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)

Teamsters Picket WP Transfer Station. City Garbage Trucks Honor Picket Line.

Posted on November 29, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. November 29, 2012 UPDATED 11:25 A.M E.S.T.:

Teamsters Local 813 is picketing the White Plains garbage transfer station on Brockway Place this morning.

City of White Plains Sanitation Truck being waved off entrance to garbage offloading area this morning by Teamsters Pickets.

The picketing protests the Westchester County garbage hauling contractor hiring non-union drivers to drive the transfer trucks that cart garbage from White Plains to the county disposal plant in Peekskill.

Phil Oliva, of the County Executive Robert Astorino’s office, told WPCNR at midday that he expected the dispute to be resolved today (and not interrupt garbage collection). He said the Carting Company had the right to hire non-union workers as long as the company paid the “prevailing wage.”

Karen Pasquale, Advisor to the Mayor of White Plains, told WPCNR this afternoon the action is not affecting city pick-up or disposal.

The protest started Thursday afternoon, pickets told WPCNR this morning and is over a contract dispute with City Carting, the county-contracted garbage hauler that has the county contract. WPCNR was told the picketing is also in effect at Yonkers and Mount Vernon. The dispute is not with City of White Plains practices.

Pickets said the teamsters have been without a contract with City Carting for a year and recently Carting had laid off five union drivers and started using non-union drivers to transfer the trash at least in White Plains.

The picket told WPCNR the teamsters voted down City Carting’s recent contract offering because it called for almost zero raise increase over the next three years and raising union members’ share of medical benefits of $30 a month share the first year, $60 the second year and $66 the third year. The picketer WPCNR spoke with, who requested anonymity because of fear of retaliation said the union realizes paying more for medical benefits is needed, but said it was too much of an increase. He also said the 7 year contract over raised wages only 75 cents an hour over seven years.

Several White Plains sanitation trucks with full loads were prevented from delivering their load of leaves to the transfer area during WPCNR observation this morning.

WPCNR has a call in to the Mayor’s Office to ascertain how the inability to transfer garbage will affect garbage collection today and tomorrow.

Other transfer stations in Yonkers and Mount Vernon are also possible picket locations, a picket told WPCNR.

Mr. Oliva, speaking for the County Executive’s office, said he had no knowledge that those cities were affected at this time.

Sewer Plant Repair: $12.65 Million. Feeds 2.3B GalsSubstandard Effluent in Huds

Posted on November 27, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR WATCH ON THE RIVER. By John F. Bailey. November 27 UPDATED November 28, 1:50 A.M. E.S.T.:

The Yonkers Water Treatment Plant is still pouring 80 to 100 Million gallons of below E.P.A. standard effluent into the Hudson River, after 30 Days. The WPCNR- estimated total of substandard treated effluent dumped into the Hudson is about 2.3 Billion gallons as of Tuesday. Repairs to the extensively damaged plant have so far cost $12.65 Million according the Department of Health.

The unacceptable levels of effludent have been pouring into the Hudson River since October 29.

On that day, the 14 foot tide of Hurricane Sandy engulfed the sewage treatment plant, flooding and short-circuiting the plant’s pumps. The tidal surge crested across Fernbrook Street, damaging the County Bus Company offices as well.

Spokesperson for the Westchester County Department of Health, Caren Halbfinger advised WPCNR Tuesday that repairs are still being made to the Ludlow Street plant after 30 days.

Ms. Halbfinger told WPCNR all effluent (80 million to 100 million gallons per day) is being “screened, disinfected and chlorinated but is below the Environmental Protection Agency standard.” Ms. Halbfinger said no solid effluent is being dumped into the Hudson, that solid wastes are being removed and trucked elsewhere.

Asked the degree of how substandard the effluent is, Halbfinger said she did not have that figure.

Halbfinger said it could take another 14 days to complete repairs at the plant, which she said are ongoing. Tuesday evening Halbfinger got back to WPCNR and reported the total cost of repairs to the plant so far was $12.65 Million.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency management was unaware last week of the damages the plant suffered, WPCNR has learned.

