THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

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WPCNR SOUTHEND TIMES. By John F. Bailey. June 3, 2005: Robert Levine of the Citizens Plan Committee called upon volunteers from the audience of the “Look to the Future” community meeting at Ridgeway School last night  to join with members of the CPC to lobby members of the Commoun Council to call a Special Meeting to reorganize the review of the 1997Comprehensive Plan. The objective of the Special Meeting would be to include the views and concerns of Levine’s committee of community “planning experts” which he charged the city has gone out of its way to ignore.

Levine, Conroy, Politzer on the dais at Thursday’s public meeting of the Citizens Plan Committee, which claimed credit for “jump-starting” the 1997 Comprehensive Plan Review process, but says the city is ignoring their views. Photo by WPCNR News.

The call for citizens to lobby Common Councilmembers to call a special meeting  was prompted by former Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio’s explanation of the process by which council members can call a Special Meeting to address an issue, even without the present Mayor’s consent.

The Mayoral Team: Former Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio,(1976-1993) (left) and Mayor Sy Schulman (1993-1997) at the “Look Into the Future” last night. Photo by WPCNR News

Del Vecchio remarked: “Two Councilpersons can call a special meeting of the Common Council to listen to and accept the report of the CPC (Levine’s group) and then assign several groups of Commissioners to work with members of the CPC (Levine’s group) to implement those sections that can be implemented and to conduct further studies where sections are lacking information or data.”

Dell Vecchio’s rousing speech was followed by the pragmatism of former Mayor Sy Schulman, who noted the “loose zoning” in the core area as one of the problems the city needs to address because it leaves the city vulnerable to whatever developers propose. “without a plan, you’re inviting disaster,” he said. Schulman criticised the effort the city has made to involve citizens in the process, and demanded the views of the committee be heard and considered: 

“It may seem strange to some that there could be any controversy about the idea of a community seeking to shape its future.  Yet even now there are those who are dubious at best and even scornful that in a property-oriented society there can be those brash enough to seek to influence the future and even to thwart the real estate instincts of some.    That view finds little resonance in White Plains.  We have long been a community which is respectful of property rights but also determined to make sure that we will not be surprised or offended by the future.  Two former mayors (himself and Mr. Del Vecchio)  fully subscribe to the view that we can shape and control our future, that we can make sure our successors will be more likely to bless us than to curse us because of what we have left behind.  I hope the same is true of the current mayor as well as those who will succeed him.”

Councilpersons WPCNR noticed in attendance were Arnold Bernstein, Benjamin Boykin, Rita Malmud and Thomas Roach. However when the meeting ended, they were not available for comment on whether any would be receptive to spearheading the call for “a special meeting” to take over the planning process and set up a mechanism to consider the Comprehensive Plan Committee’s views.

Approximately 90 persons including about five political officeholders (Bernstein, Boykin, Malmud, Roach, Assemblyman Adam Bradley and County Legislator Bill Ryan) attended the meeting, about sixty persons less than the meeting the group held January 13. The committee also introduced their own review of the Comprehensive Plan that is available for the city Comprehensive Plan Review Committee to consider.

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WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. By John F. Bailey. June 2, 2005: WPCNR news has learned that the Republican Party of White Plains has nominated Francesco Mastracchio, a downtown White Plains cafe owner (Sassinoro Cafe – 50 Main Street) to run with incumbent Larry Delgado, and insurgent financier, John Carlson for the three open Council seats in November with Mayor Joseph Delfino, as he seeks election to a third term as Mayor.

The Carlson-Delgado-Mastrachio team will face incumbents Rita Malmud and Thomas Roach and resurgent Glen Hockley, who is attempting to be elected outright to the Common Council seat he was removed from last July, in favor of Mr. Delgado.

The Republicans await word from the Democratic Party as to whether Mayor Delfino will have an opponent for the Mayoral position. Should the Democrats not run a candidate at Mayor Delfino, Mr. Delfino’s war chest (amassed at a series of very discreet fundraisers last year),  could conceivably help the insurgent council candidates make a serious run at the Democrat incumbents, particularly if Democrat turnout is low.

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. June 2, 2005, Updated 12:52 P.M. E.D.T.: The mystery surrounding WalMart’s coming to White Plains was lifted today, when WalMart spokesperson Philip Serghini, announced to The Journal News that WalMart was opening in late fall at the Main Street location adjacent city hall, where Sears used to be. No new information about the store was disclosed, and no date for the opening was set. 

WalMart Location in White Plains: Opening “Late Fall.” Photo, WPCNR News Archives.

It will, according to Serghini, sell grocery staples, which was already known previously,  in addition to the usual WalMart merchandise lineup. Serghini is quoted as saying, “We have all the necessary approvals. The building will be completely renovated.”

The late fall opening, as opposed to the original target reported as being September, is not a good thing for the city’s sales tax receipts because the city was anticipating at least three quarters of WalMart sales to pump up the sales tax receipts and continue “The Renaissance.”

Earlier in the week, the Mayor’s Office did not have any information for WPCNR on the WalMart status, which was strange if the company already had all its approvals. WalMart public relations, contacted by WPCNR Tuesday did not return WPCNR’s call.

