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CityREVIEW NewRochelle January 6, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 1 | www.cityreviewnr.com

County meets housing deadline; still must submit AI

GAELS SOAR

By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer

Iona Prep’s Josh Alexander defends Mamaroneck’s Ethan Renner in the finals of the Slam Dunk Tournament at the Westchester County Center on Dec. 29. Alexander scored 21 points in the Gaels 64-41 win over the Tigers. For story, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith

Cuomo proposes free tuition for SUNY students By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer Gov. Andrew Cuomo, alongside U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, unveiled a proposal on Jan. 3 to provide free tuition for income-eligible residents statewide at SUNY colleges and universities. The plan, to be known as the Excelsior Scholarship, will cost approximately $163 million a year once the program is fully carried out over a three-year period, according to Cuomo’s office. Families and individuals earning up to $125,000 a year would qualify for free tuition at

public universities in New York state. “A college education is not a luxury,” said Cuomo, a Democrat. “It is an absolute necessity for any chance at economic mobility. New York is making a major investment in our greatest asset—our people.” The scholarship would mandate participating students to be enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY, two- or four-year college full time. The plan will not cover the cost of room and board. As of press time, tuition costs $6,470 at four-year SUNY schools; it was increased by the SUNY board of trustees by $300

a year through 2011 and 2015. Likewise, tuition costs $6,330 at four-year CUNY schools. According to Cuomo’s office, the plan will work hand-in-hand by borrowing capital from a number of tuition assistance programs the state already offers to low-income families, such as TAP, which provides nearly $1 billion in grants to college students statewide. The proposal comes in wake of Sanders championing free college tuition during his presidential campaign for the Democratic nomination last year. “Cuomo is proposing a revolutionary idea for higher education,” he said.

“It’s an idea that’s going to reverberate not only throughout the state of New York, but throughout this country.” SUNY Purchase, located in the town/village of Harrison, and SUNY Westchester Community College, in the hamlet of Valhalla, are the only two New York state schools located in Westchester County. State Sen. George Latimer, a Rye Democrat, said while the initiative is a really interesting concept, how it will fit into the budget is questionable. Cuomo’s plan would require TUITION continued on page 3

Four days before a courtimposed deadline, Westchester County has met and exceeded the core obligations of its 2009 settlement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, county officials said. During a Dec. 27 press conference, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, announced that the county had financed and arranged building permits for more than 750 affordable housing units in its 31 of its predominately Caucasian communities, surpassing a benchmark set in a 2009 settlement with HUD. Astorino said that the county has financing and permits in place for 790 units, with additional provisions in place to build at least 100 more units in 2017. In 2006, the Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York, ADC, sued Westchester for collecting annual federal block grant money to promote fair housing, and not doing enough to respond to housing needs in its communities. According to the 2010 census, the county population is 15 percent AfricanAmerican and 22 percent Hispanic; but several municipalities within the county had less than 2 percent of an African-American population and less than 5 percent Hispanic population. Facing a multimillion dollar lawsuit, the county—under the

direction of former County Executive Andy Spano, a Democrat—agreed to settle the case by promoting affordable housing in 31 of its communities, including building at least 750 units and analyzing zoning laws in a seven-year period. During his press conference, Astorino, who fought the settlement after defeating Spano and taking office in 2010, maintained his position that the population disparity was a result of economics and not discriminatory zoning practice. But Craig Gurian, executive director of the ADC, told the Review, “The county executive’s statement, as usual, is breathtakingly dishonest.” According to the ADC, some of the units that Westchester built do not comply with the terms of the settlement, which mandates that the county prepare at least 630 units in municipalities with the lowest minority populations. According to the ADC, the county only prepared 283 units in those areas. “When you exclude the cheating units, the county is actually hundreds of units short,” Gurian added. “I couldn’t care less, really, what the ADC has to say at this point,” Astorino said in the county press office in White Plains. “I’m just concerned about making sure we finish the terms of the settlement and that we move on.” The county will still have to HOUSING continued on page 9

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January 6, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 3

Former HUD monitor to run for NJ governor The housing monitor who was appointed to oversee Westchester County’s compliance with a 2009 affordable housing settlement before resigning in August 2016 will run in New Jersey’s Democratic primary this year, seeking the nomination to run for governor in November. James Johnson, a former federal prosecutor who also served in the U.S. Department of the Treasury under former President Bill Clinton’s administration, announced his candidacy for governor of New Jersey in late 2016. The news came 15 weeks after Johnson sent a letter to U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Denise Cote, resigning from his position as monitor overseeing Westchester’s compliance with a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD. Johnson had served in that role for seven years. Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, had battled Johnson as the HUD monitor since taking office in

James Johnson, the former federal court-appointed monitor who oversaw Westchester County’s adherence to a 2009 affordable housing settlement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will run for New Jersey’s Democratic nominee for governor in 2017. Photo courtesy jimjohnson4governor.com

2010, often accusing him of overreaching on behalf of the federal government. During a press conference on Dec. 27, while announcing that the county had met the terms of its settle-

ment with HUD to build 750 units of affordable housing before 2017, Astorino commented on Johnson’s plans to run for governor as a Democrat. “If that doesn’t tell you he was partisan from the very beginning, I don’t know what will,” he said. Johnson will challenge at least seven other candidates—including New Jersey state Assemblyman John Wisniewski—for the Democratic nominee in a statewide primary. There are currently three Republican candidates as well. Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican who ran in the presidential primary in 2016, cannot run for governor again in 2017 due to the state’s two-term limit. Astorino, who is in the final year of his second term as county executive, has also hinted at another run of his own for governor of New York state in 2018. He ran in 2014, losing to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, by a 14 percent margin. In New York state, there is no term limit on the governor’s office. -Reporting by Corey Stockton

