WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR—65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. MARCH 31, 2006: City Hall is proposing a $137 Million budget for 2006-2007 which at this time increases city property taxes 9% according to The Journal News. The news confirms what WPCNR reported earlier this week when Councilman Arnold Bernstein said at the Rocky Dell/ Reynal Park Neighborhood Association the city was looking at a “double digit” tax increase for residents. Mayor Delfino’s wish budget still must undergo the withering scrutiny of the Common Council in a series of budget meetings coming up, which as of last week, were not scheduled.

Paul Wood, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, is reported as saying there are no cuts in city services or programs, though community development funds have been cut previously, and departments, city Commissioners have confirmed to WPCNR have been asked to cut spending 10 to 15% for the rest of this fiscal year. 

Keith Eddings article, in addition reports the city will take “an $8 Million Dip in reserves” on top of the $8.5 Million scooped out of the city fund balance for this year’s budget. The budget apparently in the hands of The Journal News before the Common Council has seen it, will be presented to the Council Monday. Mr. Eddings reports Rita Malmud, President of the Common Council as being unable to comment on the budget until “she has seen it Monday.” There was no report of how salaries of the Administration Cabinet will be increased which have ranged in the double digits as recently as last year.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. March 30, 2006 UPDATED 2:15 P.M.with Lot Identification Clarification Keyed to Map: Gina Cuneo-Harwood, Commissioner of Finance for the City of White Plains reports the auction of 8 Railside Avenue lots has generated total high bids on each property of  “a little more than $2.9 Million,” based on opening of bids Wednesday morning at City Hall The amount is a million dollars less than some common councilmembers told WPCNR they expected.

 Paul Wood, speaking with Ms. Harwood in a conference call with WPCNR noted that the $2.9 Million amounted to a 9% increase in the equivalent of city taxes needed to create the potential windfall. Wood objected to reporting the sale as below expectations,  saying a previous sale and an expected sale of a lot that was withdrawn could bring the Railside Avenue sell-off windfall to $4 Million.

WPCNR has also learned that one bidder bid for all the properties, but was rejected as being “non-conforming.”

Ms. Cuneo-Harwood said a total of 29 bids were received on the eight lots. Lot 1,  fronting Ridgeway Avenue, according to Councilman Benjamin Boykin (speaking at Ridgeway School Monday night), was withdrawn from the sale to be redrawn with a conservation easement, then reoffered for sale at a later date. She reports the number of bids as follows:

PARCEL  5 — 11 Railside Avenue – 7 BIDS

PARCEL 4 — 9 Railside Avenue – 5 BIDS

PARCEL  6–  15 Railside Avenue – 5 BIDS

PARCEL  3 — 7 Railside Avenue 4 Bids

PARCEL 7 – 17 Railside Avenue — 2 BIDS

PARCEL  8–19 Railside Ave.– 2 BIDS

PARCEL  9 — 21 Railside Ave.  2 BIDS

PARCEL  2  5 Railside Avenue– 2 BIDS

Parcels 3,4,5, 6 and 11  were the hot items in the two week bidding period that began March 16. Parcel 10 had previously sold for $450,150, Wood said. Wood pointed out that the approximately $3 Million the city stands to receive from the sales from these eight properties, did not count that $450,000 sale, and that $365,000 was expected from the eventual sale of Parcel 1, which could eventual reach the $4 Million mark, closer to what WPCNR has been told by councilpersons that they expected. Map, WPCNR News Archive

The Finance Department  has told WPCNR that one bid was made for all 9 properties, but was rejected as “nonforming.” Ms. Cuneo-Harwood said. 

The average bid of the eight properties was $362,000.

Take Out Bid Rejected.

The Commissioner said that one bidder bid for more than one property, but mentioned one high bidder bidding on multiple properties, did not get the high bid on all the properties they bid on.

Names of Bidders and Bid Amounts Delayed Pending Bidder notification.

WPCNR asked for the names of all bidders and the bids they made on the properties, but Mr. Wood and Ms. Cuneo-Harwood said that all high bidders had not been notified they were the successful bidders yet. WPCNR asked if some of the bidders were present at the bid opening, and Ms. Cuneo-Harwood said some were. WPCNR pointed out that if the high bidders were present  and the bids were announced, those “high bidders” knew they had the property. Cuneo-Harwood said that was not necessarily true, saying they could be disqualified, or something might go wrong with their bid check.

WPCNR suggested that by not revealing who all the bidders and their bids were at this time, before the sale, it allowed the city to select a lower bidder for some reason.

