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

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WPCNR SOUTHEND TIMES. By John F. Bailey. September 21, 2005, UPDATED September 22, 2005 1:05 A.M. E.D.T.:  Surveyors were sighted taking readings and marking distances on Saxon Wood Road and Rosedale Avenue this week. Saxon Woods Road is the quaint little two lane road with a 200 year old Revolutionary War stone wall and  ramble of woods and grassy knolls framing the leisurely flow of the sometimes pure Mamaroneck River winding its way to Long Island Sound. The Rosedale Avenue area in question is on the West side of Mamaroneck Avenue, feeding in to Saxon Woods Road.

The Saxon Wood Neighborhood Association is curious and wants to find out the facts behind the surveying activity. An unidentified Surveyor from Maser Consulting, was again discovered taking readings at the junction of Saxon Woods Road and Saxon Woods Park Drive Monday.

The surveying team activity, according to the Saxon Wood Neighborhood Association,  had caught the eye of a Rosedale Avenue resident, who started asking a member of the survey crew questions.  He engaged one of the surveying team in conversation who revealed that the surveyors were under contract to the City of White Plains, and that they were taking readings to prepare a study for the widening of both Saxon Woods Road and Rosedale Avenue by up to 25 feet. The resident said he was told such a widening would take front yards of some homes.

On Monday, the surveying team was back taking readings at the intersection of Saxon Woods Road and Saxon Woods Park Drive.

Association Schedules Meeting, Files FOIA

The Saxon Wood Neighborhood Association has scheduled a meeting for September 27 at 7:30 P.M. at Ridgeway School to discuss the situation, and other possible pending incursions on the neighborhood including the extension of the Greenway Trail from Hillair Circle to Romar Avenue and along Saxon Woods Road to Saxon Woods Park and the Amodio’s on-going topsoil operations.

The Association announcement of the meeting reveals that it has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with Mayor Joseph Delfino’s office to get information from the city on the purpose of the surveyor survey. Previously, the Delfino Administration, and two previous administrations had assured the neighborhood that the roads would never be widened or realigned and the rural character of the neighborhood would not be changed.

Peter Katz, President of the Saxon Wood Neighborhood Association, speaking to WPCNR today said that a resident reported to him this morning that she was told by a secretary in the Department of Public Works, that Saxon Woods Road would not be widened. Mr. Katz said he had not received a response to his city hall inquiries that began last Thursday.

A person with the Department of Public Works, speaking on condition of anonymity,  told WPCNR Wednesday evening at the White Plains Hospital Center Gala that the surveying taking place on Saxon Woods road was routine and something that would be done prior to any major construction project involving a road. The source said the only construction envisioned was repaving the road which he said would be taking place in about 18 months, he denied any widening was being considered.

 

 

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. September 17, 2005: A third and 7 interception by Jeffy Charles of the Tigers stalled a Roosevelt drive for a tying touchdown at the Tiger 28 yard lin in the beginning of the 4th quarter today at Parker Stadium, and Charles followed that up with a 33 yard touchdown reception from Conor Gilmartin-Donohue to clinch the Tigers second win of the season this afternoon. Jamaine Hewitt’s stalwart rushing chewed up the clock in the third quarter keeping the ball away from the Indians. Hewitt scored the first Tiger touchdown in the beginning of the second quarter on a two-yard run. The Tigers defense was swift again in pursuit holding Roosevelt to one natural first down in the game, and that did not come until midway in the third quarter.

JEFFY CHARLES BEING TACKLED AT THE TIGER 20 IN THE FOURTH QUARTER after picking of Roosevelt pass at the 10 to stall the Indians’ touchdown drive on a crucial 3rd and 7. Charles made a great pick leaping high in “centerfield”  to hall the errant throw down and returned it 10 yards.  Moments later, Charles pulled in a 33 yard touchdown strike from Conor Gilmartin-Donohue. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Jamaine Hewitt lower right of photograph with Number 50 Jeff Charles looking on, bulling for a 2 yard touchdown run at start of second quarter. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

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WPCNR ADAM IN ALBANY. By State Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. 89th District. September 17, 2005: In 1999, Laura M. was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, a tick-borne sickness that resulted in fatigue, joint pain and other symptoms that left her physically exhausted and bed ridden, sometimes for weeks at a time.  She went to see a doctor who prescribed a short term course of treatment with antibiotics; nevertheless, after several weeks of treatment her condition failed to improve.  Her doctor determined that there was no reason that she should still feel ill and came to the conclusion that she must be suffering from something other than Lyme.

 

Several doctors and multiple tests later, Laura heard about a doctor in Great Neck who specialized in the treatment of Lyme Disease.  He diagnosed her as having the disease and prescribed a long term regimen of antibiotics beyond that usually recommended in the prevailing medical literature.  After a few weeks of treatment, her condition improved dramatically and she was able to begin living a normal life again.

