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 Quill & Eyeshade. From the Westchester Business Council. April 29, 2015:

Westchester County has many great assets and challenging obstacles for economic development, yet leaders from real estate, government and business remain optimistic about its future and ability to remain competitive.

A sell-out crowd of nearly 200 people packed the room at Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown on Tuesday to hear from experts who took part in The Business Council of Westchester’s provocative panel discussion entitled Navigating Westchester: Threading the Needle for Economic Growth, where leaders said that the county is going through important shifts that will reshape its economy and landscape for generations to come.

From left standing: Geoff Thompson, Managing Partner of Thompson & Bender; Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont, Robert Weisz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RPW Group and Tim Jones, Partner and Managing Member of Robert Martin Company.
Seated: Wilson Kimball, Commissioner of Planning & Development for the City of Yonkers; Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin, William Mooney III, Director of Westchester’s Office of Economic Development and Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester.

“We’re at a point where we are transforming Westchester,” said Robert Weisz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RPW Group, citing the massive growth in the health care sector, the repurposing of antiquated office parks and residential communities and revitalization of many downtowns and urban centers. “Over the next 20 years, we are going to see a major transformation from what is happening today … The next 20 years are going to be critical for Westchester.”

County Executive Robert P. Astorino opened up the breakfast, which was part of The Business Council’s KeyBank Speaker Series, with an address that highlighted Westchester’s assets including its highly educated workforce, access to transportation, its excellent schools and great quality of life. But he also pointed to problems including its many layers of government, burdensome state and local regulations, and high property taxes, which drives up the cost of living.

“High taxes are the No. 1 reason people are leaving,” Astorino said, highlighting a greater need to share services, consolidate government and control spending. “Does concierge government still make sense? … We have to find the right balance.”

As part of the event, a panel made up of the region’s thought leaders and decision-makers followed the county executive. In addition to Weisz, it included Tim Jones, Partner and Managing Member of Robert Martin Company; William Mooney III, Director of Westchester’s Office of Economic Development; Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester; Wilson Kimball,  Commissioner of Planning & Development for the City of Yonkers; Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont and Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin. Geoff Thompson, Managing Partner of Thompson & Bender, who has more than 30 years of personal experience with many of Westchester’s major development projects, moderated the discussion.

In addition to facing certain challenges, such as high taxes, layers of government and extensive and costly reviews that in some cases can take years, the panelists agreed that Westchester’s future relied heavily on maintaining its excellent schools and quality of life; investing in its infrastructure and transportation; providing appropriate housing for a younger workforce (the millennials or GenY); reforming state regulations such as SEQRA and outdated local zoning laws, and supporting local businesses. They also said local leaders must have the political will to make tough choices on development while promoting their own communities as good places to do business.

“We have to be out there selling our communities,” Bronxville Mayor Mary Marvin said. “We have to be the greatest salespeople for our communities that we can be.”

Wearing a GenerationYonkers T-shirt, Yonkers Planning Commissioner Kimball highlighted the city’s marketing and advertising campaign that is targeting high-tech companies, start-ups and medical facilities as well as younger workers looking for an urban environment. She said many cities such as Yonkers have great industrial spaces conducive for such companies and that Yonkers is forging ahead with thousands of apartments and housing units in its downtown and waterfront area.

“If you have the political will, things can happen,” Kimball said.

Belmont said Harrison is developing its downtown and transforming the I-287 corridor by adaptively reusing office parks – all with an eye on its long-term success.  While the downtown looks the same as it did in 1965, 1995 and 2005, Belmont said by “2025, I believe we are going to be looking different.”

Jones, of Robert Martin Company, agreed. “The future is bright,” he said. “Twenty years from now, the millennials will be moving to the suburbs … Westchester is a mature market, and it will continue to re-invent itself.”

Mooney said many of Westchester’s towns and cities have a “millennial urban feel” and Westchester has all of the cultural, social and economic amenities offered in Manhattan, Jersey City and Brooklyn — without the high real estate costs.

“Our commercial rents are half the cost of New York City and we’re less than 30 miles from mid-town,” he said. “We’re on the rise. We’re perfectly positioned to grow and thrive.”

Gordon said Westchester is great place to live, work and entertain because of its rich cultural venues, vast parklands, and diverse population. She said the forum was a great success. “We’re delighted to have brought together such an impressive and knowledgeable group of professionals,” said Gordon, President and CEO of The Business Council. “I’m optimistic that the vision for Westchester County is right and its economy will remain strong — now and for generations to come.”

