PORT CHESTER: Joan Thomas, who owns a local consultation firm under the name JGT Public Relations and had previously served as a PTA President, will she will lead the Mr. Joenes’ congressional district team in both Westchester and Rockland Counties.
Ms. Thomas serves as the executive director of the Sustainable Port Chester Alliance – a local group focused on affordable housing and development.
In 2019, Joan successfully ran for Port Chester Village Trustee as an independent candidate on her own party line, the Port Chester Action Party, thus becoming Port Chester’s first African American woman on the board of trustees.
Ms. Thomas will maintain her village trustee seat, but Port Chester activist Greg Hamilton the new volunteer Executive Director of Sustainable Port Chester Alliance.
Currently, the Village of Port Chester is facing many challenges , as Mayor Richard ‘Fritz” Falanka is stepping down along with the village manager and planning director.
###
Please send your Port Chester events, media alerts, meeting notices newsletters and press releases to Port Chester Newswire Editor Brian Harrod at Brian.Harrod+PortChester@gmail.com
Category Archives: Uncategorized
New York State Lifting Restrictions In On The Port Chester / RyeBrook COVID-19 Hot Spots – By Brian Harrod
Governor Cuomo has announced that most micro-cluster yellow, orange, and red zone restrictions have been lifted for most parts of New York State.
The Village of Port Chester may now begin operating, once again, under the “NY Forward” plan that was adopted by the Governor in the Summer of 2020.
Food Services:
- All guidance and approvals for opening apply to restaurants, food service establishments, food trucks, and concessions.
- Indoor capacities are to be regulated by management and limited as not to exceed 50% OF THE PERMITTED MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY (Exclusive of Employees).
- Mandtory and recommended best practices for safety can be found on the NY FORWARD website. Business owners must adhere to social distancing, establish a safety plan, and read & affirm the New York State business affirmation guidelines adopted during the Summer of 2020. Additionally, businesses must ensure that indoor and outdoor tables with seating are separated by a minimum of 6ft in all directions. Guests/ invitees to dine together at a single table must no exceed 10 persons; there is no requirement that all persons must be related to dine together.
Schools:
- Mandatory weekly COVID-19 testing of students, teachers, and district employees are hereby suspended. In-person settings may continue.
Churches, Synagouges, and Other Houses of Workship:
- Indoor capacity for religious services and programming may not exceed 33% of the building’s maximum capacity.
- Outdoor capacity for religious services may not exceed 50 people.
Mass Gatherings:
- Indoor gatherings remain limited to 10 people or fewer.
- Outdoor mass gatherings are limited to 50 people.
The Candidates Are Starting To Line Up To Replace, High School Graduate, Fritz Falanka, Who Is Stepping Down As Port Chester’s Mayor
Port Chester Businesses And Not For Profits Eligible For A Second Round Of Loans From Paycheck Protection Program – By Brian Harrod
Businesses struggling in the Village Of Port Chester, during the second wave of the pandemic, are now eligible for the federal government’s second round of loans under the Paycheck Protection Program.
Port Chester nonprofits that provide services to the community are included too.
All you have to do is visit your local port Chester bank and complete the application.
The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.
SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses.
- PPP loans have an interest rate of 1%.
- Loans issued prior to June 5 have a maturity of 2 years. Loans issued after June 5 have a maturity of 5 years.
- Loan payments will be deferred for borrowers who apply for loan forgiveness until SBA remits the borrower’s loan forgiveness amount to the lender. If a borrower does not apply for loan forgiveness, payments are deferred 10 months after the end of the covered period for the borrower’s loan forgiveness (either 8 weeks or 24 weeks).
- No collateral or personal guarantees are required.
- Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees.
You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating.
Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program.
You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer Announces His Re-Election Bid For A Second Term – By Brian Harrod
County Executive George Latimer, 67, officially announced Monday morning that he is running for a second term this fall.
CE George Latimer said there are still plenty of issues for him to tackle over the next four years. in a video that was released on his campaign Facebook page.
George Latimer’s announcement had been expected, but so far he is not facing an opponent for his seat, because the Westchester County Republican Committee is currently on life support.
However, if George Latimer is re-elected it will be his last term, because he proposed and won a new law setting a two-term limit for the county executive’s position.
