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 QUILL & EYESHADE. From Westchester County’s Empire City Casino. (Edited) August 8, 2012

Legalizing “anything goes” gambling houses across the state could ease New York revenue woes considerably, according figures released by the Empire City Casino this week.

The New York Gaming Association is a bigger winner with a bigger handle than Las Vegas and Atlantic City combined without the big time games Nevada and New Jersey have.

NYGA members generated $620 million in tax revenue for New York during the first six months of 2012. By comparison, the Las Vegas Strip and Atlantic City, despite having full-fledged casinos and more combined gaming activity than New York, only generated $329 million for Nevada and New Jersey. That’s approximately $291 million fewer dollars than New York Gaming Association members.

Westchester County’s Casino is doing very well, too. The Yonkers-based casino at Yonkers Raceway generates one third of all education dollars raised through New York State gaming in July.

Empire City Casino had another winning month in July according to recently released data available on the Division of Lottery’s website. Of the nine racetrack casinos statewide, Empire City Casino was responsible for generating $23 Million, nearly one-third of the $71 Million raised for education this month through gaming, in partnership with the New York State Lottery.

In addition to directly funding New York’s public schools, the monthly revenues continue to help keep property taxes down for all New Yorkers by offsetting the cost of education.

“One of every three dollars generated for education this month in gaming was done so right here at Empire City Casino,” said Tim Rooney, Jr. of Empire City. “We have produced well over $1.5 billion dollars for education since opening and we look forward to increasing that support for schools in Yonkers and across this state.”

With seven million visitors a year, Empire City Casino has become a favorite entertainment destination in the tri-state area.

In addition to more than 5,300 slot machines and electronic table games offering roulette, craps, baccarat and sic bo, Empire City has year-round live harness racing, two restaurants, and live entertainment six days a week which includes everything from karaoke, comedy nights, jazz & blues, salsa and great party bands. Their first ever summer concert series, which continues through August, has brought in top tier talent such as Spin Doctors, The Marshall Tucker Band, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, and the Village People.

Currently undergoing a $50 Million expansion slated to open this fall, Empire City will be adding 30,000 square feet of additional gaming space, two new restaurants featuring nearly one hundred beers brewed right here in New York, dueling piano entertainment, antique bowling lanes, and much more.

“Empire City Casino continues to prove its worth and contribution to Yonkers and New York State,” said Mike Spano, Mayor, City of Yonkers. “These dollars generated by Empire City provide one of the greatest sources of educational funding for our students and their future, and we support the Casino’s ongoing development which will serve our schools and our City.”

To put these July revenues for education into perspective: Empire City Casino supported the equivalent of 1,977 teaching jobs in the month of July alone. New York State Department of Labor data indicates that the average monthly salary for elementary and secondary school teachers in New York is approximately $5, 800.

In addition, over $4.5 million was generated to support businesses connected to the racing industry, including family farms, the preservation of open space and over 35,000 jobs in the racing and breeding industry such as veterinarians, breeders, barn managers, trainers etc.

Statewide, the nine racetrack casinos that comprise the New York Gaming Association (NYGA) generated significant funding for education, contributing over $71 million in education aid and supporting over 12,000 teachers’ jobs in July alone.

Last month, NYGA announced that its members have generated nearly double the amount of tax revenue for their home state than Las Vegas Strip and Atlantic City casinos combined, according to statistics covering the first six months of 2012.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. August 8, 2012:

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced Wednesday that Lawrence J. Bottone aka “Dr. Hunter” (DOB 05/21/58) of 64 Howard Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut was sentenced today to 10 years in state prison on his May 2012 guilty plea to:

·        six counts of Assault in the Second Degree, class “D” Violent Felonies,

relating to his actions involving six victims.

The defendant lured his young victims posing as a professor and claiming to be “Dr. Hunter,” who falsely pretended to work at Westchester Community College (“WCC”) and the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.

He offered his victims the opportunity to join a training program to prepare for employment with international security firms. If successfully completed the defendant promised that they would obtain high paying jobs.

Once they agreed to sign up and joined the program —which required them to sign a multiple-page contract and to give their oath of silence as to what would take place in the program—each of the victims were subjected to physical abuse. Some of the defendant’s methods included whippings and beatings while the victims were naked and covered with vegetable oil, and the painful insertion of pins and in one case a scalpel under fingernails.

In May of 2010 one of the defendant’s victims reported the defendant’s criminal conduct to police and an investigation was commenced by the Westchester County Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

During the investigation Westchester County Police recovered documents related to the crimes and a duffel bag that contained a scalpel, needles, rope, strapping tape, vegetable oil, and dental instruments among other items.

The defendant admitted to whipping 2 victims with ropes, to placing pins underneath another victim’s fingernails, removing another victim’s fingernail with a cuticle cutter and inserting a scalpel underneath a fingernail of another victim.

The defendant was previously convicted of assault in the State of Connecticut in 1997 and as a result was sentenced as a second felony offender.

Second Deputy District Attorney Audrey Stone, Chief of the Special Prosecutions Division, and Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Borden of the Special Prosecutions Division prosecuted the case.

