Urban Raising Software Wind Awareness Page 4 Page 8 Page 9 oc t o b e r 30, 2008 WESTCHESTER TIMES TRIBUNE Complimentary WestchesterTimesTribune.Typepad.com Your World, Our Beat; Now You Know! Vo l u m e 3 • Nu m b e r 111 Testimony before the New Feld Asserts Westchester Brodsky Releases York State Commission Property Taxes Will Congressional Testimony on Property Tax Reform Double in Next 10 Years on Yankee Stadium WASHINGTON, D.C. -- measurable economic benefit to the By Phil Amicone Oppenheimer Says All Well in Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky region or the community resulting LARCHMONT, NY -- Property New York State Commission on Mayor of the City of Yonkers testified in front of the Congressional from massive public subsidies of taxes in Westchester County will Property Tax Reform. That alone Domestic Policy Subcommittee the new Stadium, that the public, at least double within the next 10 will double property taxes in 10 Good afternoon Chairman Suozzi, leaders in Albany must be willing on Friday, October 24, 2008, at not the Yankees were paying for years if the years. In some members of the commission. to address its root causes and that 2145 Rayburn, in Washington D.C. the new Stadium, that the actions of state does not Westchester Welcome to Yonkers. I also want won’t be easy or politically popular. The hearing the New York pass a local tax towns, though, to welcome the many people in But so far at least, the governor was entitled City IDA were cap and take property taxes attendance today who’ve come and this commission have shown “Gaming the at variance urgent action are rising at from across our a willingness to Tax Code: with the to address a much faster state to share listen through The New York requirements the runaway rate, by double their thoughts hearings like Yankees and and purposes spending and digits in and convictions these, which I the City of New of State law, u n f u n d e d some, which on this very am hopeful is York Respond that the binding mandates that would double important issue. indicative of an to Questions promises made have made taxes even We are pleased equal willingness about the to the IRS as a Westchester more quickly, to have all of you to act. And let me New Yankee condition of property taxes advises Mayor here. (Delivered add that I think it Stadium.” receiving the the highest and Senate October 22, says a lot about The testimony tax exemption in the nation, c a n d i d a t e 2008) the governor’s highlighted the were broken, asserted New Feld. Let me begin intentions to violation of that the York State Senate candidate Liz “The property tax crisis in by commending enact real reform sworn promises assessments Feld. At the League of Women’s Westchester is going to get much Governor David that he has by New York of the land and Voter’s Debate of October 23, worse if we don’t act now,” Mayor Paterson for appointed such City to the IRS Stadium were 2008, incumbent Senator Suzi Feld said. “If people thinking convening this qualified and that Yankee k n o w i n g l y Oppenheimer countered that $10,000 or $15,000 property taxes c o m m i s s i o n . respected people S t a d i u m inflated, that everything is economically okay are bad, just wait until they go to As you are well to serve on this would be fairly assessed. The the public interest in affordable in Westchester, an assertion she $20,000 and $30,000. We must aware, New York’s crushing tax commission. Assemblyman provided additional ticket prices had been ignored, has repeatedly stipulated at similar take urgent action now to address burden --- especially ever expanding So thank you for holding today’s information of this inflated that fundamental decisions about forums during the recent weeks of this crisis, and that means a tax cap, property taxes --- are the single hearing here in Yonkers, New York’s assessment. these subsidies were made in secret the campaign. spending reform and a fair share biggest factor contributing to our fourth largest city. I think you will The testimony also states that: and without effective participation “On average, property taxes are of state school aid for Westchester state’s competitive disadvantage and find as you travel across the state “Based on the evidence then by elected officials, that the rising by seven percent a year in school districts.” the flight of business and the middle that, even though we all face the available, the Interim Report securitization of PILOTs was a New York State, according to the class away from the Empire State. concluded that there was no To truly solve this problem, our see Testimony Pg. 3 see Feld Pg 5 see Brodsky Pg. 6 INSIDE By Royal Decree Term Limits Extended in New York City… Yonkers A&E is Next to Follow! PG. 1 By Hezi Aris NEW YORK, NY, Minority Leader BUSINESS and YONKERS, Liam McLaughlin, PGS . 