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)

County Board Establishes Protocols for the Press

Posted on November 19, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS ROOM. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. November 19,2009: In the weeks ahead when the county Board will be considering the 2010 Budget, a refresher for reporters as to protocols has been issued from Tara Martin, spokesperson for the County Board.

Here they are:

As the primary county legislative entity, the County Board encourages transparency and openness. Reporters are encouraged to ask questions, gather additional background that’s needed to write a fair and accurate news story that informs the public and generates thoughtful citizen input. As the Board respects the role of the press, the Communications team aims to gain maximum media coverage and understanding of the Board’s legislative agenda, policies, activities and decisions.

This protocol is not to hinder relationships with Legislators, nor to stifle reporters. In fact, media guidelines and protocols are commonplace in many government agencies. This is our effort in creating a well-organized and professional press operation that can facilitate interviews and respond to your inquiries within your deadlines as far in advance as possible. The need for the protocol is to assist working press and to better facilitate press relationships. The protocol is needed to help Legislators talk to the press, and keep it well organized for their convenience, and not to keep them from talking to reporters at all.

Any person from the working press (daily and weekly print, radio, TV, internet, electronic, etc) who would like to speak (by phone or in person) with a Legislator, can arrange an interview through the Press Secretary (via office/cell phone and/or email). If a reporter would like to speak with an individual Legislator (while currently on the 8^th floor covering another story), please direct that request to the Press Secretary. Pre- and post-interview follow-up questions can be directed to the Press Secretary either via office/cell phone and/or email. Legislators are, still, free to communicate with reporters directly.

Like any other visitor, members of the working press are expected to sign in at the reception desk upon arriving on the 8^th floor for a public meeting or interview. If a member of the working press has a scheduled interview, he/she needs to check in with the 8^th floor receptionist and wait in the reception area. The receptionist will call the Press Secretary for further instructions or escort to appropriate Legislative office. Access to a public meeting or scheduled interview does not imply permission to wander to other parts of the floor unescorted.

Regular business hours are Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. Outside of these regular business hours, a reporter must stop at the 1^st floor security desk and have security staff call the Press Secretary for access the 8^th floor. This rule does not apply when a scheduled public Board and/or committee meeting takes place outside regular business hours.

There are designated locations outside and inside which can be used at any time by members of the working press for stand-ups or interviews, specifically:

-the County Board’s reception area

-the committee room

-the Rotunda

-Legislator’s office

-the County Board chambers

-the foyer

Shooting video on the 8^th floor with a tripod requires advance notice, except in designated locations. However, shooting video outside of the building with portable equipment is generally unrestricted unless it impedes the flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

Pool coverage may be mandated, in cases of heavily attended hearings (to be pre-arranged by the Press Secretary)

You may not shoot live or recorded video images in the following areas:

– Anywhere County regulations prohibit video coverage such as cafeterias, restrooms and areas closed to the public, etc.

Starwood Hotel HQ Packs Bags, Leaving White Plains for Stamford in 2012.RD Comes

Posted on November 19, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE DEVELOPER NEWS. From the Office of Connecticut Governor Jodi M. Rell.Associated Press Reports November 19, 2009 (EDITED): Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced Wednesday that Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) will relocate its global corporate headquarters from White Plains to Stamford, by the year 2012, moving millions of dollars in investments and 800 jobs from 1111 Westchester Avenue in White Plains to Connecticut.

“For months I have worked with Starwood executives and my economic development team to make this deal – and the jobs and investments it brings – a reality for the people of our state,” Governor Rell said. “I am thrilled to see a company of Starwood’s stature make the business decision to move here and invest here. It is a triumph for Connecticut – and it speaks volumes about what our state has to offer businesses.”

Starwood has headquartered on White Plains Miracle Mile since 2001, and takes 800 jobs out of the Westchester economy. The Governor cited major advantages Connecticut gives companies over New York State in announcing the shocker of the move.

In an announcement, Reader’s Digest of Pleasantville, New York, in a news release said it would move 525 of its employees from its now-rented Chappaqua Headquarters to White Plains in the downtown.

“This project exemplifies the economic development philosophies I have championed,” the Governor said. “Not only does it add to the state’s employment base, it is a responsible and environmentally sensitive use of an existing structure in the heart of a downtown district with access to Interstate 95 and the Metro-North commuter rail line. New jobs, open space preservation, transit-oriented development, ‘green buildings’ – all of these goals are embodied in this one project.”

