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WPCNR SCREEN GEMS. From National Amusements. March 25, 2005: WPCNR as a weekly public service presents the schedule for White Plains movies at the City Center De Lux. Miss Congeniality 2 and Guess Who are the premiers this weekend. Here’s the schedule — simply print out and keep handy on your refrigerator door:
MISS CONGENIALITY 2: Armed and Fabulous — Sandra Bullock returns as FBI agent/beauty pageant contestant, Gracie Hart, in this comedy sequel which once again co-stars the always smarmy William Shatner. Rated PG-13
OPENS NATIONWIDE, FRIDAY, March 25th
GUESS WHO — Bernie Mac plays a proud father who feels no man is good enough for his beautiful daughter. He envisions her future husband being a cross between Denzel Washington, Colin Powell and Tiger Woods. To his dismay, he discovers her actual boyfriend is, well, VERY MUCH like Ashton Kutcher. Rated PG-13
The lineup for Easter Week.
Friday, March 25, 2005 Hits: 0 WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. March 24, 2005: Thomas J. Abinanti, the attorney for former deposed Councilman Glen Hockley who attended Wednesday evening’s Common Council Work Session at City Hall, has released a statement nine days after the Appellate Court, Second Department, issued a ruling on Mr. Hockley’s appeal for a jury trial on the jammed voting matter. Abinanti takes issue with the decision, and remarks that they are still considering how to proceed: Hockley Attorney Statement: The Appellate Division, Second Department, has issued a decision on Glen Hockley’s appeal of Westchester Supreme Court’s order removing him from the White Plains Common Council summarily without a trial. The Appellate Division found that Westchester Supreme Court was wrong to consider summary judgment without giving Hockley the opportunity he sought to take depositions. The Appellate Division reopened discovery, gave Hockley until June 30 to conduct depositions and stayed his appeal until both sides submit additional legal papers 30 days thereafter. The Appellate Division decision is both gratifying and perplexing. Thomas J. Abinanti Attorney for Glen Hockley Hits: 0 WPCNR METRO MEDIA. From the Office of State Assemblyman George Latimer. March 23, 2005: State Assemblyman GEORGE LATIMER (Dem, 91st A.D.) takes to the airwaves at local radio station WVOX 1460 AM for a weekly talk and call-in program tomorrow called “The Assembly Report”, which airs every Friday from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Hits: 0 WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. March 23, 2005: Louis Cappelli the Super Developer is on the threshold of announcing a hotelier for his 221 Main Renaissance Square Development “within days.” Louis Cappelli, the Artful Financier is conducting a delicate orchestration of closing for his financing for his hotel and condoplex within the next three weeks. Last night Mr. Cappelli asked the Common Council to approve of his 25-units of affordable housing proposal for 240 Main Street with backup proposal of 17 more units of affordable housing at 189 Main Street to make that possible. He said a solution to the 42 units affordable housing he promised to build was essential to secure that financing and his hotel, in addition to guaranteeing he could open the hotel on time. THE MAIN EVENT: The Mayor’s Conference was wall-to-wall legal talent and developer intensity Wednesday evening. Martin Ginsburg of Ginsburg Development Corportion, left characterizes Mr. Cappelli’s 240 Main Street 5-story affordable housing proposal as “absolutely wrong for the site and the city.” Ginsburg said he’d build 16 units at his Pinnacle tower, if the council favored his new plan to go from 23 stories to 29 stories. Mr. Cappelli, Renaissance Square conceptualist at right, in elegant yellow tie. Photo by WPCNR News. DESIGN BEING WORKED ON DAILY: Mr. Cappelli said his Renaissance Square design is developing a variety of face treatments varying from sheer glass to stepped glass, showing the latest Northerly view. He said this design is being tweaked. Photo by WPCNR News. The Super Developer made a case for buiding 5 stories of affordable housing adjacent the 28-story proposed Pinnacle Building before the Common Council Wednesday evening, and 6 stories of affordable housing at 197 Main Street, asking the council to approve the 40-story heights for his towers at 221 Main Street and assuring him a concrete way to meet his affordable housing obligation at the City Center and 221 Main. Bruce Berg, President of Cappelli Enterprises demonstrates