4, 5 NY -- The vote was and Councilmember cast; the final tally Dee Barbato whose had 29 approve terms respectively CAMPAIGN TRAIL and 22 disapprove expire in 2009. PG. 5 extending term The bill, drafted limits beyond by the Bloomberg present law which a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , ECONOMIC limits New York would amend a City office holders to The Hezitorial charter provision DEVELOPMENT a maximum of two approved twice in PG. 6 consecutive four-year terms. The referendums that set a limit of two argument that only Mayor Michael four-year terms for elected officials. Bloomberg can shepherd the city In Yonkers, in the process of EDUCATION through the crisis on Wall Street imposing term limits, former Mayor with his financial acumen won the John Spencer’s plans for a third term PGS . 6, 7 day. The vote has decimated all in office collapsed. Councilmember aspiring mayoral candidates that John Murtagh espoused the need were hoping to succeed the popular for term limits and acceded to FINANCE New York City mayor. In Yonkers, office on that argument, in fact, PG. 7 the argument made in support of in his present bid for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been State Senate to represent the 35th contemplated for three term-limited District, the literature he is mailing FINE PRINT Yonkers City Councilmembers, that PG. 4 Twenty-Nine Gronowski is, Majority Leader Sandy Annabi, see The Hezitorial Pg. 2 Outstretched Palms Refused GOVERNMENT New York City Council Votes Itself a Third LeRoy Neiman PGS . 1, 7, 8 Four-Year Term, Overriding Two Referenda Access to Celebrates Lady Liberty’s HEALTH By Henry J. Stern City Hall PG. 8 Twenty-nine members of the City He won the battle but lost so many 122nd Birthday Council voted October 23, 3008, soldiers that, for two millennia, his to over-rule 586,890 New Yorkers name has signified a victory that is Briefings HEZITORIAL who, in a referendum, had rejected not worth its cost. PG. 1 an earlier proposal by the Council In this case, the mayor’s loss to lengthen their is marginal and eligibility from two r e p u t a t i o n a l . NEW YORK CIVIC terms to three. He has always PG. 1 The result is portrayed himself considered a as a truthful person. victory for Mayor Part of his appeal is OP-ED Bloomberg, and it based on the belief PGS . 1, 2, 3 is a victory in the that because he is sense that, if the so rich he does not vote had gone the have to lie, cheat, PEOPLE other way, it would or steal, as lesser have been a rebuff. persons sometimes PG. 8 As it was, it took feel they must personal appeals to enhance their New York Civic YONKERS, NY -- Councilmember by the mayor to assets, relationships Joan Gronowski (District 3) RADIO councilmembers or station in life. was Tuesday night advised by PG. 3 who would otherwise have voted People understand that on some her fellow councilmembers that No on the bill. issues positions change in the light Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone had It has been widely reported is that of new events. ta But this is the forbade her participation in any of SOFTWARE Councilman James Vacca changed mayor so keenly aware of time that the seesions planned by his office PG. 9 his position from No to Yes based he placed dozens of clocks in city this Thursday, October 23, 2008, on the views of his mother. We offices to count down his remaining regarding Yonkers City Council had not heard that since the late days in office. For him to change briefings on the Land Disposition Portrait of Liberty by LeRoy Neiman. 38 x 28 ½ inches. Edition quantity: Congressman Thomas Manton said his mind suddenly and seek 1461 WEIR ONLY Agreement (LDA) component of 450 numbered; 90 artist proofs; and 9 printer’s proofs. in 1976 that he had voted No on the additional days on top of the 2922 the SFC Yonkers Inc. development gay rights bill because he had been he will already have served by the NEW YORK, NY -- On the serigraph, “Portrait of Liberty.” HUMAN project. Gronowski learned of G told to do so by his father. end of his second term is a dramatic commemoration of the one hundred It was also announced that LeRoy P .