The Muckraker’s Notebook: The World’s Greatest Detective on the Press.

Hits: 0


WPCNR MUCKRAKER’S NOTEBOOK. April 16, 2008: It is time to open the Muckraker’s Notebook in these days of obfuscation, defocus and sound bite, it is time to pull up a chair at the cozy flat at  221 Baker Street, enhale the fragrance of the World’s Greatest Detective’s Turkish tobacco as the swirl of pipe smoke filters through the flat. Sipping Mrs. Hudson’s tea, and nibbling on a scone. There in smoking jacket, the World’s Greatest Detective holds forth in comments which intrepid reporters should take to heart:


 



“The Press, Watson, is a most valuable institution, if you know how to use it.


What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. The question is, what can you make people believe that you have done?


On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in drawing your inferences.


It is of the highest importance in the art of detection to be able to recognize out of a number of facts which are incidental and which vital. Otherwise your energy and attention must be dissipated instead of being concentrated.


How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?


Any truth is better than indefinite doubt.

Posted in Uncategorized

Ryan Announces $1.84 Million Funding for Post Road Gateway

Hits: 0

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. April 15, 2008: Chairman of the County Board of Legislators Bill Ryan (D, IN, WF-White Plains) today announced $1.84 million in funding for a major upgrade to Post Road in White Plains – the western “gateway” into the city’s downtown.

 


The latest work along Post Road will include milling and resurfacing of the asphalt roadway and installation of reflective pavement markings on the roadway from the Scarsdale Village line to Mamaroneck Avenue. The Bond Act, which was approved by the County Board at its last meeting, will also fund the cost of the design, project management and construction.


 


“In recent years, the County Board has worked to improve the look and condition of the major roads to the downtown,” said Ryan, whose legislative district includes White Plains and Scarsdale. “We’ve ensured that roadway, street-scaping and landscaping are done in a way that beautifies White Plains. So when these jobs are complete, we’ll have nice looking streets that really say ‘welcome to our city’.”


 


 


Chairman Ryan said “similar capital infrastructure projects in White Plains, our “city in the park,” have included sidewalk and curb work along Post Road, as well as a grass median for Bryant Avenue substantial improvements to Mamaroneck Avenue and Old Mamaroneck Road. These road improvements are enhanced by outstanding community efforts such as those of the White Plains Beautification Foundation. The Foundation has been of help in designing road upgrade projects and by planting trees and gardens along the “gateways.”


 

Posted in Uncategorized

Aid to WP Schools Soars 15%. Budget to $184. M. Tax Rate down. Savings:$54

Hits: 0


WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. April 15, 2008: The State Legislature vote to approve the state budget last week created a 15% increase in state education aid to White Plains.  This is the most aid ($15.3 Million) the district has received ever and represents 8.3% of the budget. The increase in aid has enabled  the district to raise the school budget, while reducing the tax rate, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler explained to the School Board last night.


The budget with the new state aid increases $400,000 from the previous Preliminary Budget ($184 Million) to $184,420,859 – a year to year increase of 5.95% (about double the inflation rate of 3.3%). This results in a new tax rate of $503 per $1,000 of assessed valuation (down from $506.61 two weeks ago). This results in a $54 saving to the taxpayer. The median home in White Plains will pay $12,580 in taxes to the schools, city and county as a result. 



Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors thanked State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, and Assemblypersons Adam Bradley and Amy Paulin for their roles in “lowering our tax rate,” and restoring cuts in state aid previously removed from the budget. Seiler noted that the increased aid was a result of the White Plains representatives and the legislature voting to return the fourth and highest level of state aid formulas which resulted in the most favorable apportionment of state aid to White Plains. Previously White Plains stood to receive $13.9 Million in state aid. The new formula delivers $15.3 Million.


The effect of the new budget on the median White Plains home saves the owner of a home assessed at $15,000, a total of $24 in taxes. The tax increase in the new budget is $425.85  — for  a total  school tax of $7,501 for the $15,000 assessed home.


