HILLARY CLINTON CAMPAIGNS IN WHITE PLAINS

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Hillary Clinton leaving this morning’s fundraiser in White Plains. The news media was denied admittance to the event, and reporters and photographers were kept far back from Mrs. Clinton’s arrival/departure location at 1133 Westchester Avenue. Details to follow later today. Photo exclusively
for WPCNR by Peter Katz.

 

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2016. Special to WPCNR by Peter Katz. January 28, 2016:

Hillary Clinton emphasized the differences between herself and her chief rival for the Democrat Party’s Presidential nomination, Senator Bernie Sanders, during a fund raising event in White Plains on Thursday morning.

She said that his plan for free college for anyone who wants it is not realistic, and he doesn’t explain how it will be paid for. Mrs. Clinton also criticized his plan to scrap Obamacare and move everyone onto Medicare, suggesting that Sanders put forward the idea without thinking it through and understanding the financial implications of such a move.

She noted that she was very familiar with the complications involved in attempting to restructure healthcare in the U.S., having led an effort for healthcare reform while she was First Lady. Mrs. Clinton thanked those in attendance for their support, both monetary and philosophical.

She explained that her recent campaigning in Iowa has given her the opportunity for an even deeper understanding of the needs of the American people, especially the middle class which has lost ground while the extremely wealthy continue to expand their holdings.

The former First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State addressed an enthusiastic gathering of about 500 who had paid from $250 to $2,700 per ticket for breakfast and the chance to hear her speak, and perhaps shake her hand and pose with her for a photo.

The event was staged by the group Westchester for Hillary in an office building owned by the development company RPW Group at 1133 Westchester Avenue. The building’s atrium was transformed into a venue complete with dining tables and a stage.

Reporters and photographers were not allowed inside to cover Mrs. Clinton’s speech. However, one of the attendees initiated a live video feed of her speech using a cell phone application, allowing the few journalists who were aware of the feed to monitor what she was telling the gathering.  In addition, an elected official who was attending the event subsequently shared with the news media a photo he had taken inside.

The event was scheduled to take place from 8:30 am to 10:30 am. Mrs. Clinton’s motorcade of three vehicles arrived at about 8:50 am. Instead of being directed to the circular driveway in front of the main entrance, Mrs. Clinton was taken to a rear entrance, out of sight of the television cameras which were waiting in the front.  She stayed longer than expected, not leaving until shortly before 11 am.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey introduced Mrs. Clinton. Among the other Democratic officeholders who attended were County Board of Legislators Chairman Mike Kaplowitz, Assemblyman David Buchwald, New Rochelle Mayor Noam Branson,  White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach, and State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

 

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White Plains Announces Schedule of Public Meetings for Citizens to Give Their Ideas on How Transit Center Should be Adopted.

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WPCNR TRANSITCENTER TRANSFORMATION Times. From the Mayor’s Office. January 27, 2016:

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DO you live around or have strong feelings on how the area around the White Plains Train Station should be developed? Then you should attend the meetings noticed below on the City of White Plains website inviting public comment on how the Transit Center should change.
The city wrote:
Public Engagement Meetings

The City of White Plains is committed to working with residents, transit users, businesses, and community groups throughout the planning process of the Downtown White Plains Transit District Study.
Three public engagement meetings will be held where the public can learn more about the study and provide feedback:
Meeting
 Date
 Time
 Location
 Snow Date
Meeting #1
Thursday, February 11, 2016
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
White Plains Public Library
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Meeting #2
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
White Plains Public Library
Meeting #3
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
TBD
Public Engagement Meetings #1 and #2 will be held at the White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Avenue, 2nd Floor, White Plains, NY 10601. The library has an underground public parking garage and is also located near many public transportation options. The library is also fully accessible.

Public Engagement Meeting #3 location TBD.

This page will be updated periodically to provide electronic materials from the Public Engagement Meetings.

