THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

Maisano Appointed Head of Westchester County Consumer Protection

Posted on February 16, 2018 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. February 19, 2018:

County Executive George Latimer named longtime County Legislator Jim Maisano (R-New Rochelle) as the Director of the Department of Consumer Protection in a news conference today at the Michaelian Building in White Plains

Latimer said: “We are of different political parties, and we remain in different political parties, but we have a shared commitment to the people of Westchester County.”

Maisano said: “I am so excited and grateful that this Administration has given me this opportunity. It is incredible that George reached across party lines to show that the most important thing is the County of Westchester. We have a fabulous County government and everyone, Democrats, Republicans and Independents should be working together to make this an even better County.

Maisano was elected to the County Board of Legislators in 1997, Maisano served in numerous leadership positions, including most recently as Vice-Chairman of the Board from 2014-2017, and Minority Leader from 2010-2013.

For over two decades as a legislator Maisano focused, on the areas of governmental and fiscal reform, environmental protection and improving municipal recreation and parks.

In addition to his public service, Maisano brings a wealth of legal experience to the job. He currently practices law at his own firm in New Rochelle, concentrating his practice on business litigation, real estate, wills, estates and probate actions.

Maisano, raised in New Rochelle, is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he worked as a landing support specialist in embarkation and logistics. Maisano served as platoon sergeant, supervising and training a platoon of marines. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant, and received several awards and commendations during his service to our country.

Latimer said: “Jim and I have a long history of working together to tackle the challenges facing our County – no matter our party affiliation. He has always advocated for the people of this County based on what he thought was the right thing to do, regardless of politics. I look forward to continuing our work together as he heads this department, which serves as the peoples’ watchdog.”

Maisano said: “I am very pleased to continue my public service in a ‘hands on’ position where I can really help the people of Westchester County. The Department of Consumer Protection is important and I am honored that County Executive Latimer has entrusted me to direct the County’s efforts to safeguard our residents from unscrupulous businesses and dangerous products. I will make sure that the Department of Consumer Protection is a robust, efficient and transparent operation.”

Maisano will officially begin his new duties on February 26.

LINK TO PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/WSaN17khbI4

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Sing Sing Prison Museum Launches. Fund Raising Drive for $650,000 in matching funds from State sought to Renovate, County may contribute.

Posted on February 15, 2018 by John Bailey

Site of planned Sing Sing Prison Museum: former power house serving the prison. Plans for the 2025 targeted opening were announced today in Ossining.

WPCNR County Clarion Ledger. By John F. Bailey. February 15, 2018:

Just outside Sing Sing Prison this afternoon County Executive George Latimer, the Mayor of Ossining, Assembly woman Sandy Galef and other dignataries announced a $25 Million to $30 Million project to create a museum of prison history, focusing on Sing Sing Prison which is approaching its 200th anniversary of its founding in 1825.

The project seeks to renovate the abandoned power house (adjacent the entrance to the prison) into a 4 story museum.

The project, Latimer said, would generate 135,000 visitors to the facility and the town of Ossining, generating 230 full-time jobs, plus construction jobs. The Mayor of Ossining, Victoria Gearity (left) hailed the project as bringing a halo affect of jobs and revenue to the city. Sandy Galef, Assemblywoman, right, thanked Mr. Latimer for throwing the County support for the project. Latimer said the county may contribute funds to the project, depending on how the county budget unfolds in 2018.

The project director said the museum would contain memorabilia and exhibits of the Sing Sing past, including a model of an electric chair; uniforms of guards and prisoners, typical cells, and lecture halls.

There would be a movie theater that would exhibit prison-based films. He also said there would be exhibits emphasizing the rehabilitation of prisoners that has made Sing Sing a model of incarceration success with a recidivism rate of released prisoners, just 4% compared to other prison average of as high as 70%.

Sing Sing Prison Museum expects to renovate the rusted girders and railingless stairways leading to its upper floors and replace windows of the old power house by the beginning of 2019. By the end of 2019 they expect to complete design and exhibit plans. The project is expected to be completed tentatively in the beginning of 2025.

A major feature of the museum will be restoration of the original 1825 cell block shown here in the heart of the Sing Sing complex, which will be connected to the museum building,

Ms. Gold said the cost of the project is expected to be at least $25 Million or higher.The County Executive said the county might contribute financing to the project depending on how the county financial status evolves.

The wall of Sing Sing Prison today.

SATURDAY AT 7 PM AND ON THE INTERNET NOW–JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS WHITE PLAINS NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ON THE BUDGET, DIRECTION OF THE SCHOOLS, NEW INITIATIVES ON FIOS CH. 45 AND ALTICE CABLEVISION 76

Posted on February 15, 2018 by John Bailey

DR. RICCA DISCUSSES HIS FIRST 7 MONTHS AND WHAT’S AHEAD

At 7 PM SATURDAY NIGHT

on FIOS CH 45, ALTICE CH. 76

AND ON YOU TUBE AND WHITE PLAINS WEEK DOT COM WORLDWIDE INSTANTLY

YOU TUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/nQ1FN2pxvEA

WhitePlainsWeek.com link is

http://www.whiteplainsweek.com/

www.wpcommunitymedia.org

The upcoming School Budget

Review of test evaluations at all grades

His take on the State Assessment Test Issue

The future of the District, Budget Growth Issues

and more

Catherine Borgia and Unions Rally. Will Introduce Paid Sick Leave Bill. Formula Would Have Employees Earn Days of Paid Sick Time By Hours WORKED going Forward. Retroactive Service May be Considered.

Posted on February 14, 2018 by John Bailey

Legislator Catherine Borgia (in red jacket left of podium) with Legislators, Nancy Barr (Port Chester and County Chair of the Board of Legislators, Benjamin Boykin, behind podium, leading raucous rally in the Michaelian Building rotunda today in White Plains, NY USA

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. February 14, 2018:

County Legislator Catherine Borgia and numerous labor organizations representing some 70,000 transit bus monitors, custodians, and other job positions announced she would reintroduce her paid sick leave bill that was held in committee last fall by the Astorino administration.

The bill, if passed, would make it law that businesses with more than 5 employees and offering no paid sick leave would have to count the number of hours per week an employee worked and total them up to provide paid sick days for the employee.

The bill allows an employ to accumulate one hour towards a paid sick day for each 40 hours worked. If the bill as constituted became law, if an employee did not without paid sick leave, he or she would for each 40 hours worked earn an hour of a paid sick day.

WPCNR asked Ms. Borgia how many paid sick days would be earned if an employee worked 50 weeks with approximately 40 hours a week.

The employee would have earned 5 full sick days with pay, Borgia told WPCNR.

She told WPCNR the bill may change in committee to build in a retroactive feature, that loyal employees could use past work history to earn paid sick days more quickly.

Currently the bill does not include any retroactive service “credit.”

The news conference featured employees telling of their need to stay home to tend sick children and their loss of pay, and possible loss of job.