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 FBI REPORT. Special to WPCNR from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. December 14, 2011:

 Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Janice K. Fedarcyk, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); James R. Farrell, the Sullivan County District Attorney; Douglas Solomon, the Chief of the Monticello Police Department; and Major Edward Raso of Troop F, the New York State Police, announced charges Tuesday against 13 individuals for narcotics trafficking offenses related to the distribution of crack cocaine and powder cocaine in and around Monticello, New York.

Eleven defendants are charged in an Indictment with conspiring to distribute 280 grams and more of crack as well as powder cocaine. Two other defendants are charged in separate Complaints with attempting to distribute 28 grams and more of crack cocaine. The 13 defendants were arrested over the last 24 hours and are expected to be presented in White Plains federal court later this afternoon.

 According to the Indictment U.S. v. Jasaan Bastian, et al., unsealed today in White Plains federal court: From at least 2009 through April 2011, JASAAN BASTIAN, FRANK WILLIAMS, DELSHONDA KIMBLE, JESSE LEWIS, JOAN JAMES, JASON ELDER, FLOYD SPRUILL, MESSIAH LOCKHART, KENNETH MITCHELL, JR. ANDREA BROWN, and BASHEEM SMALLS, agreed to distribute 280 grams and more of crack and powder cocaine in the area around Monticello in Sullivan County.

Specifically, BASTIAN, LEWIS, and JAMES obtained quantities of crack and powder cocaine from various suppliers, including at least one supplier in New York City. In addition to directly distributing the drugs, BASTIAN arranged for WILLIAMS and KIMBLE to transport crack and powder cocaine to ELDER, SPRUILL, LOCKHART, MITCHELL, JR., BROWN, and SMALLS, who sold the crack and powder cocaine to other drug dealers and retail customers.

According to the Complaints U.S. v. Errol Davis and U.S. v. Darren Johnson, unsealed Tuesday in White Plains federal court: Between October 2010 and February 2011, DARREN JOHNSON and ERROL DAVIS each attempted to sell 28 grams or more of crack cocaine to a confidential informant. The deals were arranged over the phone. JOHNSON completed the transaction in Fallsburg, New York. DAVIS completed the transaction in Monticello, New York. * * * Each of the 11 defendants named in U.S. v. Jasaan Bastian, et al., faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment.

 ERROL DAVIS and DARREN JOHNSON each are charged in a separate complaint with two counts: attempting to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams and more of crack cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, and with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute crack, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the New York State Police, the Village of Monticello Police Department, the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, and the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force. He also thanked the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office, the New York OCDETF Crime Strike Force, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Mr. Bharara added that the investigation is continuing. These prosecutions are being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Alberts and Douglas Bloom are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment and the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty

 Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “Crack and powder cocaine descend like a plague upon a community, leaving a trail of violence, destruction, and addiction in their wake. Today marks another step in our campaign to clean up the neighborhoods in the northern counties of our District and to restore the quality of life to their residents.” Assistant FBI Director in Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk stated: “Narcotics trafficking adversely affects safety and quality of life in municipalities big and small. The illicit drug trade is not just an urban problem, and the FBI is as committed to Monticello as Manhattan.” Sullivan County District Attorney James R. Farrell stated: “The arrests that occurred today are the by-product of the hard work and combined effort of our federal and local law enforcement agencies.

“This joint initiative shows that when we work together, we can make a difference and protect our communities from the scourge of drugs and gangs. With shrinking budgets and New York’s revised drug laws, now, more than ever, partnerships with our federal counterparts are vital to our public safety mission. I want to commend the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara for their commitment to making Sullivan County safe. I also want to thank Monticello Police Chief Doug Solomon, the New York State Police, and Major Edward Raso, Troop F Commander, for their commitment of local resources to this important work and their successful partnership with the federal authorities.”

