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)

Council Approves Ben Simon Land Purchase; Continues Hamilton & Storage Complex P

Posted on December 7, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. December 7, 2004: The Common Council approved purchasing a 2.5 acre piece of property off Hillair Circle for $1.868 Million to be paid through parking fines, the open space acquisition fund, profits from the Starbuck’s “open space incubator,” and the Recreation Trust Fund. It continued hearings on The Hamilton condominiums at Church and Barker and the Storage USA self-storage facility expansion off South Kensico to January in view of opposition.

A young resident stressed the importance of the city continuing to add actual affordable housing units in new buildings, saying that payment of funds by developers building condominium buildings to satisfy the city 6% set-aside–affordable-housing ordinance was not working, since the $25,000 available through existing downpayment assisance plans did not begin to cover the cost of acquiring a house or a condominum. PhotoCapture of WPGA-TV Government Acces Telecast by WPCNR News

A hearing on the ASB Capital Management Hamilton Condominium to build a 13-story condominium was adjourned to January, and faced commentary from former Councilman Glen Hockley, advocating a density bonus plan where developers would be allowed to build larger to accommodate affordable units. Ann Pollack, Chair of the White Plains Affordable Housing Committee, urging the council require the developer to provide actual affordable units instead of payment of a fee to satisfy their affordable housing obligation. ( A city ordinance requires 6% of rental units of any new project to be set aside for affordable housing, and a consensus agreement by the council offers a payment alternative.)

The Mayor said that he appreciated the concern for affordable housing, and reported that right now in the city, 38% of the housing in the Central Business District fit the income profiles of “low and moderate income” (60% of median income, and 80% of median income) persons seeking residences. He noted the city was getting affordable units online in the future: that The City Center towers were going to provide 36 units (from Mr. Cappelli), that 16 were going to be available at The Jefferson, and 5 were in Clayton Park.

A 58-YEAR RESIDENT , a Mr. Cooper of 12 Minerva Place objected on behalf of himself and 28 other residents of the street about the city proposed zoning change that would allow building expansion of the Storage USA self-storage facility on Kensico Avenue. PhotoCapture of WPGA-TV Government Access telecast by WPCNR News

A proposal to rezone 7 Minerva Place as light industrial to accommodate an expansion of a self-storage unit by a new owner, Storage USA, faced opposition from a Mr. Cooper speaking for owners of property at 12, 13, 14 and the 26-unit, 16 Minerva Place saying expansion of the facility and rezoning to light industrial would lower their property values.

Commissioner of Planning Explains the Advantages of the 4 New Affordable Housing Units. PhotoCapture from WPGA-TV Government Access Telecast by WPCNR News

In light of this opposition, the hearing was continued to January, when a full-blown presentation was promised by Mayor Delfino. Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel noted that the new owner, Storage USA, had promised the city use of a 6,000 square foot lot for 4 units of affordable housing, and she cited that as one of the benefits to the city seeking to rezone the 25 foot frontage of 7 Minerva Place to reconfigure the storage building there.

The city extended the site plan permit for the senior affordable housing project spearhead by former Councilman Bill Brown.

The Council renewed the cabaret license of Coughlin’s restaurant, and approved the application of the Novita/Caffe Bar at 93 Mamaroneck Avenue to operate a cabaret and present outdoor dining on an interior terrace.

Amedeo Fusca, Unsung Hero. Employee of the Month. PhotoCapture of WPGA-TV Government Access Telecast by WPCNR News

The Mayor recognized Amedeo Fusca, Automotive Mechanic II with the Department of Public Works as Employee of the Month. Mr. Fusca was praised for his design of a Squad 4 Fire Department truck to provide the fire department with a first-response apparatus to respond to unusual life-threatening emergencies.

WHITE PLAINS CEREMONY TREE LIGHTS SUNDAY NIGHT. The Moment of Light.Photo by WPCNR News

The Mayor told the citizenry he was very moved by the Tree Lighting ceremony held Sunday evening in Tibbetts Park on the North Broadway median, saying approximately 2,000 persons attended, which he said was the largest crowd he had every experienced in his seven years of executing the ceremony.

MAYOR DELFINO SINGING JINGLE BELLS with White Plains Youth Bureau After School Choir Sunday evening. Photo by WPCNR News.

MAYOR DELFINO WELCOMES SANTA Sunday Night. The Mayor invited the view public of Monday evening’s Council Meeting to attend the City Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve, which he announced would be televised live. Photo by WPCNR News.

