Our state legislature is actually working on a Saturday. Why not, they take off the other 364 days of the year.
As midnight approaches the latest budget news:
- No tax credits for private school tuition;
- Rochester will not receive any additional funding beyond the 33% increase from last year's level;
- Current total looks to be around $121 billion.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
militarytimes.comFriday, March 30, 2007
Mo' Money, Mo' Problems
New Yorkers Pay More But Just Not Happy
The Center for Governmental Research compared local governments in New York and Virginia, here is what it found:
The Center for Governmental Research compared local governments in New York and Virginia, here is what it found:
CGR prepared a study for the Long Island Index that compared local governments in the two counties on Long Island with two comparable counties in northern Virginia. Including school districts and special districts, Long Island has 439 local government entities compared with 17 in northern Virginia. Long Island governments spend 45% more, per capita, than their northern Virginia counterparts, and local property taxes are 55% higher on Long Island. Despite that, a comprehensive survey of both regions found that citizens in northern Virginia rate the level of service provided by local governments and schools higher, and say they have better access to government officials.
100th Post: Your 5Linx Story
Takin' it to the Streets
Just over two months ago we relaunched the current version of the Water Buffalo Press. It is now 100 posts later and we would like to thank everyone who visited, read, commented and linked.
Our first post examined the company 5Linx, located in Henrietta, NY, and its worthiness of millions of dollars in funding and incentives given its employment of the suspect MLM business model. Today, this is still our most visited thread with the most recent comments coming just two weeks ago:
On that note, with assistance from PyramidSchemeAlert.org, we have begun building a file for review on 5Linx and its business operations. We invite anyone who has had a 5Linx experience, positive or negative, to either post his or her story in the comments section below or email your story to waterbuffalopress@gmail.com.
Once the information is complied it will be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission and Office of the NYS Attorney General for review.
All of our 5Linx stories can be found in the COMIDA section of our archives. We thank you for your input, more to come -
Just over two months ago we relaunched the current version of the Water Buffalo Press. It is now 100 posts later and we would like to thank everyone who visited, read, commented and linked.
Our first post examined the company 5Linx, located in Henrietta, NY, and its worthiness of millions of dollars in funding and incentives given its employment of the suspect MLM business model. Today, this is still our most visited thread with the most recent comments coming just two weeks ago:
dj_paige said...
PyramidSchemeAlert.org? Why didn’t I think of that? This whole thread should be made widely available somehow -- perhaps by putting it on its own page with a catchy title so that Google can search for it, and people can find it.
On that note, with assistance from PyramidSchemeAlert.org, we have begun building a file for review on 5Linx and its business operations. We invite anyone who has had a 5Linx experience, positive or negative, to either post his or her story in the comments section below or email your story to waterbuffalopress@gmail.com.
Once the information is complied it will be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission and Office of the NYS Attorney General for review.
All of our 5Linx stories can be found in the COMIDA section of our archives. We thank you for your input, more to come -
What's Good For the Goose is Not Neccesarily Good for the Dems
Federal Pork Oversight Weakened
From a Washington Times story -
Just because the joke of an administration currently occupying the White House is Republican does not mean that we should be blind to Democratic shenanigans.
The CRS said it is cutting back because of redundancy, yet no other governmental organization is designed to digest and compile such information and present it to the Congressional body.
As indicated in the article, third party oversight of such issues gives the public an accurate picture of the economic implications of legislation, rather than the doctored numbers that communicate the message which the party in power wants to be heard.
From a Washington Times story -
The federal agency that tracked pork-barrel spending during the 12 years of the Republican congressional majority has discontinued the practice since Democrats took power . . .
CRS, a nonpartisan agency of the Library of Congress created to conduct research for members of Congress on legislative issues, changed its policy in February -- a month after Democrats took control of the Congress and vowed to curb the number of special-interest projects inserted into spending bills or even reports that don't require a vote. CRS Director Daniel P. Mulhollan developed the policy after consulting with "internal CRS appropriations experts" and deciding the service was redundant with what other agencies do, CRS spokeswoman Janine D'Addario said.
"His decision was strictly an internal decision," said Miss D'Addario, whose agency began providing Congress members with information on earmarks in 1994, when Mr. Mulhollan took over as director.
-snip-
Several lawmakers, particularly those who had come to rely on the agency to identify the dollar value of earmarks in appropriations and other laws, were caught off guard by the change.
"It's troubling -- I can't think of any justification for that," said Rep. Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican. "They've done good research in the past ... That's what they're here for -- the benefit of the members" of Congress.
-snip-
Republicans said they want an independent observer because pork is often in the eye of the beholder and estimates of the amount vary widely.
Citizens Against Government Waste put the figure for 2006 at $29 billion, while Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee said it was $17 billion. Mr. DeMint, citing a CRS report, said the amount totaled more than $67 billion.
Mr. DeMint said no other agency or group has the resources, expertise and access to provide Congress with data on earmarks. "This is really baffling that CRS would do this," he said.
-snip-
When Democrats took control of the 110th Congress in January, they promised to limit the long-standing and bipartisan practice of slipping pork spending into bills. But when the House last week passed a $124 billion emergency war-funding provision, the bill included as much as $20 billion in nonmilitary and pork-barrel spending, a move widely criticized . . .
-snip-
The emergency war-funding provision included $74 million for the peanut industry, $124 million for the shrimp industry and $25 million for spinach producers. The war-funding bill is proof an independent third-party observer like the Congressional Research Service is needed to keep track of earmarks, many in Congress say.
"I can tell you it's very difficult to get this type of information from the [House] Appropriations Committee -- very difficult," Mr. Flake said.
Just because the joke of an administration currently occupying the White House is Republican does not mean that we should be blind to Democratic shenanigans.
The CRS said it is cutting back because of redundancy, yet no other governmental organization is designed to digest and compile such information and present it to the Congressional body.
