Budgeteers Want Preliminary Budget; Benefits Review; Sales Tax Not in Play Yet

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. January 31, 2008 UPDATED February 1, 2008 : The Budget & Management Committee learned Tuesday night that Assemblyman Adam Bradley has not yet put the city home rule request for a ¼% increase in the sales tax  and a $3 per room hotel tax home rule into action in the assembly and the senate.  Paul Wood, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, said city hall requests to Mr. Bradley have produced no indication when Mr. Bradley plans to put the home rule requests in play.  WPCNR speaking to Mr. Wood Friday would like to correct any impression that Mr. Wood had said the  two bills had not been introduced yet. Mr. Wood Friday said the bills had been introduced and did have bill numbers but they may not be passed in time to contribute to the current budget.


WPCNR checked with Mr. Bradley on the status of both home rule requests. As of  nightfall Wednesday, Mr. Bradley had called WPCNR (but we could not connect)  and WPCNR expects to have a report from him Thursday on how the sales tax increase is going and when it can be expected to pass the legislature.


 This information left in question whether the tax increase and new hotel tax would go into effect to aid city revenues in the current fiscal year, or for the new fiscal year coming up. The Budget and Management Committee also raised concerns over city benefits, the need to see a preliminary rough budget within a month.



 


        



May We have a Rough Budget Please?


Pat Austin of the committee bid strongly that the committee see a run-through of the budget from Commissioner of Finance and Chief Financial Officer Gina Cuneo-Harwood – information they did not receive during the  Committee’s deliberations in last year’s budget session. Ms. Harwood said it was impossible to provide the complete budget to the committee prior to the Council receiving the budget. Mr. Austin recalled that in the past the committee had received “preliminary budgets” enabling the committee to make recommendations


Tim Sheehan, another member strongly suggested  in a long and involved statement, that the committee focus in and consider where employee benefits might be trimmed, since wages and benefits would add, even without increases, a $6 Million increase in the city budget (sitting on $154.5 Million).


All Unions up for Contracts 


Paul Wood acknowledged that all city unions, Teamsters, Police, Fire and CSEA, contracts had to be renegotiated for 2008-2009. 


Benjamin Boykin  (in response to committee member David Corcoran’s comment that in his company  salaries over six figures  were being held to no increases, and raises otherwise under six figures were holding at 3%), said that city raises had reflected inflation. 


However, WPCNR notes city contracts for police, fire, and teamsters negotiated In 2005 ( the last election year), that have been in effect the last three years were negotiated at 4% a year when inflation averaged about half that figure at the time of the negotiations, and has only on a couple of months in the New York area topped 3%. Ms. Harwood said the 4% only affected start salaries for the unions and did not apply to the step increases.


Information, Please! Please!


Mr. Austin pressed the issue on getting information  on what the budget would look like in rough form so the committee could make suggestions. Mr. Boykin, the Chair of the Committee, who pressed for the same expense information from Harwood last year, and did not get it, and did not press the issue last year,  told WPCNR after the meeting he would try to get expense run-throughs for the committee to review within the next month.  Harwood said she would get department budgets by mid February, but did not commit to showing the committee a budget  run-through 


The committee also requested information on where assessments stood. Mr. Sheehan said that though educating themselves was nice, he felt the committee would be better served reviewing benefits to make suggestions where to cut. Larry Delgado, committee member, suggested that as persons paying taxes in the community and also enjoying benefits, that the committee members could make benefits budgeting proposals sensitive to how union and salaried employees would accept them.


Boykin says he will try to get the info.


Mr. Boykin said he would attempt to get benefits information to the committee for discussion, but did not elaborate what form that would take. Ms. Cuneo-Harwood was silent on this issue and how the benefits discussion would ensue.


