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)

Conserve water, County Warns

Posted on July 17, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARIN-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. July 17, 2010: Despite the rains of this week that were heavy at times, water supplies in Westchester are being stretched thin due to the heat, overall lack of rain and increased water use. In addition, some water suppliers are impacted by construction projects to improve their systems’ ability to meet community needs. Residents are urged to:

· Follow local lawn watering restrictions and do not water between 6 and 10 a.m.

· Take shorter showers

· Fix leaks

· Avoid unnecessary toilet flushes

· Don’t run water while shaving or brushing your teeth.

One construction project affects the 75,000 residents of White Plains, North Castle, Scarsdale and Yonkers who are served by County Water District #1. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) is doing work inside the Kensico Dam. During the ongoing construction, District 1 has been receiving its water from a diversion system that was set up by the NYCDEP. The system has limitations on how much water can be drawn through it.

WPCNR notes that White Plains Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti announced this week that Yonkers and Scarsdale have been taken off the conduit, easing the flow of water from that pipe to White Plains,but residents are still urged to cut down on their water usage. Niccoletti at at recent news conference said 35% of city water usage is for irrigation (watering lawns).

Residents and businesses in these communities are asked to conserve water. If usage is too high, it could result in reduced water pressure, disruptions in service and possible mandatory restrictions, similar to those put in place in drought situations.

Many other communities have already implemented some mandatory and voluntary restrictions on water usage. Peak water usage each day occurs during the morning hours. Therefore all residents are encouraged to limit their water usage, particularly between 6 and 10 a.m.

Communities with restrictions are the following:

· The City of White Plains has issued water use restrictions on lawn and garden watering, car washing and use of hoses to wash driveways and sidewalks.

· The Village of Scarsdale has restricted lawn watering to two days per week for all properties served by the water district.

· Other water suppliers that have implemented water use restrictions this summer include Bedford, Croton, Mount Kisco, Mount Pleasant and Westchester Joint Water Works (serving Harrison, Mamaroneck Town and Village, and portions of New Rochelle and Rye).

Additional tips on water conservation can be found at www.westchestergov.com/wateragency.

For additional information, residents should contact their water supplier or the Westchester County Water Agency at (914) 995-4425.

Cty Legis.: Calls for Prop Tax Cap on County Tax, County Sewer District Tax

Posted on July 16, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR WESTCHESTER COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the County Board of Legislators.(Edited) UPDATED 3:33 P.M. EDT July 16,2010:

Today, Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins announced that he has submitted legislation that will cap local property tax growth. The Chairman’s tax cap proposal would impose long-term fiscal discipline and ease the crushing burden on Westchester homeowners, who pay the highest property taxes in the country.

The proposed property tax cap would limit tax levy growth to three percent or the annual rate of inflation, whichever is lower. Similar to the New Jersey property tax cap plan, the cap would exclude expenses towards public employee health benefits and pension costs. The proposal, also, allows voters to override the tax cap set by public referendum.

The cap, according to Tara L. Martin, Board of Legislators media spokesperson, would appy to both the county property tax and the sewer district taxes (a high impact item in White Plains).

It would not affect city property taxes or school district taxes because the county has no jurisdiction on those taxes, Martin said.

“These surely are difficult times. We must provide New Yorkers with property tax relief,” said Chairman Jenkins. “Everyday residents have seen their property taxes rise at unsustainable rates and the soaring increase to their cost of living. The debate is no longer whether or not there is a problem, or what caused the problem. The debate is instead over how to ease the burden on homeowners.”

Jenkins believes that solving the property tax crisis in Westchester County is an important step in making our county more affordable for families again and a home for economic growth. “This proposal is a creative way to develop solutions to this on-going problem. The override provision will allow the public to take an active role in shaping their county budget.”

Jobs Dwindle in Hudson Valley but decline Less. Education, Hospitality Up.

Posted on July 15, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. FROM DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANALYST JOHNY NELSON. JULY 15, 2010:

Private sector employment in the Hudson Valley Region decreased 10,700 or 1.5 percent, to 718,500 for the 12-month period ending June 2010. Employment gains were recorded in educational and health services (+1,800) and leisure and hospitality (+1,300).

In Westchester County, 32,800 persons were unemployed in a labor force of 488,300. The county unemployment rate held steady as it has over the last quarter of April May and June at 6.6%-6.7% after being at a high of 7.8% in February.

Locally,in White Plains, in a labor force of 31,000 persons,1,900 are unemployed, however the city unemployment has gone over the last three months, 5.9%, 6.2% and 6.4%.

Meanwhile, job losses were centered in the following industries: natural resources, mining and construction (-5,000), manufacturing (-2,500), trade, transportation and utilities (-2,300), professional and business services (-2,100), financial activities (-1,100), and information (-1,000). The Government sector shed 900 jobs over the year.

Analyst’s observation:

The regional labor market continues to exhibit signs of a turnaround. In June 2010, private sector jobs in the region fell over the year by 1.5 percent. While not great, this was a major improvement from the 4.4 percent drop recorded in June 2009. Signs of a recovery are even more apparent in leisure and hospitality, which surprisingly posted a 1.7 percent over-the-year rate of growth. This was a drastic turnaround from the 3.5 percent decline recorded in June 2009.

Mayor to Appear in Court Next Week. Mother-in-Law to Return When Trial Date Set

Posted on July 15, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. July 15, 2010:

Mayor Adam Bradley is scheduled to return to Supreme Court one week from today to face the charges of domestic abuse filed against him by his wife, Fumiko Bradley, and charges of witness tampering and harassment added by the district attorney’s office.

Lucien Chalfen, spokesperson for the Westchester District Attorney, told WPCNR that Mr. Bradley will return to Judge Susan Capeci’s court room next Thursday “to determine readiness for trial,” and a trial date will be set, Chalfen speculated that trial date will be set in the fall. As part of preparation for trial, jury selection may begin if the parties agree they are ready for trial.

Mr. Bradley’s mother-in-law, meanwhile, Kane Machinaga, a key witness in the matters, was allowed to return to Japan in June because she promised to return to testify at the trial. A video deposition of her testimony, considered at the time by the District Attorney’s office, was not taken because Mrs. Bradley’s mother-in-law committed to return if there was a trial.

Mr. Chalfen said the mother-in-law is still in Japan. He said she is expected to return if and when a trial date is determined.

The Mayor faces charges of alleged assault in the 3rd degree, harrassment,violations stemmping from an alleged tea-throwing incident on January 11 of this year, in addition to assault in the third degree and three other counts regarding a alleged incident February 28 when the Mayor was charged for allegedly slamming his wife’s finger in a door.

The charges of withness tampering, 4th degree, Harrassment 2nd Degree and Contempt in the 2nd degree are a result of the Mayor’s alleged violating the order of protection against him five times.