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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Announcing the 2018-19 Season Superb music. Inspiring moments. Unexpected fun. Experience the Westchester Philharmonic. 4-concert package: $368, 290, 138 3-concert package: $285, 225, 120 SUBSCRIBE NOW

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WPCNR EXCLUSIVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY!

Sun-YES!

Coyly Seductive, Ms. Sun veils herself in her cloudy negligee

Shadows! Adoring Azaleas Confirm, she is back

Azaleas say: We’ve been waiting for this for 7 days!

WPCNR Weather Breakers with relentless surveillance have confirmed: The sun is out in White Plains and as of  10:05 AM EDT — it is lighting up the morose skies with sketches of blue sky after a week of relentless rainy boullibaise of heavy rain, thunder-lightning,drizzle, moderate rain, light rain, mist, strong winds and down right depressing drenching.

But it’s gone! Ladies and gentlemen. Put on extra sunblocker before stepping out. Time to put on those fashionable foster grants and Dolce Gabana sunglasses and head to Playland.

The weather worries still predict thundershowers late today, so the window of teasing sun glory may be brief.

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo. May 20, 2018:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo issued a letter to New York State Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker today directing him to take immediate steps to protect and support New York’s reproductive health facilities, which are critical to families across the state, no matter their financial status.

The Governor issued the letter in light of reports of actions to be taken by the federal administration that would silence providers, limit health care, and restrict support for these services. Full text of the letter is available below.

May 18, 2018

Howard A. Zucker, MD, JD.

Commissioner

New York State Department of Health

Corning Tower

Empire State Plaza

Albany, New York 12237

Dr. Zucker:

Today, it has been publicly reported that the White House intends to severely limit the rights of women to choose the health care they need by restricting the ability of providers to freely provide women the full range of health care options. This action is the latest in the White House’s assault on women across this country. It is contrary to the freedom of choice New York stands for and impedes the rights of all New Yorkers to access comprehensive health care. We cannot and will not stand for unwarranted intrusion into the private and confidential relationship between a caregiver and a patient and with this letter I am directing you to take all steps to protect and secure family planning services.

Preserving the support and services offered through the New York Family Planning Program is essential to safeguarding access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services in New York. The Family Planning Program provides foundational sexual and reproductive health services, including disease and infection screening and treatment, birth control and cancer detection, to New Yorkers who may not be able to afford them. This program uses both state and federal Title X funding. The federal government’s proposed action will threaten access to certain vital reproductive services and place undue restrictions on access to basic health services.

Accordingly, I am directing you and the New York State Department of Health to protect all sexual and reproductive health care services provided through the New York Family Planning Program, including by submitting New York’s application for FY2018 Title X funds consistent with current regulations. Further, please work directly with the Governor’s Counsel’s Office to explore all avenues for legal action to counter the White House’s attack on doctor-patient relationship, access to comprehensive reproductive services, and the integrity of federal funding for this fundamental state health care program.

Finally, I intend to call on the New York State U.S. Congressional Delegation to condemn this Administration’s latest assault on women. My administration will continue to protect the sexual and reproductive rights of all New Yorkers, and this urgent effort demands your immediate attention

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THE  NEWS HOME TEAM 

BAILEY BENEROFE KATZ

ON

THE LATIMER AIRPORT POLICY

SCHOOL BUDGET PASSING

STORMY WEATHER

THE TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE FALLACY

LEISURE COURTS

CITY SALES TAX $$ DOWN 11% SINCE 2014

TOM WOLFE DEPARTURE AND THE NEW JOURNALISM

 Also on

www.wpcommunitymedia.org

(Scroll down to the White Plains Week Icon on the Program Wall  and punch up the MAY 18 Edition)

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COUNTIES DEVASTATED BY ANOTHER BIG STORM; 154,000 WITHOUT POWER AS of 1:30 PM

WPCNR THE POWER STORY. From the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, May 16, 2018 1:30 PM EDT.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today toured storm damage in Putnam County and delivered a recovery update in response to several severe thunderstorms that occurred throughout Tuesday. At the height of the storm, over 200,000 utility customers were without power, mainly in the Mid-Hudson Region.

