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. | WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.

City Traffic Lane Lines Invisible on Rainy Nights. Clear Nights Too.

Posted on February 15, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITIZENS SAFETY ADVISORY NUMBER 4. February 15, 2005: Has the city been buying very cheap highway line paint? Because the lane dividing markers demonstrate little, if any demarcation in the evening in vehicle headlights. When it rains steadily, the white hash marks dividing lanes are virtually invisible on main streets. Citizens driving on our rainy streets have to concentrate especially hard visually to find where their traffic lanes are and stay lined up correctly. The highway lines we have are not dividing the streets safely. They are not all that visible in daylight, either.

Main Street Monday Night. Demarcation lines of traffic lanes virtually invisible. Photo by WPCNR News.

WPCNR PHOTO OF THE DAY

Posted on February 15, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR PHOTO OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. February 15, 2005: Today’s snap is a soon-to-be-razed parking lot: the municipal parking lot between Bar Building and 189 Main Street. Cappelli Enterprises has not announced when the lot will be officially closed to demolition the Bar Building annex, but it could be any day now. Citizens scout out your casual parking now. The city has not announced alternative parking areas to replace the approximate 75-100 spaces.

Parking Squeeze Play By the White Plains CNR Roving Photographer.

Bradley: Governor’s Contingency Budget Further Assails Education.

Posted on February 14, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR Aisles of Albany. February 14, 2005: Assemblyman Adam Bradley of the 89th District released a statement Monday sharply criticising Governor’s George Pataki’s contingency budget. Mr. Bradley states:

The governor’s release of a contingency budget is further evidence of his effort to become a virtual budget czar, dictating state spending and laws without input from citizens and their representatives in the Legislature. Among other things, the governor’s contingency budget further underfunds education – leaving school districts and property-taxpayers to foot the bill for his wrong choices. For schools in my district, the contingency budget would mean a cut of $3.5 million compared to what the governor proposed just a month ago in his Executive budget. This proposal is unacceptable since it does not deal with any of the structural problems which need real reform.”

Walking Club to Launch at The Westchester

Posted on February 14, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR EAST SIDER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. February 11, 2005: Westchester County and The Westchester are launching a new walking club called “Be Fit” at The Westchester in White Plains Feb. 15 at 12 noon. (Meet at horse fountain retail level 2.) County Executive Andy Spano will lead the walk that day.

The club will officially begin Friday, Feb. 18 and will hold walks Tuesdays and Fridays from 8-10 a.m. The walks are led by a county parks department employee who is a registered nurse and nutritionist. Club members get free pedometers and log books to track the number of miles they have walked. The mall is offering prizes to walkers who complete 25, 50 and 100 miles at the mall. The first 25 people to sign up will also get free t-shirts, and free parking is available to registered walkers between 8 a.m. and 12 noon on club days.

NYPH, WEILL CORNELL TO HIRE SUPER FUNDRAISER: $1.8 Billion Campaign Planned.

Posted on February 13, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR EAST END OBSERVER. February 13, 2005: New York Presbyterian Hospital is about to launch a $1 Billion fundraising drive.

Whether or not this is to raise money to fund their cash-short proton accelerator-biomedical research facility approved by the city two-and-a-half years ago, with no ground broken yet, is not known at this time.

A contractor, reported by WPCNR to be in ongoing talks with New York Presbyterian Hospital to develop the White Plains proton accelerator, Hitachi North America, in Tarrytown, told WPCNR last month that the state-of-the-art cancer treatment therapy center has been put off at least six months by New York Presbyterian Hospital because funding is the big stumbling block.

New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weil Cornell Medical Center, its academic and professional partner are taking financial matters into their own hands.

They are launching a $1 Billion fundraising drive for NYPH and a $750 Million campaign for the Weill Cornell Medical College. The plans became known by the appearance of an advertisement in The New York Times Sunday for a “Super Fundraiser,” a Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations for “planning, implementation, and coordination of corporate and foundation gifts and grants and fund-raising programs” for the support of both campus fund drives totaling $1.8 Billion.

WPCNR has often noted the lack of candor, information, and ongoing news about the proton accelerator project on New York Presbyterian Hospital. Opponents of the proton accelerator project have long argued that the hospital does not have the money to build the project, and though promised $100 Million of support from the Governor’s office as a Center of Excellence, that money has apparently not been forthcoming from New York State, otherwise the proton accelerator could be well under way by now.

