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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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. January 27, 2021:

More than 100 weapons were seized and 11 persons were arrested this week following a six-month multi-agency investigation into “ghost guns” and other illegal firearms in Westchester and Putnam Counties.

Search warrants were executed Tuesday at eight locations in Westchester and Putnam by investigators from County, local and federal law enforcement agencies.

Rifles, handguns, “ghost guns” and high-capacity drum magazines were seized. Some of the weapons lacked a serial number – making them so-called ghost guns – and other weapons had defaced serial numbers.

Several silencers, ballistic vests, counterfeit police shields and quantities of ammunition were also seized in the probe, dubbed Operation Casper by investigators.

The high-capacity drum magazines that were seized are of a similar type to the one used in the murders of two New York City police officers last week.

“As we prepare to pay our final respects to Officer Jason Rivera tomorrow and his partner Officer Wilbert Mora next week, we are reminded of the dangers of illegal guns, not just in New York City,” County Executive George Latimer said.

“This proactive, collaborative effort brings together law enforcement and prosecutorial leaders beyond Westchester to combat the distribution and purchase of illegal guns. It is our moral responsibility to work together to reduce the availability of these weapons and keep our communities safe.” 

Public Safety Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason thanked all the agencies with personnel assigned to the Real Time Crime center for their roles in the successsful investigation.

“Working collaboratively with our law enforcement partners is a critical way we keep Westchester safe,” Gleason said.

The investigation was launched in June 2021 when police departments in Westchester, along with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, created a task force to address an influx of ghost guns and other illegal firearms into the Westchester County region. 

Detectives in the multi-agency Real Time Crime Center (RTC) were tasked with finding innovative ways to reduce gun crimes and prevent violence.

These detectives were assisted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, New York City Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Rockland County DA’s office. Prosecutors from Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and the Southern District of New York provided guidance and case support as specific targets and locations were identified.

The following is a list of the persons arrested and the agency lodging the charges, which are felonies:

North Castle PD

Theodore Brois, 67, of 3 Tallwoods Road, North Castle.

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon 1^st Degree (Ten or More Weapons)

Helene Brois, 61, of 3 Tallwoods Road, North Castle

–          Criminal Possession of a Firearm

Brandon Brois, 24, of 3 Tallwoods Road, North Castle 

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2^nd Degree

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3^rd Degree

New Rochelle PD

Juan Sanchez, 28, of 81 Highland Avenue, New Rochelle

–          3 Counts Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2^nd Degree- Loaded Firearm

–          3 Counts Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2^nd Degree – Disguised Gun

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3^rd Degree

–          40 Counts Unlawful Possession Ammo Feed Device

–          4 Counts Criminal Possession Weapon 3^rd Degree- Silencer               

Harrison PD

John Pittelli, 35, of 242 Freemont Street, Harrison.

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3^rd Degree- Ammo

–          Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 4^th Degree- Hallucinogen

Westchester County PD

Christopher Canzone, 49, of 1700 Baptist Church Road, Yorktown

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon 1^st Degree- 10 or more Firearms

Yorktown PD

Rogers Singleton, 40, of 2191 Crompond Road, Yorktown.

–          Criminal Possession of a Firearm

–          Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 4^th Degree

Putnam County Sheriff’s Department

Jacob Rockover, 22, of 170 Dykeman Road, Carmel

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3^rd Degree (assault rifle)

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3^rd Degree – ammo clip

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon (three or more)

–          Criminal Possession of a Firearm

David Goldberg, 24, of 90 Bullethole Road, Carmel

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon 1^st Degree (Ten or more)

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3^rd Degree (assault rifle)

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3^rd Degree (ammo clip)

–          Criminal Possession of a Firearm      

Andrew Lopez, 36, of 189 Fair St., Carmel

–          Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2^nd Degree – Loaded Firearm

FBI Safe Streets Task Force/ Putnam County Sheriff’s Office

Adam DiMaggio, 43, of 92 Lincoln Drive, Carmel

–          Unlawful Possession or Receipt of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Prohibited Person (Federal Charge).

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Hospitalizations of those infected two weeks ago hovers at  1.9% Indicating less serious effects of the disease.

WPCNR CORONAVIRUS MONITOR. From the New York State Covid Tracker, Observations by John F. Bailey. January 27, 2021 UPDATED 4;15 P.M. E.S.T.:

After  reaching the lowest number of new infections since December 13 before the fourth wave of Covid reached 26,002 infections the last week of the year, Westchester new covid infections rose SLIGHTLY the first four days.

