DiNapoli: Tax Cap Will be 3/4 of a percent in 2016 school and city budget planning

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Office of Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller. July 21, 2015:

Property tax growth for local governments will be capped at less than one percent for the 2016 fiscal year, according to a report issued today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The report noted the allowable tax levy growth factor will be 0.73 percent for entities that operate on a calendar-based fiscal year – which includes all counties, towns, fire districts, 44 cities and 10 villages.

“Local government officials need to brace for the lowest growth in their property tax revenue in the tax cap era,” said DiNapoli. “Municipalities may have to operate differently under these new limits. Even tougher budget choices may be required on staffing levels, delivery of services, fund balance reductions, and deferral of capital and infrastructure projects. And if inflation trends continue, it is possible that some local governments with fiscal years beginning later in 2016, including school districts, could be faced with zero growth in property tax revenue.”

The tax cap, which first applied to local governments beginning in 2012, limits tax levy increases to the lesser of the rate of inflation or 2 percent with some exceptions, including a provision that allows municipalities to override the cap.

DiNapoli estimates that next year more than 1,800 calendar-year local governments will have roughly $88.3 million less in tax levy growth compared to what they had in 2015 when the factor was 1.56 percent and $135.1 million less than they would have had when the factor was at 2 percent as in 2012 and 2013.

The Comptroller also projected that the potential impact of levy restrictions for school districts (which have fiscal years beginning July 1) could range from a loss of $182.7 million, assuming a factor of 0.73 percent, to a loss of $332.6 million, assuming a factor of zero. These ranges are in comparison to the 2015-16 tax levy cap of 1.62 percent.

Read the report, or visit: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/pubs/research/snapshot/taxcaptightens0715.pdf

For access to state and local government spending, public authority financial data and information on 50,000 state contracts, visit Open Book New York. The easy-to-use website was created by DiNapoli to promote openness in government and provide taxpayers with better access to the financial workings of government.

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HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND TREAT HEAT STOKE–AS TEMPERATURE PUSHES 92 IN THE SHADE.

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WPCNR HEAT WAVE. From Caren Halbfinger, Westchester County Department of Health. July 20, 2015:

With hot and humid weather forecast through tomorrow, the Westchester County Health Department is issuing a heat advisory. As temperatures rise, residents are advised to avoid strenuous activity, drink plenty of non-alcoholic, uncaffeinated beverages, and take precautions to prevent heat-related illness.

Heat stroke is a serious and life-threatening condition that claims many lives nationwide each year. Symptoms include hot, red, dry skin; shallow breathing; a rapid, weak pulse; and confusion. Anyone suffering from heat stroke needs to receive emergency medical treatment immediately. Call 911 if you suspect heat stroke and immediately cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency help to arrive.

“Heat stroke and dehydration can take you by surprise,” said Sherlita Amler, MD, Westchester County commissioner of health. “The elderly, young children and those with high blood pressure, heart disease, or lung conditions need to be especially careful to avoid heat-related illnesses. High humidity and some medications can also increase a person’s risk for heat stroke.”

While less dangerous than heat stroke, heat exhaustion also poses concerns. Seniors, children up to age four, people who are overweight or who have high blood pressure and those who work in hot environments are most at risk. Signs include headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness and exhaustion, as well as cool, moist, pale or flushed skin. People suffering from heat exhaustion should be moved out of the sun and have cool, wet cloths applied to their skin.

Health Department recommendations to prevent heat-related illnesses:

  • Drink two to four glasses of water per hour during extreme heat, even if you aren’t thirsty.
  • Limit any strenuous activity and exercise, especially during the sun’s peak hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Take frequent breaks and drink lots of water if you work outside.
  • Exercise when it is cooler, during early morning hours or in the evening.
  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugary drinks. These cause you to lose more body fluid.
  • Stay indoors, ideally, in an air-conditioned place.  If your house or apartment isn’t air-conditioned, try spending a few hours at a shopping mall, public library, movie theater or supermarket.  A few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. For addresses and phone numbers of libraries and senior centers, go to http://health.westchestergov.com/stay-safe-in-the-sun.

 

  • Take a cool shower or bath and reduce or eliminate strenuous activities during the hottest time of day.
  • Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing to reflect heat and sunlight.
  • Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and by using a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
  • NEVER leave anyone – a person or animal – in a closed, parked vehicle.  Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can quickly exceed 140º F, which is life-threatening.
  • Neighbors should check on elderly neighbors to make sure they are safe.
  • Bring pets inside and be sure to provide them with plenty of water.

