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Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

WHITE PLAINS, NY — December 21, 2014 — “The murders today of the two New York City police officers is a horrific crime against our society and the values we cherish.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these fallen heroes. The people of Westchester stand in sorrow with every New Yorker and solidarity with the NYPD and all police officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino issued his statement on Saturday, December 20, 2014.

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Warburton Apartments groundbreaking. (L-R): NYS Democratic Conference Leader Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Congressman Eliot Engel, lady unknown to the editor, and Yonkers City Councilman Christopher Johnson.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — December 19, 2014 Congressman Eliot Engel announced that the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers will receive 35 housing vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help relocate families living in the Cottage Place Gardens.

On Monday, Congressman Engel attended a groundbreaking for the Warburton Apartments, which is part of the second phase of a new development that will soon replace the aging Cottage Place Gardens Complex.

“The Warburton Apartments are certainly a welcome addition to the community, but we also need to ensure those currently living in Cottage Place Gardens have access to safe, affordable housing. These federal funds will help them secure adequate housing.

“I am also pleased that local, state and federal resources will be used to fix and repair our existing public housing facilities. The Warburton Apartments will enable more working families to secure a home, as well as improve our neighborhoods and the quality of life for the people who live there.”

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Hon. Lee H. Hamilton was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.

We are one glum country.

Trust in the federal government is at historic lows, according to Gallup. More than half of the respondents to an October Rasmussen poll think our best days are behind us. And just a few weeks ago, an NBC/Wall St. Journal poll found that the one thing Americans agree upon whatever their race or circumstances is that the system is stacked against people like them.

Scratch an American, it seems, and you’ll get a litany of complaints about our representative democracy.

I see this defeatism all around me. When I speak to classes of university students, I almost always ask for a show of hands on whether these young people believe the U.S. is in decline or on the rise. Every time, the room is evenly split. That’s a lot of people who are losing faith in our system.

So I have just one thing to say: Could we all take a deep breath?

For one thing, we deal with our challenges from a position of strength. We have friendly neighbors to the north and south, oceans to the east and west, and a growing, relatively young population. We possess abundant natural resources, the world’s most capable military force, a nuclear arsenal second to none, and a deterrent power envied by every other country on earth. We face no existential threat from foreign powers. We can choose the role we want to play in the world.

We created the major mechanisms for world stability — the United Nations, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank — and we still help maintain them. We lead the way in pressing for open markets and free trade. Our fundamentals — from our military to our technology to our system of higher education — remain strong. We’re doing better economically than any other major industrialized nation, and have put more people back to work since the recovery began than the rest of the industrialized world combined. Does that sound like a once-great nation on its knees?

Our people possess strengths in abundance. We have a remarkable reservoir of talent both in the workforce and, to judge by the students I encounter every day, preparing to enter it. We’re blessed with a strong entrepreneurial tradition that nurtures inventiveness and creativity, and that draws countless people from abroad eager to make something of their future. Though we’re hardly perfect on this score, we have friends across the globe who genuinely admire our accomplishments.

I’m not blind to our shortcomings — if you read this column regularly, you know that — or to the severe challenges we confront. But in the face of extraordinary difficulties, we adapt, persevere, and eventually emerge stronger.

After decades of trying, we have begun to wean ourselves from foreign oil. Our response to the ebola crisis was initially halting and clumsy, but the federal government and the nation’s hospitals reformed their protocols remarkably quickly for a set of complex institutions. It’s taken a long time to put a coalition together to fight the Islamic State, but international coalitions are difficult to create, and by dint of hard work we’re better off now than we were a year ago. In the end, government may act slowly, and it’s often well behind where you’d wish it to be, but it does act.

All these things give our society a resilience to keep in mind the next time you see a news story or commentary hyping a pessimistic view of our future. The world around us is in turmoil, under enormous and even volcanic pressures that explode most every morning somewhere, yet we remain an island of stability. We may be disenchanted with our government, yet we’ve come out of the downturn stronger than any other country in the world — a testament not just to our private sector, but to the public policies that supported it.

We have a long way to go, there’s no doubt about it. But I’m reminded of a young woman a few years ago who asked me, after a bleak speech I’d given laying out the problems of the world, “Is there any hope?” My answer now is the same as it was then: Yes, of course there is.

