Charles Morgan Falls Short in Primary Effort Against Nadine Hunt-Robinson for Council Robinson Will Not Face Primary for Council Seat

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Charles Morgan announces he has not acquired enough signatures to primary Nadine Hunt-Robinson

WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. By John F. Bailey. July 15, 2014 Correction in bold, July 17, 2014:

Charles Morgan has fallen  120 signatures shy of the number of signees needed to force a Democratic Primary (800)  with Democratic Party nominee Nadine Hunt-Robinson in September.

Hunt-Robinson will run as the Democrat candidate for the remaining 2015 year of Benjamin Boykin’s unexpired  council seat term.

Morgan told WPCNR exclusively Monday he was short after the primary deadline for signatures passed July 10  and he had failed to achieve his goal of primarying Hunt-Robinson.

He blamed misleading information told him initially by the Board of Elections for his  falling short, saying he was originally told he needed 1,500 signatures to force a primary. When he filed he was told he only needed 800. When he asked Board of Election Officials why they had not told him 800 to start, he was told, “Well, we didn’t want you to fall short by having signatures disqualified.” Morgan felt since he was told he needed 1,500 that he could not make up the difference in time, and suspended his effort, only to find that he only needed 800.

“I could have gotten that,” he said, but cut back his efforts because he felt he would fall way short.

Morgan told WPCNR: “This (The Board of Elections) is set up for people who are in power to stay in power. That’s the way it is.”

Morgan told WPCNR he was reelected district leader for Battle Hill in the Democratic Party.

Mr. Morgan said he was running because he felt Ms. Hunt-Robinson (also an African-American) was not familiar with White Plains and White Plains issues, was not a District Leader and had not been active in the Democratic  Party. He also said he felt that the Ministerial Fellowship of White Plains which had suggested to Mayor Tom Roach, that the former occupant of the seat was African-American that any appointee to the council seat should be an African-American, keeping it a “black seat,” otherwise the African-American community in White Plains would not have any representation on the Council Morgan told the party and this reporter he felt this was wrong, to designate any seat as a seat determined by skin color, ethnicity, or race or background.

Thomas Caruso, who is white and a member of the Democratic City Committee Nominating Committee, after protest had swept the party at Ms. Hunt-Robinson’s selection without consulting the rank and file district leaders, and revelation she was not even a member of the Democratic Party, contested the nomination and was narrowly defeated by Hunt-Robinson in a roll call (not secret as originally reported) ballot of Democratic Party District Leaders. Caruson opted not to attempt to run a primary.

After the vote, Morgan attempted beginning in mid-June to gather signatures to force a primary, walking neighborhoods.

Morgan said it was a good experience talking with voters across the city. He said most he spoke to liked White Plains and the safety of the city. In Battle Hill and the Fisher Hill Neighborhoods (Northwest, and west sides of the city), residents complained about “illegals “ being housed in single family homes. He said his forays into the South End of town told him “FASNY (French American School of New York) was a huge issue.”

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City Sales Tax Collections Need Smart Auditing to See if Businesses Are Paying Their Share Per Square Foot

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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. JULY 14, 2014:

Hi John,
I hope all is well.  I just finished watching the show  (WHITE PLAINS WEEK,www.whiteplainsweek.com ) from last week and have a couple of questions/comments.
1) Regarding WP Sales Tax… Mr. B. is right on the money when he states the City needs to take a closer look at the entire Sales Tax issue.  Not sure exact words but in essence:
Does anyone study the receipts by business sector?  For example, if you group date for the last five years for Restaurants/Bars in the Mamaroneck/Post Road area,  do any irregularities pop up?   Using Sales Tax collected divided by square footage…the resulting numbers should be quite uniform…are they?
I don’t think anyone studies anything – I think they multiply by a small, historical growth rate and throw the number in the budget.  In other words, NO ONE HAS ANY IDEA WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT TO RECEIVE per square foot (within an industry group).
I am sure the ups & downs of the economy, the online purchasers,  the draconian parking enforcement, etc., all combine to reduce collections BUT my question is that with the computing power available in 2014, WP should be avail themselves of far more sophisticated planning & analysis tools.
In the first place, I wish that WP was not so dependent on sales tax (the most regressive type of tax) but we are…and we really need better estimate, promote (change parking policy), and ENFORCE collection of Sales Tax Revenue.
2) My second question involves the close of the show where you and Mr. B. commented that failure to approve FASNY would spell economic disaster.
HOW SO???  They pay no sales tax or property tax!  The construction people will benefit for less than two years and the vast majority will be from outside WP.  The increased traffic and congestion will bring chaos to the South End.
Does anyone really think that these people paying $30K tuition are sending their darlings on a school bus?  The people in the three current neighborhoods cannot stand the FASNY traffic – every student comes by private vehicle (the previous tenants were mostly local walkers you will not see them testify since they cannot wait for FASNY to vacate.)
How does the conservancy benefit anyone in WP, beyond walking distance?  Where would a person from the Highlands park their car while they enjoy the conservancy grounds?
Finally, you see the mess on North Street every day around the HS entrance/exit…it will be far, far worse when the new intersection is established.
I live in the North End and I will not be inconvenienced either way… but I see NO ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO APPROVAL OF THIS USE and lots of harm to the South End,,,
3)  Finally, we desperately need to revise the City’s Comprehensive Plan.  It was produced more than twenty years ago.  The analysis is from 92 & 93.  It is woefully out-of-date
Best Regards,
Terry Conroy
White Plains, NY.
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LYON PLACE/ WALLER CLOSED TO TRAFFIC THIS WEEK