Banks Are Getting Nervous As G&S Investors Can’t Pay Its Bills In Port Chester And Some Elected Officials Worry That The Waterfront May Stiff The Village And Schools Too – By Brian Harrod
PORT CHESTER: The Waterfront Shopping Center loan, which is secured by a 349,743-sf anchored retail property located on main street is in default to a multiple bank loan pool.
The loan was transferred to special servicing in June 2020 for payment default and was over 90 days delinquent as of the December 2020 distribution date.
The borrower, Greg Wasser of G&S Investors, requested a three-month forbearance in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but defaulted on the loan while the request was being considered by the master servicer.
Property occupancy was 94.9% as of June 2020.
The property is anchored by Super Stop & Shop and AMC.
Other major tenants include Bed Bath & Beyond, Marshalls and Crunch Fitness.
All tenants at the property with the exception of Super Stop & Shop were ordered to close in late March 2020, but most have been able to reopen.
The AMC Theater remains closed.
Many of the tenants at the property have asked for rent abatements due to the state’s coronavirus restrictions on shopping, with some requesting permanent lease amendments.
OPINION: Racist Facebook Poster Tom Corbia Has Been Playing Games For 120 Days, As He Wastes Tax Dollars And Time In Middle Of A Pandemic, In A Dranged Effort To Take Everyone Down With Him – By Brian Harrod
PORT CHESTER: A majority of the Port Chester School Board members and the Port Chester Board of Trustees have repeatedly demanded a fair open and transparent investigation of Tom Corbia’s racially charged posts as those who benefit from institutionalized racism have used kid gloves on the repugnant School Board And Housing Authority Board President.
There were a lot of young people in the streets of Port Chester this summer and the made the blue wave happen in the Village of Port Chester in the last election and they are upset and will remember those that did not vote for Tom Corbia to step down from his leadership position – as they allowed him to waste over $20,000 on his silly games.
Mayor Fritz Falanka is not running for mayor and a new mayor will be elected and the village will hire a new manager and superintendent of schools in the minority majority village.
But, Fritz Flanka will be remember that he failed to forcefully come forward and demand that his racist pal Tom Corbia be held accountable for his Un-America Facebook posts that represents the worst of Port Chester society.
Mayor Fritz Flanka has played USPS mail games with his racist pal and let the clock run down on his administration, instead of sending a Port Chester Police Officer to hand deliver the board of trustee’s letter to the social media degenerate.
Tom Corbia has held the village hostage, because there was a mayor, board members and trustees that refused to stand up the and defend the Port Chester children, and their families, that this nasty little man attacked.
Shame, Shame, Shame on Fritz Flanka and the other elected officials that turned a blind eye and made excuses to protect an ugly man that attacked and mocked the Port Chester children he swore to serve,
Let us hope the next Mayor of Port Chester will have a backbone and will be an good example to the youth of the village, because this was not Fritz Flanaka’s finest hour – as he blew up over and over at meetings in an effort to protect his immoral pal.
Mary Ann’s Mexican Restaurant On North Main Street Gets Barstool Cash Grant – By Brian Harrod
Barstool Sports is raising millions of dollars for struggling small businesses across the country and in the Hudson Valley.
Mary Ann’s Mexican Restaurant in Port Chester say they lost up to 75% of business and it has put them on the verge of permanently shutting their doors.
Now digital media company Barstool Sports is offering a lifeline the struggling Port Chester businesses
Barstool Sports founder David Portnoy donated $500,000 and started the Barstool Fund, which has now raised well over $18 million.
All Mary Ann’s Mexican Restaurant in Port Chester had to do was prove your business is successful and that your employees are still on the payroll.
More than 70 other small businesses across the country also got the same cash infusion that Mary Ann’s Mexican Restaurant in Port Chester got.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Clay Art Center’s Winter Classes for Youth And Adults
PRESS RELEASE: Clay Art Center will be offering a selection of multi-week classes for all skill levels from beginner to advanced.
PORT CHESTER: Whether you are new to clay or an experienced potter, they have handbuilding, wheel throwing and special topic classes designed for you.
Adult Classes
Their 5 week introductory classes are designed for new students to explore all clay has to offer. Classes include Intro to Handbuilding, Intro to Wheel Throwing and Pottery for Beginners. These classes are offered nights and weekends. No experience necessary. Their intermediate and advanced classes will allow students to explore new techniques and forms.
For a fun Friday night out with friends or a date sign up for Maker Date. Get messy as they walk you through the basics of throwing on the potter’s wheel. Create a unique piece of pottery, then choose a glaze from their studio selection.