difference and looks between Mr. Cappelli’s 8-story proposal at 240 Main and the alternative 5-story proposal for the affordable housing building 240 developed due to Common Council unease at building the “affordables” at the 8-story height. Photo by WPCNR News. Looking on and making his own proposal to develop 240 Main Street in his own right, (which he did not illustrate for the audience), rival developer Martin Ginsburg, The Pinnacle kingpin, presented the Council with his plan to build 16 affordable housing units in a 29-story Pinnacle Building, up from the 23 stories he had lowered the building in a failed agreement which he claimed Mr. Cappelli had agreed to then reneged. Ginsburg presented a letter of an agreement to the Common Council that he said he had made with Mr. Cappelli on developing 240 Main Street as a plaza and cafe. Ginsburg said Mr. Cappelli had agreed upon the plan and backed out. Mr. Ginsburg told the council the matter of Mr. Cappelli’s ownership at 240 Main Street was subject of litigation between he and Mr. Cappelli. He said litigation sought to rescind the Cappelli deed to the property. Mayor Delfino, reacting to Mr. Ginsburg’s new proposal, said he did not like litigation to hold up a project, citing the former Ian Beyer case that contributed to the failure of the Tishman-Speyer plans for City Center. The Mayor then prevented the council from getting into a discussion of changing zoning alternatives for Mr. Ginsburg at the suggestion of City Corporation Counsel, Edward Dunphy. Photo by WPCNR News Alan Katz, attorney for Mr. Ginsburg, asked by WPCNR in the rotunda to explain the lynchpin of the Ginsburg lawsuit said that it had to do with the former owners of the property, F & J Food Corporation suing Mr. Cappelli for making a deal with the owner of the Main Street Book Store and Mr. Cappelli’s motion to have that suit dismissed via summary judgment that was rejected. James Benerofe of Suburban Street recalled he thought that the F & J Food Corporation had been settled. Mr. Cappelli Explains. In the rotunda after the rivals presented their plans, Mr. Cappelli told WPCNR he had never signed the agreement presented in letter form by Mr. Ginsburg. He told WPCNR he did not sign it because he felt he had to guarantee he could meet his affordable housing committment on his hotel-condominium project. He said he had to build all 42 units with the hotel/condominium towers to guarantee he could eventually open the hotel complex (get a Certificate of Occupancy), on time, without being held back from opening should a site for affordable housing not be designated by the Council during the course of construction, resulting in all his affordables not being built. Ginsburg Does Not Commit to Build if Denied. Tom Roach, Common Council President queried Mr. Ginsburg on what he would do if the council went with Mr. Cappelli’s proposal. Ginsburg at first evaded the question, but indicated he would seriously have to reevaluate building the project. Ginsburg suggested the Cappelli 240 Main Street building was “wrong for the site and for the city.” Mr. Cappelli, in his remarks to the council, said if the council had another site after their approval where they felt Mr. Cappelli’s affordable housing could be built, he would gladly “entertain it.” He said it would be a year before he started the affordable housing units, indicating the council had a year to come up with an alternative site, hinting, that would release 240 Main Street allaying Mr. Ginsburg’s concerns. Reporter NOTES… Mr. Cappelli announced that the Trump Tower at City Center was all sold out NEW WATER MAIN FOR MARTINE CORRIDOR. Photo by WPCNR News Later in the Council Work Session, Joseph Nicoletti, Commissioner of Public Works, said that Martine Avenue from North Broadway to Mamaroneck Avenue adjacent to the South exit of City Center Garage would be travel restricted and sometimes closed during the for replacement of a 12-inch water Main at a cost of $700,000 to the city (half of which will be paid by Cappelli Enterprises). The water main project is expected to affect traffic around the City Center daily from May 1 to July 1, Nicoletti said. Hits: 0 WPCNR CITY HALL TICKER. From Westchester County Republican Party. March 23, 2005: White Plains Mayor Joe Delfino, along with Republican City Mayors Phil Amicone of Yonkers and John Testa of Peekskill will all be honored at the upcoming Annual GOP Dinner to be held on March 31st. Mayor Joseph Delfino, presiding over the Common Council Work Session Wednesday evening. “America’s Favorite Mayor” will be honored