BULLETIN:

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. Special to WPCNR from Peter KATZ. March 5, 2010: After appearances of Mayor Adam Bradley and his wife, in the Westchester County Court Domestic Violence Part this morning, the presiding judge set April 1 as the next date when Mayor Adam Bradley and his wife, Fumiko would appear for a Trial conference.

The Assault in the Third Degree (misdemeanor) charge against Mr. Bradley will be taken up on that date. The matter of whether the domestic violence charge will be dropped is now up to the discretion of the Westchester County District Attorney's Office. It is not known whether the Domestic Violence unit will conduct their own investigation of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley in the interim.

The attorney for Mrs. Bradley, Neal  Comer,  told Peter Katz this morning after the  appearance in the Domestic Violence court that both parties, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley want to repair their marriage. The attorney repeated  that Mrs. Bradley wanted the charge dropped and would not testify in support of the charge,  if the District Attorney proceeded with the case.

Mrs. Bradley's attorney said there would be "no discovery procedure" in the case.

Mr. Bradley's attorneys indicated Mr. Bradley did not plan to move back into his home immediately.

The Order of Protection in effect against Mr. Bradley (since last Sunday) was modified to allow Mr. Bradley to see his wife. He has not seen his wife except in court since Sunday when Mrs. Bradley filed a charge that he intentionally held her arm and slammed her finger in a door, according to the police report. Mr. Bradley has seen his two children in the interim.

WPCNR  FOR THE RECORD. From The Mayor's Office. March 1, 2010: The following is the text of the statement read by Mayor Adam Bradley to the media Sunday evening in the rotunda at City Hall, commenting on his being charged with Third Degree Assault for allegedly injuring his wife in an incident reported by police to have occurred "on or about" 9:30 A.M. Sunday morning:

STATEMENT


EARLIER TODAY I WAS ARRAIGNED IN WHITE PLAINS CITY COURT BASED ON A COMPLAINT MY WIFE FILED AGAINST ME.

I FEEL COMPELLED TO COME OUT HERE TONIGHT TO LET THE CITIZENS OF WHITE PLAINS KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST 12 HOURS.

THIS IS A DEEPLY PERSONAL MATTER, AND SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WITHIN MY FAMILY.

I AM NOT GOING TO DISCUSS THESE CHARGES IN DETAIL, OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT I AM INNOCENT AND THAT I WILL CONTEST THE CHARGES.

BUT I HAVE TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT, I DID NOT IN ANY WAY MISTREAT MY WIFE

THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS IN MY MARRIAGE FOR SOME TIME AND I HAVE MADE MANY EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THEM.

AT THIS TIME, MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH MY FAMILY AND OUR TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS.

I WILL NOT TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICALLY ARGUE WITH MY WIFE IN A MANNER THAT WOULD EXPOSE OUR CHILDREN TO IT.

THIS UNFORTUNATE MATTER WILL IN NO WAY AFFECT MY COMMITMENT AND THE IMPORTANT WORK I AM DOING FOR THIS GREAT CITY

AS AN ATTORNEY WITH MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A LAW GUARDIAN REPRESENTING CHILDREN I DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN IS MY FIRST AND PARAMOUNT OBLIGATION.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND I HOPE YOU WILL ALL RESPECT MY FAMILY’S PRIVACY AT THIS TIME

THANK YOU

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From The Mayor's Office. March 1,2010: Mayor Adam Bradley issued a written statement to the media Monday morning clarifying stories appearing in the press about his past in relation to his being charged with Assault in the Third Degree Sunday in an incident involving his wife.

Mr.Bradley's statement:

" I want to address a couple of issues being raised in the media.

First, there have been no prior allegations of spousal abuse made against me.

Second, questions have been raised about an incident that occurred 10 years ago, prior to my marriage. In that instance, Fumiko (his present wife) and I were harassed by a former girlfriend of mine.

It resulted in an order of protection being issued, barring the woman from contacting me."

