Political reporter Pat Warren reports voter turnout is expected to be light.

Suppose you held an election and nobody came.

“For some reason, the citizens are not exercising that right to vote,” said Board of Elections Director Armstead Jones.

Jones predicts a turnout of less than 15 percent.

“I would say 10 to 12 percent, which is very bad and very low,” Jones said.

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The three citywide races—for mayor, council president and comptroller—were most likely decided in the September primary, though only the comptroller is running unopposed.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has a Republican challenger, Alfred Griffin, who has campaigned on YouTube.

“Thirty-thousand residents and 53,000 jobs have left Baltimore since 2000. To become an economic success again, Baltimore needs a new way forward,” Griffin said.

WJZ was unable to reach Griffin for an interview Monday.

Rawlings-Blake is ready for Tuesday.

“It feels like it’s been a long time coming. We’ve been sending out mailers and encouraging people to vote,” Rawlings-Blake said.

Voter turnout could prove critical in the 7th district, where incumbent Belinda Conaway is running a write-in campaign after losing the primary to newcomer Nick Mosby and 13th district Councilman Warren Branch is challenged by write-in newcomer Shannon Sneed.

But voter apathy could rule the day.

“And of course the primary was very low, as well. We only had 23.2 percent of the folk to come out and vote,” Jones said.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Results of the write-in campaigns won’t be released until later this week.

The building is located on East Ohio Street on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

Officials say the front window on the campaign office of Councilwoman Darlene Harris was broken sometime before 4 a.m. Nothing was taken from the building.

“I don’t know; there’s been a lot happening,” said Harris of the incident. “I’ve been followed and have had things thrown at my car at night while I’m driving. I’ve had text messages. I’ve had phone calls, hang-up phone calls.”

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Vince Pallus, who is running against Harris, says he’s had similar problems.

“We’ve had a few signs disappear that we placed on private property,” he said. “We only place our signs on private property where people give us permission and we had a particular sign [get] defaced where someone wrote a vulgarity across it.”

A police report has been filed about the vandalism to Harris’ campaign office.

The election is coming up this Tuesday, May 17.

RELATED LINKS:
Darlene Harris
Pittsburgh City Council
Vince Pallus
More Political News
More Local News

Welcomes Review of All Contracts Especially Those with Ties to Mayor’s ‘Friends & Family Club’.

March 17, 2011: Yonkers, NY –

“I am pleased that the Ethics Board and Inspector General will be looking into all of the possible conflicts of interest between those who awarded the towing contracts and those who received them. Specifically, the relationship between the Wuestenhoefer family that owns A.P.O.W. Towing and who’s relatives also catered personal events for the mayor (through Best In Gourmet), his own inaugural celebration, and despite the fact that the business is Connecticut-based and not in Yonkers, was contracted by the City to cater Yonkers Business Week.”

“Yesterday the mayor made scurrilous accusations about Transit Towing, a 30 year Yonkers-based company. They are a good corporate citizen who have donated vehicles to the Yonkers Fire Department for “Jaws of Life” training and have used their flatbed truck for public awareness campaigns such as Domestic Violence Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention. While I do not expect any of my supporters to receive preferential treatment from the city, they should not be denied standard business opportunities because of their affiliations. To do so would be unethical and illegal.”

“Regarding my ties to Smith, Buss & Jacobs, LLP, the Ethics Board has already looked at my relationship with that law firm based upon guidance I sought from the board after I was first elected in the same year that the City’s Ethics Code was changed. Based upon their opinion, I resigned from the firm but continued to rent space and management services from them.”

“Ever since I commented on the IG’s Towing Report, the mayor has been using his office to attack me and impede my ability to deliver services to my constituents. I suspect it will get worse before it gets better but I will not be deterred from speaking out for those who have been wronged by the system.”

Please save the date For our October Events.

Chuck Lesnick and St. John’s Hospital Walk to Find a Cure for Diabetes.

Sunday, October 3, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The walk will be on the Old Croton Aqueduct.

Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Vigil.

Monday, October 4, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.

Yonkers City Hall, Council Chambers

Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Motorcycle Ride

Saturday, October 16, 2010, JFK Marina, registration begins at 11:00 a.m. kickstands up at 2:00 p.m.

Quality of Life Day

Monday, October 18, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Riverfront Library

Dear Friend,

I would like to invite you and your organization to participate in our eighth bi-annual Quality of Life event on Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at the Yonkers Riverfront Library. (Please arrive by 10:30 AM to set up.)

The events over the past four years have been successful and we look forward to making this one even better as we bring more non-profit organizations and government agencies together in one place, enabling you to bring your outstanding service directly to our Yonkers residents.

To reserve a table for your organization, please RSVP no later than Friday,

March 12, 2010 by contacting my Constituent Affairs Liaison, Carol Bengis, at
377-6065 or carol.bengis@yonkersny.gov  

Please be prepared to give a brief overview of your organization/agency.

I look forward to working with you to continue bringing our residents the quality of life they deserve.

Sincerely,

Chuck Lesnick
Yonkers City Council President

Send resume to:
Hon. Chuck Lesnick
Yonkers City Council President
40 S. Broadway
Rm. 403
Yonkers, NY 10701

New Landmarks Board Members Approved by Council.

At last night’s Council Meeting the Council approved Richard A. Carlson, Richard Halevy and Harjit Jassal as the Landmark Preservation Board’s newest members.

There is still one open board seat and a need exists to fill it with a landscape architect. If you know of a Yonkers resident who is eligible and willing to fill this important volunteer role, please contact the mayor’s office at 914-377-6300.

Below are the qualifications, duties and functions of the LPB.
Chapter 45 of the City of Yonkers creates the Landmarks Preservation Board, delineates membership and qualifications of the Board and the duties of the Board.

Membership and Qualifications:

·The Board shall consist of 11 members appointed by the Mayor with the approval and consent of the City Council. Currently the Board consist of 7 members

·All Board members shall have a demonstrated interest, competence or knowledge of historic preservation.

·At least one Board member shall be a member of the Yonkers Historical Society, if in existence. There are currently 2 members who fulfill this requirement.

·At least two Board members shall be licensed architects. Currently, there is only one member of the board who is a licensed architect.

·At least one Board member shall be a licensed realtor. One of the current board members is a licensed realtor.

·At least two Board members shall be drawn from among one or more of the disciplines of history, historic architecture, city planning, archaeology, historic preservation or a similar closely related field. Several current board members satisfy this requirement.

