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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THE INVASION BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT ON THE MORNING OF 6 JUNE WITH EXTENSIVE AERIAL AND NAVAL BOMBARDMENT AS WELL AS AN AIRBORNE ASSAULT—THE LANDING OF 24,000 AMERICAN, BRITISH, AND CANADIAN AIRBORNE TROOPS.

File written by Adobe Photoshop¨ 4.0

THE EARLY MORNING AERIAL ASSAULT WAS SOON FOLLOWED BY ALLIED AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS ON THE COAST OF FRANCE C. 06:30. THE TARGET 50-MILE (80 KM) STRETCH OF THE NORMANDY COAST WAS DIVIDED INTO FIVE SECTORS: UTAH, OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO, AND SWORD. STRONG WINDS BLEW THE LANDING CRAFT EAST OF THEIR INTENDED POSITIONS, PARTICULARLY AT UTAH AND OMAHA.

THE MEN LANDED UNDER HEAVY FIRE FROM GUN EMPLACEMENTS OVERLOOKING THE BEACHES, AND THE SHORE WAS MINED AND COVERED WITH OBSTACLES SUCH AS WOODEN STAKES, METAL TRIPODS, AND BARBED WIRE, MAKING THE WORK OF THE BEACH-CLEARING TEAMS DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASUALTIES WAS AT OMAHA, WITH ITS HIGH CLIFFS.

AT GOLD, JUNO, AND SWORD, SEVERAL FORTIFIED TOWNS WERE CLEARED IN HOUSE-TO-HOUSE FIGHTING, AND TWO MAJOR GUN EMPLACEMENTS AT GOLD WERE DISABLED USING SPECIALISED TANKS.

THE ALLIES WERE ABLE TO ESTABLISH BEACHHEADS AT EACH OF THE FIVE LANDING SITES ON THE FIRST DAY, BUT CARENTAN, SAINT-LÔ, AND BAYEUX REMAINED IN GERMAN HANDS. CAEN, A MAJOR OBJECTIVE, WAS NOT CAPTURED UNTIL 21 JULY.

U.S NAVY ASSAULT TROOPS WERE BLESSED BY THE CATHOLIC CHAPLIN BEFORE  LEAVING ON THE ASSAULT BOATS FROM THE ENGLISH COAST.

THE BEACHES (JUNO AND GOLD) WERE LINKED ON THE FIRST DAY, AND ALL FIVE BEACHHEADS WERE NOT CONNECTED UNTIL 12 JUNE.

GERMAN CASUALTIES ON D-DAY HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED AT 4,000 TO 9,000 MEN.

ALLIED CASUALTIES WERE AT LEAST 10,000, WITH 4,414 CONFIRMED DEAD

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WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE KEN JENKINS TO ANNOUNCE $15M IN FUNDING FOR COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM

Funding Will Assist Local Municipalities With Design and Implementation of

Complete Streets Projects on Municipal Roadways

(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins is announcing $15M in funding for the Complete Streets Municipal Assistance Program. The Program is designed to assist local municipalities with up to 50% of project costs for Complete Streets projects on municipal roadways.

Projects are intended to enhance safety for all road users. They can include the design and implementation of sidewalks, bicycle lanes, bus lanes, crossing opportunities, accessible pedestrian signals, curb extensions and associated streetscape treatments.

Municipalities will have the opportunity to apply to Westchester County for funding for design and construction, or construction only.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “We are thrilled to have been able to allocate $15 million dollars in funding in our Capital Budget to implement the Complete Streets Municipal Assistance Program.

Complete Streets is an approach to planning, designing and building streets that prioritizes the needs of all road users, including the most vulnerable, like pedestrians and cyclists.

Complete Streets projects often require a collaboration between various stakeholders including local governments and transportation agencies, and we are confident that by providing the opportunity for municipalities to apply for this funding, we will create more vibrant and walkable communities throughout Westchester.”

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New Local Law Targets Predatory Practices, Modern Scams

WHITE PLAINS, NY — The Westchester County Board of Legislators unanimously passed groundbreaking legislation Monday evening to shield residents and small businesses from increasingly sophisticated scams and predatory practices.

The new local law strengthens Westchester County’s 50-year-old Consumer Protection Code by expanding prohibited conduct beyond “deceptive” and “unconscionable” actions to include “unfair” and “abusive” business practices.

