Westchester Herald

The Spoof: Pet Fashion Week in NYC Turns Chaotic, Dogs Protest BY Gail Farrelly

I don't have a  dog.  But still, someone has to speak for them.

The Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan was the scene of a protest yesterday as a group of dogs barked, ran around, and refused to continue to participate in the various activities of Pet  Fashion Week. Disgusted owners, frustrated spectators, and furious vendors were appalled.

Newly Rehabilitated Apartments for Rent

 

Cohen Advises Westchesterites to Complete All their Back-to-School Shopping They Can Afford Now

 White Plains, NY, August 27, 2010 -- New York State Senate candidate Bob Cohen (R,C,I)  today warned local residents that they should do all the back-to-school shopping they can afford as soon as possible; before a new Senator Oppenheimer-approved state sales tax on clothing and footwear goes into effect on October 1.   

Union Telephone Workers to Raise Funds for Soup Kitchen Sunday, August 29th

 Yonkers, NY, August 27, 2010 -- Union telephone workers are coming together from all over Yonkers and The Bronx on August 29th, 2010 for a softball tournament to raise funds for Father Ned’s the Part of the Solutions Soup Kitchen (POTS) in The Bronx. Up to 26 teams are participating. Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, candidate for New York State Attorney General in Democratic Primary is expected to attend at 1:00 PM.

The event will take place this Sunday, August 29, 2010, at Redmond Field, 2200 Cook Avenue, Yonkers, NY, situated near Yonkers Avenue and Cross County Parkway intersection. 

The Hezitorial: Campaign Effort Permeated with Fraud BY Hezi Aris

Yonkers Tribune has seen the petitions presented to theWestchester County Board of Elections presented by the Mike Ramondelli campaign in their effort to garner a sufficient number of signatures in his attempt to place his name under a new party line, the Cut My Taxes designation.

News from Independent Counsel Judith S. Kaye

New York, NY, August 26, 2010 -- Judge  Judith S. Kaye,  Independent Counsel to the Office of the Attorney
General, today released her final report entitled, “ Kaye_8-26-10:Report of Investigation Into Events Arising from Gov David A Paterson's Acquisition of 2009 World Series Tickets."

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Gerald Celente's Trend Alert: Economic Collision Course - The “Crash of 2010”

 

Trends Research Institute Director Gerald Celente.

Kingston, NY, August 26, 2010 --  Following the “Panic of ’08” and the subsequent “Great Recession,” Washington,Wall Street and the media united to promote the belief that extreme crisis management measures enacted by governments had rescued the world, and staved off even worse disaster.

Current Commentary: One Less Reason To Flee New York BY Larry M. Elkin

August 26, 2010.

As we conclude this hard-times summer of the “stay-cation,” New Yorkers who are contemplating  divorcecan finally end their marriages in a civilized way, without leaving home.

Until this month, New York was the last state to require a divorcing spouse to prove that the other party was guilty of cruelty, adultery or abandonment. Every other state has had  no-fault divorces for decades. As a result, New Yorkers had to suffer through needlessly prolonged, contentious and expensive marital litigation.

WCBoL Vice-Chairman Williams Proposes Long-Term Policies to Reduce Joblessness

White Plains, NY, August 25, 2010 -- The July 2010 unemployment rate of 7 percent in Westchester County has fallen from its peak in February  2010 to 7.8 percent. However, the unemployment rate in some communities in the County is much higher. According to statistics from the New York State Department of Labor, the July 2010 unemployment figures for Mount Vernon was 9 percent and 8.9 percent in Yonkers. The jobless rates for the same period in these communities were higher than the statewide rate of 8.4 percent.

Senator Stewart-Cousins Assists San-Mar Laboratories in Securing $750,000 for Expansion and Local Job Creation Plans

  Elmsford, NY, August 25, 2010 -- Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins today conducted a press conference announcing a $750,000 New York State grant she assisted in securing from the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) for San-Mar Laboratories to make investments needed to reduce operating costs, produce new products, and expand the business. 