Here is how the taxes shape up for various home values in the White Plains market. The assessments are the average assessments supplied by the City Assessor.


 


 


WPCNR WHITE PLAINS TAX LADDER — 2008-2009


Taxes — $2 Million Home  Assessed at $42,200


School District —  $21,227


City Tax — $6,279


County Tax — $5,492


Estimated 2008-2009 Total Taxes on $2 Million Home: $32,998


 


Taxes– $1.5 Million Home Assessed at $31,650


School District — $15,920


City Tax — $4,709


County Tax –$4,119


Taxes — $1.5 Million Home:  $24,748


 


$1 Million Home Assessed at $ 21,100


School Tax: $10,613


City Tax: $3,139


County Tax: $2,746


 


2008-2009 Estimated Total Tax: $16,498


 


$700,000 Home with STAR ($14,775 Assessed Value)


School District — $7,431


City Tax — $2,750


County Tax –$2,400


Estimated TOTAL TAX BILL for a $700,000 Home: $12,581


 


 


Taxes – $400,000 Home Assessed at $8500


School District– $4,275


City Tax–$1,265


County Tax  $1,021


Estimated TOTAL TAX BILL for a $400,000 Home:  $6,561*


*Note: These are estimates only and assessments vary on the amenities of individual properties, and  these estimates are only meant to give an idea of the impact of the 2008-2009 round of tax increases of school district, city and county tax rates.


 


Aid Must Be Spent Does Not Result in “Savings”


The school budget has gone up because the state aid is mandated to be spent by the district. Because it is an injection of revenue, the tax rate goes down. Seiler noted that $396,403 of this year’s state aid can be spent on maintenance of the present school district programs. The district is restricted to spending 50% of the remaining $1.1 Million on present programs, and 50% on new programs. The district plans on funding a new science teacher and a coordinator of Special Education programs as part of the new programs, and is looking for other  programs (considered new) to spend an additional $359,000 in aid.


The Board voted  unanimously to approve the $484.4 Million Budget, and to also include $90,000 in improvements to the baseball field facilities at White Plains High School and Eastview Scbool for safety reasons.


Worry over how hard the state budget revenues are


Fred Seiler, speaking with WPCNR afterward expressed worry that he did not know how “hard” the state’s numbers were. He recalled 1992 when state aid was $6.2 Million. That year he said, the state budget revenues did not match expectations and hundreds of school districts across the state had to make cuts in mid-year, because the individual districts were heavily dependent on the state aid. Seiler said White Plains receives 8.3% of its budget revenues from the state, and is somewhat insulated from the effects of state budget shortfalls.

Posted in Uncategorized

District Found 28 Illegal Students in 2 Years. 41 Currently Being Investigated

Hits: 0

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. April 14, 2008: Suprintendent of Schools Timothy Connors, citing a report by Anne Lillis, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services, announced the School District investigated 93 cases of alleged illegal students not official residents of White Plains in 2006-2007 and found 16 to be Non-Residents.


In the current 2007-2008 school year, Connors said 89 alleged illegal students claiming to be White Plains residents have been investigated, and 12 have been found to be non-residents, with 36 found to be legal residents of the city.


Connors said the district employs a private investigator to look into students who have been reported as being possible attendees of White Plains schools illegally. The report notes that such residency cases are brought to the district attention by five means:


1. Returned mail.


2. Suspicion by school persoinnel.


3. Anonymous calls from the public.


4. Through checking of “Residency Affidavits.” For example, if a family moves to White Plains and resides with another family, they must complete a “Residency Affidavit.” Each of these affidavits are investigated before we (the district before we (the district) will register the children. If it is not clear-cut that the family resides here, a residency case is opened and an investigation conducted to determine residency.


5. Through the checking of “Care, Custody and Control Affidavits”. If a family is surrendering the care, custody and control of their child(ren) to another person residing in White Plains, and it is not court-ordered, a “Care, Custody and Control Affidavit” must be completed. These affidavits are subject to district approval based on State Education Laws.


Connors noted that the exclusion of the 28 students would result in considerable savings to the district.


