Comments for Talk of the Sound

New Rochelle progress is impossible without change!

Bob McCaffrey — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 15:26:59 +0000

In reply to Letter to Editor: Homeless Shelter Assistance

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New Rochelle progress is impossible without change!

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything”. George Bernard Shaw

“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance”. Nathaniel Branden

Joseph Boan,

All changes don’t have to be physical to be implemented and sometimes they go unnoticed. You can’t always see change but change is there if you get out and involved.

Oasis Spring Fling Fund Raiser was promoted by NRfuture on their web site and Facebook and back in February I believe there was a discussion surrounding a community member's Food Project and fundraising efforts for Oasis Homeless Shelter. I also know that we have discussed a number of times different ways to help the seniors, homeless and needy in New Rochelle with an emphasis on the Downtown area. There were many meetings where the Community Benefits Agreement was discuss and then became part of the Master Plan.

I stay involved so that I can see firsthand what happens so that I can remain objective. I am not tied to The City, NRfuture or the developer. Those that know me know I stand for doing the right thing and progress. Progress for all of New Rochelle not just a select few. People in New Rochelle only get involved and vocal when it is something directly connected to them or in their backyard, look at City Council Meetings, Public Hearings and Citizens to be Heard you will see exactly what I mean.

Yes our citizens voted the repair of the Homeless Shelter as one of the top three ideas when polled by our developer RDRXR through NR Future for needed Community Services. Has anyone or yourself attended a meeting lately or joined NRfuture? Have you become active in the process? If so you would see there has been change.

Programs and grants are beginning to be implemented but more people need to get involved. You can't just put a wish list out there and expect it to appear, it take work and time. Follow up and attend meetings, be a part of the process as it moves forward. Too much miss-information is out there and people don't take the time, I know I question this all the time. More communication and participation is needed for this to work. It can’t just be left to the developers like in the past who actually never worked with the community at all. People in this city wanted more participation and input, yet they don’t participate or get involved when the opportunity is there. Nothing, then they complain.

As a matter of fact, we have discussed ways to help the homeless at many NRfuture meetings. As development is slow so is the process to help implement those wants and needs expressed in the programs you described. But the good thing is that things are changing and some people are getting involved. But not enough, there are meetings every month and the other night we discussed the next round of Future Five Grants to be awarded by NRfuiture. These grants aren’t big but are a step towards jumpstarting ideas and future plans. Did you know about The Future Five Grant Program? I have sent a copy of your letter to Ashley Aldrich and Michelle Goyke the Community Ambassadors’ for NRfuture who staff the NRfuture office on North Avenue contact them for more information.

Many grants have already been awarded for example,

At the last NR Future Five meet-up on Tuesday, June 7th we discussed three grant applications that were received during the month of May. This month’s grant ideas included, A Fun In The Sun Fundraiser, Interest Food Project - Strawberry Baskets for Seniors, and New Ro Movie Night. The Interest Food Garden - Strawberry Basket Making Idea and The New Rochelle Movie Night grant ideas were awarded $250 grants and the $500 was awarded to the Fun In The Sun Fundraiser!

http://nrfuture.com/2016/06/09/june-nr-future-five-meet-up-recap/

On Tuesday, May 3rd they discussed the five grant applications that were received for the month of April. The grant ideas included, A Community Block Party, Main Street's Secret Gardens, Moving Millennials - A 5K Run, Rock And Ramen, and Alvin’s on the Square. Ashley Aldrich and Michelle Goyke The Community Ambassadors for NRfuture who staff the NRfuture office on North Avenue, which is open to all said that,” they were so thrilled to see the New Rochelle Community using the NR Future Five Grant Program to create such innovative ideas and demonstrating Tactial Urbanism at its finest”. All of the ideas were awarded the $250 and the $500 Grant was awarded to Fish On The Run for their Community Block Party!

Some other I can remember,

Hudson Park Children’s Greenhouse (HPCG) committee members visited the office of NRfuture at 247 North Avenue to collect their $500 check, which was granted as a part of the NRfuture “Future Five Grants” program.

http://hudsonparkgreenhouse.org/2016/05/29/nr-future-five-grant-award-may-272016/

The Hugh Doyle Senior Center -Interest Food Project for the Elderly and or Low to Moderate Families received funding.

http://nrfuture.com/idea/interest-new-rochelle-food-project-for-the-elderly/

To view some of the other ideas that have already been posted and are receiving the community’s support check out the grant ideas page.

http://nrfuture.com/grantideas/

From the site:

http://nrfuture.com/futurefive/

The Future Five is an initiative by the people for the people to revitalize the downtown through five community-chosen priorities: Public Space + Storefront Beautification, Local Business Development, Food + Dining Scene, Millennial Engagement, and Arts + Culture. Leveraged by future investment in the downtown and centered around monthly community events, the Future Five initiative is supported by a monthly grant program.

Each month Nrfuture will provide one Future Five overall grant of $500 and one ... to receive the funds: 25 Likes for the $500 grants, 15 Likes for $250 grants. To view some of the other ideas that have already been posted and are receiving the community’s support check out the grant ideas page.

See the full list of winners and get more information here on how you can submit a grant of your own!

If you have any questions, send an email to ashley@nrfuture.com or michelle@nrfuture.com, call the office at 914-278-9410, or stop in! The RDRXR/NR Future Community Office is located at 247 North Avenue between the Post Office and Anderson Street.

I leave it up to you to make you own mind up and decide for yourselves. But I urge you to get involved and gain access to the programs that already exist. As New Rochelle grows so can you!

Mary Jane Reddington said, “Change Things and Keep Changing Things!”

a lot of work

Robert Cox — Mon, 09 May 2016 12:03:27 +0000

In reply to Not Flint? No, Davis School is Worse!

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In case you were wondering, yes...it took a lot of work to put together the research and analysis on this story. Please take a good look as the data analysis here is important.

Outrage

Robert Cox — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 13:39:23 +0000

In reply to More Lead Found in New Rochelle Elementary School Drinking Water

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I am beyond livid about the water testing at Davis. I am a member of the District-Wide Health & Safety Committee. During our public meetings I have asked numerous questions about water quality testing. In response, we, the duly-appointed members of the District-Wide Health & Safety Committee, were told the following: (1) water quality testing in schools is not required by law and there has been no prior water quality testing in the City School District of New Rochelle so no baseline or longitudinal data exists; (2) the motivation to conduct water quality tests was based on news reports about Flint, Michigan in March 2016 even though the Flint Water Crisis had been a major national news story long before then; (3) the first water quality test ever at Davis was done on 3/29/16; (4) the results of that test was received by the district on 4/5/16 and one water fountain was shut off; (5) on 4/8, tests were ordered throughout Davis and that it would take 3 weeks to get the results; (6) on 4/14, all water fountains and sinks at Davis were shut off; (7) despite repeated questions by me the district refused to explain the thought process from 4/5 to 4/14, as to what changed so that the district went from shutting down 1 fountain to shutting down the entire building; (8) we were provided an implausible explanation as to why the district had the water testing done through a BOCES contractor at double the cost of the Westchester County Department of Health; (9) we were told 2 weeks ago we would be provided forthwith a copy of the presentation made to the board by Arturo Rivera of Aramark but no such copy has ever been provided; (10) and now on Friday night of 4/29, the principal sends out hundreds of emails and Robocalls to the entire Davis community and yet as of 4/30 the committee has once again not been provided the test data and was told nothing about the situation at Davis even though air and water quality testing is one of the main functions of the District-Wide Health & Safety Committee under NYS law. This is entirely unacceptable and does not pass the smell test. I have requested an emergency meeting of the District-Wide Health & Safety Committee no later than Wednesday 5/3.