State and City Legislators Announce Legislation that Would Hold Banks Accountable for Foreclosed Homes

 State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries and City Council Member Brad Lander stood with their colleagues to propose legislation that shifts responsibility for foreclosed homes to the banks.

New York, NY, August 25, 2010 -- New York State Majority Leader and Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries, City Council Member Brad Lander and New York Communities for Change (NYCC) today held a press conference with a coalition of State and City legislators to announce legislation that is aimed at holding banks responsible for foreclosed homes in New York.  The proposed legislation emphasizes the importance of banks responsibly maintaining foreclosed homes if they cannot offer a viable mortgage modification to families in need.

Current Commentary: Rooting For Gridlock And A Tax Hike BY Larry M. Elkin

 You don’t hear this very often, but I hope my taxes go up next year – and yours, too.

I do not have a burning desire to send more money to Washington. I don’t have a ton of disposable cash and no better place to use it. I do not buy the patently silly argument, propounded by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and others in the Obama administration, that a tax increase on business owners like me will have no effect on employment. I think a tax increase is going to set back economic recovery, perhaps substantially.

The Hezitorial: Government Must Traverse the Media Landscape with Agenda-less Impartiality BY Hezi Aris

Managing Editor Robert Cox of New Rochelle's Talk of the Sound yesterday wrote an Open Letter to Chuck Strome, New Rochelle’s City Manager, advising his right to be fairly treated as a member of media, commensurate to equal footing with the Journal News,WVOX-1460 AM radio, Cable News 12 Westchester, among others. Since the onset of the Internet, government, taking a page from a threatened media establishment, quickly recognized the impact of the Internet and the many hyperlocal reporters who would challenge the status quo. It did not take too long for the term “blog” to become the latest four-letter epithet. Challenging the stale and stagnant media landscape by infusing a “new voice” into the media landscape bloggers charged forward undeterred and unafraid. Media had won the first round in casting aspersions about bloggers. As in every frontier, the first explorers’ attempt to define the Internet was cursory. Time permitted greater exploration and introspection. Today we continue to explore the parameters of the Internet and its role and impact vis-a-vis the mainstream media base line.

Jewish Heritage Street Fair in Riverdale

Image via Wikipedia

Riverdale, NY, August 25, 2010 -- The Jewish Heritage Street Fair is early this year, so are the High Holy Days!  Even though it's still August, don't miss this annual Riverdale Jewish Heritage Street Fair  event and a chance to buy specialty items for the holidays.  

The event will take over  Johnson Avenue, between West 235 and West 236 Streets. It is 

sponsored by the Riverdale Jewish Community Relations Council and the Riverdale Y. It takes place this Sunday, August 29, 2010, from 10 am - 5 pm. There will be games and activities for children -- lots of free samples, giveaways and much more.  

Exhibitors include:

 

New York Civic: Justice Delayed is Justice Denied BY Henry J. Stern

Commission Delays Two-Term Limit for City Officials Until A.D. 2021, However the Public Votes this Year

August 24, 2010

The Charter Revision Commission appointed by Mayor Bloomberg voted last night to postpone by eleven years the effective date when a two- term limit would take effect, even if the voters approve it in  referendum this fall.

Current Commentary: How Everyone Came To Have A Second Mortgage BY Larry M. Elkin

A quarter-century ago, only someone in desperate need of cash would take a  second mortgage. Then Congress changed the tax rules, and today, millions of Americans have “ home equity” lines.

Banks are losing $30 billion a year on these products, and untold thousands of families stand to lose their homes to foreclosure. Is this another example of a law’s unexpected consequences? Nope. This outgrowth of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 was perfectly foreseeable, and in fact, foreseen. But, then as now, Congress tended to tune out warnings that it preferred not to hear.

