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. | WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.

City Sales Tax Collections Need Smart Auditing to See if Businesses Are Paying Their Share Per Square Foot

Posted on July 14, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. JULY 14, 2014:

Hi John,

I hope all is well. I just finished watching the show (WHITE PLAINS WEEK,www.whiteplainsweek.com ) from last week and have a couple of questions/comments.

1) Regarding WP Sales Tax… Mr. B. is right on the money when he states the City needs to take a closer look at the entire Sales Tax issue. Not sure exact words but in essence:

Does anyone study the receipts by business sector? For example, if you group date for the last five years for Restaurants/Bars in the Mamaroneck/Post Road area, do any irregularities pop up? Using Sales Tax collected divided by square footage…the resulting numbers should be quite uniform…are they?

I don’t think anyone studies anything – I think they multiply by a small, historical growth rate and throw the number in the budget. In other words, NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT TO RECEIVE per square foot (within an industry group).

I am sure the ups & downs of the economy, the online purchasers, the draconian parking enforcement, etc., all combine to reduce collections BUT my question is that with the computing power available in 2014, WP should be avail themselves of far more sophisticated planning & analysis tools.

In the first place, I wish that WP was not so dependent on sales tax (the most regressive type of tax) but we are…and we really need better estimate, promote (change parking policy), and ENFORCE collection of Sales Tax Revenue.

2) My second question involves the close of the show where you and Mr. B. commented that failure to approve FASNY would spell economic disaster.

HOW SO??? They pay no sales tax or property tax! The construction people will benefit for less than two years and the vast majority will be from outside WP. The increased traffic and congestion will bring chaos to the South End.

Does anyone really think that these people paying $30K tuition are sending their darlings on a school bus? The people in the three current neighborhoods cannot stand the FASNY traffic – every student comes by private vehicle (the previous tenants were mostly local walkers you will not see them testify since they cannot wait for FASNY to vacate.)

How does the conservancy benefit anyone in WP, beyond walking distance? Where would a person from the Highlands park their car while they enjoy the conservancy grounds?

Finally, you see the mess on North Street every day around the HS entrance/exit…it will be far, far worse when the new intersection is established.

I live in the North End and I will not be inconvenienced either way… but I see NO ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO APPROVAL OF THIS USE and lots of harm to the South End,,,

3) Finally, we desperately need to revise the City’s Comprehensive Plan. It was produced more than twenty years ago. The analysis is from 92 & 93. It is woefully out-of-date

Best Regards,

Terry Conroy

White Plains, NY.

LYON PLACE/ WALLER CLOSED TO TRAFFIC THIS WEEK

Posted on July 14, 2014 by John Bailey

Lyon Place (South Broadway to Waller Avenue)

Waller Avenue (East Post Road to Maple Avenue)

WPCNR BUMPER TO BUMPER. From the Downtown Business Improvement District. July 14, 2014:

The Department of Public Works announced on Friday that during the week of July 14, 2014 (weather permitting), a contractor will begin the installation of new granite curbing at Lyon Place and Waller Avenue. Subsequent to the granite curb installation, the roadways will be milled and then resurfaced.

During the day, traffic restrictions in the work area will be necessary and detours will be accomplished with appropriate traffic control devices and flagging personnel. Access for residents, deliveries, refuse & recycling, school buses, and emergency vehicles will still be provided. It would be mutually beneficial to limit local vehicular traffic to before 8 am and after 4:30 pm.

City Department of Public Works inspectors will be on site to insure the satisfactory performance of the work and the protection of the City’s residents and homeowners. The work is anticipated for completion by mid August.

If you have any questions, please contact Brian Murphy, Deputy Commissioner of Public Works at (914) 422-1212.

Shots of Summer

Posted on July 14, 2014 by John Bailey

EGRET FISHING SCHOOL, WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT OFF SHERWOOD ISLAND. “STOP TALKING! YOU’LL SCARE THE FISH!”

SHERWOOD ISLAND ON THE SOUND

There will always be a Westpawt!

