Malmud: All 7 Members of Common Council Will Select Plan Committee.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. January 19, 2004: As the media blackout at the Mayor’s Office continued into the early afternoon hours, with no statement issued, confirming Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel’s announcement to the media that the Mayor and Council had reconciled over the question of who gets to serve on the Committee that will review the City Comprehensive Plan, Councilperson Rita Malmud has stepped forward and confirmed that the Mayor has agreed to give the Council equal responsibility with him in naming persons to the Committee.


Ms Malmud outlined the official results of yesterday’s secret meeting between Tom Roach, President of the Council and Councilman Benjamin Boykin and Mayor Joseph Delfino. Rita Malmud has confirmed to WPCNR “there has been an agreement reached under which all 7 members of the Common Council will  work together on selection of  a Comprehensive Plan Review Committee.”


Malmud’s confirmation confirms that the Mayor has given way under intense Council pressure for more council say in who gets to determine White Plains future direction of growth. Originally last week, the Mayor said he was going to appoint them. As late as yesterday afternoon, Executive Officer Paul Wood was claiming the city was not bound to allow the Common Council to do that, if it did not want to.


 Malmud now reports exclusively to WPCNR that Councilman Roach reported this agreement to her last night after he had met with the Mayor. Malmud said “We’ve agreed to proceed.”


Asked how the Mayor and Council were going to proceed, she said, “Amicably.” Asked what was next, Ms. Malmud said, “This (selection of the committee) is the first step certainly to have all 7 of us involved in the process.”


She said no decision had been made yet on who would be on the committee and that councilmembers were now submitting names for consideration. She said selection to the committee and presumably the number of citizens on it “would be a give and take arrangement among all 7 of us.”


Malmud saw the process going forward in this manner: 1.)The announcement of the names of the persons on the committee, and 2.) Setting a date so the citizens could begin their work, and 3.) Multiple public meetings well publicized, she added.  


She said she had received the Susan Habel-authored 1997 Comprehensive Plan Review as of last night from Mr. Roach, after he had met with the Mayor.


She told WPCNR she has already submitted some names but said it would not be appropriate to tell me her choices.

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Cappelli Pinches Pinnacle: Focuses on Affordable Next Door

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WPCNR THE PLANNING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. January 19, 2005: Bruce Berg of Cappelli Enterprises presented the Louis Cappelli 221 Main Hotel-Condoplex redesign to the White Plains Planning Board Tuesday evening, and told the Board Mr. Cappelli was focusing on an 8-story apartment building abutting the Martin Ginsburg Pinnacle site planned for the former A & P site on Main Street.



 


Berg said the 8-story structure most likely have a restaurant on the first floor at street level, and would be available either as “affordable” rentals or condominiums ($80,000 median income to qualify) to satisfy the remaining 42-units he owes the city  to fulfill Mr. Cappelli’s commitment to satsisfy the Common Council’s 6% affordable housing requirement in the Central Business District.


 


Mr. Berg did not bring up to the Planning Board Mr. Cappelli’s original suggestion that he could build all 41 units on the site of 189 Main Street at the mouth of Court Street, should Mr. Cappelli acquire the 187 Main property adjacent to 189 Main.


 


Off the Table. If Council Is to Get Affordable Housing It’s to be at 240 Main. 


 


 Berg told WPCNR exclusively that Mr. Cappelli was no longer considering that option. Asked twice if Mr. Cappelli was still negotiating for 187 Main, Berg said “We have a contract on 189 Main.” Asked what Mr. Cappelli planned to do with the 189 Main Street building, Berg said, “We’ll build something else.”


 


Berg explained to the Planning Board  that instead of 400 foot Towers at 221, the towers would actually rise to 435 feet, if you include the mechanics of each tower which go on the top of the structures.


 


Cappelli Zoning Request for 400 feet Accepted After Troubled Questioning.


 


The Planning Board after much questioning by Planning Board members, Steve Alexander and J. Russell Imlay, referred to the Common Council the Zoning Request that would allow 400 foot heights on sites of 300,000 square feet in the Central Business District 4. This is the ordinance which will pave the way for Council acceptance of the 400 foot condo-rental spires Cappelli plans to build on the 221 Main site. The Board also said that they preferred increasing the amount of onsite open space at ground level to 25%.


