Seven Newborn Suffer Drug-Resistant Outbreak of MRSA St. John’s Riverside Hospital

YONKERS, NY – Seven newborn have been diagnosed suffering from a MRSA infection contracted at Yonkers St. John’s Riverside Hospital which was caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria — often called "staph." MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

It’s a strain of staph that’s resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat it. MRSA can be fatal yet Saint John’s Riverside Hospital’s Infectious Disease Chief Peter Berkey said, “At this time, I’m not aware of any serious illnesses that have arisen in these seven patients.”

While doctors conduct a forensics search to determine how the bacteria strain was introduced to the nursery, hospital officials assert there is no cause to panic. Hospital authorities advise that as forensics continue, the nursery unit ha been thoroughly cleansed

Berkey asserted that the infected newborn are diagnosed with a non-fatal strain of MRSA and are being effectively treated with antibiotics. The seven infants had been treated upon the staff recognizing minor rashes.  

“I think there is a misunderstanding in the community,” Berkey says. “When they hear MRSA, they think it’s life threatening … in many cases, it’s not.”

Doctors suggest washing hands with an alcohol based sanitizer to prevent the spread of MRSA and other bacteria.

Yonkers Board of Education Trustee Richard Greco Resigns

YONKERS, NY — It was only mid-August 2007 when Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone appointed former Assistant Secretary of the Navy Richard Greco Yonkers Board of Education Trustee for a five year term. Mr. Greco delivered his letter of resignation last week advising that he could no longer fulfill his duties as Trustee.

As founder and President of Filangieri Capital Partners, Mr. Greco’s time is consumed in using his expertise to help emerging markets that have demonstrated prospects for future growth on a worldwide basis.

Mr. Greco’s time to “put my educational and work experience to use on this important board has an impact on more than 25,000 students,” yet is now deflected to meet the needs of individual corporations worldwide.

Director of Communications spokesperson David Simpson advised that Mayor Amicone has already conducted an interview of a replacement candidate on Friday, October 24, 2008, but that he is “not ready to divulge his name.

A press release” of the appointee “will be divulged by press release” in due time, noted Simpson.

There are presently two empty Board of Trustee positions, if you had your druthers, who would you like to see as replacements?

YONKERS TRIBUNE: Councilmember Gronowski Refused Access to Administration Briefings

YONKERS, NY — Councilmember Joan Gronowski (District 3) was Tuesday night advised by her fellow councilmembers that Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone had forbade her participation in any of the sessions planned by his office this Thursday, October 23, 2008, regarding Yonkers City Council briefings on the Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) component of the SFC Yonkers Inc. development project. 

Gronowski learned of her exclusion from the planned Thursday sessions following the Yonkers Councilmembership’s biweekly Leadership Meeting with the Mayor. 

The LDA is a critical element of the SFC Yonkers Inc. review process, defining the terms for the transfer of properties to the designated master developer (SFC Yonkers Inc.) that upon approval will allow SFC Yonkers Inc. to design and develop the project.

Gronowski blasted the mayor for what she rightly
recognizes is his most recent overt retaliatory effort in an attempt to
marginalize and impede her effectiveness on the Yonkers City Council
and thereby dismiss the over 30,000 residents she represents.

“I have been to every Real Estate Committee
meeting since taking office, despite the fact that I am not even a
member of the committee, and have done everything possible to review
the proposed SFC Yonkers Inc. project to the best of my abilities,”
emphasized Councilmember Gronowski.  “Furthermore, this latest attempt
by Mayor Amicone, denying her participation with her colleagues at this
critical stage of the review process is demeaning and a blatant effort
to denying my elected office, and thereby my constituency, the vital
information needed to vet the most crucial aspects of this project.”

Gronowski recently cited the Amicone
Administration for its refusal to allow departmental representation at
a Town Hall meeting she held and conducted in the Northwest section of
the 3rd District last Wednesday, despite its past practice of affording
this courtesy to other Yonkers Councilmembers for their respective
district meetings.  Gronowski further noted that when the mayor was
approached by several colleagues this summer to discuss the cuts made
to several police posts, he refused to include her in the talks
asserting, “She didn’t vote for the budget.”  Mayor Amicone also
refused to allow the City Assessor to appear on a segment of a local
television show hosted by a colleague, were Gronowski also invited to
appear. Gronowski was not permitted to appear as a guest.   