Pieces will be fired and available for pick up at a later date. Best of Westchester 2020 Winner “Best Artsy Night Out”. First Maker Date is Friday, January 15th. Special Valentine’s Day Maker Dates will take place on February 12th & 13th.
Youth Classes (Ages 10 – 16) & Family Classes (Ages 6+)
Have your kids unplug with mud at their award-winning multi-week youth classes starting January 17th. Their popular tween wheel (ages 10 – 12) and teen wheel (Ages 13 – 16) are fun and creative opportunities to explore a variety of functional pottery forms, wheel techniques and glazing. No experience necessary.
For a fun Saturday out with the whole family sign up for a one-time family class, Saturday Clay. Adults & children will explore their inner artists in this 2-hour introduction to clay. Professional ceramic artists will guide themed weekly hand-building projects including a special Easter Workshop on April 3rd. For ages 6 – 99. No experience necessary. First class is January 16th.
Family Wheel Night is a one-time class for parents, kids, tweens or teens (Ages 9+) interested in learning to use the potter’s wheel. Have fun and bond with your family while receiving a lesson from experienced and dedicated ceramic artists. Beginners are welcome and no previous experience is necessary! First class is January 16th.
Private Lessons
In-person and virtual private lessons are a great way to learn new skills from their Studio or from your home. Their professional artists are ready to help you advance your handbuilding and wheelthrowing skills.
At Home Clay Virtual Programs
Virtual Adult Classes including Intermediate Wheel Throwing and Exploration in Handbuilding are designed for you to learn new clay skills and techniques from the comfort of your home.
Virtual Artist Talks & Demos featuring some of the top ceramic artists working today take place via Zoom. Upcoming artists include Kensuke Yamada, Vinnie Bagwell, Rich Brown and Syd Carpenter. Look for accompanying sales of artist work in our online shop.
Parties for Adults & Youth
Let Clay Art Center host your next in-person or virtual get together. For adults plan an upcoming birthday party, team building exercise or creative check-in with your friends. For kids ages 7 – teen – plan a fun and creative birthday party, scout meeting, school friends get together or weekly playdate. Clay kit curbside pickup available in Port Chester, NY.
Clay Curbside Services
Purchase clay and tools on their website and pick up at Clay Art Center. They also offer drop-off kiln firing services. The shop and gallery are closed for in-person visits but you can visit online or by appointment.
You can continue shopping online for handmade ceramics. The shop has a variety of items including mugs and bowls to make meal time into a celebration, sculptural items to decorate your home, and gifts for weddings, birthdays and other celebrations. Proceeds from your purchases support the artist and Clay Art Center.
Gallery & Exhibitions–
-Concepts in Clay: Artists of Color is their current online virtual exhibit featuring works by celebrated Black ceramic artists from across the US. It has been extended through February 28th. Stay tuned for announcements on upcoming virtual exhibitions. They look forward to hosting in-person exhibitions in 2021.
Visit Clayartcenter.org for more information.
OPINION: Why Can’t Port Chester Restaurants Open For Indoor Dining…Come on Politicians…Help These People…NOW!!! – By Brian Harrod
PORT CHESTER: Come on politicians, help these people. Why can’t there by indoor dinning even at 25% or so capacity.
FACTS: There is only so much local government can do, meaning the Port Chester Board of Trustees. But Port Chester restaurant owners need help…NOW!!
I’m sure that State Senator Shelley Mayer and Assemblyman Steve Otis are trying their best but they must try harder.
Right around the corner, the village of Rye Brook and the city of Rye restaurants are serving inside dining.
Why was Rye City and Rye Brook out of the Orange zone?
Why can’t Port Chester open their restaurants like the gyms and other businesses can open as of now.
Why can’t Port Chester be like their surrounding neighbors?
Is it because Port Chester is a majority minority community and no one gives a X#@?… you know what I mean.
Action must be taken. If I was a betting person, the people at the Governor’s office making these decisions probably never heard of Port Chester, much less ever visited unless on their way to a fundraiser…or go to restaurants where you can eat inside…Rye City, Rye Brook or even…. Greenwich, CT.
Someone has to get to Governor Andrew Cuomo and have him understand what is going on in Port Chester.
How long can this go on?
My suggestion is that every Port Chester resident should telephone the Governor’s office at 518-474-8390.