As indicated in the article, third party oversight of such issues gives the public an accurate picture of the economic implications of legislation, rather than the doctored numbers that communicate the message which the party in power wants to be heard.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Spitz Makes Concessions
Steamroller Compromises With Senate GOP
NYS Governor Eliot Spitzer announced a tentative budget agreement between legislative leaders. The unnerving part of the announcement was the absence of any of those other leaders.
How did it (maybe) get done? Spitzer, Bruno and Silver ignored the warnings of Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and decided to spend more tax dollars:
- More than $350 million added to offset proposed cuts in healthcare.
- Approximately $500 million added to education spending to reduce the number of save-harmless districts and provide increased operating aid for districts throughout the state.
- The property tax relief program will provide savings via rebate checks.
- Certain provisions of the proposed corporate tax loophole package will be offset by business tax reductions.
It will be amazing if this agreement actually holds together, but it is obvious that Steamroller Spitzer is all too aware of how to play the Albany Deal Game. Did Spitz cave in the face of falling poll approval numbers? Why concede to the Senate GOP that, given party dynamics and leg majorities, is really the only Republican game in town?
Unfortunately, we will likely never know the answers to these and other questions as the negotiations have taken place in private via the classic "Three Men in a Room" style of politics. So much for reform -
NYS Governor Eliot Spitzer announced a tentative budget agreement between legislative leaders. The unnerving part of the announcement was the absence of any of those other leaders.
How did it (maybe) get done? Spitzer, Bruno and Silver ignored the warnings of Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and decided to spend more tax dollars:
- More than $350 million added to offset proposed cuts in healthcare.
- Approximately $500 million added to education spending to reduce the number of save-harmless districts and provide increased operating aid for districts throughout the state.
- The property tax relief program will provide savings via rebate checks.
- Certain provisions of the proposed corporate tax loophole package will be offset by business tax reductions.
It will be amazing if this agreement actually holds together, but it is obvious that Steamroller Spitzer is all too aware of how to play the Albany Deal Game. Did Spitz cave in the face of falling poll approval numbers? Why concede to the Senate GOP that, given party dynamics and leg majorities, is really the only Republican game in town?
Unfortunately, we will likely never know the answers to these and other questions as the negotiations have taken place in private via the classic "Three Men in a Room" style of politics. So much for reform -
Monday, March 26, 2007
Blogrollcall
Another Centrist! Not a knee jerk liberal, not an out of touch conservative - it's our newest addition to the blogroll: Mustard Street.
Welcome to the middle; it is a lonely, lonely place.
The WBP came across Mustard Street via their analysis of our posting regarding County Executive Brooks' bill eliminating health insurance benefits for future Water Board members:
Thank you. We find your insight on our insight to be insightful.
Actually, given NYS AG Andrew Cuomo's numerous actions indicating the illegality of such benefits, Brooks would have likely been forced to take action had she not done so voluntarily.
Thank you, keep up the good fight.
Welcome to the middle; it is a lonely, lonely place.
The WBP came across Mustard Street via their analysis of our posting regarding County Executive Brooks' bill eliminating health insurance benefits for future Water Board members:
Over at the Water Buffalo Press there's a pretty insightful take on last night's action by the Monroe County Legislature to approve a Maggie Brooks proposal to freeze -- as the D&C styled it -- benefits for Water Authority Board members.
Thank you. We find your insight on our insight to be insightful.
This observer thinks Water Buffalo is too harsh on Brooks. After all, she didn't have to propose anything.
Actually, given NYS AG Andrew Cuomo's numerous actions indicating the illegality of such benefits, Brooks would have likely been forced to take action had she not done so voluntarily.
However, that doesn't detract from the overall thoughtfulness of the Water Buffalo piece. Its analysis is much more subtle than its title; so read on.
Thank you, keep up the good fight.
NYS Assembly Highlights: 3/19 - 3/23
Ah spring, when a young man's fancies turn to thoughts of budget negotiations - a budget that is supposed to be passed one week from today. We are not holding our breath.
Speaker Sheldon Silver has released his list of action items from last week's Assembly sessions. Highlights include:
This is really just a political money-grab. By moving the Primary date up the scales are tipped in favor of the candidate who heads into the early primaries with the largest war chest. For example, a Hillary Clinton will have a much better chance of winning the party nomination than a Dennis Kucinich who would more likely gain momentum and votes through communicating ideas and establishing himself as an alternative candidate, rather than coming out of the gates as a favorite. In the middle of it all will be the state party leaders, bleeding media and personnel funds out of the massive campaign accounts with the promise of delegates.
Undoubtedly we have a responsibility to help relief workers and the families of victims, but to expand coverage to those whom "personally witnessed" the attacks? The entire nation was, in a way, witnesses on that day and what of those who saw the Pentagon attack or the "crash" of Flight 85? Were their experiences any less chilling and upsetting?
As far as the arbitrary "10-block radius," I would have loved to been in on the conversation where they came up with that one. No caps on these reimbursements either - yikes.
They may discuss it in public, but we will never see any deal made in public. As far as the additional $575 million is state revenue, more can be found on that fallacy here.
Speaker Sheldon Silver has released his list of action items from last week's Assembly sessions. Highlights include:
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced that the Assembly gave final passage to legislation to change New York State's presidential primary date from March 4 to February 5, 2008.
"The earlier primary date will give our state the edge we need to lock in a candidate's commitment to New York and enhance our ability to select the best presidential candidate for the state and nation," said Silver. He noted that by passing this legislation, New York will now be linked with other influential states that have demographic as well as public-policy issues and needs similar to New York State's.
