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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 9, 2004: Laurette Young reports that the City School District has published its long-missing newsletter, About Our Schools, online. The four-color flyer, formerly distributed in The White Plains Watch when it covered all residences in the city, has also been mailed across the district and residents should be receiving it if they have not already. If you would like to read About Our Schools online, go to this weblink: http://www.wpcsd.k12.ny.us/BDGT/index.html
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The 4th Annual Yonkers Shakespeare Project’s open auditions for Romeo and Juliet at the new Yonkers Riverfront Library, One Larkin Plaza, Yonkers. Times: 12:15-4pm Full availabiltiy and serious students only. Seeking teens ages 13-19 for July 2004 Productions.
Piper Theatre Productions is a non profit theatre company that incorporates professional actors and local talent. All actors will be treated as professionals. There is an intense two week rehearsal period which involves both days and evenings followed by a three weekend performance schedule (Thurs/Fri/Sat). All actors must be available for these times.
While we cannot pay equity scale to non union talent, there will be a nominal honorium to cover some travel expenses. Actors will be asked to take part in the striking of the set, the movement of props and costumes, publicity, and end of the show basket collecting.
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The United States Jaycees is a nonprofit organization founded in 1920, and open to men and women ages 21-39 (our chapter is open to individuals who work or reside in Westchester). The purpose of this organization is to give young people the tools they need to build the bridges of success for themselves in the areas of business development and networking, management skills, individual training, community service, and domestic and international connections.
Jaycees can be found in all walks of life: government leaders such as Bill Clinton and Gerald Ford, business tycoons such as Domino’s Pizza mogul Tom Monaghan, and shorts heroes such as basketball great Larry Bird—name the field and Jaycees can be found at the forefront. Mayor Delfino of White Plains was a former Jaycee himself!
At the end of October 2003, the White Plains Areas Jaycees revived its existence (it had disbanded in the 1960s) and newly regained its charter to become a chapter of the Jaycees. Development and recruitment efforts began slightly over one year ago. Combining the efforts of a newly elected and highly motivated board of directors/officers and the help of its members, we expect to increase in size and influence rapidly.
Our organization gears itself towards the young civic-minded individual who wants to have an active voice and positive impact in the community. In terms of business and leadership, it allows motivated individuals, outside of the workplace, to develop the skills and talents that they need to succeed in their chosen profession. We achieve our goals not only through the active participation in managing and running a nonprofit organization, but through management and business skills workshops that are taught, taken, and offered to the community at large. Such activities provide unlimited opportunities for growth and experience that might not otherwise be available in typical organizations encompassed primarily by older and more seasoned members. The comraderie of our peers facilitates professional and personal achievement, and encourages members to become even more actively involved. Furthermore, our concerted community service efforts allow us to address matters of public concern, and provide assistance to those who need it.
We hope to become a positive force in an already vibrant community, and to grow and develop in conjunction with our quickly expanding and changing surroundings.
We encourage those young professionals who are looking to make new contacts and strides in their career to contact us. Our membership chair, Dave Blake can be reached at (914) 924 5120, or email at david.blake@whiteplainsjaycees.org. Robert Klein, our president, can be reached at (914) 419-8126 or at robert.klein@whiteplainsjaycees.org
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WPCNR CITY HALL LIMITS. By John F. Bailey. May 7, 2004: The city move to transfer the assets and personnel of the White Plains Parking Authority under city control to replenish its dwindled fund balance, announced yesterday, comes five weeks after Moody’s, the bond-rating service redesignated the city’s General Obligations as AA-1 Negative on March 26.
Standard & Poor’s Corporation, the other bond-rating agency, classifies the city’s financial outlook as “outlook stable as of now,” with the S & P analyst noting that the next review would come in March of 2005, or “anytime within the year.”
The Moody’s analyst WPCNR spoke with Friday afternoon said the “negative outlook” indicated “a possible trend” in city finances, “with no rating review committee review at this time.” The analyst did say that review could come at any time in the next year.
