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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. November 2, 2005: The White Plains Performing Arts Center had a cash loss of $197,611 in its first year of operation, 2003-2004, according to financial documents filed with the New York State Office of Attorney General, Charities Bureau, obtained by WPCNR recently. The IRS Form 990, and State Charities Bureau Forms, the only documents to date issued describing the WPPAC’s business performance, show that in the first year of the theatre, the City of White Plains contributed either $475,729 or $585,659 in services and/or cash to the center’s revenue. But the dollar amount and character of that contribution, and where it came from is not described in the documents.
The financial report on the first year of theatre operation ended June 30, 2004, was completed by the WPPAC in March, 2005. A note in the accountant’s report states, in part, “Approximately 57% of the Organization’s revenue for the year ended June 30, 2004, was from the City of White Plains,” but does not give the dollar amount, nature or sources from the city, or from where the city contributions originated.
On for the first year operation, expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, were reported as having been $1,032,224 compared with total contributions and ticket revenue of $834,613 on the New York State Charities BureauAnnual Financial Report. The amount of $834,613 also appears on WPPAC’s IRS Form 990 as the organization’s “Total Revenue,” as does the amount of $1,032,224 for the organization’s “Total Expenses.”
The New York form requires organizations to report as a separate amount – not included in expenses or support/revenue – “donated services or the use of materials, equipment or facilities at no charge or at substantially less than fair rental value.”
WPPAC reported this amount (of donated services, materials, equipment, facilities) as having been $192,860. This amount equals the combined “rent” and “utilities” expenses shown in the accountant’s report. A note in the accountant’s report states, in part, that WPPAC has received “an unconditional promise of free use of facilities and utilities…”
When this figure of $192,860 is added to the totals on the New YorkState reporting form, it brings expenses to $1,225,084 and “support/revenue” to $1,027,473, which are the numbers contained in the audited report.
The conclusion drawn is the portion of WPPAC’s revenue which came from the City of White Plains (57% — as stated by the accountant’s note) would have a value of $475,729 if applied to the $834,613 revenue figure, or about $585,659 if applied to the $1,027,473 revenue figure. It is not clear if the $192,860 in rent and utilities contributed by the City of White Plains is included in those two figures.
Loans Outstanding After First Year: $117,893
The WPPAC lists, as of June 30, 2004, loans outstanding of $117,893, consisting of a $25,000 loan from the City of White Plains, a loan of $52,893 from the Helen Hayes Theatre Companyfor services it provided to WPPAC, and a loan of $40,000 from developer Louis Cappelli, a member of the WPPAC’s Board of Trustees. They had also used a $25,000 credit line with a bank.
None of these loans had set repayment terms or stated interest rates, however, interest was accrued at the rate of 5.5% a year for purposes of the financial statements, and totaled $1,832.
WPPAC reports obtaining a $50,000 line of credit with Union State Bank, and had used $25,000 of the line of credit as of June 30, 2004. The line of credit had an interest rate of 5.5%.
Salaries
The financial documents state that Tony Stimac was compensated $65,625 for his work as part-time Producing Director of WPPAC, (Stimac is also employed by Helen Hayes Theatre Company), and Jeffrey Rosenstock of Queens Theater In the Park, who served as part-time Executive Director of WPPAC for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, was paid $21,009. Rosenstock is no longer part-time Executive Director, and had gone onto a “pro bono” basis with the WPPAC in August of last year.
The position of Executive Director was filled by the hiring of Ray Cullom in August, who also fills the same capacity for the Helen Hayes Theatre Company. The employment of Kathie Davisson, was shifted out of the WPPAC payroll and Ms. Davission was put on the books of the Community Development payroll under the City of White Plains budget last spring.
The documents show that salaries, payroll taxes and fringe benefits for WPPAC’s first year totaled $377,325. Box office income was $368,396, rental income was $31,834, ticket handling fees brought in $8,460, and other income was $353, for a total revenue from ticket sales, rentals and handling fees and other income of $409,043 WPPAC reported $3,663 cash on hand as of June 30, 2004.
City Contribution of Services.
When added to the total expenses on the New York State reporting form, the $192,860 figure “for donated services or use of materials, equipment or facilities at no charge,” which are listed as consisting of $156,000 in rent and $36,860 in utitlities, brings expenses to $1,225,084.
If you add that $192,860 figure (as income) to the support/ revenue, listed on the IRS Form ($834,613) brings that revenue figure to $1,027,473, which is the number for total revenue contained in the accountant’s report.
This means, based on the accountant’s statement that the portion of WPPAC’s revenue which came from The City of White Plains (57%), including the “donated services” would have a value of $585,659, if applied to the $1,027,473 figure or $475,729 if applied to the $834,613 revenue figure on the federal IRS 990 form, which lists total revenue as $834,613.
The Production Expenses
According to the accountant’s report, the Center spent $790,684 on theatrical productions, and $171,917 on fundraising, and $262,483 on Management and general expenses for a total of$1,225,084 in total expenses (including the “donated services” from the city). Subtracting the $1,027,473 revenue figure leaves a loss of $197,611.
The 2003-04 expenses are detailed as follows:
Program ServiceFundraisingManagementTotal
Salaries$113,075$48,718$156,420$318,213
Artist/Fees$196,94682,9759,072288,993
Payroll Taxes/
Benefits$20,6888, 86729,55759,112
Advertising/Design$156,370576156,946
Lighting/Sound$10,3119,66219,973
Scenery/Props/Cst$18,44453718,981
Misc Prod Costs$50,3379,29159,628
Printing/Postage$3,6845124,196
Insurance61326312,79613,672
Credit Card fees/
Ticketing$12,78212,782
Rent$156,000156,000
Utilities$36,86036,860
Meetings/Entrtmt$62910,3003,21614,145
Equip.Maint/Repairs $ 3,69415,36819,062
Telephone$6,6876,687
Prof fees$2,9722,972
Supplies$4,6662166,49911,381
Misc.––16,81816,818
Depreciation$5,586–1,2456,831
Interest Expense––1,8321,832
Total Expenses$790,685 $171,917$262,482$1,225,084
The poor start of the theatre in 2005-2006 raises questions.
Has the theatre turned around in year two, thanks to last year’s two sell-out galas? Has the theatre paid off its operating loss from year one in its second year? Or have the losses continued and grown larger? The public does not know.
Declining attendance and tickets being offered for half-price to community groups to attract audiences in the second year and for the first two products of this year are not good signs.The current financial condition of the theatre is unknown to the public.
A call has been placed to Ray Cullom, Executive Director, for clarification on the present state of finances of the theatre after Year Two, as Year Three is in full swing.
