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)

Driver at Fault in 2015 Valhalla Crossing Accident: National Transportation Safety Board

Posted on July 25, 2017 by John Bailey

7/25/2017

 WPCNR TRANSPORTATION REPORT. From the National Transportation Safety Board. July 25, 2017:

An SUV driver’s actions are the probable cause of a deadly 2015 collision between the SUV and a Metro-North commuter train at a grade crossing in Valhalla, New York, the National Transportation Safety Board found Tuesday.

The SUV driver died, along with five passengers on the train, in the Feb. 3, 2015, accident. The rail passengers were killed when 343 feet of the third rail, which powers the train, penetrated the floor of the first train car and struck passengers.

The NTSB’s investigation found the driver of the SUV moved her vehicle into the path of Metro-North commuter train 659.

Investigators found traffic at the Commerce Street grade crossing was congested when the driver entered the boundary of the grade crossing and stopped.

The grade crossing warning system activated properly and a gate came down, striking the rear of her Mercedes-Benz ML350. Witnesses said the driver exited the vehicle and examined where the gate hit her SUV. She then got back into the driver’s seat and moved onto the railroad tracks and into the path of the oncoming train.

The train hit the vehicle at 51 m.p.h., pushing the SUV 665 feet down the track, while detaching the third rail. The introduction of sparks, flaming debris and fuel into the lead railcar started a fire.

As a result of the investigation the NTSB recommended local officials assess the safety of at-grade crossings, such as the Commerce Street crossing. The NTSB also recommended commuter railroads, like Metro North, that use third-rail power systems, at or near grade crossings, should assess their safety.

“Sadly, all of the NTSB’s work in railroad and highway safety to date did not prevent this tragic accident,’’ said Acting Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt. “But the recommendations we issued today could help to avoid future tragedies. When people see railroad tracks, even at grade crossings, they need to think train, and maintain – or improve – their situational awareness. We recommended risk assessments by companies and agencies, and corrective actions as warranted by the assessment results,’’ Sumwalt said. “Any railroad passenger has the right to expect that everything possible is being done to assure their safety.”

The investigation found that Metro-North’s third rail system was not constructed to fail in a controlled manner or break away when subjected to overloaded conditions such as those involved in this accident.

Also, the use of Metro-North’s current third rail system may increase the severity of railcar damage and serious injuries at grade crossing accidents.

The investigation ruled out the use of personal electronic devices or drugs and alcohol by both the SUV driver and the train engineer.

Traffic signals, the performance of the train engineer and weather and track conditions were also ruled out as issues in this crash.

There was no evidence to suggest the SUV driver unintentionally drove the vehicle forward due to the unconventional design of the SUVs transmission interface.

A link to the findings, probable cause and recommendations are available online at https://go.usa.gov/xR8hG . The final report will be posted in several days. The docket for this investigation is available at https://go.usa.gov/xRk37.

WHITE PLAINS FINAL SALES TAX RECEIPTS DECLINE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW. RECEIPTS DOWN 5% IN 3 YEARS.

Posted on July 25, 2017 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. July 25, 2017:

The final sales figures for the White Plains fiscal year just ended.

The city total provided by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance was $49,310,346 was down 1% from fiscal year 2015-16 when it was $49,791,542. It was the third straight year the city economy has declined, after reaching an all time high of $51,856,287 in 2013-14.

The Westchester County Sales Tax handle for the first six months of its current fiscal year was up 2% from 2016 through June, $253,263,253 to $248,378,273. The county at the halfway mark is headed for an all-time high this year.

Senate with Vice President Pence Casting Tie-Breaker Vote, 51-50, Will Take Up the Health Care Bill. Senator Gillebrand “hard-pressed to remember a vote in the U.S. Senate that has treated the American people with less respect.”

Posted on July 25, 2017 by John Bailey

WPCNR WASHINGTON WIRE. From the Associated Press. July 25, 2017:

The U.S. Senate will take up the Republican drafted bill to replace the Affordable Health Care Act as a result of today’s Senate vote.

The Senate deadlocked 50-50 on whether to move forward with the health care debate, forcing Vice President Mike Pence to cast the tie-breaking vote and send the bill to the Senate floor.

The vote was enabled to be successful by Republican Senator John McCain, who had previously voiced major opposition to the Republican bill, returning from his hospitalization to attend the senate for the vote, and voting to take up debate on the bill. Pence broke the tie. Forty-seven other Republicans also voted to take up debate on the replacement bill, with just two, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski were the two Republican Senators to oppose the bill, though at least 4 others, including McCain,had lead many to believe a positive vote to take up repeal would not be successful.

