Westchester Herald

The Hezitorial: Yonkers Version of Catch Me If You Can BY Hezi Aris

In times of trouble it seems prudent, perhaps urgent that health insurance costs be borne minimally by an employee. A 15 percent contribution won praise for being fair. The rationale made headway among some but not others. In Yonkers, the Yonkers Police Department had been doing it for years; so too the Yonkers Fire Department. Accusatory finger pointer Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone demanded it of everyone but has forgotten to logically demand it from the non union represented personnel that reside within City Hall. They will not contribute to lighten the financial woes that consume all of Yonkers. The paradox of the City of Yonkers are the accepted  parallel universes that define the City. Mayor Amicone lords over everything Yonkers feigning little or no influence over the Yonkers Board of Education (YBoE). Mayor Amicone prefers to have Yonkers Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio “independently” replicate scenarios of deflection, disparity, and disdain within his alleged realm. The gig is up for both.We see you!

Jackson List: More on "Screws v. United States" BY Prof. John Q. Barrett

Last Sunday, I sent a Jackson List post about Shirley Sherrod’s March 2010 speech to a NAACP Georgia chapter and her connection to and remarks about Screws v. United States. (That post, slightly tweaked, is now a PDF file in the Jackson List archive see http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/graduate/law/faculty/profiles/Barrett/JacksonList.sju.)

Weir Only Human: Destroying America from Within BY Bob Weir

There must be millions of people around the world who look at our country and wonder if we are experiencing the last gasps of an empire in decline. When radical Islam attacked and killed close to 3000 Americans, in their workplace, on their own soil nine years ago, the world waited for a response that was expected to be cataclysmic. After all, as President Kennedy said in his inaugural speech: “Those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger, ended up inside.” When JFK spoke those words in 1961, only 15 years after the US won its second world war, we were the tiger of the world. Yes, the cold war was still part of the national dialogue, but we felt secure in the knowledge that we would outlast the Soviet threat and continue to prosper. When the Berlin Wall came down and the USSR was dismantled, it seemed like a continuation of Manifest Destiny; as though America was uniquely positioned to spread democracy throughout the world. As the mightiest nation in history, no country stood a chance against us. The closest strike on our interests around the world had been the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Our response to that murderous raid culminated in the atomic bombings of 2 Japanese cities 4 years later. 

I'm Greg Ball's ex-Girlfriend BY Lauren J. Pistone

Over the past few months, I have been approached by Mary Beth Murphy’s campaign to slander Greg. These backroom political hacks care about one thing: political power. Murphy’s negative campaign has relentlessly harassed me for months. They are simply not content to debate issues, but instead need to create lies.

Their goal is power in Albany and they must destroy Greg Ball personally and professionally to do that. Sadly, the facts are not their concern. Mary Beth Murphy should be ashamed, and she must immediately tell her Albany handlers to stop the negative smear campaign. As anyone with moral fiber would do, I rejected their efforts, but as women and voters, we must all stand up against this disgusting smear campaign.

Newly Rehabilitated Apartments for Rent - Open House - Saturday, July 31, 2010

 

There Have Been Multiple Sightings of a Coyote in Bronxville This Morning BY Chief Christopher Satriale

 BRONXVILLE, NY, July 30, 2010 -- A coyote was observed on Paradise Road near Sunset Avenue and on Prescott Avenue. We are issuing the below safety guidelines for all residents.

Please contact the Bronxville Police Department at 914-337-0500 if you see a coyote in the village.

Peekskill's 4th Annual Jazz & Blues Festival

 

When Listeners Become Victims BY Bob Marrone

As the drug store clerk handed over the prescription along with the bill, the well into his retirement aged man gasped and exclaimed:  “This is because of Obama’s health care plan. He is ruining the country. The man is a communist and a socialist.”  A roar went up with at least three or four others echoing their agreement.  A loan voice from the back of the store cried, “that’s’ silly.”  I could not help myself.  I asked the man politely if he was on Medicare, and  weather or not he realized that, for good or ill, it was the far right that would prefer if Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security or anything else emanating from the New Deal, or programs since, never existed.  He replied that that notion was not true and that he knew better because he listens to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Mark Levin.  “They know” he said, “and they set the record straight”  The man went on, “I am reading a book now, The Communist in the White House,and it confirms everything they say.  You should listen to talk radio.”  I did not tell him I was a talk show host, or that I met all three men under discussion.  Nor did I tell him that my industry praises these men, not for their integrity, but for the ability to con a segment of the public to listen to them and charge for the advertising revenue they take in.  The insider truth is that all of us in the “business” accept that these men are entertainers.   I am not sure we ever stop to think how much we in radio have poisoned the debate in this country and taken terrible advantage of ignorance, prejudice and fear.

