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)

BEWARE THIS E Z PASS SCAM BOYKIN SAYS

Posted on July 22, 2015 by John Bailey

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Getting out of town for a few days is what makes us all look forward to the summer months every year. Unfortunately this summer has brought out some unwanted attention as a result. We’re urging everyone to beware of a new scam targeting E-Z Pass customers this summer.
Here is what to watch for: An email that appears to be from E-Z Pass, which has the E-Z Pass logo and says you owe money for driving on a toll road. It also provides a link to click for your invoice. Don’t Click It.
The email isn’t from E-Z Pass. By clicking on the link, hackers may be putting something onto your computer with the goal of extracting personal information. By responding to this e-mail and clicking on the link, you could make yourself vulnerable to identity theft.
This E-Z Pass scam is one of the latest phishing scams, whereby criminals pretend to be legitimate businesses to gain access to your personal information.
Here are a few online security tips to help you avoid phishing scams:

Never click on links in emails unless you’re sure who sent you the message.
Don’t respond to any emails that ask for personal or financial information. Email isn’t a secure way to send that information.
Type an organization’s URL yourself, and don’t send personal or financial information unless the URL begins with https (the “s” stands for secure).
If an email looks like it is from E-Z Pass, contact E-Z Pass customer service to confirm that it is really from them.
Keep your computer security software current.

If you believe you have received one of these e-mails, forward it to [email protected] and to the company being falsely portrayed in the e-mail. Additionally, you can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by visiting at ftc.gov/complaint. For more information you can also visit ftc.gov/idtheft.

DiNapoli: Tax Cap Will be 3/4 of a percent in 2016 school and city budget planning

Posted on July 22, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Office of Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller. July 21, 2015:

Property tax growth for local governments will be capped at less than one percent for the 2016 fiscal year, according to a report issued today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The report noted the allowable tax levy growth factor will be 0.73 percent for entities that operate on a calendar-based fiscal year – which includes all counties, towns, fire districts, 44 cities and 10 villages.

“Local government officials need to brace for the lowest growth in their property tax revenue in the tax cap era,” said DiNapoli. “Municipalities may have to operate differently under these new limits. Even tougher budget choices may be required on staffing levels, delivery of services, fund balance reductions, and deferral of capital and infrastructure projects. And if inflation trends continue, it is possible that some local governments with fiscal years beginning later in 2016, including school districts, could be faced with zero growth in property tax revenue.”

The tax cap, which first applied to local governments beginning in 2012, limits tax levy increases to the lesser of the rate of inflation or 2 percent with some exceptions, including a provision that allows municipalities to override the cap.

DiNapoli estimates that next year more than 1,800 calendar-year local governments will have roughly $88.3 million less in tax levy growth compared to what they had in 2015 when the factor was 1.56 percent and $135.1 million less than they would have had when the factor was at 2 percent as in 2012 and 2013.

The Comptroller also projected that the potential impact of levy restrictions for school districts (which have fiscal years beginning July 1) could range from a loss of $182.7 million, assuming a factor of 0.73 percent, to a loss of $332.6 million, assuming a factor of zero. These ranges are in comparison to the 2015-16 tax levy cap of 1.62 percent.

Read the report, or visit: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/pubs/research/snapshot/taxcaptightens0715.pdf

For access to state and local government spending, public authority financial data and information on 50,000 state contracts, visit Open Book New York. The easy-to-use website was created by DiNapoli to promote openness in government and provide taxpayers with better access to the financial workings of government.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND TREAT HEAT STOKE–AS TEMPERATURE PUSHES 92 IN THE SHADE.

Posted on July 20, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR HEAT WAVE. From Caren Halbfinger, Westchester County Department of Health. July 20, 2015:

With hot and humid weather forecast through tomorrow, the Westchester County Health Department is issuing a heat advisory. As temperatures rise, residents are advised to avoid strenuous activity, drink plenty of non-alcoholic, uncaffeinated beverages, and take precautions to prevent heat-related illness.

