PRESORTED STANDARD PERMIT #3036 WHITE PLAINS NY

Vol. VI No. VI Thursday, February 9, 2012 $1.00 Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly

Creative Disruption: Mail Bronxville’s Page 8 The Nicest Paparazzi Ever! Response to Page 8

Indian Point Fire Library Safety Outdated Page 10

Director’s Shifting Gears: Infiniti M-35 Bronxville Mayor Mary C. Marvin Hybrid Lawsuit Page 16

By Mayor MARY C. MARVIN, Page 19 Of Wit and Anger Page 17

Love Blooms Eternal in The City of Lights Page 18

Gerrymandering: The Fight Over Redistricting Page 21

The Flatter Tax ByAlbany Councilman PETER FailsTRIPODI IV, PageOssining 24 Page 23

westchesterguardian.com Page 2 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Page 3

Of Significance RADIO

Community Section...... 4 Books...... 4 Business...... 6 Westchester On the Level with Narog Calendar...... 7 Creative Disruption...... 8 and Aris Cultural Perspective...... 8 Energy Issues...... 10 Westchester On the Level is heard from Mondays to Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon on the Internet: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/WestchesterOntheLevel. Join the Gaming...... 11 conversation by calling toll-free to 1-877-674-2436. Please stay on topic. Governance...... 12 Healthcate...... 13 Richard Narog and Hezi Aris are your co-hosts. In the week beginning February 6th and ending on February History...... 13 10th, we have many exciting people that are sure to captivate your interest. Music...... 14 We begin every week with a celebrated author. His name is Jack Durish. He wrote Rebels on the Mountain, Public Relations...... 15 a novel built on the history of tyrants, rapacious businessmen, gangsters, and a mismanaged US foreign policy Spoof...... 15 that allowed Cuba to fall into the Soviet’s sphere of influence when they weren’t even trying for it. It provides the Shifting Gears...... 16 background needed to understand the continuing crisis that is Cuban-American relations, tainting the peace of all island nations in the Caribbean. Sports Scene...... 17 Eye On Theatre...... 17 The interview of Jack Durish begins the week on Monday, February 6th, with The Writer’s Collection author Travel...... 18 (http://www.thewriterscollection.com/). Learn more about Jack Durish at http://www.JackDurish.com/. Government Section...... 19 On Tuesday, February 7th, co-hosts Richard Narog and Hezi Aris are sure to mix it up in a banter that Mayor Marvin’s Column...... 19 reveals the inner workings of governance in the City of Yonkers, New York State’s fourth largest city and the Budgets...... 20 largest city in Westchester County. Contracts...... 20 Specific guests for the balance of the week were not concluded in time for this writing. Stay tuned. Gerrymandering...... 21 For those who cannot join us live, consider listening to the show by way of an MP3 download, or on demand. Message from Mayor...... 21 Within 15 minutes of a show’s ending, you can find the segment in our archive that you may link to using the Policy...... 22 hyperlink provided in the opening paragraph. OpEd Section...... 23 The entire archive is available and maintained for your perusal. The easiest way to find a particular interview is Ed Koch Commentary...... 23 to search Google, or any other search engine, for the subject matter or the name of the interviewee. For example, Legal Notices...... 26 search Google, Yahoo, AOL Search for: Jack Durish, Westchester On the Level, Blog Talk Radio, or use the hyperlink above. Mission Statement The Westchester Guardian is a weekly newspaper devoted to the unbiased reporting of events and developments that are newsworthy and significant to readers living in, and/or employed in, Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly Westchester County. The Guardian will strive to report fairly, and objectively, reliable informa- tion without favor or compromise. Our first duty will be to the PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO KNOW, by the exposure of truth, without fear or hesitation, Guardian News Corp. no matter where the pursuit may lead, in the finest tradition of FREEDOM P.O. Box 8 OF THE PRESS. New Rochelle, New York 10801 The Guardian will cover news and events relevant to residents and businesses all over Westchester County. As a weekly, rather than Sam Zherka , Publisher & President focusing on the immediacy of delivery more associated with daily [email protected] journals, we will instead seek to provide the broader, more compre- hensive, chronological step-by-step accounting of events, enlightened Hezi Aris, Editor-in-Chief & Vice President with analysis, where appropriate. [email protected] From amongst journalism’s classic key-words: who, what, when, where, why, and how, the why and how will drive our pursuit. We Advertising: (914) 562-0834 will use our more abundant time, and our resources, to get past the News and Photos: (914) 562-0834 initial ‘spin’ and ‘damage control’ often characteristic of immediate Fax: (914) 633-0806 news releases, to reach the very heart of the matter: the truth. We will take our readers to a point of understanding and insight which cannot Published online every Monday be obtained elsewhere. Print edition distributed Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday To succeed, we must recognize from the outset that bigger is not neces- sarily better. And, furthermore, we will acknowledge that we cannot be Graphic Design: Watterson Studios, Inc. all things to all readers. We must carefully balance the presentation of relevant, hard-hitting, Westchester news and commentary, with features www.wattersonstudios.com and columns useful in daily living and employment in, and around, the county. We must stay trim and flexible if we are to succeed. westchesterguardian.com Page 4 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 CommunitySection BOOKS Applause— Damn! Myron says to himself. “So now let me tell you two about a plan “Well, we’ll be writing up our pledge and The Retired (Try To) Strike Back endorsed by a majority of our group. We want sending it soon to the both of you. Each of you to see which of you accepts it. It goes like this: can decide whether to sign. Then our association, You’d agree now that if you win you’d hire as a top or at least the majority of us, can determine who to Chapter 38 – What Do They Want? assistant someone from our community family vote for. And share our decision with other family By ALLAN LUKS association or a family organization like ours. This groups.” assistant will help you push for policies needed by The woman turns around and a new ques- Another election debate for “Yes, very much. I see my candidacy as being families and that groups like ours support. That tioner approaches the floor mike. Myron quickly Myron, and the next ques- part of a potential drive by seniors to enter politics person also will be telling us if you’re not able to wonders: What can I say tonight—or at the other tioner of the two candidates throughout the country. With our obvious need be as forceful as we all want. So we can get more candidate nights coming up? Do I just keep for City Council looks at her note cards, as to make change happen in the short term and support to you to make you comfortable fighting repeating that unlike waving the family banner or the audience in the restaurant’s meeting room get what we do right, seniors won’t be dictated to for family proposals.” trotting out more lawyers, at least seniors repre- watches. by large contributors and ideologues.” He’d been Loud applause. sent new leadership? And if we’re elected in large A stocky woman, with very short, salt and waiting for a chance to recite these words. “Sister, your response?” enough numbers and fail to make a difference— pepper hair, she then confidently loosens the floor “I’m also a senior,” the questioner replies, “so Mary Ellen pulls the small table mike closer some new group will be right behind us wanting mike and slides it down. I can talk honestly. If what you say happens, we’ll to her, watches it. “I don’t know your group well. to lead.” “O.K.,” she says. “Our election is about safety, just be seeing older faces in office—not faces ready I’d need to review all proposals that come to me Then what strategies do I use? Myron thinks. taxes, schools, clean streets, transportation, jobs. to act differently.” without any commitment to your or other orga- My friends wanted a commercial emphasizing And the same discussion is going on in every Light applause, and Myron looks straight nizations—if I’m elected. But I’ll keep an open my sympathy to their personal problems. Bob other district in this city, correct?” ahead. mind about your idea.” argued for a commercial attacking Mary Ellen. Mary Ellen and Myron, sitting behind a “Sister, what’s your view?” Mary Ellen is tough, thinks Myron. . But I finally decided on a commercial with me in table with a small mike on it, quickly nod back— “I’ve been an attorney for the city,” answers “Age Brother, would you agree to this pledge? front of the insurance company where I worked “Except voters in all the districts don’t expect Mary Ellen. “And one idea I’d like to try is to “I worked for decades as the chief actuary of and my achievements scrolling at the bottom of much will change to help them no matter who organize a volunteer army of lawyers and let them a large insurance company and we’d gather great the screen. Nothing tricky or negative. Yet Mary wins, don’t we agree?” go through every, and I mean every, law. They’d amounts of information about Ellen still doesn’t have a commercial—does she Mary Ellen and Myron remain quiet. search for ways to interpret laws so we can shrink people—their jobs, habits, health—before have a surprise strategy she’s waiting to use? “You’re about my age,” the woman says as she or expand their scope. That way we can get change we’d decide on a project. What we needed most Myron looks to the side and sees Mary looks at Myron, and then turns to Mary Ellen without having to rely as much on votes by the was a leader who could get the staff to truly Ellen’s face turned toward him. and adds, “and you have my skin color. Look at professional politicians who stalemate constantly discuss the data, forget their own department Allan Luks is anationally recognized social works our association members here tonight and you see because they think they’ll aggravate different priorities and do it quickly. That was in large part leader and advocate for volunteerism. He is currently we resemble you two.. We’re all family and we’re supporters.” my responsibility. But I’m not saying your idea is a visiting professor at Fordham university, where he ready to talk family. We want a candidate who The questioner smiles at Mary Ellen. “Sister, bad.” teaches several courses in nonprofit leadership.Learn represents a new force for change.” you know I’m not a person of bias. But I don’t “You answer is longer than the lawyer’s,” the more at http://allanluks.com. Direct email to allan@ Applause from the audience. think our city needs a candidate who’s bringing in woman says allanluks.com. “Do you agree?” she asks Myron. even more lawyers who confuse plain folks.” Laughs from the audience. day to day, as they are on the insights gained in the doctor’s office. The goal, at least for me, was No Guarantees: One Man’s Road Through the Darkness of Depression to incorporate the insights into my conscious- ness, the day-to-day rhythm of life. Indeed, that goal itself was an insight learned. Chapter Twenty-Three – Things Can Always Get Worse As such, while the linear narratives of my By BOB MARRONE life, like those in the last chapter (22), serve to layout the experiences and conditions that led Psychotherapy is like what I appears to be no connection whatsoever between cure or math like solution to your problems, your me down the path to depression, and give insight imagine chemotherapy to be. what you do in the doctor’s office and how you improvements come over large swaths of time into the nature of self hate and insecurity, they You go for treatment once a week and there feel everyday. As much as you want some quick and are as much about how you live and think do not tell the story of what depression itself is Continued on page 5 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Page 5

BOOKS The Retired (Try To) Strike Back Chapter 38 – What Do They Want? Continued from page 4 appreciate these immediate situational stressors like. As we go forward, I will make every effort to were not only triggers, but they undermined my establish these links without compromising the overall state, and would prove to have enormous features of the illness and the courses that it took significance overall. For now, however, though I within me. was in treatment and beginning to wrestle with Through the din of the give and take that my childhood and these more current matters, I was my rash of obsessions and John’s effort to was getting worse. cut through them, emerged the real and growing As my agitation increased and my depres- realities underlying much of my stress at that sion worsened, new, more volatile symptoms time, issues that served as major triggers of my came to the forefront. The first was a tendency condition. Chief among them, my wife was toward violent mood swings driven by my pregnant and I was not ready. I did not have the weakening sense of control over my thoughts finances. I was not sure I wanted to be married. and feelings. The first time I noticed it I had And, I certainly did not want to be a father been having an unusually good day, and I had until I could be better at it than the collection convinced myself that I was getting better. The of woefully irresponsible men in my family who odd thing about anxiety producing adrenalin preceded me up until that time. Even the one or is that when your mood switches to “going two that had been decent were unable to avoid forward positive’ it is almost euphoric. It was a the convenience of dropping themselves and/ beautiful day, all was well with the world and I or their children off at “Shady Rest,” the Twenty believed that my troubles would soon be over. Fourth Street house, where my mother and I was working on a lesson plan dealing with grandmother could be counted on to minimize how a manager can identify emotional disorders their burdens; or worse, allow them to abdicate in the workplace, when I came across a basic their parental responsibilities altogether. definition of manic depression as explained in Another issue, one that was to burden me a management handbook. One line dealt with for years to come, was my guilt over having gone the rapid reversal of mood from up-beat and forth with marriage because that was “what you euphoric to sudden catastrophic depressive lows. did,” when I knew that I loved someone else. “That is not me,” I said to myself. “I feel great.” Worse still, I knew I had hurt both women by But the more I said it, the more I obsessed. The not acting on it. The women I wanted, who shall more I obsessed, the more panicked I became. go nameless, as will much specific comment The more panicked I became, the more my about my wife at that time (see footnote 1), was mood dropped. The more it dropped, the more the love of my life. It was in our hearts and our still I became frantic, and the internal mantra eyes and our behavior in ways that the rest of the began: “I am psychotic, I am crazy, I am brain world could see. Yet my timidity, commitment to damaged, I am crazy, oh God, I am a manic a promise and an off-chance meeting led me to depressive, see, see, see.” abandon my conviction. I had actually been close Wave after wave of panic attacks washed to breaking my engagement, but got cold feet. over me, leaving me nearly incontinent and I had told by someone we will refer to as withered. I ran to the bathroom, then to the Loml, that I would cancel the wedding and water fountain, back to the men’s room, and was getting my courage up when a chance so forth, trying to escape my own mind. The encounter with her mom turned me into a light was debilitating, the air suffocating and scared rabbit. “Robert,” she announced, “I hear sounds deafening. The panic attacks were always you are stopping the wedding.” I just nodded followed by an endless stream of self-damning and kept walking, but I felt naked and unsure, guilt and memories from times past and present. like someone awakened from a sleep walk in the My soul was locked in the prison of my body, middle of the night. I so trusted Loml not to and subject to unrelenting torture. There was say anything, that I forgot how a young women nowhere to run. would always trust her mother with such a thing. Footnote 1: - Over the thirty years I have I was not angry. But the die was cast. I felt prepared to write this book I consulted, several like I was in over my head and had no busi- tutorials on the subject of memoirs. And while ness thinking I had what it took to back out of the essence of this type of book must be treated an engagement and go with women six years with blunt honesty, I have an obligation not younger than I was at the time. I bailed. to use the work, deliberately or otherwise, as a It was, and remains, aside for all the child- means to hurt or humiliate other people. There hood and later issues you might infer from this are members of my family who will be put off tome, the heartache of my life. I loved her that by some of what is mentioned herein. But they much. Adding to the guilt, was that her parents themselves will not be injured by it. could not both show up to my wedding, because Bob Marrone is the host of the Good Morning one had to stay with her for fear she would do Westchester with Bob Marrone, heard from Monday something to herself. It also haunted me that I had never told her how much I loved her. We will to Friday, from 6 – 8:30 a.m., on WVOX-1460 return to this issue later on. But it is essential to AM. Page 6 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

BUSINESS

The front face of the restaurant is a hand- Irish Infusion some, crisp black lacquer accented with golden brass. The Quiet Man Public House The restaurant’s eponymous name of the 1952 film staring John Wayne By ABBY LUBY and Maureen O’Hara (directed by John Ford) is intoned in the décor using PEEKSKILL, NY -- There is vintage Hollywood photographs, some a fine art to pouring beer, and never seen before, and a poster from the film. aficionado and restaurateur The “John Wayne” drink mixes chilled Bourbon Cathal (Chuck) McGreal can and pineapple juice served in a martini glass. For articulate, drop by drop, the chemical action as Maureen O’Hara, its Bourbon and cranberry the brew leaves the spigot and cascades into the juice built over ice in a tall glass with a lime twist. glass. McGreal is the owner of the new, expertly But for some, the best drink in the house is replicated Irish pub, the Quiet Man Public a full, European 20 ounce pint glass of any one House in Peekskill. of the 11 beers on tap. Which gets us back to The pub is McGreal’s brain child, inspired the professional finesse of pouring beer. When McGreal ardently demonstrates filling a glass of Guinness, he gently presses the tap and angles the glass so the rich mahogany brew streams down the side of the glass and not directly to Cathal (Chuck) McGreal outside his Peekskill pub Quiet Man. the bottom. McGreal stops short of topping off the glass to allow the beer to settle and the Irish food. “It’s the food I grew up eating,” says gases to permeate into a rising froth before McGreal. “Traditional Irish food is slow cooked, filling completely. The beer, which is served at simple and fresh. It comes from the days when 40 degrees, is fed through a special Irish beer farmers would put meat and vegetables in a pot and let it cook slowly all day until they came in from the fields.” The ‘slow’ dishes include McGreal’s mother’s recipe for Beef Stronganoff made with sautéed sirloin tips and an onion, a mushroom volute sauce, a touch of cream and a hint of Sherry, served over noodles. The slow cooked Shepherd’s Pie is made with ground beef Cathal (Chuck) McGreal pouring Guinness. McGreal at the Quiet Man bar. and lamb, carrots, onions, mushrooms and beef broth by his love for Irish food and drink. Born and pumping system, integral for the rich taste you topped with mashed potatoes. Also hailing raised in Cong, Ireland, McGreal, 42, now lives normally don’t get in American bars. from Ireland is Fish n’ Chips; the light and tasty just a few miles away in Cortlandt Manor. For The cool thing about this pub is that you can batter uses ale, as does the Cheddar Ale Toast – Pour your own table at Quiet Man. some 20 years his specialized construction try your own hand at pouring the perfect pint. an appetizer of potatoes, Dubliner Cheese and groups that play in traditional Irish music as well company, Hibernian Wood Design, has created You can reserve the “back table” – a bar height bacon with a creamy ale sauce. Stout is added to as other known bands. The Quiet Man is open high profile celebrity restaurants and bars in table anchored with two beer taps (one for the sauce in the chili for the Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 10 p.m., the bar is the New York City. The Quiet Man is his own Irish Nachos. The Guinness open until 4 a.m. venture to recreate a traditional Irish pub from mussels with garlic and toast The Quiet Man Public House top to bottom. shows up on the specials 15 North Division Street This warm, inviting bar and restaurant menu. Prices are moderate Peekskill, New York evokes a true Irish pub replete with deeply with entrees from $12 to 914 930 8230 grained wood made from reclaimed deck $20, $6 for a full “imperial” boards from the battleship North Carolina, thequietmanpublichouse.com th pint, $3.25 for half a pint, with graceful, 19 -century Irish church arches $4 for domestic bottles. The Photos by Abby Luby and courtesy of Abby Luby framing an array of fine aged Irish whiskey pub also has a full wine list Photo. and scotch and other liquors. Lighting the bar and several bottled beers Abby Luby is a Westchester based, freelance jour- are tawny glass lamps that add to the comfort- to choose from. Also on able by classy ‘hang-out’ ambience; on the walls nalist who writes local news, about environmental On tap at the Quiet Man Public House. tap is Harp, Boddingtons, issues, art, entertainment and food. Her debut novel, are portraits of famous Irish poets and writers Smithwick’s. What you “Nuclear Romance” was recently published. Visit the (Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, George Bernard Guinness) where you can relinquish the frothy don’t want to miss during these freezing winter book’s website, http://nuclearromance.wordpress. Shaw, Bob Geldof ). Seating is in booths and libations all night long, paying only for what you months is The Quiet Man’s traditional Irish hot com/. tables; the entire restaurant accommodates about use. It’s one of the few, if not the only ‘pour your toddy made with whiskey, boiling water, infused 245 patrons, including outdoor garden seating in own’ table in Westchester. with fresh lemon and cloves and a touch of sugar. the warm months and in front on the sidewalk. The lunch and dinner menu is traditionally For entertainment, McGreal brings in The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Page 7