Lee Hamilton is Director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years. Lee Hamilton is director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.

For information about the Center on Congress at Indiana University educational resources and programs, explore www.centeroncongress.org. Go to Facebook to share your thoughts about Congress, civic education, and the citizen’s role in representative democracy. “Like” them on Facebook at “Center on Congress at Indiana University.”

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WHITE PLAINS, NY — December 19, 2014 —  Democratic caucus members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators (WCBoL) expressed outrage today and announced plans to investigate why the Astorino Administration decided to close the Valhalla Residence Shelter on Hammond Road by December 31 and relocate approximately 20 homeless individuals living there to various other facilities for the homeless around the county.

The residents of the Valhalla facility, which offers specialized medical care, were given only two weeks’ notice that were going to be moved out.

While the residents are being guaranteed a bed elsewhere, there is tremendous concern about the lack of prior notice to the residents, and whether arrangements have been made for continuing specialized medical care for the residents at their new locations, wherever that may be.

The Astorino Administration’s decision to abruptly move the residents out seems to have been in the works for quite a while, however. The County’s $15.9 million contract with an agency to care for the homeless residents at new facilities was placed on the agenda of the County’s Board of Acquisition & Contract (A&C) this week and approved by County Executive Rob Astorino and County Department of Public Works and Transportation Commissioner Jay Pisco.

“Moving homeless residents who are dependent on certain medical care out of their residence, during the winter holidays and with such short notice, has to be one of the most inexplicable and mean-spirited decisions ever made by this Administration, “ said WCBL Majority Leader Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining). “To deliberately engineer the decision at the end of the year, so as to squash any discussion on whether this policy shift even makes sense to the County financially, flies in the face of good governance as well.”

The Valhalla Residence Shelter, located on the County-owned Grasslands campus, is a transitional residence for homeless individuals and childless couples. The facility provides a spectrum of health services to the residents, including medical assessments, drug and substance dependency care and counseling, and care for developmental and learning disabilities.

Legislator Alfreda Williams (D-Greenburgh), chair of the WCBoL Community Services Committee, has called for an emergency meeting of the committee on Monday, December 22 at 11 AM to discuss with Administration officials why the decision was made to close the Valhalla homeless residence in such hasty fashion, the number of residents currently in the Valhalla facility, the breakdown regarding the individuals’ disability and medical issues, and what specialized arrangements are being made for the residents as they are being transitioned to new facilities.

“’Tis the season when, over two thousand years ago, the world’s most famous homeless couple searched in vain for decent shelter, and now we have Rob ‘The Grinch’ Astorino kicking out over a dozen of some of the county’s neediest residents from their home and moving them around the county like pieces on a board game,” said Williams. “There needs to be a proper explanation for this incomprehensible action.”

Legislator Lyndon Williams (D-Mount Vernon), the WCBL Majority Whip, suggested that the Board of Legislators enact legislation that would set standards for closure of homeless facilities run by the County. These standards would consider housing needs, economic factors and ability to establish new sites, as well as the availability of permanent housing— all after hearing from the public.

“I am in full support of transitioning individuals from temporary to permanent housing, and the County should continue to strive for those goals,” said Williams. “However, there is no credible evidence showing we are at a point where shelters are no longer needed for the most vulnerable residents of this County.”

Legislator Ben Boykin (D-White Plains) suggested that the Administration keep the Valhalla shelter open and occupied for the time being, and work with the WCBoL to ensure that any future transitioning of homeless individuals be given more time and consideration. Also, proper medical care for the residents needs to be maintained.

“While I’m aware that the Valhalla shelter was meant to be a transitional facility, many of the individuals who are there have been so for quite some time,” said Boykin. “Asking them to depart to a new facility, with Christmas less than a week away, doesn’t seem charitable or humane.”

Legislator Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers) suggested that the County provide the WCBoL with extensive documentation regarding the number of homeless individuals across the county, the number that are being housed by the County, and what affect consolidating facilities will have on local communities, some of which have seen a rise in homelessness over the past few years.

