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)

FASNY ISSUES STATEMENT ON GEDNEY ASSOCIATION SUING FOR DISMISSAL OF COMMON COUNCIL APPROVAL OF ITS RIDGEWAY CAMPUS

Posted on December 6, 2017 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. From the French American School of New York. December 6, 2017:

The French American School of New York issued this statement to WPCNR this evening, dismissing the Gedney Association law suit filed this week to stop the school campus construction in its tracks:

“This lawsuit is yet another waste of time, resources and taxpayer money. FASNY’s application for a School has been the most exhaustively studied in city history, which resulted in a significantly reduced compromise plan. To suggest that the environmental review in any way fell short is absurd.

The Gedney Association has lost all four prior legal actions. We are confident that the court will dismiss this latest attempt by two individuals, including the president of the Gedney Neighborhood Association, which has opposed any attempt to utilize the property, including for recreation.

The outcome of recent primary and general elections in White Plains clearly demonstrated that the vast majority of citizens of White Plains do not oppose the School and, in fact, support the members of the Common Council who, after a seven-year review process, voted in favor of the reduced plan.”

Gedney Association Article 78 Action Asks Court to Overturn Common Council Decision to Approve FASNY Campus. Alleges Segmentation Violation and Nadine Hunt-Robinson’s public statement as Evidence Violating SEQRA standards.

Posted on December 6, 2017 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. December 6, 2017:

In court papers filed the Gedney Association of White Plains has demanded the court overturn the White Plains Common Council 5-2 decision November 6 to allow the French American School of New York to build a new school campus on the former Ridgeway Country Club property.

The basis of the suit, persons familiar with the papers say, is that by law entities are not allowed to develop sites incrementally, a process known as segmentation.

In approving the 5-2 decision Councilwoman Nadine Hunt-Robinson (delivering the all important fifth vote) stated in her public statement that a 15 year moratorium on developing or doing anything with the sites other than parcel A was sufficient reason to allow the project to proceed to judge the impacts of any possible future development after the present project is built. She had originally suggested a 50 year ban on developing the other parcels.

Ms. Hunt-Robinson also said the scholarships the school has promised were a benefit to the community. The Gedney Association suit also objects to this as a questionable reason for the city to approve the project.

The case is scheduled to be heard by Judge Susan Cacace on January 19. Persons familiar with the matter told WPCNR Cacace would have 60 days to review the complaint. The suit is not a Show Cause or request for a Temporary Restraining Order. It asks the court to deny the Common Council vote.

Previously, the Gedney Association was prevented from bringing legal action by Judge Joan Lefkowitz in her handling of the previous legal proceeding leading up to the approval vote, because the Gedney Association did not have “standing,” meaning the Association as an entity was not directly affected by the project.

One of the plaintiffs in the suit, though does own property next to the golf course, and presents evidence that their property values will be directly affected should the school be allowed to develop the properties adjacent their home ( parcels not now planned for development),in the future (raising the alleged segmentation issue.)

More details to come, as WPCNR continues to go over the 39-page filing.

GEDNEY ASSOCIATION FILES LAWSUIT TO CHALLENGE WHITE PLAINS APPROVAL OF FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK

Posted on December 5, 2017 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. Special to WPCNR December 5, 2017:

The Gedney Association, longtime arch-adversary of the French American School of New York has filed a lawsuit against the City to stop the approved French American School of New York development of the Ridgeway Country Club. The court date is January 19, 2018.

Alliance for Disabled Outlines Possible Massive Cuts in Aid for the Disabled IF Tax Bill Becomes Law–URGES Congress to Reconsider

Posted on December 5, 2017 by John Bailey

t. 914-471-4109

f. 914-

To: Paca Lipovac <[email protected]

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From Richmond Community Services. December 5, 2017:

Dear New York Alliance Members:

Early Saturday morning, we saw passage in the US Senate of the tax overhaul legislation that poses significant threats to people with disabilities, and the provider organizations that support them. As the process now moves to a reconciliation with the US House of Representatives, we ask you to call your member of Congress and ask them not to support any tax overhaul legislation that includes any of the following provisions currently found in either the House or Senate bills:

The changes to state and local taxes would have a potential impact on New York of as much as $18B, according to Governor Cuomo. New York obtains significant funding from these taxes for services for New Yorkers with disabilities.
The addition of up to $1.5 trillion to the national debt may be used to justify future cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security, which are the main federal programs that support people with disabilities. This includes the potential elimination of vocational rehabilitation funding and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which support people with disabilities to be contributing, tax-paying members of our communities. See Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) Letter linked here.
The changes proposed to the charitable tax deduction reduce the ability of nonprofit disability service providers to fund important services for people with disabilities
As the only other federal support for Medicaid long term services and supports, the House passed legislation removing the medical expense deduction could put significant strain on the Medicaid program that serves hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers with disabilities.
The changes to the unrelated business income tax (UBIT) impact the ability of nonprofit providers and their associations to maintain limited but important revenues necessary for continuing to operate in the future.
The House legislation’s elimination of tax breaks on bond financing could significantly undermine the financing for affordable housing for people with disabilities.