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)

Salvestrini, Conneticut A.D. of the Year Appointed White Plains A.D.

Posted on July 20, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. July 20, 2009 UPDATED July 21, 2009: The Board of Education appointed Raymond A. Salvestrini, Jr., from the Danbury Connecticut school district, as the new Coordinator, Athletics and Physical Education, replacing Nick Panaro, Director, Scholastic Athletics and Jody Cole, Director, Health & Physical Education, both of whom retired at the end of the last school year.

The appointment consolidates control of scholastic athletic and health education curriculum under one individual, undoing the splitting of the positions four years ago based on the recommendation of former Athletic Director, Mario Scarano.

Ray Salvestrini, Jr. –New White Plains Coordinator of Athletics and Physical Education after his appointment by the Board of Education Monday Evening.

Photo, WPCNR SPORTS

Mr. Salvestrini was previously Athletic Director of Danbury School District ( home of recently retired Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Connors). In May he was named Connecticut High School Athletic Association “Athletic Director of the Year.” Salvestrini was appointed Athletic Director in Danbury, coming from Ridgefield High School, in 2001. Salvestrini resigned last Thursday to accept the White Plains position.

The following is a biography of Mr. Salvestrini, from Who’s Who in Ridgefield, detailing his early career

Chip Salvestrini has made his mark in two different aspects of Ridgefield athletics: as player and administrator. Before graduating from Ridgefield High, Mr. Salvestrini established himself as one of the school’s best all-around athletes, earning eight varsity letters in three sports. He was a two-year starter in basketball and a three-year starter in baseball, where he was named to the All-Western Connecticut Conference team as a junior and senior. But football was Mr. Salvestrini’s favorite sport, and also his best.

An intimidating offensive and defensive lineman, Mr. Salvestrini was twice chosen to the All-WCC team. As a senior, he received honorable mention All-State and made the All-(New York) Daily News team. Mr. Salvestrini continued his football career at Yankton College in South Dakota. A defensive tackle, he was named to the All-Conference team as a sophomore, junior and senior. Mr. Salvestrini received All-American honorable mention honors as a senior, when he was chosen one of the top 100 defensive tackles in the country. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, but didn’t make the final roster. After playing minor league football with the Long Island Giants and New Jersey Rams, he was signed to a free-agent contract by the New York Giants in 1977. He attended training camp, but was cut before the season started. His administrative path started at New Milford High School, where he became athletic director after two years as head football coach. Two years later, Mr. Salvestrini was named athletic director at Lehman College in the Bronx. In 1993 he returned to his roots, replacing Bob Mark as athletic director at Ridgefield High. During his tenure, Mr. Salvestrini has helped expand the high school athletic program, making it one of the state’s most ambitious. Several club teams such as boys volleyball and girls golf became official varsity sports, and club programs were started in other sports.

Unemployment Highest in 17 years in White Plains: 2,300 jobless.

Posted on July 19, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS ECONOMIST. July 19, 2009: The New York State Department of Labor reports in the month of June there were 2,300 persons living in White Plains reporting as unemployed out of a resident workforce of 32,300. June was the third consecutive month that the number or residents unemployed has increased.

White Plains has seen its jobless roll increase in 6 of the last 7 months, going from 4.8% unemployed in December, 2008 to 7.1% at the end of June. In December, 1,400 White Plainsians were without jobs (4.8% of the workforce). At the end of June 7.5% of residents, 2,300 were jobless.

The ranks of unemployed has reached its highest level in 17 years and the highest number of unemployed residents since that time. In June 1992, when the workforce totaled 26,600, 1,900 were without jobs, making the June figure the highest number of jobless White Plains has seen in 17 years.

In the Westchester-Rockland-Putnam County “Hudson River Valley” the job drain was worse. The unemployment rate for the 723,000 resident workforce was 7.5%– 54,100 resident persons had no work — the highest in more than 19 years – when the workforce fluctuated in the mid- 650,000s. Back in February of 1992—the unemployment rate was 7% the highest in Labor Department records available.