Now with the announcement of the $1.8 Billion fund drive, it appears Weill Cornell Medical Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital both need to turn to the private sector for future growth, whether the $1 Billion New York Presbyterian Hospital hopes to raise will be in part for the White Plains project, is a subject of inquiry.

Bradley: Governor Pataki’s Cuts Will Cost White Plains Schools $687,000.

Posted on February 12, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, 89th Assembly District. February 12, 2005: Governor Pataki has seriously threatened the quality of New York schools. His legacy of proposing school aid cuts and devastating tuition hikes is not only irresponsible, it’s harmful – and children and property taxpayers end up paying the price.

The Legislature has historically fought to restore the governor’s cuts. Last year, we rejected the governor’s meager increases to education aid, and enacted an overall increase of $752 million – a five percent increase – which was the fourth largest in state history. This restoration of state funding for schools once again preserved vital education programs and prevented massive local property tax increases.

Under the Governor’s proposed budget, some schools will see an increase in aid, however, Byram Hills and White Plains lose funding, while many others struggle to keep up with the rate of inflation:

Byram Hills will lose $169,092; and
White Plains will lose $687,400.

Cuts in Building Improvements & BOCES

All our local schools will suffer from the Governor’s proposed cut to reimbursable aids such as building improvements and the BOCES program. This will have a negative impact on schools in my district:

· Katonah-Lewisboro – $114,318

· Bedford – $293,945

· Harrison – $ 83,788

· Chappaqua – $112,328

· Byram Hills – $117,131

· White Plains – $256,941

The bottom line is that our schools need more support, and our governor needs to work with the Legislature to ensure that our children are given the best possible education.

College Students Impacted by Tuition Hikes

An affordable college education has also come under attack by the Pataki administration. The attack came from Pataki’s hand-picked SUNY Chancellor Robert King who – while quietly planning a 6-month leave of absence – called for the second tuition hike in three years for SUNY schools. A $950 a year hike was adopted in 2002 and tuition has gone up $1,700 since the governor took office. Another increase would make it even harder for students to attend.

This year, Pataki has called for a $500 tuition increase – that means student tuition will account for over 50 percent of the budget for SUNY and CUNY schools. When the governor took office in 1994, the revenue from student tuition accounted for only 37 percent of the higher education budget.

The Governor has also proposed deferring 50 percent of the Tuition Assistance Program. Many students from SUNY Purchase have spoken to me about the possibility that they will be forced to end their college education as a result of this substantial reduction to TAP. Given the economic troubles facing our state and nation, now is certainly not the time to deny deserving, often underprivileged students the opportunity for a brighter future.

New York currently ranks 41 out of 50 in terms of annual percentage change in state support for higher education operating expenses for 2004 – 2005, according to new research from Illinois State University. We must do more to help our students, not hinder their chances of succeeding. I call on the Governor to change directions and focus on our students needs both in secondary and higher education.

I have continuously worked to provide our schools and SUNY with the funding they need to provide a quality, affordable education and increase aid for students through the Tuition Assistance Program. Property taxpayers and students are being asked to sacrifice too much. It’s time for the governor to make a real investment in our future – in our children.

WJCS Launches New SAT Prep Program. Tuition $85 Hour.

Posted on February 12, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Westchester Jewish Community Services. February 12, 2005: WJCS, a respected provider of learning services in Westchester for nearly 40 years, is launching an SAT Prep Program to help students get ready for the newly designed SAT format. Offering both small-group (up to four students) and one-on-one instruction, the ten-week, two-hour sessions will cover reading, math and written language skills. An affordable, premium alternative to private instruction or large impersonal classroom programs, the WJCS modules will be held at the WJCS Headquarters at 845 N. Broadway in White Plains. Evening and weekend scheduling will be available.
“Our SAT Prep Program will offer small group or individualized instruction that can either tackle test-taking skills or focus on a student’s particular ‘problem areas,’ which will be identified through pre-testing,” explains Louise Albin, MA, Director of the WJCS Weinberg Learning Center, under whose auspices the course is offered. “The teaching, drilling and tutoring will be customized based on individual needs. Periodic testing will be used to assess each student’s progress and adjust the program. For instance, the number of sessions can be extended beyond ten weeks to meet student’s needs.”

According to Ms. Albin, the College Board will introduce a new SAT format in March 2005. Changes will include the requirement of a student essay, elimination of verbal analogies and quantitative comparisons, the addition of shorter reading passages and incorporation of new content from third-year college preparatory math.

