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)

Police, Firefighters OK with 3.75%, 4% and 4% Raise Package, Duty Changes. Is C

Posted on December 13, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. December 13, 2008: Police and firefighters have agreed to pay raises of 3.75%, 4% and 4% in new three year deals with the city, subject to approval of the Common Council. As first reported by White Plains Week, the weekly city news roundup show, White Plains Police and Fire Fighters unions have ratified a slightly less than expected pay increase for 2009-2010 through 2011-2012 for the Police and believed to be 2007-2008 through 2010-2011 for the White Plains Professional fire fighters according to union documents, and confirmation by informed sources from both unions. The police and firemen have also agreed to work rules changes.

City Hall and Common Council members have declined comment on the terms of the settlements which will be voted on in the Common Council Special Meeting Wednesday evening. WPCNR awaits comment from the head of the White Plains Patrolman’s Benevolent Association.

City Hall and Common Councilmembers have put a media blackout on the terms of the settlements and have refused to release details of the settlement prior to the Council Special Meeting on Wednesday, setting the stage for fireworks, rhetoric and posturing by the three members of the Common Council and the Mayor (who are up for election in 11 months) at Wednesday’s meeting.

Both Police and fire unions will, according to sources, get pay increases across all grades of 3.75% the first year, 4% in year 2, and 4% in year 3. Paul Wood, Executive Officer for the Mayor, said the city had gotten some concessions from the union. Mr. Wood did not elaborate, but firemen have indicated they will now under the new accord, if approved, be on a 24-hour straight tour, a standard in fire departments elsewhere. Police sources tell WPCNR a new 12-hour tour would be put in place as part of the police accord. WPCNR awaits details.

Unions are nervous that the Common Council may balk on the settlements, however, the council appears to have approved the settlements in Executive Session two weeks ago. Previously, it had been reported the raises would be 3.75, 3.75 and 4%. If the Council fell back to those levels for public relations reasons in an election year, it is unclear whether the unions would go along with the savings and tour changes.

Kindergarten Registration Begins January 7

Posted on December 13, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From White Plains City School District. December 12, 2008: The White Plains Public Schools’ Parent Information Center announces the official Kindergarten Registration Period that begins on Wednesday, January 7^th and continues through Wednesday, February 11^th. All children who will turn five by December 31, 2009 and who live in White Plains are eligible for kindergarten in September, 2009. Parents are urged to call 422-2038 as soon as possible to make a registration appointment.

Under the Controlled Parents’ Choice Program, parents who complete their children’s kindergarten registration by February 11^th can indicate which of the five elementary schools they prefer for their children. In the past 20 years of the Choice Program, an average of 93% of the parents got their 1^st choice school, 97% got their 1^st or 2^nd choice school, and 100% of parents who made three choices got one of their three choices.

For more information, call the Parent Information Center at 422-2113.

2007-2008 Four-Peat Women’s Hoopsters, High Scorers to be Honored at WP

Posted on December 13, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR SPORTS TICKER. From White Plains City School District. December 13, 2008: The White Plains High School Women’s Basketball Program will celebrate “A Banner Night” on Monday, December 22^nd in the North Gym of the School. At halftime during the 6 P.M. game against Ramapo the school will honor the seven women each of whom scored 1,000 points in their high school career.

White Plains Tigers 2007-2008 Girls Basketball Section One Champions for fourth consecutive year shown the night of the triumph.

The honorees are: Tracey Turner, Kristin Donohoe, Nicole Daniels, Elise Bronzo, Liz Flooks, Kim Adams and Angelei Aguirre. A special banner will be unveiled in their honor . The program will also honor members of the 2007-08 Sectdion One Championship Team, as an unprecedented fourth consecutive championship banner is raised that evening.

All present and former players and families of the WPHS Women’s Basketball Program are invited to a reception following the game.

