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)

Region Adds Jobs Slower in Feb. Ed Strong. Hospitality-leisure Weak

Posted on March 28, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR LABOR LETTER. From Johnnie Nelson, the New York State Department of Labor, White Plains:

For the 12-month period ending in February 2013, private sector employment in the Hudson Valley Region increased 7,800 or 1.1 percent.

The final January 2013 private sector job count for New York State was validated and revised upward to 7,418,500, an all-time high. Included in this number are approximately 300,000 jobs added to New York’s economy since the start of Governor Cuomo’s administration, making New York one of only seven states to have regained all jobs lost during the recession.

The estimated job count for February will be validated in a few weeks and is subject to change with the release of March jobs data. The preliminary estimates for February 2013 show job counts affected by -0.1 percent due to a monthlong strike by New York City school bus drivers. The state’s private sector job count is based on a payroll survey of 18,000 New York employers conducted by the federal government.

Further, New York State’s unemployment rate remained at 8.4%. The unemployment rate as determined by the federal government is calculated primarily on the results of a telephone survey of 3,100 households (out of more than 7 million) in New York State.

The regional job market continues to expand, albeit at a slower pace than last year. In February 2013, private sector employment grew at 1.1 percent, or 7,800 jobs year-to-year. In contrast last year, the sector grew by a robust 1.7 percent or 12,400 jobs.

Nonetheless, there are still more industries in the private sector that are reporting job gains than losses. Educational and health services continued with its rapid pace, posting five consecutive months of at least a 2 percent growth or better.

Year over year, the education sector added 4,100 jobs for a growth rate of 2.2 percent. The region’s leisure and hospitality industry grew by 2.1 percent over the period.

Growth was mostly centered in the northern part of the region, while in the lower Hudson Valley – Putnam-Rockland-Westchester area, the leisure and hospitality industry has shown considerable weakness, declining by about 3.6 percent – largest February decline since 1997.

Employment gains were strongest in educational and health services (+4,100), followed by trade, transportation and utilities (+2,900), professional and business services (+2,300), leisure and hospitality (+1,500), and other services (+900). Job losses were centered in manufacturing (-1,300), financial activities (-1,000), information (-900) and natural resources, mining and construction (-700). The government sector shed 2,400 jobs over the year.

Created Panel to Apply Cuts to the Disabled–Selectively– Not Across the Board

Posted on March 27, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS.WPCNR EXCLUSIVE From a WPCNR Correspondent. March 27, 2013:

On the eve of the day when the New York State Assembly reconvenes to pass the budget the New York Senate passed yesterday and today, the fate of the Governor’s cuts to the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities previously thought to be a straight 6% across-the-board, appears to have been mitigated. Cuts to voluntary agencies apparently will be decided by a panel or workgroup and will not be retroactive.

Lisa Mount, of NYSACRA a lobbyist for private organizations serving the disabled reports:

As you are aware, the State Legislature and Governor have arrived at consensus on the details of the final 2013-14 State Budget. All budget bills are in print. The State Senate met yesterday and into the early hours of this morning to approve the budget bills.

The State Assembly will reconvene in Albany tomorrow to pass the measures. The Governor is expected to sign the budget prior to April 1st.

While NYSACRA staff continues to review the budget bills and compile our analysis for you, I want to share with you an important provision contained in the Aid to Localities bill related to the 4.5% cut to the voluntary not-for-profit developmental disabilities agencies.

We informed you over the weekend that the cut would most likely not be across-the-board as was proposed in the 30-day amendments, rather the cut may be targeted.

Specific language in the budget creates a workgroup of stakeholders, to be led by the Commissioner of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), for the purpose of developing a savings plan to implement the 4.5% cut.

The workgroup will convene not less than 30 days following the enactment of the 2013-14 State Budget and recommendations from the workgroup shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Reducing provider agency administrative costs,

2. Achieving administrative efficiencies, pursuing audit recoveries and providing alternate payment models, services and programming.

At Monday’s Provider Association meeting, OPWDD representatives offered a briefing on the budget language.

A meeting will be held with the state agency next week to discuss new federal programs and corresponding funding as well as to obtain input from stakeholders on achieving the 4.5% targeted reduction.

Following the meeting we anticipate the development of the reduction plan, promulgation of regulations and reduction plan implementation slated to commence this fall.

As we understand, the reductions may not be retroactive. I am consulting with our lobbyist and the NYSACRA board to develop strategies to present to OPWDD and stakeholders next week.

Once again, we will provide members with a full and detailed analysis once the 2013-14 State Budget is enacted.

Albany Gives WP $1.3 Million in Additional School Aid. Mitigates 3.1% Tax Hike?

Posted on March 27, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. March 27, 2013:

Assemblyman David Buchwald of the 93rd Assembly District announced yesterday that White Plains City School District would receive an increase in school aid for the 2013-14 school year of $1,331,926 — a 9.5% increase.

Fred Seiler, Assistant Superintendent for Business for the city school district told WPCNR, when asked if this mean the proposed 2013-14 school property tax increase of 3.1% could be cut substantially with this new aid, said “He was still looking at it and it would come up Monday at the School Board meeting.

HUD VS. WESTCHESTER. County Says HUD BULLYING COUNTY

Posted on March 25, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Office of the County Executive. (EDITED) March 25, 2013:

The county position (with HUD) is that it is in full compliance – in fact ahead of schedule – with the (HUD-Westchester County) settlement requirements and that the most recent HUD letter received today is just one more example of the federal government trying to bully Westchester to do things that go far beyond the terms of the settlement and dismantle local zoning.

HUD’s latest action of unilaterally demanding that the county give up either its constitutionally protected rights or $7 million that it was promised two years ago – money that goes not only to build affordable housing but to communities not involved in the settlement and most in need – shows that HUD has no regard or respect for fairness, due process and the judges of the U.S. Second Circuit who are charged with resolving this dispute.

The statement from the County Executive’s office was also partly in reaction to County Legislator Catherine Borgia, Chair of the County Board of Legislators Government Operations Committee who issued this statement:

“It is truly unfortunate and disgraceful that Westchester County may lose over seven million dollars in federal funding, already promised to Westchester communities and not-for-profit organizations to support vital programs and capital projects. Losing this funding will hurt Westchester’s low-income and most vulnerable residents immediately, but, in the long-term, all of the county’s taxpayers will be impacted by this.

“We can’t have any more stalling, political posturing and finger-pointing. I call on County Executive Astorino to work collaboratively with the Board of Legislators and the federal government to remedy this perilous situation before more harm is done to Westchester.”

The county is a year ahead of schedule in meeting the key benchmark of having 300 affordable units with financing in place by the end of 2013. As of today, the county has 305 units.

In all matters, the county has complied with the dispute resolution process outlined in the settlement.

On the issue of source of income, the matter is now before the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals, where the county is confident that the U.S. Magistrate’s ruling in its favor will be upheld.

On the zoning issue, the county has supplied volumes of data as well as a thorough legal analysis showing Westchester’s zoning is not exclusionary.

The county would not be ahead of schedule in developing affordable housing in the 31 eligible communities if the zoning in those communities was exclusionary. The impasse is over HUD’s refusal to accept the county’s well documented conclusions.