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)

Putnam-Rockland-Westchester Jobs Grow 1% per cent in Year Painfully Slow.

Posted on December 19, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR DAILY BREAD. From the New York State Department of Labor. December 19, 2013:

Overall regional job growth is centered in the lower Hudson Valley– Putnam-Rockland-Westchester labor market area. This lower Hudson Valley area is the driving force behind the overall job gains reported regionally.

The three county job count grew 0.9 percent or 4,400 jobs over the period. Growth in that area is mostly attributed to a strong educational and health services sector, which grew by 1.6 percent or 2,000 jobs, with about 80 percent of the growth centered in the health care and social assistance component.

For the 12-month period ending in November 2013, private sector employment in the entire Hudson Valley Region increased by 0.2 percent or 1,500 jobs.

Employment gains were recorded in the following industries: trade, transportation and utilities (+2,200), natural resources, mining and construction (+1,100), and other services (+900).

Meanwhile, job losses were most apparent in manufacturing (-1,700), followed by information (-600), and professional and business services (-300). The government sector shed 3,100 jobs over the year.

In November 2013, the regional job market continued to expand, although the pace of private sector job growth has slowed down considerably. Nonetheless, growth in trade, transportation and utilities (1.2 percent), natural resources, mining and construction (2.7 percent), and other services (2.2 percent) have continued.

Governor Cuomo Signs Buchwald Bill Requiring Public Service Commission to Receive Customer Complaints

Posted on December 19, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From Assemblyman Davd Buchwald’s Office. December 19, 2013:

Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Westchester) announced today that his bill (A.5556), which would help ensure that customers are better able to formally complain about power outages, has been signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo (Chapter 521 of 2013).

This legislation would for the first time require that the Public Service Commission include a proper complaint form on its website, and explicitly allow the duration of a power outage to be a basis for filing a complaint with the Commission.

“I am very pleased for Westchester families that Governor Cuomo signed this important legislation,” said Assemblyman Buchwald. “Superstorm Sandy devastated our infrastructure, caused power outages throughout Westchester, and exposed a serious problem with the process of restoring utilities following a natural disaster. This legislation will help cut down on the length of service disruptions and better prepare us for future disasters.”

The Public Service Commission oversees New York’s utility companies, and by tracking complaints regarding utility response times, the Commission can better work to address reoccurring problems and improve communication, Assemblyman Buchwald noted.

Earlier this year in January, Assemblyman Buchwald testified at a hearing in Westchester of Governor Cuomo’s Moreland Commission on Utility Storm Preparation and Response. Buchwald recommended this legislation to improve oversight and communications between utility companies and costumers.

This bipartisan legislation was sponsored in the State Senate by Senator Jack Martins (R-Mineola), who represents a Long Island constituency that was also significantly impacted by Superstorm Sandy.“The loss of gas and power is more than an inconvenience; it’s a stressful situation that can have potentially life threatening consequences, especially when it’s for an extended period of time,” said Senator Martins. “The need for this legislation is even more important during the winter months when families need to keep their homes heated to stay warm. On behalf of Long Island and Westchester families, I want to thank Assemblyman Buchwald for working alongside me to help make this bill become law.”

HOLIDAY BUYING LOOKS PROMISING: COUNTY NOVEMBER SALES BOOM UP 10.4% IN NOVEMBER. WHITE PLAINS SALES UP 4.3%.

Posted on December 19, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. December 19, 2013:

The Westchester County economy on the retail side was up sharply by 10.4% in November, showing a $3 Million increase in November sales tax receipts. White Plains City Sales Tax receipts were up 4.3% over November of 2012, according to the November sales tax receipts released yesterday by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

The county (if the vibrant 10% increase rate continues in December to finish off the 2013 fiscal year) will top $490 Million in sales tax receipts, $12 Million over what the county budgeted. If the county only draws what they generated in December of 2012 ($48.5 Million), they will have a $10 Million surplus. Through November, the county as generated $437,070,676, compared to $411 Million through the first 11 months of 2012. The county sales tax handle through November has continued its steady 6% increase pace over the last six months.

White Plains experienced its best growth in months, gaining 4.2% over November of 2012.

Through the first five months of the White Plains 2013-14 fiscal year, the city has generated $20,767,728 in sales tax receipts compared to $19,915,758 in 2012, a 4.3% increase.

If the city reaps the good December of 2012, $4,769192, it will finish the first half of the year with $24.7 Million in sales tax receipts, on target to hit $50 Million for the fiscal year ending in June, $1 Million less than they collected two years ago in the first year of the last increase in the sales tax.

Strange Visitor From Another Planet I.D.ed–THE HOLIDAY HERON is a Great Blue Heron

Posted on December 18, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY. Contributed by a WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER, SUSAN KATZ, December 18, 2013:

“DAMN THAT GARMIN! This is supposed to be Silver Lake!” That’s what this member of the Heron Family,( a Blue Heron),told Peter Katz, when the bird landed in the Katz backyard Wednesday. Susan Katz photographed the visitor. The disgruntled heron said he was looking for Scoop the News Duck. Apparently, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s successful tourism program is even reaching out to Florida

The Mystery bird since appearing yesterday on WPCNR, has been identified positively by two WPCNR readers.

Ellen Alzerez notes: “That bird is a Great Blue Heron. I had one visiting my back yard a few years ago when I had a water feature with fish.”

Suzanne Evans tracked the visitor down, too: “I pulled out my Peterson Field Guide – Eastern Birds. The bird looks like a great blue heron. According to their range map we would be in the very northernmost reaches of their winter habitat.