Monticello Police Chief Douglas Solomon stated: “I am very pleased with the arrests made pursuant to this investigation. Under federal statutes, the significant prison time these defendants are facing should send a clear message to gang members and drug dealers, that the Monticello Police Department will use every resource available in order to protect our community. In addition, I would hope that these arrests have the effect of tamping down the spike in gun violence we have experienced this past year. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the New York State Police, and all the agencies that have been participating in the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force for making this case possible.”

New York State Police Major Edward Raso stated: “This latest enforcement effort represents a continuation of the outstanding work of the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force. As law enforcement officers we are aware that criminal enterprises stretch beyond geographical and political boundaries. These arrests represent the Task Force’s first in Sullivan County. We will continue to pursue these criminals across the Hudson Valley.”

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BRADLEY WATCH:

Ex-Mayor posts bail.

In County Jail pending

processing.

 

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. Special to WPCNR From Nancy King, Westchester County Roving Correspondent. December 13, 2011 5 P.M. E.D.T.:

As of 5 P.M., former Mayor of White Plains Adam Bradley is in Westchester County Jail pending processing of his bail, correspondent King reports. King says a friend of Mr. Bradley’s whom he is living with posted Bradley’s $10,000 bail, which the resigned Mayor did not have access to this morning in family court.

King says Mr. Bradley will not be released until late this evening while the bail is being processed. 

Adam Bradley went to jail this morning and as of 12:30 P.M. and cooled his heels in a holding cell in the White Plains Department of Public Safety, before being transferred to the county jail.

Former Mayor Adam Bradley was remanded to jail this morning by Judge Susan Capeci of Westchester Family Court when the former Mayor failed to post $10,000 bail in connection whith his charge of criminal contempt of court involving unauthorized phone calls to his former wife.

Assistant District Attorney Audrey Stone asked for jailtime from the judge when Mr. Bradley could not post bail.

Judge Capeci sentenced former White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley to probation on all counts March 13, 2011 on Mr. Bradley’s December 9, 2010 convictions for attempted assault, contempt, and three charges of harassment involving his wife. Mr. Bradley was subject to an order of protection prohibiting him from seeing or contacting his wife, Fumiko Bradley for five years, subject to modification for custody and visitation purposes.

Today’s jailing is related to alleged accidental cellphone calls Bradley made to his wife in violation of his terms of court-ordered probation.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. News & Comment by John F. Bailey. December 12,2011 UPDATED December 16, 2011:

 

Bah, humbug!

 

Have any of the financial wizards in the business press, and those economist pundits got their calculators out and analyzed Albany new  tax rates and noted the “Bonus Money” the New York legislature and Governor have just sent to those struggling “Middle Class Taxpayers” making from  $300,000 to $2 million a year?

 

Has anyone dared to point that the legislature and the state’s leaders have a hell of a nerve to say this is a “middle class” tax cut?

 

No.

 

All we hear is praise for the Governor and the legislature for making New York more attractive to business, giving tax relief to the struggling middle class taxpayer.

 

Struggling middle class? Surely the Albany Santa must be kidding.

 

You do not need an accountant to smell this pre-election year ploy.

 

How can you cut revenue when your revenues are down?

Across America the Governor and his partners-in-spin would have you believe that persons making over  $300,000  to $2 million adjusted gross income are “middle class,” deserving of tax reductions of up to $40,000 (at the $1,999,999 level) on their state income taxes.

 

Do they take us for fools?

 

Yes, obviously.

 

They have disrespected us just so they can claim next election day that they lowered our taxes. But, watch your property taxes folks!

 

Watch those property taxes  soar when towns and counties and school districts have to cope with drastic state cuts in aid for schools communities and counties in the 2012-13 budget.

 

Let’s talk middle class for a moment. What it is and is not.

 

People who were making  $100,000  in the 1990s—a mere 10 years ago were living well,and if they had two incomes of $100,000 each , they lived even better. If they kept their debt under control, or even ran it up they lived well. If they used their heads and paid off a mortgage and saved, they could even have saved for childrens’ education, and still had plenty of discretionary income. They were in no way middle class—they were upper middle class.