“Everyone knows that it is not easy opening a new homeless shelter, so there has to be solid justification for closing this one down, especially since it seems to have been the shelter for those needing medical care,” said Jenkins. “There may be excessive capacity at other County shelters right now, but that may be because the cold weather really hasn’t set in yet. More importantly, will the residents being moved to new shelters be able to receive the same medical care they are getting right now?”

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Yonkers City Councilman Mike Breen (District 5).

YONKERS, NY — December 18, 2014 — Councilman Mike Breen sent out the following letter to constituents who reside in the 5^th District recently: “Over the past two years, the City has bonded [for] funds to replace all City water meters with new electronic read[ing] meters similar to equipment that Con Ed uses. I am told the City is approximately 2/3 through the water meter installation process. In the near future, the process will be complete and all water meters will be accurately and automatically reporting usage. At that point outrageous water readings and water bills should be ancient history.”

“Water rates are based on what NYC charges us for water, and it has gone up, plus an amount the City adds to cover our costs. This has caused bills to go up, especially those for underestimated users,” continues Breen.

Charicature of a younger, better looking Publisher / Editor Hezi Aris.

HEZI: In previous administrations, Yonkers City Hall did not divulge that a “Yonkers fee” was appended to the costs imposed by New York City. In fact, the cost of water as charged by New York City and one other water supplier, has never been made public. Neither has a cost for the “Yonkers fee” been divulged.

Mr. Breen’s letter reads onward as follows: “In the meantime Romi Rabadi (377-6164) in [the Yonkers Department of Finance] has been working with constituents on settling accounts. According to Romi, credits due to overpayments will go back one year. Any period before that would not be covered, and so you would have to challenge the city’s right to limit their financial exposure for previous years. This would be time consuming and probably costly to litigate.”

HEZI: The transition process has seen many people overcharged for many years. Glitches to the system would not show proof of payment and even when proven, the City of Yonkers refused to reimburse the resident. The history of mistakes and double and triple billing have continued for many years and now Yonkers City Hall refuses to repay money paid the city going back longer than one year. It seems outrageous that Councilman Mike Breen is so lackadaisical on the issue. Worse still, not a word from anyone.

“There will be no backbilling for underestimated bills. No One from the City is out reading old water meters before they are switched. There is “No One “ coming to read your meter,” continues Breen

HEZI: The fact that there is “No One” coming out to read your meter is an absolute travesty and a lie that is still being kept hidden. Yonkers conduct cannot stand as legal by any stretch of the imagination. Why have none of the City Councilmembers spoken to this issue publicly?

Breen continues,”To those of us who have been under estimated all these years, the new accurate reading will cause ‘Sticker Shock.’”

HEZI: Why must Yonkersites swallow the costs of those that were undercharged and why is there no “estimate” engaged and calculated to pay some of the understood differences in charges of old and those today? One need not be an Einstein to create an appropriate and fair algorithm toward that end. Do Yonkersites have to pay because Finance Commissioner John Liszewski is inept in coming up with a budget that works or will he continue to “steal” money from Yonkers residents because he can do as he pleases. Should Inspector general Brendan McGrath care to earn his salary, this issue demands attention!

“Breen says, “Unless there is an instance of a new meter being defective, the new readings are accurate. They have been using the new accurate readings to calculate bills for the previous billing cycle prior to the new installation.”

HEZI: So there is an algorithm after all. Has the consumer received a written explanation? When will the letter be sent?

Breen continues: “As for readings before home closings, that was a problem for a time, they now can read the meter from the office, the new system alleviates the problem.”

Breen conludes: “If someone has received an outrageous bill, they are encouraged to contact my assistant, Dan Crowley at 377-6315. Dan will work with Romi. We would be happy to work with any of your neighbors to settle any issues.

HEZI: So much for transparency! Happy Channukah, Merry Christmas, and Happy Kwanza!

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Carlos A. Moran, Yonkers Commissioner of Human Resources

YONKERS, NY – December 18, 2014 – Carlos A. Moran, most recently serving as Acting Commissioner has been recognized qualified to be named commissioner and was so named earlier this week. With more than 23 years of government and social service experience bolstering his resume, Moran has earned the position.

His responsibilities are defined by Yonkers City Hall. Moran advises all City departments, agencies, and bureaus regarding personnel services of applicable laws, rules and regulations and labor contracts. He is also responsible for administering and communicating all employee benefit programs including health insurance, life insurance, workers compensation, occupational safety and health, employee assistance programs and all other similar benefit programs. Responsibilities he has efficiently conducted as Deputy Commissioner.

