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: 0

WPCNR FBI WIRE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. March 7, 2013:

Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, a/k/a “Suleiman Abu Gayth,” a former associate of Osama bin Laden, has been arrested and charged in an indictment unsealed today in New York City with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, announced Attorney General Eric Holder, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Lisa Monaco, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office George Venizelos, and the Police Commissioner of the City of New York (NYPD) Raymond W. Kelly. Abu Ghayth is expected to be presented and arraigned tomorrow, March 8, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.

“No amount of distance or time will weaken our resolve to bring America’s enemies to justice,” said Attorney General Holder. “To violent extremists who threaten the American people and seek to undermine our way of life, this arrest sends an unmistakable message: There is no corner of the world where you can escape from justice because we will do everything in our power to hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

“The arrest of Abu Ghayth is an important milestone in our ongoing counterterrorism efforts. I applaud the many agents, analysts, and prosecutors responsible for bringing about this significant case and arrest,” said Assistant Attorney General Monaco.

“It has been 13 years since Abu Ghayth allegedly worked alongside Osama bin Laden in his campaign of terror and 13 years since he allegedly took to the public airwaves, exhorting others to embrace al Qaeda’s cause and warning of more terrorist attacks like the mass murder of 9/11,” said U.S. Attorney Bharara. “The memory of those attacks is indelibly etched on the American psyche, and today’s action is the latest example of our commitment to capturing and punishing enemies of the United States, no matter how long it takes.”

“Sulaiman Abu Ghayth held a key position in al Qaeda, comparable to the consigliere in a mob family or propaganda minister in a totalitarian regime,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos. “He used his position to persuade others to swear loyalty to al Qaeda’s murderous cause. He used his position to threaten the United States and incite its enemies. His apprehension is another important step in the campaign to limit the reach of al Qaeda and enhance our national and international security.”

“While New York City must remain vigilant to continued terrorist threats against it, Abu Ghayth’s apprehension and prosecution promises to close another chapter in al Qaeda’s notoriously violent history of killing Americans,” said NYPD Commissioner Kelly. “This case also represents another success in the ongoing partnership between federal agents and NYPD detectives through the JTTF.”

As alleged in the superseding indictment that has been filed against Abu Ghayth in federal court:

Since around 1989, al Qaeda has been an international terrorist organization dedicated to opposing non-Islamic governments with force and violence. Osama bin Laden served as the leader, or “emir,” of al Qaeda until his death on or about May 2, 2011. Members of al Qaeda typically have pledged an oath of allegiance, called bayat, to bin Laden and to al Qaeda.

The core purpose of al Qaeda, as stated by bin Laden and other leaders, is to support violent attacks against property and nationals, both military and civilian, of the United States and other countries. Between 1989 and 2001, al Qaeda established training camps, guest houses, and business operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other countries for the purpose of training and supporting its agenda of violence and murder. Members and associates of al Qaeda have executed a number of terrorist attacks, all in furtherance of the organization’s stated conspiracy to kill Americans, including the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, which killed approximately 2,976 people.

From at least May 2001 up to around 2002, Abu Ghayth served alongside Osama bin Laden, appearing with bin Laden and his then-deputy Ayman al Zawahiri, speaking on behalf of the terrorist organization and in support of its mission, and warning that attacks similar to those of September 11, 2001, would continue.

In particular, around May 2001, Abu Ghayth urged individuals at a guest house in Kandahar, Afghanistan, to swear bayat to bin Laden. On the evening of September 11, 2001, after the terrorist attacks on the United States, bin Laden summoned Abu Gayth and asked for his assistance, and he agreed to provide it. On the morning of September 12, 2001, Abu Ghayth, appeared with bin Laden and al Zawahiri and spoke on behalf of al Qaeda, warning the United States and its allies that “[a] great army is gathering against you” and called upon “the nation of Islam” to do battle against “the Jews, the Christians, and the Americans.” Also, after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Abu Ghayth delivered a speech in which he addressed the then-U.S. Secretary of State and warned that “the storms shall not stop, especially the airplanes storm” and advised Muslims, children, and opponents of the United States “not to board any aircraft and not to live in high rises.”

Abu Gayth arranged to be, and was, successfully smuggled from Afghanistan into Iran in 2002.

* * * * *

The indictment charges Abu Ghayth with participating in a conspiracy to kill United States nationals, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332(b). The offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of life. No trial date has yet been set in the case.

The charges and arrest of Abu Ghayth are the result of the close cooperative efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Joint Terrorism Task Force—which principally consists of agents and detectives of the FBI and the New York City Police Department—the United States Marshals Service and the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State also provided assistance.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys John P. Cronan and Michael Ferrara of the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, with assistance from Trial Attorney Jolie Zimmerman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Hits: 0

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. March 4, 2013:

The cutting of Section 8 HUD rent subsidies has not happened yet. But the Common Council is prepared if it comes to pass.

The Common Council prepared for the worst tonight:  possible cutting of Housing and Urban Development partial funding of Section 8 housing rentals  running at approximately $5 Million, (under the new sequestration legislation signed by  President Obama last Friday).

They  opened and closed a public hearing (where no one came up to speak), then tabled the resolution that would establish a procedure spelling out criteria defining which tenants of Section 8 subsidized housing would have their leases vacated first in the event HUD cut part or all of their rental subsidy and the rent could not be paid.

Councilman Benjamin Boykin told WPCNR the resolution was going to be tabled because the city does not know if HUD  is going to cut its subsidy to the city. Mayor Thomas Roach told WPCNR he hoped to know more tomorrow.

