WPCNR  TAXING TIMES. By John F. Bailey. July 1, 2009: The City of White Plains efficiently mailed out the first of White Plains residents’ tax bills today. Residents opening the envelopes this evening will note they have a 5.5% tax increase split between the city, schools and the county. Though the county tax is lot listed, just add $2,400 if you are a White Plains resident.

The property tax on the average White Plains Home marketed at $650,000 including county, schools and city is $13,294 compared to $12,600 in 2008-2009, up $694 or 5.5%

Greetings from the Department of Finance.

The White Plains Week Projection of this April, Comes All Too True within $50.

The median White Plains home on the market valued at $650,000 will find their city and school tax bill to be $10,894 up from $10,342 last year, a $552 increase -- 5.3% from the city and the schools tab combined. Add to that the County tax of $2,400 and the increase is up to $694. 

The city tax increase increase takes a mere $177 hors d'oeuvre off your canape plate in comparison increasing the city share of the average homeowner from $2,724 this year to 2,901 in 2009-10, $177 more -- a 6.4% Increase

The school district tax increase for the average homeowner is $374. (It was $7,618 last year up to $7,992 this year, a 4.9% Increase.

Those with homes with a market value of less than $650,000 of course have less of an increase, while those in $650,000 and up homes – you’re looking at $1,000 or more in tax increases, from city and school tax increases. Throw in the County piece and you're definitely up a grand.

The actual school tax increase is $7 more than White Plains Week predicted. The city tax, $44 more than predicted.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. July 1, 2009: The White Plains Police have apprehended and charged three New Rochelle Residents in connection with an armed robbery of a man and woman inside the Chester Maple Parking Garage at  early Sunday morning, June 21 at 12:30 A.M.

Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety told WPCNR today, announcing the arrests, "This was a good coordinated effort by the detectives, working hard to get dangerous people off the street. We are working with other departments in the couty who have had similar incidents. We executed warrants on the vehicle used in the crime as well as the suspects' apartment. "

Luz Rodriguez

Juan Morel

William Hernandez

Police charged Luz Rodriguez, 25, Juan Morel, 25 and William Hernandez, 28 all of whom live at 550 Fifth Avenue, New Rochelle, with Robbery 1st and Criminal Use of a Firearm 1st, both B-felonies, following the investigation of the robbery "where a handgun was displayed."

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. June 30, 2009: A significant cut in police overtime requested by the Common Council has reduced the Police Bureau Budget $330,115, which the Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Frank Straub sees reducing the department ability to police the Central Business District as the summer sizzles into full swing this week.

Memo from the Commissioner Foresees Compromised Safety in Downtown Business District, Documents Growth in Misbehavin' 

The fight, fracas, melee or brawl depending on who you talk to, (a complete description of the incident involving emergency room treatment of one individual has not been given by police) --  attracting a response of  a posse of  police cars Sunday morning to a popular bar on East Post Road highlights the stresses the Department of Public Safety will face in responding to the average 30 arrests a night on Friday and Saturday nights in White Plains the past year. In the summer, it might be expected this average may go up.

WPCNR DPW DAILY. By John F. Bailey. June 25,2009: Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti, when asked when the Department of Public Works would send out detailed official notice of controversial sweeping changes in garbage, recycling, and autumn leaf pickups (previously made by the city of loose leaves at curbside) last night, told WPCNR the new pickup schedule and attendant regulations  would not be implemented until September 1. (The changes were instituted as part of budget-cutting initiatives by the department at the request of the Mayor's Office.)

Award-winning Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti, speaking on DPW Garage repairs and rolling stock purchases last night. Afterwards he shared the schedule for sanitation changes with WPCNR

Nicoletti told WPCNR the regulations which include consolidation of recycling papers and recyclable containers to same days as garbage pickups; requirement that leaves be bagged for pickup by the owner or owners' landscape companies; removal of backyard garbage pickup, will be issued August 1 to familiarize the public with them and the new schedules implemented September 1.

It was not clear how delaying the implementation of the new regulations designed to "save" money would save money for the first two months of the new fiscal year without implementing them.

During the Common Council Work Session Wednesday evening, Commissioner Nicoletti presented requests for $300,000 of concrete floor replacement on the 1928 South Kensico DPW garage, and $1,040,000 in bonds for replacement of DPW Vehicles,Refusal Collection Trucks, previously included in the 2009-10 budget which begins being spent in one week.

 WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2009. June 25,2009: Suburbanstreet.com reports this morning that Bob Hyland, long time owner of The Sports Page restaurant in White Plains, and National Football League legend with the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers has agreed to contest Legislator William Ryan for the District 5 seat in White Plains.

Bob Hyland, left, with John Martin, St. Patrick's Day Parade, March 2007. WPCNR News Archive.

Suburban Street reports Hyland making this statement: “If I am elected to the County Board, I will take my experience that includes 36 years as a successful businessman, 16 years in the financial services industry and 11 years as a professional football player and apply those experiences to county government. My years in the financial services industry have shown me what families and businesses need to do to survive in today's economy.”

