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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“GOOD MORNING DENNIS AND TONNY, IT’S GREAT TO HAVE AN ELECTION DAY. HERE IN WHITE PLAINS THE MAYOR IS UNOPPOSED THAT MEANS IF ONLY 1 VOTE IS CAST FOR HIM, HE WINS IF NO WRITE-INS. 4 PERSONS ARE RUNNING FOR 3 COMMON COUNCIL 4-YEAR TERMS. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER FIRST TIME CANDIDATES ALAN GRAFMAN AND RICHARD BLAINE WILL MAKE THE COUNCIL, BOTH OR ONE.

JOHN MARTIN A 10 YEAR COUNCIL IS RUNNING BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERIENCE ON THE BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND FEELS HIS EXPERTISE IN THE BUDGET IS NEEDED AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO FACE FINANCIAL CHALLENGE. JUSTIN BRASCH THE OTHER INCUMBENT IS RUNNING FOR HIS SECOND TERM.

THE WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY FOUNDATION PRESENTED ANITA HILL

ANITA HILL VIA A ZOOM PRESENTATION LAST NIGHT.

300 PERSONS SAW AND HEARD MS. HILL ON THE LEGACY OF HER EXPERIENCE OF THE JUDGE CLARENCE THOMAS SUPEREME COURT HEARINGS IN 1991

SHE TOLD THE AUDIENCE THE WAY HER TESTIMONY OF JUDGE THOMAS’S TREATMENT OF HER WAS DISMISSED BY THE COMMITTEE RESULTING THE CONFIRMATION OF JUDGE THOMAS WAS DEVASTATING.  SHE SAID SHE WAS NOT EXPECTING THE FIRESTORM OF ATTACKS ON HER BUT WAS AMAZED THAT THOUSANDS OF PERSONS, WOMEN AND MEN WROTE OR CALLED HER TO TELL HER HOW THEY TOO HAD BEEN SEXUALLY HARRASSED AND ABUSED.

MS. HILL, NOW UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL POLICY LAW AND WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES AT BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY IN MASSACHUSSETTS SAID SEXUAL HARASSMENT HAS NOW GROWN INTO A PANDEMIC AFFECTING THE COUNTRY MORE PROFOUNDLY SINCE 1991. THIS OUTPOURING OF MISERY INSPIRED HER TO  MAKE SPREADING AWARENESS OF HOW PROLIFIC THE GROWTH OF SEXUAL EXTORTION HAS BECOME IN THE WORK PLACE AS HER  LIFE’S WORK. 

SHE ILLUMINATED THE HISTORY OF MALE JUDGES DISMISSING HARASSMENT CHARGES OF WOMEN AS BEING JUST PART OF HUMAN NATURE IN THEIR DECISIONS AND HOW IT HAS BEGUN TO CHANGE.

SHE SAID IN REPONSE TO QUESTIONS THAT THE ONLY WAY TO CURE THIS EPIDEMIC IS FOR LEADERS OF ORGANIZATIONS TO WANT TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF DISMISSING SEXUAL HARRASSMENT THROUGH EXCUSES OF NOT KNOWING THE FACTS AND CONDONING SUPERVISORS’ OR CO-WORKERS’ INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR.

SHE SAID 1 IN 4 WOMEN IN THE U.S. EXPERIENCE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE,  1 IN 3 WOMEN SAY THEY HAVE BEEN HARASSED AT WORK  BUT DO NOT REPORT IT BECAUSE  OF FEAR OF RETALIATION.

 WOMEN OF COLOR EXPERIENCE HIGHER  RATES OF HARASSMENT THAN WHITE WOMEN.

SHE ENCOURAGED PERSONS OBSERVING SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE TO REPORT IT—THAT IS A START. IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING THEY SHOULD NOT BE DOING IT REPORT IT.

At THE COMMON COUNCIL LAST NIGHT THE COUNCIL EXTENDED THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IN WHITE PLAINS FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS AT 3% OF THE COST OF A ROOM.

