WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. September 24, 2025

ICYMI: GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S OP-ED IN EMPIRE REPORT:

Today, Empire Report published an op-ed by Governor Kathy Hochul about the alarming rise of political violence in America—and the responsibility we all have to to stop it. Text of the op-ed can be viewed online and is available below:

An assassination attempt on President Trump.

The assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman.

A plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer and a firebombing at the home of Governor Josh Shapiro.

The violent attack on our Capitol on January 6.

And now, the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a disturbing and increasingly common pattern of political violence. And unless we take action, it won’t stop here.

Over the course of the past few days we’ve rightfully seen leaders from both sides of the aisle forcefully condemn the horrific violence that bore out in Utah on Wednesday. But we’ve also watched voices declare war on their fellow Americans and fan the flames of anger, no doubt contributing to the ensuing rise in swatting threats across the country at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and political offices.

All of us as Americans, but especially those in positions of leadership, must grapple with the fact that we allowed ourselves to reach a place where a growing number of people believe that using violence against those we disagree with is acceptable.

In an age defined by viral rhetoric and algorithmic amplification, the line between speech and violence has become increasingly blurred. Social media algorithms reward provocative, emotionally charged content. And as a result, extremist narratives are shared, liked, and recommended — not because they are truthful, but because they drive engagement.

And then here we are — in a feedback loop, where extreme language spreads, often unchecked, and someone eventually pulls the trigger.

What makes this pattern especially insidious is its built-in deniability.

Because we often describe the perpetrators of these heinous acts as “lone wolves,” those whose rhetoric radicalized or mobilized them to violence can claim they can’t be blamed for actions they did not directly command.

This shields the radicalizer from responsibility, even as the violence catalyzed by their language becomes more and more frequent.

Some will argue that this is an attack on free speech.

I call B.S. The First Amendment protects citizens from government censorship, but it does not shield those of us in the public spotlight from accountability.

Freedom of expression should not become a smokescreen for promoting hate or encouraging violence.

We must move beyond the fiction that speech exists in a vacuum.

When influential voices frame opponents as less than human, they create the conditions in which violence becomes justifiable.

At this point however, identifying the pattern is not enough.

First, leaders must commit to toning down their rhetoric, and everyday Americans must hold us all accountable. There should be consequences at the ballot box and in the court of public opinion when we don’t.

Second, we must take real steps to try to help those who may be on the path towards violence, to turn around and walk the opposite direction.

During my first year in office, my hometown of Buffalo was rocked by the racially motivated murder of 10 Black New Yorkers who were targeted simply because of the color of their skin.

In the wake of that tragedy, I knew that the only way we could possibly stop these horrors was to reduce the chances an unstable violent individual could possess a weapon by increasing our red flag laws, ensure law enforcement had the tools they need to monitor online threats, and embrace a prevention model that leverages comprehensive, multidisciplinary interventions to stop violence.

In New York, this approach is embodied by the creation of local Threat Assessment and Management (TAM) teams.

They can include law enforcement, mental health professionals, school officials, large employers, the public safety net, and health care systems. Together, they assemble the puzzle pieces to identify behaviors that can ultimately lead to violence.

52 counties plus New York City now field TAM teams and have collectively intervened in more than 2,000 cases. Considering the rage and vitriol that is flooding the internet and airwaves, our objective is to prevent violence before it occurs — responding after the fact isn’t enough.

This week I stood on sacred ground to honor the lives of those lost 24 years ago on 9/11. I thought about what happened on September 12, 2001, when — in the face of unspeakable horror — our nation’s greatest strength was its unity.

I urge New Yorkers and Americans to harken back to that same sense of unifying purpose. Political violence has no place in America. A democracy thrives on debate, not bloodshed.

As broken as our nation can feel at times like this, I still believe to my core that the ties that bind us are much stronger than the forces that seek to tear us apart.