Councilmember Gronowski is contacting the New York
State Office of the Attorney General for guidance regarding these
issues and will ask the Office of the Inspector General in Yonkers to
conduct an investigation into Mayor Amicone’s conduct to ascertain if
his conduct falls within acceptable parameters of governance.

ADDENDUM:

Mayor Amicone permitted this reporter a last minute meeting and discussion after concluding the Yonkers IDA meeting over which he presides to delve into the assertions made by Councilmember Gronowski. Mayor Amicone differs in his understanding of her demeanor. Recognizing that Councilmember Gronowski has been contrary to every initiative of his administration, Mayor Amicone believes he has extended himself and his staff to be inclusive of her in all meetings and deliberations. He does point out that her voting record has been negative toward the administration and asserts that she has not kept an open mind on past and future concerns. Despite their differences, Mayor Amicone said that he been meticulous in responding to the needs and concerns of the 3rd District as his administration would the other five districts in the city. Mayor Amicone does point out that he has lost patience with Councilmember Gronowski but will show all respect to her requests and will not deny her access to his office, that of the Deputy Mayor, or his Chief of Staff through which request are made.

Mayor Amicone said he needed to focus on the concerns of the city overall because it the issues of development, financial constraints, among others that consumed his time.  Mayor Amicone emphasized again that he has not excluded Councilmember Gronowski from any meetings or discussions. 

Overall, Mayor Amicone believes the conduct of the individual council members fall under the aegis of  City Council President Chuck Lesnick. President Lesnick will make the decision to include Councilmember Gronowski  or not.

President Lesnick in this morning’s interview after that of Mayor Amicone noted that at times of agreement communication flows easily between his office and that of the mayor. When issues are heated, communications too often break down. President Lesnick believes Mayor Amicone would be making a mistake to dismiss Councilmember Gronowski, no matter her stated or inferred political positions and decisions. 

YONKERS TRIBUNE: Westchester Guardian Publisher Sues Westchester Police Commissioner

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Timothy O’Connor today reports in The Journal News article entitled Strip Club Owner Sues Westchester Police Commissioner Over Mobster Allegations that Sam Zherka, strip club owner and weekly newspaper publisher has accused Westchester Police Commissioner 

Strip club owner and newspaper publisher Sam
Zherka is accusing Westchester’s Public Safety Commissioner Thomas
Belfiore and New York City as defendants. of falsely labeling him a
mobster and sparking a grand jury investigation of him.

Zherka filed a federal lawsuit yesterday in U.S.
District Court in White Plains that asserts he was designated an
Albanian organized crime figure to his former colleagues in the NYPD.
Zherka stipulates that the NYPD’s organized crime unit launched an
investigation of Zherka, who owns the VIP Club in Manhattan and
publishes The Westchester Guardian.

"They’re going to pay for slandering my name," he
said yesterday. "I’m not letting them do this to me as an Albanian and
get away with it."

A spokesman for Belfiore declined to comment on
the lawsuit. A spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Robert
Morgenthau declined to confirm or deny the existence of the
investigation.

But Susan Tolchin, a spokeswoman for Westchester
County Executive Andrew Spano, blasted Zherka and his lawyer, Jonathan
Lovett. She said Lovett has filed 19 lawsuits against the county since
2000, and 14 were dismissed or withdrawn but cost taxpayers $1.9
million to defend. She said Zherka’s trying to draw attention to
himself.

"Here we go again," she said. "It is simply a
publicity stunt by a strip club owner who, because of his own problems,
is the target of a criminal investigation by the Manhattan grand jury."

Zherka says in the lawsuit that his problems with
the county stemmed from an article The Westchester Guardian published
in early 2007 that was critical of Westchester District Attorney Janet
DiFiore and her husband. He claims in a lawsuit he has filed against
DiFiore that she threatened him and his family in a conversation after
the article was published.

Now, Zherka says, his name is in an NYPD database as being connected to organized crime.