WPCNR FOR THE RECORD. By John F. Bailey. November 1, 2005: In the Battle Hill debate last week, Mayor Joseph Delfino, in responding to a question about salaries stated “The council gave me a small raise this year for the first time in eight years.”
This got WPCNR curious, because we distinctly remembered raises being granted the Mayor, and a diligent researcher, checking the Summary Budgets at the White Plains Public Library, found the following Mayoral raises. Not only has Mayor Delfino had at least two raises as we pointed out on White Plains Week Monday evening, he has received four. The Mayor’s sarlary has risen 16% in eight years of office, and has risen 12% in the last three years. By contrast the Common Council salaries have gone from $30,250 to $35,068 in the same eight year period.
Salaries of the Mayor’s Commissioners have also escalated over the last eight years by twice that percentage, rising as an aggregate from $2,594,250 of the budget to $3,416,958, a 32% Increase. The real numbers:
WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner By John F. Bailey. November 1, 2005: The Common Council voted unanimously at their last public meeting to give $1,175,971 in grants from the city’s Affordable Housing Assistance Fund to Lake Street Partners for development of 17 townhouses off Silver Lake and White Plains Avenue LLC & Kensico Avenue LLC for building of 42 low and moderate income rental apartments for seniors with no discussion or description of the financial details of either project to the audience watching on television.
Horton Mills by Lakeside Partners. Activity Began October 6.Photo by WPCNR News.
Kensico Terrace Began Construction October 6. Photo by WPCNR News.
When asked by WPCNR to discuss further details of the project, and to respond to written questions previously submitted, the principals of Lake Street Partners refused to make any further comments on the project other “than what was in the public record.”
Mr. John Saraceno, one of the principals of Lake Street Partners did tell WPCNR his 17 condominiums intended for workforce families earning 80% of the county median income would be sold at prices ranging from $200,000 to $218,000.
WPCNR attempted to interview Bill Brown on the project before the vote, but Mr. Brown said he was too busy that week. His partner, James Bason, says should be completed by the end of next September (2006).
Covering Shortfalls
The two city grants were to cover the shortfalls in financing experienced by two “affordable housing” developments, Horton’s Mill Village project off Lake Street, on the site of the former property owned by the Pettinichi family, and 24 South Kensico Avenue , that have been in the works for four years. A steam shovel appeared at the 24 South Kensico Avenue and started construction at 24 South Kensico the second week in October, however as of today there is just a pile of dirt on the site, no earth moving equipment on the site.
The outright grants were not requested of the city in the original proposals made 3 years years ago.
In a mid-September work session, it was learned from both organizations that the costs of the developments have been rising as the two organizations asked the city and the county to give them money to meet those rising costs. The city and county agreed to do this with no strings attached.
Lake Street Partners is building 17 town house Horton’s MillVillage at a cost of $5,528,920, an increase of $282,671over the $5,188,920 originally estimated in October, 2003, according to the paperwork submitted with the Common Council grant ordinance passed October 7.
The $282,671 increase is based on $85,000 more in site work due to new SPDES requirements for storm water quality and management (being executed by the city).There is $197,671 more in construction costs due to “costs in the construction industry, particularly in the area of cement and steel, and cement and steel derivative products, and due to the environmentally and sensitive nature of the site and the carve out of the approximately eight (8) acre protected area,” and though “the applicant has modified the modular design and reduced the amount of concrete used in the project; however, the cost of the modular units and the “specialties and finishes” – siding, patio materials, decking, etc. – have increased after cost saving reductions, an increase of $197, 671.”
The Lake Street Partners applicant, according to the paperwork prepared for the Council, has “been able to achieve savings in other areas to control hard costs, and thus the net increase in hard costs is $254,974,” and because additional site survey work was needed to preserve eight acres of the site, an additional $72,500 was added bring total increased costs of the project to$327,474, the amount of the approved grant.
A Grant, Not a Loan
Based on a detailed laundry list offee increases, financing cost increases, and construction softcosts, the council approved the $327,474 grant from the City’s Affordable Housing Assistance Fund to Lake Street Partners “to fund a portion of the gap in funding for the seventeen (17) workforce home ownership project.”
The grant appears to have no strings attached, and “payment of approved funds shall be made upon submission by the applicant of a standard AIA form with supporting documents.” It is an outright grant.
Two weeks before the October 7 approval, the cost of completing the Horton’s Mill Village project was estimated by the applicant to be put at $5,528,920 for the 17 two and three-bedroom townhouses. That makes a total cost per unit of $325,230 on a straight units/cost basis.
Bill Brady, Associate Planner with the Westchester County Department of Planning told WPCNR,“The (Horton’s Mill) 3 bedroom units will be sold at $214,968 and the 2-bedroom units are priced to be available to 2 income ranges (both under 80% of median): $186,338 and $198,753.”
$1,708,497 in Grants from
City and County to the Brown Project.
According to the Common Council agenda paperwork, the Council approved $848,497 from the City Affordable Housing Assistance Fund to cover a similar shortfall due to an increase in hard construction costs for the South Kensico Project. WestchesterCounty has agreed to advance an additional $860,000 on top of the city grant to fund the cost increase suffered by that project.
Bill Brown, in a letter to the city, July 27, wrote, “The project development cost at the time of project approval was $10,312,607. This included construction costs of $6,920,004 (hard costs), construction soft costs of $1,700,320(soft costs), and bond issuance costs and developer’s fee of $1,692,283 (financing costs and fee). Subsequent to the site plan approval by the Common Council, WestchesterCounty funded the acquisition of the project site, and, as Developers, we began the lengthy process of obtaining financing from Federal and State agencies and programs. Funding for the construction of the subject has been obtained from The New York State Housing Finance Agency through the sale of Tax Exempt Bonds, NYS Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, NYS Housing Finance Agency (HFA) Grant, Westchester County loan, Federal Home Loan Bank and deferral of 64% ($1,083,061)of the Developers Fee ($1,692,283).
Mr. Brown, in the same letter, explained the reasons costs escalated:
“It has taken over three years to obtain financing commitments based on the original project development cost of $10,312,607. However, the commitment of the contractor to hold the hard costs expired before full project funding was obtained. It was, therefore, necessary to obtain a new construction commitment. Certain aspects of the project were redesigned to achieve cost savings before the project was rebid. Even with the cost savings achieved, the lowest responsible bid for the construction of the project (hard costs) came in at $8,650,000, or $1,729,994 more than the original hard cost commitment of $6,920,006. Soft costs (architectural and engineering fees) increased by $25,000 due to project redesign work, and financing costs decreased by $46,497, due to the elimination of SONYMA financing costs. The net result is an overall project development deficit of $1,708,497.
