Steve Mayo: The American Constitution of Liberty - Envy of the World
Mayo contends that there is no basis for the assertions by Mayor Noam Bramson that the Gadsden Flag belongs to any private party or entity. The removal of the flag from the Armory is nothing more than the suppression of the First Amendment.
Steve Mayo is an attorney and businessman. He is the host of The Steve Mayo Show on WVOX. He was the Republican nominee for City Council District 6 in 2011.
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I agree with the person saying thank Lou, Al and Rich. If nothing else they are at least asking the questions most of us have. They are the Council representatives for districts 1, 2 and 4 but for those of you who live in 5 and 6 if you agree with what they are saying let them know.
In most cases these guys take a New Rochelle perspective on the issues. Even though they do not represent my district I do know that they represent me as a citizen of New Rochelle.
Those that sit on the city council including the mayor are not evil people. And public service for all its rewards is a great burden. This is not an argument along party lines for there are issues that I am sure I will have a different opinion from Lou Al and Rich. This is not a cheer lead for the Republican Party. This is a show of respect for the fact that they are doing what they were elected to do and listen to the people who put them there.
Governing is not easy and there is no way 75,000 people will all be happy but if these guys should vote for something that I am against at least I know that they did for the right reasons and that the questions have been asked.
Bruce Negrin
It appears that the person who wrote this also wrote several other comments -- all anonymous. I would say to this person that they are welcome to register, they can register using a pseudonym to protect their identity if they wish (as can anyone else). I would encourage this person to go ahead and register because if you register you can then convert these "comments" into "posts" and then I can promote them to the front page where they can get more attention. It is a shame to "bury" these long, thoughtful articles "below the fold" so to speak by adding them as comments where many readers will not notice them.
You have provided an excellent rebuttal to the North-South argument. I would like to see this featured and then give the folks on the other side a chance to reply. It is that sort of open dialog this site is intended to foster.
In either case, thank you for taking the time to write this up. Keep it coming!
And for those who disagree with this contributor, please take a good long look at the fact-based, detailed-driven articulation of this person's point of view. It can serve as a model of how to disagree agreeably -- and yes, I know, that is not my strong suit either!!! :-)
New rochelle is just an overpriced slum filled with drug addicts, alcoholics, and transients--who in their right mind would pay nearly a million dollars to live amid such people? Every plan to redevelop the area has been flawed from the very start, way before Bramson was appointed and then elected to office. New rochelle was being marketed as a ' cheaper, smaller version of Manhattan" and Trump and Cappelli's promotions misled people into believing New rochelle was a town of " quaint cafes, boutiques and art galleries" with a sort of SOHO/ West Village atmosphere, when, in reality, it is a town than can only offer pizza shops, 99 cent stores, and taco shops. Main street looks more like battered old road in Guadalajara rather than a street in Westchester county, it is overcrowded, dirty, chaotic, and it smells of rotting vegatables, fruit, and fish. Oh, yes, and the countless immigrants just sitting around the store front is very appealling too. Then, there is the CRIME which no one ever talks about--the robberies and thee hold ups which we all know about but rarely is mentioned in the press. No matter how one markets the place, it is a DUMP and it shall not change anytime soon. New Rochelle was one considered an elegant suburban city, but, that was back in the 1920's. The New New Rochelle is the slum on the sound--dirty, crowded, overpriced, and horribly mismanaged and misrepresented. Do not blame the Mayor, blame the avaricious landlords who just neglected their properties and turned them all into flop houses for recent arrivals to the country.
and don't forget about the HUGE population of ILLEGAL ALIENS who do not pay 1 single cent in taxes to our city state and country. The fact is, if the North End left our city, the city would completely fail. The south end of the city provides just under 30% of total GDP for New Rochelle. BOBBO can rant all he wants about the north end/south end divide, he's merely trying to gain readership for his crummy website. Bobbo is running out of stories to tell and since he's not a person who hails from New Rochelle and he's not a homeowner, he wishes to play off of everyone's fears. He also knows i'm 100% correct and he won't post this. There is a blog being created specifically about him. Stay tuned folks, I hear it's going to be extremely informative about the life and times of Robert Cox, and why he came to start this blog!!!
In response to Check it out, the north end
Ok, Mr mason or are you Dixon? Have you ever crossed that line and spent time in in the North end? If so than fine. Also what about those in the Glenwood Lake section? Do they share your brothers in arms south end crying game
The role and creation of the IDA's within NY State was to give a economic boost to rural NY State area's. IDA stands for Industrial Development.
