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)

2 Seats Up for Election to the Board of Education

Posted on March 20, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From The City School District. March 20, 2013:

The Annual White Plains Board of Education Budget Vote and Election will take place on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, Noon to 9 P.M., at six voting districts. Two Board seats will be up for election, each with a three-year term of office, beginning July 1, 2013.

Editor’s Note: The two seats are held currently by Sheryl Brady and Charles Norris, who have, according to the District Clerk, taken out petitions to run for reelection.)

Candidates must be United States citizens, 18 years of age or more and residents of White Plains for at least one year. Petitions are available from Michele Schoenfeld, District Clerk, at 5 Homeside Lane. They must be signed by 100 qualified voters and returned by May 1st.

Registration, for qualified voters new to the City, or those who are not registered to vote in general elections, will take place on Saturday, May 4th, Noon to 5 P.M., at Mamaroneck Avenue School, Nosband Avenue. A resident who has moved within White Plains during the last year may also change his/her voting address at that time.

Absentee ballots are available by application to the District Clerk, for any voter who will not be in White Plains during the hours of the election.

For further information, please call 422-2071.

Playland Will Open May 11, County Says. County Will Run It This Summer

Posted on March 20, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. March 20, 2013 UPDATED 8:20 P.M. E.D.T.:

Donna Greene, Deputy Director of Communications, Westchester County, told WPCNR this afternoon that Playland will open on time and on schedule this summer, May 11, and weekends through June, whether or not the Playland Boardwalk is completely repaired.

Ms. Greene, in addition, announced that the County Department of Parks will run Playland this summer,as it has in the past. She indicated to WPCNR it is not expected that a contract with an outside managing firm, Sustainable Playland may be completed in time for the park to be taken over by Sustainable Playland this summer.

Her statement to WPCNR:

“Playland is scheduled to open for the season on Saturday, May 11. For the 2013 season, it will be run as in the past – by the county’s Department of Parks Recreation and Conservation.”

Greene noted that the County Attorney Robert Meehan decision that repair of the Playland Boardwalk is not an emergency matter that would have alllowed the repair project to be started without putting the work out for public bid, has caused a delay in getting the boardwalk repairs going. She thought bids would be solicited and finalized by May, but did not have an exact date.

Greene told WPCNR late Thursday afternoon that the County Attorney opinion and written analysis was not available because “the client” was the Board of Legislators. Ms. Greene explained the County Attorney analysis this way:

” We do believe an emergency exists and the Board of Aquisition and Contract stated an emergency exists. However, the County Attorney has advised us that since the time frame has passed from the event and the emergency has been contained that state procurement/bidding laws must be adhered to, requiring the non emergency public bid process be followed.

John, there is no written opinion here to share.

Nor can I proved you with the county attorney’s opinion here, as the client was the BOL. “

The Timetable for the new Bids, according to Ms. Greene’s exclusive statement to WPCNR:

On 3/14 at the Board of Acquisition and Contract the Dept of Public works requested the authority to advertise these bids publicly-(including publishing the bids as required)

At that meeting, Chairman Jenkins “overed” the request so that it could not be considered until Thusrday 3/21.

Upon anticipated approval at the A&C meeting on 3/21, the bids will be published in the Journal News commencing on 3/22 for a minimum time period of 10 days.

Bids are to be rec’d by April 3. Upon the receipt of the bids from “the Request To Advertise” the bids will be opened and a contract will be prepared. A number of procedural steps must be taken, including processing a PLA (project labor agreement) and execution by the contractor.

Should this all take place timely and the contractor cooperate fully, the goal is to have the contract presented to the A&C on April 4. (best case scenario). It is the administration’s intention to act upon this immediately at A&C with the hopes the BOL does not “over” the matter for another week.

On the matter of Sustainable Playland, the county choice to run Playland, Greene said Meehan had made a split decision, ruling that the county Board of Acquisition and Contracts could award the contract, but that the County Legislature had a right to approve any “major” changes in the park.

Since Sustainable Playland suggests shrinking the parking lot, putting up a waterpark, indoor fields and outdoor fields and a grand lawn, (which would appear to be substantial changes), it would appear that the legislature will have a say in the Sustainable Playland vision for the park.