This is really just a political money-grab. By moving the Primary date up the scales are tipped in favor of the candidate who heads into the early primaries with the largest war chest. For example, a Hillary Clinton will have a much better chance of winning the party nomination than a Dennis Kucinich who would more likely gain momentum and votes through communicating ideas and establishing himself as an alternative candidate, rather than coming out of the gates as a favorite. In the middle of it all will be the state party leaders, bleeding media and personnel funds out of the massive campaign accounts with the promise of delegates.
Silver announced the passage of legislation to continue the reimbursement of counseling expenses for relief workers or individuals who personally witnessed the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.
-snip-
Under the bill (A.6621, Silver / S.3039, Maltese), traumatized bystanders who were within a 10-block radius of the WTC site when the attack occurred and relief workers would continue to have their counseling services reimbursed until December 31, 2007. This benefit is available without regard to the residence or financial difficulty of a claimant. The rate of reimbursement is determined by a claimant's treating counselor or independent medical examiner and is based on a percentage of the counseling service that is related to the claimant's injury that is a direct result of the 9/11 attack. There is no cap on the reimbursement expense.
Undoubtedly we have a responsibility to help relief workers and the families of victims, but to expand coverage to those whom "personally witnessed" the attacks? The entire nation was, in a way, witnesses on that day and what of those who saw the Pentagon attack or the "crash" of Flight 85? Were their experiences any less chilling and upsetting?
As far as the arbitrary "10-block radius," I would have loved to been in on the conversation where they came up with that one. No caps on these reimbursements either - yikes.
Silver joined Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Lt. Gov. David Paterson and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno as well as the minority leaders from each house for a meeting in the Capitol to discuss, in public, a budget for the state's fiscal year 2007-08. Silver and Spitzer urged Senator Bruno and Senate Republicans to
reduce their excessive spending proposal to a level that is closer to the additional state revenue amount of $575 million that all parties agreed to earlier this month.
They may discuss it in public, but we will never see any deal made in public. As far as the additional $575 million is state revenue, more can be found on that fallacy here.
Open Thread: State of the City
Everyone does open threads on Fridays. I do not know about you but I like Fridays - I am in prime bitching mode on Mondays. In that spirit here is our Monday Open Thread: what is the State of the City of Rochester in your opinion? Mayor Duffy will give his tonight at 7:00pm, we want to hear yours -
Thursday, March 22, 2007
D&C Hopes Fear = Readers
Breaking News That Is Not So Breaking
The headline is ominous: "A neighborhood in our community is contaminated and homeowners have been unaware of the potential danger." Oooooooo, freaky . . .
So begins the multimedia slide show when the D&C website link for a Sunday Special Report is clicked. At the center of the story is the former site of Dinaburg Distributing Inc., a laundry chemical seller that closed nearly 15 years ago. The D&C tag line says area residents were shocked to learn of possible groundwater and air contamination at the site. Breaking news shrouded in secrecy finally exposed to the light by the efforts of the great and powerful D&C? Not so much.
The D&C is about six years late to the game on this story. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation actually held a public meeting regarding remediation at this site in August of 2001:
The DEC used Superfund monies to install soil vapor extraction systems in 2000.
According to this information at least two homeowners were aware of the vapors and those homes, according to this report, were the only two residences that were effected.
Additional contamination was discovered in the years that followed but just because no one paid attention does not mean that no one knew. Copies of site reports are available at the regional DEC office and the Rochester Public Library (next to the porn). A Dem & Chron 2006 article even highlighted Dinaburg and its disposal of drycleaning chemicals. The D&C would like you to believe the contrary, however, as they hope that the shock and awe tactics will get you to buy a paper on Sunday.
In fact, there are numerous companies still in operation which continue to contaminate. In addition, thanks to a list from the Environmental Protection Agency, who these businesses are and what toxins they deal in are very public and very available. Where is the D&C outrage over these businesses?
The EPA Envirofacts Warehouse identifies 43 entities as polluters and classifies their type into what they are allowed to release into the environment, for example:
Domine Builders
Permitted Discharges to Water? No
Toxic Releases Reported? Yes
Hazardous Waste Handler? Yes
Active or Archived Superfund Report? No
Air Releases Reported? Yes
To compare, Dinaburg had an affirmative in only one category.
Why did the D&C chose to highlight Dinaburg? Easy - no backlash from executives of a company no longer in operation.
Granted, why it took 17 years for this site to receive full remediation is a valid one, but perhaps more pressing is why this contamination is accepted and allowed.
The headline is ominous: "A neighborhood in our community is contaminated and homeowners have been unaware of the potential danger." Oooooooo, freaky . . .
So begins the multimedia slide show when the D&C website link for a Sunday Special Report is clicked. At the center of the story is the former site of Dinaburg Distributing Inc., a laundry chemical seller that closed nearly 15 years ago. The D&C tag line says area residents were shocked to learn of possible groundwater and air contamination at the site. Breaking news shrouded in secrecy finally exposed to the light by the efforts of the great and powerful D&C? Not so much.
The D&C is about six years late to the game on this story. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation actually held a public meeting regarding remediation at this site in August of 2001:
The New York State DEC and Department of Health invite you to a public meeting to discuss the former Dinaburg Distributing, Inc. property in the City of Rochester.
-snip-
The . . . site . . . has been vacant since 1995 and no dry cleaning chemicals remain in the building. The results of previous environmental investigations revealed soil and groundwater beneath the site are contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrachloroethene (PCE) . . .
In April 1999, the basement air in two homes adjacent to the site was sampled by the owner. PCE and TCE were detected in the air . . .
The DEC used Superfund monies to install soil vapor extraction systems in 2000.
According to this information at least two homeowners were aware of the vapors and those homes, according to this report, were the only two residences that were effected.
Additional contamination was discovered in the years that followed but just because no one paid attention does not mean that no one knew. Copies of site reports are available at the regional DEC office and the Rochester Public Library (next to the porn). A Dem & Chron 2006 article even highlighted Dinaburg and its disposal of drycleaning chemicals. The D&C would like you to believe the contrary, however, as they hope that the shock and awe tactics will get you to buy a paper on Sunday.
