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 with on scene reporting by John F. Bailey. January 8, 2015:

County Executive Robert P. Astorino today unveiled a series of “smart” initiatives designed to promote economic growth in Westchester throughout 2015 and beyond. He made the announcement at the Westchester County Association’s “2015 Forecast: State of the Westchester Market” annual breakfast at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown.

In the course of his 25 minute talk, he challenged Governor Andrew Cuomo to get moving on paying for the Tappan Zee Bridge by using the $5.2 Billion Parisbanque settlement windfall to spare tri-state motorists a 40% toll increase, as he did on this week’s appearance on WPCNR’S “PEOPLE TO BE HEARD”.  That program  that may be seen at www.whiteplainsweek.com

Astorino  noted in his speech that the first bridge span would be completed by 2017 and no bus transit upgrade has been designed or routes desgnated or new stationlocations situated across Westchester County.

Astorino  chided the governor for not getting the Mass Transit Task Force moving on making decisions and establishing the Bus Rapid Transit System. Saying as he also did on PEOPLE TO BE HEARD that it had not met in a year.

He used the address to highlight efforts to create Westchester County advantages to attract “millenials” and 25 to 30 years of age to Westchester as well as businesses priced out of New York City.

A panel of business leaders lead by William Cuddy((center), C.B. Richard Ellis, gave an attendance of some 200 persons a  positive snapshot of four sectors: Christopher Meyers (far left) of Houlihan Lawrence (real estate);Guy Leibler (2nd from left), Simone Development (Health); Glenn Walsh (far right), Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (commercial space), and  Ayall Schanzer, ((2nd from right)Friedland Realty Advisors (industrial space).

Meyers said residential real estate was experiencing “slow steady growth” at this time, though flat in sales over a year ago. He said average residential  real estate price rose 4% in one year to $635,000 which was 7% more than the average price in 2007 just before the 2008 crash. and that 1,500 multi-family buildings (apartments,rentals and condos) were added or under construction–three quarters rentals in response to the demands of persons moving up from New York City’s higher rents. He emphasized the need for the county to continue to create  afford housing for the middle class which he definedas being 80% of median income.,

Mr. Liebler described the health market as going through an absorption where local hospitals which no longer can be profitable as they would like  as standalone entities are merging with larger hospitals. He said the “ambulatory” care transition was well underway with organizations bringing on private physicians to offer primary care services. He saw medical boutiques combined with multi-uses such as cafes, specialty shops to amuse persons while their loved ones received checkups, examinations and other medical services. WPCNR coins this trend as “the era of the medical mall.”

Class A Office space (top of the line commercial buildings have rebounded to rentals over $30 a square foot and are in demand, according to Glenn Walsh. The reason is the large office palaces have added amenities, stationary and snack shops, and restaurants to create a luxury environment that today’s workforce demands.” A” space is only 10% vacant he said while B Space and C Space   is 20% or more vacant. He said B and C space owners to take advantage of the amenity appeal should consider eliminating some rental and create cafes, workout areas or retail to attract the more quality-of-life oriented younger worker.   He pointed out how  360 Hamilton, 800 and 1133 Westchester Avenue as examples of major complexes that have invested in their interior redesign and repurposing and are now thriving with lessors.

Walsh, by the way, pleaded strongly that Westchester County, the City of White Plains and the MTA should make redevelopment of the White Plains Metro North Station its chief priority, creating residential and office space around the station, suggesting a “new Grand Central Terminal” for the area (for rail and bus).

On the industrial market,  Mr.Schanzersaid industrial space had  to focus on downsizing its space to attract small hi-tech and digital companies being squeezed out of New York City by the high cost of facilities there. This would presumably mean rewiring, resizing the interior for internet, app and digital production companies, for instance.

“Westchester is open for business,” said Astorino. “I am committed to marshalling all of the resources of our county government toward promoting economic growth and prosperity in Westchester.”