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WPCNR FASNY-GO-ROUND. by John F. Bailey. April 25, 2015:

Over 100 persons from eight neighborhood associations staged a protest asking the Common Council of White Plains to deny the special permit the French American School of New York seeks to build a consolidated campus on the former Ridgeway Country Club.

The French American School of New York issued this statement to WPCNR in response:

“For more than four years the plan to create our School and the publicly-accessible Greens to Green open space Conservancy at the former Ridgeway Country Club has undergone the most intensive and exhaustive study and review of any development in White Plains history. The City’s elected officials, commissioners and departments, an array of expert consultants for both the School and the City, School staff, students and families and many White Plains residents have invested hundreds, if not thousands, of hours in this extended approval process.

The multiple public hearings have been closed and the thorough environmental studies dealing with every aspect of the plan have been officially adopted as SEQRA Findings by a 6 to 1 vote of the Common Council in December 2013. The School project is clearly better as a result of the input and careful planning that has transpired.  Currently, all involved are awaiting the final Site Plan and Special Permit vote by the Common Council.

Despite this lengthy and costly review, some area neighbors remain adamantly opposed to the School, as they have been from the start. Unsatisfied with the extensive revisions and improvements, traffic control measures, mandatory busing, reductions in the number of students, and the numerous other mitigation measures — many of which have resulted from their public input — they continue to try to defeat the planned School and Conservancy. Their attempt to legally challenge the approval process was dismissed by the New York State Supreme Court. Yet they continue to protest and oppose, often loudly.

It is worth noting that many of the neighbors and residents from across White Plains strongly support the School and Conservancy plan. Our supporters welcome 78 acres of public open space, with over 3 miles of walking trails and biking lanes, open daily from dawn to dusk, and at no cost to taxpayers. They also realize that FASNY will add to the educational, economic and environmental welfare of White Plains.

All of us at the French-American School of New York are eager to become active members of the White Plains community, as we have been in the other communities in Westchester County where we have had campuses throughout our 35-year history.

Geoff Thompson,  spokesman for the school said the school had no date yet from the city when the council would take up the matter again. (It currently awaits a Findings Statement from the Council, which will come when the Council feels all questions raised by envronmental review have been answered to the Common Council satisfaction.

Thompson said to his knowledge the school is not considering putting the property on the market at this time. Asked what progress the school had made in financing the project, Thompson said he would have to check with the French American School.

Ron Rhodes a resident of Gedney Farms who has published and written the city many times raising issues he feels the city has not examined closely enough, told WPCNR  he feels that the city is ignoring a covenant that went with the sale of the Ridgeway Country Club. That covenant dates back to 1925 the land was obtained. Rhodes said court decisions have upheld that covenants of the past are enforceable. The covenant Rhodes referred to stated that the land could only be used as a golf course.

John Sheehan, organizer of the protest said he was pleased with the turnout, and the number counted by a protester placed it at 150. Sheehan said he was planning another protest.

The demonstration was made on the sidewalk in front of White Plains High School. The group marched two or three abreast down to the YWCA and back to the entrance to the high school.

Sheehan said there were residents from the north end of town who marched and that participation was not limited to Ridgeway vicinity residents.

This reporter was told  that the prospect of closing Hathaway Land has faded and the city is working with FASNY on a reworking of the North Street entrance.

I was also told that persons attempting to sell their house in the vicinity of the threatended street have had buyers look at the home, liked it very much, but said they would not buy until they knew what was happening with the FASNY project.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Department of Communications, Westchester County. April 22, 2015:

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino Wednesday delivered an optimistic and strong message in his annual State of the County address, stating that Westchester was “growing smarter, safer and stronger each day.”  Despite the increasing costs of Albany’s unfunded mandates and the automatic escalation of labor costs, Astorino said an increase to the county property tax levy was out of the question.

“It’s a pledge (not raising the tax levy) I have kept for five years and I am making it again tonight, because county government has to be on the side of every young person, couple, senior and business in Westchester that is struggling to make ends meet so they can stay here,” said Astorino.

To help hold the line on taxes, Astorino has held the line on spending.  This year’s county budget is less than the budget he inherited in 2010. Among the cost saving measures instituted to lower costs were actions to competitively bid inmate healthcare services, successfully transfer operation of county mental health clinics to not-for-profits and getting seven of eight government unions to agree to chip in for their health care.  These actions save the county $10 million per year.