“In order to build this project, the first exclusively for low income households since the construction of the Section 8/202 senior project on Windsor Terrace in the late 1980s, we must find additional financing sources to meet this deficit. WestchesterCounty has agreed to provide additional HOME Program funding for 20 units at $43,000/unit, for a total contribution of $860,000.
In the original approval of this project in October of 2001,the city was to get 42 units for seniors, that included 33 units for families with incomes at or below 60% of the median income ($99,000) or $60,000, and 9 units for families with incomes at or below 50% of median income, about $50,000. Now, under the new grant arrangement, split with WestchesterCounty, the county will have control of 20 units, and the city, 22.
Mr. Brady of the Westchester County Planning Department explained to WPCNR what was meant by “ the county will have control of 20 units,” writing WPCNR: “ On 24 South Kensico the county will not control any units, but (24 South Kensico)must give residency preference to current residents of a consortium community (Harrison, Greenburg, etc.) to 15 of the units. Target market is anyone meeting the maximum income requirements. As 29 of these (42) units are for seniors, there is not an expectation that these will be working families.”
Brown’s letter of July 27 makes the case for city support thusly:
“We are requesting support (of the city) to fund the balance of the deficit of $848,499. This would represent $38,569/unit for the balance of 22 units. These units would be leased pursuant to the City’s priority point system in its Affordable Rental Housing Program Rules and Procedures. The units assisted by the County would be leased according to the County’s priority system,” Brown’s letter concludes.
Cost per Unit Soars.
Adding the new net development deficit cost of $1,708,497 to the original project development cost of $10,312,607, gives you a figure of $12,021,104 for the cost of the project according to the council’s own paperwork.
In the work session prior to the October 7 Common Council meeting, Mr. Brown and his partner James Bason said at this time, they were planning to rent their 2 bedroom units for $1,100 a month, and 1 bedroom units would rent for $860 a month. They said the project would cost approximately $13.2 Million.
In the same work session, John Saraceno and Daryle Hawes of Lake Street Partners indicated the cost of construction per condo unit at $280,000 a unit, up from $227,000. Families eligible for this “workforce housing” at Horton’s MillVillage would have to earn a maximum of $80,000 (80% of median income). They told WPCNR they would have no further comment on the project except what is in the public record.
Hudson Valley Bank is financing the Lake Street Partners project for $3,283,188, New York State Affordable Housing Corporation is in for $425,000; Westchester County Housing Implementation Fund $800,000 (payment for the land);CHI End Loan Grants are being received for $250,000; Westchester County Home Funds of $266,572; End Loan Downpayments of $164,160; and the White Plains Grant of $340,000 (adjusted to $327, 474 last night).
Housing advocates Support it.
Carlson Calls Grants “A giveaway.”
Councilman Larry Delgado commenting objected to Common Council candidate Glen Hockley’s suggestions for a density bonus allowing more development in return for building affordable housing, saying, to do so would be “increasing density” in the downtown. Delgado objected to Dennis Power’s comment from the gallery that the affordable housing ordinance (at 6%) should be increased to 15% of buildable units, and that the area covered by the affordable housing ordinancebe extended beyond the core downtown area to be “citywide.” Delgado said, he could not support building affordable housing in the single family residential neighborhoods. At the Battle Hill debate last week, Delgado also supported building affordable housing with the city affordable housing fund dollars because he said the developers building it did not make a profit.
Rita Malmud, speaking after the vote noted that building affordable housing was very expensive, and that using the affordable housing fund money to fund it was a good use of the money.Mr. Boykin, Mr. Roach and Mr. Bernstein supported the grants, too, in their statements.
Ms Malmud is correct. Affordable Housing is expensive. Let us just see how expensive these 59 units are:
Carlson called the city grants giveaways.
John Carlson, the candidate for Common Council described the grants as “giveaways,” with no guarantees that the developers would not come back asking for more money in the future. He criticised the council for giving in grant form money approximately equal to the principals’ equity in both projects, and said instead the money should have been given in the form of loans, with performance guarantees.
Grant of $340,000, almost covers Developer Equity ($377,000) of Lake Street Partners, according to John Carlson.Photo by WPCNR News.
The grant to Kensico Terrace is more generous from the city. It exceeds the stated Developer’s Equity. Carlson made the point to the council that the combined city and county grant of $1,708,497 ($848,497 from the city, and $860,000 from the County) to Mr. Brown’s project, Kensico Terrace exceeds the Developer’s Equity in the project of $1,692,283.
The Numbers: Approximately $300,000 per unit.
The Kensico Terrace group is building 42 unitsof one and two-bedroom rentals to persons of 60% of median income, for not $12,021,104 but for $14,000,000, according to Tiffany Berns, Assistant Vice President of Public Relations for the New York State Housing Finance Agency,that agency is using the Mortgage bonds and tax credits to finance the building. But, let’s use the $12,021,104 figure anyway. That puts the cost of building the Kensico Terrace units at $286,216.76 per unit. If the cost escalates to $14 Million as the New York State Housing Finance Agency loan details project, the cost to build becomes $333,333 per unit.
The Lake Street Partners group, placing their costs as ofthe Commount Council meeting evening, is reporting the cost of their 17 Town Houses at $5,528,920. This works out to $325,230.58 per unit. The organization was given the land by Westchester County for $1.
High Cost of Affordable Housing.
Contrast these per unit costs to JPI’s Residences at Jefferson Place condominium complex priced to condominium buyers at $320,000 to the mid-600,000 range at 300 Mamaroneck, which was built for $100 millionmaking the JPI raw unit cost $355,000 a unit.
More to the point, there is no guarantee that once city money is given once to these organizations, that the project will be built on time and on budget, and not subject to more cost overruns that they will be coming back to the city for more financing.
The deals have not been due diligenced in public. The Kensico Terrace group currently awaits closing on their financing from the state, according to Ms. Berns, who has not gotten back to us as of October 31, as to when the closing on the Kensico Terrace loan would take place.
Another matter to consider is that in the 24 South Kensico Project, the financing from the state attaches tax credits and depreciation values that are used as tax shelters worth millions to the partners that they can deduct dollar for dollar from their own personal taxes.
The Marathon Dance with the State.
According to Ms. Berns of the New York State Housing Finance Agency. “They (Kensico Terrace) originally applied July 30 of 2002. They were approved by the Board in March, 2004. The next step after a project is approved by the Board is for HFA and the projectdeveloper to sign a commitment to finance. That was signed in March of 2005. Generally speaking after the commitment to finance is signed, that’s when preparations for closing begin. The closing period actually involves the preparation of documents that can amount up to thousands and thousands of pages setting the terms for the financing. The average time it takes is about six months from Board of Approval to actual closing day. It isn’t something that happens instantaneously.”
Rising Costs Added to Loan by State Agency.
