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WPCNR TAXI TAXI! GET ME TO THE TRANSCENTER AND STEP ON IT! By John F. Bailey. April 8, 2016 UPDATED APRIL 9, 2016:

The Common Council voted to approve a sweeping revision of White Plains taxi regulations Monday evening, which sets new standards for taxi operations in the city and prohibits cabs and cab companies who do not have White Plains medallions from picking up customers within the White Plains city limits.

Of paramount interest to the consumer, the ordinance approved on the consent agenda sets new taxi rates, effectively doubling what you pay for a cab — the chart below shows the new rates. No longer will there be set zone fees, the taximeter, required in all White Plains cabs, instead you will pay by 1/8 of a mile traveled.

The rates below take effect approximately July 1.

The Ordinance appears to take an aggressive stance to private ride services responding to cellphone requests for rides from the White Plains downtown, and to target for fines and jailtime if caught picking up riders without having a White Plains-issued taxi medallion and an ovehead rooflight. The fines for unauthorized operation of a taxi in White Plains are detailed in the following graphic — direct from the city ordinance:

The new ordinance completely reorganizes taxi operations in White Plains and installs the new fees (above) for White Plains taxicabs, to wit:

 Authorizes five (5) additional White Plains taxicab medallions to be assigned to accessible vehicles only. White Plains will be the first Westchester municipality to incentivize the inclusion of accessible vehicles as part of its taxicab fleet;

 Allows hailing within a defined ‘Hail Zone’ located in the downtown area;  Replaces the Zone Map, which currently governs fares, with a requirement that all White Plains taxicabs utilize taximeters. The Hail Zone Map is largely regarded as confusing and has been a frequent source of customer complaints.

THE NEW CAB HAIL ZONE AS DESCRIBED IN THE NEW TAXI ORDINANCE.

All White Plains licensed taxicabs are required to install a taximeter within 3 months from the enactment of the ordinance; Fares will increase as each cab ride progresses according to the graphic above.

 Requires that all White Plains licensed taxicabs be painted a uniform color (white) and attach a White Plains taxicab medallion sticker (to be provided by the WPPD) to the vehicle so that the riding public as well as the Police Department can easily identify licensed White Plains taxicabs.

The color requirement will take effect at the next annual medallion renewal. Medallions are generally renewed in November and December of each year;

 Requires that all White Plains licensed taxicab drivers submit to annual drug testing;

 Reduces the overall age and improves the condition of the City’s taxi fleet by requiring that cars be taken out of service when they reach 400,000 miles. This will ensure that the fleet is comprised of newer, more fuel efficient and lower-emission vehicles.

The maximum vehicle mileage requirement will take effect 6 months from the enactment of the ordinance;

 Simplifies the rate structure and provides a modest rate increase for all White Plains licensed taxicabs. The last rate increase was approved 14 years ago; and

 Requires that owners and drivers of taxicabs maintain vehicles in a clean and safe condition. These changes come on the heels of the installation of two Taxi Starters (Special Patrol Officers)

New Fees as provided in the new City Ordinance.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the White Plains City School District and John F. Bailey. April 6, 2016:

Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education reports that  87% of approximately 3,185  Grade 3 to 8 students took the ELA assessments yesterday.

A total of 414  students (13%)  of approximately 3,185 students in Grades 3 to 8 were held back by their parents from taking the English Language Arts Assessment Tests administered across White Plains’ five elementary and 2 middle schools yesterday.

Last year 10%, 327 of 3,213 students eligible to take the ELA Assessment tests in Grades 3 to 8 were held back by parents from taking the exams.

The ELA Assessments this year, were carefully gone over by 22 teachers for appropriateness and answerability by grade level.

According to a news release from MaryEllen Elia, released March 16, the tests administered Tuesday though originally created by Pearson, (the international educational materials publisher dismissed last spring as contractor for creating NYS assessments), were vetted for appropriateness by grade.

Ms. Elia in the news release went on record, assuring teachers and parents the tests this year should be “fair,” for all students each grade taking them, to wit:

“We hired a new company to help us develop future assessments (Questar, credited with upgrading Minnesota state assessments success). We brought teachers from across (N.Y.) state to review every reading passage, word problem, and multiple-choice question on this spring’s tests to make sure they’re fair. In all every item has been reviewed by at least 22 educators. Going forward, we’ll bring even more teachers into the process.”

On Tuesday, the majority of students held back in White Plains attended the middle school (grades 6 to 8). Here are the opt-out figures by grade as of this morning supplied by the Clerk to the Board of Education.

White Plains Grades 3 to 5: 7%, 118 students.

Grades 6 to 8: 18%, 296 students

Total, Grades 3 to 8: 414, 13%