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.

Hits: 0

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. April 2, 2010: A 20 foot city water main under Main Street at the Bank Street and Main intersection cracked horizontally approximately midnight, causing a drop in fire hydrant water pressure which alerted the city that the break had occurred according to City Department of Public Works Commissioner, Joseph Bud Nicoletti this after. The water break undermined Bank Street collapsing the pavement. Water collected under the Main Street rail trestle.

Commissioner Nicoletti told WPCNR about a dozen DPW employees worked replacing the pipe all night, and have restored service to the area as of 11 A.M. Three lanes northbound are still closed due to the construction, and “undermining” of the street, the commissioner said. Nicoletti expects Bank Street to be closed all week and be repaved by Friday. Repair to the street will begin Tuesday after Con Edison has inspected their electrical conduit shed also located below the street nearby the water man break.

Nicoletti said the pipe was replaced with a 20-foot piece of 12-inch water main, and that fortunately the city had replacement pipe and valves on hand to effect the replace, “because we stock such things.”

Motorists needing to cross Main Street  to take Hamilton Avenue out of the city westbound, should avoid traveling down Martine and Quaroppas Streets to Bank Street, because Bank Street northbound to Main is down to one lane, creating what is expected to be a very slow four lanes into one merge. The traffic situation is expected to last one week.

Nicoletti described the pipe as being 1974 vintage, and the breakage not as a result of the age of the pipe. “It isn’t like it was 200 years old,” he said. He said the breaks like this occur from time to time, and it did not mean the city water infrastructure needed wholescale replacement.

Hits: 0

WPCNR LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. April 1, 2010: Mayor Adam Bradley appeared in Judge Susan Capeci’s domestic violence court today to answer charges of Assault in the third degree for allegedly slamming his wife’s finger in a door at their home February 28.

In a pre-trial conference,Chief of the District Attorney’s Special Prosecutions Unit, Audrey Stone introduced two new charges against Mr. Bradley for alleged assault in the third degree, and harrassment, classified as violations stemming from an alleged tea throwing incident on January 11, in addition to assault in the third degree and three other counts stemming from February 28 when the Mayor was charged for alledgedly slamming his wife, Fumiko Bradley’s finger in the door.

Ms. Stone informed the court that the District Attorney was willing to  settle the case without going to trial if the Mayor pled guilty to the lesser charges introduced today and would agree to attending a counseling program. The specifics of the plea bargain were not made clear.

After an hour, Mr. Bradley and his attorey, Louis Penichet, were recalled before the judge. Mr. Penichet said his client, Mr. Bradley rejected the plea bargain and was prepared to go to trial. The Judge, after hearing Mr. Penichet had conflicts with other cases, and noting she had scheduling problems as well, ordered the parties to reconvene Monday morning, when a trial date would most likely be set.

The court house experienced a small protest of less than ten persons from the state National Organization for Women who held signs protesting domestic violence.

Fumiko Bradley did not attend the Trial Conference, but WPCNR was informed this was not unusual in cases such as this.

Hits: 0

WPCNR WEST SIDE STORY. By John F. Bailey. Special to the CitizeNetReporter. March 30, 2010 UPDATED  5 P.M. E.D.T. UPDATED MARCH 31, 2010 5 P.M. E.D.T.: Angela Tucciarone, A  spokesperson for Avalon Bay Communities, when asked by WPCNR when she expected the agreement between the White Plains Housing Authority and Avalon Bay/Jonathan Rose Associates was expected to be completed and whether plans to replace buildings one at a time, allowing residents to stay until new building is completed (the original plan for the Winbrook “Revitalization,”) would be observed, today told WPCNR, “We can’t confirm any dates or details as this is still in negotiation. Of course, Avalon Bay is sensitive to displacement issues. However, construction plans have not yet been finalized.”

The Mayor’s Office informed by WPCNR of the Avalon Bay Selection yesterday, and asked for a statement, has not issued a reaction as of this hour. The development encompassing about 10 to 15 acres of city property most likely would be at least a $3 to $4 Billion undertaking and the largest single project ever undertaken in White Plains.

WPCNR first learned Avalon Bay was the front-runner from property owners familiar with the negotiations, who also pointed out that no would-be developers had spoken with them about the project. The White Plains Housing Authority has kept secret the four companies they had been considering for the massive rebuild and gentrification of the city’s west side.

Ms. Tucciarone of Avalon Bay Communities confirmed to WPCNR that Avalon Bay is the Authority “choice” to undertake the largest White Plains development since urban renewal took place in the 1970s.

Avalon Bay is the builder of the 14-story residential and town house complex on Church and Barker which broke ground in Summer, 2007, and is now renting. It has been one of the most trouble-free and smoothly absorbed projects in downtown White Plains in the last ten years of development.

