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)

FASNY OPPONENTS GIVE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL ADVICE AND A PRIMER ON DECISION-MAKING

Posted on September 21, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. September 21, 2014: Editor’s Note:The following is a letter to the City leaders from two Gedney Farms area residents styling themselves as “The Truth Police” on FASNY, who have regularly corresponded with the Mayor and City Council with advice on what to look for and ask about the French American School of New York expanded campus for which the school is seeking a special permit. The continuation of the FASNY hearings on their Special Permit Site Plan and Hathaway Lane closure comes up Monday, September 29, 6:30 P.M.

Dear Mayor and Common Council,

We have to thank the WP Board of Education for unanimously rejecting FASNY’s Plan, the North Street entrance alternative and FASNY’s Traffic Management Plan in general. And we also have to thank our Board of Education for being more concerned with the safety and welfare of our own WP Students. . .than politics.

Our Overview of the just completed Public Hearings on FASNY. . . centers on the Mayor’s directive back at the December SEQR Findings meeting that. . .”the City is bound by the law”. During the Site Plan hearings residents and experts presented significant evidence that this FASNY project violates our Comprehensive Plan, Zoning, Special Permit and other WP regulations. . .while FASNY representatives presented no legal evidence to the contrary.

As you know we live in a society founded on “the rule of law”. If elected officials do not follow the law. . .society itself breaks down as how would citizens know what laws to follow and take seriously?

While these public hearing were informative. . .residents presented a lot of evidence to you for rejecting FASNY. . .while no factual responses came from all the FASNY speakers, who while supporting their school, had no facts or evidence to offer.

Back when the SEQR Findings were approved and moved along by our elected officials. . .all of you challenged FASNY to make significant improvements in these submissions. So how did FASNY do?

Unfortunately not well by our account. . .as FASNY’s Traffic has gotten worse as we learned more about the problems associated with their North Street entrance and also about the negative impact of closing Hathaway Lane will have on Fire Response times and resident Quality of Life. No one from FASNY explained why they increased their building square footage in the face of a reduced student population. And no explanation was provided by FASNY during the hearings to support of the length of their 10-year construction process.

Also back at last December’s SEQR Findings meeting. . .Common Council members asked for improvements from FASNY to lessen their project’s negative impact on neighborhood character. . .yet none were provided in the Site Plan or at the hearings.

The Council also asked for a Storm-Water protection plan. . .and thanks to the resident efforts, not FASNY’s, the Army Corps of Engineers will tell us where building foundations can safely be placed on FASNY’s property. (Editor’s Note: The Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing whether it has jurisdiction over the property.)

And the Conservancy, which the original FASNY Spin told us was being donated to the City. . .now will be retained by FASNY with the likelihood that parcels will be sold off to developers over time.

At this point there is enough in the public record for the Common Council to order additional outside consulting studies for FASNY’s Traffic, on Storm-Water and on neighborhood Property Values.

You could even order supplemental Environmental Impact Studies (EIS) for the North Street entrance and the 530 FASNY Traffic number which were not properly analyzed in the FEIS and SEGR Findings report. And certainly new Environmental Impact Studies could be ordered on the Closure of Hathaway Lane and the Conservancy. . .where not enough information was contained in the FEIS, SEQR Findings or in the Site Plan to evaluate any of these subjects.

Your best choice would be to just vote “no” on FASNY’s “Regional School Campus” which does not fit with the residential character of our neighborhood, does not cater to students from our own WP community. . .and is not in conformity with a number of WP laws and regulations.

You have announced that you will hold a meeting on September 29th where you will finally ask the FASNY representatives questions. We look forward to your probing and challenging questions to FASNY. . .so we all can listen and process FASNY answers.

So to help our Common Council to ask the right questions. . .we went back to FASNY submissions, the recent hearings and our own notes to put together a list of questions for you. And surprising even to us we have ended up with more questions for our Common Council. . .50 in total that we are passing on to you now in preparation for your September 29th meeting. We’ll forward our suggested list questions for FASNY in a separate email.

We look forward to your answers, your transparency and for you to follow the law.

