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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According to the evidence at trial and the superseding indictment originally filed in White Plains federal court:

Annabi was first elected to the Yonkers City Council in November 2001 to represent the Second District and was subsequently re-elected in 2003 and 2005. She served as the Democratic Majority Leader of the Council during the latter part of her third term in office. The Yonkers City Council’s primary function is to consider and vote on the city’s budget, zoning changes, and other legislation.

Zehy Jereis served as chairman of the Yonkers Republican Party from the fall of 2003 through the fall of 2007. As the party chairman, his duties were to promote the Republican Party in Yonkers and to advance the interests of Republican elected officials and candidates. Jereis used his considerable influence and contacts to assist Annabi with all three of her successful campaigns.

Since 2001, Annabi received nearly $200,000 in secret payments from Jereis and others in exchange for taking favorable actions in her official capacity on matters in which they had an interest and that were pending before the City Council. These matters included two real estate projects known as the Longfellow Project and the Ridge Hill Development project.

The Longfellow Project

In 2003, Yonkers developer Milio Management was seeking to redevelop an area of land, known as the Longfellow Project, that was partially located within the Council District represented by Annabi. During a City Council meeting on June 14, 2005, Annabi proclaimed her strong opposition to the project, stating, “Even if the entire community supported [it], I would be opposed.” She also said that the project was “outrageous” and a “slap in the face to the taxpayers of Yonkers.” Despite considerable effort, Milio Management was unable to move the project forward in the face of Annabi’s opposition.

In April 2006, Milio Management hired Westchester County attorney Anthony Mangone to assist in persuading Annabi to support the Longfellow Project. Shortly thereafter, Mangone arranged a meeting between a representative of Milio Management and Jereis. During the meeting, Jereis advised the representative that he could help persuade Annabi to support the project. Later, Mangone told Milio Management that in order for the project to proceed, the developer would have to pay Annabi $30,000 in exchange for her support. In the summer of 2006, Milio Management gave Mangone $30,000 in cash for Annabi. Mangone then gave $20,000 in cash to Jereis to give to Annabi. At a City Council meeting that September, Annabi reversed her long-held opposition to the Longfellow Project and voted in favor of awarding it to Milio Management. Shortly after receiving the $20,000, Annabi made several substantial cash and credit card purchases, including airline ticket upgrades, a Rolex watch, and a diamond necklace.

The Ridge Hill Project

The Ridge Hill Project was a proposal by developer Forest City Ratner to develop an 81-acre tract of land into retail, restaurant, and office space with hundreds of residential housing units, a hotel, and a conference center. Annabi was an outspoken critic of the proposed Ridge Hill Project and voted against both the project as well as legislation that would allow it to move forward over her opposition. Annabi and others also filed a civil lawsuit to effectively block the project. As the City Council was considering the Ridge Hill Project, Forest City Ratner made repeated and unsuccessful efforts to convince Annabi to vote in favor of the project.

On June 2, 2006, after being introduced to representatives of Forest City Ratner, Jereis advised them that he could arrange a meeting for them with Annabi. Jereis and representatives of Forest City Ratner also had an agreement in which the developer would give him a consulting job sometime after Annabi formally voted in favor of the Ridge Hill Project. After two meetings with Jereis and Forest City Renter’s representatives, which were held five days apart, Annabi reversed her opposition to the Ridge Hill Project. On June 15, 2006, she issued a press release—drafted by Jereis and representatives of Forest City Ratner—informing the public of her support for the project. One month later, at a City Council meeting on July 11, 2006, Annabi voted in favor of the zoning change necessary for the Ridge Hill Project. Shortly after Annabi changed her vote on the Ridge Hill Project, Jereis received the promised consulting contract from Forest City Ratner worth $60,000 over one year.

Other Secret Payments to Annabi and Efforts to Conceal These Payments

Jereis also secretly gave Annabi money and purported loans to finance the purchase of two residential properties located outside of her Council District. To obtain favorable financing, Annabi contemporaneously submitted applications to two different banks, advising both that she intended to occupy the house for which she was seeking financing and concealing that she was seeking to borrow money from the other bank for a second house. The closings for the two loans occurred only three days apart. Furthermore, Annabi lived in one of these houses, which was outside of her Council District, despite state and local laws that required her as a Councilmember to live within her District. Jereis then purchased a cooperative apartment for Annabi within her Council District so she could meet the residency requirement. Jereis paid the down payment on the apartment and made the monthly mortgage payments. In addition, in her loan applications for one of the houses and for the apartment she purchased, Annabi falsely inflated her income. Her loan applications also included fake pay stubs, W-2s, and bank statements.

From 2002 through 2007, Annabi affirmatively concealed the illegal benefits she received from Jereis and others by filing annual financial disclosure statements that intentionally omitted the illegal payments. Annabi also failed to report the illegal payments she received on federal income tax returns.