 


Alexander questioned why the developer was writing zoning ordinances for the city, and said he had a big problem with the new ordinance language which did not spell out details of what conditions would allow 400 foot heights past the 300,000 square foot assemblage of property. At one point, Ms. Habel, the Planning Commissioner, interrupted Alexander and overrode him, not allowing him to finish, explaining that developers had the right to petition for a zoning change. A chastened Alexander was read the riot act.


 


J. Russell Imlay raised the question of whether sites like the Silverman property, using the transfer of development rights legislation created by the Common Council that is in play allowing Mr. Cappelli to build the 221 Main project, could be factored in with property in the Central Business District to create another lot assemblage of 300,000 feet or more, paving the way for additional 400-foot towers as of right. Ms. Habel explained that there was only one other property where that could be achieved and that was The Galleria.


 


Not to Worry About Transfer of Development Monsters Habel Says.


 


Habel also said that the Planning Board should not be concerned that the 400 foot height as of right ordinance would extend to the CB3 (East on Main to North Broadway) and UR4 zones, because it was the Planning Department feeling (at this time) that this would put too much density on the adjacent residential neighborhoods. Habel did admit though that a Transfer of Development rights could occur were a developer to assemble adjacent properties that were on opposite sides of a street and adjacent to each other (as exists between the City Center and 221 Main).


 


Given that the Silverman-Minskoff properties on Mamaroneck Avenue are diagonally across Main Street, it appears that additional acquisitions by a developer assembling properties along the north side of Main Street could be assembled. If such a developer ever obtained the Silverman-Minskoff properties, you could conceivably see the assemblage of a 300,000 square footage between the two properties on an angle to each other across Main Street.


 


The 400 Foot Club.


 


 Ms. Habel stressed that any 400 foot building would have to be built in the Central Business District 4, but could not be built on the Silverman-Minskoff jointly owned block immediately behind the Plaza Fountain in such an arrangement. Habel said a 400 foot high property could be built on The Galleria property, for example, (owned by Mills Properties), as it now stands.


 


A site other than the Galleria that might have a possibility of qualifying for the 400 foot club  in the Central business District would be The White Plains Mall, which consists of four acres (about 160,000 square feet), and if the White Plains Mall owners acquired adjacent property they could qualify to build perhaps to 400 feet. Previously the city had planned to have aerial sidewalks moving persons from buildings in the downtown across streets.


 


The former owner of The White Plains Mall, James Benerofe, recalls he had planned to purchase the Centroplex building at one time, which is adjacent to The White Plains Mall. That, Benerofe said, would easily have made up 300,000 square feet between the two cites, the Centroplex and The White Plains Mall.


 


Metropolitan Condos Bog Down in the Parking Lot. 6% Issue Not Decided.


 


In another hot development issue, The Metropolitan Condominiums slated for DeKalb Avenue and Maple Avenue have run into a cantankerous Planning Board which does not like the potential for a traffic problem on DeKalb and Maple, and also does not like at all the buffering landscaping suggested by the developer. They want more landscaping and buffering and a reworking of the driveway plan.


 


A legal representative for The Metropolitan said that the issue of whether or not the council’s requirement that new residences being built devote  6% of their units to affordable housing applied to The Metropolitan is still at issue. Ms. Habel volunteered the information that The Metropolitan is not in the Central Business District. It is legal counsel Bill Null’s contention that the Metropolitan being not in the Central Business District is not subject to the 6% rule.

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Mayor Agrees to Give Council Role in Selecting Review Committee Plan Future Deve

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. January 19, 2004, Updated 8:45 A.M. E.S.T.: WPCNR has learned Tom Roach and Benjamin Boykin met with Mayor Delfino Tuesday evening and extracted an agreement from the Mayor to allow the Common Council to participate in selecting a Citizens Comprehensive Plan Review Committee which in future weeks will help to hammer out the way the city will continue its development according to Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning.


Habel disclosed  the information privately to the press that the crisis of jurisdiction as to who would appoint the committee, and how the review and revision of the City Comprehensive Plan should proceed had been solved in a meeting between the three, though she did not report this to the Planning Board with whom she was meeting late Tuesday night. She told the Planning Board at approximately 9:30 P.M. Tuesday evening, as she was presenting her own Review of the 1997 Comprehensive Plan to Planning Board members, that  the Mayor and Council were working on the procedure to review the Comprehensive Plan, but had no idea of what conclusions they had reached.