Most of us, no matter where we fall on the political spectrum, have the same dreams: a safe place for our kids, our work, to have fun, and to live with a sense of purpose and dignity.

That’s the America I hold in my heart, and I believe it should exist in everyone’s heart.

So in this moment, let us come together and resolve to forge a safer, more tolerant world, not just for today, for our children and our grandchildren. We have work to do, but as always, New Yorkers and Americans are up for the challenge.

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JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS 93RD DISTRICT ASSEMBLYMAN CHRIS BURDICK ON THE ALBANY AHEAD

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Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: Thank you, Scarlet. And I can’t think of a better person to be sitting down with about how AI is embraced by this state, by this city. Governor Hochul, thank you for being with us today.

Governor Hochul: Thank you.

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: And I think of 2024, when you first announced Empire AI — when you think about being at the forefront of transformational change that AI is going to bring, what is your answer for what New York’s competitive edge is?

Governor Hochul: This has taken us to a whole new level. This was important to me. I’m a New Yorker, I’m competitive, I want to be number one. And so, we saw the great potential from friends that I’ve had in the industry. Tom Secunda and others brought an idea to me that we could have this incredible, first-in-the-nation partnership between academia, state government and the private sector.

So literally, the idea was talked about over breakfast in October. I had it in my State of the State three months later, and was able to secure $400 million from the Legislature.

We had to persuade them that this was in the public interest. And I will tell you, we now added another $90 million — we’re over almost $500 million invested, and it has exceeded all expectations.

And so, I put together an Emerging Technologies Task Force that is co-chaired by the CEO of IBM, as well as the CEO of Girls Who Code because I want to make sure that we’re diversifying the workforce. I want to see more women, I want to see people of color, and that’s why New York is such an attractive place all across the world.

But in our AI space, I wanted these to be the researchers, the thinkers, the innovators solving some of society’s greatest problems. I literally spent a day out this weekend up in Buffalo, my hometown — saw what they’re doing there, and the part that made me so proud was that we’re about to announce, in a few months, our AI beta, which is 11 times more powerful than what I already have now with our alpha — we just launched.

We’re already going to next level opportunities in a very short time, but they’re also bringing in more people to our state — and this was important to me. More of the brilliant people, the professors we’re attracting from other universities. They have so many students who want to become part of this — not just UB, because this is for all of our universities across the state. They all want a piece of this because they can do their research and their PhD work with power that no other student in the country will have.

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: You’re talking about talent there and you have lent, in particular, to the labor that’s needed. Energy’s needed.

Governor Hochul: Yes.

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: How do we have to embrace fossil fuels and nuclear if we’re going to have the resources for this?

Governor Hochul: I have an all-of-the-above approach, but first of all, one of the reasons Empire AI is housed up at the University of Buffalo is that I have an enormous amount of supply of hydroelectric power from the Niagara plant there — that powers about 25 percent of our energy.

Another part of 25 percent of our Upstate energy is nuclear already. I want to add more nuclear. I’ll be the first Governor in a generation and a very rare Democratic Governor who says, “I can’t assume that we’re going to have the power available now. I need sustainability, reliability and affordability, and I’m going to do that.” And we’re also looking at natural gas and other areas, but we have wind and solar–

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: You fought for wind.

Governor Hochul: I saved wind.

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: How?

Governor Hochul: Yeah, I saved wind.

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: How? What did you say to President Trump to keep wind?

Governor Hochul: I said that you have 1,500 people who just lost their jobs when you shut it down. This will power 500,000 homes of clean energy in Brooklyn. But, back to those people who lost their jobs, “Mr. President, a lot of them are from Long Island. I think a lot of them voted for you. So why don’t you tell them that we’ll lift the stop work order. Stop this poor company from aging $15 million a week, get them back going again,” and we were successful.”

But I also said, “I’m looking at an all-of-the-above approach to energy, so work with me. Find a faster way to get me nuclear too, Mr. President, because seven of the 10 years that it takes to get nuclear approvals is at the federal government level.” I said, “I’ll look at my streamline processes, you streamline yours — let’s get this done sooner.”