·The Director of the Planning Bureau shall be an ex officio nonvoting twelfth member of the Board, and the staff of the Planning Bureau shall serve as staff for the Board for the purpose of conducting and coordinating studies and research and providing other material and information necessary for the Board to exercise its powers and duties.

The Board shall perform the following duties:

·Prepare reports on and nominations of areas, buildings, structures, sites or objects as landmarks or historic districts.

·Issue or deny certificates of appropriateness for landmarks, buildings, structures, sites or objects in historic districts.

·Maintain and periodically revise, no less often than every five years, public listings of historical sites, buildings, structures, objects or districts and data about them, appropriately classified with respect to national, state or local significance, in a manner and format that is consistent with that established by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

·Establish procedures, which shall be coordinated with and complementary to the survey activities of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, for the identification and nomination of historic districts and buildings, structures, sites or objects and landmarks.

·Formulate recommendations concerning the establishment of an appropriate system of markers for selected historic and/or architecturally significant buildings, structures, sites, objects or districts, including proposals for the installation and care of such historic markers.

·Formulate recommendations concerning the preparation and publication of maps, brochures and descriptive material about the city’s historic and/or architectural features and resources.

·Cooperate with and advise the City Council, the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals and other city boards, agencies, departments, bureaus and offices regarding matters involving historically and/or architecturally significant sites and buildings, including but not limited to appropriate land usage, parking facilities and signs.

·Cooperate with and enlist assistance from the National Park Service, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and other state, national or local public or private agencies or groups concerned with historic buildings, structures, sites, objects or districts.

·Advise the owners of historic buildings, structures, sites or objects on problems of preservation.

·File an annual report regarding its activities with the City Council relating to their properties.

Public Hearings to be held in Yonkers for RESTORE NY GRANTS.

February 11, 2010

1PM -3PM

Yonkers City Council Chambers

Last year it was announced that the City of Yonkers was successfully awarded Empire State Development Corporation’s (ESDC) Restore NY Round III grants for both the Yonkers Former Library Rehabilitation and the Philipse Manor Historic District Rehabilitation projects.

As part of the award process, ESDC requires that public hearings are held for the duration of one hour each for the purposes of recording any comments negative or positive from the general public relating to these projects.

Accordingly, on February 11th, public hearings will occur at the following times:

1-2 PM for the Yonkers Former Library Rehabilitation and

2-3 PM for the Philipse Manor Historic District Rehabilitation.

Council Speaks Up for Cable Viewers

During the recent Cablevision blackout of the HGTV and Food Network Channels, the Yonkers City Council became the first Westchester municipality to express its outrage and concern to Cablevision and the New York State Public Service Commission that approximately 60,000 Yonkers subscribers and customers of Cablevision were left without service but still paying the bill for channels they did not receive.

The Council’s letter, signed by all its members stated:

“While we recognize that Cablevision purchased the HGTV and Food Network channels from Scripps Network Interactive, Inc. and that Scripps pulled the channels pursuant to a contract dispute, we are disappointed that Cablevision did not give notice prior to Dec. 31, 2009 that customers would lose said channels. It is our hope that Cablevision and Scripps will restore this service while their negotiations continue.”

“However, what has not been lost on any of us during the blackout period of the two channels is that Cablevision has made no attempt to offer a refund to its loyal customers who now continue to pay for a service that they do not receive.”

“During these hard economic times that include high unemployment and wage freezes, our constituents feel the loss of each and every dollar. Further, many of our senior residents, who comprise more than 40% of our city’s population, rely on their cable television access for more than entertainment purposes. For those infirmed residents, and those homebound during these cold winter months, it is one of their only means of communication and a great source of information. To not address these important customers and all who have lost usage of your service is unacceptable.”

“Accordingly, since the removal of the Food Network and HGTV channels poses a significant change in cable television programming, we request that our city’s subscribers receive an immediate and retroactive rebate for the loss of this service. “

Chuck in the News

Council President Lesnick recently swore in the Executive Board of SEIU Local 702 at the Grinton Will Library and remarked, “I really look foward to taking part in these official union preceedings and having the chance to administer the oath of office to our city’s employees. Whether it is by their involvement helping out the less fortunate or ensuring their collective bargaining needs are met, our union leaders strive each day to make our community a better place for all.”

Council President Lesnick attended the graduation ceremony for our 36 new Yonkers probationary firefighters at the Riverfront Library. May God bless and protect them as they begin their service to our city.

Green Policy Task Force & Yonkers Public Schools Announce City-Wide Anti-Bus Idling.

The City of Yonkers Green Policy Task Force and the Yonkers Public Schools today announced at a press conference held at the Foxfire School in Yonkers that thanks to a $300,000 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant that aims to reduce airborne engine pollutants and promote clean air, 124 school buses have been fitted with pollution control devices and 188 anti-idling signs have been installed in bus loops at all Yonkers Public Schools. The event was attended by Foxfire students, members of the City’s Green Policy Task Force, Yonkers Public Schools, City Council, Congresswoman Nita Lowey’s office and the EPA. Prior to the news conference, two newly retrofitted buses arrived at the Beczak Environmental Center and shuttled event participants to Foxfire.

The filters will reduce toxic emissions by nearly 2,600 lbs. of promethium, 620,000 lbs. of colbalt, and 25,200 lbs. of hydrocarbons over the buses’ lifetime.

“Yonkers has taken a major step forward to reduce the amount of toxic bus and car fumes that are released into the atmosphere on school grounds that not only affect our student’s lungs but also prove harmful to the environment,” stated Council President
Lesnick. “This is not to mention the public awareness campaign surrounding anti-idling laws that we have here in Yonkers. I applaud the Green Policy Task Force and the Yonkers Public Schools’ hard work and dedication to this environmental undertaking and hope that other municipalities will follow our lead.”

Green Policy Task Force Chairman Bob Walters said that while the retrofitting devices are hard at work, they often go unnoticed since they are not visible to passerby, unlike the anti-idling signs that are now clearly posted at all Yonkers schools.

“While the retrofitting devices aren’t readily seen, the anti-idling signs are unmistakable,” says Walters. “We are counting on everyone’s cooperation, from drivers to parents to crossing guards to be aware of Yonkers anti-idling law and remind drivers to turn off their engines.”

To that end, since 2008, the Yonkers Public Schools and the Green Policy Task Force have held four mandatory school bus driver and school bus monitor education programs to review the city’s 3-minute idling law.

Hundreds of individual drivers also signed pledges to turn off their engines. The city currently spends approximately $37 million a year on school transportation for approximately 750 runs a day to 39 public schools and 22 non-public schools in the district.

