November 15, 2012 - WestchesterGuardian.com

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Page 8 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, november 15, 2012DISASTER RELIEFFederal Family and Partners Continue to Support States Impacted by SandyContinued from page 7Station Sandy Hook and continuesupporting debris clearance operationsat locations in Bayonne, N.J. and theBattery, N.Y.The Defense Logistics Agencycontinues to supply FEMA withmuch needed emergency supplies,medical equipment, fuel and nowcold and wet weather clothing to helpthose working toward recovery afterHurricane Sandy. DLA has deliveredmore than 1.8 million gallons of fuelto federal government distributionpoints in the New York/New Jerseyregion. DLA delivered nine generatorsto the Army Corps of Engineersto power apartment buildings in NewYork City. Seven more generators andseven transformers are en route. Theyalso provided seven additional generatorsto the New York City HousingAuthority. DLA has contracts inplace to support waste water cleanup,hazardous material removal, anddebris removal operations. DLA hasalso awarded two contracts for 330roll-off dumpsters and 34 trucks foroverland trash hauling. 2.5 millionpounds of debris have been removedin the last 48 hours.The Army Corps of Engineers(USACE) has more than 3000employees from the North AtlanticDivision with an additional 900team members deployed from otherUSACE divisions across the Nationengaged to support the responsemission. Response teams are assistingwith debris management, commoditiesdistribution, infrastructure assessment,temporary roofing, critical public facilities,water planning, and temporaryhousing. USACE debris teams are inports, waterways and coastal areas inNJ and NY clearing debris along theAtlantic seaboard. Also, the USACEis currently pumping at the JerseyCity PATH Train Tunnel, PassaicValley Waste Water Treatment Plantand the Kearny Amtrak Substation.Nearly 495 critical power assessmentshave been completed. 99 generatorshave been installed in New Jersey, NewYork and Pennsylvania. Installationof 44 more generators are in progress.USACE continues to receive prioritizedlists of requirements from localofficials and is immediately acting onthese requests.The U.S. Fleet Forces (Navy &Marine Corps) are assisting the ArmyCorps of Engineers in their powerrestoration, cleaning and dewateringefforts in NY and NJ.The National Guard continuesto work to expedite recovery efforts.More than 6,600 Army and AirNational Guard Soldiers and Airmenfrom 12 states are conducting foodand water, fuel distribution, communications,security, sheltering, debrisremoval and transportation missionsin support of recovery efforts.The United State Postal Service(USPS) wants to remind customerswho have evacuated or relocated due tohurricane Sandy to submit a change ofaddress, place mail on hold or requestthat mail be temporarily forwardedto their new location. For the latestservice updates regarding hurricaneSandy, call 1-800-ASK-USPS(1-800-275-8777).U.S. Department ofAgriculture’s (USDA’s) NaturalResources Conservation Service(NRCS) has distributed an initial$5.3 million to 11 states affected byHurricane Sandy. NRCS providesthis funding through its EmergencyWatershed Protection (EWP)program.USDA’s Food and NutritionService (FNS) is allowing flexibilityto New York City Public SchoolDistrict to serve all meals free throughthe National School Lunch Programand School Breakfast Program forthe month of November. FNS hasalso approved New Jersey’s requestto allow Supplemental NutritionAssistance Program (SNAP- formerlyFood Stamps) recipients that residein Atlantic County, Bergen County,Cape May County, Essex County,Hudson County, Middlesex County,Monmouth County, Ocean County,Somerset County and Union County,(all of which have received individualassistance declarations from theFederal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA), to be allowed topurchase hot foods and hot food productswith SNAP benefits through theend of the month.The Corporation for Nationaland Community Service (CNCS)has 1008 national service memberswho have been deployed to sevenstates. AmeriCorps and Senior Corpsmembers in Connecticut, Maryland,New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,Rhode Island, and West Virginiaare assisting with shelter operations,call