WPCNR awaits copies of Meehan’s opinions from the Department of Communications.

ASSEMBLYMAN BOYLAND (BROOKLYN)CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING NEW YORK STATE

Posted on March 18, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR FBI WIRE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. March 18, 2013:

A superseding indictment against New York State Assemblyman William F. Boyland, Jr. (A. District 55, Brooklyn) was filed today in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, which added new charges of mail fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud New York State by submitting fraudulent vouchers for travel expense and per diem payments.

The superseding indictment also includes the charges from the underlying indictment against Boyland, charging him with bribery and attempted Hobbs Act extortion for soliciting more than $250,000 in bribes and accepting thousands of dollars of bribe money in exchange for performing official acts for the bribe payers.

The charges were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York Field Office.

As charged in the superseding indictment, from January 2007 to December 2011, Boyland fraudulently submitted New York State Assembly Member Travel Vouchers (vouchers) in which he falsely claimed to be in Albany on legislative business when he in fact was not in Albany. New York State records show that in reliance on Boyland’s fraudulent vouchers, New York State paid Boyland tens of thousands of dollars in mileage expense and per diem payments.

For example, on some of the days on which Boyland falsely claimed that he was in Albany and thus entitled to mileage expense and per diem payments, Boyland was actually not in Albany and was instead in New York City meeting with individuals he believed to be out-of-state businessmen and real estate developers, but who actually were the undercover FBI agents from whom he solicited bribes.

In addition, E-ZPass records associated with Boyland’s vehicle and New York State Assembly records reflect that Boyland was not in Albany on the days when he claimed on vouchers to be there on legislative business. By falsely overstating the number of days in which he was in Albany for legislative business, Boyland fraudulently secured tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer funds to which he was not entitled.

If convicted, Boyland faces a maximum sentence on each fraud charge of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution.

United States Attorney Lynch and Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos expressed their thanks to the New York State Comptroller’s Office for its assistance in this phase of the investigation.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Capers and Lan Nguyen.

The charges contained in the superseding indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defendant
William F. Boyland, Jr.
Age: 42

Advocates for Disabled Urged to Call to Restore ALL funds cut from OPWDD DISABL

Posted on March 18, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From a WPCNR Observer. March 18, 2013:

Our Albany observer of the Governor’s effort to cut $320 Million from services for the disabled by cutting the Office for People With Development Disabilities is saying more have to make their voices felt in the legislator.

He gave us this observation today:

As you are well aware, the State Legislature and Executive are close to a final deal on the 2013-14 State Budget. Much activity took place over the weekend related to high level negotiations and we understand the components of the final budget will soon be released. NYSACRA has learned that a partial restoration of the 6% cut to the not-for-profit agencies may be the final outcome of the negotiations.

State Legislators are back in Albany today for a regular session day, therefore, NYSACRA seeks your assistance to continue advocacy efforts and contact your Senator and Assemblymember to urge their continued support of the full restoration of the 6% cut to the not-for-profit developmental disabilities agencies.

WHO TO CALL:

Please make two telephone calls, one to your State Assemblymember and the other to your State Senator in their Albany Offices

WHEN:

TODAY (March 18, 2013)

WHAT’S MY MESSAGE:

“I’m a constituent and wish to thank my Assemblymember/Senator for his/her support of people with developmental disabilities. Please continue to support restoration of the 6% proposed cut to not-for-profit developmental disabilities agencies in the final State Budget negotiations. Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support”

HOW:

Contact the Assembly Operator at 518-455-4100 and ask to be transferred to your Assemblymember’s Office. (if you do not know who your Member of the Assembly is, go to www.assembly.state.ny.us to identify your Member. You may also obtain his/her direct Albany Office telephone number, rather than going through the Assembly Operator).

Contact the Senate Operator at 518-455-2800 and ask to be transferred to your Senator’s Office (if you do not know who your Member of the Senate is, go to www.nysenate.gov to identify your Senator. You may also obtain his/her Albany Office telephone number on the website, rather than going through the Senate Operator).

ON BEHALF OF NYSACRA, YOUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

We will continue to keep members and friends updated as to the negotiations on the

2013-14 State Budget.