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 ALBANY ROUNDS. By John F. Bailey. August 6, 2010:

 Assemblyman Robert Castelli of the White Plains/Lewisboro 89^th Assembly District, just back from Albany Friday afternoon,  detailed for the first time exclusively  to WPCNR precisely how the Albany legislators made up the $9.2 Billion budget gap when they passed the $136.5 Billion state budget Wednesday

They are making up more than half the gap with stimulus money from Washington intended to save jobs through “shovel ready” projects.

Castelli told WPCNR today that the legislators used $5.7 Billion awarded New York State as part of President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. He said the application of sales taxes to clothing purchased for under $110 and increased fees in the state, and cigarette taxes is expected to make up another $1.2 Billion.

He reports that the state will defer $2 Billion in tax credits held back in 2010, and the state will “borrow” $1 Billion from the state pension fund to close the gap.

In official news releases from the governor’s office, it has not been made clear the step-by-step, cash building blocks that were put together to eliminate the $9.2 Gap. WPCNR was curious about that and we contacted Mr. Castelli to get his analysis of the “Gap Cap.”

Asked what financial conditions created the $9.2 Billion gap legislators were wringing their hands over last week, Castelli said $4 Billion of the gap was debt service the state owed and $4 billion in revenue shortfalls in sales taxes and tax receipts, Medicaid cuts, and pension shortfalls.

WPCNR asked Castelli the sources of actual funds that make up the gap. Castelli said “I’m no economist, but first of all you need a Ph.D in economics to figure this out. The gap was created originally by falling revenues, the decline in Medicaid funds (from Washington) and the decline in pensions (performance and future obilgations).”

The Senate passed the budget Wednesday of $136.5 Billion, a 2% increase over the 2009-2010 budget.

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. August 4, 2010:

Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong hosted a block party for the neighborhoods on Public Safety Headquarters last night, attracting some 500 persons through the evening. He hoped would introduce members of the community to the number of services provided to enhance public safety of residents in the city. This was the first time White Plains has participated in the national police event, “National Night Out,” and Chong told WPCNR he would definitely bring the various organizations back next year for another “Night Out.”

On hand were the the Westchester K-9 unit, the Fire Bureau Rescue 88 truck, the Domestic Violence Unit, the New York State Troopers, the Westchester County Police, the Visiting Nurse Service, and others.  Citizens could meet and greet leading personalities of the White Plains Department of Public Safety: the Commissioner, the Police Chief, and Assistant Police Chief, members of the Fire Bureau on an informal basis. Information tables were set up for the various services with literature available.

Councilpersons Benjamin Boykin, David Buchwald, Dennis Power, Tom Roach, Beth Smayda and Mayor Bradley attended and mingled with the crowd.

As of 8 P.M. the event attracted a crowd as diverse as White Plains itself, enjoying rock and roll music, a boxing exhibition featuring the Youth Bureau, and all had the options of viewing the inner workings of the emergency and service vehicles available.

Chong said it was the first time persons in White Plains had the chance to make themselves aware of all the services provided for their well-being and learn how to work with them. He said, in his opinion it was very successful,well-attended and he thanked the organizations that participated.

Here is how it looked to the WPCNR Roving Photographer:

The Night Out at 8:15 P.M down at the Public Safety Building. For more photos, click READ MORE

Information Tables.

The Scene on Lexington Avenue

County K-9 Unit was a star attraction…TransCare ambulance was available for inspection.

The kids loved Rescue 88

R

White Plains Youth Bureau staged an exciting boxing exhibition.

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WPCNR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS. AUGUST 4, 2010: ‘

White Plains Common Council President Thomas Roach will be the Guest Speaker at the August meeting of the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations. Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino will also address the meeting and hold a Q&A session afterward.

The August meeting of the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) will be held at Education House at 5 Homeside Lane in White Plains, NY at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, August 10, 2010. Council President Tom Roach will explore “Leadership in a Fiscal Crisis ” in his keynote address. County Executive Rob Astorino will round out the evening with a brief topical presentation followed by a question and answer period. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend and participate.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. AUGUST 2,2010:

White Plains Youth Bureau is hosting a Homecoming Barbeque on Saturday, August, 14, 2010, Noon-6pm at Gardella Park. This is the first in a series of celebrations for the White Plains Youth Bureau’s 40th anniversary year. Anyone ever involved in the life of the Youth Bureau is welcome to attend and bring their family and friends. There will be tennis, swimming, games, sporting activities and much more!!!

The White Plains Youth Bureau has touched thousands of young lives since it became a formal office of city government in 1970. The White Plains Youth Bureau has one mission: helping youth grow into successful adults. Today, the Youth Bureau works with over 2000 youth each day with 50 programs backed by our proud tradition of 40 years of service.

Bring your White Plains Youth Bureau stories, some sun screen a great appetite!!

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By Assistant Police Chief, Anne FitzSimmons. August 1,2010:

On August 3, 2010 between 6 PM and 9 PM, the White Plains Department of Public Safety will for the first time be participating in the National
Night Out. 

National Night Out is designed to: (1) Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts; (3) Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and (4) Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
   
From 6 to 9 PM. on August 3rd, residents in neighborhoods throughout White Plains and across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and join forces at White Plains Department of Public Safety Building located at
77 South Lexington Ave. 
     
This is a night for America to stand together to promote awareness, safety and neighborhood unity.  National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight to build a safer city. Neighborhoods nationwide are invited to
join in Giving Crime & Drugs a Going Away Party.

Along with the traditional outside lights and front porch vigils, The City of White Plains will celebrate *National Night Out* with an open house of the White Plains Public Safety Department along with a safety fair that will include a live band, and tables manned by various Community Service organizations.  There will be free give aways, along with visits from elected officials representing our local government.