at the Westchester GOP’s main fundraising event which will feature former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, dubbed ‘America’s Mayor’ for his admirable leadership following the September 11th terrorist attacks. Mayor Delfino has been the creator of the White Plains Renaissance, indefatigable symbol of the city for seven and a half years, and a relentless promoter and orchestrator of his city. Photo by WPCNR News. Hits: 0 WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 23, 2005: Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors reported that White Plains High School was referring most, if not all of the students involved in last Wednesday’s preplanned St. Patrick’s Day morning party, to the high school counseling program on alcohol abuse. Connors stated today that there was alcohol on the premesis on Baylor Circle, (just off the high school athletic fields in Havilands Manor) but “there was no proof any one of the students was drinking (at the time the party was interrupted.” Police said the party was interdicted by the White Plains Police at between 10:30 and 11 A.M. on March 17. Asked if this meant the party had been broken up by White Plains Police before the drinking had begun, Mr. Connors said he did not know that, but “clearly, we’re grateful we were aware there might be a party there.” Connors reported that 20 to 24 children taken to Eastview School after they were retrieved by police were being disciplined under the high school code of conduct for cutting classes and leaving school illegally, and had already received their punishments. He said it is not school policy to reveal what the penalties were, but “whatever the code of conduct penalties were, that’s what they were.” Asked what packaging and varieties of alcoholic beverages were found on the premises, Connors said he did not know. Hits: 0 WPCNR Highlands Night Out. By John F. Bailey. The subgroups, Cavallero said would report back to the committee-at-large. The committee-at-large would digest the subgroup findings. The at large committee would issue a preliminary report on the comprehensive plan, the public would be invited to comment on the Committee’s preliminary report. Finally the CPRC would be revised and turned over to the Common Council for their acceptance – perhaps with specific recommendations on changes and directions of growth that could be added to the Comprehensive Plan. Cavallero said this could include acceptance of the plan as being on target, in need of revisions in certain areas or as sweeping as a recommendation that a new Comprehensive Plan needed to be created. Asked if the final review of the plan could include Comprehensive Plan Review Committee policy recommendations as to how the city should develop as changes to the Comprehensive Plan to the Common Council, John Martin, Co-Chair of the Committee said “That’s a fair statement.” The committee and audience of 60 persons filling 10 rows of seats listened to a 36 minute presentation of Ms. Habel on the projects and issues that the administration had instituted in the “Close-In” Neighborhoods. The initial portion of the meeting was taken up by protesting citizens saying there had not been enough notification of the meetings across the city. It emerged that only Council of Neighborhood Assocations representatives and neighborhood associations in the “Close-In Neighborhoods” only were noticed. There was no citywide notification by the city. The Journal News was singled out for criticism by the Planning Department for not printing advance notices of the meetings, though sent press releases. There was no commentary on specific development issues in any of the close-in neighborhoods. Comments centered on the CORE area for the second meeting in a row, and the issues of traffic, height, density of population, pollution, and congestion were the main themes. Mention was made of the St. Agnes property potential for creating further issues on the A good showing of younger residents in their late twenties and thirties appeared for the first time in the second of a series of four “neighborhood” meetings. Their concerns raised the issues of affordable housing again on a most human first-hand experience. Another resident challenged the city to stop protecting “the slumlords” of Mary Cavallero advised that future CPRC meetings: three more would entertain comment on all neighborhoods of the city and comments could be e-mailed to the Planning Department. The meetings are as follows: Tuesday, Mar 29 to discuss Outer Areas, Major Properties and Gateways/Major Corridors