Mayor: Keep Airport Shelter Open; Communities, County Create New Homeless Plan

Posted on December 22, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR The Homeless News. By John F. Bailey. December 22, 2005 UPDATED 6:45 P.M. E.S.T.: Mayor Joseph Delfino called today for Westchester County to continue to keep the Westchester County Airport Drop-In Shelter for the population of “hardcore homeless” the county was planning to house at 85 Court Street (adjacent Mulino’s Restaurant in White Plains, and called for the county and its communities to develop a comprehensive plan with dealing for their individual homeless that end up in White Plains seeking services, but did not supply specifics of what he was talking about.

The Mayor’s Executive Officer contacted WPCNR to make clear after the Mayor was not recommending a central facility specifically suitable for dealing with the hardcore homeless,appropriate “central facility,” but emphasized communities and the county should talk about the services individual communities needed to supply their hardcore homeless persons’ needs and how that could be achieved.

Paul Wood, the City Executive Officer, said he had spoken with Larry Schwartz, the County Deputy Mayor and said “we’d welcome a request to meet” to discuss the situation regarding the plan to move the homeless to 85 Court Street. Wood was surprised when he learned through the WPCNR report from Bill Ryan, County Legislator, that Schwartz was going to contact the Mayor to invite him (the Mayor) to whether he wanted the county’s help in dealing with the homeless.

“I don’t understand why they are shifting this responsibility to the Mayor. These are not all White Plains people. I also was told by Rick Ammirato (of the BID) who was at the meeting that when the BID asked why the Airport facility was being closed was according to Mr. Schwartz and the Department of Social Services, said the Mayor wanted it closed. That is not true. Last summer when Mrs. Russo was murdered in The Galleria, the Mayor advocated for a place for the homeless to stay during the day. The Mayor never asked for the airport drop-in shelter to be closed.”

Ammirato, too, in an interview with WPCNR, said “No one has ever explained why the airport shelter has to be closed.”

Ammirato, the BID’s executive Director also suggested that the new Valhalla Grasslands facility could be split between those homeless in the DSS-assisted programs and those who were resisting them.

Centrally located Appropriate Facility Suggested by the Mayor.

Wood said Mayor Delfino suggests the county government work with all Westchester Communities (whose homeless citizens wander to White Plains for services) to develop a comprehesive plan together to serve their hardcore homeless “to deal with the needs of people from each community.

David Maloney of the Mayor’s Office told WPCNR that DSS could be more welcoming to the homeless. He cited as an example that New Orleans residents who have come to White Plains when they went to the Department of Social Services for help complained about the service and demeanor in which they were treated. (Earlier, WPCNR had attributed this to Mr. Wood, but it was actually Mr. Maloney to supplied this insight into DSS’s handling of the homeless.)

Asked if the Mayor would be willing to work on his own to develop another facility outside the BID district or inside the BID district within White Plains to house the homeless now rounded up each evening at Lexington and Main and transported to the airport by the County, or even to call Mr. Ryan and work together with him Mr. Wood said, “I don’t know, possibly.”

Ryan Opposes 85 Court Location: Lacks Plan Detail.

County Legislator Bill Ryan, who did not attend the meeting this morning with County Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz, the Department of Social Services and the BID, was asked late this afternoon by WPCNR what his position was on the 85 Court Street location. (It was not clear whether Mr. Ryan was not invited, or had a conflict, or chose not to attend.)

Ryan said, “I’m opposed to the 85 Court Street location. Though I am willing to listen to whatever the DSS plan is. The plan is not clear at this time. I talked to Tom Roach of the Common Council and Mr. Roach and the Council need to be filled in on the plan, too, and decide whether this is appropriate or whether other locations might be more suitable”

Asked if he would be calling on the Mayor to work with him on finding a solution to the overnight hardcore homeless problem, Ryan said he would do that and was willing to do that. He promised to call the Mayor. “Maybe if he has not called me by tommorrow, I’ll call and wish him a Merry Christmas.”

Ryan: DSS did not reach out to White Plains Hospitals.

Ryan also told WPCNR that he asked if the Department of Social Services had explored White Plains alternatives or asked New York Presbyterian Hospital, (a White Plains institution specializing in the mentally ill, addiction and other behavioral afflictions), if NYPH would be a resource who could share in handling the hardcore homeless, many of whom are mentally ill.