The surprise Bradley statement was issued after a news conference that reported the city, school and community organizations has raised $32,000 for Haitian Earthquake Relief which was being donated to Doctors Without Borders. Mayor Bradley did not chair the news conference. Antoinette Biordi, City Communications Director, said Mr. Bradley would not be handling the news conference because he "was dealing with personal issues." Councilman Dennis Power represented the City.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. February 28, 2010: White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley, 49, was arraigned in City Court Sunday morning and charged with Assault in the Third Degree (a misdemeanor) in connection with a complaint filed by his wife, Fumiko, in connection with alleged injuries she suffered in a domestic dispute with Mr. Bradley sometime Sunday.

According to the complaint distributed to the media, and signed by a White Plains Police Officer identified as B. Robbins,

 "at about 9:30 A.M. on the above date, time (February 28), and place the above defendent (Mr. Bradley) did cause physical injury to his wife by grabbing her left arm and placing her hand against a door frame and with his other hand closed the door on his wife's hand causing pain and bruising to her left middle finger."

Mr. Bradley was released in his own recognizance without bail being set, and is due back in City Court Friday, March 5 before Judge J. Brian Hansbury to answer the charge. Bradley's attorney, speaking to the press said a temporary restraining order of protection was issued  forbidding Mr. Bradley to see his wife.  The lawyer also said Mr. Bradley is living at  the home of his parents, while Mrs. Bradley continues to live in the residence where the alleged assault took place Sunday morning. Mr. Bradley's attorney said the Mayor "turned himself in," after he learned there was a complaint against him.

Mr. Bradley informed News 12, WCBS-TV Reporters, PIX News, WNBC News and other media in a prepared statement he delivered at a news conference at 7 P.M. at City Hall that "he did not mistreat his wife," and that he was "innocent." He admitted in the statement that he and his wife were having "marital problems" and said he would not elaborate. He said the incident would in no way distract him from handling the important matters the city now faces. He took no questions. 

Previously, White Plains police did not answer WPCNR request for the details of the incident, which had been relayed to WPCNR at 2 P.M. The news of the rumored incident spread by word of mouth and phone call around the city. The news conference at 7 P.M. was the first official statement that an incident had taken place, and first notice that a charge had been filed. News 12 reported the existence of the rumors in the late afternoon and was informed of the news conference.

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. February 27, 2010: Con Edison's army of power restoration teams cut the number of County outages caused by the14 to 25 inch snowfall that ended Friday evening, in half  in the last twelve hours.

As of 10:45 P.M.  15,627 Westchester Customers still remain without electricity, down from  over 29,000 twelve hours ago.

Con Edison swooped down on Greenburgh, the county's hardest hit and restored approximately 5,000 customers to service, as of this hour, 1,030 Greenburghers are without power.

In White Plains, 61 customers are without power as of 10:45 P.M. E.S.T.

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. February 27, 2010: Con Edison continues repairing power outages across Westchester County Saturday morning. In White Plains 268 customers remain without power this morning. Full restoration to the entire county has now been targeted for Wednesday March 3, according to the Con Edison website.

Across Westchester County, the misery of the 2010 "Snownomi" that delivered 14 inches of heavy wet snow to White Plains and amounts over 20 inches to the western and northern parts of the county, Putnam and Orange Counties, 29,937 are without power as of 11 A.M. Saturday. Families are leaving thousands of unheated homes to stay with relatives. Homes perhaps face damage from freezing pipes should temperatures dip lower though in Westchester County temperatures remain above freezing.

Across Westchester, the power out numbers are staggering as of 11 A.M.: 6,683 are without power in Greenburgh.

Town Supervisor of Greenburgh, Paul Feiner issued this statement to media Saturday morning: 

638 in Elmsford; 402 in Harrison;565 in Irvington; 222 in Mount Kisco; 1,508 in Mount Pleasant;  New Castle, 4,872; North Castle, 2,501; North Pelham, 303; Ossining/Ossining Village,3,841; Peekskill, 371; Pleasantville, 1,780; Scarsdale,555; Tarrytown, 1,800; Yonkers, 2,423.