 

Laura credits the doctor with “saving my life” and other doctors like him who offered what was then considered unconventional long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme which has since proven to be successful.  Complaints were made to the Office of Professional Medical Conduct by insurance companies concerned about rising costs.  As a result, several Lyme doctors faced charges and serious forms of discipline. 

 

Lyme sufferers brought their concerns to me and Nettie Mayersohn and Joel Miller and together we began to look into the situation.

 

We contacted the office of Governor George Pataki to discuss the issue.  Over the course of the next few years, representatives of the Governor, OPMC and I met on numerous occasions to best determine how to protect these Lyme doctors while at the same time not hindering the ability of OPMC to prosecute and discipline truly bad practitioners.

 

Despite many initial differences, we worked out an agreement regarding OPMC policy for alternative treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses.  On June 15^th of this year, OPMC Director Dennis Graziano issued a memorandum stating that “it is contrary to the policy and practice of the Office of Professional Medical Conduct to identify, investigate, or charge a physician, physician’s assistant or specialist assistant based solely on that practitioner’s recommendation or provision of such treatment modality.”   At the same time, the policy insures that those doctors who may actually injure or harm a patient will still be subject to strict disciplinary action.

 

 

     The memorandum specifically refers to “the varying modalities used in the treatment of

     Lyme Disease and other tick-borne diseases.”

 

The resolution was hailed by advocates for Lyme Disease patients around the state.  Two groups, The Lyme Disease Association and Voices of Lyme/NY specifically thanked Assemblyman Bradley for his leadership.  According to Lyme specialist Dr. Joseph Burascano, “This memorandum means that the pressure is now off Lyme treating physicians in New York, and it is certainly a reward for all the hard work and efforts of the Lyme community.”

 

I am glad the Governor realized that there was a problem and while we may have had some differences along the way, we were able to work closely with the Lyme community to find a solution. I will however, remain vigilant in order to make sure that Lyme Disease patients can always obtain the treatment they need.

 

Adam Bradley

 

 

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WPCNR THE PLANNING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. September 15, 2005. UPDATED 2:15 P.M. E.D.T. Clarifications and Details. UPDATED 5:40 P.M. With Pollitzer Interview: After intense questioning by Black Activist, Ron Jackson, on the Comprehensive Planning Review Committee’s endorsement of Post Road and Lexington Avenue rezoning for rehabilitation and development, and use of “Urban Renewal Tools,” such as eminent domain,  Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning told the Comprehensive Planning Review Committee, in front of fifteen witnesses and 12 of 14 members  of the Comprehensive Plan Committee, there would be no development of the North Side of East  Post Road (the Winbrook side of East Post Road) by White Plains Hospital as part of the yet-to-be-unveiled rehabilitation plan that has been rumored targeted for that area.

 

 In a conference call this afternoon with Ted Lawson, Susan Habel and Paul Wood, City Executive officer,  WPCNR  was corrected by Ms. Habel and Mr. Wood, noting that her comment about no development North of Post Road applied only to White Plains Hospital developing that area.

 

Ms. Habel and Mr. Wood also clarified there is no plan to develop the Lexington Avenue Post Road that exists at this time, saying this would be developed by working with the residents and the merchants of the area working together after the Common Council approves the Comprehensive Plan Review. The group mentioned it might involve street ambiance and facades, but that would only be developed working with the residents and merchants and property owners. The trio also pointed out what they said were errors in WPCNR’s synopsis of the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee Report. The group specifically denied that Avalon Communities was considering developing the area.

 

Asked if the city had been doing recent appraisals of property in that area, Wood said the city is always doing appraisals. Asked if any appraisals of the Lexington Avenue Post Road area were done recently, Wood only repeated that the city regularly appraises properties. 

Dennis Power Finds Committee Review Process Flawed. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

 

In the other highlight of the meeting, Dennis Power, Democrat for Mayor of White Plains blasted the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee report as being unobjective and reflecting the administration’s vision for the city. He called for continuing and amplifying  the process after the presentation of the committee’s final report to the Common Council, saying,

 

“ — the work of the Review Committee has been unduly influenced by City officials, which raises serious questions about the independence of the Committee – and, consequently, the value of the conclusions and recommendations. Too little opportunity existed for committee members to seriously entertain alternative ideas, analyses or suggestions,” Power said.

Power called for holding a televised hearing on the two draft reports in October and after Common Council review to start the process anew after the November 8^th elections.

 

You’re doing a great job, committee.

 

Power’s remarks were challenged by his running mate, Tom Roach, President of the Common Council who commended the committee for the detail of their report and how objective they were.

