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 COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications and the Democratic Caucus May 2, 2016 (Edited) UPDATED (ITALICS) May 3, 2016:

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino’s plan to ensure the financial future of the 1928 vintage amusement park Playland (shown above) through a public-private partnership with Standard Amusements was approved Monday night by the Board of Legislators by a vote of 13-4.

The management agreement was passed separately from individual bonds that authorized funding for several capital projects at Playland including a new fire suppression system, the North Boardwalk and various new rides and attractions.

The approval means that New York-based Standard Amusements will make a $30 million private investment in return for the right to operate the iconic park in Rye.

Standard Amusement’s $30 million investment will go toward revitalizing Playland with new rides and attractions, as well as upgrading food choices, picnic areas, and restaurants and renovating grounds and buildings. Standard Amusements will pay the county $2,250,000 up front; invest $27,750,000 million of its money within five years into refurbishing the park; and make annual payments to the county starting at $300,000 and escalating 2% a year. Once Standard Amusements has recouped its initial investment, the county will participate in a sliding-scale profit sharing agreement.

In return, Standard Amusements will have a management agreement with the county to run the park for 30 years. For its part, the county has agreed  to fund 11 capital projects to rehabilitate the infrastructure at Playland, costing $33 million, including rides, gaming and concession improvements, as well as shoreline rehabilitation.

(Editor’s Note: County Legislator Benjamin Boykin in a detailed analysis of the agreement, wrote the new debt service per year that the county will assume is $2.5 Million, which WPCNR is trying to confirm is added to the $3 Million in debt service the county is currently paying on previous Playland debt. It is unclear if the county is going to consolidate the previous debt service.

In his analysis of the agreement, Mr. Boykin wrote the new debt service would be partially offset by the $300,000 management fee which begins immediately, how much of the total debt service will be offset is not clear.}

“We started with a blank piece of paper for how to save Playland six years ago,” Astorino said. “Now we are taking a historic step forward.  The capital, the operator and the vision are in place to protect both taxpayers and the Dragon Coaster for years to come.”

Astorino said the effort to save Playland was a team effort, and he thanked BOL Chairman Michael Kaplowitz for keeping the deal on track, the members of the BOL who supported the initiative, and Nicholas Singer, a partner of Standard Amusements, for his patience and persistence for sticking with the county until a deal could be successfully concluded.

Singer, a successful investor and native of Westchester, said the deal is designed to preserve the special character of Playland that he remembers as a child.

“To have the opportunity to take a place that meant so much to me throughout my childhood and help restore it to a condition that ensures generations of children to come will be able to enjoy it as I did, is really a dream come true,” Singer said. “I cannot be more thankful to County Executive Astorino and the Westchester Board of Legislators for their vote of confidence and their partnership throughout this process. This is a wonderful day for Westchester.”

Playland opens on Saturday, May 7, at 11:30 a.m., for its 88^th season.

DEMOCRAT CAUCUS TROUBLED…

Legislator Catherine Parker (D-Rye), joined by Majority Leader Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining), Legislator Alfreda Williams (D-Greenburgh) and Legislator Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers), voted against the agreement but in favor of separate bond acts, which authorize the largest investment in Playland since it was built. 

Legislator Catherine Parker, who represents the Sound Shore communities including Playland stated, “I believe this deal has gone backwards from the one that was crafted previously.  We are spending more money than we were in the last deal and the private operator is reaping more of the benefits of our investment than they were in the last deal.  I believe turning over the keys to one of our county’s most valuable assets without any avenue of accountability is a mistake that will cost us in the long run.  So many county residents have been involved in the process by telling us that this park has been starved for years and they want to see a change.  We’re happy that the public had another opportunity to tell the County Executive that this asset cannot function without the proper investment like he has avoided for years.  I believe the bonds we’ve passed tonight are a strong step in the direction of saving Playland”

Legislator Borgia added, “I have been a supporter of Standard Amusements’ vision for Playland from the beginning of this process several years ago when the County Executive initially selected Sustainable Playland as the operator.  With input from many of our Legislators and members of the public at that time, it ultimately became clear that the County Executive had failed to select a financially viable entity and was unaware of what was required to manage this park successfully.  The County Executive’s track record of starving Playland and failing to negotiate economically beneficial deals for taxpayers is the greatest reason for my concern over this deal despite Standard’s willingness to work with all of the Stakeholders involved.  At this time, I do not believe the county has represented its taxpayers as well as Standard has represented its investors.