County Sales Tax Down 12% in 1/2 Fiscal Yr. Fed Stimulus Money Plugs Gap

Posted on July 17, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. July 17, 2009: For the first six months of 2009, the Westchester County share of sales taxes it collects is down $23.3 Million from the 2008 sales tax pace off 12%. If the trend continues, the cumulative effect of a 12% annual decline could mean the county faces a $44 to $46 Million decline in sales tax for the year, and as high as $57 Million by rough WPCNR estimates of the present trend.

COUNTY SALES TAX

COLLECTIONS JAN TO JUNE 2009

$205,972,196.12

County’s Share (79%)

$162,718,034

COUNTY SALES TAX

COLLECTIONS JAN TO JUNE 2008

$235,448,377

County’s Share:

$186,004, 217

SALES TAX SHORTFALL:

JAN-JUNE 2009:

(-$23,286, 183)

COUNTY BUDGETED

SALES TAX COLLECTIONS 2009

$478,000,000

Projection Shortfall

if sales tax continues to be OFF 12%

2009:

(-$57,360,000)

Westchester County, according to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance figures released to WPCNR, was down 12.52% in sales taxes collected the first six months of the fiscal year. From January to June the county collected $205, 972,196.12 contrasted with $235,448,377 in 2008.

Of this $205,972,196, according to Donna Greene, Westchester County Communications Director, the county gets to keep approximately 79%.

That 79% works out to $162,718,035 for the County Government, the balance of $43,254,161 going to communities who do not collect their own sales taxes (the county does it for them).

Ms. Greene issued this statement on how the county is attempting to compensate for the erosion of sales tax revenue as we write:

“For the 2nd quarter of 2009 (April May June) our sales tax revenues (the portion the county government keeps) were $79,639,549 This is down ($12,127,070) from $91,766,619 in 2008

Clearly sales tax revenue is down from where we had hoped. However, it is difficult to annualize these numbers and say if we are down X in the first 6 months we are down 2x in 12 months.

Having said that, we of course have to make adjustmens along the way to our 2009 budget.

So far the following:

1. We have $30 million in FMAP money (this is Federal Medical Assistance Percentage — from the federal stimulus program) … essentially more of our Medicad costs are being paid for by the feds.

2. Back in March a $7 million savings plan was implemented by the County Executive

3. We are continuing to slow down the filling of vacant posiitions and we will continue to look for ways to save money in every budget line possible.

Obviously, none this is easy, but it is essential.”

The savings and Federal Medical Assistance Percentage detailed here total $37 Million in hard cash, WPCNR notes,which would cover the $23 Million shortfall that already exists. Should the county economy remain on its 12% decline pace, the sales tax deficit would reach $46 Million by the close of the fiscal year.

Because the county has budget $478 Million in sales tax in its $1.7 Billion budget, if that $478 Million is off 12%, the sales tax shortfall actually could amount to $56 Million in funds that are not going to come in.

Should the county economy pace of purchasing deteriorate, the year-to-year sales tax deficit would grow beyond the $46 Million figure, assuming the county remains at its present level of consumption.

Twelve Consecutive Months of Job Losses in the Region

Posted on July 16, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR ECONOMIST. From Jonny Nelson, Analyst, The NYS Department of Labor Statistics. (Edited) July 17, 2009: The Hudson Valley economy continued to weaken in June, as the private sector job count declined over the year for the twelfth consecutive month.

Layoff announcements continue to mount, a clear sign that deterioration in the job market has not ended.

The over-the-year change in the region’s private sector employment (-2.4 percent) was slightly better performing than the state (-2.8 percent employed) and nation (-5.1 percent unemployed).

Private sector employment in the Hudson Valley decreased by 18,300, or 2.4 percent, to 746,400 for the 12-month period ending June 2009.

Employment gains were recorded only in educational and health services (+3,400).

The largest declines occurred in trade, transportation and utilities (-6,200), manufacturing (-3,600), professional and business services (-3,100), leisure and hospitality (-2,500), natural resources, mining and construction (-2,400), financial activities (-2,100), and information (-1,100).

The government sector added 300 jobs over the year.