Moran brings educational and employment experience, and bilingual capacity. His greatest strength resides in his propensity to listen and bring concepts to fruition through amenable discourse with people.

Congratulations and much success to the new Yonkers Commissioner of Human Resources.

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Walking on a trail through the Blue Mountain Reservation that is adjacent to the present pipeline, the legislators were able to get an idea of how much of the park, which is favored by hikers and mountain bikers, would be affected by this major construction project. The present 75-foot-wide easement of the pipeline is expected to increase up to 130 feet in some spots through its 1.4 mile course in the park. Thousands of trees would need to be cut down and much of the landscape cleared in the new easement.

“It’s not just this new easement zone that’s a concern, it’s how much of an impact this project will have on the entire park, especially in the areas nearby to where the work will take place,” said Legislator Pete Harckham (D-North Salem), chair of the WCBoL Labor, Parks, Planning & Housing Committee. “The scope of clearing that could possibly occur along the pipeline needs to be addressed before a review is completed and the work begins.”

Harckham noted that the WCBoL had sent a request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) asking for Spectra to furnish a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) regarding the project, since the corporation’s initial Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) did not adequately address the pipeline expansion’s possible short-term and long-term effects at Blue Mountain.

The tour of the pipeline in Blue Mountain Reservation was facilitated by Harckham and the County’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation (PRC). Joining Harckham were four of his WCBoL colleagues—WCBL Chairman Michael Kaplowitz (D-Somers), WCBL Majority Leader Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining), WCBL Minority Leader John Testa (R-Peekskill) and WCBL MaryJane Shimsky (D-Hastings-on-Hudson)—as well as PRC Deputy Commissioner Peter Tartaglia, PRC Director of Facilities David DeLucia and County Executive Rob Astorino’s Chief of Staff George Oros, a former legislator from Peekskill. Cortlandt Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi and several concerned residents also attended the informational walk through the park.

“The pipeline expansion project will clearly alter the landscape and nature of Blue Mountain Reservation,” said Borgia. “This is something that should have been addressed a year ago when Spectra first began to meet with the County.”

Spectra is seeking a revocable license with the County to do the work in the park. But, to date, County Parks officials are still waiting for a tree survey from Spectra that will show the extent of deforestation that will accompany the project in Blue Mountain. Moreover, construction drawings have yet to be shared with County

“All of the stakeholders involved here at a local level would feel more comfortable at this point in the approval process if Spectra were willing to provide some of the documentation and mapping associated with the expansion project,” said Shimsky, chair of the WCBoL Infrastructure Committee.

In August 2014, the WCBoL announced passage of a resolution calling for a stricter review process and full risk assessments in regard to the proposed expansion of the Algonquin gas pipeline through the county. The approved resolution focuses primarily on two specific risks regarding the proposed pipeline: 1) its location in highly populated areas in Westchester, where potential accidents and regular emissions could be harmful to the populace, and 2) proximity to the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant and two geological faults.

Harckham remarked that concern about the pipeline has been heightened because Spectra is looking to accelerate the approval process at the federal and state levels.

“It’s vitally important the Administration and Board of Legislators work in concert to ensure that the proposed pipeline is given the utmost scrutiny it deserves,” added Harckham. “All of the possible environmental and health impacts of this project need to be carefully evaluated before the first shovel hits the ground.”

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20 Oak Street fire that would come to consume the “suspicious” fire at the abandoned structure. Adjoining houses were maintained by the efforts of the YFD.

Yonkers Mayor and Yonkers Industrial Development Agency Board Chairman Mike Spano

YONKERS, NY – December 17, 2014 – Mayor Mike Spano yesterday announced  that the City of Yonkers Housing and Buildings Department tore down the remains of 20 Oak Street. The vacant building broke out in flames late Sunday night.

“Tearing down what’s left of this structure not only rids the neighborhood of an eyesore but also restores safety to the area,” said Mayor Spano.

The abandoned three-family residential building is being torn down over the course of several hours tyesterday. Con Edison and Verizon lines also have been safely removed from the premise. The City will now clear the property of debris, level the lot and erect a 12 foot gate and fence to secure the area.

