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)

Governor Cuomo: Use 40% of the Renegade Banks’ Settlement Money to Pay for the New Tappan Zee Bridge, Astorino and Day Say

Posted on December 22, 2014 by John Bailey

Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino (left) and Rockland County Executive Ed Day call on Governor Andrew Cuomo to allocate 40% of bank penalty settlement money to the Tappan Zee Bridge.

WPCNR TAPPAN ZEE NEWS. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. December 22, 2014:

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino and Rockland County Executive Ed Day called on Governor Andrew Cuomo Monday to use a substantial portion of the approximately $5 billion that the state received in settlements with BNP Paribas SA and Credit Suisse Group AG over economic and tax improprieties to help pay for the new Tappan Zee Bridge which began construction earlier this year.

The two men, who lead the counties where the bridge sits on either side of the Hudson, said that $1.95 billion represented a fair and equitable figure for a bridge that currently has no funding plan in place.

“The bank settlement funds should be spent entirely on state infrastructure projects and not on recurring expenses, and a large portion of those funds should be used to help pay for the new Tappan Zee, a bridge of critical regional and statewide economic importance,” said Astorino.

“In the absence of anything definite from Albany, County Executive Astorino and I worked together to develop a Tappan Zee Bridge funding plan of our own: a reasonable, workable and smart solution,” said Day. “Our commuters and businesses simply cannot afford the burden of even-higher tolls. Our idea to use a portion of the state’s bank settlement money to fund bridge construction will keep the economic wheels moving in both Rockland and Westchester counties.”

Astorino and Day said they came up with the $1.95 billion figure because it was half the cost of the new $3.9 billion bridge and because it represents about 40 percent of the bank settlement windfall. They said 40 percent was more than fair considering the bridge’s far-reaching impact and importance as a key bridge between Upstate New York and Westchester, New York City and Long Island. Nearly 40 percent of southbound crossings of the Tappan Zee end in New York City or Long Island according to the New York State Department of Transportation.

More than 138,000 vehicles cross the Tappan Zee Bridge every day. That makes it the 3^rd most traveled bridge in New York State after the George Washington (276,150) and Verrazano Narrows (182,676) both controlled by the Port Authority.

According to the Construction Industry Council of Westchester, the seven counties that make up the Lower Hudson Valley (Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, Ulster and Columbia) have been historically shortchanged by the state, receiving 12% of New York State’s transportation funds. Long Island receives 24% — twice as much. Yet, Long Island only has about 25% more population than the seven Lower Hudson Valley counties (2.9 million to 2.3 million).

Finally, Astorino and Day said that without using a substantial portion of the bank settlement, motorists on the Thruway – not just on the Tappan Zee Bridge –would face big toll hikes.

“The Tappan Zee Bridge toll hike would be sky high but drivers throughout the state would see big toll hikes as well. This all can be prevented by doing the smart and sensible thing and that’s to make a sizable investment of the bank settlement funds into this project,” said Astorino. “The money is right there. We just need the governor to resist the temptation to spread the wealth to special interests and recurring expenses. With infrastructure investments everyone benefits.”

Astorino and Day have sent their proposal to Governor Cuomo in a formal letter.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Congregation to Plea with Archdiocese — Why Close Our Church…We’re in the Black. Rally to Pressure Archdiocese January 10

Posted on December 22, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR WATCHTOWER. By John F. Bailey. December 22, 2014:

Saturday morning, a team of four parishioners from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in White Plains, one of the churches the Archiocese of New York plans to close, raised a banner over its classic entrance on Lexington Avenue, it read:

The congregation of 1,000 families who worship at Our Lady is shocked by the Archdiocese suggestion to fold the flock into St. John the Evangelist, down the street.

Richard Strobel of White Plains, one of the banner-raising crew told WPCNR, the church is planning a Prayer Rally at the church January 10 beginning at 10 AM. He said the congregation has started on online petition at www.olmcwp.org to persuade the Archdiocese their church is not one to close.

Strobel told WPCNR the parish is run “in the black,” that is served by missionary priests who do not cost the Archdiocese any money. He also said he could not understand why the Archdiocese would approve the half million expenditure to refurbush the Our Lady belltower, only to close the parish after the tower was begun. He said he did not think the families now members of Our Lady would go to St. John’s if the Our Lady is closed by August, which he said is what is planned.

“I’ve gone to this church all of life. We’re in the black, I don’t understand it (the closing).” He said.

The petition reads:

The Archdiocese of New York has made a proposal to merge our parish church and terminate the celebration of
masses and sacraments at the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, White Plains, New York. Please help us save our parish church which the Archdiocese of New York proposes to close and not allow our parishioners toworship on a regular basis in our church.