New Rochelle, we need to inspect what we expect!

Bob McCaffrey — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 11:56:39 +0000

In reply to Secet Toilet Paper Cache Raises Doubts About Aramark Inventory Claims in New Rochelle

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New Rochelle, we need to inspect what we expect!

Time to change the toilet paper roll,

We see yet another recent problem and the exposure of theft and waste. Add this to the growing number of issues with in the New Rochelle School System and you have some major failures, failures by The New Rochelle School Board. Board members you are just not making the grade. These are problems from this past year alone. These new issues with several others that you have seen here in Talk of the Sound and the ones not yet uncovers or reported, there are too many to comprehend, you do the math. It adds up to trouble with the system and those responsible for our children, their lives, safety, education and our tax dollars, most importantly our children. The members of the School Board must be held more accountable as they have been informed of several of these problems over the years but decide to do nothing. Maybe it’s not the Common Core that needs to be looked at, maybe it’s our leadership on the board.

Our children’s lives are way too valuable, more valuable than getting a friend a job or looking the other way to protect yours. If you don’t see this School Board Members, than you are blind or part of the problem. Speak to anyone who grew up in The City of New Rochelle school system and they can tell you stories of the misgivings of any number of Board of Ed employee’s and the City of New Rochelle School District employees. Everyone knows someone who has gotten a job or was in trouble and didn’t get caught. In case you weren’t listening again, if you don’t, then you are either blind or part of the problem. This type of environment also goes on to hurt the reputations of the many hard working employees that the system does have working for it. People who want to succeed and do what is in the best interest of the children and the taxpayer/parents.

This continual waist and poor decision making under the direction and control of The New Rochelle School Board cannot be tolerated any longer. Waist and poor decision making that puts our children at risk and creates higher taxes, taxes that many people here can no longer afford. If this were a private company heads would be rolling or even people going to jail.

School Board Members need to dig down deep and decide to do something or get out of the way. We have seen lately that things are changing in the school district. Changing as a result of some of the reporting here along with Superintendent of Schools for New Rochelle Brian G. Osborne and Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey White stepping up and the creation of the new District-Wide Health and Safety Committee, more must change. New Rochelle, we need to inspect what we expect!

This May we will be voting for the 2016-2017 School Budgets, The $106 million dollar bond and a few school board seats. Maybe we should be seeing more vacancies open up for the school board seats to be filled considering what has been seen transpire this year alone. More accountability more checks and balances more listening and so much more Common Sense!

I repeat the words of New Rochelle School Board Member Mary Jane Reddington, “Change things and continue to change things”.

I will disclose up front that

Ken Lewis — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 13:45:17 +0000

In reply to New Rochelle Planning Board Struggles to Manage Conflicts with RDRXR

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I will disclose up front that I work on KPF projects via their Consulting Engineers and Lighting Designer Firms. I do not know Mr. Hocking personally.

New Rochelles Citizens are lucky by chance he chose to live within our City and volunteer his time as we have someone of great talent, great accomplishment and incredible ability to guide us while on the Plaaning Board. I also believe someone of his stature would be ethical by every account. In addition if he chose to be unethical he could choose much higher levels of projects to do so. I would hate for someone of this stature harmed in any manner without good reason while assisting the Planning Board. While I trust Mr. Hocking I can not say the same for Noam Bramson which is probably more of a cause for your story and more of a question to anything unethical in NR. It is my opinion in order for New Rochelle to move forward unsuspect of unethical behavior the recuser needs to be Bramson.

New Rochelle, What goes around comes around!

Bob McCaffrey — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 17:19:26 +0000

In reply to Aramark Fails to Fix Fire Safety Issues in New Rochelle Schools

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New Rochelle, What goes around comes around!

Someday the truth always comes out. It is what you do with the truth that defines who you are. The Davis School tiles and the ceiling collapse at The Danial Webster School were just eye openers. It is time to listen to the people and make the drastic changes needed and maybe even some people going to jail. The taxpayers of New Rochelle want their children to be safe and want accountability and controls put in place to correct what is wrong and find out what else is missed before someone is hurt or dies.

The City School District of New Rochelle has come a long way from where we stood a few years ago. I have to say that was attributed to a few things, first is Bob Cox and Talk of the Sound. Many people don’t like Talk of the Sound, mainly those that have something to hide. It has given those working for the district and parents that have concern a place to go. The School Board of New Rochelle has turned a deaf ear to those that speak at meetings. We are not your enemies we are concerned parents that wish to be heard and yes, Responded To!

We are seeing a change in the tides, In part because of the recently done Building Condition Survey’s (BCS) which haven’t taken place for years, the recent changes made by New Superintendent of Schools for New Rochelle Brian G. Osborne, Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey White and the new District-Wide Health and Safety Committee that was finally formed. So we have come a long way but have many miles to travel before we reach a comfort zone. Especially since there will be a vote for a new $106 Million Dollar Bond.

In February The City School District of New Rochelle held its first ever open meeting of The Build-Level Health & Safety Committees at NRHS on Thursday, February 11, 1:00 p.m.

At this meeting I spoke of the continued questions I had of the standards and practices for the school systems related to safety and maintenance items such as the daily, weekly, monthly reviews of the pest and rodent programs as they are done in house by who else “ARAMARK”. There was an old bait trap outside the theater entrance of the Linda Kelly Auditorium that was missing its top for a year now and it wasn’t touched. None of them had markings or dates on them that a normal exterminator company would have in place. This is the same area that during a meeting last year a rat ran across the front of the theater, some rodent control.

Then I spoke about the part of the buildings condition survey (BCS) conversation when we were told the electrical systems were overloaded and needed to be upgraded. Who is responsible to inspect these panels and maintain them? A homeowner would not overload a panel in their home or fail to replace old warn out items if they knew they were defective. During construction and additions reviews would be done or the building permits would not be closed out. Who is responsible “ARAMARK” and yes, The School District! Who is monitoring the policies and procedures?

I repeated myself at these next meetings:

-February 11 7:00pm a meeting for the School Budget Community Input Forum.

-March 10, 2016 a meeting 7:00pm NRHS PTSA review of surveys and budget for bonding.

-March 15, 2016 a NRHS School Budget Meeting asked again.

Below is a copy of comments I made at a School Board Meeting back in March of 2014 that referenced the frustration and also some acknowledgement of the problems with the operating systems of the school district by the Interim Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Korostoff who took over when New Rochelle Schools Superintendent Richard Organisciak who retired on October 25, 2013.

School Board Meeting 3/25/14:

I want to extend a big thanks to Joe Orlando from ALMS security for a job well done. Joe was out directing traffic through all of those snow storms, sub-zero temperatures and had his hands full with rushed and impatient parents.

Regarding the Superintendent search, I was pleased to see that the search team recognized that there were issues related to the search process when dealing with the board and the public. At least someone was listening. The last meetings they arraigned and the final report showed that they also had the public’s interests in mind. They also believed a good candidate would be found even though Mr. Latcher and some others on the board thought differently.

After reading the Interim Superintendents Budget Message apparently he and some of the board have picked up on some of what people have been saying at these meetings. If this is the improvement we get with an interim superintendent, imagine what we get with a new superintendent. We Hope!

