THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

WHITE PLAINS AND GREENBURGH WILL INITIATE FIRST “FRESH START” PROGRAM IN WESTCHESTER– FOR FIRST OFFENDERS, LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS ARRESTED

Posted on September 28, 2021 by John Bailey

WESTCHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ROCAH LAUNCHES NEW COMMUNITY-BASED DIVERSION PROGRAM FOCUSED ON REHABILITATION INSTEAD OF INCARCERATION

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. from the Office of Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah September 28, 2021:-

– Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced the launch of Fresh Start, an innovative program that gives second chances to certain first-time, low-level offenders arrested in Westchester County. This initiative takes a constructive, “Community First” approach to criminal justice reform focused on community-based social services instead of incarceration.

Launching as a pilot program in collaboration with Westchester County Executive George Latimer, the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH), the Greenburgh Police Department, the White Plains Police Department, and the Legal Aid Society of Westchester, Fresh Start offers a positive response to low-level offenses that enables the participant to be held accountable while avoiding prosecution, conviction, or confinement. With Fresh Start, a person arrested with an eligible charge will have the option of completing a community-based program instead of appearing in court and receiving a criminal record.

Fresh Start will commence as a pilot program for cases originating from the Greenburgh and White Plains Police Departments this fall, with the goal of expanding the program countywide in the future.

“For Westchester County, Fresh Start is an important first-step toward reducing recidivism, racial disparities and inequalities in the criminal justice system by reinventing, reforming and strengthening the traditional response to crime and conviction. By diverting cases outside the justice system, the District Attorney’s Office can increase public safety by reducing repeat offenders, while reducing its reliance on the traditional retributive responses like confinement, conviction, fines and fees, and warrants,” DA Rocah said. “Fresh Start offers eligible low-level offenders the chance to avoid the courtroom, criminal conviction, and the negative impacts that the system can have on their future and civic engagement.”

Eligible people who are arrested in Westchester County and charged with low-level offenses, such as Disorderly Conduct, Petit Larceny, Theft of Services, Trespassing, Unlawful Possession of Cannabis and more, can avoid appearing in court and a criminal conviction by completing a one-time social services counseling program led by the Westchester Department of Community Mental Health.

Upon completion, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office will decline prosecution of the offense. If the offender does not participate, fails to complete the program, or gets arrested again, they must appear in court as originally scheduled.

An evaluation of a similar program in New York City found a 75 percent reduction in future conviction, and improvements in 16 of 17 other measures of public safety. Participants were also found to be less likely to have a new violent felony re-arrest and had fewer new arrests than those in the comparison group. Further, the evaluation also found overwhelmingly positive perceptions of the program by participants, which may be connected to the program’s 98 percent successful completion rate.

“The biggest battle is the first battle, and that is believing in yourself. These offenders have committed minor crimes and we believe that with early intervention, we can get them on the right path so they never have to enter a courtroom,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. “The Fresh Start Program allows offenders to take part in a community-based program and avoid a criminal conviction. It also aligns with our mission to make sure we are doing our part to ensure that young women and young men take personal responsibility for their actions, and learn how their behaviors impact others so they are better prepared to become a productive member of society. I want to thank District Attorney Mimi Rocah and the Department of Community Mental Health for spearheading this important initiative.”

“The program, developed by the District Attorney’s Office and DCMH, is intended to help individuals avoid future involvement in the criminal justice system by focusing on the personal impact of criminal justice involvement,” said DCMH Commissioner Michael Orth. “Eligible people are identified at the earliest point of contact with law enforcement, and provided an opportunity to avoid further involvement in the criminal justice system. By completing the three-hour program, offered as an extension of DCMH’s ‘Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities’ program, they will not be prosecuted, and the case will be closed.”

“We are excited to participate in this innovative initiative,” Greenburg Police Chief Christopher McNerney said. “We believe that early intervention, such as the Fresh START program, can keep individuals out of the criminal justice system while offering meaningful resources. We look forward to collaborating with our District Attorney’s Office to bring this program to the Town of Greenburgh.”

“The White Plains Police Department is honored to partner with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and the Greenburgh Police Department on a promising program to give first time offenders a second chance,” White Plains Police Chief Joseph Castelli said.

“The Legal Aid Society of Westchester County enthusiastically supports Fresh Start,” Executive Directory Clare Degnan said. “LASW thanks District Attorney Roach for championing this pilot, Community Mental Health for their expertise, and the White Plains and Greenburgh Police Departments for their assistance. This program will allow participants to avoid the stigma of a criminal record. We look forward to working with all the stakeholders to provide the people of Westchester innovative and restorative justice alternatives.”

