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 FBI WIRE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. July 14, 2021:

Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that STEPHEN M. CALK was convicted of financial institution bribery and conspiracy to commit financial institution bribery, for corruptly using his position as the head of a federally-insured bank to issue millions of dollars in high-risk loans to Paul Manafort in exchange for a personal benefit: CALK’s placement on a 2016 presidential campaign and assistance from Manafort in trying to obtain a senior position with the incoming presidential administration. 

CALK was convicted following a three-week trial before U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “A unanimous jury convicted Stephen M. Calk of approving millions of dollars in high-risk loans to Paul Manafort in an effort to secure a personal benefit, namely a high-profile spot on the presidential campaign and appointment as Secretary of the Army or another similarly high-level position in the incoming presidential administration.  Calk used the federally-insured bank he ran as his personal piggybank to try and buy himself prestige and power.  Today’s verdict sends the message that corruption at the highest levels of federally regulated financial institutions will be prosecuted by this Office.”

As reflected in the Indictment, documents previously filed in the case, and evidence introduced at trial:

CALK, The Federal Savings Bank, and Paul Manafort

STEPHEN M. CALK was the chairman and chief executive officer of The Federal Savings Bank, a federal savings association headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an office in New York, New York (the “Bank”).  The Bank was owned in its entirety by National Bancorp Holdings, a Chicago-based bank holding company (the “Holding Company”), and CALK was the chairman, chief executive officer, and owner of approximately 67% of the Holding Company.

Paul Manafort was a lobbyist and political consultant.  Beginning in or about March 2016, Manafort held a senior role with a 2016 presidential campaign (the “Presidential Campaign”), and from June 2016 through August 2016, he served as chairman of the Presidential Campaign.  After Manafort’s formal role with the Presidential Campaign concluded in or about August 2016, Manafort continued to be informally involved in the campaign.  Beginning in or about November 2016, when the candidate was elected President of the United States, Manafort provided informal input to the presidential transition team (the “Presidential Transition Team”).

The Corrupt Scheme

Between in or about July 2016 and January 2017, CALK engaged in a corrupt scheme to exploit his position as the head of the Bank and the Holding Company in an effort to secure a valuable personal benefit for himself, namely, Manafort’s assistance in obtaining for CALK a senior position in the presidential administration. 

During this time period, Manafort sought millions of dollars in loans from the Bank.  CALK understood that Manafort urgently needed these loans in order to terminate or avoid foreclosure proceedings on multiple properties owned by Manafort and Manafort’s family.  Further, CALK believed that Manafort could use his influence with the Presidential Transition Team to assist CALK in obtaining a senior administration position.

CALK thus sought to leverage his control over the Bank and the loans sought by Manafort to his personal advantage.  Specifically, CALK offered to, and did, cause the Bank and Holding Company to extend $16 million in loans to Manafort in exchange for Manafort’s requested assistance in obtaining a high-level position in the presidential administration. 

For example, and while Manafort’s loans were pending approval, CALK provided Manafort with a ranked list of the governmental positions he desired, which started with Secretary of the Treasury, and was followed by Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of Defense, as well as 19 ambassadorships similarly ranked and starting with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy.

In approving these loans to Manafort, CALK was aware of significant red flags regarding Manafort’s ability to repay the loans, such as his history of defaulting on prior loans. 

Moreover, given the size of the loans, Manafort’s debt became the single largest lending relationship at the Bank.  In order to enable the Bank to issue these loans without violating the Bank’s legal limit on loans to a single borrower, CALK authorized a maneuver never before performed by the Bank, in which the Holding Company—which CALK also controlled—acquired a portion of the loans from the Bank.

During the same time period, Manafort provided CALK with valuable personal benefits.  First, in or about the summer of 2016, during the Presidential Campaign—and just days after CALK and the rest of the Bank’s credit committee conditionally approved a proposed $9.5 million loan to Manafort — Manafort appointed CALK to a prestigious economic advisory committee affiliated with the campaign. 