Rita Malmud, speaking to WPCNR last night before Roach and Boykin met with the Mayor,  said the Council sought collaboration with the Mayor  “between all 7 of us” in reviewing the city comprehensive plan, and the process to do it.” Apparently, according to Ms. Habel, this has been done and agreed to by Mayor Delfino. Malmud said the council wanted “collaboration” and any review “has to include the public, as much of it as possible.”


Tom Roach and Benjamin Boykin were not available for comment this morning to confirm Ms. Habel’s good news, but WPCNR expects to hear from them shortly. The Mayor’s Office has made no official announcement of the meeting of the minds.


Glen Hockley, interviewed this morning by WPCNR on the street, said he felt this “detente” was a good thing, saying it was the way it should be in a democracy, and that he hoped some members of the Citizens Plan Committee which precipitated the presentation of Ms. Habel’s own “Review” distributed yesterday would be included on the committee the council and Mayor chose.

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Habel Comprehensive Plan Review Arrives. 1997 Plan Not Binding.

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WPCNR THE PLANNING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. January 18, 2004, Updated 5 P.M. E.S.T.: The 1997 Comprehensive Plan Review and Analysis was picked up by WPCNR at the Department of Planning Tuesday afternoon, and is available to all citizens of the city. The Review written by the Department of Planning and incorporating reports, analysis, opinions from city departments, interpreted and compiled under the supervision of the Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel, is the long-awaited review of how the 1997 Comprehensive Plan is being executed.  WPCNR has also learned the Review has not been released to the Common Council.


It purports, (pending WPCNR analysis), how far the city has come, and purportedly gives a snapshot in time of where the city is at after seven years since the Comprehensive Plan was “accepted” by the city. At first glance the Introduction to the plan makes a point that the 1997 is only a “basic policy framework.” The first impression of the report is that there is no Executive Summary.There is no Table of Contents. It is hard to read.  Sections have Overviews, with apparent recommendations, but it is tedious and slow going and the lack of an index makes it hard to cut to the chase.



THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. HABEL. Citizens interested in the city’s report card on how they are doing following the 1997 Comprehensive Plan may pick up a copy at the Planning Department, while supplies last, for their home libraries. The number of the Planning Department is 422-1253. Photo by WPCNR News.


Though the WPCNR staff has not gotten into the dissection of the plan, one paragraph in the introduction makes a point of saying the Comprehensive Plan is not binding, which echoes Mr. Wood’s comments of a few hours ago (see previous story). The Habel review does so in the following manner with this paragraph, Introduction-Page 2.


The Common Council did not adopt the Comprehensive Plan, instead it accepted and recognized the Plan as the “basic policy framework” within which policy decisions are made. General City Law Section 28-a makes adoption of a comprehensive plan permissive and not mandatory. The Comprehensive Plan does not, therefor, in itself, represent and adopted policy of the City, nor does it compel specific actions. It provides, however, as stated above, a “basic policy framework.”


 

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Adam In Albany: Creating a Reform Package

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By NY State Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. January 15, 2005: When I committed to lead the fight for meaningful reform in our state government, I meant it. Just a few days into my new term as your Assemblyman, we fundamentally changed the Assembly rules in a bipartisan fashion with the support of many reform groups such as the Brennan Center and NYPIRG.  However, our work is not finished which has led me to sponsor a comprehensive reform plan that will begin to reform the way New York’s government operates.

 


 


Our families deserve a state government that is open, transparent and responsive to their needs. Enacting meaningful reform is essential to accomplishing these goals. My proposals make our state government more accountable to the people it serves.


 


To ensure that these crucial reforms become law, the Assembly and Senate should immediately appoint conference committees to reach agreements. These committees will help resolve differences between the two houses, and get the reforms signed into state law.


 


Ensuring on-time, responsible state budgets


 


Perhaps the most pressing matter facing our state government is the budget process. It is imperative that responsible state budgets are passed on-time every year. I will continue seeking to amend the constitution to reform the budget process to help bring an end to New York’s unacceptable string of late budgets. My legislation would allow for better revenue and spending projections and institute provisions to instill greater accountability and transparency in the process (A.1, A.2).


 


To ensure that schools have an opportunity to plan ahead for the amount of state aid they receive, the budget reform plan would require a two-year appropriation for education aid. This finally gives schools the information they need in advance so they can responsibly plan ahead.


 


Reducing the influence of lobbyists on state government


 


Another important part of the reform package would limit the influence of lobbying on the awarding of state agency contracts (A.9).


