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. By John F. Bailey. July 2, 2012 UPDATED July 3, 2012:

The city announced plans Monday morning to purchase the low-rise office building, 66-72 Church Street, located adjacent the Hamilton-City Hall Garage (just behind and to the west, Northwest of city hall for $2.2 Million.

Monday night, the Common Council made it official passing the resolution unanimously.

FUTURE HOME OF WHITE PLAINS PARKING EMPIRE AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT.

The city plans to renovate the brick one-story premises over the next 7 months for an additional $1.7 Million to house the city Departments of Parking  and Building, currently using rented space at 7-11 South Broadway.

At a meeting of the Capital Projects Board at 9:30 this morning, the Board approved recommendation of the purchase-renovation. The resolution to consumate the purchase is expected to be on the Common Council agenda this evening.

The building is currently owned by the 66-72 Church Street LLC, 21 Orchard Drive, Purchase and is assessed at a market value of $2,378.000 by the city accessor. The property was granted a certiorari in 2010 reducing its accessed value from $115,000 to $88,000, according to the Accessor’s Office, and pays $66,000 in city and school taxes. According to the town of Harrison Assessor’s Office the owners of 21 Orchard Drive, Purchase, the contact address for 66-72 Church Street LLC, are Dr. Andre and Paule Khoury-Yacoub. Dr. Khoury-Yacoub is affiliated with White Plains Radiology Associates.

Mayor Thomas Roach told the Board, “This is a purchase today that will benefit the future.”

John Callahan, the Corporation Counsel said the costs of continuing to rent over the next 20 years as opposed to purchasing and renovating the building are a “wash.” Callahan told WPCNR the building had been available for some time, and the city had been talking to the owner for the last six months. He described the building as completely “gutted” inside. He said a floor office arrangement will be constructed for $1.7 Million.

The 7-11 South Broadway building the city will be leaving, currently is offering 20,000 square feet at $17.02 per square foot on a year’s lease according to the realtor, GHP Office Realty. The city if they leased again for 9,000 square feet, (the approximate size of the square footage in the Gerber Building they have agreed to purchase) for a year would pay $153,180 in rent.

The Gerber Building is so-named because it used to house Gerber insurance, which had as its logo, the Gerber baby symbol. Perhaps older White Plains residents will remember it. Susan Habel, Commissioner of  Planning, noted that the picture of the Gerber baby was a likness of Humphrey Bogart, whose mother was the artist who painted the Gerber baby.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. JUNE 30, 2012:

Tax Bills for the city and the school district arrived a day early today to add to the aggravation caused by the tropical heat wave frying the metropolitan area.

The tax bills show that the median priced home  ($650,000) in the White Plains area busted the $10,000 mark for city and school taxes  combined for the first time.

In one case, even newly reduced assessed value did not stop the tax tide. This homeowner succeeded in lowering her assessed value $2,000, but…the increase in taxes from the city (4.75%) and the school district (3%) still made that homeowner’s taxes $200 More than last year.  For this median house was newly assessed at $16,475  with  a $3,460 STAR EXEMPTION knock off from the asssessed value, the total city and school tax is still $10,800.  “That’s still more than last year,” she notes. “Thank God we went for a tax certiorari.”

Every day for the next 365 Days the City and the school district will spend $973,424.

Every week the city and the school district will spend $6.8 Million a week.

Every month the city and the school district will spend $29.6 Million.

The City budget is $166.5 Million. The School Budget is $188.8 Million. Total City and School Budget Cost combined for fiscal 2012-13: $355.3 MILLION

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WPCNR FBI WIRE. Special to WPCNR From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. June 27, 2012:

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Janice K. Fedarcyk, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charles Gardner, the Commissioner of the Yonkers Police Department, and George N. Longworth the Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, announced today the unsealing of three separate indictments charging a total of 22 defendants with a series of crimes, including the distribution of narcotics and the use of firearms in Yonkers, New York.

A two-count indictment, United States v. Mark David et al., charges 20 members and associates of the Strip Boyz street gang with conspiring to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, crack cocaine and marijuana, and the use of firearms in relation to that conspiracy. Two additional indictments charge two Yonkers residents with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine as well as substantive counts of distribution of, and possessing with intent to distribute, crack cocaine.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated, “Violent street gangs are a blight on our neighborhoods, and our crackdown against them continues unabated. We cannot and will not allow them to cast the shadow of guns and drugs over our streets and jeopardize the safety of our residents. Today’s arrests once again underscore our commitment to solving this problem. ”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk stated, “Violent gangs, such as the Strip Boyz, wreak havoc in our communities by selling narcotics, possessing weapons, and being in violent disputes with rival gangs. As alleged in the complaint today, the Strip Boyz were no different in their operating procedures, except that some of their members took to social media to brag about their illegal and often brutal activities. The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, is committed to investigating and getting gangs like the Strip Boyz off our streets.”

Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner stated, “These indictments involving members of the Strip Boyz—a local drug distribution network, will remove several violent individuals from our community and improve the quality of life for the residents of this northwest Yonkers neighborhood. This investigation is a prime example of the value of joint federal and local law enforcement agency initiatives and how these collaborative efforts can make a difference in improving public safety. The Yonkers Police Department is very grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of NY and the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force for partnering with us in addressing this violent criminal activity occurring in our city.”

Commissioner George N. Longworth of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety stated, “Gang activity and the crime and violence associated with it will not be tolerated in Westchester County. The Department of Public Safety is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to eradicate gang activity wherever it occurs.”

The following allegations are based on the Indictments unsealed today in White Plains federal court:

The Strip Boyz is a drug trafficking organization/gang whose members have, since at least 2001, sold crack cocaine and, to a lesser extent, marijuana, in and around the Schlobohm Housing Project on Schroeder Street in Yonkers, New York. Members and associates of the Strip Boyz worked together to ensure that they all profited from the gang’s drug sales. They also shared firearms and used them to protect their territory from encroachment by rival gangs. The Strip Boyz and members of other gangs from Locust Hill Avenue have been engaged in a long-running, violent dispute with other Yonkers street gangs, including the “Elm Street Wolves,” the “Cliff Street Gangsters,” and “Two Guns U” from Riverdale Avenue. Certain members of the Strip Boyz committed acts of violence, including beatings, stabbings, and shootings, to protect their drug territory. Certain members of the Strip Boyz also created, performed, recorded, and distributed—including on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube—rap music that celebrated their illegal activities.

Twenty members and associates of the Strip Boyz—MARK DAVID, 23; CALVIN BAILEY, 21; LAQUAY COKLEY, 20; JOSE CRUZ, 26; WAYNE CUSTIS, 21; MELVIN DIAS, 25; TREMAINE GARRISON, 21; DAIQUAN HENDERSON, 22; MICHAEL HENDERSON, 23; LEANELL HINES, 21; DAWONE HODGES, 28; ERIC LOCKHART, 28; DARRYL McFADDEN, 22; HARRY QUINTANA-CRUZ, 21; JOHN SLADE, 27; AKEEM SMITH, 21; PAU.S.INSON, 39; JOEL URENA, 24; JOSHUA VILIAN, 27; and GREGORY WILLIAMS, 26—are charged with conspiring to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, crack cocaine, and marijuana from 2001 up to June 2012. Twelve of these defendants are also charged with using, carrying, possessing, and discharging firearms during the narcotics conspiracy.

TYRONE HALL, 23, is charged with conspiring to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, crack cocaine in Yonkers from January 2012 up to June 2012, and with possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute the crack cocaine on several occasions during that time period. Finally, JONATHAN MILES, 23, is charged with possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute it in April 2012.

The indictments are the result of a long-term investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers working with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. As part of that investigation, in March 2009, this office obtained indictments charging three members of the Elm Street Wolves—Gregory Fuller, Davon Young, and Thomas Chambliss—with the January 2008 murder of a narcotics dealer in northern Yonkers. Fuller, Young, and Chambliss were each convicted after trial of murder, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, robbery, and firearms offenses and were sentenced to 100, 65, and 45 years of imprisonment, respectively.

In August 2011, 66 Yonkers gang members—47 members and associates of the Elm Street Wolves, 12 members and associates of the Cliff Street Gangsters, and 7 other individuals—were charged with narcotics trafficking and firearm offenses. Four of the Elm Street Wolves defendants were also charged with the murder of Christopher Cokley, a leading member of the Strip Boyz. Twenty of these defendants, including all 12 of the charged members and associates of the Cliff Street Gangsters, have pled guilty, and 15 of them face mandatory minimum sentences of between 10 and 17 years of imprisonment. The remaining cases are not yet resolved, and the charges against them are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

* * *

Nineteen of the defendants charged in the indictments unsealed today were arrested today or have previously been taken into custody. Three others were still being sought as fugitives. The defendants arrested today and presented in White Plains federal court this afternoon. The Strip Boyz case is assigned to United States District Judge Edgardo Ramos. The charges against each defendant and the corresponding maximum potential penalties are outlined in the charts attached to this press release.

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

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Bauer and Ilan Graff are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By James Maisano, Esq. June 26, 2012:

I have been focusing on a few important U.S. Supreme Court decisions that were being closely watched by the legal and political worlds.  Over the past week, the Supreme Court has released three of these decisions:

Arizona v. U.S.

The Court confirmed that “the Government of the United States has broad, undoubted power over the subject of immigration and the regulation of aliens . . . the federal power to determine immigration policy is well settled.”  However, the Court did open the door for states to assist the federal government in the enforcement of immigration laws.

