AMHERST NEEDS CHANGE
There are only a few days left before the Nov. 6th elections. It is a very important election that could change the direction Amherst is heading. We could turn to an upward swing. Go out and vote.
• FOOTBALL & VOTE RALLY •
Just a reminder ~
Watch the Bills win, and help support Guy Marlette’s victory!
• FOOTBALL & VOTE RALLY •
the Bills vs. the Jets
North Bailey Fire Hall
966 Sweet Home Road
Amherst, NY
Today, October 28, 2007
3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Food, Pop, Beer
Cost: By donation
THE NEW LEADERSHIP WE NEED
ERIE COUNTY CLERK ALERTS LOCAL BOARD OF ELECTIONS
Update: “Illegal immigrants who try to apply for driver’s licenses in Erie and Niagara counties will be subject to arrest — and deportation — under a plan being developed by the two county clerks and law enforcement officials.
The move is the latest — and potentially most serious — challenge to Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer’s new policy to permit illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses if they possess a valid foreign passport and other identification.
“I’m being asked to look aside to something that’s illegal, and I’m not going to do that,” Niagara County Clerk Wayne Jagow said Wednesday.”
Jagow and Erie County Clerk Kathleen C. Hochul have been in discussions with local police officials to determine what procedures will be used — and whether federal or local law enforcement agencies will be notified — if an illegal immigrant seeks to apply for a driver’s license.” Published Report ###
PoliticsNY.net
GLARE OF FIRES PULLS MIGRANTS FROM SHADOWS
In California illegal immigrants provide the backbone of menial labor in the San Diego area, picking fruit, cleaning hotel rooms, sweeping walks and mowing lawns. Their often-invisible existence has been exposed during this time of tumultuous fires in ways that are sometimes deadly.
“Out of the burning brush, from behind canyon rocks, several immigrants bolted toward a group of firefighters, chased not by the border police but by the onrush of flames from one of the biggest wildfires this week.”
“Their appearance startled the firefighters, who let them into their vehicles. But with the discovery of four charred bodies in an area of heavy illegal immigration, concern is growing that others may not have survived.”
““Their hands were burned, and they were clearly tired and grateful,” Capt. Mike Parkes of the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported on what his firefighting team saw.”
[read whole story]
1944 CONVICTION OF BLACK G.I.’s IS RULED FLAWED
It’s been more than six decades since twenty-eight men were court marshaled and convicted of starting a riot that led to the death of Guglielmo Olivotto, an Italian prisoner of war. It was one of the largest Army court marshals of World War II. A ruling this week by a U.S. Army panel could lead to that being overturned.
“This week, a review board issued a ruling that could lead to overturning the convictions of all 28 soldiers, granting honorable discharges and providing them with back pay.”
“The board found that the court-martial was flawed, that the defense was unjustly rushed and that the prosecutor, Leon Jaworski, a young lieutenant colonel who went on to fame three decades later as a Watergate special prosecutor, had important evidence that he did not share with defense lawyers.”
“All of the 28 have died except for Samuel Snow, 83, and another soldier.”
[read whole story]
U.S. AIRLINES PUT OFF BUYING NEW PLANES
Don’t you just wonder what the life span of a commercial airliner is? Just how many flights can one plane make, how many mechanical corrections can be done, and how safe are we when we agree to get into that big ’silver’ plane? The nation’s fleet of commercial planes is aging as carriers put off buying more comfortable and fuel-efficient jets.
“It’s not just flights that are being delayed. United States airlines are also putting off purchases of new planes, meaning the nation’s fleet of aircraft, on average, is aging right along with the passengers.”
“Northwest Airlines, for example, flies 109 of the oldest jetliners in the country, DC-9s, with an average age of 35 years. Northwest has yet to decide how to replace the DC-9s, which could remain in service another five years or more.”
“American Airlines operates a fleet of 300 older MD-80s, a model that guzzles fuel and lacks the latest in passenger comforts. And American has only a handful of replacement planes coming in the next couple of years.”