Source: New York Times Article.

January 17, 2010

A Bid to Preserve an Old Power Station

By CHRIS HARCUM

The Glenwood Power Station in Yonkers, with its twin smokestacks and majestic brick structure, is a familiar sight to riders of the Metro-North Railroad. But the station, constructed between 1904 and 1906 as part of railroad electrification, is hard to describe. “It wasn’t really built with a particular style in mind,” said Erin Tobin, a regional director for the Preservation League of New York State. “It has Romanesque Revival elements.”

The building was on the league’s “Seven to Save” list of threatened structures in 2008, and also was unanimously recommended for designation by the Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board in 2005. But, so far, the Yonkers City Council has not authorized the designation.

That makes Ken Capolino happy. Mr. Capolino bought the unused power station from Con Edison in 1978. “We needed a storage location for my construction company,” he said. He does not favor demolition of the building, which he has put on the market for $9.8 million, but said he felt that landmarking it would restrict the freedom to alter it, thus dampening buyer interest.

“What they don’t want,” he said of future owners, “is being told what to do.”

For example, the smokestacks occupy much interior space and so might be unattractive to a developer. But Chuck Lesnick, the president of the Yonkers City Council, said: “The chimneys are kind of iconic. I believe it’s the halfway point between the George Washington and Tappan Zee Bridges.” The Council may soon vote for designation, Mr. Lesnick added, given the change in its membership in the fall elections.

On Monday, Jan. 25th, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer was in Yonkers to call on the Obama Administration and Congress to target its upcoming “Cash for Caulkers” program to communities that have older, less efficient energy housing stock, to maximize the program’s bang for the buck. Schumer said that such a move would benefit all taxpayers, and would benefit the Hudson Valley because of its many older homes.

Schumer will also ask the Administration to send the funding directly to localities, bypassing federal and state middlemen that could slow down the funds’ delivery. Early reports show that the average homeowner could save up to $500 per year or more on their utility bills, and that homeowners may be eligible to receive up to $12,000 in rebates for weatherizing their homes.

“In order to get the most bang for the buck out of this Cash for Caulkers program, we need to target the program to areas where the retrofits will have the most effect in saving energy and homeowners will save the most money: places like the Hudson Valley that have a huge supply of older homes,” Schumer said. “Prioritizing aid to communities with older housing stock, like those all over New York, and giving the funding directly to localities is the fastest and most effective way to put contractors back to work and put money back in homeowner’s pockets.”

“There are hundreds of people like Ms. Neville and thousands of older homes in Yonkers that could benefit from energy efficient caulking and weatherization,” said Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick. “This is great use of money because it cannot be outsourced overseas. It must be spent in Yonkers, New York State and throughout the nation. I thank Sen. Charles Schumer for fighting for the working people of Yonkers and proposing this very timely piece of legislation.”

Tuesday, December 22nd

New York State competes with other states for QZAB bond funding. Similarly, Yonkers must compete with other school districts for this too. Due to effective presentations by our school district and lobbying by the City Council and the Mayor’s office, with support by the Governor and our state legislative delegation, Yonkers has obtained an allocation of $13,838,000. This money must be drawn down before the close of the calendar year. Statutory approvals are also required by the mayor and the state comptroller after we act. With holiday schedules as they are, this Tuesday, December 22nd, is the last possible day for the City Council to vote on this.

Some of you have read about the legal challenge that has been commenced in court involving the Yonkers Board of Education (BoE), the City’s Inspector General (IG) and the City Council. At issue, is whether or not, the BoE is obligated to allow the IG to review and audit its business records. I firmly believe that the City of Yonkers, through its IG, does in fact have the power to audit the BoE regarding non-instruction matters. However, the BoE strongly disagrees. In situations like this, the court system is probably the best venue to decide such complex legal issues.

While the legal process unfolds, and until a decision is rendered, I, and many others, agree that, we cannot hold our students educational needs hostage. Therefore, I have focused my own energy advocating that the BoE work more collegially with the City Council rather than in an adversarial manner.

While progress has been made, there remains in fact a hard deadline to vote on this matter – if we don’t approve the QZAB Bonds, the city will lose several million dollars. Moreover, in the current economic crisis our nation and region has had to bear, losing $13,838,000 is unacceptable. Therefore, after consulting with other council members, I have called a Special Meeting for Tuesday, December 22, to address this most important issue.

Chuck Lesnick
City Council President

Outgoing Council to Memorialize
SFC Agreements with FTA

With the departure of three of our councilmembers (Majority Leader Sandy Annabi, Minority Leader Liam McLaughlin and Councilmember Dee Barbato), it is expected that their final vote will be to approve a Full Tax Agreement (FTA) for the SFC development project, or any other entity who seeks to develop the downtown revitalization project approved by the Council in the FEIS, the Findings and the Land Disposition Agreement, to pay full taxes to the city, county and state in accordance to specific terms.

It is a fitting tribute to these Councilmembers. Each has worked hard and with due diligence in this entire process. With their votes on Tuesday, Chuck’s colleagues can be rest assured that all of the approvals are in place and content with the knowledge that once the economy rebounds and the project is built, the taxpayers will benefit from a new and improved infrastructure.

It is our hope that many of the citizens who have regularly attended our council meetings over the past few years come out one more time on Tuesday to say goodbye to Majority Leader Sandy Annabi, Minority Leader Liam McLaughlin and Councilmember Dee Barbato. They have ably served Yonkers with honor and dedication. Between the three of them, they possess more than forty years of collective government experience.

They will be greatly missed!

Mayor Chooses to Politicize Serious Issue than Use Available Capital Funds.

Yonkers, New York: September 17, 2009 –

Council President Lesnick stated, “Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone today released an official statement in support of the police rally held Thursday afternoon jointly by members of the Yonkers PBA and CLSA in which its officers demanded immediate funding for their police-issued bullet proof vests. The mayor thereafter unwisely chose to politicize this very serious issue by accusing the City Council, and me, in particular, of holding up the release of the monies necessary to provide for this essential equipment. Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth.”

“It is a shame that once again the mayor has incorrectly decided to play politics rather than deal with the facts. The facts in this case are simple. The money has already been allocated by the council, bonded by the city and has been available for the purchase of the bullet proof vests – and the mayor knows it. The most recent City Capital Projects Status Report clearly shows that the city’s bonded unspent capital funds of $2,280,897.18, including $162,067.30 for equipment – well covering the costs for the bullet proof vests – is available and awaiting usage by the police department.”