CALENDAR News & Notes from Northern Westchester When was the last time By MARK JEFFERS you dealt with So the Ground Hog did Former New York Daily News photogra- not see his shadow, which pher and current Peekskill resident Charles Lexington Capital Associates? means a short winter. But Ruppmann will have his gritty photos on did you know the real reason display at the Field Library in Peekskill through he missed his shadow? He February 25th. was checking out another edition of “News and Also up in Peekskill at the Hudson Valley Notes.” Center for Contemporary Art is the “Circa Congratulations to former Mount Kisco Mayor 1986” exhibit featuring works by international Pat Reilly as she will be honored by state Senator artists. Greg Ball at the “Women of Distinction” Good luck to ProClinix Sports Physical program on March 30th. Therapy and Chiropractic Wellness as they move Learn about Winter Wolves… where into their new space at The Gym in Armonk. else but at the Wolf Conservation Center, in This event sounds like a blast… the Katonah South Salem, on February 11, 18 and 26th; call Art Center is hosting its first annual Chill Out 914-763-2373 for details. Scholarship Fundraiser on Sunday, February Looks like one of northern Westchester’s 12th. Guests get to choose a pottery bowl to largest health-care providers the Mount Kisco keep and fill with Chili. All proceeds go to the Medical Group may be expanding with a KAC Scholarship fund for underprivileged 30,000-square-foot office building to be built in children. Yorktown, we’ll keep you posted. It may be the dead of winter, but here’s As my mother often told me, you have some good news for the folks in Yorktown, the many fine qualities, but singing is not one of Sultana Ridge Pool will be open for swimming them. She is right; I can’t carry a note in a basket, this summer after the Town Board granted the but if you like to sing then head to Peekskill pool a reprieve on back taxes owed. on February 9th for Open Mic Night hosted Many times we think our lives are a 3-ring by award-winning singer and songwriter Steve circus, well if you want to take a break from all Chizmadia at 12 Grapes Music and Wine Bar. that craziness, then make plans to see the Royal With all the Super Bowl parties and eating Hanneford Circus on February 18 - 20th at the now finished, it’s a good time for some exercise, Westchester County Center. how about a nice 2-hour walk at Brinton Brook On a bittersweet note, Jane and Dan Sims at Croton-on-Hudson sponsored by the Saw have decided to close their upscale outdoor life- Mill River Audubon Second Saturday Walk style store Acadia on Main in Mount Kisco. coming up February 11th… Citing fleeting time with their high school chil- Music legend Tommy Sullivan of “Brooklyn dren and a need to focus on their other careers Bridge” fame will perform a live concert they have chosen not to renew their lease. At one “With All the Songs You Love,” to benefit time or another, two of my daughters have been the Buchanan Cortlandt-Croton-on-Hudson employed by the store and will be sad to see it go. 9/11 Remembrance Memorial at The Cove in A Going Out of Business Sale is going on now Peekskill on February 12th, for more informa- so stop by and get some terrific merchandise and tion call 914-497-2751. wish Jane and Dan well. This story really smells…GQ Magazine has Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours… named Pleasantville as the second best smelling don’t forget to give your loved ones a big hug, it’s With over 50 years experience, Lexington Capital Associates city on the planet. Chandler Burr, the magazine’s the best gift around… see you next week. scent critic (I never knew there was such a posi- provides loans from $1m-$150m at some of the lowest tion) picked it among the 10 best cities in the Mark Jeffers successfully spearheaded the launch of interest rates available in the marketplace. world. You can’t make this stuff up… MAR$AR Sports & Entertainment LLC in 2008. Time to get your cheese and ketchup As president he has seen rapid growth of the company • For cash flowing loans- NO PERSONAL GUARANTEE ready…the search for the best burger continues with the signing of numerous clients. He resides in as our spies tell me that Westchester Burger Bedford Hills, New York, with his wife Sarah, and • 30 year payouts Company is looking to establish a new place in three daughters, Kate, Amanda, and Claire. • Int. only loans available Mount Kisco... the old 535 Restaurant perhaps?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Please submit your Letter to the Editor electronically, that is by directing email to [email protected] Please confine your writing to between Lexington Capital Associates, LLC. 350 and 500 words. Your name, address, and telephone contact is 240 North Avenue requested for verification purpose only. A Letter to the Editor will be New Rochelle, NY 10801 accepted at the editor’s discretion when space permits. A maximum of one submission per month may be accepted. Phone (914) 632-1230 fax (914) 633-0806 Page 8 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

CREATIVE DISRUPTION

Postmaster John Wanamaker pushed for the Another economic factor has been the webmail services, such as HotMail, YahooMail, extension of free delivery into rural areas and, prior upward movement of the price of gas. With the and Gmail, using secure servers (“https”) were Mail to his leaving office in 1893, funds were allocated largest vehicle fleet in the world, for every penny introduced. By JOHN F. McMULLEN for such an experiment. The Post Office had the increase in the national average price of gasoline, It is estimated by the Radicati Group, Inc. right to reject any delivery route that it consid- the USPS spends an extra $8 million per year to (http://www.radicati.com/) that, in 2010, 294 Creative Disruption is a continuing ered improperly paved, too narrow, or otherwise fuel its fleet. The number of gallons of fuel used in billion messages were sent per day (up from 247 series examining the impact of unsafe. It is estimated that between 1897 and 2009 was 444 million, at a cost of US$1.1 billion. billion in 2009) -- meaning 2.8 million emails constantly accelerating technology on the world 1908, local governments spent an estimated $72 Additionally, there is a different view in some every second, and some 90 trillion emails per year. around us. These changers normally happen under million on bridges, culverts, and other improve- quarters of the role of the USPS. Conservative Obviously, not every one of these e-mails our personal radar until we find that the world as we ments to provide for “Rural Free Delivery” economist Thomas Sowell, is a recent column, replace a first class letter – as a matter of fact, the knew it is no more. (“RFD”) service. RFD became permanent and wrote “if people who decide to live in remote areas same Radicati Group extimated in 2010 that The official history of the Postal Service in the nationwide in 1902. RFD is considered by many don’t pay the costs that their decision imposes 90% of the 90 trillion e-mails were spam or other United States actually predates the Declaration of the most important govermental action until the on the Postal Service, electric utilities and others, malware. Yet, that still leaves 9 trillion e-mails per Independence with the appontment of Benjamin introduction of the Interstate Highway System in why should other people be forced to pay those year, well over 78,203 million, the amount of first Franklin by the Second Continental Congress as the 1950s in bringing together the rural and urban costs?” (http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/ class mail (or “snail mail” – “s-mail”) that passed Postmaster General in 1775. This appontment portions of the US. sowell011012.php3). This is a far cry from the through the USPS in 2010 (granted that the 9 carried on a tradition of government-involved In 1970, the “Postal Reorganization Act” was requirement mentioned above that “USPS is trillion figure is world-wide while the 78,203 mail service beginning with Persia under Cyrus signed by President Nixon, resulting in the spin- legally obligated to serve all Americans, regardless million is USPS only, the numbers are an order of the Great (550 BC) and Darius 1 (521 BC) off of the cabinent-level Post Office Department of geography, at uniform price and quality.” magnitude higher). extending into the “New World” with the desig- into the independent “United States Postal The prime reason, however, is the techno- The demise in public image of the USPS nation of Richard Fairbanks’ Tavern in Boston in Service” (“USPS”). The act, which took effect on logical changes that have occured – first through has been compounded further by the fact that, as 1639 as the “Repository for Overseas Mail.” July 1, 1971, stipulated that the “USPS is legally the use of “facsimile processing” (‘Fax”) and revenue from volume has decreased, it raised the The first Postmaster General appointed obligated to serve all Americans, regardless of then, to a much greater extent, “electronic mail” price of stamps to try to maintain its revenue levels; under the Constitution, Samuel Osgood, was geography, at uniform price and quality.” (“e-mail”). First class mail volume peaked in 2001 in all other businesses, as demand decreases, prices appointed in 1789 and it became a cabinet-level In 2011, the USPS, with 574,000 employees, with a volume of 103,656 million pieces and has tend to go down and services are cut. The USPS position in 1792. From that date forward, there was the second largest civiliian employer in the declined 29% from 1998 to 2008. is hindered by regulation and labor contracts – has been constant expansion of the role of the Post US (behind WalMart) and, with over 218,000 The “Advanced Research Projects Agency it cannot eliminate days of delivery service or Office in the quest to provide mail service to all vehicles, was the operator of the largest vehicle Network” (“ARPANet”), the precursor of today’s change the rate structure as Sowell recommends citizens of the US. fleet in the world. The USPS is, however, under Internet came “online” in 1969 as a way of without Congressional approval while other cuts 1847 brought stamps to the sevice with extreme pressure to reduce costs and operate as a exchanging information in documents between in facilities and personnel face major local and prepaynent of postage made mandatory in 1855. profitable enterprise and, on December 5, 2011 scientists. In 1971, Ray Tomlinson was credited Congressional opposition. The service at that time required senders to bring the USPS announced it will close more than half for both deciding that the “@” sign would sepa- I have no doubt, however, that there will be mail to local post offices and recipients to pick up of its mail processing centers (to 252 of its 461), rate specific recipients from the place at which the service changes and cuts, personnel layoff-offs mail at post offices (something I still do) but, in eliminate 28,000 jobs, and end overnight delivery recipient’s electronic mailbox was maintained and and facilities closing – the question is not “If ” 1863, free delivery began in large cities. At the of first-class mail. On December 13, 2011, under for sending the first e-mail. but “How Large?” Yet another reminder of the same time, uniform postage rates, based on the pressure from Congress, the USPS agreed to Although there came to be a number of disruption attendant to technological innovation. size and type of mail, rather than the distance were delay the closing of the mail processing centers formats developed as e-mail systems developed We cannot – and should not – halt progress but put into use. as well as 3,700 local post offices until mid-May for internal corporate systems and for other we should be aware of the ramifications. In the same time period, 1860-1861, the 2012. networks, such as IBM’s BITNET (where a “#” John F. McMullen has been involved in technology Post Office instituted the “Pony Express” to What are the reasons for the decline of the was used rather than the @), Tomlinson’s stan- for over 40 years and has written about it for major decrease delivery time from the East Coast to postal service, in economic viability, in volume of dards were adopted throughout the ARPANet publications. He may be found on Facebook and his the West Coast where gold had been found in mail processed and in public appreciation of its and, as other networks and services (such as AOL, current non-technical writing, a novel, “The Inwood 1848. Although the Pony Express became surplus role? There are a number of factors. For one, it CompuServe, etc.) became folded into the greater Book” and “New & Collected Poems by johnmac the when the transcontinental telegraph and railroad carries a heavy financial requirement imposed by Internet, those standards became universal. bard” are available on Amazon. He is a professor at systems came into use, their institution showed Congress as part of the Postal Accountability and Soon features were added to e-mail to allow Purchase College and has previously taught at Monroe the committment of the Federal Government Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA) (HR 6407), the inclusion of graphics and complete files as College, Marist College and the New School For Social to bringing timely mail delivery thoughout the enacted on December 20, 2006, which obligates attachments to e-mail. Further, as e-mail proliffer- Research. United States. The use of the rail system was the USPS to prefund 75-years’ worth of future ated in the business world and the security of mail begun in 1862 on an experimental basis and health care benefit payments to retirees within a became a real concern, such add-ons as “Digital became universal with railroad station post offices ten-year time span — a requirement to which no Signature”and encryption (such as “Pretty Good in 1864. Airmail was introduced in 1918. other government organization is subject. Privacy” (“PGP”)) came into existance and CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

path that led him from Arabia Born in the Cleopatra El-Mahata, a neigh- The Nicest Paparazzi Ever! to Europe, he landed in Los borhood of the Egyptian delta coast city of Angeles, California, where he Alexandria, Yahya Mohamed was raised by a By SHERIF AWAD is now based. Handyman by single mother. He was her only child. Dropping day, paparazzi by night, Yahya out of school when he was just eleven, Yahya was The names Yehya, Yahya, became more famous than some forced into infantile labor to support himself and Yeye, or simply Yaya, of the celebrities appearing with him in the his mother throughout the 1960s. Earning very designate but one man, photos of him making. After being interviewed little, he sometimes worked as a plumber, elec- Yahya Mohamed, who a few years ago in E!’s Celebrities’ Uncensored, trician or a mechanic. “I even worked as a diver was born fascinated by the starry glitz of cinema Yahya became a regular on ABC’s Jimmy in Alexandria for a while when I was nineteen- first in his home city of Alexandria, Egypt, Kimmel Live and many other TV shows. But his years-old, for two or three years. It appealed to and then the world. After a long and arduous story began long before those TV appearances. Continued on page 9 Yahya with Megan Fox The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Page 9

CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

The Nicest Paparazzi Ever! Saudi businessman who was about to open the taking him places he could have never dreamed biggest theme park in Jeddah; an encounter that of visiting; places like Nice, Cannes, and Saint- Continued from page 8 was one of the universe’s bonus gifts, for “nothing Tropez, France. While on Saad’s private yacht me at the time because I would often go on happens by coincidence,” Yahya shared. Saad in Cannes, he spotted one his favorite stars, Paul rescue missions to save drowning people in the recruited Yahya, secured the often extremely McCartney, in a limousine. Yaya’s trademark, an Mediterranean Sea. It was very hard, but I liked expectant smile, made McCartney roll down the to help people when I was able to,” he told me. window and shake his hand in what became one In his twenties, something about photog- of his most famous pictures in Yahya’s collection, raphy seduced him; he claims to have had an unexplained urge to shoot pictures, though he was never taught how to use a camera. Given his very poor financial capacity at that time, it was a financial burden it was an undertaking of liability, but he was consumed and it became Yahya with Denzel Washington international career, was visiting his hometown to perform several live concerts. Using his gift of persuasion, Yahya, after years of repressed passion for the love of photography and celeb- Yahya with John Voigt rity, managed to be allowed backstage to snap the shot of Roussos and him altogether. Yahya with Stevie Wonder difficult residency papers that would allow him Sniffing out celebrities every summer vaca- years of financial security, gave him a job as a tion, his collection grew to include Dalida, Tom a picture that was broadcast on cable TV all over senior mechanic, and took him to Rome, Italy, to Jones, and many Egyptian stars. “I once knew the world numerous times. buy the rides that would eventually be installed that Marlon Brando would be in Cairo; I went Constantly on celebrity watch, he met at Saad’s theme park, where it would need to be down to Cairo and saw him; he was all the Johnny Hallyday, Anouk Aimeé and Egyptian- later reassembled and installed by Yahya himself. time surrounded by a wall of bodyguards, and born Claude François. Giving a concert at the Yahya never lost his passion for photog- I couldn’t get through easily. He was always a time, François must have been surprised to see Yahya with Jodie Foster private man, one of the hardest to approach,” said Yahya climbing up the stage past the bodyguards Yahya, who never shared if he got Brando or not! Continued on page 10 addictive. His passion drove him. Unable to Yahya’s work with millionaire Saad was afford a camera, he used to rent one from a photo store for one Egyptian Pound a day, the equiva- 202 Coligni Avenue • New Rochelle, New York lent of 20 cents or less; in the Egypt of the 60s and 70s, it was a sum. Yahya focused on making This special home offers comfort, curb appeal and an ideal location. successful pictures without even knowing why or what he could do afterwards, even so, he quickly mastered the use of the black box. He

