Board of Ethics Finds Power Does Not have a Conflict of Interest with County Job

Hits: 0

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. From Dennis Power, City Councilman, White Plains (Edited). April 11, 2007: The White Plains Board of Ethics, after a thorough inquiry, has dismissed the complaint against  Dennis Power  by Eleanor McDonald, Chair of the White Plains Conservative Party.  Her counterpart, the Republican Party Chair, made similar politically-based complaints to various agencies, as indicated in the Board’s lengthy report.


Mr. Power has issued the following statement on the decision:  


 


I am gratified that the Board dismissed the complaint, found no intentional or knowing violation of the White Plains Ethics Code, and that:


·        my “former position with the Office of Economic Development was not incompatible with [my] services as a member of the White Plains Common Council.”  (p. 19)


·        The two positions I held (the part-time position as Council member and my former county position) “did not, as a general matter, present a conflict under Section 2-5-109(g) of the White Plains Code” (which bars conflicts in private employment).” (p. 19)


·        My vote to waive a 30-day period to have the City object to a project that the County was considering did not create a knowing or intentional violation of the Code. (p. 20)


 


It is relevant that with respect to that vote, although the Board would have preferred that I disqualify myself, the Board also notes the full disclosure I made with respect to my participation. It is also important to note that the vote by the Council was unanimous and was based on the recommendation of the Law Department.


 


The Board of Ethics has also stated that “there does not appear to be a potential for future conflicts with respect to Common Council votes on General Municipal Law Section 923-a or other IDA-related matters.” (p. 21)


 


The Board reiterated that


 


nothing in Councilman Power’s past position warranted recusal from the City of White Plains’ budgetary process. In addition, at present, this Board is not aware of any conflicts, let alone “substantial and inevitable” conflicts, that could arise by virtue of Councilman Power’s employment by the Department of Environmental Facilities. (p. 21)


 


To the extent that the Board suggests that I seek an opinion when, in the future, any issues arise that might pose a conflict, I am pleased to accept the Board’s views, and I too am confident that in my present position with the County there does not appear to be a potential for future conflicts. 


 


At no time in my former position with the County did I believe there was a conflict, and my former supervisors made it clear to me that regardless of any position taken by the County on IDA-related matters, I was expected to be totally independent in my role as a member of the White Plains Common Council.


 


Once again, I am grateful that the Board has conducted a full inquiry and has exonerated me in the face of hostile and unfair allegations. I fully expect that the complainants will look for out-of-context words and clauses in the Board’s 23-page, single-spaced report to find material they can use in the next campaign just as they and their candidate did in my last campaign.


 


I thank the Board for its careful attention to the issues raised, and I hope the Board and the Common Council will work together to consider amendments to the existing Code that would give greater notice to public officials as to when disqualification is appropriate. Regrettably, a single word, such as “Conflicts” simply does not do much to provide such notice.


 


Moreover, for every advisory opinion issued by the State that warns of a conflict, there are others that permit participation by office holders who hold other government positions. So, those opinions cited by the Board are decidedly unhelpful in providing notice as to conflicts when the facts are totally different.  It would make far more sense for the White Plains Code of Ethics to offer clearer standards. 


 


One final note: The report of the Board stated that Ms. McDonald’s complaint alleged that I was advised by the County Attorney to seek an opinion from the White Plains Board of Ethics.  That allegation by Ms. McDonald was false. If the County Attorney had advised me to seek an additional opinion, I would surely have done so. 


 


 


 

Posted in Uncategorized

Brian Maloney’s Fantasy

Hits: 0

WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. Fantasy Commentary By John F. Bailey. April 11, 2007: Tonight’s the night the Democratic Party Nominating Committee holds their picnic – the night of the long knives when the chaff is separated from the wheat and candidates who will play ball and be team players are selected for their virtual anointment with a meal ticket to the political paradise of patronage.


Yes, activists and cynics, the Nominating Committee will open the envelope and decide whether to renominate Benjamin Boykin for his third term as Councilman, Dennis Power for his second full term (he had served once before), and Arnold Bernstein for his second consecutive full term. Or will they?



Mr. Bernstein has come under fire from politically correct, anti-Delfino members of the Democratic pecking order we hear because he and fellow Democrat Glen Hockley have voted with the Mayor on several key issues: the sale of  Railside Avenue, the New York Presbyterian Hospital park for subdivision vote (which the Democrats Boykin, Malmud, Power and Roach defeated), and the 85 Court Street issue. Hockley and Bernstein have been characterized as “disloyal.” 


So distasteful are Mr. Hockley and Mr. Bernstein’s stances that a posse of Council wanna-be’s have gone before the nominating committee. The posse included Claire Eisenstadt, Robert Stackpole, Don Hughes, Milagros Lecuona , and of course, Mr. Boykin, Mr. Berstein and Mr. Power.


Based on our observations around town, with Ms. Lecuona has appeared frequently at council meetings that you would not expect her to be at, unless she knew something only she knew. The convenience of her candidacy enables the Democrats to cover two ethnic groups with one stone by nominating her over one of the three men – I would bet Ms. Lecuona is going to nominated.  And, she made some great observations at the Cable Commission meeting and the Council meeting last week.


Otherwise, why would she bother sitting in on council meetings. She is the only candidate I have observed that has been following the issues.


The Democrats could send a message by denying Mr. Bernstein the nomination – though he has according to political observers – done a lot for the Democratic Party in terms of running winning campaigns. But, hey loyalty is the key here. If you’re a Democrat and the party takes a totally morally indefensible position you should follow them blindly.  Because as we all know, being a Democrat you are by definition morally superior politically. Dumping Mr. Bernstein on the assumption that they can nominate anybody as a Democrat and they will win will be an interesting test.


However, they have to be careful here. Bernstein has name recognition and could if he were dumped, primary – or bolt to the opposite party, the Republicans – who, we are told are looking at him with interest.


Should Bernstein be shafted tonight, the Republicans, I am told are toying with the idea of making overtures to Mr. Bernstein to run for Council on their ticket. This, would I am told pave the way for the not-so-secret strategy of Councilman Glen Hockley switching parties to run eventually for Mayor on the Republican Ticket in 2009.


Bernstein could primary for his seat, but why spend money when, by switching to the Republican standard, he could spend the money to retain his seat and play his incumbency up to the hilt – “A proven Councilman – Defender of the Downtown – Standing for Progress against Political Correctness” the whole works, forcing his former colleagues into defensive positions.


Power, the darling of the Democrats these days with his perpetual anxiety attacks over issues of the homeless, open space, and the touchy feely issues, and development, seems assured of getting renominated. He says all the politically correct things – and since his nagging actually exposes the issues, no matter how inadvertently, he’s going to get the nod.


 Boykin though falling down helplessly and exhibiting incredible laissez faire attitude as city financial watchdog – whose input on the 2007-2008 Budget as Chair of the Budget and Management Committee – has been null and void – seems assured of renomination, too.  You can’t kick a two-term councilman off the ticket.  A one-termer maybe. (Remember Bill King?)


However neither Boykin, Malmud or Roach have even raised an eyebrow over city spending, condoners of a contaminated city dump,and a giveaway to Verizon on cablevision that they never paid attention to, and that Mr. and Mrs. White Plains will pay for, and no consultation on the budget.


 (Please note – the budget of the city has not been cut at all. Poisitions have not been filled, but they are still being budgeted for.)


 Boykin even stopped short of blasting the Chief Finance Officer of the city for not getting preliminary budget figures to the committee.