At $26,000 per student to educate an individual in the White Plains schools, the exclusion of the 28 students should result in a savings to the district of approximately $728,000.

Posted in Uncategorized

Mayor Plans Foreclosure Initiative. Questions County Clerk WP Foreclosure Figure

Hits: 0

 


WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT . April 14, 2008: The Mayor’s Office announced a news conference toward the end of the week in which Mayor Delfino will, with the help of Westchester Residential Opportunies and financial institutions in the area will begin an initiative to help White Plains homeowners  faced with the possibility of foreclosures. The Mayor also questions figures released earlier this month by the County Clerk’s Office on the number of foreclosure actions initiated in White Plains.



Mayor Joseph Delfino, last week at the Common Council Meeting.


 


Mayor Joseph Delfino, noting the County Clerk’s Office figures on White Plains foreclosures,  reported in a news release from the County Clerk at the beginning of April, disagrees with the figures issued on the number of homes where foreclosure proceedings have begun, (54 in the first quarter of this year, according to the County Clerk).


Paul Wood, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, said Mayor Delfino had contacted County Clerk Timothy Idoni to discuss how the figure for White Plains was compiled. Wood said Mr. Idoni was looking into how the foreclosure report for White Plains was put together.


 


Wood said that the city feels that the inclusion of zip codes 10603 (North White Plains) , 10604 (West Harrison), and 10607  (portions of Greeburgh) might have lead to the so-called inflated figure on White Plains foreclosures. The County Clerk news release reported that in the first quarter of 2008 there were 54 foreclosure actions begun in White Plains  and 10 Foreclosure Judgments.


Wood said there were 28 foreclosure actions in the last quarter of 2007, and 23 in the first quarter of 2008 according to White Plains figures.


The County Clerk’s office spokesman said she would check into how the figures were compiled by Zip Code, and would attempt to get a response from County Clerk Idoni.

Posted in Uncategorized

White Plains Foreclosing Steps Up 54% in 1Q; 80% in the County. What You Can Do.

Hits: 0

 


 


            WPCNR THE REALTY REPORT. From the Westchester County Clerk’s Office. April 13, 2008: At the beginning of April, Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni released figures showing a “significant increase in foreclosure filings” in the county. The County Clerk  urges Westchester residents who may be at risk of foreclosure, to seek help immediately. 


 


           “We want Westchester residents to be able to live comfortably in our county, but the first quarter of 2008, which ended on March 31st, brought with it another significant increase in foreclosure filings,” the release quotes  Idoni. 


 


           “And more disturbing than the increase in foreclosure filings is the increase in the number of actions resulting in a judgment of foreclosure,” said Idoni.  “Comparing judgments from the first quarters of 2007 and 2008, shows an increase of 80 percent,” continued Idoni.   “Westchester residents need our help.” 


 


Locally in White Plains forclosure actions statistics begun in the first quarter of 2008, jumped 54%.


 


Idoni urged residents facing foreclosure or having problems meeting their mortgage obligations to consider investigating the following steps and to avoid “foreclosure rescuers”: 


 


 



·         Don’t wait until legal papers are filed in the Office of the Westchester County Clerk.  Residents who have received warning letters from their bank or lender, or who have fallen behind on their payments, must seek help now:


 


Attend Operation Protect Your Home:  The New York State Senate Westchester Delegation is sponsoring “Operation Protect Your Home” on Saturday, April 5th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Roosevelt High School, 631 Tuckahoe Road in Yonkers.  There will be various educational seminars throughout the day as well as opportunities to meet with mortgage counselors.


 


Contact Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO):  WRO is a non-profit housing agency with offices in White Plains and Mount Vernon.   Call one of their trained counselors at 428-4507 or visit their website at www.wroinc.org to see how they can help you.


 


Contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):  Contact HUD to obtain the name of a reputable counseling agency by visiting www.hud.gov or calling 1-800-569-4287.


