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 COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications (Edited). October 16, 2008: County Executive Andy Spano Wednesday proposed spending $21.7 million less next year on capital projects than the county spent in 2008, but did not indicate whether the county budget would remain at the same spending level. The total budget will be presented November 14.

Spano’s proposed $91,176,000 million capital budget for 2009 – 19 percent less than this year’s – was submitted today to the Board of Legislators. The adopted capital budget for 2008 was $114,880,000 (out of a total county budget of $1.8 Billion).

Mr. Spano’s Chief Advisor, Susan Tolchin told WPCNR Tuesday, “According to our latest numbers, we are on our projections with sales tax revenue based on the second quarter report. We have not received the third quarter report as yet. Mortage fees revenues are down county wide. For us  as it stands now, we are looking at a $7 million shortfall (in mortgage tax revenues) . In response we have already cut $13 million from our 2008 budget to meet any projected shortfall in revenues and also to counteract the state cuts of over $6 million.”

“This proposal recognizes the fragile economic conditions that plague our country and that specifically confront our taxpayers,” Spano said, in his budget message to the legislators.

“I am forever mindful of the tax implications in every single area of county government,” he said, “We continue to review every item with an eye towards eliminating or delaying anything which is not absolutely necessary. The programs in this capital budget reflect this policy.” 

Recommended projects include those for infrastructure improvements that will enable the county to save energy, a continuation of the county’s commitment to build more affordable housing and preserve open space, and rehabilitation of parkways, roads and bridges.

The capital projects budget is a spending plan for projects that the county would pay for with bonds. The interest costs of these bonds go into the county’s operating budget as expenses. The costs to Westchester of borrowing are kept relatively low due to the county’s triple-A bond rating, the highest rating possible.

Separate budgets for capital projects at the airport and for sewer, water and refuse districts do not impact the county’s operating budget.

Spano’s proposed budget for operating expenses will be released Nov. 15. The Board of Legislators has until the end of December to adopt the operating and capital projects budgets.

Here are the highlights of Spano’s proposal:

Energy Savings:

• Various upgrades to heating and air conditioning systems to conserve energy
  
• Continuation of roof  replacement program using green technology as well as other building improvements to reduce overall energy consumption. 

 

Affordable Housing and Open Space:

• The budget continues Spano’s commitment to work with municipalities to develop affordable housing. To date through the Housing Implementation Fund and New Homes Land acquisition, a total of 2,313 units have been funded. Spano proposes spending  $8 million.
  
• In addition, through the Parkland Acquisition/Westchester Legacy program, the county will again set aside $5 million to assist municipalities to provide for parkland, ball fields and open space. To date Yonkers, Greenburgh, Rye Brook, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, White Plains and Port Chester have benefited. Two more fields, in Yorktown and Ardsley, will be dedicated next year.

 

Parkway, Road and Bridges:

• The county’s bridge and parkway rehabilitation projects continue to keep roadways in a safe condition for motorists. This budget includes necessary repairs to roads and bridges in Mount Vernon, Pelham, North Salem, Yonkers and Bedford. To reduce maintenance costs, the county continues its policy of  ultimately turning  county roads over to the local municipalities, once they are rehabilitated.

 

Recreation:

• The only projects being considered are those that will add to the pleasure of  residents or aid the environment and at the same time generate revenue. Therefore, work will be done at the county’s golf courses, at Tibbetts Brook Park, and along the Bronx River Reservation.

Transportation:

• The county will spend $1.8 million for the continued purchase of hybrid buses so the county can save on fuel costs. Spano noted he has always supported mass transportation and that ridership on the county’s Bee-Line buses has increase significantly with the increase in gas prices.  

—

Airport:

• The capital program for 2009 includes storm water management, rehabilitation of taxiways as well as equipment acquisition for a total of $2.3 million paid for out of airport funds. The airport’s capital budget is not paid for with tax dollars, but the county oversees its capital program to ensure that work is done in accordance with strict environmentally mandated standards.

Refuse and Sewer Districts:

• The capital program for the refuse and sewer districts continues to provide for the rehabilitation and infrastructure improvements in accordance with the districts’ five-year capital plans. The program includes equipment replacement, material recovery enhancements, and upgrades and rehabilitation to both pumping stations and facilities which will also save on energy. Building on the success of the county’s  recycling program, which continues to save taxpayer dollars, this budget contains funding for the design and construction of advanced technology equipment to improve the sorting of recyclables. This, in turn, will generate more revenue to the county. The total capital funding for both districts is $44.2 million.
  
• The refuse and sewer district budgets do not affect the county’s operating budget.

 

The proposed capital project budget is available online at www.westchestestergov.com/budget

 

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. October 14, 2008 UPDATED 11:41 PM: Nine days after the Common Council tabled $2.6 Million in bonds for rolling stock, citing budget worries and vowing to discuss the capital projects at a meeting on October 23 where the City Commissioner of Finance, Gina Cuneo-Harwood is expected to give the council a picture of pressures on the city budget (the earliest this has ever been requested by the present council), the Council will take up the four matters involving a tot lot for Mitchell Place, rolling stock for police, and department of public works vehicles. 

