WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From the White Plains Performing Art Center. October 28, 2020:

With the official announcement from its owners announcing the permanent closure of Westchester Broadway Theatre Monday, the holders of tickets to cancelled WBT productions were told their tickets would be honored by White Plains Performing Arts Center. Here is how this program works from the White Plains Performing Arts Center website:

WBT TICKET EXCHANGE POLICY

WPPAC plans to provide the following service to WBT Patrons. The WPPAC is receiving no remuneration of any kind for performing this service. The WPPAC is doing this as a service to the theatre community, to honor and preserve the legacy and groundbreaking history of Westchester’s first professional regional theater. This is an EXCHANGE program ONLY. WE CANNOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH OBTAINING REFUNDS.

PLEASE NOTE: The WPPAC is currently not open as per state mandate and the Box Office is open only sporadic hours at this time. The best way to contact them is via email at boxoffice@wppac.com

When the Governor does allow the White Plains Performing Arts Center theater to reopen, we expect to have our occupancy restricted when we begin performances again. You may want to wait to make your exchange until a full slate of performances are being offered to give you the most options.

WPPAC will honor WBT outstanding tickets under the following terms:

1. WPPAC will offer 1 ticket to a WPPAC production for each 1 ticket exchanged from WBT. Gift certificates will be exchanged for however many tickets are on the gift certificate. This offer also applies to redeemed Local Flavor certificates only. WPPAC is not a dinner theatre so no dinner or other concession items are included. We are only making this offer to cover the entertainment portion of the ticket.
2. WPPAC’s offer is made for paid reservations using subscriptions and single tickets for performance dates past March 12th, 2020.  We will also accept gift certificate/cards that have not expired as of March 12th, 2020.
3. WPPAC will try to accommodate the group ticket holders, but each group leader must speak with the box office directly to see what options might be available. If you have paid for tickets to come with a group you must contact your group leader. Only group leaders can exchange tickets.
4. WBT tickets or gift certificates MUST be brought or mailed to the WPPAC Box Office for any exchanges to take place. We cannot assist with lost gift certificates. If your ticket order was held at the WBT Box Office for will call, you will need to speak or email directly with a WPPAC ticket agent. Please provide the following information when emailing or calling:

• The name the booking was made under
• The date of the show and number of tickets
• Whether you have the physical tickets in hand or you were supposed to pick them up at the box office
• What new performances you might be interested in attending

5. WPPAC will offer WBT ticket holders the opportunity to exchange seats at the sole discretion of the WPPAC Box Office.

6. WPPAC’s offer to redeem WBT tickets will remain in effect for events thru December 31, 2022.

7. The WPPAC offer is based on availability. Availability may be limited at the discretion of the WPPAC and state regulations/restrictions.

8. This ticket exchange program does not include complimentary tickets, coupons, vouchers, special promotions, trade or charity gift cards.

9. ALL EXCHANGES WILL BE FINAL.

FOR ALL FUTURE UPDATES

CLICK HERE

WPCNR CRIMESTOPPERS. From the White Plains Department of Public Safety. October 28, 2020:

The White Plains Public Safety Department has launched a White Plains Police App that allows the public to share important public safety information anonymously with police by sending them a secure message about crimes or suspicious activity in White Plains.

Developed by tip411, the White Plains Police App puts a powerful new crime-fighting tool into the hands of the community.  The White Plains Police App can be downloaded for free via the Google Play Store, iTunes App Store, or by visiting the Police Department website at www.whiteplainspublicsafety.com

“We believe the public is our greatest law enforcement resource,” said Police Chief Joseph Castelli. “Our new White Plains Police App, along with our existing tip411 anonymous text a tip system, will help our residents play a more active role in keeping White Plains safe.”

Like the department’s existing anonymous text a tip system, the new White Plains Police App enables the public to share an anonymous tip with police and lets the officers respond, creating an anonymous two-way conversation.

Anyone with a cell phone may also send an anonymous tip to White Plains Police Department by texting WPPD and their message/tip to 847411 (tip411).  Anonymous web tips can also be submitted right from the Police Departments website at www.whiteplainspublicsafety.com

The White Plains Police App and tip411 anonymous text a tip system are 100% anonymous, as the technology removes all identifying information before police see the tips and there is no way to identify the sender.

“This system has been successful in communities across the U.S.,” said Terry Halsch, President of tip411.  “Departments have been helped tremendously by members of the public who have sent anonymous messages to police with important information that often leads to arrests.”

For more information:  https://whiteplainspublicsafety.com/submit-a-tip/.

Those with questions are asked to call White Plains Police Department at (914) 422-6104.