So if I were plotting in the Republican bunker with Brian Maloney, City Republican leader, and I wanted to take a shot at getting some semblance of power back, I’d seriously nominate Bernstein. The Committee I have also been told is looking at nominating Cass Cibelli again and Patti Cantu from Battle Hill.  Much attention is being paid by the city to Battle Hill concerns – and this may be a tipoff that Cantu is definitely being groomed for a candidacy by the Republicans. (A campaign springs to mind….”She fought for Battle Hill she’ll fight for you.” And weave it around the quality of life issue that the Mayor is always talking about. Not only that but Hockley whose main issue is also quality of life could pave his way to his big switch to Republican for Mayor (in 2009), by speaking out on that issue with Ms. Cantu. Sounds like a plan, doesn’t it?)


Cibelli who has lost to Bill Ryan for County Legislator – and who now is a member of the Planning Board – could campaign against the rising tide of school taxes and fiscal responsibility by the schools. In fact, the Board of Education refusal to cut the budget any more Monday night, was a direct slap in the face to every taxpayer. 


The school budget at $174.1 Million is now on course if you continue spending at this year’s contrived 4.4% budget rise,  (contrived because it depended on an influx of aid from the state and an accounting change, which actually increases spending), and assume accessibles stay the same and do not decline below the  $292 Million level of this year (unlikely), and the White Plains School Budget will be $198 Million three years from now (2010-2011). Mr. Cibelli might run for school board and that would be interesting since he is a teacher in the New York City school system and knows how that school system is being scourged of its waste spending.


However the pink elephant with muddy feet is always in the room when city hall and the school system discuss money or for the most part don’t discuss it. The school system actually cut the budget this time around  but not as much as they could have when the legislators made it possible for them not to.


The city, which has over 30 commissioners and deputy commissioners making well over $100,000 a year…(over $3 Million in executive pay), probably is thinking of raising  Common Council pay to $40,000 a year this year…and I would not be surprised if it were not raised more to$45 or $50,000 – considering they are working so hard (a meeting a week for about the last 5 weeks).  That’s worth fighting for.


 


Anyway, if I were the Republican Chair in White Plains, sitting holed up in my abandoned line shack trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces of a party that has been shattered by a tax, spend and giveaway and nolo contendre certiorari policy that has shrunk the city tax base $33.9 in 8 years, I’d love a ticket of Cibelli, Cantu and Bernstein, wouldn’t you?


Getting back to the Democrats, the outstanding choice to go with the bookends of Boykin and Power is obviously Robert Stackpole. He is courageous, articulate, intelligent and has a grasp of the financial markets who just might be able to communicate prudent financial policies to the city’s financial geniuses, something no Democrat has done in the last eight years. Of course not, the “Six Blind Mice,” as former Mayor Del Vecchio has dubbed them,  have participated in the financial free wheeling spending that has the city catching up rapidly to the schools in spending.


But, that is exactly why Stackpole won’t get nominated. He would be a very obnoxious and uncomfortable presence when tough issues come up.


Using my basic math schools I predicted the city budget would be $154 Million in 2007-2008 – one year ago. Next year it will be given another 5% increase, it will be $161 Millon, just $5 Million shy of what our school budget was this year. It will cost Mr. and Mrs.  And Ms. White Plains $900,000 A Day to run the city and its schools in 2007-2008.


Finances are and should be the major issue in this next election, but nobody is going to talk about it. But they should. They won’t if the people don’t care.


 


 

Posted in Uncategorized

Should BID EXPAND TO LEX, W POST RD, Maple, Bloom Rd?

Hits: 0

WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WHITE PLAINS BUSINESSPERSON POLL. APRIL 10, 2007: When “The Councilman in Exile,”  William Waterman, owner of 88 East Post Road publicly exposed the shallow effort the BID made to inform the 200 property owners in the Lexington Avenue, West Post Road, Maple Avenue and Bloomingdale Road sections that they needed to inform the city if they did not want to join the BID, it exposed the fact that the BID is just looking to add little over $1 Million to their budget and sink their teeth into the rich, BID-free properties along Maple avenue.


The jury is still out on how many property owners will reject the BID expansion, however unless over one hundred of the owners object, it’s going to go through. To get the form to object, they need simply to call up the City Clerk and the Clerk will send you a form.  In the interest of seeing a public accounting on this…we invite the public to vote in the BID poll at the right.


And, in the interest of improving BID performance, WPCNR has dreamed up a number of suggestions that could if executed correctly with the extra million dollars they are expected to enjoy from assessing new properties like Fortunoff, the White Plains Pavillion and Crowne Plaza, in addition to their poor outlying cousins and relations on West Post Road. I have been watching the BID for a long time, and after you vote on whether the BID should expand down West Post Road, you might indicate what of  the new initiatives I have dreamed up that might be made by the BID might do for all members of the Downtown Business Improvement District.


The suggestions are:


 





Option 1 & 2: Straight up answer as to whether or not you think the BID should expand


Option 3:  BID SHOULD ISSUE FINANCIAL REPORTS OF MONEY SPENT BY AREA, MONEY GENERATED FOR ITS MEMBERS. The BID should issue annual financial reports measuring the health of businesses in its district, including, vacant spaces, success of new stories, properties available, growth and annual contributions of gross receipts. However, the lack of believable publicity generated by the BID office on the events they do execute (how about year-to-year business figures by business on sales on the days the BID has events),  may be the reason I am not aware of any others. Other than sweeping the streets and the Downtown Ambassador program, that are hyped at every term as being good for the downtown — but the generally make merchants feel the BID is working for them and is there for them — and who knows they might make some more money.


Option 4: BID SHOULD ISSUE Case Studies of Bizes Helped: Wouldn’t it be great if the BID told us success stories of individual businesses in terms of profits before and after, how the BID has helped them? I have never seen one of these, though I am sure they exist if the BID says it consults and helps businesses. The BID needs to tell this story and is moving into an area in need of this kind of help.


Option 5: BID SHOULD APPOINT LATINO/BLACK LIAISONS. This would be a marvelous way to begin the outreach to their new Lexington Avenue, West Post Road, Maple Avenue constituents if the BID expansion is not denied. If you’re going to be working with Hispanic and Black merchants in that area, what better way to start?


Option 6: BID SHOULD LIAISON IN WEST RENAISSANCE:  The on-again, off-again West Side Rennaissance involved housing, street ambience and revitalization of the area. The BID if it wins endorsement of the majority of the owners has to be involved in making that happen. So far they appear to be a non-player because this is not their district.  If the owners decide by default (not objecting) to join the expanded BID district, the BID needs to take a strong role with the city dealmakers on how that is developed. We will see.



Option 7: BID SHOULD REPORT MONEY GENERATED BY EVENTS STAGED: We have never seen financials from the BID on the costs of their promotions and the traffic generated by business in the downtown WHEN THEY TAKE PLACE, and moneys spent on Mamaroneck Avenue, North and South, Main Street and side streets in the BID District. We only have highly optimistic estimates of crowds brought into the downtown on the Taste of White Plains, the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, (and if I have forgotten any promotions, I apologize). These reports may be generated internally — but let’s see how these promotions pay off.



Option 8: BID SHOULD INVOLVE MORE YOUTH IN BID SERVICES: Every once in awhile we see activists cry out for city employment of youth. Well the BID hires Ambassadors — but they could do more, a lot more. They could provide an employment service among BID members…which, for all I know, they may be doing. But, why don’t we know about it, if they are. Heck, the BID instead of their meanspirited campaign against the homeless could make a difference with the homeless by offering employment, street sweep jobs, instead of treating them like lepers. It is not nice to play politics with the down and out.


