Yonkers Tribune

Eye on Theatre: Burning Not So Bright By John Simon

Call it excogitation. Call it elucubration. Call it Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. A bizarre fantasy is fine as long as it has some sort of ultimate meaning. But this play just gets weirder and weirder as it goes along, to end up as a shaggy tiger story.

Well, perhaps not so shaggy. Actually, the Tiger looks exactly like Robin Williams with a short grizzled beard and in derelict drag. The author wants him “past his prime, yet still tough. His language is loose, casual, his profanity is second nature.” It is 2003, Iraq at war, Baghdad on fire. The Tiger is in a cage, guarded by two American soldiers, Tom and Kev, who squabble and horse around. The Tiger pontificates, but when Tom tries to feed him, bites off his hand. Whereupon Kev shoots him dead with the gold-plated gun Tom confiscated from Uday Hussein, when Tom and some other American soldiers killed him and his brother Qusay, Saddam’s sons. 

New York Civic: 90 Days to First Base By Henry J. Stern

A Turn for the Better in State Government

For nine years, we have been writing about city and state government, from the point of view of someone who has been very fortunate to have enjoyed (more often than not) fifty-three eventful years in New York City public affairs, in the executive, legislative and judicial branches, as a civic group’s watchdog and as a blogger.

Yonkers Candidate Joe Crotty Discusses Run

Joe Crotty kicked off his campaign to win the Republican nomination for the Yonkers City Council’s Fifth District last month.

Crotty, 25, a financial services advisor for a small investment bank, grew up in Yonkers and he attended the Eastchester public schools, where his mother is a teacher.

He’s single with no kids and a member of the Garrett Park Neighborhood Association, the Yorkshire Tenants Association and the Westchester Young Republicans, among other groups.

Democrat Katherine Brezler Seeks Yonkers Fifth City Council District Nomination

Katherine Brezler, the first Democrat to formally announce her candidacy for the Yonkers City Council’s Fifth District, puts public education at the top of her priorities list.

“I really feel that at the heart of how to grow a locality is its education sector,” Brezler said. “If you provide a high quality-of-life for your people by educating them and providing an infrastructure that is safe, you have the makings for a sustainable locality.”

Virginia Perez Enters Race for County Legislature

Calls for José Alvarado to Resign Due to Fraud

Yonkers, NY -- Virginia Perez (D) who ran for Yonkers City Council in 2009 in one of the states' closest primaries – coming within 8 votes of the machine's hand picked candidate – announced today that she will challenge incumbent José Alvarado (D), a 10 year member of the county board, who is seeking his 6th  term. Standing in front of 279 South Broadway, the building from which Alvarado’s lawyer Wilson Soto illegally voted,  Perez argued that in light of Soto’s recent guilty plea to voting fraud, José Alvarado had forfeited his moral right to represent the district. Perez, a 31 year old Beech Street homeowner with a background in hotel management, talked about her determination to serve her community. 

2011-12 State Budget Closes Deficit By Assemblyman Mike Spano

Takes Steps Toward Addressing Albany’s Spending Without New Taxes

“The 2011-12 budget cuts spending by $3 billion over last year, closes a $10billion deficit and does so without raising taxes. While there is certainly noapplauding cuts made to education which I strongly opposed and fought to restorefor Yonkers, immediate action to address the state’s financial situation wasabsolutely critical in protecting our economic health and future.

Gov. Cuomo Announces On-time Passage of Historic, Transformational 2011-12- New York state Budget

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State budget eliminates $10 billion deficit, includes sweeping reforms and efficiencies

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the passage of the 2011-2012 budget that eliminates a $10 billion deficit. The budget includes historic reforms that redesign state government, create efficiencies through consolidation, cap spending increases for education and Medicaid, and transform the future budgeting process. 

The approximately $132.5 billion budget reduces spending overall by more than 2 percent from the previous year, eliminates 3,700 prison beds, establishes Regional Economic Development Councils, brings performance funding to education, redesigns Medicaid, and caps next year's education and Medicaid spending.