The company’s move from White Plains, New York, to Stamford’s waterfront Harbor Point development is planned for January 2012. Harbor Point is already home to major employers such as Pitney Bowes and Deloitte & Touche. The company’s new headquarters will be certified under the “LEED” (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards program.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts is one of the world’s leading hotel and leisure companies, with 982 hotels in nearly 100 countries and nine renowned brands including Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis and W Hotels. Plans call for Starwood to partner with the landlord to invest $40 million into renovating the existing facility.

The company, which plans to occupy 250,000 square feet of space by January 2012, will create more than 800 full-time Connecticut-based positions within two years. Newmark Knight Frank’s Neal Golden, Ross Perlman and John Goodkind represented Starwood Hotels in the transaction.

“After an extensive search for new office space for our worldwide headquarters, it became clear that this particular space in Stamford was an ideal choice,” said Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO of Starwood. “Not only did the State of Connecticut provide meaningful incentives that translate to a savings of 20 percent per year in rent, but we will also have the opportunity to design office space that reflects Starwood’s leadership in global hospitality, design and brand-building, as well as our commitment to the environment and our communities.”

The Department of Economic and Community Development will assist the project with a $9.5 million loan and up to $75 million in Urban and Industrial Site Reinvestment Tax Credits. In addition, Starwood expects to receive up to $5 million in sales tax exemptions on building materials through the Connecticut Development Authority. The exemption is subject to approval by CDA’s Board of Directors.

“Starwood’s decision to relocate its headquarters to Harbor Point validates our decision to invest in the redevelopment of Stamford’s South End as an ideal ‘smart-growth’ community,” said Carl R. Kuehner, President and CEO of Building and Land Technology. “These kinds of developments have been at the top of Governor Rell’s agenda and we very much appreciate the efforts of state and local officials who worked with us to make this happen.”

Mayor Dannel Malloy of Stamford told The Stamford Advocate, Stamford had been working on convincing Starwood to move for three and a half years. He indicated more major tenant signings would be forthcoming for the Harborpoint development, promoting Stamford’s “work force, strong tax base, transportation system. Malloy saluted Stamford’s Economic Development Director, Michael Freimuth, for his work in luring the hotel giant.

County Biz Moguls Pan Spano Budget. Enlist CPAs to Review.

Posted on November 18, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From the Westchester County Association. November 18, 2009: The Westchester County Association (WCA), the county’s leading business membership and advocacy group, today criticized the proposed 2010 County Operating Budget, calling the nearly 5% tax levy hike ‘unacceptable.’ It also announced that it has assembled a team of independent certified public accountants who have begun a technical review of the budget to help the WCA recommend policy changes that will result in additional areas for savings and eliminate the prospect of another tax increase for property owners.

WCA President William Mooney said: “At a time when everyone has made painful sacrifices to survive this deep recession, the County has not taken the necessary steps. We do not agree that this is an ‘austerity’ budget. It does not go far enough in making the necessary cuts in county government needed to cap or even reduce the budget.” He added: “Westchester’s tax payers are at the breaking point and cannot afford yet another tax increase.”

Mr. Mooney noted that cutting 37 staff jobs in the new budget was misleading because “34 of them are already vacant. Further, the County’s explanation that state budget mandates leave no room to trim the county budget is erroneous. Although it’s true the state can mandate that a specific service be provided, it does not dictate how much needs to be spent or how much staff is needed to deliver that service.”

Mr. Mooney also said that the budget should not be adopted until the very last date allowable by law (December 31) to give the maximum time for public review and comment. This will enable the team of accountants from the Westchester Chapter of the NYS Society of CPA’s, headed by Howard Klein, managing partner of EZKR, to complete their independent review of the budget and make recommendations.

The WCA will urge the public to participate in the budget hearings and said it would join other organizations in publicizing the dates and times of the hearings.

Hockley Vote Total Rises In 24 Hours to 1,791 Write-Ins.

Posted on November 18, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2009. Special to WPCNR from the Westchester County Board of Elections. November 18, 2009 UPDATED 9:35 A.M.: White Plains “write-in” candidate for Mayor, Councilman Glen Hockley now is reported as of Thursday morning by the Board of Elections as having received 1,791 votes as a “write-in” candidate in the November 3 Mayoral election in White Plains, over 3,987 votes behind Adam Bradley, the Democratic nominee, who also enjoyed the Republican, Working Families, Conservative, Working Families and Independence Party lines.

Yesterday as of noon, the Board of Elections Nardava Ford had told WPCNR Mr. Hockley’s write-in total was 583 votes, but had not made clear his write-ins were still being counted. By the end of the day, Mr. Hockley’s total has now reached 1,791.