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 Board of Legislators. (Edited) May 19, 2011:

Plans for a new bio-technological business park and education center adjacent to the Westchester Medical Center in the Grasslands section of Mount Pleasant took a big step forward this week when the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) began addressing legislation that would authorize the Astorino Administration to enter discussions regarding a long-term lease agreement on 60 acres of County owned property for the development.

The proposal was presented by developer John Ferari, who is well known for spearheading the creation of the Maria Ferari Children’s Hospital at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY

     Mr. Ferari’s plan includes six new green buildings (totaling two million square feet) dedicated to bio-tech research spread across a campus, with a hotel, restaurants, shops and a centerpiece Children’s Living Science Center that will stress safe lifestyle choices.

Almost all of the funding for the project will be privately raised. In his presentation to the BOL committee members, Ferari estimated that the project would create 3500 construction jobs and, when completed, 2500 permanent full-time jobs. The project would also generate an estimated $6 million in property tax revenue for the Town of Mount Pleasant and Westchester County.

     Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers) and Legislator John Nonna (D-Mount Pleasant) co-sponsored the Memorandum of Legislation discussed at a meeting of the BOL’s Housing, Planning & Operations Committee.

     The entire project will encompass 80 acres, which will include 20 acres already owned by Mr. Ferari.

     “The spectacular vision Mr. Ferari has for this parcel of property brings together important needs such as job creation and economic development, support for medical research and green building practices, along with promoting awareness for healthy lifestyles,” said Chairman Jenkins. “It is also perfect opportunity to create a positive collaboration between two branches of County government to benefit the residents of Westchester for many years to come.”

     In his presentation, Ferari said the bio-tech park and education center was similar to the vision he had 16 years ago when he and his wife Brenda first began planning the Maria Ferari Children’s Hospital. Over $40 million was raised from over 25,000 private donors to make the children’s hospital a reality.      

     “This is an idea, I think, that we should given strong consideration and support to, given the need in Westchester to move forward economically,” said Legislator Nonna.

     The BOL’s Housing, Planning & Operations Committee members emphasized that their discussion of what should be done at the Grasslands campus centers on a collaboration that is important to the Town of Mount Pleasant and Westchester County. The Committee plans to continue public discussion to shape this legislation. Once adopted by the BOL, this legislation would authorize the Astorino Administration to develop the details of the lease of the county-owned land before sending the final contract back to the BOL for approval, said Jenkins.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. (FBI WIRE) May 18, 2011:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced Wednesday that LINTON WILLIAMS, LINROY BLAKE, LEON SCOTT, LEROY SCOTT, RAMSEY ACEVEDO, and JOHN SANTOS were indicted in connection with the December 17, 2010 robbery of a Chase Bank in Yonkers, New York. WILLIAMS, BLAKE, LEON SCOTT, and LEROY SCOTT were each arrested in March 2011 and detained without bail. SANTOS and ACEVEDO were arrested in May 2011 and also detained without bail.

According to the indictments filed in White Plains federal court, previously filed complaints, and information revealed during court proceedings:

On December 17, 2010, WILLIAMS, BLAKE, LEON SCOTT, LEROY SCOTT, and ACEVEDO, drove to the vicinity of the Chase Bank, located at 2195 Central Park Avenue in Yonkers, New York (the bank). At approximately 6:00 p.m., BLAKE, LEON SCOTT, and LEROY SCOTT, each of whom was carrying what appeared to be a weapon, entered the bank. BLAKE then told a bank employee to get the key to the vault, jumped over the teller counter, and followed two bank employees into the vault area.

Once the vault was unlocked, BLAKE opened a bag and directed the two bank employees to put the money—which totaled $410,100—into his bag. BLAKE, LEON SCOTT, and LEROY SCOTT then fled the Chase Bank and traveled to an apartment located on Morris Avenue in Bronx, New York, where all of the co-conspirators gathered to divide the proceeds. Later that evening, SANTOS aided the participants in the bank robbery by destroying evidence and storing the robbery proceeds.

The six men are charged in two separate indictments—U.S. v. Williams et al., and U.S. v. Ramsey Acevedo. WILLIAMS, BLAKE, LEON SCOTT, LEROY SCOTT, and ACEVEDO are each charged with one count conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and one count of armed bank robbery, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. SANTOS is charged with being an accessory after the fact to the bank robbery, and faces a maximum penalty of not more than one half the maximum term of imprisonment for the punishment of the principals.

Mr. BHARARA praised the efforts and assistance of the FBI, the Yonkers Police Department, and the Westchester County Police Department.

This case is being handled by the White Plains Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney KATHRYN MARTIN is in charge of the prosecution.

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WPCNR THE HOME NEWS. From Westchester Putnam Association of Realtors (EDITED) May 9, 2011:

Westchester Putnam Realtors today called for Albany to create real estate stimulus measures, a New York version of 2010’s federal first-time homebuyers’ tax credit and homebuyers pretax savings accounts for the purchase of a first home. 

“We need to focus on the first-time buyers,” said John Kope, President.  “If they (1st time homebuyers) can’t make it in the market, there’s no trade-up for anyone else, and the whole real estate market will stagnate.”