 


·         If you have been served with foreclosure papers, understand that you can still get help.  The commencement of a foreclosure action does not mean that a Westchester home will be lost to foreclosure.  Many homeowners enter into a repayment plan, secure a modified loan, refinance with another lender or sell their home on their own to avoid foreclosure.  Do not give up.  Instead, take advantage of the resources outlined above.


 


·         Beware of foreclosure rescue scams.  Unfortunately the current foreclosure climate brings with it a new set of con artists just waiting to take advantage of residents who are under the stress of foreclosure action.  Making a bad situation worse can be avoided by relying on a reputable counseling agency or a trusted attorney to guide you through the process.


 


Foreclosure Actions Commenced and Judged — Last four Years.


 




 






























 

2005

2006

2007

2008

% increase 2005-2008

% increase 2007-2008


Actions Commenced through 3/31

244

378

530

759

211%

43%


Judgments of Foreclosure through 3/31

76

82

135

243

220%

80%


 


 


1st Quarter Foreclosure Statistics for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008


 








































































Filings

Jan

Feb

Mar

TOTALS


2005

83

64

97

244


2006

100

119

159

378


2007

146

132

252

530


2008

243

231

285

759


 

 

 

 

 

 


Judgments

Jan

Feb

Mar

TOTALS


2005

20

19

37

76


2006

29

25

28

82


2007

55

33

47

135


2008

83

84

76

243


 




 




Annual Foreclosures Month by Month In Westchester County for 2005, 2006 and 2007


 


















Filings

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug


Sep


Oct

Nov

Posted in Uncategorized

Tigers’ Kelly O’Neil Is Belting for Holy Cross — a 4-Year Starter

Hits: 0

WPCNR View from the Upper Deck. April 13, 2008: White Plains Varsity Softball Coach Ted O’Donnell took a busman’s holiday Friday to see one of his former players, Kelly O’Neil, a first sacker for Holy Cross, play against Army at West Point. Here is his report on Ms. O’Neill’s afternoon:




Once Upon a Time on O’Donnell’s Bluff: On  the sunsplashed diamond, Kelly O’Neil held down first for the great Tiger “Three-Peat” softball teams of the early 2000s. Five years ago, this week, it is April 16, 2003:  Kelly O’Neil crouches at first, Kim Wood at third, as Tara Pollard pitches a no-hit, no run perfect game at Yorktown.  Yorktown sent 21 batters up and 21 went down.  Photo by WPCNR Sports



Kelly O’Neil Batting for the Holy Cross Crusaders


 



Kelly O’Neil, Holy Cross First Sacker


I went to West Point today to watch Holy Cross play Army in a Patriot League doubleheader. Kelly  O’Neil (WPHS ’04, captain 2-time Journal News 1st Team All-County All-Star) is in her senior year at Holy Cross and a 2 year captain.


She is the starting 1st baseman and bats 4th in the order. Army and Holy Cross split with Army taking the 1st game 4-2 and HC the 2nd 11-4. Kelly went 2 for 3 in the 1st game with a single and a stand-up double that hit the top of the fence in CF (210ft) and bounced back into play.



In the 2nd game, she went 3 for 3 with a walk and HBP. She had another double and also whacked a tremendous 2-run HR that bounced off the light pole in LF. It broke a 4-4 tie giving HC the lead for good. It also tied Kelly for the HC career record for home runs. The game ended with Kelly making a great catch on a line drive by Army’s clean-up hitter. Kelly is well and really enjoying her final season. She has been a starter since freshman year. Nice job Kelly O.


It should be noted that Coach O’Donnell’s ‘2008 White Plains Softball Team, edged Yonkers 1-0 Friday and are 2-1 on the new season. Lauren Sputo pitched the shutout and fanned 10. The 2008 Tigers play North Rockland Tuesday afternoon at White Plains at 4:30.