And second, in or about late November and early December 2016—after the candidate had been elected President, after Manafort’s first loan from the Bank had been issued, and while a second set of loans worth $6.5 million sought by Manafort was pending approval by the Bank— Manafort used his influence with the Presidential Transition Team to assist Calk, recommending CALK for an administration position. 

Due to Manafort’s efforts, CALK was formally interviewed for the position of Under Secretary of the Army on January 10, 2017 at the Presidential Transition Team’s principal offices in New York, New York.  CALK was not ultimately hired.

To conceal the unlawful nature of his scheme, CALK made false and misleading statements to the OCC regarding the loans to Manafort.  For example, CALK falsely stated to the OCC regulators that he had not known that the Manafort’s properties had been in foreclosure prior to issuing the loans.  CALK also stated that he had never desired a position in the presidential administration. 

*                *                *

CALK, 56, was found guilty of one count of financial institution bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit financial institution bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.  CALK is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10, 2022.

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“HAPPY PRE-BIRTHDAY DENNIS AND TONNIE.

I’VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE RATE OF VACCINATIONS OF COVID. WESTCHESTERITES HAVE TO GET ON THE STICK AND GO IN AND VACCINATE AT THE RATE OF 2,000 SECOND SHOTS A DAY AGAIN FOR THE COUNTY TO BE FULLY VACCINATED BY AUGUST 26 JUST BEFORE SCHOOLS COME BACK FOR IN-CLASSROOM LEARNING.

AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE LATIMER REPORTED YESTERDAY VACCINATIONS IN THE COUNTY CENTER IN WHITE PLAINS HAVE DROPPED DRAMATICALLY TO A LOW OF 168 VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS YESTERDAY, FROM PREVIOUS LEVELS OF 2,000  A DAY 5-1/2 MONTHS AGO. IF THAT DOES NOT IMPROVE IMMEDIATELY TO 2,000 A DAY OR MORE IN WESTCHESTER,  THERE IS NO WAY WE BECOME FULLY VACCINATED BY THE TIME SCHOOL OPENS.

IF THE COUNTY GETS 2^ND SHOTS UP TO 1,000 A DAY, 7,000 A WEEK, IT WILL TAKE 90 DAYS TO BE FULLY VACCINATED FROM TODAY WHICH MEANS OCTOBER 10. 1,500 VACCINATIONS A DAY CUTS IT TO MID SEPTEMBER.

200 VACCINATIONS A DAY YIELDS 1,400 VACCINATIONS A WEEK FOR THE 633, 354 WHO STILL NEED A SECOND SHOT THAT WOULD TAKE 452 WEEKS TO VACCINATE THE  633,354 WITH SECOND SHOTS. WHICH I GUESS WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE.  GOING TO GET HAVE TO COME BACK SEVERAL THOUSAND A DAY. WHY ARE THE SHOTS DWINDLING? ARE PEOPLE SKIPPING SECOND SHOTS?

IN THE MID HUDSON REGION OF 7 COUNTIES, INCLUDING WESTCHESTER,  LAST WEEK 13,455 SECOND SHOTS WENT IN TO ARMS LAST WEEK, AND WITH 1,244, 707 WITH FIRST SHOTS ASSUMING THEY ALL COME IN FOR THE NUMBER 2 SHOT.THE MID-HUD REGION WILL BE FULLY VACCINATED 92 DAYS—OR NOVEMBER 10 – MORE VACCINATION PLACES NEED UP THERE I SAY. AND PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR SAFETY I’D SAY. THE VACCINES CANNOT HELP IF YOU DO NOT GET THEM.

IN GOOD NEWS , HOME SALES CONTINUE STRONG IN WHITE PLAINS. 63% MORE HOMES IN WHITE PLAINS SOLD IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2021 THAN SECOND QUARTER, 2020. THE MEDIAN SALE PRICE WAS UP 19%

THE MEDIAN PRICE FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY ROSE 17.6% TO $835,000 FROM $710,000 LAST YEAR. AVERAGE PRICE OF A WESTCHESTER HOME, 1.1 MILLION, CONDO, $405.000, COOP $190,000 2 TO 4 FAMILY, $666,500.