The new $25 million Playland agreement with New York-based Standard Amusements will also save taxpayers money, as well as secure the long-term future of Playland. Standard Amusements will invest $23 million in capital improvements perhaps as soon as later this year, introduce new rides and attractions and make an up-front $2.25 million payment to the county and pay an annual fee of $300,000, that escalates each year.

In addition to the Playland agreement, Astorino highlighted other positive news in the past year:

• The county’s Patriot Housing Initiative has found homes for 265 veterans (since 2013).
• The Industrial Development Agency (IDA) assisted on 16 economic development projects that generated more than $400 million in private investment, along with 3,400 permanent and construction jobs.
• The Local Development Corporation (LDC) assisted on a number of projects in the non-profit sector that generated $129 million and accounted for 1,600 jobs.
• Capital projects investments are close to surpassing the $1 billion mark (since 2010) and help create over 2,000 construction jobs per year while providing needed rehabilitation to our roads, bridges, sewers and parks.
• As part of Astorino’s Safer Communities initiative, more than 350 volunteers were trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid, and another 400 service providers and advocates were trained as “community champions” with the mission of being a go-to local resource in terms of awareness and education when it comes to suicide prevention.
• The administering of Narcan was credited with saving 12 lives from heroin overdose in the past year. Police officers who went through the county Department of Health’s Narcan program administered the antidote.

Astorino hailed a recent Second Circuit Court of Appeals decision which said actions by HUD to financially penalize the county were indeed subject to judicial review, as a “major victory against an aggressive and overreaching federal government,” and a win for local zoning and home rule.  The county remains on schedule in fulfilling the terms of the 2009 federal housing settlement agreement with currently 223 units occupied and 454 units with financing in place.

Among the new initiatives unveiled by Astorino was the new Westchester Economic Development office that will open a Manhattan office at 125 Park Avenue, directly across from Grand Central Station.  The office will be functional and open for business starting in May. The purpose for the office is to aggressively promote Westchester’s many assets, offerings and competitive advantages to companies and entrepreneurs looking to leave New York State.  Astorino said, “Our message is simple. To those companies in New York City looking to Fairfield County or Jersey City, or perhaps the Carolinas, Florida or Texas, before you decide to leave New York State, you need to take a look at Westchester.”

The county’s new fatherhood initiative is designed to celebrate the critical role of the father, provide key tools and support, and help those in at-risk situations navigate and overcome potential barriers they may have to becoming effectively involved dads.  Former New York Knicks all-star Allan Houston was in attendance and his foundation will partner with the county in the initiative.  “Over the course of the past 50 years, the critically important role of the father in the family has been diminished,” said Astorino. “A good and present dad is good for moms and good for kids. And if the county can be a catalyst for strengthening families, then this may be the most important role the county ever plays.”

Astorino announced a new Safer Communities initiative with the development of a new mobile phone application called the Westchester Safety App. Expected to be available later this summer, the app will offer real-time traffic, weather and storm reports, and disaster preparedness tips via smart phones. It is being developed by Interlecta, a Westchester-based IT company, in conjunction with the county’s Department of Public Safety. The download of the app will be free, and there is no cost to taxpayers.

And coming in May, the county’s “A Job’s Waiting for You Training” program gets under way and matches long-term unemployed workers with hard to fill jobs in health care such as MRI technicians through a training program that, upon successful completion, guarantees the trainee a job. The goal is to place 500 individuals in four years and ultimately expand the program beyond the health care field.

Astorino concluded his speech by saying, “Westchester is a place we love, where we raise our families, run our businesses and call home. Our past is a source of pride, our future is bright and together we will continue to make Westchester smarter, safer and stronger.”

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE From the State Department of Taxation and Finance. April 22, 2015:

The City of White Plains economy held its own in February and March, sales subject to sales taxes declined 3-1/2 % in snowy February, but were up 1% in March from a year ago. The Department of Taxation and Finance reports that going into the last fiscal quarter of the city fiscal year the city has collected $38.6 Million in sales receipts.

Should the city equal the $13.1 Million collected in April May and June last year, the city will come within $100,000 of equaling the $51,872,987 it collected last year.

June 2014, it should be noted, though was a $5.4 Million  month last year, an all time record in White Plains exceeding even previous Christmas figures.  Should April May and June receipts hold up, the city will collect $51,708472, a .003 % decline. This means essentially that White Plains sales tax receipts are not keeping pace with the 2% inflation rate.

The county sales tax figures for the first quarter are reported down 3.5% for the first quarter to $119,554,691 down from $123,827,422 last year.