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 POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. March 10, 2005: The White Plains Department of Public Safety reach has gone global.

The Department’s new website debuted today on the City of White Plains website. The easy-to-navigate introduction and in-depth information center comes up by going to http://www.cityofwhiteplains.com/safety/annual.htm. The site features the department’s 2003-2004 Annual Report with in-depth crime and fire statistics, in addition to organization charts and readable descriptions of Public Safety Departments’ duties and jurisdictions. WPCNR found it easy flow, glitch-free, and packed with information available in depth in the easiest way for the first time in police and fire department annals.

WHITE PLAINS FINEST AND BRAVEST HAVE A NEW DRAGNET. The homepage of the White Plains Public Safety Department on the city website. Crime and fire stats and information on the department’s many investigative and fire security services are at citizen fingertips for the first time. Photo Capture from the Internet by WPCNR WebCam.

Commissioner Frank Straub Analyzes Department Performance, objectives. Photo Capture from the Internet by WPCNR News WebCam.

INSIDE STATS: The Site Breaksdown Police and Fire Department Activity for the 2003-2004 year and showcases the downward trend. The page is accessed by clicking on “Police Statistics.” Photo Capture from The Internet by WPCNR News WebCam.

Fire Stats Breakdown nature of Fire Bureau calls with the same easy interface by firehouse, types of fires, responses. Photo Capture from The Internet by WPCNR News WebCam.

But, that’s not all. There are descriptions of Fire Rescue 88, The Emergency Services Unit, and police specialty divisions. The site introduces White Plains residents to the complete Department in a very in-depth way.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 10, 2005:  Common Councilwoman Rita Malmud endorsed Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors’ call for an independent consultant study of the effects, relationship and the future of city commercial and residential assessments and economic policy on the White Plains residential taxpayers Wednesday evening.  

 

 

Ms. Malmud speaks out!  She was the only common Council member to attend last night’s final Annual Budget Committee meeting. (Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors is just behind her, Marc Pollitzer seated looks on.) Ms. Amalmud  agreed a study was needed after watching the City School District present their latest revised Preliminary School Budget. The budget was trimmed $1.3 Million, leaving a projected budget of  $154.8 Million  for 2005-2006 that only adds .13% in new expenditures.  The new budget calls for a 9.91% tax increase in the property tax, the largest year to year increase in school taxes since 1993. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

 

  Assistant Superintendent for Business Terrance Schruers projected the dollar impact on taxpayers reporting that a typical White Plains home assessed at $15,500 of assessed value, would pay a tax increase of  $576 in 05-06.

 

$16 Million Lost in Assessments in Three Years = $6.6 Million Loss in Revenue

 

 

Mr. Connors had Mr. Schruers prepare a chart showing the plummet in assessed property values in the last three years during the White Plains Renaissance. The district has lost $16,000,000 in assessable property value since 2002-03, costing $6.6 Million in school tax revenue. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

Schruer’s chart factored in that even with the added PILOT revenues of $4.3 Million from the new development in White Plains, there is a net loss of school tax revenues of $2.3 Million. Schruers’ conclusion was that this has caused a $404 dollar increase in the Tax Rate (2%).

 

The audience of citizens, many of whom have been on the Annual Budget Committee for a number of years, were very concerned at this trend and expressed puzzlement.  Schruers’ pointed out that when you add Tax Certiorari refunds for the last three years the loss of revenues to the school district, combining lost assessment revenues and certiori refunds (which are permanent losses) amounts to $9 Million.

 

Economic Relationship Between Sales Tax and Property Tax Puzzling.

 

Many said  that this relationship of assessments and PILOTs and the city’s economic direction needed explanation for the School District to budget efficiently in future years. Mr. Connors began the meeting with a call for a study by a consultant of what the school district can expect in future years.

 

Ms. Malmud, speaking after the presentation, said she supported the cost of a study of assessments because she said  on the subject of assessments and PILOTS “there is a lot of misinformation and ignorance. You don’t have the facts.”

 

She said the trend “to condemn isn’t valid.” She noted that the city “cannot impose our will on the state.” She blamed part of the long term drop in assessments over the last twenty years began when the state took away the special franchise and utility assessment costing the city $35 Million in assessments the late 1980s.

 

PILOTS Essentially Equivalent to Property Tax Levy,  Malmud Says.

 

She said PILOTS “are done to give a developer certain bonding and sales tax benefits that does not change the property tax levy. It’s pretty much the same as if he didn’t have a PILOT.”

 

She blamed the Equalization Rate for the assessment drop which she described as “how you say what things are worth.” She said the assessments of homes are based on “what homes are worth,” while commercial properties are assessed “based on the value of homes and commercial property. There’s not a lot we can do about it. It’s dependent on what the state is doing.”