Lying on the Land


Joseph Lenchner, a  committee member said that during the campaign the Budget and Management Committee had been characterized as saying it was all right to sell land to balance the budget. He said those who said this were “lying”.  Committee members and Mr. Boykin agreed that possible sale of land had been discussed as ways to increase revenues saying that the Council should consider selling the land but not to raise the budger. They technically did not say you could sell properties to balance the budget, but that was the effect of the Railside Avenue sale last year, and the way it was explained publicly by members of the Council who voted for it, including Mr. Boykin.


 Lenchner asked what the giveaways the city had been accused of giving to developers were. Mr. Boykin warmed to this subject and said that there were no giveaways, that any PILOTS reflected fair market value, and generated important revenue to the city. Boykin said the PILOTS provided the city with revenues – for properties assessed at $35 Million that were off the city tax roll because they received County Industrial Development Agency. 


A Comparison by WPCNR.


 


For the record, according to documents made public by the city,  the city received $2.6 Million in pilot payments in 2006-2007 from the following properties: 57 Ferris Avenue, White Plains Housing Authority, Power Authority of State of New York, Nine West, Cohen Brothers, 360 Hamilton Avenue, Clayton Park, Bank Street Commons, Fortunoff and City Center.


City appears to lose $2.4 Million a year due to PILOT-ing. School District, $9.6 Million a Year.


If Mr. Boykin is correct and those properties have assessed value of $35 Million, if they were on the tax rolls would pay  a city tax of  $4,997,000 (35,000 x $142/ $1,000 Assessed Value.  The city appears to  lose $2.4 Million a year in taxes from those PILOTED properties a year over the course of their PILOT years. 


The impact is more dramatic when you look at school district figures. The School District loses 4 times that amount annually: $9,600,000 a year, since the school tax rate is $4.74/$1,000 of assessed value.


Trends


Sales Tax: Commissioner of Finance Gina Cuneo-Harwood said the sales tax collections to date are 3.6% ahead of 2006-2007,  and that those figures were only up through December 1, holding out hope that the December figures would buoy the third quarter figures (coming in April). Harwood said she was going to be very conservative about estimating the final two quarters, but expected to make the $45 Million she predicted for 2007-2008.


She said the Mortgage Tax is slowing and was currently at 2.4 Million and was not expecting much more than that.


The Quarter per cent magic.


In a slide show, Ms. Harwood said, the additional quarter per cent envisioned by the home rule request would generate $5.6 Million in additional taxes. Pat Austin asked if the additional percentage of taxes could be added to the budget. Ms. Harwood thought the city charter only provided that the amount of taxes collected the previous year could be budgeted.


Can City  Add $5.6 Million in 08-09 Budget?


Mr. Boykin said the question of whether to add the extra $5.6 Million envisioned in the sales tax increase would have to be explored with the legal department, because he did not know the answer. Mr. Austin raised this question.


Mr. Boykin began the meeting saying “Clearly  the economy is different from last fall,” that the committee needed to be “vigilant,” and that the credit markets might affect developments which might not be able to secure financing.


On assessments, Mr. Wood and Ms. Cuneo-Harwood gave the opinion that the state  equalization rate applied to White Plains  ( finalized at 2.74% this year) was negating the positive effects of the sales tax increases. Wood said that the current round of certioraris would effect the city for the next 7 years.  Wood did say that Lloyd Tasch, the city Assessor was being aggressive in evaluating properties recently increasing in revenues.


 On Hotel Tax: Ms. Cuneo-Harwood noted that the hotel tax would be approximately $3 a room per hotel. She said that presently there are only two hotels in the city, Central Avenue Motel and Crowne Plaza, which would have contributed $180,000 to the city coffers in hotel tax if they were taxed this year, and with the Ritz-Carlton, she expected $680,000.


 


        

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Westchester’s own Katrina Hacker of Dobbs Ferry Finishes 6th in US Figure Skatin

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WPCNR RINK SIDE. January 28, 2008: Katrina Hacker, 17,  of Dobbs Ferry, outskated Kimmie Meissner, last year’s national Women’s United States Figure Skating Champion Saturday at the USFS Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ms. Hacker, long a fixture at the Westchester Skating Academy was not selected by USFS to compete in the World Championships in Sweden in March because of her inexperience competing internationally. Ms. Hacker, a graceful and elegant skater is shown below skating last January in Albany at the Eliot Spitzer inaugural. 