Wood said that it was not the City that decided on whom the property was sold to, that it was the Common Council decision to sell, and that the winners would be announced in the Common Council meeting agenda available perhaps Friday afternoon.

WPCNR has determined in a poll of Councilpersons that neither Rita Malmud, Tom Roach or Benjamin Boykin, or Glen Hockley or Arnold Bernstein  were present at the opening of the bids.  Robert Greer has not been contacted yet. Mayor Joseph Delfino has been reportedly on vacation this week , the location of which has not been publicly disclosed.

Wither the FOIA?

A FOIA request filed by WPCNR today for those lists of all bidders, WPCNR was told would be complied with  after the Common Council is scheduled to vote upon the sales Monday evening, April 3. Mr Wood, the Mayor’s Executive Officer has further said  he is compelled to respond to the request within “5 business days, so that would mean Wednesday.  But as I told you, we’ll be happy to provide you with the info three days early on Monday.”

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. From Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, 89th District. March 30, 2006: Assemblyman Adam Bradley (D-White Plains) today announced that the Legislature’s bipartisan budget cuts taxes by $1.6 billion this year and $2.5 billion next year. The plan also rejects nearly $1 billion in tax increases the governor wanted to impose.The Assemblyman also announced that the Assembly and Senate have reached a bipartisan agreement on a comprehensive SUNY capital projects plan. This plan invests in capital improvements for SUNY Purchase and Westchester County Community College.

“I am very pleased to announce that the Legislature’s bipartisan budget agreement provides significant relief for the overburdened Westchester taxpayers,” said Bradley.  “Our plan will deliver much needed tax relief to those who need it most – homeowners, seniors and hard-working New Yorkers.”

Relief from high property taxes

The Legislature’s budget will provide Westchester families with significant property tax relief. Our plan increases and enhances the STAR program by delivering Westchester taxpayers an additional rebate:

o       an average basic STAR rebate of $532

o       an average Enhanced STAR rebate of $822

In addition, the budget provides a cost of living adjustment to Enhanced STAR, which will save eligible Westchester seniors another $373 – bringing the combined average Westchester Enhanced STAR savings to $3,934.

Meanwhile, the basic STAR savings in Westchester is estimated to be $1775, combined with the Basic STAR rebate of $532 for a total Basic STAR savings of $2,307.

“Westchester taxpayers need immediate relief from the burden of high property taxes and soaring housing costs – this historic budget agreement delivers just that type of relief,” said Bradley.

Rejecting the governor’s sales taxes on clothing

The Legislature’s proposal also rejects the governor’s extension of the state sales tax on clothing and footwear items priced under $110 – which is scheduled to expire on April 1.  Permanently eliminating the regressive 4 percent state sales tax on clothing will save Westchester shoppers $38 million a year, and make Westchester merchants more competitive with their Connecticut and New Jersey neighbors.

A child tax credit for more families

The Legislature’s budget also contains a new child tax credit. The child tax credit is a maximum benefit of $330 for each child between 4 and 17 for every family in the state.

Bradley also noted that the Legislature also proposes to reduce the marriage penalty tax, which will save married couples $41 million annually when fully phased in.  The plan also includes:

·        an income tax credit for volunteer firefighters, which will save them $25 million when fully phased in

·         a tax deduction for New York State National Guard members called to federal service – saving them $1 million

 “I urge the governor to join the Assembly and Senate by ratifying our bipartisan budget agreement that provides more Westchester residents with meaningful tax relief,” said Bradley.

          Capital Projects Relief for Westchester Colleges.

“This is another victory for students following the recent bipartisan legislative agreement to reject the governor’s SUNY tuition hike,” said Bradley. “The agreement by the Senate and Assembly is a big step toward building upon Westchester’s world class institutions of higher learning.”

The bi-partisan agreement provides over $34.1 million to local colleges for capital improvement projects, including:

·         $6 million to SUNY Purchase for the Heritage Site

·        $8.1 million to SUNY Purchase for HVAC renovations – to rehabilitate the campus’ central plaza

·        $20 million to Westchester County Community College for additional Master Plan Projects

“These funds reinforce my commitment to strengthen and enhance Westchester’s institutions of higher learning.  There is no doubt that these fine colleges are in tremendous need of capital improvements and I am pleased that we have come together to meet the needs of Westchester’s higher education institutions,” said Bradley. “I strongly encourage the governor to support the bipartisan capital plan for SUNY and Westchester County Community College contained in the Legislature’s agreement.”

