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)

Common Council to Approve Gedney Dump Financing of $11.3 M

Posted on June 25, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. June 25, 2012 UPDATED 12:05 P.M. E.D.T.:

The Common Council will hold a Special Meeting tonight to approve a resolution to approve $11.3 Million in financing to close and cap the Gedney landfill, completing some six years of deciding how to close it with New York State Department of Evironmental Conservation approval.

The city, according to Councilman John Martin speaking to WPCNR, has selected a lower bidder, after renegotiating.

He reports ELQ Industries of Mamaroneck has been selected to do the work. Martin told WPCNR the $11.3 Million in the bonds includes a 5% contingency for cost overruns. The company has a history of executing projects in the county which may be viewed at http://www.elqetre.com/projects.php

Martin said there is the possibility that an amount up to $2 Million may be recovered by the city from New York State from the state’s brownfield clean-up program. However, that will be a possible reimbusement when the project is completed to the Department of Environmental Conservation specificiation

The DEC had estimated to WPCNR the cost to the city of the closing and capping of the dump to be about $12 Million. According to the backup material just acquired by WPCNR

Martin said the project is expected to be completed in one year.

He reports the bond amount includes costs of relocating the city composting operation and recycling operation off the Gedney site while the capping operation is taking place.

An informed source familiar with the bid told WPCNR it is less than the original bid of $14 Million, and slightly more than $11 Million.

The DEC had previously estimated to WPCNR the cost to the city of the closing and capping of the dump to be about $12 Million.

The backup material to tonight’s meeting, just acquired by WPCNR at city hall, says the final price for construction on the dump is $10,150,000, $2,000,000 below the lowest bid of $12,261,000 (in line with what the DEC told WPCNR a month ago the DEC’s Martin Brand had told WPCNR.)The city will also be working on resurfacing the Our Lady of Sorrows softball field as part of the project.

The whole procedure of the dump cleanup cost has been closely guarded by the city, with no city officials confirming or supplying any public information about the costing process. WPCNR had been told the Common Council was furious with first bids that came in as high as $14 Million. The highest bid was $18,565,000.

At this time, the Government Access Channel,is not planning to televise the meeting, and it will not be “covered” by Swagit, the company that records city meetings and rebroadcasts them on the city website.

Also appearing on the agenda is discussion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the city’s proposed Recreational District aimed at structuring how recreational tracts of land such as golf courses and city-owned tracts of open space can be developed, discussion of capital projects and discussion of the Campus Office Zoning Amendment.

The Agenda:

The Agenda

COMMON COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING

June 25, 2012

5:15 P.M.

FIRST READING

ORDINANCES:

1. Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5324,

Gedney Way Landfill Capping.

2. Communication from Environmental Officer.

3. Environmental Findings Resolution

4. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital

Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5324, entitled Gedney Way Landfill

Capping.

5. Bond Ordinance dated June 25, 2012, authorizing the issuance aggregate principal

amount serial bonds of the City of White Plains, County of Westchester, State of New

York, to finance the costs of the Gedney Way Landfill Capping.

RESOLUTIONS:

6. Communication from the City Clerk in relation to a liquor license renewal, and a request

submitted by Tayag, Inc., d/b/a Gryphon’s, 49 Mamaroneck Avenue, requesting a waiver of the

thirty (30) day notification requirement as set forth in Section 64(2)(a) of the New York Alcoholic

Beverage Control Law.

7. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains waiving the thirty (30) day

notification requirement set forth in Section 64(2)(a) of the New York Alcoholic Beverage

Control Law in regard to an application submitted on behalf of Tayag, Inc., d/b/a

Gryphon’s, at 49 Mamaroneck Avenue, for a renewal of its license to sell alcoholic

beverages.

DISCUSSION:

8. Capital Projects

9. Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement – Open Space Recreation District

10. Proposed Campus Office District Zoning Ordinance Amendment and Comprehensive Plan

Amendment

The Day Custer Sought Glory

Posted on June 25, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR MILESTONES. By John F. Bailey. June 25, 2012:

One hundred thirty-six years ago today in the midsummer sweltering heat of the Dakota Badlands, Major General George Armstrong Custer and 600 Cavalrymen of the U.S. Seventh Cavalry attacked a contingent of 2,000 Sioux and Cheyenne Indians encamped on the Little Big Horn River.

Statue of Major General George Armstrong Custer. Monroe, Michigan

Sighting the Enemy

Custer, whose strength as a commander was willingness to engage the enemy by surprise has long been criticised by historians and military experts for disobeying the command of his superior General Alfred H. Terry, (commander of the Little Big Horn campaign), who warned Custer to wait until Terry’s forces arrived to join him before Custer launched any attack.

At this time todaY it was the waning afternoon, 135 years ago, 1876, 225 troopers, Custer, and Mark Kellogg, the Associated Press correspondent(one of the first “embedded correspondents”) lay dead across the ridges of the Little Big Horn Valley.

The Indians had so much respect for Kellogg’s talent, they left his body alone. To the Sioux, Mr. Kellogg was known as “The Man who could make paper talk.”

Mr. Kellogg’s foolscap (copy paper) littered the battlefield. Kellog was given a mule to ride by General Terry, and rode into battle with Custer.

That afternoon, 135 years ago today,the superior Indian force had dealt the American military its most infamous defeat to date, which would be chronicled again and again,

Custer’s accomplishments as a military commander though have suffered as a result of this alleged rash and ill-advised attack.

However, the battle is instructive for all who command, (no matter what position of command they hold), to pay attention to their scouting reports, ignore whatever person gains might be achieved by a course of action.