Ground Zero Workers’ Lawyers Give Speaker Silver’s Law Firm a Cut of Settlement Agreement Funds BY Hezi Aris

 New York, NY, August 24, 2010 -- There are nearly 10,000 ailing Ground Zero workers whose plight was brought before the courts by  the personal injury  lawpartnership firms of Worby Groner Edelman (Michael Edelman pictured), and Napoli Bern. Allegations today surfaced suggesting that the  firm disguised padding $220,000 in payments for lobbyist,  public relationsand medical reviews. Treating the $220,000 in fees as “expert costs”, the law firm of Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo allege  the respective firms of Worby Groner Edelman, and  Napoli Bern, circumvented the $1.75 million in “common benefit costs” submitted by  the law firms of Worby Groner Edelman, and  Napoli Bern.

McLaughlin’s Accusation of Big $pending by NYS Senator Stewart-Cousins is Baseless BY Hezi Aris

Yonkers, NY, August 23, 2010 -- Liam McLaughlin,Republican and Conservative Party candidate for State Senate(SD-35) today issued a press release blasting incumbent Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins for her addiction to spending; asserting she had spent $652,486 this year and demanding a full accounting of how the funds were spent. The so-called “wasteful” spending charge derived from the August 22, 2010, Journal New article in which the cost of the Senator’s staff and related expenses relating to the operation of her district office was divulged. The sum total is correct. The assertion of the sum spent as “wasteful” is ludicrous and nothing more than a deceitful political  ploy.

Developer Louis Cappelli On the Level on WVOX-1460 AM

New Rochelle, NY, August 23, 2010 -- New Rochelle Developer Louis Cappelli and Joe Apicella are Richard Narog and Hezi Aris’ guests  this Tuesday, August 24th, from 10 am through 11 am, on WVOX-1460 AM on your radio dial and worldwide on www.WVOX.com. Listeners and readers are invited to send a question to WHYTeditor@gmail.com for possible use on the show.

Ed Koch Commentary: Blacks and Jews, Somehow They Always Go Together BY Edward I. Koch

August 23, 2010

Two New York Times op-eds, running side by side this past weekend, impacted heavily on my thoughts.  One was written by Bob Herbert and the other by Charles M. Blow.

Bob Herbert’s column titled “Too Long Ignored” was devoted to “a tragic crisis of enormous magnitude (that) is facing black boys and men in America.”  He reported on a litany of factors:  “parental neglect, racial discrimination, and an orgy of self-destructive behavior.”  

Demonstration of New Voting Machines to be Conducted in New Rochelle and Yonkers

 

New Rochelle BID Announces New Restaurant and Business Support Program

 © 2010 Steve Bretschneider Design

Community Capital Resources, NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority), and Con Edison join the New Rochelle Business Improvement District in an innovative program for downtown restaurants and retail businesses.

New Rochelle, NY, August 23, 2010 -- The New Rochelle Business Improvement District (BID) announced a new BID Restaurant and Business Support Program for downtown New Rochelle. The program is designed to help downtown restaurants and stores lower their operating costs by identifying energy saving measures; get access to conservation incentives, and most importantly, for eligible businesses, obtain financing, to assist not only in implementing selected energy saving measures, but for business improvements and operating expenses as well.

Current Commentary: Creative Financing For Uncle Sam BY Larry M. Elkin

Check the national debt clock: Our federal debt is $13.3 trillion, next year’s budget is $1 trillion in the red, and we have unfunded commitments for Social Security, health care and other programs as far as the eye can see.

Is the United States already insolvent? Yes, according to a recent Bloomberg column by Boston University economics professor Laurence J. Kotlikoff. After comparing the government’s obligations with its expected future revenues, he concludes: “Let’s get real. The U.S. is bankrupt.”

The Spoof: Sly Stallone Rings Opening Bell at NYSE; Cracks the Bell BY Gail Farrelly

Sunday, 22 August 2010

NY Stock Exchange officials were glad to bid adieu to Stallone and his cohorts.

Last weekend, movie star Sylvester Stallone took over the box office with his new movie, "The Expendables." Then on Thursday, he and fellow cast members -- Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham, andTerry Crews -- took over the New York Stock Exchange, making an appearance to ring the opening bell. 

Campaign Trail: Assemblyman Richard Brodsky for Attorney General