 


Currently, there are some disclosure requirements of lobbyists, but not on procurement lobbying – an area where billions of taxpayer dollars are at stake. My measure would expand the definition of lobbying to include any effort to influence the action of any public official – state or municipal – regarding procurement of goods or services, construction and the sale or purchase of land.


 


Taxpayer dollars should never be wasted, and taxpayers deserve greater accountability and oversight of lobbyists and their activities. These reforms will set a higher standard for government officials and lobbying organizations.


 


Ensuring Empire Zones do their jobs


 


The Assembly’s Empire Zone program has indeed created jobs, but over the past few years serious problems have come to light. The reform plan would ensure the program does the job it was created to do (A.6).


 


The Empire State Development Corporation, which oversees Empire Zones, has strayed from its mission since the governor took office. There is no burden of proof on businesses to show they have actually created jobs before they receive state economic development benefits. Without proper oversight, the Empire Zone program has lost some of its effectiveness.


 


The Assembly’s proposal reforms the Empire Zone program by:


 


·        requiring each zone to reconfigure its boundaries to better address the needs of distressed communities and prevent the zones from sprawling into undeveloped space or more desirable suburban locations;


·        replacing the ESD-controlled Empire Zones Designation Board with a three-member control board;


·        requiring the state Department of Taxation and Finance to certify that businesses receiving tax benefits through the program are legitimate; and


·        mandating annual reports to inform policymakers about the program’s job creation record.


 


Making public authorities more accountable


 


In an effort to end abuses of the public trust by state authorities and public benefit corporations, I unveiled proposals to make them more accountable (A.3). The legislation creates a public authority inspector general to ensure authorities are given the kind of oversight they’ve been lacking. The measure would also help ensure that there is no improper influence when it comes to awarding authority contracts.


 


In addition, the bill would establish an independent budget officer to collect, distribute and assess information about the budget for each authority, and provide the information to the public and elected officials.


 


Making state government more efficient


 


In addition, my comprehensive reform plan will:


 


·        implement the Help America Vote Act to make voting in New York easier and more accurate (A.5, A.122, A.121, A.119, A.120); and


·        reform the state’s judicial selection laws to ensure that the most qualified judges serve (A.7, A.8).


 


I have been seeking reform in Albany from the day I was first elected.  I am pleased we are finally seeing results.  These reforms are just a beginning, and I will do everything I can to get them implemented and begin working on new ways to make state government more efficient. I strongly urge the Senate and governor to join us in making our state government more accountable and responsive to the needs of the public.


 

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Former Mayor Expands on Ridgeway Remarks.

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WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. January 14, 2005: Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio who governed White Plains from 1976 to 1993 writes to expand on his remarks made at last evening’s Citizens Plan Committee Meeting:

John,   
           Apparently, I failed to express my point of view properly at the comprehensive plan meeting at the Ridgeway School on Friday evening.


 It was meant to be more than a “history lesson.” What I wanted to explain was that any review of a comprehensive plan cannot set goals in a vacuum. Implementation of any comprehensive plan depends on the assessment of existing conditions and a constant evaluation of the changes that are taking place with the passage of time.


As the implementation of the plan is taking place, new directions could emerge to alter direction of the plan to improve the quality of life of the residents of this city. This, to steal a phrase from Adlai Stevenson, “requires intellectual independence, impenitent speculation, and freedom from political pressure.”


As I said at the Ridgeway School, while the review of the compresensive plan is important, we must remember that White Plains did not emerge as a great legal and retail city as a sole result of its comprehensive plans. Once again we are asking ourselves, Quo Vadis? ” Where do we go from here?


That question is being asked as a result of the Ridgeway meeting, and for that the organizes of the meeting should be thanked.


Alfred Del Vecchio

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Holding Out for Heroes at The City Center De Lux: Coach Carter, Elektra Roll.

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WPCNR SCREEN GEMS. From National Amusements. January 14, 2004: A zebra who thinks he’s a race hourse, a Dennis Quaid business comedy, a basketball coach story and the Marvel Comics heroin Elektra debut at the City Center De Lux theatre at the City Center in White Plains this weekend. The storylines of this weekend’s new flicks and the showtimes:

RACING STRIPES — A young zebra grows up on a farm thinking he’s a race horse. Despite the fact he looks nothing like a thoroughbred, no one is going to keep him from his dream of racing in the Kentucky Open. With voices by Frankie Muniz, Dustin Hoffman and Snoop Dogg. Rated PG

