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)

Another “Magnificent 7” Join WPPD. Department Now at 198 Officers.

Posted on December 24, 2002 by John Bailey

.WPCNR WHITE PLAINS POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. December 23, 2002: Seven new police officers, 6 men and 1 woman, were officially sworn in by White Plains Police Chief James Bradley Monday afternoon, bringing the White Plains Police Department up to a force of 198, just 4 officers shy of full strength.
The ceremony took place at the Department of Public Safety before family, friends and dignitaries, Mayor Joseph Delfino welcoming the new officers to the force, and Commissioner Frank Straub charging with the task of fulfilling the White Plains Police Officer credo of “Integrity, Professionalism, and Respect.”

I NEW GOOD GIRL AND 6 NEW GOOD GUYS: Seven new police officers take the oath to become White Plains Police Monday afternoon before Chief James Bradley. They are, Left to Right: Kevin Farrelly, Gilbert Lopez, Tracy Magaletta, Thomas Murphy, Antonio Nolletti, Michael Perry, and James Tassone.
Photo by WPCNR News

MAYOR CONGRATULATES NEW YORK AREA RECRUITS: The new officers come from all about the Westchester and Rockland County areas with interesting backgrounds, many from a tradition of law enforcement.
Photo by WPCNR News

Kevin Farrelly is the son of a veteran New York City narcotics officer. Tracy Magaletta is the daughter of Frank Magaletta, a supervisor in the White Plains Department of Recreation and Parks. Ms. Magaletta was just about to graduate from the New York City Police Academy when she “got the call” and decided to join the White Plains Police instead.

NYPD Veteran Officer.

Frank Murphy of Yonkers, resigned from the New York Police Department, to join the White Plains Police, and at age 35, is the oldest “rookie.”

New Patrolman James Tassone of Brewster, a son of a Port Chester detective, said he felt the White Plains department “was the best department in the state,” because of its “discipline and professionalism, and the training.” He said he had always wanted to join it.

THE NEWEST WHITE PLAINS POLICE: recruits are applauded by Commissioner Straub, seated to right of podium, with Deputy Public Safety Commissioners to his left. Police Chief James Bradley, just finished administering the oath is standing to the right in background. Recruits are, L to R, Kevin Farrelly, Gilbert Lopez, Tracy Magaletta, Thomas Murphy, Antonio Nolletti, Michael Perry, and James Tassone.
Photo by WPCNR News

To Receive New Terrorism and Situational Training.

The new officers will be the first WPPD recruits to undergo training in the department under new Department of Public Safety Commissioner Frank Straub.

The Commissioner said they would receive 18 weeks at the Westchester County Police Academy, followed by 8 weeks “in-house” training, finishing with 13 weeks with an assigned Field Training & Evaluation Officer before they will be patrolling on their own.

The Terrorism Piece Plus Customer Service.

Commissioner Straub told WPCNR the new officers would receive new instruction in handling terrorism situations and role-playing instruction to develop the desired approach to field situations “with tremendous emhasis on the Integrity, Professionalism, Respect model,” Straub said. “The emphasis is customer service, being professional, yet sensitive to the community, being respectful of residents and visitors.”

Straub said outside experts and lecturers from other agencies would be coming in to the department classrooms to provide the expanded “terrorism” curriculum.

Mayor Welcomes New Officers as Persons
Who “Want to Do It.”

Mayor Joseph Delfino opened the ceremony after Reverend Lester Cousin sang The Star Spangled Banner with the White Police Police Honor Guard presenting the colors.

The Mayor said “You should be very proud accepting the responsibility to protect the lives, safety and property of the City of White Plains. Many of you are from families of police officers. This is something you’ve wanted to do for a long time. That’s the kind of people we want in this position, people who want to do it.”

YOU’RE THE MAYOR OF THIS CITY: The Mayor’s remarks were brief but gave the new officers a perspective on their new roles that when they interact with visitors and citizens of White Plains, “You are the Mayor of this city. The way they are treated by you is the way they feel about our city. It is you who address the public.”The Mayor finished, saying “God bless you and your families.”<
Photo by WPCNR News

Police Chief James Bradley then administered the oath of office, officially making them White Plains Police Officers.

YOU ARE HEROES: Commissioner of Public Safety Frank Straub opened his remarks soberly saying he and many of his fellow commissioners and officers had attended the funeral of Robert Ambrose, the State Trooper killed Friday on the New York State Thruway. He said the new recuits, like Trooper Ambrose are heroes.
Photo by WPCNR News

“He died helping protect a motorist involved in an accident. He was a hero. At the beginning of your careers in the Department of Public Safety, you too are heroes. Every time you find a lost child, help a citizen, each time you respond to a call for help you and the uniform you wear will inspire and affect the residents and visitors to this city.”

Dr. Straub said “Integrity. Professionalism and Respect” were the cornerstones of the department. He gave credit to the new officers’ families, and advised them that “their sustenance and support that will make your careers successful.”

BADGE 19: New White Plains Patrolman Kevin Farrelly proudly displays his new badge as he celebrates with his family.
Photo by WPCNR News

Photo by WPCNR News

Spano Signs Budget “on spec”

Posted on December 23, 2002 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. (EDITED) December 23, 2002:County Executive Andy Spano has signed a budget for 2003 that holds the line on property taxes. But he warned that if the state doesn’t give the county authority to raise the sales tax, then property taxes will go up almost 15 percent and important quality-of-life county services that protect the public and help children and women and fund cultural groups will be slashed further.

The $1.338 billion budget was approved Saturday morning by the Board of Legislators and signed by Spano Monday.

