CRIMINEY!

SEE WHITE PLAINS WEEK

NEWS

NOW

ON

www.whiteplainsweek.com

THE REPORTERS POWER BROKERS FEAR MOST.

MONITORED, AUDITED AND AUTHORITATIVE!

TAX RETURNS VETTED BY IRS OFFICIALS FOR OVER 50 YEARS

COMMUNICATIONS CLANDESTINELY DOCUMENTED.

John Bailey

PETER KATZ

JIM BENEROFE

ON

PLAYLAND'S OPENING WEEKEND

WHAT BOARD OF LEGISLATORS SAID ABOUT ROB ASTORINO--HOSTAGE TAKER!

THE PLAYLAND CHILDRENS MUSEUM MONEY HOW MUCH DO THEY HAVE AND HOW MUCH DO THEY STILL NEED? HINT: THEY NEED 30 MORE FUNDRAISERS!

JIM BENEROFE , MR. RETAIL ON THE CITY'S FLABBY SALES TAX WHAT'S WRONG.

THE PETFOOD PANTRY TRI-STATE LIFESAVER FOR PETS AND THE OWNERS WHO LOVE THEM EXPANDS--PETER KATZ SPECIAL REPORT

JOHN BAILEY ON RECOGNIZING POLICE, FIRE AND FIRST RESPONDERS IN A WAY THAT MEANS SOMETHING--TO THEM.

WHITE PLAINS REAL ESTATE GOING LIKE GANGBUSTERS.

THE SCHOOL BUDGET ELECTION

ALL NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW ON THE INTERNET AT 

www.whiteplainsweek.com

BAILEYBENEROFEKATZ

18 LETTERS THAT SPELL TROUBLE.

LOCAL NEWS WITH GLOBAL IMPACT -- FLASHED AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH THE MIRACLE OF THE INTERNET

WPCNR MR. AND MRS. WESTCHESTER POLL. MAY 18, 2013:

At a news conference this week, the Childrens Museum Group and three County Legislators pointed out how the County has delayed turning over possession of the Playland North Bathhouse to the Childrens Museum to develop for about a  year.

Spokespersons for the Museum group, said they have spent about $6 Million on the project so far, and currently have about $2.5 Million to begin building out the project, but need about $6 Million to $10 Million more dollars. They said Thursday that they can build the museum interior in 14 to 18 months.

They expect perhaps several million in funds once they obtain possession of the building. But, they admitted that County foot-dragging on giving them occupancy and standing as developers of the museum have severely hampered fund-raising.

Should the county step up and finance the construction of the museum, funding as much as $6 Million to $10 Million for the project--if  the Childrens Museum fundraising efforts fall short?

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. From the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. May 17, 2013:

White Plains Sales Tax Colllections were down 3% in April from the amount collected last year according to state Department of Taxation and Finance figures reported to WPCNR this week.

Two months ago, in March, receipts were $10,000 shorty of March 2012 receipts, and gave the impression an upturn in retail activity was beginning after the sales tax receipts had declined at a 2% pace for four straight months.

The city has earned $41.6 Million in sales taxes through April, 2% off last year's collections.

Westchester County,in contrast is up 4% through the first four months of 2013, about $6 Million ahead.

If the city equals the sales tax receipts it collected in May and June last year ($8.1 MILLION for the 2 months) the city will gross $49.8 MILLION about $1.1 to $1.2 MILLION less than it collected in 2011-12-producing a 2% decline.

 If May and June are softer, the city transfer of $5 Million to the Fund Balance Stability Fund with which they used to cover salary and labor raises for 2012-13, and plan to do so in the 2013-14 and beyond, this may present a problem.

The city has been extracting money from the Fund Balance Stability Fund to cover city wage increases.

In a related development, Moody's after reviewing the city budget announced  they have removed the Negative Outlook they have given White Plains bonds in their credit ratings, according to City Council President Beth Smayda. Smayda said the removal was based the city policy of not bonding for tax certiorari refunds and restoring the fund balance by devoting a portion of sales tax receipts each year to the stability fund.

WPCNR PLAYLAND NEWS. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators (Edited and incorporating WPCNR on the scene observations and interviews). May 16, 2013:

Several Democratic caucus members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) called today on County Executive Rob Astorino to hand over the keys for the North Bathhouse at Playland to Westchester Children’s Museum officials so work can begin immediately and allow the much-awaited attraction to open by 2014.

