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. From the Office of the State Comptroller. November 10, 2009:  State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, in a statement last week and special budget report, not covered in depth in other media described the New York State three year budget out look in these terms:

“The state is facing a three-year budget gap of more than $27.5 billion. The state’s fiscal picture can’t be ignored any longer. New Yorkers understand you can’t spend more money than you make. The state needs to learn that lesson.

New York is on track to spend $4.1 billion more this year than it will take in. That is irresponsible and unacceptable. Taxpayers deserve better. The state has to stop treating New Yorkers like ATMs. The cash machine is empty.”

 

New York State, according to the Comptroller,  faces a cumulative General Fund gap of up to $27.5 billion through fiscal year 2011-12 even as the Governor and the Legislature confront a deficit in the state’s current budget that could exceed $4.1 billion, according to a spending and revenue report State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released today as part of the state’s “Quick Start” budget process.

 

“Albany has played roulette with taxpayers’ money for too long,” DiNapoli said. “And now, in the face of the greatest fiscal challenge in our recent history, the game continues. New Yorkers understand you can’t spend more money than you make and they are tired of waiting for the state to learn that simple lesson. Taxpayers deserve better. The state has to stop treating New Yorkers like ATMs.”

DiNapoli’s Report on Estimated Receipts and Disbursements indicates New York’s three-year, cumulative General Fund gap through FY 2011-12 could approach $27.5 billion — which is $3.6 billion higher than the Governor’s estimate for the same period. Based on an analysis of the Enacted Budget and actual revenue and spending results through the first half of the fiscal year, DiNapoli projects the current year gap could reach $4.1 billion if present trends continue and spending is not aligned with revenue.

 

DiNapoli warned that while there are signs of economic recovery, revenue collections are still declining and may be slow to bounce back due to the state’s reliance on revenue related to employment and consumption, such as personal income and sales and use taxes, which account for 60 percent and 25 percent of New York’s tax base respectively.

 

Additionally, the state went into the recent recession with a structural budget problem due to years of over-reliance on temporary fixes, debt issuances and other gimmicks routinely used to finance recurring spending without regard to long-term implications. While payment delays and temporary loans may allow the state to manage its cash through the year, these are only temporary solutions that postpone the implementation of long-term solutions to the state’s worsening budget gap.

The DiNapoli report also found:

• More than $11 billion used to close the $17.9 billion fiscal year 2009-10 General Fund gap was either non-recurring “one-shot” or temporary revenue, including nearly $4.9 billion in federal stimulus funding (scheduled to end in FY 2010-11), $1.7 billion in non-recurring actions and $4.5 billion in temporary revenue actions (ranging in duration from three to five years);
  
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• While the budget included approximately $775 million in recurring revenue and $6 billion in recurring spending reductions, the greater dependence on temporary resources illustrates that the current budget did little to address the state’s long-term structural imbalance, and instead exacerbated the problem;
  
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• The state faces potentially significant cash flow shortfalls in the months of November and December, which will have to be addressed. Although the Governor has begun to take action to manage these shortfalls, it is unclear what further actions may be taken. For example, due to the state’s worsening cash flow situation, the Governor delayed much of the scheduled October and November School Property Tax Relief Program (STAR) payments to December. This increased the projected December STAR payment to $2.5 billion, exacerbating the cash flow challenge for that month. There is also a significant school aid payment of $1.6 billion due in December;
  
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• The Governor reversed his earlier decision and has decided not to prepay the state pension payment, costing the state an additional $30 million in interest;
  
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• Significant structural gaps are projected in each of the next three fiscal years. The Division of the Budget (DOB) is projecting that All Funds spending will approach $152 billion by FY 2012-13 while All Funds revenue will only be $132 billion. DOB projects that General Fund spending growth from FY 2009-10 through FY 2012-13 will be 37 percent, while General Fund receipts growth will be only 3.4 percent over the same period.

 

 

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 WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. November 10,2009: County Executive-Elect Rob Astorino announced this morning he is establishing a series of “subcommittees” by next Monday to analyze operations of all Westchester County Government Departments, possibly leading to a plan for downsizing within the next seven weeks.

County Executive-Elect Rob Astorino beginning his meeting with his new Transition Team at Westchester One Wednesday morning.

 

 

 

Astorino said he expected after the Subcommittee written reports were submitted, that decisions would then be made by him and his transition team as to how many executives, workers, and who would stay and who would go, and what departments might be contracted, meaning that county employees not under contract, or any job-security assurance can expect notice of their fate in mid-December. Astorino added he’d be being briefed by the HUD Adminstrator on the county housing obligation to build $60 Million of affordable housing Thursday.