I guarantee if enough people, especially Port Chester democrats, contact all of the village’s state politicians, the right people will listen and Port Chester restaurants will be opened for indoor dinning.
No politician wants to be known as a “do nothing” when times get rough.
Port Chester resturants can operate safely, following the same CDC guidelines that Greenwich, Rye Book And the City of Rye are following
What a New Year’s gift this would be for Port Chester Restaurants finally open for Indoor dining like all of the restaurants in Westchester County.
PRESS RELEASE: The Mariner Apartment Community Trades Hands for $32 Million
PORT CHESTER: Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it has completed the $32,250,000 sale of The Mariner, a Class A apartment community located along the Byram River and Port Chester’s Riverwalk Promenade in Port Chester, New York.
The property opened in 2012 following the neighborhood’s comprehensive redevelopment, which rapidly transformed the streetscape into a destination for retail, entertainment, and living. Originally planned as a condominium, the LEED Silver Certified property comprises 100 spacious units and features a best-in-class amenity package.
Walker & Dunlop’s team was led by Managing Directors Thomas Walsh and Joseph Garibaldi. The team represented the seller, institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management, serving as broker and advisor for the disposition.
Mr. Walsh stated, “Institutionally developed, owned, and maintained, The Mariner is considered one of Westchester County’s premier residential assets. This sale represented a very rare opportunity to acquire an institutional caliber boutique luxury residential asset in one of the nation’s highest barriers to entry metropolitan areas, and we were pleased to play a part in the transaction.”
Situated in the heart of downtown Port Chester, The Mariner is within walking distance of Port Chester’s Metro-North Train Station, providing direct access to midtown Manhattan and to Stamford, Connecticut. Premium community amenities include a fitness studio, social lounge, concierge service, and a landscaped roof overlooking downtown Port Chester with sweeping views of the Long Island Sound and Port Chester’s active recreational marina. The condominium-grade units average over 1,000 square feet and feature premium fixtures and finishes, including high ceilings, hardwood floors, and quartz countertops.
Walker & Dunlop is a leader in the multifamily property sales space and continues to expand its capabilities and reach across the United States. The company has more than doubled the size of its property sales team since the end of 2018 and has added new offices in Austin, Chicago, Columbus, Los Angeles, the New York Metropolitan area, Philadelphia, Portland, and San Diego. Walker & Dunlop is focused on growing this platform to complement its national mortgage banking footprint. To learn more about our property sales capabilities, visit our website.
About Walker & Dunlop
Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate finance companies in the United States. The company provides a comprehensive range of capital solutions for all commercial real estate asset classes, as well as investment sales brokerage services to owners of multifamily properties. Walker & Dunlop is included on the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and was ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine’s Fastest Growing Companies in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Walker & Dunlop’s 900+ professionals in 40 offices across the nation have an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction.
About J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives
J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives is the alternative investment arm of J.P. Morgan Asset Management. With more than 50 years as an alternatives investment manager, $145 billion in assets under management and more than 600 professionals (as of June 30, 2020), we offer strategies across the alternative investment spectrum including real estate, private equity and credit, infrastructure, transportation, liquid alternatives, and hedge funds. Operating from offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, our 15 independent alternative investment engines combine specialist knowledge and singular focus with the global reach, vast resources and powerful infrastructure of J.P. Morgan to help meet each client’s specific objectives. For more information: jpmorganassetmanagement.com.
SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc.
Related Links
The Board of Education has released the Ethics Committees Report, “Report of Insvestigation-Thomas Corbia.” The report can be read in its entirety here
Please Download And Print The Reort Here:
https://portchesternewswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Ethic-Committee-report-released-11-19-20-22.pdf
Westchester Gets Over 330 New Coronavirus Cases Following Yellow Zone Designations In The County – By Brian Harrod
Cases of the coronavirus increased by 337 in Westchester County on Thursday as five municipalities receive a yellow zone designation due to mounting COVID-19 infection rates.
There have now been a total number of 45,672 positive cases recorded in Westchester since the start of the pandemic, according to the state tracker. With the additional positive cases, the county has 4,130 active coronavirus cases.
One more death was reported on Thursday, according to the state tracker, resulting in a total of 1,494 COVID-19-related deaths since March. The county’s positivity rate is currently 3.45 percent, a decrease from 4.91 percent that was reported on Wednesday, according to state data.