“I too agree with our police officers plight and demand that these funds be made immediately available and that the mayor cut the check and buy the vests forthwith. Rather than hurl personal insults and continue to polarize his legislative partners, the mayor should truly look out for the brave men and women of our police force who perform their duties with honor and at great risk and purchase their necessary equipment.”

City Councilmember and Budget Committee Co-Chair Liam McLaughlin remarked, “A shopaholic with a new credit card is more frugal than this mayor. Part of the reason the City is facing its current financial problem is because Mayor Amicone continues to request bonding authority before spending the money he has already been given. Since he first entered office, Mayor Amicone has doubled the city’s debt and apparently will not be happy until he doubles it yet again.”

CORPORATION NOTICE

YONKERS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY NOTICE

CITY OF YONKERS-NEW YORK

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Yonkers, N.Y. and the Yonkers Community Development Agency will hold a joint Public Hearing on Tuesday June 9, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, Yonkers N.Y. on the following matter to wit:

Struever Fidelco Cappelli , LLC (“SFC”) previously submitted to the Yonkers Community Development Agency (the “Agency”) and the City Council of the City of Yonkers (“City Council”) a proposal identifying certain urban renewal sites to be developed and located in the Riverview Urban Renewal Area and the Getty Square Urban Renewal Area, which areas are governed by the Modified Urban Renewal Plan for N.D.P. Areas No. 1 and No. 2 and the Getty Square Urban Renewal Plan, respectively.

The City Council, by Resolution No. 71-2006 adopted on April 4, 2006, approved
the terms and provisions of a master developer designation agreement (“MDDA”) for the designation of SFC as a qualified and eligible sponsor of redevelopment projects

in various areas of the City of Yonkers; and the Agency by Resolution No. 16-2006 adopted on May 17, 2006, after due publication of a Notice of Public Disclosure as to the qualifications of SFC, approved the MDDA and the designation of SFC as a qualified and eligible sponsor under Articles 15 and 15-A of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York for the redevelopment of Parcels H and I in the Yonkers Downtown Waterfront Master Plan (the “Master Plan”) in the Riverview Urban Renewal Area (now known as the Palisades Point Site) and the Gateway District Project, including the ballpark project, in the Getty Square Urban Renewal Area, now known as the River Park Center and Cacace Center Sites (the “Redevelopment Projects”).

The City Council, as lead agency under the State Environmental Quality
Review Act (“SEQRA”), completed the SEQRA process, and adopted the Statement of Findings for the Redevelopment Projects by Resolution No. 176-2008 on November 5, 2008, and has considered and reviewed a certain Urban Renewal Land Disposition Agreement (“LDA”) to be entered into by and among the Agency, the City of Yonkers, the City of Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (‘YIDA”), Yonkers Economic Development Corporation (“YIDA Affiliate”), New Main Street Development Corporation (“NMSDC”) and SFC in connection with the Redevelopment Projects and the disposition of lands owned by the City and the Agency, including lands to be acquired by the Agency (collectively, “Disposition Parcels”), through the Agency to SFC, the YIDA Affiliate or NMSDC pursuant to the terms and provisions of the LDA and a development lease, the form of which is attached to the LDA. The LDA and development lease are subject to approval by the Agency.

The City Council has also considered and reviewed a certain Full Tax Agreement (“FTA”) by and among the City of Yonkers, YIDA and SFC (and the County, if applicable) which will include a written agreement on property tax payments to be made by SFC and certain other covenants to enable YIDA bonds to be repaid with 75% of the increment in an Increment District (as defined in the FTA). The FTA is the vehicle to make increment financing available to the SFC Project while meeting tax jurisdiction needs for known base revenue payments. The structure has the additional advantage of not being a City of Yonkers bond issue.

In accordance with the provisions of Section 507(2)(c) and (d) of Article 15 of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 1411(d) of the Not For Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York, a public hearing is required to be held in connection with the terms and provisions of the LDA, the development leases and the disposition of property owned, or to be acquired, by the City and the Agency.

SUMMARY OF TERMS AND PROVISIONS
OF URBAN RENEWAL LAND DISPOSITION
AGREEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT LEASES

1. Master Developer Designation Agreement:

Upon execution of the LDA, the MDDA will be deemed terminated and shall be of no force and effect. Notwithstanding this termination, the LDA provides that SFC will have a right of first offer on parcels owned by a City entity, including the Agency, and listed in Exhibit 13.6 to the LDA, for a 24-month period.

2. Development Leases:

(a) The development lease for the Palisades Point Project in the Riverview Urban Renewal Area provides that the lands known as Parcels H/I in the Downtown Waterfront Master Plan (Block 640, Lot 38 and Block 643, Lots 1, p/o 24, and Lot 40) will be leased by the Agency (“Development Lease”), subject to the YIDA entering into a financing or sublease with SFC; provided however, any lands under water shall not be included nor shall any riparian rights. It is expected that the Development Lease for Palisades Point will be executed immediately upon approval by the City Council and the Agency, and will be pledged by SFC to an Institutional Lender to extend SFC’s existing credit financing for the Project.

(i) Term and Annual Rent. The term of the Development Lease for Palisades Point is for a period of 49 years, with an initial annual rent for lease years 1 to 5 equal to 4% of the Purchase Price, or $114,009; for lease years 6 to 10 at $228,000, and in lease year 11 at $456,000, and increased (but not decreased) annually thereafter by a Consumer Price Index. If the terms and provisions of the Development Lease are required to be changed by SFC’s lenders or the New York State Attorney General, such changes will be approved by the CDA.

(ii) Option to Purchase. SFC has an option to purchase the land at the Purchase Price (defined below) within ten years after substantial completion of the first residential tower to be constructed at the Palisades Point site. If SFC does not exercise the option to purchase within such period, SFC shall lose its option to purchase, and the property shall remain a rental under the Development Lease. If SFC receives approval from the New York State Attorney General’s Office to create residential condominium units at Palisades Point prior to substantial completion of the project the option may be exercised at the Purchase Price at such earlier date as required by the Attorney General, on such terms as may be approved by CDA. Upon conveyance of the property to SFC for condominium purposes, under current law, the financing lease or sublease between YIDA and SFC and the payment in lieu of taxes agreement will be terminated.