The essay component, especially, has increased apprehension for both students and parents. “The changes are designed to better align the test with current curriculum and institutional practices in high school and college,” adds Ms. Albin. “However, because it is a new and unknown entity, the test is causing both parents and teens a high degree of stress. We can help alleviate anxiety by providing test-taking skills, strategies and experience with the test format, helping students to feel comfortable and confident.

“Our program is not a ‘cookie cutter’ course, but rather a customized approach to teaching which leverages students’ strengths while addressing identified target areas. The process will be directed so that each student can gain the techniques and information necessary for success – not only for this test but for future academic pursuits.”
The WJCS SAT PREP Program offers a high quality, affordable alternative to private tutoring and class-size sessions. For individuals a two-hour, 10-session program at $85 per hour for a total cost of $1,700 is suggested. For a small-group (up to 4 students), the two-hour, 10-session program costs $2,400 divided by the number of students in the group. To assure preferred start date and time students can arrange their own groups; WJCS will provide the learning specialists.
The WJCS Weinberg Learning Center has been providing evaluations and remedial services in Westchester since 1967.
For more information about the WJCS SAT Prep Program, call 949-7699, 596 or email SATPrep@wjcs.com.

Roberta Gratz, White Plains Urban Consultant Talks Cities at Purchase

Posted on February 11, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR REPORTER ABOUT TOWN. From Anne Brady, Purchase College. February 11, 2005: Roberta Brandes Gratz, who visited with the City of White Plains when the city was considering the City Center project, well-known urban critic, award-winning journalist, observer of cities and author of two highly regarded books on urban development issues, will discuss “Cities Rebuilt, Cities Reborn: Is There a Difference?” at a Natural and Social Sciences Lecture at Purchase College on February 17 at 5:30 PM, Room 1001, Natural Sciences Building.

Ms. Gratz speaks in cities and towns across the country and often spotlights the development problems and prospects of local places. She will answer questions from the audience following her presentation.

A former award-winning reporter for the New York Post, Gratz is the author of The Living City: Thinking Small in a Big Way and Cities Back from the Edge: New Life for Downtown. In February 2003 Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed her to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. She serves as Trustee and former head of Public Policy of the New York State Preservation League; Vice President of the Salzburg Conference on Urban Planning and Development; founder and President Emeritus of the Eldridge Street Project, the effort to restore the historic Eldridge Street Synagogue on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and to establish a Jewish Heritage Center on the site; a founder and current board member of the Writers Room, the first urban writers’ colony in the United States; and a board member of the Project for Public Spaces. She has served on the New York Governor’s and Mayor’s Task Force on Planning Manhattan’s West Side Highway and Waterfront, and as a trustee of the Village of Ocean Beach. She also founded the Fire Island Historical Society.

Her articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times Magazine, The Nation, Tikkun, Planning Magazine, New York Newsday, the Daily News, and New York Magazine, among others.

Ms. Gratz travels frequently across the United States and to Central Europe and Great Britain to lecture and consult on urban revitalization issues.

Winnie the Pooh Returns to the City Center Cinema de Lux

Posted on February 11, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCREEN GEMS. From National Amusements. February 11, 2005: Hitch, the new Will Smith picture, about the dating service game rolls this weekend at the City Center Cinema de Lux in White Plains. Winnie the Pooh, the bear without peer, arrives in Pooh: The Heffalump Movie. Here are the schedules for the White Plains Movie Weekend:

HITCH — Will Smith stars in this romantic comedy as a slick matchmaker and dating coach who helps those having difficulty finding and keeping a mate. The tables are turned once he falls head-over-heels for a woman (Eva Mendes) and shows that he also has some rough edges that need smoothing out. Rated PG-13

POOH’S HEFFALUMP MOVIE — Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and friends are back for their latest series of big screen adventures which features a giant purple elephant called a Heffalump! Rated G