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Lyon Place (South Broadway to Waller Avenue)

Waller Avenue (East Post Road to Maple Avenue)

 WPCNR BUMPER TO BUMPER. From the Downtown Business Improvement District. July 14, 2014:

The Department of Public Works announced on Friday that during the week of July 14, 2014 (weather permitting), a contractor will begin the installation of new granite curbing at Lyon Place and Waller Avenue. Subsequent to the granite curb installation, the roadways will be milled and then resurfaced.

During the day, traffic restrictions in the work area will be necessary and detours will be accomplished with appropriate traffic control devices and flagging personnel. Access for residents, deliveries, refuse & recycling, school buses, and emergency vehicles will still be provided.  It would be mutually beneficial to limit local vehicular traffic to before 8 am and after 4:30 pm.

City Department of Public Works inspectors will be on site to insure the satisfactory performance of the work and the protection of the City’s residents and homeowners.  The work is anticipated for completion by mid August.

If you have any questions, please contact Brian Murphy, Deputy Commissioner of Public Works at (914) 422-1212.

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Shots of Summer

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EGRET FISHING SCHOOL, WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT OFF SHERWOOD ISLAND. “STOP TALKING! YOU’LL SCARE THE FISH!”

 

 

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SHERWOOD ISLAND ON THE SOUND

 

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There will always be a Westpawt!

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Bathers on the Sound.

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On a Reach off Huntington Bay

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Homemade Peach and Strawberry Pie

 

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Abinanti First Representative to Call on Governor to Use Bank Settlement to Fund $1B of Tappan Zee Bridge Construction, Opposes Environmental Fund “Bridge Use”

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The New NY Bridge Under Construction July 2. BRIDGE still needs $3.5 Billion in financing and state has not announced where that is coming from. Assemblyman Abinanti says why use the windfall of $3 Billion from the French Bank Settlement?

 

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From The Office of Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti. July 13, 2014:

Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) this week praised the NYS Department of Financial Services (DFS) for successfully enforcing the law against a multi-national bank and urged that the $3 billion settlement (Editor: due to be paid August 1 into the New York State “General Fund”) be used not for short-term budget fixes but projects that are long-term investments in New York’s future.

“We should invest the $3 billion dollars in open space and parkland, in New York’s infrastructure and in the new Tappan Zee Bridge,” said the Westchester Assemblyman. “We should not squander this huge sum on inappropriate one shots but instead we should fund projects that will give New Yorkers long term benefits.”

Assemblyman Abinanti said that the one-time $3 billion bank settlement should be invested, in equal parts, to acquire open space and parklands ($1b), restore New York’s aging infrastructure ($1b) and fund part of the Tappan Zee Bridge ($1b).  He noted that the one-time $3 billion bank settlement eliminates the need to raid the Clean Water Fund to provide short-term financing for the new Tappan Zee Bridge.

New York will receive more than $3 billion from the $9 billion French bank BNP Paribas SA will pay after pleading guilty for violating sanctions on transferring money to Iran, Sudan and Cuba. The penalty is a record sum for a bank accused of doing business with countries that face United States sanctions.

 

Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) has also announced his opposition to the proposed $511 million loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (the Clean Water Fund) to the New York State Thruway Authority to pay for its Tappan Zee Construction Project.

In a statement issued last week , Assemblyman Abinanti argued that the State should be maximizing clean water projects, not diminishing the number of projects by diverting monies from the Clean Water Fund.

He also argued that it is inappropriate to use monies intended to remedy existing damage to the Hudson River to pay for activities that will further damage the river.

Finally, Assemblyman Abinanti argued that the proposed use of the Clean Water Fund will create a hidden taxpayer subsidy for the cost of construction.

“The cost of preventing or mitigating harm to the environment should be included in the actual cost of bridge construction,” said Abinanti. “The State should not be hiding the true cost of the project in an environmental fund that is dedicated for other projects.”

Several environment advocacy groups have already voiced their opposition to the proposed loan.

 

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20-Something? College Grad? Not a College Grad? Unemployed? Paul Feiner to the Rescue.

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. July 13, 2014:
Can’t find a meaningful job like you expected? Create one!

Opportunities abound for college students and recent graduates willing to embrace the challenge of entrepreneurship.