In fact, there are numerous companies still in operation which continue to contaminate. In addition, thanks to a list from the Environmental Protection Agency, who these businesses are and what toxins they deal in are very public and very available. Where is the D&C outrage over these businesses?
The EPA Envirofacts Warehouse identifies 43 entities as polluters and classifies their type into what they are allowed to release into the environment, for example:
Domine Builders
Permitted Discharges to Water? No
Toxic Releases Reported? Yes
Hazardous Waste Handler? Yes
Active or Archived Superfund Report? No
Air Releases Reported? Yes
To compare, Dinaburg had an affirmative in only one category.
Why did the D&C chose to highlight Dinaburg? Easy - no backlash from executives of a company no longer in operation.
Granted, why it took 17 years for this site to receive full remediation is a valid one, but perhaps more pressing is why this contamination is accepted and allowed.
...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Pork
Cuomo Increases Member Item Oversight
Obviously aware of where one can go after the state Attorney General's office, ala Spitz, AG Andrew Cuomo has been extremely active since taking the reins - and extremely effective.
Cuomo's name has been in the news but, rather than grandstanding, his headlines have come for undertaking much needed government reforms such as the incentives received by public authority boards and dishonest college loan practices.
Today, the AG took aim at another of New York's bureaucratic travesties: member item funding, or pork.
Under the terms of the reform, the two main goals of disclosure and accountability will be assured by adding Disclosure and Accountability Certifications to member item contracts for not-for-profit and for-profit corporations. Governmental bodies, such as cities, school districts and fire districts, will not be required to file the certifications.
The Disclosure and Accountability Certifications will have the organizations receiving grants attest to any conflicts of interest, the public purpose of the taxpayer funds, and the bona fides of the organization’s good standing.
“Member items have been a source of increasing public concern,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “While my Office continues its review of member item contracts, it is important that the public be assured that, going forward, such spending will be transparent and accountable. I applaud the legislative leaders’ cooperation in maintaining the pace of reform.”
Examples of the disclosure forms can be found here and here.
This much-needed reform is welcome but the exemption of governmental bodies seems puzzling given the attention to conflicts of interest. Municipalities and school districts would appear, to me at least, as two sections lending themselves to cronyism and in need of greater oversight.
While Cuomo's actions up to this point have been far-reaching, drastic reforms; the initiative put forth today stops just short ("You stole my move!") of the changes that New Yorkers deserve.
Obviously aware of where one can go after the state Attorney General's office, ala Spitz, AG Andrew Cuomo has been extremely active since taking the reins - and extremely effective.
Cuomo's name has been in the news but, rather than grandstanding, his headlines have come for undertaking much needed government reforms such as the incentives received by public authority boards and dishonest college loan practices.
Today, the AG took aim at another of New York's bureaucratic travesties: member item funding, or pork.
Under the terms of the reform, the two main goals of disclosure and accountability will be assured by adding Disclosure and Accountability Certifications to member item contracts for not-for-profit and for-profit corporations. Governmental bodies, such as cities, school districts and fire districts, will not be required to file the certifications.
The Disclosure and Accountability Certifications will have the organizations receiving grants attest to any conflicts of interest, the public purpose of the taxpayer funds, and the bona fides of the organization’s good standing.
“Member items have been a source of increasing public concern,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “While my Office continues its review of member item contracts, it is important that the public be assured that, going forward, such spending will be transparent and accountable. I applaud the legislative leaders’ cooperation in maintaining the pace of reform.”
Examples of the disclosure forms can be found here and here.
This much-needed reform is welcome but the exemption of governmental bodies seems puzzling given the attention to conflicts of interest. Municipalities and school districts would appear, to me at least, as two sections lending themselves to cronyism and in need of greater oversight.
While Cuomo's actions up to this point have been far-reaching, drastic reforms; the initiative put forth today stops just short ("You stole my move!") of the changes that New Yorkers deserve.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Destroyer Named for Marine
From the Military Times -
The Military Times is not run by any government entity, it is a Gannett News Company service. Each branch of the military actually has its own respective publication. With a built-in, captive audience and access not necessarily afforded general media the Military Times would certainly have the opportunity to examine issues about which many Americans are concerned. What was the lead story when I visited the website?
The name of a Marine who gave his life to save his comrades in Iraq will grace a new destroyer, the Navy announced Tuesday.
Cpl. Jason Dunham received the Medal of Honor on Jan. 11 for his actions April 14, 2004, when he grappled with an insurgent after his unit was ambushed in Karabilah, Iraq. Dunham threw himself on a live grenade to shield fellow Marines and, although he survived the initial explosion, died of his injuries after 10 days.
Navy Secretary Donald Winter plans to officially announce the ship’s name Friday in Dunham’s hometown of Scio, N.Y.
-snip-
Dunham is the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since the advent of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
A machine gunner for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Dunham was 22 years old when he died. The Navy provided an account of Dunham’s heroic actions:
“On April 14, 2004, Dunham’s squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah when his Battalion Commander’s convoy was ambushed. When Dunham’s squad approached to provide fire support, an Iraqi insurgent leapt out of a vehicle and attacked Dunham. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand. Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines, and when the enemy dropped the live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade, and threw himself on top to smother the blast. In an ultimate selfless act of courage, in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of two fellow Marines.”
The Military Times is not run by any government entity, it is a Gannett News Company service. Each branch of the military actually has its own respective publication. With a built-in, captive audience and access not necessarily afforded general media the Military Times would certainly have the opportunity to examine issues about which many Americans are concerned. What was the lead story when I visited the website?
Airman to vie for Miss USA crown this Friday
Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Mar 21, 2007 18:21:08 EDT
As an airman, 2nd Lt. Kelly George is used to representing her country. In March, she’ll take a turn representing her state.