TUITION from page 1

state legislative approval as part of the budget for the fiscal year that starts April 1. The deadline to submit his proposal is Jan. 17, as of press time. “Right now, my initial reaction is that it’s a great concept, and I can see the general value in it because it will make higher education available to those who can’t afford it,” Latimer said. “But first, we’ll have to see how much money is being allocated for it.” Latimer added that the policy could cause an issue for those

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, is proposing to provide free tuition for SUNY and CUNY students statewide. There are two SUNY schools in Westchester County, including SUNY Purchase College in Harrison, and Westchester Community College in Valhalla. File photo

lingering around the borderline of a $125,000 yearly household income. “Drawing the line is a hard thing to worry about,” he said. “Some people might be above that threshold, and their

income may seem high, but because of the cost of everyday living, they’re less able to afford college.” CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

NRPD investigates homicide

On Dec. 29 at approximately 6:37 p.m., units from the New Rochelle Police Department responded to multiple calls of a disturbance at 138 Winthrop Ave. Arriving units located a male with a serious stab wound to his chest in front of 138 Winthrop Ave. The male was transported by ambulance to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx where he subsequently died from the wound at approximately 1 a.m. on Dec. 30. The victim has been

identified as Dennis Graham, 60, of 138 Winthrop Ave. New Rochelle police also located a female party in the vicinity believed to be a participant in this incident. She is identified as Jonitha Alston, 30, of the same address. There are no suspects at large, and the participants were in a relationship with each other. After an investigation, Alston was charged with first-degree manslaughter and arraigned by a New Rochelle City Court judge.

She was remanded to the Westchester County Jail. This incident is being actively investigated as a homicide by the New Rochelle Police Detective Division, The NYC Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Anyone with information is requested to contact the New Rochelle Police Department at 654-2270. No other information will be released at this time. (Submitted)

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What’s going on...

The New Rochelle Public Library has reopened the Memorial Highway entrance, but the Lawton Street entrance is scheduled to be closed for construction and is expected to be completed by fall 2016. While construction is underway, the only wheelchair-accessible entrance will be the reopened Memorial Highway doors, which have a ramp leading down from street level. There will be additional wheelchair-designated parking spaces on Memorial Highway. The only book drop at the main library will also be located by this doorway. Patrons may also return books by using the book drop at the Hugh Doyle Center, located at 94 Davis Ave., or in front of the Huguenot Children’s Library, located on North Avenue in front of New Rochelle High School. Visit nrpl.org for information on these and other events and programs.

Holiday closings and library hours Main library hours: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesdays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Huguenot Children’s Library hours: Mondays and Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays: Closed.

Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library Book Sales The Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library will hold a special “A Buck-a-Bag” Book Sale on Saturday, Jan. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the main library’s lobby. To prepare for the opening of their new bookstore, the sale will provide unprecedented opportunities for customers to purchase great numbers of books at rock-bottom prices, as the

charge will be only $1 for each bag filled with books. The Friends will provide the generously sized bags. The high quality used books that will be available for purchase will include popular novels, mysteries and nonfiction in hardcover and paperback, children’s books, DVDs, and more. The Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library will be holding a mini book sale on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the main library lobby. The book sales include popular novels, mysteries and nonfiction in hardcover and paperback, to children’s books, CDs and DVDs. Proceeds from these sales allow the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library to provide funding for quality children and adult programming, and will help the library by contributing to various projects and improving service to the community. The Friends welcome prospective volunteers.

Cook by the Cookbook Club The New Rochelle Public Library’s cookbook club, that explores the library’s excellent collection of cookbooks and online food-related resources, will continue its monthly sessions on Saturday, Jan. 7 at noon, in the main library’s Meeting Room. For this New Year’s session, the theme is healthy dishes. Participants will be sharing samples from a recipe they are trying for the first time, and that contains healthful ingredients. For more information and to register, please email Barbara Davis at bdavis@nrpl.org or call 632-8254.

‘L’dor Vador/From Generation to Generation’ exhibit From Sunday, Jan. 8 to Friday, Jan. 27 in the main library Lumen Winter Gallery. Photographer Seth Harrison’s poignant portraits of Holocaust survivors and their children and grandchildren began as a project of The Journal News/LoHud to capture untold stories of Holocaust survivors and the second and third generations. The exhibit features 11 large-scale color digital photographs of survivors residing in Westchester and Rockland counties, and an accompanying 12 1/2 minute video. On Jan. 8 at 4 p.m., members of the Westchester Klezmer Program will perform a concert of traditional Jewish dance music in the Ossie Davis Theater to complement the exhibit; a suggested donation of $2 will be greatly appreciated. A re-

ception in the main library lobby from 5:15 p.m. will follow.

English for Advanced ESL Students On Mondays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the main library. Improve your English reading, writing, grammar and speaking skills in a casual and fun conversation learning circle with trained volunteers. Classes do not meet during school vacation days. Please call 813-3706 or email the Community Relations Office at communityrelations@nrpl.org to set up an appointment with one of the instructors.

Job Search Coaching Those who are searching for a job but don’t know where to start are welcome to drop in to see the job coach on Tuesdays anytime from 4:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. in the Handleman Business Opportunity Center on the second floor. The job coach will help people achieve their goals, one step at a time. Those dropping in to see the job coach should arrive with a pen, calendar, notebook and both a hard and digital copy of their resume, with a copy sent to the coach at btopjobreadinesscoach@gmail. com. This program is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.

New Rochelle events A Community Conversation About Healthcare On Wednesday, Jan. 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the New Rochelle YMCA, 50 Weyman Ave. in New Rochelle. For more information about registering or helping to lead a discussion, visit uwwp. org/HealthcareNewRochelle or contact Mary Ann Luna at 997-6700 ext. 740. Show up: Actively participate in discussions

about health care in New Rochelle. These conversations will be led by your neighbors. Speak up: Your voice is important in making decisions for better health and quality of life. The topics that will be covered: Women’s Health; Taking Charge of Your Health; Violence and Trauma; Spirituality and Health; Seeking Services in the Community; Youth and Adolescent Health; Aging and Elder Care; People with Disabilities; LGBTQ Health; Men’s Health; and Open Topics. Organized by the New York State Minority Health Council (NYS Department of Health, Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Prevention), and United Way of Westchester and Putnam.