“In this case (Kensico Terrace/White Plains Avenue LLC), while we were working toward closing with the Developer (Mr. Brown and Mr. Bason), the agency decided after the Board approval as we worked towards the closing the original financing approved for the project should probably be increased in part because of industry-wide cost increases. It is not at all unusual,” Berns said.
She continued, “As far as how long they can wait to draw down (on the financing), that is something that happens after the closing. There is no statute of limitations on board approvals. However, once the project is closed, each project has its own draw-down schedule. It is prepared and negotiated during closing. There’s no way to say how that would come to be in this case, because it was during the preparation for closing that they wanted to go back and increase the request.”
“The original deal,” Berns told WPCNR,“was $5.6 Million in Mortgage Bonds and the $1.6 Million in subsidy loans, not backed by bonds (a total of 7.2 Million). That was the original math. They’ve now requested an additional $1.5 Million, in collaboration with the agency it’s been determined the project will need an additional $1.5 Million in financing and corresponding tax credits. The tax credit portion of the original deal was $414,987 annual allocation of 4% as of right, low income housing tax credits. This came about between March 2005 and now.”
Closing to Come.
Asked when Kensico Terrace, White Plains Avenue LLC would close on the financing from the New York State Housing Finance Agency, Berns told WPCNR in mid-October, “It’s my understanding we are still in discussion with the developers to find out how they are going to go about doing it. I don’t know if I can comment on a timetable. As of right now, I can’t comment.”
Berns said, “It wasn’t so much the developer was asking for it (the extra funding), it was decided in collaboration with the agency, based in part on rising costs. The numbers they are asking for (from city and county) are $848,499 from the City of White Plains and $860,000 from the county.”
Berns is getting back to WPCNR as to difference of the $12.2 cost and the agency’s $14 Million estimate on the project. (As of November 1, that information has not been given us.) Berns said the loans are generally for a term of 30 years. The interest rate on the loan is determined by the investor marketplace at the time the bonds are sold, “because theloans we’re providing are actually backed by bonds, at least a good portion of them,” Berns said.$5.6 million is bond backed, $1.6 million is in the form of a subsidy loan.
Another Perspective
Put in another perspective, for the total of $21 Million in bonding the city gave the Cappelli organization to build a garage, the city could have purchased 70 condominiums or rental apartments from JPI or Louis Cappelli or Bank Street Commons giving them units the city could rent to pay off the principle and maintain complete control of the units.
The point of this article is that building affordable housing costs the taxpayers as much as building luxury housing for profit, even when the land is given free.
There are also professional organizations that take money out of an affordable housing project. Since no list of firms executing the various services listed on the cost sheets was available, WPCNR has not been able to determine whether firms are doing the legal/design/construction/etc. work at cost or at a normal profit.
Lake Street Partners Construction Cost Increase Documentation. Photo by WPCNR News
Kensico Terrage Cost Increase Documentation.Photo by WPCNR News.
WPCNR WILMA REPORT. By John F. Bailey. October 30, 2005: WPCNR interviewed a mother and her six and seven year old son and daughter who have been living in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma’s rampage across Florida, and have returned to live with relatives today in White Plains while awaiting Florida Power & Light to restore power to their home in the Pompano Beach area.
Life in FWE (Florida Without Electricity). Electric Birds Fly North “Cannot Take It Anymore.”
Talking to Amy, the young mother who has made her way North, WPCNR learned first hand what’s taking FP&L so long to restore electricity. She reports that her home was very lucky, with no damage done to the home but she believes a tornado, spawned by the storm just missed her community, because cars were tossed into yards and fences were swatted down in a swath immediately to the rear of her home.
She told us that FP&L is taking longer than expected to restore power because the concrete power poles used in their area “snapped in half, and it’s taking longer to replace them.” She reports 236 of 300 schools still are without electricity and there has been no school for a week. Amy reports that communities which had underground utility cables did not lose electricity.
She noted that electricity was restored to the Florida Keys first, because they had a separate power company. FP&L worked on the South Miami-Dade area, which has been restored. Now, she reports they are working their way up into Broward and the Palm Beach area. She said FP&L is promising all power will be back on by November 22. Asked what explanation Florida Power & Light has for the slow pace, she volunteered that “there was more damage to the power substations than expected.”
Her two children, Alexis and Austin, have been amusing themselves with a portable battery run T.V. but they were not going to have a Halloween in their area because that has been cancelledbecause of the lack of street lights, wreckage, and conditions.
Amy says the cooler weather in Florida since the hurricane strike has been “a Godsent,” because people have not been as testy. She remarks police in her community of half-million homes, have driven past offering ice to keep food from spoiling. She says mostly they have been living from canned foods using a hand-can opener. She has had to boil water, and has used a generator, but says unfortunately, once gasoline for the generator is gone you cannot get gas because the gas station pumps are powered by electricity.
She told us FEMA has been providing food and if you cannot get them, you can call and they will bring you supplies. However, cellphone towers have been knocked out and there is still no telephone service in her area in Pompano Beach.
Domestically, ther family has had to take cold showers with contaminated water. It gets dark about 7 PM and, of course there is no light. She said the family could not take it anymore and she and her husband have come north to stay with relatives. Her husband will be working out of the New Jersey office of his firm. The family moved to Florida a year ago and has experienced four hurricanes.
Austin, six years old, reports he was not scared, but he hurricane was “bad.” Alexis, 7 years old reports the hurricane was also “pretty bad.”
Amy says the media have not been running regular network programming and instead has been running 24 hour a day information on where to go for supplies, if you need help, and informing residents how to deal with the onset of inconveniences.
WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2005 COMMENTARY. By John F. Bailey. October 29, 2005: The phone call began innocently enough, Saturday at noon, the caller saying they were calling from a National Research organization, asking if the resident receiving the call would answer a few questions.
As campaigns come to a climax, well-heeled candidates, especially incumbents and challengers alike evaluate their messages as the election gets closer. Strategists, based on the results of polls going into the final week, may decide they need to do something dramatic or devastating to the opponent. Sometimes this means going “negative,” or what used to be called a “smear.” By going negative at last minute the opponent has no time to counteract the knockout punch to his or her character, experience, arrest record, integrity or ethnicity.
Who’s Calling Please?
Of course the Delfino machine has money to pay for a poll, but so does County Executive Andy Spano and County Legislator Bill Ryan. Since the questions in this poll (our correspondents received today), deal with voter preferences in the Mayoral Race in White Plains, do not concern the County Executive race, the legislator race, Governor Pataki, the D.A. race, it would be reasonable to assume that the poll is being conducted by one of the two White Plains Mayoral candidates.
