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 ALBANY ROUNDS. From NY Assembly District 93 Assemblyman David Buchwald. January 15, 2013 UPDATED 10:45 P.M. E.S.T.:

Assemblyman David Buchwald helped passed the landmark New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013 (NY SAFE ACT), just passed early Tuesday afternoon, supported by Governor Cuomo. Governor Cuomo signed the bill into law in late afternoon.

In light of recent acts of gun violence in our state and around the country, this legislation gives New York State the most comprehensive set of gun laws in the nation, Mr. Buchwald reports:

Assemblyman Buchwald

Comprehensive Gun-Safety Measures

The Assembly’s legislation would strengthen New York’s existing assault weapons ban. In addition, clips with the capacity to hold more than 7 rounds can no longer be sold in the state. There would also be a grandfather clause for current owners of legal semi-automatic weapons, provided they register those weapons with the state police, renew the registration every 5 years, and undergo a background check.

WPCNR asked Mr. Buchwald via E-mail how would the provisions of the bill be newly enforced, implemented, and whether there is a procedure set in place to execute the law. He issued this comment:

In addition, the bill will:

• Revoke and/or suspend the gun license of an individual upon issuance of an order of protection by a court of law;

• Establish a statewide database of handgun licenses to enable the state police to crosscheck the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to determine if any current licensees have been legally disqualified from possessing firearms under federal law;

• Create statewide standards for handgun-license applications;

• Require mental-health professionals to report to law enforcement when they believe a person receiving mental-health services is a danger to themselves or others. Those who possess a firearm license would have their license revoked or suspended and be required to surrender their firearms;

• Allow schools to qualify for reimbursement building aid assistance if they choose to add electronic systems and hardened doors to increase safety;

• Update the New York gun licensing statute to ensure those prohibited from possessing firearms on the federal level are not granted a gun license from the state;

• Require re-certification of gun licenses on a 5-year cycle to include current name, date of birth, current address and the make, model, serial number and caliber of all firearms possessed;

• Allow counties to keep the names and address of gun licensees confidential under certain circumstances;

• Require all private sales of firearms, shotguns and rifles to be made through a licensed gun dealer to ensure that a proper background check is performed, unless the sale is between immediate family members; and

* Require owners of firearms to safely store such weapons if he/she resides with a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under certain provisions of federal law.

“When I ran for office, one of my top priorities was ensuring the safety of our families and our community,” said Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Westchester). “As we’ve seen in recent tragedies, the consequences of dangerous weapons falling into the wrong hands are too great to ignore.”

“These new gun-safety measures will severely inhibit dangerous criminals from gaining access to firearms, expand truly universal background checks on guns and ammunition, and ban dangerous assault weapons,” Buchwald concluded. “I will continue to do everything in my power to make sure our community in Westchester is a safe place to raise a family. I am proud of the work we did in the legislature today.”

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. January 15, 2013:

Governor Andrew Cuomo issued this statement today, pleading with the U.S. Congress to pass the long-awaited aid bill for New York to move ahead with Hurricane Sandy recovery:

“It has been 78 days since New York State suffered the worst natural disaster in its history. Sandy destroyed or severely damaged almost 19,000 homes and apartments. Over 42,000 impacted businesses are still waiting for financial assistance.

And nearly three months later, over 15,000 New Yorkers still cannot return to the places they call home; every day of delay makes it harder for them to believe they ever will. Our residents have been trying to rebuild their lives and they have been waiting for Washington D.C. to act.

“New Yorkers have suffered through a disaster unlike any our nation has ever seen, and it has been regrettably matched by the most disappointing response by Congress that any state has ever seen. This has now been taken to a new level of dysfunction. In ten short days, victims of Hurricane Katrina received nearly $52 billion of much-needed aid. After Hurricane Gustav, it took 17 days for residents in the impacted region to get $20 billion of relief.

These states and their residents didn’t have to wait nearly this long for the help they deserved, and neither should New Yorkers. If Congress wants to show us that they will live up to the commitments they made when they saw how we were suffering, they need to pass this bill today.”

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WPCNR FLU NEWS. From Caren Halbfinger. Westchester County Health Department. January 14, 2013:

The health department is actively monitoring the availability of flu vaccine at area pharmacies and medical practices and has provided resources on our website for residents to find a flu shot and for doctors to order more flu vaccine. Residents should always call ahead to the pharmacy to be sure they have flu vaccine in stock, since supplies can fluctuate.

The governor’s declaration of a flu emergency on Saturday cleared the way for an executive order by the Governor that allows pharmacists to give vaccines to children under age 18 for the next 30 days (starting Jan 13). Residents should call ahead and check with their local pharmacy to be sure the pharmacy has vaccine in stock and is prepared to give vaccines to children.

While the number of confirmed flu cases is close to 1,000, as of the week before last, the number of hospitalized patients is low.