 

These sub-committees  will submit written reports back to him by December 10, (after reviewing what the departments do, who is doing what in them) and recommend what departments would be cut back, consolidated, or remain as is in the new county administration. They would also be responsible for recruiting “top talent” to go to work for the new administration.

 

Astorino said that he and his team are working with the outgoing administration (describing them as “cooperative”), to determine who is under contract, where positions are protected and other factors that would affect downsizing decisions. Astorino said downsizing was an obvious mandate resulting from the voters’ overwhelming choice in last week’s election.”The people of Westchester voted for change last Tuesday, and it is our duty to deliver it.”

 

He said that administrators doing their jobs well and who believe in this philosophy may indeed remain in his administration.

 

Astorino said he would be establishing a website within the next week, for volunteers who wished to serve on these analytical subcommittees, as well as applying for positions.

 

The subcommittees, Astorino said which would be supervised by his transition team he announced today. He added that he expected to convene a task force on downsizing county government after he took office the first of the year.  He said he would be announcing major members of his new team before December 10^th, perhaps as early as next week.

 

Astorino ran the news conference today,convening his new Transition Team which would be conducting the analysis of County government via the subcommittees they will establish, and introduced the distinguished group to the media.

 

They are:

 

Kevin Plunkett, (right) partner in the law firm of DelBello, Donnellan, Weingarten Wise & Wiederkerhr, White Plains, a major legal influence in the county who chairs the Team. Ale Frederico, Vice President (left) – Team Leader, TD Bank Government Banking, who participates on the Board of Directors of White Plains Hospital Center, Chair of the Westchester Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and founding Board member of 100 Hispanic Leaders.

 

 

Kay Carsky, (far right) former member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators for 19 years, when she represented Yonkers.

 

 

Wiley Harrison, (Left) Chairperson of the Board of the Thomas H. Slater Center, President of Your Business LLC, a financial services firm, and who also serves as Treasurer of the Business Council of Westchester. He is seen with Robert Elliot, Mayor of Croton-on-Hudson from 1991 to 2005 and former President of the New York State Conference of Mayors and the Westchester Municipal Officials Association.

 

 

 Thomas F. Eagan (right) former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York from 1996 to 2007, who was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from 1985 to 1992, and Harry J. Wilson, (left)  recently Senior Advisor to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, where he was one of four leaders of the working team that arranged the restructurings of General Motors and Chrysler. Now described as a private investor, Wilson has worked at Silver Point Capital, The Blackstone Group and Goldman, Sachs.

 

 

 

 

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Kathleen Davisson, White Plains Performing Arts Center. November 9,2009 (EDITED):  The White Plains Performing Arts Center announced its winter season today in a news release today.  The sixth season  begins December 4, highlighted December 11 through December 13 with the debut of We are Lights, ‘Tis the Seaons and More, an original review featuring Tony Award Winner, Melba Moore (Purlie, Hair, Les Miz), Kevin Earley (A Tale of Two Cities), Marsha Waterbury (Mamma Mia, Days of Our Lives), Celina Carvajal (Tarzan), Kathy Deitch (Wicked), and more.

 

In addition to the holiday show, the theatre will present a selection of holiday entertainments: On December 4, Mistletunes, featuring Squeaky & Clean, a rock and roll group playing and celebrating different cultural holiday traditions.Twas the Night Before Christmas  is a musical review of the Santa classic, presented December 5 The Calpulli Mexican Dance Company performs a colorful dance extravaganza on January 31.

 

The Westchester Philharmonic Holiday Brass Quintet performs the first of four concerts December 6 playing baroque to pops to seasonal holiday favorites.

 

The lineup for the rest of the 09-10 season:

 

 ‘Tis the Season and More,” “a scripted and choreographed Holiday concert:  is a “jubilant, upscale celerbration of the Holidays.” In addition to Ms. Moore, Mr. Earley and Ms. Waterbury, Ms. Deitch and Ms Carvajal, the production features a cast of Broadway, film and television greats:  Liz Larson (Hairspray), Jodie Langel (Les Miz),Jana Robbins (Gypsy),Cindy Robinson (Peter Pan) and the talented Craig Laurie, Chase Matthews and Elizabeth Torres.

Returning to the White Plains theatre for “Tis the Season,” are WPPAC favorite performers Cris Groenendaal, Carlos Lopez and Nick Wyman, who will host.  Under the direction of Walter Winston O’Neil and music director Kim Douglas Steiner, the four performances run from Friday, December 11 through Sunday, December 13.  An opportunity for local performers to join the Broadway stars on stage will be offered through auditions to be held at the Theatre later this month. 