Ryan said that DSS told him they had not contacted New York Presbyterian Hospital or any other medical facility for their suggestions on dealing with the chronic hardcore homeless who refuse DSS help.

Other hospitals that are available in the immediate White Plains are

BID Opposed to Locating Hardcore Homeless in Downtown Improvement District.

Posted on December 22, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. December 22, 2005: Rick Ammirato, Executive Director of the White Plains Business Improvement District, (The BID), speaking to WPCNR moments ago, said the BID’s meeting with Larry Schwartz, the Deputy County Executive, and the Department of Social Services, reported to WPCNR by Mr. Ryan made clear to Mr. Schwartz the BID was opposed to the County Plan hardcore homeless who refuse services being housed anywhere within in the BID Downtown district. He made it clear he was not opposed to it being elsewhere other than the downtown district.

Ammirato, asked about BID suggestions for other locations other than the Downtown, said “It’s not the BID’s responsibility to house the homeless, it’s the county’s. White Plains has over 500 units devoted to housing the homeless between Open Arms, the Coachman and Grace Church, (in the downtown), and it is not as if White Plains is not compassionate to the plight of the homeless.”

Ammirato said the placement of those refusing services from the county in the 85 Court Street location is not good for the downtown: “We’re going to be a magnet for the homeless,” and that “with all the work the BID has done the last five years to make the downtown more attractive, this is not the place for a drop-in shelter.”

Ammirrato reported that Mr. Schwartz, the Deputy County Executive said that the county had chosen the 85 Court Street location because they thought it would be a good place to encourage the homeless to get services. He said it was also not made clear exactly why the Airport Shelter was being closed in the first place.

Schwartz Reaches Out to Mayor’s Office. Up to Mayor What to Do With Homeless —

Posted on December 22, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. December 22, 2005: According to County Legislator Bill Ryan, speaking to WPCNR a little before 1 P.M. today, a meeting was held between Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz, the Department of Social Services and the White Plains BID this morning on the subject of the county housing hardcore homeless persons in the basement of 85 Court Street, home of the Department of Social Services. Ryan said Mr. Schwartz told him that the White Plains BID made it clear they did not want these homeless housed in White Plains anywhere, and expressed concern about the 85 Court Street location and security concerns.

Ryan reports that Larry Schwartz said he (Schwartz) would contact the Mayor of White Plains to see how the county “could assist the Mayor” in the housing of these homeless, and what the Mayor wanted the County to do.

Ryan also said at the present time, he (Ryan) was willing to work with the Mayor to assist in the solution of where to house these homeless, if the Mayor no longer wanted the county to bus the homeless and remove them from the city streets evenings. Ryan added that Mr. Schwartz had placed a call to the Mayor’s office after the meeting, offering the county’s assistance and seeking the Mayor’s input on where to house the homeless who consistently refuse county services..

At the present time, Ryan says the county is standing by its plan to place the homeless in 85 Court Street, pending discussions with the Mayor. Ryan did not indicate that any other locations were recommended by either the BID or the DSS.

WPCNR called Paul Wood, the city Executive Officer for Mayor Delfino, to see what the Mayor’s reaction was to Mr. Schwartz’s call but as of 2 P.M. Mr. Wood has not returned our call. WPCNR also asked Mr. Wood if the Mayor would develop a place in White Plains to house the homeless at city expense at a location not owned by the county, taking over responsibility for the homeless at night.

Ryan said he was not at the meeting and there was no official representative from the Mayor’s office, but this was what Mr. Schwartz told him. Ryan also reported that County Executive Spano was “out of the country,” and Mr. Schwartz was managing the County Government in his absence.

The Mayor’s Office said last night they had not been invited to any meeting. However, the Downtown Business Improvement District that was at the meeting has often been known to reflect the Mayor’s position on policy.

Avalon Bay Introduces 14 Story Apartments/Town House Complex for AT & T Lot

Posted on December 22, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. December 22, 2005: Avalon Bay Communities, the giant national housing force specializing in luxury apartments introduced plans to build 393-unit, studio, one and two-bedroom apartments in a 14-story red brick faced T-shaped building fronting on Barker Avenue and Church Street, with a row of Townhouses fronting on Rockledge Avenue and Cottage Place opposite La Reserve condominiums. A Special Permit is required to allow the complex to go to 14 stories.