George, deputy chief of public affairs for the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., will take the stage as Miss Arkansas on March 23 in the Miss USA pageant, to be broadcast on NBC. If she takes the tiara, George will represent America in the 2007 Miss Universe pageant.
“Kelly represents the Air Force and Arkansas well,” said Brig. Gen. Kip Self, 314th Airlift Wing commander. “She takes to heart the spirit of service in dedicating herself to civic duty and service to the country.”
The lieutenant hit the runway on Monday in Hollywood, Calif., for the pageant’s preliminary rounds wearing a sparkling black-and-white dress. Fans can vote for George to be Miss Photogenic at http://www.nbc.com/Miss_USA_2007/.
Monday, March 19, 2007
RCSD Cool With Dem Ebonix
Diversity Dialogue Newsletter Supports BEV in School
Rochester City School District officials have voiced their support for the use of Ebonics, or Black English vernacular (BEV), as a classroom learning tool in the Winter '07 issue of the Diversity Dialogue newsletter distributed to staff.
The newsletter was authored by Michelle Hancock, RCSD Chief of Diversity and Leadership, and Tyra Webb-Johnson, Director of Coaching and Leadership.
According to the letter, to implement BEV in the classroom teachers can:
- Model standard English as part of formal speech in the class (shouldn't this be common practice anyway?)
- Switch into BEV during informal discussion
- Discuss features that differ in BEV and Standard English
Now, on top of the dozens of other responsibilities piled on our educators, teachers must be "bilingual" and proficient in a language that does not even exist. The newsletter frequently refers to BEV as a second language, I was unaware that there is a land of Ebonia where everyone speaks Ebonics.
Spanish is a second language, French is a second language, Ebonics is a joke and a travesty. Languages are based on form and structure with rules that apply based on situation and context, not which Chingy song is in the Top 40 this week.
By validating these so-called speech patterns the RCSD does nothing to assimilate the section of society that uses BEV. Rather than working to motivate individuals to develop skill sets that will make them successful in the predominant culture, such policies only enforce the status quo which has created the rift that produced these differences in socio-economic standing resulting in something like Ebonics.
How can a middle-class white guy with a private college English and Lib Arts degree formulate such an opinion? Well, I didn't really. I had always been on the fence on this issue until I read Richard Rodriquez's novel Hunger of Learning. As the child of immigrant parents Mr. Rodriguez lived this issue and his views on bilingual education are illustrated in a Time magazine article:
Rochester City School District officials have voiced their support for the use of Ebonics, or Black English vernacular (BEV), as a classroom learning tool in the Winter '07 issue of the Diversity Dialogue newsletter distributed to staff.
The newsletter was authored by Michelle Hancock, RCSD Chief of Diversity and Leadership, and Tyra Webb-Johnson, Director of Coaching and Leadership.
According to the letter, to implement BEV in the classroom teachers can:
- Model standard English as part of formal speech in the class (shouldn't this be common practice anyway?)
- Switch into BEV during informal discussion
- Discuss features that differ in BEV and Standard English
Now, on top of the dozens of other responsibilities piled on our educators, teachers must be "bilingual" and proficient in a language that does not even exist. The newsletter frequently refers to BEV as a second language, I was unaware that there is a land of Ebonia where everyone speaks Ebonics.
Spanish is a second language, French is a second language, Ebonics is a joke and a travesty. Languages are based on form and structure with rules that apply based on situation and context, not which Chingy song is in the Top 40 this week.
By validating these so-called speech patterns the RCSD does nothing to assimilate the section of society that uses BEV. Rather than working to motivate individuals to develop skill sets that will make them successful in the predominant culture, such policies only enforce the status quo which has created the rift that produced these differences in socio-economic standing resulting in something like Ebonics.
How can a middle-class white guy with a private college English and Lib Arts degree formulate such an opinion? Well, I didn't really. I had always been on the fence on this issue until I read Richard Rodriquez's novel Hunger of Learning. As the child of immigrant parents Mr. Rodriguez lived this issue and his views on bilingual education are illustrated in a Time magazine article:
In the book, Rodriguez bears knowledgeable and compelling witness against America's recent methods of educating the underprivileged, and especially against bilingual education.
Rodriguez, in fact, is his own best case history. "I have been haunted by how my education has made me different," he says. As a "socially disadvantaged" son of Spanish-speaking parents, he entered a Roman Catholic grammar school in Sacramento, Calif., when he was six, speaking barely 50 words of English. By day, in class, he sat silent and unlearning. At night he luxuriated in the warmth and intimacy of his family's Spanish language and the separate, private world of his home. It was only when his teachers finally prevailed on Rodriguez's parents to try speaking English at home that his education began.
-snip-
Rodriguez has scant patience with middle-class ethnics, "filled with decadent self-pity," who resist entering the mainstream of American life. Today's bilingual classes, he maintains, keep children "poised at the edge of language too long." Using black English or Spanish in school is crippling because it reduces learning and delays assimilation; hence it reinforces a public form of separateness, a distinction that ultimately keeps minorities in their ghettos. "What I needed to learn in school was that I had the right—and the obligation—to speak the public language of los gringos," writes Rodriguez. "Only when I was able to think of myself as an American, no longer an alien in gringo society, could I seek the rights and opportunities necessary for full public individuality."
-snip-
"I've always been in favor of affirmative action, but only if class was the criterion rather than race."
What can students do, according to the newsletter, to help this program:
- Analyze the way black characters (their words not mine) deliberately alter speech patterns in media
- Create a list of BEV expressions and translate them into Standard English
Oh, oh . . . I have one. Whack, as in stupid, pointless or f-ed up.
Friday, March 16, 2007
NYS February Cash Report
Comptroller Update on Coffers
NYS Comptroller Tom Dinapoli issued his February cash report yesterday. What is seen are the same outrageous spending trends that will ultimately bankrupt our state.