Portions of Ossining, Peekskill, Tarrytown, Yonkers and New Rochelle received the designation on Thursday, requiring specific zip codes to follow new restrictions and state mandates to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
As a result, there will be increased community testing, tracing support, enforcement, education, and compliance efforts.
Targeted areas include zip codes 10562, which contains most of the Village of Ossining and a small corner of the Town of Ossining; 10566 in Peekskill; 10591, which spans Tarrytown and portions of Sleepy Hollow; 10801 in New Rochelle; and areas 10703 and 10705 in Yonkers.
Port Chester remans in an orange warning zone.
“The yellow zones highlight where there is a concentration of infection and therefore we are now tasked with putting additional effort to try to reduce the infection into that area so we will not see it expand further and potentially cause life-threatening realities of Covid,” County Executive George Latimer
New restrictions will limit mass gatherings both indoor and outdoor to 25 people, with restaurants scaling persons per table for both indoor and outdoor dining to four people. Houses of worship will now be restricted to 50 percent capacity and schools can remain open with mandatory weekly testing of 20 percent of students, teachers, and staff for in-person settings.
George Latimer said the county will work with school districts to provide the testing it needs.
Violators who incite mass gatherings will be fined up to $15,000, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Orders.
Westchester Active Coronavirus Cases by Municipality
Here are the active cases by municipality in Westchester as of Wednesday. With a lag between the total number of cases confirmed by the state and the tally of cases by town, the total number of municipal cases might be slightly different than what the county’s active cases reflects.Ardsley – 8
Bedford – 65
Briarcliff Manor – 20
Bronxville – 16
Buchanan – 10
Cortlandt – 85
Croton-on-Hudson – 20
Dobbs Ferry – 42
Eastchester – 66
Elmsford – 21
Greenburgh – 110
Harrison – 105
Hastings-on-Hudson – 19
Irvington – 13
Larchmont – 16
Lewisboro – 33
Mamaroneck Town – 28
Mamaroneck Village – 61
Mount Kisco – 68
Mount Pleasant – 69
Mount Vernon – 217
New Castle – 48
New Rochelle – 372
North Castle – 43
North Salem – 19
Ossining Town – 19
Ossining Village – 158
Peekskill – 145
Pelham – 16
Pelham Manor – 13
Pleasantville – 27
Port Chester – 241
Pound Ridge – 7
Rye Brook – 46
Rye City – 50
Scarsdale – 30
Sleepy Hollow – 75
Somers – 66
Tarrytown – 32
Tuckahoe – 17
White Plains – 184
Yonkers – 568
Yorktown – 150
Crime In Port Chester – By Brian Harrod
The FBI’s crime rate includes seven crime categories: three property crimes — larceny, burglary, and motor vehicle theft, and four violent crimes — aggravated assault, robbery, rape, and murder.
Port Chester Village has a lower overall crime rate than the vast majority of U.S. cities. For comparison, the national total crime rate is 2,489 incidents for every 100,000 people.
Port Chester Village’s overall crime rate is 56% lower than the overall crime rate in New York. Statewide, there were 336,919 crimes reported in 2019, or 1,732 for every 100,000 people.
Property crime
The vast majority of crimes in America are property crimes, accounting for 85% of total crimes in 2019. In Port Chester Village, however, property crimes account for about 90% of all offenses.
Despite accounting for a higher than average share of total offenses, property crime is much less prevalent in Port Chester Village than it is nationwide. There were 200 property crimes in Port Chester Village in 2019, or 682 for every 100,000 residents. Meanwhile, the national property crime rate is 2,110 incidents per 100,000 people.
Larceny
Larceny is by far the most common type of property crime in the U.S. It is also the most commonly committed type of property crime in Port Chester Village. There were 172 larcenies reported in Port Chester Village in 2019, or 587 for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, the larceny rate is 1,550 per 100,000.
Burglary
There were 18 break-ins reported in Port Chester Village in 2019, or 61 for every 100,000 residents. For reference, there were 341 reported burglaries for every 100,000 people nationwide in 2019.
Motor Vehicle Theft
Across the United States, the annual motor vehicle theft rate is 220 for every 100,000 people. In Port Chester Village, meanwhile, there were 10 motor vehicle thefts in 2019, or 34 for every 100,000 people.
Violent crime
Violent crime accounts for a relatively small share of crimes nationwide. These offenses, which are generally more egregious than property crimes, account for about 15% of the nearly 8.2 million offenses reported across the U.S. in 2019. In Port Chester Village, however, violent offenses account for a smaller 10% share of all reported crime.