N.Y. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today released the following statement on the Senate vote to open debate on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act:

“I am hard-pressed to remember a vote in the U.S. Senate that has treated the American people with less respect. This is not a game. My Republican colleagues would be well-served to remember this is about the health and wellbeing of millions of families in every corner of this country. When lawmakers are this secretive, you can be sure that it’s because the only losers will be regular Americans already struggling to pay for health care, and the winners will be millionaire health care CEOs, lobbyists, campaign donors, and the lawmakers themselves. This bill will harm millions of Americans and I will use every tool I have as a Senator to fight it. I encourage all New Yorkers to join me and to speak out and demand better than a back-room deal that harms those who work so hard to provide for their families. Democracy only works when regular people stand up and demand action. We cannot give up in this fight.”

Lecuona Confirms Her Petition Signatures to Run in Democratic Primary Are Challenged by Democratic Party in White Plains. Kraver, Council candidate Reports His Petitions Have been Challenged, too.

Posted on July 25, 2017 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2017. July 25, 2017:

Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona at a News Conference last week.

White Plains Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona confirmed today to WPCNR, as she said on Radio WVOX this morning, the Democratic Party Leadership has challenged many of her 2,700 signatures she acquired on her petitions. In a statement, Ms. Lecuona wrote WPCNR:

“My democratic petitions have been challenged. Not the Republican petitions.”

The Democratic challenge comes despite the fact Lecuona said last week she remained true to her Democrat principles and would not change parties to run on the Republican Ticket.

Lecuona also told WPCNR this morning she would support the Democrat nominee for County Executive whoever wins the September 12 Democratic Primary between State Senator George Latimer and County Legislator Kenneth Jenkins.

On WVOX this morning on the Bob Marrone Good Morning Westchester program, Lecuona said she is being challenged because “The Mayor is afraid he might not win this election.”

She said the Republican and Conservative Parties (that have endorsed her as their candidate in the November election nominated her based on positions she has taken and were impressed with how she makes decisions “based on the homework you do and not along party lines. They (the Republican party and Conservative Parties) are very aware what this (election) is about: best policies, real policies ”

Marrone asked why should people vote for her for Mayor, Lecuona said “I care about the neighborhoods, I have the expertise, and people trust me. I will represent all the people when I am Mayor.”

Lecuona also gave a nod to the quality of Michael Kraver, Alan Goldman and Saad Siddiqui, she is running with who are seeking the Democrat nominations for Common Council, challenging incumbents John Martin, John Kirpatrick and a first-time council candidate Justin Brasch. Remarking that “rubberstamping is unprecedented” in her years on the council, she said Kraver, Goldman and Siddiqui bring “a new energy to the city council,” saying they were younger, and represented the future of the city.

Michael Kraver, left, Alan Goldman, and Saad Siddiqui, candidates for Common Council. Their nominating petitions have been challenged by City Democratic Committee.

Kraver, writing on Facebook today, expressed these comments about the Democratic City Committee challenging his politicians:

“This weekend, I learned that the local Democratic Party establishment is challenging the signatures that I and the rest of my slate submitted. They want to keep us off the primary ballot, to ensure that their preferred candidates have the Democratic line in November.

To qualify for a primary, my slate was obligated to submit slightly more than 900 signatures, and we submitted more than 2,000. Nonetheless, the local Democratic Party establishment spent hours upon hours of time, and submitted hundreds of pieces of paper to the Board of Elections, to disqualify us.

They are trying to silence the local Democrats who signed on for a change to the status quo, and they are disrespecting the local Democrats who walked under the summer sun getting signatures on our behalf.

Taxpayer resources will now be used on employees at the Board of Elections spending days resolving disputes and inspecting thousands of signatures.

The Democratic Party is supposed to be better than this.

We pride ourselves on being the party that fights to expand the number of people who participate in the political process. My slate’s petitioning effort was supported by Democrats in White Plains who have never carried petitions before, and the slate includes three candidates who have never held office before.

Yet, instead of welcoming the primary election that should result from this effort, the local Democratic Party establishment is trying to rig the outcome without a vote. I and the rest of my slate are extremely disappointed, and we will fight for a spot on the primary ballot.

On a more personal note, I must say that while I knew to be prepared for political tricks when I decided to run, this is beyond the scope of what I expected.

I graduated from White Plains High School, and after obtaining two degrees from an Ivy League university I moved back to White Plains. I chose this community to raise my children in because I want them to enjoy the benefits of being educated in our high-quality diverse school district.

I have been a District Leader for the White Plains Democrats for 7 years, and served two terms on its Executive Committee. The notion that I now have to fight the people in charge of my own party just to get on the primary ballot saddens me deeply. It’s no wonder we have so much trouble attracting good people to run for public office.

Unfortunately for the folks who comprise our local political establishment, I’m a White Plains kid and I don’t scare easily. So, I’ll scratch and claw and fight, and do what I can do to get on the ballot and give the voters of White Plains the choice they deserve.