Feiner Supports AG Andrew Cuomo’s County Government Recall Law

Posted on December 11, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Town of Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. December 11, 2008:

NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has released a proposal to authorize citizens to initiate petitions to consolidate/dissolve all local government bodies. If 10% of the people in a jurisdiction or 5,000 voters sign a petition there would be a referendum. This is a great idea.

It is very important that the concept be expanded to county governments. Voters should have the ability to petition to elminate, consolidate all levels of government–including county government. A new group: www.rethinkingwestchestergov.com has been formed.

Our committee is contemplating life without county government. Connecticut abolished county government in 1960. Rhode Island has no county government. And, Massachusetts authorized county governments to go out of business in the mid 1990s–and many county governments decided to dissolve.

The Attorney General’s proposal is a step in the right direction –let the people initiate consolidation, dissolution of local governments.

PAUL FEINER

Greenburgh Town Supervisor

co-founder, RethinkingWestchestergov.com

Here is the proposal:

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO OUTLINES LEGAL PROPOSAL TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT WASTE AND SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY

State’s Patchwork Quilt of over 10,500 Governmental Entities Buries Residents with Nation’s Highest Taxes and Outdated Services

New Law Proposes to Eliminate Legal Barriers that Make it Virtually Impossible for Citizens to Reform Local Government

ALBANY, N.Y. (December 11, 2008) – Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo outlined today a new legal proposal to give communities across the state the power to reform local governments. As the current fiscal climate continues to financially squeeze communities and residents across the state, Cuomo’s proposal is designed to cut government waste and reduce taxes. Currently, the state is home to over 10,500 governments that saddle residents with the nation’s highest taxes and leaves the state with layers of antiquated government entities and special districts.

Cuomo today announced he will work with Gov. David Paterson, leaders of the state Legislature, government reform groups and local government leaders across New York to introduce a comprehensive legislative package to streamline the often Byzantine and cumbersome process of consolidating local governmental entities, including the myriad special districts across the state.

“Despite New Yorkers drowning for decades in some of the nation’s highest taxes, local leaders have been blocked from reforming local government in an effort to cut government waste and reduce the tax burden,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “During this economic crisis, leaders have an historic opportunity to fundamentally reform this state’s patchwork quilt of local government entities. These layers upon layers of taxing entities have a chokehold on state residents, and antiquated and arcane laws governing them perpetuate government inefficiency. Our goal is to reform those laws so communities, where appropriate, can reduce local government burden and reduce the cost of living in this great state.”

In all, there are more than 10,500 governmental entities imposing taxes and fees across New York State. This includes towns, villages, districts and special districts such as water, sewer and lighting districts.

Attorney General Cuomo’s Proposal Compared to Existing Law

Existing Law	Attorney General’s Proposal
Multitude of confusing laws scattered throughout the Town Law, Village Law, General Municipal Law, Municipal Home Rule Law and Election Law.	Single law applicable to all local government entities, which eliminates irrational inconsistencies and anachronisms in existing law
Confusing and inconsistent procedures to consolidate or dissolution, which vary depending on the type of local government entity involved	Uniform and simplified consolidation/dissolution procedures that comprehensively address transition issues.
Disempowered governing bodies are barred from initiating process with respect to certain kinds of local government entities	Empowered governing bodies can initiate consolidation/dissolution process for all local government entities.
Disempowered citizenry are barred from initiating process for certain kinds of local government entities.	Empowered citizens can initiate consolidation/dissolution process for all local government entities.
Confusing and hyper-technical process frequently leading to litigation and/or disqualification both of signatures and of whole petitions.	Simplified petition process and petition form for citizens to initiate consolidation/dissolution process
Higher and wildly different signature requirements depending on the kind of local government entity involved.	Uniform signature requirement of 10% or 5,000, whichever is less, to initiate consolidation/dissolution process.
Must own taxable real property to petition for or vote on proposed consolidation/dissolution of certain local government entities.	Abolish all land owning requirements to petition for or vote on proposed consolidation/dissolution
Counties barred from abolishing outright inefficient or moribund local government entities.	Counties empowered to transfer and abolish local government entities subject to mandatory referendum requirements.