Reports just issued this afterfnoon show Westchester County reporting 668 new infections on Wednesday (yesterday), Orange County 346;’ Dutchess 303; Ulster 188; Rockland 184; Sullivan 94; Putnam 80.

The Westchester County previously this week recorded 430 new infections Sunday; 451 on Monday;  and 570 on Tuesday, Wednesday, 668.

In his Covid briefing to Westchester Monday, Westchester County Executive George Latimer said hospitalizations had dropped to 486 from 613 hospitalized of that 25,294  infected with covid two weeks ago (the time it takes for disease to show symptoms and possibly require hospitalization. Dividing 486 by  25,294 infections the last two weeks, gives us a 1.9% hospitalization rate, indicating again the infections of covid are not resulting in as seriously ill covid cases requiring hospitalization.

Around the Mid-Hudson Region, the 7 counties have experienced total new infections of 1,297persons Sunday; 1,312 on Monday and 1,691 on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Westchester County accounted for 570  one third of those 1,691 Mid-Hudson Region cases , Westchester Tuesday showed  570 new persons with Covid of 7,425 tests, a 7.7% infection rate.

As of Tuesday,  the 9 Counties, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, Sullivan, Ulster and Putnam, plus Nassau and Suffolk Counties reported  4,221 cases, with Nassau reporting 1,153 new cases, Suffolk 1,377 new cases at infection rates of 9.4% for Nassau and 11.3% for Suffolk.

(Editor’s Note of interest: Nassau County filed the court case resulting in the Nassau County Supreme Court declaring students did not have to wear masks to school, which was stayed by the Appellate Court in Brooklyn. For weeks Nassau and Suffolk County have lead infections in the 9 counties by thousands of new cases.)

Through Wednesday the nine counties surrounding New York City reported  4,085 new cases; New York City,  10,790 in its 5 boroughs.  New York  City five boroughs are averaging a little less than 2/3 of the infections in New York City yesterday. New York City was as high as 28,548 new cases on January 15.

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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From the Rosedale Residential Association. January 26, 2021:

ROSEDALE RESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATION
WEB: http://WWW.WPRRA.ORG
E-Mail: wprra@yahoo.com http://www.facebook.com/RosedaleWP/
PO BOX 199, White Plains, New York, 10605

Greetings RRA Neighbors,

Please see thethe North Street Association regarding a proposed utility-scale solar farm at 1133 Westchester Avenue. Both the North Street Association and White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (CNA) asked us to distribute this letter to our members. 

The RRA is not anti-development or anti-solar power projects.  We would like to ensure that if projects are built in or adjacent to our neighborhood, that have a say in the size and scope of development that might impact the safety or character of our neighborhood.

We urge you to email and/or call the Mayor and Common Council Members.

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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From the Gedney Association. January 26, 2021:

Please see the important letter below from the North Street Association regarding a proposed utility-scale solar farm at 1133 Westchester Avenue. Both the North Street Association and White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (CNA) asked us to distribute this letter to our members.  We urge you to email and/or call the Mayor and Common Council Members. For your convenience, a sample email is provided in the letter. The Gedney Association

CALL TO ACTION: On Monday Feb 7th there will be a Public Hearing for a proposed utility-scale solar farm at 1133 Westchester Ave.  This solar farm will be as close as 60 feet from some of our residents’ backyards and less than 35 feet from ponds and watersheds that run between the neighborhoods and corporate park.  In advance of the Public Hearing, we urge you to call or email the Mayor and Common Council Members and express your concern about this project and the lack of existing zoning that would regulate projects of this scale. Further, remind them we are currently updating the Comprehensive Plan which when completed will guide zoning and regulation around solar utilities to ensure responsible and orderly development.  We are deeply troubled by the sheer size of this project, 6.5 acres ( 5 football fields!) and the complete absence of any zoning that would prevent the establishment of solar farms anywhere in this city!   We are happy to answer any questions you may have around this project, please contact us at NorthStreetWP@gmail.com  We will be speaking at the Public Hearing and hope that you can attend in a show of support, but, if you cannot attend please email our officials.

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“Westchester County joins with his family, friends and the entire region to mourn the passing of NYPD PO Wilbert Mora. Wilbert gave his life protecting the people of New York City while setting an example of service for those who knew or encountered him. May his loss, and the loss of PO Jason Rivera, make that example of selflessness leave an indelible mark on us all.”