He states, “We are keenly aware of the concerns which have been raised publicly about potential abuse within this sector of our operations”. “It is also important to note that this budget benefits significantly from the recommendations offered over a two-year period from the Community Advisory Committees which were established”. Admitting, Recognizing and identifying problems and opportunities are the first steps towards bringing forth change to correct and modify past behavior. Board members, that are why it is important for you to listen, acknowledge and answer the questions of the public that speak.

If you want to get Bob Cox off your back, then you need to do three things. Answer his questions. Answer the public’s questions and fix the problems that are identified by Bob and the taxpayers that speak. I have asked the same questions for the last two years and not gotten any answers. The unprofessional outbursts by Mr. Latcher are not the way to fix the problems in the district. People have been and some still are afraid to come forward because of the politics and games that are played with in the system.Talk of the Sound has become a public forum that gives those that are afraid to speak a voice. I guarantee that much of the information comes from employees that are not willing to risk their jobs in fear of retribution.To be honest, it is because no one listens here that Talk of the Sound can thrive. If The Board and The City want to get Talk of the Sound off their backs, then fix the problems and be more open with the public. You can’t have fire without a spark.

People are tired of the ways of the past. You will see more people speaking up and breaking away from the north south divide and the democrat and republican political bonds. You may not like it but the citizens of New Rochelle are beginning to speak out and you can’t blame any specific person, Blog or Group for that. People have opened their eyes to what has been going on around here for far too long. Things must and will change as more people have the ability to speak out for what they believe.

Safety,

Some reviews need to be done for the evacuations procedures here. If you go back and look at the News 12 coverage, the children were gathered next to the building. A new location should be found for a gathering place during fire and evacuation drills.

Buses,

Please look in to the scheduling of the 461 buses in the morning. There are more buses than listed and we are not sure of the timing of the last bus. I get not answers from the company or transportation. Maybe a review of data needs to be done to determine the correct number of buses for before and after school. Many busses are crowed on this and other lines.

Again, I want to thank the search team for a job well done. Let’s work smarter and harder to see a more open and productive future for New Rochelle and the students of New Rochelle.

Thank You for your time!

As stated above,

Whenever parents or students have an issue or are looking for information, there is no specific representative on the school board to turn to. As most members come from the North End of New Rochelle, So how does a parent decide which member to contact? It would help if parents knew they had a representative for their area or school, like we do with the city council districts for council members, you would know which member represented your area?

You see speaking at the meetings and asking questions gets you to the same place, nowhere! Parents get no answers or responses to their questions or we get a slow meaningless response. Look at all the problems that have been exposed here in The New Rochelle School District the last few years. So much is based on people’s concerns and facts that have been backed up as we have recently seen the results, not blank accusations.

The City School District of New Rochelle has come a long way! You see, it is now possible to report problems and issues due to the implementation of a new reporting system which was recently put in place by the district and the new District-Wide Health and Safety Committee that was finally formed. We just need to figure out how and where to find the form as I have looked at the site for the schools and the district to no avail.

In the words of New Rochelle School Board Member Mary Jane Reddington from her retirement speech the night of 9/11/13, "Change things and continue to change things".

The time is now!

I suspect NYS will find

Adam Egelberg — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 19:09:09 +0000

In reply to New York State Launches Investigation into Aramark's Use of Banned Toxic Chemicals in New Rochelle Schools

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I suspect NYS will find Aramark did use these banned chemicals. About 5 years ago when my children were first attending the Davis School, the boys bathroom in the hallway that leads to the gymnasium had a suffocating ammonia smell. It was unbearable and my children refused to use that bathroom. I contacted Principal Harrell who had the custodial staff do something to the bathroom that greatly reduced the smell. Prior to my contacting him, it was in that condition for at least several weeks.

New Rochelle School Board needs to listen more and talk less!

Bob McCaffrey — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 17:25:20 +0000

In reply to New York State Launches Investigation into Aramark's Use of Banned Toxic Chemicals in New Rochelle Schools

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New Rochelle School Board needs to listen more and talk less!

While we have seen a turnaround lately with the superintendent and assistant superintendent more needs to be done. Dig deeper and listen to the people that speak. I have been talking about some of the basic practices behind the sceens over and above the physical problems with The City of New Rochelle School District. I spoke of problems at the meetings the last few months but as far back as 2013.

I have a background in sales, safety and operations and was received certified safety training by OSHA when I was a facilities manager and in charge of the safety ratings for a company facility. I have stated this several times at meetings when asking questions so they knew I wasn’t talking from lack of knowledge.

Here is a copy of my comments from a School Board Meeting from September 24, 2013.

School Board Meeting 9/24/13:

Last time I spoke, Mr. Latcher lashed out at Bob Cox about Davis school. First it was unprofessional and the reaction of someone who is guilty or realizes that what was done was wrong. I was not able to respond following this outburst. My point was not about Davis school, it is about the safety procedures in the district and the failure to use, follow and monitor procedures. If they are, what else are The New Rochelle School District and The Board of Education missing? We hope this is a onetime occurrence as Mr. Latcher claims. We have a right to be concerned and not just for something like Davis. What about the everyday cleaning supplies or the other chemicals used by employees, staff and outside contractors. Is training and review done for old and new hires on the procedures if they exist?

In the words of Mary Jane Reddington from her speech the night of 9/11, Change things and continue to change things. The time is now. Time and again people speak and ask questions that aren’t answered. Eventually this will catch up to The New Rochelle School District and The Board of Education. We do have some good people but they and their accomplishments are overshadowed by the actions and misgivings of others. We have seen some of this recently with the schools and some employees. These are people we/you entrust with the responsibility of following and maintaining policies and procedures. We have seen some recently that don’t even follow common sense and we trust them and you with the lives of our children.

We have a custodian at the Isaac E. Young Middle School in New Rochelle is facing disciplinary charges after driving his pick-up truck on the soccer field to chase geese off a field? Poor judgment!

We have a security guard at New Rochelle High School, was arrested last weekend on charges of DWI then goes to work once released? Poor judgment!

We have Labs with chemicals and other hazardous materials, storage rooms of cleaning supplies, classrooms, shops chemical compounds for many things that involve items that most likely require safety procedures and protocols. Are the MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets up to date? Are safety procedures in place? Is there training for current and new employees like custodians, security guards, teachers, principals, faculty, staff in The New Rochelle School District and most important, our children and students? What type of judgment is being used in these situations?

The New York State Plan for Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH), by authority under Section 27(a) of the New York Labor Law, is responsible for promoting the health and safety for more than 2 million State and Local government employees in the State. Do we/ they follow the guide lines set by them?

https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/stateprogs/new_york.html

The New York State Plan applies to all public sector employers in the State, including: State, County, Town, and Village governments, as well as Public Authorities, Paid / Volunteer Fire Departments and of course School Districts.

Are reviews being done at all level for evaluation of efficiency and productivity? I believe that the employee attendance system is still manual with no time clock. Teachers and staff still just sign in. Not even a time stamp card clock system. How can we hold people accountable if we can’t keep track of their time on the clock? Are they late or leaving early? Is the head count appropriate for the time of day? What are people’s schedules? For security and safety sake, are they present or absent?

So many question and so few answers. Why haven’t the people that ask questions gotten answers? Why haven’t my questions since last February been answered? What else is hidden under the carpet besides asbestos? You work for the taxpayers and answer to the taxpayers and their children. Not to answer the questions is a failure of your appointed or hired responsibility.

Change things and continue to change things!