WPCNR REALTY REALITY. Special to WPCNR from Houlihan Lawrence. October 27, 2020:

The COVID-19 pandemic has led many New York City residents to leave the city and head to Westchester County.

Houlihan Lawrence, reached deep into its real-time buyer data and analyzed which markets are experiencing a strong influx of homebuyers from New York City. 

Houlihan Lawrence’s proprietary data indicates that 37% of the buyers in Westchester in the third quarter originated from New York City, an increase from 26% year-over-year.

Year-to-date, 54% of the NYC buyers were from Manhattan, and of those, 18% from Brooklyn.   In neighboring Putnam County, the percentage of third quarter NYC buyers rose to 33%, nearly twice as many as last year. 

The most popular Westchester markets for NYC buyers are the Sound Shore (Rye, Rye Neck, Port Chester, Harrison, Mamaroneck/Larchmont) and Northern Westchester (Bedford, Armonk, Chappaqua, Pound Ridge, North Salem). Communities which showed the significant percentage increase in sales by New York City residents were Rye, Mamaroneck, Bedford, and Irvington.

In Bedford, the percent of NYC buyers rose from 11% to 43%, a stunning 291% increase year-over-year. Homebuyer interest in Bedford and other Northern Westchester communities is being fueled by city buyers looking for more open space and amenities with less emphasis on proximity to NYC.

Brendon DeSimone, manager of Houlihan Lawrence’s Bedford/Pound Ridge office, said his office has seen incredible interest from New York City buyers in the past six months. “We heard many buyers say that they couldn’t imagine bringing their kids back to New York City. Here in Northern Westchester, their kids are hiking, farming, swimming in a pool or even a lake. They appreciate all that we have to offer and realize there is a desirable lifestyle outside the city,” he said.

“People can now work remotely at least half the time or more. They can commute to the city during off hours, attend a few meetings and get back home without the stress of a Monday through Friday daily commute.  They like that option. It’s become the best of both worlds,” he added.

Terra Corning, manager of Houlihan Lawrence’s Larchmont office, also reports a steady influx of buyers from New York City. “The Brooklyn/Manhattan buyers have always been drawn to us. We seem to have just enough space, and yet not too much space. We are also very much a walking community which includes the neighborhood style elementary schools. And the train is never too far which is great for those optimistic about getting back into the City,” she said.

“Since March the New York City buyer segment is definitely driving sales in our communities, however the high end of the market – sales over $4M – have largely been local trade up buyers  in Larchmont. I think the NYC buyer at the higher end price range is looking for newer construction more easily found in Rye and Greenwich,” she added.

Houlihan Lawrence’s proprietary data indicates the percentage of residents from New York City buying in the Greenwich market rose from 19% to 34%. Darien also showed a similar increase from 19% to 35%. 

The migration of buyers from NYC has been reported anecdotally. Houlihan Lawrence’s data now quantifies the change in buying patterns on a local level.   

WPCNR CORONA VIRUS SURVEILLANCE. By John F. Bailey October 26, 2020:

WESTCHESTER HAD A BAD WEEK FIGHTING OFF THE COVID VIRUS ACCORDING TO NEW YORK STATE STATS IN THE LAST 7 DAYS ENDED SUNDAY.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY AVERAGED  93 NEW POSITIVE COVID CASES A DAY FROM OCTOBER 17 THROUGH SUNDAY OCTOBER 25,

THE DAILY NUMBER OF NEW WESTCHESTER COVID INFECTIONS WAS 78, 72, 68, 78, 95, 101, 151 90 AND 71 ON SUNDAY.

A TOTAL OF 714 WESTCHESTER PERSONS TESTED POSITIVE IN THE LAST 9 DAYS FOR COVID. THE INFECTION RATE WAS 1.6% .

MAYOR ROACH IN HIS WEEKLY COVID UPDATE SAID THE COUNTY HAS 1,033 ACTIVE CASES, 45 ACTIVE CASES IN WHITE PLAINS, AND OVERALL WHITE PLAINS PERSONS WHO HAVE HAD OR STILL HAVE Covid 2,061.

MAYOR ROACH SAID THE CASES IN THE COUNTY WERE TRENDING ON THE UPSWING. HE SAID THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS MANDATED STUDENTS IN K-12 IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS SHOULD WEAR MASKS.

One week from election day, the Associated Press reported average deaths per day across the country are up 10% over the past two weeks, from 721 to nearly 794 as of Sunday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Newly confirmed infections per day are rising in 47 states, and deaths are up in 34.