IN THE HEARING ON TURNING 701 WESTCHESTER AVENUE INTO A 5-STORY, 366-APARTMENT MIXED USE CAMPUS ,HELD LATE IN THE EVENING LAST TUESDAY NIGHT, SEVEN SPOKE AGAINST APPROVING THE SENLAC PROJECT, CITING TRAFFIC, DISRUPTION OF NEIGHBORHOODS, TAKING BUSINESS AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN AND ASKED THE COUNCIL NOT TO APPROVE IT . WESTCHESTER COUNTY ASSOCIATION WAS BEHIND THE MIXED USE CONCEPT BECAUSE WESTCHESTER COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ARE ONLY 15% OCCUPIED AND THE MIXED USE CONCEPT IS A STRATEGY TO MAKE OWNERS’ PROPERTIES PROFITABLE AGAIN. A VOTE COULD COME AUGUST 2.

THE WAY IS CLEAR FOR THE FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK PROPERTY TO FINALLY GET OUT OF WHITE PLAINS. IN LIGHT OF HARRISON’S ACQUIRING THE WILLOW RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB FOR $13.5 MILLION BY EMINENT DOMAIN, THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS COULD DO THE SAME THING. REALTOR SOURCES HAVE TOLD ME THE $13.5 MILLION PRICE IS MARKET VALUE FOR GOLF COURSES THESE DAYS. WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!”

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This Afternoon Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Cloudy, with a high near 81. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming southeast.

Tonight Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 1am and 4am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am.

Tuesday A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4pm. Patchy fog before 1pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. East wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

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(SCROLL DOWN VIDEO WALL TO WHITE PLAINS WEEK!)

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GOOD MORNING DENNIS AND TONNY FROM WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK WHERE IT’S 74 HAZY MUGGY WPCNR DEGREES.

LAST WEDNESDAY THE APPELLATE COURT, SECOND DEPARTMENT IN BROOKLYN DEEEEEEEEEEEENIED WHITE PLAINS EMINENT DOMAIN MOVE TO ACQUIRE POST ROAD ON THE BLOCK ADJACENT TO THE WINBROOK APARTMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF  AN UNKNOWN PROJECT.

THE OWNER OF ONE OF THE PROPERTIES THREATENED WITH THE CITY’S EMINENT DOMAIN TAKEOVER SAID THE COURT DENIED THE CITY FOR THREE REASONS.

1.) THE CITY RELIED ON A TWENTY-FIVE YEAR OLD DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTIES AS A “BLIGHTED AREA” AND IT IS NOT.

2.) THERE WAS NO REASON GIVEN FOR TAKING THE PROPERTIES.

3.) A CITY MUST BE SPECIFIC IN SAYING WHAT THE CITY INTENDS TO DO WITH THE PROPERTIES SHOULD THEY BE ACQUIRED.

GABRIEL ARANGO, ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY FILED THE SUIT. THE OWNER SAID THE WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL HAD PURCHASED THE DENTAL PROPERTY PART OF THE ORIGINAL TARGETED PROPERTY

THE SOURCE ALSO SAID THE CITY HAD ALREADY PUCHASED THE FIRESTONE AND PHARMACY PARCELS ON POST ROAD. HOWEVER HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE CITY WOULD DO WITH THEM NOW. IT WAS THE PROPERTY OWNER’S IMPRESSION THAT “THE HOSPITAL GOT WHAT IT WANTED, ” AND NOW IS NOT INTERESTED IN THE PROPERTIES WHOSE OWNERS WON THE SUIT IN LAST WEDNESDAY’S DECISION.

THE APPELLATE COURT SECOND DEPARTMENT DECISION CAME DOWN HARD IN ITS JUDGMENT WRITING:

“THIS COURT WILL NOT ACT AS A MERE “RUBBER STAMP[ ]” TO APPROVE FINDINGS OF BLIGHT WHERE THE CONDEMNING AUTHORITY HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT ITS FINDINGS HERE, THE AGENCY’S “BARE PLEADING” OF SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS DID NOT SATISFY ITS OBLIGATION TO RESPOND TO A CHALLENGE TO ITS FINDING OF BLIGHT BY PRESENTING “AN ADEQUATE BASIS” FOR ITS CONCLUSION

BOOM!

