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. | WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.

Governor and Albany Democrats Agree on Tax Cap at 2%

Posted on May 24, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Office. May 24,2011:

Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assembly leader Sheldon Silver have announced an agreement in Albany on a 2% property tax cap for New York State. The details have to be worked out in the two houses of the legislature.

Early descriptions of the agreement indicate contributions that school districts make into the state pension system would be exempt partially from oroperty tax increase calculations of the 2% property tax increase allowed, and districts could adjust taxes if assessibles grew in value. The tax cap could also be overridden with 60 percent of a local school district vote. It should be noted that in the White Plains City School District, the school budget is routinely passed by over 60% of the voters.

JOHNNY SPORTS INTERVIEWS PHIL PEPE ON MICKEY, ROGER AND THE YANKS OF 1961

Posted on May 24, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. MAY 24,2011:

Phil Pepe, the dean of New York sportswriters, author of the definitive book on the 1961 homerun race ( “1961”)between legends Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris is interviewed by White Plains’ “Johnny Sports” John Vorperian on Mr. Vorporian’s long running sports talk show, BEYOND THE GAME tonight at 10 PM on Channel 76 and Channel 45 in the White Plains and Westchester area. The program will be show again Friday evening at 9.

Phil Pepe, Dean of New York Sportswriters on BEYOND THE GAME TONIGHT: The King of the portable Royal Corona, tells how it was in the old mezzanine of the original Yankee Stadium in the open air press box watching Roger and Mickey in the great1961 season.

Phil Pepe covered the Yankees of 1961 for The World Telegram & Sun newspaper and he shares how Mickey and Roger acted and related to the press and through the historic season when Mr. Maris broke Babe Ruth’s 60-homer record on the last day of the season. Pepe also shares opinions on the watering down of The Baseball Hall of Fame, the players of today, and how it was.

City Tax Up 4.9% County/School/City Taxes for $650,000 Home tops $14,400

Posted on May 24, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. May 24, 2011:

The Roach administration and Common Council chose to preserve city services rather than layoff employees to lower the tax rate more, last night when they cut $814,825 off the budget by finding savings through procedures to lower the proposed tax increase of 6.7% to 4.9%.

The city tax increase in dollar terms, Roach told the Common Council in his opening statement was $124 for an average White Plains home assessed at $15,000 accessed value.

When the county tax for 2011, the school tax for 2011-12 and the new lowered 4.9% city tax are considered, the median-valued White Plains home, with market value of $650,000 will pay $14,441 in property taxes this year to the county, the city and the schools.

The tax on the White Plains mid-market home has gone up approximately $168 from the schools; dropped $46 from the county, and gone up $154 from the city . The total tax increase year-to-year from the three taxing authorities is $276.Of course, if your home is market-valued at more than $650,000, your taxes will be higher.

Mayor Thomas Roach, asked why the city chose not to layoff employees to lower the tax increase closer to the rate of inflation (2%), said the city wanted to preserve quality of life by maintaining a high level of services to the public.

He blamed the rise in taxes on the mandate imposed on the city by the state requiring increased contributions to the pension fund and the health care benefits which alone account for about $8 Million. The city pension and health care premiums are up 4.84% and 4.86%, Roach said

Michael Genito and Eileen Earl, Commissioner of Finance and city financial consultant, respectively, made a presentation explaining how the cuts came about.

Genito said the city faced an $814,825 shortfall in revenues lead by an unexpected drop in mortgage taxes of $350,000, $12,000 in state aid for the Youth Bureau and an $803, 868 drop in the tax levy (due to a $3.2 Million drop in the assessment roll) and drop in Payments In Lieu of Taxes of $47,218. He said the city made up that $814,825 revenue shortage by finding ways to cut expenses due to developing situations that were unexpected benefits of the city’s financial prudence.

Genito and Earl said the city enjoyed a $165,000 drop in interest expense in the coming year thanks to a lower bank anticipation notes sales at an interest rate of .75%, for city certiorari payments and other capital expenditures. (The notes have to pay a higher interest if not paid off in five years, Earl told WPCNR).