The city prepared for a possible loss of HUD Funds by putting forward legislation establishing what types of Section VIII tenants would be the first to lose their Section 8 vouchers entitling them to subsidized apartments. Section 8 tenants consist of  families and individuals meeting certain income levels qualifying them for apartments landlords are willing to rent with the government paying a portion of the rent and the renter paying the balance.

According to the 2012-13 City of White Plains Annual Action Plan on the city website, counts 646 units of its 846 Assisted Living apartments, as subsidized units. A total of 400 Section 8 vouchers are awarded the city in the current year, however the city is limited by the government to using only 372 of them. This would mean at least 372 voucher holders who may represent a head of a household stand to be be affected if the $5,000,000 aid for public housing is cutback by the government.

Councilman Benjamin Boykin and Mr. Callahan credited new Commissioner of Planning Elizabeth Chetney for discovering White Plains did not have a procedure for determining which tenants the city would remove first from Section 8 apartments if and this is a big if, HUD withdrew its funding for the government’s share of tenants’ rent.

Callahan said that the city realized that with no assurance HUD sudsidies would not be cut, the city needed a policy to determine what families would go, should HUD cut off a portion or all of its subsidy to White Plains.  He said Ms. Chetney drafted a termination plan in case HUD funds paying the share of rent that renters do not pay were cut back or ended altogether.

Callahan said that the resolution was ready to be passed by the council if HUD cut its subsidies to White Plains. He said many other cities and towns did not have procedures in place either.

Asked if the city could supplement giving tenants time to relocate if the housing subsidy disappeared, Callahan said there was no money to do that. Asked if the Sales Tax Stabilization (collected to replenish city fund balance) might be available, he again said no.

According to the White Plains City website, “the City makes a monthly payment to the landlord on behalf of the eligible tenant which constitutes the difference between the tenant’s payment (30% of income) and the maximum rent allowable set by the federal government for the apartment size offered by the landlord.”

Hits: 0

WPCNR FBI REPORT. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. March 2, 2013:

Hits: 0

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. EXCLUSIVE By John F. Bailey. February 28, 2013: 

A source close to the action surrounding Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed $120 Million cut in funds for the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, has updated WPCNR on the furor the Governor’s proposal has caused among legislators.

 According to this source, in touch with his lobbying representatives in the state capitol:

“The Assembly Speaker (Sheldon Silver)  has come out in support of restoring the  (OPWDD) cuts, which is very positive news.

There were legislative hearings yesterday (WEDNESDAY) and I understand the legislators were very angry about the cuts.

It  (THE CUTS) would affect any program that is funded by Medicaid through OPWDD. I believe services for people under 21 are funded through the State Education Dept. and local school districts, so they would not be affected.”

Hits: 0

            WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From Westchester County Department of Communications. February 27, 2013:

Educators and police from throughout Westchester County were urged Wednesday by former New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton to make collaboration an integral piece of their efforts to keep schools and communities safe from violence.

             The event was part of the Safer Communities initiative launched by County Executive Robert P. Astorino in the aftermath of the Newton, Conn. tragedy. Astorino invited police and school officials from every jurisdiction in Westchester, including public, private and parochial schools.

            About 300 people attended the School Safety Symposium, held at Purchase College.

             “The stark reality is that senseless acts of violence can never be completely eliminated,” Astorino said. “But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. It’s a complicated issue – we all know that. There are public safety concerns, mental health issues and all sorts of societal influences at work.”

            Bratton, the keynote speaker, said three elements were critical to making schools safer:

·         Partnership – Parents, teachers, police, fire and other first responders need to work together.

·         Problem-solving – This starts with understanding the problem and working to fix it.

·         Prevention – With most problems there are warning signals. Communities need to be on the lookout for them and then address them

              The Safer Communities initiative brings together resources inside and outside county government to protect schools and communities from acts of senseless violence. It is a combination of practical, ready-to-go programs that combat violence by drawing on the expertise of the county departments of Public Safety, Health and Community Mental Health in collaboration with local police chiefs, educators, clergy, civic leaders and elected officials. The goals are to educate the public about available services and programs, enhance those capabilities and evaluate progress on an ongoing and long-term basis.

            On April 9, the second part of the initiative will take place, when the departments of Health and Community Mental Health  hold a “Community Violence Prevention Forum” at the County Center. The county is working with the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the program, whose emphasis will be to address violence as a public health issue that affects all of our communities.

            Wednesday’s session was organized by George N. Longworth, the commissioner of the county’s Department of Public Safety, and the Westchester County Chiefs of Police Association. It was designed to provide educators with practical guidance on how to make schools safer and enhance coordination between law enforcement and school districts.

            In addition to Bratton, the former chief of police in Los Angeles, there were presentations by a variety of school security experts as well as a panel discussion. These included the following:

·         An Overview of School-based Violence in America – Charles H. Boklan, U.S. Secret Service (Retired)

·         Practical Emergency Preparedness for Schools – Matthew A. Miraglia, a noted school security expert

·         Police Response to Dynamic Incidents in Schools – Chief Inspector John Hodges, Westchester County Department of Public Safety.

            The  panel discussion focused on the dynamics among law enforcement, school officials and parents during a crisis and bridging gaps between strategies that look good on paper and real-time decision making in actual situations. The panelists were: Astorino; Louis Wool, Superintendent of Schools, Harrison Central School District, and president of the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents; Kelly Chiarella, region director, Westchester-East Putnam PTA; Isabel Burk, coordinator of school safety, Southern Westchester BOCES; Special Agent Maryann Goldman, FBI; and Detective Martin Greenberg, Mount Pleasant Police Department.