within them; Tuesday, Apr 5 to discuss Community Resources and Implementation The CPRC asserted they were listening to the community, and wanted to listen. Hits: 0 WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. MARCH 23, 2005: The Common Council convenes for its monthly worksession this evening at 6 P.M. at City Hall to discuss the Cappelli Hotel-Condoplex “Renaissance Square,” the Cappelli senior housing apartments at 240 Main Street, Martin Ginsburg’s scaled-back plans for The Pinnacle next door, and Community Development Program recommendations. Also on tap are water main replacements on Mamroneck Avenue and Martine Avenues, and additional parking on 2 Overlook Drive at 101 Mamaroneck Avenue. Hits: 0 WPCNR HIGHLANDS PATROL. March 22, 2005: Retired Commissioner of Planning for the City of White Plains, Michael Graessle, addressed the Mayor’s Comprehensive Planning Review Committee Tuesday evening at the Highlands Middle School. Here is the text of his remarks: MIKE GRAESSLE — Speaking when he and the Citizens Plan Committee first raised the issue of rexamining the Comprehensive Plan, May 26, 2004 at Our Lady of Sorrows. Photo, WPCNR News Archive. Hits: 0 WPCNR Mamaroneck Avenue Ambler. By John F. Bailey. March 22, 2005: JPI, builders of The Jefferson on Mamaroneck Avenue will market their 8-story panoramic residential complex on the avenue as condominiums. WPCNR has confirmed this from informed sources with knowledge of the developer’s plans. The Dallas development firm will be filing an Offering Plan with the Attorney General’s Office to market their 281 units of apartments and town houses as condominiums. The developer plans to market 1 bedroom units beginning at $320,000 up to $420,000 at this time, and 2 bedroom units with their wraparound bay windows at the higher levels from $450,000 to $650,000. The developer announced these plans in detail at a recent meeting of the Highlands Neighborhood Association at JPI’s White Plains offices. In addition sources who heard the presentation told WPCNR the developer plans to sell 125 parking spaces of the 460 in their underground garage for $20,000 to $30,000 each to owners who wish more than their 1-allotted free parking space. JPI plans two 2,000 square foot blocks of retail space, one of which will contain a restaurant, described as “white table cloth” in quality. However they are only reserving 25 parking spaces for each retail wing. JPI’s solution is for retail and restaurant traffic to park on the street. First occupancy is hope for , by the fall. On the matter of their 6% allotment to affordable housing, JPI told the Highlands residents who attended the briefing that they expected to pay a fee rather than market “affordable units” at below market rates.
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (PG-13) –10:05 pm;12:35 am. ;
Guess Who (PG-13) –1:35;4:25;7:15;10:00 pm;12:25 am. ;
The Pacifier (PG) –12:00;2:15;4:35;6:50;9:10;11:25 pm. ;
Hostage (R) –1:40;4:50;7:20;9:55 pm;12:25 am. ;
Guess Who **(PG-13) –1:05;3:45;6:45;9:20;11:55 pm. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30;4:20;6:55;9:35 pm;12:10 am. ;
Robots: The IMAX Experience (PG) –12:15;2:30;4:45;7:10;9:15;11:30 pm. ;
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous **(PG-13) –1:15;4:10;7:00;9:50 pm;12:20 am. ;
Be Cool (PG-13) –1:10;4:15;7:25;10:10 pm;12:45 am. ;
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (PG-13) –1:45;4:40;7:30;10:15 pm;12:40 am. ;
The Ring Two (PG-13) –1:20;4:00;6:40;7:05;9:15;9:40;11:50 pm;12:10 am. ;
The Ring Two **(PG-13) –12:40;3:25;6:10;8:50;11:20 pm. ;
Ice Princess (G) –1:00;3:15;5:35;8:00;10:20 pm;12:30 am. ;
Robots (PG) –12:45;1:25;3:00;4:05;5:15;7:35 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:25;3:20;6:30;9:25 pm;12:15 am. ;
Saturday, March 26, 2005
The Ring Two **(PG-13) –12:40;3:25;6:10;8:50;11:20 pm. ;
The Ring Two (PG-13) –1:20;4:00;6:40;7:05;9:15;9:40;11:50 pm;12:10 am. ;
Ice Princess (G) –1:00;3:15;5:35;8:00;10:20 pm;12:30 am. ;
Guess Who **(PG-13) –1:05;3:45;6:45;9:20;11:55 pm. ;
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous **(PG-13) –1:15;4:10;7:00;9:50 pm;12:20 am. ;
Be Cool (PG-13) –1:10;4:15;7:25;10:10 pm;12:45 am. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30;4:20;6:55;9:35 pm;12:10 am. ;
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (PG-13) –1:45;4:40;7:30;10:15 pm;12:40 am. ;
Robots (PG) –12:45;1:25;3:00;4:05;5:15;7:35 pm. ;
The Pacifier (PG) –12:00;2:15;4:35;6:50;9:10;11:25 pm. ;
Robots: The IMAX Experience (PG) –12:15;2:30;4:45;7:10;9:15;11:30 pm. ;
Hostage (R) –1:40;4:50;7:20;9:55 pm;12:25 am. ;