[read whole story]
TOWN COMPTROLER ADDRESSES HIGHWAY CONTRACT DISPUTES
Original Message—–
From: Belliotti, Francis
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 8:47 AM
To: Mohan, Satish; McCarthy, Robert
Subject: Highway contracts - paying the retro
We are ready to help in the effort to make payments on the Highway contracts
The sticking point is whether there is any step 2% increase in 2006 or whenever (1/1/07, 9/1/07,1/1/08)
This has not been determined and our reading of the contract terms does not give a definitive answer to the question
After a meeting yesterday with Bob he informed us that the date for the retro is still in contention
What apparently is true, is that it is not due in 2006
We will supply information to assist in this effort to at least pay the union members the 3% 2006 raise
Human Resources sets the rates
We run reports/schedules to help the payroll personnel in Highway to input the hours for the retro based on the rates set by HR
The categories to pay on are:
101-203 Regular , straight overtime and overtime (1.5)
440-500 Adjustments , stand by etc
850-853 Vacation lump sum, sick lump sum, sick leave incentive
WILL YOU EACH KINDLY SIGN OFF AND RETURN THIS E-MAIL (or a letter) AFFIRMING THIS UNDERSTANDING
We don’t want any confusion in reading terms of a contract where we did not attend a meeting and hear the intention of the wording
if the issues were settled we would have proceeded to pay the employees at their new rates on the next payroll that was possible
then we would pay the 2006 retro
then we would pay the retro from 1/1/07 to whatever date we started the newest pay rate
union members should understand that this is clearing up the negotiations for what is deemed to be an unclear date for step increases.
TOWN GIVES REASONS FOR THE MESS-UP WITH HIGHWAY WORKER’S PAY
BREAKING NEWS-10/25/07
This memo explains why the Highway workers didn’t receive their rightful retro payment on time.
—–Original Message—–
From: Belliotti, Francis
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 8:47 AM
To: Mohan, Satish; McCarthy, Robert
Subject: Highway contracts - paying the retro
We are ready to help in the effort to make payments on the Highway contracts
The sticking point is whether there is any step 2% increase in 2006 or whenever (1/1/07, 9/1/07,1/1/08)
This has not been determined and our reading of the contract terms does not give a definitive answer to the question
After a meeting yesterday with Bob he informed us that the date for the retro is still in contention
What apparently is true, is that it is not due in 2006
We will supply information to assist in this effort to at least pay the union members the 3% 2006 raise
Human Resources sets the rates
We run reports/schedules to help the payroll personnel in Highway to input the hours for the retro based on the rates set by HR
The categories to pay on are:
101-203 Regular , straight overtime and overtime (1.5)
440-500 Adjustments , stand by etc
850-853 Vacation lump sum, sick lump sum, sick leave incentive
WILL YOU EACH KINDLY SIGN OFF AND RETURN THIS E-MAIL (or a letter) AFFIRMING THIS UNDERSTANDING
We don’t want any confusion in reading terms of a contract where we did not attend a meeting and hear the intention of the wording
=======================================================
if the issues were settled we would have proceeded to pay the employees at their new rates on the next payroll that was possible
then we would pay the 2006 retro
then we would pay the retro from 1/1/07 to whatever date we started the newest pay rate
union member should understand that this is clearing up the negotiations for what is deemed to be an unclear date for step increases
THIS IS BOB McCARTHY RESPONSE TO FRANK BELLIOTTI’S E-MAIL OF THE ABOVE E-MAIL OF OCT.26,2007
That is correct Frank. There is no dispute regarding 2006, and that 3% retro pay should be processed immediately. Thank you for your help in this matter.
No answer was received from Supervisor Mohan to Frank Belloitti’s e-mail of OCT.26, 2007 as yet.