Over the years The New Rochelle School Board, School District and “Yes ARAMARK” have been entrusted with millions of taxpayer dollars that have been miss-used and or actually stolen due to crooked contractors, poor management and a total lack of accountability. That is why the vote failed the last time back in December. I don’t believe anyone had a problem with the $50 Million dollar bond; it was the lack of answers to questions and a failure to respond to the taxpayers and parents over the years that was the problem.

Our children’s lives and taxpayer dollars are at stake here. If what they say is true about the systems finances, if we didn’t have all the waste and fraud over the years, they would have even more money available and maybe not need a $50 million dollar bond. This is yet another story because now there would have been a need for $80.6 million to bring the schools to a satisfactory level.

So I say to The New Rochelle School Board and New Rochelle School District, I hope this opened some of your eyes and minds to what the real issues are. Get us answers, use common sense, have a conscience, transparency and accountability before the next vote. As for the City of New Rochelle School Board Members, sometimes you have to reach your lowest point and admit you’re wrong before you can truly change and move forward.

Now is the time, show us what you are made of and move forward with sweeping reviews of all aspects of The City School District of New Rochelle top down!!!

Response from Iona College regarding incident on February 24.

Iona College — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 20:36:31 +0000

In reply to New Rochelle Police Blotter – March 16, 2016

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Iona College is aware of a February 24th altercation involving non-Iona students. The College has fully cooperated with the New Rochelle Police Department in their investigation, including supplying photos of those involved obtained from Iona's 24-hour video surveillance system. NRPD reports that the victim decided not to press charges and the case was closed. While no Iona students, faculty or staff were involved in the incident, the College increased security patrols in the area.

Negative and Critical or giving Constructive Criticism?

Bob McCaffrey — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 13:20:36 +0000

In reply to Bramson Advocates for Self-Censorship During New Rochelle State of the City Address

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Bob,

I agree with what you wrote and that Mayor Bramson is right; New Rochelle is moving in a positive direction; dead wrong about his idea that people should not be critical in public. I actually said to someone that I thought this year’s State of the City was Noam’s first that wasn’t a self-promoting batch of skewed data and information. As we all know Noam in the past has put his own spin on things by saying so much in a speech without saying much of anything at all much less anything that was even close to reality. This time the State of the City Speech was positive and informative as you say.

For the man that knows how to write a speech, he missed the boat entirely when it came to the part about the public speaking. Here is the one flaw in his writing and as you said, where he should have stopped. A flaw that only he can control and not anyone else, not even a family member. It is professional ism and self-control, I guess it was just too hard for him to hold back the old Noam just couldn’t resist.

It is OK to be critical when necessary but never disrespectful. The citizens of New Rochelle have limited opportunity to speak and have input in formal and on the record. As you stated it is required in all phases of policy and decision making in local government. It is called input for a reason. The SEQUA process during development is there for a reason, for zoning changes, Public Hearings and Citizens to be Heard, that is what the process is all about.

I have said many times, Public Hearing and Citizens to be Heard should be changed to Public Speaking and Citizens to be Spoken. Over the years there wasn’t much hearing going on, just silence and contempt by those who represent us the taxpayers. This is starting to change a bit.

I have requested a change in the Citizens to be Heard process stating that, City Council must step up and request a review of The City Charter and The Citizens to be Heard process and make it a platform for input and review of what is said by the citizens. City Council must take the people that speak during the Citizens to be Heard and Public Hearing process seriously. It is our right to speak and City Councils jobs to listen. With listening should also be response, the process must be changed.

That said if everything is open and transparent with the public and the citizens of New Rochelle then there would be less of the, excuse the expression, publicly critical criticism. Open eyes, ears and minds are needed for New Rochelle to keep moving forward. This goes for everyone in government and the public.

OK New Rochelle,

Are we being Negative and Critical or giving Constructive Criticism?

As we move forward with our development plans it is time to get rid of the politics and personal attacks. If we are going to move The City of New Rochelle forward into the 21st Century, wake up and have true conversations that can involve a critique of an idea or project but will create two way communication, conversation and growth. An exchange of ideas as NRfuture is trying to do. NRfutue is not the only answer but it is a start. We cannot hurt the positives of what is happening with destructive comments. Try the smart positive approach of using a civil professional manner when giving your thoughts and feedback. You would be amazed what can be accomplished and how you will change the people and things you are being critical of. "Use Common Sense for the Common Good".

Here are some interesting pieces about criticism:

How to Give Kind Criticism, and Avoid Being Critical

http://zenhabits.net/how-to-give-kind-criticism-and-avoid-being-critical/

Quit Being a Critic and Go Create Something

http://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/2013/03/quit-being-a-critic-and-go-create-something/

A CRITIC CRITIQUES CRITICISM CRITICALL

http://chroniclesofharriet.com/2012/03/06/a-critic-critiques-criticism-critically/

Moving forward folks, New Rochelle is not Chappaqua, Pleasantville, Port Chester, Peekskill, White Plains or even Yonkers and Mount Vernon! We are not Northern Westchester. We have limited options of where and what to build. So it will take a lot more input, conversation and yes, Debate!

I was just discussing this problem with some people. You see un like The City of New Rochelle many of the other communities around New Rochelle have the land with wide open spaces, the available real estate and a plan. Some have limited places to shop and they have the demographics to support different types of development. They all have walkable, drivable downtowns and the demographics necessary and the disposable income to support their shops and restaurants. In our case, New Rochelle blew it with any chances we had when the real estate was available. We wasted any and all opportunities we had on bad developers, personal pipe dreams and poor planning because of political games and back room deals. This type of behavior has created a point in New Rochelle where we now have no trust, very little real estate available and have yet to complete our plan or even follow the 1996 Comprehensive Plan.

New Rochelle is going in the right direction and will face many obstacles and challenges. It is how we openly speak and deal with these challenges that will define us, will define The City of New Rochelle. Let’s cut out the rhetoric and back fighting and get down to business. The business of making The City of New Rochelle the best it can be, “The Queen City of the Sound and Ideally Yours”

Here’s to Great Things!

Fish smell Fishy

Ken Lewis — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 20:39:51 +0000

In reply to Bramson Advocates for Self-Censorship During New Rochelle State of the City Address

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I guess its more of the same " If you like your Doctor you can keep your Doctor."

Maybe he would prefer we only complain after he has stuck the tax payer with the bill instead of the developers. He can expect a thourough review of ever aspect with some pretty bright private sector people reviewing. When it smells fishy and is flapping around in the boat there is a good chance it is fishy. Best way to get on with positive development would be to not complain about people complaining but to deal in the honest and ethical not in the my way or the highway which is Boy Blusters MO.

Keep it in the family?

John Imburgia — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 19:05:00 +0000

In reply to Bramson Advocates for Self-Censorship During New Rochelle State of the City Address

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The last time I tried to "keep it in the family:, the Mayor resorted to incest--if you get my drift.

Daytime School Health and Safety Meetings

Robert Cox — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 22:14:48 +0000

In reply to Building Level Health and Safety

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It is my recommendation that they try to have ONE meeting a year, at least, in the evening, as sort of an annual meeting tied to the annual hearings.

Let's recall that from about 2003 to 2012 these meetings did not take place AT ALL and that there were no people assigned to any of these meetings after the first year the law took effect. Further, there were no records kept -- no agenda, no minutes -- and they were not publicly announced nor made open to the public. So, we have come a long way. And I will say that it has been through my efforts that we have gotten this far.

So how about starting with giving credit for the new administration following the Open Meeting Law (finally) and having public meetings, announced in advance, with agendas, etc.

