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 CAMPAIGN 2019. Statement from Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona. January 29, 2019 (Edited):

From White Plains Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona
January 28, 2019

Dear White Plains Democratic voters and dear Democratic District Leaders,

As you know, elections for local officials are almost here and the Parties’ City Committees are now going through the endorsement process, this time for three seats on the White Plains Common Council, among others.

One of those seats I have been proudly holding, with passion and with great dedication for more than 11 years.

The purpose of this letter is to officially announce that I am not seeking the endorsement of the White Plains Democratic City Committee for Common Council or pursuing re-election.

I strongly believe in term limits, partially because I believe that our democracy works best when more people are given the opportunity to hold power, rather than when power is held by a small number of people for a long time.

I am positive that there are other candidates who will fight for our City’s best interests and they are just waiting to be given the opportunity to do so.”

Dennis Krolian, who is also up for relection this year told WPCNR at the Common Council meeting Monday night he had also announced to the Democratic City Committee Nominating Committe, he would not seek reelection.

Krolian told WPCNR had served long enough on the Council and felt it was time to for him to depart. “I’m done,” he said.

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WPCNR INSIDE THE WORKSESSION. By John F. Bailey. January 28, 2019:

Mayor Tom Roach and the Common Council agreed to televise all Citizens to Be Heard segments at future monthly Common Council meetings.

The Mayor said there were no state laws requiring a vote to televise public comment periods, and since there was no mention of Citizens to Be Heard in the City Charter, the council could just do it. The Mayor issued a set of Guidelines that would be followed during the televised sessions which he said were very similar to the way the CTBH session is now.

The Mayor expanded on the bringing cameras into City Hall by announcing work sessions like this evening’s session would be moved into the large Common Council chamber and also televised with microphones for each of the Common Council members. He said the setup would be similar to the Planning Board set up. It was also suggested by several councilmen that the Zoning Board of Appeals also be televised.

WPCNR will publish the guidelines prior to next Monday’s first televised live Citizens To Be Heard

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WPCNR HEAT. By John F. Bailey. January 26, 2019: Mack Carter, Executive Director of the White Plains Housing Authority, has issued an exclusive statement to WPCNR on the News 12 television report aired Wednesday evening interviewing tenants of 86 Dekalb Avenue, White Plains, a Housing Authority Building. News 12 had reported residents as being without heat for 3 weeks. WPCNR asked Mr. Carter Thursday to clarify the situation at DeKalb.

Saturday afternoon, Mr. Carter issued the following letter to WPCNR. In it, Mr. Carter says the building has not been without heat at anytime since this heating season began. He says only one heat complaint has been filed and that was last Monday evening (when the temperature in White Plains was 4 degrees F. The complainant’s apartment rooms temperatures were 70 in the living room and 73 in the bedroom.

“We were not aware of any instance in which apartment temperatures dropped below code minimums,” Mr. Carter’s letter states.

Mr. Carter writes in the letter that the “two computerized boilers may have been under strain while trying to balance outside/inside temperatures.”

He reports “The management has been working this week with several HVAC and plumbing contractors in an effort to improve the performance of the two boilers.”

The City of White Plains Department of Building code requires that “Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormoitory or guestroom on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat during the period from September 15th to May 31st to maintain a temperature of not less than 68 degrees Farenheit in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms.

The County of Westchester Code requires heat as follows:

The season begins Oct. 1 and ends May 31. However, whenever temperatures fall below 55 degrees
Farenheit, the inside temperature should be 68 degrees between 6 A.M. and 10 P.M. If it’s not, then you should call your building superintendent.

NO RESIDENTS OF DEKALB WENT TO COUNTY FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING.

WPCNR asked Catherine Cioffi, Westchester County Director of Communications whether any 86 Dekalb residents had come to Westchester County for temporary shelter because of the alleged low temperatures at 86 Dekalb. Ms. Cioffi consulted Kevin McGuire Director of the county Department of Social Services, and he reported none. Here are Mr. McGuire’s answers to WPCNR questions;

I checked with my staff.  We have had no persons coming to us from this address for assistance.  Let me see if I can answer the questions below:

1. Does the County have a shelter where residents could go or capacity for all the residents?  Residents are free to come and apply for services at any office of the Offices of the Westchester County Department of Social Services.

2. Would the County shelter the heatless in hotels for the time being?  No.  Generally, relocation in such instances are usually handled by the landlord.  People may also be temporarily helped out by the American Red Cross.

3. Does the county have any information on heat restoration to 86 DeKalb?  No, that is a question best directed to the City of White Plains government. 

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ON WHITE PLAINS TODAY ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD, THE COUNTY’S MOST RELEVANT INTERVIEW PROGRAM,

THE MAYOR DISCUSSES PROGRESS OF THE CITY’S NEW DEVELOPMENTS, WHAT’S NEXT AT THE WHITE PLAINS RAILROAD STATION PARCELS, RED LIGHT CAMERA PLANS THIS YEAR, THE FASNY AFFECT ON FUTURE WHITE PLAINS APPEAL, THE NEW BUDGET DIRECTOR AND MORE.

EXCLUSIVE ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD.
ANYTIME AT

YOUTUBE

https://youtu.be/Rq5mhRODrdQ

the whiteplainsweek.com link is

http://www.whiteplainsweek.com/

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. January 23, 2019 updated 10 P.M. E.S.T.:

The Westchester County Executive, George Latimer, this afternoon published this statement on the Con Edison decision to put a moratorium on natural gas connections to new developments in certain areas in March. Here is his statement:

“Here in Westchester County we are committed to creating an environment that is nurturing to business and development.  We have learned of Con Edison’s temporary moratorium on gas service to new development, and we are concerned about this occurrence. 

“However, before we draw conclusions we must learn more about the situation.  We have requested a meeting with Con Edison officials and hope to bring to the table local, state and federal officials to discuss this matter.  We need to understand what led to this moratorium, how the calculation for gas is made, how many customers exist in each municipality, which slated projects are in jeopardy, which are not, the duration of the moratorium, how that calculation was determined, an overview of the regulatory process, and Con Edison’s plan for developing and implementing alternative energy sources.

“We have many questions, and are expecting Con Edison will be able to shed light on this very serious prediction. We will keep the public abreast of any developments and the outcome of the meeting.”

WPCNR asked the Department of Communications if the meeting with Con Edison would be open to the press and I was advised, “No, it will not.”