The Avalon Bay Apartments on the site of the former AT & T Parking Lot at Barker and Church. Photo, WPCNR News.

The View of the Proposed Avalon Bay TownHouses on Rockledge, looking south from Church Street. Photo, WPCNR News.

The luxury units will contain no retail or services space in the complex. Rents, under close cross-examination by the media were speculated by the developers to range possibly from $3,000 up to $5,000 a month. Frederick Harris the Senior Presenter for Avalon told the Common Council the rents would be determined by the market. Quizzed by the media in the Rotunda, Harris noted top rent for a two-bedroom at The Avalon in New Rochelle was $3,000 and thought White Plains was a market that would command at least that price for its top units and possibly more.

Rachel Loeb, Director of Development said the building would take two years to build at a cost of $120 Million.

The council was told the complex would provide 24 units set aside for “affordable housing” according to city policy in the downtown core district.

The Overhead: The site plan for the Avalon Bay complex on the site of the present AT & T parking lot: The proposed complex is bounded by Church Street (right of picture), Barker (bottom of picture), Cottage Place (left of picture) and Rockledge Terrage. The 14-story building is in the T-Shape at lower half of the complex, the townhouses are the U-shape at top half of complex. The light rectangle is the parking garage to house 579 cars. Photo, WPCNR News.

Avalon Bay, in order to build the complex would need a special permit to go to 14 stories from the 6 stories permitted by present zoning.

Views of Project:

View from Rockledge. Complex is the red/yellow building in center of picture. Photo of computer rendering, WPCNR News

View of Townhouses from Hillside Terrace. Photo of computer rendering by WPCNR News.

View East Down Barker, Reserve Condo building is at left. Photo of Computer Rendering by WPCNR News.

A New Musical at WBT: ARE WE THERE YET? Debuts Dec. 28.

Posted on December 21, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Allan Gruet, Westchester Broadway Theatre. (EDITED) December 21, 2005: Westchester Broadway Theatre turns to the American Family for its upcoming brand-new, never-performed-before comedy-musical show to usher in the New Year, Are We There Yet? opening December 28. The title comes from the opening scene which features Mom, Dad, and two young children on a road trip, and the inevitable question, ‘are we there yet?’

Kevin Parseau, Susan Haefner, Duke Lafoon and Beverly Ward (clockwise from upper left)Take You Down the Road of Life with the American Family in Are We There Yet? The new WBT musical first engages every parent everywhere with an interminable car ride with the parents taking the kids to Disney World for a family vacation, and ends with the kids driving the parents to Florida to retire; however, the title is just a figurative hook for everything that happens in between, the theme being that ‘life is all about the journey.’ The result is a lively musical that explores the state of a present-day family – and all sorts of families in all of their variety, diversity, hilarity, and dynamics dysfunction. Photo, Courtesy Westchester Broadway Theatre By John Vecchiolla.

Allan Gruet, WBT scribe wrangler, describes the show as being “In the tradition of the long running Off Broadway musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, with its theme of dating and modern romantic relationships, Are We There Yet? takes a humorous look at the modern American nuclear family. This delightful theatrical treat pokes fun at kids and their parents, and is appropriate for teenagers, parents, and even grand-parents.”

A New Look with New Performers

WBT has engaged a cast of national actors to introduce the show: Duke Lafoon (who starred previously at WBT in the role of George Bailey in A Wonderful Life), Susan Haefner, Beverly Ward and Kevin Pariseau.

Susan Haefner is making her WBT debut. No stranger to Broadway, she’s appeared in 42nd Street, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and State Fair. She appeared in the National Tour/West End productions of Damn Yankees with Jerry Lewis.

Beverly Ward joins Ms. Haefner in appearing at WBT for the first time, having appeared in the National Tours of Showboat and Crazy for You. She was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award as Best Actress and appeared in Crazy for You in London’s West End.

Kevin Pariseau, will also be making his first appearance on the WBT “square” and has appeared in the Off-Broadway productions of Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. He has played Santa Claus in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House, and Max in Lend Me a Tenor, opposite the legendary Mickey Rooney.