 

Elevated heat and humidity can also lead to unhealthy ozone levels. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forecasts daily ozone conditions on its website, http://www.dec.ny.gov, for the New York Metropolitan area, which includes Westchester County.  Air quality updates are also provided daily on the New York State Air Quality Hotline at 1-800-535-1345.

Ozone is a gas produced by the action of sunlight on organic air contaminants from automobile exhausts and other sources.  Significant exposure to ozone in the air has been linked with adverse health effects. These may include nose and throat irritation, respiratory symptoms, and decreases in lung function.

People who experience these symptoms should speak with a health care provider. Those who may be especially sensitive to the effects of ozone exposure include the very young, those who exercise outdoors or are involved in strenuous outdoor work, and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma. When ozone levels are elevated, the Westchester County Department of Health recommends limiting strenuous physical activity outdoors to reduce the risk of adverse effects.

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White Plains Sales Tax $$ End Year Down 2-1/2%. Since 2010 Sales Tax Increase, Tax $$ Have Been Flat.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey with data from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. UPDATED WITH CORRECTION. July 20, 2015: 

The City Sales Tax Receipts for  the month June were 21% less than last year, the Department of Taxation and Finance reported Thursday, leaving the city 2014-15 sales tax receipts $800,652 less than last year when the city collected $51,856,187. This year the city final sales tax receipts were $51,055,529.

Last June White Plains collected $5,385,000 in sales tax dollars, this year the city received $4,254150 in sales tax receipts, a decline of 21%.

The County Sales Tax receipts through the first half of the county budget year of 2015, were down 2.6%. Westchester County has collected $245.2 Million through June compared to last year’s mid-year total of $251.7 M, a differential of 2.6%. The County June 2015 sales tax dollars were down 8% reflecting the  White Plains performance.

4-COUNTY SALES TAX

The White Plains fiscal year does not leave the city with a deficit, but does raise questions as to how the city economic “recovery” is doing. Since the city last raised its sales tax in 2010 with approval of the state legislature, the city sales tax receipts have been flat the last 5 years.

They have risen one year above the 2011 total, while inflation over those 5 years has risen 12%. The city sales activity has not kept pace with inflation.

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NOTES ON “FLIPPING” AND SCOPING “THE COLLECTION” PROPOSAL ON WESTCHESTER AVE FROM DOWNTOWN READER

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7/17/15
John,
The DEIS Scoping document for “The Collection” now on the City web site is dated 4/23/15. Various entities and agencies had been requested to submit their comments by 6/22/15. I don’t know if this is now the official document, or if it will be updated.
Anyway:
Is “The Collection” project another one that will be “flipped” (sold after approvals are obtained) like the flip planned for The Pavilion project? There is another twice-flipped project on Amherst Place, between Main and Franklin. The site, for a condominium, extends back to Windsor Terrace, and is called 10 Windsor Terrace. The Cantatore family, I believe, assembled the land, got approvals, then flipped it to Pulte, who flipped it to Rome Partners, 46 Main St., Monsey, NY 10952.
That property may be in receivership. This is a large empty lot with weeds and garbage. I call the City over and over to have it cleaned out periodically. The owner of the property told my husband personally that he could not afford to build there and include the subsidized units required. See link, immediately below, to bankruptcy filing by Rome Partners. (See this link:)
Does the City not do due diligence, to see if builders can sustain the expenses of building?  Thinking back, both condominiums on Stewart Place (#10 and #15) initially, when new, went into bankruptcy.
THE COLLECTION
What about the new proposed huge, over-stuffed “Collection” project on Westchester Avenue, extending back to the already dense Franklin Avenue? Will that obtain approvals, then be flipped for profit? Franklin Avenue, a narrow street, now has parking only on one side. It has a dangerous curve at Amherst Place at the bottom of a hill. That dangerous curve is very near Eastview School.
These are a few of the issues the DEIS Scoping document on the City web site does not address and/or does not explain:
  •  The Collection project would include 14 separate tax lots, only 9 of which are under the control of the Applicant. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Pie in the sky?
  •  The Project location is noted to be roughly the north side of Westchester Avenue and the south side of Franklin between Paulding and Bloomingdale Road. Roughly? Is this how a project of this size is handled? Roughly?
  •  Where is the open space/plazas/plantings/benches for the planned large (261 units) residential component?
  •  Where is the dog park for the residential component? Will it be situated after the fact? Near neighboring building(s)?
  •  Where exactly will the safe/pleasant pedestrian walkway be for those walking from Westchester Avenue to Franklin Avenue and vice versa? Now, people have to walk on the active Stop&Shop driveway, where there is no sidewalk; and the button on a pole to request a WALK signal has long been removed.
  •  What about the Franklin-Windsor senior housing on Franklin? Will they have unmitigated construction to face for years?
  •  Where will snow storage be?
  •  Will the entire complex look like the Stop&Shop parking garage?
  •  Why is a large parking structure planned for the border of the Eastview School property? This would be the second parking structure bordering the school property.
  •  What about Rush Hour Traffic on Westchester Avenue? The entire “Collection” project will have 1,233 parking spaces.
  •  The DEIS notes that there will be a “fully signalized intersection” at Westchester Avenue opposite Paulding. Signalized for robots? Does that mean Pedestrians will have to have eyes in the back of the head when they cross the street, as they do now at the two Container Store corners?
  •  Where exactly will moving trucks park for the residential component?
  •  Where exactly will garbage trucks park for the complex? Where exactly will garbage staging areas be? How will they be cleaned, and the containers secured?
  •  How will Fire Dept. vehicles access the complex?
  • Do we really need more retail space in White Plains?
Thanks for asking for my input.
Best regards,
Renee Marks Cohen
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Keane Named Chair of the Board of Trustees of Archbishop Stepinac High School

