WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. AUGUST 18, 2017:
The Tom Roach for Mayor Campaign Manager today announced the campaign would not appeal Judge Lawrence Ecker’s Ruling that the Milagros Lecuona slate had obtained enough valid signatures to qualify for a September 12 primary challenging the Roach slate.
WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. August 17, 2017:
More than 500 signatures from White Plains Democrats were reinstated when Judge Lawrence Ecker allowed for “WP” to be accepted in place of “White Plains.”
To read the ruling click: The decision reads, “…there should be no bar to the consideration of these signatures. There is only one city involved in this election, namely White Plains, and only one city that the abbreviation “W.P.” can represent in Westchester County, namely White Plains.”
The record reads “…the Court determines that plaintiff have failed to establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that respondents’ designating petitions were permeated with fraud…On the facts adduced at the hearing, the Court finds there was no danger of fraud or confusion either to the Board or to the voters.”
Christine Senteno, a spokesperson for the Lecuona campaign told WPCNR, the Lecuona campaign has not been served with a notice of appeal of Judge Ecker’s ruling from plaintiffs, Willa Swiller, Steven Walfish, Thomas Roach, John Martin, John Kirkpatrick and Justin Brasch.
Senteno said given the time constraints going up against a September 12 primary date, the campaign should know in a few days whether an appeal will be forthcoming.
The White Plains Democratic primary will be held September 12.
If Judge Ecker’s ruling stands Lecuona will run for Mayor; her running mates Alan Goldman, Michael Kraver and Saad Siddiqui will run against Martin, Kirkpatrick and Brasch for Common Council.
“We won! The Board of Elections said so. The judge said so and Milagros’ supporters say so. I worked hard walking door-to-door, standing in front of local stores, so I could collect pages of petition signatures and it feels good to know that White Plains voters will have a choice come the September 12 primaries,” said Ellen Berger, longtime White Plains resident, and Lecuona supporter.
“Of course, we are pleased with the outcome of this case because now those voters whose voices were in jeopardy of being silenced will now be heard. It is a relief that we can finally focus on engaging White Plains voters instead of isolating them with legal battles,” said candidate Lecuona.
“There is no doubt innocent mistakes were made in the way we gathered our petitions. Changes have been made so we can run an effective and efficient campaign. So many volunteers worked very hard to ensure that I was able to get on the ballot and their efforts will not be in vain. I want to thank them for their support and those who signed my petitions for their support,” Lecuona further explained
“This legal battle was an attempt to keep anyone who challenged the current power structure from speaking out. It is a shame the party bosses are so intimidated by opposing opinions that they will go through such extremes to shut down their own voters, many of whom are women and people of color. That and the FASNY issue are why I am shopping for a new mayor this election cycle,” said Yvonne Gumo,
WPCNR PLAYLAND TOMORROW. By John F. Bailey. August 16, 2017:
Despite a sizzling July, Playland attendance through July 23 is down 14,785 from last year, or the equivalent of two big holiday weekend perfect days when about 8,000 usually come to the park, so the 22% decline could be easily made up with some big August weekends and the Labor Day weekend.
The revenue in the park is down $300,000, $5,035,345 was generated through July 23 of 2016; $4,742,020 through July 23, 2017.
The figures this year show of the 246,198 admissions through July 23, 80,910 or 32% were not residents from Westchester. Of that 80,910, 50,815 paid $30 to ride all day (plus parking) and 20,295 were spetator admissions.
Of the 246,198 admissions, 107,176 lived in Westchester County, that’s 43%. There were 66,964 residents who paid Ride All Day admissions, 12,144 who paid Junior admissions and 28,068 Spectator Admissions. Over 48,000 resident admissions chose to spectate and not ride.
Season Pass admissions, $80 resident, $90 non-resident,$35 spectator, promo season pass totaled 4,385. Group Riders at $20 numbered 34,500 and generated $690,000 in revenue.
Biggest Day was July 4 when 16,596 attended the park on a Tuesday. Next top draw was 13,687 on Memorial Day.
In 10 Saturday attendances, the average has been 5,881.
The 10 Sundays have done better than Saturdays. The average Sunday attendance is 6,943 on total attendance of 69,333.
The Beach and Pool attendance has attracted 36,726, down 23% from 2016’s 47,119 (through July 24, 2016.)
Figures provided by the Westchester County Board of Legislators.
WPCNR WESTCHESTER TOMORROW. By John F. Bailey. August 15, 2017:
I took a roadtrip to Pennsylvania last week to visit family and had the opportunity to go across the old Tappan Zee Bridge, and got a first hand look up close and girder personal at the new Mario A. Cuomo Bridge set to open in three days in the westbound direction (4 Lanes).
When you approach it for the first time leaving Westchester particularly on Friday evening, will traffic be smoother or worse?
Will the sharp swing northwest to mount the new grade up the bridge cause more slowdown or less? Remember the backup that always happens now because of the insane Tarrytown exit? That is still going to be there.
Will drivers run into a slowdown due to the S curve down hill from the 100 foot higher new bridge lanes? Drivers have to swing left going down a curve then swing right to motor onto the unchanged westbound thruway lanes, and we knowhow that backs up every day of the week, don’t we?
I certainly do not wish the bridge a bad first outing, but the real test will come when the Eastbound new bridge span opens.
Because the new span is approximately 100 feet above the old causeway leading up to the present bridge, drivers will have a steeper climb (though straighter. That climb up the incline has the potential to back up the new eastbound lanes more. The “S” approach onto the new eastbound causeway with the eastbound old thruway lanes swinging left, then swinging right in an S, that is really I think going to slow that eastbound morning traffic way lot. The long curve in one direction and a soft one that follows on the present bridge really does damage to vehicle speed.
But the reason I do not think the traffic speed will improve any eastern side opens, the hapless bridge has no ability to get its 4 lanes of eastbounders past the impass of the three lane I-287 eastbound merge. You’ve got 4 lanes going into three. You got new bridge old highway combination. No fix in sight for years. No express bus exclusive lane in sight.