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)

White Plains — Center of the Universe — for a Day

Posted on May 22, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. May 22, 2009: A caravan of networks from everywhere converged on the U.S.Court House in White Plains yesterday for the first court appearances of 4 alleged terrorists arrested and charged with massive national publicity and White Plains was at the center of it all. Even President Obama chose to get into the act in Washington. The Roving Photographer caught the giddy media feeding frenzy at the Fedhouse at its apex. If you don’t like crowds don’t get involved with a possible terrorist cell.

The Camel News Caravan. No, they were not there to cover the redevelopment of Winbrook.

A Platoon of News Snipers

Where Would the U.S. Auto Industry Be Without Law Enforcement’s Demands for Vans? Lots of Them.

News Gathers in Action: Smothering a High (now low) Profile spokeshead.

News on the Go: Keeping up with a fast-moving, important Redhead.

Even the Good Humor Man Was there: Moving a ton of Chocolate Eclairs — the distinguished choice of news gatherers. Where was the Sabretts Man — and Starbucks?

Council Cuts, Fees, Borrows to Filet Mayor’s Budget by $2M—Holds Tax Up to 6.5%

Posted on May 22, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. May 22,2009: The Council is set to approve a $158.2 Million Budget next Thursday morning for the fiscal year 2009-10, beginning July 1,2009, which preserves the city undesignated fund balance and appears to keep the fund balance at $11 Million. The council also decided to float $2 Million in bonds to preserve part of the fund balance through borrowing, to take care of court-required payments of an unspecified nature, perhaps the labor settlement expected in January, certiorari refunds, or whatever. It is not specified what the $2 Million is for.

In papers filed with the City Clerk the 09-10 budget is described by Acting Budget Director David Birdsall as totaling $158.2 Million. No city Commissioners, the Mayor or Common Council will receive increases according to Council President Benjamin Boykin, in a statement to WPCNR News. The cut is approximately $2 Million lower than the Mayor’s budget of $160.2 Million submitted April 1.

The council budget keeps the tax increase at 6.5%, meaning a $2,902 tax bill for the $650,000 to $700,000 White Plains home, $178 more than last year’s tax of $2,724. If your home is worth more than that, you’ll pay more.

Absent a explanatory news release from City Hall, WPCNR has pieced together what the council apparently did to restore the $11.2

The Council has increased the Library Fund about $300,000, but declined to restore all of the $6 Million budget the library receives this year, despite a strong protest and plea staged by around 25 persons at the public hearing on the budget. The Library Fund receives $5.5 Million in the new budget.

* They cut $1 Million from the Reserve for financing, whether this is still in play is not clear.

* They are creating $2.5 Million in new revenues from taxi medallions, and increased fees.

* They expect revenue from a new 2% hotel sales tax (according to the budget papers available at the City Clerk office). Assemblyman Adam Bradley reports to WPCNR should be enacted and signed by the Governor. The exact amount the hotel tax will raise, along with a 50% share of the city’s television cable fees will pick up maybe about $1 Million.

* They have raised $2.8 Million from the 6.5% tax increase.

They have taken a page out of the City School District Budget Playbook and agreed to issue $2 Million in bonds for unspecified court-ordered obligations, which could be certioraris, or the possible 3% labor settlement with the fire, police, CSEA and Teamsters which will be decided, according to the firefighters union by January.
They have saved $1.9 Million in job cuts, but it is unclear who or how many will go, that is being left up to the Commissioners of Departments. Two who will go are the Acting Budget Director, and one Parking Commissioner, according to the Council thinking as of last week. That may have changed.

This all creates $10.2 to $11 Million in savings, borrowing, tax increase and fees to avoid slashing the city “rainy day fund,” the undesignated fund balance, which WPCNR believes is being held at $11.2 Million. It does however set a precedent: borrowing to balance the budget, something White Plains has not done ever.

Job Loss in Hud Valley Continues — Accelerates

Posted on May 21, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR MARKETPLACE. From Johny Nelson, NYS Department of Labor. May 21, 2009: Private sector employment in the Hudson Valley decreased 15,700, or 2.1 percent, to 736,700 for the 12-month period ending April 2009. Employment gains were limited to educational and health services (+4,700).

The largest declines occurred in trade, transportation and utilities (-7,100), professional and business services (-3,800), manufacturing (-3,300), natural resources, mining and construction (-2,500), leisure and hospitality (-1,500), financial activities (-1,000), and information (-900). The government sector shed 400 jobs over the year.

Analyst observation:

In April, the Hudson Valley’s economy continued to reel from the effects of the national recession. The region’s private sector job count reached its lowest April level since 2004. The government sector, which has long been relatively immune to economic weakness, has begun to shed jobs. The sector declined by 0.2 percent, over the last year. For the same period in 2008, the sector grew by 1.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the financial crisis continues to wreak havoc on the auto dealers in the region. Over the past year, seven local car dealers have closed operations.

Council Dithers on Budget Another Week — Takes Up Winbrook Future Thurs.