The concept was to create manufacturing jobs where they would attract out of State Manufacturers to set up shop. As our Country Changed over from Rust Belt to Service Orientation some modifications were made to the process. Never was the intention to create corporate welfare. There has not been an update of Policy for IDA's and frankly the NY State Senate and Assembly can't agree on what rules and proceedures should be enacted into law. It is a mess. Only when something crosses over the line to illegality does NY State even open one eye. The PILOTS and Tax incentives currently come with zero oversight. Giving New Rochelle City Council control does nothing it only furthers Mayor Bramsons position of Cappellitization becasue the Mayor owns the majority. It nice that Trangucci wants Council Oversight but unfortunately as a minority it will be PILOTS as Usuall. I am for New Rochelle's IDA being disbanded and prefer a Regional approach thus eliminating the deals. Unfortunately Trangucci does not have the power in votes to stop the madness. It will only produce the same results.
Lets look at New Rochelle's neighbors for a clearer perspective on where the problems lie. Bronxville and Scarsdale have minimal racial and/or economic diversity. Mamaroneck village, mamaroneck town and Larchmont all share the same High School yet are distinct enough to maintain their own 'boundaries' which define separate elementary and middle school districts. Port Chester is a predominantly hispanic village, resulting from the total lack of diversity in neighboring Greenwich, Rye and Harrison as well as more recent secession of Rye Brook a few years back. Mount Kisco is another Westchester town that has shown difficulties handling diversity. The hispanic population is significant for a municipality its size, and also for the section of the county in which it is situated. Surrounded by upscale, Caucasian dominated communities, it is the imaginary boundaries of the town that are manipulated to define the appropriate 'place' for whites and non-whites. In towns and villages it seems disturbingly simple to maintain racial and class division without much resistance. It is in the cities and larger, urban areas that diversity is more predominant. It is in these areas that the concept or idea of diversity is one that is valued and fought for rather than frowned-upon or resisted. Still, no community is perfect, especially not those found in Westchester County. Westchester is arguably the countrys first true suburban county, and it is a historically affluent one. The diversity which currently exists is actually quite remarkable when looking at Westchester from a historical perspective. Nonetheless, the growth and diversification of Westchesters population is limited primarily to its larger cities, located in its southern portion. Neither Yonkers, Mount Vernon or White Plains match up to the levels of progress and success achieved in New Rochelle. The New Rochelle Schools are undeniably the most diverse as well as the most accomplished. Mount Vernon schools perform poorly and are poorly funded. Yonkers schools are fragmented and typically not regarded in a positive light.
New Rochelle's school district has over 10,000 students, more than the entire population of neighboring Larchmont Village or Mamaroneck for example. When viewing the racial breakdown its students the district its percentages for decades, illustrating a consistency that is rarely ever seen. Thus, in NR, when black people move in, white people don't rush out. This community attracts a diverse group of resident, many choosing to live here despite their ability to live elsewhere. One must look at such "prized" communities like Scarsdale to see that many within New Rochelle fall under the same income brackets, have reached the same educational levels, are employed in the same professions, and live in comparably priced homes as those residents do. Because those with greater means have the most flexibility when deciding where to live, it is important to note how many choose to live in New Rochelle.
The Lincoln school issue centered around the NR School Board and their knowing creation of a school zone (Lincoln) that was almost entirely african-american. Conscious efforts were made to manipulate school-zone lines and to transfer white children residing in the Lincoln district to schools outside of it. This is in NO WAY similar to any present day issues that might be facing various schools.
To focus on the large % of hispanic students currently attending Columbus elementary school, one might choose to look at just who exactly is raising this as a negative issue, or as an issue at all for that matter. I for one do not see this as any sortof issue. Regardless, the high % of hispanic students can most directly be attributed to recent immigration trends for the United States. The population of Hispanic Americans has grown immensely over the past decade, largely due to high immigration levels. Many immigrants choose to settle in communities close to family and friends from their homeland. The growth of New Rochelle's hispanic population is a reflection of these national trends. The fact that many immigrants have chosen to move to New Rochelle's west-end is the sole reason behind the areas recent population shifts.
The Barnard district would include the same kids who now all attend Davis school. One should note that Davis is in the northern reaches of the city, nowhere near the homes in the Barnard District.
Barnard school is a much smaller facility which was only updated in the past 5 - 10 years. Barnard could not effectively operate as an elementary school because of small size. This might be why the school hasn't operated in that capacity for 30 some-odd years. The decision to use it for a magnet early-learning facility is a great one which sets the school district apart from any of its neighbors. Its a good thing.