Kleinhandler Statement on Arizona Immigration Ruling

WEST NYACK, NY – Congressional Candidate York Kleinhandler, of the 17th District of New York,  issued the following statement regarding the Court ruling on the Arizona Immigration Law:

"As an American, I am frustrated by what has transpired in Arizona with respect to their immigration law.  While I agree with the premise that the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution outweighs the Arizona law, the fact that the argument occurred in the first place shows how the federal government has failed to live up to their obligations in securing our nation and enacting comprehensive immigration reform and I fear that the current administration will use this issue as a stepping stone to amnesty for those who break our laws.  We are a nation of laws and we should not reward those who break our law, regardless of their motive.  As the next Congressman from New York's 17th district, I will fight any attempt at amnesty, work to ensure that the federal government lives up to their responsibilities, and make sure our States are not forced to go it alone when it comes to providing security for its citizens."

Changing Perspectives at Saab

The Spoof: Lighter, Faster Kindle Introduced, Older Kindles Sad BY Gail Farrelly

There were cheers and jeers when Amazon introduced a new Kindle on Wednesday. The jeers came from the older model (Kindle2) electronic readers; they feel that they may now be put out to pasture. 

A Mid-Summer Update from the Mayor BY Peter Swiderski

A brief update on Village matters; things to look forward to; things going on as we sweat through these dog days of summer.   

Waterfront

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We expect Exxon and Chevron to start the remediation of the southern end of the waterfront before the end of the summer.  An exciting moment, and one we have been waiting for decades.  BP Arco will be bringing engineers in to look at the remaining building (Building 52) on the waterfront, in concert with a team of Village volunteers,  to determine what needs to be done to preserve it.   Earlier this year, we won a commitment of $2 million from BP to preserve that structure, and this is the first step.

New York Civic: Wine is Fine, Liquor is Quicker BY Henry J. Stern

Budget Deadlock - Day 119

Albany Mulls Sale of Wine in Groceries

NEW YORK, NY, July 28, 2010 -- We often complain about laws or conditions that we believe are wrong or unjustified. Sometimes we ask how these conditions are allowed to continue, when the injustice of the situation is relatively apparent.

Fulton Avenue Drawbridge Re-opens Tonight

 Mount Vernon, NY and Pelham Manor, NY, July 28, 2010 -- The Fulton Avenue Drawbridge between Secor Lane and Edison Avenue in Mt. Vernon and Pelham Manor will re-open to vehicular and pedestrian traffic tonight, July 28 at approximately 7 p.m.

The bridge was closed due to emergency bridge repairs.  

Concerns Of Potential Measles Exposure In Tarrytown

 TARRYTOWN, NY, July 28, 2010 -- The Westchester County Department of Health is advising the public of the potential exposure in Tarrytown to an individual with measles.  The Westchester County Department of Health was notified of this lab-confirmed case of measles on July 27 and began the investigation in association with the N.Y.S. Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

Ed Koch Commentary: Death on a Friday Evening BY Edward I. Koch

DeFarra Gaymon of Atlanta, Georgia, a married father of four children and a C.E.O. of a credit union, returned to New Jersey to attend the 30th reunion of his Montclair New Jersey High School class.  Instead of enjoying the reunion, which he helped organize, he was shot to death by an undercover police officer patrolling with a partner in Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey.

EXCLUSIVE: NYS Comptroller DiNapoli Asserts Yonkers Budget in Compliance with State Requirements BY Hezi Aris

 YONKERS, NY, July 28, 2010 -- Yonkersites have truly suffered not knowing of Yonkers prospects vis-a-vis earning New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s approval. Mr DiNapoli sent a letter dated July 26, 2010, assigning his review and testifying that all “the Justification Documents are in material compliance with the requirements of the Act and the Ordinance.”  The terse two paragraph statement attests to the fact that we are in the midst of the campaign season. Mr DiNapoli has no warning or suggestion to offer Yonkers lack of planning and mismanagement of its financial state of affairs.

EXCLUSIVE: Yonkers Board of Education to Close Mark Twain School Pool BY Hezi Aris

 Yearly Maintenance or Permanent Closure?