 

Legislature to the Rescue?

 

It was pointed out in the course of discussion that White Plains legislators in Albany are attempting, along with Nassau and Suffolk Counties to have separate assessment rates set for commercial and residential properties to prevent the trend that is impacting the three counties of Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk. WPCNR points out that though Assemblyman Robert Sweeney’s bill doing just that cleared the Assembly in 2003 and 2004, it died in the rules committee in the New York State Senate.

 

More on the PILOT Puzzle.

 

Afterwards, WPCNR asked Ms. Malmud how the City Center PILOT works, whether the property is assessed as a whole in figuring the PILOT and what the PILOT was. Malmud said that the National Amusements part of the City Center was given “a very generous PILOT, since we (the council) felt it was important to bring movies to White Plains.” She said the other individual businesses in the City Center were each PILOTed separately, but did not explain the details. She recalled the City Center PILOT as going about about 15 years (from 2001), but was not sure of that. She also had no comment on how the North Tower, a rental building was contributing to the PILOT for the center, and noted that the South Trump Tower was a condominium that would contribute to the tax levy next year.

 

Al Dold, veteran Annual Budget Committee member, said that when The Westchester comes off the PILOT agreement, that will be a good indication of whether Ms. Malmud is correct that PILOTS match what the city would have collected anyway. It is reported by observers that The Westchester lease mix is turning over now that the Westchester has completed its first ten years, and a number of tenants are leaving. How that will effect assessments has not been projected.

 

SO HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THE PROCESS? Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors listening to the ABC Committee commentary Wednesday evening. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

More Input Early On, Budget Committee Asks.

 

At the conclusion of the meeting, Superintendent of Schools Connors asked ABC Committee Members their feelings about the process of the Annual Budget Committee Process.

 

A number of citizens expressed the desire to be included on the budget process earlier on, saying they felt they were placed in the role of budget cutters, instead of budget crafters, then being asked to sell it to the public. Others felt the school district had to look at cutting staff. All expressed their staunch support of what the district is doing and what it stood for, a quality education for every child and that it was well worth the taxes it took to achieve that. The majority of sentiments said it was imperative that the District work with the city to get a financial handle on its future, to plan, as to whether tax burden would be eased as development flourishes, or whether it would continue its downward spiral.

 

Board of Education member, William Pollak, expressed the anxiety and passion of the Committee’s comments best when he said

 

“We’re all fighting for the same thing. Fighting for what we believe in, a quality education for every child. A tax increase higher than the cost of living, is relatively cheap compared to what neighbors (other school districts) pay. This is a School District that envisions certain family values. It ain’t going to happen if you’re not going to fight for it. We want our children to aspire to certain ideals we want our children to embrace. Our property values are determined by our schools. We need to fight for it.”

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WPCNR AMY’S ALBANY. From Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. March 9, 2005:  Assemblywoman Amy Paulin announced Monday that the Assembly has passed her legislation (A.421) to amend State environmental conservation law to ensure that all future environmental impact studies take into consideration the effect a proposed project or action will have on children.

 

 

 

“The litigation between the Town of Eastchester and United Water brought to my attention the lack of consideration given to the impact on children in the State-mandated environmental review process.  Yet, we know that children are much more vulnerable than are adults to factors in the environment beyond their control. My bill will close this gap and will ensure that in the future, the health and safety of children is protected,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin.

 

Paulin’s legislation requires the Department of Environmental Conservation to periodically, but not less than annually, update any forms or documentation that are used to determine whether a proposed project or action would have a significant effect on the environment.  In these updates, the Department of Environmental Conservation will be required to take into consideration changes in science, emerging issues in environmental protection, and the impact on sensitive populations such as children.  Additionally, it must promote an awareness that environmental factors affect sensitive populations differently than they do the general public.

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WPCNR SCREEN GEMS. From National Amusements. March 9, 2005: The City Center De Lux is premiering Hostage, the long awaited Bruce Willis vehicle, and Robots with Robin Williams and Hallie Berry this weekend. Here are the thumbails and the schedules for the next week:

ROBOTS — Robin Williams, Halley Berry, Mel Brooks and Ewan McGregor provide the voices in this hilarious computer-animated comedy about a land populated entirely by robots, from the makers of ICE AGE. Rated PG See More, Hear More and Experience More when you see ROBOTS: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE in City Center 15 IMAX. Click showtime to purchase tickets.

