Yonkers Tribune

Yonkers' Shortchanged Education System By Kelly Chiarella

This Op-Ed is intended to make sure that every Yonkers citizen is informed about the devastation that has occurred in our schools and is now about to be made much, much worse.  Yonkers Public Schools is looking at an 87 million dollar deficit for the 2011 – 2012 school year if our state and city legislators do not address our funding issues.- not 64 million as the mayor had stated. The disparity in state funding and the freeze in education aide does not address our increased enrollment, continues to include unfunded mandates, does not address the reimbursement rate for Prekindergarten, creates an inequality with neighboring towns, and continues to shortchange the Yonkers education system. The city’s lack of commitment to properly fund the education of each child adds to the reason for this deficit.

Governor Cuomo Signs Bill to Ensure Orderly Administration of Local Villages’ Elections in Use of Lever Voting Machines Through 2012

Albany, NY, February 28, 2011 -- Governor Cuomo has signed into law a measure that will allow villages that administer their own village elections to use lever voting machines, rather than the new optical scan voting systems, until the end of 2012. This law was needed to ensure that these villages can transition to the new voting systems in a fair and orderly manner. 

In July 2010, New York enacted legislation implementing certain provisions of the federal Help America Vote Act ("HAVA"). The New York State law required that all elections, including village elections, must be conducted using the new optically scanned ballots. However, some villages that administer their own elections have faced several major obstacles to shifting over to the new technology. 

New York State Assemblyman Steve Katz On the Level with Narog and Aris

New Rochelle, NY --   New York State Assemblyman Steve Katz is Richard Narog’s and Hezi Aris’ guest this Tuesday, March 1st, from 10 - 11 a.m., on WVOX-1460 AM on your radio dial and worldwide on www.WVOX.com. 

New York State Assemblyman Mike Spano is our guest on March 8th.  Bronxville Mayor Mary C. Marvin and Bronxville Village Manager Harold Porr III are our guests later in the month.

Ed Koch Commentary: Revolution is Apparently the Order of the Day By Ed Koch

I’m back in the office after a 16-day cruise on the "Crystal Symphony."  We sailed north from Buenos Aires, stopping in Rio de Janeiro, Devil’s Island, French Guiana, Bridgetown, Barbados, Grand Turk in the Turks & Caicos Islands, and departed the ship in Miami.  (We weren’t able to leave the ship at Devil’s Island due to turbulent waters.)

 Preceding the trip, I wondered what I would do on such a long voyage, and assumed I would go crazy from boredom.  Someone once said that being on a boat is like being in jail, with a chance of drowning.  But no.  The cruise was a delightful and perfect vacation, thanks in large part to the extremely solicitous personnel, gourmet meals, and nightly entertainment worthy of Broadway. 

Assemblyman Spano and Senator McDonald Focus on Providing Insurance Coverage for Children’s Hearing Aids

(L-R): Assemblyman Mike Spano, Lauren Fager (Mother), Chuck Fager (Father), Senator Roy McDonald, Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, and Isabella Fager (Center).

Albany, NY, February 28, 2011 -- Assemblyman Mike Spano (D,C,WF-Yonkers) and Senator Roy McDonald (R-Saratoga) announced the introduction of legislation Assemblyman Spano authored that would require all health insurance policies and medical assistance programs to cover the cost of hearing aids for children under 16 years old with severe or progressive hearing loss (A.4339).

Parameters to Consider for Those on the Campaign Trail By Hezi Aris

"There have been recent insinuations and / or innuendo with regard to my veracity regarding coverage of those who are on the campaign trail. The Yonkers Tribune has never stymied access to any candidate, or potential candidate. But let us get this straight, in my effort to find out who is running or potentially seeking office, I have received no assistance from any political party. Candidates rarely seek out the Yonkers Tribune.  In fact after recently asking someone if they were running, the acid-tongued bloggers always know in advance, I personally received an unequivical answer. That is their choice. The information that they are running came out a week later. How pathetic is that. Those that are most often offended are supporters of the candidates in question. The Yonkers Tribune is a one man operation. I am not permitted to drive because of medical concerns. Despite all that, I haul my derriere to more places than most. My only interest has been and continues to be to give voice to those who have something to say. I hope we understand each other. If it is important to be seen within the virtual pages of the Yonkers Tribune, it may behoove those who should like to be included to send their press releases, make themselves accessible to interviews, afford the editor with an emai address, and a cellphone contact. That's it. Easy. Send your perspective to WHYTeditor@gmail.com"

 

Assemblyman George Latimer in Full Support of Governor Cuomo’s Proposal on Redistricting

Albany,  NY, February 28, 2011 -- Assemblyman George Latimer issued the following statement today: “I am indicating my full support for bill A.5388, introduced by governor Cuomo, to establish an Independent Redistricting Commission. I have long supported this concept, and have previously been a co-sponsor of bills by former Assemblyman Mike Gianaris, and currently, on bills from Assembly members Mark Schroeder and Hakeem Jeffries, to advance this issue. The Governor's bill will be the key piece of legislation of this matter during this term, and we all ought to stand behind the measure. While assigning redistricting to any independent entity, however constructed, offers some measure of unease for any incumbent, the greater good is served when district lines are set objectively, without any premeditated effort to benefit or hurt political majorities or minorities. Districts should be as near to equal in population as possible; contiguous; respectful of community boundaries, keeping towns and village intact, and avoiding unnecessary divisions of cities; respectful, as required by the U.S. Federal Courts, of designated groups. Accomplishing this for the 2012 cycle (from 2010 census data) would be a significant statement of reform for what has been called a dysfunctional system. I urge my colleagues to support and pass this bill.