We report. . .you decide.

Your Truth Police, Team Rhodes

Marie and Ron Rhodes

More Anxiety: Tighter Security Ahead: Governor

Posted on September 21, 2014 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. September 21, 2014:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo met Friday with Legislative Leaders to announce a coordinated increase in security and law enforcement personnel at mass transit sites in the New York City region. This announcement is being made out of an abundance of caution, given the undeniable increase of terrorist activity abroad. The precautionary surge is also based on the fact that New York City continues to be a high-profile terrorist target as one of the world’s top destinations for travelers, as well as the premier hub for business and commerce in the region.

As part of this effort, Governor Cuomo is directing the heads of the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the New York State Police, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to increase security at mass transit sites like LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal, and stations along the Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road.

“When it comes to public safety, our responsibility in government is to be ready, be prepared, and anticipate the worst – and that is exactly what we are doing today,” Governor Cuomo said. “While we have not received any credible threats, New York City is an international symbol of tolerance and resilience, and therefore continues to be a top target for terrorists. With that in mind and in light increasing terrorist activity overseas, we are increasing security measures across the board at mass transit sites in the region. New Yorkers should rest assured knowing that public safety is our highest priority, and we will do whatever we need to do in order to keep our communities safe.”

Effective earlier this week, the Port Authority redeployed PAPD and K-9 resources at its facilities including increasing bag checks and on and off train checks throughout the PATH system. The Authority has also increased PAPD presence at JFK and LaGuardia Airports including close coordination with El Al at JFK, and has increased PAPD coverage at the agency’s bridges and tunnels, World Trade Center site, Port Authority Bus Terminal and ports.

The MTA is also operating under a heightened level of awareness, by both redeploying existing resources and adding additional overtime coverage, with the primary focus including Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal. This includes an increase in MTA police presence both on trains and in stations, alongside increased bag checks and K-9 patrols.

The New York National Guard will increase the number of Soldiers and Airmen assigned to Joint Task Force Empire Shield, the National Guard security force which operates in New York City. The task force members work daily with the MTA Police Department, Port Authority Police Department, Amtrak Police and New York City Police Department to provide security at New York City transportation hubs. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen on duty in these transportation hubs provide federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with additional eyes on the ground.

Today’s announcement comes as the New York Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the New York State Police are leading an internal review of current safety and security procedures. This review is part of a joint effort with New Jersey and federal officials to increase cooperation and preparedness in the face of heightened terrorist activity and increasing tensions between the United States and international terrorist networks.

Montefiore and White Plains Announce Partnership One Step Closer. Deny it is a “Takeover” or “Merger.”

Posted on September 19, 2014 by John Bailey

White Plains Hospital on West Post Road, White Plains, New York USA

WPCNR HEALTH CARING. From Harrison Edwards Public Relations. (EDITED) September 19, 2014:

Today, White Plains Hospital and the Montefiore Health System announced that their affiliation agreement was unanimously approved by the Project Review Committee of the New York State Department of Health’s Public Health and Health Planning Council. The full council will review the agreement in October when the agreement is expected to be final.

Through this innovative partnership, White Plains Hospital will become a member of the Montefiore Health System. The partnership will enable White Plains Hospital to continue to expand its clinical services while retaining its culture of high quality, personalized healthcare.

In the letter acompanying this news release, from Jeannie M. Ashford of Harrison Edwards Public Relations for White Plains Hospital and Montefiore emphasized, in red and bold type to WPCNR:

“that it is factually incorrect to use the term “merger” or “takeover” in describing the proposed transaction. It can be referred to as an “alliance” or “partnership.” There is a legal difference between these two sets of terms.”

WPCNR should point out to readers that the description of this proposed partnership filed with the Project Review Committee of the New York State Department of Health’s Public Health and Health Planning Council, states:

“Montefiore Health System, Inc., requesta approval to become the active parent and co-operator of White Plains Hospital. The proposed project, as described, does not result in any immediate changes in services at White Plains Hospital, in the projected utilization and staffing, or in any restructuring.”

