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Thursday, July 31, 2008

07/31/08 Police Issue Alert For Rosa Packard


Police search for missing woman


Greenwich Police are seeking help to find a 73-year-old town woman who went missing Wednesday morning after taking money out of a bank in Glenville.

Rosa Packard, of Greenwich, was reported missing by family members Wednesday and was last seen in the Glenville area around 10 a.m. that day, Greenwich Police Detective Mark Zuccerella said.

Police issued an alert about the missing woman late Thursday afternoon.

"We are canvassing the area and doing everything we can to try to follow and track her," Zuccerella said.

Packard is described as a white female, with hazel eyes ad white hair, 5-foot-6 inches tall and weighing about about 200 pounds, according to police.

Packard drives a black 2005 Toyota Prius with four doors with the Connecticut license plate 784-WOX, according to police.

Comment:

How can the citizen's of Greenwich and Fairfield County help locate this woman if we do not have a picture of her.

If the Greenwich Police Department won't widely distribute this poor womans photo to all of the media outlets in Greenwich, then the family is going to have to start emailing her photo.

Update 6:50 pm:

The Greenwich Post and the Greenwich Citizen have nothing on Rosa Pachard.

Did the Greenwich police department fail to inform these two newspapers about this missing woman.

The Greenwich Police Department Website has nothing about Ms. Packard.

Maybe, Ms. Packard was found and it was not necessary to place her on the Greenwich Police Department Website?

We hope that Ms. Packard is alright.

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07/31/08 Bill Clark At Greenwich Gossip Has Breaking News


Worth Construction Names Betty Sternberg to Board of Directors

Following on the news that the Town of Greenwich will be digging into taxpayers' pockets for yet another six-figure "final final" payment to ensure the untimely completion of the notorious Hamilton Avenue School "building" project, word comes from company management that Betty Sternberg has been named to the Board of Directors of Worth Construction Company, Inc.

In a press release dated today, the Bethel, CT based corporation stated: "Ms. Sternberg has been almost single-handedly responsible for the one of the most lucrative and long-lived contracts in our company's recent history. Her deft lack of oversight of the Hamilton Avenue project, along with her silver-tongued imaginary "progress reports" and numerous glib broken promises to the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting, provide a model for building projects everywhere in how to line a construction company's pockets while still managing to hold on to an extremely high-paying position of trust in the community she so audaciously helped to bilk. We applaud Ms. Sternberg for her brazen ability to mislead so many for so long, and welcome her with open arms to our Board of Directors."

Ms. Sternberg is presently on a paid three-month leave and was unavailable for comment. A spokesperson for the Board of Education said they could not comment because they were "too busy" tabulating by hand the results of the machine-readable survey on Ms. Sternberg's popularity which was completed on June 6. Because of an unexplained failure of the electronic equipment designed to read the Number 2 pencil responses, the results are not expected for at least "several months." One of the questions directly concerned Ms. Sternberg's suitability to remain in office; malicious rumors have been circulating that she was not pleased with the machine's results that were made available privately to her on June 10, and has therefore unplugged it and demanded a manual recount.

We here in Greenwich can all take pride in this new feather in Betty Sternberg's cap, knowing that we made it possible for this well-deserved honor to come her way. She joins a long list of Town administrators who have made a career out of taking us to the cleaners and being rewarded with large monetary settlements cloaked from public scrutiny under secret non-disclosure agreements. While Ms. Sternberg's "retirement" package has not yet been fully worked out, word has it that it will be right up there with former controller Bob Morgan's and Inga "the shoplifter" Boudreau's. Were former Town resident William Marcy "Boss" Tweed still alive today, he would be pleased to see that little has changed in Greenwich over the past 150 years or so.

Well, after all, we do have a reputation to uphold. How nice, dear reader, that we seem to be having no trouble doing so.

Please read more from Bill Clarke:
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07/31/08 Lou and Gini Bantle Give $300,000 To Help Others And Frank Mazza Wants To Give $300,000 To A Mob Affiliated Contractor

Lou and Gini Bantle Give The Less Fortunate A Helping Hand

Center to help women overcome addictions

Thehour.com

... and turn their lives around. With a $300,000 gift to Liberation Programs being given by Lou and Gini Bantle of Greenwich, and money raised from Liberation Programs' first-ever Spirit of Hope benefit dinner, the dream of building a permanent safe ...

Please see:

Greenwich Board Of Education Gives The Mob A Helping Hand

"Were Going To Give You More Time And $300,000 At Hamilton Avenue School"

07/31/08 Ace Reporter Chris Fountain Was The Only One Smart Enough To Do A Google Search On Worth Construction.

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07/31/08 PRESS RELEASE: Himes Completes 17 Town Tour

Jim Himes for Congress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2008
Contact: Michael Sachse, 646 265-0556, Michael@HimesforCongress.com

HIMES COMPLETES 17 TOWN TOUR
Democratic nominee for Congress visits every town in district in 17 days, listens to voters' concerns

BRIDGEPORT, CT - Democratic nominee for Congress Jim Himes completed the last of seventeen "Listening & Leading Forums" this week, discussing the issues before a standing room only crowd at the Ferguson Library in Stamford on Monday evening.

In his opening remarks, Himes described himself as someone who has lived the American Dream. "I grew up in a small town, with a single-working mom," said Himes. "We didn't have a lot of extra money, but I went to a good public school, my mom had a job where we didn't have to worry about having health care, and I had opportunity. And that has made all the difference for me."

Himes, a Rhodes Scholar who went on to become a Vice President at Goldman Sachs before running the New York office of a national affordable housing non-profit emphasized his desire to restore opportunity for others once elected.

"There are three issues that I am particularly concerned about: energy, health care, and education," said Himes. "These issues form the underpinnings of the American Dream."

The forum was the last of seventeen such events that Himes has held throughout the district. In comments after the Stamford event, Himes said that, although the discussion varied from town to town, citizens throughout the district share many of the same concerns.

"Everywhere we went, people were concerned about the price of gas and are worried about heating their homes in the winter. And everyone - Democrats, Republicans, and Independents - agreed that we need to fix our health care system."

Himes described what he sees as a broad consensus forming around the issues.

"When I hear businessmen in New Canaan and teachers in Trumbull banging the table over health care reform, it makes me optimistic that we can fix these critical problems if we send the right people to Washington."

The key, said Himes, is to elect representatives willing to tackle the difficult issues and fight for the middle class.

"As a small business owner put it to me this week: 'We pay more and more for health care, college tuition, and gasoline, and at the same time we're in the middle of the worst slowdown I can remember.' Our families need someone in Washington who will fight for the changes we need here at home."