 

Let’s compare the real middle class and the lower classes and see how much Albany’s stocking stuffers in tax cuts passed last week does for those who are strugglin’..

 

You would think that larger proportionate tax dollars would be given back to the lower income folks, wouldn’t you?  There are more of the lower class, after all.

 

Well that is not the case with Mr. Albany’s taxcuts.

 

Far from it.

 

If you’re a politician, you have to take care of the richies first.  

 

The tax cut for the “struggling middle classes”  making $150,000 to $1,999,000 in adjusted gross income is a range of 1/5^th of 1 %  to 1% cent in the state tax rate.

 

1/5th of 1 per cent to 1%.

 

That is a mighty axe because the new rate applies to a much wider income universe.

 

As WPCNR takes you through the tax structure, I have not adjusted the rates based on last year’s breakpoints of the graduated state tax rates for those earning $300,000  or  more of this year that are now history.

 

The tax savings are estimates, but even as estimates they demonstrate the richer are getting the big slice of pie in these tax cuts, while the $50,000 earner is getting peanuts.

 

Reagonomics again?

 

In sharp contrast, the legislature threw what amounts to a month of gasoline money, a third of a month’s rent or mortgage, or two weeks of groceries   to the lower classes with adjusted gross income of $40,000 to $150,000.

 

Albany in its never-to-be-forgotten “never-never land” thinking  cut the tax rate for the working class a mere point-four of a per cent from 6.85% to 6.45%.

 

Point-four of a per cent from 6.85% to 6.45%

 

The $100,000 a year adjusted gross income earner under the new tax rate of 6.45% enacted last week pays $6,450 in state income tax for 2011-12, that’s $400 lower than they pay under the old rate of 6.85% ($6,850). That’s the equivalent of gas for two cars for four weeks. Maybe a third of your mortgage for one month. A week of groceries.

 

The lower class should be sending telegrams of thank you’s to Albany don’t you think?

 

They must be so happy for a little crust from the state’s income pie.

 

The person making $50,000, starting salaries for some starting union jobs—receives $200 in tax savings from what they would have paid ($3,425 compared to their new state tax of $3,225).  

 

That will not even pay your commutation ticket to Manhattan on the MTA.

 

The person or couple making $150,000 adjusted gross income will be receiving a windfall from their benefactors in Albany of  $600 ($9,675 in state taxes due, instead of $10,275 ) That’s a Broadway show and dinner, and two weeks of gasoline for the two-SUV family.

 

Once you get past $150,000, your new state tax rate goes up slightly to 6.65% (still lower than the 6.85% you would have paid previously.

 

But in Albany’s way of looking at things, if the “struggling middle class” making beyond $350,000 does not get more relief, the state will be in worse shape. Really?

 

At a $400,000 gross adjusted income, paying the new state tax rate of 6.85% you will pay approximately $27,400 in state taxes this year instead of $31,400 under the old rate of 7.85%. Things are looking up! You pay $4,000 less taxes! Man, that’s a fast getaway weekend (in the Adirondacks or the Hamps). 

 

Mmmmm, it is good to be the struggling middle class.

 

In Albany’s view, the more you make the more taxes you should get back. It gets better.

 

If you have $600,000 in adjusted gross income, you get $6,000 in state tax saving

 

At $1,000,000 in adjusted gross income,  it looks like a very nice chunk of change:$23,320 in tax savings. Just enough to buy Muffie or Malcom a car on graduation from private school.

 

Ahh, you can just feel that New York economy starting to hum already can’t you. Happy days are here again.

 

Would you like to know what the couple making $1,999,999 in adjusted gross income will save under this very livable 6.85% tax rate:  around $40,000 less taxes.

 

A total of  $137,000 in state taxes as compared with $179,000 under the old millionaire’s tax.

 

Now what is wrong with that number?