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Not All in Gedney Farms Oppose FASNY Project, Writer Says

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WPCNR LETTER TICKER. JANUARY  25, 2016:

To the Editor
As a White Plains resident of Gedney Farms, I have naturally been following your reporting on the French-American School and, more importantly, the potential for a White Plains city nature park, which will be a key feature of more than half of the land FASNY has purchased. I believe there are a few issues that deserve clarification.
I often read that the plan has been opposed by residents led by the Gedney Association, which is true but could inaccurately lead readers to believe that most Gedney Farms residents oppose the plan. In fact, there is a very small vocal minority that has been unwilling to reconsider its early opposition to the original proposal, even though the current FASNY plan addresses all of their early objections.
The current plan dramatically reduces the original traffic concerns, and in fact, will create far less traffic in and around Gedney Farms than 85 new homes on the site, which is the only realistic alternative to FASNY. Further, this small group of residents has been claiming that the school will lower the City’s tax base, which is misleading, and lower nearby property values, which is patently untrue. Any taxes levied on new homeowners will be spent to provide them with City services. There will be no net-gain for the City. Furthermore, it is likely that the influx of new public school students will necessitate City funding (and possible Citywide tax increases) for new school construction and additional teachers. The argument against FASNY because the school will not pay taxes is simply unfounded.  Quite the opposite, FASNY’s gift of a public nature park at no cost to city taxpayers is unprecedented.
With respect to property values, 85 new homes will create additional supply, which will naturally lower the value of surrounding property. In other cities, homes abutting parks, nature preserves or private schools tend to be valued higher. I cannot imagine why White Plains would be an exception. The school’s plan, including the nature park, will increase — not decrease — nearby property values.
Concerns about student safety are also unfounded. While one could point to some of the very earliest FASNY plans as warranting discussion about student safety, the current plan opens several car-free paths to students who wish to walk or bike to the High School from Gedney Farms and neighborhoods to the south and west. FASNY’s plan makes it far safer than walking on Ridgeway or Bryant — today’s only choices. The housing alternative cannot possibly be argued as safer: walking through a new housing development where 85 households will be funneling out in their cars at exactly the same time students will be sharing the road on foot.
My family and I live in Gedney Farms, and we stand with the majority of our neighbors — and the vast majority of residents across all of White Plains — strongly in favor of the FASNY plan. The benefits of an esteemed educational institution, particularly when coupled with the facilities and nature park it is offering at no cost to the City, is the clear best choice for White Plains. The Common Council’s duty is to vote for plans that are in the best interests of the majority of White Plains residents. Anything but a unanimous “yes” vote for FASNY would be unconscionable.
Respectfully yours,
David Kohl
21 Dupont Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
+1 914-686-0406
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14 Inches and Slightly Higher Drifts. Roads in WP Conditions Unknown.

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Snowy Morning: The Official WPCNR SNOWOMETER (a yardstick) calculates 13 to 14 inches of snow fell at WPCNR HQ.2016124snowy 033

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Sun has melted light snow covering on the roads in the WPCNR Falling Zone. There is no information on the city website on the conditions of White Plains roads and there has not been any updates on the city website throughout the storm event. And this reporter received no phone updates.The assumption is that the Department of Public Works under new Commissioner Richard Hope has carried on the tradition of keeping White Plains functioning within hours of a snowfall’s end.

 

 

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PAUL FEINER, GREENBURGH SUPERVISOR: HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS DUMPING BIG PILES OF SNOW IN FRONT OF HOMES! WHY?

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. BY GREENBURGH TOWN SUPERVISOR PAUL FEINER. JANUARY 24, 2016:
(EDITOR’S NOTE: THE ONLY PUBLIC OFFICIALS THIS MEDIA RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM IN YESTERDAY’S SNOW EVENT WAS GREENBURGH’S PAUL FEINER AND THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. NOW MR. FEINER NOTES ONE OF THE BIG HABITS THAT ALL HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS SEEM TO HAVE. NOW THE FEINER REPORT:)
EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY HAS THE SAME COMPLAINT AFTER A SNOW STORM –HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS DUMPING BIG PILES OF SNOW IN FRONT OF HOMES

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

Every elected official and Public Works Commissioner in the United States receives the same complaint after a snow storm. Big piles of snow right in front of driveways just after the driveway was cleared. It’s frustrating. Aggravating. I went on google last night trying to find another approach and was unsuccessful. Over the years I have spoken with numerous public works commissioners and officials from around the region and no one has come up with another way of clearing the roads.

