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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. September 19, 2011:
Four students from
Each student prepared a NYSSMA solo at the highest level of difficulty possible and scored at the highest possible level within their instrument group or voice part.
The students are: Shaina Brady (Violin, String Orchestra), Lauren Gamiel (Double Bass,
Gary West, Coordinator of Fine Arts, commented that “
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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2011. By John F. Bailey. September 19,2011:
Last Tuesday evening at the Council of Neighborhood Associations, the campaign for the District 5 County Legislator Seat began with a debate between the incumbent Bill Ryan of
Mr. Ryan said legislators are working in a new environment, “searching for a new normal,” citing the need to maintain service delivery and maintain the high level of constituent services.
He said he is always ready to help if a member of the district has a problem. He borrowed former County Executive Andrew Spano’s mantra that the way to cut county property taxes is by the state assuming $211 Million in mandates (12% of the
Dr. Pagan stated county taxes are too high.She committed to taking a hands-on approach to determining spending of all county services. She said volunteers could take up the slack of future county cuts. Ryan responded to this aggressive cost-cutting approach by saying the approach should be “nickel and dime” to keep county services fulfilling needs.
Though asked by a resident of
Dr.Pagan attacked Mr. Ryan for supporting the HUD housing agreement requiring the county to build affordable housing in communities where minorities and zoning restrictions make it difficult for moderate income families to obtain housing. Ryan defended his support of the settlement, saying not doing so could cost the county $500 Million in fines.
Pagan shot back, would he (Ryan) support the
Pagan also chided Mr. Ryan for not getting the county involved in the
Ryan said he had, in a public meeting in 2010, offered to the city that he could bring the possibility of the county purchasing the Ridgeway Country Club to the Board of Legislators, or help the city purchase the club, which, in this reporter’s opinion, lead the audience to believe the City of White Plains had officially turned county help down.
Mr. Ryan, in that 2010 meeting which took place October 12, 2010 at Ridgeway School, told the gathering, according to the WPCNR report,
Ryan reminisced that in 2009, he had urged the county to “model this out to see if it made any sense to add it to the county’s golf courses.” He said the county should revisit it, but cautioned, “Clearly the county is not in the (financial) position.”
(To read the WPCNR Report of that October 12, 2010 meeting, go to
http://www.whiteplainscnr.com/article8309.html
Asked about this unclear situation, Karen Pasquale Senior Advisor to Mayor Roach in a statement to WPCNR, wrote “The county has never approached the city about this. Whether they approached Ridgeway is something you would need to ask them directly.”
The HUD Settlement, FASNY wishy-washy positions, and Mr. Ryan’s willingness to cut expenses were Dr. Pagan’s key attacks.
On the Playland management situation, Pagan criticised Ryan for approving a lease with a children’s museum before responses to RFPs had been vetted and finalist(s) picked. Ryan said the childrens museum had been in the original Request for Proposal. Ryan, in one of the few commitments either candidate made Tuesday night, said Playland would be preserved and functional under any new finalist the County selections. Ryan is Chair of the Board of Legislators Recreation & Parks Committee.
Ryan at least four times cited his long experience as Chair of the Board of Legislators—and articulated in detail the complexities involved in shoot-from-the-hip budget cutting and policy making. His deft verbal juggling and jousting gave the impression of careful consideration and maturity in dealing with the issues with the audience not really knowing exactly what he would do on the issues.
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WPCNR NEWS OF THE AIR. Special to WPCNR by Peter Katz, Safety Columnist for “Plane&Pilot” magazine and publisher of “Aviation Monthly” and “NTSB Reporter.” (c) 2011, Peter Katz. All rights reserved..May not be reproduced without permission. September 18, 2011 UPDATED 10:45 P.M. E.D.T. With Photographs of possibly similar 1998 Mustang Incident
Preliminary information indicates nine people were killed and more than 50 others injured when a World War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane crashed near the grandstand at the 48th Annual National Championship Air Races, also called the Reno Air Races, on September 16. The event was being held at Reno Stead Airport, Reno, NV.