Option 9: BID SHOULD OPEN A WEST SIDE AND EAST SIDE OFFICE: Do you know where the BID office is? I know. It is on the upper floor of Louis Cappelli Headquarters, 14 Mamaroneck Avenue — off the street. It is very nice, but if the BID really wants to reach out to the newly expanded BID District if the owners opt in by not objecting — they should open a street front office to welcome and interact with the new merchants. They also should get out of 14 Mamaroneck Avenue and get on the street where they belong. At least the county tourism office is on the street.


Option 10: BID SHOULD TAKE OVER CITY PUBLIC RELATIONS: Other than the occasional magazine slick in the Gannett newspapers, the city does a lousy job of promoting itself. The BID should do this for the downtown — and without building up a payroll staff. The BID sends out a newspaper…but hey, how do they promote vacant properties and attract business to the downtown.


Option 11:BID SHOULD PREPARE PROFILES OF DISTRICT ECONOMIC AREAS:  New York has its Tribeca, SOHO, Chelsea — the BID should look at the unique zones in their White Plains district — how about “The Stroll” (Mamaroneck Avenue bars), “White Plains Way (City Center)”, “Ritz Way” “Tango” (After the restaurant-Hispanic restaurant area), Easterly (Bloomingdale Road) and “Lexi” (for Lexington Ave and West Post Road after it’s been rennaissanced with jazz bars, soul food, and theme bars — just some off the top of my head suggestions– that would glamorize the areas and give them cache.


Option 12: BID SHOULD WRITE PROFILES OF EVERY BUSINESS IN THEIR DISTRICT: Then you could promote them all better to newcomers, etc. If they are doing this now, then why don’t we know more about it. The White Plains Times promotes businesses more than the BID does.


 

Posted in Uncategorized

Parking Snafu at the Big Shea. Hey Lady, Can I Park on Your Lawn?

Hits: 0

WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Mr. Met. April 10, 2007: Everybody was talking about it. There was no place to park at the Big Shea yesterday for the Opening Day capacity crowd. People were ready to shoot it out over parking spaces, and there was very little media effort in newspapers to give fans alternate means of getting to the ballpark now that the construction of Citi Field is taking over  half of the old parking lot.



WHERE HAVE YOU GONE, PARKING LOT? SHEA STADIUM IN THE 80S. Citi Field is being constructed on half of the old rockpile’s parking lot, creating a parking problem of alarming proportions and creation of makeshift parking lots around the stadium that could not handle the crowds yesterday.


If you got to the game by the 5th inning you were fortunate from what we hear. However, if you’re Mr. Met, you strategize how to park at Shea! Mr. Met a Met Season Ticketholder used to leave from White Plains for Shea Stadium 30 minutes before game time and incredibly be in his seat by first pitch. I was always amazed at the side streets Mr. Met knew that stealthily beat the long lines of backups.


Now, Mr. Met has devised a strategy for parking at Shea while Citi Field is being built. He shares it with us, with his locations changed, of course: 


 Regarding the parking at Shea, last fall I went to the first playoff game the Mets played against the Dodgers, It was a 3:00 start, I got there at 1:00, 2 hours before the 1st pitch, the lot around the Stadium was just about filled and the adjoining lots where filled about a hour before the 1st pitch. Since I had tickets for other playoff games I decided to use the mass transit, After a little surfing on the Net I mapped out my best option.


I drove to (Undisclosed Town), Queens, which is about 25 minutes from White Plains, This is a little town which is on the Long Island Railroad line, there is plenty of parking, it is only 4 stops from Shea. They have many restaurants and bars, that are open before and after the games.


That is what I took yesterday, we left W.P. at 11am, drove to (Undisclosed Location), had lunch, boarded the train and was in my seat before the 1st pitch.

 

With the construction of Citi Field, which is in the parking lot right behind Centerfield,about 1/2 of the “Stadium” parking is no longer available, it will be that way for both this season and next. Unless you have plenty of time I wouldn’t drive..

 

As far as the cost is, the round trip ticket on the LIRR  is $10.00 per person, you would need about 3-4 dollars of quarters for the municipal parking (near railroad station) in (undisclosed town), but if you’re lucky you may find on street parking. The train station is in a residential section, I felt very safe and secure. Undisclosed location is a middle class Irish neighborhood.I think the parking at Shea is $15.00 per car but I’m not sure.

 

Let’s Go Mets!

 

Mr. Met 

Posted in Uncategorized

Here We Go Again– DOT Creates New Lane Shift at I-287, Exit 7

Hits: 0

WPCNR BUMPER TO BUMPER. From Don Hughes. April 10, 2007 (Edited): The Department of Transporation has a lane shift coming on. The traffic shift is designed to facilitate a larger work zone at the center median of this bridge to facilitate the first stage of demolition, which is scheduled to begin soon.  On Monday night (04/09), during an overnight shift, striping will be conducted facilitating the Tuesday night (04/10) overnight shift, wherein barrier
will be relocated to affect this new traffic configuration. 

The traffic shift will result in all three lanes of eastbound mainline traffic in this area being moved toward the right shoulder, by approximately one-half lane width.  


In addition, a temporary pedestrian bridge, to be located just to the west of the
Broadway/Route #22 Bridge, is scheduled for installation either at the end of this
week or some time the week following.*This temporary facility is being provided
to facilitate pedestrians wishing to cross over I-287 at this point during the
reconstruction of the Broadway/Route #22 Bridge.  Please note that this
temporary pedestrian bridge will not be open for use by the public until
necessary preparatory work has been completed, a few weeks following this
installation.        

These operations will require periodic traffic stoppages and brief lane closures.
While local residents may notice an increase in activity in this area as a result of
these operations, every effort will be made to minimize any potential any
impacts.  

Please note that all intended dates and timetables listed within the text of this
advisory are subject to change due to inclement weather conditions and/or
logistical issues.  Please be assured that if scheduled operations should be
delayed for any reason, they will be rescheduled for the next available
opportunity.  In this context, we thank you for your patience and cooperation as
these roadway improvements progress.  Please contact the Project Community
Liaison @ (914) 253-0595 should you have any questions or concerns about this
operation. 


Posted in Uncategorized

School Aid Fix Cuts Tax Increase below 7%.Board Approves $174.1M Budget. Up $1M

Hits: 0

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. April 9, 2007:  The Board of Education adopted a $174.1 Million school budget for 2007-2008 last night, approving a budget $1 Million more than the $173.1 Million Superintendent’s Budget they rejected two weeks ago, when they vowed cuts in the $11M of facilities spending.  The move cuts $52 off the school tax paid on the median home in White Plains (a $700,000 home)


 An eleventh hour cash and accounting money stew cooked up by the state legislature and Governor Eliot Spitzer has enabled the district, paradoxically, to increase spending while lowering the year-to-year tax increase. The adopted budget is up 4.4% from the 2006-2007 budget of $165.8 Million, which by an accounting change approved by the state legislature, now turns out to have been $166.7 Million.


 


The Board of Education Adopted Budget is $174,070,116.   Previously  the district budget projected to  a 7.76% tax increase a scant two weeks ago. What a difference a few politicians make:  The tax increase is now  6.95% today by reduction of  the tax levy $1,051,136 from $139.5 Million to $138.5 Million.


 The owner of a $700,000 home (the median priced home in White Plains), assessed at $18,475 of assessed valuation,  (will pay with the STAR deduction), $6,922 in school taxes under the new budget, paying a tax rate of $474.62 per $1,000 of accessed evaluation.


Under the previous lower budget of $173.1Million with the higher tax levy, that taxpayer would have paid $6,974 in taxes. The new budget saves that tax payer $52.


That taxpayer will also get the legislature STAR Rebate off their state income tax, adding to their savings, provided they are making less than $250,000 a year.


$1.1 Million in New Jing.


