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 REALTY REALITY. From the Hudson Gateway Realtors Association. (Edited) January 4, 2021:

 Residential sales in 2021 in the counties served by OneKey MLS, Inc. reached a historic peak.

Sales slowed in the fourth quarter in all areas served by OneKey MLS except for Bronx County. Arguably, some of the slowdown can be attributed to the dearth of inventory in the counties north of NYC.

Westchester County, with the highest prices in the region, had the smallest percentage increase in median price for the year at 6.1% ($780,000 as compared to $735,000 in 2020) and actually experienced a slight decrease (-0.8%) in median price for the fourth quarter. This may be indicative of price increases beginning to moderate.

Condominium, multi-family (2-4 family), and in Westchester County, co-op sales as well, all outpaced the increases in single-family units and, in most instances, percent of median price increase.

In Westchester County, where co-op sales lagged in 2020, they increased 36.3% to 2,129 units (from 1,562 in 2020).

 Affordability is the most prevalent reason for these choices particularly in view of the price increases in single-family dwellings. For many suburban purchasers, condos and co-ops represent a means to build equity to purchase a single-family residence

The breakthrough in The Bronx  demonstrates return of buyers to the New York City market.

While the view of the market in terms of units sold and dollar volume is a positive one, it was a frustrating arena for many buyers who lost homes to higher bidders and for realtors dealing with client frustration and disappointment.

Indicators such as days on market were down significantly in all market areas. Homes were selling close to or at list price and above list price as a relatively common event.

Lack of inventory continues to be a problem with no meaningful resolution on the near horizon. With the Fed tightening monetary policy it is expected that mortgage rates will begin a steady rise in 2022.

However, despite these headwinds, the real estate market in the New York City and greater suburban area, including the lower Hudson River Valley, have shown remarkable resiliency in the last year and a half, and we expect a strong real estate market to continue into 2022.

With the exception of the second quarter of 2020, the real estate market has been an anomaly outperforming the economy. Sales and prices have enjoyed a trajectory which is likely unsustainable going forward, however the economy of the Hudson Valley continues to improve and grow more vibrant which bodes well for real estate. It is likely that price increases will moderate and additional product will come on the market which will sustain a strong market in the near term.

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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From the Gedney Farms Association Newsletter. January 4, 2021:

Subsequent to the recent FASNY sale to a residential home builder the Board decided, upon advice of our attorney, to withdraw our lawsuit since it is moot as it pertained to the FASNY project.  I would like to thank our former neighbor, Dan Seidel, who represented the Association before the Appellate Court.

Although the 10 year FASNY ordeal was at times quite contentious, I am pleased that our opposition to the FASNY plan was always professional, sticking to the facts and respectful of alternative views.  Our position has always been consistent: any development proposal for the former golf course property that would adversely impact the residential quality and character of our neighborhood would be strongly opposed.  The unity and diligence of Gedney Farms residents in conjunction with residents from other White Plains neighborhoods was essential in prevailing over very powerful forces.

As the new development plan emerges we will keep you informed and promise a vigorous review.

On behalf of the Board I wish you a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

John Sheehan

President

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Latimer said: “The first four years of our administration were all about fixing what was broken. We inherited a number of fiscal problems and first and foremost, we needed to get Westchester County back on solid financial ground. But more than that, we created a template that results matter to us. We did not accept that we couldn’t build a new family court in New Rochelle. We did not accept that the historic Elijah J. Miller House was going to collapse. We did not accept that Sprain Ridge Pool would not be open again for children and families to enjoy. We believe in results. We are doing everything we can to improve the lives of Westchester County’s residents, and that is exactly what we plan to do with the second term that is before us.”

Jenkins said: “We accomplished a lot during our first term in office, and we have a lot that we can feel proud of. We are finally starting to see real progress in every aspect across our County, on infrastructure projects, environmental upgrades and key social justice issues. I thank County Executive George Latimer for his leadership throughout the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, and know that we will take the four years we have ahead of us to achieve much more success.”

Latimer’s Oath was administered by New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Quiñones, 9th Judicial District, while Jenkins’s Oath was administered by Administrative Judge Anne Minihan, 9th Judicial District.

