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)

Republicans Endorse Adam Bradley for Mayor, Arndt, Lolis, Roach for Council

Posted on June 4, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. By John F. Bailey. June 4, 2009 UPDATED WITH STATEMENT FROM REPUBLICAN PARTY11:20 P.M. E.D.T.: For the first time in the history of White Plains, a political party has endorsed the opposition party candidate for Mayor.

A highly placed official of the Republican Party tonight has advised WPCNR the White Plains Republican Party has decided to “invest” in the Democratic Candidate for Mayor, current Assemblyman Adam Bradley, by endorsing him for Mayor.

The official told WPCNR tonight, Adam seems like a good man, and rather than nominate someone to oppose him, though persons were willing to run, the source said. The source advised WPCNR that Republican City Committee head, Brian Maloney had met with Mr. Bradley and on the basis of those meetings the party decided that it had to unite because of “what faces White Plains down the pike,” referring to budget problems the city is experiencing.

The source said Glen Hockley, the Democratic Councilman was interested in running for Mayor on the Republican ticket, but the party rejected him.

Asked by WPCNR whom the Republicans would run to oppose District 5 County Legislator William Ryan, the source declined to answer the question, saying the Republicans would contest Ryan’s seat but could not divulge the candidate at this time. WPCNR asked if this person had White Plains Common Council experience. The source said the Republican County Legislator nominee did not. Glen Hockley, the Councilman, long rumored to be angling to contest Ryan, has Council experience.

For Common Council, WPCNR’s contact advised that the Republicans would run two newcomers for two of the Council slates: James Arndt, a retailer with extensive experience who runs a retail operation in New York City. The second Common Council Candidate is just retired White Plains Director of Information Services, Leonard Lolis, whose retirement was disclosed just two weeks ago in the last stages of the White Plains budget approval process. Lolis has been with the about ten years.

The Republicans have decided to endorse the present Democratic Councilman Thomas Roach, for similar reasons they are endorsing Bradley. The source said the Republicans felt thecity has to pull together in this time of crisis and eliminate partisan politics for the sake of politics.

Shortly after 10 P.M. Thursday evening, the Republican Party released this statement:

Brian G. Maloney, the City of White Plains Republican Party Chairman, announced today that the White Plains Republican Party Committee had endorsed its candidates for the White Plains Common Council and the Office of Mayor of the City of White Plains for the November 3, 2009 election.

Regarding the endorsements, Mr. Maloney stated “our sentiment was that given the severe financial challenges facing our Nation, County and City, and given the fact that we are now at an important crossroad in our City’s renaissance, the residents of White Plains would be best served by puttingaside the divisiveness that has for too long marred the business of good government. As such, partisan politics must take a backseat to sound public policy focused on protecting the wallets of our residents.”

Mr. Maloney continued “in considering who to endorse, several issues were critical. The proposed candidates had to be fiscally conservative, independent thinkers and have a demonstrated commitment to serve and protect the residents of White Plains. We had no litmus test in evaluatingcandidates; instead we sought out people whose only concern is to act in the best interests of White Plains residents, not special interests, not their own self interest.”

On Thursday evening, the following candidate was endorsed by the White Plains RepublicanCommittee for the office of Mayor of the City of White Plains:

Adam T. Bradley. Mr. Bradley was elected to the New York State Assembly in November 2002 to represent the 89th Assembly District and was born and raised in Westchester County. He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1985 and his Juris Doctorate in 1989 from Pace University. Adam is also an attorney in private practice specializing in family law. He has a long history of governmenta experience and has additionally served as an Assistant County Attorney in Westchester County.

Adam currently lives with his wife, Fumiko and their daughters, Fiona and Celena in the City of White Plains.

Regarding the endorsement, Mr. Bradley said “I want to thank the Republican Party of White Plains for putting aside partisan politics and joining together in a shared goal of strengthening our city’s fiscal condition and protecting our taxpayers. I am gratified in their belief in my ability to work together with them in ensuring that we accomplish these all important goals.”

On Thursday evening, the following candidates were also endorsed by the White Plains Republican Committee for the office of White Plains Common Council:

1) Leonard G. Lolis: a registered Republican, presently works as the Director of Network Architecture, Emigrant Bank. Prior to that, Mr. Lolis worked for twenty-one years for the City ofWhite Plains in various roles, most recently as the Director of Information Services and as a Code Enforcement Officer. Born at White Plains Hospital almost forty-seven years ago, Mr. Lolis and his wife Charlene have three children, Jessica, Nicolette and Francesca.