IN GOOD COMPANY — Dennis Quaid stars in this comedy as a demoted 51-year old businessman who must now answer to a new boss (Topher Grace) in his mid-twenties. To make matters worse, the new boss also begins to date his daughter. Rated PG-13

COACH CARTER — Samuel L. Jackson stars as a high school basketball coach whose tough discipline makes him both an admired and hated leader of his team. Inspired by a true-life story. Rated PG-13

ELEKTRA — Jennifer Garner reprises her role as the super-ninja, Elektra, in this action-packed adventure based on the popular Marvel Comics character. Rated PG-13

Friday, January 14, 2005  
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:35; 3:35; 6:40; 9:35 pm; 12:25 am. ;
Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience (G) –12:40; 2:55; 5:15; 7:40; 10:00 pm; 12:10 am. ;
Elektra (PG-13) –12:00; 2:30; 5:00; 7:25; 9:45 pm; 12:05 am. ;
Spanglish (PG-13) –12:25; 3:00; 7:50 pm. ;
White Noise (PG-13) –1:35; 4:15; 6:50; 9:45; 11:55 pm. ;
Fat Albert (PG) –12:10; 2:50; 5:20; 7:45 pm. ;
Racing Stripes (PG) –12:20; 3:05; 5:30; 8:00; 10:25 pm; 12:45 am. ;
In Good Company (PG-13) –12:05; 2:40; 5:10; 7:45; 10:20 pm; 12:45 am. ;
Coach Carter (PG-13) –1:10; 4:10; 7:10; 10:10 pm. ;
Coach Carter **(PG-13) –12:30; 3:30; 6:30; 9:30 pm; 12:30 am. ;
The Phantom of the Opera (PG-13) –12:05; 3:15; 6:30; 9:40 pm; 12:35 am. ;
Closer (R) –5:35; 10:30 pm; 12:40 am. ;
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (PG) –1:15; 3:50; 6:35; 9:15; 11:40 pm. ;
The Aviator (PG-13) –12:00; 3:30; 7:00; 10:35 pm. ;
Ocean’s Twelve (PG-13) –12:50; 9:00; 11:50 pm. ;
Meet the Fockers (PG-13) –1:30; 4:20; 7:05; 9:50 pm; 12:30 am. ;
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (R) –10:05 pm; 12:35 am. ;
Meet the Fockers **(PG-13) –3:45; 6:25 pm. ;

Saturday, January 15, 2005  
Meet the Fockers **(PG-13) –3:45; 6:25 pm. ;
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (R) –10:05 pm; 12:35 am. ;
Meet the Fockers (PG-13) –1:30; 4:20; 7:05; 9:50 pm; 12:30 am. ;
The Aviator (PG-13) –12:00; 3:30; 7:00; 10:35 pm. ;
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (PG) –1:15; 3:50; 6:35; 9:15; 11:40 pm. ;
Ocean’s Twelve (PG-13) –12:50; 9:00; 11:50 pm. ;
Closer (R) –5:35; 10:30 pm; 12:40 am. ;
The Phantom of the Opera (PG-13) –12:05; 3:15; 6:30; 9:40 pm; 12:35 am. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:35; 3:35; 6:40; 9:35 pm; 12:25 am. ;
Coach Carter (PG-13) –1:10; 4:10; 7:10; 10:10 pm. ;
Coach Carter **(PG-13) –12:30; 3:30; 6:30; 9:30 pm; 12:30 am. ;
In Good Company (PG-13) –12:05; 2:40; 5:10; 7:45; 10:20 pm; 12:45 am. ;
Racing Stripes (PG) –12:20; 3:05; 5:30; 8:00; 10:25 pm; 12:45 am. ;
Fat Albert (PG) –12:10; 2:50; 5:20; 7:45 pm. ;
White Noise (PG-13) –1:35; 4:15; 6:50; 9:45; 11:55 pm. ;
Elektra (PG-13) –12:00; 2:30; 5:00; 7:25; 9:45 pm; 12:05 am. ;
Spanglish (PG-13) –12:25; 3:00; 7:50 pm. ;
Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience (G) –12:40; 2:55; 5:15; 7:40; 10:00 pm; 12:10 am. ;

