White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Executive Spano Vindicates Policies; Pursues IP Replacement. Diet for Fat Teens

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. April 10, 2003: A confident and matter-of-fact County Executive Andy Spano delivered a one-hour State-of-the-County Address to the County Legislature at the Michaelian Office Building Thursday evening in White Plains.

MR. COUNTY EXECUTIVE defended his policy of bonding against the cigarette companies future payments and noted that credit raters specifically made note that state mandates and the state legislature were to blame for the county fiscal problems.
Photo of News12 Telecast by WPCNR NewsLab

He announced a new county diet and fitness program for the county’s youth to compliment his Campaign Against Teen Age Drinking.

Takes Tappan Zee Transit Stand.

He went on record as being opposed to widening the Cross Westchester Expressway in any Tappan Zee Bridge traffic solution, and said a mass transit or rail solution was what he favored. He recommended using Westchester’s railroad depot staging areas to construct self-contained apartment and retail centers, "transit villages" to alleviate the need for automobiles as an alternative planning solution to the county commuting problem.

CALLS FOR PLANS TO REPLACE IP JUICE: Mr. Spano said he remained committed to decommissioning Indian Point and said he would call for proposals next month for plans and procedures from companies to replace the electricity generated by the Indian Point so he could justify the county condemning the plant.
Photo of News12 Telecast by WPCNR NewsLab

Spano said he will work more closely with companies who have a means for bringing to Westchester County the replacement power the county needs without building a new power plant in Westchester.

(One such company, not mentioned by Executive Spano in his speech is Conjunction, LLC, of Washington, D.C., which is seeking $750 Million in capital to construct an underground power transmission line along the Hudson River Conrail railroad tracks from Albany down to Yonkers, capable of transmitting the 2,000 megawatts per day Indian Point produces now from the Northeast power grid in Albany. Currently transmission line capacity to deliver electricity is only 1,600 megawatts according to the New York Independent Systems Operator.)

Triple A Bond rating Preserved. Tobacco Bonding Vindicated.

Executive Spano said that in view of news reports that Philip Morris, the tobacco company, would not have the money to meet its future tobacco settlement obligations, his policy of bonding for the monies due Westchester from the tobacco settlement now looks very good, since it has guaranteed Westchester will have received all it was entitled to from the settlement. Spano said credit reports on Westchester’s credit rating had praised the county’s financial management, its financial controls and that state mandates had put pressure on Westchester’s budget.

The County Executive continued his mantra against the mandates, warning of more property tax increases in the year ahead: "Unless the State Government reduces the costs of these mandates, county programs and services, in Westchester and throughout the state, will continue to be cut and county taxpayers will continue to see property taxes increase. This must not happen. It is unfair and unjust for state government to make county taxpayers pay for its programs. Simply put, the system of mandated programs is broken, we must all work together to repair it."

$20 Million in Security Upgrades.

The County Executive noted how the county has upgraded its airport and reservoir security, and told residents that the county has in place a radio communications system where all fire departments and police departments and agencies can talk to each other in an emergency. He noted steps he has taken to monitor hospitals for biological threats, and communications procedures he has instilled to put in place improved ability to communicate with the county’s schools and care centers, public and private.

Mentioning Indian Point again, he said he has called for Federalization of security at the nuclear power facility.

Cuts Have Taken Place.

Executive Spano aggressively defended his management of the budget, noting that he has cut services. He noted particularly that the Department of Social Services has had its staff cut by 236 persons, or 16% since 1998, but has processed 6,000 persons and gotten them back into society.

In a related matter, he bitterly complained that the state legislature granted sales tax increases to a number of counties but refused to grant such an increase to Westchester County.

SHAKIN HANDS ALL AROUND: County Executive Andy Spano shakes hands with Bill Ryan, White Plains County Legislator from District 5, and George Latimer left, Chairman of the Westchester Democratic Party after completion of his speech.
Photo of News12 Telecast by WPCNR NewsLab

Spano concluded with these words:“After a harsh winter, there is always a welcome spring. We have spent the past five years building a solid economy, preserving land for generations to come, investing in technology and protecting the health and safety of our people. These policies provide a solid foundation for the future. Working together, our government and our people will continue to make the county great.”

Spano began his speech recognizing several police officers and noting the death of Marine Bernard Gooden of Mount Vernon in the AmerIraqui War, and expressed his support for the American troops.

REPUBLICAN RESPONSE: Legislator Jim Maisano Response Attacks Spano on His Cuts.
Photo of News 12 Telecast by WPCNR NewsLab

In the Republican Response, aired a full 30-minutes after County Executive Spano had finished, County Legislator James Maisano began with a heartfelt message supporting the American troops.

Maisano took Mr. Spano to task, criticizing him for cutting funds to the County District Attorney’s office, resulting in cuts to anti-crime programs and various social programs. He said bonding for the tobacco money was wrong, and accused Mr. Spano of doing that so he could raise the level of County Services while decreasing taxes.

Maisano said County Executive Spano has failed to display leadership by not cutting the budget more so a property tax increase was not necessary, and said his policy of blaming the state for his budget problems had poisoned the atmosphere with the state and the Westchester delegation.

Maisano concluded his response by saying he and the other Republican Legislators would work to bring about a balanced budget and restore cuts to social programs and county security. He did not say where they felt the budget could be cut.

Mr. Maisano’s response was aired 30 minutes after the live telecast of Mr. Spano’s speech on News 12, and viewers were not advised after Mr. Spano’s speech that a Republican Response was coming up.


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