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. | WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.

SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER MAKES PITCH VIA MAIL TO WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS…

Posted on April 4, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. By John F. Bailey April 4, 2016:

Look for this envelope in your mail. Open it! Pay attention to it!

Yours truly received it today.

It is from Sustainable Westchester and it is giving you 20 days to say “No” to joining in a group electricity rate for the residents of White Plains and 19 other communities, if you do not respond you are automatically switched to Sustainable Westchester.

The mailing contains this reply card:

WP_20160404_17_23_08_Pro Return this Reply Card checking the box to the “Please Do Not” LINE to turn down Sustainable Westchester savings and retain your present supplier, most likely Con Edison

The mailing contains this letter:

The letter offers you this rate .0768 cents per kilowatt hour if you request the 100% Renewable Energy Supply (Green option) or a Basic Supply Option Rate of .0738 cents per kilowatt hour, both rates are compared to thre 12 month Consolidated Edison Rate average of .0809 cents per kilowatt hour.

If you do not wish to change your supplier of electricity to Sustainable Westchester you must call return the Reply Card within 20 days…or call Con Edison Solutions at 1-888-437-1722.

THE ASSESSMENTS NEXT DOOR: FEINER–GREENBURGH NEW ASSESSMENTS WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT UNTIL 2017. MODIFICATIONS MAY BE MADE UP THROUGH SEPTEMBER

Posted on April 3, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. April 3, 2017:

Many residents contacted me this weekend. They just received their tax bills which are due at the end of April. The dollar amounts are using the old assessment numbers.

The reason: The tax rolls are finalized in September- not in April. Between now and September Tyler, the Assessor and the Board of Assessment will continue to make modifications in the assessment numbers that you received last month.

This is in compliance with NYS law. The new assessment numbers will be finalized in September of this year and taxes will be based on those numbers starting in 2017. Other questions: Do you have to reapply for STAR? The answer: Only if you receive the enhanced STAR benefits (which is income based for seniors).

The Assessor, Edye McCarthy and Town Board want to make sure that you are assessed correctly. When I met with the Assessor on Saturday at Town Hall she indicated that about 2,000 property owners out of 28,000 have so far contacted Tyler technologies making appointments for informal hearings to seek adjustments in the tentative assessment numbers. If you have not asked for an appointment yet please call Tyler at 1-800-273-8605. There are closer to 6,000 properties that will experience tax hikes after the reassessment is completed. I’m hopeful that those who feel that Tyler’s estimated property values were wrong will seek a meeting so that Tyler could make appropriate adjustments.

28,000 properties are a lot of properties to assess at one time (the first reassessment in 60 years). Tyler is making some adjustments. If residents meet with Tyler and in June you’re not satisfied with the results – the Assessor (at that time) has the option to make adjustments. And you also have the opportunity to file a grievance with the Citizens Board of Assessment Review. Look at the letter you received from Tyler last month as only a first draft. The final rolls won’t be finalized until September.

During the past few weeks the Assessor, Deputy Assessor, staff in the assessors office and I have been meeting with many residents –answering questions, providing them with records they are requesting that will help them when they meet with Tyler and discussing process. We’re more than willing to meet with individuals, neighborhood civic associations, even a handful of your neighbors during this process. We share similar goals: No one wants you to pay more than your fair share in taxes. If you would like to schedule a meeting with me and the Assessor or Deputy Assessor to discuss the process or to obtain more information about your own property, please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com.

What should you bring to Tyler when you meet with them? photographs (inside and out), cost estimates of any work completed or in the process, an appraisal or a market analysis from a realtor, sales listing or contract of sale, comparable sales in your neighborhood, and lastly, everything and anything you feel would change the value of your home, such as, but definitely not limited to: your property floods, you live on a busy corner, or close to a highway or commercial property or tension wires, etc. another example, may be, your kitchen and bathrooms have not been updated or they have, or the house is under construction. Again, the more you tell them, the more information they will have to assess your property correctly. By law, you do not have to let them, but it would surely help if they request an inspection. There is a lot of information on the town website: www.greenburghny.com (home page). We are also adding more information on the Assessors page (on the left side of the home page there is a category called departments. Click Assessor and you’ll find some additional helpful info.

We are also planning to try to come up with some recommendations that could ease the impact of tax hikes for those who will be reassessed upwards. Most people in town will see no impacts or tax cuts as a result of the reassessment. But -others will experience hikes and it would be great if we could figure out a way to help them. Please continue to e mail me your suggestions: pfeiner@greenburghny.com. Some of the mitigation recommendations will probably require State Legislative approvals.