Today, Friday February 11, 2005
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:15 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby **(PG-13) –3:10; 6:30; 9:35 pm; 12:25 am. ;
IMAX – Aliens of the Deep (G) –10:00; 11:30 am; 1:00; 2:30; 4:00; 5:30; 7:00; 8:30 pm. ;
The Wedding Date (PG-13) –12:10; 2:25; 4:40; 6:55; 9:10; 11:20 pm. ;
Boogeyman (PG-13) –12:00; 2:10; 4:20; 7:35; 10:15 pm; 12:30 am. ;
Meet the Fockers (PG-13) –1:30; 4:15; 7:05; 9:40 pm; 12:30 am. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:20; 7:10; 10:00 pm; 12:35 am. ;
Are We There Yet? (PG) –12:20; 2:40; 4:55; 7:20; 9:50 pm; 12:00 am. ;
Hide and Seek (R) –12:30; 3:00; 5:30; 8:00; 10:30 pm; 12:45 am. ;
Sideways (R) –12:10; 3:10; 6:25; 9:20 pm; 12:10 am. ;
Racing Stripes (PG) –12:00; 2:05 pm. ;
In Good Company (PG-13) –4:10; 6:50; 9:25; 11:50 pm. ;
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (G) –12:30; 2:30; 4:30; 6:30; 8:30; 10:15 pm. ;
Coach Carter (PG-13) –1:10; 4:10; 7:15; 10:20 pm. ;
The Aviator (PG-13) –12:00; 3:30; 7:00; 10:35 pm. ;
Uncle Nino (PG) –12:25; 2:55; 5:20; 7:45; 10:10 pm; 12:35 am. ;
Hitch **(PG-13) –1:00; 3:50; 6:40; 9:30 pm; 12:05 am. ;

Saturday, February 12, 2005
Hitch **(PG-13) –1:00; 3:50; 6:40; 9:30 pm; 12:05 am. ;
Meet the Fockers (PG-13) –1:30; 4:15; 7:05; 9:40 pm; 12:30 am. ;
Uncle Nino (PG) –12:25; 2:55; 5:20; 7:45; 10:10 pm; 12:35 am. ;
The Aviator (PG-13) –12:00; 3:30; 7:00; 10:35 pm. ;
Coach Carter (PG-13) –1:10; 4:10; 7:15; 10:20 pm. ;
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (G) –12:30; 2:30; 4:30; 6:30; 8:30; 10:15 pm. ;
In Good Company (PG-13) –4:10; 6:50; 9:25; 11:50 pm. ;
Racing Stripes (PG) –12:00; 2:05 pm. ;
Hide and Seek (R) –12:30; 3:00; 5:30; 8:00; 10:30 pm; 12:45 am. ;
Sideways (R) –12:10; 3:10; 6:25; 9:20 pm; 12:10 am. ;
Are We There Yet? (PG) –12:20; 2:40; 4:55; 7:20; 9:50 pm; 12:00 am. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:20; 7:10; 10:00 pm; 12:35 am. ;
Boogeyman (PG-13) –12:00; 2:10; 4:20; 7:35; 10:15 pm; 12:30 am. ;
IMAX – Aliens of the Deep (G) –10:00; 11:30 am; 1:00; 2:30; 4:00; 5:30; 7:00; 8:30 pm. ;
The Wedding Date (PG-13) –12:10; 2:25; 4:40; 6:55; 9:10; 11:20 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby **(PG-13) –12:15; 3:10; 6:30; 9:35 pm; 12:25 am. ;

Sunday, February 13, 2005
Million Dollar Baby **(PG-13) –12:15; 3:10; 6:30; 9:35 pm. ;
The Wedding Date (PG-13) –12:10; 2:25; 4:40; 6:55; 9:10 pm. ;
IMAX – Aliens of the Deep (G) –10:00; 11:30 am; 1:00; 2:30; 4:00; 5:30; 7:00; 8:30 pm. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:20; 7:10; 10:00 pm. ;
Are We There Yet? (PG) –12:20; 2:40; 4:55; 7:20; 9:50 pm. ;
Hitch **(PG-13) –1:00; 3:50; 6:40; 9:30 pm. ;
Hide and Seek (R) –12:30; 3:00; 5:30; 8:00; 10:30 pm. ;
Boogeyman (PG-13) –12:00; 2:10; 4:20; 7:35; 10:15 pm. ;
Racing Stripes (PG) –12:00; 2:05 pm. ;
Sideways (R) –12:10; 3:10; 6:25; 9:20 pm. ;
In Good Company (PG-13) –4:10;

City “looking good,” Commishette Says. Meeting Moody’s Projection:

Posted on February 11, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL AND EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. February 11, 2005, UPDATED WITH CHART PIX, 3:30 P.M. E.S.T.: The city issued its Interim Financial Report for the first half of the fiscal year Monday evening.

The city, as Mayor Joseph Delfino mentioned in his State of the City Message, is running 12% ahead of last year’s pace in sales taxes. However, the beeps, boops and blips of city store and restaurant scanners slowed their pace during the holiday season October, November, December from the First Quarter (July, August, September) when sales were running 15.6% ahead.