With eleven months of the State’s 2006-07 fiscal year complete General Fund receipts were $3.9 billion or 9.3 percent ahead of last year, All Funds receipts were $4.0 billion or 4.2 percent ahead of last year.
General Fund spending was $40.9 billion in the first eleven months of the fiscal year. This is $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent higher than during the first eleven months of the 2005-06 fiscal year. All Funds spending of $95.3 billion was $7.8 billion or 8.9 percent higher than last year.
Also, this so-called "surplus" we have been hearing so much about from better than expected tax collections does not exist.
The increased revenues currently in the closing balance can be attributed to slower than anticipated refunds issued to date. Also, spending is below the Financial Plan primarily due to the timing of Local Assistance payments planned for February, but will have been paid in March in four areas, including education aid, welfare, special education and children and family service spending.
While $500 million in personal income tax refunds were accelerated at the end of the 2005-06 fiscal year, which would have the effect of increasing year to year variance, planned refunds expected to be paid in February 2007 did not accumulate as anticipated in the Financial Plan. As a result, to date, collections after refunds are currently higher than projected. It is expected that refunds in March 2007 will accelerate and therefore be on target with Financial Plan projections.
Total General Fund disbursements increased $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent as compared with the first eleven months of 2005-06 fiscal year. The growth in General Fund disbursements is driven by increases in education, health, and social services spending, along with additional payroll disbursements associated with retroactive collective bargaining agreements during this year compared to the same period last year.
Yes, that's right; union employees were paid for the year, decided they weren't paid enough and then used their stranglehold applied on the legislature by their lobbies to bargain for additional compensation. Try going to your boss and asking for a little extra on top of your paycheck from last month and see how what kind of reaction your receive.
Then there is what I call the "section the SEIU/1099 does not want you to see." New York not spending enough on health care? Not so much.
Spending in the Health and Environment category nearly tripled from $398.9 million to $1.1 billion, due primarily to the State’s obligation to pay prescription drug costs for New Yorkers who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare and who have temporarily lost prescription drug coverage because of complications with the Federal government’s implementation of its Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
Social Services spending increased 5.3 percent, from $9.7 billion to $10.2 billion, due to several factors including:
- increasing cost of the Medicaid program providing health care services and prescription drugs
- rising number of recipients of publicly financed health care
- increasing medical service utilization in hospitals, nursing homes, and managed care programs
- an additional Medicaid cycle payment through February 2007
Granted, unfunded federal mandates factor into this equation, but New York state's Medicaid payments are well above the national average for many programs and that cannot be blamed on the Feds. Nor can New York use this point in defense as the state government passes plenty unfunded mandates of their own along to localities.
As for the "pork" that New York state voters and taxpayers love so much: spending on capital projects increased $420.5 million, or 10.7 percent.
NYS Comptroller Tom Dinapoli issued his February cash report yesterday. What is seen are the same outrageous spending trends that will ultimately bankrupt our state.
With eleven months of the State’s 2006-07 fiscal year complete General Fund receipts were $3.9 billion or 9.3 percent ahead of last year, All Funds receipts were $4.0 billion or 4.2 percent ahead of last year.
General Fund spending was $40.9 billion in the first eleven months of the fiscal year. This is $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent higher than during the first eleven months of the 2005-06 fiscal year. All Funds spending of $95.3 billion was $7.8 billion or 8.9 percent higher than last year.
Also, this so-called "surplus" we have been hearing so much about from better than expected tax collections does not exist.
The increased revenues currently in the closing balance can be attributed to slower than anticipated refunds issued to date. Also, spending is below the Financial Plan primarily due to the timing of Local Assistance payments planned for February, but will have been paid in March in four areas, including education aid, welfare, special education and children and family service spending.
While $500 million in personal income tax refunds were accelerated at the end of the 2005-06 fiscal year, which would have the effect of increasing year to year variance, planned refunds expected to be paid in February 2007 did not accumulate as anticipated in the Financial Plan. As a result, to date, collections after refunds are currently higher than projected. It is expected that refunds in March 2007 will accelerate and therefore be on target with Financial Plan projections.
Total General Fund disbursements increased $4.1 billion or 11.1 percent as compared with the first eleven months of 2005-06 fiscal year. The growth in General Fund disbursements is driven by increases in education, health, and social services spending, along with additional payroll disbursements associated with retroactive collective bargaining agreements during this year compared to the same period last year.
Yes, that's right; union employees were paid for the year, decided they weren't paid enough and then used their stranglehold applied on the legislature by their lobbies to bargain for additional compensation. Try going to your boss and asking for a little extra on top of your paycheck from last month and see how what kind of reaction your receive.
Then there is what I call the "section the SEIU/1099 does not want you to see." New York not spending enough on health care? Not so much.
Spending in the Health and Environment category nearly tripled from $398.9 million to $1.1 billion, due primarily to the State’s obligation to pay prescription drug costs for New Yorkers who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare and who have temporarily lost prescription drug coverage because of complications with the Federal government’s implementation of its Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
Social Services spending increased 5.3 percent, from $9.7 billion to $10.2 billion, due to several factors including:
- increasing cost of the Medicaid program providing health care services and prescription drugs
- rising number of recipients of publicly financed health care
- increasing medical service utilization in hospitals, nursing homes, and managed care programs
- an additional Medicaid cycle payment through February 2007
Granted, unfunded federal mandates factor into this equation, but New York state's Medicaid payments are well above the national average for many programs and that cannot be blamed on the Feds. Nor can New York use this point in defense as the state government passes plenty unfunded mandates of their own along to localities.
As for the "pork" that New York state voters and taxpayers love so much: spending on capital projects increased $420.5 million, or 10.7 percent.