“This wonderful museum will help transform Playland into a year-round destination,” said Legislator Judy Myers (D-Larchmont), chair of the BOL Budget & Appropriations Committee, at a press conference here at Playland. “The Westchester Children’s Museum is ready to move in to bathhouse and start all of the necessary work. It’s time for the Astorino Administration to follow the law—unshackle the Museum and let them begin building, bring in jobs, and bring in revenue!"

At the recent fundraising gala held last Friday for the Westchester Children’s Museum in White Plains, Astorino remarked that he was finally ready to fully back the effort for the new museum, after nearly four years of withholding his public support, but that he still feels work on the museum should wait until Sustainable Playland, Inc. (SPI) takes over management of the park in the fall. The BOL will have to approve any changes at Playland.

County Legislator MaryJane Shimsky, speaking at the news conference today at the Bathhouse said that Mr Astorino said that the keys would be turned over "as soon as the Board of Legislators approves Sustainable Playland." Sustainable Playland is Mr. Astorino's choice to redevelop the Playland amusement park. Approval of the Sustainable Playland proposal is now undergoing review along with three other proposals by the Board of Legislators.

Shimsky said "it is time to stop holding this museum hostage. This is a classic case hostage situation."

The Westchester County Department of Communications was asked whether Sustainable Playland had to be approved to release the keys to the museum was true by WPCNR, and this statement from Ned McCormack the Director Communications was issued to WPCNR in response:

"This is the same group of obstructionists Democrats on the board who turned off the lights and set off alarms when they walked out of the budget negotiations, complained when the tremendous damage to Playland's boardwalk from Hurricans Sandy was repaired on time and on budget for the season's opening(last Saturday), and are now trying to create controversy that does not exist.

This group (the Democratic legislators) has been operating in its own parallel universe of hyper-partisan attacks for so long, they seem to have forgotten what partnership, progress and the best interests of county residents look like.

"The county, Sustainable Playland and the Children's Museum are all working together to secure the best possible future for the park and their individual endeavors. We had a conversation Wednesday with Museum representatives that involved creating signage, programming and continuing access. The vision, plan and partnership in place will position Playland and the Children's Museum for success in the future."

Bill Haley, Treasurer for the Children's Museum said the group if given the keys, could have the museum open in 14 to 18 months. He said the group had raised $8 Million and had $2.5 Million on hand having spent $5.5 Million on administration and architectural plans for the space. He said the group needed to raise approximately $6 Million more.

Mark Oxman, a member of the Museum Board, told WPCNR, that not being handed over the keys to the building had had "a chilling effect on fund-raising activities."

Jeanne Fogel, of the Museum Board told WPCNR potential donors had said that as soon as the museum received possession of the North Bathhouse, those angels would be forthcoming with donations. Ms. Fogel said there were grants the museum was expectant of receiving based on the turnover. The Friday fund-raiser in White Plains where Mr. Astorino appeared raised approximately $200,000.

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From the City Clerk's Office. May 16, 2013:

The City Clerk has sent out a noticed cancelling  the Monday evening that was scheduled for the Common Council to adopt the 2013-2014 Budget calling for a 4.2% Property Tax increase to fund a 3.1% increase in spending.

Common Council President Beth Smayda and Councilman Benjamin Boykin each told WPCNR it was because the Albany legislature had not passed the city sales tax extension yet and was not expected to do so until next week. Smayda was asked if the council was considering cutting the budget in view of the 3% sales tax decline just reported in April. Smayda only would say the Council was continuing to "review the budget."

WPCNR VIDEO NEWS. May 16, 2013:

The ASPCA announced at a news conference Wednesday, it was presenting $5,000 to the White Plains Hudson Valley Pet Food Pantry, founded by White Plains Susan Katz.

To see the news conference go to www.whiteplainsweek.com

WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WHITE PLAINS POLL. MAY 14, 2013:

At its Monday evening Common Council Meeting, the city announced its intention to expand the duties and jurisdiction of White Plains Parking Enforcement Officers to enforce what Mayor Thomas Roach called quality of life laws.

The actual introductory letter for the legislation from the Corporation Counsel John Callahan reads:

"Submitted herewith for Council deliberation is legislation that would provide the Commissioner of Parking with the authority, concurrent with that vested in other city officials and personnel, to enforce certain quality of life violations and to authorize members of the enforcement staff of the Department of Parking to issue appearance tickets for said violations."