The city cut contributions to the Library Fund by $66,000; saved $110,000 from less “waste haulaways” due to the success of the city recycling program; saved $107,000 in various jobs turnovers; and $97,423 in overtime/ part-time/and benefits (savings).The city also cut its contribution to the Self-insurance fund by $100,000 for a savings of over $727,999

Mayor Roach said there would be no city raises in the coming budget. A member of the council promised there would be no surprise raises given commissioners and appointed officials after the budget is officially passed Thursday evening,(as there were last year)

The Commissioner of Finance Michael Genito told WPCNR today the only increases in pay are those “contractually required” based on merit increases tied to “longevity.”

The city budget now tops out at approximately $160.4 Million. The city tax rate moves from $167.82 last year to $176.11 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.

French American School Submits Plan for Campus at former Ridgeway Country Club

Posted on May 23, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. Special to WPCNR From the French-American School of New York.(EDITED) May 23, 2011:

The French-American School of New York (FASNY) announced today it has submitted its plan for the creation of a campus on a portion of the former Ridgeway Country Club to the City of White Plains.

Rendering of the French-American School of New York planned for the former site of Ridgeway Country Club.The new campus design is seen from Ridgeway Avenue looking North. The building to the left is the former Ridgeway Clubhouse, converted to the F.A.S.N.Y. high school and offices. The low rise buildig to the right is the new Middle School. Rendering, courtesy, The French-American School of New York.

It will enable the unification of the four divisions that are now housed in three Westchester communities. The submission formalizes initial concept plans that the school first presented to the community at an open house last January after it had completed the purchase of the club.

The proposal limits the campus to 40 acres of development while preserving 60 acres — a “Gedney Preserve” for walking, jogging and bicycling.

The plan will now be subject to a detailed environmental review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act or SEQRA. It is expected to take approximately a year. The Common Council is expected to be the lead agency in conducting the SEQRA review and other approvals.

Although in April the Common Council imposed a six-month moratorium on development primarily affecting golf course properties in White Plains while it studies potential future zoning changes, FASNY’s application is permitted to proceed.

“FASNY will be a valuable economic and cultural asset for White Plains,” said Mischa Zabotin, Chairman of the FASNY Board of Trustees. “We genuinely believe our proposal is the best viable use for the property. We will create what we believe is a carefully planned, environmentally sensitive amenity for the City, one that seeks to protect and preserve the community character of the neighborhood, while bringing true economic and cultural value and diversity. We look forward to the dialogue with the City and the public in the coming months in making this another great educational institution in the City.”

The plan for the 129-acre property clusters most of the school’s use to just 40 acres at the south end of the already disturbed portion of the property. Extensive vegetative buffer areas will surround the school’s perimeter. State-of-the-art storm bio-filtration and other stormwater measures will be implemented to address the existing poor drainage conditions at the site. Extensive “green” building techniques and practices are incorporated in architectural plans throughout the campus.

“Gedney Preserve”

FASNY has set aside 60 buildable acres (not including wetlands) as permanent publicly accessible open space. Additional acreage is expected to be added to this as the details of the plan are discussed with the city’s planners and the public. This open space, valued at $8 million, will become The Gedney Preserve, a passive natural area with public trails for walking, jogging and bicycling. It will also be linked to the city’s existing trail network and will be the largest open space in the City of White Plains more than doubling the current total acreage for all the City’s parks. Additionally, FASNY will make its ball fields available for public use as appropriate.

Under the plan, vehicle access to the site is restricted to a new two lane, tree-lined entry drive. No school traffic will be permitted to exit north on Hathaway Lane into the existing Gedney Farms residential neighborhood.

The access drives to both the middle and high schools and the pre-k and elementary school have been carefully designed to accommodate both buses and cars within the campus for student drop-off and pick-up and to avoid queuing on Ridgeway. As part of the approval process the City will determine what improvements, if any, may be appropriate for Ridgeway. FASNY would pay for such improvements.

Campus Components

The proposed campus is divided into two sections fronting on Ridgeway and separated by Hathaway Lane. The key elements are:

West side between Hathaway Lane and Murcheson Place includes both the Upper or High School and the Middle School. The buildings will be set around a central courtyard.

Upper (High) School: The former golf clubhouse will be adaptively re-designed to become the Upper School (grades 9-12) and will also have administrative offices. It will be linked by a section of new construction to what had been the golf club’s fitness and dormitory building. There will be 20 classrooms as well as music, art and science rooms and a library. The ballroom of the club will become the cafeteria for both the Middle and High Schools.

Middle School: This is a new two-story building serving grades 6-8 and will include 12 classrooms, music, art and science classrooms and a library.

Gymnasium: The gym will serve both the Middle and Upper Schools. It will feature three regulation basketball courts and locker rooms. The gym can be divided into separate sections to allow multiple activities to take place at the same time. It will also have a temporary stage.

Performing Arts Building: To be built at a later time, this facility will be tied to the gym by a common center entrance hall. It will include an auditorium with a stage and 495 seats, a blackbox theater and practice and rehearsal rooms.

Outdoor Athletic Facilities: Three soccer regulation soccer fields, one with an all-weather turf and two with natural grass, a softball field and four tennis courts. A baseball field reached by a walking path is on the north side of Hotel Drive. There will be no bleachers.

East side to the right of Hathaway Lane.

A single U-shaped, one- and two-story building will house the Nursery, Pre-K, Kindergarten and Elementary School (grades 1-5) children. Each wing has its own entrance and administration office. The two wings of the building are linked by a two-story section that includes the gym and cafeterias. A general use playing field is adjacent to the elementary wing. A two-way circular drive will accommodate both cars and buses on site.

Nursery, Pre-K, K Division : The one-story section is on the Ridgeway side and includes two Nursery, three pre-k and four kindergarten classrooms with a common area in between that can accommodate group activities. Each classroom has direct access to the outside for play.

Elementary School: The left section of the building has 20 classrooms, music, art and science rooms and a library.

Special Environmental Considerations

Managing Stormwater

Careful attention has been given to the handling of stormwater on the proposed campus. The focus has been to design systems that capture and manage all stormwater on-site. Among the key steps being taken are the creation of three retention ponds, two on opposite sides of the new entrance drive serving the west side and one on the east side of the campus. All water coming from the building roofs will be captured and filtered into garden planters.

Building “Green”

Environmentally sensitive green building practices and materials will be incorporated throughout the project. All walkways on campus will be made of permeable materials. Parking lot runoff will be piped to bio-filtration catch-basins.

Buffering Adjacent Properties

Green buffers a minimum of 50 feet wide will be densely planted along the property border on the Murcheson Place and Hotel Drive sides of the property. Similarly, a buffer a minimum of 35 feet wide will be on the border between the elementary school and adjacent properties on Ridgeway. Hundreds of new trees and shrubs will augment the density of these existing green buffers.

“We truly believe that our campus will be fully consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and offers the best alternative for this site for the neighboring community and the City as a whole,” Zabotin said. “This includes clustering our development to preserve the natural conditions on the site, developing linkages between the public and private open spaces along the existing City corridor and preserving appropriate public access to open spaces on the Ridgeway property. We are committed to keeping the community fully informed as we move into the review process.”

Washington Comes to Eastview

Posted on May 21, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. Special to WPCNR from Carl Albanese.May 21,2011. UPDATED, May 22,2011.:

U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand introduced her Urban Youth Employment Job Bill here Friday in White Plains at a press conference held at Eastview Middle School in partnership with White Plains Youth Bureau.

Senator Gillebrand (center) mingled with Eastview Middle School Students joined by White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, second from left, Eastview Principal, Joseph Cloherty, far right and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Jennifer O’Donovan,far left.

Senator Gillebrand introduces her bill to aid employment of youths during the summer with Westchester County, New York and White Plains brass. Left to right: Councilman David Buchwald, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (88th A.D.), County Board of Legislators Chair, Kenneth Jenkins, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, Assemblyman Robert Castelli(89th A.D.), State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, White Plains Youth Bureau Director Frank Williams, White Plains Councilperson, Milagros Lecuona, and White Plains Council President, Benjamin Boykin.

The news conference was hosted by White Plains Mayor Roach (at podium), attending White Plains Youth Bureau students, Eastview students, and many Westchester and White Plains elected officials. In attendance was former mayor Joseph Delfino who under his tenure expanded the Youth Bureau’s diversified programs, business employment partnership programs, and funding for the WPYB.

Senator Gillibrand stressed the importance of supporting our youth employment business partnership programs. Providing job and career opportunities though out the state and was pleased that she could partnership with the White Plains Youth Bureau, invited by Mayor Roach Friday in White Plains for the introduction of the Youth Employment Job Bill.

According to the Urban League news release, The Urban Jobs Act (the League supports the bill), “would establish a feeder system for youth through the award of competitive grants to national non-profit organizations, in partnership with local affiliates, to provide a holistic approach for preparing youth ages 18 through 24 for entry into the job market, as well as for helping to reduce the disproportionate incarceration of minority youth in urban areas. This program would fill a major gap in the service needs of such youth.”

According to a news release from Ken Jenkins, Chair of the Board of County Legislators, “When a young person is invested in a job, it not only provides an opportunity to earn a little extra money, but it also raises the confidence and sense of accomplishment for that young person. This contributes to smarter students, safer neighborhoods, and a highly skilled and prepared workforce for the future.

“This legislation helps young men and women from urban communities become a part of the economic mainstream; and, in the process, provide the business community with motivated job-ready workers. I want to thank Senator Gillibrand for her leadership and steadfast support on this issue and I look forward to working with her locally.”

The White Plains Youth Bureau back in 2010 under the direction of Executive Director Frank Williams Jr. and Deputy Director, Linda Puoplo celebrated its 40^th Anniversary 1970 – 2010 providing our children and youth, ages 5-24 with effective constructive development programs through out White Plains. For the last 40 plus years the WPYB has been the safe haven for our youth development in after school connection (ASC) educational programs, leadership and counseling, summer tutorial camp, youth employment services, Project Hope, prevention services, reading, out reach programs, teen activities, performing arts and culture in White Plains.

We are all proud of the community youth services and programs our city provides for the many children and teens provided through the White Plains Youth Bureau programs. We can only express our citizen’s appreciation that Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand is working for our youth, communities and keeping White Plains on her agenda for our children and families.

Macy, Annie’s ‘Sandy’ performs the ribbon-chewing opening PET FOOD PANTRY

Posted on May 21, 2011 by John Bailey

Susan Katz’s PET FOOD PANTRY OPENS

HELPS NEEDY FEED THEIR PETS

White Plains Susan Katz officially opened her newest public service venture with the appearance of Macy, the well-known canine actress, seen frequently in productions of “Annie” around the metropolitan area.

Macy, rescued from an Oklahoma animal shelter by Bill Berloni Theatrical Animals, just days away from her demise opened Ms. Katz’s pantry to help needy persons feed their dogs,cats,and other pets rather than give them up.

“The Food Selection for your pet,” barks Macy “is fit for a Star.” Persons interested in applying to receive pet food from the Pantry may call(914)907-3487

Ms. Katz said she founded the Pet Food Pantry because she was touched by the stories of persons, hurt by the recession giving up their pets because they could not feed them. She thanked Chester Day the Kensico Cemetary for finding her space at the American Legion Hall in Valhalla, and the Legion for accepting them. To date, open only six months, the Pet Food Pantry is serving over 50 families regularly supplying pet food without charge to them once a month.Applicants have to prove their need for help to the Pantry.

County Legislator Bill Burton arrived because he was affected by pets abandoned in the Hurricane Katrina disaster, and fully supported Mrs.Katz’s idea that has now become a reality. Burton brought a proclamation from State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins saluting the Pet Food Pantry

County to Vote Hearing Date for Children’s Museum at Playland. Rush to Lock-In?

Posted on May 19, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR County Clarion-Ledger. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators (Edited with background by WPCNR’s John Bailey) May 19,2011:

A proposed lease agreement for the Westchester Children’s Museum with the County for site control of the 22,000 square-foot Playland bathhouse space, a historic landmark, has moved through the Board’s Committee on Public Works, Parks Labor & Transportation, the Board of Legislators announced Thursday

The historic Bathhouse, located at Playland’s boardwalk, has been currently undergoing repair and renovation to its exterior for three years at a cost originally financed for $8.8 Million in May, 2008.

A vote to set the public hearing on the lease will be on the agenda during the next Board meeting on Monday, May 23^rd.

The move to set a date on a hearing on the merits of giving the childrens museum group exclusive control of the interior of the bathouse is interesting. The childrens museum has just one of 11 proposals for a reinvention of Playland being considered by the county and a citizens’ group evaluating what should be done to “reinvent” Playland and turn it into a money-making operation. The Bathouse and Boardwalk and Ice Casino are an integral part of the complex.

According the County Board News Release Thursday: “At a time when budget cuts and the erosion of quality after-school youth programs are causing more people to seek out community-based alternative services within Westchester County, the Children’s Museum will be a vibrant, interactive cultural institution for children and families and a dynamic resource for schools,” said Board Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers).

The news release continued:

“Families throughout the region will find the Children’s Museum a highly worthwhile educational experience,” said Legislator Bill Ryan (D-White Plains), Chairman of the Board’s Committee on Public Works, Parks Labor & Transportation. “This is a very positive step being taken by the Board. The Children’s Museum will be a quality addition to Playland Park.”

The bathhouse was set aside exclusively for the children’s museum, if the museum raises money to rebuild the interior and operate it. So far, the children’s museum’s board has raised $8 million and is working towards raising a total of $14 million. They have already spent $1.5 million on building designs. The Museum has, also, started educational programs with community groups. Chairman Jenkins added that the museum project would be a welcoming environment for special-needs children and a means to build tourism for the county.

“The Children’s Museum represents a community-wide investment in our children without spending any taxpayer’s money,” said Legislator Judith Myers (D-Larchmont). “Over 870,000 children under 11 years of age live within a 15-mile driving radius of our future site at Playland Park in Rye. Yet, Westchester has relatively few cultural resources designed specifically for children. The Children’s Museum on the boardwalk would be a welcomed addition to the outdoor cafes, historic ‘Kiddyland’ for the very young, an Ice Casino for year-round skating, and a music tower for summer concerts.”

Voting for public hearing to lock-in childrens museum?

WPCNR notes apparently to the contrary, that the cost of renovating the exterior of the bathhouse is being paid for by $8.8 Million in county taxpayers’ dollars (approved in May 2008), and construction has been moving on at a slow pace for three years. The county appears to be subsidizing this project, while possibly compromising the appeal of the site to serious developers. The childrens museum by Jenkins statement, has not even raised its estimated operating expenses yet in three years.

WPCNR notes that a proposal for a childrens’ museum was one of the many private proposals from developers submitted to the county in response to a Request for Proposals in February.

The county’s apparent urge to set a public hearing at this time on the childrens’ museum concept, and go for a lease agreement would seem to mean that no matter what proposal for the “new Playland” the Astorino administration and a citizens’ group reviewing the proposals decides upon — a developer/operator other than the children’s museum, for instance — that developer will have to incorporate the children’s museum into their plan.

Hotels, marinas, and other uses for example would be deprived of prime space on on that boardwalk by the children’s museum guaranteed occupancy.

To date, the children’s museum group has not to this reporter’s knowledge given detailed plans on what would be in the museum, or whether the Playland pool at the Bathhouse would continue to be operated.

County Considers Bio-tech/Hotel/Children’s Safe Choices Museum for Grasslands

Posted on May 19, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. (Edited) May 19, 2011:

Plans for a new bio-technological business park and education center adjacent to the Westchester Medical Center in the Grasslands section of Mount Pleasant took a big step forward this week when the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) began addressing legislation that would authorize the Astorino Administration to enter discussions regarding a long-term lease agreement on 60 acres of County owned property for the development.

The proposal was presented by developer John Ferari, who is well known for spearheading the creation of the Maria Ferari Children’s Hospital at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY

Mr. Ferari’s plan includes six new green buildings (totaling two million square feet) dedicated to bio-tech research spread across a campus, with a hotel, restaurants, shops and a centerpiece Children’s Living Science Center that will stress safe lifestyle choices.

Almost all of the funding for the project will be privately raised. In his presentation to the BOL committee members, Ferari estimated that the project would create 3500 construction jobs and, when completed, 2500 permanent full-time jobs. The project would also generate an estimated $6 million in property tax revenue for the Town of Mount Pleasant and Westchester County.

Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers) and Legislator John Nonna (D-Mount Pleasant) co-sponsored the Memorandum of Legislation discussed at a meeting of the BOL’s Housing, Planning & Operations Committee.

The entire project will encompass 80 acres, which will include 20 acres already owned by Mr. Ferari.

“The spectacular vision Mr. Ferari has for this parcel of property brings together important needs such as job creation and economic development, support for medical research and green building practices, along with promoting awareness for healthy lifestyles,” said Chairman Jenkins. “It is also perfect opportunity to create a positive collaboration between two branches of County government to benefit the residents of Westchester for many years to come.”

In his presentation, Ferari said the bio-tech park and education center was similar to the vision he had 16 years ago when he and his wife Brenda first began planning the Maria Ferari Children’s Hospital. Over $40 million was raised from over 25,000 private donors to make the children’s hospital a reality.

“This is an idea, I think, that we should given strong consideration and support to, given the need in Westchester to move forward economically,” said Legislator Nonna.

The BOL’s Housing, Planning & Operations Committee members emphasized that their discussion of what should be done at the Grasslands campus centers on a collaboration that is important to the Town of Mount Pleasant and Westchester County. The Committee plans to continue public discussion to shape this legislation. Once adopted by the BOL, this legislation would authorize the Astorino Administration to develop the details of the lease of the county-owned land before sending the final contract back to the BOL for approval, said Jenkins.

Astorino Casts Veto of County Board Registration Plan

Posted on May 19, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. May 19, 2011:

County Executive Robert P. Astorino today vetoed the redistricting plan for county legislative districts approved last week by the Board of Legislators.

“There are many reasons for my disapproval and veto of this local law,” said Astorino, “which vary from the flawed, closed-door, and rushed process to the unfortunate and unnecessary division of municipalities.”

He added, “The non-partisan League of Women Voters of Westchester in its statement at the public hearing was very clear in sharing some of these same concerns. It labeled the process ‘extremely messy’ with ‘aspects of it…questionable.’ The League also called for more transparency.”

Westchester Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins released the following statement today in response to County Executive Robert P. Astorino’s veto of the legislative re-districting plan approved by the Board last week:

“The re-districting plan approved by the Board of Legislators was the result of a careful and thoughtful process that included full bi-partisan participation, open deliberations and well-publicized opportunities for comments and objections from county residents.”

The redistricting plan was approved 12-5 along party lines by the Democratic-controlled board on May 9.

The county executive said the board’s rushed process called into question the ability of the public to have real input.

“Your Honorable Board held the first meeting (at least the first meeting known to the public and the administration) on April 18,” Astorino said in his veto message. “Within 20 days, your Honorable Board voted on this local law, which will affect the county for the next 10 years. Such quick action calls into question the ability for true public input. Note, too, that this 20-day period was in the midst of important religious holidays and spring break, further diluting the availability for full public participation.”

Astorino said there is no legal requirement for the board to adopt a redistricting plan this year based on Census 2010; rather, it could have deliberated longer and adopted a plan for the 2013 election cycle. Taking more time over this important issue would have given the board a chance to focus on the new Census data, which was only released in April.