Yahya with Brigitte Nielsen

raphy. Unlike Egypt, Saudi Arabia offered no studios and few, if any celebrities. “The only one I saw was the French actor, Alain Delon, who came for a fleeting visit. Unfortunately it had to be cut short because the women were going mad fawning about him,” remembers Yahya. Impressing European consultants and Yahya with Jack Black project managers with the quality of his mechan- ical work, things were looking up for him. Yahya was finally able to buy his first advanced camera, Robert J. Seitz, Jr. practiced on friends and his teammates from a Nikon that he used during numerous summer Licensed Real Estate SalespersonRobert J. Seitz, Jr. the Alexandria Wrestling Club. Throughout the holidays taken outside the borders of Saudi Office: 914-381-7173 Licensed Real Estate Salesperson ensuing years, he gravitated to the flourishing Arabia, when he regularly return to Egypt to Sparkling, Updated Colonial Mobile: 914-393-6144 Office: 914-381-7173914-381-7173 film studios of Cairo, chasing images of celeb- visit his mother and friends. 202 Coligni Avenue New Rochelle, New YorkFax: 914-381-7055 Mobile:www.stetsonrealestate. 914-393-6144 Email: [email protected]: 914-381-7055 rities who would eventually come to appear in It was during one of those visits that he got Email: [email protected] front of his lens. It was the beginning… the chance to shoot his first celebrity photo; the 1214 East Boston Post Road In the early 1970s, fulfilling the Haj Mamaroneck, NY 10543 1214 East Boston Post Road first really good one over the long career that RobertCommercial J. Seitz, & Jr. Investment PropertiesMamaroneck, NY 10543 pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina, in Saudi would follow. It was when Alexandrian-born Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Commercial & Investment Properties Arabia, Yahya met Remon Saad, a wealthy Greek singer Demis Roussos, at the peak of his Office: 914-381-7173 Mobile: 914-393-6144 Fax: 914-381-7055 Email: [email protected] 1214 East Boston Post Road Mamaroneck, NY 10543 Commercial & Investment Properties Page 10 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

The Nicest Paparazzi Ever! two sons in Alexandria. Both of them continued their studies with excellent grades and joined Continued from page 9 him to continue their Masters degrees in the with his camera in hand; “François did not seem States when he settled down in California. annoyed; he felt I just wanted to say, “Hello.” Ever persistent, he flew back to America He remembered me when I saw him again and in 1996, determined to find work. Struggling even dedicated his famous song ‘Alexandrie, and starting from scratch again Yahya had to Alexandra, to me’ when he saw me at another of familiarize himself with the American elec- his concerts,” confided Yahya. trical system. He began to make house calls, Attending the Cannes Film Festival in 1980 frequenting celebrity homes in Beverly Hills must have been like a kid’s first visit to a toy store. and all of LA: “The first celebrity I spotted in Click-happy Yahya started posing with everyone America was Anthony Quinn and I couldn’t in sight and they welcomed it: “There was this believe my eyes. I completely went crazy. I was director Coppola? You know, Nicolas Cage’s in Raquel Welch’s house just doing some fixing. uncle? He was a very nice man. I went up to him She’s stingy, though; I don’t think I’ll be going Yahya with Mini Me Yahya with Vin Diesel and asked him if I could take a picture with him. there again,” he says. hang out, like the Steak House where he took his Yahya keeps a very organized large port- Then he started to say something to me, but my Shuffling through the pictures, the presenter famous shot with Bill Clinton. That picture really folio of photos he has gathered over the past English was really bad at the time, I told him ‘I kept quizzing him on names to which Yahya created a stir when I took it back to Alexandria three decades, all compiled in sections like The don’t speak English,’ but he was still talking. He repeatedly gave his now famous answer, “I don’t and a friend of mine accused me of computer- Heavyweights, with names like Robert De Niro, said, ‘I want you in a film.’ Honestly! Even if you know, but he is a nice guy.” The episode then manipulating my images. I was really upset Al Pacino, and Martin Scorsese; then there look at the picture, you’ll see that he’s looking documented the making of the shot of Brad Pitt because I couldn’t prove otherwise to him. But is the wrestling section, African-American, a at me while I look straight at the camera. He’s that Yahya took inside his car. Pitt and Yahya why would I do that? The pictures are genuine; sports section that includes Agassi and Sampras. my friend, you know. A really nice man, who have become friends since then. He once visited I never even tried to sell any of them. Some of Broken down into subsections, Matt Damon’s always smiles when he sees me. Later, when I Pitt on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, which he them are vintage classics signed by Jack Lemon photo is next to his friend Ben Affleck, and was in Cairo for a visit, I showed the picture to was shooting with Angelina Jolie. and Charles Bronson. I’ve even been approached director Tony Scott next to his brother Ridley my friends. One of them got angry with me. He Bars, clubs, restaurants, shops - Yahya knows to compile them into a book. I’ve also been Scott, as well as the Star Trek captain, William went mad! ‘Do you know who this is?!’ he asked exactly where to go. Readily equipped with a repeatedly asked to write my biography. I like the Shatner. incredulously. ‘He’s a nice man,’ I said. They digital camera now, there’s nothing stopping idea. Maybe I will,” he told me, smiling. Over thirty years, Yahya’s smile continues to each said, ‘I can’t believe you met Francis Ford him. “I caught Snoop Dogg on his way out of a Yahya goes on forever: “When I met be endearing and disarming. If you don’t believe Coppola, he’s the greatest director in the world!’ club one night. You should have seen the size of George Clooney, he laughed and said, ‘Yahya, me, look at the photos. During the 1980s, with Yahya as his his bodyguard! It took some shuffling to get past you’re always on E!, even more than me! A few right-hand man, Saad opened a new company him, but Snoop was so nice. One of my favorite Born in Cairo, Egypt, Sherif Awad is a film/video years ago, I again met Paul McCartney, who installing saunas and bathtubs in the homes of clubbers is Leonardo DiCaprio. Even though critic and curator. He is the film editor of Egypt laughed saying, Yahya, you have been chasing me wealthy families in Jeddah. Although Yahya did he’s known to run away from photographers, he Today Magazine, and the artistic director for both for 25 years. Also, Al Pacino’s father, Salvatore, I his share of the work, his dream was shifting to always hugs me and says, ‘Hello.’ I have a picture the Alexandria Film Festival, in Egypt, and the met him one night while he was dining in some the West. He remembers going back and forth of him accepting my papyrus roll gift. He loved Arab Rotterdam Festival, in The Netherlands. He restaurant. But a few months later he unfortu- to the States three times, in 1980, ‘82 and ‘84, it and asked me to get him a full-size mummy also contributes to Variety, in the United States, nately passed away. When I met Al Pacino a few but with every visit he was aware that taxes and next time. I also really liked the late Christopher and Variety Arabia, in the United Arab Emirates months afterwards backstage at a play he was living expenses would get in the way of starting Reeves. He was so kind. Once at the Cannes (UAE). doing in Los Angeles, I showed him his father’s his own business. Film Festival I said, ‘Sir, can I? ’, and Reeves inter- photo, and he was moved. He asked me if he Over the following decade, Yahya continued rupted saying, ‘don’t call me sir, you’re a friend.’ could keep it because it was the last photo taken to work in Saudi Arabia, got married and had “It helps to know where celebrities like to of him.” ENERGY ISSUES

to where the fire and suppression of fires. Indian Point Fire Safety Outdated is,” said NRC In a 98-page letter of February 1, Exemptions Denied spokesperson Neil 2012 in which the NRC denied Indian Sheehan. Point owner Entergy exemption requests, By ABBY LUBY Fire safety numerous non-compliant “fire zones” regulations have at the plant were cited that currently BUCHANAN, NY -- Several been a serious issue required plant workers to manually fire safety practices at the at nuclear power plants since 1975 when a signif- respond to a fire. For example, one Indian Point Nuclear power icant fire at the Browns Ferry nuclear reactor in particular zone included a control room, plants would be ineffective in detecting and Alabama disabled and ate through hundreds of turbine building, superheater building, extinguishing a fire, according to the Nuclear electric cables running safety systems that could nuclear service building, chemical systems Regulatory Commission. Last week the federal allow operators to control the reactor in an emer- building and administration building. agency denied the plant’s request to be exempt gency and shut it down if necessary. Combustibles in this particular zone from updating certain fire safety regulations In 2000 the NRC began inspecting nuclear were in “cable insulation, lube oil, vinyl owners are free to define what they consider a because of potential dangers and risks posed by power plants for inappropriate fire protection insulation, and hydrogen,” and that “transient fire zone, so the numbers can vary.” several of the plant’s non-compliant fire safety systems and procedures and found many plants combustibles in this zone consist of trash, card- Entergy spokesperson Jerry Nappi said measures. Of the 50 exemption requests, 42 were relied on their work force to manually respond board drums, lube oil, fiberglass ladders, paint, Indian Point conducts fire watches on an hourly turned down. to fires. In 2006 the NRC updated their fire and radiation boundaries.” basis and on an ‘as-needed’ basis for areas that are “The new requirements state that the protection regulations and required plants to According to Sheehan, there are 350 fire undergoing work. Nappi also said the plant had a company has to have a means [to extinguish comply with the new fire safety procedures by zones at Indian Point. “This is a typical number trained fire brigade of about 100 members. 2009. Compliance required automatic detection for these types of reactors. However, plant fires] that don’t involve operators having to go Continued on page 11 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Page 11

ENERGY ISSUES

Indian Point Fire Safety Outdated owners excludes the public. Challenging the legality of the Continued from page 10 Hemyc exemption in 2009 was “This is not a volunteer position but a Richard Brodsky. The former New York assem- requirement. They undergo training at an blyman sued the NRC claiming the practice of accredited fire training academy offsite prior to exempting nuclear plants from binding safety being able to stand watch or begin working in requirements was illegal. Brodsky claimed the plant. They also undergo annual re-qualifica- that “Rather than require Entergy to upgrade tion training and periodic drills throughout the the insulation to meet its own requirements, year.” the NRC in complete secrecy with no public Although there is no fire truck on site, announcement, no public participation, and no Nappi said there is a large volume of designated public hearing, granted Entergy an exemption.” water for fires stored in several tanks, which is The case is still pending in the Second Circuit more than the amount of water contained in a Court of Appeals in New York. Co-plantiffs are fire truck. Overall Nappi added that, “the plant the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club. has several installed fixed suppression systems The NRC’s rejection of Indian Point’s including foam systems, and fire water systems exemption requests was applauded by New York covering all areas of the plant. Fire water systems State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman support sprinklers, hydrants, and hose stations.” who saw the action supporting his own petition Denying exemptions is rare for the NRC. submitted to the NRC last March urging the According to audits by the federal Government federal agency to take enforcement action against Indian Point for “continued failure to comply Accounting Office and the NRC’s own respond to the NRC’s letter. Entergy spokes- don’t need to spend.” with federal fire safety regulations established to Inspector General, between 1982 and 2001 the person Jim Steets said costs to upgrade the fire keep plants secure in an emergency.” The peti- NRC handed out 900 exemptions from the fire safety systems won’t be significant. Photos by Abby Luby and courtesy of Abby Luby tion is still pending. Both Schneiderman and safety regulations to nuclear power plants across “We spent $70 million on maintenance Photo. Governor Andrew Cuomo have been active in the country. It’s unknown how many exemp- and depending on how long it takes to install opposing Indian Point’s application for a 20-year Abby Luby is a Westchester based, freelance jour- tions the NRC granted from 2001 to 2011. In a new system, the cost will be absorbed in the extension of the plants’ operating licenses. nalist who writes local news, about environmental 2007 the NRC granted an exemption to Indian maintenance budget. We originally thought we In a press release last week Schneiderman issues, art, entertainment and food. Her debut novel, Point that allowed them to use a lower quality could accomplish the same [fire safety practices] said “The NRC should be commended for “Nuclear Romance” was recently published. Visit the fire resistant material known as Hemyc which to avoid lengthy development and the review its action on this matter. However, many basic book’s website, http://nuclearromance.word- press. resists fire for only 24 minutes, a period of time process. You don’t want to spend money you critics claimed wouldn’t be long enough to catch questions still remain regarding the safety of com/. and contain a fire in an area that was monitored Indian Point and the security of the 17 million hourly. people who live and work in close proximity to Allowing Indian Point to use Hemyc the nuclear plant. We will continue to use the exposed the exemption process for being full force of this office to push the NRC to fully non-transparent and secretive, where the evaluate -- and ensure –Indian Point’s safety.” exchange between the NRC and power plant Indian Point has 30 days in which to GAMING DiNapoli Warns of Lottery Scam Using Fake Checks C M

ALBANY, NY -- New scammers send potentialY York State Comptroller victims a letter telling CM Thomas P. DiNapoli them that they are a today warned of a lottery winner of a lottery orMY scam involving mail sweepstakes drawing.CY containing fraudulent The person receiving the - RICHARD MARINO, MD CMY checks that appear to check is directed to pay an EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT have been issued by New amount to the scammerK York State. in order to secure his or “An offer of easy her “full winnings.” Before money is usually too good the depositing bank has to be true and that is the learned that the check case here,” DiNapoli said. is fake, the victim has “If you receive one of already transferred the these fraudulent checks, please report it my funds. Any money wired to the scammers AFFILIATED WITH THE MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL office immediately.” cannot be retrieved. The recent letters are HOME OF THE COCHRAN SCHOOL OF NURSING DiNapoli’s office has referred the matter from scam artists representing themselves as 914.964.4DOC | RiversideHealth.org to federal law enforcement. “Guaranty Trust Inc.” with a New York 967 North Broadway | Yonkers | NY | 10701 Here is how the scam works: the Continued on page 12 ©2011 St. John’s Riverside Hospital | All Rights Reserved. Page 12 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

GAMING GOVERNANCE DiNapoli Warns of Lottery Scam Using Fake Perspectives of Former Councilman Richard St. Paul Checks By PEGGY GODFREY A new New Rochelle City ability to make more cuts so you would not have Continued from page 11 Councilmembership has been a refuse fee of this proportion. Not only did I City mailing address, and “Golden Gateway in office for little over one believe we could have cut more from the budget, Financial, Division of Unclaimed Funds,” month’s time; it has been busy. I presented a plan to cut money from budgeted with a Las Vegas and London address. Two developers are seeking a items and a plan to bring more revenue to the Included with the letters are counterfeit favorable vote to move ahead budget by extending garbage fees to universities New York State checks bearing the forged with their proposals. The City Manager has and colleges in the City and fostering legisla- signature of the Comptroller. More than a gone so far as to recommend that the City move tion to revitalize economic development in New Rochelle which passed unanimously on the City dozen checks from “Guaranty Trust Inc.” the City Yard from Main Street to Beechwood Council. have been recovered by the Comptroller’s Avenue. Several “gun-point” crimes have occurred.. With such a backdrop, The Westchester office with amounts of either $3,980.05 or GODFREY: You championed the need Guardian sought out former Councilman $4,885.20. The checks are supposed to cover to increase retail rather than residential Richard St. Paul, a recent mayoral candidate, to the taxes that would be owed on the poten- development in New Rochelle. This resulted ask him to share his perspective on the changes tial victim’s alleged winnings. The victim is in the approval of a development consultant. in the City has undergone since his departure Why did you feel the staff of the City and the directed to call a claims agent before acting on from office. the letter. BID (Business Improvement District) could not attract retail that would be successful, especially Richard St.Paul. Photo courtesy of Talk of In the letter from “Golden Gateway GODFREY: Many people have suggested your Sound, courtesy of Robert Cox presence on the New Rochelle City Council will in the downtown? Financial, Division of Unclaimed Funds” the ST. PAUL: I believe that the BID and the City recipient is informed he or she is a winner be sorely missed. Do you believe there are any are already on television. So the goal is trans- areas of the Council’s policy making powers that had done what they could with the resources in the “American Lottery Sweepstakes they had, and it was time to add resources to parency. I think that by allowing constituents to will grow in importance or be diminished since send responses during meetings and using tech- Millions” drawing. The company claims they your having left office? infuse us with economic development, especially were contacted by the “Multi State Lottery retail. nology and having a small time set aside during ST. PAUL: One of the biggest differences now meetings for these communications would allow Association” to find winners that have not yet is that the Democrats have a super majority and GODFREY: Do you feel the City Council misunderstandings to be corrected quickly. claimed their prizes. there are no limitations on what they can do, stresses their policy making power, or do you feel such as bonding and overriding the tax cap. It Anyone who has received such a letter they tend to approve the initiatives of the City GODFREY: In January, the Echo Bay devel- is difficult for taxpayers and good government should contact the Comptroller’s toll-free Manager? oper came back to the Council with a highly because the City no longer has a 4 (Democrats) fraud hotline at 1-888-672-4555; file a ST. PAUL: I think it is important for the City reduced plan, asking for a 60 day extension of to 3 (Republicans) split. complaint online at [email protected]. Council to guide their agenda. As a policy the MOU (memorandum of understanding). What do you feel is the best course of action for ny.us; or mail a complaint to: Office of the GODFREY: Your opposition to corruption making body, the Council should set goals State Comptroller Investigations Unit, 110 that the City Manager should execute. These the City at this time? in our City, such as the Fevang conviction, was ST. PAUL: I think it is best for Council to State Street, 14th floor, Albany, NY 12236. goals should be clearly defined, transparent, always evident. Do you think the Council will review the plan, have constituents comment and continue to be vigilant in this area? and provide an opportunity for citizens’ input, and then presented to the City Manager for decide if it is economically beneficial to the City. ST. PAUL: I only hope they will continue to root Certainly since this new plan is one-third of the out corruption and additional input. Finally policies should then be reviewed and finalized by the City Council. original plan, I would throw caution to the winds, protect the taxpayers especially since it involves moving the City Yard and their dollars. The GODFREY: Do appointments to various at a high cost to taxpayers, $20-30 million, which damage from the Yorktown Jewelers boards and commissions which have powers, is the estimate given to us in the past. WHERE QUALITY AND HONESTY COUNTS Fevang incident has such as the IDA (Industrial Development never been fully inves- Agency) or Planning Board reduce the power of GODFREY: Will you continue to be the tigated and I believe it the electorate to influence important decisions in advocate for the best interests of New Rochelle? should be. the City? ST. PAUL: Absolutely. I have had the best interests of New Rochelle and not the best GODFREY: This ST. PAUL: The responsibility that relates to the IDA should be reviewed and the City interest of groups, like developers, when I made year’s budget was decisions. particularly painful Council should be able to veto their decisions. and it did not appear The IDA should not have unmitigated and unchecked powers to deal with taxpayers dollars GODFREY: Do you have any plans for the that there was as much future you would like to share? effort to cut items without review and approval from the body that appointed them. ST. PAUL: I think we are at a key pivotal point from the budget. in New Rochelle where we must ready ourselves Instead, the refuse fee GODFREY: In the future, what do you envi- for an economy that will be coming back in a was increased from sion is the best way for citizens and civic few years. Spending time approving large scale $66 to $233. Did you organizations to present their concerns to the projects is not a model that has worked in the consider the refuse City Council? City and not paid off financially. We must focus Estate & Antique Jewelry • Engagement & Wedding Rings fee the best option to ST. PAUL: We have to utilize technology in on what’s important for the City to thrive in the Special Orders Design • Jewelry & Watch Repairs • Appraisals increase revenue? that sense and have an opportunity to interact future. These proposed projects should be guided ST. PAUL: Absolutely We Buy Gold and High End Watches by creating a web. Having I-pads for Council and evaluated by what’s good for New Rochelle not. I still believe this HOURS: Monday-Saturday 8:30AM-6:30PM members instead of the tons of paper used at and what’s profitable. fee should not have 914.245.1023 • [email protected] Council meetings would be helpful. Moving in been increased. I think Peggy Godfrey is a freelance writer and a former 2008 CROMPOUND RD. ROMA BLDG. YORKTOWN HEIGHTS this direction is important. Council meetings that the City has the educator. The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Page 13