70 WESTCHESTER AVENUE AVENUE 3 APARTMENT PROJECT OPPOSITE THE WESTCHESTER MALL BY SABER-NORTH WHITE PLAINS OVER ON THE WEST SIDE WAS ARROVED FOR A NEW SITE PLAN FOR 175 NEW APARTMENTS, A MOTOR VEHICLE SALES SHOWROOM AND RESTAURANT AND RETAIL,  27 STUDIOS, 81 ONE BEDROOMS, 19 ONE BEDROOMS WITH DEN, AND 48 2-BEDROOMS.

WHITE PLAINS ANNOUNCED IT WILL BRING BACK THE HOLIDAY MARKET THAT WAS A HUGE HIT LAST DECEMBER AND JANUARY,

IN THE LAST WEEK, COVID NEW INFECTIONS IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY CONTINUED AT AN AVERAGE OF 88 NEW INFECTIONS A DAY OVER THE 8 DAYS.

FROM SUNDAY OCTOBER 24 THROUGH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, THERE WERE 625 NEW INFECTIONS AMONG 56,558 TESTED IN THE COUNTY.

THAT IS AN INFECTION RATE OF 1.1% (ONE NEW INFECTED PERSON TESTING POSITIVE IN LAST 14 DAYS, SPREADING THE DISEASE TO 1 OTHER PERSON –WHICH MEANS THE INFECTIONS IN THE HUNDREDS A WEEK . IN THE WEEK PREVIOUS OCTOBER 17 TO 24TH, THERE WERE 434 INFECTIONS SONEW INFECTIONS WENT UP 44% LAST WEEK.

PEOPLE SHOULD CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS IN PUBLIC AND IN STORES I SEE PEOPLE WEARING MASKS IN WHITE PLAINS. BE AWARE. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.”

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STEVE ROLANDI’S PREDICTIONS ON THE 2021 OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS

    

    The big race on Tuesday is the  Governor’s election in Virginia, which President Biden carried by 10% last fall with a turnout of 4.5 million. Unfortunately for the Democrats, turnout will not be high enough (probably 2.8 million state-wide) in African-American communities and Northern Virginia to enable McAuliffe to win a new term.

He has focused more on national issues, while his opponent has focused on local issues, such as education, teachers’ salaries and school choice. Many voters see this election as a referendum on the Presidency of Joe Biden, who is in his 9^th month of this term.

While the Democrats around the country will have a good night, the Virginia results are likely to be a wake-up call for the Democrats, who have two wings battling each other for dominance.

The GOP remains weak in many parts of the country, particularly the Northeast and California.

If Governor Murphy (of New Jersey) prevails, as I expect he will do, he will be the first Democratic governor to win a second term since Brendan Byrne did so in 1977.

The 2021 results are a dress rehearsal for next year’s mid- term election and 2024 as well.

VIRGINIA GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION      *incumbent

YOUNGKIN  (GOP)                49%

McAuliffe  (D)*                           47%

Other candidates                        4%

NEW JERSEY GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

MURPHY* (D)                         51%

Ciattarelli  (R)                          44%

Other candidates                       5%

CITY OF NEW YORK – MAYOR

ADAMS (D)                             63%

Sliva  (R/I)                               32%

Other candidates                      5%

CITY OF NEW YORK – CONTROLLER

LANDER  (D)                        70%

Carreras   (R)                        25%

Other candidates                    5%

CITY OF NEW YORK – PUBLIC ADVOCATE

WILLIAMS*  (D)                 68%

Namapiaparapil  (R)            28%

Other candidates                    4%                         

WESTCHESTER COUNTY – COUNTY EXEXCUTIVE

LATIMER* (D)                    70%

SCULTI   (R)                        30% 

WESTCHESTER COUNTY – COUNTY CLERK

IDONI* (D)                           67%

Scott   (R)                              33%

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. October 28, 2021:

County Executive George Latimer previewed his 2022 proposed Operating Budget announcing a $7 million dollar cut to the County property tax levy.  This is the third County property tax cut in a row for Latimer.

(Editor’s note: new budget is $2,200,000,000, $190 Million more than the $2,009,999,999 2021 budget, A 9.5% INCREASE .)