Legislator Lyndon Williams (D-Mt. Vernon) added, “Playland is the single largest employer of summer youth in Westchester County.  I wanted to ensure that summer jobs for our young people are protected and that this historic amusement park is modernized and upgraded with new rides and entertainment for families and young people for generations to come.”

“This deal is not perfect but I do believe that paired with the bonds we passed tonight, we have made strides toward saving Playland,” stated Legislator MaryJane Shimsky (D-Hastings-on-Hudson), who Chairs the BoL Infrastructure Committee and oversaw large portions of the negotiation process. “The County Executive’s longtime reluctance to make needed capital investment in Playland is the reason we need a public-private partnership.  By contractually obligating the County Executive to make these investments, I believe we have given Playland the opportunity to provide enjoyment to families for many years to come.”

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THE GUARDIANS– WATCHERS ON THE RHINE–FOR 15 YEARS — JIM BENEROFE AND JOHN BAILEY AND PETER KATZ –THE WHITE PLAINS WEEK NEWS TEAM COUNTED ON FOR TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH WESTCHESTER’S MOST RELEVANT NEWS PROGRAM

THE FRIDAY APRIL 29 SHOW IS ON

www.whiteplainsweek.com

AND YOUTUBE AT

now

ON

THE INTRIGUING DETAILS OF THE WHITE PLAINS SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER PROGRAM 

SOLAR PANELS PLANNED FOR 4 WHITE PLAINS CITY OWNED SITES AND THROUGHOUT 20 MUNICIPALITIES.

GANNETT TO ACQUIRE LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO BALTIMORE DETROIT KINGPIN NEWSPAPERS

THE SAD TRUTH ABOUT WHAT THE KENSICO AVE KILLING SAYS

AND MORE

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City of White Plains Recreation and Parks Department Boys and Girls  Grades 5-8th  Friday April 29 7-9:30PM Gillie Park Field (85 Gedney Way) Fee: $8 ** Children must have waiver signed by Parent or Guardian** TEEN NIGHT KICKBALL TOURNAMENT Come test your skills at kickball, while having fun with your friends. Pick your own teams or you will be placed on a team when you arrive. A movie will be showing while you wait to play, with drinks and popcorn! All equipment is provided. For any further info, please call 914-422-1336

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REGISTRATION FOR SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION

Registration for the White Plains Board of Education Annual Budget Vote & Election will take

place on Saturday, April 30, Noon to 5 P.M., at Mamaroneck Avenue School, Nosband Avenue.  A registrant must be a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or more, and a White Plains resident for at least 30 days prior to the election.

If a resident has voted in a General Election in the past four years, he/she is automatically registered and need not re-register.

Voters who have moved within the City of White Plains since they last voted may also re- register at this time.

The election will take place on Tuesday, May 17th, from Noon to 9 P.M.

For your polling place and further information, please call 422-2000.

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Crime Scene: Aaron George was arrested and charged with the murder of Dominique Hospie April 17 in White Plains at 91 Kensico Avenue (above) the Westchester District Attorney’s Office announced yesterday. A second suspect who alledgedly drove Mr. George to the scene has also been charged, the District Attorney’s Office reported.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. APRIL 27, 2016, UPDATED APRIL 28, 2016:

THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE ANNOUNCED THE ARREST OF AARON GEORGE, 21, WHO WAS CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER IN THE MURDER OF DOMINIQUE HOSPIE THE MORNING OF SUNDAY APRIL 17 THAT TOOK PLACE IN FRONT OF 91 NORTH KENSICO AVENUE IN WHITE PLAINS.

HOSPIE, THE VICTIM THAT MORNING HAD PREVIOUSLY SHOT MR. GEORGE IN 2011. MR. GEORGE ALLEGEDLY SHOT HOSPIE FOR REVENGE FOR HOSPIE SHOOTING HIM IN 2011.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE HAS ALSO CHARGED MICHAEL DJUKIC WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER FOR ALLEDGEDLY DRIVING MR. GEORGE AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.