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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the County Board of Legislators. (Edited)December 11, 2011:

The County Board of Legislators approved a 2011 County budget Friday that delivers a 2% tax reduction for County taxpayers by a vote of 16-1.  the budget reduces spending by $28.5 million dollars (from 2010 budget), reduced the County workforce by 10%, restored critical services for most in need, provides transitional timetables as the County continues to recalibrate agencies and an alternative to the County Executive’s budget proposal.

Last month, Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino presented his first County budget, which included severe budget cuts to the social safety net and funding for vital services for Westchester’s working families.

It remains to be seen whether Executive Astorino will veto the Board’s restorations to his original budget.

 

 

“Westchester County’s budget is balanced and on time, and it will lower the county tax levy. This budget right-sizes government, and not capsizes it,” County Board of Legislators Chairman Kenneth W. Jenkins (D-Yonkers) said. “This year, the County has to make exceedingly difficult decisions…the Democratic Majority has presented a budget that will preserve the most critical County services without raising taxes.”

 

 

Highlights of Legislature’s FY 2011 Presented Budget

 

·   Tax Reduction of 2% to the county tax levy vs. County Executive’s proposed -1%

 

·   Total spending $1.79B =       $28.5M from 2010 budget

 

·   Reduces County workforce by 10% (funded through grants, additional revenue & corresponding deletions)

 

·   Eliminates County Executive’s proposed one-shot to bond tax certioraris = cash vs. credit for operating costs (maintains fiscally responsible fund balance)

 

·   Fairly restores balances and protects public safety, health and essential services

 

·   Identified opportunities for shared services between Dept of Emergency Services & Dept of Public Safety; will continue stakeholder inclusion of merger discussion

 

·   Provides six-months transitional funding for community mental health clinics, pending contracts that must be in place per Section 41.07 of the NYS Mental Hygiene Law

 

·   Restores funding of community health centers & child care services

 

·   Reinstates County’s contract of the Section 8 program

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the White Plains Department of Public Safety. UPDATED 4:40 P.M. E.S.T. December 10, 2010:

 

Commissioner David E. Chong and the City of White Plains Department of Public Safety announce the arrests of four subjects in the ongoing investigation of the armed Walmart robbery that occurred at approximately 0248 hours on Monday November 29^th, 2010. 

 

The two armed suspects entered Walmart during an employee break dressed head to toe in tyvex suits, with gloves and masks.  They proceeded to a backroom with a manager and tied the manager up with plastic zip ties and emptied a safe containing approximately $230,000 in cash.  The subjects then fled in a waiting SUV. No injuries occurred during this robbery.

 

Detectives working in three teams, round the clock, supervised by Det. Lieutenant Eric Fischer, Det. Sgt. Dennis Doherty, Det. Sgt. Patrick Oggeri and lead Detectives, Rick Lee, Patrick Kirby, Bryan Hembury, Edward Rutledge, and Timothy Byrne quickly noticed distinct similairities to the Robbery of the Old Navy store located at 100 Main Street in White Plains that occurred on September 7^th 2010. The amount reported stolen in this robbery was over $30,000.  Both robberies were committed after heavy holiday shopping weekends.

 

Throughout this investigation, the White Plains Detectives were assisted with the full cooperation and coordination of Walmart Security Director Anthony Williams and Old Navy Security Director John Dursten, both of whom provided Detectives with valuable leads in the investigation.  Multiple video surveillance systems from within the stores and in and around the City of White Plains also provided the Department with leads.

 

In all, four suspects were identified and arrested in the past 24 hours. They are as follows,

Christopher Fountain, 28 years of age, of 8 Custis Ave. North White Plains NY.

 

Phillip Fountain, 20 years of age, of 558 S. 7^th Ave. Mount Vernon, NY

 

Autumn Jordan, 22 years of age, homeless.

 

Tyrone Cramer, 36 years of age, of 1170 E. 229^th Street, Apt. 4H Bronx, NY

 

Each of these Defendants are charged with Robbery in the 1^st degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2^nd degree. Both Felony charges.

 

Additionally, Christopher Fountain and Autumn Jorden will be charged with Robbery in the 1^st degree for the Old Navy Robbery on September 7^th 2010.

 

During the course of the investigation, leads were developed in cooperation with the Clarkstown Police in Rockland County NY about a robbery that occurred in the Victoria’s Secret Store located in the Palisades Mall on June 7^th 2010. Working with Clarkstown Detectives Robert Shine and Lorraine McGrath, WPPD Detectives were able to positively identify Christopher Fountain as the subject wanted in connection with that armed robbery as well.  He is expected to be charged later in Rockland County for that robbery.

 

Multiple Search Warrants have been executed on the subject’s homes, automobiles, and a storage container/locker.  Bags of cash have been recovered but not yet counted, two vehicles have been siezed and multiple other items of evidentiary value recovered.

 

White Plains Public Safety Commissioner David Chong commended the actions of his Detectives and the cooperation and coordination with both Walmart Security and Old Navy Security. He also credited the assistance of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and the Westchester County Intelligence center and the Clarkstown NY Police Department with assistance in this investigation. “This was a full court press by our Detectives, and our law enforcement and private security partners worked seamlessly to bring these individuals to justice”.

 

The investigation is ongoing and active.