 “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, the beloved children’s story, will be presented in American Sign Language and spoken English on April 24^th  by a cast of deaf and hearing performers. 

 The second in a series of Westchester Philharmonic Concerts will be performed on Sunday, February 28^th, when the Philharmonic’s string quartet will chase away the winter blues with music of Mendelssohn and Haydn.  

The Westchester Phil’s series concludes on Sunday, March 28^th, with jazz music led by renowned Philharmonic percussionist Jim Saporito.  The trio will perform selections from The Great American Songbook and jazz originals from their new CD.

Other offerings in the Broadway concert series include:  “Mancini and Moonlight” starring Edward Watts and Jenn Gambetese (Tarzan and All Shook Up) on Saturday, February 13.

“Musicals That Rock” is a must see for audiences who enjoy contemporary musical theatre presented by a star studded cast of Broadway veterans on Friday March 12 through Sunday, March 14.

 Fascinating Gershwin celebrates the music of George and Ira Gershwin with the incredible pianist Joseph Joubert, the stunning soprano Rosena Hill (last seen on the WPPAC White Plains stage in Ragtime) joined by baritone Nathaniel Stampley (The Lion King, The Color Purple) on Sunday, April 25. 

Rogers and Hammerstein Celebration is presented on Sunday, May 9^th, starring Teri Dale Hansen (The Boys from Syracuse) and Nat Chandler (The Scarlet Pimpernel). 

The final concert of the season, Today’s Broadway celebrates current Broadway musicals performed by stars of contemporary shows including Leah Hocking (Billy Elliott), Sarah Uriarte Berry (The Light in the Piazza) and Norm Lewis (The Little Mermaid) on Saturday, June 12th.

 Forbidden Hollywood, a hilarious spoof of film classics in the vein of Forbidden Broadway”, runs on Saturday, May 15^th.

The White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC) sixth Winter/Spring season produced by the White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation will be presented at its White Plains theatre, located on the third level of the City Center complex in downtown White Plains.  The productions appeal to a wide audience of children, families, serious music lovers and fans of the most beloved Broadway performers, shows, composers and lyricists.

 For further information about these events, updated cast listings and additional productions being added to the season schedule, visit www.wppac.com  or call 914-328-1600.

 

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Flying Photographer. November 9,2009: It was a beautiful Indian Summer day in White Plains Sunday, a great day to fly to those out of the way little airports of yesteryear, where any weekend you may encounter aviation’s ghost planes still flying after all these years, and to share a All-American sandwich at those little airport restaurants, and watch those the little planes fly off into the wild blue yonder.

 

WHITE PLAINS SKYLINE Lookin Southeast from Weschester County Airport.

An Airforce Trainer, World War II vintage taxis at Westchester County Airport. The airport also houses a Japanese Zero and a MIG.

Climbing Out of Westchester County Airport, View North.

 

White Plains Skyline on Climbout, Looking South.

Approach to Orange County Airport

Aerobatics Single-Seater at Orange County Airport. This baby climbs (see below).

The Little Red Plane Climbing Out Smartly at Orange County Airport

A Flying Ghost from the ’20s.Possibly a Stinson.

A MIG — Relic of MIG alley in the Korean War slips into its hangar lair at Orange County Airport

Everybody Flies to Rick’s  (Runway Cafe) at Orange County Airport.

White Plaina West Side: Metro North rail tracks in right of picture.

White Plains Downtown Eastside of City on Return Leg.  Looking South.

Base leg Approach to Westchester County Airport.

 

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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Bull Allen. November 6,2009: Congratulations to the Bronx Bombers on their 27^th World Championship, won Wednesday in The House The Taxpayers Built.  Today, the Bombers will be hailed with a parade in a very bad neighborhood.

 

A 6-ounce beer and a dog:$14 in the upper deck in the fabulous new Stadium. September 16

 

 

Those of you going to the parade really should bring personal security you will be in the worst neighborhood in New York City filled with some its most dangerous criminals at large who have not yet been indicted.

 

 The neighborhood is the financial district, perhaps the worst neighborhood in New York City by crime volume, a place where the Yankees never play, but houses many of the greatest thieves of all time: the investment bankers, the insurance giants, the brokers, the fund managers, the hedge fund fliers, did I leave any ganiff out?

 

 People who by their greed and misrepresentation and stupidity and egos have made millions of New Yorkers and Americans miserable. They’re recovering now. You bailed them out.

