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)

GREENBURGH –WP NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR– HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING ON MASSAGE PARLOR LICENSING TONIGHT. FIRST STEP IN CRACKDOWN ON MASSAGE PARLOR PROSTITUTION

Posted on June 10, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Greenburgh Town Supervisor, Paul Feiner. June 10, 2015:

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. June 10, 2015:

The Greenburgh Town Board will hold a public hearing tonight at Town Hall on a proposed law that will provide the police with the tools to close down massage parlors that are involved in illegal activities – such as prostitution.

The hearing will take place tonight after 7:30 PM at Greenburgh Town Hall.

Two different versions of the law are being considered: one law written by Bob Bernstein, President of the Edgemont Community Council. The other by the Town’s Planning Board. The legislation drafted by Mr. Bernstein was based on a law that the Town of Clarkstown approved in the 1990s. The village of Farmingdale in Long Island also approved a similar law. A link to the Town Board agenda (with texts of the two versions) is below.

http://www.greenburghny.com/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=10&TPID=13179

The ECC’s proposal requires massage establishments to obtain a license from the town to obtain a special permit to operate.

Town Councilmembers Kevin Morgan, Francis Sheehan, Chief Chris McNerney, Howard Hirsch of the ECC and Bob Bernstein met recently to discuss both competing laws -hoping that a compromise law, with some modifications could be adopted by the Town Board. It is anticipated that the Town Board will vote on the legislation after we listen to the comments at the hearing and finalize a new draft law. No vote is expected tonight –the goal: to hear comments and than to finalize a compromise version.

Among changes in the proposed legislation: reducing the $500 cost of obtaining a license to a more affordable amount – a cost that could be burdensome to legal massage owners. Another compromise: exempting solo practitioners from the legislation since the law’s goal is to close down massage parlors that are really being used for prostitution.

You can watch the forum that was held -“Illegal Massage Parlors and What Really Goes on Behind Closed Doors”- on https://youtu.be/mmWXUXyF3fI.

Speakers included reporter Ken Picard who conducted an investigation on massage parlors in Vermont. And Nancy Levine of My Sisters Place as well as the police chief. The forum was organized by Town Clerk Judith Beville earlier this year.

Contractor Pleas Guilty to Fraud Involing New York Power Authority in WP

Posted on June 8, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR FBI WIRE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. June 8, 2015:

The owner of a Bardonia, New York, construction service company pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the New York Power Authority (NYPA) in White Plains and filing a false tax return, the Department of Justice, the IRS and the New York State Inspector General announced today.

According to the two-count felony charge filed in U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York in White Plains today, Thomas Delaney, owner of Over Rock Construction LLC, participated in a scheme to defraud NYPA. In October 2009, Over Rock was awarded a five-year, $3 million contract to perform landscaping, snow removal and masonry work at NYPA’s administrative facility in White Plains.

To generate cash for those involved in the scheme, Delaney, with the assistance of his co-conspirators, submitted fraudulent certified payroll statements and invoices to NYPA for reimbursement for individuals who performed no services (“no show” employees) on behalf of Over Rock at NYPA. Between 2009 and 2012, the false and fraudulent overcharges paid by NYPA to Over Rock totaled more than $400,000. Delaney also pleaded guilty to filing a false and fraudulent tax return which substantially understated his income.

“The defendant cooked the books twice—first so he could defraud the New York Power Authority and then again to avoid paying taxes he owed,” said Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The division will continue to work with our partners at the FBI, IRS and the New York Inspector General to bring to justice those who corrupt a public bidding process for their own personal gain.” ‎

“Today we see yet another scheme involving fraudulent payroll statements and invoices that were used to pad the pockets of devious individuals,” said Assistant Director in Charge Diego Rodriguez of the FBI’s New York Field Office. “Along with the announcement of this guilty plea comes a reminder that the FBI will continue to work with our partners in rooting out fraud to both public and private companies.”