New Rochelle school district news Black history exhibit submissions The City School District of New Rochelle and the Westchester and National Alliances of Black Educators will host their annual Black History Spoken Word and Art Exhibit on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017. The event will celebrate the life and contributions of STEM pioneer Benjamin Banneker. The exhibition will be held in the Auditorium Rotunda at New Rochelle High School. Participants are encouraged to share their visual artwork, poetry, dance, and other performance arts. Performance proposals must be submitted by Sunday, Jan. 15, and all visual artwork must be submitted by Tuesday, Feb. 7. Submissions should be sent to Shelli Owens at sowens@nredlearn.org. Deadline for our What’s Going On section is every Thursday at noon. Though space is not guaranteed, we will do our best to accommodate your listing. Please send all items to news@hometwn.com.

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January 6, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 5

Alzheimer’s Association offers educational programs Annual retail business registration due 1/31 The Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter will offer two educational programs in Westchester in January. “Healthy living for your brain and body: Tips from the latest research” will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at Larchmont Public Library, 121 Larchmont Ave. in Larchmont. This program looks at the latest research in diet, nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement to help participants form a plan for healthy aging. Call the Alzheimer’s Association with questions at 800-272-3900 or the library to register at 834-2281. “Know the 10 signs: Early

detection matters” will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 20 at Bronxville Public Library, 201 Pondfield Road in Bronxville. This program looks at the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Early detection is important because it allows more time to begin drug therapy, enroll in clinical studies, and plan for the future. Call the Alzheimer’s Association with questions at 800-2723900 or the library to register at 337-7680. These programs are supported in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Health. The Alzheimer’s Associa-

tion is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org/hudsonvalley to learn more or call the Alzheimer’s Association at 800272-3900. Caregivers in need of assistance and support can also call this number for a 24-hour helpline. (Submitted)

City of New Rochelle’s

Official Newspaper

The city of New Rochelle’s Retail Business Registration Program requires all retail businesses to register with the city and renew their registration annually. The deadline for registration is Tuesday, Jan. 31. All non-retail businesses in New Rochelle are also encouraged to register. Businesses can renew/register online in English or Spanish at newrochelleny.com/business using a valid email address. Registered businesses will become part of the city’s business directory, and will receive emergency alerts as well as notification of business-related events and opportunities. “In 2016, registered businesses have attended free business education sessions, participated in promotional events like our first citywide FoodFest Restaurant Week and the Holiday Shopping Guide, and received valuable communications about business resources available to help grow their businesses,” noted business ambassador Lisa Davis. Businesses are reminded that this year’s registration deadline is Jan. 31. There is no fee to reg-

ister; however, failure to register/ renew on time could result in a penalty of $50 per month, up to a maximum of $350. Once registration is complete you will be issued a Retail Business Registration Certificate for display in your business. A retail business is defined as any for-profit commercial operation or occupation, of any kind, including, without limitation, any sole proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, limited liability company, franchisee, cooperative, or any other entity recognized by law

that owns, leases, or occupies any premises in the city, and is engaged in the sale of goods or services that are subject to New York state sales tax. The registration requirement includes the retail store component of any nonprofit entity. Additional information is available on the city’s website at newrochelleny.com/business or by contacting Davis at 654-2189 or ldavis@newrochelleny.com. As business ambassador, Davis encourages your questions and ideas about helping businesses be more successful in New Rochelle. (Submitted)

6 • THE CITY REVIEW • January 6, 2017 THE

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County gun show ban

moves forward; faces likely veto

Graphic Designer | Arthur Gedin

Among the firearms available and on display at the upcoming gun expo, run by Westchester Collectors, will be various styles of pistols, rifles and knives. Photo courtesy Pinterest

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A joint committee meeting regarding a ban on Westchester County-sanctioned gun shows was propelled forward to the legislative floor this Tuesday amidst broad support from legislators’ Democratic caucus. Photo courtesy Board of Legislators’ Democratic Caucus

By JAMES PERO Staff Writer A longstanding debate over the reinstatement of a ban on gun shows at county-owned facilities boiled back to the surface this week after legislation from the Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Democratic caucus lurched forward. The legislation, which passed a joint vote held by the Board of Legislators’ committees on Public Safety, Legislation and Parks held this Tuesday would mark a return to a ban previously enacted by former County Executive Andrew Spano in 1999 following infamous shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado. Tuesday’s discussion over the proposed legislation, which will

be debated by the full 17-member board on Jan. 9, was prompted by an upcoming gun show scheduled at the Westchester County Center for Jan. 20-22; the occurrence of which, according to Democratic lawmakers, was only made apparent to them in the days preceding the new year. Even with support of the full nine members of the board’s Democratic caucus, County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, is expected to veto the legislation if passed by the Board of Legislators. In that event, according to Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, the ban would require a super majority vote of 12 lawmakers—three of those Republican—before it’s signed into law. However, according to John