There are many more first-generation hispanic students at Columbus, Trinity and Isaac. For these students english is an entirely new language that needs to be learned. For some it comes quick, for others it is understandably more difficult. These students must then apply english to most every aspect of their social and academic life. While undertaking such a gargantuan task, these students most certainly will not score at the same level as their "peers" who dont face such obstacles. Assessments of school / grade-level performance do not adequately account for such variables that clearly exist.
I attended Albert Leonard in the early nineties and the school was a HOT BOX. The flat roofed, 'modern' building offered little reprieve from the sun's heat.
It was far from pleasant during the spring/ early summer season. I know that in recent years they have installed new, tinted windows which must counter some of this radiant heat and hopefully air-conditioners have been installed as well.
If there are indeed legitimate problems and issues at certain schools, it is imperative that they are brought to light so that solutions can be found as soon as possible. The main goal is to ensure that the learning environment available to all students both safe and adequately staffed and funded.
The "North vs. South" divide "debate" is a baseless argument that does more to divide the community from within than anything else. A clear understanding of the school zone breakdown within the district is most helpful in countering these north vs. south claims. (A map is offered at http://www.newrochelletalk.com/files/2008-09_CSDNR_District_Cale.gif ).
For starters, the Webster school zone covers an area stretching from Licoln avenue to the Nature Study Woods (above Eastchester Road). Additionally, students from Webster attend Albert Leonard Middle School. The Ward Elementary school zone covers much of city's northern and mid-sections, however also includes a large area south of Eastchester Road including Rochelle Park, Rochelle Heights, Huguenot Park and Chauncey Estates. Students from these areas are alse zoned to Albert Leonard Middle School.
The Barnard school zone covers an area split evenly by the "Eastchester Road" division line (with 50% covering Beechmont and Larchmont Woods, and 50% covering City Park, Potter Avenue & 5th avenue, 'Chatsworth' and Rochelle Heights.) Since the school only serves grades pre-k to 3, students within the area are zoned to Davis school. Those students living in the Lincoln district are individually assigned to schools by the superintendent of schools. This is a unique situation that exists due to 1960's segregation issues involving the district and the lincoln school). The "north" end middle and elementary schools have a large student base residing south of the alleged "Mason-Dixon Line" of Eastchester Road.
The south end schools of trinity, columbus and jefferson cover an area that is in many ways less economically diverse than those in the north end zones, due primarily to the fact that most of New Rochelle's subsidized and section-8 housing lies outside of these "south end" school zones. The southern end of the city is more densely populated than the rest of NR, with numerous apartment complexes along shore road(for example). Greater pop. density does not equate to greater poverty levels however. The bulk of south end residents falling within poverty levels are the elderly. That aside, the majority of the residents in the south end of the city are middle-income. Still, some of the wealthiest sections of the city are also in this area. The trinity school zone includes Premium Point, the largest "gated community" within New Rochelle. It also includes Premium Park, Emerson Estates, Pryer Manor, Sutton Manor, Sun Haven, Spencer park and Residence Park, all upper-middle class sections of NR. Also in this zone is Davenport Neck which has several smaller gated sections of waterfront mansions as well as the larger "San Souci" area with moderately priced to costly homes. Two large middle-class sections, East-End and Homewood Park, also feed into the Trinity Zone. The newest developments along main street )Trump Plaza, Avalon East) feed into the Trinity school as well. All of these students then attend Isaac Yong, and finally NRHS for grades 9-12.
Jefferson school also covers a largely middle to upper-middle class section of the city.
Columbus is probably the most diverse school of all the "south end" schools, covering an area that includes the city's "west end" which is both historically Italian, and also heavily hispanic. The newest downtown developments of Avalon on the Sound and 543 Main street, as well as the French Ridge and Feeney Park neighborhoods are the middle to upper middle class areas within this zone.
Looking at all the elementary school zone, several things are made clear; A)that the "dividing line" of Eastchester Road does exist like many have claimed, B)that the elementary school zones incorporate socio-economically diverse areas of the city and NOT economically homogenous and exclusionary zones favoring rich vs. poor).
