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 COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From The Westchester County Department of Communications. February 8, 2018:

Westchester County Executive George Latimer will deliver the 2018 State of the County Address in the Legislative Chambers of the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

This address, which is mandated by the Westchester County Charter, has not taken place in the Board of Legislators’ Chambers since 2011. Prior to 2012, the speech was customarily held in the Chambers, and has been delivered to a meeting of the County’s 17 Legislators.

“The Board of Legislators plays a vital role in the machine that is Westchester County Government,” said Latimer. “We are co-equal branches of government that are here on behalf of the residents of this great County. It is about time the Executive Branch acts this way, and out of respect to the Board’s important role I am looking forward to delivering this address to all Westchester residents at the Board’s place of business. We are in this together, and this is a small token to show respect.”

Chairman of the Board of Legislators Ben Boykin said: “I am pleased that County Executive Latimer is returning this important function to its rightful place.  The Board of Legislators, as a co-equal branch of government, is working in tandem with the Latimer Administration to move Westchester forward and this is another visible opportunity that demonstrates the re-focusing of our efforts.”

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WPCNR REALTY GO ROUND. From Houlihan-Lawrence. February 8, 2018:

The story for the 4th quarter remains relatively the same as the last quarter.

The stock market and economy continued to gain steam and both ended the year with record highs.

While consumer confidence was also at an all-time high, confidence in our local real estate market is showing signs of softening.

For the 4th consecutive quarter this year, active listing inventory continued its descent across our market area, a trend that isn’t showing signs of improvement in the near future.

Homes for sale in Westchester were down 8.4%, Dutchess was down 10% at the end of the quarter.

The average sale price in Westchester was up 5.1% to $794,660, Dutchess was up 2.2% to $303,150.

In Putnam, where the decline in inventory was the greatest at 10.8%, prices were up 1.7% to $368,422.

The steady increase in pricing due to the lack of supply is resulting in wavering demand.

Pending sales in Westchester were down 4.2% overall, and down 4.5% at the most affordable levels, homes priced below one million.

While pending sales overall in Putnam and Dutchess were slightly up by 2.7%, pending sales at entry level price points were down 21% in Putnam and 14% in Dutchess.

With higher prices and less choice, entry level buyers have taken up a wait and see posture.

Here are some trends Houlihan Lawrence  is seeing as we head into the new year.

While we could initially attribute the reduced activity in the beginning of the year to the polar temperatures, activity levels have only slightly warmed up.

Showings in our area are down 32%.

Showings of homes listed under one million dollars are down even further at 36.8%.

Homeowners interested in selling need to understand that pricing is key.

Homes priced competitively, without experiencing a price reduction, sell on average in 50 days at 99.9% of their original asking price.

Conversely, homes priced too high, that get reduced, sell on average in 361 days for 82% of their asking price.

Homeowners need to be very competitive in their pricing in the current climate. In our luxury markets, demand is healthy, for now.

We are beginning to see inventory levels increasing at a rate that is creating an imbalance of more homes than can be absorbed by the current pool of buyers.

Sellers should recognize that luxury buyers are looking for homes they can move right into with little to no work needed.

An attractive home, not only in price, will help bring buyers in as the inventory in the luxury market inflates. The tax changes will undoubtedly have an effect on our markets, to what extent remains to be seen.

The reason people buy homes are rarely based solely on tax incentives. Where people buy, and how much they spend however are certainly going to be effected by the changes to the tax law.

For now, Houlihan Lawrence  isn’t seeing a major adjustment.

What we can expect is that the tax changes will likely put downward pressure on prices, and perhaps that will be the catalyst needed to jumpstart the market.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester  County Department of Communications. February 6, 2018:

Westchester County is facing the ever-escalating costs associated with combating the opioid epidemic.  In its continued efforts to confront this crisis, Westchester County filed a complaint seeking to recover damages for use of public resources to fight the opioid epidemic in Westchester Supreme Court on February 6, 2018. The amount being sought is still being determined, the attorney representing the county said.

The complete news conference may be viewed on this YouTube Link. Click on the “Opiod” Video:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC774tkGUZw8xoZtHhuQUsQ

The complaint filed against  more than 30 defendants, alleges that the manufacturers, distributors and other entities intentionally misled the public about the dangers of opioids.

The Companies Named in the complaint filed today:PURDUE PHARMA L.P.; PURDUE PHARMA

INC.; THE PURDUE FREDERICK COMPANY,
INC.; TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA, INC.;
CEPHALON, INC.; JOHNSON & JOHNSON;
JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; ORTHOMCNEIL-
JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
N/K/A JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.;
JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICA, INC. N/K/A
JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; ENDO
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; ALLERGAN PLC
F/K/A ACTAVIS PLC; ACTAVIS, INC. F/K/A
WATSON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.;
WATSON LABORATORIES, INC.; ACTAVIS
LLC; ACTAVIS PHARMA, INC. F/K/A WATSON
PHARMA, INC., ENDO HEALTH SOLUTIONS
INC.; INSYS THERAPEUTICS, INC.;
MCKESSON CORPORATION; CARDINAL
HEALTH, INC.; AMERISOURCEBERGEN
CORPORATION; AMERICAN MEDICAL
DISTRIBUTORS, INC.; BELLCO DRUG CORP.;
BLENHEIM PHARMACAL, INC.; DARBY
GROUP COMPANIES, INC.; EVEREADY
WHOLESALE DRUGS LTD.; KINRAY, LLC; PSS
WORLD MEDICAL, INC.; ROCHESTER DRUG
COOPERATIVE, INC.; RUSSELL PORTENOY;
PERRY FINE; SCOTT FISHMAN; and LYNN
WEBSTER,
Defendants.
Index No.:
VERIFIED COMPLAINT
PLAINTIFF DEMANDS A TRIAL
BY JURY
– –

The complaint outlines the history of how these defendants downplayed the risks associated with opioids such as OxyContin, Fentanyl and Percocet while aggressively marketing them.