Posted on May 20, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. From the Mayor’s Office. May 20, 2009 UPDATED May 21, 2009 10:50 A.M.: City Hall has announced a second postponement of Budget Decision night within 8 hours. Late this afternoon a Budget Review Schedule was issued announcing the Decision Night on the Budget would take place May 28, but instead it will be a “Decision Morning,” taking place beginning at 9 A.M., which appears to be a precedent-setting time. In the 9 years WPCNR has been covering budget approvals, WPCNR has never experienced the budget being approved at 9 A.M. on a weekday. The City Clerk issued a new separateAgenda for the May 28, 9 A.M. meeting, which is published below:

The City Clerk’s Office also issued an interesting agenda for its work session at 6 Thursday evening which includes a zoning change to include the length of both sides of Lexington Avenue to be rezoned enabling housing and redevelopment. The agenda item follows up a Request for Qualifications for developers for the Winbrook, Lexington Avenue area which appeared two weeks ago. The agenda (s):

New BUDGET AGENDA

(Published May 21, 2009)

AGENDA

ADJOURNED

SPECIAL MEETING

May 28, 2009

9:00 A.M.

FIRST READING

ORDINANCES:

1.                  Communication from Acting Budget Director in relation to the proposed Tax Budget of the City of White Plains for Fiscal Year 2009 – 2010.

2.                              Ordinance of the White Plains Municipal Code in relation to certain appointed officials salaries for FY 2009 – 2010.

8                      Ordinance adopting the Tax Budget for General Fund for the Fiscal Year commencing on the first day of July 2009, and terminating at midnight on the thirtieth day of June 2010.

3.                              Ordinance adopting the Tax Budget for Library Fund for the Fiscal Year commencing on the first day of July 2009, and terminating at midnight on the thirtieth day of June 2010.

4.                              Ordinance adopting the Tax Budget for Self Insurance Fund for the Fiscal Year commencing on the first day of July 2009, and terminating at midnight on the thirtieth day of June 2010.

5.                              Ordinance adopting the Tax Budget for Water Fund for the Fiscal Year commencing on the first day of July 2009, and terminating at midnight on the thirtieth day of June 2010.

6.                              Ordinance adopting the Tax Budget for Debt Service Fund for the Fiscal Year commencing on the first day of July 2009, and terminating at midnight on the thirtieth day of June 2010.

7.                                          Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains amending Paragraphs F and H of Appendix A, Section 7-8-121 of the White Plains Municipal Code, Water Rules and Regulations prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Works pertaining to revising certain water rates and charges, and connection fees.

8.                              Ordinance fixing the 2009 – 2010 Special Assessments for the White Plains Downtown Business Improvement District, levying and confirming said Special Assessment and ordering the issuance of a Warrant thereof.

9.                              Ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Finance to allocate a portion of the various Cable Franchise Fees to the White Plains Cable Television Access Commission, Inc.

10.                                     Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance of the City of White Plains imposing taxes on sales and uses of tangible personal property and on certain services, and on occupancy of hotel rooms, admission charges and club dues, pursuant to Article 29 of the Tax Law of the State of New York” to provide for an increase in the rates of Sales and Compensating Use Taxes.

11.                         Bond Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $2,000,000 serial bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay the cost of certain judgments, compromised claims or settled claims resulting from court order on proceedings brought pursuant to Article 7 of the Real Property Tax Law.

COMMON COUNCIL

AGENDA

SPECIAL MEETING

May 21, 2009

6:00 P.M.

RESOLUTION:

1. Communication from the City Clerk in relation to a request submitted by Hongyan Corporation d/b/a Seasons Japanese Bistro, 105 Mamaroneck Avenue, for a waiver of the thirty day notification requirement set forth in the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law for the renewal of a liquor license.

2. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains waiving the thirty (30) day notification requirement set forth in Section 64(2)(a) of the New York Alcoholic Beverage Control Law in regard to an application submitted by the Hongyan Corporation d/b/a Season’s Japanese Bistro located at 105 Mamaroneck Avenue for a renewal of its license to sell alcoholic beverages.

3. Communication from the Planning Board in relation to the scheduling of concurrent public hearings for June 1, 2009 in relation to a proposed amendment to the 1997 Comprehensive Plan as amended by the 2006 Plan Update, to extend the Comprehensive Plan Core Area, to provide for 450 units of public housing at the Winbrook Public Housing Property to permit additional units of housing to be located on the property while maintaining a minimum of 450 housing units for eligible residents, to amend the Zoning Ordinance Zoning Map to change a portion of the Winbrook Public Housing Property from RM-0.35 to B-3, and to extend the Central Parking Area to include the Winbrook Public Housing Property and the properties located on the westerly side of South Lexington Avenue from Fisher Lane to Denison Street.

4. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling of concurrent public hearings for June 1, 2009, on (A) amendments to the City of White Plains 1997 Comprehensive Plan, as amended by the 2006 Plan Update, to (1) extend the Comprehensive Plan Core Area to include properties located on the westerly side of South Lexington Avenue from Fisher Lane to Denison Street, and (2) amend t strategy providing for 450 units of public housing at the Winbrook Public Housing Property to permit additional units of housing to be located on the property while maintaining a minimum of 450 public housing units for eligible residents; and (B) amendments to the White Plains Zoning Ordinance Zoning Map to (1) change the Zoning Map designation for a portion of the Winbrook Public Housing Property fronting on South Lexington Avenue from RM-0.35 to B-3 and (2) to extend the Central Parking Area to include the Winbrook Public Housing Property and the properties located on the westerly side of South Lexington Avenue from Fisher Lane to Denison Street.

DISCUSSION:

5. Stimulus Funds – various projects.

6. 55 Bank LLC – transfer of funds regarding taxes.

7. Light Tower Fiber Network – franchise agreement.

8. White Plains Public School District – joint facilities agreement.

9. Entertainment of a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation concerning tax certiorari, property damage claim and matters concerning the employment history of a particular person.