 

Roach assured the public there was going to be another public hearing after the council approved the documents with time for the public to comment further. “This is not over,” he said.  

 

(Referring to lack of attendance at public meetings of the committee), Roach added  people did not come out on issues that did not affect their particular neighborhood  Roach said the Report of the Committee was “a broad picture.”  

 

Asked later by WPCNR, if he agreed with Mr. Power that the Committee had not been objective, Roach said “No.”

 

When WPCNR pointed out to Mr. Roach that the Committee had not spelled out much detail at all on what zoning changes, uses or kind of development should be made in the Post Road area, for example,  Roach told WPCNR it was not the purpose of the committee’s report, or the Comprehensive Plan that the Comprehensive Plan was “just a land-use document” and that the Common Council decided what would be built in the city.

 

Winbrook can breathe a sigh of relief. 

 

On the controversial Committee endorsement of Lexington Avenue-Post Road, it was made clear by Planning Commissioner Susan Habel that any development involving expansion of  White Plains Hospital Center for an as yet unspecified purpose, would be on West Post Road, towards Scarsdale,  now occupied by car dealerships.  The Planning Commissioner said the development on South Lexington Avenue would extend along the West side of S. Lexington Avenue from Quaroppas Street  to Dennison Street,  but did not provide further details of what kind of development was envisioned or the density.  (Again, Ms. Habel and Mr. Wood said there is no plan that exists at this time.)

 

Details of this sketchy plan have not been revealed by the Mayor’s Office, despite repeated queries of the Mayor and his Planning Department by Mr. Jackson and inquiring news media. Today city hall squashed the Plan rumor once and for all saying “There is no plan.”

 

The Comprehensive Plan Review Committee last night. Photo by WPCNR News

 

Mr. Jackson was assured by the spokesperson that the Mayor intended to meet with the residents of Winbrook, merchants, and owners to receive their input on the Rehabiliation Project. A Commissioner of the city familiar with the plans affoot had told WPCNR it involved the housing developer, Avalon Communities, the builders of Avalon-on-the-Sound in New Rochelle. However, today Ms. Habel and Mr. Wood denied Avalon was in any way being considered or consulted, because there is no plan.

 

No details of the Post Road/Lexington Avenue makover/rehab were spelled out in the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee Report. But, WPCNR has been told today in the conference call that was not the Committee’s job and furthermore there is no such plan that exists according to information given WPCNR in the telephone conference today.  The Committee did recommend the council consider zoning changes (not specified) allowing rehabilitation of the Lexington Avenue Post Road area, as follows:

 

“The Committee finds that the 1997 Plan statement with respect to the creation of revitalization areas is appropriate and supports the City’s objective of establishing a Neighborhood Strategy Area for the post Road and S. Lexington area in 2005-2006

 

The report recommends the Common Council consider rezoning that area of the city as follows:

 

Possible modifications to zoning densities and uses within the Post Road/S. Lexington Urban Renewal Project Area, including possible zoning district changes, to facilitate redevelopment plans that may emerge from joint City/community review and development of revitalization plans for this area…

 

Possible modifications to zoning densities and uses for properties located between Post Road and Maple Avenue to the west of White Plains Hospital, including possible zoning district changes, to permit uses which support this important community health care facility.

 

 

 

The CPRC went over their extensive new recommendations, the highlights of which include, and clarified by the WPCNR conference with City Hall today:

 

• Endorsement of five year financial plans for the city.

  The city said WPCNR’s report they did not project beyond one year is not true that the city projects at least five years ahead in terms of capital expenditures, and sales tax. The Comprehensive Plan Committee report actually states “Under recent State funding requirements, the City will be implementing a three (3) year financial planning process. This Committee supports this financial practice and further recommends that the process be extended to five (5) years, consistent with the five (5) year Capital Improvement Program. This will enable the city to better prioritize capital spending and determine its impact on the tax payer, resulting in a more informed decision-making process. 

•  An indoor sports arena (without specifying where);
  
• Upgrading hospital zoning from R1-12.5 to R1-30 (three-quarters of an acre).

In the conference with City Hall today, it was pointed out to WPCNR this is wrong, and does not apply to New York Presbyterian Hospital and White Plains Hospital Center, and only applied to hospital properties in the outlying areas of the city. The Report reads: The Committee recommends that the Planning Department examine the following possible additional zoning district changes to implement 1997 Plan strategies and proposed revised strategies recommended by this Committee and prepare a report to the Common Council:

 

1.) appropriateness of mapping certain additional Outer Area properties as R1-30, such as hospital properties

 

• Strongly supporting “judicious use of Urban Renewal powers, including eminent domain, by the City and Urban Renewal Agency in areas appropriately designated”
  
• Elimination of tax abatements for developers.