New Budget Less Than  a Contingency Budget.


According to Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler, the net increase in aid of $1,106,225 to the White Plains City School District, 12%, was brought about by a change in lunch aid to the district,  combined with an accounting change allowing $900,000 in Magnet School Funds, earmarked state aid previously not allowed  to be counted in the district general fund in 2006-2007. The accounting change allowed the ceiling on the Contingency Budget to be raised, Seiler told WPCNR.


The combination of aid injection and accounting sleight of hand has created tax relief for White Plains taxpayers, and still presents a budget that is $280,600 lower than the Contingency Budget (computed roughly by  WPCNR to be $174.4 Million).  The district would be presented with a Contingency Budget if the voters were to defeat the $174.1 Million budget May 15, presenting taxpayers with the choice of voting for the budget or else increasing their tax slightly by defeating it.


 


Losing the Appetite for Cutting.


Seiler said $280,000 was cut from the facilities budget, consisting of eliminating carpeting and locker room amenities at the high school. Asked why more was not cut, Seiler said discussions with the Finance Committee arrived that in order to maintain the facilities it was not possible to cut any more from the facilities budget.


This has been a curious and nervous budget process punctuated by growing ire by taxpayers over district spending. The first budget brought in by the district was $182 Million. This was cut within a week by lopping out $8Million of bonding for certioraris to $174.5 Million, then to $173.8 Million, to $173.1 Million by the Superintendent of Schools on March 26.


Since March 26, the state legislature and Governor Eliot Spitzer have arrived at a new way to compute school aid for the district, and the state Education Commissioner created an accounting change creating a revenue increase.  The increase was worked into the budget approved last night.


Seiler presented a workup of the budget that showed state education aid to the district increasing to $15,234,201. In 2006-2007 the district received $12,532,473. The increase, according to papers furnished the media is $1,464,953, and $1,236,775 of Pre-K funding gets taken out of that, leaving $13,997,426 in state aid in the general fund.


Tax Rate Up $35, Averaging a steady $34 Increase a Year


Doing the budget by the numbers, the new tax rate is $474.62, up $35 over 2005-2006.


In the previous year 2005-2006, the tax rate went up $33.32, and four years ago the tax rate went up $35.15. The average is holding steady at a tax rate increase of $35 a year. 


In 1996-1997, the tax rate was $219.02. Ten years later it has more than doubled to $474.62.


The Numbers according to Seiler  for a $400,000 home.


Mr. Seiler computes the tax impact for a home of about $400,000  ($15,000 of Accessed Valuation minus the STAR Exemption of 3,890, leaves $11,110 of accessed valuation which converts at $474.62 to a $5,273 tax bill. If you make less than $120,000, you will receive a $1,035 state income tax refund for a maximum school tax impact of $4,238 (a $692 reduction in school and state taxes overall).


The chart showed the savings in state income tax rebates for all income levels on that very coveted $400,000 home. The income over $120,000 up to $175,000 receives a$776 reduction; $175,000 to $250,000, $517; over $250,000, you receive no Middle Class Star Rebate.


State Aid Up 79% in  4 years.


$956,250 in Foundation Aid in 07-08


The district has lamented the lack of state aid as contributing to increased property taxes. However in the last 4 years, counting this year’s $2,701,828 gross increase, aid will have increased from $8.5 Million in 2002-2003 to $15.2 Million in 2007-2008, or 79%.


 


The district, in a media handout, explained the Magnet School Funding change and presence of an additional $956,250 dollars:


“A significant change is the Magnet School Funding. In 2006-2007 the District received $900,000 for Magnet School Fuinding which was accounted for in the Special Aid Fund. In the 07-08 General Fund Budget we must include both the revenue of $956,250 which is part of the Foundation Aid amount and a corresponding expenditure related to that program. The District will have the flexibility in the future to define how to spend available dollars. For comparison purposes the legislature provided a provision to allow districts to amend the computation of the prior year (2006-2007) total spending to reflect the state grants (Magnet) that were eliminated and incorporated in Foundation Aid.”


The new aid is not without a price however, White Plains has to account for how it spends the extra money. It plans to spend $866,891 for new programs and activities, including $496,052 for two new teachers at the high school, a new computer business teacher at NY Hospital and new curriculum and staff development and the new Dual Language program and $370,839 for salaries for new programs “in compliance with the contract for excellence.”


White Plains is one of 55 school districts in New York State required to enter into a Contract for Excellence. By refiguring the school lunch formula, White Plains received a 16% increase in Foundation Aid, primarily because 48% of White Plains elementary school enrollment are entitled to free or reduced lunch, according to Mr. Seiler.


 Since White Plains is one of the 55 districts required to enter into a Contract for Excellence, it must have its use of the funds approved by the state.

Posted in Uncategorized

Pick Up BID EXPANSION “OBJECTION FORMS” at Clerk’s Office Or Request By Mail.

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR THE BID NEWS By John F. Bailey April 9, 2007: The key form Property Owners need to object to including their property in the new proposed extension of the Downtown Business Improvement District  to West Post Road, Lexington Avenue, Maple Avenue to Bloomingdale Road will be mailed on telephone request to owners who want the form, the City Clerk said today.  


 



Objection! Previously this form required to file an objection to having your property join the Expanded BID District,  was only available to owners  at the City Clerk’s Office, and, WPCNR has learned the key form to object to BID expansion was not distributed by mail when the public hearing was announced, nor procedures to object explained comprehensively. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


It  was announced today by City Clerk Anne McPherson that the Objection Forms are obtainable by owners, by  phoning the City Clerk’s Office  at 422-1227, and requesting a copy by mail, rather than coming to the Clerk’s office in person. They need to be filed to make an objection within 30 days of when the Public Hearing is closed (which is still open, McPherson said).





 


Rick Ammirato, Executive Director of the BID told WPCNR the Objection Form was not mailed out to prospective owners because Public Law 980-e does not specify that the city has to send out the form. Mr. Ammirato is shown at the Common Council hearing last Wednesday as he was explaining how extensive the notification process had been.



The materials sent owners in the target BID Expansion zone, did not say the form was available by telephone.


Ammirato told WPCNR owners were sent the Resolution of the Common Council  which the Common Council passed which specifically endorses the procedure where owners had to schlep into City Hall to file the objection:


Council-endorsed. No Objections Yet, Clerk Reports


The  Council Resolution reads, to wit: “RESOLVED, that any owners of real property deemed benefitted and, therefore, within the proposed extension of the District, who object to the plan, must file their objection in the office of the City Clerk, on forms made available by said Clerk,within the thirty days of the conclusion of the public hearing…”


Anne McPherson, the City Clerk told WPCNR today, that so far no objection forms have been received by any of the approximate 200 property  owners,  refusing to join the BID.


She said that persons have picked up the forms, but has not kept a tally of how many “Objection Forms” have been handed out. McPherson said owners wanting a form can call the clerk’s office at 422-1269, and the form will be mailed to them.


 The form sent property owners announcing the public hearing  instructed that “Any owner of real property deemed benefitted and therefore within the District, objecting to the Amended District Plan, may file an objection at the Office of the City Clerk, on forms made available by the City Clerk, within thirty (30) days of the close of the hearing on the proposed District.”


The form asks, or tells the recipient,  “IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC NOTICE OBJECTIONS MAY BE FILED WITHIN 30 DAY(S) OF THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I, THE UNDERSIGNED, FILE  THIS OBJECTION TO THE EXPANSION OF THE WHITE PLAINS BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WITH COMMENTS AS FOLLOWS.”


No Step-by-Step Instruction.