Eleanor McDonald, criticised city financial management during Monday evening’s Common Council meeting, said when asked by WPCNR what the Negative rating meant, that she contacted Moody’s and got clarification from the Moody’s man. She said the Moody’s analyst told her the city was being “challenged (with the Negative rating) because of their operating deficits over the last two years.”
McDonald pointed out to WPCNR that the city had balanced the budget with $10 Million this year from assets of the Parking Authority and was looking to balance the 2004-05 budget with $5.4 Million (from the Parking Authority) this year, as ab example of the operating deficits, as well as bonding for rolling stock to the tune of $1.7 Million in 04-05 and bonding for 2.3 Million to pay off their obligation to the state pension fund, announced Wednesday.
McDonald, who is former comptroller of the Town of Harrison and the Town of Greenburgh, said that the transfer of Parking Authority assets proposed yesterday by Ted Peluso and George Gretsas, The Mayor’s Executive Officer, would be considered a “material event” that would most likely be considered by Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s as a reason to reaffirm the city credit worthiness, particularly since the transfer would bulk up the fund balance. Mr. Peluso, the consultant, who along with former White Plains Budget Director, Eileen Earl, yesterday in a report recommended absorption of the Parking Authority by city, estimated yesterday the Fund Balance would go up to approximately $10 Million from its current level of around $5 Million.
McDonald said that would most likely be an event that would force the bond authorities to reassess their bond rating.
Ms. McDonald cautioned however that the authorities would look at the whole picture, too, of what the city is doing. She noted dryly, that the sales tax projection of $37.8 Million was “a hefty projection.”
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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By 89th District Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. May 7, 2004: A good way to honor our veterans is to support our troops serving in the conflicts raging in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is important to recognize these men and women risking their lives, and those of generations who fought before them, because their sacrifices should never be forgotten.
As a member of the Assembly’s Veterans Affairs Committee, I have made it a priority to pass legislation that benefits New York’s veterans. One piece of legislation I sponsored extends a tuition assistance program for Vietnam and Persian Gulf veterans (A.9564). In 1984, the program was created to make it easier for Vietnam veterans to attend college. It was expanded in 1997 to include Persian Gulf veterans. My bill will continue the program and assist veterans with their educational and employment needs.
The Assembly recently passed a bill I sponsored that would make seriously disabled veterans who receive federal financial assistance eligible for a full property tax exemption (A.5834), helping lower their cost of living.
A third piece of legislation I sponsored extends the law that allows people who served in Indochina from Dec. 22, 1961 through May 7, 1975 and were injured by exposure to chemical defoliants to take legal action (A.9778). The statute of limitations for “Agent Orange”-related actions has expired, but many veterans who came in contact with toxic chemical substances had their physical disabilities go undiscovered until years later. We have a moral obligation to allow these men and women to pursue legal action.
Patriot Plan provides needed assistance to veterans and their families
As part of the Patriot Plan, which the Assembly helped pass into law last year, the Veteran’s Health Care Information Program was created to help veterans with physical and psychological health issues arising from combat. For more information, contact either the New York State Department of Health at (518) 486-9002 or the Division of Military and Naval Affairs State Surgeon at (518) 786-4610.
In many cases, military personnel face financial hardship when they leave their civilian jobs to serve. The Patriot Plan helps protect the financial well-being of the families of New York’s active military by:
· imposing a cap on installment loan interest;
· extending eviction protections;
· allowing for the termination of car leases without penalty; and
· extending mortgage foreclosure protections.
For more information about these and other benefits, visit the DMNA Web site, www.dmna.state.ny.us/members/patriot.html or call the Legal Affairs Office at (518) 786-4541.
These pieces of legislation have one common goal: to give assistance to New York’s veterans. Our veterans have done so much for our country. I will continue working to make sure we give something back to them.
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WPCNR Roving Photographer. May 7, 2004: Work has begun clearing the way for a $6 Million to-be-bonded doubledeck 400-space parking structure to be married to the Shapham Place Parking Lot. Today’s photograph shows extensive progress has been made in preparing to start construction behind Rader’s, and the post office on Mamaroneck Avenue and Bryant Avenue.
