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.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. September 25, 2003: Mayor Joseph  Delfino praised his Public Safety Department today for lowering the city crime rate 13.8% in one year, making the city safer, and reorganizing to meet future city threats and concerns, including terrorism.

The occasion was a news conference in which the Public Safety Department released its Annual Report on operations and took the opportunity to display equipment the police and fire departments are now using to police better and prevent and fight fires efficiently.

Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Frank Straub said the new department’s unified approach where police and fire bureaus work cooperatively and share a united “incident command” had significantly improved relations between the two bureaus and the department ability to handle incidents. Photo by WPCNR News

The Mayor detailed how he challenged Dr. Straub to address Speeding, Quality of Life violations, Unsafe Housing, Community Policing and Domestic Preparedness.

He noted that in the 2002-03 fiscal year, police resources were redeployed to increase patrols 26.4% resulting in arrests increasing 7.8%, with Quality of Life arrests increased 35.8%, reducing overall crime 13.8%. The Mayor noted the city had a low crime rate to begin the year, and to reduce it that much was “remarkable.”  A chart displayed reported that narcotics, gambling and prostitution arrests by the Vice Unit quadrupled over the past fiscal year.

NEW EQUIPMENT: White Plains Police Officer Pat Riley demonstrates a Heat Sensor which WPPD have used to capture burglary suspects hiding along the railway tracks recently. He said the device is also used by the Fire Bureau to locate persons in smoke-filled situations. Deputy Fire Chief Charles Reidy said the heat sensor device was used most recently in the Bet Am Shalom fire to locate quickly the extent of the hidden fire, leading to the saving of the temple’s sanctuary. Photo by WPCNR News.

HEAT SENSOR PICKS UP BODY HEAT, shows image of human body on a screen for police or fire rescuers to locate persons hiding or trapped in an emergency situation. Photo by WPCNR News.

Domestic Preparedness.

Commissioner Straub reported that in the past year both police and fire personnel had been trained in responding to Chemical or Biological attacks, in addition to police receiving training in handling radiological threats in Nevada. He said the Fire Bureau had received hazardous materials training, with  the police department purchasing 36 bio-suits, one of which was on display, to enable police personnel to enter biologically infected areas.  

In the future he said there are plans to conduct joint exercises with the Naval War College, and to purchase a Fire Rescue & Police Emergency Services Truck capable of replenishing oxygen tanks on the scene as well other advantages.

BULLETPROOF VESTS capable of stopping automatic weapon fire, rifle bullets and stabbing attempts are now standard for the new WPPD 26-person Special Response Team. Detective Ed Fisher, center, and Police officer Riley are about to demonstrate the shield for Councilman Glen Hockley, left. Photo by WPCNR News

Safe Streets

Mayor Delfino told the media the Operation Safe Streets program began in April 2003 had issued 17,298 summons an increase of 31%. Of that total speeding summonses were up 35%, seatbelt summons up 75%, and cellphone summonses up 132%.

Fires Inspections up.

The city’s chief executive reported that the Fire Bureau had dramatically increased its inspections of city buildings and dwellings. He said on-site inspections were up 15.8%, follow-up inspections up 18.2%, and there were 10.3% more violations discovered. Building site plan reviews went up 29.3%, public education talks rose 13.5% and voluntary consultations sought by the community, businesses, homes, restaurants increased 800%.

NEW PERSONNEL DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM soon to be online in Fire Department: Deputy Fire Chief, Charles Reidy explained the new identification system for keeping track of fire fighters on the scene of a fire and where each unit and man is on a fire scene. The system, much like a baseball magnet lineup board, enables the on-the-scene commander to know where his units are assigned in a fire scene, and to account for any missing men and women immediately. The system may begin operating this week. The idea came from Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Charles Jennings, who came across the concept while doing a consulting assignment with the city of Seattle, Washington. Photo by WPCNR News

Mayor Delfino said that restaurants in the city, “all places of public assembly,” had cooperated 100% with the Fire Prevention Bureau program requiring a fire and safety evacuation plan.