HEALTHCARE Open Door Healthcare for the Underinsured and Uninsured in Westchester By RICH MONETTI

Open Door Family Medical As such, Open Door is essentially a large normally received from Westchester County. support of Medicaid, but the rise of the Teaparty Centers runs on a $32 Million doctor’s office. “We are organized as a family Either way, the dance is something Open leaves things more uncertain. Putting aside the annual budget. The fact that most medical practice,” she says. Door is used to across the board. “We’re sort of boon to local emergency rooms, she counters of the money comes from state, federal and In turn, patients either receive a sliding scale at the mercy of these various levels of govern- their fears of big government inefficiency with a county sources likely elevates the ire of people or qualify through Medicaid. That said, nearby ment,” she says. basic fact. “We do better than most private prac- who fear government centered healthcare can hospitals like Northern Westchester and Phelps All in all, the funding outcomes have usually tices because we have so much accountability,” only sink our system and float us toward the are not complaining and neither is the long term been favorable. On the state level, she says, “New she says, and the elevated requirements begets inefficient model of socialist Europe. On the sustainability of the local system. “They love York has a very generous medicaid program in highly competent management that keeps other hand, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise us,” she says, “because we keep their emergency comparison to other states.” patient services at optimum levels, she adds. that the center’s CEO is pretty grounded at rooms clear for emergences.” At the same time, But historically, it’s the federal government If that doesn’t help detractors stack up the the prospect of modeling ourselves closer the expensive E/R resources are not wasted on ear that allowed the doors to open for facilities such situation, the local Teaparty outlet in the form of European system but she makes the case for aches and head colds. as this. “The federal government in the late 60s U.S. Representative Nan Hayworth has been to healthcare reform and Open Door by simply Of course, the care offered at Open Door recognized that there were lots of low income Open Door and weighs in mostly on the upside. sticking to the numbers. is quality. We have Ivy League grads, all our communities where doctors weren’t hanging out Wowed by the operation, says Farrell, “She’s “They are still spending half what we are on doctors are residency trained and we will soon their shingle because a doctor isn’t going to make been extremely supportive. She doesn’t like the healthcare so maybe we want to be a little more be launching a residency program with Phelps, any money in a poor community,” says Farrell. medicaid program but she gets it.” like them,” says Lindsay Farrell. But regardless she says. Thus, Open Door was able to break Overall, Ms. Farrell hopes the long term of all the contention, she already sees the reorga- In White Plains, though, the County ground in 1970 and federal programs through history can outlast any fickleness of the moment. nization of our healthcare system from within. Executive has shown himself to be out of align- succeeding administrations have allowed the If not, she concludes, “Then you would have Fortunately for Westchester and the 40,000 ment with the program and the math. “Rob uninsured greater access to healthcare services. to curtail services for the patients that are patients that come through their vestibules in Astorino is not a big fan,” she says, “but last year For example, Bill Clinton’s Child Health Plus depending on you.” Ossining, Mt. Kisco, Sleepy Hollow and Port legislators overrode the cuts that were proposed.” widened coverage for children of low income And that hurts everyone. Chester, Open Door has had a leg up on what’s Seemingly not so forthcoming with the families and George W. Bush’s expansion http://www.opendoormedical.org/ long been identified as the main problem with defeat, funding came in about five months later of grant programs had a marked impact on our system. than usual. More concerning is the example the Westchester. “Thanks to those grants,” she says, Rich Monetti lives in Somers. He’s been a free- We know - and it’s well documented and County Executive set last year in not releasing “we were able to open up in Mt. Kisco and lance writer in Westchester since 2003 and works well researched - that the way to improve the County Funding to childcare following the expand our facility in Port Chester.” part time in the after school program at Mt. Kisco system is by having a more robust primary care defeat of proposed cuts. In that light, Open President Obama’s affinity to the issue has Childcare. You can find more of his stories at www. delivery system,” she says. Door could then be scrambling for the $500,000 also resulted in an increase in grants and further rmonetti.blogspot.com. HISTORY of the size of the recent studies have confirmed that the crewmen as soon as they were made. The First Americans, 2 Indian popula- on Columbus’s ships returned to Europe Possessions and authority among Indians tion north of the with a disease, syphilis, acquired in the New often passed through a female line of descent. In An Inevitable Clash of Cultures Rio Grande at the World, which spread with equal rapidity. Some contrast to the Old World practice of hereditary time of Columbus’s observers consider the exchange an inadvertent rule, leadership of clans and tribes was based on By ROBERT SCOTT first landfall placed but exquisite form of payback. ability or proficiency. Decisions bearing on tribal it at between one By the time of the 1910 federal Census, policy were reached by unanimous consent--not The arrival of Europeans in the million and a only a scant 210,000 Indians could be found mere majority agreement--at public meetings New World resulted in almost million and a half. Demographers now recog- and counted in the United States. There is attended both by men and women. immediate exploitation of nize that these figures were grossly in error. small comfort in the knowledge that American Native Languages Native Americans. The indigenous population of America and Indians now number more than 2.8 million. Columbus’s first contacts were with the Canada at the end of the fifteenth century is What Scottish poet Robert Burns called Some four hundred identifiable tribal gentle and innocent Taino Indians on the island now believed to have numbered between twelve “man’s inhumanity to man” still “makes countless cultures flourished north of the Rio Grande in of San Salvador. and fifteen million. In the three contiguous thousands mourn.” The relentless genocide of the fifteenth century. We shall probably never “They should make good and intelligent continents, North, Central and South America, North American Indians is now being repeated know the number of different languages spoken servants,” was his initial impression, conveyed in the total Indian population is believed to have in the Brazilian rain forest. And for the same in the Americas, most of them now lost or in the letters to his royal Spanish patrons, Ferdinand been an astonishing one hundred million. reasons: A desperate lust for gold and for land. process of disappearing as older native speakers and Isabella. Columbus brought alcohol, not uncommon Despite their lack of civilization, the Indians’ die,. Scholars estimate these to have numbered Although Columbus maintained he had baggage for conquerors. According to gentle use of the world around them was around 2,200, many with local or regional seen “no better people” in the world, his admi- Herodotus, the ancient Greeks always intro- remarkably sophisticated and forward-looking. variations. ration did not deter him from chaining and duced drink to the lands they colonized. Land was an abstract commodity--much like Native American languages have a prac- shipping hundreds of Taino men and women Columbus also carried a more sinister cargo: air or fire or water--something there to be freely tical side. During World War II Marine Corps back to Spain. Rapacious Spanish, Portuguese, a pandemic of the contagious diseases of the used by the group. Navajo language talkers confounded Japanese Dutch and English slavers who came later Old World. Lacking previous exposure, within Not understanding the European concept code breakers in the Pacific. Similarly, U.S. Army piously justified their actions on the grounds that a few generations the Indian population of the of “title” or ownership of land by individuals, Cherokee speakers confused the Germans Indians were “idolators” and “heathens.” Americas was decimated. they were at a disadvantage in making treaties. opposing the landings at Omaha Beach in Grossly Undercounted Epidemics of smallpox, measles, cholera, Under pressure of immigration and westward Normandy. typhoid, and dysentery swept through whole expansion, whites abrogated such treaties almost Continued on page 14 As recently as sixty years ago estimates tribes like wildfire on the prairie. Ironically, Page 14 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

HISTORY

The First Americans, 2 Indian Contributions the visible and the spirit world is performed tooth decay was a problem. Indians made important contributions to by shamans. Shamanist practices have been Our modern world owes much to Indians, Continued from page 13 the world’s food supply, including corn, potatoes documented in cultures as diverse as Iron Age far beyond the woodcraft skills taught in Every native language that disappears takes and sweet potatoes, manioc, peanuts, squash, Ireland, pagan Scandinavia, classical Greece, and summer camps and the foolish names applied to with it clues to philosophies, histories and irre- peppers, tomatoes, pumpkins, beans, avocados, ice-bound Siberia. professional baseball and football teams. We are placeable environmental wisdom accumulated and dozens of other vegetables and herbs. Sometimes described as “medicine men,” still in the process of learning truths they knew over many millennia. More than half of the Indian societies were well acquainted with plant the shamans’ powers went beyond treating instinctively in their reverence for nature--that remaining 140 native languages may fall silent medicines. the sick. In the Americas, they ranged from the land and its resources are not only for our use unless organized action is taken to teach them. Before 1492, 40 percent of the modern soothsayers, magicians and hypnotists to but must be preserved for generations to come. In the U.S., nine centers now offer immersion world’s medicinal drugs were being used in trained priests who presided over formal rituals In addition to the communality of land and language courses to young tribal members. America to treat illnesses. Among these reme- and entire cults. Interestingly, the growth of possessions, belief in the freedom and dignity Native language distribution gives tantalizing dies were coca (cocaine as a pain-killer), curare consciousness-raising New Age movements in of the individual was common to many Indian clues to early migrations. For example, the tribes in (a muscle relaxant), cinchona bark (quinine, for the 1980s fostered new interest in shamanism. societies. With patient research and a measure the lower Hudson Valley all spoke an Algonquian treating malaria), cascara sagrada (a laxative), Like the philosophers Montaigne and of good luck, we may yet learn the secret of the language--but an Algonquian tongue was spoken datura a (pain-reliever), and ephedra (relief from Rousseau, it is easy to sentimentalize Indians Indians’ relationship with nature, and their basic as far west as Montana by the Blackfoot and by allergies and asthma). as “noble savages.” Far from being idyllic, their sense of equality and respect for human rights. the Cree in subarctic Canada. Sioux was spoken existence was harsh. The average life span barely Indians ritually identified themselves with Robert Scott is a semi-retired book publisher and in the Great Plains by the proud tribe of that the animals they hunted. Common to Indian exceeded 35 years; infant mortality was high. name, but it was also the language in what are Evidence from graves reveals that diseases like a recorder of local history. He lives in Croton-on- life was shamanism, an animalistic religion of Hudson, N.Y. now Virginia and the Carolinas. Asiatic origin in which mediation between arthritis and tuberculosis were common, and MUSIC THE SOUNDS Robert Plant’s Blue Note DVD OFBLUE “Covering it all; five decades of Robert Plant in two hours By Bob Putignano and thirty-five minutes.” Rating: 7 Chrome Dreams UK Import MVD Visual This lengthy (one hundred and fifty-five Page,) where we learn how he was story that also (at times) portrays his minute) DVD chronicles Robert Plant’s influenced by Elvis, Muddy, and San non-performing look at life as well. well known historic career covering his Francisco groups like the Jefferson Additionally I found that learning earliest influences and performances. Airplane and the Moby Grape. There’s about his influences quite interesting Just so you know this was not Plant’s also a recent interview clip of Plant as it enabled me to understand more doings as the video is not authorized from 2010, and post Zep collabora- fully about what Page is all about. It also by Plant nor his record company or tors guitarist Robbie Blunt, producer depicts how Plant has moved-on from management. Phil Johnstone, and the Egyptian Zeppelin, while insinuating that Jimmy It’s not all about Led Zeppelin either, as singer Hossam Ramzy. Also not left Page has not, where it’s obvious that there is footage of Son House, Howlin’ on the cutting room floor there’s time Plant’s lusting for all kinds of musical Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, the spent on Plant’s solo work; 1983’s “The genre’s are much more far-reaching Yardbirds (with Jeff Beck and Jimmy Principle of Moments,” 88’s “Now and than the guitar-god Page. So if you Zen,” ‘06’s “Mighty need a heaping helping of Robert Plant, Rearranger,” and this documentary is it. But long story 07’s “Raising Sand.” short, I found this video to be too long 6.3 vs. 6.5 Bantered about are to endure in one viewing. Then again, also Plant related fully covering five decades on anyone’s bands like Band of career would have to make for an exten- Joy, his reuniting with sive project, and when you factor in all Jimmy Page (who of the interesting rare footage, interview did not want another segments with his musical collabora- updated version of tions, as well as music critics segments: Led Zep,) his work I would have to say that the hard-work with Allison Krauss, compiling all of this for the namesake of and T Bone Burnett. “Robert Plant’s Blue Note,” is a compel- Speaking of Page, ling piece of work. That (when watched there’s an interview in several sittings) is one heck of a tribute with Jimmy, as well as to Mr. Plant, and a treat for his fans. several others. Bob Putignano www.SoundsofBlue.com All in all this is a full representa- tion of Plant’s life The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Page 15

PUBLIC RELATIONS

and is increasingly going by Hezbollah and Al Qaeda: Public Relations 2012 and “Free Speech” Limits the name “Ansar al Sharia” because of concern about By RONN TOROSSIAN their brand. Its no secret that American PR Agencies “Shouting fire in a crowded know her – she is smart, focused and ideological government doesn’t like the speech or the people have represented Qaddafi, theatre” is a well known para- - a formidable opponent raising a valid point. making the speech.” Does that mean I can go Assad, and just last year, Qatar hired a leading phrase of a U.S. Supreme Court If the US government deems these orga- online and scream fire in a crowded theatre? Can U.S. PR firm to lobby for the Hamas regime in decision which served as an nizations illegal and they can’t raise funds I behave however I want simply because I am the Gaza Strip. example of the limitations on – why can they amplify their message freely online and hidden behind a computer screen? Darshan-Leitner stopped the second Gaza free speech, when the speech is imminently to Americans? Leitner’s organization, The While Secretary of State Hillary Clinton flotilla earlier this year, and has won lawsuits dangerous and has no conceivable purpose. Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center, is a civil recently cited President Obama as believing against Hamas, Hizbollah and the Palestinian In a world where we have seen real revo- rights organization dedicated to “combating that “the more freely information flows, the Authority. I am sure Twitter’s going to be lutions in part because of digital media, its the terrorist organizations and the regimes stronger societies become,” one wonders where answering this one pretty soon. I’d venture that interesting that everyone today has digital media that support them through lawsuits litigated the administration will stand if mass rioting was a modern “fire in a crowded theatre” discussion to amplify whatever noise they’d like to make – in courtrooms around the world.” They have sparked by digital media. UK authorities say may be coming to a courtroom near us very soon. good or bad – and can utilize media without a done a lot of good worldwide to fight terrorism rioters used social networks to coordinate mass Ronn Torossian is the CEO of 5WPR, a Top filter. Its on the backs of Wikileaks pressure via lawfare – utilizing the courtroom to battle civil disobedience earlier this year in London. 25 PR Agency and has a best-selling PR book, by the American government to shut down – Anti-Western interests. Hezbollah, al Qaeda State prosecutors in Mexico have accused people “For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build including pressuring financial companies not to affiliate al-Shabaab, and others violate American of terrorism and sabotage by claiming that their Brands, and Deliver Results with Game- process payment, threatened prosecutions and the law by using Twitter. A breakdown of terror- Twitter posts helped spread false rumors about Changing Public Relations” an Amazon best like – that a close friend of mine for many years, ists utilizing social media is at: http://www. a school attack, leading to real-life violence. Its selling Public Relations book available for purchase Nitsana Darshan-Leitner of the Shurat HaDin theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/01/most- no secret that the terrorists are public relations at: http://www.amazon.com/Immediate- Israel Law Center, is all over the media today infamous-terrorists-twitter/46852/ The ACLU savvy and very concerned with brand and image. Release-Deliver-Game-Changing-Relations/ threatening to sue Twitter for allowing terror- says “the government can’t force private compa- As was recently reported, Al Qaeda is concerned dp/1936661160. ists to use the digital media network. Trust me, I nies to censor lawful speech just because the about the baggage associated with that name, THE SPOOF