Sunday, January 16, 2005  
Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience (G) –12:40; 2:55; 5:15; 7:40; 10:00 pm. ;
Spanglish (PG-13) –12:25; 3:00; 7:50 pm. ;
Elektra (PG-13) –12:00; 2:30; 5:00; 7:25; 9:45 pm. ;
Fat Albert (PG) –12:10; 2:50; 5:20; 7:45 pm. ;
White Noise (PG-13) –1:35; 4:15; 6:50; 9:45 pm. ;
Racing Stripes (PG) –12:20; 3:05; 5:30; 8:00; 10:25 pm; 12:45 am. ;
In Good Company (PG-13) –12:05; 2:40; 5:10; 7:45; 10:20 pm; 12:45 am. ;
Coach Carter **(PG-13) –12:30; 3:30; 6:30; 9:30 pm; 12:30 am. ;
Coach Carter (PG-13) –1:10; 4:10; 7:10; 10:10 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:35; 3:35; 6:40; 9:35 pm; 12:35 am. ;
Closer (R) –5:35; 10:30 pm. ;

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Cat Not Belled. White Plains Speaks. Habel: Not Me. Mayor No Show. Certs Loom.

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WPCNR Ridgeway Report. By John F. Bailey. January 13, 2004, UPDATED 3:15 A.M. E.S.T.:


 


 The Citizens’ Plan Committee failed to “bell the cat” last night.


 


At the end of two hours of a citizens meeting, no strategy on how more citizens could participate in the review of the Comprehensive Plan, who and how many persons would participate in the review of the City Comprehensive Plan, or how long it would take, and what the process would be, was decided. 


 



The Citizens’ Plan Committee Addressing a Crowd of about 180 Persons Thursday Evening at Ridgeway School. The Committee was making its case for wider citizen participation in the city Comprehensive Plan Review. Photo by WPCNR News.


 





WPCNR discovered the comprehensive plan review process was  begun without consulting the populace Wednesday evening with uncovering of the Mayor’s Plans to form his own review committee headed by Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel, who last night denied she was running the Mayor’s Committee.


 



The Leaders of the CPC: Dr. Saul Yanofsky, former Superintendent of Schools opening the meeting. John Kirkpatrick studying notes, Mike Graessle, and Robert Stackpole. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


Habel Hangs the Mayor Out to Dry.


 


Representatives of the Mayor’s Office appeared to be unmoved by the demands for wide citizen participation from the audience.


 


Ms. Habel the highest ranking city hall Commissioner in attendance, did not make a statement assuring the 150  (by WPCNR head-count) to 180 (by organizers count) that the Mayor would make an effort to include any of the audience present in the review the Mayor said he would begin Wednesday, and that their opinion would be sought.


 


Mayor Has Prior Engagement with Westchester Municipal Officers.


 


 


White Plainsians counted to be 150 persons by this reporter were still streaming in at 7:50 P.M. when Dr. Saul Yanofsky began the Citizens’ Plan Committee community meeting on the Comprehensive Plan controversy Thursday evening at Ridgeway School.


 


Luminaries from White Plains’ past history attended this meeting including former Mayors Sy Schulman and Alfred Del Vecchio, former councilpersons Mary Ann Keenan,  Dennis Power, Bill Waterman, and Robert Ruger.  The present Mayor of White Plains, Joseph Delfino did not attend.


 


The Mayor,  Ms. Habel told WPCNR  was attending, instead, a meeting of the estchester Municipal Officers Association last night in Lewisboro upcounty. The Mayor, Habel said was Chairman of that organization and that he had to attend it.


 


Asked what the critical issues were that the Municipal Officers were considering that were more important than White Plains Comprehensive Plan,  Ms. Habel said, “You’ll have to ask the Mayor.”


 


Seven hours after the Mayor had stated in a news conference that “there was nothing the city couldn’t achieve if they did not work together,”  no representative of his stood up at this meeting to assure the citizens the Mayor was interested in their input, nor invite any members of the Citizens’ Plan Committee to work with the city, or that  the city even wanted to work together with them.


 


Robert Ruger told WPCNR he felt it was terrible the Mayor had said publicly that the intent of the meeting was political, and said, “If I was the Mayor, I would have been here.”


 


What do You Think? Who Will Review the Plan?  Who’s the Chair? Who’s On it?


 


When asked if the Mayor would invite any of the members of the Citizens’ Planning Committee that staged the meeting, Habel said that was up to the Mayor.


 


When asked if she had any comment on the meeting she had just witnessed, where former Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio charged that “We’re in trouble now because decisions are being made by people who are only looking for profits  for developers,”  Habel said she had none.