As part of his presentation, Astorino released a new report entitled, Westchester Smart: Ideas and initiatives for a stronger economy. The report grew out of candid roundtable discussions held between February and August of 2014 with 50 community leaders representing key demographic and business sectors. The 32-page report identifies the county’s strengths and challenges.

The top three strengths were recognized as the following:

• Talent. Westchester has one of the most educated workforces anywhere.
• Accessibility. Both local and global destinations are within easy reach.
• Quality of Life. Schools, shopping, restaurants, recreation and natural beauty across four full seasons are all part of Westchester’s attraction.

The top three challenges were:

• Affordability. High taxes and housing prices make Westchester an expensive place to live and do business.
• Complexity. Navigating Westchester’s multiple layers of local government can be frustrating, expensive and time consuming.
• Identity. The dynamism of Westchester is often overshadowed by a reputation for being “your father’s Oldsmobile.”

As part of the report, Astorino announced what he called five new “smart” initiatives for 2015 and beyond. Initiatives to be rolled out in 2015 include:

• “A Job’s Waiting for You” Training: This program will train and place 500 individuals in high demand healthcare jobs in the next four years.
• The Mobile “App” Development Bowl: Westchester County and Pace University will hold a mobile application development competition for the area’s college and high school students. Prizes include cash awards and paid internships with Westchester County.
• Mobile Friendly Web Site: Westchester County will launch a redesigned county web site that makes information easier to find and more accessible on mobile devices.
• Navigating Westchester: This initiative will bring together real estate developers, municipal officials, planning experts and members of neighborhood associations to discuss strategies for improving all aspects of the development process, including sharing resources, streamlining bureaucracies and speeding decisions.
• A Summit for Profits and Not-for-Profits: Westchester County will bring together leaders from the profit and not-for-profit sectors to look at the roles each plays, opportunities for greater collaboration, funding, and issues of mutual concern, such as housing, transportation and day care.

Additionally, Astorino announced the county’s renewed commitment to ongoing efforts and partnerships that support small businesses and minority-and-women-owned businesses, citing small businesses as “the backbone – present and future – of Westchester’s economy.” Astorino thanked the roundtable participants for their time and contributions. The complete report may be viewed online at westchestersmart.com

“The county executive’s initiatives are right on target with the trends we’re seeing in the business community,” said Marissa Brett, president of the Westchester County Association. “We look forward to partnering with county government and Rob Astorino on these initiatives to accelerate our economic growth.”

Astorino also encouraged the audience to take advantage of the resources available through the county’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and Local Development Corporation (LDC).

“Businesses in Westchester or thinking of coming to Westchester have a variety of resources available to them,” said William M. Mooney III, director of Westchester County’s Office of Economic Development. “We’re here to help.”

Financial incentives, as well as advisory capabilities, are provided through the IDA, which assists private sector projects, and the LDC, which assists not-for-profit projects.  In 2014, the county’s IDA and LDC provided low-cost tax exempt financing and other incentives for 20 projects, whose private investment totaled more than $560 million and created or retained more than 4,600 permanent construction jobs. To contact the Office of Economic Development, call William Mooney at (914) 995-2943 or email billmooney@westchestergov.com.

The elite of Westchester business also got a pep talk on the economy from Lisa Shalett, (above) of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.  She is also a commentator for Fox News.

She said the job figures are very good and that the lowering of gasoline prices is expected to fuel a surge in consumer spending. She noted the pace of the present recovery is not on the pace of most recoveries and blames consumer depression, fear and disbelief of the figures. She drew glowing comparisons with eras of the past such as the 1950s where pent-up demand created the longest sustained economic growth in history, but did not mention that this was fueled by the massive return of America’s fighting men to the workforce and changeover from a war economy to a consumer economy.

Shalett noted also that the children of the baby boomer generation born in the 1970s were now at prime age (35) where they are buying houses, procreating and the first of this group were poised to lead the recovery with their spending. She neglected to even mention the college loans many of these baby boomer children owe that is a major impediment to mortgages.