Allegedly, Custer had seen a possible victory lead by himself over the Sioux as a stepping stone to national office.

Instead, he died in action one of the few U.S. Army Generals to do so.

Few know today, as the statue of General Custer in his hometown of Monroe, Michigan, says how Custer was instrumental in forcing General Robert E. Lee to surrender by blocking his retreat at Appomattox in 1865.

Custer’s defeat may have been inevitable but the actions of Major Reno’s premature breaking off his initial attack on the Indian encampment, disasterous retreat, did not help Custer’s chances.

Reno’s apparently premature retreat allowed the counterattacking indians to turn all their force on Custer’s force, getting behind him, surrounding Custer and his command and killing them all within an hour.

Custer’s glory achieved through his death is a sobering reminder every year for those who ignore facts confronting them, and underestimate adversaries, and discount adverse conditions.

We should not forget though that Custer was attempting to achieve his mission.

No one can say what really motivated him 135 years ago today in the early afternoon when he launched his attack. Second-guessing is the sport of the armchair historians and military strategists who have the evidence of the result. Blame is easily distributed.

That is the loneliness of command. Combat. Decisions. Risks. Surprise. They are the stuff that leaders have to deal with.

On this day, we should look back and remember the courage it took to engage. Remember the bravery the Seventh Calvary displayed in defeat (despite Indian reports of many committing suicide).

Soldiers today demonstrate this courage every day. We need to admire that courage.

I cannot fathom what it takes to be able to be courageous like that.

Leading is not for everyone.

Last Catch with Chipper

Posted on June 23, 2012 by John Bailey

Last Catch with Chipper

The first catch was years ago when Chipper was five.

The catches during the middle years were singed with firey stings

When not-so-little Chipper whipped the ball and tattooed my gloveland with jive.

My suggestions, release sooner,look at target met with “shut-up Dads” eyes glaring live.

Today’s last catch years later, 10 months since not-so-little Chipper threw a ball

I encouraged her to take it easy on her arm, and startlingly she smiled

Instead of firing the ball at my soft glovehand, she threw easy and tall

Smiling, admitting twinges in arm, listening after all those catches gone bye.

Comaraderie in communion of two gloves at last,

Slap of leather with smack of softball

Leisurely recalling days of 80-pitch practices, spirit and bombast

Dad and daughter throwing to start a season perhaps the final of all.

They called her Chipper back then , small player, big heart,

When smacked in eye by intentionally thrown ball by a little boy in the littlest league,

She did not back away just smiled, never feeling fear in any part.

In many catches since and millions of swings never feeling fatigue

On that practice diamond today, tuning up old skills laid aside for new challenge,

The fleet stride returned, as aging father cranked up a few last fly balls

For the Chipper of the past, woman of present to race green and one-hand with deft lunge

In the rays of the fast pitch sun, a bond never realized was forged with wondress thralls.

With a catch-up to a gapper, to zero-in on a one-hander,

Just a dad and his grown kid playing catch again like glory days.

Shags and relays, admissions at long last that yes, some twinges in the winger,

“Dad, I’ll ice it later,” with a smile, the diamond rewarded us with more yesterdays.

Governor Cuomo: A Great Legislative Session

Posted on June 22, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. Legislature Report From The Governor’s Office June 22, 2012:

As a result of Governor Cuomo’s leadership, the 235th Legislative Session has been one of the most productive and broadest-reaching in modern Albany political history.

When Andrew Cuomo became Governor 18 months ago, he was faced with a weak state economy, failed state economic policies, and a dysfunctional government that had lost the trust of the people.

The Governor set out to change the course of the state. He put politics aside, focused on getting things done, and began to rebuild our state from the ground up.

His first task was to stabilize the state and restore function to Albany. He began by producing results on issues that had been intractable for decades. He passed a property tax cap to end the crushing burden on our families and businesses, achieved broad ethics reform that provides unprecedented transparency and accountability, and fought to secure a cleaner and more affordable energy future for New York. Additionally, he passed the historic Marriage Equality Act, making New York the largest state in the nation to extend full marriage equality to all of its citizens.

After proving that he could make the government work for the people, throughout the past seven months, the Governor has implemented an innovative economic plan to create tens of thousands of jobs, and has fought to pass reforms that have fundamentally transformed our state. Highlights of these achievements include:

A second, honestly-balanced budget that moved the state toward long term fiscal balance
A transformational jobs program, New York Works, that will create tens of thousands of jobs and lay a foundation for the future prosperity of our state
A reform of the state’s tax code, cutting middle class income tax rates to their lowest levels since 1953 and relieving over 700,000 small businesses and self-employed individuals of the burdensome MTA payroll tax
A bold pension reform plan that will save local governments more than $80 billion over the next 30 years and help protect working families from spiraling property taxes
A new statewide teacher evaluation system that serves as a national model for promoting achievement and accountability and puts students first
The first all-crimes DNA databank in the nation, which will help prevent crimes and exonerate the innocent
The creation of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs to transform how our state protects the over 1 million New Yorkers with disabilities and special needs
Toughened laws to protect victims of domestic violence and combat child pornography on the internet
The removal of finger imaging as a requirement for federal food stamps to combat hunger, particularly among children
An innovative jobs program – NY Youth Works – to address chronic, high unemployment among inner-city minority youth

Click here to read more about the tremendous progress that New York has made.

New York is now a very different place than it was just 18 months ago. While there is still much that needs to be done, Governor Cuomo has laid the solid foundation for a new New York – a New York State that works for you and your family.