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 POLICE GAZETTE. From New York City Police Department. August 2, 2013:

The NYPD is asking the public to advise them if they know of the whereabouts of former Bleakley, Platt & Schmidt paralegal, Dana Lauren Bonanno, reported missing from her Greenpoint, Brooklyn apartment since July 22. The official information:

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey, July 31, 2013:

THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS will audit cable franchise operators in the city, agreeing to authorize spending $35,000 to hire an independent audit firm with experience examingng cable operations, to audit Verizon Fios and Cablevision for the last five years of operations in the city. The new effort was presented to the Common Council at a Special Meeting Monday night.

John Callahan the city Corporation Counsel told WPCNR the effort is to confirm that Verizon and Cablevision are paying all the money they should on all the revenue streams they are supposed to be paying their franchise fees on.

 Callahan said that if the audit found Verizon and Cablevision are earning less, the city might have to pay a refund. However that is not likely. towns in the county have found in recent audits that they were owed amounts of approximately a million dollars by cable companies after similar audits.

The cable business has been losing share to new media.

Verizon has taken away about 4,000 subscribers from Verizon, which has 15,800, down about 4 to 5,000 from five years ago when Verizon came in. And the cable business is losing share to the new media. 

Callahan, asked about the Public Education Grants fees that cablevision has not paid in six years, told WPCNR  the city is negotiating with Cablevision on this matter. Estimates are the lack of an agreement on the PEG fee  has been costing the city cable television operation $220,000 a year for 9 years.

Establishing regular PEG payments again with Cablevision is critical for the city to pay for the $1.5 to $2 million move to the White Plains Public Library some day. They have no money to do that yet, unless other revenues are diverted to the reinvention of White Plains Public Access TV to the library.

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WPCNR LETTER TO THE EDITOR. July 28, 2013:

NOAM BRAMSON IN WHITE PLAINS LAST WEEK.

Noam Bramson, candidate for County Executive authored this commentary on the Trayvon Martin shooting and death, and the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial in Sanford Florida, after attending a memorial for Martin Friday evening:

Last night, I attended a vigil in Peekskill held in memory of Trayvon Martin. It was a good event, attended by an impressive cross section of the surrounding community, and featuring speeches from religious and civic leaders. This morning, I feel inspired to share a few thoughts, but I do so with caution and humility, because I can’t claim any special or original wisdom on such a difficult subject.

As a father, I can only imagine the pain that Trayvon’s parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, must now feel. When a case is the topic of such extensive commentary and has such broad social significance, the person at its center can be reduced to an abstract symbol. It is important to remember that he was a human being, flesh and blood, loved and
now mourned.

As a policy-maker, I believe that so-called “Stand Your Ground” laws encourage a dangerous shoot-first mentality. Except in the rarest of circumstances, we are much better off working to deescalate conflict and leaving deadly force to public safety professionals. The success of the gun lobby in promoting these laws around the country offers a dispiriting parallel to the gun lobby’s equally harmful obstruction of common sense gun safety
standards in Congress and elsewhere. I genuinely respect the right of responsible citizens to keep and bear arms, but I will never comprehend the logic that says the answer to gun violence is more guns, with more firepower, in more hands.

Finally and most importantly, as a citizen, the verdict and the myriad discussions that followed remind me of how much race relations in America have advanced . . . and of how far we will still have to go.

Several years ago, as I was preparing to leave home to attend the annual  MLK breakfast in New Rochelle, I asked my boys, half-jokingly, what I should say to the crowd. Jeremy replied: “why don’t you talk about how people should be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.”

Jeremy had just learned about Dr. King in kindergarten and was simply repeating
the lesson, but, still, I was floored and moved. When a little white boy growing
up in the suburbs learns those words literally before learning how to add and
subtract, there is no doubt that something is going right.

But there is also a sort of false comfort in such little anecdotes. Knowing the words is
easier than living them. And celebrating equality in theory, although certainly a good thing, is no substitute for wrestling with the persistence of inequality, in all its uncomfortable complexity. Trayvon’s death and the disparate responses to the verdict, starkly divided by race, reveal a nation still struggling with its original sins. All of us need to try harder to reach beyond the confines of our own personal interests and experiences and better understand our neighbors and fellow Americans.

I am an optimist by nature, so I will close with another famous quote from King: “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

Good words to remember. Let’s also remember that the arc of justice bends with our help.

