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)

Macy, Annie’s ‘Sandy’ performs the ribbon-chewing opening PET FOOD PANTRY

Posted on May 21, 2011 by John Bailey

Susan Katz’s PET FOOD PANTRY OPENS

HELPS NEEDY FEED THEIR PETS

White Plains Susan Katz officially opened her newest public service venture with the appearance of Macy, the well-known canine actress, seen frequently in productions of “Annie” around the metropolitan area.

Macy, rescued from an Oklahoma animal shelter by Bill Berloni Theatrical Animals, just days away from her demise opened Ms. Katz’s pantry to help needy persons feed their dogs,cats,and other pets rather than give them up.

“The Food Selection for your pet,” barks Macy “is fit for a Star.” Persons interested in applying to receive pet food from the Pantry may call(914)907-3487

Ms. Katz said she founded the Pet Food Pantry because she was touched by the stories of persons, hurt by the recession giving up their pets because they could not feed them. She thanked Chester Day the Kensico Cemetary for finding her space at the American Legion Hall in Valhalla, and the Legion for accepting them. To date, open only six months, the Pet Food Pantry is serving over 50 families regularly supplying pet food without charge to them once a month.Applicants have to prove their need for help to the Pantry.

County Legislator Bill Burton arrived because he was affected by pets abandoned in the Hurricane Katrina disaster, and fully supported Mrs.Katz’s idea that has now become a reality. Burton brought a proclamation from State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins saluting the Pet Food Pantry

County to Vote Hearing Date for Children’s Museum at Playland. Rush to Lock-In?

Posted on May 19, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR County Clarion-Ledger. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators (Edited with background by WPCNR’s John Bailey) May 19,2011:

A proposed lease agreement for the Westchester Children’s Museum with the County for site control of the 22,000 square-foot Playland bathhouse space, a historic landmark, has moved through the Board’s Committee on Public Works, Parks Labor & Transportation, the Board of Legislators announced Thursday

The historic Bathhouse, located at Playland’s boardwalk, has been currently undergoing repair and renovation to its exterior for three years at a cost originally financed for $8.8 Million in May, 2008.

A vote to set the public hearing on the lease will be on the agenda during the next Board meeting on Monday, May 23^rd.

The move to set a date on a hearing on the merits of giving the childrens museum group exclusive control of the interior of the bathouse is interesting. The childrens museum has just one of 11 proposals for a reinvention of Playland being considered by the county and a citizens’ group evaluating what should be done to “reinvent” Playland and turn it into a money-making operation. The Bathouse and Boardwalk and Ice Casino are an integral part of the complex.

According the County Board News Release Thursday: “At a time when budget cuts and the erosion of quality after-school youth programs are causing more people to seek out community-based alternative services within Westchester County, the Children’s Museum will be a vibrant, interactive cultural institution for children and families and a dynamic resource for schools,” said Board Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers).

The news release continued:

“Families throughout the region will find the Children’s Museum a highly worthwhile educational experience,” said Legislator Bill Ryan (D-White Plains), Chairman of the Board’s Committee on Public Works, Parks Labor & Transportation. “This is a very positive step being taken by the Board. The Children’s Museum will be a quality addition to Playland Park.”

The bathhouse was set aside exclusively for the children’s museum, if the museum raises money to rebuild the interior and operate it. So far, the children’s museum’s board has raised $8 million and is working towards raising a total of $14 million. They have already spent $1.5 million on building designs. The Museum has, also, started educational programs with community groups. Chairman Jenkins added that the museum project would be a welcoming environment for special-needs children and a means to build tourism for the county.

“The Children’s Museum represents a community-wide investment in our children without spending any taxpayer’s money,” said Legislator Judith Myers (D-Larchmont). “Over 870,000 children under 11 years of age live within a 15-mile driving radius of our future site at Playland Park in Rye. Yet, Westchester has relatively few cultural resources designed specifically for children. The Children’s Museum on the boardwalk would be a welcomed addition to the outdoor cafes, historic ‘Kiddyland’ for the very young, an Ice Casino for year-round skating, and a music tower for summer concerts.”

Voting for public hearing to lock-in childrens museum?

WPCNR notes apparently to the contrary, that the cost of renovating the exterior of the bathhouse is being paid for by $8.8 Million in county taxpayers’ dollars (approved in May 2008), and construction has been moving on at a slow pace for three years. The county appears to be subsidizing this project, while possibly compromising the appeal of the site to serious developers. The childrens museum by Jenkins statement, has not even raised its estimated operating expenses yet in three years.

WPCNR notes that a proposal for a childrens’ museum was one of the many private proposals from developers submitted to the county in response to a Request for Proposals in February.

The county’s apparent urge to set a public hearing at this time on the childrens’ museum concept, and go for a lease agreement would seem to mean that no matter what proposal for the “new Playland” the Astorino administration and a citizens’ group reviewing the proposals decides upon — a developer/operator other than the children’s museum, for instance — that developer will have to incorporate the children’s museum into their plan.

Hotels, marinas, and other uses for example would be deprived of prime space on on that boardwalk by the children’s museum guaranteed occupancy.

To date, the children’s museum group has not to this reporter’s knowledge given detailed plans on what would be in the museum, or whether the Playland pool at the Bathhouse would continue to be operated.

County Considers Bio-tech/Hotel/Children’s Safe Choices Museum for Grasslands

Posted on May 19, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. (Edited) May 19, 2011:

Plans for a new bio-technological business park and education center adjacent to the Westchester Medical Center in the Grasslands section of Mount Pleasant took a big step forward this week when the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) began addressing legislation that would authorize the Astorino Administration to enter discussions regarding a long-term lease agreement on 60 acres of County owned property for the development.