(c) The development lease for the River Park Center and Cacace Center Project (which includes the Government Center and the Palisade Avenue Office Building) uses the same form of development lease as above, except that the lease will not be executed until SFC obtains a construction loan for the Guaranteed Phase I Development. The LDA grants SFC a period of up to 24 months to close on a construction loan, and if SFC fails to obtain such construction loan, the LDA may be terminated by CDA or SFC, and the Development Lease for Palisades Point shall survive. The initial rent upon executing the development lease for the River Park Center and Cacace Center Project will be 4% of the Purchase Price, which shall be increased to twice the amount of the initial rent upon substantial completion of the project; and the first two years of rent paid shall be a credit against the Purchase Price. If SFC does not exercise the option to purchase the land within 10 years after substantial completion of the Guaranteed Phase I Development, then the annual rent will be increased (but not decreased) annually thereafter by a Consumer Price Index. The parcels under this lease are located in the Getty Square Urban Renewal Area, generally described as follows:

The area is bounded from Riverdale Avenue and Vark Street, East on Vark to South Broadway, North to Guion Street, North to Brook Street, East to School Street, North to Maple Street, East to Linden Street, North to Chestnut Street, East to Victor Street, North to Yonkers Avenue, East to Walnut Street, North to Ashburton Avenue, West to Stewart Place, South to Walsh Road, East to Yonkers Avenue, along Yonkers Avenue West to Chestnut, West to Saint Casimir Avenue, South to Schroeder Street, West to Locust Hill Avenue, North to Cromwell Place, West to North Broadway, South to Wells Avenue, West to Warburton Avenue, South to Riverdale Avenue and then South to Vark Street.

3. Purchase Price: The Purchase Price for development parcels that will be used for private improvements is determined based upon $1.2 million per acre.

River Park Center (“RPC”) parcels $2,924,147

Palisades Avenue parcels 58,257

Government Center site owned by City 851,304

Cacace Center (“CC”) site parcels owned by City 401,133

Palisades Point (Parcels H/I/J) parcels 2,850,000

(b) The purchase price for the remainder of the development parcels are as follows:

(1) the Acquisition Costs for the DOT Parcels paid as incurred by the City Entity or City;

(2) Acquisition Costs for the Private Parcels paid as incurred by the City Entity;

(3) Net Health Center Building Purchase Price (est. $3,000,000) paid as contemplated by Section 2.1(C)(4)(a) of the LDA;

(4) Old Library Purchase Price payable at possession by the Company ($1,540,000);

(5) Net Fire Headquarters Purchase Price payable at possession by the Company (est. $0);

(6) Former Police Department Facility Purchase Price ($1,944,000)

payable at possession by the Company;

LESS the Deposit ($200,000);

LESS up to $5,850,000.00 for costs incurred by the Company, subject to the CDA Project Manager’s review and approval for eligibility, related to construction by the Company of the Scrimshaw House Parking Facility and the Waterfront Public Improvements at Palisades Point;

LESS up to $1,328,000 for costs incurred by the Company, subject to the CDA Representative’s review and approval for eligibility, for the construction of temporary parking for Scrimshaw House during the construction of Palisades Point.

4. Guaranteed Phase 1 Development:

Daylighting and Riverwalk at RPC

Minimum of 300,000 square feet commercial space at RPC

RPC Parking Facility Ballpark (completed and operational)

Temporary Fire Headquarters

Replacement Fire Headquarters and Fire Station

CC Commercial Building

City Office Condominium Unit

CC Public Parking Facility

Residential Tower at RPC (only one)

Affordable Housing Commitment at RPC

Waterfront Public Improvements

Maintenance of Palisades Point surface parking

5. Affordable Housing. SFC will provide, or cause the provision of, affordable housing units equal to fourteen percent (14%) of the total number of market rate housing units constructed on a proportionate basis as market rate units are developed

The Affordable Housing Commitment will be subject to a Regulatory Agreement between CDA and SFC to assure the maintenance, operation and delivery of affordable housing units for a period of fifteen years from the date of substantial completion of the Project.

6. Assemblage of Parcels. The list of Disposition Parcels is set forth below.

The municipal entities will transfer parcels to the YIDA Affiliate, NMSDC or the CDA as the case may be. Agency owned parcels will be conveyed to SFC at the price of $1,200,000 per acre for private improvements. The parcels acquired by NMSDC will be paid for by utilizing a grant from the State of New York. As necessary, the NMSDC parcels and any other necessary parcels may be acquired by the YIDA . Non-City parcels and non-CDA parcels will be transferred to the SFC at cost.

7. Infrastructure Costs. Infrastructure costs have been estimated by the City retained consultant at approximately $212,000,000 have been identified, include but are not limited to, roads, sanitary sewers, domestic and fire service water facilities, stormwater drainage facilities, public parking facilities, and gas, electric and other utilities (“Infrastructure”). The Infrastructure will be funded with increment financing bonds issued by YIDA in a net aggregate amount of $160,000,000 plus subordinate bonds. Debt service will be paid out of net parking revenues, pledge of full tax agreement (“FTA”) payments of up to 75% of the increment in the Increment District. . The County share of the Increment is approximately 15%. The County may, at its election, fund certain improvements using general obligation bonds. This is not an option for the City. The SFC will provide security for the debt service payments if net parking revenues and FTA payments are insufficient.

8. Disposition Parcels.

City of Yonkers Community Development Agency Parcels

Parcel ID# Address Owner

1-485-2 16 Palisades Avenue Yonkers CDA

1.-485-3 18 Palisades Avenue Yonkers CDA

1.-485-4 20 Palisades Avenue Yonkers CDA

1.-485-6 24 Palisades Avenue Yonkers CDA

1.-485-7 26 Palisade Avenue Yonkers CDA

1.485-8 28 Palisade Avenue Yonkers CDA

1.-485-10 32 Palisade Avenue Yonkers CDA

1.-485-12 36 Palisade Avenue Yonkers CDA

1.-485714 40 Palisade Avenue Yonkers CDA

1.-485-16 46 Palisade Avenue Yonkers CDA

1.-485-18 48 Palisade Avenue Yonkers CDA

1.-486-15 23 John Street Yonkers CDA

1.-486-16 25 John Street Yonkers CDA

1.-2027-51 41 Palisade Ave Yonkers CDA

1.640-1 20 Water Grant Yonkers CDA

1.640-25 20 Water Grant Yonkers CDA

1.640-38 20 Water Grant Yonkers CDA

1.643-1 20 Water Grant Yonkers CDA

1.643.24 20 Water Grant Yonkers CDA

1.643-40 20 Water Grant Yonkers CDA

City of Yonkers Parcels

Parcel ID# Address Owner

1.-475-43 159 Nepperhan Avenue City of Yonkers

1.-475-50 38 School Street

(a/k/a 32 John Street) City of Yonkers

1.-475-51 44 Ann Street

a/k/a 32 John Street) City of Yonkers

1.475-55 Ann Street (a/k/a 32 John Street) City of Yonkers

1.-475-59 32 John Street City of Yonkers – Fire Department

1.-475-75 157 Nepperhan Avenue City of Yonkers

1.-483-50 149 School Street City of Yonkers

1.-483-60 Getty Square Parking Area City of Yonkers – Parking Authority

1.-485-1 14 Palisades Avenue City of Yonkers

1.-488.1 (Partial) 87 Nepperhan Ave City of Yonkers
Building Department
Building) and Government
Parking Lot

