legislators will meet in Albany tomorrow to take up the difficult task of closing the $1.5 billion current-year State budget deficit. As I have said since I took office, balancing the State’s finances in a year that has stripped New York of a significant portion of its annual revenue will require sacrifice, compromise and leadership.
“On November 12th, I submitted a proposal for budget reductions totaling $2 billion for my colleagues to consider, a proposal I clearly outlined along with Budget Director Laura Anglin. Though we have provided the legislature with draft bill copy and detailed briefings, we have not filed the legislation because we expected to keep these proposals open for negotiation, correction, amplification or any other changes that might come in the course of collaboration with my legislative colleagues.
“I alone cannot address this mounting deficit. It is incumbent upon the members of the Senate and Assembly to join me at the table and work toward a solution that strengthens our State and serves the people we represent.
“It is essential that we take action tomorrow. Inaction will impede our ability to produce a fair and balanced budget next year. These difficult decisions cannot be put off any longer. If my colleagues disagree with elements of the budget reduction plan I have submitted, I ask them to respond by offering their own solutions.
“I hope we will convene tomorrow with a three-way agreement that puts the fiscal health and viability of the State above all else.”
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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From White Plains Performing Arts Center. November 18, 2008: The full cast has been announced for a new production of the Tony Award-winning musical Oliver! at the White Plains Performing Arts Center, Westchester’s professional regional theatre located in
Work House Boys Rehearsing for Friday’s Opening Night at the
WPPAC production of OLIVER!
Work H
Based on the classic tale of the orphan boy who asked for more, Lionel Bart’s musical masterpiece Oliver! features all the timeless Charles Dickens’ characters singing such popular songs as “Food, Glorious Food,” “I’d Do Anything,” “Consider Yourself,” and “As Long As He Needs Me.”
Starring in the production are Sidney J. Burgoyne as Fagin and Natalie Venetia Belcon as
Sidney J. Burgoyne appeared as The Padre in WPPAC’s inaugural production of Man of La Mancha, and was the director of the theatre’s highly acclaimed productions of Ragtime and Camelot. Natalie Venetia Belcon is known to audiences for her roles in the Broadway production of Avenue Q (as the original Gary Coleman) and for her starring role in
Oliver! is directed by Luke Yankee, with Choreography by Melissa Rae Mahon and Sean McKnight, Musical Direction by Christopher D. Littlefield, Scenic Design by Michael Hotopp, Costume Design by T. Michael Hall, Lighting Design by Thom Weaver and Sound Design by Wallace Flores. Janet Friedman is Production Stage Manager. The show is produced by Jack W. Batman for the White Plains Performing Arts Center.
Oliver!, winner of three 1963 Tony Awards, has Music, Lyrics and Book by Lionel Bart and is based on “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens. This production of Oliver! is sponsored by Entergy.
Tickets are $60.00/$50.00. Season subscriptions and gift certificates are also available. Bank of America Broadway Classics series begins with Oliver! (November 20 – December 14, 2008), followed by A Little Night Music (March 5 – 22, 2009) and Hello, Dolly! (April 30 – May 17, 2009).
White Plains Performing Arts Center is located on the third level of
White Plains Performing Arts Center brings innovative and eclectic entertainment and classic Broadway musicals to appreciative audiences who live throughout the county and beyond. It is
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WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. November 17, 2008: Westchester Residential Opportunities will hold a public meeting in the Battle Hill Community Room at the Battle Hill condominiums Tuesday evening at 7 PM to acquaint White Plains homeowners with their foreclosure counseling service.
The city awarded WRO $30,000 to pay for a foreclosure expert to counsel White Plains residents facing mortgage payment and possible foreclosure action as to how they can avoid foreclosure proceedings.
Within the last two weeks, notices of sale of auction of three residences foreclosed for prices ranging from $680,000 on Concord Avenue in Fisher Hill, and $1,000,000 on New York Avenue in Prospect Park and in Gedney Farms have been advertised.
Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel told WPCNR that in the last five months, the WRO foreclosure expert helped 6 to 7 homeowners in White Plains in foreclosure proceedings. Ms Hable said several homeowners were able with the counselor intervention, keep their homes by arranging less stressful payment schedules with their lenders. She said that a couple of homeowners were in such a poor financial situation that, with the counselor’s help they were to short-sale their homes for the amount of their outstanding mortgages, enabling the owners to preserve their credit ratings.
Habel said the city has sent out notices of tomorrow evening’s meeting and sent out notices of availability of the WRO’s counselingservice to all homeowners receiving notices of foreclosure proceedings.
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WPCNR FLYWAYS. From Department of Homeland Security. November 17, 2008: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today additional measures to strengthen private aircraft security by requiring more detailed information about arriving and departing private aircraft and persons onboard, within a timeframe necessary for the department to assess the risks that certain international flights may pose to national security.
“We’re placing considerable emphasis on raising security in the general aviation sector,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “By getting basic electronic information in advance, like we do with commercial aircraft, we are able to substantially reduce a vulnerability.”