Central Park Parking by The White Plains Roving Photographer
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WPCNR CITY HALL LIMITS. By John F. Bailey. May 6, 2004: City Hall announced today that it would ask the Common Council to follow Rita Malmud’s suggestion that the city look into taking over the White Plains Parking Authority, and ask the Council to approve disassociating itself from the Parking Authority effective July 1, 2004. The action was decided upon following the release of a study by Ted Peluso, former City Finance Director, and Eileen Earl, former City Budget Director, recommending the city do this.
BRAINTRUST: Ted Peluso, left, of the City Budget & Management Committee, said the effect would transfer all assets of the Parking Authority, $8,166,000 in cash assets which Peluso said would beef up the city fund balance to about $10 Million, doubling it for consideration by the bond-rating services in the next year when they consider the city’s financial position and its all-important credit rating. Executive Officer George Gretsas is at right. Photo by WPCNR News
Peluso also said the fund balance increase would not be available for use in any budget balancing acts if at all required in the 2004-05 budget, that the Parking Authority funds added to the fund balance would only be available in budget year 2005-06.
Asked what percentage of the “new, enhanced” fund balance would be available for city use in 2005-06, the Mayor’s Executive Officer George Gretsas said he would have to get back to the CitizeNetReporter on that. Gretsas said all employees including the Director and Assistant Director, would be retained and benefits carried over to their city employment. Fate of the unique WPPA logo was not known.
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 6, 2004, UPDATED May 9, 2004: A student discovered her cellphone missing after she participated in second period gym class at White Plains High School today and reported it. Before the forty students were allowed to proceed to their next class, male security guards frisked the male students, and female security guards frisked the girls. A student participating in the class told WPCNR that the students belongings and class bags were also searched, but the cellphone was not discovered. Students were fifteen minutes late to their next class.
In a further development, a WPCNR reader writes, in response to our question about the students’ availability of lockers: “They can lock the lockers. The theives break into the lockers. This last time they bent the bottom part of the locker and reached in to get the phone.”
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WPCNR REEL TO REEL. From National Amusements. May 6, 2004: The Pierce Brosnan, Julianne Moore sophisticated comedy, Laws of Attraction, featuring a lawyers’ romance premiers this weekend at City Center 15 De Lux in White Plains. Van Helsing, a vampire flick, and the return of Mark Kate and Ashley Olsen, those adorable twins, all grown-up appear in New York Minute: The Schedule:
OPENING FRIDAY, MAY 7th
VAN HELSING — Set in the late 19th century, monster hunter Dr. Gabriel Van Helsing is summoned to the mythic land of Transylvania to Vanquish evil forces such as Count Dracula, the Wolf Man and Frankenstein’s monter. Assisting him there is Anna Valerious, the heir of a long-running family committed to ridding the world of evil. Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale star in this chilling horror adventure. Rated PG-13
NEW YORK MINUTE — Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen star as 17-year-old sisters Jane and Roxanne Ryan, who begrudgingly journey together from their Long Island home to New York City. Jane, the overachiever, is due to deliver a speech to qualify for a prestigious college scholarship abroad. Roxy, the laid-back rebel, hopes to get backstage at an underground music video shoot. However, their plans go wildly awry when a mix-up involving Jane’s day planner lands them in the middle of a shady black market transaction and starts them on a chase all over the city. Andy Richter and Eugene Levy also star in this adventure comedy. Rated PG