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KevinKeane

White Plains, New York (July 14, 2015)  Archbishop Stepinac High School has named Kevin J. Keane of White Plains, Managing Partner of O’Connor Davies, LLP, and a distinguished alumnus (Class of ’74), Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Keane succeeds William F. Plunkett, Jr. (Class of ’58) who served as the Board’s first Chair since its creation five years ago.

Rev. Thomas Collins (Class of ’79), Stepinac President, said: “It is fitting that Kevin Keane, who has long served his alma mater with distinction and played an instrumental role as one of the founding trustees of the Board, will lead the critically important work of this remarkable group of talented and committed individuals. I and other members of the school’s administration look forward to working with Kevin and the Board members to reinforce our school’s position as one of the nation’s  50 top ranked Catholic High Schools and as one of the region’s preeminent private high schools.”

In 2009, Keane was named one of seven officers of the nascent Board of Trustees which had been established following approval by the New York State Board of Regents of Stepinac’s charter as an independent high school with the Archdiocese of New York. Keane also served as Treasurer during the school’s transition into a new era in which the Board would oversee Stepinac’s operations, not the Archdiocese.

Chairman Emeritus Plunkett noted: “There is no question that Kevin’s business acumen and extensive experience in financial and strategic planning were instrumental in helping the Board to establish a strong financial foundation it needed to succeed as a an independent school,” adding: “At a time when other schools faced serious budget cutbacks during the great recession, Kevin’s tireless efforts in mobilizing support for key initiatives made it possible for  Stepinac to make significant investments that have made the school a standard bearer in technology and academic excellence and a preeminent leader in Catholic education.”

Keane’s career with O’Connor Davies, LLP has spanned more than 30 years. As Managing Partner and a Member of the Executive Committee, he has led the emergence of O’Connor Davies, LLP as one of the preeminent, full-service Certified Public Accounting and consulting firms with nine offices in New York, New Jersey. Connecticut and Maryland.  It is also the largest CPA firm in Westchester.

A CPA, Keane has extensive experience in all areas of accounting and tax planning services and specializes in dealing with closely held businesses and their owners as well as expertise in mergers and acquisitions, financial and strategic planning.

Long active in community affairs, in addition to Stepinac, Keane has served on the boards and financial committees of various not-for-profit organizations including the JohnA.ColemanSchool of the ElizabethSetonPediatricCenter, Lititz Watch Technicum and the IrishArtsCenter. He is also a director and founder of The Westchester Bank.

In 2012, Keane’s commitment to the community through corporate giving and philanthropic work were recognized by Stepinac’s Board of Trustees when it honored him with its Corporate Citizenship Award, presented to exemplary alumni.

He holds a B.S. degree in accounting from SUNY Albany and a MBA in corporate finance from PaceUniversity.

Founded in 1948, ArchbishopStepinacHigh School’s mission is to offer young men a highly competitive academic and extracurricular program that will prepare them for college and leadership roles. The faculty and staff accomplish these objectives by pursuing excellence and creating a supportive, disciplined atmosphere with a strong sense of camaraderie and Christian values that are unique to the Stepinac experience. For more information on StepinacHigh School, please visit www.stepinac.org.