Bathers on the Sound.

On a Reach off Huntington Bay

Homemade Peach and Strawberry Pie

Abinanti First Representative to Call on Governor to Use Bank Settlement to Fund $1B of Tappan Zee Bridge Construction, Opposes Environmental Fund “Bridge Use”

Posted on July 13, 2014 by John Bailey

The New NY Bridge Under Construction July 2. BRIDGE still needs $3.5 Billion in financing and state has not announced where that is coming from. Assemblyman Abinanti says why use the windfall of $3 Billion from the French Bank Settlement?

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From The Office of Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti. July 13, 2014:

Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) this week praised the NYS Department of Financial Services (DFS) for successfully enforcing the law against a multi-national bank and urged that the $3 billion settlement (Editor: due to be paid August 1 into the New York State “General Fund”) be used not for short-term budget fixes but projects that are long-term investments in New York’s future.

“We should invest the $3 billion dollars in open space and parkland, in New York’s infrastructure and in the new Tappan Zee Bridge,” said the Westchester Assemblyman. “We should not squander this huge sum on inappropriate one shots but instead we should fund projects that will give New Yorkers long term benefits.”

Assemblyman Abinanti said that the one-time $3 billion bank settlement should be invested, in equal parts, to acquire open space and parklands ($1b), restore New York’s aging infrastructure ($1b) and fund part of the Tappan Zee Bridge ($1b). He noted that the one-time $3 billion bank settlement eliminates the need to raid the Clean Water Fund to provide short-term financing for the new Tappan Zee Bridge.

New York will receive more than $3 billion from the $9 billion French bank BNP Paribas SA will pay after pleading guilty for violating sanctions on transferring money to Iran, Sudan and Cuba. The penalty is a record sum for a bank accused of doing business with countries that face United States sanctions.

Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) has also announced his opposition to the proposed $511 million loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (the Clean Water Fund) to the New York State Thruway Authority to pay for its Tappan Zee Construction Project.

In a statement issued last week , Assemblyman Abinanti argued that the State should be maximizing clean water projects, not diminishing the number of projects by diverting monies from the Clean Water Fund.

He also argued that it is inappropriate to use monies intended to remedy existing damage to the Hudson River to pay for activities that will further damage the river.

Finally, Assemblyman Abinanti argued that the proposed use of the Clean Water Fund will create a hidden taxpayer subsidy for the cost of construction.

“The cost of preventing or mitigating harm to the environment should be included in the actual cost of bridge construction,” said Abinanti. “The State should not be hiding the true cost of the project in an environmental fund that is dedicated for other projects.”

Several environment advocacy groups have already voiced their opposition to the proposed loan.

20-Something? College Grad? Not a College Grad? Unemployed? Paul Feiner to the Rescue.

Posted on July 13, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. July 13, 2014:

Can’t find a meaningful job like you expected? Create one!

Opportunities abound for college students and recent graduates willing to embrace the challenge of entrepreneurship.

Are you an innovative college student or recent graduate? Are you ambitious, curious, and here to “make it?”

You don’t want to miss this special networking event on Tuesday, July 15 @ 7:30pm – Greenburgh Town Hall.

It’s a unique opportunity to get an insider look at what it takes to make it in the professional world from successful entrepreneurs.

For more information regarding this event, please visit:
www.greenburghny.com or email eskovron@albany.edu or pfeiner@greenburghny.com.

Elizabeth Skovron is a student intern who has been working on this initiative this summer.

If you are not a recent college graduate and are unemployed – I have a job club. E mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com and I’ll add your name to the list.

If you work at a company that has job openings, share the info with me so I can get the word out. Let me know if your know of any entry level jobs for recent graduates. Or jobs for others.

PAUL FEINER

****************************************************
Visit our web site at www.greenburghny.com and view archived Supervisors Reports.

