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)

MS. LAURA ECKLEY APPOINTED NEW WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY DIRECTOR

Posted on October 25, 2024 by John Bailey

White Plains, NY. – October 24, 2024.

The Board of Trustees of the White Plains Library is pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Eckley as the new Director of the White Plains Library following the retirement of Brian Kenney.

Mr. Kenney led the library for the last thirteen years and was responsible, in partnership with the Board, the City of White Plains and the Library Foundation for the transition to digital media, the creation of The Edge (teen library), the transformation of the first floor, the art gallery and auditorium.

Ms. Eckley was recommended unanimously to the Trustees by a Committee comprised of members of the Board of Trustees, Library staff and community members that conducted a nation-wide search.

She will begin her role as the Library Director on this Monday October 28, 2024.

Ms. Eckley brings 25 years of experience, most recently as the Director of the Larchmont Public Library and previously as Library Director of the Bronxville Public Library where she also served as the Director of Children’s Services.

Ms. Eckley received her MLIS from the Palmer School of Library and Information Sciences at Long Island University and holds a certificate from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design on the future of library design.

Ms. Eckley has stated, “I’m honored to join the exceptional staff of the White Plains Public Library. I look forward to working with their dedicated Board of Trustees and continuing to build on the Library’s tradition of providing exceptional library service to the White Plains community.”

Elaine Summers, the President of the Library Board of Trustees said, “The Board is so excited to have attracted such an experienced and energetic new Director.”

Tom Roach, White Plains Mayor stated, “I appreciate the work done by the Library Board of Trustees in finding such an eminently qualified candidate. Having met her, I believe she is the right person at the right time to lead the library into the future.”

OCTOBER 24 — STATISTICS ON CRIME IN WESTCHESTER UP OR DOWN CHECKED.

Posted on October 24, 2024 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER OCTOBER 24, 2024:

John,

Fact-checking some of Ms. Lindsay’s claims during the forum (Tuesday October 27):

She said if an illegal immigrant commits a crime in NY, we can’t do

anything about it. In fact, they are subject to the criminal justice

system, same as anyone else.

Ms. Lindsay also said if a young person is arrested and released

without cash bail, that means they avoid punishment. In fact, whether

they get out on cash or cashless bail, they still have to go to

trial, and if convicted (not everyone who is arrested is guilty of a

crime), they get punished.

Furthermore, she stated that the revised FBI crime statistics show

that crime is up. In fact, they show it has declined:

https://www.factcheck.org/2024/10/crime-stats-still-show-a-decline-since-2020/.

In addition, research shows cashless bail does not lead to an

increase in crime:

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/facts-bail-reform-and-crime-rates-new-york-state

Cliff Blau

TONIGHT THURSDAY AT 8: “SPORTSCASTERS TO BE HEARD,” PETE ROSE, THE BASEBALL SEASON WRAP UP WITH JOHN VORPERIAN AND “BULL ALLEN”

Posted on October 24, 2024 by John Bailey

Mayor Joseph Delfino: A Visionary Leader

Posted on October 23, 2024 by John Bailey

The passing of Major Joe Delfino marks the end of an era. His recent death takes from all of us one the most memorable individuals in Westchester County and , of course, most notably White Plains. Affectionately known as “Mayor Joe,” he possessed unique strengths combining a visionary outlook, an ability to build bipartisan support for important initiatives, and a unique way to project strength of purpose while maintaining a friendly and open persona.

Is it no exaggeration to say that Mayor Joe is responsible for creating the vibrant modern day downtown White Plains. When he became Mayor, the center of the city opposite City Hall was the site of a sprawling, abandoned Macy’s store. The hulking building spanning a full city block, had for decades been the main driver in the downtown’s bustling retail community.

By the early 2000s, however, it was casting a pall over the entire area.

Mayor Joe knew something had to be done, but what? It was then that he saw developer Louis Cappelli demolish a former abandoned Macy’s in downtown New Rochelle and convert the site into a new shopping, entertainment and housing complex called New Roc City that opened in 1999.

Mayor Joe reached out to Cappelli and asked if he would tackle the White Plains site. Cappelli was intrigued but said he’d only take on the massive project if the Mayor and City Council clearly stipulated what they wanted to see on the site. He said he would then present a plan, and if the city leaders felt it would achieve their goals, he wanted an expedited approval process and a green light to get to work.

Mayor Joe led a visioning process and within a matter of months came up with the desired elements: movie theater, retail, supermarket, community theater, housing and parking. Cappelli’s team went to work and presented a plan for City Center that included all the elements. Mayor Joe liked it, worked with the Council members who then bought in as well, and within two-plus years, the heart of the downtown was transformed.

Mayor Joe didn’t stop there. Cappelli came to him with an even more ambitious project less than a block away, and once again Mayor Joe led the City Council to agree to revising the zoning to permit what became Renaissance Square.

By 2008 the new project had opened with a Ritz-Carlton Hotel and two 40-plus story residential towers with commanding views of the city, Long Island Sound and the Manhattan skyline.

These two projects set in motion the redevelopment of the entire downtown area which now includes numerous sparkling apartment towers, a revived Mamaroneck Avenue business district and even the proposed redevelopment of the Galleria Mall site.

It’s an almost unimaginable transformation, and all thanks to the vision, determination, drive and the unique abilities of Mayor Joe Delfino.

There will be many accolades for Mayor Joe, all well deserved. To his daughter Cindy, her husband Dave Birdsall and other members of the family, I wish to express deepest sympathy, and thanks for sharing Mayor Joe with all of the residents of White Plains and beyond.

–Geoffrey Thompson