Testa, a Peekskill Republican, there seems to be little political will amongst his fellow Republican lawmakers to give any legislation banning shows at county facilities the requisite push. “We will not be supporting an outright ban on gun shows and will not override the county executive if he vetoes the legislation to ban gun shows altogether,” Testa said. Behind the potential ban, according to Legislator Ben Boykin, a White Plains Democrat, are concerns that gun shows—which were reinstated by Astorino in 2010—could promote the deregulated sale of firearms. “Bottom line, we as a county do not want to open ourselves up to more exposure to these dangerous weapons than we already

are,” Boykin said. In their condemnation of county-sanctioned gun shows— which act as a hub for those looking to buy, sell or browse various long- and short-barrel firearms—Democrats have cited the risk of potential “straw man” purchases and illicit “gray market” sales that may skirt background check laws imposed by New York’s Secure Ammunition and Firearms, SAFE, Act. Parker, a longtime supporter of the ban, expressed concern that the sheer breadth of the show, coupled with a lack of enforcement, could possibly lead to illicit gun sales slipping through the cracks. “We have about eight officers for 2,200 people,” Parker said referring to the show’s typical daily attendance. “That, to me, seems woefully inadequate.” According to George Longworth, the county commissioner of Public Safety who answered questions from lawmakers on the subject of a ban this week, there have been no direct recorded instances of such illegal purchases as a result of the show to date. Board Democrats have already faced staunch opposition on the ban from lawmakers across the aisle who feel the initiative not only impinges on residents’ civil rights, but lacks any factual basis. Jim Maisano, a New Rochelle Republican, who also serves on the board’s Legislation Committee, has been among the most vocal critics of a potential ban. “[Democrats] didn’t introduce a single piece of evidence to sup-

port their claims,” said Maisano, who was in attendance for Tuesday’s joint committees’ meeting. “It’s just politics; they’re making it a political issue.” Maisano, whose own constituents in Pelham and New Rochelle have offered the legislator mixed feelings on the potential ban, said any embargo could also potentially fly in the face of federal law. “They want to do a show of a legal product, a product that the Supreme Court says we have a constitutional right to use,” Maisano said. “[Use of the center] should be open and fair.” Even in the event that a ban passes before the center’s scheduled show, County Attorney Robert Meehan has indicated that given a pre-existing contract between the county and event operators, Westchester Collectors, the expo would still take place, otherwise the county may risk legal action. The upcoming show—which county Parks Department officials said is expected to net the county $29,000—would mark the first of such exhibitions since 2012. A show in 2013 was canceled by Astorino following a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. A separate piece of legislation put forth by Republican lawmakers that would codify the New York Attorney General’s Model New York Gun Show Procedure was tabled at Tuesday’s committee meeting, but will be heard in early February. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com

January 6, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 7

Officials promote scam awareness to seniors By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer State and local lawmakers gathered at the Leo Mintzer Community Center in West Harrison last month to conduct a presentation aimed at helping senior residents identify common computer and telephone scams. Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, state Assemblyman David Buchwald, a Democrat, and state Assistant Attorney General Irma Nimetz addressed an elderly audience and conducted their “Smart

Seniors” presentation at the community center, which is located at 251 Underhill Ave. Nimetz chose to identify three common telephone scams, and explained how con artists can often use trickery to deceive seniors. She said scammers manipulate people with a distracting “hook,” which causes people to pay less attention to details, and they attempt to appear trustworthy by associating themselves with relatives and mutual friends. According to Nimetz, con artists also present urgent deadlines, which are clear give-

Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont addresses a group of senior residents at the Leo Mintzer Community Center in West Harrison.

aways of a scam. “They all have emotional hooks and tend to play on your fears,” she said. “[Scammers] usually present something that sounds too good to be true.” According to Nimetz, three common telephone scams that costs victims nearly $3 billion a year include the sweepstakes scam, in which a caller requests the “winner” to send a check or wire money to cover taxes and fees; the grandparent scam, in which the caller identifies as a grandchild and claims to need money to cover an accident or medical expenses; and the home improvement scam, in which the caller offers free home inspections. While Nimetz focused on highlighting the number of scams seniors often fall victim to, Buchwald said that it’s imperative for residents to take action by pressuring telephone companies. “Part of the issue is that telephone companies just don’t know where these phone calls are coming from,” he said. The presentation comes in wake of a major telephone scam

A group of senior residents watch state Assistant Attorney General Irma Nimetz conduct a “Smart Seniors” presentation to raise scam awareness. Telephone and computer scams costs victims nearly $3 billion a year nationwide. Photos/Franco Fino

that occurred in Mumbai, India, in October, where police busted nine call centers that telephoned U.S. citizens pretending to be the IRS. As of press time, 80 people have been charged in connection to the scam and po-

lice are planning to charge 630 more employees. According to Nimetz, the alleged con artists managed to rake in $150,000 a day from U.S. citizens through the scam. “This is serious stuff,” Bel-

mont said. “It happens every day and it involves people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of intelligence; as soon as it happens, you should call the police.” CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com

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January 6, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 9 HOUSING from page 1

Community leaders, municipal supervisors and mayors, reporters and several Republican Westchester lawmakers joined County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, for a press conference on Dec. 27 during which he announced that the county had surpassed the threshold set in a 2009 settlement to prepare to build 750 units of affordable housing before 2017. According to Astorino, the county has arranged for 790 and plans to build at least 100 more. File photo

meet additional requirements outlined in the settlement before concluding the decade-long saga with HUD. The county must get approval from HUD on its efforts to advertise the affordable housing market; it says it has spent more than $1 million on advertising and outreach, more than double what was required in the settlement. Westchester will also need HUD to sign off on an analysis of impediments, AI, to fair housing. The county has already submitted eight AIs, each of which had found that Westchester’s zoning was not racially exclusionary. HUD rejected all eight of the AIs, claiming they were inadequate. In July 2016, U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Denise Cote, who has been overseeing the case, ruled that Westchester would need to hire a consultant to oversee the ninth AI. According to Astorino, that AI is being reviewed by a consultant and will be released in mid-January. “We scrubbed everyone’s zoning code, even the communities that were not part of the settlement,” Astorino said. “And we found that everyone, in their various ways, permitted multifamily housing—permitted affordable housing.” Astorino, locked in a con-

tentious battle over housing for years, reiterated his criticism of the federal government, which has often suggested that Westchester should sue individual municipalities which were not doing enough to promote affordable housing or had exclusionary zoning. “We have shown that Westchester is… a county that can successfully and firmly stand up to an overzealous and overaggressive federal government on behalf of our cities, towns and villages,” he said. Last May, a HUD-appointed monitor overseeing the county’s adherence to the settlement recommended that the U.S. Department of Justice should take legal action against seven of the 31 municipalities which he felt were not complying with the settlement. That monitor, James Johnson, resigned in August. The housing department has not appointed Johnson’s replacement; and Astorino said he has asked the Department of Justice to forego appointing one. “Given the county’s progress, the county has told the U.S. attorney that we do not think a new monitor is necessary at this point,” he said. “And, so, we feel very strongly that if a new monitor is appointed—and we see no reason why one should be—that that choice should be that of the

