Yonkers Tribune

ANALYSIS Updated with Input by IAFF President McGoey - Yonkers Burning Issue May Prove Nothing But a Ploy By HEZI ARIS

Update at 8:15 pm, May 8, 2012 with Comment by IAFF Local 628 President Barry B. McGoey

Yonkers Fire Department Exacts 100 Plus Hours of Overtime in Aftermath of 76 Crotty Avenue Fire

Thirteen residents were displaced and a few pets were killed in a late afternoon fire that consumed the third floor and part of the second floor of what is known as a 2½ story multifamily dwelling on April 29, 2012. It would take almost four hours to extinguish the fire that burst into flames that week. The fire demanded the attention of 53 firefighters and 12 vehicles. Mutual Aid was afforded by the New Rochelle Fire Department who were called to man the Yonkers Firehouses until the return of the YFD from fighting the Crotty Avenue fire. Two Yonkers Firefighters suffered steam burns that demanded medical attention diagnosed as not life threatening. A third person was said to have twisted his ankle.

100 Days Out: Updating the Shifting Tectonic Political Plates in Yonkers By HEZI ARIS

Breaking News and Analysis Concerning Yonkers

It seemed as though the political prognosis for Chuck Lesnick, serving the last two-years of an eight-years-long, term limited stint in office would be his epitaph. Many had declared the affable and extremely astute, but too often conflicted Yonkers City Council President had run out of options. His lack of garnering party support, he is a Democrat, for the office of mayor against the victorious effort of now Mayor Mike Spano seemed the beginning of a torturous slide into oblivion.

ANALYSIS: Yonkers’ Financial Woes Reveal Past, Present, and Future By HEZI ARIS

YONKERS, NY – The City of Yonkers (CoY) issued a financial report Thursday, April 5, 2012, in which the third largest city in New York State divulged a budget shortfall that was as little as an $89 million gap, or as great as $150 million, which, when extrapolated over a three-year time frame would amount to a shortfall of between $465 million at the low end, to approximately $600, million at the higher end.

Substantiating the numbers between the lower and higher fiscal barometric measure was prepared by a commission created by Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, and led by former NYS Assemblyman Richard Brodsky and former Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch. It seems the $89 million figure is based on accepting no changes to the 2012-2013 budget year that will have taken place over the 2011-2012 budget. Excluded from the $89 million budget shortfall are over $20 million in anticipated pension fund costs. Also excluded are an expected student enrollment of over 1,000 additional pupils, among other financial concerns that, were they to be added to the $89 million “gap,” would reach the $150 million budget deficit figure, that upon reflection is seemingly a figure by which to gauge the enormity of the crisis facing CoY.

Analysis:The Numbers and What They Say By HEZI ARIS

The Conservative Party Primary Election took place on September 13, 2011. The Westchester County Board of Election concluded the final count on September 23, 2011. Richard Martinelli, candidate for mayor of Yonkers garnered 202 votes cast by ballot. Those numbers were however deficient in maintaining the designation afforded Mr Martinelli as far back as January 2011.  Minority Leader John Murtagh, vying to gain the designation of the Conservative Party to embellish his designation as the Republican nominee, earned the least number of write-in votes: a dismal 78. Carlo Calvi, the designated Independence Party nominee gained under 200 supporting write-in votes. Eclipsing them all is NYS Assemblyman Mike Spano who received 318 write-in votes capturing the Conservative Party line. This is the first ever situation in which a write-in vote eclipsed the regular vote usurping the intentions of the party heierarchy.

Analysis: Yonkers Mayor Amicone Continues to Play the Blame Game By HEZI ARIS

Yonkers Mayor Amicone addressed Assemblymen Mike Spano. J. Gary Pretlow, and Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins by letter admonishing them with regard to their letter of July 21, 2011, to Governor Andrew Cuomo, in which they requested discretionary funding for pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) and sports programs to benefit the Yonkers Public School District. Mayor Amicone admonished the three most prominent members of the Albany Delegation in his letter o them dated July 25, 2011

Mayor Amicone's seething verbal dressing down of the Albany Delegation asserts that Yonkers Board of Education (YBoE) Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio informed him that neither he nor the Board of Education Trustees, appointed to the board by Mayor Amicone, were consulted prior to the Albany Delegation addressing Governor Cuomo. Mayor Amicone’s tirade grew to greater heights of termerity when Mayor Amicone suggested the Albany Delegation is ignorant of the needed resources required by the YPS. His harangue continued when he stated further that he has implored them to comprehend that the YPS are desperately in need of and deserving to receive a fair share of education funding. Mayor Amicone escalated his contention that the Albany Delegation had acted on their own rather than having acted in unison and by his implied direction, especially in their communication with Governor Cuomo.