AMHERST FINDS WAYS TO HUSTLE THEIR OWN TOWN WORKERS
BREAKING NEWS -10/25/07
The contract between the Town and the highway workers is an agreement between the two parties who reached this settlement. Nothing is going to be changed in the agreement. The actual signing of the contract is being held up by the refusal of the Town’s Personal Director, Bob McCarthy, to sign the document. Hew is dragging his feet about placing the correct wording in the contract.
The workers are still being paid by their status as of 2005. The contract signed by Chris O’Neil, the President of the Highway Union, and Supervisor Mohan increased the worker’s pay by a small percentage plus they should receive retroactive pay for working without a contract for the last 2 years. The Contract states clearly that the workers will be receiving their back pay starting with the first pay check in September, 2007. So far they haven’t received one cent of their retroactive as of today Oct. 26, 2007,
The Town is making money by not keeping their word about paying the workers what they are owed. They are dragging their feet so the worker’s money gathers interest for the Town. This money along with the interest it has earned thus far, should be paid out to the workers, but we all know the workers will not receive one cent of the interest their money earned for the Town.
The Highway Union has started taking steps to reach Arbitration with the Town. When the Supervisor spoke at the Monday night Special Budget Hearing, Oct. 22, 2007, he said that both sides had signed the contract, meaning the Highway Union and the Town, and it was ratified. That was a total lie.
Any worker, at any job, must be paid what is agreed upon between the worker and the owner of the business. In the case of Amherst and the Highway workers this did not happen because Amherst often has the hardest time keeping their word, to anyone … just ask Thomas Watkins of MicroLink.
HIGGINS VOTES FOR BIPARTISAN CHILDREN’S HEALTH BILL
Plan to Cover 10 Million Children
Washington, D.C.- Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) and his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives passed a revised bipartisan State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill which once again provides 10 million American children with health care while meeting certain concerns that have been raised. The Senate is expected to pass the bill next week.
“I am happy that the House put partisanship aside today to do right by our nation’s children and families,” said Congressman Higgins. “This important legislation will provide a much needed safety net to the 400,000 children currently enrolled in SCHIP in New York State, and reach many of the almost 300,000 children in New York who are eligible for SCHIP but are not yet enrolled. With the short-term SCHIP extension expiring November 16, it is critical that the President sign this legislation into law,” Higgins said.
The bill renews and improves the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), reauthorizing it for five years. The bill ensures that 6 million children who currently participate in the Children’s Health Insurance program continue to receive health care coverage, and extends coverage to nearly 4 million uninsured children, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The bill invests an additional $35 billion over five years in SCHIP in order to strengthen SCHIP’s financing; increase health care coverage for low-income, uninsured children; and improve the quality of health care children receive. Additionally, quality dental coverage will now be provided to all children enrolled in SCHIP. The bill also ensures that states will offer mental health services on par with medical and surgical benefits covered under SCHIP.
The revised bill also contains some new provisions designed to meet concerns that have been raised regarding high-income children, illegal immigrants, coverage of adults and children moving from private insurance to SCHIP. The revised legislation contains the following provisions:
· The SCHIP program will be capped at 300 percent of poverty. Under this provision, no new states will be eligible for any federal funds for covering children at income levels above 300 percent of poverty.
· To further incentivize coverage of low-income children, states will only be eligible for bonus payments for covering additional Medicaid children, the lowest-income children in a state.
· When a state sends an applicant’s name and Social Security number to the Social Security Administration, the Social Security Administration will confirm that the applicant’s record indicates that the applicant is a citizen of the United States. If the Social Security Administration cannot confirm the applicant’s citizenship, the applicant will be required to provide the state with additional documentation to confirm eligibility.
· The revised bill speeds up the phasing out of childless adults — phasing out the coverage of childless adults in SCHIP over one year instead of two.
· Premium assistance programs are added to the list of things a state can do to get bonus payments.
· All states will be required to develop plans and implement recommended best practices for minimizing “crowd-out.”
