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)

Judge Strikes Board of Legislators’ Bid to Approve County Contracts

Posted on April 11, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. (EDITED) April 11,2012:

The Board of Legislators’ law that aimed to change the membership of the county’s Board of Acquisition and Contract was “not properly enacted” because of a “fatal flaw,” a judge said today.

The decision finds for the Astorino administration and the county attorney, which had argued that the law passed last December by the Democratic-controlled Board of Legislators was invalid.

In his ruling today, Acting State Supreme Court Justice Barry E. Warhit removed the temporary restraining order he had issued last month that prevented Public Works Commissioner Jay Pisco from serving on the A&C board. The judge said the legislators failed to publish the required legal notice about the law to give the public a chance to have a permissive referendum.

While the issues of the case have to be litigated further, the judge said that the legislators who brought the legal proceeding – Board Chairman Ken Jenkins and Legislators Peter Harckham and Lyndon Williams – “cannot meet their burden” to show they are likely to win on the merits of the case and that they are therefore not entitled to an injunction.

“The administration argued from the start that this law was not properly enacted,” said Ned McCormack, communications director and senior advisor. “If the legislators want to change the composition of the Board of Acquisition and Contract, they need to follow all legal procedures. The public is entitled to this.”

In his decision, the judge cleared the way for the A&C board to “resume meetings in accordance with the ordinary course of business.”

Growth Market in Housing “Not There Yet” County Clerk Says

Posted on April 11, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. From Westchester County Clerk Timothy Idoni. April 11, 2012:

“We keep looking for the growth market. It just isn’t there yet,”

That’s the opinion of County Clerk Timothy Idoni today in a news release analyzing county mortgage tax activity in the first quarter.

County mortgage tax, an important revenue source for the County of Westchester and its municipalities, has dropped again according to figures released by Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni. The Clerk’s Office is responsible for collecting these taxes which are a key economic indicator.

Mortgage tax revenue has been hovering recently at about thirty percent of the historic highs seen at the peak of the real estate boom in 2005. Revenue dropped sharply after the bubble burst in mid-2007. As a result of the real estate slump and a downturn in the national economy, borrowing for homes became more difficult over the past five years.

The County budgeted $13,500,000 in mortgage tax revenue for this year. The same amount was budgeted for 2011, but the county collected $421,000 less. Idoni remarked, “We are all very hopeful that 2012 projections can be achieved, but based on the first quarter this year, there is cause for concern.” First quarter revenue totaled $2,847,691. This was a decrease of $691,200 or 19.5% from last year’s first quarter.

Mortgage Tax Collected (County Portion Only)

2009-2012

2009 2010 2011 2012 (through 3/31/2012)

$12,425,216 $12,969,204 $13,079,307 $2,847,691

Idoni indicated that there has been slow but noticeable growth in revenue since 2009. In the first quarter of 2012, however, there was a noticeable drop as shown below:

Mortgage Taxes Collected 1^st Quarter 2009-2012

Year January February March 1^st Quarter Total

2009 $889,558 $742,254 $986,921 $2,618,733

2010 $1,282,614 $1,076,926 $1,004,318 $3,363,858

2011 $1,220,971 $1,053,436 $1,264.484 $3,538,891

2012 $ 921,923 $983,990 $941,778 $2,847,691

Issues impacting these numbers include: continuing tight credit in the mortgage market; cash sales in the upper end real estate market; restructuring of debt which avoids mortgage tax levies; and a buyer’s market with depressed prices.

Business Council: Westchester Economy Improving in 1Q

Posted on April 10, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. Special to WPCNR from The Business Council of Westchester. April 10, 2012:

The Westchester Business Confidence Inde x, increased from 54.2 in the 4^th quarter of 2011 to a current level of 64.8 (on a scale oThis reading represents a tremendous increase in confidence overall since the inception of the index in December 2008, when levels were at 27, and is the second-highest reported confidence level since then, next to the second quarter of 2011, when it was at 66.3.

“This tells me that our combined efforts to improve Westchester’s economy are successful. We’re working with our legislators to reduce the inhibitors to business growth, and with our county government officials, through our Coalition for Business Development, to make Westchester more welcoming,” said Business Council President/CEO Dr. Marsha Gordon. “The results are seen and judged most effectively in the small and mid-size companies that call Westchester home – and we know that they are hiring, they are spending, and they are beginning to flourish once again. Let’s all keep up the good work.”

The Westchester Business Confidence Index – used to track key business metrics, such as trends in staffing levels, top line revenues, bottom line profits, Capital spending budgets, and other industry performance data each quarter – compiles information from more than 100 CEOs and business leaders of BCW-member companies.

This elevated confidence is driven by improved revenue and profit outlooks and higher anticipated employee hiring rates: 22% of Westchester companies have more job openings compared to a quarter ago (with just 7% of companies having fewer openings). Westchester’s buoyed outlook is likely riding on the back of on optimistic nation, as the Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate, “held at a three-year low of 8.3 percent last month after falling by 0.8 percentage points in the year ended January,” per Bloomberg. In fact, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, “the jobless rate in the U.S. could drop to as low as 6 percent by the first half of 2013.” Westchester is currently running at about a 6 percent jobless rate according to the Westchester Department of Economic Development.