My thanks to the organizers of last night’s (Friday)vigil for giving us a chance to come together.

Noam Bramson, Mayor, City of New Rochelle

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. July 23, 2013 UPDATED July 25, 2013:

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino signed two contracts today (Asset Management Agreements) with the holding company, Sustainable Playland, and the Westchester Childrens Museum in a news conference at Playland, without disclosing terms of the agreements. Substantial changes to the park will not be made to the park in 2014, but will be delayed for a few years, Mr. Astorino said.

The Sustainable Playland contract  in Mr. Astorino’s view makes final the choice of Sustainable Playland, pending approval by the County Board of Legislators of the Sustainable Playland “Park Improvement Plan,” by January 1.

That is the deadline that Mr. Astorino set for the legislature to act on whether or not they approve of the  Sustainable Playland proposal. At that point, if the Sustainable plan, which  Kim Morque, president of SPI., was in the process of being finalized and submitted to the Board of Legislators.

Astorino said if the Board did not act and approve the Park Improvement Plan , Sustrainable Playland has the right to walk away from the agreement, after January 1.

Mr. Morque, the Sustainable head, (above, center) answering a question from WPCNR at the news conference as to whether Playland would be open next year and when construction would start indicated the public should not expect too much. He did say that Sustainable has commitments of major financing from  Playland Sports who will build the field house; American Skating who will run the ice casino, Central Amusements International (one of the original responders seeking to run the park, in addition to Sustainable Playland.) To his right is Corinne Zola, President of  Westchester Childrens Museum and, to Mr. Morque’s left, County Executive Robert P. Astorino.

Marque, responding to when work would start said,   “The plan will be submitted within 30 days. It’s a plan that will also evolve. I think there’s perception on the part of the public that on October 1 bulldozers would show up for work, and that’s not the case. We’re going to be very sensitive. We understand the importance of the amusement park components  and keeping a vibrant amusement park so that it’s a great amusement park on a seasonal basis and we think we can do that. We need more open space and a better integration. So we’re excited about it and will be submitting it within 30 days.”

Mr. Astorino, sounding pained, added, “I think that’s a good point. This is…come May of next year will not be a brand-new park This will evolve over several years. People will start to see the park being freshened up, new plantings, painting– all the historical aspect of this will stay. That was very important to all of us. Playland since 1928 has been an art deco feature and that’s what we want to continue. That’s what the public expects. But that doesn’t mean things can’t improve. And they must improve. The public will see some changes, but in the years to come you’ll start seeing bigger and better things happen here: The beginnings of the great lawn, moving things around a bit, maybe some of the oudoor fields. But things take time. I think the important thing is to get the management team in here the professionals in here where they can start making improvements and the county starts making some money so the taxpayers get some relief. That would be the first step. You’ll see some visible signs next year, but as we progress you’ll start to see more and more things, including restaurants being added, some new rides coming in, field house those are the kind of things that will take time.”

Astorino disclosed for the first time that the Playland Ice Casino repairs would not be completed until July of next year, meaning a another dark year for the rink. Astorino said bids for the repair would be opened this week. George Oros a member of the Astorino staff said it was due to the fact the funding was being reimbursed by federal disaster money that has taken months for the county to ascertain whether its availble. Last January the county had decided to go ahead with repairs and hope for reimbursement.

On Thursday, asked for a statement on why it has taken 7 months for the bid process to be completed and work not started, Deputy Communications Director, Donna Greene issued this statement:

“As far as why it took so long, this kind of process always takes time, the design, writing bid specs, advertising, etc.”

Greene said there was no decision on the winning bid as of late yesterday afternoon.

Kenneth Jenkins, the Chairman of the Board of Legislators, told WPCNR in an interview after the conference that the Board would not be rushed into a fast approval of the Park Improvement Plan by January 1. He vowed not to drop his lawsuit, a request for a summary judgment as to whether the County Executive entering into a 10 year licensing agreement was legal without Board of Legislators approval. He also said he was disturbed that today was the first time the administration had informed of the delay in the rink repair. Jenkins speculated the administration delayed the repairs so the skating vendor chosen by Sustainable Playland could execute the repairs the way they wanted.

He also said he liked that Central Amusements International was the Sustainable choice to do the amusement park portion of the park. Jenkins also said the Board had not received copies of the new contracts and had no idea of the financials as to how Sustainable sees their version of the park making money, what rides fees and attractions fees would be and the financial commitments of the backers.