***

Annabi, 41, and Jereis, 40, both of Yonkers, New York, were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to make and accept corrupt payments, one count of conspiracy to deprive the city of Yonkers and its citizens of Annabi’s honest services, one count of receiving corrupt payments, and one count of extortion. Annabi was also convicted of one count of receiving corrupt payments, three counts of making false statements to a bank, and two counts of filing false tax returns. Jereis was also convicted of one count of making corrupt payments.

Annabi faces a maximum sentence of 161 years in prison, and Jereis faces a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.

Mangone was initially charged with Annabi and Jereis in January 2010. He pled guilty on November 29, 2010 to conspiracy, bribery, extortion, and tax evasion charges and is awaiting sentencing.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2012. From the Republican Parties of Westchester and Rockland County. March 28, 2012:

 The Westchester and Rockland Republican Committees unanimously nominated Rye Town Supervisor and businessman Joe Carvin as their candidate in the 17^th congressional district at the convention held last night. Mr. Carvin will face 24-year career politician Nita Lowey in the newly-drawn district that encompasses parts of Westchester and all of Rockland County.

Mr. Carvin said, “I made the decision to get into this race because I could not stand idly by while I witnessed career politicians drive us to perilous debt levels that threaten our future as a nation. The voters of Westchester and Rockland will have a clear choice in this election between a political outsider (Mr. Carvin), who is laser-focused on addressing the considerable economic and fiscal challenges facing our nation, versus someone (Nita Lowey) who continues to kick the can down the road.”

Carvin continued, “Our nation cannot afford two more years of the same harmful policies if we are going to have any hope of getting the economy back on track and generate new jobs and economic growth. I am very much looking forward to having this dialogue with the voters over the next eight months.”

Westchester GOP Chairman Doug Colety said, “As a local town supervisor, Joe has earned enormous respect and popularity from people of all parties for his willingness to put what’s right ahead of political expediency. He will bring that same fresh approach to Washington, where party politics and special interests have for too long dominated the direction of our country. Joe is exactly what’s needed to shake things up in Congress.”

“These are serious times and we need serious leaders who have the expertise to fix the financial and economic problems facing our country right now,” said Rockland and New York State Vice Republican Chairman Vinny Reda. “We cannot continue sending the same people to Washington and expect a different result. Joe has the experience and courage to make the tough choices that will help our nation thrive again. I’m delighted that this district now encompasses all of Rockland and we’re proud to support him.”

Mr. Carvin, who announced his run for Congress on Monday, is an agricultural investor who has lived and worked on five continents. He speaks five languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Wolof) and holds a M.B.A. from New York University and a M.P.A. from Harvard University.

Mr. Carvin has refused to accept a salary as Rye Town Supervisor and he has reduced town spending by 25% under his tenure. He is currently working to dissolve the Town of Rye to reduce duplication of government services and help stop the dramatic rise of property taxes.  (Westchester County families pay the highest property taxes in America, according to the U.S. Census.) Town Supervisor Carvin was re-elected to his post last year with 62% of the vote in a Town that is overwhelmingly Democratic.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From the Business Council of Westchester. March 27, 2012:

Upon news that the Senate and Assembly Majority Leaders have reached agreement with Governor Andrew Cuomo on the 2012-13 budget, the Business Council of Westchester issued this statement:

“The budget agreement reached today by Governor Cuomo, Majority Leader Skelos and
Speaker Silver will have positive implications for the Westchester business community.  With
2% or less growth in state spending, as well as a net reduction in All Funds spending for the
second year in a row, our leaders demonstrate they remain committed to fiscal responsibility.

The phased takeover of local government Medicaid administration expenses over the next
three years should result in direct savings to businesses and taxpayers. With this critical element
of mandate relief in place, the Business Council will work with the legislature and state
government to progress other priorities, including reform of the State Environmental Quality
Review (SEQR) process.

With the appointment of Lieutenant Governor Duffy as Chair of the Spending and Government 
Efficiency (SAGE) Commission, the Business Council will continue to forcefully advocate in
favor of structural and operational changes that will streamline the organizational structure of
state government, for creation of a shared services model that will help create savings for the
state, and development of metrics and targets to help improve performance and make
government more open, transparent and accountable.

These fiscal reform measures are only one piece of New York State’s recovery. It is our hope
that the launch of the New York Works Task Force, an initiative designed to develop a
coordinated capital infrastructure plan among agencies and authorities, will help refine the use of
resources and accelerate construction of critical infrastructure. $1.2 billion in new spending for
these projects will literally help pave the road to recovery.

Building on fiscal reform and progression of infrastructure projects including the Tappan Zee
Bridge, job creation is the core of our economic growth. The second round of funding to
implement regional strategic plans developed through the Regional Councils totals $150 million
in new capital funding. The Business Council will not only continue to serve on the Mid-Hudson
Regional Council, but collaborate with our partners to better prepare our constituents to apply
and compete for those funds, and ultimately create jobs in our region and county.