A unanimous Court (8-0 with Justice Kagan not taking part) upheld Section 2(B) of the Arizona law requiring police officers to check the immigration status of anyone arrested or detained and allowing them to stop and arrest a person if the officers have “reasonable suspicion” that the person is an illegal immigrant (known as “show me your papers”).  The Court stated there was no showing that this section conflicted with federal immigration law.

The public debate over Section 2(B) being used for racial profiling in violation of the Equal Protection Clause was not addressed by the Court here, and this issue appears to be reserved for future review, although the Court did state and accept that the Arizona law specifically bars its use in racial profiling.

On split decisions, the Court rejected other sections of the Arizona law:

• making it a crime for unauthorized immigrants to fail to carry registration papers and other government identification (6-2).
  
• prohibiting those not authorized for employment in the US to seek or perform work (5-3).
  
• authorizing police to arrest illegal immigrants without a warrant where “probable cause” exists that they committed any public offense (5-3).

There was some interesting debate around the internet and media among Supreme Court observers on the rather strong and somewhat politically charged dissent of Justice Scalia, who argued that the entire law should be upheld, and it makes for some interesting reading.  Here is the link to Justice Kennedy’s majority decision and dissents:

http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-182b5e1.pdf

FCC v. Fox:

A unanimous Supreme Court (8-0 with Justice Sotomayor not taking part) sided with Fox over the FCC in holding, “The Commission failed to give Fox or ABC fair notice prior to the broadcasts in question that fleeting expletives and momentary nudity could be found actionably indecent.  Therefore, the Commission’s standards as applied to these broadcasts were vague, and the Commission’s orders must be set aside.”

This is a narrow decision on due process grounds.  The Court avoided the overarching constitutional challenge to such FCC regulations on 1st Amendment grounds and held that the subject regulations (addressing nudity and profanity) were vague because the FCC failed to give broadcasters fair notice of the changes to its regulations and implementation.  Here is a link to Justice Kennedy’s decision:

http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/10-1293f3e5.pdf

Dorsey v. U.S.  & Hill v. U.S.

In this narrow 5-4 ruling in a case addressing the evaluation of legislative history, the Court held that the federal Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced the disparities in the length of sentences for cocaine offenses, applies to defendants whose cocaine offenses occurred before the law went into effect, but were sentenced after the law’s effective date.

Here is a link to Justice Breyer’s decision and dissent:

http://www2.bloomberglaw.com/public/document/Dorsey_v_United_States_No_Nos_115683_115721_2012_BL_153786_US_Jun

This Thursday morning we will have the opportunity to review the final two cases we have been waiting for, which address Obamacare and its individual

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. June 25, 2012 UPDATED 12:05 P.M. E.D.T.:

The Common Council will hold a Special Meeting tonight to approve a resolution to approve $11.3 Million in financing to close and cap the Gedney landfill, completing some six years of deciding how to close it with New York State Department of Evironmental Conservation approval.

The city, according to Councilman John Martin speaking to WPCNR, has selected a lower bidder, after renegotiating.

He reports ELQ Industries of Mamaroneck has been selected to do the work. Martin told WPCNR the $11.3 Million in the bonds includes a 5% contingency for cost overruns. The company has a history of executing projects in the county which may be viewed at http://www.elqetre.com/projects.php

Martin said there is the possibility that an amount up to $2 Million may be recovered by the city from New York State from the state’s brownfield clean-up program. However, that will be a possible reimbusement when the project is completed to the Department of Environmental Conservation specificiation

The DEC had estimated to WPCNR the cost to the city of the closing and capping of the dump to be about $12 Million.  According to the backup material just acquired by WPCNR

Martin said the project is expected to be completed in one year.

He reports  the bond amount includes costs of relocating the city composting operation and recycling operation off the Gedney site while the capping operation is taking place.  

An informed source familiar with the bid told WPCNR it is less than the original bid of $14 Million, and slightly more than $11 Million.

The DEC had previously estimated to WPCNR the cost to the city of the closing and capping of the dump to be about $12 Million. 

The backup material to tonight’s meeting, just acquired by WPCNR at city hall, says the final price for construction on the dump is $10,150,000, $2,000,000 below the lowest bid of $12,261,000 (in line with what the DEC told WPCNR a month ago the DEC’s Martin Brand had told WPCNR.)The city will also be working on resurfacing the Our Lady of Sorrows softball field as part of the project.

The whole procedure of the dump cleanup cost has been closely guarded by the city, with no city officials confirming or supplying any public information about the costing process. WPCNR had been told the Common Council was furious with first bids that came in as high as $14 Million. The highest bid was $18,565,000.

At this time, the Government Access Channel,is not planning to televise the meeting, and it will not be “covered” by Swagit, the company that records city meetings and rebroadcasts them on the city website.

Also appearing on the agenda is discussion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the city’s proposed Recreational District aimed at structuring how recreational tracts of land such as golf courses and city-owned tracts of open space can be developed,  discussion of capital projects and discussion of the Campus Office Zoning Amendment.

The Agenda:

The Agenda