Since the Power campaign is underfunded, with less than $40,000 in their till at the start, and a poll such as this can cost about $10,000 and the Republican side has a war chest of about quarter of a million dollars, it might be logical to assume the Republican side is trying to decide if their standard bearer, Mayor Joseph Delfino is comfortably ahead or in danger, because the Republicans can afford it.
Based on what they find, the Republican side may decide to get tough with the Dennis Power candidacy with one last devastating mailing on election weekend.
The poll appears to ask questions to find out Democrat voter tendencies and attempts to elicit whether Democratic voters are going to vote. Why? Well if the Republicans are doing the poll, they need to know that. Mayor Delfino needs a significant crossover vote from the Democratic side. The poll also asks whether the registered voter thinks Mayor Delfino deserves to be reelected.
The poll appears not to tell the Democrats anything that that they don’t already know. (What? that Delfino is tough to beat? They knew that. That’s perhaps why they put up such a strong candidate as Dennis Power at the last moment.)
The poll seems tailored to Republican concerns. It will measure the impact of what the Republican “positive brochures” have been having in the campaign, and whether Dennis Power has name recognition, or should they change campaign tactics.
Questions that Gauge the Mood.
The poll begins asking the recipient whether they think the country, the state and the city of White Plains are “on the right track,” then asks whether the resident called thinks Mayor Delfino “has done a good job and deserves to be reelected.”
Then the questioning turns to Dennis Power, and asks how the voter feels about Dennis Power, and where they view him favorably or unfavorably.
The poll runs down the six Common Council candidates and asks the voter which would they be likely to vote for and concludes with a question on whether the voter plans to vote in the November 8 Mayoral election.
The Knockout Punch You Never See Coming
What will the Republicans do if the Democrats are close?
WPCNR recalls such a strategy was employed successfully by the Republicans against Mayoral Candidate Bill Brown in 1997. WPCNR remembers the Republican Campaign sent out a brochure showing Mr. Delfino and Mr. Brown together on the same page, making subtlely sure, among other things that voters knew Mr. Brown was an African-American, and Mr. Delfino was white.
When I saw the Delfino-Brown flyer of the 97 campaign, my first reaction was it was one of the most shameless plays of “the race card” I ever saw.
WPCNR has also learned that an attack effort was prepared to be used against Robert Greer in the 2001 Mayoral Race, but the party decided not to use it, feeling they were comfortably ahead. Mr. Greer lost by over a thousand votes.
There is a problem with going negative though. It could backfire. Always a risk. Negativity appeals to fears like crime, losing your investment, people you do not like, policies you cannot stand, and it will always sway the conservative voter. Or, it could be a surprise announcement from Mayor Delfino of a significant solving of a city crisis or policy situation that could tip the balance positively.
So, if no “Delfino Mud Missile” is launched against Mr. Power by this coming weekend before election, you might assume the Delfino camp feels the Mayor is going to coast to victory, (if I am right in my hunch that the Republicans are doing this poll).
If you see a “Power Take Out” brocure castigating Mr. Power and playing on fears, then you might assume that the race is too close for Mr. Delfino’s comfort, and every vote counts.
A POWER BLOW?
What could Dennis Power do if it is his poll, short of announcing Moody’s will remove the negative outlook because of Mr. Del Vecchio’s and Mr. Schulman’s financial credentials, I do not see much, unless they have uncovered something about Mr. Delfino regarding health matters, and his ability to serve. But given Mr. Greer’s present personal situation, that seems unlikely. But considering they have ignored documented Delfino doings that they could have attacked, I cannot see them doing any kind of attack at this late stage.
No matter what, Mr. Power, (marshalling Mayors Alfred Del Vecchio and Sy Schulman into has camp, not withstanding), has run a campaign with perhaps too little too late. He has campaigned “nicely” and not attacked on key issues like integrity, cover-ups, and rigged contracts, among other things. Just enough to look like his campaign is serious, but perhaps a little short.
A lot of questions.
The Democratic Party is campaigning just enough the last few weeks to keep the U.S. Attorney’s Office away from a rigged election investigation, or are they?
Where is a media blitz from the Westchester Democratic Party coffers, Andy Spano’s coffers? Where are the Andy Spano, arms-around-Dennis Power’s-shoulder spots?
Why aren’t the Common Councilpersons who are Democrats campaigning hard for Power? Where are the telephone messages from Democratic Councilpersons urging Democrats to get out and vote for Power? How can Tom Roach say as much that the financial crisis has been weathered when his Mayoral Candidate is banging hard on mismanagement of finances on the same dais??? (I loved that gaffe.)
Next Time Bring Commitment to the Table.
Several truisms can be learned from this campaign if you are going to run for Mayor of White Plains, you have to have a lot money. You have to find a message that will resonate with the voters. You have to be relentless, start early and put up a strong candidate and give enough time to get the message across. And, you cannot be “Mr. Nice Guy.”
You have to appear to be a nice guy as Mayor Delfino is excellent at role-playing, but be prepared to use the brass knuckles, which Mr. Delfino and his administration are very willing to do and will not hesitate to do so.
One more thing: You have to want to win. Your Party has to want you to win.
WPCNR FOR THE RECORD. October 29, 2005: On Thursday, Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio and Mayor Sy Schulman, the previous two Mayors of White Plains delivered statements on the Mayoral race at a news conference at City Hall supporting Dennis Power for Mayor. Robert Stackpole, a longtime member of the Planning Board, also read a statement. Here are the transcripts of those statements:
October 27-05 Statement by Alfred Del Vecchio
Good morning!
On so glorious a morning I would like to report that our elected officials have done their jobs well. That will not be possible. Let me tell you: • After eight years of promoting “economic prosperity” with taxpayer’s money, our tax base has actually decreased in the face of claims of an increase in economic growth worth more than $2 billion. That’s quite an achievement–or would you call it a dechievement? In previous administrations development created wealth for the City and actually lowered taxes. After eight years the current development is driving us to the poor-house.
Alfred Del Vecchio, Mayor of White Plains 1975-1993 addressing News Conference Thursday.Photo by WPCNR News • Not only did we give a developer $23.4 million to build a garage for the city center, we then turned around and gave him the whole garage. To compound the felony we agreed to take care of all major maintenance in the garage. What a deal! • Moody’s independent investment service recently issued a “negative outlook to White Plains municipal bonds warning all buyers that “White Plains had the last three years of operating losses.” No surprise.
Dennis Power has asked me to endorse him for mayor. I heartily do so.
My experience as mayor includes having worked with each of the candidates when they were councilmen, I know how they think and how they work. Let me tell you, Dennis has the confidence to listen to others. Dennis has the background to manage. Dennis has people-skills: he is clearly better equipped to lead. Given the opportunity, Dennis will enrich the quality of life of our city.
