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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Celebrate the Spirit of 1776

Sense the life of a patriot as you explore the White Plains Heritage Trail, which guides you along 24 historic sites in an 11-mile loop through White Plains, West Harrison and North Castle and enjoy White Plains historic walking loops which highlight White Plains’ rich history.  These trails are a great way to get your exercise while learning of the important role White Plains had in the founding of our nation. 

Historical Sites include:  

The White Plains County Court House, located on South Broadway, was the site of the Provincial Assembly of the Colony of New York. The Assembly approved the Declaration of Independence on July 9 1776,  and changed its name to the Convention of the Representatives of the State of New York. On July 11, Judge John Thomas of Purchase read the Declaration aloud from the courthouse steps.   Since this was the first time New York was called a state and the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in New York, White Plains became known as “The Birthplace of the State of New York.

The Battle of White Plains Park located at Whitney and Battle Avenues  is the site of The Battle of White Plains.  The Battle of White Plains was part of the greater struggle for New York in 1776.  Directed by General Howe, British and Hessian troops drove the Continental army off Chatterton Hill, but they did not pursue them or take on the main line of Washington’s army, which was spread across White Plains.  Over the next few days, while Howe waited for reinforcements and then for the ground to dry from a heavy rainstorm, Washington withdrew from Purdy Hill to Mount Misery and Miller Hill in North Castle. The rocky terrain and swamps there made a second successful attack by the British impossible.  Howe and his forces returned to New York City, and Washington’s army crossed the Hudson at Peekskill. They would be victorious at Trenton and Princeton in the following weeks.

It is believed General Washington utilized the Jacob Purdy House from October 23 to 31, 1776 as his headquarters for the Battle of White Plains and then moved to North Castle. He returned to Purdy House in the summer of 1778. The house was moved to its current location at 60 Park Avenue in 1973 to avoid demolition. By 1989 it was fully restored.

The Captain John Falconer House was on the Village Street, what is now present-day Main Street east of Broadway. British soldiers headquartered there after Washington’s withdrawal to North Castle in 1776. Falconer House was also the Frenchman Duc de Lauzun’s headquarters in 1781.  His troops, known as “Lauzun’s Legion,” camped on Battle Hill before marching onto the last major land battle of the war, the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER From Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Benjamin Boykin. June 30, 2021:

On Monday night, the Board of Legislators approved a measure to require co-op boards to provide written notice of a reason for rejection when a prospective buyer’s application is declined. 

Under the measure, the reason for rejection must be included when the co-op files notice of a rejection with the County’s Human Rights Commission.

The legislation passed Monday by a vote of 15-2.The measure is similar to one that has been in effect in Suffolk County since 2009.The new provision does not change any of the reasons that co-op boards may legally reject buyers. Co-ops have wide-ranging discretion in choosing who to approve and why. Applicants can be rejected for anything from financial reasons to the belief that the applicant would be a bad neighbor.

However, under fair housing laws, applicants cannot be rejected on the basis of race, familial status, national origin, religion, disability, or sex.The requirement to provide a reason for rejection will allow the County’s Human Rights Commission to better identify any pattern of illegal discrimination if it occurs.

The Human Right Commission will prepare a form that co-ops will have to use for the notification.

The new legislation also requires co-ops to inform prospective buyers of their co-op’s minimum financial requirements or financial preferences before home seekers file an application, and requires fair housing training for co-op board members.

The law will go into effect August 1, 2021.Please forward this E-News to family and friends who may be interested in this information.

en Español

Queridos amigos y vecinos,El lunes por la noche, la Junta de Legisladores aprobó una medida para exigir a las juntas de cooperativas que proporcionen un aviso por escrito de la razón del rechazo cuando se rechaza la solicitud de un posible comprador. Según la medida, el motivo del rechazo debe incluirse cuando la cooperativa presente un aviso de rechazo ante la Comisión de Derechos Humanos del Condado. La legislación fue aprobada el lunes por una votación de 15-2.La medida es similar a una que ha estado en efecto en el condado de Suffolk desde 2009.La nueva disposición no cambia ninguna de las razones por las que las juntas de cooperativas pueden rechazar legalmente a los compradores.Las cooperativas tienen una amplia discreción para elegir a quién aprobar y por qué. Los solicitantes pueden ser rechazados por cualquier motivo, desde razones financieras hasta la creencia de que el solicitante sería un mal vecino. Sin embargo, según las leyes de vivienda justa, los solicitantes no pueden ser rechazados por motivos de raza, estado familiar, origen nacional, religión, discapacidad o sexo.El requisito de proporcionar una razón para el rechazo permitirá a la Comisión de Derechos Humanos del Condado identificar mejor cualquier patrón de discriminación ilegal si ocurre. La Comisión de Derechos Humanos preparará un formulario que las cooperativas deberán utilizar para la notificación.La nueva legislación también requiere que las cooperativas informen a los posibles compradores sobre los requisitos financieros mínimos o las preferencias financieras de su cooperativa antes de que los solicitantes de vivienda presenten una solicitud, y requiere capacitación en vivienda justa para los miembros de la junta de la cooperativa.La ley entrará en efecto el 1 de agosto de 2021.Envíe estas noticias electrónicas a familiares y amigos que puedan estar interesados ​​en esta información.Atentamente,

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. June 30, 2021:

In light of the tragedy in Surfside, Florida, County Executive George Latimer has directed the County Operations Team to review the most recent inspections of all major County-owned office buildings to assess the structural status of each building. These inspections include buildings on 148 Martine Avenue in White Plains, 112 E. Post Road. in White Plains, 100 E. First Street in Mt. Vernon and others.

Where no inspection has been recently conducted – meaning within the last three years – Latimer has tasked crews to determine if a new inspection is warranted. The mission clearly is to identify any underlying problems and address them as quickly as possible.

The County does not believe there are any such dangerous issues at hand, and the circumstances of the Florida incident are very different from County structures, but that tragedy is a wake-up call to all entities to ensure the safety of the people who work in any such building.

Once the review is complete, the County will ask our Administration representatives to report to the Board of Legislators and all such findings will be released for public information.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS DOWNTOWNER. June 27, 2021.

The Hartford Courant reported Friday that Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced IT & T is moving its headquarters to Stamford from White Plains office campus complex, 1133 Westchester Avenue.

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development is giving ITT a $2 million grant contingent on ITT creating and keeping the full-time jobs of the 57 people ITT employs in the White Plains location.

The Courant quotes ITT Chief Executive Officer Luca Savi as saying “ (Stamford) will provide the perfect home for our new global headquarters and will allow us to grow and build upon ITT’s long history.”

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