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 WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. From the Mayor’s Office and reporting by John F. Bailey. August 5, 2019 UPDATED by WPCNR, 12 NOON AUGUST 6, 2019:

The Common Council approved the appointment of John P. Collins, Jr. to a 10 year term on the White Plains City Court Monday evening.

The vote was 4 to 2, with Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona abstaining, Mayor Roach, Council President John Martin, Councilman Justin Brasch, and Councilwoman Nadine Hunt-Robinson voted in favor of the Collins appointment. Councilman John Kirpatrick and Councilman Dennis Krolian voted no.

The discussion of the vote was taken up with Councilman Krolian and Councilwoman Lecuona charging that the selection process was flawed and not transparent, because a confidential vote was asked for by Councilman John Martin to ask councilpersons their first three preferences of the candidates. Krolian said that some council persons “bullet-voted” (voting only for one candidate) and that this straw poll of the council result was kept confidential by Marin.

Krolian and Lecuona felt the Council President John Martin should have held a special meeting with the Council to discuss the straw vote preferences. Both Krolian and Lecuona said they had asked the Mayor for a Special Meeting, but were not contacted.

Council President John Martin dismissed the thought that the confidentiality of the straw poll was inappropriate. He said it was his attempt to get a sense of consensus because of the high quality of the 8 candidates under scrutiny. Councilman Brasch and Councilperson Hunt-Robinson said they were very impressed with all the candidates, and pointed out Mr. Collins’ experience and community involvement as well as his prosecutions of money laundering and fraud during his time with the Southern District. Ms. Lecuona said she was abstaining from the vote because she felt it was “a flawed process.”

To view this hour long discussion on the process, you may see it on the city website by clicking on “Multimedia,” then clicking on “Common Council,” and clicking on the meeting of August 5, 2019 and clicking on Item 1: Appointment”

or go directly to this link:

http://whiteplainsny.swagit.com/play/08052019-1051

John Callahan, the White Plains Corporation Counsel backgrounded WPCNR Monday evening with Judge Collins’ qualifications.

He is a Graduate of Columbia College and Yale Law School .

From 2000-2017 he served as Assistant United States Attorney in the Office of the United States for the Southern District of New York.   
Since 2017, he has served as Court Attorney/Referee for the New York State Unified Court System, and previously served as law clerk to two federal judges.

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WHAT WAS THE COST?

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE?

IS IT SUCCESSFUL?

HOW DID THE RESIDENTS ACCEPT IT?

PLUS MR. PAYNE’S UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL VIDEOS OF THE WIND TURBINES IN ACTION 

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation to establish an up to 30-day waiting period for individuals who are not immediately approved to purchase a firearm through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (S.2374/A.2690) and to close existing statutory loopholes to prohibit ownership or sale of a bump stock (S.2448/A.2684).

Extending the Background Check Waiting Period

Current federal law requires gun dealers to conduct a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) background check on a potential purchaser prior to selling a firearm, which immediately provides the dealer with one of three possible notifications. These notifications include “proceed,” “denied,” or “delayed.” In the case of a “delayed” response, the dealer must wait three days before completing the sale.

The FBI may continue to investigate the individual past the three-day timeframe but oftentimes by the time law enforcement has determined that the potential purchaser is ineligible, the sale has already been completed. By extending the waiting period up to 30 days, law enforcement is provided with sufficient time to complete a background check and help ensure that only those eligible to purchase and own a firearm are able to do so.

This legislation builds on New York’s strongest in the nation gun laws, including the Red Flag Bill signed in February that prevents individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing a firearm.

“For too long gun violence has plagued communities across our nation and while the federal government turns a blind eye, New York continues leading the way forward to protect our families and our children,” Governor Cuomo said. “By signing these measures into law we are strengthening our nation-leading gun laws – banning devices whose sole purpose is to create the most bloodshed in the shortest timeframe and providing law enforcement the tools they need to stop firearms from falling into dangerous hands.”

“As gun violence continues to affect communities across the state and the nation, we are advancing our efforts to strengthen our laws and protect New Yorkers,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “This legislation extending the background check waiting period and banning bump stocks will help to ensure that firearms do not get into the wrong hands and bans the use of devices that have been used to wreak havoc. We are committed to building on our nation-leading policies to stop senseless gun violence and save lives.”

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Richard Liebson (White Plains, New York), passed away today, July 28, 2019, at the age of 61, leaving to mourn family and friends. Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Richard Liebson to show support.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 30th 2019 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 30th 2019 at 6:00 PM at the Ballard-Durand Funeral Home, White Plains, New York.

George Latimer, Westchester County Executive had this to say about Mr. Liebson’s career:

“All of Westchester County mourns the passing of longtime Journal News reporter Rich Liebson.  Rich was a talented writer who put all of his being into following and investigating stories that mattered to the people of Westchester. 

Rich had a number of beats over the years working for The Journal News, from education to government to public safety.  A White Plains resident, he kept us all informed and engaged as a beat reporter– for that we can never thank him enough.  Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this very difficult time.” 

Peter Katz, the longtime ABC television reporter and editor knew Mr. Liebson and shared this thought about the reporter’s life:

“I knew him not only as a top-notch journalist, but also as a decent and honorable person. He knew how to report a story accurately, fairly, interestingly and always with the highest ethical standards. “

The Journal News published a tribute to Mr. Liebson in an editorial Sunday at this link:

https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2019/07/28/richard-liebson-longtime-journal-news-storyteller-dies-61/1852110001/

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. JULY 25, 2019: Westchester County Police announced they charged a woman production contractor with the New York Streets Arena Football League team’s dance squad with committing two thefts during home games at the Westchester County Center totaling $4,000,

Aniyah Booker, 18, of Hamden., Connecticut, was apprehended Thursday, July 25 following an investigation by detectives from the Westchester County Police General Investigations Unit. She is charged with two misdemeanor larceny charges

The first first occurred when a member of the New York Streets dance team reported $1,000 in cash from her bag while it was left unattended in a changing room used by dance team members.

On Sunday, July 21, during the Streets’ final home game of the season, the Carolina Cobras football team reported that someone entered their locker room before halftime and removed cash and a ring from multiple lockers. The missing cash was estimated at about $3,000, police said.

She returns to court August 8

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