At this point they are following the law to the letter. There is no requirement as to when the meetings take place. If you look at the make up of the committee you will see that it is almost entirely school district personnel. Further, in many districts these SAVE Law Health and Safety Committee meetings are held in conjunction with the 155 Law meetings which are Worker Safety meetings which are entirely school district personnel (administrators and union members). These meetings can take place together so long as they have seperate agendas and seperate minutes. I have encouraged this take place to make it easier on everyone by reducing the total number of meetings.

Given that almost all members of these committees are district employees it makes sense to hold the meetings during the day. I would hope that these committees would understand why parents and other residents might want to have occassional meetings at night and work in a spirit of cooperation to have SOME meetings at night.

Building Level Health and Safety

Laraine Karl — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 10:14:34 +0000

In reply to For First Time Ever, New Rochelle Building-Level Health & Safety Meetings Open to Public to Review 2015 Building Condition Survey

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What about having evening meetings for those of us who work?

Snow Emergency Streets

Andrew Newman — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 13:56:52 +0000

In reply to City of New Rochelle Issues Winter Storm Alert

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Rather then telling residents to stay inside it would be more helpful for the City to issue an announcement instructing residents to remove their vehicles from snow emergency streets (or be fined and towed) to allow for efficient clearing and removal of snow. This would allow these critical thoroughfares to function as designed. Unfortunately the City will not enforce these regulations, as usual, turning these roads into single lane passages with ice fort obstacles.

Hookah Lounges should be discussed by City Council

Robert Cox — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 22:07:00 +0000

In reply to Better to smoke in a hookah lounge than on street or apartment.

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Brian,

I am not ADVOCATING FOR or OPPOSING Hookah Lounges by merely responding to reader inquiries on this topic, doing to some research and posing some questions.

If you want to frame the issue as smoking in a Hookah Lounge versus smoking on a street corner you are free to do that but the issue here is a new type of business not clearly covered by local or State law. As the popularity of Hookah Lounges is new and attracts people 18-24 and New Rochelle is "college town" we could go well go from 1 to 2 to 10 quite quickly. If residents don't mind that's fine. If they do then the City Council should have Corporation Counsel offer an opinion and, if warranted, the City Code should be amended accordingly.

In short, what I am advocating for is the rule of law -- my concern has nothing to do with smoking hookah or cigar as I hardly hide the fact that I am an avid cigar smoker myself.

Better to smoke in a hookah lounge than on street or apartment.

Brian Sussman — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 22:39:38 +0000

In reply to New Rochelle Hookah Lounge Raises Questions on Need for Regulation

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I think tobacco is one of the most obnoxious and deadly substances that are legally used in the USA, and have always avoided smoking it.

When I was a kid, the NRHS student government (G.O.) sold it within the High School (the year after the NRHS fire), and there was a location on campus where students could smoke. Back then there was no age limit on tobacco, the drinking age was 18, and the voting age was 21. Back then it was legal to smoke in a public building, at an office or most other places. Things have changed a bit since then, in some ways better, and in some ways worse.

Personally, I'd prefer people to smoke in a hookah lounge than on the street, hallways or apartment. As I do not go to hookah lounges, I am not exposed to the obnoxious fumes of tobacco there, but unfortunately I am frequently exposed to tobacco fumes on the streets and hallways.

Based on my own reasoning, I'm surprised that you'd not be supporting the idea of tobacco users smoking in hookah lounges as preferable to smoking virtually anywhere else.

Stonewalling must STOP

Anthony Galletta — Sat, 09 Jan 2016 15:26:00 +0000

In reply to New Rochelle Schools Stonewall on Building Conditions Report

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It appears that Dr. Osbone is the Pied Piper that the school trustees follow blindly. Based on the documentation that the school district prepared and disseminated there is no doubt that the BCS report exists. Dr. Osborne has repeatedly deceived taxpayers but the real culpability sits squarely upon the shoulders of the trustees. Dr. Osborne serves at the pleasure of the board and no one dares to question his conflicting public statements. The board lacks one person committed to ensure honest transparent information be conveyed to the public concerning a $50 MILLION bond. Transparency is paramount not because of the price tag, but because the BCS report will outline the steps necessary to keep the children safe. The BCS report will ensure that there is NEVER a repeat of the ceiling collapse at Webster school which would have surpassed all comprehension of devastation had the collapse happened during the school year with children and staff beneath the rubble.

I understand that certain board members have personal reasons to cover for Dr. Osborne like real estate and legal connections but I appeal to the majority of board members to do some soul searching and make a New Year’s resolution to mandate that all public information be made available ASAP. This will allow taxpayers to better understand and accept the current conditions while giving them the information needed to confirm an appropriate bond to rectify all issues and protect the wellbeing of every student.

New Rochelle School Board, it’s not a “Win” or a “No Brainer”!

Bob McCaffrey — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 13:00:05 +0000

In reply to Voters Reject Business as Usual from New Rochelle Board of Education, Defeat Proposal for $50mm Bond

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New Rochelle School Board, it’s not a “Win” or a “No Brainer”!

From what we see and hear about the $50 Million Dollar School Bond, The New Rochelle School Board and New Rochelle School District just don’t get it! The point is the taxpayers voted against the bond not because of the money as we all know there was no projected tax increase. Taxpayers are smarter than that and realize our schools are crumbling and are in dire need of love and attention. Taxpayers also realize this was the only opportunity to be heard as The New Rochelle School Board and New Rochelle School District just don’t listen, like a child during a boring class. No interest in what is being said just self-interest and egos so big because they think they know everything. It’s not a “Win” or a “No Brainer. It takes brains, common sense, a conscience, transparency and accountability.

Here are some points from other articles in local papers including something I sent to The Journal News. We all know that no editorials that are negative get space in The Journal News.

From The City Review 12/18&25/15

Diane Massimo:"I thought it was a no brainer. I really thought that the money was for essential work."

David Latcher: described the defeat as one of the lowest points of his tenure.

My un-printed Editorial: New Rochelle School Bond

In The Journal News an article about The New Rochelle School Bond vote fails.By Christopher Eberhart 12/17/15.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/new-rochelle/2015/12/16/new-rochelle-school-bond-vote-fails/77410694/

"It's a disappointment," New Rochelle Board of Education President Lianne Merchant said. "We don't win by delaying. These are mission critical projects. The facilities have to be upgraded."

No one wins and what failed are The New Rochelle School Board and New Rochelle School District. They just don’t get it. Over the years The New Rochelle School Board and District have been entrusted with millions of taxpayer dollars that have been miss-used and or actually stolen due to crooked contractors, poor management and a total lack of accountability. That is why the vote failed. I don’t believe anyone had a problem with the $50 Million dollar bond; it was the lack of answersto questions and a failure to respond to the taxpayers and parents over the years.

No one wins; it’s not a game of monopoly where you use fake money. Lianne Merchant said voters needed a better understanding of what they were trying to do. We understand fully. We just don’t get answers or results. All of what is needed could have and should have been done over the years and we wouldn’t be in a critical position where lives could have been lost.

Not won, Lost! Make the necessary changes and give the right answers then yes the bond would pass with strait A’s. Until then it’s time for a little detention and maybe someone should even be expelled. Our children’s lives and taxpayer dollars are at stake here. If what they say is true about the systems finances, if we didn’t have all the waste and fraud over the years, they would have even more money available and maybe not need a $50 million dollar bond.