It took 60 Yonkers firefighters roughly three hours to control the blaze that broke out late Sunday night. Crews responded quickly to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings.

“While we are relieved that no one was injured by the incident, it is crucial that no further injuries come from this,” Mayor Spano added. “Removing the building altogether is the best way to ensure that and protect children and families in the neighborhood.”

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Bronxville Mayor Mary C. Marvin

This time of year prompts particular questions about the day-to-day whys and where fors in the Village.

Prime among them, now that it is peak shopping season, is the frustration seeing our Parking Enforcement Officers seemingly intent on their meter duty and oblivious to driving infractions, most notably vehicles crossing double yellow lines to secure a parking space.

By law, our Parking Enforcement Officers or PEO’s are not police officers, nor even peace officers, and their sole authorization and training is to issue parking tickets.

Moving vehicular violations can only be enforced by trained police officers. Traffic stops of any kind are actually the most dangerous duty for a police officer because stops too often lead to more serious crimes/charges such as weapons possession, stolen vehicles or outstanding criminal warrants. PEO’s have none of the training, equipment or weapons necessary to handle these unpredictable situations.

The police officer also has to witness the moving violation so calling in with a license number as you witness the transgression unfortunately cannot result in a ticket.

In addition, many of you have reported drivers illegally turning left onto Park Place creating a dangerous situation for crossing pedestrians. In response, we have increased our patrol and plan to move the signage to a location easier to spot before making the turn as we have learned that some careful drivers simply did not see the signage.

With the holidays, there are also more pedestrians in our crosswalks at all hours of the day and night. As a reminder, when a pedestrian enters a marked crosswalk, the law requires not only the car in the immediate lane to stop, but also the cars traveling in the opposite direction. As illustration, at the crosswalk near the soccer store and Houlihan Lawrence, the law requires all four lanes of traffic to stop. That being said, it is important to remember that the crosswalk is not an extension of the sidewalk and pedestrians must exercise careful judgment before stepping off the curb, especially when crossing mid street. Per New York State Law, “Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.”

In the spirit of the holidays and our business district, the Village will be offering free parking in our Garden, Kraft and Avalon Lots on Saturday, the 20^th and Christmas Eve, the 24^th from Noon to 6pm. We use to offer it the whole day and even on Pondfield Road but realized we were unintentionally defeating the purpose of customers running in and out of stores to make purchases. Rather, folks were seeing the free parking and quite legally then heading to Manhattan for the day, occupying the parking spaces for the entire business day. The Noon start time benefits our merchants, not our day trippers.

The holiday’s increased vehicular traffic, which we welcome, also quite naturally extends beyond our compact downtown districts into residential areas, and most importantly school zones. The areas adjacent to all Schools in our Village, including our nursery schools, are zones with a 20mph speed limit. Our police are monitoring with radar and unfortunately drivers are speeding, as well as texting while driving, which seems to have become an epidemic. Five seconds is the average time one’s eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blind folded.

Other housekeeping notes reflective of the season include the payment of the second half tax bill and the flip in the garbage schedule.

Second half tax bill’s, (stub with amount was in the yearly mailing), are due without penalty by December 31^st either in person or post-marked. After Village Hall closes on the 31^st at 4pm, payments may be delivered to the Police Desk up until midnight. A 5% state imposed penalty will be added post the due date, and non-payment that extends into February adds another percent penalty as does March, culminating finally in a lien sale, in mid-March. I am pleased to report that we will have the capability to accept payment by credit card in the 2015 tax cycle.

The sanitation pickup schedule will change on January 5, 2015. Those of you having trash pickup on Monday/Thursday will switch to Tuesday/Friday and vice versa. Recycling for everyone will remain on Wednesdays.

As point of reference, the sanitation schedule was rotated several years ago due to the regularization and proliferation of national holidays to be celebrated on Mondays only.

The net result was residents on the Monday/Thursday schedule lost six to seven pickup days yearly in perpetuity. In the interest of fairness, the Trustees opted for the yearly route switch.

Mary C. Marvin is the mayor of the Village of Bronxville, New York. If you have a suggestion or comment, direct your perspective by e-mail to: mayor@vobny.com.

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