The Telephone Conference said WPCNR is wrong on this saying the report does not call for elimination of tax abatements. The Report reads: The Committee sees no need to authorize tax abatements for commercial and industrial projects at this time.

 

• Pursuit of the City’s own Industrial Development Agency.

          The Telephone Conference with Mr. Wood, Mr. Lawson, and Ms. Habel told WPCNR that the Mayor has for two years been pursuing the formation of the city’s own IDA. WPCNR acknowledges this, and regrets the impression given by this statement that this is a new idea of the Committee. The Committee report reads: The Committee strongly supports the City’s effors to obtain authorization for its own IDA and recommends that the City continue to pursue this objective. Athough the City has worked cooperatively with the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency, the City, like its sister cities of Yonkers, New Rochelle and Mt. Vernon, should have its own Industrial Development Agency.

 

• Keeping the present City Hall and rehabilitating the present structure.
  
• Assessment of affordable housing buildings at lower rates.

In the telephone conference, WPCNR was informed that the city is not currently allowed to access affordable housing differently. The Committee recommends in their report: The Committee supports new State legislation which permits the municipality’s Assessor to recognize affordable housing in the assessment of residential real estate.

 

• Strongly supports city contributions to Community Development Funds (being cut every year under the present federal administration).
  
• Endorsement of present city financial policies, with no criticism of present budget practice.

 

 

After the presentation of the plan, Co-Chairperson John Martin opened the public hearing for comment from the public at 8:26 P.M.

 

Peter Katz was first up suggesting that the city had to plan for the eventual rehabilitation of the aging Winbrook buildings; look into grant funding for the White Plains Public Library; analyze the future impact of the city continuing to pay over 50% of the costs of operating the White Plains Performing Arts Center, and requested more detail on the development of the sports facility, and suggested more interim updates of the Comprehensive Plan. He recommended more detail on how the city IDA would be staffed, whether by Mayoral appointee or public representatives. He warned against the urban renewal powers recommendation, seeing it as “setting up a weapon for excessive arm-twisting” for use against the Common Council or a property owner.

 

Glen Hockley (Democrat running for  Common Council) took the podium and took the Committee to task for not taking a stronger stance on creating affordable housing, demanding a 15% to 20% set-aside in any development for affordable apartments. He strongly urged the committee to “take it seriously.” Hockley also warned that pursuing an IDA from the state might result in loss of the city ½% sales tax.

 

John Carlson (Republican running for Common Council) suggested the Committee take a closer look at crime statistics, suggesting that case investigations are up according to the White Plains Department of Public Safety website.

 

Carlson  advised the committee not to accept the set-aside payment-in-lieu-of units policy the Common Council has approved for condominium builders. Carlson said the payments received are not high enough because the city cannot build comparable numbers of housing units with the monies.

 

Carlson raised the issue of whether White Plains has received the payments-in-lieu already approved or whether they are deferred as indicated, he said in the recent JPI agreement approved September 6. He also cautioned the committee to take a closer look at the trend of commercial properties paying less taxes and residents paying more. Currently he said commercial properties account for 45% of city tax revenues and residential owners, 38%.

 

Dennis Power, Democrat candidate for Mayor took the podium and in a prepared statement charging that the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee “failed to adequately involve the public. I also have major concerns about the lack of objectivity in the review process.”

 

Pointing out the review began eight years after the adoption of the plan, Power charged the review was only undertaken when the White Plains Citizens Comprehensive Plan Committee prepared their own, embarrassing the city into starting the process.

 

Power said there was no real communication plan to “meaningfully involve the public,” charging lack of “significant outreach,” “insufficient notification.”

 

Power pointed out the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee appointed by the Mayor and Common Council had “no flexibility, no independent staff and no separate funding.”

 

“I regret these (your) efforts have not essentially involved anyone outside the Committee, with the exception of City officials, and no citizen task forces were established to involve other White Plains residents actively in their work.”

 

Power mocked the process: “How do you expect to make an objective analysis with your staff, the City staff, cannot be objective? No, you don’t perform an objective analysis without bringing in some objective expertise. And, you don’t do it without flexibility to look honestly at the problems, freedom to involve the citizens completely, and funding to accomplish those goals.”

 

He charged “the work of the Review Committee has been unduly influenced by City officials, which raises serious questions about the independence of the Committee – and, consequently, the value of the conclusions and recommendations. Too little opportunity existed for committee members to seriously entertain alternative ideas, analyses or suggestions.”