Latimer said:“This is the largest tax cut in recent memory. I am proud of this budget and proud that through smart and innovative budgeting we have been able to cut taxes responsibly again, find new revenue sources, save and provide needed services to County residents.  This is not rhetoric or lip service – this is results – this is good governing. We are committed to doing right by the people of Westchester County – and that is exactly what we have done.” 

2022 NON-TRADITIONAL REVENUES AND SAVINGS MEASURES:

·         Demand Response Contract –$200k per year

·         Airbnb –$300k per year

·         2020 Voluntary Separation Incentive –$11.4 million of savings in 2021

THE $2.2 BILLION DOLLARA PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET MAINTAINS ALL COUNTY SERVICES AND INCLUDES:

·         NONPROFIT & RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION GRANT PROGRAM AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING – $17 MILLION

·         CHILDCARE SUBSIDY EXPANSION – $5.6 MILLION ADDITIONAL FUNDING

o   Enables more families to have childcare at a reduced cost for parents.

·         PROJECT ALLIANCE – $6.4 MILLION-PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION FROM THE POLICE REFORM TASKFORCE

o   Eight Mobile Crisis Response Teams across the County to assist with people in mental distress.  

·         SMALL LANDLORD REHAB ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – $1 MILLION

o   County will reimburse 75% of the cost of improvements made by qualifying landlords in exchange for keeping rents affordable for a period of 10 years.

·         HEALTHCARE EQUITY AND ACCESS – $6 MILLION

o   Funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Clinics for Infrastructure / Equipment / Telehealth Capacity and Outreach Improvements – $4 million

o   Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Nurse Home Visiting Program – $1 million

o   County (Senior) Telehealth Program – $1 million

·         DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PILOT PROGRAM FOR LOCAL VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND EMTS – $500,000

·         YOUTH UPLIFTMENT PROGRAM – $500,000

o   Program will identify pre-teens in middle school and focus on wellness, fitness and life skill training with mentoring and life coaches. 

Earlier this month the County Executive released his 2022 Proposed Capital Budget.  The fourth proposed Capital Budget of his administration emphasizes investments in affordable housing, hybrid and electric vehicles, and recreational facilities such as Playland, Memorial Field, and the completion of a continuous Bronx River Pathway from New York City to Kensico Dam Plaza. The proposed Capital Budget requested $476.4 million in new appropriations on an all funds basis for 2022:

·         $291.9 million for general County purposes;

• $152.4 million for the sewer and water districts;
• $4.1 million for the refuse district; and
• $28.0 million for Westchester County Airport.

Latimer said: “Over the past four years we have made significant investments in our County’s infrastructure, while maximizing efficiencies to reduce costs, improved the County’s bond rating and we have done all of this while cutting County property taxes for our residents. We are not here to let things fall apart while spewing rhetoric – we are here to get results and to make life better for the over one million people who call Westchester County home. This is our County, and together we will work to make Westchester County the strongest it can be.”

Year-to-date the County has expended over $119 million on capital improvements. The backlog of capital projects has also been reduced by $400 million since Latimer took office in 2018.  Over the past three years, Latimer’s Administration has made great strides to improve the capital program and increase efficiency. The most notable improvement resulted from the approval by the New York State Legislature, at the County’s request, to eliminate the $10 million dollar bond referendum cap, which ultimately saves the County money by eliminating extra costs from breaking up projects unnecessarily into pieces.

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor. October 28, 2021:

Local governments in the state such as the Town of Greenburgh will have little or no control over some aspects of cannabis, while other aspects afford more local control from a land-use perspective.

As example, municipalities can opt-out of allowing cannabis retail dispensaries and/or on-site consumption licenses (cannabis lounges) if a local law is adopted by 12/31/2021.  

If a municipality does not opt-out by 12/31, it cannot opt-out in the future, but if a municipality does opt-out before 12/31, it can opt back in at a later date.

 Another option is to opt-in with conditions, such as allowing dispensaries but not lounges, and/or allowing them only in certain non-residential zones away from schools, playgrounds, etc. 

The City of White Plains has not promulgated the options in detail to the city at this time.