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)

Joe Davidson Tapped for Grand Marshall for St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Posted on February 25, 2003 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAMARONECK AVENUE ADVANCE ADVOCATE. From John Martin. February 25, 2003: At a reception attended by over 100 guests at Dooley Macs restaurant in downtown White Plains on Monday night, the White Plains St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee announced the selection of the 2003 Grand Marshal. At the event parade committee Chairman John Martin told the overflowing crowd that former White Plains Commissioner of Recreation and Parks Joseph P. Davidson had been selected as Grand Marshal for this year’s parade.
Also in attendance were the honorees selected as Aides to the Grand Marshal, Timothy Buckley, Terrence M . Conroy, James Flynn, Teresa Flynn, Marie McMahon, James R. Noonan and Mary Broderick Ryan.

Commissioner Davidson, who completed a 47 year distinguished career of civil service last year, spoke to the attendees and thanked the Committee for their selection of him.

Prior to the announcement, pipers of the Westchester Firefighters Emerald Society Pipe Band provided music and led the procession of dignitaries.

Assembly Passes Bradley’s 911 Wireless Bill to Locate Callers at Risk

Posted on February 25, 2003 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY REPORT-DISPATCH. From Assemblyman Adam Bradley’s Media Relations Office. February 25, 2003: Assemblyman Adam Bradley announced Tuesday the assembly had passed legislation to help localities make life-saving improvements to local 911 systems — enabling local emergency dispatch centers to pinpoint emergency calls from wireless phones.
The Wireless 911 Local Incentive Funding Enhancement (LIFE) program will end unnecessary delays in 911 enhancements by providing funding directly to local emergency dispatch centers. The legislation will help localities which currently handle their own wireless 911 calls, to finance the equipment they need. The program expedites actions taken by the Assembly in 2002, which set aside $20 Million in surcharges to help localities fund the system’s implementation.

“We need to do everything we can to keep our families safe — and that means seeing to it that this money goes to enhancing New York’s 911 systems,” Bradley said. “I urge the Senate and the governor to follow the Assembly in enacting this vital legislation before another tragedy occurs.”

New Yorkers have paid $200 Million in surcharges since 1991, Bradley’s report said, which was meant specifically to establish a statewide 911 emergency telephone communications system. However a 2002 audit of the E911 Fund by the state comptroller criticisized the use of the fun, citing spending on expenses like dry cleaning, travel and lawn mowing.

The bill was sponsored by David Koon. Richard Brodsky was a Co-Sponsor, and Mr. Bradley, one of the Multi-Sponsors.

Argent Mortgage to Move in to 333 Westchester Ave.

Posted on February 24, 2003 by John Bailey

WPCNR WESTCHESTER AVENUE ADVOCATE & BEACON. February 24, 2003: The former General Foods property in White Plains, 333 Westchester Avenue, announced today the lease of about one/third(118,000 square feet) of the newly refurbished 333 Westchester “urban-rural” office complex to Argent Mortgage Company, a subsidiary of Ameriquest Mortgage Company.

THE RIGHT MAYOR:Charles S. Cohen thanked Mayor Joseph Delfino for his support of the renovation, calling him “The Right Mayor,” after the Mayor had complimented Cohen for bringing Argent Mortgage into “the right building, the right county, and the right city.” Mayor Delfino recalled that he had started his business career in the very same building back in the late 1950s.
Photo by WPCNR Business

Cohen said Argent would be leasing the North building for a training facility, and complimented his brokers, Colliers ABR, for bringing in Argent and pointing out the expansion possibilities the 333 Westchester offered to them as the key to the deal.

Colliers Vice Chairman Stephen J. Riker would not disclose the terms of the lease or its length. When asked if it was less than market value, Riker declined to say whether the lease deal made was below typical market, saying only that the lease rate per square foot was “competitive.” He said it was negotiated in three weeks.

Mr. Cohen noted that the Argent operation will be bringing in 400 employees into the new White Plains offices this summer, and will feature a state-of-the-art loan processing training complex.

According to the news release provided at the news conference, the four buildings on the corner of Westchester Avenue and North Street offer 600,000 square feet. 333 Westchester the new home for Argent Mortgage, contains 168,000 square feet of office space, of which Argent with the signing of the lease over the weekend is renting 118,000 square feet.

Tenants at 333 Westchester Avenue include Allied Irish Bank, Moviefone, MACSTEEL ASOMA, steel traders, Endurance Specialty Holdings, a Bermuda insurance company, Fredman & Rosen,lawyers, Rosenfeld & Tortu, benefits consultants, Merit Direct and Stone, Russo & Lassaro, CPAs.

The entire four-building complex contains 600,000 square feet, including a cafeteria, conference center, and a recreation facility. The space with the Argent lease now is 50% occupied, while the 333 Westchester North Building is now 70% occupied.

County Legislature B & A Committee Approves $500G for Main & Mamaroneck Fountain

Posted on February 24, 2003 by John Bailey

WPCNR WESTCHESTER COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. February 24, 2003: The Westchester County Legislature Budget and Appropriations Committee, listened to Susan Habel, White Plains Commissioner of Planning, and Mayor Joseph Delfino put in a polished professional pitch for county support of the city’s plans for a makeover of the Main Street Fountain Plaza this morning, and liked what they heard, voting to approve the request for $500,000 in county aid, and to recommend the monetary support measure to the full County Legislature.

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN: In his first time back on the eighth floor since leaving the county legislature, Mayor Joseph Delfino addressed the County Budget & Appropriations Committee and thanked them for their support for the makeover of the Fountain Plaza. To the left of the Mayor are Legislators Michael Kaplowitz and Ursula Lamotte. Richard Wishnie’s office said Monday afternoon that the individual measure approving the $500,000 aid for the Fountain Plaze would be voted on by the full County Board on Monday, March 3, one week from today.
Photo by WPCNR News

Various County Legislators: Michael Kaplowitz, Ursula Lamotte and Martin Rogowsky comented on the project going up one block away from the County Office building.

Kaplowitz asked that perhaps in return for the funding the city might allow the county and citizens’ groups to use the Performing Arts Theatre (“synergyzing with the county,” were his words) and was assured by Ms. Habel that the city was considering organizations such as the Westchester Arts Council, as well as the needs of other civic groups. Laplowitz also wondered what White Plains was investing in the project. Ms. Habel pointed out the city was investing Parking Authority money, and paying $23 Million for the City Center Garage. Another legislator asked if Mr. Cappelli was paying anything for the theater and was told by Ms. Habel that he was paying $1.1 Million, plus money for the fountain.

Mr. Rogowsky suggested to Mr. Wishnie, Chair of the Committee, that in the future cities and towns, since White Plains will keep most of the sales tax from the City Center, that the city perhaps think about paying back such county monies in the future. Mr. Wishnie said this was a good suggestion.

Lois Bronz asked about affordable housing, and Ms. Habel walked her through Cappelli’s agreement to make 6% of his rental units “affordable housing.”

Ms. Lamotte inquired about whether the fountain would waste water, in view of draught experienced by the County last year. Ms. Habel assured Ms. Lamotte that the fountain would recycle the water as do all city fountains.

Sal Carrera, head of the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency, made a strong bid for the funding before the vote, saying,

“This (the fountain plaza) is a major asset that we should enhance.”

Asked about a timetable and the possibility of delaying this until next year, Habel said it was imperative that the fountain plaza be completed by October, 2003, this fall before the City Center theatres open.