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)

Two Council Members Tighten Up FASNY FINDINGS STATEMENT LANGUAGE. FASNY FINDING ON FOR THURSDAY NIGHT

Posted on December 17, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. By John F. Bailey. December 17, 2013:.

French American School of New York Findings Night has been rescheduled for Thursday evening at 6 PM before the Common Council in City Hall, in the Council Chambers.

Two members of the Common Council according to a source familiar with the revised Findings Statement, have gone through last week’s document with a fine tooth comb, attempting to clear up ambiguity, enforcing various obstacles and hoops” as he described them. (when the vote on the Findings Resolution was tabled because some members of the Council wanted to make changes).

The WPCNR contact, who has read the revised Findings Statement said the two have rewritten portions of the Findings Statement to be “tighter, more compelling and concrete by changing legal words from “shalls” to “musts” and “coulds to musts.”

The new Findings Statement at the conclusion of the document still limits capacity of the school to 950 students, instead of the French American School capacity of 1,200. It still requires the entrance to the school to be off of North Street, requiring the approval of the White Plains High School, and no entrance to the school off Ridgeway.

The source WPCNR spoke to expects the Council to approve the proposal by a 5-2 or 4-3 vote.

The meeting is expected to be televised on the Government Channel 75 on Cablevision or Channel 44 on Verizon FIOS.

On December 9 the Findings meeting was open and adjourned after 2 minutes, 35 seconds, to allow the Common Council to incorporate further changes in the statement.

8.8 Million More Visited NY IN 2013

Posted on December 17, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. (EDITED) December 17, 2013:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Monday released an end of the year progress report on the State’s tourism initiatives showing that the number of visitors to New York increased by 8.8 million this year. In addition, the industry is projected to generate $7.7 billion in state and local taxes with direct spending expected to reach $61.3 billion. The industry is also projected to add 24,800 jobs by the end of the year.

The Governor held a cabinet meeting Monday, where Cristyne Nicholas, Chair of the Governor’s Tourism Advisory Council, gave a presentation on the impressive results being delivered by the state’s efforts to attract more visitors to the state, grow the tourism industry and create jobs.

In the last year, New York’s tourism industry has grown in revenue, job creation, the number of visitors, and hotel occupancy

:· In 2013, the tourism industry is projected to generate $7.7 billion in state and local taxes. Direct spending is projected to reach $61.3 billion, an increase of 7 percent since 2012. Based on Department of Labor figures, this is enough to pay the salary of every firefighter and police officer in New York State.
· Since December 2012, Leisure & Hospitality employment is expected to add 24,800 jobs for a total of 818,700 jobs by the end of 2013, a 3.1% increase.
· The number of visitors to New York in 2013 will increase by 8.8 million, a 4.2% increase since 2012. By the end of the year, the total number of visitors is projected to be 218,800,000.
· In 2013, New York’s hotels will sell 43 million rooms with associated $8.3 billion hotel room revenue. As of October 2013, New York’s hotel occupancy rate is 73.7% which is almost 10% higher than the national rate.

WHITE PLAINS POLICE REPORT IMPERSONATION OF POLICE OFFICER PHONE SCAM

Posted on December 16, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the White Plains Department of Public Safety. December 16, 2013:
The White Plains Police Department has received complaints recently of citizens receiving a phone call from a person purporting to be a White Plains PD supervisor, demanding that the citizen pay a fine for missing jury duty.

The caller is instructing the citizen to purchase Green Dot Pre-Paid Credit Cards and provide the access code or risk having a warrant issued for their arrest.

These type of scams generally target elderly persons and people should be aware that police departments do not conduct business in this way.

If any citizens receive calls of this nature they should notify the police department immediately by calling 422-6111.

Westchester Board of Legislators Propose County Government Charter Revisions.

Posted on December 16, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Charter Revision Commission. December 16, 2013:

The Westchester County Charter Revision Commission (WCCRC) has submitted its final report and list of recommendations to the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) and County Executive Robert P. Astorino, culminating eighteen months of deliberations on various issues:

WCCRC Recommendations:

Establish a County Department of Assessment
Change the County’s Fiscal Year to July 1 to June 30
Establish a Minimum 75 Day Period for Budget Review and Adoption
Establish a Minimum Period for Consideration of Budget Additions and Deletions Prior to a Final Vote
Exempt Board of Legislators from the May 1 Deadline for Adding Projects to the Capital Budget
Broaden Board of Legislators Access to Department Budget Estimates
Add Sustainability and Resilience as Planning Process Values
Require Submission and Publication of Quarterly Financial Reports
Provide Public Notice for Pension Cost Borrowing
Make the County Clerk an Appointed Position
Reform Legislative Confirmation Procedures and Designate Interim Powers for Executive Appointments
Re-examine the County Ethics Code
Establish a Council of Governments
Convene a Charter Revision Commission Every Ten Years
Fill Short-Term Vacancies in Legislative Office by Appointment from the Same Political Party
Determine Initiation and Termination of Executive Disability

Convened in 2011 for only the second time since 1937, the WCCRC voted on the twenty-seven resolutions submitted by the Commission’s four Focus Groups—Budget and Finance; Charter and Codes; Executive / Legislative Relationship; and Local Government / County Government Relationship—which reflected the aspects of County Government most deserving of an in-depth evaluation. Sixteen resolutions were approved, ten resolutions were disapproved, and one was withdrawn.

“We are aware that some may consider certain of the Commission’s recommendations to be controversial,” said WCCRC Chairman Richard G. Wishnie. “However, that is not our concern. We are presenting recommendations that we believe will make our County government more efficient, effective and transparent to the public it serves.”

The twenty-two WCCRC members are Westchester County residents appointed by Legislators and the County Executive after legislation establishing the Commission was passed in 2011 to study, review and recommend changes to the Westchester County Charter and Administrative Code with the goal of eliminating waste, improving services, and increasing the overall efficiency of County Government.

Further information regarding the Commission’s work can be viewed by visiting http://westchesterlegislators.com/charter-revision-commission-sp-998.html