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WPCNR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS. March 29, 2006; UPDATED March 30, 2006: WPCNR has obtained a list of foreclosed properties which Councilman Benjamin Boykin has released privately: Here are the properties the city is attempting to possibly put back on the tax roll. Councilman Boykin contacted WPCNR last night to make clear that 1.) Not all lots are possible to be developed; 2.) Some the city is going to keep.

09/11 Newcomb Place                         To be dedicated municipal use for

                                                                        Public Works- April 3, 2006

Along Bronx River Parkway

Purdy Avenue

89 Stevens Street

West Post Road                                               Sold/In contract

121 Fisher Avenue                                           Sold/In contract

82 Sunset Drive                                                Sold/In contract

128 Woodcrest Avenue

14 Hilltop Drive

16 Hilltop Drive

20 Hilltop Drive

22 Hilltop Drive

24 Hilltop Drive

26 Hilltop Drive

5 Sunset Drive

7 Sunset Drive

9 Sunset Drive

11 Sunset Drive

13 Sunset Drive

Harmon Street                                                  Sold

Cummings Avenue                                            Dedicated for municipal use

Railside (Lots 1 – 9)                                         Bids due 5:00 pm, March 28, 2006

16 Railside                                                       Sold/In contract

15 Commerce                                                  Sold/In contract

49/55 Waltons Stevens Avenues                       Sold

Rosedale                                 

North Kensico

Ridgeway-Havilands Properties

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WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By John F. Bailey. March 28, 2006 UPDATED 9:52 A.M. March 29, 2006:  The night after a regular overnight guest at the 85 Court Street  County Drop In Shelter was stabbed to death on White Plains West Side, the forty or so nightly homeless, who had nothing to do with the crime,  found themselves returned to  “lock-in conditions”  at 85 Court Street tonight. WPCNR has learned this morning that the “return to lock down” was unrelated to the murder of Jermaine Pellettier Monday evening, but was instituted when it was discovered, according to sources that a Level 3 Sex Offender was allowed to leave the shelter about 2 A.M. Monday morning. WPCNR is attempting to confirm this with the Westchester County Department of Communications.

The “jail conditions” returned for the guests of the shelter, though the murder victim was fatally attacked an hour before he was even due to be picked up a the nightly Drop In Center pick-up point at Fisher Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard. Above is a picture of a typical pickup scene (January 16, 2006) at the Drop-In Shelter Pickup point . Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

After the nightly homeless had assembled in the former basement conference room at the Department of Social Services, the Director of the operation passed out a new rules sheet with the number one rule being that no guest of the shelter would be allowed to leave the shelter once inside, going forward.

 “If you feel you want to leave, because you’re feeling anxious or something, you cannot go back (to the shelter) the next night” according to Geoffrey Ruff, who as a drop in shelter guest tonight received a copy of the rules. “The first person who wanders out of the drop in center is banned for life from the center,” Ruff said was his understanding of what was told the residents tonight. He said this was a reinstatement of the policy in effect the first night the shelter opened January 10. Ruff said, “This goes back to the civil rights issue. It’s not fair.”

Ruff pointed out to WPCNR  Wednesday morning that, since some shelter guests have relatives, “What if I had to leave for a family emergency? Is it right I should be banned indefinitely?”

There was no indication from the officials this reinstatement of the “you leave, you’re out of here rule” in effect the first night the shelter was opened was in response to Monday evening’s murder of Jermaine Pellettier. Pellettier, 20,  had been spending nights at 85 Court Street since March, according to White Plains Police. Others have reported the victim had been staying at the shelter since August 2005.

Pellettier was stabbed to death in a scuffle outside the Post Road Mini Mart at before 9:30 P.M. Monday evening, about 45 minutes before he was due to be picked up and taken to Court Street by Volunteers of America van from the shelter pick-up point on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard and Fisher Avenue.  The vans by WPCNR observation usually pick up about 10: 30 P.M. Ruff said there was no discussion of Mr. Peellettier among the guests at 85 Court to his observation. Ruff said there appeared to be only one young man (who attends White Plains High School) in his twenties at the shelter this evening, who has moved over from the Open Arms Shelter.

Mr. Ruff told WPCNR Wednesday morning that the shelter personnel writes down the names of the persons who come to the 85 Court Street shelter each night. “It’s simply to see who is here,” Ruff told WPCNR today. Ruff charged that VOA has no nightly record of what the background is of the persons who stay in the shelter each night. When the shelter was opened by the county, White Plains was assured by Westchester County that nightly records of who was there and there backgrounds would be kept.