WESTCHESTER’S OLDEST AND MOST RESPECTED NEWSPAPERS PRESORT-STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID White Plains, NY Permit #7164 Vol 114 Number 8 www.RisingMediaGroup.com Friday, February 21, 2020 YoFiFest Celebrates Father & Son: Black History Month Democrat & Republican Monthly Series of Documentaries Starts Feb. 28 Did Dad Get Son a Free Pass to Re-Election? YoFiFest will feature the documentary “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality,” and other Black History Month-themed films next weekend. County Legislator David Tubiolo, and his father Justin Tubiolo, are now on opposite sides of YoFiFest, the Yonkers Film Festival, has part- executive director. “Their award-winning work is the political aisle. nered with Kunhardt Film Foundation to present often seen on HBO and PBS, so we’re excited at a topical series of documentaries featuring people the chance to present it in our venue.” By Dan Murphy ing people that David would never switch parties. who have had an impact on our society, which they YoFiFest, the non-profit organization behind In the summer of 2019, rumors were running Legislator Tubiolo was holding fundraisers are calling the “World Shaper” film series. the annual Yonkers Film Festival, and Kunhardt around political circles in Yonkers that County with his longtime republican friends in Yonkers “We’re thrilled to have such a prestigious Films, a production company based in Pleasant- Legislator David Tubiolo was going to switch par- and was using the party to collect signatures to get partner as Kunhardt,” said Dave Steck, YoFiFest’s Continued on Page 7 ties from republican to democrat. This was despite on the ballot and run in 2019, as a republican. the fact that his father, Justin Tubiolo, was the Re- Now that Legislator Tubiolo has left the GOP publican Party chairman in Yonkers and was tell- Continued on Page 8 Sprain Lake Gets Drained for Repair State Budget Has a $6B Hole What Does it Mean for Yonkers? The Sprain Lake Reservoir will be filling up this summer. For the past few months, Yonkers residents, lated that the reservoir was drained as part of a drivers along the Sprain Brook Parkway and West- criminal investigation looking for dead bodies. Members of the Yonkers PTSAs and students at the Capitol in Albany lobby for additional state education funding. chester golfers have been asking: What’s going on The answer is not that exciting, nor worri- with Sprain Lake Reservoir? The body of water some. By Dan Murphy and employ the same number of union employees, has lost most of its luster, with most of the H20 “The dam is being lowered so we can work Every budget year, the City of Yonkers looks the city needs to increase spending in its budget by gone. on the spillway and the gates in the gatehouse,” to New York State for help and assistance in bal- about $20 million per year. The City of Yonkers Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner said he explained City of Yonkers Engineer Paul Summer- ancing its budget and finding the additional dol- also has to live within the property tax cap of 2 has been getting numerous emails and calls from field. “To keep the dam in working order, we are lars to prevent layoffs and cuts to both the Yonkers percent, which limits the amount of money it can town residents who are worried and are used to required by DEC to be able to empty the dam in Public Schools and the city services that Yonkers ask from the property taxpayers and homeowner seeing the beautiful reservoir. Some have specu- Continued on Page 8 residents deserve and are used to from the fire and of the city. police departments and DPW. Mayor Mike Spano has been able to manage In order to maintain the same city services, Continued on Page 9 Would Westchester Vote for A Bloomberg-Hillary Ticket? Blue Door Art Gallery Receives Prestigious Acclaim Westchester’s Hillary Clinton is rumored to be a possible running mate for Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Bloomberg. Photo by Jackie Reason. Artist Katori Walker with children making tambourines at Blue Door Art Gallery. By Dan Murphy “Sources close to Bloomberg campaign tell With former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg Druge Report that candidate is considering Hill- By Janie Rosman contributions to the growth of Westchester’s cul- slowly moving up the polls in the democratic ary as running mate, after their polling found Blue Door Art Center in Yonkers will be tural life over a significant period of time and has presidential race (he’s now at 10 percent in third the Bloomberg-Clinton combination would be a honored at ArtsWestchester’s annual Award Lun- had an impact beyond its immediate community.” place behind Bernie Sanders and Mayor Pete But- formidable force…” Many media outlets picked cheon 2020 in the category of arts organization. Located