The Hezitorial: The Tool of Political Discourse is Devoid of Best Practices By Hezi Aris

The candidates have or will soon divulge their intentions for elected office. Some will stand resolute in going the distance, others will only stand to deflect our attention by a  political slight of hand, that is, to eviscerate the intentions of their adversary and get us to cheer as they revel in their childish pranks. One need not contemplate too long to recognize that which is described above is the entire political ploy, scheme, and strategy from every political corner that would beseech our support. They each will speak over the decibel level of their adversaries; demonize them, ridicule them, shame them, accuse them, shun them. They believe their concepts are exclusively correct. Democracy disagrees. Democracy demands compromise and a loyal opposition. Despite the tenets of Democracy, few candidates will ever engage in a debate founded on ideas, possible remedies, solutions, or resolutions. Avoiding accommodation at all cost because agenda is primary and claimed to be irrefutable. The People are inconsequential, easily toyed and played. That is the backdrop of the political stage at which we have vested interests to institute, salvage, secure, or create. It is such a sexy scenario that despite not being invited to lustful indulgence atop the oversized orgy bed, we find our eyes mesmerized and our minds captivated by our feeding our momentary voyeuristic inclinations. None who would espouse to represent us have shown their colors to be loyal to The People. They seem to serve each other. You and I are not invited except to change the sheets only to find those same few faces on the political beds upon which the scenarios and games continue unabated. Next.

The Westchester Guardian - March 3, 2011 Edition

Read The Westchester Guardian - March 3, 2011 edition

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Mike Breen Kicks Off Campaign for Yonkers City Council

Mike Breen and family at his campaign kick-off.

Yonkers, NY -- Mike Breen came before approximately 100 family members and staunch supporters on Saturday, February 26, 2011, at the Sprain Grill in Yonkers to announce his his anticipated candidacy for Yonkers City Councilman to represent District 5. 

New York Civic: They're Off! By Henry J. Stern

2013 Mayoral Sweepstakes - Field of Five is Hot to Trot

Politics is usually more about the next election than the last one. So it is not surprising that the Republican candidates for the presidency in 2012 are off and running. The candidates for the New York City mayoralty in 2013 are close behind.

Albany Correspondent - Senate Democrats Push to Co-sponsor Redistricting Bill By Carlos Gonzalez

Albany, NY -- Senate Democrats are pushing back against what they describe as the Republican majority's attempt to bury Governor Cuomo's redistricting bill in committee by manipulating the chamber's rules into preventing senators from co-sponsorship.

The Redistricting Reform Act of 2011 would establish a nonpartisan commission to redraw state and congressional district lines and end gerrymandering tactics.  The bill has picked up support from good government groups, such as the New York Public Interest Research Group and NY Uprising, a non-partisan and independent coalition of advocates formed by the Honorable Edward Koch, former New York City Mayor.

Trend Alert: Anti-Gov't Protests to Spread - What's Next? By Gerald Celente

Kingston, NY -- February 24, 2011 -- It is a matter of record! The spate of seething, youth-inspired Middle East uprisings that are toppling governments, reshaping the geopolitical landscape and roiling world markets blindsided the world’s intelligence community were all predicted by the Trends Journal, specifically, its publisher and author Gerald Celente. 

Not the CIA, Joint Chiefs of Staff or National Security Council saw it coming. Mossad and MI5 missed it! None of the mainstream media’s star-studded stable of scholars, experts and think-tank policy wonks were thinking ahead. 

Democratic Response to Mayor Amicone’s Final State of the City Address By Chuck Lesnick

After Years of Rising Overtime and Mismanagement Under Republican Mayors,Democrats Pursue Shared Sacrifice, Reform and Consolidations 

We have just heard the last State of the City address from Mayor Amicone, who has served over 15 years in City Hall as both deputy mayor and mayor. We thank him for his many years of public service.

 Tonight, though, is not about taking a victory lap but rather to enact an agenda for the future; that ensures our city will be a safe, vibrant and diverse community, where families can work, educate their children, and grow old gracefully.

Albany Correspondent: Trickery Stuffs Redistricting Bill in Rules; Democrats Blocked From Process by Carlos Gonzalez

ALBANY - Senate Republicans quietly placed Governor Cuomo's Redistricting Reform Act of 2011 into the Senate's Standing Committee on Rules, a maneuver likely to set off tempers when legislators return to Albany on Monday.  

The placement of the bill into Rules so early in the legislative year is not prohibited, but it's such a rare occurrence leading to further speculation that Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R- Long Island) is strong-arming his conference from adopting Cuomo's program bill.