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: What’s interesting is you’re putting people first and you’ve been very vocal about the safety element of AI. I want to go back to what’s on your desk at the moment — the RAISE Act. Are you going to sign it off? Because this is about protecting foundational models and ensuring that they’re secure in their security.

Governor Hochul: Right, right. I’m looking at — I have to be honest, our policy is when there’s a bill on my desk, we don’t talk about it until I’m ready to sign. I have over 900 bills that are on my desk. They have to be signed or vetoed by the end of the year. Obviously we’re looking at that seriously, but we have been leaders in protecting our children, in particular, from AI chatbots and making sure that when someone starts to talk about suicidal thoughts, that the platform will provide them resources and support.

And just trying to find different ways because this is the whole new frontier, right? It’s hard to know what the challenges and the problems are going to be when you’re just starting out. But we have to be that forward thinking. I have to protect New Yorkers as well as our businesses, but let the tech industry know this is the place you want to be. We’re innovative. We’re smart. We have the talent. And I’ll make sure we break down barriers to your success.

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: Is there a worry from those foundational LLM creators — the likes of OpenAI — about that regulation?

Governor Hochul: Well, I think people prefer to have a federal regulation. I mean, think about the responsibility of the federal government. These companies don’t know boundaries. They’re all over the planet, so it’s hard when one state has a set of rules, another state does, another state. I don’t think that’s a model for inspiring innovation, but a lot of companies should be adopting these internal controls themselves — that’s always one step they can take to assure people in government that they’ve done what is necessary.

But in the absence of that, the federal government needs to be looking at these policies as well.

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: These startups, these foundational LLM model creators and big business also really care, not just about regulation, but about taxation. And with the new bill coming from President Trump, there might be a hole coming in the next year or so. How are you thinking about that landscape for the people who you want to come here and build AI for the Empire State?

Governor Hochul: Right, right. I am very sensitive to competitiveness with other states. I’ve said I don’t want to raise income taxes on high-net-worth people. I want them to know that New York is a place where we want to foster innovation — be open to your success, because your success means you’re hiring more people. You’re putting more people to work, and to the extent that you’re willing to seek out future employees in some of the neighborhoods that have been underserved.

This is what Micron is doing as part of our deal to get the largest semiconductor manufacturing facility investment in American history. $100 million–

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: That’s out in Syracuse, right?

Governor Hochul: Out in Syracuse. I landed that in my early days as Governor. I said, “I’m not losing this one,” but part of it is they had to have a green energy policy, sustainability — and they’re also looking for talent and changing curriculums in the schools around Syracuse, some of the neighborhoods where kids would never have a chance to have these jobs. And Micron — because they have a strong sense of social responsibility, they’re partnering with us to help that. So companies that show that kind of enlightenment to me, we’ll open a lot of doors for them.

You take care of my people, we’ll take care of you.

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: And you are thinking about that from a whole state perspective, but some of the founders and CEOs I speak to here in the city, well they’re worried about the next leader of the city. They’re thinking about the mayoral candidate, they’re thinking about Mamdani in particular, and he’s got high tax ideas. How are you convincing them to stay here in the state?

Governor Hochul: Well, they need to know one thing, is that the City of New York — as powerful and mighty as it is — it’s still a subdivision of the State. So any tax increase has to come across my desk first. So I will work with whomever the mayor is as long as they want to help foster my policies, which is pro-growth, pro-business.

And if it’s Mamdani, I will work closely with him to help him understand that when we want to solve society’s problems — and there are many — that we also have the resources to do it. And so, that means letting people know that we appreciate you being here. You’re building companies, you’re creating wealth, you’re hiring people, you’re supporting our cultures and our philanthropies, and that we welcome you to be here and know that this is your home.

