The attorney for the family of Danroy "DJ" Henry, Michael Sussman, says he was encouraged by what he said was the Governor's apparent desire to see justice done in the case.

Technically, the Governor cannot appoint a Special Prosecutor. That must be done by the Attorney General. Henry's family said it's hopeful the Governor will at least get the ball rolling.
Mount Pleasant Police officials have said there is no cover-up in the case and that the two officers involved in DJ Henry's killing acted in self-defense and fired at him only after Henry plowed his car into them.  Blood alcohol tests have indicated Henry was drunk at the time of the shooting, but eyewitnesses who were with him that night insist Henry was not drinking that evening.

The Wesetchester County District Attorney's office which is assisting in the inquiry says it does not comment on pending investigations. The case is expected to be presented to a Grand Jury in January.

Westchester State Senator Andrea-Stewart-Cousins (35th District D/WF) announced today that the Wage Theft prevention Act, which she co-sponsored in the Senate, has been signed into law by Governor David Paterson.

The new law effectively expands workplace rights of employees by requiring employers to provide employees with necessary wage information and puts into place sanctions against employers who fail to propertly pay their workers full earned waves and overtime.

Studies have indicated that a large number of workers are earning less than the state-mandated minimum wage in New York and are not receiving the proper amount of overtime, when indicated.

The new measure raises the criminal penalties for those who fail to pay minimum wage to up to a year in prison and a $5,000 fine.

It also strengthens protections for whistleblowrs in wage violation cases and increases the amount of wages that can be recovered as damages in a suit for non-payment over and above the lost wages themselves-from 25% to 100%.

Residents in many Westchester County communities are voting today on new school budgets and for school board members and Trustees.

New York Governor David Paterson is predicting that many of the state's school budgets will go down to defeat today. It's a difficult economic year and many districts have struggled to come up with affordable budgets in light of that as well as shrinking revenues from the State.

Many districts have been reporting steady streams of traffic. In some districts, younger voters have been showing up in greater numbers  to cast their ballots.

Governor David Paterson today announced that he has nominated two judges from Westchester for vacancies on the County Court and State Supreme Court.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) Tuesday contacted President Barack Obama and urged him to approve Governor David Paterson's request for a major disaster declaration and implementation of federal assistance following the Nor'easter that struck the region between March 13-15.

In her letter to the President, Lowey said "The damage associated with this storm left hundreds of thousands in the region without power and resulted in the tragic death of one of my constituents from a fallen tree.

"Local governments have estimated that as a result of this storm at least $85 million in damages were incurred. The availability of the FEMA programs would be invaluable to state and local governments, as well as eligible non-profit entities, as they recover from the storm.  The damage has clearly overwhelmed State and local resources, which had already spent more than $45 million in these counties recovering from record snowfall this winter.

Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone addressed residents Monday evening in a town-hall-style meeting at the Grinton I. Will Library on Central Avenue in Yonkers. Amicone says delays in the State budget will spell disaster for services in the City of Yonkers.

During his presentation Monday evening, Amicone told residents gathered that the City's financial situation is dire. He says without increased state aid, Yonkers will be saddled with a $109.5 million dollar deficit,residents will face a 35% property tax, 1000 layoffs and severe cutbacks in such areas as public works and public safety. The proposed layoffs include 400 of the district's teachers.

 Amicone again blasted the State for what he says is  its "Inequitable" distribution of funds to such cities as Buffalo and Rochester. Yonkers is the fourth largest city in New York State.

Assemblyman Greg Ball (R,C,I-Patterson) joined with officers and members of the Building and Construction Trade Council of Westchester and Putnam Counties of New York and the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc to sign a letter to Governor Paterson expressing their disappointment with planned changes to the Wicks law in