 


 



Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio giving the group a history lesson on how White Plains turned into a legal and retail center in the 70s and 80s. Del Vecchio said it was time the city had to determine its own fate. Photo by WPCNR News.


When asked who she was inviting onto the Mayor’s Comprehensive Plan Review Committee since she was chairing the committee, first reported by WPCNR Wednesday evening, and confirmed by Mary Cavallero who said she was a member of that committee, Habel said she was not chairing the committee.


 


WPCNR asked if she would invite any members of the Citizens’ Planning Committee to be on the Mayor’s Committee. She said, “I don’t know. Ask the Mayor. It’s up to the Mayor.”


 


Consciousness Raised.


 


 


Two hours earlier, the meeting had begun with 10-minute presentations by three key Citizens Plan Committee members. and an hour of questions and pontifications by a series of citizens no plan or strategy was decided upon “to bell the cat.”


 


“Belling the cat” in the eyes of the Citizens’ Plan Committee would be a community group of “at least a hundred or more” White Plains citizens in the review of the Comprehensive Plan as was done in creating the original 1997 Comprehensive Plan. A 14-person committee is favored by  Mayor Delfino who announced he was forming that  Wednesday, after WPCNR had broken the story .


 


Mike Graessle, commenting afterwords, said he was very pleased at the turnout and that the committee had demonstrated that more White Plains citizens want to determine what they want to happen in the city.


 


Roach Stands Up Clarifies Legal Dispute.


 


Tom Roach, Common Council President, who responded when Dr. Yanofsky asked if any elected officials wanted to speak said that he believed the state statutes on city law give the Common Council the right to determine how the city Comprehensive Plan is reviewed, but that the Mayor’s Office believes an ordinance created in 1977 gives the Mayor the right to determine the procedure and appoint the committee. Mr. Roach was the only councilman to accept Dr. Yanofsky’s invitation to speak.


 



Tom Roach, Common Council President,  Defining the Legal Dispute Between the Mayor and the Common Council. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


 


 He said once that dispute was settled with the Mayor in the next work session, he felt the council would take a role and weigh in and involve all of  White Plains citizenry in the review of the plan, which he strongly advocated.


 



The Ordinance from 1977 Establishing the Comprehensive Plan Review at that time. Roach describes it as allowing the Mayor to appoint the committee, but points to the clause (d) calling for the Committee to be open to all residents. Photo by WPCNR News.


 



The “Open to All” Paragraph. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


Asked if his colleagues,  Robert Greer, Benjamin Boykin, Arnold Bernstein, and Rita Malmud (who was enroute from Washington, D.C.), would back him on this,  Roach said he could not speak for them. Mr. Greer does not speak to WPCNR, and Mr. Boykin and Mr. Bernstein could not be located for comment.


 


Background and Financial Concern.


 


 Land use and environmental lawyer John Kirkpatrick spoke on the legal facets of the Comprehensive Plan Review, in which he explored the effect of New York General City Law 28-A which he said gives the power to determine how a Comprehensive Plan is reviewed, including appointing boards and citizens to do so to the Common Council.


 


 Mike Graessle spoke on the what has happened in White Plains during his segment since the last Comprehensive Plan was adapted in 1997.


 



Robert Stackpole Addressing the White Plainsians. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


 Planning Board member Robert Stackpole dwelt on the current state of the city.  In Stackpole’s opinion the city is facing continued financial troubles due to the declining assessment base of commercial properties in the downtown over the last ten years. Stackpole did not offer any solutions to this problem, but as the three speakers pointed out they were here to highlight issues that needed to be considered.


 


Stackpole said the problem of commercial properties continually filing certiorari claims had lowered the city accessibles. Stackpole said that this long term trend over the last decade was leading to placing more and more burden on the home owner and taking more and more money away from the school district which they had to get from the homeowner.


 


 He said the city needed to begin cutting costs in order to shore up its bond rating. He noted that the Parking Authority Absorption  into the general fund was a one-time fix that would not be available in fiscal 2005-06, though he did not criticize the strategy, actually praising the city for doing it.


 


School District Bad News on Nordstrom’s Certiorari Makes Stackpole’s Point.


 


The announcement by the School District last  Monday evening that they are going to lose $613,469.17 in property taxes from the Nordstrom’s department store in The Westchester serves to underline Stackpole’s prediction that this trend is going to continue.  Nordstrom’s School Tax payment to the District reduction is the result of Nordstrom’s winning a certiorari proceeding against the city.


