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 on Target to Terminate Parking Authority.

Posted on May 26, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. May 26, 2004: Edward Dunphy, City Corporation Counsel reported to the Common Council this evening that the council would receive a home rule resolution to vote upon at their June 7 Council meeting to pave the way for dissolution of the White Plains Parking Authority by the State Legislature. Mr. Dunphy reported that in conversations with White Plains Albany representatives this afternoon that Adam Bradley of the 89th District in the Assembly, and Suzi Oppenheimer, State Senator would sponsor rules bills in the Assembly and Senate respectively. “We even have the Senate Bill Number and the Assembly Bill Number” Dunphy said.

DUNPHY reports status of Parking Authority Legislation. Photo by WPCNR News

Dunphy said the council would also receive legislation for action at their June 7 meeting that would establish a Department of Parking that would take over all White Plains Parking Authority functions. Dunphy noted in response to questions by Councilwoman Rita Malmud that the Parking Authority Operating Agreement established between the city and the Parking Authority in 1997 established the city’s right to take over certain Parking Authority functions if they chose to do so.

“YOU GOT IT.” Assemblyman Adam Bradley speaking to WPCNR at his FundRaiser at Coughlin’s Thursday night, said the Rules legislation would be offered as soon as he received the White Plains home rule request, saying that if the Common Council and the people of White Plains felt the dissolution of the Parking Authority was in the city’s best interest, he would support it. Photo by WPCNR News.

Dunphy said he had been assured by Mr. Bradley and Ms. Oppenheimer that all was on schedule to pass the legislation terminating the existence of the Parking Authority by June 30, allowing the city to absorb all the Parking Authority assets and properties, including its $7.5 Million Fund Balance.

Ms. Malmud queried Dunphy on whether these funds had to be dedicated to parking, or whether they could just go into the general fund. Dunphy said they could be included in the general fund without being dedicated to any specific use. She asked what would happen if the homerule and Parking Authority Dissolution Legislation were not to pass by June 30. Dunphy said based on his discussions with Rome, New York, that he expected the city could absorb the assets anyway for the 05-06 budget year.

No other Councilperson asked any questions about how the city would organize the new Department of Parking, and who would run it. Paul Wood, City spokesperson, when asked if Albert Moroni and John Larson, the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director would head the new Department of Parking said he did not know. It is assumed that is what would happen, but no councilmember asked that question.

Mayor Joseph Delfino announced that a presentation of the Department of Parking structure and organization would be made to the Parking Authority Board June 14, which may be the last meeting ever of the White Plains Parking Authority Board.

In a possibly-related Parking Authority development, William Holzel, a member of the Parking Authority Board who had voted to hire outside counsel to research legal issues for the Parking Authority Board three weeks ago, faxed his resignation to the Mayor today.

Council Bond Plan Limiting Borrowing for Pensions Wins. Raises 4% for Commishes

Posted on May 26, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. May 26, 2004: As Decision Night hour (or Decision Afternoon, as the case may be), on the 2004-05 budget for the City of White Plains approaches, it appears, based on the documents about to be considered by the Common Council this afternoon at 4 P.M., that the city budget will rise to $114.8 million. This budget calls for a 12.7% City Property Tax increase, Councilperson Rita Malmud said today. Malmud told WPCNR that the city was going to bond for $2,350,000 as proposed by the Common Council so the city would not have to bond for the entire $4.1 Million due to the state pension fund. The increase over the current year budget is 8.9%, according to Anne Reasoner, the Budget Director, in Common Council backup documents.

WPCNR has also learned based on preliminary examination of this afternoon’s collateral materials, (which do not show previous year’s salaries), that City Commissioners, including the Mayor’s Executive Officer appear to be getting across-the-board 4% salary increases in fiscal 04-05. Should Mr. Gretsas remain with the city through the start of the 04-05 fiscal year his pension salary would be based on $130,000. The Common Council, Ms. Malmud said, is not receiving an increase in their salary which remains at $33,719. The Mayor is not taking an increase either. His Honor remains at $134,875.

The Common Council also will vote on whether to continue transfer of parking ticket fines from the Parking Authority into the City Economic Development office in 2004-05, for another year, continuing that revenue stream.

A resolution calling for dissolution of the Parking Authority, requiring a resolution on the part of the Common Counsel is not on the agenda at this time.

Earlier this week, Assemblyman Adam Bradley told WPCNR he has readied legislation in the New York State Assembly calling for dissolution of the White Plains Parking Authority by the state legislature, but in order to introduce it, he needs a “home rule” resolution from the City of White Plains, requesting that. As of Tuesday, no such resolution had been offered up for Council consideration.

$37.8 Million in Sales Tax Budgeted.

There is no change in the sales tax revenues projected in the new budget.