Jenkins said Sustainable had no money of its own to invest, describing them as “a holding company” with the cost of the $34 Million coming from their “partners.” Jenkins said it was his understanding that if Sustainable does not make the money expected, the county gets nothing, and loses $15 Million a year in revenue which the park makes now.

The Children’s Museum Exective Director, Tracy Kay, told WPCNR The Childrens Museum whose contract was also signed today said the museum expected to financer some $10 Million in construction costs against fund-raising leverage to get construction started soon  Kay said the museum would install $6.1 Million of heating ventilation and air conditioning equipment plus $3.8 Million for interior attractions in the museum.

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WPCNR PLAYLAND NEWS. From the Westchester County Department of Communications and the County Board of Legislators Press Office. July 22, 1013:

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino will sign two major Playland agreements on Tuesday, July 23, that are designed to preserve the Dragon Coaster and other iconic rides, protect taxpayers and position the 100-acre park in Rye as a year-round destination for family fun.

The County Board of Legislators spokesman, Tom Staudter, said the signing was “premature,” in that the Chairman of the Board of Legislators, Kenneth Jenkins, has a lawsuit pending that the awarding of the contract was not legal for the Board of Acquisitions and Contracts to do without approval of the Board of legislators because of the size of the contract.

Staudter said the proposed signing did not indicate the Board of Legislators had decided that Sustainable Playland was the Board’s choice. He said the Board has retained an independent consultant to evaluate the proposed financial benefits to the county of the four main proposals, including Sustainable Playland are. Staudter said that report would be released “soon.”  Staudter also asked rhetorically if Sustainable Playland would be presenting a check towards the county debt on Playland, (original proposal by Sustainable said they woud present a $4 Million payment for the county Playland debt upon signing of the Assest Management Agreement).

Geoffrey Thompson, spokesman for Sustainable Playland told WPCNR that Sustainable Playland would not present a check to the county at the scheduled signing tomorrow.

Thompson told WPCNR that once the agreement was signed, Sustainable Playland could be free to ink investors in the project to contracts to fund the $34 Million in investment Sustainable Playland promises and proceed. Staudter, the Board of Legislators spokes person said Sustainable financing and ability to fund what they say they will do in Playland was a primary concern of the Board of Legislators.

Staudter pointed out to WPCNR that Sustainable as part of the Asset Management contract, had to provide an “improvement program” by the end of the year, with specifics, for the board approval. He also noted that the courts could very well throw out the Board of Acquisition and Contracts  award of the Asset Management Program to Sustainable.

The signing ceremony will take place on the Playland Boardwalk at 11 a.m. (In the event of rain, the ceremony will be inside the Westchester Children’s Museum’s new home on the Boardwalk.)  Astorino will be joined by Corinne Zola, president of the museum, and by Kim Morque, president of SPI.

• Astorino will sign an asset management agreement for Sustainable Playland Inc. (SPI) to operate the park. Terms call for SPI to invest $34 million in the park and manage all vendors.
• Astorino will also sign the lease with the Westchester Children’s Museum for the museum to use one of the renovated bathhouses on Playland’s boardwalk as its home. As part of the agreement, the children’s museum will operate under the umbrella of SPI.

Astorino said both agreements were important components of his initiative to “reinvent Playland for the 21st century,” an effort he began in 2010 upon taking office.

“Since 1928, Playland has been part of the identity and fabric of Westchester County,” said Astorino. “Through our new public-private partnership with Sustainable Playland and the Westchester Children’s Museum, we are reinventing Playland with a vision that builds on tradition by keeping what we love, such as Kiddyland and the historic rides, replaces tax dollars with private capital and adds new attractions and experiences for visitors to enjoy on a year round basis.  This is a winning formula for saving Playland today and for future generations.”

Both Morque and Zola expressed their eagerness to get started on the reinvention of Playland.

“Sustainable Playland is gratified that we have reached this milestone,” said Morque. “We thank our supporters and we look forward to working with the county government, our operating partners, stakeholders and the non-profit community in a public-private partnership that will result in a revitalized park that preserves and enhances Playland’s amusement park components, historic structures and landscapes. We are particularly pleased that the Westchester Children’s Museum will be moving forward with construction of their facility and working with Sustainable Playland in this exciting community-based park restoration effort.”

