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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Early Voting in New York is Here! Can’t get to the polls on Election Day? No problem.  This year you can vote from Saturday October 26 through Sunday November 3 Early Voting for White Plains Residents will be at Westchester County Board Elections; 25 Quarropas St. White Plains The Board of Elections polling place will be open for Early Voting on: Saturday, October 26, Sunday October 27, 12 P.M. to 5 P.M. Monday, October 28 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. Tuesday, October 29 12 P.M. to 8 P.M. Wednesday, October 30 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. Thursday, October 31 12 P.M. to 8 P.M. Friday, November 1, 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. Saturday, November 2, Sunday November 3 12 P.M. to 5 P.M.  On Election Day, Tuesday November 5, you must vote at your regular polling place when polls will be open 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. If you take advantage of Early Voting you may not vote on Election Day For more information Westchester County Board of Elections (914) 995-5700 citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com LWVNY Early Voting website www.nyearlyvoting.org All the election information you need vote411.org  Stay up-to-date on Early Voting as it is rolled out lwvw.org Click here to download a PDF version of this message Vote – Because Every Election Matters

EARLY VOTING CENTERS AROUND WESTCHESTER COUNTY:

EARLY VOTING POLL SITES

• Cyrus Russell Community House (LEWISBORO & POUND RIDGE)
  • 779 NY-35, Cross River, NY 10518
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes
    • Public Transportation: No
  • All voters registered in LEWISBORO, and POUND RIDGE can vote here
• Dobbs Ferry Village Hall (GREENBURGH)
  • 112 Main St., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Street and “Pay and Display” lots
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus
  • All voters registered in GREENBURGH can vote here.

• Eastchester Public Library (Eastchester, Scarsdale VOTERS)
  • 11 Oakridge Place, Eastchester, NY 10709 (
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus
  • All voters registered in EASTCHESTER, and SCARSDALE  can vote here
• Greenburgh Town Hall (GREENBURGH VOTERS)
  • 177 Hillside Ave., White Plaines, NY 10607
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus
  • All voters registered in GREENBURGH can vote here.
• Grinton I. Will Library (YONKERS VOTERS)
  • 1500 Central Park Ave., Yonkers, NY 10710
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus
  • All voters registered YONKERS can vote here
• Harrison Veterans Memorial Building (HARRISON, MAMARONECK, RYE TOWN AND RYE CITY VOTERS)
  • 210 Halstead Ave., Harrison, NY 10528
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Street
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus
  • All voters registered HARRISON, MAMARONECK, RYE TOWN, and RYE CITY can vote here

• Jefferson Village Community House (YORKTOWN VOTERS)
  • 3480 Hill Blvd., Yorktown HTS, NY 15098
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus
  • All voters registered in YORKTOWN can vote here
• Mamaroneck Town Center (RYE CITY VOTERS)
  • 740 W Boston Post Rd., Mamaroneck, NY 10543
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus
  • All voters registered in RYE CITY can voter here
• Mt. Kisco Town Hall (MT KISCO, BEDFORD, NEW CASTLE VOTERS)
  • 104 Main St., Mount Kisco, NY 10549
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus
  • All voters registered in MT KISCO, BEDFORD, and NEW CASTLE can vote here
• Mt. Pleasant Community Center (MT PLEASANT, NORTH CASTLE VOTERS)
  • 125 Lozza Dr., Valhalla, NY 10595
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus
  • All voters registered in MT PLEASANT, and NORTH CASTLE can vote here
• Mt. Vernon City Hall (MOUNT VERNON VOTERS)
  • 1 Roosevelt SQ, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus
  • All voters registered in MT VERNON can vote here
• New Rochelle City Hall (NEW ROCHELLE AND PELHAM VOTERS)
  • 515 North Ave., New Rochelle, NY 10801
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free and Street
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus
  • All voters registered in NEW ROCHELLE, and PELHAM can vote here 
• Ossining Recreation Center (OSSINING VOTERS)
  • 95 Broadway, Ossining, NY 10562
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus 
  • All voters registered in OSSINING can vote here
• Peekskill City Hall (PEEKSKILL AND CORTLANDT VOTERS)
  • 840 Main St. Peekskill, NY 10566
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free and Street
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus 
  • All voters registered in PEEKSKILL, and CORTLANDT can vote here
• Riverfront Yonkers Public Library (YONKERS VOTERS)
  • 1 Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY 10701
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Buena Vista Garage
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus 
  • All voters registered in YONKERS can vote here
• Somers Town House (SOMERS AND NORTH SALEM VOTERS)
  • 335 Route 202, Somers, NY 10589
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free
    • Public Transportation: No
  • All voters registered in SOMERS, and NORTH SALEM can vote here
• Westchester County Board of Elections (WHITE PLAINS VOTERS)
  • 25 Quarropas St., White Plains, NY 10607
    • Handicap accessible: Yes
    • Parking: Yes, Free
    • Public Transportation: Yes, Bee-Line Bus
  • All voters registered in WHITE PLAINS can vote here

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WPCNR TRAFFICA . From the Mayor’s Office. September 26, 2019:

Phase II of the City of White Plains Red Light Safety Camera program will launch on or about October 1st.