Ms. Hacker finished sixth behind Mira Nagasu, Rachel Flatt, and the fourth -place finisher, Caroline Zhang who were too young to compete in the world championships. The third place lady Ashley Wagner, and the fifth place skater Beatrisa Lang and Ms. Meisner will compete for the U.S. in the worlds, even though Ms. Hacker defeated Ms. Meisner in the standings.



Westchester County’s Skating Pride left behind:  Katrina Hacker performing on the Albany Mall last January at the invitation of Silda Wall, the First Lady of New York State. File  Photo by WPCNR Sports

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Fenway Withdraws Paddle Tennis Location Plan Will Rebuild at former site

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WPCNR SOUTHEND TIMES. From a White Plains CitizeNetReporter. January 28, 2008: WPCNR has learned that in private talks with Fenway Golf Club between the Soundview Neighborhood Association and the Fenway management that the country club has informed the neighborhood association it will not build new tennis courts in the location opposed by the residents. Instead, the club will erect new courts on the former location where they were on the club, before being torn down due to structural deterioration.

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Police: 4 County Officers in Ridley Matter. Video Tape Shows Incident

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From White Plains Department of Public Safety. January 28, 2008 UPDATED 2:45 P.M. E.S.T.: The White Plains Police have issued a statement, naming 4 Westchester County Police Officers who responded to the incident in which Mount Vernon Police Officer Christopher Ridley was shot by police Friday afternoon in White Plains, and the statement reveals that video tapes of the incident are being analyzed.


The statement released by the White Plains Department of Public Safety this morning at 9:57 A.M.  comes 12 hours after and confirms in part, a  recorded statement made on News 12 television by an unidentified witness who appeared on camera shown from the neck down that described what he saw (and WPCNR quotes the witness from a recording of that telecast:)


“From what I can see, the police officer from Mount Vernon was under the impression that those officers knew he was a cop, because there was at one point a Westchester (County) cop behind him.  So as he (Ridley) was telling the guy (Jacobs) to “hold it, hold it,” he looked up and told the cops, “I have it, I got it, don’t worry I got it, and when he looked up and told the cops “I got it, I got it”  for the fourth time that’s when the county police officers all shot and he fell to the ground dead. I could see the gunfire coming out of the county police officers’ guns, from all the firing I thought, each police officer shot one time.” 


 It was not stated by the reporter, whether this witness had already given his impression of the events to the police.


The reporter on this story set up the recorded witness statement, in her on-air report, saying that the unidentified witness said Officer Ridley came out of the County Office Building with a Westchester County cop behind him, and that this policeman was joined by three county police officers from the Department of Social Services “with their guns drawn.” She also reported the man originally attacked, the witness said appeared handicapped and was helped by two samaritans. The witness interviewed was reported as having viewed the incident from the window of the Macy’s store where he was waiting for a bus.  


White Plains Police would not comment on the details of this News 12 report at the time, but issued a statement this morning, confirming 4 Westchester County officers were involved:


The police statement remarks that Anthony Jacobs, the lone man charged in the incident has also been charged additionally to the Assault 2nd Degree charge  with possession of a weapon . Police note that the man who was the original victim of the assault that began the sequence of events was on his way home from work. The police also invite witnesses of the incident to make themselves know at an operations van at the scene of the shooting.


Here is the official police statement in its entirety:



The City of White Plains Department of Public Safety is conducting a thorough and objective investigation into the incident that occurreed on Friday evening, January 25, 2008 in the area of 85 Court Street White Plains, NY. This investigation is being conducted in conjunction with the Westchester District Attorney’s Office. The department is analyzing extensive video of the area and the incident. We are conducting a full ballistic analysis and  reviewing the results of the Medical Examiner’s autopsy. To date, we have interviewed in excess of 35 witnesses and will continue to interview all possible witnesses. In this regard, we have placed the department’s communications vehicle in the area of 85 Court Street and encourage anyone who witnessed any part of Friday’s events to contact us either in person at the site or through telephone #914-422-6200.


