WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

Hits: 0

WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By John F. Bailey. January 19, 2007: Councilperson Rita Malmud, asked by Mayor Delfino to negotiate a removal of the 85 Court Street homeless shelter with Westchester County reports progress to WPCNR, revealing that the county is considering the shelter “temporary” — her words. Reporting to WPCNR on the results of her meetings with the county so far, Malmud issued this statement:

Mayor Delfino and I spoke about 85 Court Street a few weeks ago when I updated him on talks with County Executive Spano.   These talks were characterized as positive and productive.  I expressed confidence that the status quo would not remain.  Although I forget the specific and exact words used, it was clearly implied that this shelter was not permanent.

Ms. Malmud was asked by WPCNR Thursday in two separate telephone calls whether a new location in White Plains was being considered, whether a location outside White Plains was being looked at, whether better monitoring of the homeless during day was being developed, or even job and employment opportunities were being developed for the 85 Court Street population, but she did not respond to those questions.

Today, WPCNR has asked her for clarification on what the terms “positive and productive” mean, and when she thought it would be resolved.

This is the first time Westchester County has stated publicly that the 85 Court Street shelter is temporary. Previously when asked to remove the shelter by Mayor Joseph Delfino,due to its proximity to the downtown, and documented related incidents,  the county has balked — never indicating they were seeking alternate locations.

Donna Green spokesperson for the Westchester County Department of Communications, when asked if the county was viewing the 85 Court Street Shelter as “temporary” and was seeking to relocate it — something the county has refused to do in the political standoff between the County and the City — Green said “I have no answers for you at this time.”

Hits: 0

WPCNR THE PARKING NEWS. Interview with Al Moroni, Commissioner of Parking with John F. Bailey. January 18, 2007: In response to citizen complaints, The City of White Plains is reviewing its on-street parking policies  that limit parking at downtown on-street meters and on unmetered streets in certain parts of town to the 1 or 2 hour time limits noticed on the meter or by signs,  regardless of whether you “feed the meter” when you park in or move your car to another spot on the same street.

Commissioner of Parking, Al Moroni.

Present White Plains Meters Do Not Advise Motorists Specifically they can only park for the limit imposed on a specific street once a day.

According to Mr. Moroni speaking to WPCNR today, the Traffic Commission has asked the Department of Parking, the Traffic Department and the Law Depart to meet and “to take a look at the ordinance and see what can be done to come up with an ordinance that is enforceable and understandable (to the public).”  Deputy Commissioner of Parking, John Larson said a date for that meeting has not been set.

An unspecified number of residents have gotten tickets when they have returned to the downtown, “fed a new meter” and still got a ticket when they parked on the same street they had parked on during their first trip to the downtown, according  to Commissioner of Parking, Al Moroni.

He said there have not been many persons this has happened to, but when it does, “it seems so unfair to them, they get pretty upset about it.” If, they return to the downtown and park on a different street at a meter, they would not get a ticket, Moroni said.

Moroni remarked that there are several issues the Commission is examining in addition to the controversial “Double Jeopardy” parking ordinance.  one  is parking beyond the limit in a parking lot beyond the 1 or 2 hour limit, regardless of whether you come back and feed the meter at the end of the two hours,  you receive a “Beyond the Limit” Ticket. After time has expired, you have to move your car to a garage or another parking lot, and cannot “feed the meter” to stay in the lot if if you move to a different space.

The second issue involves streets around the city which are not metered where signs say parking is limited to 1 or 2 hours. Neighborhoods don’t want people working in an adjacent area using their streets for parking for their business, Moroni said.

Double Jeopardy Clarification under review by “Task Force”

Moroni, whose Deputy Commissioner of Parking, John Larson, attended the Traffic Commission meeting Wednesday morning when the decision reexamine the “Double Jeopardy” issue was made, said “We are wrestling with how do we come up with a more fair way of treating this problem.”