The Creators.

“Are We There Yet?” was written by the team of James Hindman, Ray Roderick and Cheryl Stern, with music by John Glaudini, with additional music and lyrics provided by Tom Kochan and Yvonne Adrian.

Among the musical highlights are: “Cause I’m a Mommy,” which is about juggling cooking, carpooling, and child crises; hillbilly cousins twanging out “Blood Is Thicker Than Water,” as they mooch off rich relatives; “Whiplash: Divorce Date,” about the second time around; a touching female duet, “I Know She’s Out There,” and “Baby Rap,” an infant rising out of his crib for a first look at the world. The show is a good mix of comedy, pathos, and lovely haunting ballads. This fresh, rib-tickling, heart–warming musical romp will have you leaving the theatre humming and feeling better about being human. As the show points out, you can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family.

For more information on the dinner-show combinations of Are We There Yet? debuting December 28, and running through January 21, dial 914-592-2222, or go to www.broadwaytheatre.com

The White Plains Conservation Board Is Looking for a Few Good Men and Women

Posted on December 20, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. December 20, 2005, UPDATED Dec. 21, 10:45 A.M. : Bob Roston, Chair of the White Plains Conservation Board reports to WPCNR that his board too is short members. It consists of 9 persons, but presently only has four members serving. Mr. Roston, invites White Plains residents interested in city environmental issues to apply for the Board. He attaches the following description of members duties and what the Conservation Board does.

Mr. Roston invites those interested in serving or who would like more information on serving to contact Bob Roston, 6 Pilgrim Road, White Plains, NY 10605-3703 Tel. 914 761-3364 Fax 914 761-1811. E mail: bob@rostonfamily.com.

WHITE PLAINS CONSERVATION BOARD

Conservation Board is a State mandated board under Article 12-F of the General Municipal Law; Section 239x. Excerpts of the Law are:

…to advise in the development, management and protection of…natural resources.

…coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes…

…cooperate with…official…bodies active in the area of community planning…

…carry out any other duties, tasks, or responsibilities, consistent with the objectives of this article…

To …assist a city…in the development of sound open area planning and assure preservation of natural and scenic resources…

…evaluate the proposed use…may include preferable alternative use…

It is comprised of a maximum of 9 volunteer members.

The members are appointed to the Board by the Mayor and Members of the Common Council. The term of office is 2 years. The appointed members serve without remuneration. There is no limitation on the number of years served.

The Conservation Board meets every 3^rd Monday of the month. The meetings are held in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall. All meetings start promptly at 8:00 PM. All meetings are open to the public.

In general, the function of the Board is to:

– To advise the Mayor and the Common Council on environmental

matters.

‑ To advise the Mayor and the Common Council on matters related to the conservation of natural resources.

‑ To make recommendations to all City Agencies on the environmental implications of land use changes for all properties listed in the ‑

Open Space Inventory or those affected by their proximity to the listed

properties.

‑ To engage in such other activities as may benefit the people of White Plains through an improved environment and through wise use of our

natural resources.

Specifically, the functions of the Conservation Board are:

Review all applications for use or development of any open area:

1) Listed in the Open Space Inventory or is abutting or affected by its

proximity.

2) All Conservation Developments.

3) All Environmentally Sensitive Sites.

Update the Open Space Inventory every 10 years.

Create minutes of all meetings.

Applications for use or development, as defined above, are referred to the Conservation Board by the Common Council, the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals and Corporation Counsel. Members of the Conservation Board are assigned the Referrals, they visit the sites, they write reports/letters and lead the discussions of the projects at the regular monthly meetings. The final reports/letters are voted upon by the Board. The secretarial work of typing and distribution is performed by the Planning Department.

Common Council Coup. Malmud Touted for Council President, Bypassing Bernstein

Posted on December 20, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. By John F.Bailey. December 20, 2005: There is a Common Council palace coup in process.

There is a quiet effort by supporters of Councilperson Rita Malmud to elect Ms. Malmud Common Council President bypassing fellow Democrat Councilman Arnold Bernstein, who is in line for the quasi-ceremonial, quasi-whip position. When asked by WPCNR if she was being considered for Council President over her colleague, and would she want the position Ms. Malmud said, “You’ll have to wait for the official statement (on January 3)” twice.