HOSTAGE — Bruce Willis stars as an L.A. cop devastated by an unspeakable tragedy while on the job as a hostage negotiator. In his new job as a chief of police in a sleepy little town, he once again is thrust into a terrifying situation that could change his career and life forever when three delinquent teens take a wealthy family hostage. Rated R

THE PASSION RECUT – This re-cut version of Mel Gibson’s ’The Passion of the Christ’, which depicts the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus, has been trimmed five or six minutes to eliminate selected violent scenes. (NR)

Wednesday, March 09, 2005  
Because of Winn-Dixie (PG) –12:00; 2:20; 4:40; 7:00 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:35; 3:35; 6:45; 9:45 pm. ;
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (G) –11:30 am; 1:20 pm. ;
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (PG-13) –1:40; 4:30; 7:20; 10:05 pm. ;
The Pacifier (PG) –12:00; 2:25; 4:45; 7:05; 9:35 pm. ;
The Pacifier **(PG) –11:30 am; 1:55; 4:15; 6:30; 9:05 pm. ;
IMAX – Aliens of the Deep (G) –11:30 am; 1:00; 2:30; 4:00; 5:30 pm. ;
Cursed (PG-13) –12:25; 2:50; 5:15; 7:40; 10:15 pm. ;
Constantine (R) –1:20; 4:20; 7:05; 9:50 pm. ;
The Aviator (PG-13) –4:10; 7:50 pm. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:15; 7:10; 9:20; 10:10 pm. ;
Man of the House (PG-13) –11:35 am; 2:05; 4:30; 6:50; 9:15 pm. ;
The Jacket (R) –1:10; 4:00; 6:40; 9:30 pm. ;
Son of the Mask (PG) –11:30 am; 1:45 pm. ;
Are We There Yet? (PG) –12:00; 2:00 pm. ;
Be Cool **(PG-13) –4:00; 6:45; 9:30 pm. ;
Be Cool (PG-13) –12:45; 3:30; 6:15; 7:15; 9:00; 10:00 pm. ;
Sideways (R) –3:10; 6:20; 9:10 pm. ;

Thursday, March 10, 2005  
Cursed (PG-13) –12:25; 2:50; 5:15; 7:40; 10:15 pm. ;
Be Cool (PG-13) –12:45; 3:30; 6:15; 7:15; 9:00; 10:00 pm. ;
Be Cool **(PG-13) –4:00; 6:45; 9:30 pm. ;
Are We There Yet? (PG) –12:00; 2:00 pm. ;
Son of the Mask (PG) –11:30 am; 1:45 pm. ;
The Jacket (R) –1:10; 4:00; 9:30 pm. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:15; 7:10; 9:20; 10:10 pm. ;
Constantine (R) –12:30 pm. ;
Man of the House (PG-13) –11:35 am; 2:05; 4:30; 6:50; 9:15 pm. ;
The Aviator (PG-13) –4:10; 7:50 pm. ;
IMAX – Aliens of the Deep (G) –11:30 am; 1:00; 2:30; 4:00; 5:30 pm. ;
The Pacifier (PG) –12:00; 2:25; 4:45; 7:05; 9:35 pm. ;
The Pacifier **(PG) –11:30 am; 1:55; 4:15; 6:30; 9:05 pm. ;
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (PG-13) –1:40; 4:30; 7:20; 10:05 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:35; 3:35; 6:45; 9:45 pm. ;
Because of Winn-Dixie (PG) –12:00; 2:20; 4:40; 7:00 pm. ;
Sideways (R) –3:10; 6:20; 9:10 pm. ;
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (G) –11:30 am. ;

Friday, March 11, 2005  
Sideways (R) –8:45; 11:30 pm. ;
Robots: The IMAX Experience (PG) –12:15; 2:30; 4:45; 7:00; 9:15; 11:30 pm. ;
Be Cool **(PG-13) –12:45; 3:30; 6:15; 9:10; 11:55 pm. ;
The Passion Recut (NR) –11:35 am; 2:20; 5:05; 7:45; 10:30 pm; 12:45 am. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:35; 3:35; 6:45; 9:50 pm; 12:35 am. ;
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (PG-13) –1:40; 4:30; 7:20; 10:00 pm; 12:35 am. ;
Hostage (R) –1:10; 3:50; 6:40; 9:30 pm; 12:10 am. ;
The Pacifier **(PG) –11:30 am. ;
The Pacifier (PG) –12:00; 2:25; 4:40; 7:05; 9:35; 11:55 pm. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:15; 7:10; 10:10 pm; 12:40 am. ;
Robots (PG) –11:45 am; 12:45; 2:00; 3:00; 4:15; 5:15; 6:30; 7:30; 9:45 pm; 12:00 am. ;
Constantine (R) –12:15 am. ;
The Jacket (R) –12:50; 3:15; 5:35; 8:00; 10:20 pm; 12:35 am. ;
Be Cool (PG-13) –1:00; 4:00; 6:45; 7:15; 9:40; 10:05 pm; 12:20; 12:40 am. ;
Because of Winn-Dixie (PG) –12:00;