At 72 incidents for every 100,000 people, the violent crime rate in Port Chester Village is well below the national violent crime rate of 379 offenses per 100,000 people. Law enforcement in Port Chester Village reported a total of 21 violent crimes in 2019.
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated assault is by far the most common type of violent crime reported in the U.S. It is also the most commonly reported violent offense in Port Chester Village. There were 11 aggravated assaults reported in Port Chester Village in 2019, or 38 for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, the rate is far higher, standing at 250 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.
Robbery
Robbery is the second most common type of violent crime in America. There were 7 robberies reported in Port Chester Village in 2019, a rate of 24 robberies for every 100,000 residents. For comparison, the national robbery rate was 82 per 100,000 in 2019.
Rape
There were 2 rapes reported in Port Chester Village in 2019, or 7 for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, there were 139,815 rapes in 2019, a rate of 43 per 100,000 people.
Murder
There was one homicide reported in the city in 2019. Adjusted for population, the murder rate in Port Chester Village is 3.4 for every 100,000 people, lower than the national murder rate of 5 per 100,000 people.
County Executive George Latimer Announces Additional Port Chester Coronavirus Testing – Brian Harrod
PORT CHESTER, NY — The Westchester County Health Department and Open Door Family Medical Center will offer increased testing for the new coronavirus.
The testing will take place at Open Door Port Chester, 5 Grace Church St. in Port Chester.
Testing will be available as follows:
- Thursday, Nov. 12: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 13: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 14: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Appointments are necessary. To make an appointment, call 914-995-7425 or go to this web page.
Community Activists Say Port Chester Is Unnecessarily Delaying The State Mandated Police Reform Process – By Brian Harrod
Infighting on the Port Chester Board of Trustees has delayed and hampered New York State mandated police reform measures in the village.
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive order requires the Board of Trustees to meet as the Port Chester Board of Police commissioners and receive community based input on needed police reform measures.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s required steps have been delayed, because of a contentious attitude by some Board of Trustee members, who are opposed to the criminal justice reform laws passed by New York State after civil unrest in Port Chester and other communities this summer.
Port Chester Mayor Richard ‘Fritz” Falanka and the Trustees must give the public ample time time to comment and the new reforms drafted on April 1, 2021
Public outreach is key to meeting the executive order’s requirement that Port Chester modify and modernize policing strategies, policies, procedures and practices that addresses the needs of the communities of color in this minority majority village.
Community activists say that Port Chester will lose state aid and grants that are desperately needed during this pandemic if the Mayor and Trustees continue with the delays and infighting.
Port Chester’s newly engaged voters want the village’s elected officials to closely adhere to the guidelines in the governor’s executive order and specifically target police actions in communities with a high level of police interactions.
Some trustees want to replace multiple community listening sessions with a diverse community reform committee that they appoint from party loyalists of color.
One trustee is supposedly seeking to replace the multiple community listening sessions with a survey bulk mailed to addresses in the 10573 zip code.
And then there are trustees that say all of the above should be done and perhaps an independent consultant to run the process for the village.
But community leaders say the clock is ticking as the mayor and trustees continually argue with each other instead of listening to the community.
Port Chester School Board President Thomas Corbia Has Been Uncooperative In Multiple BOE Investigations – By Brian Harrod
PORT CHESTER: Many disgusted Port Chester families are concerned about what will happen if Thomas Corbia continues to refuse to co-operate with the Board of Education’s $20,000 plus investigation.
Energized Port Chester voters tired of the status quo in the minority majority village want to know what individual school board members will do if the school board president continues to turn over his devises for evidence of a hacking attack that spewed racial hatred into the community.
Community activists say the village has been two previous investigations where Tom Corbia has refused to cooperate and faced no repercussions.
They say four years ago, Tom Corbia had a disregard for school policies and procedures, when in a lawsuit against the district, he admitted under oath in a 2016 deposition, that he had passed confidential information to the person suing the school districts taxpayers and it was determined that it was a flagrant violation of his BOE duties and fiscal responsibilities to protect the schools.
Then, in 2018, another investigation involving Tom Corbia occurred, concerning information being about contract negotiations for the current superintendent – that was leaked prior to the contract being finalized.