Dennis Powers understands that good government makes the best politics. I think he will serve all the people of this city very well . Given the opportunity I think he has the capacity to become one of the great mayors of our city. Please think about it. I will vote for him and urge you to do so as well.
My colleague Mayor Del Vecchio has just disturbingly outlined how the current administration has frittered away the fiscally sound government it inherited in 1998.
Equally serious has been the Delfino failure to review the 1997 Comprehensive Plan annually, and to update it every five years as prescribed when it was endorsed by the Common Council in 1997. Only after prodding by a grass roots citizens’ group did the City start to review the plan, albeit with little or no effort to enlist significant citizen participation. In sharp contrast, the 1997 Plan had the input of more than 400 citizens.
Mayor Sy Schulman, leader of White Plains from 1993-1997, delivering his statement at Thursday News Conference for Dennis Power. Photo WPCNR News
The many changes during the past eight years have not been universally welcomed –– far from it. Thirty-five- and forty-story- buildings were never contemplated by the Comprehensive Plan. There was never any intention that the City donate $23 million to a private developer ––virtually stripping the City of its available funds. And what has the City received for its largesse? The developer just raised condominium prices by one hundred thousand dollars each. (So much for affordable housing!)
Let’s get down to it. Our City needs to re-visit its plan: • to reflect new pressures and needs faced by the School District • to reflect changing population characteristics • to reflect compounded traffic and parking problems • to reflect the need for a coordinated urban design
Dennis is a man of integrity, a hard-driving, “get-it-done” kind of guy who can be counted on as the Mayor to involve us all in addressing and correcting these problems. I will be pleased to assist in every possible way.
I enthusiastically endorse Dennis Power for Mayor of White Plains.
I. Dennis is a man who believes in the bedrock democratic principles of public participation in making vital decisions –– open government.
II. Dennis is a man who is not afraid to encourage vigorous debate of the issues–– not afraid to listen to the concerns of our citizens.
III. Dennis is a man whose dynamic personality will thrive in his role as Mayor.
IV. Dennis is a man who does not recoil from criticism.
V. Dennis is a man who will not govern by intimidation.
Robert Stackpole, member of the Planning Board, endorsing Dennis Power Thursday. Photo, WPCNR News
VI. Dennis is a man who will not hide behind non-elected spokesmen for the administration
VII. Dennis is a man who will not be beholden to developers or similar special interests.
VIII.Dennis is a man who will not squander the wealth of the City in our joint quest to move the City forward.
IX. Dennis is a man who understands that engaging citizens in the conduct of City government will ensure that the outcomes will be embraced by the many.
X. Dennis is a man who will reach out to all the citizens of White Plains to be the leader of us all.
Because Dennis Power recognizes that the future of White Plains and the substance of our municipal government is far and away the most important issue we face in this election, and because Dennis has the requisite personal and professional resources to deal with our problems on a mayoral level, and because he is able and willing to use them, he is, without question, the man to lead us for the next four years.
WPCNR Press Box. By John F. Bailey. October 28, 2005: John Jay High of CrossRiver’s “Mr. Inside,” Ryder Bohlander scored the first touchdown of the game within the first 2 minutes and 8 seconds of Friday evening’s Sectional Playoff, to give John Jay a 7-0 lead. Boulander had set up the touchdown with a 35 yard run up the middle to the Tiger 35. John Jay had rolled 67 yards in 5 plays for the first score. You knew it was going to be a long cold night.
Dan Sheeran, “Mr.Outside” had previously taken the ball 21 yards to the 14 around right end on a beauty sweep to the 14 and Bohlanderrolled in 14 yards for the first touchdown on the next play. The Indians rolled to a 21-0 lead at halftime on two big plays and won the game 27-0.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS at John Jay High. Tigers kickoff to start the game.
Photo by WPCNR Sports.
John Jay’s speed and quickness found Indians instantly in the Tiger backfield and all night, giving Conor Gilmartin-Donahue no time to pass, sacking him unofficially 4 times, Offensively, the Indians did not appear to outweigh the Tiger line, but their blocking schemes and deceptive handoffs combined with the speed of Bohlander and Sheeran found the Tiger linebackers and secondary with their handsful before they knew it. Bohlander and Sheeran are hard to bring down, too, their speed making open field stops a nightmare.
After the first John Jay scoring drive, the Tigers were stopped on downs and a low snap caused the Tiger punter, Ian Jackson to inadvertently touch his knee to the ground stopping the snap, giving John Jay a first down on the Tiger 30. But the Tigers held on downs. John Jay’s first play, a pass on one of Quarterback Kevin Stockel’s rollouts was incomplete.Bohlander was stopped on a run, and on 3rd down Tyrone Roper tackledEric Svenson on the 22. On the fourth down, Stockel’s pass into the endzone was batted away by Jeffy Charles and Tommy Lee and the Tigers had held.
THE TIGERS HOLD EM: Tommy Lee (11) and Jeffy Charles to the left of Mr. Lee, have just combined to swat away a 4th down pass to stop the relentless John Jay drive in the first quarter. White Plains stopped three John Jay drives inside the red zone.Photo by WPCNR Sports
John Jay stopped the Tigers on the next series at the Tiger 32, and a punt gave John Jay the ball back on the 50. The Indians drove to the Tiger 32, attempted to punt, but Gerard Bryant blocked the Indian punt and the Tigers took over at the 50.
Gilmartin-Donahue was sacked on the Tigers first play, and two incompletions later, White Plains punted. John Jay took over on downs at their own 30.
40 Yard Rumble.
On a third and 1 from the Jay 39, Bohlander on a quick hitter off tackle, burst into the Tiger secondary and ran 40 yards down the middle to the Tiger 21, breaking tackles all the way, and the quarter ended one play later, the Tigers down 7-0.
On 2nd and 7, Bohlander went off tackle to the 15, setting up a 3rd and 3. The Tigers held, setting up a 4th down and 3 from the 15.Dan Sheeran swept around left end to the 2 yard line. I mean the speed at which John Jay got outside all night was something to see. Sheeran then swept around left end again for the second touchdown with 10 minutes to go in the second quarter. They added the conversion and it was 14-0.
The Breaker.
Jeffy Charles returned the kickoff to the White Plains 40. Then came the crucial play. On a pitchback halfback option play, Two John Jays burst in on the Tiger back and in his desperation to avoid a big loss he threw the ball. It was tipped, fluttered in the air.
Not a good thing, The Jays’ Chris Costello leaped at the line and intercepted giving John Jay a first
down on the White Plains 40.
Then the roof fell in on another John Jay big play.
On the next play, Stockel threw a 36 yard pass to Dan Sheeran who caught it at the 10 on the sideline, deftly coming back from the Tiger defender to make the catch and they had a first and goal on the 4.