The NTSB sent a team of investigators to join with FAA investigators already there. The P-51 pilot was among those killed. He was identified as Jimmy Leeward, 74, who was very experienced and known as a Hollywood stunt pilot. The airplane was named “The Galloping Ghost.” It crashed into a box seat area in front of the main grandstand, according to Mike Draper, spokesman for the Reno Air Races.
In a photograph of the airplane while it was still airborne, it appears that all or a portion of the airplane’s left elevator trim tab is missing. If the trim tab did separate, the pilot would have had to deal with severe control forces. It appears as if the fighter plane suddenly pitched upward, rolled inverted and dived toward the ground. This would be consistent with loss of the trim tab.
Just prior to crash: If you zoom in and look carefully at the tail section left photo (the airplane is upside down at this point) you’ll see that the trailing edge of the elevator is uneven on one side and the white sky shows through. The uneven area is where the trim tab should be. Compare one side to the other side. Composite photo from MSNBC
Tail Close-up– Note Notch in upper elevator–where trim tab is missing.
In 1998, the left trim tab was lost during the Reno Air Races by a modified P-51 Mustang named “The Voodoo Chile.” shown above in a photo from the “Voodoo Chile” website where its pilot, Bob Hannah described what happened when he lost a trim tab in that race.
The 1998 incident did not lead to a crash but pilot Bob Hannah reported that when the elevator trim tab came off during the race, the airplane pitched up and subjected him to over 10 G’s deceleration and a loss of consciousness. When pilot Hannah regained consciousness, the plane had climbed to over 9,000 feet of altitude. He was able to bring the damaged plane in for a safe landing.
Compare the missing trim tab on Voodoo Chile above (taken in 1998 after pilot Hannah’s incident) and the closeup photo of the tail of last week’s Mustang below:
A G may be thought of as the force or “pull” of gravity upon a body. On the earth, this pull causes the body to have a certain weight. When an elevator, car, or airplane accelerates, slows down, or changes direction, objects and occupants appear to move, be thrown, or centrifuged (they experience an acceleration) in the opposite direction.
These changes, occurring in speeding up (acceleration) or slowing down (deceleration), may be referred to as G’s. There are positive G’s which press on the body, and negative G’s which do the opposite. G forces affect the flow of blood through the body. When the blood flow through the brain is reduced to a certain level, the pilot will lose consciousness. He or she may have jerking, convulsive movements; these have been seen in many subjects of centrifuge studies and in some pilots during actual flight. The pilot will slump in his or her seat.
Possibly, the pilot will fall against the controls, causing the aircraft to enter flight configurations from which it cannot recover even if consciousness is regained. In centrifuge studies, many pilots lost (and regained) consciousness without realizing they had done so.
In a series of studies of pilots in centrifuges, the pilots were unconscious for an average of 15 seconds. Following this, there was an additional 5 to 150 second interval of disorientation. Thus, if there is loss of consciousness due to G forces, there will be a 200 to 300 second (or longer) period during which the pilot is not in control of his or her aircraft.
Investigators will try to determine whether the pilot Jimmy Leeward lost consciousness. He apparently did issue a “mayday” call over the radio, but the timing of that radio transmission in the accident sequence is under investigation.
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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. September 17, 2011:
The White Plains economy moved slightly ahead of last year in August with a “real money” 2.7% increase in city sales tax receipts on a pace with Westchester County’s overall sales tax generation.
The new city fiscal year 2011-12 sales tax percentages of gain or loss is no longer artificially “rosy” inflated as it was last fiscal year by a higher city sales tax rate that remains the same as the fiscal year ended in June. The gains, 5% in July and 2.7% in August are modest but reassuring, though the June city sales tax receipts handle, (last month of the last fiscal year) was a robust $4,980,977, about a million dollars more than the July and August receipts.
In August, the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance says White Plains earned $3,873,937.31 in sales tax receipts compared to $3,772,094.34 last year, reflecting perhaps the openings of new restaurants, and new retail firms of Dick’s Sporting Goods and Raymour & Flanagan, as well as preparations for Hurricane Irene.
The city has received $11,674,863 in sales the first two months of the year,
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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY By the WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. September 16, 2011:
Miami? No, it’s White Plains appearing to be looking to the future as a new day dawns this morning at 6:20 A.M.
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WPCNR FBI WIRE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. September 15, 2011:
The FBI announced Tuesday the unsealing of a 32-count superseding indictment charging 20 members and associates of the Bloods gang in Newburgh, New York, (the “Newburgh Bloods”), including members of a related crack-cocaine dealing conspiracy, with racketeering, narcotics, robbery, and firearms offenses. The superseding indictment charges members and associates of the gang with, among other crimes, two murders; six armed assaults and/or attempted murders; and the use, carrying, and possession of firearms.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA stated: “The elimination of the Bloods, Latin Kings, and other violent gangs is an absolute precondition to the sustainable prosperity and sustainable justice that residents of every American city deserve. Our work is not finished, but our work to date has been significant. We are holding people accountable; we are gutting the gangs that once roamed free; and we are bringing back the rule of law in Newburgh. Wherever you live in America, you have a right to live in peace and in safety.”
According to the original and superseding indictments filed in Manhattan federal court:
The original indictment, United States v. Anthony Boykin, et al., 10 Cr. 391 (CM), unsealed on May 13, 2010, charged 60 defendants with drug distribution offenses, many of whom were part of the Newburgh Bloods. The superseding indictment includes charges against 20 individuals–-11 new defendants and nine defendants from the original indictment. All of these defendants were either members of the Newburgh Bloods or associated with the gang through their participation in a crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
The superseding indictment is the latest result of a long-term investigation, dubbed “Operation Blood Drive,” conducted by federal and local law enforcement officers working with the United States Attorney’s Office. The operation used confidential informants, undercover officers, and surreptitious surveillance to infiltrate the Newburgh Bloods’ violent and drug trafficking activities in Newburgh, New York.
The Superseding Indictment
Specifically, at all times relevant to the indictment, a criminal organization known as the “Bloods” was operating in Newburgh, New York. The Bloods is a nationwide criminal organization that is organized into sub-groups known as “sets.”
Among the sets operating in Newburgh, New York, were the “Bounty Hunter Bloods,” “G-Shine,” “5-9 Brim,” “Stone,” and the “9 Trey Bloods.” Members often further identified themselves by the street on which they grew up or lived. Although members of the Newburgh Bloods belonged to different sets, these individuals and sets often coordinated, collaborated, and worked together and with each other as a single organization.
Within sets of the Newburgh Bloods, certain individuals had “rank,” which meant that they were among the leaders of their sets. For example, ANTHONY BOYKIN had rank in the Bounty Hunter Bloods set. Any member of the Newburgh Bloods with rank had certain authority over any other member of the gang, irrespective of set. For example, Newburgh Bloods with rank could call meetings of all the Newburgh Bloods for which attendance was mandatory.
At these meetings, members discussed, among other things, their criminal activities. Members of the Newburgh Bloods with rank could also direct punishments against other members or against non-members. Some of these punishments required individuals to be assaulted or killed.
The superseding indictment charges that the Newburgh Bloods Gang was a racketeering enterprise, pursuant to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) Act, the purposes of which included the distribution and sale of crack cocaine, and preserving and protecting the power, territory, and profits of the Newburgh Bloods through murder, attempted murder, other acts of violence, and threats of violence. Fifteen defendants are charged with participating in the racketeering enterprise. The Indictment alleges that members of the Newburgh Bloods committed and attempted to commit violent acts in aid of the enterprise, including:
• ANTHONY BOYKIN, CHARLES BYRD, and MAURICE HAGAN are charged with conspiracy to murder and attempted murder of a victim in the vicinity of 25 Lutheran Street in Newburgh, New York, on August 24, 2008.
• ANTHONY BOYKIN, CHARLES CORBIN, TAYLOR FIELDS, MAURICE HAGAN, ROBERT HERRING, and RAHSAAN MELVIN are charged with conspiracy to murder and attempted murder of a second victim in the vicinity of 191 Chambers Street in Newburgh, New York, on September 20, 2008.