 

Power called on the Committee to look at “our declining tax base, our soaring downtown, our tax-fatigued schools, our tax-burdened citizens, our physical as well as human infrastructure, our escalating traffic, open space, housing, public safety and ALL those other issues like the St. Agnes Hospital grounds and New York Presbyterian Hospital and let’s not be afraid to ask independent experts to give us honest analyses and let all our interested citizens have an opportunity to participate.”

 

 

 

    Marc Pollitzer addressing the Committee.

Photo by WPCNR News.

 

Marc Pollitzer, the veteran city activist from the Southend scorched the committee for its faith in the city’s financial acumen and analysis of budget policies presented  by the City Assessor, Budget Department and Finance Director. Pollitzer said he was at that meeting where the budgeters justified their policies and said “The fiscal irresponsibility was disgusting.” He rejected the Committee’s finding that the “fund balance had been preserved.” Pollitzer said “the fund balance must be maintained and this isn’t the way to do it, dipping into it (the fund balance) for the 4^th year in a row, or the 5^th.” The city tape recording, City Hall says shows Mr. Pollitzer did not actually say this, and further points out Pollitzer mentioned the fund balance was not apparently “dipped into” last year due to the surplus of $1.4 Million announced officially by the Mayor Tuesday night at the CNA meeting.They are getting a transcript. WPCNR will also check with Mr. Pollitzer.  Wood called the statement “libelous.”

 

Mr. Pollitzer talking to WPCNR Thursday afternoon said he did not remember saying “The fiscal irresponsibility was disgusting,” and clarified his remarks:

 

“What I did refer to was the evening they had the three members of staff discuss the financial situation of the city. There were real questions that arose then, that were not really asked properly or responded to by the committee members. One member asked a question more than once about understanding the explanation given. There was a look on the faces of the committee that they really didn’t understand what was going on.

 

I think there really has to be a greater review of the financial matters. I didn’t say that the sense of fiscal irresponsibility was digusting, frankly that’s not a term I would use. I did question whether the information they got was really reflective of what the city’s financial condition is.

 

I did refer to the fund balance. I referred to the 97 plan which referred to the fact that it should be preserved. There was no mention of how it should be, nor does anyone else have an idea. I think that has to be included in the recommendations of this Committee that there are some specific ways of doing that that has to be budgeted. I’m not capable of telling them how to do it, but I think that outside expert opinions might be helpful, or just refer to it as being necessary.”

 

 

Pollitzer objected to locking the city into the present City Hall site which could be a key to a better way to develop the center of the downtown. He suggested merging the City School District with the City to provide a better way of financing public education, and to look at the issue of financing city schools. He warned against designating New York Presbyterian Hospital as a state historic site and called for the Committee to recommend using Eminent Domain on New York Presbyterian Hospital. Pollitzer said today Thursday that he felt the Hospital’s designation as an historic site could be reviewed if the city goes to Albany with New York Presbyterian Hospital and requests that that designation be removed, that would give greater flexibility to the hospital and therefore the city in planning for that property for the future.

 

On the dipping quotation…Pollitzer remembers saying “dipping into it for probably a fifth year,” but not the portion “that’s not the way to do it.”

 

‘You’re largely correct, but I don’t use words like disgusting.”

 

When the city supplies the transcript, WPCNR will be pleased to print the actual text of Mr. Pollitzer’s remarks for the record.

 

The Man Who Started It All: Robert Levine, original member of the Citizens Plan Committee whose action prodded the city into starting their own review of the Comprehensive Plan three years late. Neither Levine nor his two other associates, Robert Stackpole and Michael Graessle were invited on the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

Robert Levine one of the founders of the Citizens Plan Committee, (which WPCNR in the first edition of this article described as “defunct” in error), spoke in favor of more frequent planning intervals; demanded the Committee get better answers on availability of natural gas and electricity emergency supply in the future; and commented that the city has no design review process with any real influence, which he felt should be addressed.

 

Ted Peluso rose to suggest the city was right in keeping city hall where it is (255 Main Street)

 

Tom Roach rose to congratulate the committee on a fine job. Congratulated them on the reports, saying he was “impressed by the detail.” He said the process is “not over” and the public could comment again after the Common Council considers and renders its final version of the report for public comment.

 

John Martin and Mary Cavallero, Co-Chairs of the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, closed the meeting saying the Committee would meet one more time to review the evening’s public comments and then submit their report to the Common Council.

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WPCNR News Commentary. By John F. Bailey. September 12, 2005: Will the Democratic Candidate for Mayor of White Plains ever start to campaign?

 

 Is the Democratic Party of White Plains taking the campaign off?

 

Are two of the Republican Candidates for Common Council cooperating by laying low to allow the usual suspect Democrats to ease back into their do-nothing-but-say-yes slots?

 

Is Mayor Delfino so happy with his current Democratic Council (with the exception of Larry Delgado), that he is not campaigning for his Republican running mates? Of course, the Mayor has no coattails, he proved that in 2001.