Meanwhile, Glen Hockley, Councilman-elect, a close friend of Mr. Bernstein, asked directly by WPCNR if Ms. Malmud was being touted for Common Council President and if she is making efforts to usurp Mr. Bernstein’s right to the position, Hockley said, “There is some truth to that.”

Arnold Bernstein, center on the Night of His Election, November 2003, now in line for Common Council President Photo, WPCNR News Archive

Rita Malmud: Quiet Contender for Seeking Another Term as Common Council President? Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

The position of Common Council President, who basically serves as a “whip” to the council and as an interface with the Mayor’s Office which controls the agenda, traditionally is rotated on a yearly basis. Mr. Bernstein, elected by White Plains in 2003, is now about to begin his third year on the council is line to be the next Council President to succeed Councilman Tom Roach and Benjamin Boykin.

The interest in Council President this year stems from the fact that the Common Council President succeeds the Mayor should the Mayor become incapacited. Mr. Hockley said the Mayor was “in excellent health.” And, though the Mayor was hospitalized for reported pneumonia in August, he has not shown any signs of backing away from his fastpaced tightly packed public appearances, meetings, and schedule. He is easily the most visible, hands-on Mayor in Westchester County.

Asked today if Mr. Bernstein wanted the Common Council President position, Mr. Bernstein said “Absolutely!”

He said he wanted to improve communication between the Mayor and the Common Council, meeting more with the Mayor himself personally each month than the present twice a month. He said he wanted to promote more frequent communication between members of the Common Council meeting together in small groups to discuss issues more.

“I also want to improve communication between us (The Common Council) and the public,” Bernstein said “I want to take government to the people more and meet with neighborhood organizations and community groups.”

Mr. Hockley discussing Mrs. Malmud’s interest in taking the Council Presidency (which she has, WPCNR believes held three times), said “Arnie is next in line. I’m hoping he will be elected unanimously. He’s qualified. He’s been successful in business. He’s been President of organizations. He’s very thorough.”

Hockley said if the other members of the council were to bypass Mr. Bernstein in favor of someone else, that “It would be totally disrespectful of him as an elected official to not support him.”

Board of Education Considers Trimmed Infrastructure/Renovations $$ of $67.5M

Posted on December 20, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. December 20, 2005: The architects preparing the five year facilities plan for the Board of Education presented a sharply lower renovation and infrastructure plan for the School District last night which has the district taking care of only Priority 1 and 2 infrastructure items, and proposing the building of a new Post Road School, and artificial surfacing of Loucks Field and increasing its capacity to only 2,500. Surfacing of Eastview athletic fields and the Highlands Parker Stadium was eliminated, but the Parker Stadium field surfacing is still being considered.

Board of Education Hears Trimmed Bond Plan Last Night at Education House. Russ Davidson addressed the Board of Education. Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors is seen at far left, seated. The meeting was videotaped and will be telecast on the School Channel 77 this week. Photo, WPCNR News.

New Proposal: Now under analysis by the Board of Education. Totals of dollars to be sent on each facility are at far right. Photo, WPCNR News.

The new Preliminary Proposal before the board calls for spending $67.5 Million over five years instead of the previously considered amount of $95 Million. A total of $35 Million of that $67.5 Million investment is for construction of a new school at Post Road.

The Board plans to issue a Request for Proposals with a few weeks for a Construction Manager to analyze specific costs as the plan is considered and moves forward.

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors emphasized that no decision has been made to go ahead with any portion of the plan at this time, and any adaption of a construction plan awaited intense Board discussion of the options presented last night.

Connors said the district enrollment was seen as steady over the next five years but was 10% over facility capacity at this time. He allowed that “we could get hurt if there was a sudden increase in class size.”

$66 Increase in Taxes to Bond

Assistant Superintendent for Business Terrance Schreurs noted to the handful of observers and the board that the cost to the taxpayers of a $65 Million Bond would not be felt until the budget year 2007-2008. He said the bond would raise the school taxes of the average White Plains residence ($15,000 Assessed Valuation), $58.05 in 07-08, $70.50 in 08-09, and $69 in 2009-20010. This carrying cost of the bond would be in addition to tax increases required by future school budgets in those years, and whatever tax certioraris might impact the School District.