So I’ll continue on that effort, but we do have a lot of challenges on affordability. I think he hit a nerve. He hit a real nerve, which is why people want this. At this point in the polls, they are showing an inclination toward supporting him because he’s talking about what I’ve been talking about for a long time — is that people feel like they’re just not getting ahead.

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: Yeah. A sensitive question, and I know you say time and time again you don’t want to influence the vote, but would you lend him your endorsement?

Governor Hochul: I’m having conversations about all kinds of issues. There are a lot of very strong philosophical differences. I am a staunch capitalist. And so, I need to know that people can have a certain philosophy, but you got to govern in reality.

And the reality is that this is the financial center of the world. We want to make sure that this is known as the tech center of the world, the innovation capital, and I want to make sure we inspire people to come here. Where I do have fear is that the policies out of Washington with Donald Trump is going to stymie that because 47 percent of new startups in the tech space are founded by people who are foreign born.

So if those students stop coming to our universities and we stop attracting people who are the most brilliant in the world, they don’t feel that there’s an open door for them to be here in the State of New York.

Well they’re here, welcome here, but not in our country, and there’s barriers to that.

That’s something we have to overcome. And I’m really fearful about the long-term effect of that on our ability to remain competitive with the rest of the world when these people are being recruited — people who are already here to go to other countries upon graduation or not come here in the first place, how do we overcome that? And that’s what troubles me greatly.

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: Very briefly, a way you could drive revenue — casinos. Could you have one in Manhattan?

Governor Hochul: I’m not allowed to have my thumb on the scale on that. The way it’s set up, there’s all sorts of prohibitions, but it will drive money. I think it’s going to be a real boost for tourism as well in the right place. So there’ll be three of them. And so, I’m looking forward very much to welcoming those dollars.

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: It’s about tourism, it’s about talent, it’s about Empire AI. It’s been wonderful having you.

Governor Hochul: Thank you very much, I appreciate that.

Caroline Hyde, Bloomberg TV: Thank you very much, Governor Hochul.

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Feeding Westchester Calls on Community for Hunger Action Month

Long-time Supporter Debbie Newman Bernstein to match September donations up to $50,000

Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge will be lit up orange on September 12

“Hungry to Learn” panel on September 30:

The Impact of Childhood Hunger in Westchester & Innovative Solutions to Address It

ELMSFORD, NY | September 2, 2026 – September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide call to fight hunger. Right here in Westchester, 39% of households are struggling to put food on their tables¹—a staggering reminder that the rising cost of living, soaring food prices, and historic cuts to federal safety net programs are pushing more families to the brink.

“People across the country have demonstrated immense care for their neighbors in crisis time and time again, helping to build stronger, more resilient communities,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America.

“Ending the hunger crisis in America is no different. This Hunger Action Month, our hope for the nation is to start building a new reality together, through unified action toward a shared vision of a hunger free America.”

The crisis is urgent. More than 47 million Americans—including 14 million children—now face hunger, the highest level in over a decade. In Westchester, thousands of children are returning to school without the proper nutrition they need to focus, learn, and thrive.

“With deep cuts to SNAP ahead, we’re incredibly concerned for Westchester residents—including children, single parents, veterans, working families, and seniors—who don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” said Tami Wilson, COO of Feeding Westchester. “As children head back to school, it is doubly important that we provide them with the nutrition they need to reach their full potential. Hunger is a crisis we can solve—if we act together, and act now.”

TAKE ACTION

There are many ways that Westchester residents can take action with us in the fight against hunger:

Make A Matched Donation to Feeding Westchester

https://feedingwestchester.org/get-involved/donate/

Donations made in September up to $50,000 will be matched by Debbie Newman Bernstein, a generous supporter of Feeding Westchester. Every dollar you give provides four meals to neighbors in need right here in our community.