incoming secretary of HUD, Dr. Ben Carson, and not Julian Castro, who is on his way out.” Astorino said that he plans to speak with Carson, a fellow Republican, once he is officially appointed as HUD administrator this month, and that the two had already discussed the settlement in June before Carson was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump, a Republican. He added that he also spoke to Trump about the settlement in June. “It’s time for a conclusion,” Astorino said. “As the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said, ‘At some point in time this litigation has to be ended.’ That time should be near.” Alexander Roberts, cofounder of the Westchester Workforce Housing Coalition, told the Review that the county can continue to do more to promote zoning for affordable and multi-family housing. “I would like to see [the county] continue the interest in getting the affordable and fair housing that we need in this county to continue to grow,” Roberts said. “It’s not just a racial issue or equity issue. It’s an issue of failure to allow the free market in housing to operate.” CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com

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11 • THE CITY REVIEW • January 6, 2017

Business Briefs Simone hosts Westchester urban development meeting

Simone Development Companies, developer of the Boyce Thompson Center, recently hosted a breakfast meeting of Westchester/Fairfield Chapter of the Urban Land Institute, ULI, at the new mixed-use center in Yonkers. One hundred people attended the Sept. 23 program, which included tours of the 85,000-square-foot center which is nearing completion. The program included presentations by Guy Leibler, president of Simone Healthcare Development; Chip Marrano, president of MCG Construction Company; Ron Hoina, partner of Design Development; Wilson Kimball, commissioner of planning and development for the city of Yonkers; and Cynthia Williams, project director for Simone Development Companies. Simone recently announced that WESTMED Medical Group will occupy two floors at the Boyce Thompson Center in a new 20,000-squarefoot building, constructed on the south side of the original building. With the new lease, the Boyce Thompson Center is now over 70 percent preleased to 10 tenants. About 25,000 square feet of medical office, set for retail and restaurant space, remains available for lease. In addition to WESTMED, health care tenants at the new Boyce Thompson Center include Gastroenterology of Westchester LLC; Juvanni Med Spa; Fresenius Medical Care; and St. John’s Riverside Hospital. Retail and restaurant tenants include Fortina Restaurant; The Taco Project; Family Wellness Pharmacy; Tompkins Mahopac Bank; PLUSHBLOW Blow-dry Bar; and Ultimate Spectacle. Located off Executive Boulevard in northwest Yonkers, the Boyce Thompson Center is an innovative mixed-use development featuring new office space for businesses and medical practices, retail stores, banking and restaurants. The historic Boyce Thompson building, which was built in the 1920s, is being restored to its original character. The center will also include outdoor site amenities such as areas for seating, eating and learning.

Fordham names new dean of professional studies Fordham University has announced the appointment of Anthony R. Davidson, Ph.D., as the new dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Studies, the university’s college for adult and nontraditional students with a campus in West Harrison. Davidson, who previously served as dean of the School of Business at Manhattanville College in Purchase, was chosen following a national search. He is an award-winning educator who has more than 30 years of experience as a dean, professor, consultant, and entrepreneur. Among his initiatives at Manhattanville, Davidson created and launched the Women’s Leadership In-

stitute; launched a certificate program in nonprofit management in conjunction with industry leaders; forged exchange agreements with other area colleges; and collaborated with the schools of education and arts and sciences to develop joint- and dual-degree programs. Davidson earned both his bachelor’s degree in marketing, magna cum laude, and his MBA in business policy and finance from Bernard M. Baruch College of the City of New York, and earned a doctorate in management and systems science from Cass Business School of the City University of London. From 1990 to 2000, Davidson served as a professor at a number of New York-area universities, teaching management at Hofstra University and at Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, management and business strategy at Adelphi University, and management and information systems at Yeshiva University. Davidson is author or co-author of many invited presentations and papers on business and higher education issues. He is an advisory board member for the World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare & Higher Education, for the Institute for Risk Management, and for various nonprofits. He also consults for senior management in numerous sectors including technology, health care, and education.

Lawrence Hospital recognized by state health department NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville is pleased to announce it is one of only 25 hospitals to be recognized by the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Immunization Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program. The hospital has been placed on the Immunization Action Coalition Birth Dose Honor Roll by achieving a 90 percent or higher coverage rate in 2015 for the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine and also passed their most recent lot quality assurance visit. “We are pleased to be a leader in the fight against hepatitis B and I am proud of the physicians, nurses, and staff members of NewYorkPresbyterian/Lawrence Hospital who are dedicated to the health of our communities,” said Michael J. Fosina, president of New York-Presbyterian/ Lawrence Hospital. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists all endorse the hepatitis B birth dose. According to its letter of endorsement, “It is recommended that the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine be administered prior to hospital discharge for every newborn in the United States. In addition, the birth dose coverage rate has been adopted as a measure of hospital quality by the National Quality Forum. This birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine is the first step in creating a vaccine safety net that will protect infants from hepatitis B infection and from the development of chronic hepatitis B infection if acquired through contact with an infected mother, household member, or caregiver. Data from the July 2011 to June 2012 National Immunization Survey, NIS, found that 70 percent of U.S. newborns received a dose of hepatitis B vaccine by 3 days of age. The NIS data show a marked amount of variability by state in the use of the birth dose,

ranging from 88 percent all the way down to only 29 percent. This variability indicates that it is feasible for most states to do substantially better on their birth dose coverage, and that all states need to improve the use of the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine to enhance protection of newborn infants. An estimated 800 U.S. newborns are still becoming chronically infected with hepatitis B each year from exposure at birth or during the first months of life. We are encouraging all hospitals to have policies in place to protect newborns from this important cause of liver failure and liver cancer.” Founded in 1909, NewYork-Presbyterian/ Lawrence Hospital has a long and well-established history of providing superior health care to the residents of southern Westchester County and its surrounding communities. The 288-bed hospital joined the NewYork-Presbyterian Regional Hospital Network in 2014 and offers a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, a renovated Maternity Department and an Emergency Department providing emergency care to approximately 42,000 people annually. A new, state-ofthe-art comprehensive Cancer Center, accredited by the American College of Surgeons with Commendation, will offer infusion, radiation therapy and support services. NYP/Lawrence provides additional support and care to area residents through NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group/ Westchester, a multispecialty physician practice, as well as ColumbiaDoctors. For more information, visit nyp.org/lawrence or call 787-1000.

