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)

Exchange Students Arrive at WPHS Monday from White Plains Sister City.

Posted on March 22, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Melissa Lopez of The Mayor’s Office. March 22, 2006: The City of White Plains and the White Plains School District will host a welcome breakfast for exchange students from White Plains “sister city” of Mevasseret Zion, Israel, Monday at 7:40 A.M. at White Plains High School in the College Career Center .

The goal of the “sister city” relationship between the City of White Plains and Mevasseret Zion is to create dialogue covering issues of economic development, strategic planning, and cultural exchange. The students from Mevasseret Zion will attend White Plains High School for two weeks, and will participate in events with various City of White Plains departments.

Hudson Hills Tees Off Today.

Posted on March 22, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS TENT. March 22, 2006: Westchester County’s premier public golf course opens for play today. Hudson Hills, the controversial, challenging golf course is introducing new spring rates. The county announced today you can play the rolling challenger Monday through Friday noon, for just $65 including cart, GPS-equipped. Seniors pay $45, and after 1 PM the fee drops to $35. After 4, it’s just $25. On Friday afternoon, rates go up to $90, $65 after 1 PM and $35 after 4 P.M. Tee-times may be booked by calling the friendly pros at Hudson Hills, at 914-864-3000. To see what Hudson Hills is like to play, go to http://www.whiteplainscnr.com/article2387.html, to play the Front 9, and to cruise the Back 9, go to http://www.whiteplainscnr.com/article2420.html

The Fabulous First at Hudson Hills. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Traffic Czar: No Problem with City Center Valet Pkng. Roach Calls for Licensing.

Posted on March 21, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. By John F. Bailey. March 21, 2006: After Traffic Commissioner Tom Soyk delivered his findings after a year of video tape observation of valet parking at the City Center, finding that Valet Parking at that location did not cause any significant problems, Councilman Tom Roach called for the city to create Valet Parking Licensing in order that Mr. Soyk’s Department of Traffic could approve, monitor and set standards for all valet parking operations in the city. Mr. Roach did not indicate whether licensing fees would be part of the legislation.

Soyk said that presently the valet parking operations at Trotter’s and other locations where it is in effect in the city are not regulated in the city in any way, and that those operations are causing the problems, particularly Trotter’s. He did not elaborate on the problems Trotter’s was creating by their valet operation.

Soyk reported the primary problems at the City Center location are caused by motorists double-parking, leaving vehicles unattended in a traffic lane, and making right turns onto Main Street from the lefthand lane of Mamaroneck Avenue. He said those problems were as a result of the City Center movie attraction with persons dropping off movie goers and blocking traffic.

The licensing legislation called for by Mr. Roach, came over exasperated protest by Mayor Joseph Delfino, who claimed he drives the city every night and he has seen no particular problems with valet parking.

The council by consensus agreed Mr. Soyk should draft possible licensing registration that would be considered.

Councilman Glen Hockley, responding to the traffic dropoff problem suggested Mr. Soyk should consider installation bicycle racks to encourage non-motor vehicle transporation. Arnold Berstein, the Councilman, pointed out that the valet parking might aggravate the traffic when Wal-Mart opens in April. Rita Malmud, the Councilwoman, grumbled that the traffic about the Mamaroneck Avenue entrance at the City Center was dangerous citing persons hit by cars on that block. Mr. Soyk pointed out that the person struck he knew about was jaywalking. Nevertheless Malmud pointed out that the double-parking and backups were a problem at times. Soyk said the backups are sporadic and not consistent through the 6-hour period when the valet parking is set up outside the City Center. Mr. Hockley and Mr. Boykin said many persons had said they liked the valet parking convenience.

Roach suggested licensing would require restaurants or establishments to outline a proposal to the city, which would then approve the operation.

Parking Enforcement Officers Expected to Pull in $6 Million in 06-07 Budget.

Posted on March 21, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. By John F. Bailey. March 21, 2006: As reported first by WPCNR last week, Dr. Frank Straub and Albert Moronie, Director of Parking, confirmed to the Common Council their mutually agreed-upon plans to transfer the Public Safety Aides from being employed by the Department of Public Safety to being employed by the city Department of Parking beginning July 1. Previously a Public Safety Aide who broke the story to WPCNR had reported to us the change was to take place this week. Dr. Straub and Mr. Moronie indicated there would be no other changes to the Aides’ employment status other than new uniform patches reading “Parking Enforcement Officer.”

In the short explanation, Mr. Moronie disclosed the Department of Parking has been told by the city that it is expected to generate $16 Million in licensing fees, parking fees and $6 Million of that via parking fines. In 2004-2005, the Parking Department (under the increased fine schedule where each parking ticket is $15), collected $5,671,080. To this endeavor, Mr. Moronie told the council the Department of Parking was examining ways to increase the revenue generated from the now tentatively retitled “Parking Enforcement Officers.” He said a number of options were being considered from increasing staff to other alternatives not disclosed.

Commissioner of Public Safety Frank Straub said that the decision to move the Public Safety Aides over to Parking, was made because when disputes and matters of discipline arose, his officers presently in charge of the Public Safety Aides were not familiar with the orders and procedures requested by the Department of Parking, complicating the Department of Public Safety ability to address issues efficiently in disciplinary disputes with Public Safety Aides. They became “bogged down” he said. He did not say how often this became a problem.

Mr. Moronie said the Civil Service Employees Association and its union head, Joe Roche, who has not returned a WPCNR NewsCall, “had no problem” with the shift of departmental jurisdiction. Moronie also noted as an explanation for the changeover that it would take the salary expense of the aides reported as $2.3 Million from the Police Department and put it in the Department of Parking where it belonged. Straub said the newly tentatively titled Public Enforcement Officers would still have radio contact with the police as they do now, and be available for traffic control as necessary.

Asked whether there was any objection on the part of the Public Safety Aides to the transfer, Dr. Straub said mostly he characterized their objections as “fear of change.”