###





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07/31/08 Greenwich Post Newslinks For Wednesday


David Ames / Greenwich Post photo

Kids and parents explore world of bees

Clem and Tala Garcia get a close look at a live, enclosed beehive during Saturday morning's lecture on 'The Art and Science of Beekeeping' by Hanover beekeeper Stuart Woronecki at the Greenwich Library.

Please also read:

Glenville demolition a go, but new Hamilton Avenue delayed again

Written by Ken Borsuk,
Staff Reporter


With the new Hamilton Avenue School almost certain to be delayed past the opening of school on Aug. 27, the Board of Education established back-up plans Tuesday night that not only impact Hamilton Avenue’s students, but also Glenville School’s.

The board unanimously gave the official go-ahead to demolish Glenville School so its long-awaited renovation may begin this summer. But a “drop-dead date” of Aug. 8 was established as the day the board will have to pull the trigger on temporarily dispersing Glenville students throughout the district.

If the school receives its temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) from the town’s building department by Aug. 8 then Glenville students will go into modular classrooms at Western Middle School for an Aug. 27 start and Hamilton Avenue students will have a delayed opening until Sept. 8, but will open the year in their new building.

However, if the TCO is not set by Aug. 8, then the plan changes......

Pool company owner arraigned for boy's death

Written by Ken Borsuk,
Staff Reporter


The president of Shoreline Pools was arraigned Monday at Stamford Superior Court after being charged in connection with the accidental drowning of 6-year-old Greenwich resident Zachary Cohn last summer.

David Lionetti, president of the Stamford-based company, has been charged with second degree manslaughter. Authorities have charged that because his company did not install a required safety device that would have turned the pool’s suction valve off after the boy’s arm became trapped in it, Mr. Lionetti is responsible for his death. Mr. Lionetti is expected to appear in court on Aug. 12, and his attorney, Richard Meehan Jr., has said he will plead not guilty at that time......

Wiffle ball kids use Dundee for summer

Written by Sam Cross,
Post Correspondent


After closing down the hotly debated Wiffle ball field on Riverside Lane, the town has made arrangements for the children to play at Dundee International School for the remainder of the summer....

Westfield or bust for BR 13s


Written by Paul Silverfarb

Today starts a new chapter for the Greenwich Babe Ruth 13-Year-Old All-Star team, as they now get to say that they are representing the state of Connecticut in this year’s New England Regional tournament

Greenwich, District I champions, took to the field at Unity Park in Trumbull Friday night and beat a feisty Naugatuck team 6-2 to claim the state championship.

Greenwich swimmers flock to Cheshire, Wesleyan for States

Written by Lucy Cobbs, Post Sports Correspondent

More than 40 Greenwich swimmers made a splash this past weekend at the 2008 Long Course Age Group State Championships.

Young swimmers from YWCA Dolphins and YMCA of Greenwich Marlins competed at the Cheshire Community Pool in Cheshire and Wesleyan University in Middletown. Between the two pools, more than 1,000 swimmers from 48 Connecticut teams participated in the meet, which was held Thursday through Sunday.

“In this meet, you’re competing with the best of the best. Everyone’s times are so close,” said Haley Sylvester of the Dolphins.....

Familiar foe ends Greenwich’s World Series run


Written by George Albano, Post Sports Correspondent

Only one team stood between the Greenwich Cal Ripken 12U all-stars and the 2008 New England championship.

Not surprisingly, that team was New Canaan, Greenwich’s longtime nemesis.

The team that knocked the local Cal Ripken all-stars out of the district and state tournaments was a thorn in Greenwich’s side for the third time in a month.

Floor hockey registration under way

Registration has begun for indoor floor hockey run by the Department of Parks and Recreation and Future Stars.

The clinic will begin Aug. 18 and run to Aug. 22 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Greenwich Civic Center for children in second through fifth grade

This instructional clinic will teach the basic fundamentals of floor hockey. Stick work, passing, catching, shooting, basic offensive and defensive skills, and small-sided games will be played.

The cost for the six sessions is $200. Space is limited to the first 24 children per session. For more information call Billie Schock at the Greenwich Civic Center 637-4583, or visit Greenwichct.org.

Politics at play behind progressive columnist’s firing?

Written by Ken Borsuk, Staff Reporter

Ms. Littman, a children’s book author who had been contributing to the paper since 2001, had been a regular columnist since 2003. Readers of her column said her departure came as a shock. She said she was fired after she wrote a column sharply criticizing congressional candidate and Greenwich resident Lee Whitnum, who is challenging party-supported Jim Himes, a Cos Cob resident, for the Democratic nomination on Aug. 12, for her foreign policy stances and conduct during the campaign.

Ms. Whitnum complained to the paper’s editor and soon after Ms. Littman said she found herself fired, despite never missing deadlines, always hitting her word counts and having a loyal following of readers.

The reason they gave me was that I had held a meet-and-greet [which is an introductory event but not a fund-raiser] for Jim Himes last September and by writing this column about Lee Whitnum I had ‘compromised the integrity of the newspaper,’” Ms. Littman told the Post on Tuesday.

However, Ms. Littman said, she feels the reason for her dismissal goes beyond this particular column. She said people at the paper knew long before she wrote the column that she had held the event for Mr. Himes and that it reflected her desire to remove her point of view from the paper. She said she is employed not as a reporter but as a columnist and she is open about her progressive views and support of Democrats.....

....Frank Farricker, the Democratic candidate for first selectman last year, said he personally believed that a select few people had convinced Mr. Dunster to fire her “just because they didn’t like what she had to say.”

“I have a great deal of respect for the columnists they have at the Time, but she was the lone voice there that spoke with a different line of thinking than the rest of them,” Mr. Farricker told the Post. “To call Sarah out for that isn’t right. I think they’re trying to go in one way of thinking in an effort to keep readers, and that means only one kind of point of view is heard. That’s the point of view of the editor and not the community.”

Letter-writing campaigns are under way to get Ms. Littman, who will continue blogging at her site, Saramerica.livejournal.com, her job back, and she said she would consider returning if asked.

“I might, just because it’s important to have a different voice at what’s a very right-wing paper,” Ms. Littman said. “I was basically the only progressive voice there.”

Teenage mutant ninja soccer

Most 3-year-olds across the world are just learning to walk. In Greenwich, they play soccer.....

Greenwich singer will make New York debut

Yearning for summer in Europe, but don’t like that exchange rate this year? Here’s a taste of France, close-by.

French-American chanteuse Valérie Ahneman, who lives in Greenwich, has released her debut recording, A la Mode and will make her New York night club debut on Friday, Aug. 8, at The Metropolitan Room, New York City. Her full-length CD is an upbeat mix of contemporary favorites and classic French songs, including “La Vie En Rose,” “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “Je Cherche Un Homme,” and “Crazy.”....