The Traffic Commission, WPNCR had learned from a member of the commission, speaking to WPCNR under condition of anonymity, took up the “Double Jeopardy” problem and our original source reports that the commission members all agree it should be changed and it is “under review” as to how the meters can be “resigned” to cut down the possibilities of getting a second ticket even when you’ve fed the meter.

It has not been decided whether one of those options is eliminating Double Jeopardy.  Our source said, the talk is to make the meter instructions more explicit to enlighten motorists they can only park once on the same metered street during the meter enforcement times. 

White Plains Week First

The “Double Jeopardy Ticket” was first exposed by White Plains Week, the controversial Public Access Television news roundup show (cablecast to Mr. and Mrs. White Plains, Fridays at 7 and Mondays at 7:30 on Channel 76) last year.

Moroni explained how the White Plains street meter parker exposes himself to the “Double Jeopardy” Ticket:

“You park on Mamaroneck between Main & Post Road in the A.M . An officer scans your license into his computer at 9:30. You leave. You come back at 1:30 P.M., and park on the same street (Mamaroneck Avenue) but not in the same spot. The parking officer will give you a ticket (even if you have put money in the meter) because you have parked in violation of the beyond the limit of the area.” Moroni said “same area” means “same street.” “That’s how we’re interpreting and enforcing it,” Moroni confirmed.

The parking meters do not specifically warn you that you cannot park in another meter on the same street.

Moroni defended the Double Jeopardy system because he said, that without limiting parking on the same street, people who work in the stores in the downtown will be jockeying  their cars along the street their business is on, taking away space from legitimate shoppers.

$15 Fine Signs Placed in The Galleria

New signs warning motorists that after the Parking Office is closed in The Galleria, motorists are subject to a $15 fine, instead of the $2 overtime notice, have posted. Mr. Moroni said that $15 has always been in effect, and is not new, just that the signs are.

Hits: 0

WPCNR Public Safety Gazette. January 17, 2007: The City of White Plains is actively seeking a diverse pool of candidates for the June 2nd Fire fighter written exam.  The salary range is $48,982 – $76,836 and the exam is open to Westchester County residents. According to Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Daniel Jackson, number of fire fighters in the Department is not being increased: “Any hires are strictly to fill vacancies.”

White Plains Fire Fighters in Action, September 2003. The Department ability to get to scenes quickly within four minutes has resulted in “saves”

of three apartment building fires and the Temple shown here. Its safety inspections have resulted in safer buildings, less fires. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

Interested applicants must submit an application no later than Thursday, March 15, 2007 to be eligible. Application materials and announcements can be obtained by logging onto www.cityofwhiteplains.com or by calling the City of White Plains Personnel Department between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM at (914) 422-1258. 

Free training is offered to help candidates prepare for the written exam.

For more information please contact the Personnel Department at 914-422-1258.

Hits: 0

WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. January 16, 2007: In his first week Governor Spitzer issued four Executive Orders and continued his call for broader reforms.  I am pleased that the Assembly now has a partner in the executive branch who will work with us to push forward reforms that I have fought for.  Actions, not words, are needed, and the Orders announced on Day One are just the beginning.

The Executive Orders provided a snapshot of what the governor wants to accomplish statewide – increase transparency of government operations and ensure that the public’s interest comes ahead of special interests.  Briefly, the Orders prohibit employees of state agencies and public authorities from:

·        Accepting gifts when the intent of the offer is to influence government business;

·        Being involved in hiring decisions of family members;

·        Lobbying former state employees within two years of exiting state employment; and

·        Asking for party affiliation during the interview process for state employment applicants.

    Last summer, the Assembly passed legislation (A.11900-B) I supported that:

·        Banned gifts from lobbyists;

·        Prohibited elected officials from getting paid for speaking engagements;

·        Put teeth into the “revolving door” ban for legislative employees; and

·        Instructed the State Board of Elections to spell out to candidates for elected office that they cannot use their campaign funds for personal use. 

The Executive Orders and A.11900-B are actions needed to put teeth into the reform rhetoric.  Governor Spitzer is advocating for fundamental changes and I stand ready to work with him to continue improving the way Albany operates.

Hits: 0