Bad Romance: So What’s the Skinny? Commercial • Industrial & Residential Services By GAIL FARRELLY Roll-Off Containers 1-30 Yards Romance is good, right? Well, one more time. You can’t get a man with a gun.” Home Clean-up Containers at least most of the time it is. But Venus, goddess of love: “Go away. Do you what about when it isn’t? With want me to lose my job?” Turn-key Demolition Services Valentine’s Day approaching, Entertainer Lady Gaga. “Bad Romance? just to be different, I asked a Hey, Bad Romance is the name of one of my random sample of folks this question: What are songs. What right do you have to steal it for your DEC Licensed Transfer Station your thoughts on the subject of BAD Romance? article? A pox on your house.” Here are my findings, expressed as direct quotes Dr. Ruth Westheimer, 83-year-old sex ther- DEP Licensed Rail Serve from the interviewees. apist, reporting with a smile: “My advice about a Transfer & Recycling Services Homemaking Queen Martha Stewart, bad romance? As the late lyricist Dorothy Fields pounding a huge cut of beef into submission: wrote in one of her songs, “Pick yourself up; dust Licensed Demolition Contractor “Bad romance? It is NOT a good thing.” yourself off; start all over again.” John Boehner, Speaker of the U.S. House Exactly. of Representatives, whipping out a handkerchief Locally Owned & Operated Learn more about The Farrelly Sisters - Authors: from his pocket: “I can’t tell you without crying.” Radio Dispatched http://www.farrellysistersonline.com/ on the Entrepreneur Donald Trump: “Guys, when Internet. the relationship has run its course, just dump her Fully Insured - Free Estimates by saying You’re Fired. But don’t forget to tell her to have a nice day.” On Site Document Destruction Cupid, god of love: “No comment at this time. Check back after Valentine’s Day.” Same Day Roll Off Service Tim Gunn, mentor on TV show Project If You Call By Noon Runway: “Oh, for Pete’s sake. What you think of as a bad romance may not be THAT bad. Make it work.” www.citycarting.net Newt Gingrich, thrice-married U.S. presi- dential candidate and former Speaker of the U.S. City Carting of Westchester • Somers Sanitation House of Representatives, sighing heavily: “Here B & S Carting • AAA Paper Recycling • Bria Carting • CRP Sanitation we go again. Same old, same old.” Annie Oakley, sharpshooter, nodding her 800.872.7405 • 8 VIADUCT RD., STAMFORD, CT • 203.324.4090 head back and forth in disgust: “Listen up ladies, Page 16 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

shifting gears

sedan has an EPA rating side, and The Infiniti M-35 Hybrid of 27 miles per gallon in a thickly the city and 32 miles per padded Sometimes a Gas Saver gallon on the highway – arm rest but if you drive for fun the over a deep By ROGER WITHERSPOON actual mileage is likely to storage be considerably lower and bin. The I knew it was a hybrid. you’ll just have to grin and arm rest I just didn’t care. pay at the pump. is wide Saving money in There are a number of thoughtful features enough a hybrid is mostly a matter of with fulfillment: in the M, beginning with the notion that if you to be you want better mileage, so you drive differently pay $65,000 for a car you want a lot of comfort comfort- than you normally would. Instead of burning and amenities in addition to speed. Buyers in ably shared rubber, you take off slowly, allowing the electric this range are looking for more than mere trans- by the motor to accelerate the car at a rate slow enough portation: The car, as an art form, has to have an driver and mileage a secondary consideration. to allow you to finish your morning cup of tea irresistible, aesthetic appeal. With the M-35, you passenger, and adds to the spacious feel of the Sometimes, it’s nice to have choices. before reaching the nearest intersection. can start with the sculptured theme of flowing interior. --Roger Witherspoon writes Shifting Gears at On the highway, you avoid the passing lanes raindrops. The outer shell is wide with a hump The wide leather seats are power adjust- www.RogerWitherspoon.com and go with the slow flow. If you have to change over each front wheel, tapering towards the rear able, have powered lumbar supports and as lanes, you wait till there is an expected, the may be heated. The leather- opening rather than hitting the wrapped steering wheel telescopes and accelerator and jumping into a tilts, contains fingertip audio, cruise and 2012 Infiniti M-35 Hybrid small, moving slot. All the while, Bluetooth controls and at the touch of MSRP: $65,395 you are watching a luminous dial a button is also heated – which is really EPA Mileage: 27 MPG City; by the speedometer giving you a appreciated at this time of year. The 32 MPG Highway second by second reading of your leather padding on the dash and side Performance / Safety: gasoline miles per gallon – and walls are offset by generous use of wood 0 – 60 MPH you really, really like the number trim made from Japanese ash. 5.2 Seconds ¼ Mile to be north of 50. It’s a sensible, Like most cars of this era, the M-35 13.9 Seconds at 103 MPH safe, self-taught, economic way uses an “intelligent” electronic key, which Top Speed 140 MPH to drive – but only if you are in merely has to be inside the vehicle in order 3.5-Liter DOHC aluminum alloy V-6 en- the mood to be sensible, safe, and for you to start it by pushing the ignition gine producing 302 horsepower and economic. button. But this key is a bit smarter than 258 pound-feet of torque; 50 KW elec- Which brings this discus- most. Once you have set your seat, mirrors, tric motor producing 67 horsepower and sion back to a sunny day with a climate controls and turned on the audio 199 pound-feet of torque; hybrid net dry, nearly empty highway, and system to your preferred sounds, the key power 369 horsepower; rear wheel drive; the 2012 Infiniti M-35 hybrid. At the push as if the car were comprised of a flattened bubble memorizes it and makes any necessary adjust- 7-speed automatic transmission with of a button, the eight-inch, color navigation flanked by two stretched raindrops. It is a theme ments as soon as you start the car. electronic manual shift mode; double- screen readily shows you where the power is repeated inside, with oak wood grain flowing in For sound, the M comes with XM satellite wishbone, independent front suspension; coming from – the 302-horsepower, V-6 gaso- gentle curves across the dashboard and around multi-link independent rear suspension; regenerative brake system; 4-wheel vent- line engine, the 67 horsepower electric motor, the chrome door handles. ed disc brakes; anti-lock braking system; or both if you mash the pedal to the floor. The 18-inch, 5-spoke, aluminum-alloy wheels; latter move, of course, defeats the purpose of a rear view camera; high-intensity, bi-func- gas saving hybrid. tional Xenon headlights; traction and sta- But then, the hybrid combo can be viewed bility controls; side impact airbags; roof- as a gasoline engine enhancer, rather than a gas mounted curtain side impact air bags; saver – and the nearly 200 pound-feet of addi- blind spot and lane departure warning tional torque provided by the electric motor systems; blind spot intervention. directly to the axels pushes this hybrid, family Interior / Comfort: sedan into the category of a sports car. radio, as well as a USB port and iPod connec- AM/FM/XM satellite radio; Bose digital au- So I floored it. The 18-inch rear wheels Infiniti’s designers also gave some thought tions. The Bluetooth, which is easy to set up for dio system with 16 speakers; single disc dug in as the M shot forward, the speedometer to pedestrians, who might not hear the car cell phones, also serves to provide music from a CD player; MP3, iPod and USB ports; hitting 60 in just over five seconds and passing coming if it is in electric mode. The biggest smartphone or other Bluetooth music system. It Bluetooth phone and audio; 9.3 GB hard 100 and the quarter mile in just over 13 seconds. danger to pedestrians comes when cars are has a single disc CD player and surround sound drive Music Box; 8-inch video screen; And then, since one can’t go too far or fast on slowing down to turn, and those who listen but provided by a 16-speaker Bose system. In addi- backup and forward monitor; heated the Northeast highways without upsetting the don’t look are particularly threatened by hybrids tion, there is a 9.3 Gigabyte hard drive music box steering wheel and front seats; voice ac- guys with the sirens and guns, it was time to slow and plug-in electrics. So the electric motor has to store 1,000 or so of your favorite jams. The tivated navigation system; leather, tilt and down, act responsibly, and enjoy the ride. a built-in whine which comes on when the car XM satellite system also serves to provide real- telescoping steering wheel with fingertip One can actually get a speeding ticket while starts, and gets louder as the car drives, cutting time traffic updates for the navigation system, audio, cruise, and phone controls; Japa- acting responsibly in the M-35 – its electric off at 15 miles per hour on the assumption that which is both easy to use and see on an 8-inch nese white ash wood trim; front and rear motor is capable of pushing the car past 60 miles pedestrians aren’t in the middle of fast moving color pop-up monitor. seat climate controls; power, tinted sun- per hour, about twice the norm for most hybrid traffic. The M-35 offers a lot for those interested in roof; power rear sunshade. electric motors. The combined system provides The central console is nine inches wide, a comfortable, fuel efficient, luxury sedan. It also Competition: BMW 5 Series; Mercedes the power of a V-8 engine while sipping gaso- containing a cup holder designed to securely offers a lot for those who are primarily interested Benz E-Class line like a more sedate 4-cylinder, Audi A-4. The hold two large cups or water bottles side by in performance sports sedans and consider gas The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Page 17

SPORTSSCENE

43, led by Brendan Crowley and Matt Franks got by Edgemont 46 to 30. senior A.J. Wolf as he has signed his National Sports Scene each with 19 points. Byram Hills beat Port By the way, I tried squash a few weeks back Letter of Intent to play football at Duke next fall. Chester 56-37; Ryan Golden fired in 18 points with my daughter, what a great sport… in local You won’t want to miss this year’s annual By MARK JEFFERS and grabbed 10 rebounds for the winners. action, Poly Prep shut out Holy Child 7-0. Golf Show being held March 10 and 11 at On the girls’ side, New Rochelle defeated The Westchester County Track and Field the Westchester County Center. For golfers Welcome to this edition White Plains 63-55; Mary Miceli had 18 points Championships were run recently at the Armory throughout the Lower Hudson Valley, the 2012 of “Sports Scene,” where for the Huguenots while Kim Hanlon had 22 in New York City, with Mount Vernon taking season officially starts when the doors open…it’s we take a look at the sports points for the Tigers. Kennedy top honors in the team competition. the first “must-attend” event of the golf season action here in Westchester got a victory over Haldene On the slopes… Both the – the perfect place to check out the latest equip- County… by the final score of 49 to boys and girls Mamaroneck ment, apparel and accessories and work with area Let’s start off this week’s 37, Tara Cremin led the ski squads came out on top at pros to fine-tune your game...and as we all know action on the ice, Yorktown’s winners with 12 points. Thunder Ridge, beating Blind my golf game can use a complete makeover. Neil Jacobsen scored two In Gymnastics, Brook and Mahopac in high We will be broadcasting our sports show “The goals and added two assists in a 5-1 victory over Suffern vaulted past school skiing action. Clubhouse” live both days from 12 – 2pm, so Ossining. Hen Hud just skated by Lakeland 3-2 Edgemont by the final Turning to some come on by and say hello, see you there! with Brett Malinowsgi netting 2 goals. tally of 157.3 to 141.65 bowling action, North I don’t want to rush our winter sports scene, Pelham blew out rival Rye 5-0, Pelican while Eastchester pulled Rockland rolled by but with all this warm weather can spring sports goalie Josh Borofsky made 25 saves for the out a win over Scarsdale Tappan Zee 5 to 2 and be far behind… see you next week. shutout. 141.25 to 124.70. Yonkers defeated Ardsley 7 Mark Jeffers successfully spearheaded the launch of In college hoops action, Iona continues their In another mat sport… to 0… on the girls’ side Horace MAR$AR Sports & Entertainment LLC in 2008. outstanding play with a 105-86 blowout over the Fox Lane Foxes wrestling team took Greeley took Hamilton by the score of As president he has seen rapid growth of the company Canisius. Lamont “Momo” Jones led the way top honors at the Super 16 wrestling tourna- 7-0. with the signing of numerous clients. He resides in with 43 points for the 18-5 Gaels. The college ment. Fox Lane’s Brandon Fay (99 pounds), Jumping into the pool… Hackley swam Bedford Hills, New York, with his wife Sarah, and has also awarded their coach Tim Cluess with a Sam Speno (126), Dan Ventura (132), Matt past Good Counsel by the final score of 99 to three daughters, Kate, Amanda, and Claire. five-year contract extension. Pasqualini (160), 57 and Clarkstown came up a winner in a tight Over on the high school courts, in boys’ and Dan Clune (220) all took home indi- meet against Horace Greeley 94 to 90. basketball, Rye Neck got by Blind Brook 49 to vidual titles. In other wrestling action, Scarsdale Congratulations and good luck to Hackley

EYE ON THEATRE

critical teacher, emerita Cynthia Nixon Countryman’s all too scientific Dr. Kelekian, Of Wit and Anger Professor Ahford, and plays Vivian Bearing, a Greg Keller’s somewhat comic, bumbling Dr. with her rather thick- role taken in the some- Posner, Carra Patterson’s wonderfully caring By John Simon headed students, and what belated 1999 Off Nurse Monahan, and Suzanne Bertish’s stiff but the hospital staff ’s Broadway premiere by ultimately touching Professor Ashford, are all on Margaret Edson’s “Wit” is a problems with Vivian’s the amazing Kathleen the mark. play about Vivian Bearing, Ph life-threatening Chalfant. Once again Santo Loquasto’s starkly suggestive hospital D., a stern professor of English cancer. How these we first meet Vivian set and Peter Kaczorowski’s clinically probing literature at the university of an things relate is one in her hospital gown lighting are both perfect. It is a tremendous play, unnamed city. But now she is a patient at the of the play’s riveting (though this time not now and forever, and I can see why Margaret University Hospital, suffering from an advanced aspects, but there is barefoot but in socks), Edson, an Atlanta schoolteacher, has been for stage of ovarian cancer. As a professor, she also the matter of the a red baseball cap two decades and counting, been inhibited from specialized in the metaphysical poetry of John attitude of the doctors, covering her shaved attempting another. Donne, more particularly the “Holy Sonnets. who view her mostly head, and pushing her The English playwright John Osborne The most famous one, number six, beginning as an experiment for IV pole. Once again wrote “Look Back in Anger” in 1956, which ”Death be not proud,” asserts death’s defeat by a new treatment, and we see a valiant actress started Britain’s “Angry Young Men” theatrical the prospect of a happy afterlife. her compassionate who has sacrificed her movement, putting paid to the prevalent genteel, The play contrasts the wit (both in the nurse Susie Monahan, hair for her role. mostly upper-middle-class, drawing-room modern sense and the old sense of wisdom) of who feels for her as a It is a fabulous comedy or drama a la Rattigan. The protago- metaphysical poetry and the thrill of studying human being. role in a great play, nist, Jimmy Porter, is, like his somewhat gentler its divergent texts with the imperfect wisdom of The ironiesCynthia Nixon in the role of Vivian Bearing, and Ms. Nixon is friend Cliff Lewis, a working-class young man, medical science in its losing battle with cancer, involving the punc- Ph.D., in the play “Wit.” Photo by and courtesy of no slouch. But Ms. harboring a garrulous grievance against the despite the harrowing experimental treatment tuation of Sonnet Six, Jason Bell. Chalfant did even existing social order, and living in a one-room Vivian is subjected to by Dr. Kelekian, the where a comma versus better in it socklessly. Midlands apartment while earning a precarious hospital’s chief cancer physician, and young Dr. a semicolon can make Perhaps partly because living from running a candy stand in the market Posner, an intern. For distribution, Posner took a huge difference, contrast with such irony as the she looked the character’s age of fifty, whereas place. Like his mind, the pad is a huge mess. her demanding course on metaphysical poetry doctors’ repeatedly questioning Vivian “How are Nixon, in her early forties, still has a bit of a sweet Somehow he has managed to get himself and earned an A--.Now that he rummages you feeling?” to which, regardless of increasing baby face. Hard to imagine her as an exacting, an upper-class wife, Alison, whom he alternately around in her uterus, which she find degrading pain, she politely answers “Fine.” She muses, “I dreaded professor. Perhaps to help suggest that, bullies and insults or plays childish games with. (note the pun!), she wishes she had given him am waiting for the moment when someone asks the director, Lynne Meadow, has her speaking As wriyyen by Osborne, his invectives mad an A. me this question and I am dead. I’m a little sorry much the time in a hard-edged staccato, without dramatic history, and they are not unimpressive. There is a fascinating parallel between I’ll miss that.” Such humor dazzlingly punctu- really needing it. But inordinate amounts of time are taken up Vivian’s problems with Donne’s differing texts ates this moving tragedy, albeit with more than a But Nixon is respectable enough, and with Jimmy and Cliff reading the Sunday in discussion with her own former, equally comma or semicolon. the supporting cast is up to snuff. Michael Continued on page 18 Page 18 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