Finally–although some people are upset that we are reassessing after 60 years because their taxes went up– it should be pointed out that reassessment is not a revenue generator for the town. The goal is fairness: people living in the same kind of house should pay similar taxes –not thousands of dollars in different amounts. Over the years some people added additions to their properties without notifying the town. During the reassessment process we’re able to adjust the taxes on these homes -based on the additional work that was done. There are taxpayers who have been overpaying for years. Now, after the reassessment is implemented their taxes will go down and they will pay only their fair share. And–once the reassessment is completed we should see fewer grievances. The town, school, county, fire districts have been issuing up to $10 million per year in tax refunds, paying significant dollars in defending these certiorari actions in legal costs. That will slow down. So in summary – it was important to reassess. However – we want to make sure that your properties are assessed correctly.

Members of the Town Board are also interested in hearing from you. Feel free to e mail the entire Town Board at town board@greenburghny.com. Francis Sheehan, Diana Juettner, Ken Jones, Kevin Morgan and I want you to have confidence in what you’re doing and we would be happy to respond to your questions and suggestions. The Town Board also approved a law requiring periodic reassessments approximately every five years so the town will never experience this tax shift again.

PAUL FEINER

WHITE PLAINS WEEK ON HILLARY CLINTON RALLY, THE NEW TAXI REGULATIONS, THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK AND DEBATE CHAOS.

Posted on April 1, 2016 by John Bailey

EXCLUSIVE WPCNR VIDEO ON HILLARY CLINTON HIGHLIGHTS–PETER KATZ REPORTING. WHAT YOU DID NOT SEE.

JIM BENEROFE’S TAKE ON AGING AND THE PRESIDENCY

JOHN BAILEY ON THE SURPRISE TAXI REGULATIONS BEING VOTED ON MONDAY AND THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK AND HOW YOU CAN ANSWER IT.

SEE IT NOW

ON YOUTUBE AT

https://youtu.be/5Iw16XEzncg

TONIGHT 7 P.M. ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK ON FIOS CHANNEL 45 AND CABLEVISION CHANNEL 76 ON WHITE PLAINS TV

AND LATER ON THE INTERNET AT

www.whiteplainsweek.com

WHERE THE REAL NEWS IS

HILLARY CLINTON STAKES OUT NEW HIGH GROUND- MOCKS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES’ INEXPERIENCE, NAIVETE IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SECURITY, RECKLESS TALK DIVIDING NATION

Posted on March 31, 2016 by John Bailey

Hillary Clinton addressing supporters at State University of New York today in Purchase, NY

Hillary Clinton blasted Republican front runners as unqualified for the Presidency, today saying she is best qualified for the Presidency because “I’ve done it all.”

She warned women that the Republicans want less government except when that comes to womens rights, voters rights, and immigrants.

She made the case that Republican campaign rhetoric threatened security if any were elected due to their inexperience with the world community.

She said the key to ISIS is continuing to form a world coalition, a formidable task which she has done in the past in forming the Iran boycott which moved Iran to agree to the nuclear nonproliferation agreement.

On Health Care she chided both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz saying they want to roll back progress on health care.

Her overriding theme was the nation must “get over the inability to listen to opposing views.”

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2016. By John F. Bailey. March 31, 2016: Hundreds turned up early this morning to wait to see Hillary Clinton at a campaign rally in Purchase in person and on closed circuit television.

You can see the video of Mrs. Clinton’s speech this afternoon at

www.hillaryspeeches.com

They heard a new Presidential-like, no-nonsense Hillary Clinton not only sounding Presidential but walking the walk.

She delivered a message specifically criticizing Republican contenders for the Presidency and her rival for the Democratic Presidential nomination, Bernie Sanders for their lack of experience and lack of practical plans to deliver a better way of life for the American people and to keep us safe.

Republicans, she said were creating an atmosphere of hatred and violence, that she said was both “scary and dangerous.”

The messages of the leading Republican candidates, she said would make it very difficult to forge alliances with Europe and allies to defeat ISIS because of Republican anti-Muslim remarks, saying it would be hard to obtain cooperation from Muslim nations to participate in a coalition against ISIS. She said Ted Cruz’s idea of monitoring Muslims in America, was mocked by the NYPD and New York City Police Commissioner William Braaton as “not knowing what the Hell he (Cruz) was talking about. “ She also pointed out that what would Cruz do with the 1,000 Muslim police officers in the NYPD.

She mocked Mr. Sanders’ idea that health care had to be redone, by saying now 90% of Americans have health insurance, “so many persons have come up to me and told me how (President Obama’s) Affordable Health Care Act had saved their lives because they were able to go to a doctor. I know how hard it was to put together a Health Care program. It is better to keep what we have and build on it than start over.”

Citing Donald Trump’s statements on abortion, immigration and women, she invoked Maya Angelou the poet whom she quoted as saying, “Listen to what a person says. They mean exactly what they say.”

