WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, 89th A.D. March 12, 2006: One of my highest priorities in the Assembly is fighting for a cleaner, healthier environment.  As a father, I understand that protecting our environment and preserving open spaces are among the greatest gifts we can give to our children. Since my election to the Assembly in 2002, I have been fighting to clean up our environment and protect New York’s open spaces.

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In addition to serving on the Assembly’s Environmental Conservation Committee, last year I was honored by being appointed chairman of the subcommittee responsible for Oversight of the Department of Environmental Conservation. Through this challenging position, I am fighting to preserve and improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers. As a tireless advocate for a cleaner New York and governmental reform, I have utilized this opportunity to ensure that DEC keeps its vital promise to our communities—to preserve and protect the indispensable resources we have for generations to come.

A record of protecting the environment

I have authored The Environmental Access to Justice Act (A.114) that passed the Assembly to make it easier for private citizens to file a legal claim and hold companies and developers that pollute accountable for violating State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) determinations.  Currently, the law bars individuals from access to courts in cases in which the public at large is harmed.  Individuals who may suffer harm from such violations should not be denied the right to have their cases heard. My legislation would provide impacted individuals the right to protect the environment.

To make sure Indian Point and other nuclear power plants properly notify the public of their emissions, I sponsored legislation that passed the Assembly creating standards for plants to follow (A.6110).  The bill would require nuclear power plants to make scheduled emissions public at least 24 hours beforehand via a toll-free telephone number and to tell the public about unscheduled releases, breakdowns or malfunctions no more than 24 hours later.

I have also fought for over $5 million for the protection of open spaces and I sponsor additional legislation to protect and preserve Westchester’s water and air quality, including:

·        The Community Preservation Act which allows municipalities to raise money through a Community Preservation Fund to be used for land conservation and historic preservation (A.6450)

·        The Clean Water Protection and Flood Prevention Act which increases protections of New York’s freshwater Wetlands – further protecting water resources and wildlife habitat (A.2048)

·        Expanding the bottle bill to include non-carbonated beverage bottles (A.2517)

·        Reducing emissions from electric generating facilities (A.4459)

·        Prohibiting the open burning of solid waste (A.3073)

·        Increasing funds available for environmental and conservation purposes through the Environmental Protection Fund (A.9283)

In the Environmental Advocate’s 2003 Voters’ Guide, I was described with three other Assemblymembers as those who “made a difference in their first year in Albany.”  And in the Environmental Advocates 2005 Voters’ Guide, I earned a perfect score of 100 for supporting environmental savvy legislation.  I remain committed to protecting our environment and preserving our open space. It is vital that we keep our communities strong and ensure New York continues to be a great place to live and raise a family.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. March 10, 2006:  Here are the  upcoming meetings of the White Plains Board of Education.   Please note that dates of Special Meetings, as well as topics, when listed, are subject to change.  It is advisable to confirm as dates approach.

                        March 15:        Special Meeting, Education House, 7:30 P.M.

            Fourth Meeting of Annual Budget Committee — Bond Issue for Infrastructure Upgrade and Athletic Fields and Post Road School to be discussed.

                        March 16:        Special Meeting, Education House, 7:30 P.M.

                        March 20:        Special Meeting, Education House, 7:30 P.M.

                                                     Public Hearing on 2006-07 Budget and Capital Project Plan

                        March 27:        Special Meeting, Education House, 7:30 P.M.

                                                     Adoption of 2007-07 Budget and Property Tax Report Card

                                                     Decision on Capital Project Plan

                        April 3: Regular Meeting, Education House, 7:30 P.M.

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WPCNR NORTH END NEWS. By John F. Bailey. March 9, 2006: The North Broadway Civic Association Board voted unanimously, 10-0 to ask the city to acquire the AT&T-owned parking lot at Church Street and Barker Avenues and turn it into a 3-acre public park instead of approving the Avalon Bay apartment-townhouse project of 381 apartments and townhouses on the site.

The Avalon Bay Project, seen from Barker and Church. Photo of rendering, WPCNR News Archive.

Avalon Bay Seen from Church Street hill, looking South into the downtown. Project was rejected as not good for the neighborhood last night. Photo of Rendering, WPCNR News Archive.

Dolf Beil, President of the association informed the 32-persons in attendance at the regular NBCA meeting last night that the Association committee, after one presentation from Avalon Bay and two meetings with the developers of Avalon Bay, the latest of which was held Tuesday evening,  said to the members, “There are concerns with Avalon Bay and it (the committee) decided to focus on the greater good — the creation of a park on a 3-acre prime location at relatively low cost.” Photo, WPCNR News

Beil said that the committee carrying neighborhood concerns to the Avalon Bay development group was thankful for the organization offer to create a 7,500 square foot park at the Northwest corner of the property, as part of the development.  

He said the committee reasoned that asking for a 3-acre park was “their best shot” at influencing the Common Council to listen to neighborhood concerns. Beil stated that the Board would draft a statement and present it to the Common Council on March 21, stating the position, and at the public hearing on the Avalon Bay project at the Common Council April 3.

Jerry Levine a resident of the North Broadway area said he was confident he could raise $10 million with which the city could purchase the park through his connections with philanthropic personalities and foundations. 

Tom Roach, White Plains Common Councilman in attendance said “It was not that simple. The city would have to negotiate for the purchase of the property. I think it would be a great place for a park.”

Glen Hockley, another White Plains Common Councilman in attendance had no reaction to the decision.