 The General Contractors Association of New York issued this statement on the budget agreement:

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. Special to WPCNR from the University of Michigan. March 26, 2012:

America’s economy will continue its recovery this year and next as it adds nearly 5 million jobs and unemployment falls below 8 percent, say University of Michigan economists.

“The performance of the U.S. economy during much of 2011 did nothing to alter the perception that we were mired in a sluggish recovery,” said U-M economist Joan Crary. “Indeed, by late summer economists were considering the likelihood of a double-dip recession.

“The economy regained some momentum during the fall, however, with the closing quarter registering some of the best economic readings of the year. Although the economy is growing at a subpar rate to begin 2012, we expect the pace of economic activity to accelerate over the next two years as the economic headwinds that have plagued the recovery begin to abate.”

In their annual spring forecast update of the U.S. economy, Crary and colleagues Daniil Manaenkov and Matthew Hall say that employment rises at a moderate pace, consumer spending increases, the housing market picks up, vehicle sales improve and inflation remains in check in 2012 and 2013.

They predict that payroll employment will rise by 2.5 million jobs during 2012 and 2.3 million during 2013, an average of 200,000 jobs per month.

“An extrapolation of our forecast suggests that the cumulative job growth during the recovery will finally exceed the jobs lost during the recession in the second quarter of 2014, roughly six years after the previous peak in the first quarter of 2008,” Crary said.

Unemployment is expected to edge downward from the current rate of 8.3 percent to about 8 percent by the end of 2012 and to 7.7 percent a year later.

Crary and colleagues project economic output growth (as measured by real Gross Domestic Product) of 2.3 percent during this year and 2.6 percent during 2013—up from 1.6 percent last year.

They say that real nonresidential fixed investment was a major driver of growth in 2011 and continues to be over the forecast horizon, rising by $113 billion in 2012 and $116 billion in 2013.

“Investment is continuing to lead the country out of the recession as consumption growth remains sluggish and government purchases continue to be a drag on the economy,” Crary said. “Investment in nonresidential construction turned around in 2011. It then accelerates in 2012 and 2013, offsetting slower growth in the equipment and software sector, which remains strong but grows at a more sustainable pace.”

The U-M economists say that residential building is beginning to show signs of life, as well. Single-family housing starts—at an all-time low of 430,000 units last year—will increase by about 100,000 units this year and then reach about 730,000 units in 2013.

Existing single-family home sales are projected to rise by 300,000–400,000 units over the next two years, as housing prices stabilize.

Sales of light vehicles are another indicator of a steadily recovering economy, Crary and colleagues say. Sales totaled 12.7 million units in 2011, up from 11.6 million the year before and will rise to 14 million units this year and to 14.6 million units in 2013.

“Part of the strong showing early this year is related to abnormal weather this winter, with the rest coming from make-up purchases deferred due to Japan-related supply shortages and genuine pent-up demand,” Crary said.

“With the average age of a light vehicle approaching 11 years, many consumers will not be able to delay purchases much longer. While weather-related and “make-up” sales will diminish soon, the release of accumulated pent-up demand should keep pushing vehicle sales higher.”

According to the forecast, core inflation will edge upward to 2 percent this year and drop slightly to 1.8 percent in 2013; the price of oil will average about $102 per barrel this year and about $104 next year; and interest rates, while creeping upward, will remain historically low.

Conventional mortgage rates will average 4 percent this year and 4.2 percent in 2013. The 3-month Treasury bill rate will closely follow the fed funds rate, remaining below 20 basis points through next year, while 10-year Treasury notes will rise from 2 percent now to 2.6 percent by the end of next year.

The U-M forecast is based on the Michigan Quarterly Econometric Model of the U.S. Economy and compiled by the U-M Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics. For more information, visit www.umich.edu/~rsqe.

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. MARCH 25,2012:

The 49th Ebersole Rink Annual Ice Show wowed over 100 Parents, Friends, and Skating Enthusasts Saturday evening on a great night to skate. Rarely has the weather been so cooperative, delivering a crisp sheet of ice and even crisper skating by 18 solists and about 80 group performers from the Ebersole Rink Skating School.

The evening was highlighted by an advanced Finale Number peformed by the Advanced Figure Skating Program skaters shown below.

Mayor Thomas Roach, Rink Manager Matt Hansen, and Commissioner of Recreation and Parks, Wayne Bass opened the festivities with the Mayor saying what a wonderful skating program the Skating School runs and congratulated all the skaters on the culmination of their hard work.

The Advanced Figure Skaters Executing a perfect Pinwheel in the Show’s spectacular Finale.

Under the Bridge: Advanced Figure Skaters Impress the crowd with their synchronized finale farewell — easily the most spectacular final number seen in the last 15 years of these shows.