• Nourishing Neighbor Monthly Giving Program
• One-time Gifts
• Other Ways To Give

Hunger Action High School Challenge

Westchester schools are encouraged to take action and challenge their rivals

• Wear orange and post your group photos on Social accounts
• Make it personal: challenge your rival schools to try to match your Hunger Action spirit

Feeding Westchester’s Hunger Action Month Calendar

• WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 10:  The Business Council of Westchester Board Meeting at Feeding Westchester
• FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12:  Mario M. Cuomo Bridge Lighting
  • The bridge will be showered in brilliant orange light building awareness of Hunger Action Month as commuters and travelers begin their weekend drives
• SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13:  Feeding Our Families
  • Starting at 8 AM, the community can visit their local Stop & Shop and donate most-needed, frequently requested non-perishable items
  • Feeding Westchester partners with NBC4, Telemundo, Stop & Shop, and several of our local Partner Agencies for this annual event to collect food from Stop & Shop customers throughout the tri-state area, including 13 Westchester Stop & Shop locations
• SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14: Lighthouse Swim, benefiting Feeding Westchester and other local charities
  • Challenging three-mile swim starts in Nyack and ends in historic Sleepy Hollow
  • Registration open until September 11
• THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 6:30pm, The Coliseum, White Plains: Comics for a Cause—a night of comedy benefiting Feeding Westchester!
• • Four comedians perform live, hosted by The Giving Circle of Lower Westchester
    • Paul Warhit
    • Jackie Saril
    • Mitch Benson
    • Luz Michelle
    • Lloyd Robinson, Emcee
  • Tickets and Sponsorships available
• TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 5:30pm at Feeding Westchester:  Hungry to Learn Discussion Panel
  • An eye-opening look at childhood hunger in Westchester and the innovative ways we are driving change to address It
  • Panelists scheduled to participate:
    • Allison Fasano | Teacher | Port Chester Middle School
    • Dr. Emily Koelsch | Pediatrician | Child Care Council of Westchester
    • Monique Marshall, MS, RDN, CD-N | Nutritionist | Feeding Westchester
    • Krista Hesdorfer, MPA | Advocate | Hunger Solutions New York
    • Melissa Rodriguez | Principal | Enrico Fermi School
    • Danielle DeMaio | Moderator | Feeding Westchester Board Member
  • Live attendance by invitation only; post-event video will be shared

Other Ways To Help…During Hunger Action Month…or Anytime

Feeding Westchester | Other Ways to Help Fight Hunger

• Volunteer opportunities for community organizations
• Student Involvement Projects
• Help From Home food packing program
• Start a Food Drive with #GiveHealthy
• Make your voice heard!  Visit our Advocacy page and sign-up for Action Alerts

Take action and join us in the fight against hunger in Westchester County!

###

Feeding Westchester serves Westchester County, providing food to a hunger-relief network of 175 partners. With a mission to nourish our neighbors in the fight against hunger, the organization sources and distributes good, nutritious food and other resources to wherever it is needed most.

In fiscal year 2025, Feeding Westchester provided more than 21 million pounds of food, equivalent to more than 17 million meals through soup kitchens, food pantries, schools, shelters, residential programs, and mobile distributions.

That served an average of 235,000 neighbor visits – including visits from children, seniors, veterans, and hardworking families – every month. The nonprofit, a 4-star Charity Navigator organization, is committed to creating a community where all people have access to the food they need today, and the fundamental resources to build a better tomorrow.

Feeding Westchester is located at 200 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY 10523. For more information, or to donate, visit feedingwestchester.org.

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WESTCHESTER COUNTY TO HOST INTERFAITH PRAYER VIGIL

(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County will host an Interfaith Prayer Vigil to honor the memory of those who perished in the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and those who later died from 9/11-related illnesses. Faith leaders from Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim communities will lead prayers, followed by candle lighting and a wreath-laying ceremony at the steel beam from the Twin Towers.

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

Interfaith Prayer Vigil

September 10, 2025
5 p.m.
Kensico Dam Plaza
The Rising & 9/11 First Responders Memorial

  The Event will be Streamed Live on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/westchestergov/