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 STAGE DOOR. Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. October 29, 2018:

Whose facts are they anyway? Where and whom do they come from? Which facts do you choose when putting together a story?

Those are just some of the  “fact-ors”  in fascinating debate journalists, reporters, writers,  spokespersons and publicists need to consider.

The issues of fact and fake news is brought intellectually fascinatingly  to the lead column in the anguishing new play at the appropriately  antique Studio 54 Theater, in Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell and Gordon Farrell’s  The Lifespan of a Fact.

Conflicts  on truth in reporting ensnare the imperial Cherry Jones (Emily the crusading publisher),  Daniel Radcliffe (Jim the nag of an idealistic fact-checker) and Bobby Cannavale (the egotistical writer who bends, distorts and leaves out facts to his purpose) explode over just the facts ma’am.

The researcher played brilliantly by Mr. Radcliffe is mocked for his inexperience by the writer played byCannavale and treated with annoyance by the publisher (Ms. Jones), but when Mr. Radcliffe points out what the writer did not do (to verify facts) the impact of truth shows the way twisting or ignoring the truth for impact on the reader distorts.

The arguments that Cannavalle uses to justify his way of writing the story brought a smile to my face as I recognized expressions I used to use to justify copy I had written for lawyers and copy chiefs in the past. I have to tell you the script captures the back-and-forth of editorial wrangles spot-on.

The argument that develops into rage and exasperation as to whether or not to publish the article at all is fascinating, all too funny for such a serious subject, but the truth of the play will trouble you for sometime.

The whole idea of writing up composite characters based on real life people you meet in articles that present a conceptualized version of the truth to make a point was pioneered by new journalists in the 1960s. It destroyed the concept of who, what, when, why and where of reporting. Created the pseudo-anonymous source. Made writer’s judgement and interpretation popular. The new journalism was entertaining and much more exciting and entertaining than the facts. It even created the happy talk news format of the 1970s.

The discussion in The Lifespan of a Fact addresses the question:  is truth being changed by enhancing the facts to make a better story, or even changing the facts.

The answer is yes.

Truth is being changed when you distort or leave out facts. Based on the essay and book by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal, that came out of their experiences with an article they wrote for Harper’s it explores in entertaining and disturbing fashion how facts are manipulated.

The dogged researcher Jim argues that if you cannot support a fact mentioned in the story, you risk vilification on social media if it is ever found out, therefore subjecting the publishing house boss Emily (the imperious Ms. Jones) heads, for reputation destruction.

Writers make these decisions on facts all the time in what to put in an article and what to leave out. Or, worse, writers put their opinion into articles as to what certain facts mean and portend. This is so much a flaw in journalism today. It’s where fake news comes from.

Another tough call the reporter faces is what to leave out, such as questions politicians do not answer in a news conference. Reporting what is not said or answered is as much a part of a story as to what is said. And, of course there are the questions reporters do not ask.

The traits above are brought brilliantly, shockingly and hilariously to full glare in The Lifespan of a Fact.

The truth does not need interpretation.

The Lifespan of a Fact makes that perfectly clear through the three superb, chemical performances of three actors at the top of their game. The antiseptic imperious sets by Mimi Lien of the publishing house and the writer’s Las Vegas home will be very familiar.

The impersonal communication of the cellphone and the hell of dealing with issues that really do matter  face to face will make any writer or newspaper or network viewer think long after you see this play.

Not since The Front Page has a play explored the responsibility of reporters and writers and publishers with such insight. The truth is a harsh mistress betray her and you will regret it.

The instant on-your-feet standing ovation was testimony to the flawless performers mastery of timing, character, emotion — the stuff great acting is made of.

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WPCNR THE POWER STORY. From County Chairman of the Board of Legislators Benjamin Boykin and Majority Leader Catherine Parker. October 26, 2018:

Con Ed is now offering customers the chance to enroll in a text messaging program that will send pre-storm weather alerts and storm preparation information.  In addition, customers who suffer outages and inform the company about them, will get system and safety updates, including an estimated time of restoration.

Customers who want to enroll can use their cell phones to text REG to OUTAGE (688243) and follow the prompts. Customers will need their account numbers and to confirm their zip codes.  Your account number can be retrieved online by logging on to your Con Ed account and navigating to the “My Account” section, or by checking a bill.