centers, debris removal, and masscare. About 435 members of FEMACorps, an innovative partnershipbetween FEMA and AmeriCorps, areworking directly with disaster survivorsin New York and New Jersey.The U.S. Department of Healthand Human Services (HHS) hasmore than 1,100 HHS personneldeployed to provide public health andmedical assistance to New York andNew Jersey. These personnel includebehavioral health professionals fromthe U.S. Public Health ServiceCommissioned Corps supportingshelter operations. Nearly 60 officersfrom three Mental Health Teams haveassisted approximately 700 residentsand first responders a day, helpingaddress basic mental health issues andfacilitating environmental interventionsin shelters such as ensuring thatlights were off or low in a shelter ata sufficient time for people to sleep,arranging structured activities forchildren and adults, limiting access tosugary/caffeinated items by childrenafter supper so that they are better ableto sleep. These types of basic issues areincrease people’s resilience in difficultcircumstances.The U.S. Food and DrugAdministration reminds consumers totake precautions for storing water andensuring the safety of their food andmedical supplies for themselves, theirfamilies, and their pets during and afterany hurricane-related rain, possibleflooding and power outages. Forfood and drug safety messaging, visitthe Food and Drug Administrationhurricane safety checklist, available inEnglish and Spanish (http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm317232.htm).The U.S. Department of theInterior (DOI) mobilized resourcesto speed storm recovery on Federaland tribal lands in the impacted regionand to support FEMA in its efforts toassist states and local governments inthe disaster area, including nearly 700DOI employees conducting responseand recovery missions and at leastan equal number are committed todisaster recovery work in at their homelocations. More than 1,200 wildlandfirefighters from all agencies, includingabout 260 wildland firefighters fromthe Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureauof Land Management, U.S. Fish andWildlife Service and National Parkservice are responding with fellowwildland firefighters from the U.S.By PEGGY GODFREYThursday night,November 1, 2012, theNew Rochelle CityCouncil held a SpecialMeeting to considerthe Draft Environmental ImpactStatement (DEIS) regarding theEcho Bay Project proposed by ForestCity Ratner (FCR) and the possibilityof floating a bond to fund the move ofthe New Rochelle City Yard from itsForest Service and State ForestryDivisions to support FEMA stagingareas, assist in emergency operationscenters, and provide crews to clear treesfor emergency access and power crews.The Bureau of Indian Affairs(BIA) is leading a Tribal AssistanceCoordination Group, enhancingcommunications and coordinationbetween Native American Tribes inthe disaster area, other Federal agenciesincluding FEMA, and non-profitrelief organizations.The National Park Service(NPS) has deployed more than 300incident management personnel,technical experts and work crews toassist almost 650 personnel at parksthroughout the region in recoveryoperations. Working with interagencypartners, NPS has also established adebris transfer site at Jacob Riis Parkin New York to support local clean-upactivities and is providing feeding foremergency workers in the vicinity of itslogistics base at Fort Wadsworth in theGateway National Recreation Area.FEMA’s mission is to support ourcitizens and first responders to ensurethat as a nation we work together tobuild, sustain, and improve our capabilityto prepare for, protect against,respond to, recover from, and mitigateall hazards.ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTTo Move or Not Move NewRochelle’s City Yardcurrent Main Street location to onesituated on Beechwood Avenue, andin so doing, facilitating FCR’s movingahead with its Echo Bay DevelopmentProject. The meeting got off to arocky start, when Councilman AlbertTarantino expressed concern that theDemocrats on the City Council hadbeen given copies of updated informationon the costs to move the City Yardwhile the two Republican Councilmenhad not been afforded that sameContinued on page 9Before speaking to the police... callGeorge WeinbaumATTORNEY AT LAWFREE CONSULTATION:Criminal, Medicaid, MedicareFraud, White-Collar Crime &Health Care Prosecutions. T. 914.948.0044F. 914.686.4873175 MAIN ST., SUITE 711-7 • WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601Professional DominicanHairstylists & Nail TechniciansHair Cuts • Styling • Wash & Set • PermingPedicure • Acrylic Nails • Fill Ins • Silk Wraps • Nail Art DesignsHighights • Coloring • Extensions • Manicure • Eyebrow WaxingYudi’s Salon 610 Main St, New Rochelle, NY 10801 914.633.7600
