Yonkers Tribune

Astorino Charges State Senate to “Do What’s Right for Westchester; Vote ‘No’ on State Budget”

White Plains, NY -- Westchester County Executive candidate Rob Astorino today called upon New York State senators serving Westchester County to vote “No!” on the proposed state budget announced by Governor Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver yesterday. 

A Special Meeting Has Been Called for the Yonkers City Council for Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Yonkers, NY -- Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick has called a Special Meeting of the Yonkers City Council to be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2009, in the Yonkers City Council Chambers at 5:45 PM for the following purpose…  

To Discuss And Take Action On: 

Former Mount Vernon Commissioner Constance Post and Associate Wayne Charles Found Guilty on Federal Corruption Charges

White Plains, NY -- Lev L. Dassin, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Constance G. Post, former Commissioner of the Mount Vernon Department of Planning and Community Development as well as Executive Director of the Mount Vernon Department of Planning and Urban Renewal Agency, and Wayne Charles were found guilty today following a month-long jury trial in White Plains Federal Court on charges stemming from their diversion of more than $2 million in state and federal funds.

As established by the evidence at trial:

New York Senate Senate Vote Delayed by Illness Befalling Mount Vernon Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson

Albany, NY – This morning’s session coaxed many Republicans to delay their coming on to the Senate floor. The afternoon agenda was curtailed by news that Mount Vernon Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D-The Bronx/Westchester County) had been taken ill with walking pneumonia to Albany Medical Center. Despite her grave state of health, she plans to return to the Senate Chambers when it gavels at 5:30 p.m.

Letter to the Editor: Upcoming Yonkers City Budget By Theodore J. Winnicki

Editor, 

The upcoming Yonkers City Budget promises to be a most challenging process for the city council with a budget gap estimated to be over $ 100 million dollars. We are assured that the taxpayers are going to be a large part of the solution to balancing an $880 million budget through tax increases and/or service reductions. 

National Wholesale Liquidator Reopens Five Store Locations

Signals Renaissance of Leading Warehouse Closeout Discount Retailer

Yonkers, NY --  National Wholesale Liquidators has today announced the grand re-opening of five of its warehouse-style closeout discount centers: in Yonkers, NY; Bay Parkway, Brooklyn; Co-op City, The Bronx; Long Island City, Queens; and Lodi, NJ. 

NYS Senator Liz Krueger Praises Leadership for Implementing Legislative Disclosure Requirements in Budget Reform Law

Albany NY -- "I am pleased that for the first time the Senate has implemented the requirement from the 2007 Budget Reform Act which provides that Senators have a summary of impacts of changes in the Executive Budget on their desks before the budget vote. The document provided to legislators and available online on the Senate website provides a section by section report on how the final budget changes the executive budget. I was disappointed that the previous leadership failed to implement this important reform provision in either 2007 or 2008, and am gratified that the new Senate majority has taken action on this issue. This reform will allow Senators to take an informed vote on the budget by providing information to them which has never before been provided to all members of the chamber on an equal basis."

Senator Krueger is Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Budget and Tax Reform.

Bronx River Parkway Lane Closures in Mount Vernon and Yonkers Scheduled for Wednesday

Mount Vernon, NY and Yonkers, NY -- The northbound center lane of the Bronx River Parkway between Wakefield Avenu and Oak Street will be closed on Wednesday, April 1 from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m.

 

Westchester Herald - Volume 4 * Number 130 - April 2, 2009

 

Westchester Herald  is best viewed using the latest Free version of Adobe (c) Reader.

Download WHYT-4 #130-Web

Assemblyman Spano’s Office Advises Cut in VLT Funds Will Not Impact Yonkers

Yonkers, NY -- The new state budget will mean millions in shortfalls to many municipalities that host video lottery terminals, but not Empire City at Yonkers Raceway , noted a spokesperson for Assemblyman Mike Spano. The new formula by which the state budget will categorize municipalities with racinos will be based and designated by their poverty rates, said Matt Anderson, a state Division of Budget spokesman.

New York Daily News Names Sour Sixteen By Henry J. Stern

Tabloids Trash Albany as Corrupt and Secretive;
Name 16 in Rogues' Gallery

The New York State Legislature, long a target of newspapers and reformers, was assailed by the New York Daily News Sunday in a front page headline on the wood (large block print), State Of Shame. The article is by Albany bureau chief Ken Lovett. It begins under a ribbon across the top of p7, The Dysfunctional Government, and sports a rather judgmental but vivid headline You Guys Are A Disgrace! Lovett’s lede:

"Its time to clean up the mess in Albany!

Senate Passes Bill to Raise Age Limit for State Troopers

Klein Encourages Qualified New Yorkers to Apply

Albany, NY – The NYS Senate passed S1904A today, introduced by Deputy Majority Leader Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), to increase the age limit at which a citizen can apply to the New York State Police, from 29 to 35. Under current law, the superintendent has the discretion to increase the maximum age to 35 years, but is not required to do so. This proposed change would also be consistent with the NYPD age limit of 35. In addition, the age of 35 would still allow for the completion of potential service careers of 20 years or more (mandatory retirement age for a NYS Trooper is 57) while increasing the pool of qualified candidates interested in pursuing such a career.

NYS Assemblyman Richard Brodsky and Peter Spino are Guests March 31st - On the Level with Hezi Aris on WVOX-1460 AM

New Rochelle, NY – Tuesday morning, March 31, 2009, the On the Level with Hezi Aris radio program heard on your radio dial from 10:00 am through 11:00 am on WVOX-1460 AM radio, or by way of live streaming audio technology on your computer is again chock filled with guests. We’ll open up with New York State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (92nd AD), who is also Chairman of  the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions. Mr. Brodsky will discuss IDA incentives, the changes in Governor David Paterson’s anticipated 2009-2010 Proposed State Budget, Yankee Stadium, and IBM.

Ed Koch Commentary: Let Us Get Out Of Afghanistan and Iraq, Now By Edward I. Koch

 I have enormous respect for David Brooks, The New York Times columnist who always gets my attention and respect.Brooks’ column on Friday, March 27th, on Afghanistan made me think through the situation again.  On reflection, however, I concluded that I am not persuaded by his argument that we should stay in Afghanistan.  In fact, I think we should get out as soon as we can.  I also think we should leave Iraq immediately.

Assemblyman Bradley Announces Candidacy for Mayor of White Plains

White Plains NY -- Democrats came out in force to attend Assemblyman Adam Bradley's announcement to seek the office of mayor of the City of White Plains. R to L: Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, Councilwoman Rita Malmus, Assemblyman Adam Bradley, Assemblywoman Sandy Galef,  Peter Sullivan, Westchester County Board of Elections Chairman Reginald Lafayette, White Plains Councilpersons Milagros Lecouna, Benjamin Boykin, Tom Roach, and Dennis Power.  Photo (c) 2009 courtesy of and by John Bailey, publisher and editor of White Plains CitizeNetReporter. All rights reserved.

Mr. Badley's speech is expected to be uploaded onto his Website sometime tonight or tomorrow: http://www.bradleyforwhiteplains.org/.