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.

Hits: 99

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Office. June 16, 2015:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie today announced that a three-way agreement has been reached on the “Enough is Enough” legislation to combat sexual assault on college campuses in New York State.

This on-campus sexual assault prevention and response legislation was first proposed by Governor Cuomo in January. The package includes:

· A statewide definition of affirmative consent, defining consent as a knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity;

· A statewide amnesty policy, to ensure that students reporting incidents of sexual assault or other sexual violence are granted immunity for certain campus policy violations, such as drug and alcohol use;

· A Students’ Bill of Rights, which campuses will be required to distribute to all students in order to specifically inform sexual violence victims of their legal rights and how they may access appropriate resources.

The Bill of Rights clearly states that students are given the right to know they can report sexual assaults to outside law enforcement, including the State Police;

· Comprehensive training requirements for administrators, staff, and students, including at new student orientations.;

· Reporting requirements for campuses to annually submit aggregate data on reported incidents of sexual violence and their adjudication and handling to the State Education Department; 

· A new unit within the State Police called the “sexual assault victims unit” specialized in advanced training in responding to sexual assaults and related crimes that shall also provide assistance to campus police or local law enforcement, as well as training to college campus communities;

· A commitment of $10 million to help combat campus sexual assault through various partners, split in the following manner:

$4.5 million to rape crisis centers to provide services and resources to students, $4.5 million to the State Police to create sexual assault victims unit, and $1 million to colleges and universities; and

· A requirement for first responders to notify survivors of their right to contact outside law enforcement.

“Today is a victory for students across New York State,” Governor Cuomo said. “As the Governor, and as a father, I am proud that with this legislation New York will become a national leader in the fight against sexual assault on college campuses.

This action is a major step forward to protect students from an issue that has been plaguing schools nationwide for far too long. Once again, New York is setting the standard for other states to follow, and I look forward to signing this legislation into law as soon as possible.”

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said, “I am pleased and proud that working together we have reached a consensus on a bill to combat and root out sexual assault so our college campuses are safe learning environments for all students. I thank Senator Ken LaValle for his hard work on this issue, as well as Governor Cuomo and Speaker Heastie, and I commend my colleagues and the advocates for helping us achieve a positive result on this extraordinarily important piece of legislation.”

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “Every student deserves the opportunity to obtain a higher education in a safe and supportive environment. Campus sexual assault disrupts victims’ lives and shifts their focus away from their studies. This plan encourages victims to speak up and provides a uniform policy for handling accusations throughout all New York State colleges, as well as bolsters support services for victims of this heinous act. New York must continue to lead the way in the fight against campus sexual assault.”
Supporters for this legislation include:
· Lady Gaga, who also co-authored an op-ed with the Governor;
· 17 of 18 county executives statewide;
· Whoopi Goldberg, who also filmed a video for the campaign;
· More than 40 city mayors from across the state;
· More than 100 elected officials from across the state;
· Nearly 20 members of New York’s Congressional Delegation;
· More than 50 statewide and local organizations, in addition to 30 advocacy groups, community organizations and unions and 14 labor groups;
· 28 public safety officials from across the state;
· Student advocates from Barnard College and Syracuse, Columbia, Fordham and New York Universities; and
· House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.

​

Hits: 96

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER.  Extracted From Various news releases from The Westchester County Board of Legislators and  WPCNR reporting by John F. Bailey (EDITED) June 15, 2015 UPDATED JUNE 16, 5:10 PM EDT.

As reported Monday afternoon by WPCNR, (as  County Legislator Benjamin Boykin predicted), the Board of Legislators passed legislation designating Standard Amusements as the new operator of Playland, with the county retaining ownership, while Standard preserves and upgrades the park. The agreement is for fifteen years.

With the passage of the agreement, Standard Amusements will now begin co-managing Playland with the County for the remainder of the 2015 season.  Following the co-management period, Standard has until October 31, 2015 to finalize the deal.

The terms of the Playland Management Agreement call for the County to receive an upfront payment from Standard Amusements of $2.25 million.  Standard is then required to make an additional $22.5 million in capital improvements to the park in the next five years.  Standard has indicated that they plan to make those investments in the first three years of the agreement.

If Standard after getting into the park this summer  finds the park situation unacceptable for renovation and upgrade for whatever reason by October 31, they have a right to walk away and pay the county $500,000 as a “buy-out.” The $2.25 Million upfront payment is being held in escrow until October 31.

After Standard has recouped its initial investment, the county would share in 7.5% of the profit from Playland operations.  Additionally, Standard will pay the County an annual $300,000 management fee that increases by approximately 2% each year.

Following the vote, BOL Chairman Michael Kaplowitz  Somers said, “It has been almost five years since County Executive Astorino announced his intentions to find a private partner to operate the amusement park and it has indeed been a roller-coaster ride since then.  I thank my colleagues on the Board for their bipartisan cooperation and hard work in committee and I thank County Executive Astorino for his administration’s hard work and partnership in bringing about the last, best option for a major investment of financial capital and industry expertise in Playland.”