The proposal was presented by developer John Ferari, who is well known for spearheading the creation of the Maria Ferari Children’s Hospital at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY

Mr. Ferari’s plan includes six new green buildings (totaling two million square feet) dedicated to bio-tech research spread across a campus, with a hotel, restaurants, shops and a centerpiece Children’s Living Science Center that will stress safe lifestyle choices.

Almost all of the funding for the project will be privately raised. In his presentation to the BOL committee members, Ferari estimated that the project would create 3500 construction jobs and, when completed, 2500 permanent full-time jobs. The project would also generate an estimated $6 million in property tax revenue for the Town of Mount Pleasant and Westchester County.

Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers) and Legislator John Nonna (D-Mount Pleasant) co-sponsored the Memorandum of Legislation discussed at a meeting of the BOL’s Housing, Planning & Operations Committee.

The entire project will encompass 80 acres, which will include 20 acres already owned by Mr. Ferari.

“The spectacular vision Mr. Ferari has for this parcel of property brings together important needs such as job creation and economic development, support for medical research and green building practices, along with promoting awareness for healthy lifestyles,” said Chairman Jenkins. “It is also perfect opportunity to create a positive collaboration between two branches of County government to benefit the residents of Westchester for many years to come.”

In his presentation, Ferari said the bio-tech park and education center was similar to the vision he had 16 years ago when he and his wife Brenda first began planning the Maria Ferari Children’s Hospital. Over $40 million was raised from over 25,000 private donors to make the children’s hospital a reality.

“This is an idea, I think, that we should given strong consideration and support to, given the need in Westchester to move forward economically,” said Legislator Nonna.

The BOL’s Housing, Planning & Operations Committee members emphasized that their discussion of what should be done at the Grasslands campus centers on a collaboration that is important to the Town of Mount Pleasant and Westchester County. The Committee plans to continue public discussion to shape this legislation. Once adopted by the BOL, this legislation would authorize the Astorino Administration to develop the details of the lease of the county-owned land before sending the final contract back to the BOL for approval, said Jenkins.

Astorino Casts Veto of County Board Registration Plan

Posted on May 19, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. May 19, 2011:

County Executive Robert P. Astorino today vetoed the redistricting plan for county legislative districts approved last week by the Board of Legislators.

“There are many reasons for my disapproval and veto of this local law,” said Astorino, “which vary from the flawed, closed-door, and rushed process to the unfortunate and unnecessary division of municipalities.”

He added, “The non-partisan League of Women Voters of Westchester in its statement at the public hearing was very clear in sharing some of these same concerns. It labeled the process ‘extremely messy’ with ‘aspects of it…questionable.’ The League also called for more transparency.”

Westchester Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins released the following statement today in response to County Executive Robert P. Astorino’s veto of the legislative re-districting plan approved by the Board last week:

“The re-districting plan approved by the Board of Legislators was the result of a careful and thoughtful process that included full bi-partisan participation, open deliberations and well-publicized opportunities for comments and objections from county residents.”

The redistricting plan was approved 12-5 along party lines by the Democratic-controlled board on May 9.

The county executive said the board’s rushed process called into question the ability of the public to have real input.

“Your Honorable Board held the first meeting (at least the first meeting known to the public and the administration) on April 18,” Astorino said in his veto message. “Within 20 days, your Honorable Board voted on this local law, which will affect the county for the next 10 years. Such quick action calls into question the ability for true public input. Note, too, that this 20-day period was in the midst of important religious holidays and spring break, further diluting the availability for full public participation.”

Astorino said there is no legal requirement for the board to adopt a redistricting plan this year based on Census 2010; rather, it could have deliberated longer and adopted a plan for the 2013 election cycle. Taking more time over this important issue would have given the board a chance to focus on the new Census data, which was only released in April.

Aside from the process, the county executive complained of what he called “wholesale and unnecessary changes” made to some legislative districts, including the splitting of the City of Peekskill “for no rational reason” into two districts and the Town of Harrison into three.

“It will create confusion among voters and elected officials as to who speaks for these communities on the Board of Legislators,” he said.

Jenkins disagreed, saying in his written statement on the veto —

“In the end, the Board of Legislators adopted new district maps that are fair and hard to fault. The fact that the re-districting was completed extremely close to the existing lines, with necessary changes the result of population shifts, was clearly understood by most Westchester residents, since less than a handful voiced an opinion otherwise. As for the League of Women Voters’ request that the new district lines be drawn from scratch, it was generally acknowledged by the legislators as being too costly and time-consuming to do so.

“Because of his regrettable abhorrence for any achievements emanating from the Board, including our landmark 2.2% reduction in the tax levy this year, the County Executive’s veto of the re-districting plan does not surprise me or my colleagues. Our overriding his veto should not surprise him either. His decision should not get in the way of the important work that is in front of us.

“I want to recognize the hard work that the Board’s re-districting consultant, Dr. Andrew Beveridge, and Legislation Committee Chairman John Nonna contributed to this formidable task. These two individuals bent over backwards to accommodate all requests, inquiries and suggestions during the re-districting process. Chairman Nonna presided over open discussions about re-drawn district lines the minute new mapping first started, with legislators from both parties and two representatives from the League of Women Voters seated around the table reviewing changes district by district. He is to be commended in this regard.”