“The applicant (Montefiore Health System, Inc.) will exercise the following active powers”

* Approve the appointment of WPH (White Plains Hospital) management level employees (Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Financial Officer).

* Approve White Plains Hospital operating and capital budgets.

* Approve White Plains Hospital operating polices and procedures.

* Approve certificate of need applications.

* Approve White Plains Hospital debt necessary to finance the cost of compliance with operational or physical plant standards required by law.

* Approve hospital contractss for management or for clinical services, other than in the ordinary course of business.

* Approve settements of administrative proceedings or litigation to which White Plains Hospital is a party that may have a material adverse impact on WPH or MHS.”

Jon Schandler in April, 2014 appearing on White Plains Television’s PEOPLE TO BE HEARD, Westchester’s most relevant Interview Program

“The relationship we are embarking on with Montefiore will be a partnership, designed with many benefits to both sides,” said Jon B. Schandler, C.E.O. of White Plains Hospital, who is retiring in January said, “We will continue to treat patients close to home, in a setting where physicians, nurses, and staff consider them to be family. White Plains Hospital will continue to provide exceptional care for our community, and with Montefiore as our partner, we are well positioned to provide advanced community based health care well into the future.”

Montefiore brings to the partnership its academic and research expertise as the University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine; clinical expertise, including its notable Centers of Excellence in cancer care, cardiovascular services, transplantation and children’s health; and decades of experience in comprehensive care management to improve health and make care more affordable.

“This agreement will make White Plains Hospital the regional hub of Montefiore’s Westchester care network,” said Steven M. Safyer, M.D., President and CEO of Montefiore Health System. “Working with the private-practice physician community and other providers, Montefiore and White Plains Hospital will offer Westchester residents a well-coordinated system of care and the benefits of Montefiore’s innovative, integrated care delivery system and academic partnership with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.”

In April, White Plains Hospital and the Montefiore Health System signed formal documents outlining the partnership.

(Editor’s Note, the legal definition of a merger is in corporate law:

merger n. 1) in corporate law, the joining together of two corporations in which one corporation transfers all of its assets to the other, which continues to exist. In effect one corporation “swallows” the other, but the shareholders of the swallowed company receive shares of the surviving corporation. A merger is distinguished from a”consolidation” in which both companies join together to create a new corporation.

OR:

The combination or fusion of one thing or right into another thing or right of greater or larger importance so that thelesser thing or right loses its individuality and becomes identified with the greater whole.

Legal Definition of a Takeover (Legal Dictionary):

To assume control or management of a corporation without necessarily obtaining actual title to it.

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is a premier academic health system and the University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Combining nationally-recognized clinical excellence with a population health perspective that focuses on the health needs of communities, Montefiore delivers coordinated, compassionate, science-driven care where, when and how patients need it most. Montefiore consists of six hospitals and an extended care facility with a total of 2,059 beds, a School of Nursing, and state-of-the-art primary and specialty care provided through a network of more than 150 locations across the region, including the largest school health program in the nation and a home health program. For more information please visit www.montefiorehealthsystem.org. Follow us on Twitter; like us on Facebook; view us on YouTube.

About White Plains Hospital

White Plains Hospital (WPH) is a 292-bed not-for-profit health care organization with the primary mission of providing exceptional acute and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas. Centers of Excellence include the Dickstein Cancer Treatment Center, The William & Sylvia Silberstein Neonatal & Maternity Center and The Ruth and Jerome A. Siegel Stroke Center. The Hospital’s Flanzer Emergency Department is the busiest in Westchester County, seeing over 55,000 visits a year. White Plains Hospital is the only community hospital in Westchester County licensed to perform lifesaving emergency & elective angioplasty in its Joan and Alan Herfort, M.D. Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. The Hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and earned its recognition as a Top Performer for Key Quality Measures® in 2013. The Hospital is also an eleven-time winner of the Consumer Choice Award, an honor given to the nation’s top hospitals by the National Research Corporation, and received Magnet® designation in 2012 from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). In 2014 White Plains Hospital received the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades®, given to only 5% of hospitals nationwide. For additional information, visit http://www.wphospital.org.