• MARCO BOYKIN, CHARLES BYRD, CHARLES CORBIN, ROBERT HERRING, and DAVID JACKLYN are charged with conspiracy to murder and attempted murder of a third victim in the vicinity of 52 Benkard Avenue in Newburgh, New York, on October 5, 2008.
• JOHN NELSON and DANIELLE WILLIAMS are charged with conspiracy to murder and attempted murder of a fourth victim in Newburgh, New York, York, on January 31, 2009.
• ANTHONY BOYKIN, MARCO BOYKIN, and ANTWAN ROBINSON are charged with conspiracy to murder and murder of Lamont Young in the vicinity of Lander Street and First Street in Newburgh, New York, on March 4, 2009.
• ANTHONY BOYKIN, MARCO BOYKIN, JOHN CANADAY, CHARLES CORBIN, TAYLOR FIELDS, MAURICE HAGAN, ROBERT HERRING, JOSEPH McLEAN, and JUSTIN SIMMONS are charged with conspiracy to murder and murder of Tyrik Legette in the vicinity of 156 Lander Street in Newburgh, New York, on April 30, 2009.
• JOHN CANADAY, TAYLOR FIELDS, and ANTWAN ROBINSON are charged with conspiracy to rob and robbery of a suspected narcotics dealer in the vicinity of Chambers Street and First Street, Newburgh, New York, on June 2, 2009.
• JUSTIN SIMMONS is charged with committing an assault in aid of racketeering by shooting a victim in the vicinity of 146 Lander Street in Newburgh, New York, on July 17, 2009.
• JOSEPH McLEAN and RAHSAAN MELVIN are charged with committing an assault in aid of racketeering by shooting a victim in the vicinity of Lander Street between Farrington and South Streets in Newburgh, New York, on March 10, 2010.
All 20 defendants are also charged with conspiring to distribute narcotics, and 17 are charged with using, carrying, and possessing firearms during and in relation to the narcotics conspiracy.
The Newburgh Bloods operated drug markets at certain locations in Newburgh, from which they distributed cocaine base, commonly known as “crack,” among other drugs. In particular, the gang controlled drug markets in the vicinity of the following locations, among others, in Newburgh: South Miller Street, Lander Street (a portion of which is known as “Blood Alley”), Farrington Street, Lutheran Street, and Van Ness Street. All of these locations were within approximately ten blocks of one another. During and in relation to the drug distribution conspiracy, members of the Newburgh Bloods used, carried, and possessed firearms.
* * *
In a coordinated strike earlier Tuesday, officers and agents from the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force arrested 12 defendants. Eight additional defendants were previously arrested. The defendants who were taken into custody today are expected to be presented in Manhattan federal court later this afternoon. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge COLLEEN McMAHON.
Mr. BHARARA praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the New York State Police, Newburgh Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the Police Department for the Town of Newburgh, and the Port Jervis Police Department for their assistance with this case. Mr. BHARARA added that the investigation is continuing.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Crimes Unit Assistant United States Attorneys MICHAEL D. MAIMIN, AMIE N. ELY, and HARRIS FISCHMAN 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.
New York State Police Troop “F” Commander MAJ. EDWARD RASO stated: “This operation is another example of the outstanding work being conducted by the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force. It is law enforcement at its finest; working as a team to take violent criminals off our streets.”
City of Newburgh Police Chief MICHAEL FERRARA stated: “I want to thank the supporting law enforcement agencies for their tremendous assistance in this comprehensive, criminal investigation, led by the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. These arrests have focused on the street violence that is associated with the narcotics trafficking that stifles every day life and is a major driving force in the abnormal crime rate of the City of Newburgh. Unless gang related criminal activity is confronted with a relentless, persistent and effective enforcement such as this, a heightened crime rate in every category will continue in Newburgh. Because the City of Newburgh Police Department’s sworn officer count was stretched very thin in 2011, this investigation and its resulting charges are imperative to the public safety of the neighborhoods in the City of Newburgh.”
Orange County District Attorney’s FRANK PHILLIPS stated: “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney for his continued commitment to fighting crime in Orange County. Today’s arrests and indictments have solved at least two more homicides. These cases could not be prosecuted under New York law. I also want to thank the many members of local, state, and federal law enforcement for their work in making our community a safer place.”