She said Sanders idea of providing free college to young people that would be paid for by the states which she mocked as unrealistic. She said she planned to attack the student loan problem by lowering interest rates on the loans students have going forward, and having students work at colleges to lower their financial commitment. This is detailed, she said on her website. Also appealing to students she planned an entrepreneurial program to aid young graduates in starting their own businesses.

In a broader economic statement she said she wanted to encourage keeping jobs in this country by making it less attractive to move businesses overseas, and establish an infrastructure fund for the states to establish more jobs while repairing their physical plants.

She ended her 40 minute talk by saying “so much is at stake in this election.”

Shortly after her talk began a group of Senator Sanders supporters interrupted her and marched out. Mrs. Clinton said, “I’d like to sit down and talk with you, but this is typical, no side wants to hear what the other has to say.”

She alluded to this theme at the close saying the nation has to stop this and work together.

She shook hands with as many persons surrounding the state as she could after the rally. I figured there were about 200 in the room and hundreds more watching on close circuit television in the larger SUNY Purchase theater.

There was heavy security in effect.

Transit Study Reaches Out to White Plains Citizens with Online Survey Format: Asks 1st QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Posted on March 31, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR TRANSIT CENTER PROJECTIONS. From the City of White Plains March 31, 2016:

Downtown White Plains Transit District Study Launches “Question of the Week”

White Plains Mayor Tom Roach announced a new component of the public engagement plan for the Downtown White Plains Transit District Study. “Starting this week, we will be reaching out directly to the public with a Question of the Week,” said Mayor Roach. “This represents an additional means of public outreach and will complement the public engagement meetings that have already been scheduled.”

The Question of the Week may be answered up until April 10 at this URL

www.wptransitdistrict.com

(Paste above URL in your browser to have your say:)

You have to put in your email address for your answer to be accepted.

This week’s Transit District Question of the Week:

Which of these improvements would most impact your transit experience? (check all that apply to you)

Better pedestrian access

Separate areas for taxi and passenger drop off

Cleaner station

Better signage

Increased lighting

Food services

Other:

SATURDAY ON WHITE PLAINS TV PEOPLE TO BE HEARD: MIKE KAPLOWITZ EXPLAINS HIS PLAN TO SAVE PLAYLAND-STANDARD DEAL –ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT www.whiteplainsweek.com

Posted on March 31, 2016 by John Bailey

COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS CHAIRMAN MIKE KAPLOWITZ ADDRESSES THE MEDIA ON MARCH 18 AT A NEWS CONFERENCE EXPLAINING WHY HE FEELS THE STANDARD AMUSEMENTS PLAN TO RUN PLAYLAND CAN MAKE SENSE FOR THE COUNTY IF THE COST OF PLAYLAND CAPITAL PROJECTS IS SHARED.
THE NEWS CONFERENCE WILL BE REPLAYED IN ITS ENTIRETY ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD, COUNTYWIDE ON CHANNEL 45 FIOS AND CHANNEL 76 CABLEVISION IN WHITE PLAINS SATURDAY EVENING AT 7 PM. IT IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING NOW ON THE INTERNET AT www.whiteplainsweek.com

Playland Deadline Extended a month. Standard Amusements Negotiations about to begin.

Posted on March 30, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. March 30, 2016:

Westchester legislators today voted unanimously (with not the full Board in attendance) to extend the deadline for Standard Amusements and Westchester County to finalize the arrangement under which Standard would take over management of the park.

The county is seeking a 50-50 investment split between Standard and the County on investment in the park refurbishment going forward.

The spokesman for the Westchester County Board of Legislators told WPCNR, the board and “worked out the issues with the (Astorino) Administration,” and that Standard Amusements was considering the county issues with the $20 Million on the refurbishment of the Colonnades. Matt Richter, the Board spokesperson said the Board will now take up direct negotiations with Standard Amusements which he described has willing to consider adjustments to the deal.

In another development…

Richter also confirmed that approximately $3.4 Million had been received from FEMA for repair of the North Boardwalk which has been closed from Hurricane Sandy damage sustained 4 years ago in 2012. Richter thought that the money had not been expended yet because the county had been waiting to see what kind of arrangement could be made with a possible future operator of Playland.

In still another development…

A news conference held by County Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, recorded March 18 (shown above) in which he detailed for the press his plan for a restructured Playland-Standard Amusements agreement, and the case for savA ing Playland will be televised on the White Plains Television program PEOPLE TO BE HEARD (Westchester County’s most relevant interview program) in its entirety, including Press questions and answers PEOPLE TO BE HEARD on Thursday evening March 31 at 8 PM countywide on VERIZON FIOS CHANNEL 45 and WHITE PLAINS CABLEVISION IN WHITE PLAINS CHANNEL 76, and Saturday, April 2.