Rochester Nurse Guilty of Medicaid Fraud
Example of Why State System is Bloated
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced that a Rochester-area nurse pled guilty to receiving over $70,000 in Medicaid funds for private nursing services that she never provided. On March 12, Adrian Clements, 39, of Rochester, a Licensed Practical Nurse, pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (a felony) in Monroe County Court before Judge Thomas R. Morse. As part of her guilty plea, Clements admitted that on numerous occasions between October 1, 2003 and April 30, 2006, she submitted reimbursement claims that falsely represented that she provided nursing services to seven children and three young adults – all Medicaid recipients – when, in fact, nursing care was either not provided or it was provided by another nurse. Based upon the false claims, Clements stole $70,785 from the Medicaid program.
“My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting those individuals who cheat and steal from the Medicaid program – and from taxpayers – for personal gain," said Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. “Those who abuse their professions as caretakers to take advantage of New Yorkers will face justice.”
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced that a Rochester-area nurse pled guilty to receiving over $70,000 in Medicaid funds for private nursing services that she never provided. On March 12, Adrian Clements, 39, of Rochester, a Licensed Practical Nurse, pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (a felony) in Monroe County Court before Judge Thomas R. Morse. As part of her guilty plea, Clements admitted that on numerous occasions between October 1, 2003 and April 30, 2006, she submitted reimbursement claims that falsely represented that she provided nursing services to seven children and three young adults – all Medicaid recipients – when, in fact, nursing care was either not provided or it was provided by another nurse. Based upon the false claims, Clements stole $70,785 from the Medicaid program.
“My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting those individuals who cheat and steal from the Medicaid program – and from taxpayers – for personal gain," said Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. “Those who abuse their professions as caretakers to take advantage of New Yorkers will face justice.”
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Pictures From the Front
A new WBP feature, pictures from the Iraq front, the first photo comes from Baghdad -
Poll Sitters Sentenced
Ohio Election Workers Rigged Recount
Sadly, this is probably more common than anyone realizes. From an AP story -
A judge suspicious of more corruption pressed two former election board workers to tell what they know and then sentenced them Tuesday to the maximum 18 months in prison for rigging the 2004 presidential election recount to make their job easier.
"I can't help but feel there's more to this story," said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Peter Corrigan, who allowed the women to remain free on bond pending appeal.
-snip-
The judge repeatedly asked Jacqueline Maiden, 60, an election coordinator who was the Cuyahoga County board's third-highest ranking employee, and ballot manager Kathleen Dreamer, 40, if higher-ups in the board had directed the recount rigging. "It seems unlikely your supervisors wouldn't know," the judge prodded.
The women, standing side by side, said they had cooperated with a state investigation of the elections board in Ohio's most populous county. The board has been a lightning rod for critics wary since Ohio gave the 2004 election to President Bush.
-snip-
Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter, appointed as an outside investigator to look into the election board in Cleveland, told that judge that the women had been uncooperative in the investigation and appealed for prison time for both.
"The defendants have never come clean," he said.
Prosecutors said the employees broke the law when they worked behind closed doors three days before the Dec. 16, 2004, recount to pick ballots they knew would not cause discrepancies when checked by hand so they could avoid a lengthier, more expensive hand recount of all votes.
Baxter criticized the outspoken support for the women from Robert Bennett, the election board chairman and head of the Republican Party in Ohio. Endorsing such criminal behavior is "amazing, it's astounding," according to Baxter, who didn't indicate if the investigation might lead to more charges.
-snip-
Each defendant was convicted of a felony count of negligent misconduct of an elections employee.
Maiden and Dreamer also were convicted of one misdemeanor count each of failure of elections employees to perform their duty. Both were acquitted of five other charges and a co-defendant who was an assistant manager of the ballot department was acquitted of all seven counts.
Ohio gave Bush the electoral votes he needed to defeat Democratic Sen. John Kerry in the election and hold on to the White House in 2004. Kerry beat Bush in Democratic Cuyahoga County 448,486 to 221,606.
The prosecutor did not claim the rigged recount affected the outcome of the election - Kerry gained 17 votes and Bush lost six in the county recount.
Sadly, this is probably more common than anyone realizes. From an AP story -
A judge suspicious of more corruption pressed two former election board workers to tell what they know and then sentenced them Tuesday to the maximum 18 months in prison for rigging the 2004 presidential election recount to make their job easier.
"I can't help but feel there's more to this story," said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Peter Corrigan, who allowed the women to remain free on bond pending appeal.
-snip-
The judge repeatedly asked Jacqueline Maiden, 60, an election coordinator who was the Cuyahoga County board's third-highest ranking employee, and ballot manager Kathleen Dreamer, 40, if higher-ups in the board had directed the recount rigging. "It seems unlikely your supervisors wouldn't know," the judge prodded.
The women, standing side by side, said they had cooperated with a state investigation of the elections board in Ohio's most populous county. The board has been a lightning rod for critics wary since Ohio gave the 2004 election to President Bush.
-snip-
Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter, appointed as an outside investigator to look into the election board in Cleveland, told that judge that the women had been uncooperative in the investigation and appealed for prison time for both.
"The defendants have never come clean," he said.
Prosecutors said the employees broke the law when they worked behind closed doors three days before the Dec. 16, 2004, recount to pick ballots they knew would not cause discrepancies when checked by hand so they could avoid a lengthier, more expensive hand recount of all votes.
Baxter criticized the outspoken support for the women from Robert Bennett, the election board chairman and head of the Republican Party in Ohio. Endorsing such criminal behavior is "amazing, it's astounding," according to Baxter, who didn't indicate if the investigation might lead to more charges.
-snip-
Each defendant was convicted of a felony count of negligent misconduct of an elections employee.
Maiden and Dreamer also were convicted of one misdemeanor count each of failure of elections employees to perform their duty. Both were acquitted of five other charges and a co-defendant who was an assistant manager of the ballot department was acquitted of all seven counts.
