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)

EARTHQUAKE IN CENTRAL NEW JERSEY, A 4.8-ER STRONG RUMBLES WHITE PLAINS & NORTHEAST. MAYOR ANNOUNCES NO DAMAGE TO CITY

Posted on April 5, 2024 by John Bailey

BULLETIN

White Plains Mayor Tom Roach notified residents via phone reporting there was no damage suffered by the city during the Earthquake that audibly announced itself in the city at 10:23 this morning and shook structures.

The Mayor asked citizens to refrain from calling the Department of Public Safety because the number of queries was tying up the Department lines. Do not call for information, the Mayor said only call if you are having an emergency.

The quake was 4.8 in power on the Richter Scale, “strong.” The Mayor said it was felt in Connecticut, New Jersey and Long Island.

WPCNR’s John Bailey was taping his White Plains Week report this morning at the White Plains Public Library when midway through the report as he was taping, the studio shook and a loud grinding noise was heard lasting about 10 to 15 seconds. He at first thought it was audio noise until the studio trembled.

No reports yet of damages in the central New Jersey town where the epicenter was.

POLL SHOWS GEORGE LATIMER LEADS CONGRESSMAN JAMAAL BOWMAN BY 17 POINTS WITH 11 WEEKS, 5 DAYS BEFORE JUNE 25 PRIMARY FOR 16TH CONGRESSIONAL SEAT

Posted on April 4, 2024 by John Bailey

New poll finds Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s Democratic opponent, George Latimer, with a double-digit lead in NY-16 Congressional Primary

Westchester County Executive George Latimer holds a 17-point lead over Bowman in the race

Washington, D.C. (April 4, 2024) — Today, DMFI PAC released the findings of a comprehensive new poll showing Westchester County Executive George Latimer in a strong position to defeat incumbent Congressman Jamaal Bowman in the June 2024 Democratic primary race. Conducted by The Mellman Group, this survey offers important insights into the perspectives of voters in New York’s 16th Congressional District.

“To put it plainly, Congressman Bowman’s constituents are very unhappy with him but very impressed with County Executive Latimer. The combination of Latimer’s sterling image and voters’ distinctly negative assessments of Bowman may cost the incumbent congressman his seat. Bowman’s constituents are even divided on whether he even cares about them, but the vast majority believe Latimer meets that central test,” said DMFI PAC Chairman Mark Mellman. “It’s simple: George Latimer is highly regarded, while Jamaal Bowman is widely unpopular.

“On Israel issues, the data are clear – Congressman Bowman is out of touch with his constituents. A majority of primary voters in his district approve of the job President Biden is doing handling the war between Israel and Hamas and want the U.S. to support Israel.

“With a robust campaign, George Latimer is in strong position to unseat the now unpopular Congressman Bowman.”

This analysis represents the findings of a survey of 400 voters in New York’s 16th Congressional District representing the likely June 2024 Democratic primary electorate. The survey uses a registration-based sample, with interviews conducted via landline, cell, and text-to-online from March 26-30, 2024. The margin of error for the sample as a whole is +/- 4.9% at the 95% level of confidence (higher for subgroups).

Key Highlights from the Poll:

Latimer has a 17-point lead in the horse race, with 52% of the Democratic primary vote, compared to 35% for Bowman, 0% for Farber, and 13% undecided.
- Among those who vote most often in primaries (3 or 4 of the last 4), Latimer is even stronger, leading Bowman by 56% to 35%.
Latimer’s double-digit lead results from his substantial image advantage. For example, while voters are quite positive about Latimer’s performance in office (68% positive, 18% negative) they judge Bowman’s performance quite negatively (36% positive, 55% negative)
Bowman is out of touch with his constituents on Israel issues. By 59% to 28%, Democratic primary voters approve of the job Joe Biden is doing handling the war between Israel and Hamas. In addition, 62% of Democratic primary voters want the U.S. to support Israel in the current conflict while a mere 5% want the U.S. to back Hamas.

For more detailed poll results and analysis, please click here.

