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)

Police Apprehend Murder Suspect.

Posted on March 29, 2012 by John Bailey

Michael Saunders

OFFICIAL PRESS STATEMENT FROM COMMISSIONER CHONG

Yesterday Evening, White Plains Detectives picked up a “person of interest” (in the investigation of the murder of Sabrina Durrah Saturday) named Michael Saunders, age 49 at his place of employment the Liberty Bus Company at 5 Walker Road in Valhalla.

After interviewing Mr. Saunders, White Plains Police early this morning charged him with Murder 2 in connection with the Homicide of Sabrina Durrah of 312 Main Street in White Plains.

We are leaning towards a domestic relationship that led to this Homicide. Mr. Saunders, a Yonkers resident, is expected to be arraigned in White Plains Criminal Court later this afternoon.

I commend the Police Department and especially the Detectives who quickly put this case together and arrested a suspect. They worked around the clock in their intensity and resolve to bring someone to justice.

Rye Town Supervisor To Challenge Nita Lowey in Fall

Posted on March 28, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2012. From the Republican Parties of Westchester and Rockland County. March 28, 2012:

The Westchester and Rockland Republican Committees unanimously nominated Rye Town Supervisor and businessman Joe Carvin as their candidate in the 17^th congressional district at the convention held last night. Mr. Carvin will face 24-year career politician Nita Lowey in the newly-drawn district that encompasses parts of Westchester and all of Rockland County.

Mr. Carvin said, “I made the decision to get into this race because I could not stand idly by while I witnessed career politicians drive us to perilous debt levels that threaten our future as a nation. The voters of Westchester and Rockland will have a clear choice in this election between a political outsider (Mr. Carvin), who is laser-focused on addressing the considerable economic and fiscal challenges facing our nation, versus someone (Nita Lowey) who continues to kick the can down the road.”

Carvin continued, “Our nation cannot afford two more years of the same harmful policies if we are going to have any hope of getting the economy back on track and generate new jobs and economic growth. I am very much looking forward to having this dialogue with the voters over the next eight months.”

Westchester GOP Chairman Doug Colety said, “As a local town supervisor, Joe has earned enormous respect and popularity from people of all parties for his willingness to put what’s right ahead of political expediency. He will bring that same fresh approach to Washington, where party politics and special interests have for too long dominated the direction of our country. Joe is exactly what’s needed to shake things up in Congress.”

“These are serious times and we need serious leaders who have the expertise to fix the financial and economic problems facing our country right now,” said Rockland and New York State Vice Republican Chairman Vinny Reda. “We cannot continue sending the same people to Washington and expect a different result. Joe has the experience and courage to make the tough choices that will help our nation thrive again. I’m delighted that this district now encompasses all of Rockland and we’re proud to support him.”

Mr. Carvin, who announced his run for Congress on Monday, is an agricultural investor who has lived and worked on five continents. He speaks five languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Wolof) and holds a M.B.A. from New York University and a M.P.A. from Harvard University.

Mr. Carvin has refused to accept a salary as Rye Town Supervisor and he has reduced town spending by 25% under his tenure. He is currently working to dissolve the Town of Rye to reduce duplication of government services and help stop the dramatic rise of property taxes. (Westchester County families pay the highest property taxes in America, according to the U.S. Census.) Town Supervisor Carvin was re-elected to his post last year with 62% of the vote in a Town that is overwhelmingly Democratic.

Council Work Session Reveals Plans to Add Uses to Office Parks along Westchester

Posted on March 28, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. (Reprint of Monday Evening Story) March 26, 2012:

At the Common Council work session tonight, Mayor Thomas Roach introduced to the Common Council a plan to augment permitted zoning in the commerical properties located on the northern and southern boundaries of Westchester Avenue in White Plains

Roach said the plan was to aid owners of those properties in bringing in new tenants and develop the properties according to a new city vision unique for each existing officepark. The new visions for the properties would add new uses to the properties including housing, retail, educational, and possible scientific research.

Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel noted the trend since 2006 which has seen tenants vacate properties in the city’s once thriving office parks.

She said, (upon questioning by Councilwoman Milagros Lecouna), that she had met with owners of the properties along the once Platinum Mile, who had identified organizations that had expressed interest in their buildings, but that currently are not permitted by the zoning. Habel said those uses included residential, retail, restaurant and other uses.

Habel said the city plan was to look at the office parks and design comprehensive development plans that owners could follow in opening up their properties to new uses. The advantage in developing new uses for an existing park, would avoid the developer having to rezone for every possible new tenant that did not fit the zoning.