Sheeran then rolled into the endzone on the textbook sweep. John Jay added the point and it was 21-0 with 8:44 to go in the half.
White Plains made one goal line stand before halftime, halting John Jay on one more bid.
THE WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND (The Best Band in All the Land) held the stands spellbound at halftime. Photo by WPCNR Sports
The Tigers had the ball to start the second half but again could not move past the 50. Jordan Griffith intercepted a pass in the endzone to thwart another John Jay score, but the Indians added another 6 at the close of the ThirdQuarter.
The synthetic turf enhances the speed of John Jay, and the Tiger pursuit was several steps behind the entire evening. But this club is a very good team. The double threat of Sheeran and Bohlander is hard to defend against, and the running plays are executed with crispness. They are a threat to score on every play.
White Plains falls to 4-3 on the season.
A word about synthetic turf.
Because White Plains is considering synthetic turfing for three of its athletic fields: Parker Stadium, Loucks Field and Eastview, I want to go on the record as saying it gives you a tremendous advantage. You never make a bad cut. You always have sure footing and it enhances your speed. This was very apparent in last night’s game. It makes a fast back faster, it is a tremendous offensive advantage. The offensive line can dig in and get a jump start.
Conversely, it slows down the defensive reaction time. White Plains which has contained sweeps fair to middlin against New Rochelle and Gorton, could not contend with the extra bursts John Jay showed them on sweeps tonight.
Does anyone recall when synthetic turf first came in to the NFL? Dallas used it. So did the Houston Oilers of the old AFL in the Astrodome. On synthetic turf they were unbeatable. Remember how a baseball shoots through a synthetic turf field and the infielders cannot get to it? Same thing with running backs, blockers and receivers. They fly. I have to guess their acceleration off the flat is enhanced by at least a half second. John Jay is very enhanced by their synthetic turf because they know where they are going and you the defense do not, and the synthetic turf slows your reaction time.
May I suggest that all playoff games be on neutral sites? Why? Because there are not many synthetic turf fields, and the team that is used to playing on one has a big time advantage.
WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. October 28, 2005: Pat Casey, the new publisher of The White Plains Watch announced to WPCNR Thursday that her newspaper is expanding and will publish weekly beginning in January introducing a new force in White Plains reporting, the White Plains Times
Pat Casey of The White Plains Times in front of City Hall.Photo, WPCNR News.
Casey said the paper will remain the same length and size as it is now, 20 pages, but will change its name to the White Plains Times. Casey said the paper’s logo is being redesigned by Berlin Associates, a city-based design firm, but the format will remain the same, retaining the color photographs. She plans no change in editorial style.
She said the paper will report hard news affecting the quality of life in White Plains, and present features focusing on the activities of White Plains personalities, provide profiles and continue its roundup of events and happenings around town.
Casey reports she has expanded the staff of the new Times to 7, with a Managing Editor, Associate Editor, an Advertising Sales Manager, and full-time writers, supplemented by a free-lance staff up to 25. She said the paper will publish on Thursdays of each week, beginning January 5.
The paper will be circulated by mail at no charge to a resident population of 25,000. Subscriptions are $25, she said and will avail subscriber supporters of certain privileges and benefits that are in the process of being determined.
The White Plains Times will join the White Plains Crusader as the second weekly in White Plains.
WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2005. By John F. Bailey. October 27, 2005: On the steps of city hall today, former Mayors Alfred Del Vecchio and Sy Schulman not only endorsed Dennis Power for Mayor of the city, but agreed to serve in his administration as Co-Chairs of the City Budget and Finance Committee. Power announced his plans to rely on Del Vecchio and Schulman to lead White Plains out of its present alleged financial brink and also promised to reconvene the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee and do their work over, enlisting more community involvement. He also promised an open administration.
Three Mayors for Price of One: Dennis Power, Candidate for Mayor center, with former Mayors of White Plains, Alfred Del Vecchio, left, and Sy Schulman, right after Power announced Del Vecchio and Schulman would be Co-Chairs of the city’s Budget & Finance Committee in Power’s administration, should he be elected.Photo by Paul Schwarz, The Power Campaign.
WPCNR Campaign 2005. By John F. Bailey. October 27, 2005: The final Candidates Debate unfolded in the friendly confines of Battle Hill Condominiums last night. Mayor Joseph Delfino and the incumbents and challengers (councilpersons) fielded a series of general questions. The right to ask questions was limited to Battle Hill residents by the chairpersons of the Battle Hill Association, apparently to avoid alleged “embedded agents” from asking pointed questions which marked last Wednesday’s uncivil exchange between Mayor Delfino and alleged Dennis Power supporters prompting the Mayor to refer to citizen complaints against development as “minutiae.”
The Battle Hill Debate Wednesday Evening”: Left to Right on the dais, Mayor Delfino, Rita Malmud, Larry Delgado, Tom Roach, Glen Hockley (standing), Dennis Power, Frank Mastraccio, John Carlson. Photo, WPCNR News.
Incumbent councilpersons Roach, Malmud and comeback candidate Glen Hockley as well as the Mayor and Councilman Larry Delgado defended their $1.2Million in grants of Affordable Housing Assistance Funds to Kensico Terrace and Lake Street Partners to build affordable housing projects at 24 Kensico Avenue and Silver Lake, but offered no explanations why they did not make the grants in the forms of loans to be paid back as suggested by Council Candidate John Carlson to perpetuate the funds.
Tom Roach said the funds did not come from the General Fund, but were earmarked specifically for affordable housing assistance or for the building of affordable housing, without addressing why the money was just given away with no guarantees. The Mayor said market rental housing was a minimum of $1,500 a month and that level was simply not affordable and affordable housing needed to be addressed. He also did not defend the outright gift nature of the “grants.” Rita Malmud justified the grants as being the city’s way of “partnering with developers” to create affordable housing
Larry Delgado said he felt making the affordable housing grants was good use of the money since the city was partnering with non-profit organizations to build these projects, whose object was not to make a profit (though the cost of the units by WPCNR calculations approach the cost of the city’s most recent cost/per unit built in the North Tower at City Center).
Mr. Power, the Mayoral candidate expressed his desire that the set-aside for building units be raised to 15% from the present 6%, and that it be expanded to the whole city, including the outer neighborhoods. He said the city should be more aggressive with negotiating with developers for affordable housing, and that the city should work more with the county.
Power said he supported the county senior citizen project planned for the former Post Office parking lot behind the Board of Elections building.
The Mayor said he was adamantly opposed to expanding the set-aside affordable housing legislation to include the outer neighborhoods. The Mayor said developers, especially Louis Cappelli have given more than their fair share, noting that Mr. Cappelli had contributed $1.5 Million beyond what he was required to do regarding his 221 Main Project.