Aside from the process, the county executive complained of what he called “wholesale and unnecessary changes” made to some legislative districts, including the splitting of the City of Peekskill “for no rational reason” into two districts and the Town of Harrison into three.

“It will create confusion among voters and elected officials as to who speaks for these communities on the Board of Legislators,” he said.

Jenkins disagreed, saying in his written statement on the veto —

“In the end, the Board of Legislators adopted new district maps that are fair and hard to fault. The fact that the re-districting was completed extremely close to the existing lines, with necessary changes the result of population shifts, was clearly understood by most Westchester residents, since less than a handful voiced an opinion otherwise. As for the League of Women Voters’ request that the new district lines be drawn from scratch, it was generally acknowledged by the legislators as being too costly and time-consuming to do so.

“Because of his regrettable abhorrence for any achievements emanating from the Board, including our landmark 2.2% reduction in the tax levy this year, the County Executive’s veto of the re-districting plan does not surprise me or my colleagues. Our overriding his veto should not surprise him either. His decision should not get in the way of the important work that is in front of us.

“I want to recognize the hard work that the Board’s re-districting consultant, Dr. Andrew Beveridge, and Legislation Committee Chairman John Nonna contributed to this formidable task. These two individuals bent over backwards to accommodate all requests, inquiries and suggestions during the re-districting process. Chairman Nonna presided over open discussions about re-drawn district lines the minute new mapping first started, with legislators from both parties and two representatives from the League of Women Voters seated around the table reviewing changes district by district. He is to be commended in this regard.”

FBI CHARGES 6 in Yonkers $410,000 Bank Robbery

Posted on May 18, 2011 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. (FBI WIRE) May 18, 2011:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced Wednesday that LINTON WILLIAMS, LINROY BLAKE, LEON SCOTT, LEROY SCOTT, RAMSEY ACEVEDO, and JOHN SANTOS were indicted in connection with the December 17, 2010 robbery of a Chase Bank in Yonkers, New York. WILLIAMS, BLAKE, LEON SCOTT, and LEROY SCOTT were each arrested in March 2011 and detained without bail. SANTOS and ACEVEDO were arrested in May 2011 and also detained without bail.

According to the indictments filed in White Plains federal court, previously filed complaints, and information revealed during court proceedings:

On December 17, 2010, WILLIAMS, BLAKE, LEON SCOTT, LEROY SCOTT, and ACEVEDO, drove to the vicinity of the Chase Bank, located at 2195 Central Park Avenue in Yonkers, New York (the bank). At approximately 6:00 p.m., BLAKE, LEON SCOTT, and LEROY SCOTT, each of whom was carrying what appeared to be a weapon, entered the bank. BLAKE then told a bank employee to get the key to the vault, jumped over the teller counter, and followed two bank employees into the vault area.

Once the vault was unlocked, BLAKE opened a bag and directed the two bank employees to put the money—which totaled $410,100—into his bag. BLAKE, LEON SCOTT, and LEROY SCOTT then fled the Chase Bank and traveled to an apartment located on Morris Avenue in Bronx, New York, where all of the co-conspirators gathered to divide the proceeds. Later that evening, SANTOS aided the participants in the bank robbery by destroying evidence and storing the robbery proceeds.

The six men are charged in two separate indictments—U.S. v. Williams et al., and U.S. v. Ramsey Acevedo. WILLIAMS, BLAKE, LEON SCOTT, LEROY SCOTT, and ACEVEDO are each charged with one count conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and one count of armed bank robbery, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. SANTOS is charged with being an accessory after the fact to the bank robbery, and faces a maximum penalty of not more than one half the maximum term of imprisonment for the punishment of the principals.

Mr. BHARARA praised the efforts and assistance of the FBI, the Yonkers Police Department, and the Westchester County Police Department.

This case is being handled by the White Plains Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney KATHRYN MARTIN is in charge of the prosecution.