 

Murtagh’s Campaign Literature Deceives Voters by Historical Rewrite By HEZI ARIS

Yonkers City Council Minority Leader and 2011 Republican mayoral candidate John Murtagh in literature dated July 17, 2011, “applauded the recent NYS Supreme Court Ruling that stipulated the Yonkers Inspector General had the right to audit the books and records of the Teacher's Welfare Fund.” So far so good. Murtagh’s perspective becomes “untrue” when it is stated, “Councilman Murtagh has taken the lead on the Council in demanding accountability from the Board of Education and from municipal unions.” [Editor’s Note: If Murtagh “did take a lead,” why did he drop the ball by voting for Mayor Amicone’s Proposed FY 2010-2011 Budget when as he writes, “The so-called Welfare Fund is a discretionary fundmandated by the Teacher's Union contract. The fund costs Yonkers taxpayers millions of dollars annually but operates without any supervision or oversight from City Hall.”] [Another Editor’s Note: That being the case, why has Murtagh not introduced legislation or demand correction prior to the approval of the proposed budget?] Murtagh continues, “Despite being funded by the taxpayers the taxpayers were not permitted to know how the money was being spent.” [Editor’s Note: Duh, the facts were known for months. What did Murtagh do about it? Nothing, zero, nada. Is that the rationale for the historical re-writing now?].

The Hezitorial: Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone Designs City's Demise By HEZI ARIS

Neither New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, nor NYC Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, found Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone’s FY@2010-2011 Proposed Budget viable. Along with the Yonkers’ Albany Delegation, comprised of Senators Jeff Klein and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assemblymen Tom Abinanti, Mike Spano, and J.Gary Pretlow, the insinuation of a wage cap, a contractual agreement arrived at by past agreements conducted under and approved by Mayor Amicone and the respective union leadership, and a Transitional Finance Authority (TFA), among other concerns, among which are the separation of the branches of government, the lack of scrutiny of “authorities,” etc., the proposal was deemed dead on arrival. What is Plan B?

 

Analysis: Extremely Strange Bedfellows Reveal They Too Are Empty Suits By HEZI ARIS

Murtagh Storms Out of the City Council Chambers in a Fit of Condescension and Arrogance

The press conference called for 11:00 am this Thursday, June 9, 2011, at the Yonkers City Council Chambers opened to the pronouncement by Yonkers City Council Prsident Chuck Lesnick, with Yonkers City Council Minority Leader John Murtagh standing by his side. Mr Lesnick expressed his disbelief that after an exhausting give and take session among the Yonkers City Councilmembers on June 1, that concluded at 1:15 a.m. the following morning, representatives of New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, found the proposed legislation submitted by the City of Yonkers  “dead on arrival.” The entire Yonkers City Council was warned of the legal deficiency prior to the legislation being forwarded to Albany. Despite their knowing they would err among elected peers, both blamed the many unions who serve the Yonkers for the city’s woes

 

Albany Looks Askance at Endorsing Yonkers’ Budget Request By HEZI ARIS

YONKERS, NY -- The Transitional Financing Authority (TFA) proposal brought before the Yonkers City Council by Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone derailed the focus demanded of the Yonkers City Council to scrutinize Mayor Amicone’s proposed FY 2011-2012 budget.  The TFA was not fully explained. Instead, City Hall promoted the TFA as the manna from heaven to fill a $42 million hole from which it distances itself. Mayor Amicone abdicates all responsibility in bringing the City of Yonkers (CoY) to the brink of fiscal collapse by finding surrogates to do his bidding. 