So I say to The New Rochelle School Board and New Rochelle School District, I hope this opened some of your eyes and minds to what the real issues are. Get us answers, use common sense, have a conscience, transparency and accountability before the next vote. As for Mr. David Latcher, sometimes you have to reach your lowest point and admit you’re wrong before you can truly change and move forward.

In the interest of our children, our schools and our taxes I hope The New Rochelle School Board and New Rochelle School District are visited by three ghosts and wake up with a fresh perspective so that The New Rochelle Schools can be redeemed, reclaimed and repaired!

It’s a New Year and hopefully a new beginning for New Rochelle!

New Rochelle misses the boat and destroys its history!

Bob McCaffrey — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 12:49:28 +0000

In reply to Fort Slocum: Gone Now These 50 Years

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Oh wait, is that the Up With People ferry pulling in to the docks!

David’s Island was and still can be a beautiful island. Now That's Water Front for you! I remember as a child the site of seeing the Up With People ferry shuttle back and forth to the island. In 1967 they held the World Sing Out Festival at Ft. Slocum. The group is still around.

Up With People:
http://www.upwithpeople.org/
World sing out festival 1967 & 1968 Fort Slocum

It is a shame that as much as the mayor speaks of The City of New Rochelle’s love of history, New Rochelle has a way of destroying what was once the backbone of the city, its history. David’s Island and the Armory are two prime examples of mistakes and poor planning and vision by our leadership over the years. There is still time to correct this but at some point our history of destroying important things in New Rochelle will be a history that cannot be saved.

Save it now, work with the people, Up With New Rochelle!

Reader story about Fort Slocum

Robert Cox — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 03:26:14 +0000

In reply to Fort Slocum: Gone Now These 50 Years

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Very interesting story about Ft Slocum. When I was a young child attending Jefferson school, we went to the fort every year on a field trip, since many of the children at Jefferson lived at Ft Slocum. It was always a special treat to ride over on the ferry. Having a Italian father whose yard was his pride and joy, always manicured to the Tee, I felt I was a expert in what manicured property should look like. The fort was at the top of that scale. Trimming was done by hand tools to perfection, not by weed whackers and gas powered hedge cutters. Usually saw someone checking the work and pointing out what had been missed. I was happy my father never got wind of that follow up person shouting orders. Us kids would have never had time to play with the other kids. In 1968 I went to work for New York Telephone. One of my first assignments was to take a boat from ride Slocum dock to the island where I would unload folded boxes, food and enough water to last all day. Also an air horn that was connected to a pressurized can of air. This was used to notify the boat captain at the dock, it was time to pick me up. My assignment was to remove and box all the telephones from different buildings, including an old switchboard. I was provided a map and keys to the buildings in question. This took three days to complete. Needless to say, it was quite strange being on an island with no other humans and all the different sounds of the animals living there. Good thing I was fresh back from Viet Nam or I probably would have asked for a second person to join me. LOL

Lou Vaccaro

No one listens to the few that do talk at School Board Meetings!

Bob McCaffrey — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 13:20:17 +0000

In reply to New Rochelle Board of Education: Criminal Enterprise Masquerading as an Educational Institution - Part XVIII

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It is a shame no one listens to the few that do talk at School Board Meetings as Bob describes. I attended several of the meetings held by "Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, the search firm, retained by the New Rochelle Board of Education, to find a new Superintendent. They solicited input via forums, surveys, and dozens of community conversations, and then adopted a comprehensive profile for the new superintendent. Were they listening or just giving us lip service to collect their pay check or appease the School Board. Remember, the School Board still hires and fires not the people of the City of New Rochelle as we all know.

Some or much of what has happened could have been avoided or at least softened the blow a bit. At these meetings there was long engaged conversation with the search team or so we thought. Many of us spoke of the challenges ahead due to the disconnect and the goings of the sitting School Board and the people responsible for running our schools. Example were given in some of what was said was very in-depth. Here is what I said during the search at the January 29, 2014 School Board Meeting:

Comments for January 29, 2014 The Superintendent Search:

What do we need in a New Superintendent, someone that will not put up with the past follies of the school district and school board? We need someone with a pair that is willing to take us in a new and better direction.

No more of the bullying tactics that are used in the school district and on The New Rochelle’s School Board. We have all seen the games, bullying, favoritism, cronyism and back peddling politics played out over the years, more so now that Talk of the Sound avails the people an eye and a voice.

Look at all the problems that have been exposed here in New Rochelle and in The New Rochelle school system the last few years. So much is based on facts that have been backed up, not blank accusations. We need a new sheriff in town to clean up the mess of the past.

From the survey:

The Superintendent should actually have all the characteristics not just the eight selected. We need a strong person that must be willing to put a stop to the inner circle of hiring friend, family, associates and Political contributors.

The Superintendent/The School district must be involved along with The Board of Education when determining student head count for development project in New Rochelle. Someone who is willing to work on the Non-resident student controls.

We need someone who will to hold the staff accountable for the past and future poor hiring practices that result in people with a criminal background being hired without a proper background checks.

The Superintendent must visit the following topics and get answers and implement procedures to address these areas:

-What are the policies when an employee is arrested or is discovered to have a criminal background?

-I ask in both cases, before they are hired and after they are hired?

-Who monitors these policies and follows up with the board if something is found?

-What is the policy regarding the employees responsibility to report an arrest to their superior who in turn should be reporting the info back to the board.

-How does this happen if a proper background check is done in the first?

-Who can explain the hiring of people with criminal backgrounds?

Holding the Board of Education, The City of New Rochelle and their staff accountable is the only way to get action and prevent these types of short comings.

Before raising our taxes anymore a review of all positions and responsibilities must be done from the top down. The Superintendent must be willing look at all areas, The Board of Education, New Rochelle City Hall and All School Staff.

This is what we need in a New Superintendent, someone that will not put up with the past follies of the school district and school board. We need someone with a pair that is willing to take us in a new and better direction.

How did we get here?

We have over 40,000 voters in New Rochelle that sit back and choose not to get involved. Recent School Board Elections 41,083 total registered voters in New Rochelle and only 2,742 voters; those that don’t and didn’t vote are all culpable in this farce that is allowed to go on and continues to drag down this once fine city.Our City Government is reflective of The School Board and suffers some of the same ills and miss-trust. Both need to change fast before there is no remedy. I think it is time The City Council of New Rochelle step up and take a serious look at what is going on in The New Rochelle School District. Issue subpoenas and get to the bottom of all of the problems past and present with our schools. This is important especially since the School District is 65-70% of our tax bill which many of us can’t afford. That would include any family looking for new homes who decide to live elsewhere because of the high taxes here in New Rochelle with nothing to show for it but a failing Downtown and crumbling schools.

The only way to fix it is to be a part of it!!!!!

Read some past articles:

New Rochelle Searches for New School Superintendent

By Peggy Godfrey February 08, 2014

http://www.newrochelletalk.com/content/new-rochelle-searches-new-school-superintendent

New Rochelle Board of Education President Preemptively Blames Talk of the Sound for "Failed" Superintendent Search by Bob Cox February 26, 2014

http://www.newrochelletalk.com/content/new-rochelle-board-education-president-preemptively-blames-talk-sound-failed-superintendent-

My expectation of reaction to this exposé

Robert Cox — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 15:33:06 +0000

In reply to New Rochelle Board of Education: Criminal Enterprise Masquerading as an Educational Institution - Part XVIII

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In the few hours since this article was published, I have received many phone calls, emails and text messages asking me what I think will happen next following the publication of this story. Will parents organize and demand answers? Will the board step up and demand the release of the report? Will anyone be held accountable?

