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 CITY HALL CIRCUIT. July 5, 2005: A spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office when asked this morning if Mayor Joseph Delfino advocated the eventual closing of homeless shelters in White Plains, which include Open Arms Shelter and Samaritan House – the spokesman said, “That’s a real leap,” and declined to answer the question further. Asked if the city planned any closer scrutiny of homeless persons living in White Plains, the spokesperson after being verbally abusive to this reporter, hung up the telephone.

 Mayor Delfino advocated that Westchester County stop its policy of dropping off homeless persons in White Plains in a statement response to the last Thursday afternoon murder in The Galleria Mall Municipal Parking Garage. That killing was allegedly committed by a homeless person, and Level 3 Sex Offender, who was dropped off in White Plains by a county drop-in shelter van earlier that day.

The Mayor’s Office in a separate phone call  was also asked if any tightened security measures are being considered for the municipal garages in White Plains. The assault and killing of the White Plains victim took place on Level 7 of  The Galleria Municipal Garage. According to police was reported by a passerby by a cellphone, and not observed by  the Parking Garage Office Personnel who have television monitors observing the various levels of the garage.

In the Mayor’s statement he praised municipal garage security arrangements, though a homeless person  wandering in The Galleria Garage in February, 2005,  committed suicide by leaping from the structure undetected by Galleria Garage security.

Calls to the Mayor’s Executive Officer, Paul Wood, and the Department of Parking as to what measures might be considered to enhance Municipal Garage Security have been placed by WPCNR.

Calls to the Westchester County Department of Communications to see if the county plans tighter monitoring of the character of homeless persons the county drops off in White Plains and other cities have also been placed by WPCNR. The County was also asked if the Department of Social Serivices plans to register and alert police as to the identity of homeless persons being distributed to their community.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From The Mayor’s Office. July 4, 2005: Friday afternoon, Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains issued a statement on  Thursday’s murder of a White Plains woman, Concetta Russo Carriero, in The Galleria Municipal Parking Garage in White Plains. The suspect in the killing  had been dropped off in White Plains by a Westchester County Drop-In Homeless Shelter bus shuttle early Thursday morning.

Mayor Joseph Delfino,White Plains. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

White Plains police arrested the suspect, based on a description of witness, shortly after the victim was discovered on the seventh floor of the Galleria garage. In his statement, Mayor Delfino comments that he will work to prevent homeless persons from being routinely dropped off in White Plains daily after leaving the Airport Homeless Shelter. The Mayor’s Statement:

I am shocked and saddened by the tragedy that occurred this week at the municipal parking structure at the Galleria Mall.  Our hearts and prayers go out to the victim’s family, friends and co-workers.

The issue of personal safety is something that we take very seriously here in White Plains.  We have, and will continue to monitor and address the safety in our public parking structures.  Our Public Safety Department continuously works with the security details at our public malls.  We have directed police patrols through our parking structures, video cameras and a wide variety of tools meant to ensure the safety of those who use our facilities. 

Obviously, when a senseless act like this occurs, it raises public concern.  I think it is important to note that crime in our city is down nearly 37% over the last two years.  The number of incidents in our municipal garages is minimal.  This was a senseless and random act of violence that could well have occurred anywhere.  Most importantly, a White Plains police officer was by the victim’s side 30 seconds after the crime was first reported and, fortunately, the suspect was captured within minutes.

That being said, I was particularly distressed to learn of the background of the suspect involved and how he came to be in our City that day.  It is incredible to me that an individual such as this, a level 3 sex offender, was dropped off by the County in our City at 6 am to roam our streets without notification or monitoring. I’m very proud of our Public Safety Department, but they can only do so much.

The practice of dropping individuals of varying backgrounds off in our City is something that is very troubling, and it is irresponsible.  I am calling on the County to halt this practice which jeopardizes the safety of our residents, visitors and employees and I call upon the County Public Safety Committee to review the policies and practices of the Social Service agencies that deal with these individuals.  If necessary I will initiate legal action to stop this practice.  This can never happen here again.

I have spoken to the victim’s family, and I will also work tirelessly to get civil confinement legislation passed in Albany so that a senseless and unnecessary tragedy, such as the one that occurred this week, can be prevented.

Joseph M. Delfino

Mayor, City of White Plains

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WPCNR EAST SIDE STORY. By John F. Bailey. June 27, 2005: Vito Cappello, Vice President of Hitachi North America, told WPCNR today, that his inquiries of New York Presbyterian Hospital on the status of their proton accelerator project, which comes up for a site plan renewal in approximately 90 days before the Common Council, have not been responded to. Cappello made his inquiries about one month ago, and has not had his calls returned he told WPCNR today. He also said that the University of Pennsylvania medical center should be making a decision on the vendor to build their proton accelerator facility in Philadelphia within two weeks. Cappello said he had no knowledge of whether New York Presbyterian Hospital was talking to other Proton Accelerator vendors.

New York Presbyterian Hospital has not responded to extensive questions on whether or not their proton accelerator/biomedical facility project is still a live project, or whether they are contemplating sale of their land in White Plains. If the Common Council is asked to renew the special permit for a fourth year (2005 being the third year the project has been approved while nothing has happened on the site), this would probably come up on the September agenda.

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. June 27, 2005: A supervisor working with the homeless women residents of Samaritan House at Grace Church told WPCNR today that they are anticipating the residents who number at least a dozen women and less than twenty ( the person would not give an exact number), will be moved out of the facility in the very near future,  (early July) reportedly to Pleasantville.

Samaritan House Is Currently Housed in the Grace Church Annex. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

The women, according to the supervisor we spoke said the women have not been told where they are going.