 


Investigation has determined that 4 uniformed Westchester County Police Officers responded to the scene. The Westchester Police Officers at the scene were, in alphabetical order:


 


Police Officer Jose Calero


Police Officer Christian Gutierrez


Detective Robin Martin


Police Officer Frank Oliveri


 


The number of shots fired and who fired those shots is under investigation. Medical personnel were summoned immediately and arrived at Ofiicer Ridley’s side within minutes. Paramedics determined immediately upon their examination that he was deceased..


 


Anthony Jacobs will appear Monday morning in White Plains City Court and is currently charged with Assault 2nd degree a D-Felony and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree a C- Felony. His photograph is attached to this e-mail. The victim of the initial assault was a resident of the Bronx that was on his way home from work.



 

 

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Comptroller DiNapoli Rejects Need for NY Thruway Toll Hike

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Office of the State Comptroller Press Office. (Edited) January 27, 2008: State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today released his audit of the State Thruway Authority and said the Thruway Authority should call off its proposed July 2008 toll hike.  DiNapoli also said the Thruway should postpone future hikes until it has conducted a thorough analysis of its expenses and operations and prioritized capital projects. The audit examined whether the calculations used in justifying proposed toll increases in July 2008, January 2009, July 2009 and January 2010 were accurate and reasonable.


 




“It’s easy to raise tolls, but the Thruway Authority should take a hard look in the mirror before it pushes another toll hike on New Yorkers,” DiNapoli said. “Toll hikes are not warranted until the Thruway Authority examines its own spending. The Thruway is too important to the upstate economy to unnecessarily raise tolls and drive up the cost of everything from milk to heating oil, not to mention the impact on commuters. The Thruway Authority manages the roads well, but it could manage its finances a whole lot better.”

DiNapoli said his office would engage in additional audits of the Thruway Authority’s operations and finances this year.

The Thruway Authority increased tolls five times prior to 2005: 1959, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1988. Since 2005, the Thruway has already increased tolls twice and is proposing four additional increases.  DiNapoli noted that while the recently implemented January 2008 toll increase might have been avoided, the proceeds of that toll increase are already legally pledged to pay for $2 billion the Thruway Authority has already borrowed.

The Thruway Authority Board is considering a series of toll increases that would take effect from July 2008 through January 2010. The board will be holding hearings on the proposed hikes. These proposed toll increases are expected to generate a total of $520 million in additional revenue. Thruway Authority officials say the revenue is needed to cover cash shortfalls projected over the next five years caused by a reduction in traffic growth and an increase in the use of E-ZPass discounts. Part of the revenue is also needed for the Thruway Authority’s $2.7 billion capital plan, which extends through 2011.

DiNapoli initiated the Thruway Authority audit in November at the request of several state and federal leaders.  A policy report on the Thruway Authority and two additional audits were also released today that examined uncollected tolls from E-ZPass violators (Report 2006-S-101) and financial practices at the state Canal Corporation (2005-S-66) .

The review of the Thruway Authority’s finances found:


    • Significantly Underestimated Federal Funding:   The Thruway Authority estimated that it would receive only $4.9 million in federal highway funding a year, even though its past average was $33.5 million a year. Auditors determined that the Thruway Authority could conservatively estimate an additional $125.3 million in federal funding between 2008 and 2012.
    • No Aggressive Cost-Cutting Measures:   The Thruway Authority plans to limit its annual operating growth to 3.5 percent but has not implemented serious cost-reduction measures. Auditors found that current efforts appear to be geared towards maintaining current levels of spending rather than reducing costs. In the absence of a comprehensive, top-to-bottom analysis of Thruway Authority operating expenses, it is unclear whether waste, inefficiencies and unnecessary costs are being incurred and at what levels.
    • Uncollected E-ZPass Tolls and Fees:   The Thruway Authority did not collect $27.5 million in unpaid tolls and penalties over a six-year period, according to a second audit also released today. While most of the delinquent motorists owed the Thruway Authority $20 or less, 82 violators (mostly businesses) owed $2,500 or more in unpaid tolls. One out-of-state trucking company was cited for 2,226 violations and owes $59,159 in unpaid tolls.
    • No Prioritization of Capital Projects:   Auditors identified $160 million in non-essential capital projects, such as rehabilitating maintenance buildings, noise barriers and pedestrian bridges, that could be delayed to save money. The capital plan contains 300 individual projects but no effort has been made to prioritize these projects even though some are clearly less critical than others.
    • High Spending on Non-Thruway Operations:  Since 1990, the Thruway Authority has spent more than $1 billion on non-Thruway operations such as the Canal System ($700.4 million) and mandated economic development projects ($61.4 million). Between 2008 and 2012, the Thruway Authority estimates it will spend nearly $395 million on the canal system alone.
    • Canal Corp Revitalization Projects Over Budget and Behind Schedule: Another audit released today found that the Canal Corporation was $17 million, or about 49 percent, over budget and at least two years behind schedule on various community revitalization projects that are part of the Canalway Trail.
The three audits contain a series of recommendations including:


    • Perform a comprehensive, top-to-bottom analysis of operations to identify where costs can be reduced. This analysis should always be performed prior to any proposed toll increase.
    • Use a collection agency or some other means to improve the collection of delinquent E-ZPass tolls.  
    • Evaluate the benefits of raising revenue through private sector advertising and sponsorship.
    • Include a reasonable estimate for future federal highway funding in funding projections.
    • Base all equipment replacement estimates on documented needs assessments.
    • Develop management reports showing the progress and dollars spent on each capital project.
    • Prioritize the projects in future capital plans to facilitate any adjustments needed in response to unanticipated funding shortages.
    • Identify the non-essential capital projects that are scheduled for 2008 through 2012, determine which of those projects can be deferred until after 2012, and determine how the Authority’s funding needs would be affected if the projects were deferred.
    • Document the basis for the inflationary increases in construction contracts.

DiNapoli recommended that the canal system be removed from the Thruway Authority’s operations and that a feasible, long-term solution for financing, managing and planning the future of the canal system be developed.

In its response to the audit, the Thruway Authority generally agreed with the facts of the audit but disagreed with many of the conclusions. The Thruway Authority noted that “the public review process has only begun and that the recommendations contained in this draft audit will be used, along with the public’s input, to shape a toll adjustment…” The Thruway Authority’s full response is included in the audit.


Click here to view the audit on the Thruway Authority’s proposed toll increases .


Click here to view the audit on uncollected E-ZPass tolls and fees .


Click here to view the Canal Corporation audit .


The policy report will be available shortly at www.osc.state.ny.us .

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Status of Affordable Housing Regulations Examined in More Detail

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. January 27, 2008: WPCNR  noted briefly in last week’s report on the Common Council Work Session Thursday that the proposal to increase the affordable housing set-aside on new construction rentals from 6% to 10% had not been referred out to departments as yet. Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel advised WPCNR of the more intricate status of the proposal today. WPCNR had reported that Ms. Habel had stated it had not been referred out and would be on February 4. Ms. Habel explains:


In your e-article on the Common Council work session, you state that “It was announced by the Commissioner of Planning that details of the Common Council proposal to raise the number of affordable housing units required in any new multiple dwelling residential projects to 10%, together with higher buyout fees, had not yet been referred out to departments but would be on the February 4 Council meeting.”


That is not what I said. I said that two proposals for changes to the affordable housing regulations were submitted, one by some members of the Common Council and a second by the Mayor and two Council members. A communication addressing both of these was prepared by the Planning Department and provided to the Common Council this past fall.