This final phase will include the installation of nine additional cameras at seven intersections, bringing the total number of intersections to 12, the amount authorized by New York State. 

Cameras will capture still images and video of red-light running violations. This is a public safety program, and the city’s goal is to deter red light runners and improper turns on red and prevent collisions resulting from these violations.

Traffic safety cameras will begin operating at the following locations starting on or about October 1^st:

SB South Lexington Ave @ Maple Ave

EB Main St @ Bank St

WB Martine Ave @ Mamaroneck Ave

Traffic safety cameras will begin operating at these remaining locations later in the fall:

WB Hamilton Ave @ Cottage Pl

NB Mamaroneck Ave @ Ridgeway

NB Mamaroneck Ave @ Bryant Ave

NB North St @ Bryant Ave

SB Tarrytown Rd @ Central Ave

EB Westchester Ave @ South Kensico Ave

Cameras will operate 24-hours/day and capture images of every vehicle running a red light at the designated intersections. Warning signs alerting drivers to the intersection safety cameras have been installed. Violators will receive a Notice of Liability (NOL) in the mail, which includes instructions on how to access the still images and video of the violation.

The NOL carries a fine of $50.00 but does not result in any points being added to your license. The NOL is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle. This program is administered by Verra Mobility, with each violation reviewed and approved by the White Plains Department of Public Safety prior to being issued. 

Phase I of this program included the installation of traffic safety cameras at the following intersections (6 cameras at 5 intersections) in July of 2018:

SB Mamaroneck Ave @ Bryant Ave

EB Main St @ Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

NB Bank St @ Hamilton Ave

WB Hamilton Ave @ Bank St

WB Westchester Ave @ South Kensico Ave

SB North Broadway @ Hamilton Ave

In the program’s first year of operation (8/1/18 – 7/31/19), intersections with red light cameras saw a 15% reduction in injury crashes and a 26% reduction in angle, left turn opposing, and pedestrian crashes (combined). 

Those types of crashes are the types targeted by this program.  Total crashes were reduced by 18%. Recently released data analysis from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety showed that red light running is up nationwide.

In its report the AAA Foundation also cited the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which “found that when properly implemented, red light cameras reduced the fatal red light running crash rate of large cities by 21% and the rate of all types of fatal crashes at signalized intersections by 14%.” For more information, click here.

The city received state authorization to establish a red light camera program in August 2015. The authorization was for a modest program with cameras permitted at “up to 12 intersections” in the city.

For comparison purposes, this amount of authorized intersections is on par with New Rochelle (authorized in 2014).

The Cities of Mt. Vernon and Albany have state authorization for cameras at up to 20 intersections. Yonkers is authorized to place cameras at up to 25 intersections. The City Rochester – at up to 50 locations, Nassau and Suffolk Counties – at up to 100 locations each, and New York City – at up to 150 locations.

Each of these red light camera programs is authorized for a 5 year period by the State Legislature, including the White Plains program, and must be renewed by the State Legislature. The city will continue to closely monitor program and accident data in order to determine

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WPCNR MILESTONES. From the Office of Bronx Borough President Reben Diaz, Jr. September 26:

Yesterday, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. honored two Bronx heroes for their efforts to save a five-year-old girl who was tragically dragged in front of the subway by her suicidal father.

Jairo Torres and Antonyo Love teamed up on Monday to rescue young Ferni Balbuena from underneath a subway car at the Kingsbridge Road station during the incident.

Torres, left above, jumped into the tracks to help after seeing a man throw himself in front of an oncoming 4 train with his daughter.

Antonyo Love , left, followed Torres onto the tracks to assist moments later. The little girl was ultimately able to crawl out from underneath the subway car unharmed and was reunited with her mother later that day.

“I am honored to have met Jairo Torres and Antonyo Love, two Bronx heroes who risked their own safety to save an little girl. They didn’t ask for this attention, but today we lift these men up as living examples of true courage and an inspiration to our entire borough. An innocent child now has a second chance at life thanks to these men and I thank them on behalf of The Bronx for their bravery,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

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WPCNR MEDIA-GO-ROUND. From Radio Westchester. (Edited) September 23, 2019:

New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson appeared at the Opening Morning of the all-new network RadioWestchester’s first internet broadcast Monday morning with studios at the New Rochelle Metro North Railroad Station as the network’s programming began with the first edition of Mornings with Bob Marrone

Bramson, in a statement said, “I am very pleased to welcome Bob Marrone and Radio Westchester^TM to the historic New Rochelle Train Station and wish Bob and his team success as they make an important new contribution to our region’s media landscape.”