Tax Rate Increases From Proposed Construction Bond and Certiorari Bonding. The handwriting shows the combined increase in the tax rate per $1,000 of assessed valuation from the new $67.5 Million bond combined with projected certiorari refund bonding. There would be no bond cost in 2006-07, but there would be a $6.88 increase in the tax rate due to the school cert liability already committed for. In 2007-2008 the new bond would cost taxpayers $3.87 and an additional $6.25 in cert repaying for a total of $10.12/per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The combined impact of certs and the new construction bond on Mr. & Mrs. & Ms. White Plains would drop to 4.76 in 08-09 and 4.65 in 09-10. Photo, WPCNR News.

The Tax Impact. Photo, WPCNR News

The Board’s Peter Bassano said he was not convinced that the District needed to do any of the renovations and infrastructure upgrading proposed. He thought the 16 day time frame of deciding on the specifics of the project prior to January 6 was too short.

Russell Davidson the principal of the architectural firm handling the Facilities Plan for the city advised the Board the renovations were not in any way mandatory or required to be done by the state. He said that in order to do anything, though, the district needed a survey of facilities and plans to be submitted to the state.

Donna McLaughlin, President of the Board of Education, expressed the thought that the district was not locked in to a bond referendum at the same time as the District Budget Vote in May, though referendums had always been done in the past in conjunction with the budget vote.

Russell Davidson, the principal architect on the project for the School District noted that the skyrocketing construction costs (projected at increasing 9.5% in 2005) indicated that the renovations and infrastructure would only cost more in the future. (Blue Bar indicates cost of construction. Photo, WPCNR News

Preliminary Timetable for a May Vote Issued.

A tentative draft timetable for pulling together the paperwork and community information necessary to present a bond to the District in May at budget time was presented. According to this timetable, the Board is to consider what projects if any, are to be done, and decided the bonding amount by January 6.

Draft Schedule for a May, 2005 Bond Referendum. Photo, WPCNR News

After the meeting the Board members agreed that they would be discussing the Preliminary Proposal in early January on a schedule for presenting individual school renovation plans to the residents of the district in mid-January.

Free Parking through Christmas Eve at Meters in White Plains Downtown.

Posted on December 19, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR BUMPER TO BUMPER. December 19, 2005: The City of White Plains is offering free parking at downtown street meters to shoppers parking on the street in the downtown all week long as their holiday present.

City: County Never Told Us of Court Street Shelter. County: We Did.

Posted on December 19, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By John F. Bailey. December 19, 2005: A spokesman for the Mayor’s Office, David Maloney, this morning told the CitizeNetReporter that Westchester County never told the city their plans to house 43 “hardcore homeless” persons at 85 Court Street across Court Street from the County Office Building, beginning January 10.

HEARTBREAK HOTEL Planned for the DSS Building at 85 Court, one block away from City Center (to far right,tall building), across from the County office building to the left and a half block away from senor citizens housing planned for the parking lot in the foreground, and one block from the Cappelli Hotel and Condoplex, center of picture background. Photo, WPCNR News.

The Department of Communications of Westchester County said the Court Street location and the monitoring of the homeless population destined for that location was discussed between the Westchester County Department of Public Safety and the White Plains Department of Public Safety as to safety and monitoring issues, and said the White Plains Department of Public Safety informed the Mayor’s Office. The White Plains Department of Public Safety has not responded yet to my call to confirm this.

Spokesperson David Maloney said Mayor Joseph Delfino, who was in Florida last week, would be making a lot of phone calls today on the Court Street Homeless Location situation. File Photo by WPCNR News.

Mr. Maloney said the city is exploring avenues, (“leaving no stone unturned,” were his words), to prevent the population of “hard core homeless,” from taking up residence nightly at 85 Court, just one and a half blocks from the city’s reviving downtown.

City Concerned

Maloney reaffirmed the city position that the homeless planned to be housed in that shelter are not all from White Plains, as the county contends, that they are all from all over, and should not be housed overnight within the city.

Victoria Hochman the county spokesperson on this issue told WPCNR that the persons are picked up in White Plains and that it made sense to have them stay overnight near the new Day Center for the Homeless being established at 96 East Post Road to be run by Grace Church Community Services.