1.489-1 76 South Broadway City of Yonkers

1.490-3 96 South Broadway City of Yonkers

1.490-14 207 New Main Street City of Yonkers

1.490-15 45 Guion Street City of Yonkers

1.490-16 43 Guion Street City of Yonkers

1.490-17 41 Guion Street City of Yonkers

1.490-18 37 Guion Street City of Yonkers

1.490-20 35 Guion Street City of Yonkers

1.490-21 209 New Main Street City of Yonkers

1.490-22 37 Guion Street Rear City of Yonkers

1.490-24 33 Guion Street City of Yonkers

1.490-72 (Partial) 92 South Broadway City of Yonkers

1.490-80 100 South Broadway City of Yonkers

Ann Street Roadway City of Yonkers –Engineering

Engine Place 1 Roadway City of Yonkers –
Engineering

Henry Herz Street Roadway City of Yonkers – Engineering

James Street Roadway City of Yonkers – Engineering

John Street Roadway City of Yonkers – Engineering

School Street Roadway City of Yonkers – Engineering

Guion St (Partial) Roadway City of Yonkers – Engineering

1.488.1 City Hall – Washington Park (Partial) City of Yonkers

1.488.1.4 Parking Chicken Island City of Yonkers

1,490.72 Cacace Center City of Yonkers – Waring Park (Partial)

New York State Department of Transportation Parcels

Parcel ID# Address Owner

1.-475- Nepperhan Avenue State of New York
200(Partial)

1.-475-202 Nepperhan Avenue State of New York

1.488.200 (Parital) Arterial State of New York

1.489.200 Arterial State of New York

1.490.200 Arterial State of New York

1.490.201 Arterial State of New York

1.490-202 Arterial State of New York

1.490-15 45 Guion Street City of Yonkers

1.490-16 43 Guion Street City of Yonkers

1.490-17 41 Guion Street City of Yonkers

1.490-18 37 Guion Street City of Yonkers

1.490-20 35 Guion Street City of Yonkers

1.490-21 209 New Main Street City of Yonkers

1.490-22 37 Guion Street Rear City of Yonkers

1.490-24 33 Guion Street City of Yonkers

1.490-72 (Partial) 92 South Broadway City of Yonkers

1.490-80 100 South Broadway City of Yonkers

1.490.200 Arterial State of New York

1.490.201 Arterial State of New York

1.490-202 Arterial State of New York

A copy of the LDA, FTA and the Redeveloper’s Statement for Public Disclosure is available for public examination at the office of the Agency, 87 Nepperhan Avenue, Yonkers, New York between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

JOAN DEIERLEIN
City Clerk
City of Yonkers
City Hall
Yonkers, N.Y. 10701

Dated: May 22, 2009

1. I am excited to share with you a letter of support from my federal,
state, and county colleagues in government. To view the letter please
click here, http://images.ngphost.com/lesnick/letterofsupport.pdf. 

2. Please join me at Burke’s Restaurant and Bar, Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Burke’s is located at 645 Bronx River Road in Yonkers. Suggested contribution is $50, but please contribute whatever you can at this time and enjoy the music, food, and drink!

Warm regards,

Chuck

Hundreds of Motorcyclists to Converge to Raise Awareness and Money.

Yonkers, New York: April 23, 2009 – Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick will join motorcyclists and advocates against child abuse on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. in the 2nd Annual Stop Child Abuse Ride.

The ride, organized by 35-year-old Yonkers resident Al Jenkins, president of the Yonkers-based “914 Sluggers Motorcycle Club” (also known as Fighters for a Good Cause), kicks off at Trevor Park, located on Warburton Avenue in Yonkers, continues through the streets of the city, ending at Bottoms Up, a pub at 207 Nepperhan Avenue, where a fundraising event will follow.

“There is no reason and excuse for a child to fear coming home,” explained Jenkins. “Child abuse and domestic violence are very similar crimes. We’re here to set an example for other men and to draw attention to these forms of abuse. There’s no reason to beat a child or a woman,” Jenkins added. Jenkins will be operating his Kawasaki ZX14 on the ride.

“Last year, I got the chance to ride as a passenger on a motorcycle when my office sponsored the Domestic Violence Awareness Ride,” Lesnick Commented. “This year, I am driving my own motorcycle, and am really looking forward to enjoying the ride, the people, and of course, all the great noise from the many motorcycles,” he added. Lesnick recently began taking lessons in order to participate in the ride.

The 2nd Annual Stop Child Abuse Ride is an awareness campaign that aims to draw interest in the Yonkers community about acts of emotional and physical abuse, neglect and maltreatment committed against children. The effort was begun by Carol Bengis, the constituent affairs liaison in the office of the council president. Bengis hopes to raise more than $1,000.00 from the ride to donate to the Cynthia Gibbs Foundation and the Exchange Club of Yonkers. Both groups are local and provide advocacy and funds to promote the rights and protection of children.

The month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month and campaigns across the country annually serve to urge educators, health professionals, public officials, and residents to focus their efforts collectively in the battle to prevent child abuse. Suspected abuse can be reported to the New York State Child Abuse Registry, 1-800-342-3720.

Route of Stop Child Abuse Ride: Trevor Park – Warburton Ave. to Nepperhan Ave. Right onto Lake Ave. to left onto Saw Mill River Rd. Right onto Lockwood into parking lot to honor Darryl Gibbs and Baby Shaken Syndrome. Saw Mill River Rd. to Tuckahoe Rd. to Central Ave. to McLean Ave. to South Broadway. S. Broadway to New Main Street. Right onto Nepperhan Ave. to Bottoms Up.

Residents will be able to meet and talk with professionals from dozens of non-profit groups and government agencies to get help with such things as housing, health concerns, passports, legal counseling, job opportunities, senior assistance, and more.