 

Dennis Power  has sent out five press releases in three months, allowing the Mayor the first reaction before he sent out three of them. He has called no news conferences. He has only spoken out at two Council meetings. He is nowhere. Sending out faxed news releases is not campaigning.

 

However, a strong campaign against Delfino could win.

 

Consider the possibility of anti-Republican feeling due to the pragmatic, heartless response to Hurricane Katrina by the “Bush Crime Family” (Mike Mulloy’s line, not mine). Thanks to Mr. Bush’s demonstrated lack of humanity and compassion, Mr. Power, the Democratic candidate for Mayor  — the Ticket Position no big name Dem wanted – could actually steal the election.

 

But, hey, he has to want to.

 

But, hey, he has to campaign.

 

He has to fight for truth, justice and the American way.  Nobody seems to want to do that in either party  at any level of government these days.

 

The lack of a campaign, the lack of money tendered Mr. Power in two fundraisers,  with a third coming up tells this suspicious observer that Mr. Power is not supposed to win against Mayor Joseph Delfino and nobody wants him to win either.

 

It’s not the script.

 

It’s going too well for the developers, the state hierarchy, the medical establishment with Mayor Delfino greasing the skids for developers, finetuning  the city zoning code in 2002, and customizing it to whatever developers, medical facilities, and community connected want.

 

But this column is not about Mr. Delfino, he is just doing what he is told. He is very good at doing that.

 

This is about one-party government.

 

Government of the well-connected. King and Prince-making. And the pecking order.

 

Last spring Bill Ryan conducted a poll to assay his chances of defeating Joseph Delfino.

 

 Mr. Ryan told me himself that he wound up in a dead-heat with Mayor Delfino, 42% to 42%. Given the twenty or so issues a smart, informed, relentless candidate could raise against Delfino, (clearly articulated in this column last spring),  it was reasonable to expect that Mr. Ryan could have put up an excellent battle against the Mayor.

 

However, did  Ryan have too much to lose?  Did he see a clear, noncompetitive path to becoming County Executive in four years after Andy Spano disposed of the Republican candidate, Rob Astorino, running against him? The White Plains Mayoral Race would be a hard fought campaign and cost a lot of money, and who knows what dirt the Delfino Boys would dig up?

 

Was Ryan promised the County Executive plum in turn for not running? Of course not, this is not Tammany Hall.

 

So Ryan opted not to run, too much unfinished business at the county level, Ryan told me. 

 

Now, that left Adam Bradley, the  charismatic champion of election law sanctity, Glen Hockley’s Darrow, whose rapier-like campaign slash and burn tactics ousted Naomi Matusow with six relentless months of campaigning that Matusow was totally unprepared for.  Bradley: Energetic. A native son, an almost spotless record of being right on the issues people care about, and a man who actually knows how to campaign. He would have beaten Delfino in a walk.

 

He perhaps had a better shot than Bill Ryan at beating Delfino because he had a popular White Plains following, a solid track record in Albany for one term. Bradley told me he was not interested in becoming Mayor because he felt he could do more at the state level. Sound familiar?

 

Are we beginning to see a pattern here?

 

So with the two Democratic Dobermans leaving the White Plains porch, that left a lineup of the usual suspects: Rita Malmud, Benjamin Boykin, Jr., Glen Hockley and Thomas Roach as possible Mayoral candidates.

 

In interviews with the Democratic City Committee Nominating Committee they all said they were not interested in running. Roach, the strongest candidate of the four, declined, too. Roach, the token opposition to the Mayor on several issues, notably the condominium affordable housing buy-out issue, could have mounted a campaign if he had wished. He could not be criticized for being one of “The Six Blind Mice,” as former Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio refers to the Common Council.

 

But Roach decided not to express an interest in running for Mayor.

 

So the Democratic Nominating Committee reported that they did not recommend any candidate for Mayor last May.

 

Mayor Delfino was scheduled to run unopposed. Then Ron Jackson, an African-American, a community activist said he would run for Mayor. He volunteered.

 

Well! The City Democrats could not have that.

 

A rambunctious, hard-hitting, wheel-chair bound handicapped person running for Mayor, talking street talk who actually spoke out on issues when he saw them and particularly a Black person at that. Good God, no! How embarrassing to the Democratic Party?

 

So they said they would interview Mr. Jackson, and Dennis Power was talked into running. Power even resigned his job with the Hudson River Museum so he would have time, as he put it to run a campaign. (Considering the campaign he’s running, he could have kept his job.)