Frank Mastraccio, a candidate for Common Council said that affordable housing had to be targeted and discussed with individual landowners as a way to spur growth in Affordable Housing.
A question about the rise in school busing costs to the Youth Bureau, and day care charges for after school programs prompted a range of responses. Glenn Hockley, bidding to make a return to the Common Council, said “We’re one city,” and that the city should combine purchasing power with the schools and see how they could work together to lower costs.
Finances Not Touched By Candidates.
John Carlson brought up the point of eroding commercial assessments and city certiorari givebacks, and said he would work and lobby hard with Albany to find solutions to stop this trend which he said hurts all taxpayers. The other candidates did not address this canard. Though Rita Malmud said the city had tried to hold the line on taxes, but occasionally a tax increase is necessary. Tom Roach, deferred with Carlson saying the city’s financing was on the upswing, and the Council had addressed the problems of the past, saying that other cities “would like to have our sales tax ($40.9 Million).” The sense of Roach’s take on the finances was that the city had turned the corner, dismissing Carlson’s concerns.
Dennis Power, Mr. Delfino’s opponent, called for a joint meeting between the School Board and the Common Council “on a regular basis” to address common problems. The Mayor said he met regularly with the Superintendent of Schools, but that the Board of Education had never expressed their desire to meet with the city regularly. The CitySchool District expressed dissatisfaction last spring in getting specific PILOT tax payment projections from the city last spring, however, the City Assessor did meet with the Board of Education to give them a short-term view of tax payments to be expected from the new development.
Battle Hill Issues.
The questioning was turned by the moderators to Battle Hill issues which revolved around traffic and enforcement of housing codes. Larry Delgado said, “we listen to your concerns.” Tom Roach said he was concerned that housing code violations were taking too long to work their way through the court system and he would be working to speed that process of litigating against the landlords. Mr. Hockley maintained that speeding enforcement had to be stepped up. Dennis Power, the Mayoral candidate, said there had to be better speed enforcement and that the neighborhoods had to be involved more by city hall, referencing the city’s Comprehensive Plan review needed to continue with more neighborhood input sought.
When John Carlson tried to raise the issue that violent crime was actually more than it was in the year 2000, Virginia Falzarano, the Moderator attempted to cut him off saying the discussion was on traffic. The audience said they wanted to hear him on it. Carlson noted that violent crime was steady and an issue that needed to be addressed in the downtown. Later in the evening, the Mayor said, he did not care that as far as he was concerned crime was at a new low. What Carlson has brought to light is, and the police agree with him, that violent crime, especially assaults is 10% more than it was in the year 2000, and it is only when property crime figures are mixed with the violent crime figures that crime shows to be down.
A questioner asked the candidates what their visions were for the city.
Mr. Power said he wanted “A very open city, more responsive to needs of residents, ” and that the city not be developed “at the expense of the residents.” He said the vision of the Comprehensive Plan of 1997 had to be followed, and he would make sure that was implemented. He shied away from attacking the Mayor for his “minutiae” remark of the previous week where the Mayor characterized the vast majority of citizen complaints as “minutiae.” Power’s comment on finances called for holding property tax increases to 3% and projecting a three year budget plan. In fact, Mr. Power was diffident this evening, as were all the candidates, as if trying smooth over the unseemly rancor of last Wednesday’s debate.
John Carlson said he wanted to “restore financial health to the city,” and he would work to find solutions to the city’s dwindling tax base, and expenditures. Mr. Delgado said he wanted to expand the “rejuvenation” of the downtown, extending it to Post Road and South Lexington Avenue.
Frank Mastraccio, the Common Council Candidate said he wanted to work for a viable public transportation system for White Plains.
In a question about what the candidates would do for the Hispanic population, all candidates lapsed into platitudes about the diversity in White Plains, and the many opportunitys except for Mr. Hockley who said more had to be done for Hispanic Day Laborers. Hockley revealed that he had been working to set up a building in the city where day laborers could meet to be available for day hires, eat, and receive counseling if needed. Hockley said a prominent Hispanic leader whom he did not name was responsible for at least temporarily blocking this initiative of his.
Salaries
In a question on council salary increases, the Mayor responded he had not had a raise in eight years. The Mayor has had a lapse of memory. According to the official budget, he received two raises in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 from $125,000 to $130,000 in 2003-2004, and an increase from $130,000 to $134,875 in 2004-2005. Budget Books for previous years were not immediately available to check back further. The Mayor said he would be willing to serve without a raise next year.
WPCNR thought it would be interesting to note how the Mayor’s Cabinet Salaries have fared over the last four years.
The Mayor has raised salaries of key Commissioners roughly 4% a year since 2000-2001 over the last four years, (through 2004-05), while the city was running deficits. WPCNR thought it would be interesting to note how the Mayor’s Cabinet Salaries have inflated over the last four years when inflation was under 2%.
The Assessor’s salary has gone up over $20,000 from $82,560 in 2000-2001 to $104,000 today.
The Budget Director has moved up $17,000 from $108,275 in 2000-2001 to $125,381 this year.
The Commissioner of Building’s stipend has moved up $17,000 from $102,168 to $119,521.
The Commissioner of Finance has moved up $17,000 in four years from $108,214 in 2000-2001 to $125,381 in 04-05.
The Information Services Director was paid $92,880 in 2000-2001, and is paid $108,655 today, up $16,000 in four years.
The Corporation Counsel has had his salary increased $20,000 in four years, from $121,401 in 2000-2001 to $140,661.
The Personnel Officer has moved from being paid $101,962 in 2000-01 to $124,480, an increase of $23,000 in four years.
The Mayor’s Executive Officer has gone from a salary of $104,000 in 2000-2001 to a salary of $130,000 today, a $26,000 increase in four years.
The Planning Commissioner’s Salary has moved from $115,528 in 2000-2001 to $134,822 .
The Public Safety Commissioner position pays $20,000 more than it did in 2000-01, from $126,000 to $146,894 today.
The Commissioner of Public Works positionis up $21,000 from 2000-01 to $142,896, compared to $121,000 in 2000-01.
The only commissioners not participating at the same level are the City Clerk, up $11,000 in four years, and the Commissioner of Recreation and Parks, up $10,000 from 2000-01 to $118,060.
The Mayor recounted his accomplishments and said he wanted a chance to continue the work he had begun in redeveloping the city. He promised to pay attention to all the issues, including “the small ones.” Overall the Mayor appeared in complete command this evening in one of his strongholds which has long supported him. He made no gaffes, projected an air of concern and earnestness and benevolence. He said he had involved all the neighborhoods in projects concerning them.