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. WPCNR News & Con Edison Media Relations.  February 26, 2010. UPDATED 10:50 P.M. E.S.T.: Hundreds of White Plains Con Edison customers without power have been reconnected as we approach 11 P.M. by Con Ed crews.

The number of Con Ed customers in White Plains’ reported without power due to “The Big White,” the continuing snowstorm that has left 14 inches of snow  and higher drifts across White Plains and the Westchester County region has shrunk to 317 as of 11 P.M. due to new reports of outages, Con Edison posted on its Storm Center moments ago.  Greenburgh still has 6,950 without power . Across Westchester County, 28,107 customers are without power as of 11 P.M.

A Con Edison spokesperson advised WPCNR the company is promising full restoration of power to the entire county by 11 P.M. Tuesday. The spokesperson said the number of White Plains customers without power grew this evening because more customers have reported outages while Con Edison has worked to restore earlier losses of power. She said more field crews have been dispatched. The growth in White Plains outages, she said,  was not due to the weather or sinking temperatures.

The White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley's Office issued the following statement this evening:"As of Friday at 5:30pm...The White Plains Department of Public Works and Public Safety have been working hard to meet the needs of the residents of White Plains during this snowstorm. The Department of Public Works is also working with Con Edison in the event of any electrical wires that may come down that would force road closures.

Any shelter issues or immediate problems, please co tact The American Red Cross."

Greenburgh Relief for those without Power:

Paul Feiner, Supervisor of the Town of Greenburgh announced a temporary shelter is available for anyone without heat in this statement:

The Town of Greenburgh outages totaling 7,985 as of 5 P.M. have been reduced to 6,950  as of 11 P.M, as more outages have been reported.

It appears, checking with persons living in Ossinning and northern New Jersey that the areas West of White Plains and North received a lot more of the storm's white wallop than the eastern part of Westchester County.

Tree Down, Resting on Power Wires, on Havilands Lane,  street closed off by White Plains Police.

The outages, according to a Con Edison spokesperson, have been caused by the heavy wet snow freezing and trees not being able to sustain the weight and falling onto Con Edison powerlines. A total of 35,755 customers in Westchester County were without power as of the 5 o’clock hour.

HEAVY SNOW AND ICE BASE WEIGHS DOWN BRANCHES OF SENIOR TREE .

Other communities devastated by falling trees taking customers offline are Hastings,  Cortlandt, Croton-on-Hudson, Briarcliff, New Castle,North Castle, and Mount Pleasant, and North Tarrytown.

To check Con Edison’s Westchester Outage Report as of 11 P.M, Saturday night and estimated times when they expect power to be restored got to http://apps.coned.com/weboutageinfo/stormcenter/default.aspx

WPCNR TRAFFIC ADVISORY. February 26, 2010: White Plains  Chief of Police James Bradley advised WPCNR as of8:30 A.M., White Plains is experiencing some localized power outages due to down wires.

He reports White Plains Roads are very slippery and people should stay home so DPW can do their job. No other major incidents.

WPCNR THE REALTY RECORDER. February 24, 2010: Rand Realty citing White Plains Multiple Listing Service statistics on White Plains sales in the October, November December 2009 quarter showed that 104 White Plains homes were on the market, and that the average sale price for the 48 homes sold  in that period continued to drop, off 24%.2 from the identical final quarter of 2008.

There were 13 more home sales in the final quarter of 2009 than there were in the final quarter of 2008. The Median Selling Price (meaning exactly half of the 48 homes sold sold for above the median price, and half below it), continued to fall…off 22.5%. That median price is $542,000, down from $700,000 in 2008.

The average selling price was $583,832 for the 48 homes sold in the last quarter, down from the $770,003 average sale price for the 35 homes sold in 2008.

The average time it takes to sell a home continues to be about five months  and 3 weeks. There were 104 homes on the market as of January 1.

