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)

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.

43 Charged by FBI with Running $1 Million Westchester Cocaine Ring

Posted on November 17, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. November 17,2009:

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; JOSEPH M. DEMAREST, JR., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); THOMAS BELFIORE, the Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety; EDMUND HARTNETT, the Commissioner of the City of Yonkers Police Department; GENE TUMOLO, the Chief of the City of Peekskill Police Department; and JOSEPH BURTON, the Chief of the Village of Ossining Police Department, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging 43 members of a cocaine trafficking ring with conspiracy to distribute approximately $1 million worth of crack and powder cocaine across Westchester County.

After a coordinated strike beginning last night involving more than 200 federal and local law enforcement officers, 37 defendants are in custody. Six defendants are still being sought. The defendants taken into custody today are expected to be presented in White Plains federal court later this afternoon.

In connection with these arrests, federal and local law enforcement officers also executed court-authorized search warrants on seven locations tied to many of the named defendants. During the arrests and searches, agents and officers seized, among other evidence: (1) a gun; (2) hollow point bullets; (3) approximately $40,000 in cash: and (4) approximately one kilogram of crack cocaine.

According to the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court:

Between February 2009 and October 2009, a cocaine trafficking organization led by ELVIS SANTANA (the “Santana Organization”) distributed at least 22 kilograms of crack cocaine and 6.5 kilograms of powder cocaine across Westchester County, primarily in Yonkers and Peekskill. The Santana Organization collected approximately $1 million in criminal proceeds from its alleged cocaine trafficking crimes during this nine-month period.

ELVIS SANTANA was the leader of the Santana Organization. As the leader, SANTANA oversaw the transportation of the Santana Organization’s cocaine, the cooking of cocaine into crack cocaine, the delivery of the drugs, and the collection of drug proceeds. EMMANUEL MARTINEZ, DANNY BUENO, and ANGEL DELACRUZ were core members of the Santana Organization, and were responsible for supplying cocaine to the other members of the organization who distributed the drugs. More specifically, EMMANUEL MARTINEZ delivered crack and powder cocaine to other Santana Organization members in Yonkers and other communities in southern Westchester. DANNY BUENO and ANGEL DELACRUZ delivered crack and powder cocaine to other Santana Organization members in Peekskill and other communities in northern Westchester and Rockland Counties. Deliveries of cocaine were arranged by telephone conversations and text messages and were usually made either inside buildings or apartments or on the street, often inside cars that had been used to transport the drugs.

In addition to delivering cocaine, EMMANUEL MARTINEZ, ANGEL DELACRUZ, and DANNY BUENO collected proceeds from the sales of cocaine from other Santana Organization members. The cocaine proceeds were temporarily stored in locations in and around Westchester County before being brought to ELVIS SANTANA.

The defendants charged in the Indictment unsealed today were as follows: ELVIS SANTANA, 27, Yonkers, New York; DANNY BUENO, 25, Bergenfield, New Jersey; ANGEL DELACRUZ, 27, Peekskill, New York; EMMANUEL MARTINEZ, 26, Bronx, New York; HAROLD ROMAN, 28, Yonkers, New York; JOEL NORWOOD, 23, Yonkers, New York; LAMONT MASON, 26, Yonkers, New York; ANDRE RODRIGUEZ, 36, Yonkers, New York; HECTOR BARBOSA, 26, Yonkers, New York; JESSIE FONSECA, 20, Yonkers, New York; DENNIS MANCUSI, 28, Yonkers, New York; FRED CANNON, 31, Yonkers, New York; DONTAE DEGREE, 23, Ossining, New York; PABLO RIVERA, 22, Yonkers, New York; MARK HAMMARY, 42, Yonkers, New York; ROBERT BENEDITTINI, 25, Yonkers, New York; JULIO GARCIA, 28, Brooklyn, New York; FRANK VACCARIELLO, 37, Hopewell Junction, New York; DONALD TAYLOR, 40, Peekskill, New York; ROBERT CURRY, 32, Peekskill, New York; JAMES McCRAE, 35, Peekskill, New York; BLAINE SCOTT, 43, Peekskill, New York; ERIC McKENZIE, 49, Peekskill, New York; BYRON OVERBY, 37, Peekskill, New York; ROBERT BARNES, 27, Peekskill, New York; OMARI NELSON, 22, Peekskill, New York; WILLIAM ANDERSON, 29, Peekskill, New York; JERMAINE GILLEO, 19, Peekskill, New York; MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM, 20, Peekskill, New York; PIERRE MYKE, 26, Waterbury, Connecticut; JAI PATTERSON, 26, Ossining, New York; KADEMA NELSON, 26, Peekskill, New York; DONIEL THOMAS, 26, Peekskill, New York; JAMES SKAGGS, 24, Peekskill, New York; TYRELL MOSLEY, 27, Peekskill, New York; TAINA VALENTINE, 24, Peekskill, New York; PRINCE MARSH, 26, Peekskill, New York; TAWAN HINES, 30, Peekskill, New York; SAM SHULER, 28, Peekskill, New York; CHRIS CURRY, 30, Peekskill, New York; SHAUN BROOKS, 22, Ossining, New York; ROBERT EVANS, 26, Peekskill, New York; and MORGAN STOKES, 27, Peekskill, New York.

Mr. BHARARA praised the investigative work of the FBI, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the Yonkers Police Department, the Peekskill Police Department, the Village of Ossining Police Department, and the Rockland County Narcotics Task Force. He added that the investigation is continuing.

United States Attorney PREET BHARARA said, “Cocaine is poison. It is a poison that affects our schools, our communities, and our economy. The antidote to that poison is the kind of tough law enforcement action that we have taken today. Families throughout Westchester County have the right to live in neighborhoods free from the poison of drugs and the violence that inevitably accompanies it. That is the right we protect today.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge JOSEPH DEMAREST said, “We combined forces to cut off the toxic supply of drugs to Westchester neighborhoods. Experience also tells us that guns and violence often go hand-in-hand with drug trafficking. The thing that unites us is simple but certain: the determination to make our neighborhoods safe and secure for law-abiding New Yorkers, wherever they live.”

All 43 of the defendants are charged in Count One of the Indictment with conspiring to distribute 50 grams and more of crack cocaine and five kilograms and more of powder cocaine. If convicted, the defendants all face maximum sentences of life and mandatory sentences of 10 years in prison on Count One. ELVIS SANTANA and EMMANUEL MARTINEZ are charged in Count Two with possession of 50 grams and more of crack cocaine. They each face a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison on Count Two. ANGEL DELACRUZ and DANNY BUENO are charged in Count Three with possession of five grams and more of crack cocaine. They each face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a mandatory sentence of five years in prison on Count Three.

Assistant United States Attorneys NICHOLAS L. McQUAID, DOUGLAS B. BLOOM, and ANNA M. SKOTKO are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.