The final rule will require pilots of private aircraft to send U.S. Customs and Border Protection their electronic manifest data relative to all people traveling onboard. The following information must be sent one hour prior to departure for flights arriving into or departing from the
· Advance notice of arrival information;
· Advance notice of departure information;
· Aircraft information to foster aircraft identification; and
· Complete passenger and crew manifest data
The final rule announced today results from more than 3,000 comments received from the Advance Information on Private Aircraft Arriving and Departing the United States notice of proposed rulemaking published in September 2007. The final rule has been sent to the Federal Register for publication and is currently available at www.cbp.gov.
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WPCNR REMINISCING. November 15, 2008: The following reminices have been going around, and in case you have not read it. It may stir a fond memory or two on a depressing November day.
OLDER THAN DIRT ‘Someone asked the other day, ‘What was your favorite fast food when you were growing up?’ ‘We didn’t have fast food when I was growing up,’ I informed him. ‘All the food was slow.’ ‘C’mon, seriously. Where did you eat?’ ‘It was a place called ‘at home,” I explained. ! ‘Mom cooked every day and when Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn’t like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I did like it.’ By this time, the kid was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to suffer serious internal damage, so I didn’t tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table. But here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I figured his system could have handled it: Some parents NEVER! owned their own house, wore Levis , set foot on a golf course, traveled out of the country or had a credit card. In their later years they had something called a revolving charge card. The card was good only at Sears Roebuck. Or maybe it was Sears & Roebuck. Either way, there is no Roebuck anymore. Maybe he died. My parents never drove me to soccer practice. This was mostly because we never had heard of soccer. I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed, (slow). We didn’t have a television in our house until I was 5. It was, of course, black and white, I was 13 before I tasted my first pizza, it was called ‘pizza pie.’ When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off, swung down, plastered itself against my chin and burned that, too. It’s still the best pizza I ever had. We didn’t have a car until I was 4. It was an old black Dodge. I never had a telephone in my room. The only phone in the house was in the living room and it was on a party line. Before you could dial, you had to listen and make sure some people you didn’t know weren’t already using the line. Pizzas were not delivered to our home. But milk was. All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers my brother delivered a newspaper, six days a week. It cost 7 cents a paper, of which he got to keep 2 cents. He had to get up at 6AM every morning. On Saturday, he had to collect the 42 cents from his customers. His favorite customers were the ones who gave him 50 cents and told him to keep the change. His least favorite customers were the ones who seemed to never be home on collection day. Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the movies. Touching someone else’s tongue with yours was called French kissing and they didn’t do that in movies. I don’t know what they did in French movies. French movies were dirty and we weren’t allowed to see them If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want to share some of these memories with your children or grandchildren. Just don’t blame me if they bust a gut laughing. Growing up isn’t what it used to be, is it? MEMORIES from a friend: My Dad is cleaning out my grandmother’s house (she died in December) and he brought me an old Royal Crown Cola bottle. In the bottle top was a stopper with a bunch of holes in it. I knew immediately what it was, but my daughter had no idea. She thought they had tried to make it a salt shaker or something. I knew it as the bottle that sat on the end of the ironing board to ‘sprinkle’ clothes with because we didn’t have steam irons. Man, I am old. How many do you remember? Head lights dimmer switches on the floor. Ignition switches on the dashboard. Heaters mounted on the inside of the fire wall. Real ice boxes. Pant leg clips for bicycles without chain guards. Soldering irons you heat on a gas burner. Using hand signals for cars without turn signals. Older Than Dirt Quiz: Count all the ones that you remember not the ones you were told about Ratings at the bottom. 1 Blackjack chewing gum 2. Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water 3. Candy cigarettes 4. Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles 5. Coffee shops or diners with tableside juke boxes 6 . Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers 7. Party lines 8. Newsreels before the movie 9. P.F. Flyers 10. Butch wax 11. TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again in the morning. (there were only 3 channels) 12. Peashooters 13. Howdy Doody 14. 45 RPM records 15. S& H greenstamps 16 Hi-fi’s 17. Metal ice trays with lever 18. Mimeograph paper 19 Blue flashbulb 20. Packards 21. Roller skate keys 22. Cork popguns 23. Drive-ins 24. Studebakers 25. Wash tub wringers If you remembered 0-5 = You’re still young If you remembered 6-10 = You are getting older If you remembered 11-15 = Don’t tell your age, If you remembered 16-25 = You’re older than dirt! I might be older than dirt but those memories are the best part of my life. Don’t forget to pass this along!! Especially to all your really OLD friends… |
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. (EDITED) November 15, 2008: Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano issued a $1.773 Billion 2009 Budget today, calling for a 2.7% County Property Tax increase.
“Yet, even with extensive cuts, that is not enough to hold the line on taxes,” Spano said. “It is our loss of $26 million in revenues that is causing county taxes to go up 2.97 percent.”
County taxes account for about 15-18 percent of a taxpayer’s property tax bill, Spano said. The remainder comes from taxes levied by schools, local governments and special districts. The exact impact of the county tax increase on a property owner varies from community to community, due to difference assessment practices.
Spano’s budget now goes to the Board of Legislators, which has until Dec. 27 to approve a final spending plan for next year.
The Details: