Yonkers Tribune

News from the Desk of State Senator Liz Krueger

New York Senator Represents the 26th District

Three weeks of a 31-31 split Senate. Tensions are high—and not just back at home. The media is beating up on us all pretty effectively, constituents are yelling, and staff are frustrated without answers to endless questions.

A Day to Celebrate and Aspire By President Barack Obama

This weekend, our family will join millions of others in celebrating America. We will enjoy the glow of fireworks, the taste of barbeque, and the company of good friends. As we all celebrate this weekend, let's also remember the remarkable story that led to this day.

Now Struever Bros.in Financial Trouble by Hezi Aris

 Yonkers, NY -- William “Bill” Struever is known to have transformed old, run-down industrial buildings along the entire Eastern Seaboard into vibrant commercial centers, seeing life beyond designated       blight. Over the course of three decades Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse Inc., the Baltimore developer having busilt a legacy of infusing life intoatrophied property now struggles to maintain his own fcompany financially intact. Struever Bros. has defaulted on nearly $6 million in loans it borrowed to finance its construction projects and is facing lawsuits from Baltimore-area contractors seeking to collect wages from work on Struever’s developments.

Westchester Herald - Volume 4 - Number 144 - July 6, 2009

Click to read the July 6, 2009 edition of the Westchester Herald Volume 4 #144

Happy Birthday America

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Yonkers Caught within Traps of its Own Making and that of State Senate

Yonkers, NY -- Mayoral Director of Communications David Simpson advises by way of email notice and a Tweet of Mayor Amicone today spending the morning speaking with Governor David A. Paterson and NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli beseeching their assistance in getting Yonkers out from between the power struggle in the NYS Senate. The unexpected power struggle between the Democrats and Republicans for control of the Senate has left Yonkers incapable of proceeding forward with maintaining Yonkers cash flow to pay its municipal workers because the NYS Comptroller must sign off on the approved budget. Comptroller DiNapoli has advised that he cannot do so until until all revenues are accounted, an action that can only follow Senate approval of two revenue extender bills (mortgage recording tax & income tax surcharge) that have yet to be approved by the senate. In affect, that means Yonkers does not have a budget and therefore cannot send out tax bills. 

The Level Playing Field Promoted Integral to Economic Development Cast Aside By Hezi Aris

 Includes Whisky Rio Update

Before  the financial crisis gripped the nation Yonkers was experiencing its own economic development meltdown. Our vision of economic development was postulated and grand in scope. We wanted to believe the rejuvenation that so often eluded Yonkers would finally make the imprint and impact we were promised it would. There were a few successes along the way that kept our resolve high. Our hopes soared at the completion of the Riverfront Library and the attached Yonkers Board of Education building, the refurbishment of the Yonkers Metro North Railroad Station, the construction of the Home Depot, Costco, Stew Leonard's shopping center, Zuppa's Restaurant, Peter Kelly's X20, the Animal Hospital on Odell Avenue, the Collins buildings on the waterfront,  66 Main Street, the Seton Manor affordable senior housing, the Classic Residence by Hyatt, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway, Mary Linehan Residence, and even more.

Senate Fiddles as New York Burns By Henry J. Stern

Senate Stumbles Into Food Fight

Today is July 1, the 24th day of dereliction for the New York State Senate. It is also the first day of the city’s new fiscal year (FY 2010).  Each level of government has its own unique calendar; the Federal government's fiscal year begins on October 1 and the State's on April 1.  The only year that begins on January 1 is the calendar year.

Carting Company Operator Sentenced to 84 Months for Mount Vernon Bribery and Overbilling Scheme

White Plains, NY -- Lev L. Dassin (pictured), the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Joseph M. DeMarest, Jr.,the Assistant Director-in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that Albert Tranquillo III was sentenced today to 84 months of imprisonment on charges that he bribed the Supervisor of the Mount Vernon Department of Public Works to allow a carting company Tranquillo and a relative operated to overbill the City of Mount Vernon for the removal of waste from Mount Vernon city property. Tranquillo also was ordered to pay restitution of $1 million to the City of Mount Vernon.

Yonkers Plans its Direction By Hezi Aris

The pragmatic among us will accept our place in time. We will accept our financial challenges, the unending struggle to deliver education to a younger generation in an innovative and palatable manner, and plan for a future more grand than the present imprint. Reality is defined by the vistas we experience between every blink of the eyelid, though not the only vision that may be conjured up to our respective minds. Accepting visions for what they are and what they can be lends a sense of hope to which each may be drawn, like a magnet drawing our past and present knowledge and experiences to the unknown future which demands we extrapolate and deduce a common direction for the City of Yonkers.

Atlantic Yards Eminent Domain Case Going to New York's High Court

Brooklyn, NY— The New York State Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, has announced that it will hear the Atlantic Yards eminent domain case - Goldstein et al. v. N.Y.  State Urban Development Corporation - in October. The owners of homes and properties targeted for seizure have argued that the use of eminent domain for the Atlantic Yards proposal violates New York State Constitution.

Yonkers Inspector General Zisman Issues Subpoena Duces Tecum to YPS Superintendent of School Pierorazio

  Yonkers, NY -- Yonkers Inspector General Philip A. Zisman (pictured right) had June 26, 2009 by hand delivered a subpoena "commanding the Yonkers Public Schools Superintendent of Schools Bernard Pierorazio (pictured left) to appear and attend before the Department of Inspector General of the City of Yonkers at Yonkers City Hall, 5th Floor, 40 South Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701 on the 6th day of July, 2009, at 11:00  A.M. and at any  recessed or adjourned date thereof, to testify under oath in the investigation relating to the affairs, functions, accounting methods, efficiency or personnel of the City of Yonkers, Public School District now being conducted before the inspector General pursuant to Article VII, Section C7-1-3 of the Charter of the City of Yorkers, and that you bring with you and produce at the time and place aforesaid, any and all books, records and documents, including, but not limited to:

Kaplowitz Asserts NYS Senate Gets Failing Grade for Term - Must Attend 'Summer School'!

Peekskill, NY -- County Legislator and Board Vice Chairman Michael B. Kaplowitz (D-I-WF, Somers), joined by angry local residents and business owners, held a press conference today outside the Westchester County’s Department of Social Services Building on Washington St. in Peekskill.  The purpose of the press conference was to present a year-end ‘report card’ on the performance of the NY State Senate.

Bronx River Parkway Construction Closes to Lanes in Yonkers

The northbound center lane of the Bronx River Parkway between Wakefield Avenue and Oak Street will be closed on Thursday, July 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Starrett City Pays $70K to Sttle EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit

Housing Complex Refused to Promote Apprentice With ADD, Agency Charged

 Brooklyn, NY -- Starrett City, Inc., a federally funded housing
complex in Brooklyn, will pay $70,000 to a former employee to settle a
disability discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

Official Statement from Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone: State Senate Impasse Threatens Yonkers

Yonkers, NY-- Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone released an official statement today regarding the ongoing power struggle in the New York State Senate and how it could affect the City of Yonkers.

PBA of Westchester Endorse Dan Schorr for District Attorney

 Pleasantville, NY-- Dan Schorr, the former Westchester and New York City prosecutor running for the office of Westchester County District Attorney (D.A.), today received the coveted Police Benevolent Association of Westchester, Inc. endorsement in his race to win over incumbent District Attorney. Janet DiFiore. Mr. Schorr received the endorsement in a unanimous vote.

DiFiore Campaign Assert 'Castro is Being a Hypocrite'

 "Once again, Tony Castro is being a hypocrite," assert the Difiore Campaign

"The District Attorney is proud to have earned the support and confidence of the Chiefs of Police Association which has unanimously endorsed her outstanding record on public safety.

When Will They Ever Learn? By Henry J. Stern

Time Pressure Mounts on Senate Squabblers as Deadlines Approach

It’s Monday afternoon, Day 22 of the State Senate stalemate. The current impasse follows the Republican coup on June 8, in which new leadership was elected and installed before Democratic staff members turned off the lights and the microphones in the Senate chamber.

Supreme Court Ruling for White Firefighters in Discrimination Suit Reverses Decision by Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor

Written by Washington Post Staff Writer Robert Barnes

Washington, DC -- The Supreme Court today ruled in favor of white firefighters in New Haven, CT, who said they were denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision by Judge Sonia Sotomayor (pictured) and others that had come to play a large role in the consideration of her nomination for the high court.

Castro Campaign Assert DiFiore Committed Official Misconduct

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?”

Request Governor Appoint Attorney General as Special Prosecutor

White Plains, NY -- In a letter to Governor David A. Paterson released today, the Castro Campaign requested that the Attorney General open a wide ranging investigation into the alleged violation of several state laws, including official misconduct by the Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore, as a result of events surrounding her recent endorsement by Chiefs of Police.

On the Level with Yonkers City Councilmember Patricia McDow with Host Hezi Aris

New Rochelle, NY -- Yonkers City Council member Patricia McDow (pictured) and historian Bob Snyder will be our main guests on June 30th on the On the Level with Hezi Aris radio show this Tuesday morning, June 23, 2009, at 10:00 am. The show will open with a telephone call from Greenburgh Nature Center Executive Director Kurt Hundgen who will speak abut GNC's www.GreenburghNatureCenter.org Website.

Greenburgh Nature Center Launches New Website

 Scarsdale, NY -- After months of design work and technical revisions, the Greenburgh Nature Center (“GNC”) has launched an improved and updated Website, www.greenburghnaturecenter.org.

“We know that our Website is an important conduit for communication with our many stakeholders – visitors, teachers, supporters, volunteers. We took the time to create a site that we feel reflects who we are, both in content and style,” said Executive Director Kurt Hundgen.

Bernard Madoff Sentenced to 150 years in Prison

New York, NY -- Lev L.Dassin, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Joseph M. DeMarest, Jr., the Assistant Director-in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), announced that Bernard L. Madoff was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 150 years in prison for perpetrating a Ponzi scheme that resulted in billions of dollars of losses to thousands of investor-victims.

Odell Avenue Bridge Construction Start July 1

 Yonkers, NY -- The Odell Avenue Bridge between Nepperhan Avenue and Saw Mill River Road in Yonkers will be closed to eastbound traffic starting on Wednesday, July 1 at 9 a.m. and continuing until early September.

Westbound traffic and all pedestrian access to the bridge will continue for the duration of the project.