Council President Benjamin Boykin told WPCNR Wednesday evening the council was just going to discuss the rolling stock and no vote would be taken.

One Councilperson Rita Malmud explained the apparent reversal of policy this way: “One capital project has a price good only through 10/15/08., after which there would be a 12% price increase  That item would replace a 21-year old loader-tractor currently out of service and needing extensive and expensive repairs.  This vehicle is used for leaf and snow removal.  I had requested that this item be discussed before the ordering deadline expired.”

Ms. Malmud later Wednesday evening clarifed why the other rolling stock items were on the agenda:

All the tabled capital projects are on the agenda.  I do not know what additional info will be given to us tomorrow on all the items and on the City’s financial situation.  I would like to see that one item voted upon, which is the only one (to my knowledge) that has a price timeclock of 10/15/08.  The Common Council needs to have an update on the City’s current financial situation and on projections for the remainder of this fiscal year in order to properly evaluate our level of spending.

Finance Commissioner comments on bond market:

In comments later Wednesday evening made at the Council of Neighborhood Associations, the city’s Chief Financial Officer, Gina Cuneo-Harwood said the city was in excellent financial standing and had excellent credit. She said that small increments of bonds such as the $2.6 Million in question, would not have problems in the financial markets and were actually welcome in the municipal bond market because of their small amounts, what she described as “vanilla amounts.” She explained that a recent bond issue of a similar amount cost a different municipality  only 4.5% interest last week, slightly above the 4.2% White Plains was paying last summer. 

Harwood also reported to WPCNR,  after the meeting that the city had met and exceeded its first quarter figure projected sales tax, receiving $12,476,731 — 14.3%  over the first quarter last year. She said that 12.32% of that gain was due to the 1/4% increase in the city sales tax that went into effect July 1. The net increase in sales tax  for Quarter 1 was 2%.

She said she was aware of the dire financial forecasts, but so far said the city was not seeing it, so far.

She noted to WPCNR the recent New York Times article reporting higher rates of interest for municipalities referred to much larger bond amounts, and bonding for  operating expenses, and did not apply to the small amounts White Plains borrows.

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WPCNR THE TAPPAN ZEE NEWS. October 14, 2008: The Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Enivironmental Review “team” will hold a public information meeting two weeks from today on October 28  at 4:30 P.M. and 7 PM at White Plains High School to brief the public on their final decision of how the Tappan Zee Bridge will be replaced. The public will be informed by a presentation on the state decision to build a new Tappan Zee Bridge with a dedicated Bus Rapid Transit  line plus commuter rail from Rockland County to Grand Central, with the Bus system  across Westchester incorporated into the Cross Weschester Expressway through White Plains.

Questions, comments and concerns will be answered.  Local residents and officials have until December 1 to submit comments.

The issues of how any Bus Rapid Transit System will be structurally incorporated into I-287  which courses through White Plains and other Westchester communities (Tarrytown, Elmsford, Rye, Port Chester) have not been addressed by the Department of Transportation publicly.

 At lower right is the 333 Westchester Ave former Kraft Foods property. At lower center is the North Street interchange, planned to go under a new Westchester Avenue Superramp. For Southenders coming up North Street they have to cross the Expressway and take a left into White Plains to access I-287 Eastbound via the SuperRamp upper left of picture.

Any Bus Rapid Transit System could possibly include construction of new bus stations, eastbound and westbound dedicated lanes, and inserting them into the extensive Department of Transportation construction now ongoing at Exit 8 in White Plains are worth considering as the environmental impact statement – the next stage of the $16 Billion project goes forward.

Similar presentations will be conducted in Suffern at the Rockland Community College Cultural Arts Theatre  on October 29, and in Central Valley at the Central Valley Elementary School, October 30. For information contact 1-877-892-3685 or email tzbsite@dot.state.ny.us

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WPCNR NEWS AND COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. October 12, 2008: Monday is a landmark day.

The WPCNR Bush Countdown Clock World Center issued a press release worldwide today, noting Monday is the first of the last 100 days of the George W. Bush “Presidency,” “The Presidency of Ineptacy,” “The Era of Error,” which will give Mr. Bush the distinction of being what some would say, the worst American President in the country’s history, going down in history with other leaders of infamy who singlehandedly presided over the weakening of their countries. However, the rich, the powerful, and he connected may think he is quite effective. Here’s why:

 But he still has 100 Days left. We write about the President’s ineptitude, but he is actually accomplishing things rather rapidly. WPCNR created the Bush Bucket List on September 23, just 19 days ago. 

The Bush Bucket List listed the 25 things the President might want to achieve before he leaves office January 20, 2009, and turns over what’s left of America to Mr. McCain or Mr. Obama. 

