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)

Permission to Park on Street 2-6AM Now Granted only for “Unexpected Emergencies

Posted on August 21, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE PARKING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. August 21, 2010:

White Plains residents can no longer count on “automatic” permission from police to park overnight on White Plains Streets between 2 and 6 A.M, simply by calling in the car’s license number to the police.

The White Plains Department of Public Safety is no longer guaranteeing that residents who call the Police Department requesting permission to take advantage of the long-standing practice requesting permission for overnight guests or whatever reason to park a car on the street overnight will have their requests granted, Police Chief James Bradley confirmed in a written statement to WPCNR Saturday morning.

The Chief in a statement, said the new policy is due to “overwhelming” requests for a waiver of the No Parking between 2 and 6 A.M. experienced by the police lately.

WPCNR received a report from a resident who was seeking permission for a friend of theirs who was they reported unable to drive. The resident said they were told by the police officer they spoke with, that residents no longer had the option of requesting permission to park a car on the street overnight, no matter what the circumstances.

WPCNR went to Police Chief James Bradley to clarify the policy since WPCNR knows of persons who did receive permission to park over night within the last three weeks.

The answer is you may or may not be granted permission depending on the circumstances. And if you do not receive permission you may receive a $25 Ticket. The reason, according to Police Chief James Bradley is the Department of Public Safety Night Desk is being “overwhelmed” with such requests recently.

The new policy: A pass on Overnight Parking will only be granted for “unexpected” emergencies.

According to Chief Bradley:

“We are advising callers that exceptions to the ordinance are for unexpected emergencies.

We have been overwhelmed with callers who are not aware of that and believe the call itself guarantees that a summons will not be issued. We also try to point out the availability of legal parking in the area of the caller.

We have been receiving calls from residents and neighborhood associations about uneven enforcement.

We understand that unexpected events will necessitate our assistance and we will continue to work with our residents and certainly we would not direct an incapacitated driver to move their vehicle. “

The ordinance forbidding parking on the street between 2 and 6 A.M. was originally put into affect to keep streets clear of cars for snow removal. For years residents have been able to call the police Department Front Desk on an evening and give a license number of a vehicle requesting perfmission. When this reporter has asked for it, usually for overnight guests, or a vehicle breakdown in a rare circumstance, it has always been granted.

Residents should be advised that this is now no longer the case, and should not “count” on it.

Fire Investigation Team Awaits Key Results.

Posted on August 20, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. Special to WPCNR. August 20,2010:

White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong advised WPCNR this evening that the fire investigation team investigating what caused the Bengal Tiger restaurant fire that destroyed half a block on East Post Road July 7 is awaiting some lab results to aid them in making a determination of what lead to White Plains worst fire in five years.

Bengal Tiger Block July 7 Burning. Fire took some 10 hours to bring under control

Aftermath, July 8.

County Exec Rob Astorino on WHITE PLAINS WEEK on Budget,Housing Settlement

Posted on August 20, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS WEEK NEWS. August 22,2010:

County Executive Rob Astorino appears on the city news round-up show, WHITE PLAINS WEEK, this week discussing the county’s latest budget situation.

County Executive Visits WHITE PLAINS WEEK, Talks Money, Housing Settlement negotiations, Playland Now at www.whiteplainsweek.com

Rob Astorino was interviewed by John Bailey, the CitizeNetReporter and Peter Katz, the noted ABC Television editor and commentator on Friday evening. The County Executive previewed the budget battle coming up, broke major news on Playland (he sid he would pledge to preserve the buildings now on the site), updated the situation on the county affordable housing settlement (currently county is negotiating how flexible the government guidelines are), and discussed the state of the county and what needs to be done, and how he expects to do it.

The program may be seen around the world on the White Plains Week news site at www.whiteplainsweek.com and on local television at 7 P.M. on Monday countywide on Verizon FIOS channel 45 and on Cablevision, Channel 76 (in White Plains only).

Viewers around the world know they may see Mr. Astorino discuss his fiscal strategy, the affordable housing settlement and what’s ahead on that issue, and reveal startling Playland news, and a look into the future on www.whiteplainsweek.com.

Deficit Falls with New Savings Astorino Announces.

Posted on August 20, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications (Edited) August 20,2010:

Westchester County government will save approximately $21 million next year due to incentive programs that so far have prompted about 450 employees to voluntarily resign or retire.

“The incentive programs have allowed us to trim $21 million from next year’s projected deficit,” said County Executive Robert P. Astorino, who proposed the government participate in the county and state incentive plans. “But even with these and other planned savings, an enormous budget gap of approximately $72 million remains. The toughest budget decisions are still in front of us, but taxpayers must get relief. I am committed to submitting a balanced budget for 2011 with no tax increase.”

Deficit Update

Approximately 450 former county employees who have opted into the county or state incentive plan and left county employment. An additional 20 to 30 more voluntary retirements are expected later this year under the state’s Part B incentive.

The $21 million projected thus far from the state and county voluntary separation programs represents net savings. The figure assumes that approximately 20 percent of the employees who leave under the programs will have to be replaced to maintain operations. The $21 million breaks down as $7 million from the county voluntary separation and $14 million from the state incentive. Those figures, which had fluctuated earlier in the year as employees exercised their options to enter, withdraw or switch programs, are close to being finalized with the closing of the county program and the more significant part of the state program.

In March, Westchester’s budget and finance departments, in consultation with the county’s outside auditor, projected a 2011 budget deficit of $166 million. Since then, initiatives and measures by the Astorino administration have produced in-hand savings of $50 million. Another $44 million in savings are anticipated. Assuming those savings are realized, a gap of approximately $72 million remains, which could require the elimination of about 720 jobs. All of the county’s commissioners and department heads have been given a target to reduce the tax levy portion of their respective budgets by 20 percent.