What is being submitted to the Common Council for the February 4 meeting is revised regulations for both the Affordable Rental Program and Affordable Home Ownership Program which incorporate elements of each of the proposals and the comments from the Planning Department.


You can not refer to a Common Council proposal as there were different proposals by Common Council members, including the Mayor and two Council members, and there was the analysis by the Planning Department.


The revised regulations being referred out at the February 4, 2008 meeting do not reflect any one of these alone, but an integration of proposals from each that the Planning Department feels are appropriate. The Council will discuss the proposed revisions at the February  work session.



 

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Officer Killed Attempting to Make an Arrest. Sharpton Meets with Police.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. January 26, 2008 UPDATED with Spano Statement 1:45 A.M. E.S.T. January 27, 2008, UPDATED 8:45 AM EST:  At a News Conference Saturday,  Commissioner of Public Safety for White Plains, Dr. Frank Straub reported that Mount Vernon Police Officer Christopher A. Ridley, 23, was shot and killed yesterday while he was making an arrest of a suspect in a previous fight.  Ridley had attempted to break  up what Straub described as “a violent assault”  ( Ridley saw taking place)  between the suspect (a resident of the Westchester County Homeless Shelter in Valhalla),  and a third man, on Martine Avenue.  Ridley was shot  by County Police in front of the county Department of Social Services. building at 85 Court Street..



Dr. Frank Straub, Commissioner of Public Safety conducting news conference Saturday on the Christopher Riley shooting Friday afternoon. Far left is County Commissioner of Public Safety, Thomas Belfiore, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore, and David Chong, Commissioner of Public Safety, City of Mount Vernon.


Straub announced Anthony Jacobs  of 25 Operations Drive Valhalla, NY, the address of the Westchester County Homeless Shelter, (which was not made clear during the news conference) has been charged with Assault 2nd a D-felony, for his role in the original altercation Officer Ridley was attempting to break up.  Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel Jackson in a statement told WPCNR “There may be additional charges (against Mr. Jacobs) in the future.”


Straub said Officer Ridley was off duty at the time.  Straub said the White Plains Police have been asked to head the investigation of the matter because it was in their jurisdiction and that they would be working in conjunction with the Westchester District Attorney’s office. 


Straub reported the police had interviewed a number of witnesses, and an autopsy was performed on the officer, and ballistics tests were being done.



David Chong, Commissioner of Public Safety of Mount Vernon, said the entire Mount Vernon force of  250 persons was “devastated by our loss.” He described Officer Ridley “as a quiet and kind soul. I knew him. He had unlimited potential.” Chong, former Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety under Straub in White Plains, said he had “utmost confidence that the White Plains Police in conjunction with the D.A.’s office would conduct an unbiased thorough investigation.”


Commissioner of Public Safety Thomas Belfiore expressed his deepest sympathies to the family and to the Mount Vernon Police Department. District Attorney Janet DiFiore did not speak.


After about a 15-minute news conference which began one hour late at 4 PM, the four officials ended the News Conference, declining to take any questions from the media.


No details of how many Westchester County Police Officers responded, how many shots were fired, or who the officers were that responded and fired the shots were provided. Reporters were not told from what building the County Police emerged from to respond. No sequence of events or actions was provided by the Commissioner.


It has been reported the incident developed in a staging area at a time (4:30 PM) when county shelter homeless persons assemble at the Department of Social Services (85 Court Street) for transportation to the County shelter in Grasslands.


Sharpton Holds News Conference Prior to police news conference.


 Invited into Public Safety Building.


Prior to the official news conference, Reverend Al Sharpton of the National Action Network held a news conference in front of the White Plains Department of Public Safety. He appeared with the family of Officer Ridley, and in a distinctly low-key and thoughtful demeanor, called for a thorough investigation and not a 12-hour “shooting was justified” conclusion. He said his Coalition stood ready to aid the family with legal counsel as the investigation continued, and that the family in consultation would decide how to proceed.