Christmas in July at Boys and Girls Club

Written by Sam Cross, Post Correspondent

The campers of Camp Simmons of The Boys and Girls Club received a little holiday cheer last Friday when Santa Claus came to visit the camp in honor of July 25.Santa came riding in with the North Street firefighters. After kids finished talking to Santa and telling him their wish list, the fire department hosed down the campers. The water cooled off the campers, who were hot and tired from a full day of activity.


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07/30/08 Greenwich Time News Links For Thursday


Ruhi Thapar, 6, reads to Greenwich Adult Day Care clients Sophie Berlingo, left, and Norma Mathis, in the GADC's new facility.
(Helen Neafsey/staff photo )

Seniors get room to breathe at pump house


By Meredith Blake Staff Writer

Whether it's painting with watercolors or spending time with friends, life at the Greenwich Adult Day Care is more fun than ever for 90-year-old Marcie Lionetti.

"It's just been so great," she said.

The nonprofit organization, which provides programs for the elderly who want to remain at home but need more care, recently moved from the basement of The Nathaniel Witherell nursing home on Parsonage Road to its new facility on River Road after a $5 million renovation.....


Costs, parents drive Ham Ave. decision

By Colin Gustafson Staff Writer

Fiscal concerns and parent input were the two key factors that drove the Board of Education to approve plans to delay the start of the school year at Hamilton Avenue School while shifting Glenville students to different sites, the board's chairwoman said.

The board on Tuesday night voted unanimously to delay the start of the academic calendar for Hamilton Avenue School by one week to give construction crews extra time to wrap up the reconstruction project, which has been beset with delays for three years.

Additionally, board members unanimously voted to allow demolition of the aging Glenville School, which has been cited for leaks and maintenance problems, to begin immediately....

,,,In a statement yesterday, the contractor, Worth Construction, deflected blame for delays in the project, which was supposed to be finished 18 months after its 2005 start date, but instead has spanned three years.

John Bingham, Worth's project manager, said design flaws, such as plans for placing exterior metal plates on the buildings, as well as underfunding from the town were to blame for years of missed deadlines.

"We've had mechanical issues with heating and ventilating systems, problems with the pressure valves, all kinds of structural issues," Bingham said. "And from the start, we never had enough allocated for this to be done on time."

Mazza declined to comment on those claims yesterday, saying only that the project has been sufficiently funded....

California quake jolts Judge Judy

By Meredith Blake
Staff Writer


Judge Judy called Tuesday's California earthquake a wake up call. "The Earth shook, the lights shook," she said yesterday over the phone....


Removal of asbestos adds wrinkle to Wiffle ball saga

By Neil Vigdor
Staff Writer

This time, it involves asbestos removal at the International School at Dundee, which is where the town created a temporary Wiffle ball field for teens to play on after kicking them out of a municipally owned lot in Riverside.

Some of the parents of the teens were appalled to see tractor trailer with signs saying "Danger Asbestos" parked near the field. The truck has been occupying a lot where the teens park their cars to go to the field.

"Maybe we should see if the town has a nuclear site where they could build the kids a temporary Wiffle ball field," said Frank Currivan, whose son, Jeff, 17, and daughter, Tara, 15, have been playing on the field since it opened last Friday. "I am shocked. That's absolutely unbelievable."....


Judge denies delay in pool case

By Martin B. Cassidy Staff Writer

A state Superior Court judge has rejected a bid to put off a wrongful death suit filed by the parents of a 6-year-old Greenwich boy drowned after getting stuck in a powerful suction drain in his family pool last summer.

However, David Lionetti, 53, president of Shoreline Pools, will not have to give a civil deposition in the case for at least six months, Judge Taggart Adams decided Tuesday.

The court's ruling allows a criminal case pending against Lionetti to go forward without being prejudiced by action in the civil suit against his company. Lionetti was charged July 21 with second-degree manslaughter in the July 2007 drowning death of Zachary Archer Cohn. He plans to plead not guilty....


Golder nears trial on burglary

By Martin B. Cassidy
Staff Writer

Attorneys picked a New Canaan business executive, a Stamford law student, and an electrician from Norwalk yesterday to be jurors for the approaching trial of Alan Golder, the accused "Dinnertime Bandit."

Jury selection began yesterday afternoon in the trial of the 52-year-old Golder after Judge John Kavanewsky Jr. rejected two motions seeking to dismiss charges in the case. The trial is set to begin on Aug. 11.

Golder, 52, is accused of burglarizing homes in Greenwich, and faces charges of kidnapping, burglary and larceny in four Greenwich break-ins dating back a decade......

Hedden birdies first playoff hole to win Connecticut Open

By Jesse Quinlan Staff Writer

Having forced a playoff in the 74th Connecticut Open only moments ago, Jeff Hedden was brimming with confidence....


Her wide world of sports: Company to deliver HD American events to Europe, Mideast

By Richard Lee Business Editor

Sports fans in Europe and the Middle East will be watching some of their favorite televised events in high definition, and the signal will be coming at them through Greenwich.

Greenwich resident Susanna Mandel-Mantello, owner of SM2 Sports Media Solutions, has contracted with SES New Skies, a Netherlands satellite operator, to use bandwidth on its NSS-7 satellite to deliver North American sports in high definition for the next five years.

SM2's main business is the negotiation of sports rights and the satellite delivery of sports events for broadcasters worldwide....


Whitnum is to blame for lack of convention role

To the Greenwich Time editor,:

In her "rebuttal" to Sarah Darer Littman's column July 22, petitioning candidate Lee Whitnum claimed that she was somehow shut out of the nominating convention to select the Democratic Party's candidate for Connecticut's 4th Congressional District ("Column was an unfair attack on 4th District campaign," Greenwich Time Opinion page, July 25). This is the second time this claim has appeared in Greenwich Time.

Well, it's time someone set the record straight.

As a delegate to that convention, and a member of the party's State Central Committee, I can tell you that she was in no way "shut out," for the simple reason that she made no attempt to be represented.

Ms. Whitnum did not even show up at the Democratic Town Committee meeting where delegates to that convention were elected.

Ms. Whitnum also claimed that she was going to speak at the nominating convention, apparently not knowing that candidates (or prospective candidates) do not normally speak on their own behalf other than to accept the party's endorsement. Of course, the latter claim is moot, as she did not show up at the convention in any capacity, or even find a single delegate who would place her name in nomination or seek out any other opportunity to be heard at the convention. No supporter of hers was in evidence at the Democratic Town Committee or at the convention - probably because I have yet to meet a single Democrat who supports her or believes anything she says or stands for.