EYE ON THEATRE

Of Wit and Anger for the long, narrow desk of a large symposium. Goldberg as the much-suffering Alison.But costumes and Mark Barton’s lighting make up This necessitates ludicrous maneuvers with Matthew Rgys and Adam Driver, as Jimmy and for lost of stage depth and political relevance. As Continued from page 17 the actors forming a living frieze. For a sudden Cliff, are rather less charismatic than previous I look back on “Look Back in Anger,” the look is papers or fighting over hem, and the making and bed romp, a mattress leaning against the back incumbents of those roles, and Charlotte Parry’s merely one of regret. wall has to be taken down; an actor meant to be Helena is a trifle too caricatural. drinking of tea, while poor Alison is endlessly John Simon has written for over 50 years on theatre, in another room must instead linger somewhere Alas, the play has dated fairly badly. Today, ironing the men’s clothes while being mocked by film, literature, music and fine arts for the Hudson to the side, particularly painful when Jimmie, its radical attitude and raw language no longer her husband and consoled by Cliff. Review, New Leader, New Criterion, National meant to be playing his jazz trumpet in an invis- shock, and England has become far less class- For this revival by the Roundabout Theatre Review,New York Magazine, Opera News, ible room across the hall, must instead play it conscious, hegemonic and warranting Jimmy’s Company, the rising director Sam Gold has Weekly Standard, Broadway.com and Bloomberg in full view, and the actor not being a trumpet bitterness, much of it directed against his upper- made a disastrous choice. He has the entire show News. Mr. Simon holds a PhD from Harvard player, poorly. class wife. The bombings and rioting are the played “in one,” a technical term for a few feet of University in Comparative Literature and has There is some fairly sharp dialogue from the diametrically opposite problem. Osborne was a front stage., the rest cut off completely by a solid taught at MIT, Harvard University, Bard College four characters, including Alison’s actress friend timely writer, not a timeless one. black wall. and Marymount Manhattan College. So the acting area does no so much suggest a Helena Charles, a rather improbable character as Andrew Lieberman’s flattened set design cramped apartment as a shallow platform meant written, and the cast is not bad, especially Sarah can’t do much for the play, noir can David Zinn’s To learn more, visit the JohnSimon-Uncensored.com TRAVEL with one delightful exception: this is, after all, Leaving on a Jet Plane the place where the French Cancan was born over a hundred years ago, and today the Cancan Love Blooms Eternal In The City of Light still ends each show. I can report that their end, if you will, is quite saucy and tres French. The By BARBARA BARTON SLOANE 60 Doriss girls give it their all – throughout the “We’ll always have Paris.” Those performance, they continually send amorous, iconic words uttered by Bogart passionate glances out to the gentleman in the to Bergman in Casablanca so audience, signaling that they sure Can! many years ago are just as true and meaningful Amour... passion… romance… puts me in today. Maybe even more so. You see, recently mind of a most love-ly upcoming holiday- Bertrand Delanoe, the Mayor of Paris, has Valentine’s Day, of course. My guess is, in France, created something called Paris Tourist Day, meant to encourage Parisians to adopt a more cordial view of tourists. Launched a few years ago – and acknowledging that an estimated two million jobs here are linked to tourism - this project looks to become a regular fixture. This Love Sculpture by Robert Indiana. lesson in Parisian etiquette includes the vow Georges V Hotel (www.fourseasons.com/paris). to take the time to give information to visitors An acquaintance of theirs, Flavien Compagnon, and to attempt to reply to them in their own sings and plays piano in the Georges V cocktail language. Merci! lounge, and, turns out, the entertainer’s love of The Eiffel Tower. A Cimetiere Extraordinaire Cole Porter and George Gershwin matched mine exactly. Sitting on a burgundy velvet praise. Guy de Maupassant called it a giant and On a recent visit to Paris, I came with a banquet, sipping some bubbly, the room low-lit disgraceful skeleton while Paul Gauguin hailed check list of all the “must-dos” that I hadn’t done by crystal chandeliers and fragrant votives, and it as a “triumph of iron.” I second old Paul’s in the past. At the top of this list was to visit a with floor to ceiling windows giving onto a sentiment. cemetery. No, not just any cemetery - the Pere perfect formal garden in the distance, it was a Going In Seine Lachaise Cemetery with its starry lineup of illus- pinch-myself, dreamy moment. Another day I took a Bateaux Mouches trious corpses - indeed the celebrity resting place Twinkle, Twinkle Eiffel Tower in Paris. My visit, surprisingly, had a touch of cruise on the Seine at twilight when the sky was romantic history to it because I visited the graves Departing this grand hotel, my friends pale mauve turning to shell pink. The lights were of old-timers such as Delacroix, Proust and had a perfect nightcap idea to end the evening: coming up all over the city, and each monument Bizet, as well as the more recent dearly departed a visit to La Tour Eiffel. We timed it just right. was bathed in its own special glow. No matter Jim Morrison, and that famous love duo: Moments after we arrived at this most iconic how many times you take this romantic meander Simone Signoret and Yves Montand. Opened symbol of Paris, the Tower began to do its thing down the Seine, slipping silently under Paris’ 37 since the 1790s, Pere Lachaise was designed as a - The Great Eiffel Tower Light-Up! Back on bridges, gazing up at the Notre Dame Cathedral A view of the Cathedral of Notre Dame from a public park and still today is a green and pleasant, New Year’s Eve, 1999 to mark the new millen- and gawking at the stately, exclusive residences riverboat traveling the River Seine. albeit somewhat somber place to wander. With nium, 20,000 light bulbs were added to the on the Ile St. Louis, it never fails to thrill. every day is kind of like that. Closer to home, the help of a map supplied upon entering, one tower and illuminated. And because we all like Yes You Can Can we know how to celebrate it as well. A singular can check out the sites of almost anyone French, things that sparkle, the tower continues to be event is taking place at the Emelin Theatre talented and dead - they’re all here. lit up every night for 10 minutes. We watched What is a trip to Paris without visiting the in Mamaroneck on February 14 called, aptly Bubbles in a Glass of Champagne as this grand structure came alive, twinkling neighborhood of Montmartre and experiencing enough, Valentine Caberet. In the production, and dancing before our eyes! The Eiffel Tower the touristy but oh so fun show at the Moulin Broadway stars sing about the joys and tribula- That evening, local friends, knowing my became something magical to behold. Ever since Rouge? This world-famous nightclub opened its tions of love, www.emelin.org. In the City, the love for romance, luxury and the great American its appearance on the Parisian skyline in 1889, doors in 1889. The show that I saw was not World Yacht has two amour-inducing packages songbook, suggested we visit the very elegant the Eiffel Tower has drawn both criticism and dissimilar from what you might see in Las Vegas Continued on page 19 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Page 19

TRAVEL Love Blooms Eternal In The City of Light

Continued from page 18 – you and your sweetie on a wooden bridge: “The including dinner, dancing and of course sailing. Bridges of Madison County”. This holiday cruise sails February 11, 12 and The Renaissance Plaza Fountain in White 14. For more info,www.worldyacht.com or Plains – crashing water, soft music – all the call 212-630-8100. And here’s some informa- drama you need for an amorous kiss tion to be used not just on Valentine’s Day but To be sure, Valentine’s Day connotes Whenever… romance, be it home-grown or in the City of 6 Most Romantic Places to Kiss in Light where its seductive beauty is a backdrop Westchester to start a “dangerous liaison” or to rekindle the magic of the past. That was, I’m sure, the Muscoot Farm in Katonah – hike to the top inspiration for those memorable last words in of the trail and kiss under the gazebo Casablanca . My brilliant visit to the city of love Pell Hill at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is with me still, and yes, I will always have Paris. in Cross River – surrounded by stunning vistas, Paris 411 quote Walt Whitman: “You do not know how www.franceguide.com longingly I look at you.” Ferris Wheel at Playland in Rye –don’t try Travel Editor Barbara Barton Sloane is constantly this one till it warms up globe-hopping to share her unique experiences with The Castle on the Hudson in Tarrytown – our readers; from the exotic to the sublime. As Beauty Snuggling near the fireplace on a sofa, the kiss / Fashion Editor she keeps us informed on the capri- The Pyramid at The Louvre Museum in Paris, France. will be warm and wonderful cious and engaging fashion and beauty scene. Tarrytown Lake Reservation in Ossining

Government MAYOR Marvin’s COLUMN GOVERNMENTSection

Ms. since all were alleged to be fact in various media The Village’s Response to Library Director Eckley’s Eckley’s lawsuit outlets. alleges many Ms. Eckley alleged that I called the Library causes of action Board President and that I “demanded that she Lawsuit Against the Bronxville Mayor, Village, and Library as a conse- meet with me” and I told her “that the resolution quence of the approving my raise had to be rescinded.” Ms. By MARY C. MARVIN rescinded larger Eckley’s attorney, Anthony Pirrotti, was quoted raise. in the newspaper as saying that, “the Mayor calls The Village’s response to When complete financial information was The following is just a sample of some of and then takes umbrage with the Library Director Laura later presented to the Library Board, it became the major contentions that must be addressed Continued on page 20 Eckley’s lawsuit against me, clear that they did not have sufficient money as Mayor, the Village of without cutting and reducing other line items in Bronxville and the Bronxville the budget to fund the raise. Public Library was to be filed last Friday. Ms. Since what is done by resolution can be Eckley withdrew her suit the day prior to our undone by resolution, the Board, who are a dedi- filing deadline. cated group of residents very conscious of their Since we will now not be able to have “our stewardship of our tax dollars, sought to rectify day in court” where I am confident we would the situation in a subsequent meeting. have prevailed on the merits, our attorneys I admire them greatly. The easier path would advised us that this was the appropriate time to have been to just leave the raise in place. It would set the record straight in the even more impor- never have reached the public forum and the tant court of public opinion. money could be found by trimming hours of To recap the situation… at the October operation or book budgets. But they felt their Library Board of Trustees meeting, the Board fiduciary duty required them to do otherwise. members voted Ms. Eckley a raise based on They did adopt a new resolution giving Ms. financial information they received that they Eckley a significant, albeit lesser salary raise learned subsequently was incomplete and/or and bonus for her excellent service totaling erroneous. Complicating the issue was the fact $10,900. However, in her lawsuit Ms. Eckley that the Finance Committee Chair, who had all said the salary raise was “insignificant” to her. It of the correct information, was travelling and appears that all of the Board’s well intentioned was denied the opportunity to conference call efforts were for naught regardless as Ms. Eckley into the meeting due to the objection of one had apparently applied for other library jobs Trustee who erroneously asserted that “calling in” throughout the County, even before the initial would be a violation of the Open Meetings Law. meeting. Page 20 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

MAYOR Marvin’s COLUMN GOVERNMENT The Village’s Response to Library Director Eckley’s Lawsuit Against the Bronxville Mayor, Village, and Library

Continued from page 19 to be available. A process server then arrived at independent body that sets its own salaries. This whole unfortunate episode clearly raise.” This did not happen. It is completely false. the appointed time to serve me personally with Additionally, in a real head scratcher, Ms. illustrates that the pen is mightier than the This very serious accusation, which casts me as the lawsuit.) Eckley also alleged that two Library Board sword and untrue words are truly hurtful. It calls breaking the law was made with not one scintilla While I had not called the meeting among members, out of a seven person Board, who to mind Labor Secretary Donovan’s response of evidence. Phone records and the testimonies the Library Trustees, the Village Administrator attended the meeting and who clearly stated when he was acquitted of all charges hurled at of all involved will attest to that. The truth is that and the Village Treasurer, I happened to be in the they represented only themselves, somehow him. He said “which office do I go to get my the Library Finance Chairman returned home, next room the day they came in for the meeting. violated the Open Meetings Law which is so reputation back.” I understand quite clearly now was made aware of the raise, and requested that It is my regular custom to sit in on meetings with clearly not the case. why good people say no when asked to volunteer the Library Board President arrange a meeting the Village Administrator when I am in Village Ms. Eckley also sought an injunction against in government. with the Village Treasurer and the Village Hall. I asked if I might sit in, and the participants me personally to stop discriminating against I thank the 6 of the 7 Library Trustees Administrator to discuss the full budgetary welcomed me. employees based on their gender. As a proud who took the hard road, the one less travelled. impact of the raise. The Village Treasurer acts At the meeting, Mr. Fels reviewed the finan- graduate of an all-women’s college, this was not I admire your courage, your honesty and incred- as payroll officer for the Library and the Village cial implications of the initial raise of $24,000 only untrue but also quite hurtful. Ms. Eckley ible stewardship of our library funds, which are Administrator acts as their labor negotiator. The (including benefits). The raise would have resulted arrived at this unfounded assertion by comparing all taxpayer dollars. Our library will remain in Library Board President proceeded to set the in a 35% compensation increase for the Director her salary as a first-time ever Library Director excellent hands if people of your caliber continue meeting. (Ms. Eckley has never called to speak in an 18 month period while other library staff with two years seniority to salaries of other Village to serve. to me in person on any of these subjects. My had received a 0% raise over a two year period. department heads each with well over 20 years of only contact with her was one phone message At no time during this meeting, nor at any other seniority and experience. Her court papers left out Mary C. Marvin is the mayor of the Village of inquiring whether I would be in the office at a time, did I direct or pressure the Library Trustees the salary of our female department head which Bronxville, New York. If you have a suggestion or certain time and date. I rearranged my schedule to rescind the initial raise. The Library is an would have disproved her assertion. comment, consider directing your perspective by email to: [email protected]. BUDGET No appointment is required; speakers will Latimer, Paulin Host State Budget Meeting be heard on a first-come, first-served basis, with a few exceptions made for unique circumstances. Latimer and Paulin will be holding the meeting NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- Westchester City Hall, 515 North Avenue, New Rochelle open for four continuous hours to accommo- residents are invited to attend and speak from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. date those who attend. Testimony received will out on the proposed 2012-2013 New York Attendees may testify for up to four (4) be provided to the Assembly Ways and Means State Budget at a community meeting spon- minutes on any aspect of the State budget Committee for inclusion in their budget review. sored by Assemblyman George Latimer and proposal; written testimony will also be accepted For further information, contact Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. The Community at the meeting and over the ensuing week Assemblyman Latimer at 777-3832, or Meeting will be held on Thursday, February (until Friday, February 24th). The Governor’s highlights may be viewed on the Assembly Assemblywoman Paulin at 723-1115. 16th in the Council Chamber at New Rochelle proposed budget totals over $130 billion; budget website at www.assembly.state.ny.us. CONTRACTS Murtagh Hired as Senior Counsel for Law Firm that Earned now to helping Such a Deal $50,000 Contract from Yonkers Board of Contract and clients not only based upon my By HEZI ARIS Supply in Last Days of December 2011 legal background but by having spent nearly a decade YONKERS, NY -- Politics provide legal representation directed by Yonkers Carl Maniscalco, and Paul Summerfield. on the other side On the Hudson advised in a Corporation Counsel. The award was for Four members voted in favor of of the table. My posting yesterday, January 31, $50,000.00; the contract number: 020-020- the contract, none opposed, and Chuck years in office have 2012, that they were in receipt 5642-0478. The decision was approved 4-0. Lesnick abstained. given me another of a press release from former Chuck Lesnick, president of the Yonkers City Yet the BOCS record stipulates the perspective which, Yonkers City Council Minority leader John Council abstained. vote was 4-0. A more appropriate and I believe, will help Murtagh announcing his joining the White The members that attended the December formal standard would be recorded as me advise clients Plains Law firm of Gaines, Gruner, Ponzini 28, 2012 meeting of the BOCS were Yonkers 4-0-1. Yonkers City Council living, working and & Novick as a senior counsel. Our writing the Mayor Phil Amicone, City Council President President Chuck Lesnick abstained doing business here following day reveals the rest of the story. Chuck Lesnick, Commissioner of Finance and because Corporation Counsel would not in Westchester.” The article does not give notice to the Management Services Carl Maniscalco, Acting or could not give a rationale for awarding Such a deal! Yonkers Board of Contract and Supply (BOCS) City Engineer Paul Summerfield, City Council the contract. Reference: http://www.yonkersny. Meeting that took place in the last days of Majority Leader Patricia McDow. gov/Index.aspx?page=1313 LEGAL NOTICE: It is illegal to spend city assets then Mayor Phil Amicone’s administration, Others in attendance were Purchasing Murtagh waged an unsuccessful bid for for any purpose where no services are being rendered specifically on December 28, 2011, at 10:30 DirectorTom Collich, Deputy mayor Bill Mayor of Yonkers against candidates Carlo in return. The attorney for the city must articulate st am, held at the Mayor’s Reception Room, situ- Regan, and 1 Deputy Corporation Counsel Calvi and Mike Spano. Mike Spano’s campaign the reason for the contract, otherwise it is a gift. ated on the second floor. It was on that day Ed Dunphy. effort was victorious. Inspector General Dan Schorr, where are you? that Gaines, Ponzini & Novick, LLP received The voting members were then Mayor Phil Murtagh is given attribution for writing the funding in which the firm allegedly stipulates to Amicone, Chuck Lesnick, Patricia McDow, following in his press release, “I look forward The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Page 21