WPTV’S PEOPLE TO BE HEARD HEARS CHRIS DAY — CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS WESTCHESTER-ROCKLAND 17TH DISTRICT ON YOUR INTERNET NOW AND MONDAY NITE AT 10 P.M.

Posted on July 12, 2014 by John Bailey

PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

WESTCHESTER COUNTY’S MOST RELEVANT INTERVIEW PROGRAM

WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY

HAVE THEIR SAY

HEARS

CHRIS DAY

CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS IN THE 17TH DISTRICT

WHY HE IS RUNNING

HIS STRATEGY

THE MOOD OF THE PEOPLE

MAKING OBAMACARE WORK

IMPROVING EDUCATION WITHOUT THE COMMON CORE

IMMIGRATION REFORM — HOW HE WOULD FIX IT.

WHY THE BORDER PATROL IS NOT WORKING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX IT.

CUTTING THE DEFICIT WITHOUT PAIN

JOHN BAILEY AND JIM BENEROFE INTERVIEW CHRIS DAY ON HIS RUN FOR CONGRESS IN WESTCHESTER-ROCKLAND DISTRICT 17, ASKING THE QUESTIONS YOU WOULD ASK.

HEAR ALL ABOUT IT

DOWNLOAD THE ACTION INSTANTLY AT

www.whiteplainsweek. com

OR SEE IT MONDAY AT 10 P.M. OR THURSDAY AT 8 P.M.

VERIZON FIOS CHANNEL 45 WESTCHESTER WIDE

OR CABLEVISION 76 IN WHITE PLAINS.

WHITE PLAINS WEEK:INSIDE THE FASNY HEARINGS SAT. SUN. MORNINGS at 8:30 A.M., VERIZON FIOS 45 & CABLEVISION 76. ON THE NET 24/7

Posted on July 11, 2014 by John Bailey

MASTERS

NEWS!

PETER KATZ
ANCHOR FOR ALL SEASONS

JIM BENEROFE
DEAN OF WHITE PLAINS JOURNALISTS

JOHN BAILEY
THE CITIZEN NET REPORTER

TONIGHT ON

THE CABARET MORATORIUM

ALL FASNY ALL THE TIME-THE ULTIMATE HEARINGS START

CON ED’S SHOCKER OF THE WEEK

THE GRIM NUMBERS ON THE CITY ECONOMY

THE GRIM NUMBERS ON THE CITY SALES TAX

THE GRIM CON ED RATES

THE GRIM TRAFFIC ON I-95

THE $2.2 BILLION THE STATE AND THE MEDIA DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT

AND MORE

SEE THE MASTERS ON CHANNEL 76 CABLEVISION OR COUNTYWIDE ON VERIZON FIOS 45 AND ON THE INTERNET AT

www.whiteplainsweek.com

E-Z PASS WARNS NOT TO ANSWER E-MAIL SAYING YOUR E-Z PASS ACCOUNT IS BEHIND.

Posted on July 10, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCAMMING TIMES. From the New York E-Z PASS CENTER. July 10, 2014:

E-Z Pass is warning Tag Holders “there are emails being sent claiming that drivers owe money for unpaid tolls. This is not an email from E-ZPass or the E-ZPass toll agencies. Please do not open or respond to this email if you receive it. If you require more information, please contact the E-ZPass New York Customer Service Center at 800-333-8655 (TOLL).

WARNING – PHISHING SCAM
We have recently learned of an email phishing scam which appears to be an attempt to collect tolls. An example of this email is shown below. Please be advised that this is not an authorized communication from E-ZPass or the Toll Agencies associated with E-ZPass. We advise you not to open or respond to such a message should you receive one.
If you have any questions about the validity of any message received from E-ZPass, please contact your E-ZPass Customer Service Center.

Here is a copy of that e-mail:
From: E-ZPass Info [mailto:team@wptrainingacademy.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2014 10:59 AM To: Subject: In arrears for driving on toll road
E-ZPass Service Center

Dear customer, You have not paid for driving on a toll road. This invoice is sent repeatedly, please service your debt in the shortest possible time. The invoice can be downloaded here.