David M. Singer

Greenwich

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07/21/08 Fired Greenwich Time Columnist Shows That There Is A Double Standard Being Applied



Something is rotten in the State of Denmark

Last week, I was fired from a job for the first time in my life. If it had been because I'd been incompetent, or I'd consistently handed in second-rate columns, or my I'd been unreliable about deadlines or some other just cause, I could understand it. But the reason given by Media News for removing me from my columnist post at the Greenwich Time/Stamford Advocate after five years was that by writing the column criticizing Lee Whitnum (which you can read at the end of the previous post) having held a meet and greet for her opponent for the Democratic nomination for the 4th Congressional District, Jim Himes, I had somehow "compromised the newspaper".

I don't want to go into the whole story because you can read all about it here and here, and frankly, it's kind of weird to be the subject of press attention that has nothing to do with my day job as an author.

I certainly don't want to do anything unethical, so just out of curiosity I went onto Open Secrets and searched for a few well-known columnists. Sure enough, my suspicions that I'm not the only opinion columnist that has ever donated to a political candidate and written about that race was confirmed.

Before he passed away, I used to appear on the editorial page with noted columnist William F. Buckley Jr. In fact, I used to take great amusement in telling people that my column was "to the right of William F. Buckley" - albeit on the page, rather than in content.

WFB's donations pages are quite illuminating in light of my firing:
So it didn't "compromise" the paper when WFB donated to candidates and wrote about them (and we're talking much larger numbers than the measly sum yours truly donated in kind for the meet and greet). Maybe that's because he was a prominent male Republican?

Meanwhile, on a more positive note, I've been really touched by the outpouring of support. I got a really nice e-mail today that says it all:

Is it true that the Greenwich Times terminated you over the Lee Whitnum Op
Ed piece? If they did I have to say they are really one of the dumbest
papers around. While I may be a republican I love reading your stuff as it
gives a different point of view in an intelligent and concise manner which
broadens my own perspectives (I suppose that is what Op Ed pieces are
suppose to do).


Yes. That is what Op Ed pieces are supposed to do. That's why I have the greatest respect for the former publisher of the papers, Dhurrie Monsma. According to one of my former editors, he got a lot of pressure to get rid of me prior to the 2004 election. But his attitude was that I was a good writer who sparked debate and so there was a place for me at the paper.

And boy, did I ever feel vindicated for writing that column exposing Lee Whitnum for the anti-Semite that she is when I watched the debate between her and Jim Himes on News 12 on Monday:

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07/31/08 Ace Reporter Chris Fountain Was The Only One Smart Enough To Do A Simply Google Search On Worth Construction


"Holy Mafia Batman"



The School Building Committee Has Been Dealing With The Mob All Along.

Did Frank Mazza Offer To Give An Extra $300,000 To A Bunch Of Mobbed Up Contractors?


Or

Did The Mobbed Up Contractors Tell Frank Mazza To Get Them $300,000
?

Is Stephen G. Walko And The Rest Of The Greenwich BET going to approve giving an extra $300,000 of your tax dollars to a mobbed up contractor?

For What It's Worth

takes a look at the

I've refrained from delving into the fiasco involving our two shchools (Ham Ave and Glenville) in our west because (a) I don't know much about what's going on and (b) http://www.Greenwichroundup.blogspot.com is already doing a fine job of coverage. I do know that, when the town and the YMCA, faced with huge cost overruns on their projects being run by Worth, denied any knowledge that there was even a whiff of impropriety concerning the firm, that a simple Google search turned up plenty.....

Please see:

Results 1 - 10 of about 200,000 for worth construction organized crime

Worth Construction Found Not a Responsible Vendor, Cannot Receive ...

Nov 9, 2005 ... Concerns about Worth Construction identified by the ... legitimate questions from the SCA Inspector General regarding organized crime ties. ...
www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/nov05/110905.htm - 19k -

New York State Comptroller Announces First Quarter 2006 Bond Sale ...

Jan 23, 2006 ... “The court has definitively rejected Worth Construction’s claim that ... have a long history of association with members of organized crime, ...
www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/jan06/012306.htm - 9k -

Worth Construction Found Not a Responsible Vendor, Cannot Receive ...

Worth Construction's president is under investigation by Federal .... about Worth's connection to an investigation of organized crime in New Jersey and the ...

AL GORE'S CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, PAGE 2

Executives of Worth Construction Co. donated $4000 to the Gore campaign on Feb. ... two subcontractors because of their alleged ties to organized crime. ...

Court: Worth Not Worthy of $46 Million Thruway Project

Dec 23, 2005 ... "This is good news, because it will allow construction to proceed on ... have a long history of association with members of organized crime, ...

The New York Observer

Vice President Al Gore accepted $4000 from Worth Construction executives in 1999. ... "Jeanine Pirro has been a leader in the fight against organized crime ...

NYT Mob Shadow Still Falls Acros Building Projects

Like the city, New York State has spent millions on construction projects that have involved companies with ties to organized crime. In one case, Worth ...

Lowest Bid Is a Problem for a College - New York Times

Worth Construction of Bethel, Conn., was the low bidder. ... responsible vendor because, in part, of its “long history of association with organized crime. ...

No. 68: Matter of Worth Constr. Co., Inc. v Hevesi

Jun 5, 2007 ... Petitioner Worth Construction Co. now contests that authority and ... discovered that Worth purportedly had ties to organized crime and that ...

Putnam official calls for probe of courthouse contractor -Worth

Nov 11, 2005 ... Any information connecting Worth Construction company to LIUNA Vice ... the long-delayed county courthouse, has ties to organized crime. ...

Why wasn't Failed School Administrator Susan Wallerstein smart enough to do a simple google search on Worth Construction?

I hope school board members and other school officials aren't getting paid off by the mob for looking the other way.

The Department of Justice really hates it when Government officials have dealings with the mob.

Federal Bureau of Investigation New York Division - Press Release ...

Apr 1, 2008 ... MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of ... today the arrest of JAMES CASTALDO on charges that CASTALDO,
...

Please Also see:


Westchester Guardian/Mount Vernon.

Thursday, July 24, 2008


The Court Report
By Richard Blassberg


Retired Mount Vernon Official Pleads Guilty In U.S.
Court To Accepting Bribes From Waste Haulers



MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JAMES CASTALDO, a former high-ranking supervisor for the City of Mount Vernon Department of Public Works, pleaded guilty today to accepting bribes from waste haulers in return for allowing them to overbill the City of Mount Vernon by at least $1.25 million for the removal of debris from a municipal storage yard.