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Marlene Sanders–Pioneer TV Correspondent, VP of ABC Documentaries Departs–1st Woman to Report from Vietnam Dies. WPW’S PETER KATZ Remembers Her First Years at ABC.

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Marlene Sanders reporting from the Central Highlands, South Vietnam

WPCNR MILESTONES. July 16, 2015:

Marlene Sanders died in New York City yesterday at 84.

She was one of the first women television journalists in 1964, and the first woman to report in the field during the Vietnam War in 1966. She was also an Emmy award winning  writer and producer. She was named Vice President and Director of Documentaries for the ABC Television Network in 1976. She was an lifelong critic of the television news management treatment of women correspondents, and co-author of the book, with Marcia Rock, Waiting for Primetime: The Women of Television News.

White Plains Week’s Peter Katz, former ABC Correspondent and Editor of the ABC Evening News with Peter Jennings, knew Marlene Sanders, and remembers her this way, when she first started at ABC:

“I worked with her for a time. She was mostly doing a daily 5 minute afternoon newscast on the television network. It was sponsored by Purex. The studio it originated at was in the Des Artes Hotel, just across 67th street from the rear of the main ABC studios and I can picture it as if it was yesterday. (The restaurant, Des Artistes, was a favorite hangout for ABC people.The studio had been the hotel’s ballroom.)

At that time, female anchors and reporters were extremely rare on both television and radio. From time to time, Marlene would do field reporting and feed reports to radio as well as covering for t-v. I was producing ABC Reports, editing radio news, and reporting for WABC-TV at that time and would try to put her on radio whenever I could. She was easy to work with, a skilled journalist, and a nice person.”

Ms. Sanders covered the big stories of 1968: the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy for ABC, the Democratic Convention riots in 1968, and as producer of CBS Reports won three Emmy Awards.

Variety and The New York Times reported her death this morning. The Times obituary may be read at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/16/business/media/marlene-sanders-pathbreaking-tv-journalist-dies-at-84.html?emc=edit_tnt_20150715&nlid=1045385&tntemail0=y&_r=0

The Times obituary reports in detail the paths she blazed for the women correspondents of today.

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PUSH TO ATTEND IMPORTANT MEETING PROBABLY COST RICHARD ROCKEFELLER HIS LIFE IN JUNE, 2014 CRASH–SAFETY BOARD

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PROBABLE CAUSE OF  ROCKEFELLER PLANE CRASH DETERMINED
by
Peter Katz
Special to WPCNR –
The National Transportation Safety Board has determined the Probable Cause of the accident at White Plains, NY, in which Richard Rockefeller, the son of David Rockefeller and great-grandson of John D. Rockefeller was killed.
The accident occurred on Friday, June 13, 2014. The NTSB’s investigation revealed that Rockefeller arrived at the airport on the morning of the accident and requested that his airplane be brought outside and prepared for an immediate departure; this occurred 1 hour 15 minutes before his scheduled departure time.
Radar data showed that the airplane departed 23 minutes later. According to air traffic control data, shortly thereafter, the ground and departure controllers contacted the tower controller and asked if the airplane had departed yet; the tower controller responded, “I have no idea. We have zero visibility.”
Weather conditions about the time of the accident included a 200-ft overcast ceiling with about 1/4-mile visibility.Only five radar targets identified as the accident airplane were captured, and all of the targets were located over airport property. The first three radar targets began about midpoint of the 6,500-feet-long runway, and each of these targets was at an altitude of about 60 feet above ground level (agl).
The final two targets showed the airplane in a shallow right turn, consistent with the published departure procedure track, at altitudes of 161 and 261 feet agl, respectively. The final radar target was about 1/2 mile from the accident site. Witnesses reported observing the airplane impact trees in a wings-level, slightly right-wing-down attitude at high speed. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane.
The pilot’s personal assistant reported that the pilot had an important meeting that required his attendance on the day of the accident flight. His early arrival to the airport and his request to have the airplane prepared for an immediate departure were actions consistent with self-induced pressure to complete the flight.
Due to the poor weather conditions, which were expected to continue or worsen, he likely felt pressure to expedite his departure to ensure he was able to make it to his destination and to attend the meeting. This pressure may have further affected his ability to discern the risk associated with departing in low-visibility and low-ceiling conditions.
As noted, the weather conditions were so poor that the local air traffic controller stated that he could not tell whether the airplane had departed.
Such weather conditions are highly conducive to the development of spatial disorientation.
Further, the altitude profile depicted by the radar data and the airplane’s near wings-level attitude and high speed at impact were consistent with the pilot experiencing a form of spatial disorientation known as “somatogravic illusion,” in which the pilot errantly perceives the airplane’s acceleration as increasing pitch attitude, and efforts to hold the nose down or arrest the perception of increasing pitch attitude can exacerbate the situation.
Such an illusion can be especially difficult to overcome because it typically occurs at low altitudes after takeoff, which provides little time for recognition and subsequent corrective inputs, particularly in very low-visibility conditions.
The NTSB determined that the probable cause(s) of this accident was Richard Rockefeller’s failure to maintain a positive climb rate after takeoff due to spatial disorientation (somatogravic illusion). Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to depart and his decision to depart in low-ceiling and low-visibility conditions.
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Hutch Traffic Another Reason to Say NO on FASNY. Duration of Project 10 Years Not 8 (2 Year Break in Construction)