Nowhere does the form say  explicity that this is the only way to turn down the program, in this case, words in plain English to the effect that to vote against expanding the BID to his area, the owner must say ‘No” they do not want it.  All it does is ask for “ Negative Comments” and ask for objections.


There is no “check box NO” if you do not want to join the BID instruction. 


Public Law Allows It.


According to the General Municipal Law Section 980-e, which governs Business Improvement District Expansion,  the city appears to has done the minimum necessary to inform members about the BID. According to its Executive Director, Rick Ammirato, the BID sent out a 1,000 letters, sent letters to all owners, but did not include maps of the district. Ammirato said the map was available at the Clerk’s Office.


According to an owner who is in favor of the BID expansion, and owns within the target area in the BID expansion, he did not receive the form pictured above in the mailing he got. He said he was not informed of how much approximately his assessment would be, and he did not receive a map of the district.


A Law Subject to Interpretation


Exactly what the city was required to tell owners about what they could expect is very vague in Law 980-e. The law states, in part, in addition to publishing a Public Notice in the official city newspaper,


 “the legislative body shall cause a copy of the resolution or a summary thereof to be mailed to each owner of real property within the proposed district,”  and that “such summary shall include the business address of the municipal clerk, a statement that copies of the resolution shall be made available free of charge to the public, the improvements, maintenance and operation, and a statement indicating the rights of owners to object pursuant to subdivision (b) of this section.


The Public Law 980-e states “The resolution shall also contain a statement that any owner of real property…objecting to the plan must file an objection at the office of the municipal clerk within thirty days of the conclusion of the hearing on forms made available by the clerk….”


The Public Law does not say the “forms” to file any objection have to be mailed to all the owners. Hence, technically the city is within the law by saying that owners must pick up the form at the clerk’s office to file the objection.


Supporter Criticizes the Subterfuge


According to the property owner WPCNR, he never received the form upon which the objection should be filed. “I did not know, if you don’t show up that’s a vote for yes, and it should be the opposite. That reminds me of Port Chester. “


Asked if had received the form that has to be returned to the city clerk when he was informed of the hearing last week,  “I do not think so. At least it doesn’t ring a bell.”


The owner did not receive the map of the proposed district, but he has seen it.


Asked if the letter told him how much his property would be assessed, he said, “No.”


Million Dollar Baby


Ammirato said that should the majority of the owners not object (51%) the BID budget (now $575,000)  would expand to $1.6 Million, with the new expansion to Lexington Avenue, West Post Road, and down Maple Avenue to Bloomingdale Road providing $1,000,000.


Ammirato said there was not that much objection to the BID expansion at last Wednesday evening’s Common Council meeting.


The Executive Director also said the communication to property owners contained, in addition to the Common Council resolution, a Notice of Public Hearing, spelling out what “The Extended District Plan” would do:


An excerpt from that Notice of Public Hearing reads:  White Plains Downtown District Management Association would offer the following services including, but not limited to: Marketing and Promotion, Business Recruitment, Public Amenities, Physical Improvements, Parking Promotions, Sanitation needed for special events and sidewalk cleaning not now performed by the City and Holiday lighting; Business Assistance, Administration, Special Projects and Research and Planning.


Ammirato encouraged owners and tenants of businesses to come in to the Clerk’s Office to examine the “amended District Plan” at the City Clerk’s office to learn more details of the above services.


Typical Costs to Typical Businesses in Targeted Area.


Ammirato issued a statement to WPCNR explaining the impacts on typical businesses along Lex, West Post Road and Maple Avenue:


 


The estimated rates for BID assessment in the extended district are $0.056497 per sq. ft. of Gross Floor Area (GFA) and $14.353123 per sq. ft. of Linear Street Frontage (LSF). In practical terms:


 


1,000 sq. ft. of GFA + 25 sq. ft. of LSF= $415.33 per year or $1.14 per day


10,000 sq. ft. of GFA + 100 sq. ft. of LSF= $2000.28 per year or $5.48 per day


100,000 sq. ft. of GFA + 200 sq. ft. of LSF= $8,520.32 per year or $23.34 per day


 


 


In examining  the paperwork sent by the BID to owners, including the Notice of Public Hearing and Council Resolution, there is no mention of the “maximum cost thereof” of the “improvements proposed and the maximum cost thereof, the total annual amount proposed to be expended for improvements, maintenance and operation,” as called for in the law.


 


Worthy of any Book Club Copywriter:


The Notice of Public Hearing states this on objection to inclusion in the district:


 “Any owner of real property deemed benefitted and therefore within the District, objecting to the Amended District Plan, may file an objection at the Office of the City Clerk, on forms made available by the City Clerk, within thirty (30) days of the close of the hearing on the proposed District. If owners of at least fifty-one (51%) of the assessed value of benefitted real property situated within the boundaries of the District proposed for establishment… or at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the owners of benefitted property within the area included in the District proposed for establishment file objections with the City Clerk, the District shall not be established.”


The procedure endorsed by the Common Council (by their own resolution) and the state General Municipal Law Section 980-e is reminiscent of book club offers, where you had to send back a postcard refusing this month’s book.


The law makes it easy to put the onus of objection on the owners – requiring them to come in to City Hall to get a form, and not sending them an objection form to start with – let alone a sample assessment.


It is as if to stop a book coming to you, you had to fly to a publisher’s headquarters to pick up a form to stop those books coming.


Devious, Backhanded, Underhanded


This process of notification and saying “NO” to the BID, was roundly criticized by Bill Waterman, the former councilman last Wednesday evening. Speaking to WPCNR today, Waterman said there was no map, no explanation of what the BID would do for the Post Road area. He said the first time he knew you could get a form by mail was when it was mentioned on the televised Common Council meeting last Wednesday.



Bill Waterman property owner in targeted area, as he appeared at the Common Council hearing last week.


 


He characterized the BID notification procedure as “a backhanded, underhanded devious way of doing business, and excusing it by hiding behind a public law. We don’t need the BID in our area. We rejected the BID in our area 7 to 8 years ago. These landlords say they are behind it. They’re just going to pass along the cost to the tenants.”


He said there was no explanation of what the BID was going to do for the neighborhood. He said the neighborhood was a group of mom and pop stores which could not bear the increase in rents. He said street festivals, a staple of BID promotion could not work on Post Road because the Hospital emergency entrance was on that street, and posed the question, what could the BID do for the neighborhood.l “They (the BID) don’t understand our neighborhood. They’re a group of  Hispanic and Latino businesses catering to the neighborhood, this is neighborhood retail.”


 


 


 


 


 


 

Posted in Uncategorized

An Easter Memory

Posted on by

Hits: 0

 


WPCNR’S MEMORY LANE. April 8, 2007: As I puttered around the house, getting ready for an Easter Sunday dinner, I thought back over the years to a time when this holiday was more meaningful to me than it is today, and this poem emerged from my fingertips:


Sunrise Service


In the crisp bite of early dawn


Roused by the ever loyal mom


To a warm breakfast then driven to a school rendezvous on the way


To play Jesus Christ is Risen Today .


Up the through the dark back road to old Flag Hill above the Saw Mill


We were driven, six chosen musicians to play fanfare


Celebrating the resurrection of  long ago as first rays of dawn broke the chill.


After we played our  brassy peal of annunciation


The pastor announced simply, “He has risen” and said an invocation,


On the downbeat from our instructor,


We played the joyous hymn and song burst forth


From the tiny band, voices vibrant beyond talent


Took up the simple refrain, “Je US CHRIST has riSEN toDAAY”


With each verse our  brass tones played fuller, bolder triumphant


Expanding our chests with pride, courage and steadfast  melody.


From crisp wind no longer did we cower.