The Mayor  cited over significant changes in the department which included appointment of a Community Affairs officer, a Middle School Resource Officer, and the establishment of a Safe Housing Task Force.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications (Edited) September 24, 2003: A recent rash of bank robberies in Westchester has prompted the county’s new Commissioner of Public Safety to propose a crime-fighting partnership with police and banks to help prevent robberies and protect the public and bank employees.

Commissioner Thomas Belfiore said part of that strategy is to make it harder to rob banks and easier to catch robbers.

“There has been an alarming increase in the number of bank robberies, and we believe that this strategy will help the banking community deter these crimes. We are also offering some suggestions on how bank employees can provide better and more timely information to help law enforcement with their investigations,’’ said Belfiore.

Belfiore wrote six banks suggesting a series of steps they can take to discourage attempted robberies and catch them faster.Belfiore recommended that banks develop a training program for employees as well as create policy on what actions should be taken in the event of a robbery. Banks contacted include CitiBank, JP Morgan Chase, M&T Bank, Bank of New York, Wachovia and HSBC.  The Department of Public Safety is in the process of setting up meetings with bank officials.

In the letter, Belfiore recommended that banks:

• Provide direct branch telephone numbers to local police and the department of public safety to speed communication in the event of a robbery.

• Train employees to trigger alarms and security cameras before suspects leave the bank and call 911 immediately to provide a detailed description of the robbers and the direction of flight. 

• Limit the amount of currency given. Whenever possible tellers should retain the demand note and minimize contamination of the evidence and crime scene. 

• Employ security guards, customer service representatives or greeters to address customers as they enter the bank. This practice has been found to deter robberies at some banking institutions.

• Establish a cross-institutional e-mail network so banks can communicate electronically about robberies and exchange suspect information.

• Check video surveillance systems to ensure proper camera alignment and change film regularly. Consider upgrading video quality. Review bank lighting to make sure it does not interfere with video recording. Make sure at least one camera is located at each entrance and install height markers at all doorways so police can get an estimate of perpetrators’ height.

• Place signs prominently indicating that customers will be photographed.

• Review floor plans to ensure employee views are unobstructed.

 “While the banks may be concerned about the loss of money, I am particularly concerned about protecting the bank employees and the customers,’’ said County Executive Andy Spano. “If we can help employees become more aware of steps they can take to prevent robberies, everyone will be a lot safer.’’  

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. September 24, 2003: The Common Council gave its blessing Wednesday morning to a 15-year Payment In Lieu of Taxes plan for former Councilman Bill Brown’s affordable senior housing project he plans to build on South Kensico Avenue. The extended PILOT, originally for ten years, was created to comply partially with the Federal Housing Administration request for a longer PILOT that endured for the length of the bond on the project (25 years). The new PILOT will be submitted to the F.H.A. to consider today.

Mr. Brown said the project needs F.H.A. approval of the city’s  15-year  “compromise” PILOT plan hammered out between Mr. Brown, his partner, and City Corporation Counsel Edward Dunphy and City Accessor Eydie McCarthy. Brown said if the F.H.A. approves the PILOT, he hopes to begin construction on the South Kensico project within the next three months. The letter detailing the PILOT was to go to the Federal Housing Administration this evening, according to Mr. Dunphy.

The meeting convened at approximately 8:10 A.M. Wednesday morning with Joseph Carlucci of the law firm of Cuddy, Feder, Worby explaining to the Council why the new PILOT was needed. He said the F.H.A. had requested a 25 year PILOT to finance the project, instead of the 10-year PILOT originally drawn up for the project with the city.

Carlucci  said the city was willing to make a compromise of a 15-year PILOT under several conditions.

In the first two years of the PILOT, he said, the city agreed to a payment reflecting the site on South Kensico as “vacant land,” but the city required a larger payment in the third year of the project, 2006 when the project would be leasing up. Details of the PILOT agreement are not being made available to the media until after the Federal Housing Adminstration has ruled upon it.