During his tenure as County Executive, Latimer has upheld an impressive record of achievements including three consecutive County property tax cuts and credit rating stabilization. He is also responsible for bringing several long-standing infrastructure projects to fruition, including updates to Playland Park and the North and South County Trailways. Latimer has broken ground on the restoration of Memorial Field in Mount Vernon, and unveiled the County’s 9/11 First Responders Memorial on the 20th Anniversary of the September 11 attacks, dedicated to the heroes who passed away from 9/11 related illnesses.

Chairwoman Catherine Borgia and Vice Chairwoman Nancy Barr

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. January 4, 2022:

The Board of Legislators began the 2022-2023 legislative term electing District 9 Leg. Catherine Borgia as Chair, and District 6 Leg. Nancy Barr as Vice Chair, during a special meeting Monday night.

Borgia is only the second woman to serve as Chair, following the late Hon. Lois Bronz, who chaired the Board 20 years ago, in 2002-2003. This is the first time in the Board’s history that women will simultaneously fill both the Chair and Vice Chair posts.

The election of Borgia (D – Cortlandt, Croton on Hudson, Ossining, Briarcliff Manor, Peekskill) and Barr (D – Harrison, Rye Brook, Port Chester) followed the swearing in of all 17 legislators. Those sworn in include new Legislators Erika Pierce (D- Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Somers) in District 2, Jewel Williams Johnson (D – Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, Elmsford, Greenburgh) in District 8, and James Nolan (R – Bronxville, Yonkers) in District 15.  District 13 Leg. Tyrae Woodson-Samuels (D – Mount Vernon) celebrated his first swearing in to a full term on the Board.  Leg. Christopher Johnson (D – Yonkers) will serve as Majority Leader. Leg. Jose Alvarado (D – Yonkers) will serve as Majority Whip. Leg. Margaret Cunzio (C – Mount Pleasant, Pleasantville, North Castle) will serve as Minority Leader. Leg. James Nolan will serve as Minority Whip.

Borgia becomes Chair after a long career in public service: working in the New York State Assembly as a staffer for several years, serving on the Village of Ossining Board of Trustees, and then serving two terms as Supervisor of the Town of Ossining before being elected to the Board of Legislators in 2012.

Borgia served as Chair of the Board’s Government Operations Committee in 2012-2013 and then as the Democratic Majority Leader for the 2014-2015 and 2016-2017 terms. She championed historic, life-changing legislation including the Immigrant Protection Act, Employee Earned Sick Leave, Safe Leave, the Fair Chance to Work Act, Co-op Disclosure, and the Wage History Discrimination Law.

She served as the Board’s Budget and Appropriations Committee Chair for the 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 terms. During that time, she worked with the County Executive’s administration and her colleagues on the Board to pass budgets that cut the county’s property tax levy and rebuilt the county’s reserve funds while investing in the county’s infrastructure and providing much needed services for county residents, especially during a global pandemic.

Borgia said, “I am humbled by the support and confidence of my colleagues who elected me as Chair of the Board of Legislators. I look forward to working with the County Executive, our new leadership team, the entire legislature, and our partners in federal, state and local government, to lead Westchester through this pandemic and on to better days. We will continue to provide the resources needed to help every resident of Westchester thrive.” 

Nancy Barr comes to the office of Vice Chair having served on the Blind Brook School Board for six years, including as President and Vice President. Barr was first elected to the Board of Legislators for the 2018-2019 term.

Since joining the Board, Barr has worked diligently on environmental issues, including passage of a ban on expanded polystyrene food containers and advocating for the expansion of the county’s compostable waste program. She has worked to protect county residents by introducing and passing the Wage Theft Law and championing the creation of the county’s Advisory Board on People with Disabilities. She was instrumental in raising the age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21 years old.

Barr has served as Chair of the Law and Major Contracts and Environment and Health Committees, and represents the legislature on the Airport Advisory Board, Soil and Water Conservation Board, and the Farmland Agriculture Board.

Barr said, “I am honored to have been selected by my colleagues to serve as Vice Chair of the Board for the 2022-2023 term. We are fortunate to have a Board comprised of many intelligent and dedicated individuals and I am looking forward to working with all of them to improve people’s lives in Westchester County. I am especially excited to serve with Chairwoman Borgia, as she has been an exemplary role model for me over the last four years. I believe that together we will be strong advocates for a safer, stronger and more sustainable Westchester.”

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