Statement from Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Education Budget

“This budget process, by all accounts, was very difficult to undertake, but it included many encouraging measures which I was pleased to support. Still, I had very serious concerns with the education portion, and the impact that it would have on the school districts of Yonkers, Greenburgh and Mt. Pleasant. Particularly in Yonkers, the school district is struggling from the expiration of Federal stimulus dollars, decreased contributions from the City, and mounting contractual obligations to the Teacher and Employee Retirement Systems. The Mt. Pleasant School District is facing the elimination of entire programs, and the Ardsley School District has said they will need to lay off teachers resulting in larger class sizes. I could not in good conscience, vote for this portion of the budget and put the futures of the children of the 35th District in jeopardy in order to close the deficit.”

The Hezitorial: Fomenting Deceit with Angst and Drama By Hezi Aris

Yonkers’ Albany Delegation, consisting of Senators Jeff Klein and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assemblymen Mike Spano, J. Gary Pretlow, and Thomas Abinanti were saddled, as were their colleagues with a $10 billion deficit that would be pared down to comply with fiscal propriety as proposed by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, The prospect for agreement among the three most powerful men in state government coming to conclusion by April 1, 2011 was not even contemplated. Yonkers was used to the fits and starts that would accompany the process.

New York Civic: Herding Cats By Henry J. Stern

Glory Be. Big Three Agree. Foresee Albany Tranquility.

The Post's front-page headline this morning, PIGS FLY, reflected the skepticism and cynicism that some New Yorkers feel at the report that the governor and legislative leaders had agreed on a state budget five days in advance of the April 1 deadline. The Times' headline was predictably more sedate: ALBANY STRIKES BUDGET ACCORD TO CUT SPENDING. The News' block head was HAMMER TIME, a catch phrase used by '80s rapper M.C. Hammer.

Mayor Marvin and Administrator Porr III "On the Level with Narog and Aris"

New Rochelle, NY --   Richard Narog and Hezi Aris will host Bronxville Mayor Mary C. Marvin and Village Administrator  Harold J. Porr III this Tuesday, March 29th, from 10 - 11 a.m., on WVOX-1460 AM on your radio dial and worldwide on www.WVOX.com. We will open with a 5 minute update from Albany from NYS Assemblyman Mike Spano on budget issues expected to be adopted by April 1st. 

Praise for State Budget Deal? Not So Fast, Yonkers Officials Say

State Leaders Pass Tough Decisions Down to Local Governments & School Districts 

Budget Deal Leaves Yonkers Schools Facing 700 Layoffs, Program and Transportation Cuts

Yonkers, NY, March 28, 2011 -- Don't count Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone and Schools Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio among those heaping praise on Governor Cuomo and state legislative leaders for an on-time budget deal. That's because their budget deal is a raw deal for school districts and local governments across New York State, especially the city of Yonkers. 

Cerrato Anounces His Candicy for Yonkers City Council, 5th District

Yonkers, NY – On the evening of March 23, 2011 at the Polish Community Center in Yonkers, Stephen Cerrato, surrounded by more than 125 supporters, announced his candidacy for Yonkers City Council, 5th District. Mr. Cerrato, a life-long Yonkers resident, spoke about his many reasons for running, including his concerns over the city’s deficit of over $90 million.Cerrato, an attorney and Yonkers small business owner, said that improving the difficult economic situation in Yonkers would require change on the Council and fundamental changes in the way City government operates. 

Ed Koch Commentary: Feelin’ Groovy By Ed Koch

In December 2010 I received a call from Mayor Mike Bloomberg asking if I would like to have my name attached to the Queensboro Bridge (unofficially referred to as the 59th Street Bridge).  If I agreed, he said he would announce the proposal the next day and submit it to the City Council.  I had never contemplated such a tribute.  I laughed and said, “Mayor, I would be honored.”

On Track to Pass On-time Budget By Mike Spano

Albany, NY, March 28, 2011 -- “A bi-partisan agreement has been reached that will put New York State on track to pass an on-time budget that reduces year-to-year spending and closes a $10 billion deficit without raising taxes.

“While we were successful in making some vital restorations – including EPIC for seniors, $19.6 in education aid (VLT revenue) for Yonkers schools andeconomic development initiatives to foster job creation – I share the concern ofmany working families who believe the sacrifice should be more equally shared among the wealthiest New Yorkers in order to better provide for our children’s education.