GERRYMANDERING

basic process they treasure It is virtually immune to manipulation. No including New York, Cambridge MA, and The Fight Over Redistricting and believe should end wonder the 1% rich and powerful fear it and will San Francisco, as well as for nations around the vicious autocratic dicta- make great efforts to prevent its use or defeat world, University Boards of Directors, Pacifica By BOB K. BOGEN torships and bring peace it after adoption, as finally occurred in New Foundation including WBAI FM and other and decent lives, even the York City, with the excuse that one socialist got Pacifica stations. Other names for Choice Every ten years, after the hope of personal security elected. Balloting include Proportional Representation, Federal Decennial Census, each and prosperity. They surely watch the pathetic, A local example of at-large Choice Balloting Ranked Voting, and Instant Runoff Voting state in the country re-defines grotesque demagoguery of Newt Gingrich, as could be a super district for the Hudson Valley, [IRV] for single official elections. It eliminates election districts. This is that time. well as the other presidential candidates, and cry replacing five or so current Congressional Spoiler candidate influence, so that George In the next weeks New York after laughing. Districts. It is certainly possible with Choice Bush Jr. never would have been elected. State will change our election districts at various Despite the noble effort, as suggested by Balloting that the same five candidates could Bob K. Bogen served as comprehensive long- levels, at federal as well as for internal state elec- former New York major Ed Koch, often seen in be elected as now if they could each attract one- range facilities planning director for the New York tions. Some states, for example New York, will these pages, to create a nonpartisan commission fifth of the voters. Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission; as loose Representatives in Congress and their to redraw our election districts, the true solution As for the nuts and bolts of Choice Balloting planning director for the New England Regional Representative Districts. Some states will gain, is much simpler and far more effective. The basic operation: What could be simpler? The voter Commission; author of the Citizens’ Workbook on based on significant changes in Census state problem of the election process itself is in the reviews the list of candidates and expresses his the Federal Budget; as a major United Nations totals. “single member district” concept itself. Possibly or her Choices on the ballot: that is first choice, official in Pakistan; Board Chairman of the The serious, even historic, question now it was appropriate before it was common for citi- second choice, and so on.. If the first choice Communications Committee for the United is: just where will the district lines be drawn by zens to own a horse and lived their lives pretty has the least votes, that candidate is declared Nations; Principal Representative of Architects/ the elected officials in the “majority party” of much only with those friends, relations, and defeated, as in a run-off election. The voter’s Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility to the state legislatures? This may sound simple. But candidate/leaders in walking distance of their second choice becomes the first choice and so United Nations; and paid election official in many each decade it is usual for such boundaries to own home. Such limited personal voter knowl- on until the designated number of candidates elections as well as organizer of Choice Balloting be drawn to Gerrymander districts in order to edge and perception surely expanded greatly has been chosen. For more details or questions elections in educational institutions, advisor Pacifica punish, that is eliminate, minority party offi- after Guttenberg and the resulting enormous check out the Center for Voting and Democracy in Foundation elections including WBAI, and past cials and enlarge representation of the so-called growth of available written information, [beyond Washington: FairVote.org. administrator of local MoveOn Internet Choice majority party. “So-called” because of the earlier just the king and priests with their hand-written Choice Balloting was part of the Council Balloting for Congressional primary nomination. mis-representative “Gerrymandered” district texts], certainly after Henry Ford’s horseless Manager movement elections in many cities lines and other undemocratic election actions, carriage, and absolutely with modern media in such as still counting non-voting felons in their all its electronic forms and levels New York State Senator Andrea Stewart- Cousins & prison counties, not in their home counties as The practical problem until the last century well as still, until courts catch up, all the various was simply to find a way to express a variety of Chairman of the County Board of Legislators Ken Jenkins methods of reducing the ability of citizens to views in assembling, electing a representative Invite You To register and /or vote. As a result both minor and decision making body, or even simply in the elec- very major governmental policy decisions are tion of a single office, a mayor or president with corrupted. more than two “nominations.” An Irish math- Coffee and Conversation Public understanding by the 99% and the ematician and a Danish diplomat are usually courts eventually eliminate such foul play, as in credited with the discovery of the solution over the old Poll Tax and massive racial immoralities. a century ago. Discuss Critical Issues With Your State and County Officials But those individuals and so-called, Supreme The basic secret is simply to eliminate all Court invented “corporate individuals” with arbitrary district divisions, except in very large enormous wealth and power keep developing and diverse areas, where it is decided there new methods of damaging and corrupting should be super-districts, usually with five to nine democratic process including voting. One very elected representatives for each super-district, as serious consequence is that people see all this was done in New York City for ten years. Over and other corruptions of democratic decision- the decades a substantial number of variations making and simply tune-out, disregard, and have been developed. But the original balloting opt-out of public issue consideration as well as concept still seems best, commonly called the voting itself. Even people around the world Choice Ballot, and basically assures each election watch our sad state of the democratic process, the winner represents an equal portion of voters! MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR Date: Saturday February 11, 2012 The Waterfront and Cinematic Pride Time: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM By PETER SWIDERSKI Time: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM th After years of tests and feasi- site infrastructure (electric conduits, sewers, etc) Place: Yonkers Riverfront Library 4 Floor

bility studies, the long-awaited as possible under the five-foot cap of soil during clean-up of the 28-acre former the clean-up process so that future disturbances Address: 1 Larkin Center Yonkers, NY Anaconda property at the north (and costs) are minimized. In addition, BP is two-thirds of our waterfront is within sight. BP obligated under the a legal agreement signed in This event is open to the public. To RSVP, please contact will begin designing the clean-up plan, likely 2003 to set aside at least 6.25 acres of open space starting this summer. The Village and BP have (parks and esplanade), which will also be at least Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins’ office at 914-423-4031. determined that it is best if we install as much partly constructed during the clean-up process. Page 22 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

The Waterfront and Cinematic Pride This is an extraordinarily important Ziegfield Follies and “Showboat” fame). They moment for the village and requires the help of lived on a 22-acre estate right near the current BP has asked the Village to provide its engineers interested volunteers, ideally with expertise in any you, especially if you have any of the skills to help. High School (a portion of which is enshrined with our plans regarding the location of the of the following areas to serve on the committee: The team will have the help of consulting engi- as “The Burke Estate”). The estate had a infrastructure, parks and roads so that they can • Landscape Architecture neers and the time devoted will be manageable menagerie that included bears, lion cubs, buffalo, be included in the remedial design for the site. • Architecture and Urban Design and focused. We need your help. Please consider. ponies, parrots, and an elephant. A playhouse To do so, we, as a Village, need to come to some • Planning Cinematic Pride on the property resembled a miniature Mount decisions over the next year as to where these will • Civil, Marine or Environmental Vernon. Hastings continues to boast a number all go. Engineering A side note of Village pride – Hastings of film and television producers, writers, actors To make these decisions, the Board of • Real Estate Development continues a proud tradition of a strong standing and actresses, and you probably pass them Trustees is setting up a Waterfront Infrastructure • Environmental or Natural Science in the arts. Our own Benh Zeitlin was recently unwittingly on the street though you enjoy their Committee that will be responsible for working • Hudson River Recreation: Boating, lauded at the Sundance Film Festival for writing documentaries and dramas on TV and in the with a consultant (to be hired), the Board and Fishing and Other Water-Related Uses and directing “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, theater. the public to create a site plan that includes Please submit your resume in an email to a film the New York Times called in its lead On that note, I’ll quote Billie Burke by streets, parks, an esplanade, and the locations [email protected] by February 17. The article in the Arts and Leisure section on Friday heartily agreeing “there’s no place like home”, where the public will access the water, as well Board of Trustees will announce its selection as the standout of this year’s Sundance Film and indeed, there isn’t. as infrastructure. The Board will work to ensure by early March. The Committee will begin Festival and ”among the best films to play at the Peter Swiderski is mayor of the Village of Hastings- that this first very practical step in planning the to meet in later March and it is expected to festival in two decades”. Hasting’s pedigree in on-Hudson. Direct email to: [email protected]. waterfront proceeds with as much public input complete the planning process and provide its the film industry, as most residents know, started as possible. recommendations to BP’s engineers by the end with Billie Burke (of Glinda the Good Witch To this end, the Board of Trustees is seeking of 2012. fame), who was married to Flo Ziegfield (of the POLICY Yonkers Mayor Spano Announces New Take-Home Car and Healthcare Policies Part of Yonkers’ Comprehensive Asset Reduction Schedule (Cars) Policies to Save Yonkers Over $100,000 in Take-Home Miles and Up to $150,000 in Annual Healthcare Spending

YONKERS, NY -- Yonkers taxpayers that cost-cutting is a this year, approximately 50 city vehicles from Mayor Mike Spano’s efforts shared sacrifice for us all and we the city’s fleet will be auctioned or traded-in. to cut costs for the city, as he all must be held accountable for Over time, the city will swap out the current promised in the days of his city expenses.” fleet of cars for more energy efficient vehicles, campaign effort were realized Today marked the city- providing extra savings. Additional take-home on Febryary 1, 2012, upon his issued deadline in which all cars will be phased out over time. announcing his updated poli- departments were asked to Mayor Spano today also announced the cies on city-owned take-home return non-emergency take- city’s revised policy for city healthcare benefits, cars and city employee health- home cars. As a result, 40 of the which will save the city up to $150,000 annually care benefits. The new policies 93 cars of the city’s fleet were in coverage. Effective immediately, all unrepre- are part of the administra- returned today, which will save sented employees, including all top officials in tion’s Comprehensive Asset the city over 100,000 miles in the mayor’s office, will be required to contribute Reduction Schedule (CARS), take-home usage. As part of the to their city funded healthcare insurance at the in which city resources and first phase of this policy, only rate of 20% for an individual plan and 10% for expenses are being evaluated in those department heads, deputy a family plan order to reduce city spending. commissioners, commissioners and mayoral The Spano administration plans to “While we look at the City’s current staff who are required to be on call on a 24- announce further cuts attributed to its budget, we are constantly evaluating all of hour basis as specified by the Mayor’s office will Comprehensive Asset Reduction Schedule the city’s resources and look for ways to be assigned take-home vehicles. (CARS) in the coming months. eliminate wasteful spending,” said Mayor The Mayor also stated that all city-owned Spano. “Although these initial policies are not cars will now be marked with official City of SOURCE: Christina Gilmartin Communications budget busters, it sends a message to Yonkers Yonkers seals and official license plates. Later Director, Office of the Mayor

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GOVERNMENT Legislators to Astorino “Get a Handle on the Numbers” Rebuke Follows “Emergency Action” on Child Care Based on Analysis Not Shared with Board

WHITE PLAINS, NY -- Last December, Budget, there was no mention of any dire that unsettle people and raise undue fears.” when the Westchester County Board of financial circumstances for these programs. Jenkins noted that the DSS has a $566 Legislators (WCBoL) overrode County The WCBoL, realizing that more funds may million annual budget and is projected to have Executive Rob Astorino’s vetoes of two acts that be needed because of greatest participation in in excess of $10 million dollars surplus for 2011. restored $4.3 million of child care subsidies for the programs, even increased the family share A resolution will come from the WCBoL low-income workers, it was acknowledged by from 15% to 20%, which the DSS concurred Community Services Committee stating that child care advocates and community leaders that was reasonable. the WCBoL will not support a modification in the move was right for Westchester. “It’s time for the Astorino Administration the parental share rates, he added. On February 2, 2012, the Astorino to get a handle on the numbers, do its job A copy of the DSS analysis regarding the Administration stated that because of a and give up on trying to undermine legisla- necessitation of “emergency action” to the child Westchester County Department of Social tive actions that are right for Westchester,” care subsidy programs has not yet been shared Services (DSS) analysis of the County’s said WCBoL Chairman Ken Jenkins with WCBoL, media or public. programs that run the child care subsidies “will (D-Yonkers). “This incessant ‘sky is falling’ “This abrupt decision will affect a number run out of money” before the end of the year, and reactionary approach to governance of residents in the legislative district that I have it has decided to take “emergency steps” that simply has to stop. Fact: the 2012 County begun to serve, and so I am particularly upset include capping the number of child care slots Budget approved by the Board restored over and frustrated for them,” said Legislator Virginia available through the Title XX program at 206 185 jobs and funding for dozens of essential Perez (D-Yonkers), a member of the WCBoL’s (the number of slots currently funded) and Community Services Committee. “We need increase the family contribution to the daycare to hear more information about why changes providing for their families. programs that the County Executive wanted funding from 20 % to 35% of the portion of to cut—without increasing the County tax levy have to be made—period. Putting individuals— income that exceeds the federal poverty level. When the WCBoL committees met with mostly mothers, in fact—who make $30,000 a the DSS Commissioner Kevin McGuire and and touching the fund balance. Now, let’s move These programs are designed for mostly on and start working together for the sake of all year in a position where they have increase their working mothers who are near the poverty level his staff in December regarding the programs share of child care costs by over $1000 for each for day care subsidies in anticipation of final- of Westchester’s residents, instead of making to stay in the workforce and contribute to the premature and mean-spirited pronouncements child will hurt so many families—and the local local economy—while paying their bills and izing appropriation amount in the 2012 County economy as well.”

OP ED KOCH EDCOMMENTARYSection President Obama is “the most effective food and Republicans has generally taken the form privileges of the wealthy. The I.R.S. code has The Flatter Tax stamp president in history,” and “I would like of Democrats seeking to address and upgrade conferred special privileges for different groups. to be the best paycheck president in American the economic status of the poor and middle Today, most people, even many Republicans, By EDWARD I. KOCH history.” Mitt Romney decries these criticisms class with Republicans defending the rights and Continued on page 24 of Republican philosophy as “the bitter politics I don’t believe class conflict is of envy.” harmful to our country, as long The Democrats, on the other hand are the as it is limited to elections. It is party of the poor and middle class. Rich people Marshall Alarm Systems also helpful if the charges made also play a leading role in the party, but that role by both sides in this conflict are Burglar & Fire Alarm Systems is to decry the lack of a level playing field seeking Serving the community since 1976 factually correct. changes in the law that if executed would be The Republicans are the party of the wealthy. Its damaging to their own economic condition. 24 Hour Emergency Service membership, however, is made up primarily of The best example of a wealthy person heading people who do not fit that description and are the Democratic fight is F.D.R., whose policies 914.962.4699 not in the 1 percent of our population with an as president were decried by his social peers and income of $380,000 and above. Those people, he was condemned by the Republican elite as a not part of the 1 percent, have an expectation • Burglary & Fire Systems We betrayer of his own class. Today, that role is held • Card Access Systems of someday becoming part of that small group by Warren Buffet. The Times of January 14, Service Premises Protected • Custom Designed Systems which pays just over a fourth of all federal taxes, 2012 reports, “The top 1 percent of earners in a All Systems according to the Tax Policy Center. It also may by an Automatic Security • Video Surveillance given year receives just under a fifth of the coun- System Designed by be that even if they don’t expect to be part of try’s pretax income, about double their share 30 • Central Station Monitoring it, they hope their children will be, and they years ago…In 2007, they accounted for about MARSHALL • NYC Lic. # 1200042586 want to protect the prerogatives that come with 30 percent of philanthropic giving, according to • Financing & All Major Credit Cards Accepted wealth. The major political tenet of these people Federal Reserve data. They received 22 percent is – success comes to those who strive to make of their income from capital gains, compared www.MarshallAlarm.com it and do on their own. I truly believe that is the with 2 percent for everybody else.” meaning of Newt Gingrich’s statement that The political battle between the Democrats Page 24 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