WPNCR called Joe Rubin of Open Arms the other homeless shelter run by Grace Church Community Center to get details of the move, and is awaiting his return call.

Bruce Berg, of Cappelli Enterprises, said that the Cappelli organization is finishing their drawings of the renovations of the Grace Church annex, (where the Samaritan House residents are presently housed), and finalizing their construction agreement with Grace Church. Berg said he expected work to begin on the Grace Church annex by the end of this year. He described the work as replacing windows, replacing air conditioning, new bathroom construction, new “lifts,”  and described it as “layered”. The construction originally proposed by Cappelli Enterprises in the interest of being a good neighbor, is the reason the Samaritan House residents need to be moved.

Two weeks ago, County Legislator Bill Ryan (who fought hard to keep Samaritan House open and serving the homeless) told WPCNR there were no plans to move the residents out of the shelter two weeks ago, when WPCNR brought up this issue. Ryan said that any funding the Department of Social Services budgeted for operation of Samaritan House would stop, unless Grace Church continued to use the monies to house the women who were residents of Samaritan House elsewhere for the same expense. Whether or not Grace Church would be required to return any difference in what they would pay another facility to house them (if less), is unclear, pending determination of where the Samaritan House residents are going, and what the arrangements are. Ryan said two weeks ago that another scenario would be he thought the residents would come under the care of the Department of Social Services, and funding would stop for Samaritan House.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from Shannon Logan, New York Juggernaut. June 25, 2005: The New York Juggernaut came from behind to take game three of the series from the Chinese National Team, 6-3 at Hofstra University Softball Stadium.  Natasha Watley just missed the cycle going 3-for-4 with a single, double and a triple on the day.  Jodie Cox and Heather Scaglione each recorded a single and double with two RBIs and Kaleo Eldredge added two hits on the day for the Juggernaut.  Peaches James pitched a complete game and earned the victory in the circle. 

Peaches James Continues to Impress. Photo, Courtesy, NY Juggernaut.

China jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning.  With two outs, Zhang Lifang was hit by a James pitch.  A single by Sun Li followed by a stolen base put runners on second and third for the Chinese.  Miao Ruiying hit a two RBI single to left field to put China on the board.  China scored again in the third due to costly errors by the Juggernaut defense. 

New York began its comeback in the bottom of the third as it plated two runs to cut the deficit.  Watley led off the inning with a double down the left field line.  With two outs, Cox picked up her first RBI of the day with a double of her own to right center field.  Scaglione followed with a two-out RBI single to center to score Cox from second. 

The Juggernaut scored again in the fifth to take the lead from the Chinese National Team.  Watley, again, led off the inning with a single to center field.  A sacrifice bunt by Carri Leto moved Watley into scoring position for the Nauts.  Once more, Cox and Sacglione hit a single and double, respectively, to push the Juggernaut ahead 4-3. 

New York added some insurance runs in the sixth.  Kaleo Eldredge led off with a double to left field, her second hit of the day.  A sacrifice bunt by Kim Ogee and two crucial Chinese errors allowed Eldredge to score, making the score 5-3.  Ryan Realmuto added a pinch hit, sacrifice fly to score Ogee from third.  Watley followed with a triple to left field, but was stranded on third as the Juggernaut got all the run support they needed to defeat the Chinese. 

Peaches James got the complete game win, striking out six more batters as she continues to lead the NPF with 69 strikeouts.  The NY Juggernaut finish up their four game series against China on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.  For tickets or more information on the NY Juggernaut, please call 516-485-0141 or visit the Juggernaut online at www.nynjjuggernaut.com. 

FINAL SCORE

Score by Innings                                     R  H   E

—————————————–

Chinese National Team….. 021 000 0 – 3   3    2

NY Juggernaut………….….002 022 X -6  11  4

—————————————–

WP-Peaches James

LP-Yu Huili

China jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning.  With two outs, Zhang Lifang was hit by a James pitch.  A single by Sun Li followed by a stolen base put runners on second and third for the Chinese.  Miao Ruiying hit a two RBI single to left field to put China on the board.  China scored again in the third due to costly errors by the Juggernaut defense. 

New York began its comeback in the bottom of the third as it plated two runs to cut the deficit.  Watley led off the inning with a double down the left field line.  With two outs, Cox picked up her first RBI of the day with a double of her own to right center field.  Scaglione followed with a two-out RBI single to center to score Cox from second. 

The Juggernaut scored again in the fifth to take the lead from the Chinese National Team.  Watley, again, led off the inning with a single to center field.  A sacrifice bunt by Carri Leto moved Watley into scoring position for the Nauts.  Once more, Cox and Sacglione hit a single and double, respectively, to push the Juggernaut ahead 4-3. 

New York added some insurance runs in the sixth.  Kaleo Eldredge led off with a double to left field, her second hit of the day.  A sacrifice bunt by Kim Ogee and two crucial Chinese errors allowed Eldredge to score, making the score 5-3.  Ryan Realmuto added a pinch hit, sacrifice fly to score Ogee from third.  Watley followed with a triple to left field, but was stranded on third as the Juggernaut got all the run support they needed to defeat the Chinese. 

Peaches James got the complete game win, striking out six more batters as she continues to lead the NPF with 69 strikeouts.  The NY Juggernaut finish up their four game series against China on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.  For tickets or more information on the NY Juggernaut, please call 516-485-0141 or visit the Juggernaut online at www.nynjjuggernaut.com. 

FINAL SCORE

Score by Innings                                     R  H   E

—————————————–

Chinese National Team….. 021 000 0 – 3   3    2

NY Juggernaut………….….002 022 X -6  11  4

—————————————–

WP-Peaches James

LP-Yu Huili