We have no debt. We have the Claretian Missionaries as our priests. We have a vibrant and active congregation that serves not only our parish community but also the greater White Plains community. We should not be shut out of our church!

The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was founded in 1902 and has successfully served the Italian community and greater Catholic community of White Plains and the surrounding area ever since. Our ancestors made many sacrifices to build a beautiful iconic church of Italian architecture that for many many years was the tallest structure in White Plains to famously project our Catholic identity and service.

Our parish church is very successful and could serve as a model for a tradition of working together as a close vibrant diverse parish family for the benefit of parishioners, the Catholic community, the community at large and service to our Lord.

The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is not only famous for its beautiful architecture, campanile, and rich history, but also “Festa Italiana” and Procession that attracts thousands annually to honor, worship and celebrate Our Lady, a fully-enrolled Religious Education program serving children of diverse ethnicities, masses for the hearing impaired, ministry to local hospitals, service to our neighbors in need, and much much more in the name of our faith.

Accordingly, we, the undersigned parishioners and supporters of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
respectfully request that the Archdiocese of New York allow the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to remain
as an independent parish administered by the Claretian Missionaries:

Governor and County Executive Issue Statements on the Killings of NYPD Officers.

Posted on December 21, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Office of the Westchester County Executive DECEMBER 21, 2014:

Robert Astorino issued this statement this morning, reacting to the killingsof two NYPD Police Officers yesterday in Brooklyn:

“The murders today of the two New York City police officers is a horrific crime against our society and the values we cherish. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these fallen heroes. The people of Westchester stand in sorrow with every New Yorker and solidarity with the NYPD and all police officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe.”

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo reacted Saturday evening with this commentary on the shootings:

“Tonight, the thoughts and prayers of all New Yorkers are with the family and friends of New York City police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, who were assassinated in the line of duty. This deplorable act of violence is the opposite of what New York is and what New Yorkers believe in.

These brave officers, along with the over 34,000 other uniformed men and women of the New York Police Department, put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe.

They run toward danger when all of our instincts tell us to run away. Tonight, we all come together to mourn the loss of these brave souls.”

Santas in Blue Save a Family Christmas

Posted on December 20, 2014 by John Bailey

Detective German Lopez, right, and Officer Rob Riley background with the Cuenca Family Saturday morning, putting the family Christmas back together again with presents and a Gift Card donated by the White Plains Police and PBA to replace gifts stolen Wednesday.

The Cuenca Children looking over their presents donated by White Plains Police

Officer Rob Riley, Detective German Lopez, Sergeant Marco Garced, Officer Jamel Jones, and Officer Irene Logan observe the children opening the presents police selected for each of the 7 children: Roger,
Evelyn, Anthony,Jared, Jennifer, Johney and Henrey. Dad Rogelio could not be present because he was working at his position as a cook.

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SEASON. By the WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. December 20, 2014:

White Plains Police spontaneous generosity and compassion saved Christmas for the Cuenca Family of White Plains Saturday morning.

Detective German Lopez and Officer Rob Riley, President of the White Plains PBA, presented the family with Christmas gifts and Gift Card totaling $1,500 donated by White Plains police officers and the White Plains PBA.

The donation was to replace wrapped Christmas Gifts stolen from the family apartment on Ferris Avenue during the day while Mom Maria was out of the apartment from 10:30 AM to 2 PM and the children were at school and being cared for away from the apartment.

Detective Lopez said when he arrived Wednesday afternoon to investigate the burglary, the seven Cuenca children were all crying because Christmas presents under the little family tree had been stolen.

A grandfather of three, Detective Lopez was very moved, and Thursday and Friday reached out to department officers to take up a collection to replace the gifts. He talked with the President of the PBA, Officer Rob Riley who agreed the PBA membership would match any money donated that Lopez collected. Riley said the PBA Board approved ” the match” which was donated from PBA dues.

Saturday morning Detective Lopez and Officer Riley arrived to present the gifts and a Gift Card to Mom, and enjoyed the children opening the gifts the police had brought.

Detective Lopez said the door to the apartment had been jimmied by a screwdriver, and theives had also taken $700 cash in addition to the wrapped Christmas gifts. Lopez asked anyone with information that could lead to the apprehension of Gift Burgler or burglers should contact the White Plains Police Department at 914-422-6111, or 914-422-6200.

Officer Riley of the PBA said the police appreciate the White Plains citizens have a lot of respect for the police in White Plains and the police wanted to help out this family by giving back what they had lost.