That Day Center at 96 East Post Road for the Homeless to stay during the day has not yet been approved by the Common Council, and was tabled at the last work session, where it was pleaded to be a consent agenda item. The Common Council scheduled a public hearing on the 96 East Post Road Shelter for the January Common Council meeting.

The homeless who now spend the night at the airport shelter that Hochman described as a horrible, dilapidated place, are returned to White Plains mornings at 6 A.M., where they are expected to avail themselves of county services, but rarely do.

No other Location in City Discussed?

Hochman did not know if any other location such as New York Presbyterian Hospital, or White Plains Hospital Center, (NYPH being a facility which specializes among other fields in the mentally ill), were contacted by the county as a possible overnight location.

Asked why the airport shelter population was not housed in the new Valhalla Homeless Shelter opened last week, Hochman said because the airport population were “hardcore homeless” who have refused to participate in programs available to the system such as drug rehabilitation programs, alcohol rehab programs, job training programs, counseling, and therefore did not fit in with the homeless population destined for the Valhalla Shelter who do take advantage of county services.

No Official Named as Responsible.

Hochman was asked who in county government had decided the airport shelter homeless should be overnighted in White Plains in the center of downtown. The “hardcore homeless” as the county calls them have been bused to the airport for decades. Hochman said she did not know whose decision it was, but speculated it was made by the Department of Social Services over the last few months.

Operations of 85 Court

As to operations of the 85 Court Street shelter, Hochman reports that homeless persons in White Plains seeking a bed for the night would still be expected to assemble at South Lexington and Maple Avenues, where they would be put on a bus and bused one block to 85 Court Street where their names would be taken and she believes they are checked to see whether or not they are previous convicted “sex offenders and possibly a criminal record.”

In order to stay the night in 85 Court Street, Hochman said the homeless would have to agree to be locked in, (as they are at the airport facility) put under security, and would not be allowed to leave. In the morning, they would be bused over to the new Day Center for the Homeless at 96 East Post Road where Grace Church Community Services would give them shower facilities, counseling, and give them a place to stay during the day. Hochman said they would not be forced to stay there.

Hochman said the homeless may stay past the present 6 A.M. “reveille” time when they are turned out of the airport center and put on buses back to White Plains or other areas where they come from, and that she thought it would be closer to the time when the Grace Day Center for the Homeless would open.

Hochman, told WPCNR the 85 Court facility would only house 43 persons maximum. Asked if there ever was an overflow, Hochman theorized, but could not say for certain, that the overflow would find other facilities around the county to take them in.

Records of the Hardcore Homeless

Asked if the county could check its manifests of persons taken at nightly bus pickups who routinely stay in the County Airport Shelter, Hochman did not know if those manifests were available or used to develop a profile of typical hardcore homeless populations in more detail as to how many had criminal records, how many were drug or alcohol addicted, and other various afflictions. She did not give a figure on how many were picked up nightly. She said the population changed nightly.

Nevertheless, the homeless population to be at 85 Court were described by Ms. Hochman as the vast majority being possibly mentally ill, some developmentally disabled, some drug-addicted, and with criminal backgrounds from being housed overnight (from 10 P.M to sometime after 6 A.M.) in the heart of the White Plains downtown.

The Runup

Hochman reported to WPCNR that the Westchester County Department of Public Safety had discussed the safety concerns and issues concerning locating the homeless at 85 Court Street with the White Plains Department of Public Safety, and that the White Plains Department of Public Safety had told the Mayor’s Office about it. She did not know when the Mayor’s office was notified by the Department of Public Safety. Martin Gleeson, media spokesman for the White Plains Department of Public Safety has been contacted for the Department of Public Safety side of this communication question.

County Legislator Bill Ryan contacted Saturday and again today by WPCNR as to whether he knew about the county plan, has yet to respond.

Thomas Roach, President of the White Plains Common Council had no comment, because he did not know of the situation as of Saturday morning when WPCNR contacted him. “We’ll have to see how it plays out,” Roach said.

Cappelli Enterprises, which is constructing a 4-Star Hotel and condoplex a block and a half away from 85 Court Street has yet to respond with their reaction to the news.