“This contractor defrauded the State on multiple occasions, repeatedly billing the New York Power Authority for workers who never showed up and by paying significantly less taxes than he owed,” said New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott. “Today’s guilty plea serves to reinforce my office’s ongoing commitment to protect the integrity of the contracting process across all state agencies and authorities. I would like to thank our federal law enforcement partners in this matter and look forward to continuing our work with them to hold accountable any corrupt entities or individuals.”

“IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to ensuring that everyone pays their fair share of taxes,” said Special Agent in Charge Shantelle P. Kitchen of the IRS Criminal Investigation New York Field Office. “To that end, we will investigate individuals who willfully conceal income to reduce or eliminate their own tax obligations, effectively increasing the burden on honest taxpayers.”

Delaney pleaded guilty to a fraud conspiracy charge that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Delaney also pleaded guilty to subscribing to a false tax return, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The maximum fines for each of these charges may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.

These charges arose from an investigation initiated by the New York State Inspector General and is part of an ongoing joint federal and state investigation of bid rigging, fraud and tax-related offenses in the award of contracts at NYPA’s facility in White Plains. The investigation is being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s New York Office with the assistance of the FBI, the IRS Criminal Investigation and the New York State Office of the Inspector General. NYPA is cooperating with the investigation. Anyone with information on bid rigging or other anticompetitive conducted related to the award or performance of municipal and state contracts should contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 888-647-3258 or visit http://www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html.

FORMER WHITE PLAINS RESIDENT SHOCKED, JUST SHOCKED WHITE PLAINS IS ASKING FOR RED LIGHT CAMERAS, BECAUSE HER TOWN IS CONSIDERING REMOVING THEM.

Posted on June 7, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR OBSERVATIONS FROM MIDDLE AMERICA. June 7, 2015:

If you have not seen and heard White Plains Week’s Peter Katz comment on how “Red Light Cameras” are doing across the country on the latest June 5 edition of WHITE PLAINS WEEK, it might interest you that a former resident of White Plains, out of the blue mentioned that her city that has had red light cameras is thinking of removing the revenue-producing devices.

Candyce Corcoran moved to Murfreesboro Tennessee 6 years ago. She was shocked when I told her that WP has applied to the state legislature for a home rule decision that would bring in red light cameras as early as next fall for 17 intersections in White Plains.

Ms. Corcoran sent me a link to a story that details Murfreesboro experience with “Red Light Cameras:”

http://www.wsmv.com/story/27320065/murfreesboro-to-consider-removing-red-light-cameras

Housing Action Council: Applications for “Affordable” Renovation in Croton Falls Accepted Until June 15

Posted on June 7, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR AFFORDABLES. From the Housing Action Council. June 7, 2015:

Housing Action Council is accepting applications through June 15 for “ 602”, a new fair and
affordable single family home located at 602 Route 22 in Croton Falls in the Town of North Salem.

Applications will be accepted through June 15, 2015. A lottery will be held June 22 at 7:00 P.M. at the Ruth Keeler Memorial Library in North Salem to determine the order in which applicants will be qualified. An early Fall occupancy is planned.

Applications and brochures (English and Spanish) can be downloaded from
www.housingactioncouncil. org For additional information, call (914) 332-4144.

When completed, “602” will provide a unique homeownership opportunity for a household who cannot afford to buy in the private marketplace. The sale price is $223,000 designed to reach a household whose income is no greater than 80% of the median income of Westchester County.

The maximum income for a three person household is $76,050; for a four person, $84,550; and a five person, $91,300. Renovations to be completed this summer include new windows, a large kitchen and dining area, wood floors throughout , new appliances, and a new private patio.

This + 1400 sq.ft three Bbedroom home also includes basement storage, a garage, and a new state of the art septic system.

’602 ’is an exciting new opportunity for a family of modest means to become
a homeowner in a community known for its award winning school and recreational opportunities.

The County of Westchester has provided financial assistance to assure affordability.
“602” contributes to the 750 homes that the County must facilitate under its
2009 Housing Settlement with HUD.