Ohio gave Bush the electoral votes he needed to defeat Democratic Sen. John Kerry in the election and hold on to the White House in 2004. Kerry beat Bush in Democratic Cuyahoga County 448,486 to 221,606.
The prosecutor did not claim the rigged recount affected the outcome of the election - Kerry gained 17 votes and Bush lost six in the county recount.
SEIU: We're Not Fans
Voters Love Gov, Health Unions Don't
In response to a letter by state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long to Governor Spitzer, Jennifer Cunningham of SEIU/1199 issued the following statement:
Spitzer did not really stand with Long, Long stood with Spitzer. Long did so because of the three legislative budgets presented thus far the Executive spends the least, while still increasing spending by twice the rate of inflation. While New Yorkers recognize that these trends cannot continue our representatives do not and that is why Long placed his support behind the Gov.
No one wants to see schools and hospitals close but spending more does not always get you more.
In response to a letter by state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long to Governor Spitzer, Jennifer Cunningham of SEIU/1199 issued the following statement:
“When New Yorkers elected Eliot Spitzer, we voted for a Democrat who we thought held firmly Democratic principles like supporting healthcare and public schools.”
“Now, as he’s accepting the kudos of the New York State Conservative Party, we have to wonder: Who will the governor stand with next in order to pass his wrongheaded budget?”
Spitzer did not really stand with Long, Long stood with Spitzer. Long did so because of the three legislative budgets presented thus far the Executive spends the least, while still increasing spending by twice the rate of inflation. While New Yorkers recognize that these trends cannot continue our representatives do not and that is why Long placed his support behind the Gov.
No one wants to see schools and hospitals close but spending more does not always get you more.
NYS Senate Alienating Base
GOP Party Politics Incur Wrath of Conservatives
Republicans in the NYS Assembly have been criticizing budget proposals by their Dem colleagues and Governor Spitzer. The Assembly GOP has noted that out-year budget gaps will grow and spending increases at double the rate of inflation. This is a common complaint by the GOP which traditionally, in theory, supports decreases in governmental spending.
Given their minority, however, Assembly Republicans have little recourse in their house. Who has come to their aid in this grand battle? The GOP majority in the Senate, right?
Not so much.
The Senate budget plan actually calls for spending beyond that proposed by Democrats and Spitzer. The reasoning? There is none. This is nothing but a disgusting example of petty party politics. I can imagine Bruno's thought process:
"Taxes are bad, spending is bad and Democrats like both of those things so they are really bad, decrease spending, pray to Reagan. Wait . . . the Dems want to cut spending? Spending is good! Increase spending!"
Now, though, the GOP base is starting to take notice of the Senate's disregard for party ideals; so much so that the State Conservative Party Chairman is reaching out to support Governor Spitzer:
Fiscal Conservatives getting in bed with Democrats because the Republican party is so out of touch with society that it has lost complete sight of GOP ideals? Sounds like the staff here at the WBP.
Republicans in the NYS Assembly have been criticizing budget proposals by their Dem colleagues and Governor Spitzer. The Assembly GOP has noted that out-year budget gaps will grow and spending increases at double the rate of inflation. This is a common complaint by the GOP which traditionally, in theory, supports decreases in governmental spending.
Given their minority, however, Assembly Republicans have little recourse in their house. Who has come to their aid in this grand battle? The GOP majority in the Senate, right?
Not so much.
The Senate budget plan actually calls for spending beyond that proposed by Democrats and Spitzer. The reasoning? There is none. This is nothing but a disgusting example of petty party politics. I can imagine Bruno's thought process:
"Taxes are bad, spending is bad and Democrats like both of those things so they are really bad, decrease spending, pray to Reagan. Wait . . . the Dems want to cut spending? Spending is good! Increase spending!"
Now, though, the GOP base is starting to take notice of the Senate's disregard for party ideals; so much so that the State Conservative Party Chairman is reaching out to support Governor Spitzer:
Conservative Party State Chairman, Michael R. Long, acknowledged that he and Governor Eliot Spitzer would be considered “strange bedfellows” regarding this years proposed state budget. However, with the additions made by the Republican controlled State Senate, Chairman Long told the Governor, in a letter sent yesterday, that he would have to re-evaluate his proposals.
-snip-
"As difficult as your budget is, what the Republican controlled Senate is proposing, forces me to re-evaluate your proposals.
We support your efforts to cut health-care. And we support your efforts to increase the number of Charter Schools in New York State. Both these areas of spending comprise the largest portions of New York’s budget. We must get them under control and end the massive amounts poured into health-care and education each year with very little positive results.
Hopefully we can work together, this year.
-snip-
We may find that “strange bedfellows” will help bring New York back to being the economic engine of the United States."
Fiscal Conservatives getting in bed with Democrats because the Republican party is so out of touch with society that it has lost complete sight of GOP ideals? Sounds like the staff here at the WBP.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Vegetable Oil Vigilante
From an AP story -
(Adams, N.Y.) -- A northern New York man using vegetable oil to heat his home and run his cars has been found guilty of violating zoning codes.
A village of Adams judge has ruled that Mike Leeder was in violating of zoning codes while filtering the oil to make it usable. The judge says Leeder lives in a commercial zone, and filtering is only allowed as an industrial use.
Leeder says he . . . cannot afford to pay the $2,000 fine by March 27 as the judge ordered.
(Adams, N.Y.) -- A northern New York man using vegetable oil to heat his home and run his cars has been found guilty of violating zoning codes.
A village of Adams judge has ruled that Mike Leeder was in violating of zoning codes while filtering the oil to make it usable. The judge says Leeder lives in a commercial zone, and filtering is only allowed as an industrial use.
Leeder says he . . . cannot afford to pay the $2,000 fine by March 27 as the judge ordered.
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