 

Analysis: Yonkers Maintains Its Dramatic Flair Over Crisis By HEZI ARIS

Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone and his entourage of underlings where taken by surprise Tuesday morning, May 31, 2011, when they learned of Yonkers City Council President and mayoral candidate Chuck Lesnick’s proposed legislation distributed among the entire city council membership on Thursday, May 26, 2011, in which Mr Lesnick called for the imposition of a Control Board. Tactically outmaneuvered by Mr Lesnick’s proposal, City Hall called for a press conference at 1:30 p.m., on May 31st. Mayor Amicone was in attendance, supported in his outrage of Mr Lesnick’s call for a Control Board by Yonkers City Council Minority Leader and mayoral candidate John Murtagh (District 5), Councilman John Larkin (District 6), Dennis Shepherd (District 4), and mayoral candidate Robert Flower. The councilmembers comprise the entire Republican wing of the Legislative Branch of government, while Mr Flower is a Democrat, known to be a political spoiler who has yet to mount a legitimate campaign effort other than talk.

Analysis: Administration Stalls Inquiry by Commissioners Who Are Not Transparent in their Response By HEZI ARIS

YONKERS, NY –  The Yonkers City Council’s scrutiny of various department commissioners were thrown into almost immediate disarray at the May 10, 2011 meeting of the Yonkers City Council as they continued their due diligence in scrutinizing Mayor Amicone’s FY 2010-2011 Budget Proposal when Yonkers City Councilwoman Joan Gronowski made inquiry of Finance Commissioner Carl Maniscalco. He asserted a particular employee was paid by a federally funded grant. Within a minute’s time, Mr Maniscalco retorted that he in fact made a mistake and the employee’s salary was not paid by a grant but was instead derived from an escrow account. Mr Maniscalco would not define or describe the escrow account, how much money was in that escrow account, or the purpose for which that account was founded. Mr Maniscalco has yet to learn to mumble sweet nothings like his double-dipping predecessor James LaPerche. Mr Maniscalco has yet to learn how to obfuscate without guilt. Perhaps he will soon learn to take more than one for the Gipper to satisfy Mayor Amicone’s directive.

Analysis: Parent of YPS Students Formally Requests Report of ’05 Citizens for ‘Yonkers vs New York State’ Lawsuit By HEZI ARIS

Attorney Gretchen Kim, whose two children attend the Yonkers Public School district, earlier this past week formally requested the ‘missing’ report of the 2005 – 2006 lawsuit designated ‘Citizens for Yonkers’ vs New York State to the law firm that handled the suit at that time. A copy of the request was divulged to Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone (right), Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick (center), and to Yonkers Public School Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio (left).

Analysis: Mike Spano IS Running for the Office of Mayor of the City of Yonkers By Hezi Aris

Dan Murphy, editor of the Rising Times, continues to spew a venomous concoction of deceit he eschews as news. His latest sojourn serves the candidate he has aligned himself with rather than serving The People with facts. In Mr Murphy’s latest writing, “Mike Spano - I’m Not Running for Mayor,” Mr Murphy eviscerates truthes allegedly sanctioned by City Hall spin. 

Contrary to Mr Murphy’s diatribe, Mike Spano has resolved to undertake a credible, self-sustained, personally driven effort in seeking the office of Mayor of Yonkers. His resolve is self contained and driven. He has not been cajoled or coaxed to seek office by anyone. He has earned the support and confidence from his wife and children; thereby deriving the sustenance and vitality to seek the office of Mayor of Yonkers in 2011.

Bruce Ratner - The Teflon Don By Hezi Aris

“Real Estate Developer No. 1” May Have Hog-Tied Brooklyn, Yonkers, and New Rochelle - Photo of Forest City Ratner President Bruce Ratner>>>

Carlos Gonzalez, The Albany Correspondent, for The Westchester Guardian / Yonkers Tribune on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, reported: Breaking News: Albany Correspondent - Another Corruption Charge for Another Senate Democrat By Carlos Gonzalez.

EXCLUSIVE: Dissecting the New Political Paradigm - Martinelli vs Spano By Hezi Aris

The political battle lines have been drawn. Consensus has been determined. The Democrats will field New York State Assemblyman Mike Spano for Mayor of Yonkers. The Republicans, and  Conservatives will field former Yonkers City Council President Richard Martinelli for Mayor of Yonkers. As is often the case, Independent Party Chairman Dr. Giulio Cavallo will make his decision later on in the process. The political cement has been poured. Self professed contenders have found themselves pried from future contention. Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick (Democrat) is going through the motions to simply raise funds to fill his coffers. Yonkers City Council Minority Leader John Murtagh (Republican) has likewise been shut out of mayoral contention.  Yonkers Deputy Mayor William “Bill” Regan has earned no kudos for his years in office under the failed administration of Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone. the wannabees are all to be found under the weight of the political cement atrophying their repective  political futures.