She characterized  the job figures are strong, “Job Openings are at a 14 year high, but the skills match is not there.”

She reported that corporate earnings are way up and that the stock market should comtinue to soar. Hers was a very optimistic view.

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WPCNR NEWS  & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. January 7, 2015:

The attack on the French satirical newspaper that has long tweaked the sensitivities of the militant Islamic movement, that left twelve persons dead is a call to action to cut off the financing that pays the payroll for these operations.

This latest attack on a satire magazine  is typical of the terror that they are wielding against the defenseless, the innocent, the weak chronicled in the news channels and the press.

But, this new attack  is insidiously different and more dangerous.

The Paris attack yesterday is the first step towards creating the immoral outrage of promoting and eventually  gaining legitimacy in the world press through intimidation of the press.

The message is clear: do not give us bad press or you will be dead.

Beheading of journalists was the start of intimidation of press coverage. And it has been my observation  it’s been successful. There is not as much coverage of the day-to-day terrosim  first hand before the beheadings

In my opinion, the governments who have to deal with this military organization a reinvention of the Baathist military leaders who run it, have to adopt a new strategy:

Cut off their money.

Western intelligence needs to focus on the banks, the financiers, the investment houses, the private speculators, the arms dealers, the website stylists, who do business with these people: buy their oil, process their money, and move the vast sums that buy the arms, explosives and weapons, make the bribes and pay the criminals who commit the horrors that intimidate  and acquires the acquiescence demanded.

Go after the war profiteers – who rob and kill with a fountain pen as Woody Guthrie wrote.

However the administrations of the nations have to make a gut check here: they will have to go after worldwide financial powers, prosecute and haul them in—powerful rich men and women who sip cocktails by night, send checks to politicians by day and look the other way when handling money and processing billions in illegitimate deals with questionable worldwide political movements. Because it is lucrative.

It is time for the feckless leadership of the world of the reasonably decent people to wake up and smell the stench of the corruption of self-interest in businesses, legitimate and criminal.

They apparently live the rule  “There is no such thing as bad money” that  rules whom you do business with, whom you support financially and politically, even if it hurts and kills thousands of people.

Who are the financiers?

It’s high time we stop listening to Americans’ conversations and listen to people who do us harm every day by funding the criminal elements of the world.

Let’s go and get them.  That is how you behead a hydra with one big scythe.

You have to feed your terrorists. You have to bribe officials. It is a mercenary effort.

We are not going after the commercial  sponsors and enablers  who move the money for the forces of evil in the world: the human traffickers, the child pornographers, the terrorists.

That’s a question to ask every politician who appears on the talk shows this coming weekend. A question for the President of this country.

And why haven’t we?

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WPCNR MILESTONES. From McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home. January 6, 2014:

Alison M. Fairhurst, 23, a lifelong resident of White Plains, passed away on January 4, 2015. She was born on June 21, 1991 to Jeanette(Hazelton) & Allen Fairhurst.

Alison graduated White Plains High School and Purchase College with a Bachelors Degree in 2013. She worked for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind as a web specialist.

Alison loved music but her true love was for all animals- especially fostering a guide dog named Maggie.

Alison is survived by her parents, a brother Jamie and her grandparents Donald & Carolyn Hazelton of Vermont. Visitation will be Friday 4- 8 PM. A funeral service will be Saturday 12 noon at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 or at www.guidingeyes.org

Alison- our beautiful child, with God you

are free. You will always remain in our

hearts.

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY. January 5, 2015: 

Tennis Innovators Academy the indoor outdoor tennis facility under construction this fall at Delfino Park is on schedule to open as planned.

The organization announced the Grand Opening of their new indoor tennis facility being built at Defino Park will take place Monday January 19.

Persons interested in the courses and times available may visit

www.tiacademies.com or call 914-428-2444

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE NEW YEAR. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. January 4, 2014:

 

 

Ghosts of the time when trains had names.