Carol Bengis, my constituent affairs liaison, and I conceived of the event three years ago after fielding hundreds of calls to my office from constituents seeking referrals. This is a great way to bring everyone together and is an event not to miss.

My office, along with the city’s Office of Community Services, is offering a free domestic violence training program to all Yonkers beauty salons.

The program, Cut It Out, has been a big success in New York City and is designed to help stylists identify and assist their clients with domestic violence issues by learning what to do if they notice any indications of possible abuse such as bruising or missing hair. The training also teaches stylists what resources are available such as counseling, shelters, and legal services.

Click here to read a November 20 New York Times article on the program.

The course will be conducted by My Sister’s Place from 1-4 p.m. on Monday, March 16 at the Riverfront Library. They are a non-profit organization that assists victims of domestic violence on a daily basis.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP by February 27 by contacting Carol Bengis, my constituent affairs liaison, at (914) 377-6065 or email her at carol.bengis@yonkersny.gov.

We hope you will join us for this worthwhile training program. It may one day save a life.

YONKERS, NY — With a joint purpose in settling the state’s school funding formula and capital project reimbursement rates for Yonkers, City Council President Chuck Lesnick (chairman of Intergovernmental Relations Committee) and Majority Leader Sandy Annabi (chairperson of Education Committee) have called upon state legislators, school officials and the city council to attend a special joint meeting at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall on Friday, Jan. 30, 2009.

Elected officials Hon. Andrea Stewart Cousins, Hon. Mike Spano and Hon. J. Gary Pretlow, as well as representatives from the offices of Congressman Eliot Engel and Congresswoman Nita Lowey have confirmed, as have officers from the Yonkers Public Schools and members of the City Council. The state will release its budget in April, 2009.

“This is an opportunity for the city and state legislators to work together to maximize the benefits from Obama’s economic stimulus package,” says Lesnick citing that the Governor’s proposed budget includes a “deficit reduction assessment” of 4.9 percent or about $10.9 million for the Yonkers Public Schools (YPS).

This was the highest percent reduction of the Big 5 New York State school districts with New York City at 3.8 percent, Buffalo at 2.8 percent, and Rochester and Syracuse at 1.6 percent. In addition, a $5 million anticipated increase in foundation aid was eliminated along with $2 million in discretionary funding.

“What this means is Yonkers schools could face a total reduction of $18 million in state aid for the next academic year,” Lesnick states.

Historically, school aide provided to Yonkers is lower and disproportionate when compared to the other Big 5 school districts. In 2008, the State budget provided Yonkers with only 44.4 percent of its total school funding requirements. During fiscal years 2003/2004 through 2008/2009, the City of Yonkers has increased its contribution to education by 61 percent.

“The council president and I are asking that the New York State Legislature undertake a full review of the methodology used to return state dollars to school districts and for everyone to work together to address the fiscal crisis facing our city,” says Annabi.

The public is invited to attend the meeting or watch the proceedings on the Government Station, Cable Channel 78.

Some of the charges faced by Sheila Dixon are as follows:

• Improper disclosure of gifts received from various sources.
• Misuse of Holiday Gift Cards that were supposed to be distributed to needy families.
• Misconduct in office.

Sheila Dixon has said in a statement on Friday that she is innocent. She said “I am confident that I will be found innocent of these charges. I will not let these charges deter me from keeping Baltimore on the path that we have set, or from carrying forward the significant progress we have made thus far”.

These developments come at a time when the city of Baltimore was witnessing a very positive turnaround of events. The murder rate in the city has fallen 17% as compared to last year. Moreover, the schools have shown better results lately and also the population has shown a slight increase.

We at The Yonkers Insider believe that equity is an important issue. that is why Yonkers to do a Reassessment and it has been said that The State encourages this practice and also even the State offers incentives. It is good that the Yonkers City Council is looking into the Reassessment issue. Back in May, The Yonkers City Council voter unanimously for a County Wide Reassessment of all properties. Councilwoman Joan Gronowski has reintroduced her resolution on this issue of The City of Yonkers doing a City Wide Reassessment independent of the County Reassessment. This is a good move by The Yonkers City Council. A lot of credit goes to Joan Gronowski and City Council President Lesnick on this issue.

Right now the County of Westchester is currently doing a study on some parts of a Reassessment, that study is expected to come to an end in March 2009. We at The Yonkers Insider believe that The Yonkers City Council should pass this resolution of doing a City Wide Reassessment and we also hope that the Mayor does not veto this most important resolution and stand in it’s way. Getting back to the Council Committee meeting: The meeting focused on whether the City should wait for the results of the County Study or move forward either on it’s own or with some of the municipalities here in Westchester County. Other issues mentioned at the meeting were: protections for Senior Citizens. like the Enhanced Star Program to mitigate the damages of any changes in Reassessment, this issue is an important one to The Yonkers City Council.

There will be another meeting in the future to discuss this issue are there has been sufficient time to research their questions and OPRS and the City Assessor will come back at that meeting as well. We at The Yonkers Insider stand behind this undertaking being looked at the Yonkers City Council. This is a vitally important issue for Yonkers Future, and must move forward. Thanks to the leadership of The Yonkers City Council for putting this tough issue on top of their agenda. In closing, the issue of Reassessment, must be dealt and we feel it is time to do the first Reassessment since 1954. It is time Yonkers. Once again hope that the Mayor will stand in support of The Council’s diligence on this most important issue. It is time that everybody in this city, pay their fair share for their properties and that will equal Tax Fairness, in the Yonkers Insider’s opinion, at the end of the day, we can thank Councilwoman Joan Gronowski and Council President Lesnick for bringing this issue out for the public of Yonkers to see and be heard on. The Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick also deserves credit for going the extra mile, he has been working on Reval for Several Years with the Westchester Municipal Association to get it to this point.

Quote from Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick:

“In my mind it is all about fairness. Everyone should pay their fair share but no more than their fair share. Furthermore Yonkers loses millions of dollars each year in tax certs. We can not afford to wait for the county. Yonkers must do reval now.”
-Chuck Lesnick

The Yonkers Insider

To honor his memory and others, my office is holding an anti-violence rally in Council Chambers on Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. attended by his sister, Virginia Perez, and other community members who are working toward the goal of stopping senseless acts of violence by organizing Neighborhood Watch programs and working with the Guardian Angels.

All are encouraged and welcome to attend.

In other anti-violence news, my office brought in experts from My Sisters’ Place on Dec. 3 to offer a free “Domestic Violence 101″ hotline training course to teach City Hall employees how to handle a variety of phone calls, particularly those regarding domestic violence. Almost a dozen people took the class.