The actual proposed local law that will have a public hearing at the June Common Council meeting authorizes Parking Enforcement Officers, if they see a "quality of life" violation to:

"Enforce concurrently with other designated City department officials and personnel, quality of life laws relating to littering, noise, graffiti, refuse disposal, dumping, peddling, bicycling/skateboarding on sidewalks or municipal parking facilities, shopping carts, signage, handbills, removal of snow and ice, dirt, debris or foreign matter on sidewalks, obstructing or encumbering public streets, highways, or sidewalks, and custody and control of dogs, including but not limited to, authorizing the issuance of appearance tickets by enforcement staff assigned to same;"

What do Mr. and Mrs. White Plains think about this proposal? Do you support this quality of life initiative? Answer the poll at the right.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. May 9, 2013 3:30 p.m. E.D.T.UPDATED FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 2:15 P.M.: 

 White Plains Police have apprehended a suspect in a confirmed attempted burglary at 1090 Mamaroneck Avenue (slightly north of Amodios nursery).

According to Commissioner of Public Safety, David Chong in a statement to WPCNR Friday:

"Yesterday, Thursday May 9, at approximately 1206 in the afternoon, a homeowner returns to their residence @ 1090 Mamaroneck Ave. The homeowner hears banging coming from the rear of the house and immediately calls 911.  White Plains Police Officer's arrive within seconds, set up a perimeter and PO's O'Sullivan and Suban check the home. 

While checking the home they spot a male trying to push in  the rear door.  After a brief foot chase, Officers subdue the suspect in the rear yard.  I want to commend the homeowner for their quick actions and doing what we advise people to do, and that is to call us immediately and not confront anyone.  I also want to commend the Police Officer's for the arrest and their quick response.

Arrested and charged is Jesus Manual Rosario, DOB 5/30/1966, residing at 525 Faile Street Bronx, NY.  He has a long criminal record and is currently on Parole.  He is charged with Attempted Burglary 2, which is a felony. and Parole violation.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. May 8, 2013:

Timothy Connors, former Superintendent of Schools for the city of White Plains from 2002 to 2009, signed an interim contract with the district Tuesday to serve for one year as Interim Superintendent while the district searches for a new one.

Mr. Connors will be paid $258,000 for the year, with 30 days of paid vacation; a $500 a month car allowance and $100 per month "to defray the cost of his use of his personal Smartphone in the performance of his job duties. Connors salary is $31,000 more than what the Board is paying Dr. Christopher Clouet, the present superintendent leaving the district to become Superintendent of the Union Free School District of the Tarrytowns.

Previously the White Plains School Board had elected not to renegotiate Dr. Clouet's contract in view of the Tarrytown offer since Clouet was under contract to White Plains for two more years.

The money the district authorized Monday evening to bring back Mr. Connors is $5,000 more than what the Tarrytowns will be paying Dr. Clouet in the first year of Dr. Clouet's new contract ($253,000). Mr. Connors also earns a $39,000 pension from New York State from his White Plains retirement which meets approximately what Mr. Connors was earning in the district in 2009 ($297,000).

Connors is the highest paid public official in White Plains by over $100,000.

The new Interim Superintendent's contract is for one year, and the school board must advise him six months before July 1, 2014 if they want to renew is contract for another year, but the contract does not automatically extend if he is not notified by the district.

WPCNR DISTRICT ATTORNEY REPORT. May 8, 2013:

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced today that, after a seven month long investigation, five individuals have been charged with heroin trafficking in Northern Westchester County. The investigation in the Town of Cortlandt, Village of Croton and City of Peekskill was conducted by the Westchester District Attorney Narcotics Initiative (WDANI) along with the New York State Police, Croton-on-Hudson and Harrison Police Departments.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. MAY 7, 2013:

Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education told WPCNR this morning that the Board of Education approved a contract with former Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors ( who served as Superintendent 2002-2009), to serve as Interim Superintendent beginning July 1, while the district searched for a new superintendent.

Terms of the contract will not be disclosed until Mr. Connors signs the contract, Ms. Schoenfeld said, which is expected to happen tomorrow.

Ms. Schoenfeld also reported that  John Orcutt was hired as an Assistant Principal at White Plains High School.

She said that no members of the community filed petitions to run for the two positions open on the school board, so Charles Norris and Sheryl Brady, incumbents whose terms are up are running for reelection unopposed.