The severe weather felled trees and power lines, damaged vehicles and homes, and resulted in at least twofatalities. As part of the recovery effort, the Governor has deployed 125 members of the New York National Guard and to further assist communities with recovery efforts. Currently, thousands of state and local personnel are on site in the affected areas with pre-deployed equipment to clear transportation corridors of debris and assess damage throughout the affected areas.

“As these extreme weather events continue, New York is committed to stepping up our preparedness and ensuring that all impacted New Yorkers receive the assistance they need to recover and clean up after the storm,” Governor Cuomo said. “We’re on the ground and are working tirelessly to restore power and help the affected communities recover as quickly as possible.”

New York National Guard

The National Guard deployment began this morning with 125 members out of Camp Smith in Westchester County. They will be assisting state, county and local personnel with efforts ranging from debris clearance to traffic control.

State Agency Response Efforts

Currently, state officials from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, State Police, and Department of Public Service, have been deployed to the region to assist with recovery operations. 33large generators from the state’s ten regional stockpiles have been sent to Dutchess, Orange and Westchester Counties to support traffic operations and power generation at key facilities in the region, as well as ten pallets of bottled water to Putnam County. Additionally, 125 members of the National Guard and 25 personnel from the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and Office of Emergency Management are currently assisting localities with damage assessments and emergency operations support. A mobile command center is also en route that will be staffed by Department of Financial Services personnel to assist Putnam Valley residents with insurance claims.

Department of Transportation

558 DOT personnel are available for storm response in the Mid-Hudson Region and an additional 424 staff available for storm response in Sullivan County. In addition, the Department has deployed more than 120 maintenance staff and supervisors from the Capital Region, the Mohawk Valley, Central New York and the Southern Tier to help the region dig out from the storm, including four tree crews, 14 brush/chipper crews, and four traffic signal crews that have been deployed to the region to assist in recovery efforts.

The following assets are prepared for deployment as needed: 386 large dump trucks, 102 larger loaders, 27 excavators, 23 chippers, 11 traffic signal trucks, 8 graders, 7 water tanker trucks, 5 vacuum trucks, 4 bucket trucks, one bulldozer, and one water pump.

In addition, the Department has Variable Message Signs up on state roads in the affected regions warning motorists of road severe weather conditions. Motorists are also reminded to check 511NY by calling 511 or by accessing www.511ny.org before traveling. The free service allows users to check road conditions and transit information.

Motorists are reminded that State Law mandates that if an intersection is “blacked out” and the traffic signal is not operational, the intersection is automatically a “four way” stop. In the event of closed or blocked roadways due to flooding, downed power lines or debris, motorists are advised to exercise caution and obey all traffic signs or barricades in place, regardless of whether a roadway looks clear.

Mobile users can download the updated, free 511NY mobile app from the iTunes or Google Play stores. The app now features Drive mode, which provides audible alerts along a chosen route while a user is driving, warning them about incidents and construction. Users can set a destination prior to departing and receive information on up to three routes.

New York State Thruway Authority

Currently, New York State Thruway Authority maintenance crews are in the process of removing trees and debris from the shoulders of the Thruway system in the Hudson Valley region. The Thruway Authority stands at the ready to assist as called upon.

The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to download its mobile app which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails, which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway, here. For real-time updates, motorists can follow @ThruwayTraffic on Twitter or visit www.thruway.ny.gov to see an interactive map showing traffic conditions for the Thruway and other New York State roadways.

New York State Department of Public Service

New York’s utilities have added 650 line, tree, and service workers to their existing base of 4,300 workers for restoration efforts. Crews are being moved to the areas that have had the greatest storm damage, including Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan and Westchester counties. Department staff will continue to monitor the utilities’ efforts during the storm restoration period.

The Department of Public Service has extended Call Center Helpline hours starting today, Wednesday, May 16, until 7:30 p.m., to assist consumers in their storm restoration efforts. The Department of Public Service Call Center Helpline can be reached by calling 1-800-342-3377.

Currently there are over 154,000 customers without power from the storm.

Department of Environmental Conservation

DEC has assets pre-positioned to deploy to storm-ravaged communities in the Hudson Valley, including certified chainsaw operators, sawyers and sled teams, pole saws, generators, and light stands. DEC staff, including Forest