WEATHER ALERT FROM WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPT. OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, HEAVY RAIN, FLOODING WINDS 20MPH GUSTS TO 30 TO 40

Posted on April 3, 2024 by John Bailey

WESTCHESTER COUNTY WEATHER ALERT

(White Plains, NY) – The Westchester County Department of Emergency Services is monitoring heavy rains and strong wind gusts predicted to persist in our area. Already saturated grounds combined with forceful wind gusts could cause downed trees, power lines and power outages. ConEdison is currently reporting customer outages; please check their website for the most up-to-date numbers and locations. If you have trouble with your electric service or want to report a downed power line, call ConEdison at 1-800-752-6633.

Residents should expect road closures and should be especially mindful of the Bronx River Parkway and Saw Mill River Parkway. The Westchester County Department of Public Safety reminds residents not to drive around road barriers. Additionally, coastal flooding is possible in the Sound Shore communities as well as along the Hudson River.

As with all storms, charge all cell phones, and have flashlights and extra batteries ready and accessible. In an emergency, always call 9-1-1.

(EDITOR’S ACTUALITY: THESE WERE THE CONDITIONS AT 5 P.M. WINDS AT 20 WITH GUSTS TO 30 AND 50 MPH WIND HOWLING OUT OF THE EAST AND PELTING, STINGING RAIN IN THE FACE AND YOU COULD NOT WALK AGAINST THE WIND IT WAS PUSHING YOU BACK, BACK, BACK. (VIDEO ACTUALITY BY WPCNR. CLICK ARROW TO SEE THE FEEL)

COUNTY SALES DOWN 10% IN JAN. FEB. CARRYOVER DEFICIT REACHES $38 MILLION

Posted on April 3, 2024 by John Bailey

WHITE PLAINS SALES DOLLARS EVEN WITH LAST YEAR: RECORD $56 MILLION IN SALES TAX REVENUE POSSIBLE.

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. Statistics from New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Observation & Analysis by John F. Bailey. April 3, 2024:

Westchester County sales tax receipts continued soft on revenue of $132,039,180 the first two months of 2024, down 10% $14,649,682 from the first 2 months of 2023, when the county received $146.7 million.

The trend added to the Westchester County sales tax decline (it ended 2023 with), at a $23.7 million shortfall in projected sales tax receipts. The continued decline unless spending increases robustly raises the sales tax gap growing monthly to $38 Million.

If this trend continues, the county deficit they ended 2023 with — $23.7 Million dollars below projected sales tax revenue in 2023, could significantly increase.

The county collected $70,697,235 in January 2024 according the New York State Department of Taxation & Finance. In January a year ago, the County collected $79,248,711 (when inflation was running 8 to 9%).

The 2024 February number is $67,440,451 compared to January 2024 handle of $70.697,235. That’s still down 4.6% in a month.

If Westchester sales do not increase sharply the next 10 months it will be hard to make up $38 Million in 10 months. The county needs to increase sales revenues $10 million a month to get back to even in the current sales tax.

The current softness, running about $70 Million monthly if revenues do not increase will end up at $840 MILLION, around $100 million short.

The county to ask for a sales tax increase from the state of 15% and use fund balance for the rest, leaving the county in fiscal balance in 2025. This is the lowest start to the fiscal year I have seen since I have been following the sales tax barometer.

Can the county use their fund balance to make up deficit? Can more Governor Hochul help bail out the county? Can the county place a 35% surcharge beginning next month to cover the ballooning deficit. Can spending be slashed 35%.

Right now $840 million is the projected sales tax revenues if sales taxes continue flat and the carry over deficit has to be met. Or perhaps a budgeting finesse can balance the budget. Or we can cross our fingers and hope Westchester residents open their wallets.

Meanwhile on the other side of town

White Plains sales tax revenues have caught up and are on the way to a $56.7 Million sales tax revenue bonanza– all time high.

After 8 months of the White Plains 2023-24 fiscal year, White Plains is at $38,051,172 in sales tax revenues, virtually even with the first 8 months of the previous year, 2022-23 when the city collected $38,185,211…only 1/3 of a percent lower.

If White Plains continues to hit the numbers from last spring in March April, May and June, the city will receive $18,572,365 in tax receipts which will top previous highs in sales tax revenues bringing in $56.7 million