Guess Who (PG-13) –1:35;4:25;7:15;10:00 pm;12:25 am. ;
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (PG-13) –10:05 pm;12:35 am. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:25;3:20;6:30;9:25 pm;12:15 am. ;
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (PG-13) –10:05 pm. ;
Hostage (R) –1:40;4:50;7:20;9:55 pm. ;
Guess Who **(PG-13) –1:05;3:45;6:45;9:20 pm. ;
Robots: The IMAX Experience (PG) –12:15;2:30;4:45;7:10;9:15 pm. ;
The Pacifier (PG) –12:00;2:15;4:35;6:50;9:10 pm. ;
Guess Who (PG-13) –1:35;4:25;7:15;10:00 pm. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30;4:20;6:55;9:35 pm. ;
Robots (PG) –12:45;1:25;3:00;4:05;5:15;7:35 pm. ;
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous **(PG-13) –1:15;4:10;7:00;9:50 pm. ;
Be Cool (PG-13) –1:10;4:15;7:25;10:10 pm. ;
The Ring Two **(PG-13) –12:40;3:25;6:10;8:50 pm. ;
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (PG-13) –1:45;4:40;7:30;10:15 pm. ;
Ice Princess (G) –1:00;3:15;5:35;
Hockley Attorney Issues Statement on Deposition Decision: Still Thinking
By finding that Mr. Hockley “should have been given an opportunity” to take the depositions of the principal witnesses against him, the Appellate Division stood up for fundamental fairness and vindicated the position we have maintained since December, 2003, when Westchester Supreme summarily prohibited us from taking those depositions.
But the Appellate Division failed to follow its own legal ruling to its logical conclusion: that Mr. Hockley must be restored to office. In so doing, the Appellate Division has abandoned long-standing legal precedent which dictates that summary judgment must be reversed when granted without the losing party having had proper discovery Instead, in a determination which it admitted was “unique,” the Appellate Division left summary judgment in place– and Mr. Hockley out of office– pending the completion of depositions. It’s a decision reminiscent of the “Sentence first– verdict afterwards” of Alice in Wonderland.
The disputed election was held in November 2001. The Attorney General commenced this lawsuit to overturn Mr. Hockley’s certified victory in December 2002. After the Appellate Division decided in late 2003 that the commencement was still timely, we were prepared to take the depositions that the Appellate Division now confirms we had the right to take. But it is now fifteen and a half months later, with only seven and a half months before the next election for Common Council. The Court’s proposed four-and-a half month delay hardly seems designed to promote a fair and timely resolution of the case.
We will carefully consider whether the procedure laid out by the Court makes any sense at this late date or if there are alternatives available to Mr. Hockley.
Radio Latimer: Assemblyman Talks Albany on WVOX 1460 1 P.M.
Latimer, who has appeared on WVOX over the last 20 years, launched the program in early March, and provides an opening update on news from the week in Albany. Invited each week are guests from one of the seven communities that comprise the 91st Assembly District, for a discussion of key local issues. Callers are then welcomed to call-in to ask questions of Latimer and/or the guests.
To date, Assemblyman Latimer has interviewed the Rye Brook Village Administrator Chris Bradbury; two Larchmont Village Trustees Anne McAndrews and Marlene Kolbert; and Mamaroneck Village Trustee Tom Murphy. Upcoming guests will focus on Rye City, Port Chester, Mamaroneck
Town and New Rochelle.
“I’m pleased to be on the air every week”, Latimer noted. “It’s one more way to keep in touch with the people I represent”. Latimer hosted a call-in program for 4 years during his tenure as Chairman of the
Westchester County Board of Legislators, from 1998-2001.
The studio line for callers to the program is 636-0110. For more information, contact Assemblyman Latimer’s office at 777-3832. Cappelli-Ginsburg Main Event at Delfino Garden.Ginsburg Launches Late Legal Hook
America’s Favorite Mayor Honored by America’s Mayor March 31 by County GOP
Rosemarie Panio, Chair of the County GOP said she was ecstatic when Giuliani accepted the invitation to attend the GOP dinner as the event’s featured speaker and honored guest. Panio noted that Giuliani is a highly acclaimed Republican nationwide, and said his presence will certainly heighten the level of enthusiasm surrounding the Westchester GOP’s annual event.
“Mayor Giuliani is an American icon,” said Panio. “He is easily one of the most prominent leaders of our time, and lucky for us, he is also a Republican.”
