WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.
A reminder that the League of Women Voters of White Plains will host a Candidates Forum for the candidates for three seats on the White Plains Common Council.
The Forum will be held on Wednesday October 16 from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at the Church Street School at 295 Church Street, White Plains. Doors will open at 6:30 P.M.
As always, audience questions must be submitted in advance, they will not be taken from the floor during the Forum. We will solicit questions via email and they may also be submitted in writing at the event.
The Forum will be recorded for subsequent viewing. It is not certain if it will also be streamed live. For additional information on the Forum contact us at lwvwp.candidatesforum@gmail.com.
WPCNR TRAFFICA. By John F. Bailey. September 30, 2019:
The White Plains red light camera program is expected to generate $1.35 Million in revenue for White Plains this fiscal year ending June 2020.
Karen Pasquale, Senior Advisor to the Mayor, in a statement to WPCNR this afternoon as to how much the program (in effect in the city for exactly one year) has generated while reducing accidents in the city by 15%, reported the program has generated $784,000 in its first year, “in revenue for the city” from September 2018 to September 2019.
Ms. Pasquale notes the revenue is expected almost double that to $1.35 Million through June, the end of the fiscal year, 2019-2020.
WPCNR figures that $784,000 of revenue would mean 15,680 tickets were issued, with no figures on how many would-be violations were evaluated by White Plains Police analysts as not in violation. To generate $1.35 Million the next 10 months would assume at $50 a red light violation, that would translate to 27,000 tickets. WPCNR cautions this is just a projection.
WPCNR assumes much of the revenue will be coming from installations planned for 7 more intersections in the city, many of them some of the busiest in the city. The city is expanding red light camera surveillance to the following intersections. Take note!
Those intersections are:
Traffic safety cameras will begin operating at the following locations starting on or about October 1st:
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
In the program’s first year of operation (8/1/18 – 7/31/19), the city announced last week, 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.
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
New Red Light Camera installed Tuesday at intersection of Maple Avenue and South Bound Lexington Avenue. (See list of the new Red Light Camera installations below)
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 1st:
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
ON LOCATION–DIRECT FROM WHITE PLAINS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS JOHN IORIS, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD ON WPPAC’S NEW SEASON AND HEALTHY FINANCIAL POSITIONSTEVE FERRI, LEFT , EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR and TERENCE OSBORN, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER TALK ABOUT THE FALL AND SPRING WPPAC LINEUP: LUCI ARNAZ, LAINIE KAZAN, LORNA LUFT, AIDA, NEWSIES , KIMBERLEY LOCKE, JOHN LLOYD YOUNG AND MORE COMING UP!
Ruben Diaz, Jr. center is flanked by Jairo Torres, left, and Antonyo Love, right with their Certificates of Merit awared them as “Bronx Heroes” for teaming up to rescue a little girl underneath a subway cab in the Knightsbridge Station in The Bronx
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.
WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE By John F. Bailey. With data from the New York Department of Taxation & Finance. September 25, 2019:
The Westchester County decision to balance its deficit budget by asking the New York State Legislature for a 1% sales tax increase and getting the legislagture to pass it and Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign it — worked in August—the first month the increase went into effect.
In July 2019, Westchester County took in 44,144,098 in sales
tax receipts up $2,150,752 from July of 2018, a rise of l/2% from July of 2018
when the 1% increase was not in effect because the governor signed it very late
in June.
In August 2018 the County took in $44,228,342 in sales tax
dollars, up from $42,197,188 in August 2018, an increase of $2,031,155 or 4.8%.
It is a combination of the 1% sales tax increase and more economic activity.
Yet this is optimistic for the county.
Because of the county continues this growth rate of 4.8% in
September, October, November and December this works out to exactly the $570
Million in sales tax receipts the county auditors said wouls be generated by
the 1% sales tax increase. county needs to erase it’s self-inflicted deficit
budget when it refused to approve the Playland Standard Amusements deal, (currently
in litigation), and did not lease the airport as previously planned by the
Astorino administration.
The airport remains unleased to this day with no growth plan
for airport revenue in sight In fact that county in a news release last week
said its two consulting firms are not considering any expansion in operations,
and raising landing fees is currently being restudied by the County Airport
Management Committee . ( The Legislature voted to approve the Astorino budget
anyway last December, with a Democratic majority).
Let’s look at the math and what it means for this county fiscal year
now in its eighth month, if this
pleasant combination of sales tax increase and humming (should we say humming,
perhaps encouraging), sales activity.
Last year in September, October, November and December Westchester County received $195,803,346 in sales tax $$. If the present trend of 4.8 to 5% growth a month continues, including the new sales tax increase, the county will generate an additional $9,398,564 in sales revenues added to the 2018 pace, generating $205.2 MILLION the last 4 months of the year.
Add that very rosy figure to the $364,585,741 collected through August and you end up with approximately $569.8 Million . Presto! The Latimer Administration solves the budget with the sales tax 1% increase.
And, there may be more. If the cash heartbeat in August continues and exceeds last year activity you may bubble over the $570 Million level. Then there’s next year to consider.
Through the first 7 months of Westchester County fiscal year
of 2019, the county has collected $364,585,741, compared to $354,759,039, an
increase of 2.8%, a little more than
inflation.
White Plains does not keep pace.
White Plains started its fiscal year in July and it is not enjoying a good first two months.
It generated 7.8 Million in sax tax dollars in July and August compared to $8,053,688, meaning the city is down 3.1% from last year (while the county as a whole is up 1.8%. The city is 4.1% behind the county’s pace. Let us hope the third month of the quarter brings a robust comeback to get the city back even with last year.
Bob Marrone on Mornings with Bob Morrone Tuesday morning on www.radiowestchester.com at the New Rochelle Railroad StationBOB MARRONE ON THE RADIO WESTCHESTER REVOLUTION
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 WestchesterTM 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.
Giving the excitement of a live remote every morning at the New Rochelle Metro North Station, Radio Westchester’s distinct studio enhances the morning commute.
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.
Morrone on the air Tuesday morning.
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 TMprogramming
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 TMpartnership with Convey Media, Inc, the Radio Westchester TMstudio 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.