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTTo Move or Not Move New Rochelle’s City YardContinued from page 8information. He added, “This isnot transparency in government.”Mayor Noam Bramson apologized,saying that he would “take responsibility”because he sought input, butthat it would not matter because heexpected everything to be presentedthat evening at the special meeting.City Manager Chuck Stromefollowed by explaining the threeoptions that needed to be consideredin moving the City Yard asthey related to the Echo Bay project:(1) construct a new City Yard onBeechwood Avenue, (2) modernizethe current Main Street site, or (3)do nothing for a few years. Stromerecalled that, back in February,2012, the City Council authorizeda bond resolution for the design ofa new City Yard at the BeechwoodAvenue site. Then, in April, aconsultant submitted preliminaryestimates of $16 million to renovatethe present City Yard and $13million to prepare the Beechwoodsite. Since that time, the estimateshave increased to $19 million for theMain Street site and $24.4 millionfor the Beechwood site. Stromesuggested not doing anything “is apoor option”.Former Commissioner ofDevelopment Michael Freimuthattended the City Council meetingto detail preliminary terms andconditions for the FCR Echo BayHISTORYTHE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, november 15, 2012Project. He had both positive andnegative comments. On the positiveside, Freimuth said FCR would payNew Rochelle $2.5 million for theproperty and $1 million for buildingpermit fees. FCR would also pay$18 million over 20 years in refusefees. According to Freimuth, a smallnumber of jobs would be createdand some sales tax revenue would begenerated. On the negative side, hesaid, FCR would ask for tax abatementsand a PILOT (payment inlieu of taxes), which is currentlycalculated to cover school costs foran estimated 22 students at the rateof $17,500 per student, increasingby an inflation factor each year. Thecost to New Rochelle of moving theCity Yard must also be considered.Mayor Bramson then askedthe Councilmembers how theywanted to proceed that evening.Councilman Lou Tranguccisuggested a “small discussion”.Tarantino quickly stated, “If ForestCity does not go forth, we wouldnot expend any funds.” But Stromebrought up the “up front payment”from the developer as a sweetener.Councilwoman Shari Rackmanasked if these numbers are accurate.She wanted to know whathappens if FCR’s environmentalremediation of Echo Bay costs $4million instead of the projected $3million. Freimuth responded thatremediation is FCR’s problem.Jack Reed and Louise BryantA Senatorial InquisitionBy ROBERT SCOTTThe year 1919opened withAmerican troopsbogged down inSiberia as part ofan allied intervention during thecivil war that followed the RussianRevolution.The Senate announced thathearings would begin on February11 to investigate Bolhevik propaganda.Sen. Lee S. Overman, aDemocrat from North Carolina,headed the subcommittee of theSenate Judiciary Committee, whosefive male members had an averageage of 61.The other committee memberswere Knute Nelson (R-Minn.),Thomas Sterling (R-N.D.),William H. King (D-Utah) andJosiah O. Wolcott (D-Del.).In New York, Jack Reed wasputting the finishing touches on hismanuscript of Ten Days That Shookthe World.To promote her book Six RedMonths in Russia and refute thelies being circulated by critics aboutthe new Russia, Louise Bryantwas about to begin a cross-countryspeaking tour on “The Truth AboutRussia.”Continued on page 10Rackman also wanted to know ifthe Beechwood Avenue site would“fulfill the needs of the City goingforward,” and asked if the Citycould repair or rebuild the presentCity Yard site on Main Street.Commissioner of Public WorksAlexander Tergis responded that abetter proposal could be made byusing more money.According to Trangucci, theproposed relocation