CASTALDO pleaded guilty before United States District Judge KENNETH M. KARAS in White Plains federal court a two count criminal Information (the “Information”) charging bribery and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. An Indictment against waste haulers involved in the scheme was unsealed on March 19, 2008 (the “Indictment”)

Wow unsealed indictment in March, an arrest in April and a Conviction in July!!!!

The Department Of Justice Deosn't Fool Around When They Find Out That Public Officials Are Inappropriately Giving Taxpayer Dollars To The Mob.

Will the Department Of Justice be paying a visit to the Greenwich Board Of Education offices in the near future?


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Wednesday, July 30, 2008

07/30/08 Reader Submitted Comments: Children Suffer As Glenville PTA Co-Presidents. Push Town To Tear Down Glenville School At All Costs


Glenville PTA leaders should have waited for a more viable option.

We are now going to have to uproot our children three times.

First dispersed throughout town(Hurry up and get on the bus),

Second into sub-par conditions at the modular buildings (Hamilton Avenue parents loved them so much they refused to go back),

Then after spending years in inadequate conditions we will get our lovely new school.

To add insult to injury, that any parent who wanted to "opt out", no longer has that choice.

The Glenville PTA Co-Presidents will be the ones to blame as our children's test scores drop as much as 30%.

Glenville's test scores are in the basement.

Because of poor PTA leadership every school surpasses Glenville at so many levels.

Now my children are going to have to be moved 3 times, 2 of which are into known bad situations.

This just keeps getting worse!

Our PTA leaders should have fought to put our children into a good situation, not a known bad one.

The education of our Children shouldn't have to suffer for even 1 year!

On top of that, the best option was to delay the Glenville project another year. People can cry all they want that it's taken 10 years.

To be done right, Glenville School needed one more year.

To have one homeless school in town is bad enough.
Two is unacceptable.


The town, it's school board and our PTA leaders has clearly not learned from their mistakes with Hamilton Avenue and now our kids have to suffer for it. It's time to start firing people.

PLEASE FIRE ANTHONY BYRNE AND SUSAN WALLERSTEIN BEFORE THEY HURT OUR CHILDREN!!!!!

Please see:

07/29/08 We Hate To Say We Told You So, But......


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07/30/08 Greenwich Post News Links For Wednesday


Greenwich families help build homes

More than 150 picnickers feasted on the grounds of St. Luke’s Episcopal Parish in Darien on Sunday, July 13, at the Episcopal Bridgebuilders Family Barbecue...

Please Read More

ALSO:

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07/30/08 Steve says"It's really about the individual.It's setting a community standard. It's about good people teaching good principles to young kids"


Top Story

HEADLINE:

Old School Football Player Behaves Honorably


QUOTES:


"They were teaching principles to a young kid that were so important," Steve Young said. "If you want to replace Joe Montana at some point in your life, you to have some hardships in your life to have over come to know that this is theoretically possible.

"Even though I don't live there anymore I'm still reminded of my roots in Greenwich and their impact in my life," Steve Young said. "Now that my kids are playing sports, I hope they are getting coaches I as good as the coaches I had. As I look back, there was a lot of surrogate parenting along the way. Especially in junior high and high school."

THE STORY:

Young gives group $10,000


By Chris McNamee
Sports Editor

Steve Young didn't make it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on talent alone.

It took a lot of heart and character to become a Super Bowl champion, and the former Greenwich High football star had his share of adversity along the way to Canton, Ohio....

....the former NFL MVP's Forever Young Foundation has partnered with the Fairfield County Sports Commission, agreeing to a multi-year commitment yesterday while donating $10,000 this year to the Commission. The gift will help with fundraising efforts in promoting fitness and an active, healthy lifestyle and personal development through sports in the county.

The Forever Young Foundation will be also be the presenting sponsor of the Chelsea Cohen Courage Award at the Commission's Sports Night awards dinner on October 20.

"This partnership is a prime example of what the Commission strives to accomplish, bringing together a native son like Steve who wants to give back to the place where he got his start with an award that recognizes inspiring athletes that have encountered a setback in their athletic career," FCSC executive director Tom Chiappetta said....

Comment:

Please tell me why didn't amateurish Greenwich Time sports reporter, Chris McNamee ask Steve Young about the scandal currently facing two Riverside football captains?

Mr. Young said the former coaching staff at Greenwich High School was like surrogate parents.

If starstruck reporter McNamee knew what he was doing he would have asked Mr, Young about the current school administration and their lack of standards.

McNamee's poor reporting affects the reputation of all of the Greenwich Time Newsroom team, just like five Riverside football players have brought dishonor to all of the students at Greenwich High School.

Please Read The Rest Of Greenwich Time's Third Rate Ameturish Reporting:

Residents protest tennis dome

By Martin B. Cassidy
Staff Writer

Residents of Ridgeway and Lake Avenue condemned the proposed installation of an inflatable tennis dome last night complaining the structure would bring increased noise and flooding problems to their properties.

Byram ranks first in beach closings

By Jeff Morganteen
Staff Writer

Clean beaches and clear skies mean more business for Carlos Hernandez. The 38-year-old Stamford resident has owned a snack bar at Penfield Beach in Fairfield for the past seven years and, this summer, manages grills at Cove Island Park and Cummings Beach in Stamford.

Rat may greet Lieberman if he goes to GOP convention

By Neil Vigdor
Staff Writer

Joe Lieberman might want to pack some rodenticide if he decides to stump for John McCain at the upcoming Republican National Convention in St.

By David Fierro
Staff Writer

Kyle Gallo is in very familiar territory heading into the final round of the 74th Connecticut Open Championship.

100-year-old newspaper scored a home run

By Bernie Yudain

Often in history, great institutions are spawned by zealous crusaders or an irresistible tide of avid public demand.

But here's the story of one that arose because the small-town weekly newspaper wasn't running the box scores of the village's scrappy baseball team to the satisfaction of the team's indomitable right-fielder.

And that's how the prize-winning New Canaan Advertiser came into being 100 years ago this month. This was the newspaper that gave me my first opportunity to write news and see it appear in print, and to enjoy a close, life-long relationship with the family of that founder.

Visiting the offices of the Advertiser in New Canaan a few days ago, I had the chance to chat briefly with Marty, the fourth generation of the Hersam family I've known.....

Getting a break on electric rates


By Greenwich Time Editors

Even though this is the Gold Coast, we're very tempted these days to pick up that stray penny on the sidewalk.

So what if it only buys a 450th of a gallon of gas. It's money, and given the stock and real estate markets, a penny picked up at least is a penny not lost on a bad investment.

Thus, it seems strange to us that Connecticut residents haven't been more eager to save a few hundred pennies every month by signing up for deregulated electricity provided by a competitor to our traditional power com-panies.