Posted in Uncategorized

Fire Dept Inspections to Get Technical Upgrade with $19G Grant

Hits: 0

WPCNR CITY HALL TICKER. From The Mayor’s Office. April 11, 2008: White Plains-based Preferred Services Group and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company are awarding the White Plains Fire Department a $19,000 grant, earmarked for use by the White Plains Public Safety Bureau of Fire.  The Bureau of Fire will use these funds to purchase seven Panasonic Toughbook® latop computers and six portable printers to conduct building inspections, create fire pre-plans and improve the record keeping capabilities of the department.  In 2006, the two companies awarded a $9,000 grant to the Department for the “Jaws of Life” rescue tool and smoke detectors to strengthen their Residential Public Education/Smoke Detector Program.

 

 


 

“One of the most important services this department provides citizens and business owners of White Plains is the fire safety inspections we conduct on all properties,” stated Richard Lyman, White Plains Fire Chief.  “Unfortunately, as the city continues to grow, it becomes much harder for our inspection crews to handle their full workload.  These laptops and printers will greatly enhance our crews’ capabilities, allowing them to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently.  This, ultimately, will help make White Plains safer.”

 

“I’m very grateful to Preferred Services Group and the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company for awarding our outstanding Public Safety Bureau of Fire with this much needed equipment,” said White Plains Mayor Joseph M. Delfino.  “These two generous companies demonstrate the best of corporate responsibility and community relations.”

 

Executives from Preferred Services Group and Fireman’s Fund will formally present the grant to Mayor Delfino, Public Safety Commissioner Frank G. Straub, PhD., Chief Lyman and other local officials at a City Hall ceremony April 30.

 

The Toughbook computers as well as the printers will enable the department to: track inspections more efficiently, obtain on-site access of inspection history of various properties, print forms at the inspection site, and transfer data immediately to the office.  In addition, the computers can store critical data used during emergency response operations, including street and hydrant locations, incident management reports and the location of hazardous materials. 

 

“Just like having high-level emergency response to fires is critical for safety, so is having a true focus on fire prevention,” said Ken Murray, vice president of sales & marketing for Preferred Services Group.  “The White Plains Public Safety Bureau of Fire has a true commitment to fire prevention and this grant will support their field workers efforts.”

 

The grant package is part of a nationwide program called Fireman’s Fund Heritage® which is funded by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company.  Since 2004, Fireman’s Fund has issued over 900 grants totaling more than $17 million to fire departments across the country for needed equipment, training and educational tools.  Independent insurance agencies/brokers that sell Fireman’s Fund products, like Preferred Services Group, are able to direct these grants to support fire stations in their communities.

Posted in Uncategorized

Judy Higgins to be Honored as Citizen Extraordinaire by Historical Society

Hits: 0

WPCNR LAURELS & LEGENDS. April 13, 2008: The White Plains Historical Society cordially invites all members of the community to their 19th Annual Dinner on May 1 (Reception 6pm; Dinner 6:30pm) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 60 Hale Avenue in White Plains.  Dr. Judith Higgins will be honored as the society’s Citizen Extraordinaire.  Guest Speaker Roger Panetta, Visiting Professor of History at Fordham University and Curator of Fordham University Libraries’ Hudson River Collection, will discuss the 1909 Hudson-Fulton Tercentennial Celebration.  

The White Plains Historical Society cordially invites all members of the community to their 19th Annual Dinner on May 1 (Reception 6pm; Dinner 6:30pm) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 60 Hale Avenue in White Plains.  Dr. Judith Higgins will be honored as the society’s Citizen Extraordinaire.  Guest Speaker Roger Panetta, Visiting Professor of History at Fordham University and Curator of Fordham University Libraries’ Hudson River Collection, will discuss the 1909 Hudson-Fulton Tercentennial Celebration.  

 

The White Plains Historical Society was founded in 1983 as the successor to the Battle of White Plains Monument Committee, the White Plains Historical Society promotes the discovery, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge about history, past and present, of the City of White Plains.  It particularly focuses on the preservation of historic buildings, sites, monuments, and cemeteries; and to promote public interest, awareness and to generate pride in our historic heritage.

 

 Roger Panetta is a Visiting Professor of History at Fordham University, Curator of Fordham University Libraries’ Hudson River Collection, and an Adjunct Curator for History at the Hudson River Museum.  Prior to that, Dr. Panetta was Professor and Chair of History at Marymount College. 