Kaplowitz added. “This review process has been absolutely transparent and has fully engaged the public along the way.  While we have finished this important step in the review process, the Board will continue its diligent oversight of Playland throughout the course of the agreement.”

(Editor’s Note:  It should be known that about three hours of the Labor, Parks, Planning and Housing Committee negotiations on the last week  last moment legal challenges were worked out privately with the Astorino administration out of sight of the public. Those last minute legal challenges were raised by Legislator Boykin  on the need for guaranteed reimbursement to the county for Playland County employees hired by Standard Amusements; Legislator Catherine Parker’s demand that the capital projects planned for Playland be committed to by Standard Amusements with a specific approval procedure; and  Chair of the Committee MaryJane Shimsky’s concern that Standard Amusements could decide the fate of the Playland pool without county input.

Boykin’s noticing that the rembursement piece was missing from the Astorino administration resolution on the labor agreement was included, with “fair and equitable negotiations” promised by Standard Amusements.

Ms. Parker’s concern was that capital projects be spelled out and specifics as how they would be paid for and the procedure for beginning them and the timing of them was needed. Parker succeeded in Standard agreeing that Playland Parkway lighting would be upgraded; the colonades repaired; the North Boardwalk repaired; the restoration of the smaller buildings in the existing park and the installation of a parkwide fire suppression system to protect them

Ms. Parker did not succeed in getting specifics into the Memorandum as to the procedures for paying for the capital projects, and the timing of them, though they are supposed to take place within the first 5 years of the agreement. Mr. Boykin told WPCNR this afternoon that the payment for the capital projects would consist of a combination of county money and Standard Amusement investment, not spelled out as yet.

Parker also this afternoon during the noon portion of the Labor, Parks, Planning and Housing Committee said she felt the redesign of the entrance to the park from the Playland Parkway and the decision as to what to do with the pool and water feature area (by the present pool) could not be made yet, pending more detailed Standard Amusements analysis of the shape the pool is presently in and the work needed to bring it up to industry standard.

Following the vote, County Executive Rob Astorino said, “I want to thank Chairman Kaplowitz for his leadership on moving this forward with the necessary speed and due diligence,” Astorino added, “This deal meets our three goals for preserving Playland by reversing the losses for taxpayers, putting the park in the hands of a top-flight operator, and revitalizing Playland as a must-visit destination for families for years to come.”

 Legislator Ben Boykin, of the 5th District representing White Plains and Scarsdale, stated, “It was very important that this public-private partnership protected the workers at Playland that have been there for a long time, oversee the park’s day to day functions and often have critical skills that we could not live without.  I am thankful that Standard Amusements was willing to work collaboratively with us to accomplish that goal without the taxpayers taking any additional burden as a result.  The financial investment by Standard Amusements will return Playland to one of the crown jewels in our park system and will enhance the visitor experience to this iconic landmark.”

Catherine Parker who pushed for Standard Amusements to agree to executing capital improvements already called for by the county capital plan to be included in the final Memorandum of Understanding approved this afternoon by the Labor, Parks, Planning and Housing Committee, though without specific procedures outlined as she originally hoped, said

“This is one of the largest public investments that has been made at Playland in decades and will make significant strides towards revitalizing one of the County’s greatest assets. Making sure that taxpayers get everything they could out of this deal was always my top priority and until the specific capital improvements were memorialized in writing, I could not have supported this proposal.  This was not a perfect process by any stretch but I believe that the taxpayers will benefit from the increased value of Playland as a result of the capital infusion it will receive.”

 Legislator Ken Jenkins sounded a note of caution about the agreement in a statement released by the Board of Legislators:

“This arrangement does not go far enough to benefit Westchester taxpayers and short circuited the due diligence that eventually crippled the previous agreement.  Given those circumstances, I commend my colleagues for their efforts in crafting legislation that begins to take some of the steps forward that Playland desperately needs.

I believe Standard Amusements is a solid partner in this effort and will do a quality job in upgrading Playland.

I remain concerned that there is no way to enforce the numerous agreements and insure this prime waterfront park remains available to all but I am willing to support the agreement to give this incarnation of the County Executive’s proposal.”

Hits: 93

WPCNR PLAYLAND GO ROUND.  By John F. Bailey JUNE 15, 2015 1:10 PM  UPDATED 2 PM (BOLD FACE) EDT:

The Labor and Parks Committee after a morning of negotiations between Standard Agreements, the Astorino Administration reconvened approximarely 12: 15.

The first matter was a resolution on the issue of what is paid County Employees who work for Playland for Standard Amusements. The tentative agreement, county employees currently at Playland who were not retained would be retained by Westchester County, at same grade and level and pension and transferred elsewhere by the Recreation Commissioner.

In the matter of compensation of present County Employees whom Standard Amusements wishes to hire, the compensation for those employees would be “negotiated” with Standard Amusements at the time. This was included at the insistence of White Plains Legislator, Benjamin Boykin who noticed it had been inexplicably missing from the final county administration documents last week.

It was not clear given the verbal explanation at the live telecast whether payment could be less and the county would pick up the balance of compensation, benefits.