The endeavor to rethink the properties would begin by the Common Council referring out the proposal to create “comprehensive development plans” to the city departments for comment

Habel said possible expansion of uses would be considered, property-by-property, with input from the Planning Board and city departments and the community and eventually made part of the city comprehensive plan spelling out new possibilities for the properties paralleling I-287.

Councilpersons John Martin, Benjamin Boykin,David Buchwald and Beth Smayda were enthusiastic about the initiative. Councilwoman Milagros Lecouna expressed tentative support, as long as she was assured retail in the Central Business District was not impacted by new possible uses.

Habel said the object was to bring in new development opportunities on the properties in question without impacting the downtown economy.

IN OTHER ACTION…

The council agreed that they would consider adopting a city stand on including public transit on the new Tappan Zee Bridge.

The council heard a proposal by Temple Kol Ami to install a storm water drain system on the Temple parking lot at the Common Council meeting next week.

Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti announced the successful drilling of two new wells on the city reservoir property now going into a water quality testing phase under auspices of the state.

The Commissioner also announced the beginning of a redesign of the ramps and stairways at the Gedney & Gille Fields which would be paid for with left over bond capacity from the Ebersole Rink renovation. He said work may not be completed in 2012.

IN EXECUTIVE SESSION…

Before the Common Council entered Executive Session to discuss a lawsuit, (Merchants Insurance Group a/s/o Pilar Larios v. Alexander Howard and The City of White Plains)the names of the parties involved in the legal matter were announced, beginning a new procedure which finally after decades of the city ignoring the law, would be the process of disclosure going forward.

John Callahan, city Corporation Counsel told WPCNR disclosure of parties involved in Executive Session discussion would only happen in matters where a court action was being discussed. Executive Sessions involving the sale or acquisition of land or personnel matters would continue the city policy of non-disclosure.

The city was shamed into disclosing parties in lawsuits under discussion traditionally done in secret by the activist Carl Albanese who on a number of occasions has complained in Common Council meetings of how the city has been ignoring the state open meetings law for years.

Business Council of Westchester Says Cuts Will Help Westchester Grow

Posted on March 27, 2012 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From the Business Council of Westchester. March 27, 2012:

Upon news that the Senate and Assembly Majority Leaders have reached agreement with Governor Andrew Cuomo on the 2012-13 budget, the Business Council of Westchester issued this statement:

“The budget agreement reached today by Governor Cuomo, Majority Leader Skelos and
Speaker Silver will have positive implications for the Westchester business community. With
2% or less growth in state spending, as well as a net reduction in All Funds spending for the
second year in a row, our leaders demonstrate they remain committed to fiscal responsibility.

The phased takeover of local government Medicaid administration expenses over the next
three years should result in direct savings to businesses and taxpayers. With this critical element
of mandate relief in place, the Business Council will work with the legislature and state
government to progress other priorities, including reform of the State Environmental Quality
Review (SEQR) process.

With the appointment of Lieutenant Governor Duffy as Chair of the Spending and Government
Efficiency (SAGE) Commission, the Business Council will continue to forcefully advocate in
favor of structural and operational changes that will streamline the organizational structure of
state government, for creation of a shared services model that will help create savings for the
state, and development of metrics and targets to help improve performance and make
government more open, transparent and accountable.

These fiscal reform measures are only one piece of New York State’s recovery. It is our hope
that the launch of the New York Works Task Force, an initiative designed to develop a
coordinated capital infrastructure plan among agencies and authorities, will help refine the use of
resources and accelerate construction of critical infrastructure. $1.2 billion in new spending for
these projects will literally help pave the road to recovery.

Building on fiscal reform and progression of infrastructure projects including the Tappan Zee
Bridge, job creation is the core of our economic growth. The second round of funding to
implement regional strategic plans developed through the Regional Councils totals $150 million
in new capital funding. The Business Council will not only continue to serve on the Mid-Hudson
Regional Council, but collaborate with our partners to better prepare our constituents to apply
and compete for those funds, and ultimately create jobs in our region and county.

The General Contractors Association of New York issued this statement on the budget agreement:

“Today’s announcement of an on time budget agreement shows that New York has regained its status as the Empire State. Governor Cuomo, Majority Leader Skelos and Speaker Silver have put the dreary days of late budgets and legislative dysfunction firmly in the footnotes of history.”

“From the establishment of the New York Works program to the funding of the MTA and DOT capital plans, this budget will provide the high octane fuel to fast track long overdue capital investments, create meaningful construction jobs, generate tax revenues and improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers.”