If you sign up but decide you don’t want the text messages, Con Ed assures us that you can opt out.

More information is available at coned.com/text.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE From the NYS Department of Taxation  & Finance. October 24, 2018:

The City of White Plains got back on track after a lackluster August sales spell, with sales tax dollars rebounding 12.3% in September. White Plains is down a slight ¾ of a per cent from the 2017 figures at this time. (The city fiscal year begins in July and runs through June of 2019).

Westchester County sales tax dollars increased ½% in September with the important fourth quarter holiday sales period starting. Through the first 9 months of 2018, Westchester County has earned  $408,569,137.

If the county matches its 2017 pace the next three months it will take in $136 Million, earning an all-time County Sales Tax “Handle” of $544 Million. Last year, the county earned $525.5 Million n sales taxes.

If the county resumes its 6% growth rate it has enjoyed through August the next three months that $544 Million could grow to $550 Million, giving the county enough surplus over last year ( when the county earned $525 Million) to cover the $15 Million hole in the budget from the county decision not to lease the Westchester county airport, and devote $10 Million more towards union settlements recently agreed by the County. (The deficit county auditors announced last spring placed the 2018 shortfall at $37 Million.)

The county itself is highly confident. In their midyear economic forecast in July, the county predicted a $555 Million sales tax revenue, even while downplaying the strong 6% growth rate.

The County Executive now faces the pleasant prospect of the sustained county sales tax growth (if it just matches last year in October, November and December) of having the deficit now down to $10 Million or less depending on free-spending  confident shoppers flooding the malls and the bars.

The  prospect of a property tax increase that is high enough to be fiscally responsible to the labor settlements while low enough to be politically correct with Westchester residents.

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WPCNR STOP AND GO. From the New York State Department of Transportation Hudson Link. October 18, 2018 (EDITED):

The long-awaited ramp entrance cue system will begin to be installed late this fall, according to the Department of Transportion, Hudson Link anounced Thursday night.

The New York State Department of Transportation would like to familiarize Lower Hudson motorists with important changes across the I-287 corridor between Rockland and Westchester counties, including on the new Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. These changes include the following:

• Ramp meter signals will be installed on 13 interchanges along I-287, from Interchange 14A in Rockland County to Interchange 4 in Westchester County.
• The three Westchester ramp meters will be installed by the end of October 2018 and the remaining ramp meters will be installed in 2019 and 2020.
• Ramp meters are red/green traffic signals regulating the flow of vehicles from local access ramps entering I-287 to manage roadway congestion.
• New York State Police will enforce traffic rules at these meters; drivers who fail to stop at a red ramp meter light can be fined the equivalent of a regular traffic signal violation.
• There will be dedicated bus lanes available on the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, one in each direction.
• Bus riders can save up to five minutes on typical weekday commutes and even greater travel time savings when there are major traffic incidents.
• Proper use of these bus lanes will be enforced by New York State Police.
• The eastbound bus lane will be available for use with the launch of the new Hudson Link transit service in late October 2018.
• The westbound bus lane will be available next year with the completion of the bicycle / pedestrian path.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From The  Westchester County Department of Communications. October 15, 2018:

County Executive George Latimer announced a new opportunity for County taxpayers  that will give them a chance to make their voices heard prior to the submission of the County Executive’s first proposed Westchester County Budget.

The two public input sessions, both held on October 23, will take place from 2p.m-4p.m. at Mercy College-Yorktown Heights Campus located at 2651 Strang Blvd. in Yorktown Heights and from 7p.m.-9p.m. at the Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, Moot Court Room located at 78 North Broadway in White Plains. These sessions are in addition to the public hearings held by the Board of Legislators.

Latimer said: “My Administration is determined to abide by the principle that government is by the people and for the people. I hope Westchester residents take this opportunity and loudly make their voice heard. It is no secret that our County faces serious financial issues – but together we will work to fix these challenges which lay ahead.”

Latimer continued: “The trend of an Administration seeking public input on the proposed budget after it has already been submitted often created contentious public meetings where some taxpayers felt that solicitation of public input was just for show. That will be no more.”