Sun blaze rose in the east across our town,


Upon the last jubilant coda, the echoes  did sound


Descending across the valley below  and above to the high tension tower


In somber words the pastor’s message told the story


Of empty tomb, of the incredible happening


And for the rest of the day we who had played


Announcing the news in song and peal of brass


Had recreated that time of myth that has endured in faith


The thought of which renews us still that our time here will not from memory pass.


In the holiday dinner that would follow,


Cousins, aunts and uncles would gather


With the matriarch of the family,


Today we are scattered.


Do not gather together as we did then in harmony


Still I feel the warmth of those Easters past


When those whohave departed we think of once more


And how they created a family that would last.

Posted in Uncategorized

Citi Field Revisited — Just Another Shea — and No Ebbets About It.

Posted on by

Hits: 0









 


 


 


 


 


 


 


WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. Revisited By Fast Pitch Johnny . April 7, 2007: I went to Ebbets Field once. The Mets new ballpark that began construction last fall, has been ballyhooed as a nostalgic ode to Ebbetts Field, the best ballpark in the world according to the most recent book about it.


 


In the original of this article, WPCNR made a Merkle’s Boner — a Snodgrass Muff — a Kubek Choke — a major error. Thank you to the two young readers who backed us up on this one.


 


We transposed the dimensions of the two stadiums, in the heat of our passion denouncing the architectural fraud of Citi Field. WPCNR is embarrassed we made this error, but still feels the interior of the new Citi Field looks not at all like Ebbets Field — and in our opinion, is just like any other park HOK ( for Hellmuth, Obata, Kassabaum) Architects has done around the major leagues. There is nothing unique about the new Citi Field and it is no Ebbetts. If anything the fact that new Citi Field will be deeper makes it worse!


 


Even with our mistake in the dimensions of the fields — the felony–  the “phoney”  of Citi Field is compounded by creating a deeper ball park — with no distiinguishing alleys or configurations or quirks. I still stick to my original premise that a bandbox park would be very cool. But to say the interior of the stadium looks like Ebbets Field is poppycock. Let’s take a look, shall we:


 



Ebbets Field, Brooklyn USA. Memorial Day Doubleheader with Pittsburgh, 1955. Note the cantilivered wall of  rightfield; the scoreboard and the extension of the centerfield bleachers into right center. Photo (c) by John C. Wagner, Jr., www.pportals.com/jcw. Used with permission.












 


 


The new design by the “Official Ballpark Builder of Major League Baseball”  ROK Architects – builders of Camden Yards, PNP Park in Pittsburgh, the Great American Ballpark in Cincinatti, PacBell in San Francisco, Petco Park in San Diego– is another ROK cookie cutter stadium – not uniquely New York in any way. 


 


Lots of brick and somewhat of a look of Ebbets on the exterior, but the resemblance to Ebbets Field stops as soon as you hit the field.



Citi Field, 2006 Rendering. Nothing Ebbetsian About It. Note bullpens in right center. No roofs in left — the symetrical fences. And another thing — in old Ebbets the bullpens were down the left and right field lines so they warmed up within a few feet of the fans. Since the fans in the box seats will be paying astronomical prices for the box seats it would be a nice touch to put in more cheap seats in right instead of wasting space on bullpen areas. Web Capture of Computerized Flyover from New York Mets Website.


 



If you take the virtual fly through of the ballpark on the New York Mets website at http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nym/ballpark/citifield_overview.jsp, you will note immediately that ROK has continued its trademark rakeback construction of the upper decks, setting the fans awaayyyy back from the field and above it.  It’s not as bad as the “perched on the edge of a saucer cup” feel that Roger Kahn coined to describe Shea Stadium when it opened in 1964.


 



Citi Field Left Field Line. Note the setback of the decks and the steep rake, putting the upper deck aficianado considerably away from the greensward. Virtually a knockoff of Camden Yards, not Ebbets Field Webcaptures from Computerized Flyover on New York Mets website.


 


However, if you’re in the decks you are set way back starting well back of the field box level. Not good. This is done to accommodate sky boxes on the mezzanine levels. If you compare the new ballparks ROK has built the aim is to create more field level boxes (expensive seats) while stacking the upper decks high, slanted and back away from the foul lines.


 


 



Observe how set back the upper decks are in the Citi Field grandstand. When you set the decks back you are putting folks farther away from the action. If you note the original Ebbets upper deck it is almost even with the front row box railings. That is the tyranny of modern construction.  Webcaptures from Computerized Flyover on New York Mets website.


 


I am sick of these architects designing stadiums that are lousy to watch baseball in.


 


Let’s go around Citi Field  There is no intimacy about the interior of the park. The interior has three decks in left field just like Camden Yards — the same look as Camden Yards. The right field section has two upper decks – does not look at all like Ebbets Field. ROK has borrowed the Briggs Stadium overhang effect in right, thinking it’s cute. The Polo Grounds had an overhang, but old Ebbets Field did not.


 



The Citi Field Right Field Corner. Where does that come from? Extend the stands to the foulpoul and give us a single bleacher for more Ebbets Look.


 


 An overhanging deck in right has nothing to do with Ebbets Field. Ebbetts Field had a humpback boomerang outfield wall that Carl Furillo played the carom on and threw out many a runner at second and third trying to stretch. Why could they not duplicate that?


 


 


Then there is the rightfield screen. Ebbetts Field had double deck bleachers from the leftfield line past centerfield. Does ROK do that? No. They stop the stands at just before leftcenter and have various entertainment and eateries and plazas and two garish dominating scoreboards rising monolithically like something out of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Nothing nostalgic there. There is no homage to the famous “Schaefer Scoreboard” in right centerfield which they could have easily incorporated instead of placing the unimaginative bullpen chutes in right center which is more Fenway Park than Ebbets Field. Do the architects have any knowledge of baseball anyway? No. They do not.


 


The interior stands wrap around majestically in a circle effect – just like Shea Stadium – with stands that are borrowed from the Turner Field, Dodger Stadium look – again with upper decks set back placing you far away from the action on the field.


 



Gil waits on deck to greet Campy Campanella after a three-run shot. Note the gallery in the upper deck how close the fans are. Photo (c) by John C. Wagner, Jr., www.pportals.com/jcw. Used with permission.


 


 


 


You lose the right angle, overhanging effects  that marked good ol’ Ebbets. Why is this important?


 


Intimacy is not to be found.


 


Too much foul territory in this new design. The concept of all the ROK ballparks is to pay lipservice to nostalgia visually, but the upper decks are still stack cantilevered stadiums that cater more to entertaining you with your backs to the ballgame. You’re going to need binoculars to go this ball game if you sit in the Upper Decks in Citi Field – from the visuals in the flyover tour. Maybe the decks will be closer and steeper when built – but the flyover does not show that.


 


The rake and voluptuousness of the spacious decks in the new Citi Field  conjour up visions of a football stadium like Municipal Stadium in Cleveland – and yes, Shea Stadium the uninspired rockpile next door. You may even be closer in Shea to the action than you are in the new Citi Field.


 


ROK essentially is doing on the major league level what Kaiser, Garment and Davidson do with synthetic turf stadiums around Westchester County: one size fits all and little tweaks to the basic design are made – with the same gee whiz electronic scoreboards, jumbotrons and visual chock-a-block that substitutes sensory stimulation for good baseball. Every time they get a new ballpark, ROK flips the decks from side to side and rearranges the “deck chairs,” on their stadium Titanics and creates nothing unique.


 


For a 42,000 seat stadium which Citi Field is – those seats look a long way from the field and in no way hang over the field  the way they used to do at Ebbets, “Where the howling mobs” seemed on the backs of the visiting New York Giants.