Thee former WVOX and WFAS morning drive personality will host Mornings with Bob Marrone, live from the New Rochelle Train Station, in a dedicated studio adjacent to the historic transit venue.

The station and its programming will operate under the banner of Radio Westchester ^TM.

Listeners can listen live at https://radiowestchester.com and on the station’s Facebook, Periscope and YouTube streams.

In addition to the morning show, elements of which will be podcasted, there will be live and podcast programs featuring Westchester County’s leading internet personalities and local news providers who do the investigative and hard-hitting stories mainstream press no longer have the financial resources to pursue. 

Radio Westchester’s ^TM programming will also feature broadcasts dedicated to sports, such as PodHockey.com, and other podcasts focusing on politics, health, literature, finance, education and more.

The station is particularly designed for individuals and businesses to develop, record and manage their own podcasts or streaming shows. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will provide technical expertise throughout the audio recording process, with post production editing, preparation and online posting available as additional services.

Meanwhile, The On-Air Academy, a subsidiary of Radio Westchester ^TM, will offer hands-on training for aspiring broadcasters.

The five-sided building housing the studio offers views into the on-air activities from four directions whether you are going to or coming from the Southbound train platform.

“PEOPLE -ON-THE-STREET” INTERVIEWS

Shows will be broadcast out to the periphery of the studio, and a news crawl is planned to flow electronically from the top of the structure. The microphones will be brought out to the platform to get “people-on-the-street” feedback about current events.

Through Radio Westchester’s ^TM partnership with Convey Media, Inc, the Radio Westchester ^TM studio will also host virtual reality experiences at night and on weekends.

The studio has all the necessary equipment which can be also be taken to remote locations for parties, weddings and corporate events. The studio may also be hired for video and photo shoots and is equipped with green screen and video tools.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. SPECIAL TO WPCNR from Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor. September 21, 2019:

Earlier this week, a swastika was found at Scarsdale High School. In the past, swastikas were found on street signs in the River Villages of Greenburgh, and in a  nursery school in  Westchester  County. Usually, the person who commits the act is not caught. 

Two years ago, I received  threatening anti -semitic emails  directed to my work email summarized by the  Westchester  County District Attorney’s office below. The Greenburgh Police Department’s  Detectives were exceptional-they identified  the alleged person who made the threat against me and my family and made an arrest.  The  accused  pled not guilty after spending a night in jail and posting bail. This week, there was a trial in White Plains City Court and the individual (who does not live in Greenburgh) was convicted.

A special thank you to the outstanding efforts  and skills of the Greenburgh Police Department and to the Westchester County District Attorney’s office for their efforts and for  successfully prosecuting the  alleged crime.

We read, almost daily, of anti-semitic  and racist acts around Westchester, the Region and the Nation.  We should not become immune to  acts of intolerance  of any type.  I hope that this conviction will send a message to people who are considering threatening others that they could get caught and prosecuted.  Even more importantly, I hope we can all  learn to respect and support  each other.P

Sept. 20, 2019 — Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced that Timothy Goetze,44, of White Plains was found guilty of three counts of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, class A misdemeanors, for threats made against Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner and his family in 2017.

Goetze was found guilty Thursday following a bench trial before Judge Jo Ann Friia in White Plains City Court. The court sentenced Goetze to a one-year conditional discharge with 75 hours community service and orders of protection for Feiner, his wife and his daughter.

DA Scarpino noted, “This verdict against Mr. Goetze is an important outcome which illustrates how we seek justice whenever there is a threat to a public figure or any residents of Westchester. Threatening messages will always be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Let anyone who might make such threats know we will go after them. We commend Greenburgh Police on their investigation and maintaining the safety of the Town. We hope the Feiner family can now rest easier.”

Background

In August 2017, Greenburgh Police investigated three threatening emails sent anonymously to Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. The emails were prompted by a controversy regarding a confederate monument at a private cemetery. 

The content of the three emails was identical, but each contained a different subject line: “Human Rights Education;” “Letter to the Ugly Dumb Jew;” and “Letter to the Parasite.” Among other things the writer used profanities and directed numerous Anti-Semitic slurs to Mr. Feiner. 

The final sentence bore this threat: “You better run and hide you stupid f–king jew (sic). We are coming for you and your family,” signed by “Anti-Zionist.” Although the emails did not have the defendant’s name, an investigation led to Timothy Goetze as the sender. 

In court, the defendant’s sole defense was on First Amendment/free speech grounds.  The Court ruled against that theory, stating that the emails were not mainly political statements; rather the content was largely a personal attack on Supervisor Feiner and his family and constituted a “true threat.” 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Shameika Mathurin of the White Plains Branch and Laura Forbes of the Investigations Division of the DA’s Office.