Reverend Sharpton addressing the media before the police-called news conference at about 1:30 PM Saturday afternoon. Sharpton said the community wanted a thorough investigation and “We want answers.”


After Mr. Sharpton’s news conference concluded at 2 PM, Reverend Sharpton was attempting to return to his car when WPCNR saw Mr. Sharpton return, walk past the microphones and enter the Public Safety Building. The press was prevented from following Mr. Sharpton into the building.


Nicole Johnson of Channel 9  (My9) Television told WPCNR that Mr. Sharpton’s press liaison said the Commissioner’s office had invited Mr. Sharpton into the building. Deputy Commissioner Daniel Jackson asked to confirm whether Reverend Sharpton met with Commissioner Straub or the District Attorney declined to comment.


The news conference the police had scheduled with the media did not begin until 4 PM.


Reverend Sharpton may choose to make more comments on network television Monday when he appears on the Channel 7 television program, The View at 11 A.M. E.S.T. Monday morning.


Surveillance Cameras


WPCNR asked police if the surveillance cameras atop the County Office Building, the Michaelian Building overlooking Martine Avenue and Court Street where both the fight and shooting unfolded were operating at the time of the incident. Mr. Jackson said the police were making no further comment at this time.



Surveillance Cameras on Michaelian Building above Court Street provide a view of the corner of 85 Court Street and Martine, and of the 85 Court Street  building lower left where the shooting occurred.



Surveillance Cameras on Michaelian Building above Court Street provide a view of 85 Court Street building lower left where the shooting occurred. The Journal News edition Sunday recalled that such cameras in the past played a role in the conviction of Philip Grant, the homeless person from the former airport County Shelter who was convicted of murdering Concetta Russo-Carriero in The Galleria Parking Garage in June 2005.


 


Late in the day, County Executive Andrew Spano (who did not attend the news conference), issued this statement to the media on the Ridley shooting:


“This is a horrible tragedy for everyone. My heartfelt sympathy and prayers go to the family and friends of Officer Chris Ridley and his colleagues in the Mount Vernon Police Department. We are all devastated at the loss of this young police officer who had great potential. Officer Ridley was committed to protecting people in the city where he grew up. Acting in his capacity as a police officer, he was killed in this terrible chain of events. Our own County officers involved have been deeply traumatized and were distraught to learn that it was a fellow officer who was shot. They as well as the entire County Police force are shaken and saddened by this event. This has been particularly painful for the entire law enforcement community. County Police are cooperating in every way with the investigation, and we stand ready to provide any assistance to the family.’’


       


 

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Gannett Foundation Awards $10,000 in Support of Domestic Violence Counseling

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WPCNR MAIN STREET Journal. From the Gannett Foundation. January 25, 2008: The Gannett Foundation has awarded The Mental Health Association of Westchester County, Inc. (MHA) a $10,000 grant in support of Family Abuse Court Services (FACS), the County’s only volunteer court advocacy program for victims of domestic abuse.  Founded by MHA in 1977, FACS is an on-site service available free of charge at all three Westchester Family Courts.  FACS volunteers receive intensive training to provide domestic violence victims with specialized services that include crisis support, advocacy, referrals and safety planning.  The new grant will help FACS provide services to the more than 2,000 domestic violence victims expected by MHA to seek help through the program in 2008.

MHA Assistant Executive Director Carla Quail, LCSW, emphasized the key role played by volunteer counselors in the program’s three decades of success.  “The staff and trained volunteers of Family Abuse Court Services are guides to vulnerable families in a time of crisis.  Without these committed and skilled volunteers, frightened individuals seeking to protect themselves and their children from an abusive partner may never have the courage to go through the challenges of the court system.  Committed volunteers are always needed for such rewarding work.”  Information about how to become a FACS volunteer is available from Program Director Blanche Goodman at (914) 345-5900, extension 245.