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. May 7, 2013 UPDATED MAY 8, 2013:

AT THE MAY COMMON COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT, THE COMMON COUNCIL  WILL AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC HEARING IN JUNE TO DISCUSS A NEW LOCAL LAW EXPANDING THE  RESPONSIBILITIES  OF THE PARKING COMMISSIONER TO ENFORCE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES .

THE LEGISLATION WOULD AUTHORIZE MEMBERS OF THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT STAFF TO ISSUE “APPEARANCE TICKETS“ FOR LITTERING, NOISE, GRAFFITTI, REFUSE DISPOSAL, DUMPING, PEDDLING, BICYCLING/SKLATEBOARDING ON SIDEWALKS OR MUNICIPAL FACILITIES, SHOPPING CARTS, SIGNAGE, HANDBILLS, REMOVAL OF SNOW AND ICE, DIRT, DEBRIS, OR FOREIGN MATTER ON SIDEWALKS,OBSTRUCTING OR ENCUMBERING PUBLIC STREETS, HIGHWAYS, OR SIDEWALKS, AND CUSTODY AND CONTROL OF DOGS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUEANCE OF APPEARANCE TICKETS BY ENFORCEMENT STAFF ASSIGNED TO SAME.”

WPCNR ASKED A COMMON COUNCILMAN WHETHER THERE WOULD BE NEW VIOLATION FINES SET UP AND DEFINITIONS OF WHAT CONSTITUTES AN APPEARANCE IN COURT OFFENSE FOR THIS HOST OF ISSUES. THAT HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED YET, HE TOLD ME BUT WOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE FUTURE.

IN ANOTHER MATTER, THE CITY IS GOING TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF THE WHITE PLAINS PAVILION MALL TAKING IT OUT OF THE  ENCLOSED MALL ZONING DISTRICT. THIS FUELS SPECULATION THAT URSTADT BIDDLE THE OWNERS OF THAT VERY LITTLE OCCUPIED MALL (FORMERLY HOME TO DEFUNCT BORDERS, DAFFYS,  WILL BUILD SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. (At Tuesday's meeting conceptual plans for a hotel and apartment complex were presented.)

THE CITY ALSO STAGED A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY BUDGET, PROPOSING A 4.2% TAX INCREASE, WHICH THE BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF WHITE PLAINS IS COMFORTABLE WITH ACCORDING TO  TIM SHEEHAN, A SOURCE ON THE COMMITTEE AND HE  DOES NOT ANTICIPATE THE COUNCIL MAKING ANY CHANGE. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND A 2% RAISE IS IN LINE FOR MOST COMMISSIONERS.

ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR JUNE ON A PROPOSED MORATORIUM FOR SIX MONTHS ON DEVELOPMENT OF POSSIBLE HISTORIC BUILDINGS ON WESTMORELAND AVENUE, PENDING A SURVEY OF THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF BUILDINGS ON THAT STREET.

THE COUNCIL MEETING MAY BE VIEWED at www.cityofwhiteplains.com

1925-2013

WPCNR MILESTONES.  May 4, 2013:

John Taddei, the man whose natural instinct for solutions contributed to the  Columbia Broadcasting System technical growth in television’s golden age of the 1950s and 1960s died this week in White Plains. The White Plains resident was 88 years old.

Mr. Taddei spent his professional career contributing to television innovations that are used to this day. After he retired in the mid-1980s, the City of White Plains chose him to be Chairman of the White Plains Public Access Cable station.

Taddei, working with Executive Director Fred Strauss, and Edward Wolf,and Gary Stukes supervised the design of the White Plains Public Television studios at 4 Martine Avenue in the Four Seasons Apartment complex in White Plains  when it moved from the White Plains Library.  

The compact studio design  with its capacity to televise meetings from the White Plains City Hall became a national model for other communities across the country building community access television operations.

The reason the studio was effective, an acquaintance familiar with the creation of the studio said, was  Mr. Taddei gave the committee responsible for designing the new studios access to CBS studios in New York. Taddei arranged for them to tour the CBS Broadcast center and see first-hand how to set up the studio, where they could save money, and bypass “the learning curve.” Taddei, the acquaintance said was revered at CBS, where he knew William S. Paley personally.

Thanks to Taddei’s entrée to CBS,  representatives from White Plains television were treated with respect and  received expertise on creating their studio, seeing how a premier television network studio was designed and run,  that led to the creation of a studio that has served White Plains thirty years from the analog to the digital age.

According to a retrospective of his life distributed at his wake last week Mr. Taddei died in White Plains Hospital on April 26. He was born in Manhattan to Paulo and Rosa (Gherardi) Taddei. The family later moved to Brooklyn where Mr. Taddei attended public school.