Just 85,000, or 7 percent, of Connecticut Light & Power's customers, and 32,000, or 10 percent, of United Illuminating's customers have opted for the competition....

Ham Ave. gets more funding

By Colin Gustafson
Staff Writer

With the long-beleaguered Hamilton Avenue reconstruction project limping toward the finish line, the school's building committee is now trying to ensure a speedier completion by sweetening the deal for the contractor.

The committee yesterday approved a plan to request an additional $320,000 in funding from the town to help the contractor, Worth Construction, complete the work necessary to ensure that the building is ready by next school year.

Worth Construction will no longer be eligible for the extra money if crews cannot complete this work by Aug. 15. That's the final deadline by which the facility must be approved for occupancy by the town Buildings Department if classes are to begin by Sept. 15, under plans to delay the school year.

There is almost no chance the project, which has been mired in delays for three years, will be finished by the Aug. 27 start of the school year -- so education officials are now hoping a one- to two-week delay in the academic calendar will give crews the time they need to wrap up the project....

....First, the contractor must agree to the building committee's stipulation that it must complete the project on time in order to be eligible for new funds.

Second, the Board of Estimate and the Representative Town Meeting must approve the funding - a decision that won't come until September.

In addition, there is still no guarantee that the contractor will finish on deadline, even after receiving the additional funds, Mazza warned. "The ball is really in the contractor's court," he said. "We can only do so much, because at the end of the day, they're the ones building the school - not us."

Worth Construction did not return calls for comment yesterday.

This latest efforts to expedite the Hamilton Avenue School project is especially critical now that the board has voted to allow work to begin on another long-delayed reconstruction project at the nearby Glenville School...

Please See:

07/29/08 We Hate To Say We Told You So, But......

07/28/08 Parential Insiders Say: Greenwich BOE Going To Temporarily Disperse Western Greenwich School Children All Over Town

07/23/08 Is Frank Mazza A Nut Case?


Laugh Of The Day:

PTA President Wants To Bake Cookies To Make Construction Workers Go "Faster"


"Whatever makes the Hamilton Avenue workers move faster, we'll do it," said Julie Faryniarz, president of the PTA Council. "If it takes baking cookies for the workers to go faster, I'll get started. Just get the job done."

No wonder are children are in trouble.


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07/30/08 High School To Give Budding Pigskin Tossers "Super Secret Double Probation"


Non-Practicing Lawyer Opines On If Riverside Football Captains Should Be Marched To The Center Of The Athletic Field, Tasered Three Times And Then Arrested And Held On A $50,000 Bail

...I suppose we can talk about the latest tale of wayward boys causing trouble at the high school. According to the Greenwich Time's sanitized version, five "high school football players" tossed eggs at a coach's car over the course of several nights. The coach eventually took down their license number and handed it over to the police, then resigned presumably, the GT would have us believe, out of disappointment over the actions of his players. The true story or I should say, the rumored story, is, as usual with our local paper, far more interesting.

According to rumors, and some of these originate from people who should know, the egging crew included two co-captains of the team and they all pelted the car four nights running. The coach lost his cool and lay await for them on the fourth night, then engaged them in a high speed car chase across to town to Byram or, if you prefer, across the
Tappen Zee Bridge. Either way, he called off the pursuit, turned in the license plate number and was then fired from his coaching duties because his reckless actions had endangered the lives of the kids (who cares?) and any innocent by-standers who might have wandered into his path (that I do care about).

The kids, again rumor has it, although the school denies it, were ordered to run some laps and the matter would have ended there with one fired coach and five sweaty kids. But grumbling arose over the lack of punishment - the kids will continue
playing with the team, for instance - and the perceived special treatment accorded star athletes. So yesterday our Superintendent announced a new round of punishment will be meted out, albeit without specifying what that punishment will be. I'd guess it will be a form of "super secret double probation" but I'd like to see, just to make clear that budding pigskin tossers are treated no better than chair kickers, is them marched to the center of the football field, Tasered three times and then arrested and held on $50,000 bail. Now that would send (some kind of) a message......

Please read more from Chris Fountain:
Please also see:

07/28/08 Greenwich Time Reporting Is So Bad You Can't Even Read Between The Lines In Order To Figure Things Out

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Tuesday, July 29, 2008

07/29/08 We Hate To Say We Told You So, But......


School Board Delays School Year.

GLENVILE STUDENTS TO BE BUSED ALL OVER TOWN


The Greenwich Board Of Education finally officially admits that Hamilton Avenue School project being finished by the official Aug. 27 start of the school year.

Incompetent school board members voted to delay the school's academic calendar by one or as much as two weeks ago order to give construction crews additional time to wrap up their work.

The Greenwich Board of Education on has voted to bus Glenville School students, to six other schools.

Hamilton Avenue School students will be sent back to the hellhole known as the "temporary modular classrooms"

Greenwich Roundup was the only media outlet that told you that this was definitely the action that the Board of Education would be taking.

Please see:


07/28/08 Parential Insiders Say: Greenwich BOE Going To Temporarily Disperse Western Greenwich School Children All Over Town

07/23/08 Is Frank Mazza A Nut Case?



BOE TRIES TO FOOL THE PRESS

In a move to confuse local media, the school's building committee announced that it is planning on asking for hundreds of thousands of dollars to reward the contractors if they will finish by the NEW deadline of August 15th..

The BOE hopes that the local media will all be reporting tomorrow that the school contractor is getting $300,000 to finish "On Time" and that there is a "New" deadline.

The local media will ignore how those poor Grenville students need to get up earlier and learn to sleep on a bus as the go to an unfamiliar school.

The local media will focus on school board spin and ignore how Western Greenwich families are affected.

The local media doesn't care how parents feel and what they think of their children being bussed all over town.

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07/29/08 Greenwich Boy Busted In Southampton Bushes Or More Greenwich Athletes Behaving Badly


East Hampton Town Police Reports

The Southampton Press

... Scott Lawson, 19, of Greenwich, Connecticut, was charged with possession of a forged instrument in the second degree at 2:35 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, at the intersection of South Erie Avenue and South Euclid Avenue. Police tried to pull him over for driving 10 mph over the speed limit and said the defendant refused to yield. Eventually, police found the defendant hiding in the bushes and said he was highly intoxicated...

Please Also See:

07/28/08 Greenwich Time Reporting Is So Bad You Can't......


AND:


What The BLEEP?



....a little birdie whispered to me some disturbing news out of Cardinals' Land.

He was calling me about something else and said, "did you hear about...?"

Well, no...but wow!

Read here.