Sponsored by a bipartisan coalition of 14 Board members, the legislation addresses modern threats including deed theft, AI-powered fraud schemes, subscription traps, hidden junk fees, and data breaches. Westchester’s newly enhanced protections align with federal standards that already prohibit unfair, unconscionable, abusive and deceptive practices. However, recent federal rollbacks have weakened the federal government’s enforcement authority, leaving consumers vulnerable to exploitation.

The local law improves the County’s Consumer Protection Department’s ability to investigate and oversee rogue auto towing and home improvement contracting companies and to target companies that:

• Force customers through deliberately complex cancellation processes for subscriptions
• Hold customers’ identification documents hostage during car sales negotiations and charge for unwanted warranties
• Exploit language barriers to hide fees and pricing from consumers

It also increases daily penalties to as much as $15,000 per violation, giving enforcement sharper teeth.

Board Chairman Vedat Gashi (D-New Castle, Ossining, Somers, Yorktown) said,

“This isn’t just about stopping scammers, it’s about keeping money in the pockets of working families. When companies use deceptive tactics to drain bank accounts through hidden fees and impossible-to-cancel subscriptions, they’re stealing from our neighbors, our seniors, and our small business owners. We’re sending a clear message: Westchester won’t tolerate businesses that profit by preying on people.”

Legislator Colin D. Smith (D-Cortlandt, Peekskill, Yorktown), Chair of the Board’s Committee on Legislation and co-author of the bill, said,

“This legislation marks a major leap forward in safeguarding Westchester residents and small businesses from a new wave of scams and predatory practices that have outpaced existing laws. Whether it’s AI-driven fraud or manipulative subscription tactics, people deserve clear, fair protections. As Chair of the Legislation Committee, I’m proud to stand behind a bill that not only updates our consumer protections—it strengthens our stand against exploitation.”

Legislator David T. Imamura (D-Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Edgemont, Hartsdale, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington) Vice Chair of the Board’s Committee on Legislation and co-author of the bill, said,

“As the federal government ceases to enforce its consumer protection laws, Westchester County is stepping up to the plate to fill in the gap.  When Washington is abandoning working people, I am proud to sponsor a bill that will safeguard Westchester residents and modernize our consumer protection laws.”

New York State Attorney General Letitia James said,

“I applaud the Westchester County Legislature for passing this strong consumer protection legislation. This bill will protect small businesses from unfair tactics and ensure no one takes advantage of New Yorkers who do not speak English as their first language. As the federal government rolls back important protections for small businesses and consumers, Westchester is putting working families first. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the state legislature to follow Westchester’s lead and pass the FAIR Business Practices Act so that New Yorkers all across the state are protected from predatory lending, abusive debt collection, junk fees, and more.”

Watch the full meeting HERE.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. June 2, 2025: The 2025-26 City Budget was passed Thursday, and is now posted on the City of White Plains website under budget. The total city budget is $219.5 million an increase of 3.1%, going up $6.6 million from last year.

The new property tax rate is $250.27 per/$1,000 of assessed valuation.  A home of $13,500 valuation would experience an $82 dollar property tax increase. A home valued at 17,000 of assessed valuation would pay a property tax of $4,254 dollars, 103 dollars more than the  4,151 paid last year.

The city is expecting to collect $58.6 million in sales tax for the 2024-25 tax year, but WPCNR  at this  time projects if revenues in May and June equal last May June, the city will collect  $66 MILLION an all-time high.

Parking revenues, including  meter fees, parking fines,   red light fines and permit charges are according the city overview are at $31.2 million, and as more people come back to the city to work and shop, the city reports parking revenues are returning to pre-covid levels.

The adult use cannibis  tax is being budgeted by the city to bring in $680,000 in 2025-26.

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COUNTY EXECUTIVE KEN JENKINS ISSUES STATEMENT ON CLOSURE OF WHITE PLAINS SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE

“We start this week with fewer services for the people of Westchester County due to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s decision to close the Social Security Office in White Plains. We offered them space in a County office building at a reduced rate.

“I have been vocal—I’ve spoken with both Congressman George Latimer and Congressman Mike Lawler—explaining how detrimental this closure will be for our area. We will continue fighting for the people of Westchester County, but the federal government has made it clear: they do not care about cutting services or the harm this decision will cause.

“If the SSA were truly interested in saving money, they would have accepted the County’s offer for a much more affordable space. Let’s be clear—closing this SSA office isn’t about saving money, finding fraud, or rooting out waste. This is about denying people their benefits—not explicitly, but by omission.

“For those who are disabled or elderly, we all know they won’t be able to travel an hour or more to sort out and fight for the benefits they’ve earned. Travel is a luxury not everyone can afford—and the federal government knows that. Their message is bold and cruel: starve.”