The association plans to lobby for the measures May 24, as well as a 2% property tax cap on Albany Day when a contingent of members visits the state capitol to lobby legisla tors on the real estate issues.

The Association opposes so-called transaction taxes such as new or increased mortgage recording fees and transfer taxes.  “These types of taxes are insidious.  They raise the average closing costs out of sight,” said Kope.  The REALTORS ^® will also vigorously oppose any attempt by the State Legislator to reduce or eliminate the mortgage interest deduction on State income taxes. 

The “Albany Day” gives members of WPAR, along with other local Associations and the New York State Association of REALTORS ^® (NYSAR) an opportunity to meet face-to-face with their local Assembly members and state senators to discuss the most important issues facing the real estate community as well home buyers and sellers.

The Association also will lobby for property tax relief.  Because New Yorkers and Westchester residents in particular have been burdened with some of the highest taxes in the nation, WPAR supports the Governor Cuomo-proposed two percent cap on property taxes.  “Skyrocketing taxes in our area have continued to plague potential buyers, keeping so many of them still out of reach of home ownership,” said REALTOR ^® John Kope, WPAR’s Legislative Chairman. 

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WPCNR SPORTS. May 5, 2011:

The City of White Plains Recreation and Parks Departments, Gillie and Delfino tennis courts are now open for the 2011 season. Gillie and Delfino tennis courts feature supervised Har-Tru surfaces. Both Gillie and Delfino tennis court are lighted and are available for day and evening use. Gillie tennis courts are located in Gillie Park, 85 Gedney Way.

Delfino tennis courts are situated at Delfino Park , 110 Lake Street White Plains. To take part in any tennis activities offered by the City of White Plains Recreation and Parks Department you are required to have a current recreation ID.

For specific hours of operation for Gillie and Delfino tennis courts please contact the White Plains Recreation and Parks Department at 914-422-1398 and 422-1348.

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WPCNR COUNTY-CLARION LEDGER, from the Westchester County Board of Legislators. April 29,2011:

Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers) released a statement this afternoon responding to continued and unsubstantiated partisan attacks directed at him by Board Republicans through recent articles published in the Journal News.  The newspaper printed two articles this week about the county’s short-form contract process and Chairman Jenkins’ call for an investigation into possible violations of the contract procurement policy.

The statement:

“When I took over as Chair of the Legislature last year, I made a strong commitment towards furthering transparency and accountability within the Board of Legislators.  With this in mind, I strongly refute the half-truths that the news staff of the Journal News feels are worthy of multiple stories and sensational headlines.  

The baseless assertions being reported, along with the continued political posturing by Republicans to distract the public from the real need for modifications of the acquisitions and contracts process.  These attacks are nothing more than a sorry attempt to create a scandal out of thin air to distract the public from the Legislature’s substantial legislative accomplishments and cost-cutting initiatives under my leadership.  

Before Legislator Marcotte with the help of the news staff of the Journal News, launches another misguided attack, they should probably take a hard look at the facts.

FACT: Procurement Contract Reform was NOT launched due to the Journal News story.

To the contrary, I sponsored legislation last April to begin to examine and modify the county’s procurement process. [1] Through our legislative due diligence, my colleagues and I have been examining and analyzing the way that the county historically allocated funding to many diverse and important non-profit community organizations. 

On the heels of the before-mentioned legislation, I have asked several of the Board’s Committees to begin investigating alleged patterns of abuse throughout the short-form contract process, where several companies have been given multiple contracts for the same purpose. This practice is a violation of the county’s procurement policy. 

FACT: The Republican legislation calling for contracts to be listed on the web was already done under the previous Administration.

If Legislator Marcotte put as much energy into present legislative practices versus her political antics, she would’ve noticed that her recent bill calling for the County place all contracts on its website is a little late, given that, during the previous Administration, the County made available all contracts on their website.

The Board’s Committee on Legislation requested that all contracts be listed during it September 13, 2010 meeting, at which time, it was determined that it had already been done. The link can be found here: http://contractsearch.westchestergov.com/contractsearch/.  Legislator Marcotte should be more concerned about serving her constituents and reducing taxes than playing partisan politics and offering up redundant ideas.

The rhetoric being spewed really isn’t about me, as Chairman, but the need for the Legislature to move on true reform, ensuring that all vendors have an equal opportunity to bid for the County’s goods and services.  

Republicans are clearly concerned that a thorough review of the $5.3 million in short-form contracts authorized by the Administration in 2010 might show some irregularities.  I would think the Republicans would welcome a review of the distribution of approximately $75 million in contracts.

Working with county agencies, businesses and non-profit communities, the Board is embarking on instituting the kind of changes that will help ensure contracts are awarded only to responsible vendors who have the integrity and the capacity to deliver the goods and services they promise.  Westchester taxpayers a competitive and transparent contract system in place here at the county level.  These silly distractions need to come to an end, and Legislators need to refocus their attention on delivering real reform.  I am confident that we can, finally, get the conversation back on track, and create meaningful unprecedented contract reform that will offer giving Westchester residents complete faith in the way public dollars are spent.”