"I’ve never been connected to anything," he said. "I’m going to crush every one of them in court."

Commission on Property Tax Relief Hears Testimony in Yonkers

YONKERS, NY — The Commission on Property Tax Relief held its
eleventh hearing today in Yonkers. 

The hearing was led by Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi,
Chairman of the Commission on Property Tax Relief.

The experts and interested parties that testified today included
representatives of school districts, local governments, nonprofit
organizations and taxpayers.  As the Commission works to provide relief to
property owners and reduce local costs, the hearings are designed to gather
information on issues that the Commission identified in its Preliminary
Report as needing special consideration: Special Education, School District
Mandate Relief and the impact of property taxes on the Big Four Large City
Dependent School Districts.  For the Yonkers Hearing, the Commission
invited testimony on these topics, as well as on BOCES and School District
Consolidation issues.

“In the face of a statewide and national fiscal crisis, Governor Paterson
has shown extraordinary leadership while continuing to champion a property
tax cap that would provide substantial relief to taxpayers statewide,” said
Commission Chairman Suozzi.  “New York’s local taxes are the highest in the
nation, which is particularly crushing during this time of economic
downturn.  Outside of New York City, 62 percent of property taxes are
school property taxes, and there are only three ways to address rising
school costs – reduce expenses in school districts, increase state aid for
education or continue to increase school property taxes.  The third can no
longer be an option and the Governor’s cap would provide taxpayers with
that assurance.”

Data released last month by the Census Bureau showed that Westchester
County has the highest household property taxes of any county in the
nation, with Nassau and Rockland Counties also in the top ten. The data
also showed Nassau, Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties are ranked in
the nation’s top ten for the amount of property taxes paid as a percentage
of income.  In addition, the nation’s seven counties with the highest
effective tax rates are in Upstate New York: Niagara, Monroe, Chautauqua,
Wayne, Oswego, Onondaga, and Erie Counties.

In June, Governor Paterson introduced legislation to cap the growth of
school property taxes, which was passed by the Senate in August. The
legislation would cap the growth at a level that allows for reasonable
growth of school expenses, while allowing for new construction and
protecting capital expenditures already approved by voters. The cap would
put voters in control of their school taxes. Voters could choose to
increase their local school taxes past the capped amount by “overriding”
the cap at the ballot box; alternatively, if voters decide to spend less,
they could enact an “underride” of the cap.

New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, "The Commission’s
preliminary recommendations provided an excellent foundation for
discussions regarding much-needed relief for property taxpayers.  I
appreciate that the Commission is taking the next step to hear the
perspectives of my constituents and individuals statewide.   I look forward
to working with the Commission, my community and my fellow legislators to
arrive at real strategies for property tax relief and school district
mandate relief that will benefit all communities across our state,
including the taxpayers and the children of Yonkers and the other Big Four
Large City School Districts."

Merryl Tisch, Vice Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents and
Commission member, said, “Since January, the Commission has maintained a
focus on quality education for our children, and the testimony we’ve heard
today provides us with a broad base of perspectives and insights.  It is
critical during these times of fiscal restraint that we identify
opportunities for cost reduction and mandate relief while continuing to
ensure a high quality education for all children.”

Commission member Michael Solomon, a municipal finance expert, said, "Two
of the main drivers of school district costs are special education and
mandates.  As a resident of Westchester, I know first-hand the impact of
property taxes on working families here.  The Commission is taking crucial
steps to provide necessary relief so that families and businesses can
thrive and prosper here and across the state."

Phil Amicone, Mayor of Yonkers, said "New York‘s crushing property tax
burden is one of the biggest contributing factors to the flight of middle
class jobs and small businesses out of our state, and it must be addressed
on a statewide level if we are to once again become competitive in the
region and around the world.  No matter what we do on the local level, if
the growing problem of state mandates, education funding, and health care
costs aren’t tackled by our leaders in Albany, then the problem will
persist.  That’s why I’m encouraged by the steps Governor Paterson and
Commission Chairman Suozzi are taking to build consensus on this crucial
issue."