 


Even the Polo Grounds was more intimate than this faux-Ebbets Field.


 



Hanging out at the Batting Cage. Ebbets Field, 1955. Note the blue-gray seats (not green) and the jaunty red box seat railings! Photo (c) by John C. Wagner, Jr., www.pportals.com/jcw. Used with permission.


 


 


And another thing: the ball park measurements are another Shea Stadium with the exception of the power alleys.  in view of our readers who noted our inadvertent switching of the dimensions, the Mets pitchers  will have 8 more feet to work with in left center and 20 more feet to work with in right center. But this means the Mets will have to have a good outfield to cut off the doubles.


 


In Ebbets Field, the bandbox effect and the cantilevered fences and contours and short fences made the ballpark a factor. Brooks pitchers had to be good pitching in that park.


 


Absolutely a mistake to design Citi Field with deeper power alleys.


 


How many games did Mr. Wilpon ever attend at Ebbetts Field? One wonders!  The beauty and the beast of Ebbets was its bandbox size. It was 393 to centerfield. A ridiculously short distance. It was a 348 foot poke down the Left Field Foul Line. The colorful advertising on the left field wall then ran out at a right angle only 3 feet to 351 feet in left center  (the new Citi Field is correctly this time supposed to be 379 in left center (a full 28 feet DEEPER).


 


Then good ole Ebbets went at a right angle out to 393 in dead center (Citi Field is to be 408 in dead center). 


 


In centerfield, Ebbets took an abrupt right turn straight across center and angled slightly out to 403 feet in right center in a V.  Then the center field wall with the colorful advertising took over all the way at a right angle to the right field foul line, tracking in  to  352 feet in straightaway right  right center (Citi Field is to be 391 in right center).


 


The cantilevered Ebbets Field wall then nipped in 52 feet nightmarishly to 297 feet at the right field foul line. The Citi Field right field foul pole is 330 feet from home plate.


 


No Quirks, No Nips. No Tucks in the outfield. Just plain wall.


 


It would be interesting if Mr. Wilpon and the HOK guys duplicated those dimensions, but maybe they were too afraid the fans eating sushi in centerfield restaurants would be killed by the screaming line drives bombarding the concourses beyond centerfield like mortars thanks to the hand grenades that serve as baseballs today. (Talking about the lively juiced up, souped up, tightly wound baseballs of today.)


 


However – you could duplicate the configuration of the Ebbets Field walls with the new dimensions of CitiField.


 


They have simply recreated the Shea Stadium dimensions a little deeper in the alleys (8 feet deeper in left center, 20 feet deeper in right)with the power alleys moving slightly out. How creative.


 


One of the most boring aspects of Shea Stadium is that the outfield is easy to play. It is symmetrical and the outfielders really have no challenging catches to make, except at the fence. That same antiseptic outfield though deeper is being recreated for another 40 years.


 



Skoonj’s Territory. The intriguing rightfield wall. How could HOK leave it out? Carl Furillo (Skoonj) used to play the caroms and gun down runners at second with his “Springfield Rifle” Arm. Photo (c) by John C. Wagner, Jr., www.pportals.com/jcw. Used with permission.


 



A closer look at Skoonj’s Territory. Note the cantilevered wall Photo (c) by John C. Wagner, Jr., www.pportals.com/jcw. Used with permission.


 


 


 


 


Perhaps, just perhaps the architects could have duplicated the boomerang-cantilever wall in centerfield over to right field….to provide the feel of the unexpected when you got a line shot caroming off the wall in the 1950s.


 


Why could they not replicate the old Ebbets Field scoreboard at field level, with drop down scores as they have in Fenway Park and Wrigley Field?


 


That would be a touch. But, there are no touches in this ballpark.  The monster pyramids of two scoreboards with the jumbotrons is a visual eyesore – typical of the phoney superficial cuteness that has always characterized the Mets as a franchise.


 


The doubledeck in right has no similarity to Ebbets Field at all…you might have extended the left field decks around into right center and curled the right field upper deck over and around the foul pole.


 



Ahhh, the grandeur. Only the dead know Brooklyn. The Ebbets Roof and lighttowers. Russ Meyer is on the mound in 1955. Pee Wee at short. Gilliam at third. Photo (c) by John C. Wagner, Jr., www.pportals.com/jcw. Used with permission.


 


 


 


Now another feature of Ebbets was it had a roof on it, as did Shibe Park, Old Comiskey Park, Forbes Field, Crosley Field – those “Baths of Caracala” ballparks of baseball’s golden age.


 


Why could you not put a roof on the upper deck in left field and square cut it over the other decks for the fans on rainy days.  Too expensive? But that was the Ebbets Field look you “suits” out there.


 


In fact you could have put posts in the upper deck for nostalgia sake and sell them as old time Ebbets Field seats with see-through panels you’d have a real intimate experience. Preposterous? I say it is a touch that would have given soul to this HOK back-of-the-hand design. They may be big and do a lot of jobs, but that does not mean they know baseball and how it is watched – or that they know what is good in a ballpark.


 


 But, I guess I’m different:  at $100 a person, for parking, hot dogs and two beers – I go to watch the ballgame. In this park I see more antiseptic baseball, honky tonk and special effects that are typical of every HOK-built ballpark in the majors.  There is nothing unique about Citi Field.  


 


HOK simply flips the positions of the left and right field upper decks and relocates the scoreboards, while adding the usual picnic areas, grills and ways to distract the fans from the boring ball game.


 


I have sat behind posts in Old Comiskey and they were great “frames” of the action. But then I am old. A ballpark without posts is a football stadium in my opinion.


 


Please not a lot of candy colored seats. I hate that.


 


I am not done picking this new stadium to pieces. One wonders if the architects or the Wilpons had ever really really looked at old Ebbets. They say they will have green seats. If they go bright blue that is wrong too. Should be blue-gray with red trim.


 


Well that is wrong…Ebbets Field had (based on color pictures on baseball cards in the 1950s), blueish gray seats with red railings for the box seats and red box seats – a terrific colorful touch. Very snappy.  Please, no green seats – this ain’t Fenway Park. (That leads me to another discussion…the wedding caking of seats on the roof at Fenway have destroyed the look of that place, too.)


 


Now what will the new dimensions comparison be on the new park compared to Shea Stadium here they are:


 


New Citi Field DIMENSIONS                   Old Shea Stadium DIMENSIONS


LF  Foul Line                        335                           LF Foul Line      338


Left Center                             379                           Left Center        371


Center                                    408                            Center                410


Right Center                           391                            Right Center     371


Right Field                             330                             Right Field       338


 


Take a careful look they have pushed left center some eight feet (more doubles), and pushed out right center 20 feet (more doubles), but remember Ebbets alleys were short — 351 feet and 352 feet – a good 30 to 40  feet closer in than Citi Field. To say that Citi Field is designed like Ebbets Field is simply not true.


 


 


 Would that be interesting or what? However the dimensions are going out in the power alleys at the new ball park and the right field foul line is 8 feet shorter than Shea Stadium in the new field.  The left field line in Citi Field is only 3 feet closer.That does not make sense.


 


Foul Resemblance Way Foul


 


The kicker is that the foul pole dimensions at Ebbets are very different from both Shea and the new “Ebbets” Citi Field.  At the original Ebbets, Left Field was 348 feet down the line, compared to 335 in new Citi Field, and right was 291 compared to 330. Bring the foul pole in to the Ebbets distance


 


I have a big problem with the lack of creative symmetry in the new Citi Field.


 


I dislike the twin monster scoreboards gone amok affect in right center. This looks nothing like Ebbets Field ever did.