 

But America is not recovering. Every week their apologists in Washington tell us things are recovering. Tell that to the 149  homeowners in White Plains who are in default as of October 2.…46 in Battle Hill, 34 in the Southend (10605), 10 in the downtown (10601), and 59 across the Bronx River Parkway (10603)—all in one year.

 

The thugs who created this do not have tattoos, wear earrings, or piercings or bandanas or carry guns. They wear a different kind of bandana, $75 ties. Their piercings are cufflinks. Their weapons are computers. Their gang members:  henchmen, press spokespersons, p.r. men, Senators and Congressmen and Presidents,  business associations, lawyers. They’re generally pretty overweight, but that’s a generalization. They buy their coffee in Starbucks, their lunches in steakhouses, and exploit youth. They buy the$10 beers, the$9 drinks, lots of them  and put it all on the expense account you eventually pay.

 

Yeah, that’s where they’re going to have their parade—the street of  a nation’s shame. The carpeted crags in concrete canyons in the Canyon of Ganiffs. It is a place of disgrace a monument to false achievement of phonies based on exploiting peoples’ dreams. We have saved them. Are they saving us? No.

 

But, I digress.

 

I say since the new Yankee Stadium has, according to two separate reports in The New York Times (disgracefully not placed in the Sports Section — so sportsfans miss it) Thursday and National Public Radio, not helped the area and merchants around 161^st street and Jerome Avenues in Da Bronx, but hurt them big time, the parade should not be in the Canyon of  Ganiffs.

 

The Yankees should parade through the  Tenements of  Titans – where they speak Spanish, Haitian, Creole, English, and all live together, two jobs, both spouses. Where the kids try to learn, avoid gang violence, and try to work a job too to earn money.  The people who do the menial, lousy jobs the ganiffs in the canyons wouldn’t be caught doing –hard-working Bronx that they rip off every day.  The vendors that  deal the beers and the $7 footlongs.

 

Why do I say the Yankees are ripping off the Bronx? It’s true.

 

Because they have put 100 restaurants in their ballpark, mini department stores and  have taken tons of business away from the local businesses which  used to do great souvenir and food sales around the old stadium. The Yankees are getting it all.

 

Their success this year was purchased, and baseball appeared to let them get the best free agents, because the Yankees need to contend for baseball to be successful in the media. But that’s another column.

 

Remember how Mayor Bloomberg, and Governor Spitzer (remember him?) sold those taxfree financing  bonds they gave to the Yankees, who have not paid for the entire stadium. New York taxpayers, people in the Bronx, you, me, lent the Yankees the money at the best interest rates you can get – tax free bonds which the Yankees can resell. Too bad there was not a referendum on that.

 

They even make money on the financing.  Remember the “lines”: The new ballpark will bring new business to the Bronx Mayor Bloomberg said. Well that is not the way it has worked out for the merchants around the ballpark in year one of the Stadium.

 

In fact National Public Radio did a long report last week showing no new ballparks built around the country (21) in the last decade have increased local business in their neighborhoods.

 

So, in order for the Yankees to “give something back” to The Bronx that has been ripped off  by the Stadium that is so overpriced the neighbors cannot afford a ticket ($20) for a seat in the top rows of the third deck, have to spend $14 for a beer and a very short hot dog — how about this:

 

I submit they should put the parade in the Bronx so the real people can hail the heroes who have won the World Championship: C.C., Derek, the Great Matsui, the miraculous comeback kid, Andy Pettite, and the Great Riviera, and A-Rod, who has been rehabilitated by the media,(though it is a disgrace they relied on him to win so many games), the Melkman, Robbie Don’t Cha Know Cano, Jorge and Nick.

 

The old Stadium.Seats Gone. September 16

I suggest starting the parade on East 138^th Street, the heart of the South Bronx and wending up East 153rd Street, up 161^st past the old crumbling Yankee Stadium, under the rumble of the subway, and then up to the Grand Concourse, marching down that old boulevard past the Grand Concourse Hotel (where Babe Ruth once lived, and all the ballplayers stayed). Vendors could line the streets, make tons of money, maybe.

 

Let the ballplayers see the real New York that keeps the city going through their sweat and toil.

 

I won’t be at that parade.

 

I don’t think the Yankees are paying for all the police overtime for that parade security either.The cost of the parade is a disgrace.

 

Do the Yankees ever pay? Do professional sports teams ever pay for something the community needs?

 

Fans don’t get it.

 

The idea is that you pay.

 

You always pay.

 

So long everybody.

 

 

Still the greatest place to be a ballpark on a summer night.