of the City Yardto Beechwood Avenue would resultin a City Yard that is approximatelyhalf the size of the present yard. Henoted that the new report does notdelve into the costs of remediatingthe Beechwood site or that additionalpolice and fire services wouldbe needed. As a result of the bondingand the insufficiency of the PILOT,the City would incur an additionalfinancial burden of $900,000 peryear. Trangucci observed that theCity will see no positive financialbenefit until the bond debt ispaid off. Finally, Trangucci wantedto know who determined the $5million land value of the presentCity Yard, which he asserts shouldbe valued at $10 million. Freimuthresponded by saying the value isbased on unit housing costs in thearea.At that point Mayor Bramsonsaid the Council did not have tomake a “judgment on Echo Bay,”but it had to make a decision onthe City Yard. Trangucci disagreed,advising that each decision wasdependent on the other and couldnot be considered independent ofthe other. Councilman Jared Riceasked about the size reduction ofthe City Yard at Beechwood andwhether service would improve.Strome and Tergis side-steppeda direct response with a commentabout the present City Yard’s operationalinefficiencies and opined overthe prospect of sewer and drainwalls that are “ready to collapse.” Adiscussion of grants and fundingsources for remediating problems atthe present City Yard followed.Councilman Ivar Hyden asked,“Shouldn’t we have this (financial)information before we move theCity Yard?” Strome basically ignoredthe question and responded, “Bondsmust be issued this year” to movethe City Yard. When CouncilmanBarry Fertel wanted to know whatwould happen if the City Yard wasnot moved now, Tergis said maintenancecosts would go up.As the session ended, Bramsoninsisted that a choice between developmentand fiscal responsibility was“wrong, wrong, wrong.” He saidhe viewed development and fiscalresponsibility as moving in tandemalong the same track and direction.He said he has never seen aperfect development and insistedthat a decision must be made onNovember 13 th .Peggy Godfrey is a freelance writer,a community activist, and formereducator.Three of the five members of the Overman Committee in 1919 duringhearings: Senator Josiah Oliver Wolcott (D-Del.), Chairman LeeSlater Overman (D-N.C.), Senator Knute Nelson (R-Minn.)Page 9Rdg Plyhs Westchester Guardian nov_Layout 1Ann Hampton CallawaySings the Streisand SongbookFri, Nov 16Multiplatinum selling singersongwriterand actress,celebrating one of America’smost enduring artists,Barbra Streisand.Doyle Coffin ARCHiteCtUReSinGeR SonGwRiteR SeRieSRock SeRieSRock SeRieSUnderwritten byRidgefield PrimePartially Underwrittenby Albano Appliances,Best Cellars andHB GroupCLARKCONSTRUCTIONCOMEDY SERIESBroadway & CaBaretSerieSDoyle Coffin ARCHiteCtUReSinGeR SonGwRiteR SeRieSBroadway & CaBaret SerieSKarla Bonoff andSteve ForbertSaturday, November 17A night of hits including All Mylife, Personally, Someone tolay Down Beside Me andRomeo’s tune.Musical Box: The LambLies Down on BroadwaySunday, November 18A CAn’t MiSS SHow!Peter Gabriel-era Genesis Re-creationShow under the lamb liesDown on Broadway.Video Games Live withTommy TallaricoSaturday, December 1Featuring the Western Connecticut YouthOrchestra and The Ridgefield Choralethe excitement of a rock concertmixed with video games, special fxand audience participation!Food Network StarChef Robert Irvine LIVE!Sunday, December 2Please join us in the lobby at 7:15pmfor a wine tasting from Best Cellars!ViP tickets Available! includes backstageaccess and special cookingdemonstrations!SinbadThursday, December 6Partially Underwritten by Gardella'sElite LimosineHe doesn’t deliver punch lines –he slam dunks them!Debbie Gravitte & FriendsAll-Star Holiday ShowFriday, December 14Celebrate the holidays withDebbie and her friends, includingsome broadways pals fromthe hit show Phantom of theopera and more!Eric HutchinsonSun, December 16With Special Guest Jessie Payowith his chart topping hitwatching you watch HimThe RidgefieldPlayhouse80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT • (203)438-5795www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org
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November 15, 2012 - WestchesterGuardian.com

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