“Monopoly Money” to be Shared With Communities

The budget includes $65 million in revenue that would be generated if the state allows the county to raise its sales tax one penny on the dollar effective March 1 to pay for state-mandated programs. Another $26 million in revenue from this sales tax increase would go to Westchester’s towns, villages, school districts and small cities to help them hold the line on local property taxes.

No Sales Tax Increase Means a Contingency Budget

If the state does not authorize the sales tax increase, the county will enact a contingency budget that includes a 14.84 percent increase in property taxes and $14.9 million in additional cuts to county services, including public safety and legal aid; programs to help children; and programs to prevent domestic violence and drug and tobacco use.

Spano Challenges Albany Legislators

“I and the Democratic-controlled Board of Legislators do not want to raise property taxes. I once again call on our state legislators to give Westchester the authority to raise the sales tax,” Spano said. “The alternative is a double-digit property tax increase, layoffs of county employees, and further reductions to county services, including public safety, as well as programs that help women and children, the hungry and support the arts and our libraries.”

Praises Democratic Leadership for Not Raising Property Taxes.

He added, “I want to thank the Democratic leadership, including Richard Wishnie, the chairman of the Budget Committee; Lois Bronz, the chair of the Board; and Mike Kaplowitz, Clinton Young, Bill Ryan and Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Together with Democratic Legislators George Latimer, Vito Pinto, Jose Alvarado and Marty Rogowsky, we have enacted a budget that does not raise property taxes. And together, we will ask the state Legislature to give us the authority to raise the sales tax.”

State Has 49 Days to Authorize the Sales Tax

The Board of Legislators will meet in a special session Monday, Jan. 6, to authorize the contingency plan. That plan would be put into effect no later than Feb. 10 if the state has not authorized the sales tax increase.

Contingency Here We Come

“While I am not happy raising any taxes, I firmly believe that increasing the sales tax is far better than raising the property tax,” Spano said. “Although I am optimistic that the state Legislature will grant our request, I also recognize our responsibilities to enact a balanced budget and to do everything within our power to maintain the county’s triple-A bond rating. Therefore it is necessary to have a contingency budget in place.”

Anatomy of the Cuts

The $14.9 million in cuts that would be enacted if the contingency budget is put in place include the following:

• Elimination of funds for anti-smoking programs aimed at teens and pre-teens

• Closing of drug-treatment programs for prisoners

• Elimination of Parkway Police patrols

• Additional across the board cuts to the County Executive’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, the County Clerk’s Office and the Board of Legislators

• Additional cuts to the Board of Elections

• Elimination of salary increase for employees who have been without a contract for a year

• An additional 10-20 percent cut to all community-based organizations that the county works with. These include providers of health services as well as cultural organizations.

• Elimination of an additional 142 subsidized day care slots

• Elimination of program to investigate child abuse

• Additional cuts to Legal Aid Society

• Additional cuts to the Public Utility Agency

• Layoffs of county employees.

“Implementing these cuts would deeply affect our quality of life in Westchester. But without a sales tax, we have no choice,” Spano said.

Mandated Spending by State Again Fingered

Westchester expects to spend about $1 billion next year on state- mandated programs,(according to the Westchester County News Release.) Of this, the state will reimburse the county about $213 million; the remainder comes from county tax revenues and fees. From Medicaid to services for children with disabilities, from railroad station maintenance to corrections to pensions — the costs of these state-imposed programs are soaring, collectively expected to eat up more than $620 million in county property tax and sales tax revenue next year.

Recapping the Budget Buidup

The increase alone from 2002 to 2003 is about $111 million.
In his original budget submitted to the Board of Legislators in November, Spano cut $30 million by eliminating 229 vacant county jobs and slashing discretionary spending. He also raised fees for a variety of services. Even with this, Spano said at the time that unless the county was given approval to raise the sales tax one penny on the dollar, property taxes would have to go up 28.6 percent.

Democrat Caucus Cut the Budget That Will Be Used if Sales Tax Increase Approved.

Working with the Democratic majority on the county Board, Spano and the legislators cut an additional $42 million from Spano’s proposed budget, eliminating some additional vacant positions and making other cuts to county services and programs. It is that budget that would be in place if the sales tax increase is authorized.
No Sales Tax. More Cuts.

If it is not, the contingency budget with its draconian cuts of an additional $14.9 million and property tax hike of 14.84 percent will go into effect.

County property taxes make up about 15-20 percent of a property owner’s bill. The remainder of property taxes are collected by school districts, local governments and special districts (sewer, water, garbage, etc.).

BioTech Talks Day 2: Hospital Promises Not to Sue

Posted on December 23, 2002 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey December 23, 2002: The city resumed exploratory talks with New York Presbyterian Hospital behind closed doors Friday morning, and according to George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, talks continued amicable and productive enough to schedule a series of meetings continuing on Fridays in January. Gretsas also said that as a result of the first meeting, New York Presbyterian Hospital had promised not to sue the city in an Article 78 action over the terms of the approval of their biotech project.

Talks will continue between Vice President of Real Estate for the hospital, Robert Volland and his associate, Constance Hildesley, the Mayor and Mr. Gretsas. Asked whether or not the hospital, which had asked for a week recess so they could review what the hospital described as “figures,” Gretsas said he was not at liberty to disclose the hospital’s conclusion on those “figures.”

Tigers Take Out Trinity Catholic of Stamford, 59-55

Posted on December 22, 2002 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. December 22, 2002: The Tigers behind Quentin Martin’s 17 points and Hassan Washington’s 14, outlasting Trinity Catholic of Stamford, 59-55 to win the Journal-News Slam Dunk Challenge at the County Center last night. The Tigers ran their record to 5-0.