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WPCNR TAPPAN ZEE NEWS & COMMENT From Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor. August 9, 2012:

During the past week I have expressed some concern about the projected toll hike on the TZ bridge. Many residents of Greenburgh, especially those on fixed incomes, have complained to me about the possibility of a $14 toll. I believe that the toll hikes will hurt local businesses/ restaurants  in Greenburgh (especially the river villages).  

I support the construction of a new bridge but think that the toll hike could be reduced if the costs were spread state-wide.  Almost $1 billion dollars in capital projects are listed on the NY State Thruway Authority website for the past seven years (under construction/completed) in the 3 upstate divisions—Albany, Syracuse and Buffalo. A few examples are listed below:

If the Thruway Authority is planning to only increase the tolls on the TZ bridge for the TZ bridge work, Westchester and Rockland residents who use the TZ bridge, Yonkers, New Rochelle barriers should  not be paying for upstate projects.

Albany;

(1) $1.5 Million: Thruway Bridge over Catskill Creek- Emergency Repairs

(2) $8.9 Million: Bridge Painting- 13 Bridges

(3) $99.7 Million: Exit 23-24- Pavement Repairs & Bridge Painting

Syracuse:

(1)  $127.9 Million: I-690 (Exit 39-40) including 4 Bridges- Pavement Reconstruction

(2) $8.3 Million: Thruway Bridge over Mohawk River and over Barge Canal

Buffalo:

(1) $6.0 Million: Grand Island Bridges- Steel Repairs

(2) $91.2 Million: Hamburg to Silver Creek- Pavement Repairs & Rehabilitation of 4 Bridges

(3) $9.3 Million: Pembroke to Depew- Pavement Resurfacing

(4) $3.0 Million: State Police Headquarters

To again emphasize that this only represents the most recent 7 years- the Thruway has been around since the mid 1950’s!

Note that every time residents of Westchester and Rockland Counties go thru the Tappan Zee Bridge, Yonkers and New Rochelle Toll Barriers, we are paying for these upstate projects!

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. August6, 2012. UPDATED AUGUST 8, 2012 UPDATED AUGUST 8, 2012 11:20 A.M. E.D.T.UPDATED AUGUST 8, 5 P.M. E.D.T.:

Viewers observing the Monday evening Common Council meeting saw the city take key steps forward into the development  (or lack thereof)  for some of the last remaining private tracts to develop in White Plains.

Viewers also saw Councilman David Buchwald thank former Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel for her service,(who retired Friday without a successor being named), indicating that the city may be calling on Ms. Habel’s  expertise in the future without elaborating.

Mr. Buchwald took the time, at the end of the consent agenda  segment to praise Ms. Habel’s service to the city:

“I want to note that in our agenda .this is the last item in our agenda before we get to the public hearings, and it is the last item to which the signature of our just-retired Commissioner of Planning,Susan Habel, has put her name. And, I want to thank her for her work on this particular issue (solar energy) and for her contributions over a very distinguished career here in the city of White Plains. She’s a resident of the city,dedicated to it, in many ways she will continue to enjoy the fruits of her labor on behalf of the city. On behalf  of the entire Common Council, I want to extend our gratitude to  her and I wish her best of luck in her continued enjoyment of her semi-retirement. We’re not letting her completely go because we all hope that she’ll continue to provide some institutional knowledge and perspective on things that are going on in the city. But I did want to thank her again for her years in the Planning Department and prior to that.”

The Council set the stage for opening up the office campuses along Westchester Avenue for new development to supplement the campuns office properties  currently suffering from a high vacancy rate.

They approved a Campus Office District mixed-use zoning change allowing housing, scientific uses, research and limited retail use. Each property owner would be required to submit a unique “overlay” master plan for their properties subject to approval by the Common Council. Mayor Thomas Roach told the public “we already have committals,” without elaborating.

The Common Council approved hearings to receive public input on the Open Space Recreational Ordinance  setting requirements for privately owned golf course properties in the city for September 4. Councilpersons urged residents to come out and make their views known on the ordinance.  Gwo consecuive public hearings on the French American School of New York project to build a school campus  on the former Ridgeway Country Club were also approved for September 19, 7 PM and October 17, also at 7 PM.

Councilman Benjamin Boykin said the setting of the public hearing was merely accepting the Draft Environmental Impact Statement as complete, and “didn’t necessarily mean we (the council) agreed with them.” Boykin said now it was the public’s turn to comment and that the council would hear input on the project “for as long as it takes,” and would be thorough.

The council also approved the first step in the ongoing Winbrook Revitalization Project, approving a 10-story building,housing an Educ ation Center , which will be built first, however funding is only available for the first floor housing the education center on the first floor. The city is funding $1.5 Million of the project and the Housing and Urban Development, $3,500,000 as of this spring.

Wednesday after the Housing and Urban Development press office in New York confirmed to WPCNR, HUD is still funding the $3.5 Million “only for the education facility,” the spokesman explained.

