WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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In the photo (L to R): Joan McDonald, Director of Operations; Martha Lopez, Director of Minority and Women Owned Business Development; Bridget Gibbons, Director of the Westchester County Office of Economic Development and Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer welcomed trade unions, the private sector and minority and women owned businesses enterprises (MWBEs) for a panel discussion on building connections with the County.

Latimer said: “We want to be able to educate and inform business owners on what’s new in Westchester County and how to get a contract. It’s particularly important the opportunities are extended to our MWBEs so they can have access to what our great County has to offer. Empowering women and minority owned businesses help shape our growing economy. They are part of what makes the fabric of our County strong.”

Director of Operations Joan McDonald, who served as keynote speaker, said:

“Before County Executive Latimer took office in 2018, there was not really a standardized program here in the County for MWBEs. Our Office of Economic Development under the Latimer Administration has made a lot of progress reaching out to the community and promoting women and minority businesses here. We are proud to continue to create new partnerships to build a pipeline of talented and skilled leaders, entrepreneurs and workers.”

Director of the Westchester County Office of Economic Development Bridget Gibbons said:

“We know Westchester County remains on the cutting edge of construction and development and we want to continue growing our network. By offering opportunities like this is another step forward in increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in our construction industry. “

Director of Minority and Women Owned Business Development Martha Lopez said:

“This initial effort to create a real and valuable conversation regarding construction opportunities is what our Minority and Women Owned Businesses need.  We are hopeful that many fruitful partnerships will be created from this event!”

There are currently 2,510 MWBE’s registered with Westchester County, with construction-related services among the top five businesses.

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WPCNR REALTY REALTY. From the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. (Edited) April 6, 2022:

Westchester residential sales of single-family homes, condominiums, co-operatives and 2-4 family-multi-family homes declined 6.3% in Westchester County. The decline in sales was greater in Putnam (28.1%), Rockland (11.6%), Orange (14.7%) and Sullivan County (19.8%). Condominium sales in Westchester were hot, improving 17.8% compared to last year, average sales price of a condo improved by 31% to $583,492.

The price runup in single family homes in Westchester, appears to “stabilize and moderate” HGAR Reports. In 2019, before the onset of covid, the average median sales price for a Westchestery single family home was $600,000. In the first quarter of 2022, the median price of a SFH is $720,000, an increase in 2 years of the pandemic of 21.5% in three years.

HGAR reports “dearth of inventory continues to plague the market ,” and “days on the market continues to decline.”

HGAR’S market outlook:

“The market is also facing the dual headwinds rising interest rates and increasing inflation. However the market continues to evidence strength…as the economy in the Hudson Valley and greater New York City and suburban area continues to rebound from the pandemic. All in all, 2022 is off to a solid start.”

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BULLETIN: The New York Law Journal reported today the New York State Appellate Division of the Fourth Department has stayed Steuben County Supreme Court Justice Patrick McAllister’s decision and order from last week requiring Democrat-drawn redistricting districts to be redone because the process was unconstitutional. Judge Stephen Lindley will hear arguments  of the Republican petitioners on Thursday. The judge will then according to the report, set a schedule date for the appeal. READ THE DETAILS HERE:

https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2022/04/04/appeals-court-stays-ruling-striking-down-ny-congressional-map/?slreturn=20220305132144

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INFLATION IMPACTS CITY SUPPLIES IN NEW YEAR. EXPECTS CONTINUED RECOVERY IN SALES TAX $$, PARKING $$ RED LIGHT $$ FINES. NO CUT IN SERVICES. NO REPLACEMENT OF PERSONNEL WHO LEAVE. 3 NEW POLICE, 2 NEW FIRE HIRES.

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE EXAMINER . By John F. Bailey. April 5, 20222:

The City of White Plains submitted a proposed  $210.3 MILLION 2022-23 City Budget to the Common Council last night at City Hall, an increase of $6 Million from from $203.proposing a 1.86% increase in property tax to $234.51 of assessed value.

In a media briefing, Commissioner of Finance Sergio Sensi and Budget Directtor James Abbott said the tax increase is needed to cover half the expected impact of 3.8% inflationary pressures on gasoline, supplies, and uniforms anticipated by city departments affecting the city expenses as it also does the general public, and to meet contract obligations and required benefits expenses while anticipating growth in city sales tax receipts to produce up to $50 million (perhaps more) in sales tax revenues.

The impact on the property owner of a median priced home of the 1.86% tax increase, assessed at $13,000 would be $58 more annually.

To figure your new city tax multiply your this year total city tax by .0186 to get your new total city tax.

(Editor’s Note:)Your White Plains City school tax will remain the same because the school district is not raising their tax rate.