Having been at this since for many years, I tell them what I post here -- that I have absolutely zero expectation that parents will rise up, demands the release of the report or otherwise challenge Osborne or the school board. That does not stop me from reporting or calling for just that but I do not EXPECT it.

In my experience, parents with children in the New Rochelle school system fall into three categories: (1) Fearful, they are afraid of what might happen to them if they speak up; (2) Self-Interested, they have some "perq" or access that they do not want to risk losing or they want some "perq" or access that they are afraid they will not get; (3) Misguided Loyalty, a sort of localized version of jinogistic patriotisim along the lines of "my school board, right or wrong".

All three types of parents are easily manipulated through the sort of demagoguery that educational bureacrats are expert in. It is why former Schools Superintendent Richard Organisciak would try to convince the public not to listen to what I had to say at board meetings regularly denouncing my remarks with his catchphrase "Considered the Source".

[in a dash of snark, we have since adopted that catch phrase to remind readers of this tactic by Organisciak and John Quinn to deflect attention from the truth of our reporting, as has now been been proven beyond all doubt while Organisciak and Quinn were dumped).

Then there is rest of the population of New Rochelle which are largely apathetic when it comes to the school district even thought the money that's been stolen or wasted is their money and comes from what amounts to the bulk of their property tax bill, about two-thirds. In the May 2015 school board election about 2,000 people voted out of 43,000 registered voters or about 5%.

When 95% of voters stay home on election day, you get the sort of results New Rochelle has had from their school board -- turning a blind-eye on corruption, even amoung their own members (David Lacher, I mean you!).

There is a very small sliver of a segment that do push back, who show up at board meetings and ask tough questions. That I can name them all is a commentary on just how small a sliver!

There will be a referendum on a proposed $50 million bond on December 15th. The District held a Bond Input Forum on 10/22/15. A handful of people rose to ask questions yet they were time-limited and routinely cut off by a loud buzzer, speakers were prohibited from a second turn at the microphone even though only one person even asked for speak a second time. Osborne and his captive board do not want to hear from the general public because their strategy is to market the bond issue directly to the parents at PTA meetings, out of sight of the vast majority of voters, to keep turn out low while concentrating that turnout on parents and union members.

The Belated Views of Someone who Writes About Homelessness

Laura Case — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 01:22:34 +0000

In reply to Do Not Vote for Bramson

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What I am about to say is my own and unaffiliated with anyones comments or articles, however smart (such as this one.) I just felt like something about diversity would be good for this even if it is a different kind fo diversity-socieoeconomic. As someone who has been writing about homelessness on and of in New Rochelle for a couple years I don’t think that the current admin. has been at all good for the city or the poor (yes I know they have a new program for housing 10 people for which I am honeslty glad, though it has issues, but it will not help the 90 people who will be left behind at Oasis or those who will take there place in the future) I meant to write something in time for this election after coming out of my whole the people-who-own-the-shelter-are-really-connected- the mayor-is-on their local board and approves grants invoving them without rfps, there seems to be a serious lack of concern for this issue so I am going to take a stress break funk which is not something I should have had, but did. I didn’t finish it quite in time so I will give this quick notes summary instead. During the past year the New Rochelle shelter was (finally and only after lots of pressure) investigated by the board of health which found rat droppings, and broken toilets, a lack of exterminator receipts and more received several warnings from the New Rochelle fire department mainly because in their words there was a failure to maintain an alarm system in working order for four years…and fire watch had to maintained in that tiny wooden building of 30 person capacity housing 100.

Some of the issues were fixed in part, temporarily under pressure from the BOH and possibly other agencies but it was never explained where the 30,000 in various maintenance allotments meant to fix the issues went, instead dss gave the shelter an extra 40,000 but it wasn’t enough for the director who cut out food for non day program clients due to “costs” and laundy despite still getting paid for both things. This isn’t even to broach the subject of Hope. Many of these things are not quite directly attributable to the city or the current admin. But it happened in New Rochelle during the last five years and some of the city violations and “warnings” that went never corrected are ridiculous. The fire warnings were never corrected despite being found last May until this spring when I foiled for them, all of a sudden the fire dept. came and did drills with them. I think there has been the feeling that because I did not write about this stuff the situation disappeared but it did not (though my energy almost did) , and the things that are better, (some of the conditions BOH forced oasis to fix) can fairly easily seesaw back and may already have done so (haven’t been around in a while so I don’t really know the current situation at the shelter beise the fact that there has been no breakfast and dinner for non program clients for a long time on weekdays) I get this is belated but I just wanted to say something about this, even unfortunately last minute because no matter who wins (though I have clear preferences) it still has to be fixed .

Also while I haven't been around for awhile I would like to think that during the past two years I have been a "harsh voice" at least in the way that the mayor describes harsh voices and will be again.

PS daily patch voter guide for New Rochelle covers the Ossining and Yorktown elections but not New Rochelles. Lovely. http://patch.com/new-york/newrochelle/new-rochelle-patch-voters-guide-2015

Where are New Rochelle Debates?

Bob McCaffrey — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 12:17:08 +0000

In reply to New Rochelle County Legislator Debate Raises Doubts About Candidate -- and Moderator

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When and where can the New Rochelle Debates be watched? The LWV's County Debates are on the New Rochelle City Web Site but not the New Rochelle Candidate Debates. Ridiculous! If they are on Cable and FIOS channels and they both have on-demand, why can they have them available to the public like other shows ON-Demand? Is there something the residents of New Rochelle should not see? I know City Council isn’t use to debate and conversation but the public deserves the opportunity to see the debates if they were not able to attend them live. If they are replayed, a schedule should be put up on channel 75 or the City Web Site so we will know when they are on.

So much for transparency!

In the Heat of New Rochelle Election

Laraine Karl — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 16:16:15 +0000

In reply to Civility War Breaks Out in Heat of New Rochelle Election

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I would like to be counted as a ” harshly negative activists in our city”. With that said, does the following remind you of someone we all know.
-Has a grandiose sense of self-importance, exaggerating their abilities and achievements
-Has persistent fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
-Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and should only associate with people of the same status
Perhaps this should be added to a palm card.
-Has a constant need for attention, affirmation and praise
-Has a strong sense of entitlement and an expectation of special treatment
-Is exploitative of others, taking advantage of them for personal gain
-Lacks empathy for others
-Is often envious of others or believes others are envious of them
-Regularly shows arrogant behaviors and attitudes
Perhaps this should be added to a palm card.

Children, New Rochelle Citizens should be seen and not Heard!

Bob McCaffrey — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 20:01:58 +0000

In reply to OPEN LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL: The Production Value of Your Meetings is Awful

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Children, New Rochelle Citizens should be seen and not Heard!

You are absolutely correct,

But it is more than the AV/Audio Visual end of things that need fixing. However, they like having the convenient excuse of poor city systems to blame poor communication on. Many kids today have a better tech set up in their bedrooms, I am sure. That’s an idea; make Council Chambers into a man-cave maybe that will motivate them.

All the IT, Audio and many other systems in this city need a makeover. Just like our Downtown Development we are far behind the other municipalities that surround us. But the other cities around us seem to find a way to get it done and thrive. This is not something we can blame on the economy because there could have been bonds and grants out there to help with this process. They seem to find them at election time or when they work in their favor. How would that be for shared services if we update our system along with the New Rochelle School District. They need an overhaul just as much as New Rochelle’s City Hall and City Council do. At least we don’t have ceilings falling down just yet.