Some  of the 25, of course, are unthinkable, such as war with Iran, but he was heading that way 19 days ago

. In 19 days, Mr. Bush has been very effective, he has already achieved 11 of the 25 Bucket List Tasks. Let’s run down the Bush Bucket List and see  how Mr. Bush and his boys are doin’  as his administration “winds down” and winds down America in the process:

The Bush Bucket List

Still To Do with 100 Days to Go:

1.       Ram through “Paulson’s Ploy”  the Bailout. (DONE)

 

2.       Bailout the automobile industry on the verge of collapse next.

 

DONE — $25 BILLION in Loans supposedly for energy-efficient cars — we’ll see won’t we>]?)

 

3.       Assure no money is available for developing electric, hydrogen or air cars to replace oil.

 

(DONE.)

 

4.       Eliminate environmental restrictions on drilling, tapping for American resources.

 

 (IN WORKS. McCain campaign paves way.)

 

5.       Start a war with Iran.

 

(No CHANCE. WE LOVE IRAN NOW. They’re next to go off the  Terror List.)

 

6.       Start a war with Pakistan over Taliban raids.

 

( IN WORKS! Missiles keep being fired in!)

 

7.       Assure U.S. Oil reserves are not tapped.

 

( DONE! No effort to tap so far)

 

8.       Put their buddies, the outlaw investment banks back in business by allowing them to act as banks (almost done).

 

( DONE! with only two left – Morgan Stanley and surprise, Goldman-Sachs –how did we know that was going to happen?)

 

9.       Make any congressional restrictions on Wall Street cosmetic and “self-policing” by establishing a task force.

 

( Backburnered. Regulation to come but NO regulations yet on how the banks are to use the Loan injections)

 

10.   Solvensize banks’ balance sheets but do not force them to lend their new found cash

 

(DONE– no compelling legislation to force the money out into the lending stream — as the European governments are doing as of Sunday)

 

11.   Freeze current tax rates on the over $200,000 a year crowd.

 

(On HOLD, he still has 100 Days)

 

12.   Assure oil company windfall profits are not touched.

 

 (  DONE. No TALK at all by congress on this. Not touched as yet. not even a whisper!)

 

13.   Reestablish the military draft.

 

(To do— Troops come out of Iran go to the Hindu Kush — stage is set for it with lame duck congress. Also creates jobs!)

 

14.   Push through a defense renewal plan to requip military for billions before January 20, 2009 

 

(To do)

 

15.   Turn worthless assets now held by financial institutions, FANNIE and FREDDIE into fortunes by inflating the value of the assets.

 

(On hold for now.)

 

16.   Make Treasury Secretary a financial czar with iron-fisted control of economy, out of control of Congress.

 

(DONE!)

 

17.   Assure American dependence on foreign oil.

 

 (DONE!  Lowered oil prices achieved megifying oil company profits  rest of year, with oil prices accepted by most Americans– this in just 19 days)

 

18.   Issue Internet Website Licenses under control of FCC, effectively limiting free speech on the internet. Tax Internet Sales nationally.

 

(On hold.)

 

19.   Finance bailout by extending age Social Security is Collected, and tapping current social security reserves.

 

(On hold, but he has 100 days with a lame duck congress, a very dangerous situation.)

 

20.   Assure no universal health care is possible due to debt incurred.

 

 (DONE!)

 

21.   Allow mergers of key firms creating oligopolies  and extensive foreign ownership.

 

(PROCEEDING AS WE WRITE WITH SUCCESS! – GM and Chrysler, Wells Fargo and Wachovia,  Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs just to name two achieved in 19 days, and one about to happen)

 

22.   Make Cabinet members’ policy decision not subject to congressional approval.

 

(On HOLD)

 

23.   Pardon principle figures in the sub-prime and other scandals of the last eight years, should any, by some stretch of imagination by indicted before January 20.

 

(Delayed to the night of January 19.)

 

24.   Assure no person of color, is ever nominated again for President by a major party for decades.

 

( PROCEEDING AS WE WRITE WITH SUCCESS –24 days of hate directed at the Democrat nominee to go.)

 

25.   Achieve massive cuts in entitlement programs: arts, community development, HUD, minimum wage.

 

(Entitlements will have to be curtailed in 2009 simply by the size of the ballooned deficit — this is DONE.)

 

I think we can rule out Number 5, and in view of Mayor Bloomburg’s effort to roll back term limits in New York, let’s  replace it with a new Number 5:

 

5. Extend current Presidential Term when America is in crisis.

 

 If such a Bucket List is in play, 100 days should be just enough time to do it and lay the groundwork for achieving the rest with the next presidency – with this congress.

 

 

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From Department of Public Safety. October 10, 2008:  White Plains Police are seeking the driver of a silver SUV that struck a White Plains resident at 9:51 p.m. last night at Maple Avenue and South Lexington Avenue. 

. The victim is a 39 year old White Plains resident and is in critical condition at the Medical Center with head injuries.

A witness describes a small S.U.V. possibly silver in color fleeing the scene eastbound on Maple Ave. 

We are asking for any possible witnesses to come forward to assist in the investigation. They should contact the White Plains Police Detective Division at 914-422-6200