 

A fair legislator  might think that you would like to give earners at say the $40,000 to $50,000 level a  real make-a-difference cut.

 

 A  4.65% tax rate that would save them $900 in taxes. Maybe, shudder, a 3.65% tax rate that would cut their taxes $1,800. That is a take-home pay game-changer for the Lower Classes—an extra $150 a month in spending money or money they could like save, spend on food, entertainment, rent.

 

This could have been been achieved by still giving a substantially less tax cut to the $150,000 and up earners.

 

 How about a tax cut of 7.25% for the swells – more than a half percent less than the 7.85%-9% they would have paid under the old rate.

 

That 7.25% cut would give the $350,000 earner a $2,100 tax cut – instead of a $3,500 tax cut. Would those long-suffering “middle classers” miss the $1,400?

 

Take  $700,000 adjusted gross income earner or couple: A 7.25% tax rate would still cut their state taxes $2,800 instead  of  approximately $7,000 more under the new 6.85% rate .( The 700,000 earner pays $47,950 in taxes at 7.25% instead of $50,750)

 

The million dollar earner would pay $4,000 more taxes ($72,500 at 7.25%, as opposed to $68,500 at 6.85%, the actual new rate).

 

The $1.999 Million Dollar adjusted gross incomer—(I know the living is tough)—well a 7.25% tax rate instead of the now-law, 6.85% — delivers  an $29,000 tax cut instead of a $42,000 tax cut ( $13,000 differential).

 

Are you following what has happened here?

 

The strategy of the tax cut is to reward those who least deserve it.

 

The “struggling upper class” who just aren’t keeping enough of their millions and are threatening to leave the state, according to the Albanyists.

 

The only persons really benefiting from this tax are the people who really need tax relief the least.

 

Ostensibly the tax cuts on the rich will stimulate spending and help balance the state budget that is still $2 Billion short,(according to Assemblyman Robert Castelli)  this year. There’s the cut in the MTA tax, too, which no one in Albany has said specifically where that’s going to be replaced. (Mr. Castelli, the 89th District Assemblyman says this will be achieved from savings to come.)

 

The argument was to not let all the income from the millionaire’s income tax disappear when it expired December 31.

 

However, WPCNR would argue that Albany has given back too much to those who have too much and given back not enough to those who have to struggle to keep what they have.

 

I hope you struggling middle classes up there will spend your thousands wisely.

 

What about those making over $2 Million well they get only a very modest tax cut,8.97% rate previously is cut to 8.82%.

 

That means if you make an adjusted gross income of $10 Million you will pay $15,000 less taxes this year than last, $897,000 to $882,000.

 

Buddy can you spare a grand?

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY By the WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. December 10 UPDATED DECEMBER 10 11:10 P.M. :

When White Plains Week Commentators commentate, “Power,” such as it is, listens!

On Friday evening, White Plains Week, the city news roundup show internetcast worldwide from downtown, your town, White Plains around the world, commentated that Westchester County finished repaving, and reguttering North Street a main north-south gateway to White Plains, before Thanksgiving.

 

NORTH STREET FRIDAY MORNING AT BRYANT AVENUE. LOOK FOLKS, NO LANES…AND IT HAS HAD NO LANES  FOR 3 WEEKS

Commentators John Bailey, Peter Katz and Jim Benorofe noted dryly that after three weeks since repaving had been comoleted,  Westchester County had not painted traffic lane markings creating a dangerous situation for motorists unfamiliar with traffic patterns on North Street.

Friday evening the county laned the road in one night.

WPCNR is happy to report that with scant hours of the WPW telecast Friday evening, Westchester County crews relined North Street from I-287 to the Hutchinson River Parkway (in one night). Thanks, Westchester County for watching and taking care of business (finally). Cross walks still have to be painted, but at least cars no where their lanes are.

BUT WAIT! THEY ONLY DID HALF THE ROAD!