Avalon Bay, as proposed would consist of —

393 units, 14 story building fronting Barker, 49 units of 3-4 story townhouses, a 6 level 539 space garage.

A Special Permit needed from the Common Council to go from zoned 6 stories to proposed 14 stories, height of 125 feet permitted.

Unit breakdown: 39 studios, 255 one bedrooms, 73 two bedrooms, 41 three bedrooms, completion date: 2008  Avalon to comply with 6% affordable housing component

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WPCNR SOUTHEND TIMES. By Don Hughes. March 9, 2006:  There were about 30 people at the Rocky Dell Neighborhood Association meeting yesterday. There was universal disappointment over the Mayor’s, Councilmen Boykin’s and Hockley’s comments during the last Common Council meeting  that the city already had plenty of open space.

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Councilman Roach, (Pictured in August 2002)  and Assemblyman Bradley attended and spoke about the  importance of maintaining open space; as well as it being poor policy  to sell public assets to fund operating expenses.  Assemblyman Bradely  also indicated that White Plains was less concerned about, and had less, open space than any of the other municipalities in his district. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

Adam Bradley at City Hall, 2003. Clarifies Statement.Photo, WPCNR News Archive

Amplifying his remarks in a telephone to WPCNR Thursday afternoon, Assemblyman Bradley told WPCNR that his being reported as saying White Plains was less concerned about…open space, was incorrect, that he never said that.  He told WPCNR this was an “unfair representative of his remarks. Bradley said Thursday, “that there is concern because White Plains has less open space than other municipalities,” and that he felt that the policy of selling the Railside Avenue land “is a tremendously misguided policy in light of that (that White Plains does not have much open space.”  He told WPCNR “that remark  does not support that White Plains is less concerned.”

Alan Teck, President of CCOS, (Picture from August, 2002) refuted the Mayor’s statement that the Open Space Committee had recommended the sale of the Railside property, indicating that the Mayor has not even called a meeting of the committee in over two years, and that, at most, what that they had done was to prioritize the various parcels of open space. Photo, WPCNR News Archive

The association will be mounting a petition and letter writing campaign as well as a door-to-door sweep to counter the notion that ‘most’ people don’t know what the Greenway is and couldn;t care less.

  It was suspected that ‘most’ people don’t know about Councilman Hockley’s dog park either.  They started work on sample notices and letters at the meeting.

It also came out that the immediate neighbors to the parcels that have already been sold did not all receive notification of the sale, and that the one neighbor who did, received it the day before the bids were due – in spite of the fact that he had expressed interest to the city in purchasing the property over a period of several years. 

There was disparagement of the Mayor’s comments that the vacant land was costing the city money in the form of taxes.  It was suspected that this is, in fact, a rather small number.  It was also commented that any additional property taxes paid by future purchasers would be offset by service costs.  The group will research the issue.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. March 8, 2006 UPDATED 12:05 P.M. E.S.T.: Mayor John Shields of Nyack reported to WPCNR tonight that the Attorney General’s office, upon further review has affirmed its approval the private, off-the-market sale of the Helen Hayes Theatre Company building to Milbrook Acquisitions of Manhasset for $3.7 Million.

A news report  today also reveals the Attorney General  office stuck with their original approval even though Mr. Shields, Thom Kleiner, (Orangetown Supervisor) and Harriet Cornell, the Rockland County Legislator, presented an appraiser’s criticism of the  appraisal Helen Hayes Board used to justify the $3.7 Million sale price. The independent appraiser’s critique pointed out the lack of specific, important information missing in the appraisal according to the news report. 

The reaffirmation of the approval, clears the way for the Milbrook Acquisitions to close on the property March 26. Milbrook is owned by the Pikus family which has contributed over $27,000 to the Democratic Party since December of 1999, according to Federal Election contributions records.

The Attorney General’s Office upheld its previous approval, despite learning that the deal was arranged by the Helen Hayes Non-Profit, without their advising the Village of Nyack or the Rockland County Board of Legislators who have provided substantial funding to the theatre, and without offering the building for sale on the open market.

The rationale for the quickie sale in private with a firm that was recommended by a member of the Board of Directors who had done extensive work for Milbrook Properties, the parent company, was that Helen Hayes could save approximately $200,000 in debt if they could pay off a note within 5 days, and save $200,000 in a commission.

At the meeting Mayor Shields had with Assistants Attorney General Gary Brown and Tom Hoffay in White Plains today,  the objections of Orangetown Supervisor Thom Kleiner, Rockland County Legislator Harriet Cornell, and the Mayor were detailed to the  Attorney General team who refused to block the sale.

The three officials argued that the property was not offered to the general market, and that a firm offer of $5 Million and $500,000 in improvements was turned down by the Helen Hayes Board  in order to meet the lower $3.7 Million contract. However, Mayor Shields tonight reports the attorney genral found nothing “illegal” about the sale and Shields says the sale will take place as a result.

Shields said he is asking the Helen Hayes Theatre Company Board of Directors to add an addition 4 members to their Board to bring the Board of six  up to full strength (10 persons) before any more decisions are made about what proposals would be accepted from groups seeking to run the theater.

The “outgoing” Helen Hayes Theatre Company Board has a 30-day option to rent the building from Milbrook after the closing and is also reported by Shields as having the right of decision as to what proposals from entrepreneurs would be best to run the theatre.

Shields told WPCNR, “We’re going to ask them to do that (fill out the Board).”

Shields said last week the Village has no other legal option to stop the sale, and it was up to the Attorney General alone to block the sale and give the public a chance to bid to the Board.