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THE LETTER TICKER. JULY 15, 2015:

Dear Mayor and Common Council,
Our thanks to Senator Chuck Schumer for coming up all the way from Washington, DC, or from Brooklyn, on Tuesday, July 7th, to draw attention to Westchester having some of the most dangerous parkways in NYS. . .and for singling out the Hutchinson River Parkway at Mamaroneck Avenue as having one of the worst accident records.  Mayor Roach was also at the news conference as Traffic Safety is one of his priorities.
(Editor’s Note: Senator Schumer announced yesterday in a news conference to which WPCNR was not invited, more money for Westchester County Police to enforce traffic rules on Westchester roads, one of the roads cited is the Hutchinson River Parkway.)
We’ll take all the help we can if it makes Traffic safer.  Our only concern is that at times our Washington politicians are good at identifying problems that we all know about. . .then recommending task forces, audits and committees that spend money that our government doesn’t have. . .and in the end citizens rarely see any real solutions.  So we’ll help our friends in Washington out with a heads-up. . .the problem with the Hutchinson River Parkway and accident rates is. . .there are just “too many cars with distracted drivers” on the Hutch particularly during the AM and PM commute times.    
As background the Hutch is a 2-lane winding highway in each direction with few shoulder or emergency lanes.  It was designed back in the 1920’s, around the same time as the old Ridgeway Golf Course, and like many of our neighborhood streets in the Southend of WP, the Hutch was never designed for the larger and wider vehicles of today. . .nor the volume of traffic that travels on the Hutch each day.
Our view from 40+ years of living in Westchester County is that the number of cars on the Hutch appears to have doubled or tripled particularly during the AM and PM commutes. . . leading us to a simple formula:  More cars + More Distracted Drivers = More Accidents.   If Senator Schumer figures out a way to reduce the number of cars traveling on the Hutch in the AM or PM commutes. . .we’ll most likely see the accident numbers go down.
We wonder if anyone has informed Senator Schumer that while he is trying to study the current Traffic situation to help reduce future accidents. . .that the City of White Plains has been reviewing a FASNY Project for the past 4+ years. . .that if approved will add another 2,000 Vehicle Trips each day to the current Hutch levels. . .as well as to the current WP daily Traffic in our Southend of WP?
After reading the City’s recent Agenda Packet. . .we all know that FASNY’s 950 proposed student cap is only lasting a few short years. . .so it can’t be considered real mitigation.  And with FASNY’s decision to create a North Street Entrance their increased volume of Traffic will create worse conditions for WP students, seniors and other citizens in the Southend.
The WP School Board had to step in to express their displeasure with FASNY Traffic and the North Street Entrance. . .yet the recent Agenda Packet did not include any offsetting mitigation for the Traffic problems pointed out by the School Board.  It’s also hard to believe that FASNY’s own Traffic advisors were trying to direct more FASNY Traffic onto North Street and Mamaroneck Avenue Intersections of the Hutch that Senator Schumer is now complaining about. 
If Councilman Kirkpatrick is right about FASNY’s success and potential future growth. . .FASNY’s Traffic numbers will be so high that we may have our own Times Square-type gridlock and NYC accident levels in the Southend of the City!
Sadly for the residents of the Southend there has been no “permanent” mitigation on FASNY’s Traffic. . . so if approved FASNY will bring. . .out-of-town Distracted Parents or their Uber Drivers rushing to school. . .mores Student Drivers. . . and FASNY Buses. . .resulting in More Accidents to our City just on a volume basis.  Our FASNY Traffic formula for White Plains is:  the More FASNY Students and Staff + the More FASNY Cars and Buses  = the More WP Accidents 
 