ED KOCH COMMENTARY

The Flatter Tax loopholes carved out allowing the privileged Steve Forbes when he ran for president in 1996 standard deduction, rather than itemized ones.” and wealthy in some cases to be pay nothing. and 2000 supported as his top issue the adop- The charitable deductions allowed have a huge Continued from page 23 The media has told us of oil companies, very tion of a flat tax. If adopted, he would have paid support base. The deduction in my opinion really would agree that the most glaring example of successful in their profits, using available deduc- nothing, since he and many others can manipu- should be eliminated and certainly at the very special and unfair favorable treatment is given to tions and ending up in some cases paying zilch late their income so it is only “unearned” coming least be far more limited. Why should the public those whose income comes primarily from Wall in corporate income taxes. from Wall Street investments. pay a significant part of someone’s charitable Street, with capital gains taxed at 15 percent. When you have middle class taxpayers Instead, I call for the “flatter tax.” I believe contribution? Indeed, when the government is Income described as “unearned,” as opposed to paying up to 35 percent of their earned income all income from whatever source should be involved, it isn’t, in my view, charity anymore. “earned,” the latter consisting primarily of sala- subject to taxes, and well known businessman taxable. As many deductions as possible, now Nevertheless, probably at least these two deduc- ries paid to employees or professional fees, e.g., Warren Buffet paying 15 percent on most of available to us, should be eliminated. Realists tions will be kept. Finally, I believe three rates, lawyers, doctors, architects, etc., which are taxed his income, why shouldn’t there be anger in the believe that at least two deductions will remain: depending on income, should be retained so as country taking the form of class warfare domi- the mortgage interest deduction, the impact of to keep progressive taxation a part of the code, at different rates depending on the amounts, with th the highest rate on “earned” income currently nating the pending election? which The New York Times of January 20 and, voila, we’ve leveled the playing field. being 35 percent. Contrast that with the income What should the Democrats be offering described as follows: “The average family in the I will be taking a vacation in the Caribbean of hedge fund operators – their income described as one of their top priorities to deal with the top 1 percent saves more than $5,000 from the for about two weeks, so my commentaries and by the I.R.S. as “unearned”—which is taxed at enormous inequities in our tax code? I believe it mortgage deduction.” The Times also points movie reviews will not be coming in that period. should be a form of the flat tax, but not the tradi- out, “The mortgage interest deduction, widely 15 percent, no matter the millions they receive in The Honorable Edward Irving Koch served as a tional flat tax. The traditional flat tax excludes considered a middle class benefit, actually saves the conduct of their business. member of member of Congress from New York from any tax “unearned income,” taxing only a typical middle-income household only about I am not an economist and don’t pretend State from 1969 through 1977, and New York City “earned income.” Now you will understand why $200 a year, because so many families claim the th to be an expert on the I.R.S. code or the many as its 105 Mayor from 1978 to 1989. OPED Another clear example are the incumbency rates NY, 2006) addition, NY lawmakers know Ossining shares Albany Fails Ossining for both the NYS Senate and Assembly. The So now to the problem at hand: the gerry- little of the same issues as Rockland’s Towns. average length of service in 1960 was 7.9 years mandering of Ossining. We share many issues with surrounding By PETER TRIPODI IV (NYS Senate) and 8.2 years (Assembly), now Placing Ossining in a “Rockland only” Westchester and Putnam communities; this it is 15.8 and 11.4 years respectively. Becoming district presents a number of challenges and needs no explaining. Thus, the obvious reason Voted in 2005 as the most a full time politician and gerrymandering elec- problems. First is the county split of repre- this district was created was to increase and dysfunctional and most partisan tion districts to promote this selfish agenda sentation. While many Senate and Assembly maintain incumbency; all caused by the legislature in the United States has now become the norm. These incumbency districts transcend county lines, many remain partisan gerrymandering of districts. by NYU’s Brennan Center, figures show that gerrymandering districts to close enough to have the same issues. The Republicans and Democrats are to blame. Albany has once again shown its maintain incumbency is a very real and serious main issue at hand here is the geographical If you too are disgusted with this extremely true colors. Even this extremely partisan legis- problem that both Republicans and Democrats separation of the district. Public meetings, partisan move by the New York State Senate lature can agree on one thing in a bi-partisan are responsible for. It then shouldn’t surprise district-wide issues, and sheer representation please join the Facebook group, “Ossining is manner; maintaining incumbency and putting many that the size of New York Stare govern- will be focused across the river in Rockland, NOT in Rockland County”. In addition, call the people’s work second. How is this best ment has nearly doubled in 30 years. In session where the entire district is located except for and voice your opinion to your local legislators. year 1930, a total of 7,544 bills were introduced Ossining. This leaves many Ossining residents shown? Well, first look at the current election Peter Tripodi is an Ossining Town Councilman. in both houses of New York State government. with limited ability, time, and resources to stay districts as well as those recently proposed for Learn more about him at www.PeterTripodi. In session year 2000 a total of 19,105 bills were active within their Senate district. Crossing the upcoming 10 years. One specific example com, direct email to: [email protected], or introduced in both houses. (All facts and figures the Hudson River is a burden many Ossining is robbing Ossining residents of fair repre- call 914-774-0373. from Robert Wards’ New York State Government and Briarcliff residents cannot afford, not to sentation by placing them in a district that nd is composed of all Rockland County towns. 2 Edition, The Rockefeller Institute Press, Albany mention the inconvenience of doing so. In

THIS IS THE FACE OF A PERSON AFFECTED BY Whether the stroke is your own or that of a friend, parent, child, spouse or loved one, your life is STROKE. affected. So learn the warning signs and call 9-1-1 immediately if you or someone else experiences them. Call 1-800-4STROKE or visit www.strokeassociation.org The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Page 25

OPED

pursuing the regulation of speech continue to mention of any religious holiday—as though The Assault on the First Amendment probe different paths to reach their goal. Most a “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hanukkah” recently, the excuse that speech regulation was would invade anyone’s rights. In essence, By FRANK V. VERNUCCIO, Jr. necessary to curb the unlawful reproduction of educational bureaucrats have established the copyrighted works was employed. Opponents doctrine of secularism on our schools. This Why have recent assaults bureaucratic attempts on the federal level have of this discredited argument successfully state religion—secularism— is a violation of against the First Amendment been made to regulate the Internet, and impose convinced legislators that enforcement of Constitutional prohibitions against established not sparked greater outrage? questionable rules on political programming. current laws can achieve this goal. Undeterred, creeds. The NYC Department of Education Since its adoption, Here in New York and in Washington, agency the White House did an end-run around has gone so far as to attempt to ban religious Constitutional guarantees of actions against religious institutions have Congress and signed an international treaty institutions from even having an equal oppor- free speech and religious freedom have been reached a serious level. that permits foreign parties to demand the tunity with other organizations to use school the most respected portions of the law. They Shortly after the Democrats swept into removal of web content. buildings after hours. Senator Martin Golden hold a central role in America’s self image. power in the Obama election, Speaker Pelosi The growing attacks on free speech have has introduced a measure, S.6087A, to address While there have been disagreements on how attempted to reinstate the discredited “fair- been joined, both on the local and federal this practice and bring the city’s public school to interpret those rights, the disputes have been ness doctrine,” which would have allowed levels, by the diminishing of religious liberty system back into compliance with the First over how best to fulfill its mandates. Advocates Washington to regulate broadcast editorial guarantees. Amendment. on either side of serious battles over contentious content. Organizations such as the Society of In Washington, the Health and Human Americans would stand together and fight problems such as hate speech and pornography Professional Journalists, along with conserva- Services Department now insists that the against a foreign invader who sought to destroy shared common ground in the understanding tive-leaning talk radio hosts, managed to fend health care coverage of all institutions, regard- our Bill of Rights. The threat from within, that this sacred law is essential to the American off that attack. less of their religious beliefs, provide abortions, from our own government, must inspire similar way of life. When hostility towards particular The Internet was the next arena for anti- sterilizations and related services for free. determination. religions ran rampant, the First Amendment free speech partisans. President Obama’s Religious organizations with profound opposi- prevented the nation from imploding into offi- Federal Communications Commission sought Contact Frank Vernuccio by directing email to: tion to these practices would be forced to either cial bigotry. to impose so-called “net neutrality,” a concept [email protected]. violate their deeply held values, or be held in While there is little evidence that the which gave it unprecedented authority to violation of federal law. public ardor for the First Amendment has regulate the most modern version of the Local level attacks on the First cooled, recent governmental actions give rise public forum. Once again, First Amendment Amendment also exist. Just to our south, for deep concern. Over the past three years, defenders rebuffed the assault. However, those NYC public schools have virtually banned the Page 26 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

OPED The Continuing Demand for Oversight and Accountability of Law Enforcement in Westchester County By DAMON K. JONES The recent shooting of The municipality is compelled to investigate enforcement. Rather it is a public request in the rest of the English-speaking world, Kenneth Chamberlain an officer who they consider ”one of their from tax payers to play a role in the organiza- the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Sr. of White Plains Police own,” and the municipality has to also decide tional structure of how their communities are and New Zealand, is subject to some form Department has once again how they can proceed with its investigation being policed. of citizen oversight. Despite having a repu- reignited the discussion in a manner that will preserve its relationship Since the Detective Ridley shooting in tation as being one of the most “progressive” among community leaders with that police officer and the municipality. 2008, the Danroy Henry shooting in 2010, and wealthiest counties, Westchester lacks regarding law enforcement’s use of force poli- Based upon the challenges that municipalities and the shooting of Kenneth Chamberlain any effective oversight mechanism for the 43 cies, training of officers, and investigations of encounter, the only logical choice is to request Sr. in 2012, there have been no clear outcome law enforcement municipalities. The city of complaints of questionable actions of officers. some form or a third party intervention. By or plan on how to rectify these ongoing prob- Peekskill has a civilian oversight committee Before any necessary and true reform requesting assistance, the municipality is lems concerning questionable police shooting, but according a Peekskill organization, the can take place, there must be admittance placed in a difficult position of having to brutality, and misconduct throughout Committee for Justice, the Peekskill City from those in policy-making positions that admit that perhaps they are incapable of Westchester. The continuous silence has Council has yet to make appointments to the there is a need for critical review of law handling an investigation into “one of their shown that elected officials and law enforce- board. The Mt. Vernon city charter called for a enforcement policies in Westchester. To own” or confirming that there is bias. ment management are far behind the national Civilian Complaint Review Board but the city this date, Westchester County Executive The Westchester Martin Luther King Jr. and even international census on law enforce- has yet to appoint anyone to that board also. Robert Astorino, District Attorney Janet Institute for Non Violence released a state- ment oversight and accountability. The issue Even with the Department of Justice inves- Defiore, Public Safety Commissioner ment On December 18, 2011, in the Journal of whether some form of citizen review is tigating the Yonkers Police for possible Civil George Longworth, Westchester County News requesting an independent body in the appropriate may have been settled from the and Human Rights violations, Commissioner Chiefs Association and Law Enforcement investigation of the shooting of Mr. Kenneth public’s viewpoint years ago. Three-fourths Hartnett, Mayor Amicone and the Yonkers Management throughout the 43 munici- Chamberlain Sr. and establishing a system of of the largest cities in the United States have City Council still saw no need for any over- palities have refused to publicly recognize examining and if necessary reforming policies established some form of citizen law enforce- sight or policy review. As far as the other 41 the need for transparency and accountability and practices of how communities are being ment review. According to the International municipalities, there is none. Our Westchester of law enforcement policies and procedures policed in Westchester. This statement was Chiefs of Police Association (IACP) the county government has yet to be willing to concerning the use of force, investigations, and supported by several Westchester organiza- majority of cities that do have a citizens play any role in correcting any flawed policies violations within the many law enforcement tions — the AntiRacist Alliance, Ministers complaint process use this model: complaints concerning Public Safety. With the continued departments in Westchester County. From a Fellowship Council, New York Civil Liberties being reviewed and investigated, and recommen- incidences of questionable police encounters realistic perspective, police officers are often Union-Lower Hudson Valley, OneAccord, dations for disciplinary or policy action are made in Westchester, no amount of explanation will times related by blood, marriage, or a loyal WESPAC Foundation, Westchester Blacks in by law enforcement officers, with oversight of each convince the growing number of taxpayers bond of friendship. Whether they want to Law Enforcement, White Plains/Greenburgh case by a citizen or board of citizens. According that abuses seldom occur and that misdeeds admit it or not, the District Attorney’s office NAACP and Yonkers NAACP. The ongoing to the IACP, 31 out 66 cities in the United are dealt with in a stern nonbiased fashion by and our local municipalities are presented dialogue and demand of accountability of law States use this model of oversight. the internal systems of law enforcement. with the challenge of investigating an officer enforcement policies by taxpayers should not Oversight, moreover, is an international Ultimately, law enforcement manage- who is a friend, family member, or colleague. be looked at as being anti-police or anti-law phenomenon. Every law enforcement agency ment is the primary key to police

LEGAL NOTICES

ALBERT E. ALEXANDER FAMILY GEORGIO FAMILY III LLC Articles of WEINER, LLP Articles of Org. filed Notice of Formation The Develop- BIG JAY’S DISTRIBUTORS LLC Ar- LIMITED PARTNERSHIP Articles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 12/6/2011. ment Team of NY LLC Arts. of Org. ticles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 12/5/2011. Office in Westchester Office in Westchester Co. SSNY filed with SSNY 1/20/2012. Off. Loc.: (SSNY) 10/25/2011. Office in West- 12/1/2011. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC design. Agent of LLP upon whom Westchester Cnty. SSNY designat- chester Co. SSNY design. Agent of Co. SSNY design. Agent of LP upon upon whom process may be served. process may be served. SSNY shall ed as agent of LLC whom process LLC upon whom process may be whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process C/O mail copy of The LLP 660 White may be served. SSNY shall mail pro- served. SSNY shall mail copy of C/O SSNY shall mail copy of process C/O Patricia G. Micek, Esq. 2180 Boston Plains Rd. Tarrytown, NY 10591. Pur- cess to: c/o The LLC, P.O. Box 305, John P. Recchia 201 Terrytown Rd. Stern, Keiser & Panken, LLP 1025 Post Rd. Larchmont, NY 10538. Pur- pose: Any lawful activity. Principal Lincolndale, NY 10540. Purpose: all White Plains, NY 10607. Purpose: Westchester Ave. Ste. 305 White pose: Any lawful activity. Office: 660 White Plains Rd. Tarry- lawful activities. Any lawful activity. Plains, NY 10604. Purpose: Any law- town, NY 10591 ful activity. LIGHTCHARTS LLC Articles of JPANY, LLC Articles of Org. filed Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) ALBERT E. ALEXANDER ENTER- NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 12/21/2011. HARLEM LINE MEDIA, LLC Articles 12/20/2011. Office in Westchester PRISES, LLC Articles of Org. filed Office in Westchester Co. SSNY of Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC NY Sec. of State (SSNY) 12/21/2011. design. Agent of LLC upon whom 11/14/2011. Office in Westchester upon whom process may be served. Office in Westchester Co. SSNY process may be served. SSNY shall Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC SSNY shall mail copy of process C/O design. Agent of LLC upon whom mail copy of C/O Stern Keiser & upon whom process may be served. Patricia G. Micek, Esq. 2180 Boston process may be served. SSNY shall Panken, LLP 1025 Westchester Ave. SSNY shall mail copy of process Post Rd. Larchmont, NY 10538. Pur- mail copy of C/O Stern Keiser & Pan- Ste. 305 White Plains, NY 10604. Pur- Corporation Service Company 80 pose: Any lawful activity. ken, LLP Ste. 305 1025 Westchester pose: Any lawful activity. State St Albany, NY 12207. Purpose: Ave. White Plains, NY 10604. Pur- Any lawful activity. Registered QUICK CASH OF PEEKSKILL LLC Ar- pose: Any lawful activity. GHMT PROPERTIES LLC Articles of Agent: Corporation Service Com- ticles of Org. filed NY Sec. of State Org. filed NY Sec. of State (SSNY) pany 80 State St Albany, NY 12207 (SSNY) 12/21/2011. Office in Westches- 12/27/2011. Office in Westchester ter Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC upon Co. SSNY design. Agent of LLC whom process may be served. SSNY upon whom process may be served. shall mail copy of process The LLC SSNY shall mail copy of The LLC 2712 E. Tremont Ave. Bronx, NY 10461. 1053 Main St. Peekskill, NY 10566. Purpose: Any lawful activity. Purpose: Any lawful activity. The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Page 27

OPED The Continuing Demand for Oversight and Accountability of Law Enforcement in Westchester County

officer accountability. It is largely the so, does DA Janet DiFiore, who has a history articulated principles embodied in the orga- of covering up the actions of rogue cops by nizational culture that promote accepted prosecuting their victims. By Westchester behavioral norms. With all these issues, ques- organizations collectively requesting a third tions, protests, and rallies that have occurred, party investigator for disciplinary or policy the Westchester County Chiefs Association change of law enforcement, the people of has yet to offer a solution. The department Westchester are starting to wake up. chiefs can play a crucial role in influencing Damon K. Jones is executive Director of officer behavior, by setting rigorous selec- Westchester Blacks2 column in Law Enforcement. 1 column tion standards to recruit and develop more intelligent, trainable, and restraint-oriented officers− instituting training programs rele- vant to today’s community policing. Get Perhaps if Westchester County had Get Noticed Noticed meaningful civilian complaint review boards, Irma Marquez would not have been brutally body-slammed , Rui Florim would not have been brutally beaten by six off-duty Yonkers cops , NYPD Sgt Kissiedu would not have been beaten by two Yonkers cops while on his way to work , Danroy Henry would not Legal Notices, Advertise Today have been killed and his teammates would Legal Notices, Advertise Today not have been brutalized when they tried to render first aide to their dying teammate and Kenny Chamberlain Sr. would not have been shot and killed when Life Alert called 914-562-0834 the police to his house to save his life. Maybe the elected officials and Police management [email protected] like things the way they are. In my opinion,

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HELP WANTED A non profit Performing Arts Center is seeking two job positions- 1) Director of De- velopment- FT-must have a background in development or experience fundraising, knowledge of what development entails and experience working with sponsors/do- nors; 2) Operations Manager- must have a good knowledge of computers/software/ ticketing systems, duties include overseeing all box office, concessions, movie staff- ing, day of show lobby staffing such as Merchandise seller, bar sales. Must be famil- iar with POS system and willing to organize concessions. Full time plus hours. Call (203) 438-5795 and ask for Julie or Allison Page 28 The Westchester Guardian THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

Up to $2,700 off 2-for-1 fares*

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*All advertised fares already reflect all discounts. No airfare is included. Any applicable shipboard credits or special amenities shown are per stateroom based on double occupancy. All advertised fares and offers are cruise-only, per person based on double occupancy, are subject to availability at time of booking, may not be combinable with other offers, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without prior notice or remain in effect after the expiration date. All fares listed are in U.S. dollars, cruise-only, per person, based on double occupancy and include Non-Commissionable Fares. Cruise-related Government Fees and Taxes of up to $19.50 per guest per day are additional. Cruise Ship Fuel Surcharge may apply and, if applicable, is additional revenue to Oceania Cruises. 2 for 1 and Special Offer fares are based on published Full Brochure Fares. Full Brochure Fares may not have resulted in actual sales in all cabin categories, may not have been in effect during the last 90 days and do not include Personal Charges and Optional Facilities and Services Fees as defined in the Terms and Conditions of the Guest Ticket Contract which may be viewed at OceaniaCruises. com. Full Brochure Fares are cruise only. Please call for optional air-add on rates from Oceania Cruises gateway cities. Oceania Cruises reserves the right to change any and all fares, fees and surcharges at any time. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Complete terms and conditions may be found in the Guest Ticket Contract. Ships’ Registry: Marshall Islands. Pisa Brothers strongly recommends the purchase of travel insurance. We reserve the right to correct errors and omissions. For complete terms and conditions contact Pisa Brothers. www.westchesterguardian.com