Total sales taxes are expected to hit approximately $48 million perhaps over $50 Million.  The present pace would bring back the city sales tax component to the $48 Million of 2019-2020 compared to the $41.7 Million collected in 2020-21 a decline in 20-21 of 3%.

City budget crafters James Abbott, Budget Director and Sergio Sensi explained the budget in a media brief placing the loss of city revenue due to covid in 2021-22 after reimbursement at $23 Million

Mr. Sensi and Mr. Abbott explained to WPCNR the city had been reimbursed $23 Million in American Rescue Plan covid relief. This payment accounted for the loss encountered through only the first 9 months of the year 2020-21). The city was not allowed to resubmit for more reimbursement at the end of the year, and no documentation was required by the government from the city for the first and only submission. The city received half the amount of $23 million in 2020-21 and the other $11.6 Million in 2021-22.

Hardest hit of city revenues was the sales tax receipts, down to $41.7 Million this fiscal year. The city budget message said the sales tax handle has  “increased significantly” in part due to collection of internet sales taxes that rose “significantly” in 2019-20, but it is too soon to tell whether the increase so far in 21-22 will continue.

Parking and fines revenues were also impacted during the last year. The budget message anticipates

 “parking related revenues of $25.6 million, including meter fees,parking related fines,red light fines and permit charges…parking revnues have only recently bounced back. Actual parking revenue in 2018-19  was $26.8 million or 22% more than budgeted in 2021-22. As more and more people are beginning to come back to the city to work and shop, these revenues have increased and the current year forecast is again nearing those pre-pandemic levels and is projected to be $25.8 million.

All city services are being maintained at current levels. Positions that are vacated will not be replaced but positions continue to be budgeted. The city also anticipates $695,000 in new revenue from eight city-owned facilities now with solar panels on the roofs.

The city has an undesignated fund balance of $21 Million.

The increase in the 204.3 Million budget last year is 6%.

It is under the 2% tax cap for the 11th consecutive year.

Assessment Roll grows to$286.1 million, up $1.8 Million

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2022. From the League of Women Voters. April 4, 2022: As the city of White Plains hosts the inspiring statue Harriet Tubman: The Journey to Freedom, we are proud to announce that the League of Women Voters of White Plains, the NAACP of White Plains/Greenburgh, the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority will partner on a series of voter registration/voter education drives.  Register to vote, pick up a form to request an absentee ballot, get a calendar of important election dates, check your voter registration, and, with the recent redistricting you’ll be able to find out your New York State senate and assembly districts and your U.S. Congressional District. We urge you to look for our tables and volunteers at the following White Plains events.Saturday May 21 prior to an outdoor movie presentation of Harriet on Court Street. Saturday June 11 during the Juneteenth Parade along Mamaroneck Avenue and during the Juneteenth Fair on Court Street.Wednesday June 22 prior to an outdoor Tribute to Harriet Tubman music concert on Renaissance Plaza.The mission of the League of Women Voters is to promote VOTING by every eligible person. The League believes “Every Vote Counts.” Your Vote matters.   League of Women Voters of White Plains president, Stephen Cohen, said, “It is a privilege and honor for us to come together to commemorate the life of Harriet Tubman during this critical time for Voting.” For further information contact: Stephen Cohen, lwvwp.president@gmail.com   Harriet Tubman and the Struggle for Universal Suffrage—the Tie that Binds What lessons can we, people in communities near and far, learn from the life of Harriet Tubman (born 1822) in 2022 to make life fairer for all of us? From her enslavement to her freedom; from segregation to ‘conductor of the Underground Railroad’ leading enslaved people to freedom.   From prohibitions to learning to read, to delivering powerful speeches to advance the rights of the disenfranchised, in the South, in Seneca Falls and, Auburn New York where she settled; to soldier-spy in the U.S. Union Army, and more.  Harriet Tubman and her family were enslaved at birth.  They suffered the trauma of this imposed condition.  Harriet escaped. Later, she fled farther North to Canada. Wanting to free other enslaved people, she returned South several times to lead a least 140 of them on the ‘underground railroad’ to that country. Around this time, the Suffrage Movement was gaining traction.   Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, both suffragettes, and Frederick Douglass, who fled enslavement and became an influential orator for abolitionist causes, and Harriet Tubman were all working to promote Voting Rights—for women, and for recently enslaved people. Harriet understood that Suffrage was key to freedom. So, she purposely joined the women’s movement which was struggling, and fighting for Women’s Right to Vote.  She reasoned that freedom, meant freedom in every sphere of life, e.g., economic power, education, and Voting Rights.