2) James V. Arndt: Mr. Arndt is a registered Republican and is currently a store director of the CANALI retailing flagship in lower Manhattan. In addition Mr. Arndt also is affiliated with the Gorbutt Group LLC real-estate in White Plains, and sits on the safety committee of the White Plains Schools (Church Street). Mr. Arndt and his wife Rosalee live in the City of White Plains with their two children James and Abigail.

3) Thomas Roach: Mr. Roach has served as a member of the White Plains Common Council since 2002. With long roots in the community, he works as an attorney in Westchester County with a practice focused on civil litigation. Tom and his wife Beth live in the City of White Plains with their two children, Henry and Lawson, who are the Fifth generation of his family to make White Plains their home.

Assessor: Claims of Tax Increases if Commercial Rate Bill Passes– Are Untrue

Posted on June 4, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. June 4, 20009: White Plains City Assessor, Lloyd Tasch, told WPCNR today Westchester County Association statements that a separate commercial assessment rate on county businesses, condominiums, co-ops and apartments would raise the owners’ property taxes are “absolutely untrue.”

Tasch was blunt, saying the Assemblyman Adam Bradley, State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer bill would “absolutely not raise taxes.”

Tasch characterized the WCA full-court press against the Bradley-Oppenheimer bill as an effort to preserve the lucrative practice of certiorari law, a steady source of income for law firms specializing in the tax refund claims that have shrunk city and town tax assessment rolls across the county, shifting the burden unfairly onto the homeowner.

The 2009-10 just-approved city budget documents show that in White Plains alone, the Assessed Value of the city thanks for the most-part to city-approved settlements with commercial property owners filing certioraris has declined in the last 10 years from $323.7 Million to $285.2 Million today.

In the same ten years, property owners have seen their Full Market Value increase from $4 Billion to $10.5 Billion. This has had the effect of sharply increasing city and school taxes, shifting the burden to home owners. Commercial owners through the device of certiorari suits have lowered their taxes while residential owners have had to make up the difference.

Tasch said that the separate commercial assessment ratio that would be established by the Bradley-Oppenheimer bill would have no affect on commercial property owners’ property taxes because commercial property owners property taxes on their property are “income-based” not market value based.

Should the commercial assessment ratio be enacted by the New York State and signed by the Governor, Tasch said, “I cannot raise assessments of commercial property unless improvements have been made.”

Tasch chided the Westchester County Association news releases for conveying the impression that co-operative and condominium owners would have their property taxes increased.

He said co-operatives and condominiums are not covered in the bill. He said co-ops and condominiums property tax rates are 50% less than residential homeowner rates. This is due to a special law passed by the state legislature in 1984 when condominiums were being touted by developers.

Tasch said only separate legislation could change the rate condominiums and co-ops are taxed.

All the Bradley-Oppenheimer Senate Bill (S-1706—A)does is establish a county commercial assessment ratio for major type B property, including apartments, industrial property, recreation and entertainment property, taxable community services property.”

The intent of the Bradley bill is to stop the fluctuation in the equalization rate that creates the incentive to file certioraris on behalf of commercial properties, because rising home values (presently included in the Commercial Property Market value) over the last decade lower the equalization rate.

The lower the equalization rate gets, the lower property taxes are owed by the commercial property owner, who files for a certiorari saying, “I’m over-assessed during those years, and lower my assessment.”

A separate commercial assessment ratio would prevent inflated residential home values (under current law included in computing commercial property value), from inflating commercial assessments artificially, which has created a bonanza for the practitioners of certiorari law, the last decade.

Recently, WPCNR learned that the city of White Plains does not execute forensic accounting analyses of commercial property owners finances when those owners apply for certioraris based on their profit and losses in operating their property — upon which, Tasch says, their assessment is based.

The city depends on the financial picture submitted by the commercial property owners in arriving at a settlement. It is not court-ordered. (There is of course, the implied course of taking the city to court.)

The city has for years told the public the avalanche of certiorari settlements were “court-ordered,” and based on over assessment in years past. However, WPCNR was informed by the city assessor last week, that the city settles the certioraris privately through the City-controlled Board of Assessment Review and does not have to pay interest on the refunds due the commercial owners.