Lisa Davis, Executive Director of the Westchester Putnam School Boards
Association, said, "School districts are faced with a staggering array of
mandates from the state and federal level, the costs of which are
inevitably passed on to taxpayers.  During this current fiscal downturn,
the volatility of the stock market will have a significant impact on
schools and taxpayers, particularly in regard to New York State‘s
defined-benefit pension costs.  We find the Commission’s recognition of
these and other local cost drivers to be critical to any discussion of
school property tax relief."

Background on the Commission

The Commission on Property Tax Relief was established by Executive Order
No. 22 in January, 2008 to investigate and make recommendations regarding:

* Root causes of the high property tax burden, including unfunded
      mandates and local expenditures;
* Impacts of increased state aid and existing property tax relief
      programs;
* Effectiveness of property tax caps in other states and, potentially,
      in New York; and
* The most effective means to impose a limit on school property tax
      growth without adversely impacting the ability of school districts
      to provide a quality education to all students.

The Commission members are Chairman Thomas R. Suozzi; Nicholas J. Pirro,
former Onondaga County Executive; Paul A. Tokasz, former Majority Leader of
the State Assembly; Merryl H. Tisch, Vice Chancellor, State Board of
Regents; Shirley Strum Kenny, President, Stony Brook University; and
Michael Solomon, municipal finance expert.  The special advisors to the
Commission are Elizabeth Lynam, Citizens Budget Commission; Robert Ward,
Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government; Lisa Donner, Center for
Working Families; Karen Scharff, Citizen Action of New York; and Sandra
Parker, Rochester Business Alliance.

The Commission released its Preliminary Report in June. The primary
recommendation of the Commission was a cap on the growth of school property
taxes. The Commission also recommended that, once the cap is enacted, a
circuit breaker be put in place, as well as more than 20 recommendations to
reduce mandates on school districts and address the root causes of high
property taxes.

The Final Report will be submitted by December 1, 2008.

Westchester County To Control Odor At Yonkers Joint Waste Water Treatment Plant

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Longstanding odor concerns at the Yonkers Joint Waste Water Treatment Plant will be addressed as per legislation advanced in today’s vote by Yonkers Legislators Jose Alvarado (D-Yonkers) and Ken Jenkins (D - Yonkers)

County Legislator Alvarado, Budget and Appropriations Chairman, said “at my request, the County commissioned a study to identify sources of odor.  Several people around the plant participated by having the odor meters installed at their homes.  

The results of that study were presented to the residents by the engineers scrutinizing the plant and we will be following their recommendations to continue to improve the quality of life around the plant.”  

The Yonkers Joint Water Treatment Plant is in his district.

County Legislator Jenkins, Government Operations Chairman, said “Legislator Alvarado and I have been working on controlling the odor at the Yonkers Treatment Plant for a long time and we are both committed to continuing to be vigilant in addressing concerns at the treatment plant.  I am pleased that work on these projects will begin immediately.”

The County Board of Legislators passed all of the required legislation, including several bond acts, to address the ongoing odor concerns.  

The first bond act will fund the design and construction of heating, ventilating and air conditioning improvements and the installation of an odor control system at the screen and grit building.  

In conjunction with that measure, an additional bond act was passed to finance the cost of the design and construction for modifications and upgrades to odor control facilities at the Plant, as well as the installation of an odor control system at the Ludlow Street Pump Station. 

A final bond act was passed to repair and upgrade the Alexander Street influent structure and the North Yonkers Pump Station tower.  The County Board also approved an IMA (Intermunicipal Agreement) with the City of Yonkers for repairs to several lines of municipal sewers that have a direct impact on the Plant.

Legislators Alvarado and Jenkins thanked all of their colleagues for their support of funding for this vital part of the County infrastructure.

Education Committee Meeting Scheduled for October 23, 2008

YONKERS, NY – Education Chair and Majority Leader Sandy Annabi has advised that she will conduct an Education Committee Meeting Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 5:00 PM and conclude promptly at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 4th Floor.

The following item(s) will be on the Agenda: 

1.      Resolution – requesting the Yonkers Public
Schools Administration provide an update on the School District’s
finances, and any plans to mitigate government finance shortfalls.