Leason Ellis ranks high in lawyer rankings Intellectual property law firm Leason Ellis LLP, located in White Plains, tops the charts in the Super Lawyers listings for Westchester County in 2016. Attorneys Paul Fields, Melvin Garner, Adda Gogoris, Yuval Marcus and Peter Sloane were all named to the list. Mel Garner has also just celebrated his 10th consecutive year as a “Super Lawyer.” He was first named in 2006. Super Lawyers further recognized two of the firm associates this year. Cameron Reuber and Lauren Sabol were both received the distinction of “Rising Stars.” Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. The next Business Briefs section will run in February. Please send any submission for our February edition to news@hometwn. com, with “Business” in the subject line of your email. Each submission may include one picture. If you have any questions, email us at news@hometwn.com.

12 • THE CITY REVIEW • January 6, 2017

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January 6, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 13

A breakthrough about breakthroughs RHYMES WITH CRAZY Lenore Skenazy

Oh, to be a scientist 50 or 60 years ago, warning people about the stuff they really needed to know: Stop smoking! Don’t take Thalidomide if you’re pregnant! For God’s sake, ditch the Corvair unless you WANT to get impaled on your gear shift! Your findings would make headlines and the people reading about them would end up safer and healthier. Score. But today, the safest time in human history, a time in which Americans are living a full six years longer than even in 1990, you can’t turn on your media device without hearing about another new thing you supposedly must stop doing/eating/ touching/breathing IMMEDIATELY—or else. Coffee! Lack of coffee! Plastic bottles, cellphones, GMOs. Non-organic cantaloupe! My gosh, the Environmental Working Group can’t STOP warning us about lipstick: “Millions of women get a little bit of toxic lead on their lips each day with every swipe of their lipstick,” reads a press release. Okay, that sounds scary, but are they dropping dead? See earlier paragraph: We are living longer than ever today, and that doesn’t seem to be because women have stopped wearing lipstick. It is precisely that disconnect that drove Dr. Geoffrey Kabat to write his new book, “Getting Risk Right: Understanding the Science of Elusive Health Risks.” Kabat is a cancer epidemiologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. He has published 140 scientific papers on the factors that

play a role in causing cancer and other diseases. And he is sick of watching the rest of us wake up and get warned that if we do X (it’s always changing), we will regret it till the day we die. Which will be next Thursday. “You need to make distinctions,” the doctor told me in a phone interview. There’s a difference between large-scale, longterm, replicated studies, and the fly-by-night “breakthroughs” that the media loves to report on. Kabat is quick to remind us of the big, proven health risks we can actually get a handle on: Don’t overdrink. Quit smoking. Lose weight and get some exercise. Go for effective screenings, have your kids vaccinated, and if somehow you can avoid poverty and depression, more power to you: those are real risks, too. And yet, that “boring” list takes a back seat to the danger du jour: Drinking hot tea, or using nail polish. What gives? “There is a crisis in the field of biomedicine,” he writes, the crisis of “hyper-competitiveness.” We civilians tend to think of researchers sitting in their labs, conducting experiments with only humanity’s welfare in mind. But the truth is, scientists also have to make a living. That means, “they may feel the need to overstate the importance of their work in order to attract attention and obtain funding,” Kabat writes. And increasingly, they are publishing results that cannot be replicated, either because the studies they did were too small to really measure a phenomenon, or were simply shoddy. What’s more, there is a herd mentality in science as in any field. So if some research area becomes a hot topic, many scientists will pile on, in part because that’s where the money is, and in

part because if your findings go against the grain, you will be on the outs. Remember all the research in the ‘90s showing that a low-fat diet is good for you? But it’s not, if you substitute sugar for fat, as many food companies proceeded to do. “The large-scale and dramatic change—sometimes referred to as the ‘SnackWell phenomenon’—has been credited with making a substantial contribution to increasing rates of obesity,” Kabat says. Another problem plaguing modern science—or those of us trying to make sense of it—is the fact that with ever more sensitive instruments, scientists can measure ever smaller stuff. So when, for instance, we hear that there are trace elements of a toxin in our blood, we tend to think, “Yikes!” Not, “I wonder how important one drop in a trillion is?” (Answer: It’s not. It’s like one drop of poison in 20 Olympic pools.) The result of a flood of studies, shoddy research, scientific groupthink and the media’s mania for scaring us means that “a high percentage of [Americans] worry about risks for which there is little persuasive support,” writes Kabat. “The latter include pesticide residues on produce, food additives, genetically modified foods, stress, and hormones in beef.” Holy modified mangoes! Those aren’t about to kill us? See above again: Longest lifespans in history. So how can we know which headlines to trust and which to ignore? Here is Kabat’s rule of thumb, one that I am going to adopt: “The more dramatic the result, the less likely it is to be true.” CONTACT: lskenazy@yahoo.com

ArtsWestchester honors 5 ‘Wonder Women’

From left, 2016 ArtsWestchester gala honoree Maria Ferreira; ArtsWestchester board president Bob Roth; gala honoree Emily Grant; ArtsWestchester dinner chair Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson; gala honoree Mary Calvi; gala honoree New York state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins; ArtsWestchester dinner chair Geoff Thompson; and gala honoree Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel. Contributed photo