The owner of a professional multimedia firm remarked: “In my industry, we believe businesses are starting to spend more money. They understand that they cannot stagnate in this economy and expect to increase profits. They need to become proactive and make changes. Increase their brand exposure and awareness.”

Bolstering that theory, survey respondents report that overall, capital spending budgets are slightly up since last quarter, with 21% or respondents intending to increase spending since last quarter and almost a third of respondents (31%) reporting plans to increase their spending compared to one year ago.

The CEO of a technology services concurs that business is back on track: “I feel that businesses in general held back spending on technology but have started to spend again… we see an increase in closing compared to a year ago.”

Revenue projections are also more optimistic than last quarter, with jumps of 14 points and 16 points, in the number of companies expecting increased revenue compared to 3 months ago a nd a year ago, bringing both of those totals to 59%. That means that a strong majority of respondents have a positive outlook for revenue change over the next two quarters. In alignment with optimistic revenue projections, the majority of respondents indicated high expectations about profit numbers, with an 11% increase in the number of companies who expect to report higher profit than three months ago.

All in all, this leads to higher confidence in the business community, with the majority of respondents (60%) reporting increased confidence compared to 1 year ago and 43% reporting an increase in confidence since last quarter. These numbers represent vast improvements over last quarter, when only slightly over a quarter of respondents reported a sunny outlook. Expectations for Westchester County’s outlook, in particular, soared for the first time since the inception of the index in 2008, the majority of respondents expected that Westchester’s economic conditions would fare better than that of our regional neighbors.

As the CEO of a not-for-profit observes: “Westchester is doing better than other areas. Proof is in the housing market!”

NYPH Center for Autism to Open. Grant-Aided Free Diagnosls Offered Now

Posted on April 9, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR HEALTH. By John F. Bailey. April 9, 2012 UPDATED April 10, 2012 2:25 P.M. E.D.T.:

White Plains’ own Dr. Steven J. Corwin, Chief Executive Officer of New York Presbyterian Hospital announced a partnership venture with the New York Center for Autism to transform the former womens gymnasium on the White Plains campus into the New York Center for Autism and the Developing Brain last Thursday at a news conference.

Women’s Gymnasium to Be Turned into New York Center for Autism and the Developing Brain within Year.

First Director of the Center: Dr. Catherine Lord from the University of Michigan Autism Center that she helped to found, was introduced as the new Center’s first leader.

Dr. Corwin introduced Dr. Catherine Lord, clinical pyschologist,formerly of the Autism and Communication Disorders Center at the University of Michigan that she helped establish to conduct research and provide clinical evaluations,diagnoses and therapeutic services. whom he described as one of the foremost experts in the diagnosis and treatment of autism, as the first Director of the Center. She is known for developing longitudinal studies of children with autism that oberve the progression of their social development and communication skills. The focus of her research is to find more effective ways to treat patients.

Dr. Lord told WPCNR the Center now has twenty personnel already on board, and can take on a limited number of age groups for diagnosis immediately. Dr.Lord told WPCNR The center has a grant that allows them to work up diagnosis of a limited number of children under the age of 2 at no charge; and another grant that will provide analysis, diagnosis and recommendations for adults with autism diagnoses with some speech at no charge for services. Lord said for details on these free, grant provided diagnostic services, the Center may be contacted at 914-997-5848.

“Diagnosis is just a start,” Lord said. “By evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each patient, and by monitoring and measuring that individual’s response to a variety of approaches, we will fine-tune our ability to deliver the best short-term treatments while linking patients and their families to existing resources in their communities.”

Schematic of the proposed renvoation of the former Gymnasium

Lord said the center expects to be opened in about one year from now with the mission of providing comprehensive care, “to patients of all ages with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disorders of the brain.” The center will offer, “a full arrary of evaluative, diagnostic, and multi-disciplinary therapeutic services, as well as “gap” services to aid families in planning for future treatment and community-based care.”

Dr. Corwin introduced Nita Lowey, Congresswoman who spoke of the 1 of 88 boys being born diagnosed by autism, up from 1 in 2,500 ten years ago as one of the real priorities for the National Institute of Health research. Ms. Lowey was instrumental in obtaining government aid for the establishment of the center

Mayor Thomas Roach of White Plains expressed the need for research into autism and praised the decision to locate the center in White Plains.

Renovation of the gymnasium to establish The Center will cost approximately $6.1 Million, the hospital reported Tuesday it has already raised the $11.1 Million to construct and staff the new Center.

Laura Slatkin,(above) Co-Founder of the New Center for Autism, credited a “generous contribution from Marilyn and James Simons of the Simons Foundation” for the formation of the Center which is planned to open in early 2013. She remarked, “New York-Presbyterian Hospital has made it possible to build the Center. Our hope is to create state-of-the-art services for individuals across their lifespan that will become a model for the nation.”

Until it officially opens, the center cannot accept insurance. Any treatment would have to be paid for without third party assistance, WPCNR learned. However, the grant opportunities for free treatment are available for consideration at the present time.

Over 200 persons attended the event.

Dignataries with hammers,posed before symbolic start of construction. Mr. Simons, a key donor is fourth from right, next to Mayor Tom Roach.