“Our current county government clearly does not understand these issues or they would not be asking to raise taxes and spending. They would not be attempting to raise their own salaries in today's economy. I know that if I ran my restaurant and insurance practice the way the incumbent has run the county legislature, my businesses would have failed many years ago,” concluded Hyland.

GOP Chairman Doug Colety said, “We are excited to be nominating Bob Hyland for the County Legislator in Scarsdale and White Plains. Bob’s experience in business and the financial services industry will make him an outstanding addition to the County Board and a breath of fresh air after the scandal-plagued Bill Ryan.”

Suburban Street describes Hyland  a registered Independence Party Member, born and raised in White Plains and was educated at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, followed by Boston College. After a successful eleven-year career in the National Football League including winning a Super Bowl under legendary coach Vince Lombardi and five seasons with the New York Giants, Hyland returned to White Plains to raise his family and open a family business. He currently is the owner of the Sports Page Restaurant in White Plains and his own insurance practice.

Hyland will be running on the Republican, Independence and Conservative lines in the November Election. District 5 includes all of Scarsdale and part of White Plains.

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. June 23,2009- White Plains taxicab drivers Mario Alfonso, Marilu Ramirez, Raul Figueroa, Angel Figueroa,Carlos Figureroa, David Sanchez and Cesar Ortiz have filed a Civil Rights suit against Mayor Joseph Delfino, his Executive Officer Paul Wood, their aide, Melissa Lopez, Christopher Gordon and the City of White Plains in New York Southern District Court. The suit was filed June 5 according to Mr. Alfonso, who told WPCNR the suit was filed because of alleged actions by Wood,Lopez and the Mayor  directed at Mr. Alfonso and the other defendants during the city effort to  formulate new taxi regulations.

More details shortly. The defendants are being represented by Jonathan Lovett.

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. June 22,2009 UPDATED June 23, 2009 12:20 P.M. E.D.T.: With a single uttering of the word "Over," County Legislator Tom Abinanti delayed consideration and a vote scheduled  this morning by the 16 members of the County Board of Legislators of establishing a Westchester County Assessment Commission to upgrade data and assessment standards, that county area assessors and city managers said could lead to considerable increases in county and municipal assessibles

Ken Jenkins, the Legislator and  Chairman of Government Operations offered this explanation of the "Over" Rule to WPCNR Wednesday:

By rule, any Legislator can "lay over" an item.  The motion is not debatable.  There are no changes that I plan to make to the Resolution.

Clearly the State Office of Real Property Services, the Westchester Municipal Officials Association and the Westchester Chapter of the NYS Assessors Association support this resolution.  The item does appear have enough support to pass when it appears as unfinished business at the July 7th meeting.

Lloyd Tasch, President of the Westchester Chapter of the NYS Assessors Association, said the Association did not have a statement regarding the "over".

Assessors sitting in "Assessors Row," expecting a passage of the resolution establishing the Commission, especially after a Board of Legislators' press release issued Friday touting the possible passage of the Commission, were stunned.

WPCNR has contacted Mr. Abinanti's explanation for the tabling of the resolution. Any legislator can prevent an item from coming to a vote by calling for an "over" which moves the resolution to the July Board of Legislatures meeting.

One of the speakers at the Citizens to Be Heard portion of the County Board of Legislators, the Assessor form the City of Yonkers, said Dade County Florida, found $1 billion of additional assessments based on a $1.2 Million expenditure of such a oblique photographic survey in $1 Billion in changes to property characteristics that were not on record."

The "Overing" of the resolution comes two weeks after County Executive Andrew Spano called for a revaluation of Westchester county as an answer to establish fair and equitable property taxes.

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. June 20,2009: In light of the revelation that governments and school districts have been violating the Freedom of Information Law when they withhold tentative settlements of labor contracts from the media and the public until they are ratified, WPCNR presents the testimony of  Empire Center research, Lise Bang-Jensen's February testimonty before the New York State Legislature  Joint Legislative Committee detailing some of the pitfalls this practice creates for city governments and taxpayers.

Ms. Bang-Jensen's testimony:

WPCNR The  Certiorarian. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators with reporting by WPCNR. June 19,2009: Westchester legislators will move to adopt a resolution which will establish a county assessment commission at Monday’s upcoming Board meeting. The proposed legislation creating the Westchester County Assessment Commission, due for a vote at Monday’s Board of Legislators meeting, would be responsible for the development of a regional model for the collection and maintenance of property data that would be used by local assessing units as the new standard for recording the characteristics of every parcel of property within the county. 

White Plains City Assessor Lloyd Tasch reached Friday afternoon by WPCNR described this as the first step that would have to be be undertaken by the county in order to execute a countywide revaluation of property, if the county chose to do so. Tasch also said it was tied to a county effort to photograph-map the county from the air to be used as a resource by all county communities (and assessors). The cost of the aerial photography piece is $1 Million.