Full disclosure - I know Phil Tarantino and he's a stand-up guy (not to mention an "Exit 55" reader). I'm sure he's strict with athletes, though I've never seen him in action. So what exactly drove somebody to this?

There just has to be more to this story, so I guess "stay tuned.".....

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07/29/08 Town of Greenwich's building department Is Going To Cost Taxpayers Millions



Who knew a pool could kill?

Greenwich Time reports that the president of Shoreline Pools claims he never knew that a child could be sucked into a drain and injured, let alone killed. Well gee, sir, isn't that why they put drain covers on the things in the first place? It's a tragedy that the one you installed fell off, but its presence in the first place implies that you had some sense that danger lurked within.

But as bad or grossly negligent as Shoreline Pool's actions were, I do sympathise with the man's other argument: what was the Town of Greenwich's building department doing when it inspected this pool and granted it a certificate of occupancy? That the town gives its approval does not excuse Shoreline, but the parents of Zachary Cohn were let down twice, once by Shoreline and again by our town. They are now suing both the town and Shoreline and I shudder for my pocket book. If a fat dentist can turn a broken leg into $6,000,000 by merely waving the red flag of "Greenwich" in front of a Bridgeport jury, what will happen when another jury is presented with real culpability and the wrongful death of a beloved child?

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07/29/08 PRESS RELEASE: Himes and Statewide Officers Call for Change in Washington

Jim Himes for Congress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2008
Contact: Michael Sachse, 646 265-0556, Michael@HimesforCongress.com

HIMES AND STATEWIDE OFFICERS CALL FOR CHANGE IN WASHINGTON

Connecticut Democratic leaders gather to endorse Jim Himes for Congress

Connecticut Democrats Endorse Jim HimesBRIDGEPORT, CT - Leaders from across the state gathered with a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters today on McLevy Green, just across from Bridgeport's City Hall, to discuss the need for change in Washington and endorse Jim Himes, Democratic candidate for Congress.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, and State Comptroller Nancy Wyman were unanimous in endorsing Himes as the person best equipped to bring real change to Washington.

Surrounded by Bridgeport community and political leaders, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal described Himes as a "unique and historically qualified candidate," who suits "this unique and historic opportunity."

"Jim Himes has worked for everything he has. He brings dedication and distinction as a result of those experiences. I'm very proud to stand here supporting Jim Himes."

State Comptroller Nancy Wyman seconded Blumenthal's endorsement. "I look at Jim's background and I know that he understands that we need to change what's going on in Washington when it comes to our fiscal future."

"When we talk about a candidate of change, we've got to talk about Jim Himes," added Wyman. "Jim Himes will take the American dream and make it an American reality."

Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz described Himes as a "candidate with tremendous energy." Pointing out the crowds of young Himes supporters in attendance, Bysiewicz noted, "Young people are leading the way. They know we're at a critical point."

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch argued that only Democrats deliver results for the middle class, "My family is a middle class family. And the Finches never did better than in the 1990s, when we had a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress."

Himes, who attended public schools and went on to become a Rhodes Scholar and Vice President at Goldman Sachs before running the New York office of a national affordable housing non-profit, stated that he can deliver results for the middle class.

"I'm running to bring new energy to the American dream," said Himes. "As someone who grew up in a small town with a single working mother and managed to achieve success, I know that opportunity is at the heart of the American dream. Yet, for families today, opportunity is slipping away. Health care costs, energy costs, and struggling schools are urgent problems that need federal attention. That is particularly true here in Bridgeport, and it's why I'm so proud to stand here with Bridgeport leaders and our constitutional officers to work together for real change. Issues that matter to Connecticut's families will be a priority for me in Congress."

The unified group of political and community leaders who attended to support Jim Himes included Mayor Bill Finch, Judge of Probate Paul Ganim, State Senator Ed Gomes, State Representative Bob Keeley, State Representative Don Clemons, State Representative Andres Ayalla, Democratic candidates for State Senate Anthony Musto and Marilyn Moore, and Ezequiel Santiago, Lydia Martinez, and Michelle Mount, Democratic candidates for State Representative.

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07/29/08 Reader Submitted Comments - Neighbors Should Mind there own business

Don't Be A Nosey Neighbor

About the Lorna J. Williams report.

(Greenwich Time - Police Blotter)

Ms. Williams and her son's argument should not be in the local newspaper.

Whether anyone wants to admit it - or not - mothers and their sons do argue and perhaps there should be more of that going on.

The mother was probably trying to either talk her son out of doing something awful.

That's the problem these days - you can't yell at your kids, can't smack them on the behind and basically, parents are losing ALL control over their children.

I say neighbors, mind your own business, unless you see or hear something that is harmful to anyone or you truly believe that it would escalate towards bodily harm, let people argue.

Sometimes people need to get out their frustrations or make a point. Something that obviously these two people were trying to do.

Please see:

Police blotter

Lorna J. Williams, 35, of 30-31 Armstrong Court, was arrested Wednesday night and was charged with second-degree breach of peace in connection with a verbal argument with her son, according to a police report.

Upon arrival, police were told that Williams had argued loudly in the roadway in front of 47 South Water St. with her 17-year-old son, according to the report.

The 17-year-old also was charged with second-degree breach of peace, according to the report. Police withheld his name because of his age.

Both were released on promises to appear Thursday in state Superior Court in Stamford, according to the report.

Please Read The Greenwich Time Story

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07/29/08 For Some Reason Lee Whitnum Scares Democratic Die Hards To Death




From: My Left Nutmeg

by: AndersonScooper

(Looney! - promoted by ctblogger)

(x-posted from 4th Street News!)

The painful truth is that Lee Whitnum's 2008 Personal Financial Disclosure reveals her to be essentially unemployed.

A quick break-down of Ms. Whitnum's 2007 earned income, in its totality. (less than $4,200 in all):

  • $2,414 Board of Ed-- (substitute teaching)
  • $ 285 Great Stuff
  • $ 815 Home Depot
  • $ 665 First Choice Staffing

Granted another blogger points out Ms. Whitnum brought in somewhere between $10-15,000 in unearned income. But I'm curious as to how she manages to afford Greenwich on seemingly less than $20,000/year? Is Lee hypocritically living off of inherited family wealth, at the same time she labels Jim Himes, "out of touch".

The blogging community should place bets as to when the Greenwich Time, the Stamford Advocate, the Norwalk Hour, and the Connecticut Post will share with their readers and soon to be voters the following pertinent information about Ms. Whitnum:

  • 1) She's essentially unemployed.
  • 2) The FEC has put her on notice for Failure to File her campaign finance reports.
  • 3) She spent "a couple of thousand dollars" paying canvassers to help her collect signatures, (which explains #2, she's hiding that ugly truth.)
  • 4) In reality LeeWhitnum2008 is a one-woman show, plus a website.
  • 5) Cycle-to-date she's raised all of $200!