 


As a result of that proceeding, Nordstrom’s Total Accessed Value was lowered from $1.4 Million  in 2004 to $927,485 in 2005, resulting in the loss of the $613,469.17 the District has to pay back to Nordstrom this year and will not have in next year’s budget. Dr. Yanofsky actually made the point that the city does not involve the school district in negotiating certriori settlements.


 


We’ll Be Back to You.


 


Mike Graessle after the meeting was over and the majority of the mostly white, over-50 crowd with about 10 minorities represented in the audience had left the Ridgeway School Auditorium, said he was gratified by the attendance and felt the committee had succeeded in raising the conciousness of the city that  all of White Plains needed to participate in the city Comprehensive Plan Review. 


 


 In closing the meeting, Dr. Saul Yanofsky said  the committee would be back in touch with all who attended as efforts to involve more of the citizenry in the review would continue.

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Youths from Youth Bureau, Mayor, Red Cross, 50 Bizes Launch Tsunami Relief

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. January 13, 2004: Mayor Joseph Delfino, responding to a grass roots effort initiated by the youngsters served by the White Plains Youth Bureau announced today a joint effort with the American Red Cross to provide an official vehicle for White Plains citizens to contribute to Red Cross efforts to provide relief for the regions and the persons effected by the Tsuanami disaster two weeks ago.



Look for the TSUNAMI RELIEF Canister at White Plains Downtown Participating Businesses. Sal at the Splendid Diner with a White Plains Youth Bureau Collection Canister. Put your change in the buckets you encounter around town for the next three weeks and you’ll be directly aiding Tsunami Victims through the White Plains American Red Cross. Photo by WPCNR News.


Children from the Youth Bureau have designed collection canisters that they have placed in 50 White Plains downtown businesses through the auspices of the Downtown Bid Improvement District, according to Rick Amiratto, Executive Director of the BID. The canisters will be on display at checkouts through January 31.



Mayor Delfino, The Youth Bureau and the Red Cross Resonding to Tragedy. Left to right, Andrea Grimaldi, Director Community Volunteer Services, Robert Lanseth, Sr., Chief Executive Officer, Mayor Delfino, and Fenton Soliz, Volunteer with the American Red Cross in Westchester County. Photo by WPCNR News


White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino stated, “The scale of destruction brought on by this tsunami is mind boggling.  It is all of our civic duty to do what we can to help these people who have lost so much.”  Mayor Delfino added:  “And the younger that our students here are when they are exposed to the concepts of civic responsibility and community service, the better.  Promoting civic responsibility in our youth, in addition to helping the tsunami victims, is the point of this initiative.  Creating these types of opportunities for the young people of the City of White Plains is what the Youth Bureau does for thousands of children and young adults daily.  I am positive that the lessons learned from this initiative will stay with them as they journey through life.”


 The children will also present a benefit concert of their talents at the White Plains Performing Arts Center 4 P.M., January 30, to raise money for the victims. Details on tickets and how you can contribute to the benefit concert are to be announced. The White Plains Performing Arts Center, Frank Williams, said is making the theatre available for a nominal cost of approximately $100.


Robert Lenseth, Senior Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross in Westchester County said $37,000 have been collected from Westchester County so far. He said the money is being used by the Red Cross to purchase supplies and services to aid the victims. The Mayor coordinated the program with the BID after Youth Bureau children had suggested the effort to Director of the Youth Bureau, Frank Williams. The City and the BID will oversee collection of the program and turn the proceeds over, ever penny to the Red Cross.

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Citizens’ Plan Committee Meeting ON tonight, 7:30 Ridgeway School.

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WPCNR COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. By John F. Bailey. January 13, 2004: The Citizens Plan Committee is going ahead with their meeting this evening as scheduled to discuss issues that they feel should be considered in any Review of the 1997 City Comprehensive Plan. Approximately 2,000 citizens have been notified of the meeting and invited to attend. A Committee spokesperson said to his knowledge no persons on the Citizens Plan Committee have been invited to join the Mayor’s Comprehensive Plan Review Committee which was quietly being put together Wednesday, but whose members have not been announced yet.


The Agenda for the town meeting tonight at Ridgeway is as follows:


 WHERE IS WHITE PLAINS HEADED?


1. Welcome: Purpose of tonight’s meeting

2. White Plains comprehensive planning
       
    Process and trends

    Recent accomplishments

    Financial issues

3. Audience: Questions / comments

4. Summary: Suggested next steps

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