FASNY’s immitigable Traffic situation, like FASNY’s wrong selection of our residential area for their regional school campus and FASNY’s continued misinterpretations of our Comprehensive Plan, Special Permit process and other WP laws. . .all should have been known by FASNY upfront. . .if FASNY had done a proper due diligence before they closed on their purchase of the old golf course.
Didn’t the Court of Appeals case Clark v. Board of Zoning Appeals of Town of Hempstead rule that it was the responsibility of a developer, like FASNY, to find out upfront about potential Traffic problems or Zoning and Special Permit nuances. . .and if they didn’t find out upfront because of their own incomplete due diligence. . .then the developer, FASNY, is still responsible and at fault?
The bottom line is that after 4+ years of numerous FASNY plan changes, including the failed choice of the North Street Entrance and the Closure of Hathaway Lane. . .FASNY’s Traffic situation is actually worse, has not been mitigated and will likely be a greater problem going forward if Councilman’s Kirkpatrick’s projections come true.
Thanks for your concern.
Team Rhodes
Marie and Ron Rhodes
P.S.   We have to inform you that we made a mistake in our prior email. . .when we reported that in the Agenda Packet FASNY’s Construction was reduced from 10 years down to 8 years.
In rereading the Agenda Packet. . .FASNY’s Construction is still Phase I with 4 years, a 2-year break, then Phase II with another 4 years of building for a total 10-year Construction period.  Either way 8 or 10 years of Construction in a residential neighborhood is not the right thing to do. . .and the important thing we wanted to bring to your attention now is. . .just like with Traffic. . .with Construction. . .there has not been any mitigation presented by FASNY or their City Enablers.
Unfortunately we got misled by the June 29th 261-print page Agenda Packet, like the City’s prior 152-print page SEQR Findings Report of December 19, 2013, that was released for Public review. . .without Executive Summaries. . .without Listings of Major Project Changes with page numbers. . .and without Table of Contents or Indexes.  Releasing reports that are funded with Public tax payments. . .without any helpful links or ways for Council members and residents to access and quickly understand key changes. . .is really a sign of disrespect. . . shows a lack of transparency. . .and is just not professional.
Isn’t it time for Council  members to take control of the large developer review process to make it more transparent and professional. . .as we all know the current review process with FASNY surely hasn’t worked. . .and hasn’t been fair to Council members who serve part-time or to the citizens of White Plains?
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Bad Check Ring Cracked by D.A.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the Office of the Westchester District Attorney. July 14, 2015

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Sire Lewis (DOB 07/27/84) of 1 Glenwood Avenue, Yonkers, New York, was arraigned today on a Felony Complaint charging him with:

  • one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
  • one count of Criminal Possession of a Forgery Device, a class “D” Felony,
  • twenty two counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, class “D” Felonies.

As part of a year long investigation into complaints by business owners of fraudulent checks being cashed, the District Attorneys office determined that this defendant used a number of women as “mules”, sometimes dressed in hospital scrubs to allay suspicion, to cash fraudulent checks containing stolen account information from businesses in the metropolitan area. He would then promise the mules a percentage of the cashed check.

The defendant gained access to a company’s account information, then created forgeries using the stolen account number and had a mule go to various banks to cash the forged checks.

Based on a multi jurisdictional investigation and surveillance, a warrant was obtained and executed at the defendant’s residence.

The defendant had twenty-two forged business checks purporting to be drawn on the business checking accounts of Dependable Ambulette Inc. located in Valley Stream, Long Island and AK International Architectural Wood of Whitestone, Queens on his person.

In addition the defendant possessed various check forging paraphernalia including:

  • hundreds of pages of blank check stock,
  • Epson DS30 Scanner,
  • Versacheck Check Writing Software discs,
  • HP Desk Jet 2540 printer, copier and scanner,
  • Dell Laptop attached to an HP LaserJet P1102W containing blank check stock in the document feeder,
  • approximately $6,000 in US Currency.

In addition, the defendant had secreted in his apartment a .38 caliber Charter Arms handgun stolen from Hampton, Virginia.

The defendant was arrested by investigators from the District Attorneys office with the assistance of the Yonkers police.

He was arraigned today in Yonkers City Court and remanded.

The defendant’s next appearance will be on August 18th, 2015.

The defendant faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years prison.

Assistant District Attorney Steven Vandervelden, Chief of the Organized Crime and Criminal Enterprise Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Lee of the Identity Theft Unity are prosecuting the case.

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