NOW WHAT DOES THIS RISING INFECTION RATE MEAN? 

THE WESTCHESTER ECONOMY IS IN TROUBLE. THE SALES TAX RECEIPTS IN SEPTEMBER REFLECT THIS.

IN WHITE PLAINS AFTER 3 MONTHS OF OUR FISCAL YEAR, SALES TAX RECEIPTS ARE DOWN 21%. IF OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER MEET LAST YEAR’S TOTALS, AND CHANCES ARE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT, THE CITY WILL STILL BE 10% DOWN WITH HALF A YEAR TO GO. .

WESTCHESTER COUNTY IS UP 2.3% AFTER 9 MONTHS OF ITS FISCAL YEAR, BUT THEY ESTIMATED SALES TAXES RECEIPTS WOULD BE UP 27% THIS YEAR.

IF THE COUNTY CONTINUES ON THIS INCREASE 2.3% THEY WILL ONLY MAKE $673 MILLION WHEN THEY PROJECTED $747 MILLION a SELF-INFLICTED BLOW.

MEANWHILE IN HIS STATE OF THE COUNTY SPEECH LAST WEEK, GEORGE LATIMER SAID HE WAS RELYING A THE STIMULUS PACKAGE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR 6 MONTHS FROM WASHINGTON.

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2020. The Letter Ticker. October 26, 2020:

WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS NEEDS TO HAVE LONGER HOURS, MORE STAFF AT GREENBURGH VOTING LOCATIONS.

2, 3 AND 4 AND A HALF HOUR WAITS FOR VOTERS IS EXCESSIVE AND NOT REASONABLE

COPY BELOW OF NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS MEMO TO COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS COMMISSIONERS    –

Greenburgh looking for volunteer entertainers this weekend to make wait betterSUGGESTION—-HAVE ONE HOUR EARLIER VOTING HOUR ONLY FOR THE DISABLED AND FRAIL ELDERLY

Although the town of Greenburgh has no control over the election process (the county Board of Elections oversees the elections) -we are trying hard to make the election process less stressful for voters who have been waiting on line for long periods of time.

We are:

1) live streaming the Greenburgh Town Hall voting location so  you’ll have a better idea when to vote;

2) Offering outdoor flu shots to voters waiting on line–courtesy of the Greenburgh Health Center;

3) arranged for food trucks to be at Town Hall parking area so hungry voters-waiting in line- can purchase food and drink;

4) created a senior citizen line

5) created priority lines for the disabled and very frail elderly – they go first  I think the town is doing more than most communities to make the voting experience a less aggravating experience.

HOPE TO HAVE ENTERTAINMENT THIS WEEKEND FROM VOLUNTEER MUSICIANS, YOGA INSTRUCTORS. Want to volunteer?

E mail jbeville@greenburghny.com or me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. Judith Beville, the town clerk, is an outstanding events coordinator. She knows how to party! And if voters are going to vote for the candidate who represents the party of their choice, the voters might want to also party while voting for their party.

The lines are very long -2, 3 hours and this weekend over 4 and a half hours for some voters –which is outrageous.  I have been complaining and  received the following e mail from the NYS Board of Elections authorizing the County Board of Elections to increase hours.  

A SUGGESTION—I think that the County Board of Elections should have an earlier voting hour for only the disabled and frail elderly. Should be scheduled before the polling places open to everyone else. The voting booths are cleaner at the beginning of voting hours. Those with medical conditions would be safer if they have less contact with lots of other people  (during COVID-19).

THIS IS FROM THE NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO LOCAL BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Responding to High Voter Turnout During Early Voting: 

9 NYCRR 6210.19 (d) (1) expressly requires “[i]f the voter waiting time at an early voting site exceeds 30 minutes the Board of Elections shall deploy such additional voting equipment, election workers and other resources necessary to reduce the wait time to less than 30 minutes as soon as possible but no later than the beginning of the next day of early voting.” 

While the current voter enthusiasm is higher than anticipated, boards with voter wait times exceeding thirty minutes must work to come into compliance with the early voting wait time standard.   

In addition, boards may decide on a bipartisan basis provide additional staff/voter sign-in stations and/or increase the early voting hours to meet the added demand. 

Election Law § 8-600 (4)(d) provides: “(n)othing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any board of elections from establishing a greater number of hours for voting during the early voting period beyond the number of hours required in this subdivision.”  Any expansion of hours would need to be provided uniformly at all poll sites in your county. Please contact our office with any questions. 

Bob Brehm 

Robert A. Brehm

Co-Executive DirectorNew York State Board of Elections

Paul Feiner

Greenburgh Town Supervisor