2.      Any additional items that may properly come before this Committee.

Planned Treated Sewage Discharge Monday

YONKERS, NY — The Westchester County Department of Health is notifying boaters and marinas on the Hudson River that there will be a controlled discharge of several million gallons of screened and chlorinated raw sewage into the Hudson River between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Monday, October 20, 2008, weather conditions permitting. 

The treated sewage bypass is needed so that the
flange gasket on the North Yonkers trunk sewer line can be replaced,
thereby avoiding a potential major sewage spill. The repairs are
planned for the time when sewage flows through these sewer pipes are
lowest to minimize the discharge.

The flange gasket was last replaced in 2001.

As a precaution, boaters and people who use the waters from Tarrytown to the Bronx for
recreational purposes should avoid direct contact with the water on
Monday. An advisory is being issued to marinas located on the Hudson River as well as to county and local police departments.  

Real Estate Committee Meeting to Convene October 16, 2008

YONKERS, NY – Notice was sent yesterday advising that a Real Estate Committee Meeting has been scheduled for today, Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 4th Floor.

The following items will be on the Agenda:

* Resolution – approving the recommendation of the
Landmarks Preservation Board and designating the former Health Center
Building, 87 Nepperhan Avenue, as a landmark, pursuant to Section 45-5
of the Code of the City of Yonkers.

* Presentation on 87 Nepperhan Avenue by the
applicant of the landmarking application, originally filed with the
Landmarks Board.

* Presentation on the costs and benefits of alternative development proposals
for 87 Nepperhan Avenue by SFC

YONKERS TRIBUNE: Councilmember Gronowski Cites Administration for Ignoring Constituent Outreach

YONKERS, NY –Yonkers Third District Councilmember Joan Gronowski has criticized the Yonkers Administration for its refusal to allow departmental representation at a Town Hall meeting she held in the Northwest section of the 3rd District last evening, with more than ninety residents present.  Although the city allowed for the attendance of 4th Precinct Police Captain Sal DiMaggio, they refused Gronowski’s request for representation from the Administration, City Engineer’s office, the Bureau of Code Enforcement, and the Police Community Affairs Block Watch.

Gronowski hoped to address several issues that
have been pending for many years, such as the need for alternate egress
for MaryLou Avenue and the problems emergency vehicles have in
navigating that street; complaints received from residents concerning
an unlicensed amateur radio tower in the area; issues on upper
Warburton Avenue; and other quality of life issues.  Gronowski said,
“It would have been helpful to have had the proper department
representatives at the Town Hall meeting to be able to answer and
address the residents’ issues together.  Working in partnership with
the City Council is something that the Administration has claimed to be
in the best interest of our residents.

In emails exchanged with Deputy Mayor William
Regan, Gronowski referenced the Amicone Administration’s past practice of
affording this representation to councilmembers through the years for
their respective district Town Hall meetings.  The Deputy Mayor’s
responses to Gronowski indicated that residents should forward any
issues to his office, since “City Departments always give attention to
residents concerns.”  Gronowski said, “The Deputy Mayor’s further
comments state that her Town Hall meeting ‘is not the best use of our
department heads’ time’ as an insult to the residents.”

“I am disappointed," Gronwoski continued, "that this
administration has so marginalized the people of the Third District by
its failure to provide the requested representation, often provided to
other councilmembers.”  Gronowski further noted a marked difference in the
way complaints from her office are handled by the administration, since
her negative vote on passing the Yonkers Budget in June, and her
comments about the city’s refusal to downsize its fleet of take-home
cars despite a gloomy budget forecast for next year.  Gronowski
stressed at her Town Hall meeting that all complaints from City
Councilmembers must be sent to Mayor PhilAmicone,
Deputy Mayor William Regan, and Chief of Staff LisaMirjaj,
with copies to the affected departments.  “Under this strong mayor form
of government, I am not allowed to send any requests directly to a
department head. I have several complaints outstanding which have not
even been acknowledged, let alone resolved, and it is a shame the
residents of my district are suffering the effects of my efforts to
have more accountability in government,” concluded Gronowski.

http://www.yonkerstribune.com/2008/10/councilmember-g