 

In addition to his university appointments he is an affiliated faculty with The Beacon Institute for the Study of Rivers and Estuaries and a Visiting Fellow in a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Center for Humanities.  Dr. Panetta’s publications have focused on the history and culture of the Hudson River Valley, including his co-authorship of the 1996 book The Hudson: An Illustrated Guide to the Living River.   He also was the contributing editor for Westchester: The American Suburb, the 2006 companion to the exhibit of the same name, which he curated at the Hudson River Museum. 

 

Dr. Panetta appeared in Bill Moyer’s TV documentary, America‘s First River as a feature narrator in 1999.   He has published articles on the history of Sing Sing, and curated several exhibits at the Hudson River Museum including The Croton Aqueduct, The Railroad in the Making of Westchester, Boats of the Hudson, and Black Migration to Westchester.

 

 Tickets are $40+ per person.  Please RSVP by April 26.  Call 914-328-1776 or 914-287-0772 or visit http://www.whiteplainshistory.org/
 

Posted in Uncategorized

White Plains Office Vacancy Rate was 11.9% In First Quarter

Hits: 0

WPCNR DOWNTOWN DAILY. From Cushman & Wakefield. April 11, 2008: Vacancy rates in the White Plains CBD registered at 11.9%, up a full percentage point in the first quarter year over year. Much of the increase was a result of vacancies at Westchester One at 44 S. Broadway, which accounts for 50 percent of the vacancies in the city’s business district. Direct average rents last quarter in the White Plains CBD were $34.57 per square foot (psf), significantly higher than $30.29 psf reported a year ago, due to some office properties that are commanding in excess of $40 psf.


 


The news comes in a report released by Cushman & Wakefield Friday in its first quarter 2008 report for the Westchester County commercial real estate market indicating the market remained stable but slowed in terms of leasing activity, with a slight rise in vacancy rates and negative absorption. Direct average rents were up countywide.


 


Overall  county vacancy rates totaled more than 4.3 million square feet (msf) or a 15.3% rate, which was up from 14.4% at year-end 2007 and down from 15.6% one year ago.  Class-A overall vacancy rates registered at 17.6%, up from 16.6% at year-end 2007 and down from 17.8% one year ago.


 


 


Leasing activity totaled 348,074 sf, down from 507,574 sf last quarter and 395,995 sf same time last year.


 


Major deals that closed during the first quarter included APS Healthcare which leased 44,082 sf at Westchester One in White Plains; SAC Capital which leased 30,406 sf at 5 International Drive in Rye Brook; and Merrill Lynch which leased 26,131 sf at 2 International Drive in Rye Brook.


 


Overall absorption totaled negative 399,947 sf, down from positive 66,822 sf last quarter and 44,787 sf same time last year.


 


“Unlike certain markets across the country that are home to a high percentage of companies in the financial services sector, Westchester County will remain stable due to the assorted mix of businesses based here ,” said Jim Fagan, senior managing director and branch manager for Cushman & Wakefield’s Westchester and Fairfield County region.


 


Direct average rent countywide was up 4.6% year over year in the first quarter, to $31.40 psf, up from $31.38 psf last quarter and $30.02 psf one year ago.  Class-A rents registered at $31.92 psf, down slightly from $31.96 psf last quarter and up from $31.19 psf one year ago.


 


Rents are predicted to remain stable throughout the year, but tenant concessions are likely to increase as landlords recognize that opportunities to lease space will be flat. Countywide, the commercial leasing market is expected to slow in comparison to recent years, but activity will remain steady. The national credit crunch significantly slowed the investment sales market in the first quarter, with the number of buildings traded off from a year ago.


 

“Despite a national office market slowdown, we see stable pricing for both rental rates and building pricing over the next quarter or so before they start to escalate again,” Mr. Fagan said.  “There has been some cooling off, so are now in a mode of sustainable and more moderate growth

Posted in Uncategorized
↑