The Mental Health Association of Westchester County, Inc. (MHA), a not-for profit organization, is the leading resource for mental health services in Westchester.  Through its advocacy, education and direct services, MHA meets a broad spectrum of critical needs of thousands of children, adults and families each year.  Prevention of domestic violence, treatment for the trauma experienced by its victims and support for affected family members constitute a major component of MHA’s program activities.  Visit MHA’s website, www.mhawestchester.org, for information on critical mental health issues and services in Westchester County.


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Mt. Vernon Police Officer Shot Dead by County Police in front 85 Court Street

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. Special to WPCNR. January 25, 2008 UPDATED 9:20 PM. Updated 8:45 AM, January 26, 2008, UPDATED 10 A.M. UPDATED  Saturday, January 26, 12:15 PM:  The County Police, White Plains Police and District Attorney’s office and Mount Vernon Police will hold a news conference at 3 PM today on  the Friday night shooting of a Mount Vernon police officer by county police officers, White Plains Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety reports. That news conference will be preceeded by a news conference by activist Reverend Al Sharpton with the family of Christopher Riley, the deceased officer at 1 PM, the Associated Press reports.


 The man shot dead by a County Police Officer or officers, in front of 85 Court Street across from the entrance of the County Office building (the Michaelian Building)  has been identified as a Mount Vernon Police Officer, Christopher Ridley, 23, by White Plains Police. 


Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Daniel Jackson issued this statement to WPCNR Saturday morning: “As of now we have released that White Plains Police responded to a call at 4:47 p.m. Upon arrival they encountered on duty Westchester County Police Officers whom had been involved in a shooting. The deceased is off-duty Mount Vernon Police Officer Christopher A. Ridley a 23 year old, 2 year member of the Mount Vernon Police Department. The White Plains Police Department is conducting the investigation with the help of the Westchester District Attorneys Office.”


 A second person somehow involved in the incident which witnesses said involved an argument was being questioned last night.  Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Frank Straub told media no one had been arrested as of last evening. Straub had no details to report of how the situation developed or the sequence of events leading to Officer Ridley’s death. White Plains Police are conducting the investigation of the matter.


Media reports published conflicting unofficial reporter interviews with witnesses saying  Mr. Ridley was holding a gun on a man on the ground, after being told to drop the gun by police, he did not, whereupon police opened fire.


An official police account of how the incident unfolded has not given as of 10 A.M. Saturday morning. 


 

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Hispanic Professionals Continue The White Plains drive to Aid the Dominican Repu

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. January 24, 2008: The Hispanic Business & Professional Association of Westchester County honored Gregorio Malena, Vice Consul of the Dominican Republic Mission to the United Nations last night at the Prophecy Club, and Vice Consul Melena thanked the White Plains Business community and Common Councilman Glen Hockley for continuing the drive to support the victims of the Dominican floods last fall.



United for Dominican Republic Relief Effort, far left, Reverend Miguel Amadis of Washington Heights; third from left, Leonardo Espinol, Dominican business man, resident of White Plains; Councilman Glen Hockley, third from right. Vice Consul Gregorio Malena, center, next to Mr. Hockley. Hosting the party were Dan Couglin, owner of Prophesy, with his wife, far right.


Five truckloads of nonperishable food and supplies have been collected through the facilities of Aries Wine & Spirits and delivered and distributed through the auspices of the First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Vice Consul Melena told WPCNR. The food drive is continuing. It was also announced that the  Dominican Independence Day would be celebrated in White Plains February 23 to continue to focus attention on the Domincan Republic need. So far the Vice Consul said some 200 homes have been rebuilt (thanks to  Mayor Michael Bloomberg-spearheaded relief effort) for the 70,000 residents displaced by the floods. He said the Republic has pulled together behind its President. He thanked Mr. Hockley and the White Plains community for their support of the effort, but the country is still in need of food supplies and relief and construction help.


To inquire how you can help and what can be donated contact Mr. Hockley or Aries Wine Spirits at 914-946-0191.

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