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)

Abinanti Concerned Disabled Care Reform Will Hurt Disabled Under Cuomo Cost-Cut

Posted on June 13, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From New York State Assemblyman Tom Abinanty. June 13, 2012:

On an under-the-radar issue, not touched by local media, and only publicized by the White Plains NewsTalk television show, White Plains Week, Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti of Greenburgh is urging the New York State Assembly to significantly strengthen protections for people with disabilities before approving Governor Andrew Cuomo’s “Protection of People with Special Needs Act”, which is intended to prevent and punish abuse and neglect of those living in state and private care facilities.

“Families need to be sure that when they entrust their loved ones for care their loved ones are safe from abuse and not neglected,” said Abinanti. “The proposed legislation is inadequate. It needs an upgrade.”

In a letter to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Abinanti commended the Governor’s focusing public attention on the need to reform the system for delivering residential and related services to people with disabilities. However, Abinanti provided a four-page outline of changes needed.

Many advocates for people with disabilities who applaud the Governor’s imitative also urge public discussion before the Assembly acts on some provisions they see as troublesome.

A member of the Assembly’s Mental Health Committee, Abinanti noted:

Rather than establish independent watchdogs, the proposed legislation concentrates all oversight in a super agency which also provides services. The legislation would institutionalize conflict of interest. (italics added by the editor)

Rather than facilitating immediate law enforcement investigation of possible crimes, the proposed legislation funnels all abuse and neglect complaints to a new clearinghouse bureaucracy, raises the bar for what gets referred to law enforcement and discourages whistleblowers.

Rather than enhancing the role of families, the proposed legislation continues to shroud decisions and information in the veil of “confidentiality.”

Rather than improve living conditions, minimize “segregation” and prevent abuse and neglect, the proposed legislation merely instructs existing agencies that have failed to try again.

To read Abinanti’s letter to the Speaker and specific proposals click here.

Violent Crimes up Sharply in Two Years Since 12 Police Officers Fired: PBA

Posted on June 13, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. June 13, 2012. :

Since WPCNR reported Monday Judge Gerald Loehr’s decision striking down 12-hour police shifts, requiring the city of White Plains to return to the practice of paying overtime after 8 hours of duty for patrol officers, the Mayor’s Office has not responded to WPCNR requests for how the city will manage the overtime drain, that three years ago was costing the city $500,000 a year.

The 12-hour shift, according to former Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Frank Straub cut overtime in half. The President of the Common Council, Beth Smayda has not returned a call from WPCNR asking if the council would consider officially approving the 12-hour shifts or at least reopen the discussion of whether 12-hour shifts indeed do cut overtime.

However, Robert Riley President of the White Plains Police Benevolent Association issued a statement to WPCNR on the matter of 12-hour shifts and points out that since 11 police officers were fired by the Common Council in 2010, serious crimes in White Plains (Murder, Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault (domestic and non-domestic, Burglary, Larcenies and Auto Theft have risen 50%. Here Officer Riley Comments on Judge Loehr’s decision effect on overtime and the crime trends — which reflect the data on the Public Safety website.

Mr. Riley’s statement:

“By reverting to and implementing the prior work schedule, it will cost the City overtime, require the City to either hire additional police officers or remove officers and detectives from other vital divisions. We submit that this will dramatically diminish the level of police services that are presently provided to its residents. At this time, the police patrol force is not able to accommodate such restructuring due to a lack of police officers.

Year to date, crime in White Plains is up 32.3% from the previous year. We believe that the present administration of the police department is directly responsible for this increase. The department is currently operating with 25 less officers than it was prior to the police lay offs in 2010. Additional reorganization to accommodate a work schedule change may result in service cuts that jeopardize the safety, security, and integrity of the city.

As for the Commissioners receiving a 2% raise, we believe it is a smack in the face to all police personnel. The City is asking that we take two years of ZERO PERCENT, but are able to find funds for the Commissioners.

So far the City has taken 15% medical from retirees, raised taxes 4.75%, asked for the PBA to give up 15% medical for new hires, and take two zeroes. Something doesn’t add up here. It’s obvious that labor and the citizens are getting the short end of the stick and something needs to be done immediately.

For the City to give a raise to Corporation Council, ($193,800) who can’t even get a deal worked out with its unions and had the City file for impasse is a total disgrace. He, as well as Mayor Roach and all members of the Common Council should be held accountable for giving this raise.

Also, we are still wondering why the City has viciously attacked our retired members. The City gave its word to these brave men and women that they would never have to worry about their health care, and now they have broken that promise. With actions like this, it’s no wonder that trust in government is at an all time low. These officers stayed in White Plains when they could have gone elsewhere, putting themselves in harm’s way, many because of their health care benefits. Now, after they made this city one of the safest in the state for the public, it turns out that they were risking their lives in more ways than one. It’s a disgrace and intolerable.”