WPCNR READER WRITER WRITES Sunday AT 5 P.M.:

I am pleased to know that SOME line painting was completed.  But not so from Ridgeway to the Hutch. 5pm 12/10/11
I just drove up North Street from the Hutch to Ridgeway..  No lines are painted.  Everyday I commute by car  along N. Street and Ridgeway .  The Left turn onto Ridgeway is causing confusion and short stops by motorists.

Thank you, Mr. Astorino!

BUT COULD WE FINISH THE JOB??? PLEASE!

North Street Southbound Saturday morning, coming up to former St. Agnes Hospital.Love that Turn Lane!

North Streeet Northbound just past Bryant Avenue Saturday morning. How about dem Lanes! The Lanes are Open!

 

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. Special to WPCNR by Westchester County Roving Correspondent Nancy King. December 9, 2011:

Nancy King

After tense negotiations that lasted for 15 hours, the Westchester County Board of Legislators and County Executive Rob Astorino and his team arrived at a budget compromise that saved 187 jobs, restored cuts to community health care centers and left nature centers and their programs intact. 

The vote taken shortly before 2am was 16 for the budget and legislator Marty Rogowsky voting against it.  Rogowsky, who will be leaving the board at the end of the month voted against the budget last year as well.  

The board approved a $548.4 million dollar tax levy which will mean the taxpayers of Westchester will not see an increase in their property tax bill for the second year in a row. 

In a News Release from the County after the news conference, Mr. Astorino is reported as saying  he would most likely line veto the restoration of the current day care rates and the neighborhood centers.

In addition to nature centers, and health centers, the board also restored funding to the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Arts Westchester, legal aid, the Westchester County Probation Department, eviction and homeless prevention programs and food banks.

According to legislators Pete Harkham and Chairman Ken Jenkins, this budget was passed without having to dip into the fund balance. The legislators’ both explained that the money came primarily from the Department of Social Services which underspent their budget last year.

This morning, County Executive Rob Astorino  in a press conference, admitted that negotiating this budget was indeed difficult and that he will more than likely be vetoing certain line items, without saying what..

A news release from the Department of Communications Friday afternoon reports that Mr. Astorino plans at least two vetos of line items– neighborhood centers and restoration of the county day care rate:

“The county executive said he is likely to veto the addition by the board of $1.9 million for three neighborhood health centers and changes to the day care subsidy program. Astorino has argued that the health centers, which provide non-mandated services, run at a profit without county subsidy, noting that their executive directors earn combined salaries of more than $1 million. He had questioned the merit of giving these outside agencies money while the county’s own Department of Health was facing cuts.

            As to day care, he has proposed increasing the parent contribution to 35 percent for non-mandated day care, the same amount paid by parents in New York City and many other New York counties. This would increase the number of families that would be able to receive aid by 600.

 

He re-iterated that he was disappointed with CSEA in the fact that he perceives that they are unwilling to negotiate the terms of their upcoming contract negotiations. Astorino has been asking for union members to begin contributing to their health care and pension benefits.

Astorino also did not address the issue of placing workers who appear to have received jobs as patronage favors. CSEA Vice-President Manu read a short list at Tuesday’s public hearing at the County Center. Union officials are concerned that these workers have been placed in positions without having to apply for and take the civil service examination. CSEA workers believe that those patronage positions should be eliminated first before their own members are laid off.

Astorino did not however address the issues of having sales tax revenue which was larger than he earlier anticipated, leaving many taxpayers to wonder if the financial health of Westchester County is not as dire as the County Executive would like us to believe.

 This budget is last one where the CE will have to deal with a supermajority of Democrats on the legislative board. It remains to be seen whether or not the next  year will be more productive for the Astorino administration. After January 1^st, there will now be 7 Republicans sitting on the County Board.

Westchester taxpayers however will see little or no change in their upcoming tax bill. Westchester County taxes make up only 20% of the average tax bill. Local school taxes are usually around 65% of the average tax bill and have steadily increased over the years.