Most people will recover on their own from the flu with bed rest and fluids and do not need to see their doctor or go to an emergency room. Residents who believe they have the flu should call their doctor first before going to the office, where they can infect others.

Here’s our flu information for the public:

(Editor’s Note: This URL immediately following lists locations with flu vaccine, however, some locations are out of the vaccine at present time. Call ahead to make sure vaccine is on hand.)

http://health.westchestergov.com/flu-information

Here’s a link for MDs/etc to order more vaccine:

http://health.westchestergov.com/emerging-topics

Here’s our most recent news release on this topic:

http://health.westchestergov.com/images/stories/PressReleases/2013_Jan10_Flu.pdf

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WPCNR FLU NEWS. January 14, 2013:

Flu shots are being given at CVS Pharmacies in downtown White Plains.

The CVS pharmacies in WP  are located at 24 Mamaroneck Avenue (949-0961; 325 Mamaroneck Avenue (287-7650); 452 Mamaroneck Avenue (686-0226); 601 North Broadway (328-4925); and 253 North Central Park Avenue in Hartsdale (681-0618).

The pharmacy at 325 Mamaroneck Avenue told WPCNR at 2 P.M. they had just run out. The shot costs $31.99 and CVS accepts all insurances. No appointment is necessary.

It is advised you call the CVS to check on availability of the vaccine, which WPCNR was told may be administered at any time you walk in, if the vaccine is not out of stock.

To locate a CVS pharmacy outside of White Plains go to the CVS website at http://www.cvs.com/stores/store-locator-landing.jsp?_requestid=947122 and do a search on your community.

The Westchester Medical Group, a primary care group in White Plains is only giving flu shots by appointment with your doctor registered with the group, and not through its Emergency Treatment Center.

Any pharmacies in and around White Plains with flu vaccine are encouraged to e-mail wpcnr at wpcnr@aol.com and tell us. WPCNR will add you to this limited list.

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WPCNR FBI WIRE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. January 14, 2013:

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; George Venizelos, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Raymond W. Kelly, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD),  announced charges against 10 members of a criminal organization based on Wyatt Street in the Bronx, New York.

Nine of the defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and heroin. The crew’s alleged ringleader, Anibal Ramos, and one of its members, Anibal Soto, were charged in the original, July 2012 indictment with kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and the brandishing of a firearm in connection with, and in furtherance of, the kidnapping.

Ramos and Soto are alleged to have kidnapped and tortured an individual, including by burning the victim with an iron. The superseding indictment adds narcotics charges against Ramos and also charges him and three of the new defendants with possessing firearms in connection with, and in furtherance of, the crack cocaine and heroin conspiracy.

All eight of the new defendants charged were taken into custody today as part of a coordinated operation involving federal and local law enforcement officers. Ramos, who was arrested in August 2012, and Soto, who was arrested in July 2012, remain detained. All the defendants arrested today will be presented in Manhattan federal court this afternoon.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “As alleged, for far too long, these defendants were a bloody blight on a Bronx community, contaminating it with poisonous and highly addictive drugs and the guns and brutal violence that are part and parcel of the drug trade. This case demonstrates our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who engage in this conduct and to expand cases previously charged when we develop new evidence. With the charges we bring today in two separate cases against 19 defendants, the Bronx neighborhoods in which they ran amok are safer places for their residents.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos, “This case highlights once again the dual threat posed to our communities by the illegal drug trade. The drugs themselves are poison, with life-altering and lethal consequences. And violence almost always comes with the territory. We remain committed to restoring our communities to their law-abiding residents.”

NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said, “The depraved acts of torture described in the indictment need no further characterization, other than to observe that the nexus between drug trafficking and violence is well-established, and the commitment among police and prosecutors to bring its practitioners to justice is unyielding.”

As alleged in the superseding indictment unsealed today and other documents filed in Manhattan federal court:

From at least 2000 through August 31, 2012, Ramos was the leader of a drug crew that operated on Wyatt Street in the Bronx and sold significant street level quantities of crack cocaine and heroin. In addition, members of the drug trafficking organization used firearms, threats of violence, and violence to secure and enforce their drug territory, including the kidnapping and brutal torture committed by Ramos and Soto.

Ramos, Joel Cabrera, William Zacchi, Christopher Hernandez, Michael Aviles, Latrell Riddles, Charitza Quintana, Yasmine, Zelayandia, and Jacqueline Hernandez are charged with conspiring to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, crack cocaine and heroin.

Ramos, Aviles, Riddles, and Zelayandia are also charged with possessing firearms in connection with, and in furtherance of, the crack cocaine and heroin conspiracy.

A chart containing the ages, residency information, and charges against the defendants, as well as the maximum penalties they face is at the conclusion of this release.

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD. He added that the investigation is continuing