Zola thanked the County Executive and Board of Legislators for approving the lease and added: “The Westchester Children’s Museum grew from grass roots to more than 3,000 donors from all municipalities in Westchester. This museum will be an economic driver for the county and an anchor for the redevelopment of PlaylandPark. We look forward to seeing a crowd gathered at the Westchester Children’s Museum in 24 months, when we will cut the ribbon and open the doors to our spectacular museum.”

ABOUT THE ASSET MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH  SPI

This season, Playland will continue to be run by the county, with the plan for SPI to take over next season. Under the agreement, SPI, a Rye-based not-for profit, will run the park, maintain the grounds, and manage the vendors who operate activities on the property. The terms of the 10-year asset management agreement or AMA, which includes a 10-year option to renew, call for SPI to invest $34 million in private capital into the park.

In addition, SPI will pay the county a base fee that could eventually total $4 million, provided all zones become operational as planned. SPI will also make annual payments to the county based on the park’s net operating revenue. SPI estimates this to be about $1.2 million per year once the park is fully developed. SPI’s payments will go toward retiring the county’s existing $32 million of debt on Playland.

With the signing, SPI has 30 days to submit a Playland Improvement Plan (PIP) to Astorino, consisting of the material changes the group proposes to make when the park comes under its management. After the PIP is reviewed by the county executive, it will go to the Board of Legislators for approval. If the BOL does not approve the PIP by December 31, 2013, SPI has the right to withdraw from the agreement.

Admission to the park will be free all year round as well as access to Edith Read Sanctuary, the Boardwalk and the Pier. Throughout the park, attractions will be grouped into a variety of zones with fees charged for various activities.

SPI’s proposal includes:

• An aqua zone, featuring a mini-water park and beach attractions
• Outdoor ball fields and an indoor field house
• Renovated indoor ice rink and a new outdoor winter rink
• A Great Lawn, that will provide enhanced public access to the Long Island Sound and add attractive multi-use space to the park.
• Indoor multi-use facility, which can be rented for parties, weddings, meetings and conferences
• New restaurants.

Proceeds to pay the county, maintain the grounds and make improvements will come from fees SPI charges its vendors, equity investments made by SPI and its vendors, revenues generated by the attractions run by the vendors, and other sources of income, such as parking and sponsorships.

SPI was selected by Astorino in 2012, following a “request for proposals” process.  Out of the 12 proposals reviewed by the county and a citizens committee, Astorino said Sustainable was chosen because it had the best vision for the park financially and operationally, as well as far-reaching experience and strong local ties.

The park has been costing taxpayers $3 million to $5 million annually in recent years, as the number of visitors has decreased from over one million in 2006 to 433,000 last year. Under the SPI’s operation, the goal is to make the park a year-round destination, less dependent on weather and to reduce or eliminate the taxpayer subsidy.

ABOUT THE WESTCHESTER CHILDREN’S MUSEUM LEASE

Under terms of the lease approved previously by the Board of Legislators and the Board of Acquisition and Contract, the Westchester Children’s Museum will lease approximately 21,390 square feet of space in what was formerly used as a men’s bath house. The lease will run for 10 years.

The Westchester Children’s Museum, a not-for-profit, will operate under the management umbrella of SPI, which will allow the two organizations to share expertise, minimize costs and increase efficiencies. In return for investing over $7 million in infrastructure improvements, the museum is being given a lease of  $1 a year for a 10-year period. Plans call for the museum to be open to the public within two years.

The Westchester Children’s Museum will be a celebration of childhood. Exhibit areas will contain experiential laboratories, interactive art pieces, sculptural elements, hidden worlds, climbing structures, and physical connections to the outdoors. The museum’s exhibits and programs will draw from the region’s rich history, cultural diversity, flourishing ecosystems, and literary and artistic traditions.

Even before the museum doors open, the Westchester Children’s Museum is delivering quality educational enrichment programs that leverage hands-on, exploratory approaches toward learning.  Its Museum Without Walls programs are presented at a variety of community centers, schools, and childcare centers throughout WestchesterCounty.  Since the program began in 2010, more than 8,000 kids have engaged in learning experiences that are full of fun and discovery.

The Westchester Children’s Museum projects it will add over $4 million a year to the local economy while creating much needed construction and permanent jobs, encouraging tourism, and reinvigorating Playland – all while preserving a national historic landmark.