County Legislature Chair Michael Kaplowitz said the resolution was as good as a handshake because if the contract with Standard was not conducted in good faith the legislature would “have holy hell to pay,” presumably, and I am just guessing here — this meant the CSEA union wrath (if Standard and the county did not negotiate fairly).

The Committee  then recessed at 12:45  before voting, to give the county legal team time to put all the pieces of paper part of this first resolution together for the vote. As of 2:00 P.M. they are still recessing.

When the Committee began at 9:27 this morning, 27 minutes late, Legislator Parker told Joseph Manigula, representing Standard Amusements she had requested the Pool-Water Feature jurisdiction matter be removed from the Capital Projects Memorandum of Understanding. Manigula said since there were changes to the MOU on Capital Projects as indicated by Chairwoman Shimsky, that he would have to caucus with his boss, Nick Singer of Standard Amusements before this evening’s scheduled vote.

With the Pool issue in the air and the Capital Projects decision making procedure legal issues still to go, it is looking like a long day ahead.

Hits: 92

Hits: 118

Plan of The Collection development on Westchester Avenue, looking east. The Westchester is on the right.

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. JUNE 13, 2015:

A downtown resident with the call for scoping comments on The Collection, the new proposed development on Westchester Avenue opposite the The Westchester at Bloomingdale Road and Westchester Avenue, has written the Mayor and Common Council, raising questions on congestion the new project may create:

TO:

The Honorable Tom Roach, Mayor of White Plains,and Common Council Members

RE:

The DEIS for “The Collection” development project at 60 – 96 Westchester Avenue (236,000 square feet of new commercial space, 261 residential units, and 1,233 parking spaces)

Introduction: Where is the Open Space? Outdoor Seating Areas? Plantings? Is the developer trying to cram too much into this small area? Is there only one driveway that will access the hotel, the retail and residential components, and municipal lot? What will access by vehicles be like during rush hours? AND … do we really need more retail space in White Plains?

Dear Mayor Roach and Common Council Members.

I am responding to the request for statements about the potential environmental impact of the proposed “Collection” project on Westchester Ave. My comments below relate to

1) the plan’s lack of Open Space, of Seating Areas, of Plantings, and Screening near a neighboring building;

2) pedestrian safety;

3) the amount of new retail space planned in the complex;

4) the number of driveways required (that pedestrians will have to cross);

5) the width of the pedestrian sidewalks for entering the complex;

6) location of the dog park for the residential component;

7) location of waiting area for a possible shuttle bus to the railroad station from the large residential component;

8) location of garbage staging and pick-up;

9) location for storing snow.

1)    The plan is noteworthy for its lack of Open Space, lack of Seating Areas, lack of Plantings, and lack of Screening of the proposed large residential building from the existing apartment building at 26 Franklin Ave. What gives White Plains its charm? Trees, parks, plantings, and sitting areas add to the livability and charm of the relatively dense neighborhoods close to the downtown.

2)    The Scoping document for the project very briefly mentions bicycle and pedestrian improvement (see section C-9-C-d.), including enhanced pedestrian access from Franklin Ave. to Westchester Ave.

But what about those attempting to cross Westchester Avenue? Now and for years, for pedestrians, there is no safe time to cross near the Stop&Shop driveway over to The Container Store (at the corner of Westchester Ave. and Bloomingdale Rd). The WALK sign appears even when vehicles may be making a left turn (going south) from the Stop&Shop driveway.

I have been almost hit by a vehicle twice. Could this crossing be made safe before we get into more development on Westchester Ave.? Any new crossings should be completely safe when there is a WALK sign.

3)    Please note the many existing retail vacancies on both sides of Main St. (near the new hotel and near Walmart), between City Place and N./S. Broadway; and also on Post Rd. and on Mamaroneck Ave.

The Collection plan includes 236,000 gsf of commercial space. (Some of that is a proposed hotel and a car dealership.) The remaining retail space seems to be at least 14,790 gsf + 46,790 gsf = 61,580).

4)    How many driveways will pedestrians have to cross along Westchester Ave.’s east side? Please note that the push-button mechanism for “requesting” a crossing of the Stop&Shop driveway was removed years ago.

5)    How will pedestrians enter the Collection complex, with its multi destinations? The width of the pedestrian sidewalks for entering the complex is important.

This is one problem at the City Center, at the Five Guys Burgers corner, 240 Main St., corner of City Place. Many people, some with baby strollers or personal shopping carts, bump into each other going into or exiting City Place because of the too-narrow sidewalk on the corner and along City Place.

6)    Where will the dog park be for residential units (possibly 261 total)? A dog park used all hours was built for the large rental apartment building at 2 Canfield (corner of Main St.) after the fact. It was positioned relatively near another apartment building. A dog park should not be near or opposite other residences or residential complexes.

7)    Where will the waiting area be for a possible shuttle bus to the railroad station from the large residential component? Will the waiting bus block traffic on Franklin Ave.? Will it block the circular driveway for “The Collection”?

8)    Many are aware of the odorous garbage staging area on Martine Ave. for the City Center. This is across the street from residential buildings. How will this be handled for “The Collection,” so that it will be hygienic and safe? How will garbage pick-up be handled?

9)    Where will snow be stored?

Renee Marks Cohen

White Plains NY