An advisory to avoid contact with Hudson River waters remains in effect, Halbfinger said.

Halbfinger in a previous WPCNR interview three weeks ago explained the extent of the damage when the tide of Hurricane Sandy engulfed the plant:

1. WPCNR: What caused the Yonkers sewage plant to discharge the raw sewage into the Hudson?

Halbfinger: The equipment was shut down to prevent an explosion and fire that could be caused by water hitting high voltage lines. In addition, the storm surge washed the Hudson into the basement of the plant, where much of the pumps and electrical equipment are located. All of the motors had to be taken apart, cleaned and repaired and parts had to be replaced, along with electrical controls. The whole plant had to be pumped out washed and disinfected and treated to prevent mold. All the insulation on the pipes had to be removed, the pipes had to be cleaned and the pipes will be reinsulated.

WPCNR: When is it expected to be fixed?

Halbfinger: Secondary treatment is expected in the next few days, but it will take at least a week for this biological process to start providing treatment.

WPCNR: What was the delay in getting it fixed? What caused the delay?

Halbfinger: We’re making steady progress, but the sheer size and scope of the work involved has been a tremendous undertaking by the Department of Environmental Facilities. The plant is about a half-mile long, and for most of this length, the basement was filled with water that had to be pumped out.

Then the basement had to be dried out. All of the pipes had to have their insulation removed, the salt water had to be washed from the pipe and then new insulation will be installed.

We had 250 motors that had to be removed, repaired and reinstalled. It all takes time. Two 5,000 gallon tanks of polymer ruptured in the basement and that had to be cleaned up. It took time to get the needed parts and to make the repairs. And we’re in good company. Sewage treatment plants throughout the tri-state area have all been faced with similar problems.

Employment Rose in County Last Month

Posted on November 27, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR LABOR NEWS. From the NY State Department of Labor. November 27, 2012:

For the 12-month period ending in October 2012, private sector employment in the Hudson Valley Region increased 9,400 or 1.3 percent. Employment gains were strongest in trade, transportation and utilities (+4,500), followed by educational and health services (+3,900), professional and business services (+2,900), leisure and hospitality (+2,700), and other services (+500).

Job losses were centered in the following industries: natural resources, mining and construction (-3,600), manufacturing (-1,200), and information (-600). The government sector shed 1,700 jobs over the year.

Labor market analyst observations

The Hudson Valley Region’s job market has continued to trend positively as evidenced by the 1.3 percent growth in the private sector job count. Led by strong growth in the trade, transportation and utilities (+ 2.5 percent), the Hudson Valley Region’s private sector posted its second largest October over the year increase since 2004.

Growth was widespread with employment in four sectors growing by two percent or more since last October. Within the region, growth was strongest in the Kinston MSA (+2.6%), while the bulk of the new jobs were created in the Putnam-Rockland-Westchester labor market area (+1.7 percent or 8,000). The latter accounted for about 85 percent of total jobs gained in the region.

America’s Hometown: Plymouth, Massachusetts

Posted on November 22, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. Thanksgiving Portfolio: On this Thanksgiving, let us remember the band of hardy intrepid souls who crossed an ocean in a boat no more bigger than a large Chris Craft and settled in an unforgiving landscape and started a country in the cold landscape of New England.

They were helped by Indians who welcomed them, without whom they would not have survived. A salute to this brave band. They sailed into a bay, dropped anchor and just carved out a living after living in incredible conditions in a ship’s hold for weeks, crossing the storm-tossed North Atlantic. Here are some views of America’s first hometown captured by the WPCNR Roving Photographer.

Plymouth Rock Landing. Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The Mayflower II. Plymouth Harbor.

Indian Statue welcoming the Pilgrim Settlers. Plymouth.

Governor William Bradford Statue on the Shores of Plymouth Harbor

“Plymouth Rock,” The landing place of the pilgrims.

Settlers Home, left, circa 1690.

Church, Plymouth late 1700s. .

The Jury: Old Burial Ground, Plymouth. Last resting place of the pilgrims overlooking Plymouth Harbor. The sacrifices, bravery and perseverence of these persons stand as examples to Americans today.