 

The Nominating Committee interviewed Mr. Jackson and Mr. Power on a Sunday, June 5 but Mr. Power in a bungle sent out a letter to district leaders asking for their support for Mayor  June 3 before he was chosen, received by leaders before Mr. Power was officially announced. That means that Mr. Jackson was being patronized.

 

Then Mr. Power announced his campaign twice in early June and in late June, but has not hit the Mayor hard on any issues of substance in three months. Finances? Not a word. Affordable Housing, an absence of proposals, and a mere call for a task force to be formed.  Taxes? not a word. Future Planning of the City? Not an explicit word except for statements at community meetings that all the community needs to be involved . Certioraris? Not a word.

 

 We do not know what Mr. Power stands for or what he would do on the twenty issues facing the city the CitizeNetReporter outlined in the spring.

 

His latest news release criticized the Mayor on the renewal of the New York Presbyterian Hospital Site Plan, accusing the Mayor of hiding the hospital’s intention to renew their proton accelerator site plan that expired August 5, and indicating that the site plan permit should not be renewed because they had not applied for it. It also promoted Rita Malmud as exposing the lateness of the intent to renew letter.

 

Why is Mr. Power promoting Rita Malmud? He should stake out a position on the issue! What are the Democratic Council Candidates doing for Dennis?

 

He did make the point that the proton accelerator site plan renewal issue has been swept under the rug. But his running mates: Malmud, Roach and Hockley have not raised the hospital site plan renewal issue either. It is a head-banger issue that could gather votes.

 

But, what is Mr. Power’s position on the New York Presbyterian Hospital?

 

Is he in favor of the St. Agnes development by North Street Community, the $250 Million to $300 Million minimum money maker aimed at that property that threatens to develop the entire 100 acres with custom zoning. Marc Pollitzer’s comment on the dangers of custom zoning that property on request  at the Common Council meeting September 5 was thoughtful.

 

Mr. Power should be hammering that. How about no rezoning of the property until the proton accelerator issue and medical commercial rezoning is resolved would be an interesting position, don’t you think?

 

Well, the intent to renew was not late and had not expired in any way. It is a quibble not a shot across the bow.

 

In another press release, Mr. Power did not do his homework. He admitted to WPCNR September 6 that the organization attempting to get Mayor Delfino to sign an agreement seeking to limit greenhouse warming, had not sent the letter to Mayor Delfino asking him to sign it.

 

Power had sent out a release taking Mayor Delfino to task for not signing a letter the Mayor was never sent. This is a gaffe. Mr. Power is getting very bad advice that is sabotaging him rather than helping him.

 

 Mr. Power alleged in his release that the letter was not date-stamped, raising the question that it was delivered September 6, and backdated to August 1. (Why not tie this to the suppression of the Bud Nicoletti sewer overrun memo that was suppressed from the Common Council in September 2001? That’s how you campaign – build a history of behind-the-back dealings. He did mention the suppression of the bond rating information in the Spring of 2004 – but the charge is “government in secret”.)

 

 A knowledgeable source close to city policy makers told WPCNR Friday that if a developer writes signifying they wish to renew a site plan at the time of renewal that that is evidence they wish to renew, even though the site plan paperwork is not in yet.

 

 Could some of Mr. Power’s council running mates have told him that?  Despite Rita Malmud’s support of the Intent to Renew Letter  release, he was misinformed and misses the real issue: The Mayor considers the Common Council a lot like the College of Cardinals: to be seen and not heard, great for blessings, but policy — forget about it.

 

Power, instead of campaigning for himself is actually promoting Rita Malmud as the feisty little watchdog of the Common Council, instead of himself. This is the same Rita Malmud who approved the City Center Development, and somehow failed to read Mr. Nicoletti’s statement warning about “catastrophic backups” if the Main Street Sewer problem was not addressed. Nicoletti’s  comment was in the City Center approving legislation. The council did one bad job on that whole sewer issue by not publicly censuring the Mayor and the individual who suppressed the Nicoletti memo for negligence.

 

How about the unexplainable absence of  Mr. Power last week on the New Orleans issue?

 

Dennis Power is identified with housing for the homeless. Homelessness, serving the handicapped is his background. He had two weeks after the New Orleans disaster to stake out his humanitarian credentials before the Mayor did with the Mayor’s rent-free apartments for New Orleans victims news conference last week.

 

Mr. Power appears to have deliberately held back an excellent headline maker and identifier (calling on developers and empty apartments to be opened to New Orleans victims) which might have jumpstarted his non-campaign. Instead, by his inaction, he gives it the Mayor. Nice handoff, Dennis. He did this on the Galleria killing, too, allowing the Mayor to have the first shot.

 

It is this reporter’s opinion that the Democrats’ job is to make sure Mr. Power loses, while giving the impression the Democrats were trying to unseat Mr. Delfino.  Power’s reward for this Quixote Quest (so far)  – well who knows? Is it a county job, in addition to being appointed to poor Robert Greer’s Council seat when the time comes?