Previously, the City Accessor was requesting PILOT payments of over $4,000 a month, and after discussion last month this was eased to a payment Mr. Brown’s organization can live with, which has been hammered out according to Mr. Brown. Asked why he felt it had been such a struggle, Brown said he felt it was more a matter of the city attempting to appear to be “fair” in setting PILOT agreements to other property owners.

Another condition of the 15-year PILOT is that the project has to be totally affordable housing for the life of the bond and even when sold. Mr. Carlucci advised the Common Council that all apartments would only be made available to families or persons earning less than  60% of median income. Brown said in the year the project has been going through approvals, median income in Westchester County has gone from $89,000 a year to $93,000 a year.

Taking 60% of $93,000, this gives you a figure of $55,800, as the income ceiling. Brown said the PILOT was figured on $91,000 as median income, giving the top income earned by a person renting one of  these apartments could only reach $54,600 annually, a difference of  $1,200, or $100  a month.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. From Westchester County Democratic Committee. September 23, 2003: Hudson Valley Democrats from five counties met in convention last Thursday, September 18th in White Plains to select three candidates to run for seats on the State Supreme Court – 9th Judicial District in this November’s election. The three candidates are all women, and all sitting judges: Orange County Family Court Judge Debra Kiedaisch, Senior White Plains City Judge JoAnn Friia and Mount Vernon City Judge Colleen Duffy.

“The people of the Hudson Valley would be well-served by electing these outstanding judges”, noted Susan Spear, Putnam County Democratic Chair. The 9th Judicial District covers the five counties of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange and Rockland. No incumbent Supreme Court judges are running.

Judge Kiedaisch was elected in 1995 and was the first countywide Democratic judge elected in Orange County in over half a century. Judge Friia, who ran for the State Supreme Court in 2001, has a strong base in her native White Plains and across Westchester County, the largest County population base in the region. Judge Duffy has been elected as City Judge in Mt. Vernon, and previously held elected office as a City Councilwoman in that community of 70,000 in Westchester.

Democrats hailed the team as an historic first. “Democrats are proud to present qualified jurists who are women – who are worthy of election to the State Supreme Court” said Joseph Ruggiero, Dutchess County Democratic Chairman.

Delegates were elected to the judicial convention, chaired by Westchester County Democratic Chairman George Latimer, from the various Assembly Districts of the five-county region, and voted unanimously for the ticket. “This is a talented and able group of women”, cited Jonathan Jacobson, Orange County Democratic Chairman, “and they bring tremendous courtroom experience to this race. We’re confident they will be successful”.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. September 23, 2003: The White Plains Varsity Cross Country Boys and Girls teams swept a meet for the first time this fall season, with Tiger runners taking 5 of the first 11 places in the boys-girls varsity meets. The Varsity Boys were lead by their 1-2 punch of Mike Smayda and Jeff Bergman who finished first and second to set the pace. The Varsity girls’ win was paced by  eighth grader, “K.K.” Kaylin Gilmartin-Donohue, who won her fifth straight Varsity race, with Tamiko Young and Juliana Bailey placing fourth and fifth.

THE 1-2 PUNCH IN THE FLUSH OF VICTORY: Mike Smayda right, has just finished first in Tuesday’s Varsity Boys Cross Country meet, and his running mate, Jeff Bergman, left was right on his spikes to pace the Tiger Boys-Girls sweep. It was Smayda’s 4th win in 5 meets.  Photo by WPCNR Sports.

“K.K.” RIDES AGAIN: White Plains ethereal runner, Kaylin Gilmartin-Donohue crosses the finish line for her Fifth First in a row in Varsity Girls meets she has competed. Coach Fred Singleton, upper left looks down the Westchester Community College course.  Photo by WPCNR Sports

KEEPING PACE STRIDE FOR STRIDE: Tamiko Young, right, and Juliana Bailey took 4th and 5th place in the top 11 placers in both meets, clinching the Tiger X-ers first double sweep of the season of a boys-girls varsity meet. Tamiko finished fourth and Juliana fifth, with “K.K.” Gilmartin-Donohue taking first to clinch the Girls Varsity event, the varsity girls first win of the year. Photo by WPCNR Sports