Here are a few story links and a story that appeared on CBS Philadelphia.
PAUL FEINER

http://wivb.com/2015/02/28/shoveling-tip-to-stop-snow-from-blocking-driveway/

 

By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – So, when that next snowfall hits the region in the coming weeks, how can you prevent that municipal snow plow from ruining the work you just did clearing out your driveway access to the street?

There’s probably nothing more frustrating than shoveling out the driveway and clearing a nice apron area to the street to pull out… And then, along comes the snow plow and pushes a big pile of snow right back in front of the driveway.

“A lot of people don’t realize it that the snow plows we use are just the big dump trucks,” says Don Cannon, Lower Merion Township’s director of public works. “They’re not like the plows in the parking lot where they can articulate the plow back and forth and move the snow one way or the other. What we say is that snow is loaded on the front of that plow and it just continually comes off — driver’s side to passenger’s side — or left to right towards the gutter line.”

But Cannon says there is a way to avoid having the municipal plow block your driveway.

“If you shovel out a space — looking at your house to the right side of your driveway — that would allow for the amount of snow that’s on that plow to be, say, discharged in that area before it goes past your driveway that’s that much less snow that goes in front of your driveway when the plow comes down.”

Cannon insists many plow drivers are sensitive to the work suburban residents do to dig out.

Why do they plow snow in front of my driveway? Bay Village, Ohio

Snow plow operators do not place snow in driveways on purpose. There is no practical way for the snow plow operator to cut off the windrow of snow when crossing a driveway. This problem is especially acute in cul-de-sacs because of the space. One thing you can do to reduce the amount of snow that is plowed in front of your driveway is to place as much of the snow as possible to the right side of your drive as you face the street.

——————————————————————————–

TopQ: Why did the City block my driveway or bury my sidewalk when they plowed my street?

City of Lafayette – Frequently Asked Questions
Problems may arise for residents when snow piles up on sidewalks and driveways are blocked because of snowplow activities. We try very hard to plow so as not to block driveways, but this is not always possible. The most efficient method to plow snow is to push it to the side of the road. Plowing to the center of the road would leave your driveway open, but it would not provide enough room for fire trucks and other emergency vehicles to operate.

Wicomico County Department of Public Works, Roads Division

1. Why do the plows block my driveway with snow?

The primary goal of plowing is to remove snow from streets so that the road is open to vehicular traffic. Plowing pushes snow to the side from the middle of the street naturally, and, unfortunately, this results in snow piling up in front of driveways. Snowplows typically push snow to the right of the travel lane and the driver has no control over this. Also, the driver cannot stop or raise the plow at each driveway as this would leave a pile of snow in the roadway. Residents are advised to wait until the plow has been through their road prior to cleaning their driveway and mailbox area. If drifting or more snow occurs the plows may have to make multiple passes on a road at a later time to keep the road clear. If possible, plow drivers will try to prevent excessive blockages at driveways but at times this is not possible. Please remember that the clearing of driveway and mailbox areas is the responsibility of the resident.

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http://northiowatoday.com/2013/03/20/listening-post-city-plows-snow-into-womans-driveway-city-refuses-to-help/

 

 

By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – So, when that next snowfall hits the region in the coming weeks, how can you prevent that municipal snow plow from ruining the work you just did clearing out your driveway access to the street?

There’s probably nothing more frustrating than shoveling out the driveway and clearing a nice apron area to the street to pull out… And then, along comes the snow plow and pushes a big pile of snow right back in front of the driveway.

“A lot of people don’t realize it that the snow plows we use are just the big dump trucks,” says Don Cannon, Lower Merion Township’s director of public works. “They’re not like the plows in the parking lot where they can articulate the plow back and forth and move the snow one way or the other. What we say is that snow is loaded on the front of that plow and it just continually comes off — driver’s side to passenger’s side — or left to right towards the gutter line.”