Naturally, the city delays payments of “settlements” as long as possible, the Assessor explained, resulting in the property owners going to court and demanding the court order the city to pay up the refunds. That is what the city has meant when through the years they have explained the certioraris were “court-ordered settlements.”

Mr. White Plains Honored.

Posted on June 2, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR MILESTONES. Special to WPCNR by Peter Katz June 2,2009– Robert “Bob” Ruger, known for decades as “Mr. White Plains” because of his dedication to public service, was honored today by the White Plains Rotary Club in a special luncheon at the Crowne Plaza. He has been a long-time member of Rotary, and the tribute also served as a belated celebration of his 96^th birthday last December 24^th, and preview celebration of his 97^th birthday.

County Executive Andy Spano and Chairman of the County Board of Legislators Bill Ryan present a proclamation to Robert Ruger.All photos by Peter Katz

A parade of speakers was led by County Executive Andy Spano, who announced that today has been proclaimed Robert Ruger Day in Westchester. The gathering was reminded that Bob was born and raised in White Plains, graduating from the White Plains public schools before going on to attend college at Rutgers.

Susan Katz, Executive Director of Westco Productions, congratulates Bob Ruger, who served as President of Westco’s Board of Directors

His love of acting was reviewed, along with his early efforts in summer stock, and his career in the financial world with Dun & Bradstreet. In recent years, Bob returned to his theatrical roots as President of the White Plains-based theater company, Westco Productions.

Bob received high praise for his volunteer efforts raising millions of dollars in U.S. War Bond sales during World War II, and his dedication to serving in The Salvation Army. It was noted that Bob still lives in the White Plains house in which he was born.

Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains congratulates honoree Robert Ruger at the Rotary luncheon.

Mayor Joe Delfino recalled serving on the Common Council alongside Bob in the 1980’s. He lauded Bob’s dedication as a Councilman, remembering that even on weekends Bob would walk the streets of the city picking up trash and removing unsightly and illegal advertising signs from telephone poles and roadway medians. Even today, Bob still serves the city as Chairman of the White Plains Traffic Commission.

Honors from the Governor, State Assembly, U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate and others were presented to Bob. After a prolonged standing ovation, Bob thanked his fellow Rotarians and the guests who attended for staging a memorable event.

Left to right, White Plains Senior Traffic Planner Ed Oliva, White Plains Traffic Commissioner Tom Soyk, Robert Ruger, Common Council member Milagros Lecouna.

Bradley Not Astonished WCA Would Oppose Separate Commercial Tax Rate for County

Posted on June 2, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. WPCNR Interview with Assemblyman Adam Bradley. June 2, 2009: Assemblyman Adam Bradley speaking to WPCNR this afternoon from his Albany office, said, in reaction to a statement released to the media today by the Westchester County Association stating they would meet privately with New York Senate leaders to oppose Mr. Bradley and State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer’s Bill, passed by the Assembly, that would establish separate commerical tax rates for communities only in Westchester County.

Assemblyman Adam Bradley, Property Tax Relief Crusader, says Westchester County Association self-serving, ignores public benefit of separate Commercial Tax Rate. WPCNR News Archive

“I’m astonished. That’s not surprising in that they (Westchester commerical property owners) have enjoyed the benefits of tax certioraris for years. Our bill applies only to the computation of tax certioraris (applications to reduce the property assessment of commercial property), it does not raise business taxes,” Bradley told WPCNR. “The bill will be of great benefit to our residential homeowners, school districts, and cities, who have been getting hurt by tax certioraris over the years. The bill will not raise any current commercial assessments. It limits the (commercial property) owners’ ability to get taxes reduced, simply because they are lumped in with all residential assessments.”

Bradley said the bill if passed by the Senate and governor would stop certiorari applications considerably, and stop the bleeding of tax assessments from the city and town tax rolls throughout the county of Westchester County. He pointed out that New York City and Nassau County already have separate Commercial and Residential Tax Rates.

Bradley cautioned “The public needs to be careful about what all interest groups say about legislation. They focus only on how (new legislation) impacts them. Is it better for me or worse for me? Westchester County Association is a very thoughtful organization. But, I recognize they are a special interest group for the business community.”

Bradley said as long as he had not put the separate Commercial Rate bill out on the Assembly floor, the WCA was not interested in it. This year, he said, he put it out on the Assembly floor, because he saw with a Democratic Senate, there was a chance to pass it.