YONKERS, NY, July 28, 2010 -- The Mark Twain School Pool is a microcosm ofYonkers. The Mark Twain School Pool serves the entire community within the 4th Yonkers  City Council District, from the very young to the most mature. This is accomplished by the camaraderie nurtured between new swimmers and the swimmers who exercise to relieve the debilitating pains of arthritis. The Mark Twain School Pool is a microcosm of Yonkers society serving all within its pool from morning until late at night. Acid-tongued bloggers have learned that the pool is said to be slated to be drained this week. Short notice indeed to orders from up high. Is this the yearly maintenance protocol adhered to since the pool opened or is the Yonkers  Board of Education shutting the facility permanently. Conjecture seems to point to the latter. Chatter is strong and loud. Some within City Hall, who have shared their perspective under the safety of anonymity advise that they are only aware of the maintenance routine closure. Permanent closure is something they have not been advised.

Astorino Proposes Consolidation of Public Safety and Emergency Services Departments

Move to Save $3 Million Over Three Years 

WHITE PLAINS, NY, July 28, 2010 -- In his ongoing effort to make  county governmentmore efficient and less costly,  County Executive Robert P. Astorino today released his plan to merge the county departments of Public Safety and Emergency Services. 

West Nile Virus is Active Already in Neighboring Counties

Image via Wikipedia

Westchester Residents Urged to Take Precautions Against West Nile Virus 

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY, July 28, 2010 -- While no mosquito pools have yet tested positive for West Nile virus in Westchester, the virus has been active already in mosquitoes this year in neighboring counties. With that in mind, the Westchester County Department of Health is reminding residents to protect themselves and their homes from mosquitoes.

Mount Vernon Mayor Young Cuts Ribbon at Key Food Grand Opening In Fleetwood

Hundreds of Eager Customers Lined Up for Supermarket Opening

MOUNT VERNON, NY, July 28, 2010 -- On Friday, July 16 th, Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton I. Young, Jr. cut the ribbon during a ceremony to welcome the new Key Food Supermarket to the Fleetwood neighborhood in Mount Vernon. The Key Food Supermarket, located on West Broad Street, officially opened for business that day. The location was formerly the site of the Samba Na Brasa restaurant. "One year ago, I promised the residents of Fleetwood a new supermarket - and I delivered on that promise," noted Mayor Young. "The new Key Food supermarket has fresh produce, meats, dairy products and all the amenities of an upscale store within walking distance."  

Mayor Marvin’s Column BY Mary C. Marvin

Of major consequence to both Village government and individual residents is a proposed increase in water costs and fire hydrant maintenance charges by our water provider, United Water of New Rochelle.  Because this is all unfolding during the summer months, I did not want it to catch Villagers unaware especially in light of the fact that the proposed rate increase is astronomical – an increase of 50% over the next four years.  By way of comparison, Con Edison is seeking a 4% increase over the next three years.  To challenge this rate increase, Bronxville has joined a consortium which represents nine of the ten municipalities within the Westchester County United Water service territory.  We have jointly hired an attorney to help us navigate the process through the Public Service Commission.

Goldschmidt & Associates Attracts Two New Businesses to New Rochelle

NEW ROCHELLE, NY, July 27, 2010 -- The commercial real estate firm of Goldschmidt & Associates (www.ga-re.com) recently negotiated two long-term leases in New Rochelle, resulting in the establishment of two new businesses locating in Westchester County’s second largest city.

Community View: A Perspective from Then to Now BY Helena R. Edwards

As a people,‭ ‬African Americans have continuously struggled with the achievement of economic,‭ ‬political and social empowerment here in the United States.‭  ‬Our lack of success in this objective has been due largely to our inability to form a cohesive and collaborative body as a vehicle towards attainment of this goal.‭  ‬Historically,‭ ‬we have been a people that have been very divided.‭  ‬This division goes as far back as the motherland when brothers sold brothers for their own personal gain into slavery.‭  ‬This is something many African Americans do not like to admit.‭  ‬We rather tell the tale that the‭ “‬white man‭” ‬went into Africa and took humans kicking and screaming from their families and transported them into chattel slavery here in the‭ “‬New World.‭”  ‬However,‭ ‬anyone who is honest will admit that there were Africans selling Africans to the Portuguese and other slave traders for a profit.

Westchester County District Attorney’s Office Releases 2009 Annual Report

WHITE PLAINS, NY, July 27, 2010 -- Westchester County  District Attorney Janet DiFiore has today released the 2009 Annual Report of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

The 45 page report outlines the accomplishments and initiatives of the District Attorney’s office in 2009, along with setting goals for 2010 and looking forward to expanding upon the programs that have been implemented over the last four years.