Friday, May 18, 2012
The public duked it out at Thursday night's long and heated forum surrounding the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's annual assessment of Indian Point.
Eleven thousand jobs created by a power plant. Eighteen million lives affected in the New York metro area by its demise. Those were the main numbers the protestors – of which there were many at Thursday night's annual public hearing on Indian Point – were throwing around. The protestors were louder, or least more organized, than the pro-nuclear folks. They were also more colorful. There were the Angry Grannies with their purposely frumpy clothes and song (a gimmick, admitted one, but anything to get the message heard). Some Japanese people wore hazmat suits emblazoned with red nuclear symbols, a powerful reminder of the Fukushima disaster and the fact that Japan's gone fully non-nuclear since. As of two weeks ago, the country closed its …
A newly formed group, Yorktown Citizens, is pushing for a referendum on the ballot this November to create a DPW.
A group of Yorktown residents, that includes two former town supervisors, are asking town board members to adopt a local law that would eliminate the position of elected highway superintendent and transfer that function to a newly created Department of Public Works (DPW). The law, they said, would be subject to a mandatory referendum to be placed on the November ballot. If approved by the majority of voters, the law would go into effect. The four-year term of the current highway superintendent Eric DiBartolo expires on Dec. 31, 2013, and members of the group are aiming for the referendum now, so there is no election for a highway superintendent in 2013. If approved, the DPW position would become operational as of January 2014. Members of …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Beach Boys played the Westchester County Center on Tuesday.
County Executive Rob Astorino has declared May 15, 2012 as “Beach Boys Day” in Westchester and honored the legendary band from sunny California with a proclamation Tuesday afternoon just before their evening show at the Westchester County Center. “My parents, when I tell them about my job and who I meet, no excitement—but when I told them The Beach Boys and all of a sudden they are jumping down—‘Can we come? Can we come?'” said Astorino. The Beach Boys and the Westchester County Parks system are both celebrating their 50th anniversaries. The Beach Boys are currently on tour and will be releasing their newest album “That’s Why God Made the Radio,” in June. Astorino, who attended Tuesday's show, said this is the beginning of reviving the “…
A roundup of Hudson Valley headlines for Thursday, May 17, 2012
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Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Joan Cavorti Goldberg has serves as the comptroller for the last 16 years.
Three out of the five Yorktown town board members have asked for the resignation of Joan Goldberg, who has served as the town comptroller for the last 16 years. Following a heated discussion in a closed session late Tuesday night when shouting and yelling was heard at times by attendees outside the room, supervisor Michael Grace publicly made a motion not to reappoint Goldberg and ask for her resignation. She was not present at the meeting and was not made aware of the board's intentions. The motion passed with Grace, councilmen Vishnu Patel and Terrence Murphy voting in favor, while councilmen Nick Bianco and Dave Paganelli voted against. "It's been a position that has been the focus of a lot of attention over the years," Grace told …
The Child-Parent Security Act would update NY law.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, May 16
Assembly member Amy R. Paulin (D-88th A.D.), chair of the Children and Families Committee, is introducing The Child-Parent Security Act to update New York law to make it easier to establish parentage in cases of assisted reproductive technology. It will allow gestational carrier agreements, contracts which are currently unenforceable in New York. “Allowing gestational surrogacy will give hope and opportunity to women and men facing the heartbreak of infertility,” said Paulin. “The bill also includes a process for obtaining a ‘Judgment of Parentage’ to be issued prior to birth which would allow hospitals to put the intended parents’ names on the child’s birth certificate – instead of having to go to court after the fact," Paulin said. "New …
Sunday, May 13, 2012
The City of Rye recently banned plastic bags at retailers. Should your village follow suit?
Residents in Rye are adjusting to a new law that went into effect earlier this week. Plastic shopping bags can no longer be handed out by merchants—an issue that has elicited mixed reactions from retailers and customers alike. Instead of using plastic bag, shoppers are now expected to bring their own reusable bags to stores. "Thick" plastic bags that are wider than 2.5 millimeters and considered reusable are also permitted. Rye is the first municipality in Westchester County to adopt the environmentally-conscious measure after a series of discussions last winter. Rye's City Council voted to adopt an modeled on a similar Connecticut law. Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our newsletter
Findings will determine if their incomes meet their basic needs.
- GOVERNMENT
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Sunday, May 13
Westchester County residents age 60 and older who have not yet taken the county survey to learn if their incomes cover their basic needs without public or private subsidies are encouraged to do so at this time. “We need the data from this survey to have a better picture of where we can put our limited dollars to best impact seniors,” said Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “Don’t delay taking part.” The survey is sponsored by the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services and the county’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) in conjunction with its Livable Communities initiative. The Elder Economic Security Standard Index – also known as the Elder Economic Security Survey – measures the economic …
Friday, May 11, 2012
The legislation will create a Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.
The state must protect the most vulnerable among us. That was the point Gov. Andrew Cuomo made Thursday at the College of New Rochelle. He presented legislation at a press conference that would strengthen standards and practices for protecting people with special needs and disabilities. "I will not allow a patient in the care of this state to be abused. Period," Cuomo said to applause from the audience assembled in Maura Hall. The proposed legislation will create a Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, which will have a special prosecutor and inspector general. They will investigate reports of abuse and neglect, eventually prosecuting allegations that rise to the level of a crime. Cuomo said that for the 17 months…
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The governor spoke of safety concerns but did not elaborate on financing the construction.
Citing safety concerns and a "pressing need," Governor Andrew Cuomo said Thursday the Tappan Zee Bridge will be replaced soon. "When it gets right down to it, we have to replace the Tappan Zee Bridge," he said. "It has to be done now." The governor was at the College of New Rochelle to announce a proposal to form a justice center to prevent, investigate and prosecute abuse of special-needs New Yorkers. During a brief press conference after his speech, Cuomo was asked about financing for the new bridge. He said there are no concrete plans for paying for the new bridge, adding that the state doesn't yet know how much it will cost. Cuomo also said there had been no discussion of financing the bridge by raising tolls. In April, the state …
Francis T McVetty
5:59 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012
Former Yorktown supervisor Aaron Bock should stick to what he knows best. I don't know what that is but it certainly wasn't being a supervisor. more ›