The announcement Thursday by Mr. Serghini that Wal-Mart is coming to Main Street is nothing new, and will be stiff competition to the Stop N Shop down Westchester Avenue, as well as Target across in the City Center.

 In November, 2004, WPCNR wrote the following describing Walmart’s concept of “limited groceries.” as Mr. Serghini describes the new White Plains WalMart-to-be:

WPCNR wrote in December, 04, : Walmart will offer a supermarket that, according to a spokesperson  “won’t be a full-blown SuperCenter, but it will provide for some milk, eggs deli-meats and some fruits and vegetables so people in town can have a quick place to pick up some of these items,” does not begin to describe what the market will be really like. 

If Wal-Mart is building a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, it will be a full-blown supermarket, open 24-hours a day, giving city convenience to the owners of $2 Million condominums in Trump Tower across the street.  WPCNR has also learned that it will be the flagship Neighborhood Market in the New York Metropolitan area, since there are no Neighborhood Markets listed within 100 miles of White Plains on the Wal-Mart website Store Finder.

The Neighborhood Market will underprice Stop N Shop, just opened two years ago, by about 10%  and definitely will underprice Whole Foods Market at Fortunoff.  The Wal-Mart market isn’t a “deli” operation, by any means, and is considerably larger than a gas station convenience store. 

Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets are open 24 hours a day at 60 locations thoughout the country, and are Wal-Mart’s latest efforts to compete against a new retail sector: the food business.

As predicted by WPCNR in September (2004) as a good fit for the Sears building,  each Neighborhood Market is approximately 40,000 square feet, which would fit in nicely on the first 82,000 square foot first floor of the “The Shoppes on Main,” the “stackmall” next to City Hall, and upstairs, on the second 82,000 square foot second floor,  there could be the rest of Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart’s Neighborhood Markets according to Baseline.com, the Tampa Bay Business Journal and usavanguard.com, are no Sam’s Clubs.

 In South Ogden, Utah, the Neighborhood Market features wide aisles with luxury glazed brown floors, soothing, sophisticated muzak,  a drive-through pharmacy and a pizza-to-go stand.

In a visit to a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market in Alabama, it was discovered by USA Vanguard reporter Michael Gregory that inside the Neighborhood Market were aisles and aisles of delights from cell phones to satellite systems, cosmetics supplies, school supplies, as well as an automotive section. Mr. Gregory reports the ability to get a key made, a prescription filled, even taxes done. You can read his article at http://www.usavanguard.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/01/02/402066c9235f5.

The model Neighborhood Market contains “amply-stocked” meat and deli sections, baked goods, and frozen foods. Neighborhood Markets are tied in by satellite to Wal-Mart’s retail link network to monitor what’s moving and what’s not, allowing trucks to deliver fresh stocks the next day. This economy of supply, according to Baseline.com allows Wal-Mart to offer prices 10% less than traditional supermarkets such as Publix, Winn-Dixie and Kash n’ Karry, Krogers, and Albertson’s.

The Baseline report also notes the Neighborhood Markets are operated with 10% less staff than grocery stores.

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WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. June 2, 2005: This Sunday the Nominating Committee of the Democratic City Committee will interview Ron Jackson, the WPCNR-dubbed, “Last Activist” of White Plains, and Winbrook advocate as a potential candidate to run for Mayor against Joseph Delfino. The Committee reportedly will also interview former Councilman Dennis Power for the nomination. City Democratic Committee head, Liz Shollenberger, has vowed the Democrats will run a candidate against the Mayor.

Meanwhile, WPCNR wants to know, who would the Democrats want to run from among this final twosome: Mr. Power, a formidable campaigner who unseated Robert Ruger as a Councilman,  or Mr. Jackson, whose persuasive.

This poll should be voted upon by Registered Democrats only. You’re on the honor system, Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. Democrat!

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From the Mayor’s Office. May 31, 2005, (Edited): The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that the City of White Plains has received the Robert L. Woodson, Jr. Award for their creative and effective affordable housing programs. The award is presented annually to three cities nationwide.

The Robert L. Woodson Jr. Award recognizes local governments for reducing regulatory barriers to affordable housing and serves to commend local governments for their outstanding work towards encouraging the production of homes affordable to working families. The City of White Plains will be presented with the award at a ceremony and reception at HUD Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on June 29^th, 2005, and will also participate in a roundtable discussion.

The award comes about a week before, the Common Council will consider legislation to make available funds for loans to citizens to take out mortgages to buy affordable residential properties within the city.  The details of this legislation are presently being written, and are expected to be before the Council in their June 6 Public Meeting. This expansion in the White Plains affordable housing initiative was announced at the last work session, and  would include tapping developer payments that satisfy developer affordable housing unit obligations for such mortgages.

“This is a tremendous award for our community to receive. Affordable housing is a huge issue here in White Plains, and myself, along with the City staff and the Common Council, have taken proactive measures to provide affordable housing opportunities for those in need. This award is indicative of the commitment we have made to affordable housing, and it is clear our programs are effective, and that we are making substantial progress,” stated Mayor Joseph Delfino.

HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation’s fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.