Are you an innovative college student or recent graduate? Are you ambitious, curious, and here to “make it?”


You don’t want to miss this special networking event on Tuesday, July 15 @ 7:30pm – Greenburgh Town Hall.
It’s a unique opportunity to get an insider look at what it takes to make it in the professional world from successful entrepreneurs.

For more information regarding this event, please visit:
www.greenburghny.com or email eskovron@albany.edu or pfeiner@greenburghny.com.
Elizabeth Skovron is a student intern who has been working on this initiative this summer.
If you are not a recent college graduate and are unemployed – I have a job club. E mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com and I’ll add your name to the list.
If you work at a company that has job openings, share the info with me so I can get the word out.  Let me know if your know of any entry level jobs for recent graduates. Or jobs for others.
PAUL FEINER
****************************************************
Visit our web site at www.greenburghny.com and view archived Supervisors Reports.
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WPTV’S PEOPLE TO BE HEARD HEARS CHRIS DAY — CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS WESTCHESTER-ROCKLAND 17TH DISTRICT ON YOUR INTERNET NOW AND MONDAY NITE AT 10 P.M.

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PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

WESTCHESTER COUNTY’S MOST RELEVANT INTERVIEW PROGRAM

WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY

HAVE THEIR SAY

HEARS

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CHRIS DAY

CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS IN THE 17TH DISTRICT

WHY HE IS RUNNING

HIS STRATEGY

THE MOOD OF THE PEOPLE

MAKING OBAMACARE WORK

IMPROVING EDUCATION WITHOUT THE COMMON CORE

IMMIGRATION REFORM — HOW HE WOULD FIX IT.

WHY THE BORDER PATROL IS NOT WORKING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX IT.

CUTTING THE DEFICIT WITHOUT PAIN

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JOHN BAILEY AND JIM BENEROFE INTERVIEW CHRIS DAY ON HIS RUN FOR CONGRESS IN WESTCHESTER-ROCKLAND DISTRICT 17, ASKING THE QUESTIONS YOU WOULD ASK.

HEAR ALL ABOUT IT

DOWNLOAD THE ACTION  INSTANTLY AT

www.whiteplainsweek. com

OR SEE IT MONDAY AT 10 P.M.  OR THURSDAY AT 8 P.M.

VERIZON FIOS CHANNEL 45  WESTCHESTER WIDE

OR CABLEVISION 76 IN WHITE PLAINS.

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WHITE PLAINS WEEK:INSIDE THE FASNY HEARINGS SAT. SUN. MORNINGS at 8:30 A.M., VERIZON FIOS 45 & CABLEVISION 76. ON THE NET 24/7

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MASTERS

OF

NEWS!

005

 

 

 

 

 

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PETER KATZ
ANCHOR FOR ALL SEASONS

 

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JIM BENEROFE
DEAN OF WHITE PLAINS JOURNALISTS

 

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JOHN BAILEY
THE CITIZEN NET REPORTER

 

TONIGHT ON

THE CABARET MORATORIUM

ALL FASNY ALL THE TIME-THE ULTIMATE HEARINGS START

CON ED’S SHOCKER OF THE WEEK

THE GRIM NUMBERS ON THE CITY ECONOMY

THE GRIM NUMBERS ON THE CITY SALES TAX

THE GRIM CON ED RATES

THE GRIM TRAFFIC ON I-95

THE $2.2 BILLION THE STATE AND THE MEDIA DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT

AND MORE

SEE THE MASTERS ON CHANNEL 76 CABLEVISION OR COUNTYWIDE ON VERIZON FIOS 45 AND ON THE INTERNET AT

www.whiteplainsweek.com

 

 

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E-Z PASS WARNS NOT TO ANSWER E-MAIL SAYING YOUR E-Z PASS ACCOUNT IS BEHIND.

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WPCNR SCAMMING TIMES. From the New York E-Z PASS CENTER. July 10, 2014:

E-Z Pass is warning Tag Holders “there are emails being sent claiming that drivers owe money for unpaid tolls. This is not an email from E-ZPass or the E-ZPass toll agencies. Please do not open or respond to this email if you receive it. If you require more information, please contact the E-ZPass New York Customer Service Center at 800-333-8655 (TOLL).

WARNING – PHISHING SCAM
We have recently learned of an email phishing scam which appears to be an attempt to collect tolls. An example of this email is shown below. Please be advised that this is not an authorized communication from E-ZPass or the Toll Agencies associated with E-ZPass. We advise you not to open or respond to such a message should you receive one.
If you have any questions about the validity of any message received from E-ZPass, please contact your E-ZPass Customer Service Center.

Here is a copy of that e-mail:
From: E-ZPass Info [mailto:team@wptrainingacademy.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2014 10:59 AM To: Subject: In arrears for driving on toll road
E-ZPass Service Center

Dear customer, You have not paid for driving on a toll road. This invoice is sent repeatedly, please service your debt in the shortest possible time. The invoice can be downloaded here.

 

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