For more information, please contact my constituent affairs liaison, Carol Bengis, at 377-6060 or email her at carol.bengis@yonkersny.gov.

PITTSBURGH — The tightening race in this must-win state spurred a blitz by Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign to woo back female and independent voters as the candidate’s surrogates went on the attack against Republican vice-presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin.

“She’s a lightweight,” said Pittsburgh City Council President Doug Shields, a prominent campaigner for Mr. Obama. “Let’s get people off the idea of Palin, Palin, Palin.”

He is working door to door in an effort to turn off voters for the Alaska governor in surrounding Allegheny County, a rural and mostly conservative area where the hockey mom likely picked up support for Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain. Mirroring national trends, Mrs. Palin’s appeal proved a new wrinkle for the Obama campaign in the county, which went heavily for his rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, in the primary and has yet to coalesce behind the Democratic nominee.

“They might identify with Palin, but who is running for president?” Mr. Shields said. “The question is, ‘Is she ready to be president? No. Then why should you support her for vice president?’ That’s an argument I’m winning every day on the doorstep.”

It is part of the campaign’s shift into overdrive to beat back the surge in the polls from Mr. McCain, of Arizona.

Since the addition of Mrs. Palin electrified the Republican ticket, the party has cut Mr. Obama’s lead in Pennsylvania down to a statistical dead heat. His advantage dropped to within the margin of error – three points – in a Quinnipiac University Polling Institute survey last week, compared to the Illinois senator’s seven-point lead in the poll a month ago.

The poll showed Mr. McCain attracting white women and independents away from Mr. Obama, who also failed to win over about 28 percent of Mrs. Clinton’s supporters from the primary race.

The McCain campaign, laboring to turn Pennsylvania red for the first time since 1988, dismissed the attacks on Mrs. Palin.

“Governor Palin is a proven reformer with executive experience that will make change. She’s actually done what Obama claims he’ll try and do,” said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks to supporters for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama in Tampa, Fla., on Sept. 8. The Obama campaign is trying to woo Mrs. Clinton’s primary supporters in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Obama’s push back in Pennsylvania this past weekend included two events targeting female voters in Pittsburgh, one with Sen. Barbara Boxer of California and the other with Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Pittsburgh native . He went after blue-collar voters in Erie at a rally led by AFL-CIO chiefs and famed former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris.

In Philadelphia, the Obama campaign goosed the youth vote at events at several college campuses with TV star Kate Walsh, who plays Dr. Addison Montgomery on the ABC medical dramas “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice.” She also attended an event to rally female voters in Montgomery County, a Philadelphia suburb that is key to Mr. Obama’s strategy for the state.

The flurry of activity underscores the pivotal role of Pennsylvania and its 21 electoral votes.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama speaks during a rally in Lancaster, Pa., on Sept. 4. Pennsylvania, with its 21 electoral votes, is key to winning the White House. (Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)

Pennsylvania joins Ohio and Florida as the big three prizes. Since 1960, nobody has won the White House without taking two of them. Coupled with Michigan, any of those states could swing the election.

The Obama campaign plans later to deploy Mrs. Clinton in an effort to nudge Pennsylvania women and reluctant blue-collar voters into the Obama camp, as she tried to do Sunday in Ohio.

“I think we are going to see a lot of Senator Clinton in Pennsylvania, and I think that is going to be a very big help in diffusing some of [Mrs. Palin's] popularity, but popularity that ought to be short-lived,” Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell told reporters in a recent conference call.

“She’s not going to take Governor Palin on in a personal sense, but she is going to take the issues on – the issues that are important to women, that are important to working-class voters.”

Mr. Rendell, who backed Mrs. Clinton in the bitter primary battle, has thrown his support and his formidable campaign machine behind Mr. Obama.

The McCain campaign is doubling its staff and increasing the number of offices in the state to about 40, including new offices that opened Saturday in the rural south-central Pennsylvania town of Carlisle and in Montgomery County. It also initiated a phone-bank operation and door-to-door campaign this past weekend, contacting tens of thousands of voters on Saturday alone, according to campaign officials.

On the other side, Mr. Obama opened another 35 field offices last week, increasing the campaign’s statewide presence to 65 offices, the campaign said.

Despite the shift in focus to counter the Palin effect, the Obama campaign is following a campaign strategy perfected by Mr. Rendell, who captured the office for Democrats in 2003 by running up large enough margins of victory in urban centers – the Philadelphia metro area, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Erie – to offset the mostly conservative vote throughout the state’s rural expanses.

The strategy eked out a Pennsylvania win in 2004 for Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry.

Craig Schirmer, director of the Obama campaign in Pennsylvania, insisted the campaign has not shifted gears since the race drew to a tie.

“We are still talking about changing Washington,” Mr. Schirmer said. “We are still talking to voters about the issues that matter, the economy, housing prices, energy prices and making sure that they understand that Barack Obama is the true agent of change here in this campaign.”

He proposed demoting the position of mayor to a part time position and giving it a salary that is about equal to the current city council salary of $15,071, random number…  Anyways, He says that the former money used for the mayor’s salary ($100,480) should be put towards hiring a well qualified city manager to deal with all the budget issues and such.  I’m a fan of the idea of a city manager, these have been shown to be very effective in other cities.  Greenville, SC has a city manager if I’m not mistaken.  Vestavia Hills, AL has proposed it too I believe. 

The problem with the whole proposition of the city manager position is that I like Don Kyle, and I don’t wanna do him any wrong by paying him less.  Either way, I support David Bolding for the District 2 position.  He’s convinced me that he’s the man for the job.  If you haven’t already, I encourage you to read the Daily’s articles that have all these question in them for the candidates.  They’re actually quite interesting.

In other news, the State of Alabama gets a B overall in the No Child Left Behind junk.  Three schools in Decatur did not make the cut, Austin High, Brookhaven Middle, and Decatur High.  The high schools have been hitting a rough spot lately, and Brookhaven regularly is on these lists.  Hartselle Schools met all their goals, as did all in Lawrence County except for RA Hubbard and Hazelwood.  Morgan County schools also did great. 

It was a pretty good day for Decatur Metro Area schools.  These results don’t sound good, but they’re an improvement over last year.  Looking at the high, middle, and elementary school details in the articles, I noticed that there is a wave of improved student scores coming up from the elementary schools and it looks to be pretty strong.  Looks like it’ll hold on through once the first few classes come through.