Posted on July 9, 2014 by John Bailey

Westchester Home Prices Stall; County Inventory of Unsolds Increases; County Sales Off 12% in Second Quarter

Posted on July 9, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR REAL ESTATER. Special to WPCNR from the Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service. (Edited) July 9, 2014:
Westchester and Orange Counties experienced the largest percentage year to year falloffs from 2013, in sales at 12.0% and 12.2% respectively in the spring quarter ending June 30..

In Westchester the slowdown was concentrated in the single family house sector, 13.5%, followed by condominiums, 10.1%. Orange County’s single family house sales were down by 12.1%. Putnam County sales were down by just 2.9%. Rockland County stood out from its neighbors with an actual overall increase of 6.2%.
Home Prices in Westchester posted a median¹sale price of $651,250 for single family houses, an increase of only $1,250 or 0.2% from last year, though still well above its medians for 2011 and 2012. Its condominium sector picked up, however, with a 5.5% increase to a $363,750 median.

Inventory of homes up for sale increased in the last quarter as Westchester single family home prices stayed steady: Westchester experienced an increase in inventory of 3.0%, to 6,342 units; its single family house inventory increased more by 5.7% to 3,913 units.

Closed residential real estate transactions during the second quarter of 2014 slackened in relation to the same period last year.

Realtors participating in the Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service, serving Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Orange Counties, reported 3,195 closings in the four counties, a decrease of 9.2% from the 3,519 closings reported during the second quarter of last year. These grand totals comprised sales of single family houses, condominiums, cooperatives and 2-4 family dwellings.

The second quarter closings largely reflected listing and showing activity that took place during the early months of the year. Many data providers and analysts, including the National Association of Realtors, ascribe at least some of the slowdown in sales here and nationally to exceptionally difficult winter weather conditions that discouraged prospective purchasers from getting out and researching properties of interest.

The lower Hudson region undoubtedly experienced some of that effect, but in our case there may also have been an equal or even larger effect from a simple market correction of the fast pace of sales in 2013 and the first quarter of 2014.

Overall inventory registered with the multiple listing service at the close of the quarter (June 30) amounted to 12,383 units. Orange County, whose real estate market is only about one third of Westchester’s, closed the quarter with 3,023 single family houses listed, an increase 19.9% from last year.

Orange County’s recovery from the recession has been hampered by the need to work through a supply of distressed properties as well as short sales that take longer than average to process, both factors that allow inventory to accumulate.

Also gaining in price were Rockland County single family houses, with a 4.8% increase to a median of $408,750. Rockland also did well with condominiums, 3.5% to $222,500.

Putnam and Orange counties posted decreases, however. Putnam’s single family house median decreased by 8.2% to $285,000, and Orange’s decreased by 3.0% to $232,500. Again, Orange County’s market is constrained by its relatively larger supply of problem properties compared to the other properties.

The pause in price gains and sales volumes in the Hudson Gateway region is not severe but it is a bit of a surprise in that there are no obvious external factors that drove it, other than bad winter weather, an assertion that is likely but cannot be proved.

For example, mortgage interest rates have remained low, ranging from an average 4.6% on a conventional 30-year loan made during the winter months, to about 4.2% at the close of the second quarter. Admittedly, tougher lending criteria have made it harder for consumers to obtain a mortgage but that is a condition that has been in place for several years now.

Two other factors that are confidence builders for home buying decisions are the unemployment rate and the state of the equities markets. For the former, there has been at least a full percentage point decrease in each of the four counties in the past year. The most recently posted rates range from 4.7% (Putnam) to 5.7% (Orange), with 5.1% (Westchester) and 4.8% (Rockland) in between. As for the equity markets there has been a vigorous bull market leading up to, and surpassing, the 17,000 threshold for the DJIA.

The best bet, then, for figuring out what occurred with prices and volumes during the second quarter is to patiently wait for another quarter to see if there was no more than a technical correction or if some other trend is in play.