2010-2012 Violent Crime Statistics

2010 (Total year)

VIOLENT CRIMES

· There were 24 burglaries as of 6/8/2010 and that increased to 50 burglaries by the end of 2010, which is a 100% increase in burglaries in just 6 six months after the layoffs of 12 officers

· There were 10 aggravated non-domestic assaults as of 6/8/2010 and that increased to 26 by the end of 2010, which is an increase of 150%

2010 to 2011 (Total year)

· Part One Crimes increased by 14.8%. There were 173 more crimes that the previous year (1171 in 2010 and 1344 in 2011)

June 2011 to June 2012

· Part One Crimes increased from 480 in June 2011 to 635 in June 2012

· That is an increase of 32.3%

Part One Crimes consist of the following offenses:

1. Murder
2. Rape
3. Robbery
4. Aggravated Assault (domestic and non-domestic)
5. Burglary
6. Larcenies
7. Auto Theft

The Decision That Struck Down 12-hour police patrols.

Posted on June 13, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR FOR THE RECORD. JUNE 13, 2012:

On Monday, WPCNR first reported the decision by Judge Gerald Loehr of the , New York State Supreme Court in White Plains, declaring the switch to 12-hour police patrols in 2010 by the city without approval of the Common Council to be illegal. The Council and the Roach administration are apparently still considering what to do about the switch to 8-hour shifts.

Here is a copy of that decision:

(Decision continues…press READMORE BELOW)

Punishment for Food Fighters Uncertain at this Time. 6 Suspended Currently

Posted on June 12, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. June 12, 2012:

At the Final Board of Education meeting of the year, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Clouet commented on the Food Fight “incident” that Clouet said took White Plains High administrators by surprise when it erupted in the high school cafeteria last Thursday. He said names of the students involved would not be released to the media

Clouet indicated the fate of the identified participants is uncertain, pending Superintendent’s Hearings for each student. Previously senior participants in the unprovoked food fight (it was just started as a so-called “senior prank,” deteriorating to the point where “water” balloons of urine were alleged to be thrown, according to students who were there.

No parents addressed the Board during the public comment portion of the meeting expressing concern about the incident.

Clouet told the attendees at the Board meeting, the so-called senior prank

“went a little awry and unfortunately a food fight that developed and it was an embarrassing situation, and just like in any family some things happen that you’re not proud of. This would be that kind of moment for us.”

“With that said, most of the kids at the high school were not even aware of it (the food fight) at that time, certainly regulatory had no information of any kind. It did not result in any kind of fisticuffs or arrests or things like that, but it was unseemly that type of behavior. The high school administrators and the teachers did a great job getting kids back in the classrooms safely. The rest of the day was uneventful. There were no serious injuries.

“In any event, we were not happy about it. The investigation into who was responsible for organizing it is well underway and there already have been some suspensions and we have already scheduled Superintendent hearings to discuss further acts of discipline .

“This kind of behavior will not be tolerated. It does not reflect most of the kids in our school. Take one of those (copies of The Orange, the high school newspaper), with you (and he opened to the center spread showing college acceptancees’ pictures) in the middle you will see a listing of all the seniors and all the colleges going to. This is what represents White Plains High School. Not that unfortunate incident.”

Clouet told WPCNR before he spoke to the meeting that 6 Seniors had already been suspended, but it has not been decided whether those seniors will be excluded from participating in High School graduation June 21 as had been previously told to WPCNR by sources who said they were familiar with calls that went out to parents of those seniors.

Clouet said some students from other classes had “high-jacked” the event, and they are in the process of being identified and Superintendents’ hearings scheduled. WPCNR asked how many, Clouet said 10 to 15 students will be talked to about participation in the incident.

He said that the high school nurse had reported two him two injuries, a girl with a “badly sprained ankle, (not broken),” and a student whom Clouet did not know was a boy or girl, hit upon the head with an apple. He said no student was hospitalized.

Asked if slingshots had been used to launch projectiles of food, Clouet said he was uncertain. He said White Plains Police did not play a role in stopping the incident and were only asked to come after the incident was over, to assure that that the incident did not start again during school dismissal.

Asked to comment on the YouTube videos posted by students after the incident showing students stampeding down the halls with no sounds of public address system announcements heard, Clouet said there were announcements, but bullhorns were not used by security personnel. He said administrators were called in from other schools in the district. He reported it took 10 to 15 minutes to stop the food fight.

He assured WPCNR that next year’s senior class would be told in no uncertain terms to “make sure this doesn’t happen again.”