ArtsWestchester honored five “Wonder Women” during its annual gala on Nov. 19 at The RitzCarlton Westchester in White Plains. The honorees were: Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, chair of the New York State Council on the Arts; Andrea Stewart-Cousins, New York state senator and Democratic Conference leader; Maria Ferreira, area president for Wells Fargo; Emily Grant, lifetime arts patron; and Mary Calvi, award-winning CBS 2 news anchor. Diamonstein-Spielvogel is a national arts advocate, producer, preservationist, curator, civic activist and author of 23 books. Dedicated to preserving and enriching cultural life across the nation, her career of cultural leadership includes serving on the boards of countless major arts institutions and on city, state and federal councils and cultural commissions. In 1966, as the first director of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Diamonstein-Spielvogel initiated the first public performance in Central Park of the Metropolitan Opera, and first exhibition of outdoor sculpture, with the work of Tony Smith in Bryant Park. She was appointed by President Reagan to the U.S. Holocaust Museum Board in 1987 and President Clinton appointed her to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in 1992, where she became the first woman elected vice chair in the Commission’s 100-year history. In 2008, President Obama appointed her to the American Battle Monuments Commission, where she has was recently elected chair of the Memorials Committee. She is founder/chair of the NYC Landmarks 50+ Alliance; and on the boards of the Fresh Air Fund, Friends of the High Line, and Trust for the National Mall.

Stewart-Cousins is a longtime supporter of ArtsWestchester’s mission to keep the arts accessible and thriving in Westchester. A Yonkers resident, she is a vocal advocate for the value of the arts and quality education in our communities. Since the very beginning of her tenure in government, Stewart-Cousins has espoused the values of empathy, empowerment and civic engagement. These values, along with her strong belief in advocating for the underserved and championing the needs of working families, has distinguished her as a trailblazer in local and state government. Stewart-Cousins was first elected to the state Senate in 2006 and in 2009, Stewart-Cousins made New York State history as the first African-American woman to preside over the Senate. StewartCousins also served for a decade as a Westchester County legislator where she authored and passed landmark legislation including Westchester County’s first human rights laws. A Yonkers native, Ferreira is the suburban New York and Connecticut community banking area president for Wells Fargo. Her duties span six counties from New York’s northern Hudson Valley to Connecticut’s Fairfield County. In her role at Wells Fargo, she provides executive leadership for retail and business banking operations covering 50 retail banking stores and 398 employees. Wells Fargo is a corporate leader when it comes to the arts, supporting the arts-in-education programs of ArtsWestchester in some of the most impoverished communities in the county. A passionate community leader, Ferreira has been a dedicated member of the ArtsWestchester board of trustees since 2014. She currently serves on the Grants Committee where

her professional experience and leadership skills have made her one of its most valuable members. A lifetime arts patron, Grant has been a driving force in the cultural community since moving to Westchester in 1955. In the ensuing years, she and her husband, Eugene, have positively impacted almost every cultural organization in the county—Purchase College Foundation, ArtsWestchester, the Emelin Theatre, the Westchester Holocaust Commission, Caramoor, the Westchester Philharmonic, Manhattanville College, and the Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridges. A little-known fact is that she served as an occupational therapist for soldiers in World War II in her native Canada, where, even then, she utilized the healing power of the arts on the wounded. She is truly a woman ahead of her time who manages to keep hearth, home, family and community a priority. Calvi is an award-winning journalist, currently an anchor for CBS 2 News This Morning and CBS 2 News at Noon. She has provided live breaking news reports on a wide range of stories across the tri-state area for over two decades and has won six Emmy awards, including one for an in-depth series on sexual pedophiles, “Predator Next Door.” Her credits include the New York Festival’s World Media Awards, a National ACE Award for Excellence in Journalism, a Clarion Award for Excellence in Reporting, and the ACIM Award for Excellence in Community Service. As the first lady of Yonkers, Calvi and her husband, Mayor Michael Spano, have supported the positive economic impact of the arts throughout the city of Yonkers as well as the power of the arts to inspire children in the Yonkers public schools. (Submitted)

14 • THE CITY REVIEW • January 6, 2017

Tweet storm

SPORTS

LIVE MIKE Mike Smith

In my 32 years on this planet, I’ve certainly racked up my fair share of regrets. From never learning how to control my temper on the baseball field until after I graduated from college to using lyrics from the Goo Goo Dolls in my high school yearbook quote, there is a litany of things in my life that I look back on with shame; wondering what the heck I was thinking at the time. And over the last year or so, I’ve come to add my lionization of former major league pitcher Curt Schilling to the list. And man, did I love Schilling. As a big-game pitcher, at least in the last 15 years, nobody was better. The playoff wins, the bloody sock—and the way he tortured the Yankees with both the Diamondbacks and the Red Sox—for a Boston fan like me, you couldn’t help but love the guy.

On Jan. 18, the Baseball Writers Association of America will announce the 2017 Hall of Fame inductees. Sports Editor Mike Smith doesn’t expect Curt Schilling, pictured, to be on the list. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.org