How can the 4th's print media continue to report as if Ms. Whitnam has genuine support and legitimacy?

Well, as we head into the final two weeks before the August 12th primary, we must hope that the district's journalists will come to their senses and let their readers know the truth. Whitnum isn't ready to be dog-catcher, let alone handle the job of Congresswoman.

If the papers don't snap to, we may need to do a call-in campaign, directly to the editors. I mean imagine if Jim Himes or Chris Shays were cited by the FEC for failing to file their finance reports. Or if it turned out Himes resume was sheer puffery! The dailies would be all over them...

Comment:

THE SKY IS FALLING

Mean Spirited Democratic party loyalists are so scared of Ms. Whitnum that they need to organize a "call-in campaign" to the Greenwich Time, the Stamford Advocate, the Norwalk Hour, and the Connecticut Post editors.

Is Ms. Whitnum such a threat that vicious Democratic insiders need to make sure that "journalists will come to their senses" about Ms Whitnum.

It is amazing that a candidate with a few thousand dollars can cause this much panic and hysteria in the Jim Himes campaign.

What's Mr. Himes going to do when he goes up against the politically seasoned and well financed Christopher Shays.

These democratic advocates of the poor are screaming that Ms. Whitnum earned less than $20,0000 and is there for not rich enough to be qualified to run for congress.

The sad fact is that a Ms. whitnum could possibly be paying a hirer percentage of her total income to Uncle Sam, because she dosen't get the tax breaks that hedge fund guys get.

Democrats bow to Wall Street, saving tax break for billionaires

By Bill Van Auken

The Democratic Party leadership in the US Senate has effectively killed proposals put forward earlier this year to close a tax loophole that allows billionaire managers of hedge and private equity funds to enjoy tax rates on their income that are far lower than those imposed on average American workers.....

.....As recently as 1980, income over $215,000 was taxed at 70 percent, and throughout most of the 1950s and early 1960s, income over $200,000 was taxed at 91 percent.

The Wall Street executives have claimed that they are entitled to the 15 percent rate because of the risks they take on investments. In fact, the vast bulk of the money at risk is that of their investors, for whom they provide a service as money managers, and are compensated for it, just as others who pay ordinary income taxes.

The main legislative proposal put forward in the House of Representatives would have compelled the super-rich fund managers to report their earnings as regular income and pay the 35 percent rate. It has been estimated that the measure would have created at least $6 billion in additional federal revenues.

According to the Washington Post, however, the Senate’s Democratic leadership has already assured the billionaire and multi-millionaire financiers that would be affected by the measure that they have nothing to worry about....

....Behind all of this orchestrated hand-wringing, the Democrats’ climb-down on closing the tax loophole for the country’s wealthiest is merely one more confirmation that this party—no less than the Republicans—represents and defends the interests not of working people, but those of the ruling elite. Just as the Democrats in Congress have proven unwilling to carry out any action to end the war in Iraq, so too they will do nothing to ameliorate the unprecedented inequality that pervades every facet of American society.

Hedge-fund managers' tax break should go to teachers

Sunday, June 29, 2008.

BY LEO HINDERY JR. AND BOB KERREY.

One of the bedrock principles of our free and open society is that all of us obey laws and follow rules as they are written. The more universally we as citizens voluntarily submit to the rule of law, the greater our security and the less costly the efforts to protect us from those who choose to ignore it.

One set of laws where voluntary compliance is critical involves the collection of taxes. Right now, we have the most efficient tax collection system in the world because most Americans scrupulously obey these laws. They do so even though:

Congress continues to pass laws that make taxes ever more complex while giving speeches about simplification.

An individual taxpayer's effective tax rate is often inversely proportional to his ability to hire tax lawyers.

An increasing number of Americans believe the tax laws are rigged against them.

Our political leaders, however, cannot expect such ready compliance to go on forever. And it is not an exaggeration to say that tax provisions that blatantly favor those with high incomes over the middle class now threaten to bring down the confidence needed to sustain our experiment of self-government.

One such provision that has garnered a lot of attention lately has to do with what is known as "carried interest." Highly paid tax lawyers discovered a provision in current law that allows the managers of special investment partnerships to pay a much lower rate of tax on the preponderance of their income than other type managers pay on all of theirs.

Much of the performance-based management income earned by these few thousand private equity and hedge fund managers -- which income is called "carried interest" -- is taxed as capital gains, when by form, substance and logic it should be taxed as ordinary in come, just like the management in come and bonuses of all other managers.

And because the 15 percent capital gains tax rate is less than half the 35 percent maximum ordinary income tax rate, the cost of this loophole to the Treasury is huge.

The annual loss of tax revenue from this unfair treatment of carried interest is about $12 billion a year, or $120 per American household per year. It really is as if Congress had decreed that each year $120 out of the income of every household is to be diverted to the bank accounts of some of the wealthiest Americans.

We believe this has to change, and we believe that it would be desirable to convert carried interest into public interest by redirecting this annual $12 billion tax break to people who actually need it, namely America's K-12 teachers.

That $12 billion is just about enough to waive all the income taxes on those who choose our most important profession, which is the teaching of our children. And it would also allow us to give refundable tax credits to K-12 teachers based on their qualifications and teaching specialties, in order to increase the pool of teachers in critically important areas such as languages, math and sciences, and instructing students who are economically disadvantaged or have disabilities.

Our country has a long and successful record of using the tax code to reward what we as a society determine are desirable social actions. In the 1960s, for example, we gave income-tax relief to VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) and Peace Corps volunteers be cause their work was deemed so important -- and today we give substantial relief to our courageous and patriotic active-duty military personnel.

But teachers are just as patriotic and important, their contributions to our nation's vibrancy and economic well-being are exceptional, and vis-à-vis all other municipal professions (police, fire, general services) they are far and away the most difficult public servants to recruit and retain.

All informed citizens, starting with teachers themselves, want high teaching standards and accountability. But when asked, they also want the needed fixes to our nation's education travails to start with easing the economic plight of our K-12 teachers. Federal income tax relief for teachers would be a powerful response to this demand, and a powerful step toward assur ing the long-term vibrancy of our society, the health of our national economy, and our global competitiveness.

So let's remove the huge tax break going to those who don't de serve it, and give it instead to those who need it. We promise that kids everywhere will be the beneficiaries.

Leo Hindery Jr., is the managing partner of InterMedia Partners, a private equity firm, and a director and former chairman of Teach for America. Bob Kerrey, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska and earlier its governor, is president of New School University in New York City.

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