But Cannon says there is a way to avoid having the municipal plow block your driveway.

“If you shovel out a space — looking at your house to the right side of your driveway — that would allow for the amount of snow that’s on that plow to be, say, discharged in that area before it goes past your driveway that’s that much less snow that goes in front of your driveway when the plow comes down.”

Cannon insists many plow drivers are sensitive to the work suburban residents do to dig out.

Why do they plow snow in front of my driveway? Bay Village, Ohio

Snow plow operators do not place snow in driveways on purpose. There is no practical way for the snow plow operator to cut off the windrow of snow when crossing a driveway. This problem is especially acute in cul-de-sacs because of the space. One thing you can do to reduce the amount of snow that is plowed in front of your driveway is to place as much of the snow as possible to the right side of your drive as you face the street.

http://northiowatoday.com/2013/03/20/listening-post-city-plows-snow-into-womans-driveway-city-refuses-to-help
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COUNTY BUSES RUNNING, AIRPORT OPEN

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. FROM WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS. JANUARY 24, 2016:

AS OF THIS MORNING, WESTCHESTER COUNTY REPORTS:

Bee-Line buses and Paratransit vehicles are running on or close to schedule.

Route 8 is operating on the standard snow detour.

Route 25 detoured in both directions. Eastbound – from Kimball Ave – remain on Kimball Ave, left turn on McLean Ave to regular route. Westbound – from McLean Ave – remain on McLean Ave, right turn on Kimball Ave to regular route.

The Westchester County Airport is open and operating normally.  Passengers should check with their carrier for more specific flight information.

Further information can be obtained by clicking on our web page at

www.westchestergov.com/beelinebus.

 

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SNOW AT MIDNIGHT: 14 INCHES–VERY LIGHT SNOW CONTINUING

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SNOWY EVENING: WHITE PLAINS NY USA AT MIDNIGHT. In the WPCNR “SNOW ZONE THE WPCNR METEROROLIST USING A YARDSTICK MEASURED 13 TO 14 INCHES OF SNOW ON FLAT GROUND WITH NO TREE OVERHAND. DRIFTS MAY BE HIGHER. AS OF 4:30 PM THIS AFTERNOON, SNOWFALL WAS APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES. AT MIDNIGHT SNOW HAD TAPERED OFF TO VERY SMALL LIGHTLY DRIFTING FLAKES. IT’S A 2-SHOVELINGS SNOWFALL.

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READ THE COMPLETE TEXT OF FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL CASE RULING ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK WEBSITE

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. JANUARY 23, 2016:

The popular White Plains Week website has posted as of 1 P.M. SATURDAY the complete text of the Judge Joan Lefkowitz Preliminary Decision and Order on the French American School of New York bid to overturn the Common Council decision of August 5, 20015. The decision was issued Wednesday.

Go to www.whiteplainsweek.com and CLICK ON THE LINK:

LINK TO FILE OF JUDGE’S DECISION ON FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL CASE

By reading the complete Preliminary decision you can judge for yourself what the Judge wrote to explain her decision calling for a vote of the Common Council on February 1 on the French American School of New York site plan and special permit.

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COUNTY SUSPENDS BUS SERVICE AS OF 11 A.M. MOTORISTS BANNED FROM ROADS

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WPCNR WEATHER AND TRAFFIC. FROM WESTCHESTER COUNTY. JANUARY 23, 2016:

BEE-LINE BUS SYSTEM TO SUSPEND SERVICE TODAY AT 11 A.M.

Due to deteriorating weather conditions, the Bee-Line Bus System will suspend service on all its routes at 11 a.m. today (Saturday) until further notice.

Buses currently on the roads will finish all of their routes and then return to their garages.

“It’s always safety first and the weather conditions have just made it impossible to keep our buses on the roads,” said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “We will monitor the situation throughout the storm, but the busses will remain off the roads until conditions allow for their safe return.”

With the exception of emergency vehicles, all motorists are urged to stay off the roads.

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