City First Quarter Sales Tax Receipts Jump 15.6% — Projects to $44 Million/YR

Posted on December 6, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR City Hall Limits. By John F. Bailey. December 6, 2004: The city unveils its First Quarter Financials for its fiscal year of 2004-05 this evening, and there’s good news. The city sales tax pace for July, August and September of the first quarter is running 15.6% of the 2003 First Quarter Pace. The figures released by the City Clerk’s office provided by the City of White Plains Financial Department, show that the city if it mains the present sales tax pace of 15% will collect $43.7 Million in Sales Tax by the completion of the fiscal year June 30, 2005.

The city Financial Report for 2003-2004, examined by WPCNR at the City Clerk Office, is also being officially released this evening showing the city collected $37,698,714 in sales tax for the 2003-04 fiscal year, hitting WPCNR’s projection made in the spring of 2004 that the city would have to collect $9 to $10 Million in sales tax in the last quarter to hit their budget projection. They just did make it.

The 2003-04 Financial Report also paints a picture portraying a robust White Plains economy last spring, when the city picked up $9,240,938 in sales tax in the final quarter to meet their budget, a 13-1/2% increase in sales tax pace over the last quarter (April May June) of 2002-2003, when the city took in $8,135,166 in sales taxes.

A fast examination of the Final financials of 04-04 by the CitizeNetReporter appears to indicate that the unreserved fund balance, though has committed $5,644,256 to “subsequent year” expenses this fiscal year, leaving the city only a $1,190,655 cash available for emergencies. It should be noted that the fund balance can be replenished as the so far “roaring 04-05” rolls on.

Other items in the Financial Report of note are a reported construction cost of $3,219,975 for the White Plains Performing Arts Center, and a $1,000,000 bond for the White Plains Performing Arts Center. There was no explanation as to whether these costs were offset by other revenues for specifically that purpose. There was also a construction cost of $2,757,271 for the Renaissance Plaza Fountain, which again did not have an explanation as to whether it was offset by grants and cash coming in for specifically that purpose.

WPCNR will provide a more detailed report when the Final financials become available to the general public this evening.

Christmas Trees for Charity Available at Memorial Methodist Church

Posted on December 4, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR EAST END SCENE. From Memorial Methodist Church, United Methodist Church. December 5, 2004: In this season of giving, Memorial and Central Korean United Methodist Churches invite you to turn your family’s Christmas tree into an opportunity to give to the needy. Christmas trees for charity!

The covenant partners, who are in ministry together and share a church on
Bryant Avenue in White Plains, are selling Christmas trees in our front yard
beginning Dec. 2, and donating all of the profits to local and international
children’s ministries.

More than 300 fresh frasier firs and balsams in a variety of sizes are being
shipped here from Maine and Pennsylvania to fill local homes with the
holiday spirit. The trees will be on sale in front of our church at 250
Bryant Avenue on Thursdays through Sundays from Dec. 2-24 or until the trees
run out. You can also buy greens, roping and wreaths!

The Tree Selling Schedule is as follows:

Thursdays & Fridays 3 to 6 p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sundays Noon to 6 p.m.

If you don’t need a tree, please consider buying one for a local family that
can’t afford it, and Memorial volunteers will gladly deliver it.

What’s the West Side Story? Post Road Makeover In Works?

Posted on December 4, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR West Side Story. By John F. Bailey. December 4, 2004: Is redevelopment about to be proposed for Post Road in vicinity of South Lexington Avenue? WPCNR has learned a reporter from another news organization has interviewed merchants of the Lexington Avenue-Post Road strip to get their views on redevelopment of the area.

One member of the White Plains Common Council told WPCNR about hearing rumors of redevelopment, but had no facts to support the rumors, and had not been briefed on any such development planned for that part of the city.

The “West Side Story” so far as WPCNR can tell based on the wildfire of rumors going around the city this weekend is that it may involve affordable housing and other development possibly planned to be built somewhere on West Post Road by a prominent local developer. The actual location of the development is sketchy.

The rumored site would according to the whispers be in the vicinity of West Post Road and South Lexington Avenue near Calvary Baptist Church.

Reverend Lestor Cousin of Calvary Baptist Church told WPCNR he was unaware of any such planned development, and would check into it.

Is there any substance to the rumors? Stay tuned.