 


Why couldn’t they have put a single bleacher running behind a right field screen to simulate the Ebbets Field look, adding seats where the bullpen areas are now planned? Put the bullpens in play – like old Ebbets down the foul lines?  


 


The rotunda looks pretty majestic on the inside. However, Ebbets Field had an awning on its entrance. They could have duplicated the awning. And another thing: Ebbets had a chandelier hanging down in the rotunda of the old ballpark  in the shape of a beautiful huge ivory baseball with white baseballs setting on crossed bats. That’s not here – just some nice ramps and girders. Doesn’t look anything like the Ebbets Field rotunda.


 


Now, I love Jackie Robinson, who doesn’t? But Brooklyn Dodger fans are dying off. It is high time the Mets stopped glomming on to old New York Giant and Brooklyn Dodger memories. How about pictures of Met greats in the rotunda? Seaver, Jones, Dr. K., Jerry Grote, HoJo, Daryl, Koos, Wayne, Carter — Jackie, Johnny, Carl, Duke and Gil?


 


Give me some Sexy Lights.


 


Light towers – I hate the new style of lights today. How about duping the triangular light towers of old Ebbets on the infield side…and if you put roofs on the decks you could use the motion picture show look of lights on those roofs. But the light towers I can live with.


 


HOK’s idea of oldtime looks is girders. Come on — the old parks were not just girders and ramps. They were odd dimensions. They created a warm old feeling as you went into the park. You were close to the action.


 


Ebbets exterior was windows and arches and intriguing signage like E X I T –and little Gate signs, as well as colorful ad signs on the walls. Put em on the walls Fred and cantilever the walls and let’s have some fun.


 


The new Yankee Stadium they are building in the Bronx also suffers from that hideous restaurant in centerfield and the boring symmetry of the present Yankee Stadium makeover.


 


HOK builds stadiums for corporate types – not baseball fans.


 


What I love the most about attending minor league and National Pro Fastpitch games is the lack of contrived environments.


 


When Citi Field opens, joining the other HOK cookie cutter nostalgia parks across the country it will be a shadow of what it could have been.


 


But it is no Ebbets Field.


 


You be the judge.



Citi Field, 2009. Webcapture from “Flyover” Computer Simulation on New York Mets website.



Ebbets Field 1955.Photo (c) by John C. Wagner, Jr., www.pportals.com/jcw. Used with permission.


 



Note: The photographs of Ebbets Field were taken May 30, 1955 at Ebbets Field by John C. Wagner, Jr. when Mr. Wagner was 17 years old. They were shot with an Argus C3 35mm camera, and 8 x 10s and various sizes of these one-of-a-kind-photos may be purchased on Mr. Wagner’s website at www.pportals.com/jcw. Mr. Wagner recalls Bob Purkey pitched for the Pirates and Russ Meyer for the Brooks in this game. Da Bums won both ends of the doubleheader.

 


























Article Rating


 
















Options

Posted in Uncategorized

Opening Day

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR Press Box. April 7,2007: On Monday, the Metropolitans return to Shea Stadium after a splendid opening week. In their honor, WPCNR brings back this original celebration of the best day of the year.


 



                         WRIGLEY fIELD CHICAGO 1975 PHOTO WPCNR SPORTS




OPENING DAY is better than Christmas Day,
When you look out the window and you know they’ll play,
Whether dreary gray or billiant spring sun’s ray
Opening Day means the Big Show is back today.


 


In decades past, Opening Day was for the fanatics starved
Eager for the sharp crack of ash on horsehide carved
The flutter of pennants snapping in northwest winds
Atop ramparts of inviting arches of walls and friezes wistfully escarped.



(MORE)




Fans lucky to get away with a pair of ducats
Marveled at those grown men in boys flannels and sharp whites pristeen
Back to play in April’s warm zhyphers in NY blazened caps,
Dashing specks of white warming up on the sprawl of the greenest green.

Motor cars panting in good-natured traffic jams on Major Deegan,
Or down Yawkey Way, on 35th and Shields or  Waveland’s Jam.
Through your windows you see the first glimpse of the imposing Park,
The place where ball is played, where spirits of Ted, Babe, Duke
Mel, Spahnie, Whitey, Mickey, Willie, Yaz, Minnie and Sandy lark.

Paying a White Plains fine to park to stogie smoking old men
Who ‘VE BEEN at the same GATES for a hundred years


out into the street
You go eager, the smell of roasting chestnuts, pungent cigars sweet,
Cries of “scorecard heah” “programs,  heah” neath light towers to heaven.

Fans in cap and uniform, little boys and girls gawk in awe
Never seeing SUCH sheer walls so topped with the legend “GameToday 1:30 PM”
Clutching slim cardboard tix to Section 14 Upper Deck up to the turnstiles
Festooned with souvenirs more dear as diamonds, beyond, THE lure OF ENDLESS aisles.

Into the press of crowd, the grizzled usher, RIPS YOUR TICKET.
Turnstile turns and into the castle of ball you go
Into the rotunda greeted with magic signs dazzlING
UPPER LEVELS SECTIONS 1 to 39, 2 to 40

Hawkers shout –Voices of The Bronx — colorful books in hand


“Yearbook heah,” “Dodger Yearbook here,” “Hot dog, heah,” 
Assail your ears up the ramps you walk to the sign “NEXT HOMESTAND”
Out the suspended catwalk where sliver of blue is first glimpse of the magic sphere
Into the sunlight splaying the vast rake down  of the mighty grand stand.

Spread out below are knights of the diamond in white hues
Cavorting, snapping throws across immaculate red clay
As majestic fungoes CRACK! soar towards filling bleachers a mile away,
Bunting flutters from the deck’s rails red, white and true blues.

Old glory unfurls on the highest pole in center field
Colorful signs deliver the manly flavor of the only real game,
GILLETTE To Look Sharp, The Red Sox use Lifeboy, Schaefer It’s A Hit
Hey, Neighbor Have a Gansett, White Owl Cigars, Hit Sign Win Suit

From old familiar walls, to Gladys Gooding on the organ
friendly old green scoreboard displaying
Today’s games around the big leagues BETTER THAN CNN
CHI CLE BOS DET, CHI STL, NY WAS make you king for a day.
Two Bits for a scorecard, usher wipes your seat, ballpark fills your heart.

Penciling in the lineup 42 2B, 1 SS, 14 1B, 4 CF, 39 C, 6 RF, 23 LF 19 3B 36 P
Smell of beer, peanuts and warm salty pretzels entice
The air is nippy, warm rays sink into your face feels nice,
starting pitchers wheel and deal on sidelines  fueling expectancy

Men in blue, arms folded solemnly conduct the home plate regimen
CaseY, Ralph , Walter AND SPARKY exchange lineup cards and knowing
ground rules by heart they go over them for ritual’s sake.
announcer entones “Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen.”

“Please rise for the playing of our national anthem,”
the stadium organ note by note  peels  baseball’s theme
Rising on the breeze, uniting do-rag and ball cap,
fedora and Tie PONYTAIL AND BOUFFANT  in the spirit of the great game.

Grass is never greener than on opening days
 strikes are louder, the long drives electrify in the alleys
The beer with THICK hig creamy head,  taste crisp cold and mellow the best all year
 Smashes laser through short and in the gap in raucous rallies


 


Magicians without wands start 6-4-3s, backhand sure hits losing their caps


“Oh what a play’s” crackle on WGN with  “CUBS WIN’S”


Jack and Mel, Vince, Curt and Murph are back at the mike to turn mundane days into joy with a ninth inning elixir and “happy recaps”


THUNDROUS ROAR accolades the 2-out winner again CREATING Big KIDS’ GRINS

Posted in Uncategorized