Panio said that highlighting Westchester’s Republican Mayors and Supervisors, such as White Plains Mayor Joe Delfino, helps to demonstrate the party’s strength across the county.
The March 31st event will be held at the Rye Town Hilton. Tickets for the event are $300 per person. Reservations can be made by contacting Republican headquarters at (914) 949-3020.
Alcohol on Premises. No Proof of Drinking Connors Reports
CPRC, Populace Grapple—Chairs Agree Committee Can Make Recos
Council Hears Latest From Cappelli, Ginsburg, Community Development Cuts
Graessle Pleads with MCPRC at Highlands for more Input on Core Area
The 1997 Comprehensive Plan was the result of a process that featured widespread public participation. The current process for reviewing and updating the Plan should also include – indeed it should even welcome – the same level of widespread public participation
Your meeting of February 9, 2005 was billed as a public hearing on the Core Area Neighborhood. Although called a “public hearing,” it is not clear what publications the public hearing was announced in, or what efforts were made to encourage public participation. Other than representatives from the White Plains BID and the Citizens Plan Committee, only a few additional members of the public actually attended the session and, apparently, none of them live in the Core Area Neighborhood.
I imagine that this lack of citizen participation concerns you as much as it does members of our Committee. The most significant amount of development is occurring in the City’s Core Area, and there is considerable anxiety about such issues as height, lack of open space, density, and traffic. Yet, we are troubled that most residents of the downtown area were never informed about your meeting and, consequently, that concerned residents were not present to share their views with you.
Clearly, you cannot regard the small number of citizens who attended the February 9 meeting as representative of the community’s interest in the Core area. We checked with a limited number of residents in the downtown area and confirmed our impression that they had no foreknowledge of the meeting. For example, it was reported that the leadership of a cooperative on Martine Avenue was unaware of your meeting although they have been very concerned about the downtown development issues because of their proximity to City Center and other major construction in the vicinity. Nor does it seem that residents of Martine Avenue, Mitchell
Place or any of the other residential buildings in the Core Area Neighborhood were aware of your meeting. Since much of the future of our City is linked to the success of the Core Area, we don’t see how you can move ahead to the consideration of other issues until you address the Core Area adequately.
We gather that your Committee is now picking up on suggestions to undertake better communications regarding the date, time and place for your future meetings, as well as the topics to be covered. Please let all of us know soon–here– now– how you intend to do it.
The absence of citizens at the meeting may also be attributed to the fact that your Committee members themselves seemed unclear about the direction that the committee ought to take. At your initial meeting, for example, Lewis Trippett recommended creation of subcommittees similar to those involved in developing the 1997 Plan. Eli Schoenberger suggested creating a task force to address each of the four areas recommended by the Planning Department. Bob Goldstein questioned meeting as a full committee, rather than meeting as subgroups. And Ron
Jackson suggested that the meetings be held in different locations across the city in order to facilitate citizen participation. In addition, Ann Edwards requested that there be a meeting on each of the four areas prior to each public hearing, and Guy D’Antona recommended that, prior to any public hearings, another organizational meeting of
the committee be held. Mr. Trippett further suggested that written reports from neighborhood associations be reviewed prior to public hearings. Even the co-chair, John Martin, commented that he thought
another organizational meeting would be useful prior to the public hearings.
Given the contrary recommendations from a variety of your own committee members, it shouldn’t be surprising to you that we, along with others, were amazed to see your Committee proceed immediately with the schedule for the four public hearings, beginning on March 1. For us, such actions gave rise two critical questions: Who is influencing the decisions of the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee? Will your Committee be able to work independently and come to your own conclusions and recommendations, or will you be responsive to pressures from other sources?
We have said it before and we’ll say it again: your Committee needs to be objective, open and reasoned in its deliberations; and your manner of operation must be seen as independent and credible. An independent
Comprehensive Plan Review Committee is essential to assure that the comments and suggestions of the diverse population of the City of White Plains are heard and carefully considered. Now that you’ve had your
second organizational meeting last week, nearly half-way through the originally reported three month timetable, we believe that it would be extremely useful, essential really for your Committee, to explain to the public how, despite the apparent inclinations of many of your own members, you reached your decisions about the way you are proceeding – in particular, why there have been no task forces or subcommittees established, and why the efforts to invite true public participation have been so limited.
Mike Graessle JPI’s The Jefferson will Sell as Condominiums from $320G to $650G