I believe that the New Rochelle schools district is a good one. I believe that it provides a unique and valuable learning environment that in many ways far surpasses any other large suburban school district in the country. At the same time I do believe that there are indeed legitimate issues that exist & require attention and action. Focus on the school in question, highlight the problem in policy or procedure, or the administrator or teacher who is definitely at fault. Raising awareness is the quickest was to achieve a successful resolution to the issue(s). To attack the district overall is the least effective way to solve these issues. It is, however, the the most unfair. To make such serious & false claims (like the existence of a "north vs. south" divide) helps no-one and hurts everyone. This includes the 10,000+ students of the district as well as the countless teachers and employees who work to make it great.
The district has provided a first-rate educational experience for the 6 children in my family, each of whom attended elementary and middle school in NR (Webster, Davis, Isaac and Albert Leonard) and graduated from NRHS ( '92, '93, '96(me), '00 and '04). Being from a mixed-race and multi-ethnic family was of minimal issue in New Rochelle . . a reality of the New Rochelle community that is not so easily found elsewhere.
Check it out, the north end did consider seceding not just a rant from a wanna-be politician. What amenities does the north end lack? The diversity New Rochelle is noted for? The dollar stores which dominate our downtown business district? A 24-hour CVS? The lack of affordable, work-force housing? A day laborer center? There is no Cosi or Starbucks in the south end. The reality is New Rochelle is a tale of two cities and Eastchester Road is the Mason Dixon line!
Are you nuts" How can dialogue be unhealthy. It isn't. It's the very crux of how we resolve things. Stepping on the mayors toes, now that's metaphorically unhealthy.(for his agenda, that is)
Comrade Bramson is losing it. When was he appointed the aperatchik of the party. I've been out of town and must have missed the revolution. You see, before I left, the city council and mayor all had equal status. Maybe it was the "old days" but I remember when THEY worked for US. So how does he get away with telling OUR council members to not speak up when they have a concern. I can't speak for you all but, I want and expect my council member to put it out there for me so I can evaluate things for myself. I refuse to accept the mayors comments about about "dialog" being "unhealthy" and "working in partnership" with who, Comrade Mayor? It is YOU who should be working in partnership with us. The 2 sources that reported the unrest felt by 3 council members got it right. This was proven when it was felt that the events causing the unrest had to be explained, in public, at the subsequent council meeting. It was interesting backpedaling but it only served to support the original statements by Mssrs. St Paul, Tarrantino, and Trangucci. Next time anybody sees any or all of these three gentlemen, be sure to shake their hand, buy them a drink or just say thank you for holding true to the very core of a system that claims to be " of the people, by the people and for the people". You see Vanya, it's not WHAT they were speaking about, it's the idea that you feel they should check with you before they speak. That's the job of a 'political officer" not a mayor. Thomas Jefferson said " Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone". Should I translate that for you... Vanya?
Say Anonymous, why don't you register on this site? You think you are so smart. Please. And as a business person, I am very successful. The reason why I am, is due to the fact that I am smart enough not to have opened my business in New Rochelle. What do you do? Either way, any increase in this economic time is a bad idea, 5% or 8%. There are many other alternatives rather then tax increases, but like stated before, Business as usual for New Rochelle.
You know what Anonymous, you're a real ass. Next time you read, try understanding what is written.
I know this is hard to follow but there are now hundreds of registered users of this site and the person adding a post is clearly indicated. When I write a post you will see my name next to the words "submitted by".
rest in peace nick nespo <3 -nicolanna.
Usually the State of the City is a huge amount of self pontification and talks of the hard work and greatness for The Queen City on the Sound.....
This year the Mayor will probably speak of the Economy Sidetracking his efforts and as soon as Obama fixes the Country and our Economy New Rochelle and Noam Bramson will be right back on the case...
The case of Tax Payers footing the Bill for Developers that is.
I can't agree more!!
If in fact the NRPD responded "that a 35+ year old person couldn’t handle the requirement of the position", then how can they justify people 35+ continuing to hold the position. Are we, the citizens of New Rochelle, in danger from these obviously feeble minded and weak bodied police officers?? I think not.
Signed,
A 44 year old mother of 2 small children
I am not sure what you are trying to say here but the video is still there. Try refreshing your browser or using a different one.
It is my hope you can get some answers from Mayor Bramson because I have not be able to get answers to questions. Everyone would like to know what he is thinking.
Here ya go genius, it's right there in your post of the civil service law! Another Genius posting by BOBERT COX! This is a direct quote from the law. There he goes again, stirring up controversy where nothing exists.
What are the minimum qualifications needed in order to participate in a Police Officer/Deputy Sheriff examination?
Minimum training and experience necessary to participate in examinations does vary from location to location. Please refer to the examination announcement for each agency participating in the examination to determine the minimum qualifications for that jurisdiction.