This negligent behavior has led to a significant increase in County budgets for law enforcement, emergency care, first responder overtime, Narcan training and prevention and treatment programs.  There will be no cost to the Westchester County taxpayers with this filing.

County Executive George Latimer said: “Too many lives have been lost to opioids.  Too many parents in this County have watched their children suffer and die from these drugs.  It is time that we take a stand and hold the pharmaceutical companies responsible.

These companies clearly knew the risks associated with use of these products; they needed to build in protections for how they would be used and give proper attention to the likely abuse of their products. They ignored these concerns when promoting these drugs.

They are drugs and they are dangerous – and the public must be protected. Further, the costs of this opioid epidemic have been borne by the taxpayers, in additional education, enforcement, and Medicaid costs. These costs must be borne instead by those who profited from the sales of these drugs”

In 2017, approximately 64,000 people died from a drug overdose in the United States – the largest annual increase of drug-related deaths ever recorded in US history.  Overdoses are now the leading cause of death for Americans under 50.

Westchester experienced 124 Opioid overdose deaths  (more than have died in traffic accidents), (includes heroin and prescription drugs) in 2016, according to the New York State Department of Health.

Westchester County Attorney John Nonna said:

“Westchester County, like many local governments, has expended resources and suffered financial loss addressing the opioid crisis affecting our entire community. We believe that the manufacturers, marketers and promoters of these drugs have misled us as to the addictive power of these drugs in their negligent marketing and misleading promotion of them. They should, and will be, held accountable for this conduct.”

Paul J. Napoli of Napoli Shkolnik, the firm the County has partnered with in this endeavor said: “We are committed to working with the County in their fight against the makers of these dangerous and addictive painkillers.”

County Police Chief Inspector John Hodges, who is the Commanding Officer of the Detective Division, said:  “From our efforts here in Westchester, to our work with federal partners, the Department of Public Safety is working tirelessly to identify and arrest those responsible for the distribution and sale of illegal opioids in our communities. Law enforcement, however, is only one piece of the puzzle. We will not arrest our way out of this problem, which has impacted families from every community, demographic and walk of life in Westchester.”

The Harris Project Founder and President Stephanie Marquesano, who lost her son Harris to opioids, joined Latimer for the announcement of the lawsuit: “My 19 year-old son Harris died by an accidental opioid overdose in 2013. This propelled me to become an advocate for prevention programming and integrated treatment to meet the needs of those with co-occurring disorders. I work closely with the County to support those facing the challenges of opioid addiction, and see first-hand the catastrophic impact on individuals and loved ones. This is a critical step in turning the tide on this epidemic, and creating long-term solutions.”

Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health Commissioner Michael Orth said: “The County Department of Community Mental Health has experienced the devastating impact of opioid addiction in our County.  This includes a significant increase in the need for crisis, inpatient and outpatient treatment as well as daily calls from family members desperate to keep their loved ones alive.   The pharma industry needs to be held accountable for the unnecessary costs incurred as a result of prescription opioid misuse and abuse, including healthcare costs such as treatment services and crisis care.”

County Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, M.D. said: “Westchester and the Nation are in the throes of a new public health crisis, the opioid epidemic, which last year killed more of our people than motor vehicle accidents. Prescription painkillers have actually overtaken heroin as the most common cause of opioid overdose deaths and every measure must be taken to stop this dangerous trend.”

The County is represented by the firm of Napoli Shkolnik PLLC in coordination with the Westchester County Attorney’s Office.

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WPCNR ROADTRIP. By John F. Bailey. February 4, 2018:

On a very cold day yesterday in Peekskill, New York USA, I dropped in to the Church of the Assumption, a cavernous landmark that was completed in 1909, my son and I often go in there because of the art and presence of peace and the 109 years of its history.

I was awed by the amazing new renovation the Church has just completed. Started 3 weeks ago, they have made the old lady of compassion welcoming, warm and classic, enhancing its classic look with new interior makeover, so seamless that it is charming every one I spoke with who were coming in on their own to see the quiet inspiration of brightness and spiritual respect. The new look speaks for itself.

This the new nave today  with new painting and  ceiling over the altar,  stone interior walls hgihlighting alcoves desplay stautarty and highlights it striking stone 12 bas relief stations of the cross. the refreshing pastel transformation of the walls focuses the natural sunlight streaming through splendid stained glass windows The whole “look” welcomes you in with a warmth that cannot be described only felt.

Compare today’s nave with how the old nave looked three years ago in 2015

Here are some other angles of this wonderful achievement showcasing with respect the tradition of the  cathedral’s past:

The Facade of The Church of the Assumption

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