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)

State: City Sales Tax Revs Plummet 26% in September– Down 18% Y to Y

Posted on October 15, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. October 15,2009 UPDATED 5:07 P.M. E.D.T.: The New York State Department of Finance reported to WPCNR today the City of White Plains sales tax revenues, a staple of the city budget, are down 18 % from the first quarter of 2008.

Sales Tax receipts for White Plains declined 26% in September completing the first quarter.

The city tax coffers received $10,084,637 through the first three months of the 2009-10 fiscal year (July, August, September) the month of September compared with $12,337, 393 in the July, August and September of 2008.

In the last fiscal year, ending June 30, 2009 the city collected $46.3 Million in sales tax in 2008-2009. If the present trend continues to hold at 18% off in sales revenues, with the city collecting the same sales taxes in the next three quarters as they did last year, the city will collect $38 Million in sales tax — creating a budget deficit WPCNR projects at $8.3 Million in sales tax revenues alone.

If the city is to equal the sales tax projected for this fiscal year, $47,350,000, the city needs to generate $12.4 Million in sales tax each quarter ($37.2 Million). In the last six years, the city has only earned $12.4 Million in a quarter once and that was in the first quarter of 2008, when the sales tax was increased1/4%.

Gina Cuneo-Harwood, City Commissioner of Finance told WPCNR she did not anticipate an $8.3 Million fall in the sales tax, and stayed with her forecast of a $2.3 Million decline in the sales tax she gave the Common Council in her last meeting on the budget.

Tom Bergin of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, noted the 26% drop, and checked i8nto it for WPCNR. Mr. Bergin told WPCNR: “It looks like that negative 26% number for White Plains (in September) is related to sagging economy in the retail and technology sectors.

Appellate Court to Hear County Challenge to Hockley’s Placement on Ballot Oct.20

Posted on October 13, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2009. October 13, 2009: WPCNR has learned from informed sources that oral arguments will be heard at the New York State Appellate Court, Second Department in Brooklyn on the Board of Elections-Glen Hockley case in which the Westchester County Board of Elections contended that Mr. Hockley should be removed from the Mayoral ballot in White Plains November 3 due to his failure to file a Certificate of Acceptance as required by the Board of Elections law.

Glen Hockley in closing statement at the Council of Neighborhood Associations Mayoral Debate Tuesday evening. The debates this week may be rendered irrelevant, mute or moot after the Appellate Court hears the Board of Election challenge to his right to be on the ballot due to failure to file a Certificate of Acceptance of his own candidacy. The decision may not come until one week before the election (October 27), given that the Appellate court would have to rule shortly after the October 20 hearing.

Previously, New York State Supreme Court Judge Francis Nicolai ruled the Board of Elections should reinstate Hockley on the ballot because, in Judge Nicolai’s opinion, Hockley by acquired some half the signatures on his positions himself, he had showed he wanted to run for the Mayoral position. Judge Nicolai also observed in his decision that the text of the Certificate of Acceptance postcard sent candidates only asks the candidates to advise of they are declining the nomination to run. The Board of Elections is contesting that ruling by appealing the Nicolai decision to the Appellate Court.

Dunne Hearing on Trial Readiness Will take Place Thursday 11 A.M.

Posted on October 13, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. October 13, 2009 UPDATED Octoer 15, 20009: The hearing on readiness to stand trial for Father Patrick Dunne, former parish priest of Our Lady of Sorrows in White Plains, is scheduled for Thursday morning in Judge Jeffrey Cohen’s chambers at 11 A.M. The hearing originally scheduled for Tuesday was postponed at the request of the court for scheduling reasons, according to the judge’s law clerk and will take place today in New York Supreme Court in White Plains.

At this time, the law clerk said the expectation is for the matter to proceed to trial.

Dunne is facing a charge of one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class “C” Felony.

The District Attorney’s office alleges that over six years from January 1st, 2002 to December 30th, 2007, Father Dunne as parish prisetof OLS, stole over $432,000 from various parish accounts. He is allegedto have diverted money donated by parishioners for several collection campaigns including: the church building fund, a collection for Hurricane Katrina victims and the weekly offertory, using, according to the District Attorney, the funds for personal expenses and recreation without church permission to do so.

A Tale of Two Vessels

Posted on October 11, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. October 11,2009: The brisk northwest wind made the Hudson River a sailor’s paradise Sunday afternoon. A modern sightseeing craft and a reminder of the past shared the historic waterway by the Tappan Zee Bridge.

Excursion Craft berthed at Tarrytown wharf turns to head up river this afternoon opposite the Tarrytown Marina.

Three Masted Schooner — reminiscent of Captain Kidd off Captain Kidd’s rock Sunday afternoon.