The lure of boy-scouting took him out of the city for the first time and inspired him to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. He served as assistant scout master at the Ten Mile River Boy Scouts of America Camp in New York’s Catskill Mountains on the Delaware River.

He was a member of the St. Finbar’s CYO basketball team and a tennis player. He met his future wife, Anna Zaharek on the tennis court. They wed in 1952 and later made White Plains their home.

Mr. Taddei  commuted to CBS in New York, where he was employed as a television broadcast technician until his retirement in 1986. His expertise led to his being named Chairman of the White Plains Public Access Cable station at the critical time when the present state-of-the-art studio (in the Four Seasons Condominium complex was being designed and equipped.

His love of classical music led to his devising a method to digitize rare pre-war selenophone recordings of Toscanini-conducted performances for the New York Public Library Branch at Lincoln Center.

A man of deep faith, he was very active in various organizations in his parish, Our Lady of Sorrows, and is remembered as the “go-to” person for microphones and television equipment for liturgical and school use.

He was an avid ham radio operator and in his last years relied on his network of ham radio friends to keep him connected.

His wife Anna predeceased him in 2007.

John is survived by his sister Mary (Lucian) DeBonis of Sag Harbor, NY; his children: Joanne Taddei of Cranston, Rhode Island; John (Patricia) Taddei of Somers, NY; Marianne (George) Wisker of Tolland, Connecticut; Robert (Mary) Taddei  of Doylestown, Pennsylvania; grandsons John Patrick, Christopher, Nicholas and Benjamin Taddei and many nieces and nephews. He was cared for by his devoted home health aides CeCe and Mariama.

He was laid to rest in Gate of Heaven Cemetary.

WPCNR Health News. By John F. Bailey. May 2, 2013:

 Caren Halbfinger, spokesperson for the Westchester County Department of Health, responding to WPCNR routine questions about the norovirus outbreak at the Westchester Hilton, has issued a statement saying victims of the norovirus identified as the microbe culprit causing hundreds of Hilton guests the last four weeks, should stay home for three days after they have finished feeling the symptoms of the disease: vomiting and diarrhea.

Halbfinger confirmed the WPCNR report that the first norovirus incident actually happened the weekend of April 5,6,7, at the CSEA Women's Conference, that the Hilton had reported that incident to the health department April 9.

WPCNR points out that the first time it was reported  by the Health Department however was not until April 26.

Halbfinger also said in a statement to WPCNR that the Health Department did not have a total number for persons who have contracted the norovirus and that the actual source of the norovirus might never be found.

The statement from Ms. Halbfinger to WPCNR Thursday evening:

"We are not counting cases, we are focused on stopping the spread of the Norovirus.

As to origin: We honestly don’t know and probably never will. Norovirus is in the community at large  -- there are cases every year. We can speculate that it came in from the community to several staff members and spread from there.

How long has it been there: It is hard to say since it is circulating throughout our community.

As to the event you mentioned, the CSEA conference: Both the hotel and a participant reached out to us.

We were informed of it on or about April 9 and investigated it fully, conducting interviews, kitchen inspection and specimen  collection.

And following our response, the hotel had a number of events without incident or illness, until April 20.

The incubation period is 12 to 48 hours. We were notified about Norovirus-type illness on April 9, which is typical, because it can take several days for symptoms to occur and another day or two until people with symptoms reach out and contact either us or the venue.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends that people who have experienced Norovirus remain at home for 72 hours after their symptoms resolve, which means for 72 hours after they are free of symptoms. That’s why the hotel put a 72-hour paid furlough into effect on Tuesday.

The 2011-12 school year Report Card for White Plains was published today on the White Plains Schools website, the day after all report cards for public schools across the state were released by the New York State Education Department. The report can be reviewed at  http://www.wpcsd.k12.ny.us

White students at all levels still score significantly higher last year than black and Latinos across all levels. The Black-African-American population has improved their performance drawing even with the Hispanic-Latino achievement levels.

Departing Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Clouet  in an exclusive interview with WPCNR this morning said

“All districts in the state of New York that have diverse populations continue to face challenges with  students who are English Language Learners, as well as students with disabilities. That’s where we have our biggest challenges.

“Clearly there is room for improvement, and it’s also true there is a lot of learning going on for all of our students, including ELL (English Language Learners) and students with disabilities that is not reflected in the test scores.”