 

Why would you quit your job to run a campaign and then not run to win?

 

Mr. Power can walk the city in the Glen Hockley School of Grassroots Campaigning to drum up votes. He has to do that.

 

He has squandered three months of conciousness-raising time. As of today he has 60 days before the election. A lot of catchup ball to play.

What this says to me is that we have one-party government in White Plains.

 

However, the running of Power and the overrunning of Lake Pontchartrain one week ago today have scared the Mayor into running a poll, measuring his popularity against Mr. Power.

 

Mr. Delfino, though, is bereft of any kind of political organization. I mean how many Republicans in White Plains are there who believe enough in the party to make phone calls to get out the vote?

 

The thrust of the questions of the telephone poll conducted among Democratic voters  by Mr. Delfino is to ascertain how Democrats feel about him, to assure himself he will get that old Democrat crossover. The pollster contacting one Democratic voter, Candyce Corcoran, actually told Ms. Corcoran, “this guy Delfino is doing well.”

 

However, Delfino need not worry. The Democrats have to get out a vote for Mr. Power and have to get started campaigning. The footdragging and fumbling of the issues is incredible.

 

There is no money for Mr. Power. I see no signs. No bumper stickers. No radio appearances. No interest in the Journal News in his candidacy. (I mean Power may as well be running on the Republican ticket for all the ink The Journal News is giving him.)

 

The most campaigning against Delfino has been done by John Carlson, a Republican Candidate for Common Council who has taken the Mayor to task for financial management. Larry Delgado, the other Republican Councilman is not campaigning to speak of.  I have not heard from the third Republican Council Candidate.

 

The converse appears to be true. Other than Carlson, the other two Republican Candidates appear to be doing little to unseat the other “Five Blind Mice.”

 

Meanwhile no Democrat Councilperson has said a word or campaigned for Dennis Power. That should be interesting at the genteel League of Women Voters debates to watch that interplay.

 

Bottom line folks, this smells like a contrived election scenario, well worth investigation by Tony Castro, or Janet DiFiori, whoever wins the County D.A. post, or Eliot Spitzer, or the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Weak candidates put up against strong incumbents  has happened too often. That it is happening in White Plains is a disgrace.

 

Predictions: Adam Bradley is looking to run for Representive Nita Lowey’s seat in 2006 if she retires or for  Suzi Oppenheimer’s State Senate seat.

 

However, you never know what is going to happen.

 

If Winbrook voted in November, they could give the election to Dennis Power, especially after the White Plains Housing Authority fiasco. Especially after the city refuses to involve Winbrook before the election on their secret plans to develop the West Side, Post Road and Lexington Avenue neighborhood. (We hear that Avalon, the New Rochelle developer, has the inside track to develop that West Side neighborhood.) And especially after the Bush performance in New Orleans.

 

Ironically though Mayor Delfino has delivered the Digital Divide Computer Labs to Winbrook and other public housing apartments in the city – perhaps the single most humanitarian achievement of his administration. I salute the Mayor for that and his work in getting the city back to growing, apparently.

 

Power should be running vans in a nonstop stream from Winbrook, DeKalb and Battle Hill to get the vote out in November.

 

The Democratic Party is acting as if Dennis Power their “standard bearer” is running on a minority party ticket. Will they work the phones like they have in the past for Mr. Power? Will Andy Spano open his war chest to Mr. Power and give him the money to make a case against Mayor Delfino? It does not look like it at this time, folks.

 

Why would you not want to win the Mayor’s seat in White Plains? There’s so much juicy patronage in the city. All those commissionerships. The opportunity to put in a massive press office.

 

For those who predict the future and try and establish a political succession order nothing is certain.

 

Suppose there should suddenly become a vacancy in the Mayor’s office?  Then the next Common Council President becomes the Mayor. And Adam Bradley if he ever wanted to run for Mayor would be at the mercy of the interim Mayor’s performance. Suppose Mayor Delfino wanted to run for County Executive, (at age 76) then Mr. Ryan would be faced with a formidable popular opponent who shows more energy than politicians half his age.

 

The responsibility of the party not in power is to critique, highlight shortcomings, and raise issues when they campaign against an incumbent Mayor in hopes of improving the Mayor’s performance and sensitivity even in a losing effort.

 

The Democratic Party to their shame and disgrace did not put up their best candidate for Mayor, they all bailed out, and were not going to run anyone.

 

Now they are not running a campaign.

 

Do they care where the city is going?

 

Do they have a clue?

 

It does not look like they do.

 

Otherwise they would be campaigning.

 

They are giving the election away.