Avalon Bay Communities is a key Housing and Urban Development selectee for such projects nationwide. It owns and manages 23 apartment complexes across the United States, predominantly in California, comprising nearly 7,000 rental units (as of 2005). Locally, Avalon Bay owns The Avalon Bedford, a 368-unit complex in Stamford, Connecticut and the 22-unit Avalon Glen, also in Stamford, and The Prudential Center in Boston where the company manages 781 units.

Jonathan Rose Associates, the builder, is a subsidiary of Jonathan Rose Companies of New York City. Rose, the founder is described by HUD Secretary, Shaun Donovan as “a leading innovator, advocate and practitioner of green building, particularly of green affordable housing.”

Jonathan Rose Companies recently received a HUD grant of $3.6 Million to retrofit the West 135th St. Apartments in Harlem, a 10-building, 198-unit Section 8 Assisted property in January of this year. As part of that renovation, money coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, 10 high efficiency boilers will be installed, with rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, and other fixtures.

Hits: 0

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. March 28, 2010: Assemblyperson Amy Paulin whose daughter performed with Westco Productions called White Plains’ Susan Katz, “the person who makes every one a star;” County Legislator James Maisano declaring  Susan Katz Day in Westchester County called her organization one that the county has been supporting for years because of Westco’s unique contribution to Westchester families: White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley presented a plaque declaring Saturday Susan Katz Day in White Plains saying he looked forward to her company Westco Productions serving White Plains for many years to come.

Westco Productions “Magic to Do Players” Perform for over 140 Guests at the local Westco’s 30th Anniversary Celebration Saturday evening. Master of Ceremonies Jason Summers on stage (background) a performer with Westco since the age of 7, and now a professional choreographer, director and actor, leads the very special group of performers that Westco has nurtured the last two years. They were the stars of the evening and had a wonderful time– and were easily the best dancers on the floor.

White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley Presented Susan Katz, “The First Lady of Westchester Theatre,” Founder of Westco, with a Proclamation Declaring Susan Katz Day in the City. Bradley said he had known Ms. Katz for many years and looked forward to her giving White Plains another 30 years of Westco Productions to come.

Serena Russell, President of the Westco Productions Board of Directors saluted Ms. Katz for creating an organization that has entertained over 700,000 persons over the last 30 Years.

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin reminisced about her own daughter’s Westco career.

County Legisalator James Maisano recognized Ms. Katz’s Westco is unique and an important resource in Westchester County also declaring Saturday Susan Katz Day in Westchester.

Jason Summers and the Westco staff entertained the friends of Westco with a medley of Westco’s Greatest Hits…from 30 Years of unique, “Flop-proof” productions because the people who produce them — produce them with love — that produces hit after hit — from Frosty the Snowman to Annie to “Resuse,Recycle.”

The Katzes — “First Lady of Westchester Theatre,” Susan Katz and her husband, Peter Katz…dance on Susan Katz Night. Mrs. Katz graciously thanked Mr. Katz for all his contributions to Westco’s success.  Surrounded by family and friends, Ms.Katz remembered her father, Sonny Katz, long-time City Marshall for his encouragement and belief in the Westco Dream when she first thought of starting a youth theatre in the city.

The occasion was Westco Productions 30th Anniversary Gala Celebration held at the Womens Club of White Plains where 150 persons gathered to salute Suan Katz for founding Westco Productions — the county’s most successful and enduring non-profit theatre company that for thirty years has introduced theatre to youngsters, entertained youthful patients in county hospitals, and most recently created a theatre group for developmentally disabled youths.

Hits: 0

WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. By John F. Bailey. March 26, 2010: The White Plains Democratic City Committee met Thursday evening at the White Plains YWCA,and expressed agony and concern over the plight of Mayor Adam Bradley as he awaits a Pre-Trial Conference next Thursday in domestic court after being charged with Third Degree Assault in an alleged incident involving his wife.

There was no consensus call for the Mayor’s resignation.  Each of the Common Council persons did attend at various times , but did not address the issue of the Mayor’s plight, but focused their comments on city issues.

An observer who attended the meeting who spoke to WPCNR under condition of anonymity said the prevailing mood was “agonized,” “sad,” and though several persons spoke calling for the Mayor to resign, the consensus was that the legal process should be completed, and “we should wait and see.” “Many points of view were expressed.
There was not a call for the Mayor to resign. They were grieved. To have gone from such a bright hope to this in just two months, is unbelievable.”

He said there was much concern for Mr. Bradley, his wife, his children and earnest hope they could work out their problems.

Our source said, “There is zero tolerance for abuse. It was pointed out that public officials who have resigned over similar issues had admitted, ‘yes, this is true”

Mayor Adam Bradley did not attend the meeting.