Revaluation was endorsed by County Executive Andrew Spano last week in a letter to State Senator Jeff Klein as the only solution to the certiorari practice of businesses filing for lowering of their assessments that have lowered Commerical Property Owners property taxes 9% in the last eleven years, while homeowners property taxes have doubled. Tasch said the establishment of the Commission would also enable communities to defend assessments more successfully.

 “It is crucial to the commission's work that parameters are in place to create a more uniform, transparent, equitable and efficient assessment practice,” said Board Chairman William Ryan (D, I, WFP-White Plains).   “This measure will save taxpayer dollars.”

WPCNR THE CERTIORARIAN. By John F. Bailey. June 19, 2009: State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer’s Press Office told WPCNR today that due to the stalemate in the leadership of  the State Senate, the key Commercial Assessment Ratio bill is not expected to come out of committee in 2009. The prognosis may doom Westchester County cities and towns to another round of certiorari applications and potential record assessment losses in a falling real estate market.

WPCNR THE CERTIORARIAN. June 17,2009: White Plains Assessor Lloyd Tasch in an op-ed piece appearing in The Journal News today debunked the Westchester County Association and the Builder’s Institute statements  opposing the Commercial Assessment Ratio bill awaiting  action in the New York State Senate, as "untrue."

The  bill is being introduced by State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer and was sponsored in the Assembly by White Plains' Adam Bradley. Bradley and Oppenheimer  have yet to defend their bill which has been attacked by the Westchester County Association and the Westchester County Executive on the grounds that it will raise taxes on commercial property owners and co-op and condominium owners and hurt Westchester in attracting businesses to the region.

Tasch, President of the Westchester County Assessor’s Association repeated his statements he made to WPCNR last week,  that the County Association lobbying effort last labeling the CAR bill  as “shifting the tax burden from homeowners to commercial property owners," writing today, "This is untrue." He also points out the glaring need for such a bill, reporting that the Westchester County Tax Commission reports that through the use of the certiorari process and the unfortunate effects of the equalization rate, county commercial property owners pay 9% less taxes than they did 11 years ago, while county homeowners today taxes have doubled.

Feiner said that the circus in the State Senate and the turmoil that is taking place is hurting New York State. A one house legislature would reduce legislative gridlock and would be less costly to the taxpayers. Senators like Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate won’t be able to hold the people hostage.

New York State needs to reorganize itself. There are more layers of government in New York State than any other state in the nation. Property taxes in Westchester are higher than any other community. Feiner has previously suggested that a study be conducted to determine whether county government should be eliminated or consolidated with other counties.He founded a group called RethinkingWestchestergov.com.  Feiner is also currently reviewing a proposal to consolidate three paid fire districts in Greenburgh. 

Feiner said that in these difficult times everything should be put on the table. We need to reduce the costs of administering government in New York State. Having a State Senate is a big waste of taxpayer dollars.

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2009. By John F. Bailey. June 15, 2009, UPDATED June 17, 2009 6:30 A.M.: The Friends of Joseph Delfino political organization has issued $7,763.50 in refunds to 25 political contributors who had exceeded the state limit on the amount they could contribute ($1,483), according to New York State Board of Elections reports through January 2009.

Paul Wood, the Mayor's Executive Officer confirmed this to WPCNR this afternoon. Wood said the remaining dollars in the Mayor's campaign coffers could be given to another political organization, or the Mayor could use them to run for another office. To date, the Mayor has not made a decision.

Wood also said  Tuesday that the overpayments were discovered by the Mayor's campaign fund treasurer and that there were similar overpayments in previous years.

Friends of Mayor Joseph Delfino issued the following refunds:

 “The Blog reflects our ongoing commitment to communicate directly with the American people about the Department’s efforts across the country and around the world,” said DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.

 The Blog will include frequent updates on the Department’s activities, including breaking news, public events and new initiatives.

 The inaugural post, found at http://www.dhs.gov/theblog, features a video message from Secretary Napolitano outlining the Department’s five overarching responsibilities and an invitation for visitors to comment on and provide suggestions for The Blog.

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. Special to WPCNR. June 15, 2009: Assemblyman Adam Bradley confirmed to WPCNR this morning that the City of White Plains sales tax extension of  for another two years has already been passed by both houses of the state legislature and signed by Governor David Paterson. Therefore, White Plains revenues for 2009-10 will not be affected by the current senate leadership dispute playing out in Albany today.

Bradley said that the rate of the tax and the sunset provision have been consolidated at his suggestion, so no longer does the city have to work the extension of the sales tax and any alteration of the sales tax rate separately through the legislature.

The hotel sales tax, a home rule request by White Plains, Bradley said has also been passed by both houses and awaits the Governor's signature. The 2-1/2% hotel tax is expected to begin in July and bring about $300,000 in revenues to the city in 2009-10.