At that tom Corbia refused to cooperate with the investigation to determine who leaked the sensitive information, thus making it impossible for the investigation to be completed.
Now Tom Corbia is involved in a third investigation, with in a four-year period, this time involving racially insensitive social media posts being made on his personal Facebook account.
Testing Expanded At Open Door Family Medical As Port Chester Declared Coronavirus Yellow Zone – By Brian Harrod
PORT CHESTER: Due to an increase in coronavirus cases, Port Chester has been designated a micro-cluster by #NewYork health officials and placed under “yellow zone” restrictions.
The village jumped from 96 to 119 active cases between Thursday and Friday, according to #WestchesterCounty data.Westchester County Health Department and Open Door Family Medical Center are expanding testing in Port Chester until Tuesday. The testing initiative was made in consultation with the New York State Department of Health.Testing will be available:
- Monday, November 9: 10 a.m. -6 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 10: 10 a.m. -6 p.m.
Those who wish to make an appointment should call 914-995-7425 or click here to do so online. Walk-ins will only be accepted on a limited basis.Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the micro-cluster designation in a Friday morning news briefing. It is a strong reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, Westchester County officials said.Additionally, County Executive #GeorgeLatimer and his Health Department is:
- Distributing masks and hand sanitizer to community groups and schools in Port Chester;
- Meeting with community and school leaders to discuss COVID-19 prevention and protocols; and
- Launching an educational campaign in English and Spanish.
The move to put Port Chester on the micro-cluster list comes as state health officials downgraded the restrictions on #RocklandCounty’s and #OrangeCounty’s micro-cluster.Rockland has been moved to the orange category from red. Orange has been moved to the yellow category from orange….
SEE ALSO: The Yonkers Newswire, Where The City Of Yonkers Has Also Had A jump Of Daily Cases.
MTA Investigates After A Man Was Fatally Struck Near The Port Chester Station – By Brian Harrod
PORT CHESTER: At 8;30 PM New Haven Line trains were held at their stations for about an hour to investigate and remove a body from the tracks.
The MTA Police reported that it appears the death was not non-criminal and not accidental.
Village Mayor Will Not Seek Re-Election As Angry Residents Demand That He Remove Tom Corbia, As The Municipal Housing Board President – Brian Harrod
POLITICS: The Race To Replace Fritz’s Mayoral Seat Could Take A Nasty Turn If Bart “The Bigot” Didden Once Again Starts Distributing Flyers In A New Effort To Be Mayor
IS EVERYTHING ALRIGHT: This follows Port Chester village manager surprise decision to resign after eight years, causing many village homeowners to worry that there might be serious problem exposed at village hall in the near future.
Mayor Falanka, who served two easy terms. suddenly feels that its time to let someone else do the job.
Mayor Falanka began his career with the Village of Port Chester in May of 1977 when he was appointed Village Clerk. On four separate occasions,
Mr. Flanka was called on to serve as Interim Village Manager and was appointed Assistant Village Manager in June of 1999.
On April 6, 2004, he was appointed Village Manager and he served in this position until his retirement in May of 2006.
In March of 2017, Mr. Flanka was elected Mayor of the Village of Port Chester.
He was re-elected to a second term in March of 2019. His term runs through April 2021.
Recently there have been multiple rallies and marches for Black Lives Matter in the minority majority village, as well as, many public calls for Port Chester school board president Thomas Corbia to resign over racist Facebook post.
In its December 15, 2006 complaint the Justice Department stated that, “the current at-large system for electing members of the Port Chester Board of Trustees results in Hispanic citizens having less opportunity than white citizens to participate in the political process and to elect candidates of their choice to the Port Chester Board of Trustees.”
Although Latinos make up a significant portion of Port Chester’s population, at that time, no Latinos had ever been elected to their Board of Trustees or local school board.
On March 2, 2007, federal court judge Stephen C. Robinson ruled in favor of the Department of Justice and placed an injunction, to avoid the six neighborhood voting districts that would have improved Hispanic representation in the minority majority village local officials came up with an alternative plan to address the problem by using cumulative voting.
At the trial the court received extensive testimony about a racist flyer used as part of Bart Didden’s 2007 trustee campaign as a Republican candidate.
According to Bart Didden’s testimony in court, the racist flyer was created in collaboration with attorney Crane,, who was a trustee at the time, and then Port Chester School Board President Dominic Bencivenga. (United States v. Village of Port Chester 6 Civil 15173).