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. February 24, 2010: WPCNR News has learned from reliable sources speaking on condition of anonymity that Reader's Digest, the publishing company relocating from its former Chappaqua Headquarters has signed a contract to move into 44 South Broadway, adjacent the White Plains Pavilion Mall, and next to The Westchester Mall.

The company, according to WPCNR sources, will be leasing three floors at "44" which are currently being renovated for the publisher. Previously it had been reported that the Digest was considering moving about 550 employees and was considering White Plains. Now it is definite, according to WPCNR information.

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. February 11, 2011: In one of the great performances of public service in a snow storm, White Plains Department of Public Works made sure, steady progress on the winter's largest snow storm to date and by dawn, sideroads and tucked-away neighborhoods had been cleared masterfully.

 Crews of 45-50 men each worked alternative 8-hour shifts under "The Snow Master," Commissioner of  Public Works Joseph Nicoletti to assure White Plains and its businesses were reachable (malls are open and reachable, folks)  and functioning smoothly this morning. Schools only took a 2-hour delay, but they really did not need one based on White Plains roads. Here's how it looked after  approximately 20 hours of snow.

White Plains Thursday morning. 9  inches of snow?

9 Inches? Forget about it!

White Plains DPW Takes Care of it.

Photos by the WPCNR Roving Reporter

WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. By John F. Bailey. February 8, 2010, UPDATED  12:10 P.M. E.S.T.: The Robert Castelli campaign for the 89^th Assembly district seat vacated by Adam Bradley (when he was elected Mayor of White Plains) has enjoyed the support of the New York State Republican Committee on an unprecedented level for an Assembly Race.

Peter Harckham, left, and Bob Castelli, right, on the Lohud.com internetcast of the Editorial Board's interview with the candidates on issues. Mr. Harckham and Mr. Castelli each said there was a need to reform Albany. They each said they wanted to consolidate departments and cut costs of state government.

They differred on property tax issues: Harckham said he supported a Circuit Breaker bill to cut property taxes proportionately based on income (though the effects of that bill have never been fully explained by the legislature), while Castelli favored eliminating the Triboro Amendment (that automatically extends union contractors' contracts), and the Wickes Law. Harckham stood on his record as voting in support of  cutting the county budget and the county legislature budget. 

Harckham told WPCNR he would sponsor a 1/4% sales tax increase to help the current White Plains city budget in distress, while Castelli said he would not immediately support such an increase, unless he was assured the city had done all it could to cut its costs.

The Democratic Party is also pulling out the stops to elect Peter Harckham the Democrat from Katonah-Lewisboro, their latest efforts include a robo-call from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo Monday, urging voters to support Mr. Harckham. Monday's Republican Robo-Call "celebrity" has not made his or her debut yet. Mr. Cuomo's recorded message is in addition to a recorded message from White Plains Mayor, Adam Bradley which went out Friday.

The race has been the subject of three polls trying to ascertain the mood of the electorate. The polls apparently tried to gauge the strength of Mr.Castelli among voters.

The Special Election in one of the county's most affluent districts is held tomorrow throughout the 89th district.

WPCNR MILESTONES. By Peter Katz. January 18, 2010: Family, friends, associates and acquaintances filled North Broadway’s White Plains Presbyterian Church on Saturday to remember and celebrate the life of Robert F. Ruger, who was fondly known as “Mr. White Plains.” He died January 7^th at age 97.

Mayor Adam Bradley designated January 16 as Robert F. Ruger Day in White Plains, and presented a proclamation to the Ruger family, shown being accepted by Bob Ruger's grand niece Kasey Glass. Photos, Courtesy, Peter Katz

As people entered the church, in addition to receiving a printed program, they were given and invited to wear a yellow wrist band bearing the phrase, “Where Virtue Goes, Fortune Follows.” That is the translation of a Latin phrase which was inscribed on a gold ring given to Mr. Ruger by his mother when he was 21-years-old. Mr. Ruger continuously wore the ring, and often expressed his belief in the truth of that phrase, noting that his fortune has not been monetary, but rather in family and friends.