WHITE PLAINS OFFICIAL SCORECARD: Six Months in the Books. The above figures show the sales tax collections in the current fiscal year, 04-05, through the first six months. $10,117,695 was collected in the First Quarter (July, August, September), and $10,760,486 in the Second Quarter (October, November, December). The percentage spread over and under compred to 2003-04 is at far right hand column, by month and quarter. Photo by WPCNR News.

Commissioner of Finance, Gina Cuneo-Harwood, who personally turned over the finance report to this reporter, commented the city was “looking good.”

As the city started January, the report has the city taking in $20,878,181 in sales tax the first six months. The city projected $37,698,723 for the year. It is on pace to hit approximately $42 million in sales tax receipts, leaving some $4 Million more sales tax revenue to make settlements with the police and fire unions (which expire June 30), manage certioraris, replenish the fund balance, and plug unforeseen financial leaks.

That $42 Million figure should be hit if the city maintains its $10 Million a quarter pace. In January to June of 2004, the city collected $9,691,617 in sales tax in Jan-Feb-March, and $9,240,938 in April May June, to just make its $38 Million budgeted sales tax figure for 03-04.

Best Holiday Quarter Jump in Sales Tax in 10 Years.

This year’s holiday season did $642,791 more in sales taxes than the summer first quarter (10,117,695), WPCNR’s early projections of a $45 Million sales tax take (with a 15.6% increase in the Christmas Quarter or more, fall by the wayside, unless the Albany coffers find major sales tax “windfalls” in the fourth quarter coming in with White Plains’ dibs on it.

The $642,791 jump from first quarter to second quarter, though it may be dissappointing, is the largest First Quarter to Second Quarter increase in 10 years. The previous largest increase quarter to quarter was $700,000 in 1995 when The Westchester opened.

What Might Have Been.

Doing the math, had the city simply sustained the 15.6% pace during the holiday season, retaining the First Quarter fast start, it would have generated an $11.5 Million Second Quarter and had approximately $21.5 Million and heading towards a $42 Million-plus Sales Tax total by June 30.

More to the point if the city had attracted more Holiday Shoppers with their new downtown retail mix, (Fortunoff, Barnes & Noble, Target, Circuit City, Filene’s Basement in place), you might have expected to see a 16-17 even 18% increase over the First Quarter. But that did not happen.

Sales were up 7.5% over the holiday season of last year. It is nice to dream what would have happened had White Plains been a holiday shopping destination.

Dreams for Christmas Future.

An 18% increase over last year’s holiday quarter (which beeped up $10,013,674 in sales tax revenues), would have generated $11.8 Million in sales this year, and the city would be breathing a sigh of relief. Instead we tacked up $10,760,486.

Reality is that the city only generated $642,791 more in the second quarter this year (with City Center and Fortunoff, Morton’s, The Cheesecake Factory, Legal Seafood, and Zanaro’s in place) over the first quarter. That works out to a 7.5% increase over last year, when there were, by my count, 4 less restaurants.

The rosy scenario WPCNR painted in October, a pipe dream of an 18% second quarter increase when we reported on the first quarter results, would have the city earning $21.8 Million and with sustained quarters of $10 Million plus each in the upcoming third and fourth quarters, the city would be pushing $44 Million in Sales (close to the heady $45 Million). That would give them a shot at a balanced budget even with the 4% Police and Fire pay hikes expected. It still could happen.

If the city equals last years numbers in the third and fourth quarters coming up, they will come in at $18.9 Million or $39.8 Million, a mere $1 Million in sales tax receipts over fiscal 03-04.

THE TOTALS AFTER 4-1/2 INNINGS: Last year’s Sales Tax Numbers appear in the left hand column for January,February, March 2004, and April-May-June, 2004, showing what the city brought in to narrowly tie up their projection at the very last moment in June 2004, to make their $38 Million project. The city is currently running $10.3- $10.4 Million a quarter (as noted in right hand column). Can White Plains wallets open up and sustain the first half sales tax flow to bring us into the promised land? Photo by WPCNR News.

On Target. No Margin for Error.

The good news is that the present city economy seems to be sustaining a $10.1 Million handle every quarter in the city. The $10 Million trend is up and growing. This generates a $20.2 Million second half, combined with the $20.8, first half would have the city hit $41 Million in sales tax revenue on the nose – the figure the city told Moody’s it expected to generate in fiscal 04-05.