Latimer: Legislature should NOT receive raises next January without enacting Ethics Reform

Posted on March 30, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From State Senator George Latimer. March 30, 2016:

State Senator George Latimer (D-Westchester), a past opponent of proposals to increase the paychecks of New York State Legislators, blasted any plans by leaders of the Senate Majority Conference to push through a pay raise this year. The issue has been passed along to a commission the state legislature created in the state budget almost exactly a year ago.

“Despite the convictions of the two top Senate leaders since the Commission was created, the plan appears to be full speed ahead for raises for state legislators as of next January 1. Without real ethics reform, not one single elected state legislator deserves a raise,” Latimer said.

Latimer, who has sponsored and co-sponsored numerous pieces of legislation that would improve the accountability, oversight and ethics of elected officials, believes that the failure to pass ethics reform is one more reason to withhold pay raises this year.

“Corrupt politicians are still getting their pensions. They are still using campaign funds to pay for their criminal defense. They can be convicted and still hold office in a political party. There are many important reforms that never make it to the floor of the Senate; we need to show our residents that we are not going to tolerate business as usual. Reform comes first.

The Return from Calvary

Posted on March 25, 2016 by John Bailey

WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. March 25, 2016. Republished from WPCNR of the Distant Past.:

He died 2,000 years ago on a cross. There was no CNN, no internet, no newspapers,radio or television. No Twitter or Facebook. No Instagram,Skype, or Google.

Nevertheless the message of the man who died on Calvary (The Place of the Skull) spread around the world without mass communication.

His followers, twelve of them were so devoted to His message of love and code of behavior they became the first pacifist activists who spread a message the man they called their Lord had preached to them.

He was Jesus of Nazareth. He had no last name.

Today He is now known all over the world for the message he delivered.

Whether you believe He is the Son of God, or not, he ranks as one of the foremost influences on mankind. More than Plato, more than Socrates, more than any leader or politician, or entertainer whoever lived.

His selfless acts of embracing lepers, the poor, those who sinned were unique.

Such compassion for the downtrodden was unheard of during the time He lived.

It was a time of slavery. No human rights. No care for the sick. When cities were razed and populations slaughtered or enslaved much like the genocides of today.

Jesus of Nazareth introduced a new philosophy that spread throughout the world after His death by crucifixation on this day (maybe, we do not know the exact date), because the community leaders of his own people thought him a threat to their power. And that should be a lesson to us all.

If you live by His philosophy of foregiveness you are a person at peace with yourself. If you accept those who are different from you without fear or prejudice, you are a force for spreading His message of peace towards others and good will.

I f you help the poor and the sick because you sympathize with them, you are following His way.

If you stand up for truth, point out what is wrong as He did with the Pharisees. You are doing his will.

If you go about doing good for the sake of doing good, you are following His virtue of selflessness.

Jesus of Nazareth’s message whether divine or a code of how we conduct our lives resonated with millions and it spread.

There is no denying He is one of the great philosophers of the human experience, kin to Socrates, the other giant of antiquity thought.

The above print of “The Return from Calvary” painted by Herbert Schmalz shows the last hours of Jesus of Nazareth’s crucifixation around 33 A.D. on Calvary Hill, “the place of the Skull” outside of Jerusalem late in the day He was crucified.

The description on the print describes the somber scene:

The darkness which was on the earth (during His suffering) is clearing away.

One long, dark cloud is hanging over the city like a pall.

The Virgin Mother, weighted down by fatigue and grief, knowing not wither she goes, is being led up some steps, toward “his own” home, by St. John and Mary Magalene.

In the distance on the top of Cavalry, you can make out the three crosses.

The grief so eloquently captured by this print depicts the very personal loss all of us endure when someone we love passes away because of all they did for us.

Jesus of Nazareth was a human being who affects us to this day.

One of the great gifts of this man, Jesus of Nazareth, is the celebration of humanity and capacity to care and feel for others that aids persons whether they believe He was the Son of God or not. Or that you will have eternal life if you believe in him.

His philosophies of care, courage, compassion and benevolent action serve their practioners well because they leave a great personal satisfaction in the heart, the mind, and the spirit.

You do not have to second guess yourself, when you do what is right, humane, merciful, and serves the less fortunate without superiority with nothing to gain for yourself. And if you do not do what is right, if you weaken, you always regret it and remember when you failed to do right.

The peace of mind of action is the least of the great gift of Jesus of Nazareth whose death on the cross is marked this day.

If you act as Jesus did, you will be remembered by all you meet fondly and lovingly, and be comforted that you will live in memories of those you have touched with your love and kindness and caring for eternity to the end of the age.

His simple teachings have great power. Use it.

They give meaning to our mystery of life.