Ms. Malmud said she had been assured by the Budget Office that sales tax revenues would come in at 10% over last year’s receipts, that would find the city collecting $37.8 Million in sales tax receipts in 2004-05, and that is what is budgeted for, accordingly. Malmud said she had heard a figure announced for estimated sales taxes in April of this year, and noted that the city would not know the actual figure until the state conducts its “reconciliation” at the end of the fiscal year.

200 WPHS Students Recognized

Posted on May 25, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michelle Schoenfeld. May 25, 2004: Over 200 students received awards at the annual White Plains High School Underclass Award Night held last month. Included were the following book awards from various colleges and universities:

Anya Brown received the Barnard in Westchester Book Award; Zachary Kaye, Brown University Book Award; Dorotea Szkolar, Bryn Mawr College President’s Book Award; Hannah Chang, Colgate Book Award; Max Kravitz, Columbia University Book Award; Rachel Silverman, Cornell University Book Award; Danielle Cohn, Harvard Prize Book Award; Ewa Gorczyca, Mt. Holyoke Book Award; Janice Kim, Oberlin College Alumni Book Award; Lauren Cokely, Rutgers University Book Award; Yesenia Aguilar, Smith College Club Book Award; Marten Coulter, University of Michigan Club of Westchester Book Award; Shira Wrightman, University of Pennsylvania Book Award; Naama Wrightman, Wellesley College Book Award; Sarah Kellogg, Williams College Book Award; and Elizabeth Newman, Yale Book Award.

In other presentations, Joshua Daskin received the West Point Award; Juliana Neuspeil was given the Community Ambassadors Abroad Scholarship; Nicholas Hajal received the Rensselaer Medal; and Continental Math League Awards went to Susannah Genty-Waksberg, Danzhou Li, Madelyn Petralia and Jacaob Roby.

The 2004 Junior Champions, League 1-B

Posted on May 25, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. May 25, 2004: The White Plains Varsity Softball Team plays Clarkstown North this Thursday afternoon in the Semifinal round of the Sectionals, after polishing off Saunders, 18-0 Tuesday.

Meanwhile, last week the other softball Tigers, the JV, all former players in the White Plains Little League, and participants in Softball Coach Ted O’Donnell’s winter clinics won the League 1-B Junior Varsity Championship, beating Yorktown twice in three days, 3-2 and 5-4, (a pair of thrill-as) to achieve it. The two losses to White Plains were the first time Yorktown’s Junior Varsity had lost in two years. The Tigers, under Coach Alberto Minotta, won 11 straight league games, to finish 15-3-1.

The Junior Champions:

Back Row, L to R, Jen Morricone, Lauren Kroutil, Meg Laub, Egypt Vlymen-Williams, Abby Rudow, Jen Gilch, Lisa Tompkins, Michelle Portillo.Front Row: Christine Giansante, Nicole Cordola, Emma Cornfield, Kailey Mecia, Meg O’Keefe, Juliana Bailey. Coach Alberto Minotta.Not pictured, Laura Cedrone.

IN ON THE BUNT: Michelle Portillo, third base, Juliana Bailey, and Kailey Mecia, at first, charging a bunt at Ursuline. The infield of Portillo, Kroutil, Gilch and Mecia meshed as the season went on to perform flawlessly against Yorktown in the clutch. Mecia’s throw from first on an fielder’s choice to Emma Cornfield at home cut down the tying run at the plate in the seventh at Yorktown to preserve first place with a 5-4 win. Christine Giansante’s grounder after Lisa Tompkins had walked and moved to third drove in the winning run in the sixth. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

THE LITTLE ENGINE AND POPCORN: Batterymates Juliana Bailey, left, and Emma Cornfield worked together spinning 7 shutouts, with The Engine averaging 10 strikeouts a game, (and no walks) and Popcorn having only 1 dropped third strike in all the games she caught. The duo recorded 4-0 and 7-0 wins over New Rochelle and Ursuline and 3-2 and 5-4 wins over Yorktown. Michelle Portillo pitched a gutty, key complete game 9-3 win over New Rochelle just before the showdown in Yorktown to position the Tigers for the final Yorktown showdown. Photo by WPCNR Sports

Lauren Kroutil at shortstop had the ability to make the big play in the clutch. Laura Cedrone, the centerfielder and leadoff hitter set the table and had solid coverage in the outfield. Second baseperson Jen Gilch had good range and backed up flawlessly when firstbaseperson Kailey came in on a cover. Kroutil, Gilch and Mecia batting 2-3-4 not only hit for power but moved the runner unselfishly. Egypt Vlymen-Williams emerged as a rangy natural centerfielder in the Yorktown games. Christine Giansante, Nicole Cordola set the table, started rallies and got on when they had to. The team won because they played as a team.

THE LAST WARMUP TOGETHER: Coach Minotta works out “Cor DOE -la” “Popcorn” “Megan Laub” “GeeANNSante” and his Champs for the last time Friday. The team turned in their Orange and Black today. Photo by WPCNR Sports.