But since his retirement, it’s become increasingly clear that “Big Schill” is nothing but a selfdeluded, loud-mouthed jerk. And it’s probably going to keep him out of the Hall of Fame. Now, I’ll do my best to keep politics out of a sports article, even though Schilling himself has brought about his downfall in part by becoming a prolific purveyor of borderline racist “alt-right” memes. But let’s just say that when you preface a tweet about gun violence stats in Chicago with the disclaimer that you “in no way meant to trivialize a War Zone,” chances are that “trivialization” is exactly what you’re going for. The gatekeepers of the Hall of Fame—members of the Baseball Writers Association of America—are a notoriously vindictive bunch. It has been welldocumented that players who are popular with baseball writers are often given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to enshrinement, while others, like Jim Rice, who enjoyed frostier relationships with the scribes, are forced to wait and watch other less-deserving players get

the call before them. Over the last few years, Schilling hasn’t made a whole lot of fans among baseball writers. Doubling down on the antiMuslim tweets that got him fired by ESPN, Schilling has spent the last year becoming something of a social media surrogate for President-elect Donald Trump while echoing the sentiments of some Trump supporters who called for the lynching of journalists, and making public, inappropriate japes about ogling underaged girls. Recently, he even announced his intention to run for a senate seat in Rhode Island— which, coincidentally, is the same state that gave Schilling’s start-up video game company, 38 Studios, a $75 million loan. The company declared bankruptcy after just six years, leaving Rhode Island taxpayers to foot a $28.2 million bill. As baseball writers—including Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy who was once a vocal supporter of Schilling—began to rethink his Hall of Fame candidacy, Schilling kept talking, calling out the writers for treating him unfairly because of his beliefs, while also maintaining that inclu-

sion into the Hall of Fame didn’t really mean that much to him. But the thing about Schilling— and one of the main reasons that I loved him as a player—is that he has long been obsessed with the history of the game. Even his Twitter handle, @Gehrig38, is a testament to that. So if you don’t think this is killing him, I think you’d be wrong. Unfortunately for Schilling, however, his ego just won’t allow him to admit that maybe he’s made a few missteps since his retirement. There are unquestionably worse people in the Hall of Fame than Curt Schilling, people who have done far worse than support a particular candidate and send out a few bad tweets. There are some—and will be more in the next few years—that have actually cheated the sport itself. But Schilling is not going to get in because apparently nobody told him that “Cowboy Up” doesn’t involve getting on a high horse. And the fact that he can’t see that makes me sorry that I ever rooted for the guy in the first place.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports

TO COVER LOCAL SPORTS, YOU NEED A

LIVE MIKE! Follow Mike Smith @LiveMike_Sports stats • recaps • commentary Follow @cityreviewnr for Mike’s live, in-game action updates

SPORTS

January 6, 2017 • THE CITY REVIEW • 15

Tigers reach Slam Dunk finals boys basketball non-league

IONA PREP 64 MAMARONECK 41 COUNTY CENTER

12/29/16

Game Notes: • Iona’s Josh Alexander scored a game-high 21 points • Mamaroneck advanced to the finals with a win over Uniondale on Dec. 28 • The Tigers are currently 5-2 and undefeated at home By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor The Mamaroneck basketball team may have run into a stiff test on Dec. 29, but a year-ending 64-41 loss to CHSAA powerhouse Iona Prep in the finals of the Slam Dunk Tournament at Westchester County Center did little to dampen head coach Tyrone Carver’s optimism for 2017. Over the first few weeks of the season, Carver’s Tigers have far exceeded preseason expectations and seem poised for more success in January. Against the Gaels, Mamaroneck had no answer for 6-foot8 forward Josh Alexander, who torched the Tigers both in the paint and from beyond the arc, scoring a game-high 21 points on the evening. Alexander’s frontcourt mate, Souleymane Koureissi, also drained three 3-pointers as the Gaels finished 13-23 from downtown. “Iona is a matchup nightmare,” Carver said. “They already have the size, but on top of that, to be able to shoot it so well, that’s tough for anyone.” Despite the loss, Carver said he was impressed, however, with his team’s ability to hang with a program that has long been considered one of the strongest in Westchester. “I felt like we competed pretty well, even if it didn’t really reflect that in the score,” he said. “We gave it our all, and that’s the kind of effort we need to give each game.” The night before, the Tigers picked up what may have been

Will Tuck goes up for a layup against Iona Prep at the Westchester County Center. Iona Prep topped the Tigers 64-41.

their biggest win of the season in a 60-56 semifinal win over a previously unbeaten Uniondale squad. Isiah Thomas led the way for Mamaroneck in the school’s County Center debut, scoring a team high 20 points. “I was very impressed with

our poise and very impressed with our ability to stay tuned in to what we were doing,” Carver said. “Our kids did a great job, especially considering the environment.” At 5-2 on the season, the Tigers are hoping to make a return Isiah Thomas splits the defense for a layup on Dec. 29. Thomas and the Tigers are off to a 5-2 start.

to the County Center at the end of the year, but Carver and his charges know that January will bring some tough league games. Over the next few weeks, Mamaroneck will tangle with Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and Scarsdale, as they look to make their case as one of the top contenders in Class AA. “It’s important moving forward that we want to be one of the last four teams remaining, and our competition is going to step up and get better,” he said. “But we’ve got six of our eight games in January at home where we are undefeated, so we just have to get better each and every day.” Ethan Renner makes a move at the Westchester County Center. Photos/Mike Smith

CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com

James Manetta looks for a lane against the Gaels.

16 • THE CITY REVIEW • January 6, 2017

January 2017

Planning ahead... SUNDAY New Year’s Day

MONDAY

TUESDAY

New Year’s Day observed, schools and government offices closed

All schools reopen

WEDNESDAY

Board of Education meeting 6 p.m., NRHS

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Municipal Arts Commission 6 p.m., 90 Beaufort Place

Zoning board meeting 7 p.m., 90 Beaufort Place

Half-day all schools

City Council COW meeting 7 p.m., City Hall

Community Conversation about Health Care 9 a.m., New Rochelle YMCA PAVE I Vocal 7 p.m., LEK & NRHS

Historical and Landmark Review Board 7:30 p.m., 90 Beaufort Place

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, schools and government offices closed

City Council regular meeting 7 p.m., City Hall PTA Council 7 p.m., NRHS

Midterms & NYS Regents Exams

SEPTA meeting 7:30 p.m.

Board of Education COW sessions 6 p.m., Jefferson

Planetarium Show 7 p.m.

Planning Board 7:30 p.m., 90 Beaufort Place

City tax bill due

Midterms & NYS Regents Exams

Midterms & NYS Regents Exams Davis PTA Gala

Chinese New Year