JOHN BAILEY’S WHITE PLAINS ROUNDUP ON WVOX THIS MORNING ON THE DENNIS AND TONNY “GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER” TODAY’S REPORT!

Posted on September 28, 2021 by John Bailey

***JOHN BAILEY THE CITIZENETREPORTER, BROADCASTS WEEKLY AT 7:50 AM ON THE DENNIS AND TONNY “GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER” PROGRAM ON WVOX 1460 AM AND WVOX.COM***

“GOOD MORNING DENNIS AND TONNY FROM WHITE PLAINS NY USA WHERE IT’S 62 CLOUDY WPCNR DEGREES. LAST NIGHT AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMMON COUNCIL, WHITE PLAINS WAS PRESENTED WITH A $1.50 75% INCREASE IN PARKING ($3.50 FOR 2 HOURS) FOR THE CITY CENTER GARAGE TO AVOID KITE REALTY THE NEW OWNERS OF THE CITY CENTER DEFAULTING OCTOBER 15 ON WESTCHESTER COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY REVENUE BONDS.

“THE DEFAULT PROBLEM DEVELOPED DUE TO COVID—FROM JULY 2020 THROUGH JANUARY 2021 CITY CENTER GARAGE REVENUES DECLINED 33% FROM AMOUNTS COLLECTED PRE –PANDEMIC WHILE OPERATING COSTS OF THE GARAGE DECLINED 5%, NET INCOME DECLINED 60%.

. THE CITY HAS KNOWN THIS SINCE MARCH 12 AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS ISSUE HAS APPEARED IN PUBLIC.

IT RAISES THE QUESTION FOR WHITE PLAINS ABOUT HOW MUCH PARKING REVENUES IN THE REST OF WHITE PLAINS HAVE DECLINED AND HOW MUCH WHITE PLAINS HAS BEEN MADE WHOLE BY COVID AID.

ANOTHER ISSUE WHITE PLAINS (AND OTHER TOWNS AND CITIES) FACES AS IT PREPARES THE 2022-23 BUDGET BEGINNING IN JULY IS WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL HAVE TO RAISE PARKING FEES AT METERS AND CITY GARAGES IN THE REST OF THE CITY TO PREVENT GARAGE MIGRATION FROM THE CITY CENTER FACILITY TO THE LESS EXPENSIVE MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES

REMEMBER FASNY?

THIS 11 YEAR STRUGGLE FOR THE FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK RIDGEWAY COUNTRY CLUB PROJECT STILL AWAITS REVIEW BY THE APPELLATE COURT IN BROOKLYN.

WELL ACCORDING TO DAN SEIDEL THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLANTIFF, THE GEDNEY FARMS NEIGHBORHOOD, THE CASE IS STILL NOT SCHEDULED. NO COURT DATE YET.

SEIDEL ALSO SAID THE PROJECT IS ESSENTIALLY DEAD BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO BUILD THE PROJECT,

BECAUSE TIME (10 YEARS GOING ON 11) HAS GONE BY HE BELIEVES A NEW ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW SHOULD BE DONE.

HIS SUGGESTION IS FOR WHITE PLAINS TO BUY THE PROPERTY BACK FROM THE SCHOOL AND WHILE OPENING THE PROPERTY FOR HOUSING AND PUTTING IT BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS.

GRAFMAN MAKES A COMMON COUNCIL RACE

ALLAN GRAFMAN A PUBLIC RELATIONS MEDIA CONSULTANT IS NOW RUNNING FOR COMMON COUNCIL IN THE FALL REPRESENTING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE COMMON SENSE PARTY.

I SHOULD BE INTERVIEWING HIM NEXT WEEK. HE IS RUNNING AGAINST INCUMBENTS JOHN MARTIN,JUSTIN BRASCH, AND RICHARD PAYNE, A FIRST TIME CANDIDATE. MR. GRAFMAN WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE HIS CANDIDACY AND THE INCUMBENTS THEIR VISION AND MR. PAYNE’S WHAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE AT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FORUM FOR COMMON COUNCIL CANDIDATES MONDAY OCTOBER 18, 7 PM VIA ZOOM (VIRTUALLY),

SCHULTI SHUNS FORM WITH LATIMER

IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE RACE, GEORGE LATIMER’S OPPONENT, CHRISTINE SCHULTI DECLINED TO APPEAR AT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CANDIDATES FORUM IN OCTOBER, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ANNOUNCED. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS GAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR HER DECLINING TO APPEAR.

SCHOOL OPENING

WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS OPENED LAST WEEK WITH SOME CONFUSION ON THE SCHOOL BUSES PARTICULARLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS JOSEPH RICCA SAID THAT IS BEING STRAIGHTENED OUT WITH THE BUS COMPANY. SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS JOSEPH RICCA SAID THAT IS BEING STRAIGHTENED OUT WITH THE BUS COMPANY.