Heat stroke is a serious and life-threatening condition that claims many lives nationwide each year. Symptoms include hot, red, dry skin; shallow breathing; a rapid, weak pulse; and confusion. Anyone suffering from heat stroke needs to receive emergency medical treatment immediately. Call 911 if you suspect heat stroke and immediately cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency help to arrive.

“Heat stroke and dehydration can take you by surprise,” said Sherlita Amler, MD, Westchester County commissioner of health. “The elderly, young children and those with high blood pressure, heart disease, or lung conditions need to be especially careful to avoid heat-related illnesses. High humidity and some medications can also increase a person’s risk for heat stroke.”

While less dangerous than heat stroke, heat exhaustion also poses concerns. Seniors, children up to age four, people who are overweight or who have high blood pressure and those who work in hot environments are most at risk. Signs include headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness and exhaustion, as well as cool, moist, pale or flushed skin. People suffering from heat exhaustion should be moved out of the sun and have cool, wet cloths applied to their skin.

Health Department recommendations to prevent heat-related illnesses:

Drink two to four glasses of water per hour during extreme heat, even if you aren’t thirsty.
Limit any strenuous activity and exercise, especially during the sun’s peak hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Take frequent breaks and drink lots of water if you work outside.
Exercise when it is cooler, during early morning hours or in the evening.
Avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugary drinks. These cause you to lose more body fluid.

Stay indoors, ideally, in an air-conditioned place. If your house or apartment isn’t air-conditioned, try spending a few hours at a shopping mall, public library, movie theater or supermarket. A few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. For addresses and phone numbers of libraries and senior centers, go to http://health.westchestergov.com/stay-safe-in-the-sun.

Take a cool shower or bath and reduce or eliminate strenuous activities during the hottest time of day.
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing to reflect heat and sunlight.
Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and by using a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
NEVER leave anyone – a person or animal – in a closed, parked vehicle. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can quickly exceed 140º F, which is life-threatening.
Neighbors should check on elderly neighbors to make sure they are safe.
Bring pets inside and be sure to provide them with plenty of water.

Elevated heat and humidity can also lead to unhealthy ozone levels. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forecasts daily ozone conditions on its website, http://www.dec.ny.gov, for the New York Metropolitan area, which includes Westchester County. Air quality updates are also provided daily on the New York State Air Quality Hotline at 1-800-535-1345.

Ozone is a gas produced by the action of sunlight on organic air contaminants from automobile exhausts and other sources. Significant exposure to ozone in the air has been linked with adverse health effects. These may include nose and throat irritation, respiratory symptoms, and decreases in lung function.

People who experience these symptoms should speak with a health care provider. Those who may be especially sensitive to the effects of ozone exposure include the very young, those who exercise outdoors or are involved in strenuous outdoor work, and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma. When ozone levels are elevated, the Westchester County Department of Health recommends limiting strenuous physical activity outdoors to reduce the risk of adverse effects.

White Plains Sales Tax $$ End Year Down 2-1/2%. Since 2010 Sales Tax Increase, Tax $$ Have Been Flat.

Posted on July 20, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey with data from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. UPDATED WITH CORRECTION. July 20, 2015:

The City Sales Tax Receipts for the month June were 21% less than last year, the Department of Taxation and Finance reported Thursday, leaving the city 2014-15 sales tax receipts $800,652 less than last year when the city collected $51,856,187. This year the city final sales tax receipts were $51,055,529.

Last June White Plains collected $5,385,000 in sales tax dollars, this year the city received $4,254150 in sales tax receipts, a decline of 21%.

The County Sales Tax receipts through the first half of the county budget year of 2015, were down 2.6%. Westchester County has collected $245.2 Million through June compared to last year’s mid-year total of $251.7 M, a differential of 2.6%. The County June 2015 sales tax dollars were down 8% reflecting the White Plains performance.

The White Plains fiscal year does not leave the city with a deficit, but does raise questions as to how the city economic “recovery” is doing. Since the city last raised its sales tax in 2010 with approval of the state legislature, the city sales tax receipts have been flat the last 5 years.

They have risen one year above the 2011 total, while inflation over those 5 years has risen 12%. The city sales activity has not kept pace with inflation.