What we do have a is as I have said for years, Political dysfunction and a failure of a Weak Mayor and City Council to follow The City Charter and the 1996 Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Bramson tried to put his own spin on it to attack his challengers and some of the challengers in the other races here in New Rochelle for the upcoming election.

Some parts of his letter:

“New Rochelle has never had a better chance to bring vitality and energy to Main Street, and I am excited by our prospects. But we’re not there yet, and without sustained effort and focus, the moment of opportunity will be squandered”.

(Mr. Mayor, without proper leadership that encourages conversation and debate this will never happen. You have been at this for 20 years along with some of your counter parts on City Council. Some new members have helped move towards change but now you want them to go away.)

“This is when responsible political leadership can do the most good. When the Mayor and Council share a coherent big picture view, act efficiently and decisively, speak with a clear voice, and honor agreements, then we inspire confidence in New Rochelle and attract the investment we need.”

(Mr. Mayor, if you don’t follow the City Charter and Comprehensive Plan that encourages conversation and debate this will never happen. You can’t blame past administration for this as you have held the reigns for almost 20 years.)

“The reverse is also true. This is when political dysfunction can do the most harm. When the Mayor and Council are badly divided, lack vision, waste time on petty conflict, or abandon commitments lightly, then confidence in New Rochelle collapses, and investment is scared away by the perception of elevated risk”.

(Mr. Mayor, You created this monster and it has been the other members of City Council pulling together and standing up for the citizens of New Rochelle that has allowed change. Not your leadership but theirs. It has been your vision and not that of the citizens for the last 20 years that has held us back. When they try to speak you put up new challengers for election and write letters like this. You are a good speech writer but we don’t need writers, we need leaders for the people.)

“Political dysfunction has other costs, too. It produces paralysis or confusion for our professional staff who are forced to respond to conflicting direction, for higher levels of government that are forced to work through multiple points of contact, and for the public as a whole that rightly expects someone to be in charge”.

(Again Mr. Mayor with your full-time salary, office and staff right next to The City Manager you have more access and medaling powers that anyone on City Council. Follow the City Charter and be a weak Mayor as you should be and let the City Hall Staff do their jobs. Maybe we can keep them longer.)

“The potential for political dysfunction is exacerbated here in New Rochelle by our system of government, in which the Mayor (and I don’t mean me personally – I mean any Mayor) has no formal authority beyond a single vote on the Council. Think about that for a moment . . . the only elected official who represents the entire community and who is directly accountable to all residents for the City’s performance has precisely the same power as a Council Member who represents only one-sixth of New Rochelle and whose outlook may, simply by virtue of position, be more narrowly-focused.”

(Sounds like a push for a Strong Mayor, but a speech writer that lacks leadership could never run this city. Let City Manager Strome and his Staff do their jobs as they have been hired to do under the City Charter. Also all the great work you and some of your counter parts claim credit for has not been done by any of you. It was done by City Manager Strome and his Staff.)

“Can this kind of political dysfunction be avoided in our system of government? Fortunately, yes. But only through collaboration between a Mayor and Council majority who work together constructively to achieve big goals. New Rochelle needs teamwork to succeed.”

(This is the only part of his attack letter that is stated in the correct tone and direction which is not turned around to make things look different than they are.)

As Phil Reisman said in his piece, Official is fluent in bureaucrat-ese from March 19, 2012

“Somewhere there must be a school for government bureaucrats that features an advanced course on how to respond to questions at length and with gravitas, but also in such a way as to say absolutely nothing.”

http://www.lohud.com/article/20120320/COLUMNIST08/303200030/Official-fluent-bureaucrat-ese

Mayor Bramson has shown us how good he is at this. He could be a good leader for the future of New Rochelle, but like the systems at City Hall he must change his ways and get out and meet and talk to the real people of New Rochelle. Not his same cast of characters that will tell him what he wants to hear rather than what he needs to hear. Just like Citizens to Be Heard Mr. Mayor and City Council, you have to listen to hear. Put on your Bob the Builder Hat, We can do this yes we can!

New Rochelle we need more than an upgrade of our technical systems at City Hall. I was going to say it at the last Citizens to be Heard but the Public Hearings ran very late and in the interest of time I did not speak. So here is what I was going to say. You make your own decisions and let City Council know how you feel by voting on November 3rd. If you are not being heard don’t walk away, speak louder.

Comments for October 13, 2015 Citizens to be heard:

Good evening Council I would like to speak about a few topics.

Public Hearing and Citizens to be Heard should be changed to Public Speaking and Citizens to be Spoken. Over the years there isn’t much hearing going on, just silence and contempt by those who represent us the taxpayers.

It’s time for change, you must step up and request a review of the CTBH process and make it a platform for input and review of what is said by the citizens. You must take the people that speak and the CTBH process seriously. It is our right to speak and your jobs to listen. With listening should also be response, the process must be changed.

As we go into the elections, voter question our high taxes and you do nothing. We/You council must look at the School District as they are 65-70% of our taxes and now look for a 50 Million dollar bond. We/you need to hold them accountable and get answers the citizens don’t. Request all Annual Visual Inspection Reports, Question why weren’t the AVI reports done and reviewed annually? I was OSHA certified and a Safety Coordinator while working for Coca Cola they are required. Question why nothing was done until a ceiling collapsed which could have been disastrous if children were hurt or killed. These are our/your tax dollars.

Subpoena those reports and ask questions as the citizens do but get no answers kind of like here at CTBH. Show the citizens, taxpayer and voters that you are willing to ask the tuff questions and require direct and accurate answers. As we move into the future of New Rochelle you must take control and inspect what you/we expect.

We need a Master Developer for City Hall and the School District!

Get out the Vote for November 3^rd make your vote count and hold the current and future administration accountable for our city, our vision and our taxes.

“Common Sense for the Common Good”

Children, New Rochelle Citizens should be seen and not Heard!

Bob McCaffrey — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 13:02:37 +0000

In reply to The Future of New Rochelle is in Your Hands... Election Day, November 3rd

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You are absolutely correct,

Some parts of his letter:

(This is the only part of his attack letter that is stated in the correct tone and direction which is not turned around to make things look different than they are.)

As Phil Reisman said in his piece, Official is fluent in bureaucrat-ese from March 19, 2012

http://www.lohud.com/article/20120320/COLUMNIST08/303200030/Official-fluent-bureaucrat-ese

Comments for October 13, 2015 Citizens to be heard:

Good evening Council I would like to speak about a few topics.

We need a Master Developer for City Hall and the School District!

Get out the Vote for November 3^rd make your vote count and hold the current and future administration accountable for our city, our vision and our taxes.

“Common Sense for the Common Good”

This is really cool!

Robert Cox — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 20:11:06 +0000

In reply to Cool New Feature of Talk of the Sound -- Share Your Top Rated Stories with Fellow Readers

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Of course, I think it's cool since I enabled it!

Time to Suck it Up Emery

John D'Alois — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:52:26 +0000

In reply to New Rochelle Library Trustee Resigns Over Residency Questions

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At the height of the financial crisis, while peoples retirement savings where being flushed down the toilet, massive job layoffs were rampant, businesses closing down and folks were worried about losing their homes, the public came to the board of ed to ask for leniency in any tax hike for the upcoming school year. As if some sort of ordained minister for the ruling class, Ms Schweig stands before the downtrodden and demands that they "just suck it up".

I guess when you're part of the elite ruling class you can get away with that type of arrogance, for a while.

Time for you to suck it up ms schweig, just suck it up.