at 13 Riverdale Ave., a short walk tigieg), a story came out last week from the old, up on the idea but then rejected it with their own Director Michele Amaro and Co-Executive from the Yonkers train station, Blue Door Art famous conservative news blogger Matt Drudge, political pundits. Director Julie Cousens say they are delighted the Center’s free exhibitions, educational programs with the headline “Exclusive: Bloomberg Consid- The Bloomberg campaign downplayed the art center is recognized for its “extraordinary im- and workshops, pop-up art shows, public art ers Hillary Running Mate:” Continued on Page 8 pact on arts and culture” that has “made important Continued on Page 8 PAGE 2 - YONKERS RISING - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020 Pay Raises for County Legislators, Mary Calvi to Discuss Harrison Mayor Lead to Lawsuit George & Mary at HRM Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont and County BOL Chairman Ben Boykin are being sued in fed- eral court over their recent salary increases. Last month, we reported on an effort by New York State.” Westchester resident Anthony Futia to circulate Futia and Schultz fi led the lawsuit for all a petition against salary increases voted on by people in Westchester County and surrounding Westchester County legislators for themselves areas who are concerned about the future of the Mary Calvi will discuss “Dear George, Dear Mary” this weekend at the Hudson River and for other executives in County government state and the nation, and who want government Museum. (excluding the county executive). offi cials held accountable to the rule of law. That effort has now evolved into a lawsuit, “Violations of our fundamental laws have Join Mary Calvi, nine-time New York Emmy learning more about Mary Philipse and conducted fi led in Federal Court in White Plains, against the reached a critical stage in New York State,” said Award-winning journalist and NYC television her own research of Philipse and our fi rst president. Westchester County Board of Legislators and, Schulz. “People can learn more about their rights, news anchor, who is also fi rst lady of the City of Calvi’s historical fi ction has drawn great re- additionally, against the Harrison Town Board for what is really going on in government and how to Yonkers, in conversation about her debut award- views. “I was hooked on the fi rst page. Ms. Calvi its decision last year to raise the salary of Harri- intelligently, rationally and professionally chal- winning novel “Dear George, Dear Mary” at the is a gifted historical author. I was drawn into the son Mayor-Supervisor Ron Belmont by $30,000, lenge those in government who have stepped Hudson River Museum on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 3 story and could picture the events as if I were there. from $155,000 to $185,000, making him the outside the boundaries the people have drawn p.m. I so enjoyed the weaving of George’s 110 rules into highest paid supervisor in the county. around their power by the terms of our state and Crafted from thousands of archived letters, the story and how they supported the events. My On Dec. 9, immediately following the elec- federal constitutions.” witness accounts, journal entries and other docu- heart was anguished when Mary and George were tion, Westchester County legislators voted to raise Because individuals and small groups have ments, the novel explores the relationship between kept apart by interlopers,” wrote Barbara E. on their own salaries by 52 percent, from $49,200 a diffi cult time prevailing against government George Washington and his fi rst love, the richest Amazon. to $75,000, and the salaries of the county’s other wrongdoing, Futia and Schulz also discussed a belle of Colonial America, Mary Eliza Philipse. Calvi’s book also speculates about a secret elected and appointed offi cials. In addition, im- plan to institutionalize citizen-vigilance in West- This never-before-told story, hidden away for cen- rendezvous between the two years after GW was mediately following his re-election, the Harrison chester County. turies, reveals the unrequited love that helped to ig- courting MP in Yonkers. Town Board voted to increase the salary of the “We will be calling on the people to par- nite a cause that became the American Revolution. The talk will be followed by a question- town supervisor. ticipate in a profound experiment designed to Philipse lived at Philipse Manor Hall in Yon- and-answer session with HRM Director Masha The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality provide a much needed, clear demonstration of kers, which is still standing today as one of the old- Turchinsky, as well as a book signing and recep- of the pay raises as violative of certain compen- the ability of the people to hold the government est buildings in Westchester.