PARENTS ASKED ABOUT A CAFETERIA INCIDENT INVOLVING AN ALTERCATION AT THE HIGH SCHOOL BETWEEN STUDENTS AT LUNCH HOUR. PARENTS ASKED HIM ABOUT IT LAST FRIDAY ON DR. RICCA’S WEEKLY ZOOM REPORT, ASKED ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEIR STUDENTS CAME HOME THURSDAY TALKING ABOUT IT. DR. RICCA SAID THE SCHOOL IS COUNSELING AND DEALING WITH THE PARTICIPANTS AND TALKING WITH THEIR PARENTS. HE SAID THERE WERE NO INJURIES. HE SAID HAD THEIR BEEN INJURIES, PARENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. HE SAID LAST WEEK WAS THE FIRST WEEK STUDENTS HAD SEEN EACH OTHER IN AN IN-SCHOOL SITUATION SINCE LAST SPRING AND THIS MAY HAVE BEEN POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE THE ALTERCATION.

HE SAID THERE WAS ONE INFECTION OF COVID IN A CLASSROOM IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THAT CLASSROOM WAS NOW ON LEARNING REMOTE. HE CALLED ON PARENTS NOT TO SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IF THEY APPEARED SICK IN ANY WAY.

WPCNR SUGGESTS SCHOOLS EVERYWHERE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE SIMMERING TENSIONS THAT MAY BE LURKING AT THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS AND BE PREEMPTIVE WITH COUNCILING AND CALMING STUDENT FEELINGS ABOUT THE NEW ENVIRONMENT.

WHITE PLAINS MALL MAKEOVER INTO HAMILTION GREEN PRESENTED

LAST NIGHT RXR REALTY PRESENTED THEIR NEW PLAN FOR BUILDING HAMILTON GREEN THE DEVELOPMENT PLANNED TO REPLACE THE WHITE PLAINS MALL AND WAS READY TO START THE FIRST PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION.

RXR HAS SECURED AN AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE THE BALANCE OF THE PROPERTY FROM THE FORMER OWNER AND PRESENTED A DESIGN THAT EXPANDS THE OPENING SPACE AND ELIMINATES THE ABOVE GROUND PARKING STRUCTURE PREVIOUSLY PLANNED AND PUTS 4 STORIES OF IT UNDERGROUND.

RXR ASKED FOR A SITE PLAN EXTENSION AND THE ATTORNEY SAID IF APPROVED, THE PROJECT COULD START IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2022.

(CORRECTION: IN THE FIRST EDITION OF THIS TRANSCRIPT I REPORTED THE GARAGE INCREASE WAS APPROVED. IT WAS NOT BUT SHOULD BE ON NEXT MONDAY’S AGENDA.)

Republican County Executive Candidate Christine Sculti Declines to Participate in LWVWP Candidates Form. LWV Cancels the Event

Posted on September 26, 2021 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2021. From the League of Women Voters White Plains. September 26, 2921:

The League of Women Voters of Westchester has announced that the planned Westchester County Executive Candidates Forum has been canceled because the Republican candidate declined to participate.

League policy requires that for a Candidates Forum to be held, there must be at least two participants. LWVWP president, Stephen Cohen, said, “It is disappointing that the residents of White Plains and all of Westchester County will not be able to hear the candidates in the County Executive race discuss with each other their views on the issues of importance to Westchester. League Candidates Forums are an opportunity to hear from the candidates in a calm, respectful, nonpartisan setting that encourages civil discourse. The Forums have even greater importance today when candidates’ options for making themselves known to their constituents are greatly curtailed.”

WOMEN’S HEALTH PROTECTION ACT PASSES HOUSE! SENATE GETS IT NEXT

Posted on September 24, 2021 by John Bailey

Today, 218 members of the U.S. Congress voted to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act. This is the first time in history, the House of Representatives has voted on proactive legislation to protect abortion rights.

The Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) is federal legislation that works toward a future where all of us are free to make the personal decisions that shape our lives, our futures, and our families, without political interference.

The passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act is the first step in ensuring equal access to abortion care—everywhere and for everyone. The passage is essential for social and economic equality, reproductive autonomy, and the right to determine our own lives.

The bill passed 218-211 with Representative Henry Cuellar (D., Texas) joining Republicans in voting “no.”

What comes next?
The WHPA now goes to the Senate. At this time, we do not have any details on when the bill will be introduced.

However, it is imperative that everyone urge their Senators to support the Women’s Health Protection Act!

We need everyone united to get the WHPA passed in the Senate. Our strength is in our numbers.