During the hearing on the Winbrook project, William Null, the attorney for the enterprise said in response to a question by Council President Beth Smayda that plans for subsequent buildings in the project would be submitted on a project-by-project basis and built individually according to the individual’s financial model, and not as part of a connected project. Design, Null said would depend on whom the Housing Authority was working with to develop each building in the future, so, Null suggested that it was somewhat impossible to present the kind of comprehensive plan that Smayda suggested.

Smayda asked about the amount key finding agencies the Housing Authority was providing. The architect for the project stepped up to say that the Authority had not applied for the financing yet, because it needed tonight’s approval to do so and would be applying to state agencies for tax credit financing after approval.

The Housing and Urban Development agency in Washington told the authority in the spring of this year, its funds were no longer available for financing the entire project.TO read that story click on http://whiteplainscnr.com/article9115.html

Smayda expressed concern about a future environmental review of the effect on the infrastructure of the city since the Environmental Officer of the City had requested one. Null said that since the entire project was replacing what was already there, it was the Housing Authority position that a new environmental review was not necessary, but the Authority was willing to consider it.

It also became clear that the first building setting the tone for the project would be made up exclusively of present Winbrook residents. Milagros Lecuona, the Councilwoman, emphasized that she wanted the  project (as it was originally envisioned) to be mixed income. Mack Carter, Executive Director of the Housing Authority stepped up and said that the first building is now being financed hopefully as a tax credit project which required that the building be low and moderate income housing only similar to present Winbrook Housing tenant income levels and that mixed income levels could not be accommodated, though incomes would vary in the building based on Winbrook tenants moving in (when the residential portion of  the building is completed, which still has to be financed).

Smayda asked if co-op or condominium ownership would be available. Null said that they are not prohibited from that, but it is not being considered at this time.

Outdoor dining was approved for Esposito’s Restaurant on a rooftop deck, and outdoor patio dining was approved for Noodles Restaurant.

The Council authorized the purchase of a third one-man garbage truck for $250,000 and 100,000 containers to go with the truck. Councilman John Martin and Council President Beth Smayda lauded the one-arm, one-man truck system of collecting garbage as a money-saving long-term move.

However to date the Common Council and the Department of Public Works have not said how much savings the new truck system in effect with the first in-service truck have achieved in dollars or how long it will be before the trucks payout in savings long-term. There has been talk about saving costs on labor but how that saving is achieved (other than reassignment of personnel) has not been defined. The truck in service has mainly been a “neat” thing.

The Council also voted to purchase 200 Westchester Avenue  for $500,000.

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WPCNR TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE NEWS. AUGUST 4, 2012:

Governor Andrew M.Cuomo issued perhaps the shortest “reaction” statement of his term today, defending tripling of the Tappan Zee Bridge Tolls. His office late Friday afternoon issued this statement on the Governor’s website:

“On the cost the choice is clear — a new better bridge will require about the same tolls as just fixing the old bridge and about half the toll of a new bridge plus a new bus system,” stated Governor Cuomo.

In reaction to Governor Cuomo’s endorsement today of  a tripling of the tolls (to $14 for cash payers; $13.30 for EZ PASS Holders and $8.50 for Commuters)  on the new Tappan Zee Bridge, the County Executive of Westchester County, Robert P. Astorino issued this statement through Phil Oliva, a spokesman;

“The new toll amount underscores the need for some type of mass transit and we are working with the governor’s office on a framework for what can be done immediately in regards to bus rapid transit and what can be done mid to long term,”

This evening, WNYC Radio ran audio of Governor Cuomo supporting the toll increase on the grounds that fixing the old bridge would cost the same amount about $12 a trip, and repeating his stance that the bridge is going to built, it has to be built.

Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor released this statement in reacton to the shock at the Governor’s Secretary Larry Swartz making public the new toll amounts (which this website predicted five months ago).

“Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner is calling for a summit of elected officials from Westchester/Rockland to discuss the projected toll rate hikes once the new Tappan Zee bridge is built.  The state is now estimating that tolls on the Tappan Zee bridge could jump to  close to $14 in December 2014. (WPCNR is checking with Mr. Feiner as to if this is true.)Tolls are expected to almost triple from the current amount.  There would be discounts for commuters who would pay in the neighborhood of $8.40 to cross the 3 mile span.

The Tappan Zee bridge should not be a bridge for only the rich, said Feiner. The projected increases are excessive –especially without bus or mass transit. This will be a tremendous burden for lower income residents of both counties, for seniors and young people. The state would set the income guidelines to qualify. The Tappan Zee bridge projected toll hikes make the bridge unaffordable for many.

A possible suggestion (in addition to lobbying for mass transit/bus service)….a new discount card for commuters who are on fixed incomes. A photo id card could be issued to those who qualify. They would show the card to toll collectors and pay the reduced fares.

Westchester/Rockland residents currently subsidize Buffalo residents who receive a significant discount on the Grand Island bridge. Grand Island residents pay 9 cents to cross the bridge. Non residents pay $1 per trip. Why does the Thruway Authority give residents of the Buffalo area a big discount  on their local bridge and not do the same for residents of Westchester/Rockland? 

Feiner is planning to write to the Governor, the Westcheste/Rockland delegation to the NYS Legislature and to local officials requesting a meeting.