Orange County Sheriff CARL E. DuBOIS stated: “This office remains committed to partnering with the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, with an emphasis on the Sheriff’s Office Gang Intelligence Unit, which is one of the largest repositories of gang intelligence files in the region. Compiling and sharing this information with other law enforcement agencies, especially the FBI, is a critical component in past, present, and future enforcement efforts.”
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 Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); MAJ. EDWARD RASO, Troop “F” Commander for the New York State Police (“NYSP”); MICHAEL FERRARA, the Chief of Police for the City of Newburgh Police Department; FRANK PHILLIPS, the District Attorney for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office; and CARL E. DuBOIS, the Sheriff for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, announced the indictment.
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Graessle warned persons now in closing procedures that they possibly face their banks requiring new appraisals of their homes prior to closing to assure the homes did not sustain damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. He said he has had closings held up because of this requirement.
He said, “our (
A total of 154 homes closed in
In the two and a half months from July 1, 2011 until today, 39 White Plains homes sold, down from 58 last year (a decline of 32.8%). The average selling price of a WP home in July and August was $634,015, the median selling price, $599,000 (off 6.6% from last year’s $630,000.) The WP homeowner the last three months sold their home for 3.8% less than what they put it on the market.
The average sale price the last 12 months is $621,567 from August 2010-August, 2011; compared to $628,738. in 2009-10. The median price is $560,000, down 2.6% from $575,000.
The
The
Countywide, sales are doing better, home sales down 8.5%, 3,869 compared to 4,228 a year ago. The average sale price countywide is $822,889, up 7/10 of 1% ; median price, $617,000,about the same as last year.
Graessle said that banks are requiring 20% cash towards any mortgage, and are “vetting” possible mortgagees with far more scrutiny than the past.
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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From the New York State Department of Taxation & Finance. September 15, 2011:
The State reported that Westchester County Sales Tax Collections from the beginning of the fiscal year in January were slightly ahead after seventh months, at $292,547,552 through August, $5,861,023 ahead of last August pace. This works out to a 2% growth in sales tax over the year as the county prepares to go into its budget season.
Sales figures for White Plains were not immediately available today from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the office of Assemblyman Robert Castelli September 15, 2011:
Robert Castelli joined Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Empire State Development (ESD) President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams and Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino in announcing that OrthoNet of White Plains is launching a $4.5 million expansion project which will create over 150 new jobs in Westchester. OrthoNet Holdings is a national leader in orthopedic specialty benefit management.
“I am thrilled at the decision by OrthoNet to expand their operations here in
OrthoNet Holdings, Inc., a national leader in orthopedic specialty benefit management, and will invest up to $4.5 million to expand its national headquarters in White Plains, retaining 350 jobs and creating a projected 155 new jobs to boost the Hudson Valley economy.
Supported by an incentive package including up to $3 million in Excelsior Tax Credits from ESD and $31,000 in sales tax exemptions from the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency (WIDA), OrthoNet will be able to significantly expand its presence as a key economic and employment resource for the local community, while meeting its mission of providing services that promote high-quality, cost effective health care.
“We are excited about keeping and expanding our business in
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino said, “From day one I have made economic growth a cornerstone of my administration. Attracting and retaining business in
OrthoNet is the nation’s largest provider of musculoskeletal benefit management services. For over sixteen years the Company has called Westchester home, successfully growing a business that works with most major health plans, providing a wide array of programs related to orthopedics, rehabilitation and related clinical services throughout the United States and its Territories. These initiatives create efficiencies that keep treatments affordable, while promoting improved clinical outcomes and greater patient access to the most appropriate care, the company says.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, “As OrthoNet grows so will employment opportunities for
“I applaud OrthoNet for their decision and thank Governor Cuomo and County Executive Astorino for their proactive work on this issue,” Castelli said. “Our office remains committed to creating jobs by pursuing pro-business policies with both the Governor and our
This morning, Castelli met with the Governor’s Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council at SUNY Purchase, where he continued to advocate for job creation by adopting a pro-business approach to governing.