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)

Cuomo Blasts Congress for Slowest Response to Domestic Disaster Ever

Posted on January 15, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. January 15, 2013:

Governor Andrew Cuomo issued this statement today, pleading with the U.S. Congress to pass the long-awaited aid bill for New York to move ahead with Hurricane Sandy recovery:

“It has been 78 days since New York State suffered the worst natural disaster in its history. Sandy destroyed or severely damaged almost 19,000 homes and apartments. Over 42,000 impacted businesses are still waiting for financial assistance.

And nearly three months later, over 15,000 New Yorkers still cannot return to the places they call home; every day of delay makes it harder for them to believe they ever will. Our residents have been trying to rebuild their lives and they have been waiting for Washington D.C. to act.

“New Yorkers have suffered through a disaster unlike any our nation has ever seen, and it has been regrettably matched by the most disappointing response by Congress that any state has ever seen. This has now been taken to a new level of dysfunction. In ten short days, victims of Hurricane Katrina received nearly $52 billion of much-needed aid. After Hurricane Gustav, it took 17 days for residents in the impacted region to get $20 billion of relief.

These states and their residents didn’t have to wait nearly this long for the help they deserved, and neither should New Yorkers. If Congress wants to show us that they will live up to the commitments they made when they saw how we were suffering, they need to pass this bill today.”

County Exec to Paper: Take Down that Map! First Amendment is Not Absolute

Posted on January 15, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. January 15, 2013 UPDATED JANUARY 16, 2013:

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino called on the Journal News Publisher and Editor Janet Hasson today to remove the interactive map of permitted gunholders in Westchester County from the Journal News Lohud website. He also wrote the First Amendment is not absolute in calling for the take-down.

As of 9:45 P.M. Wednesday, the lohud.com website still displayed the gun map of Westchester and Rockland County gunowners.

The letter sent to presumably all media makes the statement: “Constitutional rights — even those protected by the First Amendment–are not absolute.” He writes “My request is based on public safety concerns and basic common sense.”

The County Executive writes “The issue is no longer protecting speech but rather protecting the public, including employees of the Journal News. The time has come to take the map down.”

The Executive also notes, “whether the County Clerk (Timothy Idoni) should have complied with the (Journal News) initial request is debatable.” (A position in direct opposition to the New York State Committee on Open Government, and upheld by the New York State Court of Appeals).

County Executive Mary Ellen Odell of Putnam County declined to release gun permit data for her county when requested by the Gannett newspaper.

Health Department on the Flu

Posted on January 14, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR FLU NEWS. From Caren Halbfinger. Westchester County Health Department. January 14, 2013:

The health department is actively monitoring the availability of flu vaccine at area pharmacies and medical practices and has provided resources on our website for residents to find a flu shot and for doctors to order more flu vaccine. Residents should always call ahead to the pharmacy to be sure they have flu vaccine in stock, since supplies can fluctuate.

The governor’s declaration of a flu emergency on Saturday cleared the way for an executive order by the Governor that allows pharmacists to give vaccines to children under age 18 for the next 30 days (starting Jan 13). Residents should call ahead and check with their local pharmacy to be sure the pharmacy has vaccine in stock and is prepared to give vaccines to children.

While the number of confirmed flu cases is close to 1,000, as of the week before last, the number of hospitalized patients is low.

Most people will recover on their own from the flu with bed rest and fluids and do not need to see their doctor or go to an emergency room. Residents who believe they have the flu should call their doctor first before going to the office, where they can infect others.

Here’s our flu information for the public:

(Editor’s Note: This URL immediately following lists locations with flu vaccine, however, some locations are out of the vaccine at present time. Call ahead to make sure vaccine is on hand.)

http://health.westchestergov.com/flu-information

Here’s a link for MDs/etc to order more vaccine:

http://health.westchestergov.com/emerging-topics

Here’s our most recent news release on this topic:

http://health.westchestergov.com/images/stories/PressReleases/2013_Jan10_Flu.pdf

Gun Permit Holder Home Burglarized. Police Have Suspect in Northend Burglaries

Posted on January 14, 2013 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the Department of Public Safety. January 14, 2012:

A home of an gun permit holder was burglarized over the weekend, but police note it appears it is coincidental, since other items were taken. The Department of Public Safety has also announced it has apprehended a suspect in a series of burglaries in the Lake Street, North Broadway area. Details of the arrest are being sorted out at this time.

White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong issued this statement to WPCNR early this afternoon:

“On Saturday January 12th 2013, a residence was burglarized on Davis Avenue. The Burglary occurred between the hours of 0715 AM and 8:26 PM while the homeowner was not home.

Access was made through a second story window through a ladder owned by the homeowner. Jewelry items were taken and a secured locked rifle safe was tampered with, no weapons were stolen.

The home owner made mention that he was recently listed on a Journal News inter-active website as a legal gun permit holder. The Department of Public Safety is investigating this as a burglary and except for this one instance has no pattern of homes listed on the permit web-site as being targeted. We however are monitoring this very closely.

We take all burglaries seriously, and on Saturday the Department arrested a burglar who we believe is linked to a series of burglaries in the Lake Street/North Broadway apartments area.

The burglary on Davis Avenue is an active investigation. (Continuing)

The Department of Public Safety would like to remind residents to secure all windows and doors when they are not home, and to call us immediately if they observe any suspicious activity.

Tips for preventing burglaries can be accessed on the Public Safety Website.