THEY CONTINUED,  A CONDEMNING AUTHORITY DOES NOT DEMONSTRATE THAT PROPERTY IS SUBSTANDARD FOR THE PURPOSE OF URBAN RENEWAL, THE AUTHORITY MUST IDENTIFY SOME PUBLIC PURPOSE OTHER THAN THE PURPORTED REMEDIATION OF BLIGHT WHILE A CONDEMNING AUTHORITY MAY SELECT VIRTUALLY ANY PROJECT WHICH “CONTRIBUTES TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY, GENERAL WELFARE, CONVENIENCE, OR PROSPERITY OF THE COMMUNITY” THIS BROAD DISCRETION DOES NOT RELIEVE THE AUTHORITY FROM SELECTING A PARTICULAR PROJECT AND, WHERE DEMANDED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER, SUBMITTING THAT PROJECT TO JUDICIAL SCRUTINY.

THIS RULING THAT THE CITY HAS NOT ISSUED A REACTION TO WHEN ASKED BY WPCNR EXPLICITLY RESTRICTS ANY CITY TOWN OR COUNTY FROM MAKING SPECIAL EMINENT DOMAIN ACQUISTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF FAVORED PROJECTS WITHOUT DISCLOSING THEM: DEALMAKERS TAKE NOTE.

TONIGHT AT THE COMMON COUNCIL MEETING AT 255 MAIN STREET, THEY’RE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SENLAC RIDGE 701 WESTCHESTER AVENUE PROJECT THAT WOULD RAISE  WESTCHESTER AVENUE TWO STORIES AND TURN IT INTO 360 APARTMENTS

IN A LETTER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS  SAID THIS PROJECT IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHERS PLANNED NEARBY, WILL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL 2,100 VEHICLES THAT WILL BE UTILIZING BRYANT AVE., NORTH ST., RIDGEWAY, MAPLEMOOR –SAMMIS LN. 

 
•    WE HAVE ADDITIONAL CONCERNS ON THE IMPACT TO OUR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, PARTICULARLY THE RIDGEWAY FIREHOUSE AND LADDER 34 WHICH CONTINUE TO OPERATE AT PART-TIME STATUS. 

•    OVERALL, THE SOUTH END OF WHITE PLAINS IS A LOW DENSITY, SINGLE FAMILY AREA THAT WE DO NOT FEEL IS A FIT FOR THESE HIGH-DENSITY RENTAL UNIT PROJECTS.  WE FEEL THESE RENTAL UNITS FIT IN WITH THE DOWNTOWN AREA CLOSE TO THE METRO NORTH STATION, BUS TERMINALS AND WALKABLE RETAIL.  NOTWITHSTANDING, THERE ARE ALREADY OVER 5,500 MULTI-FAMILY UNITS SLATED TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN WHITE PLAINS, SO WE QUESTION DO WE NEED TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL 360 UNITS IN WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN ALREADY SATURATED MARKET.

SO THAT ACTION TAKES PLACE THIS EVENING. WHETHER THE HEARING WILL BE CLOSED AND VOTED REMAINS TO BE SEEN. I SUSPICION IT WILL BE CLOSED AND VOTED ON IN AUGUST BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.

COVID INFECTIONS CONTINUE TO RUN AT HALF OF 1 PERCENT FOR THE LAST WEEK THROUGH YESTERDAY 12 STRAIGHT WEEKS OF SUSTAINED DECLINE IN COVID INFECTIONS. FROM JUNE 29 THROUGH JULY 4 THE COUNTY TESTED 23,220 AND 89 TESTED POSITIVE, A RATE OF JUST UNDER HALF A PERCENT. AND NO DEATHS AT COUNTY EXECUTIVE LATIMER SAID EARLIER THIS MORNING.