Hits: 0 WPCNR CITY LIMITS. By John F. Bailey May 5, 2004: The $110.4 Million 2004-2005 City Budget ballooned yesterday as predicted by the CitizeNetReporter weeks ago, when the city Budget and Advisory Committee announced New York State was calling in the full $7.8 Million of pensions the city owes the state for 04-05, instead of the $3.9 Million (or 6.5% of salaries) the city had been banking on if Governor George Pataki’s pension relief plan was accepted. According to Councilman Robert Greer, the city plans to bond for $2.3 Million of the reported $4.1M increase, and tax for the balance. The state’s calling in the city’s pension chips, means a straightaway 12.7% tax increase if the city bonds for part of the balance of pension money they have to pay. If they budget or bond for the whole amount, city taxpayers face a 21% increase. unless the city cuts the budget or bonds for the difference. This means if you own a $600,000 home in White Plains, you paid $1,927.13 in city property taxes in 2003. In 2004, facing a 12.7% tax increase, your city property tax bill will go up $244.75. Sales Tax Receipts: Cross Your Fingers Should the city actual sales tax receipts hit $10 Million for April and May, which is what is needed by the end of May to keep the tax increase at only 12.7%, the city will be o.k. For every million dollars needed, the tax rate goes up 3%. Greer, speaking to WPCNR Thursday morning, said the Budget Director, Anne Reasoner, felt based on the March figures, “there was comfortably enough to stay with her predicted figure ($37.9 Million) for the sales tax receipts for ther 2004-05 budget, though Greer did not remember what that figure was, and said he did not have time to look for it. Greer also said the city was bound by charter to approve the 04-05 budget in the next 3 weeks, and could not legally delay approving the budget until the end of June to include June sales tax figures. Asked what would happen if the city banked on $37.8 Million in sales tax for 04-05 and did not get it, Greer said the city would use the fund balance to pay it off, expressing confidence that any shortfall would not be much. How much fund balance would be legally available to do that, he did not know. $4 Million in Phantom Money. Greer said Ms. Reasoner reports the March figures were 10.4% above last year’s figures of $2,464,375, which would mean March came in at $2,720,670 in sales tax receipts. Assuming that figure increases say another $100,000 for April and May, reflecting the Legal Seafoods opening that would bring April and May sales receipts to $2.81 Million each month, this gives the city a WPCNR projection of $5.64 Million in sales tax total for April and May. Through the first three quarters, the city raised $27,132,937 by Ms. Reasoner’s figures released previously to WPCNR. Add this to the WPCNR projection of $5.64 Million in sales tax receipts total for April and May and you come up with a total projected sales tax receipts of $32,772, 937 through May. Subtract that from the $37.8 Million projected and the city appears to be a phantom $4 Million short in sales tax projection by their own figure expansion rate of 10%. If you project 20% increases over April and May sales tax receipts of last April ($2,513,972)and May ($2,621,482) to bring this year’s receipts to`$6.1 Million, the city can still expect just $33,132,000 in sales tax through May. June might save them, with $3 Million in receipts, if they waited and adjusted the charter and approved the budget in June, but if they do this, that still projects a $1. Million gap. Add $3.3 Million to the $33,132,000 figure through June and you get $36.4 Million, leaving the city $1.4 Million short of $37.8 Million. But given the expected hope that Barnes & Noble, Zaneros, Atlanta Bread Factory and Filene’s Basement will help the sales tax situation over 040-05, the city may easily bridge that little 1.8 Million gap. If the budget committee expects to keep the sales tax projection at $37.8 million and approve a deficit budget if the May figures do break all records, is a policy decision. Though, WPCNR does not know at this time, whether the city can legally project a deficit budget. Should the city have a glorious April and May in sales tax receipts, picking up $5 Million each month, which they have never done, there will not be a need for a further tax increase. If they are required to do so, budget cutting, department consolidation would be considered, Greer told The Journal News The 12.7% Pension Solution. Greer, as reported in The Journal News, said the city could bond for the entire $4.1 Million, and keep the city tax increase at 7.9%, but indicated that would add $900,000 a year in debt service and possibly impact the city credit rating. Instead, Greer announced the Budget and Advisory Committee recommends bonding for $2.3 Million, presumably cutting the extra debt service to an estimated $500,000 a year. This would hike the City Tax Increase from 7.9% to 12.7%, instead of 21.1%. The city plans to go ahead with bonding for $1.7 Million (another $500,000 in debt service) to purchase city rolling stock, and sell land to bring in a predicted $750,000 in revenues, Greer reports.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Mean Girls **(PG-13) –1:50;4:25;7:05;9:30 pm. ;
13 Going on 30 **(PG-13) –12:05;2:30;5:00;7:25;9:50 pm. ;
Home on the Range (PG) –12:10;2:10 pm. ;
Man on Fire (R) –12:30;3:40;7:00;10:10 pm. ;
13 Going on 30 (PG-13) –12:35;3:00;5:30;7:55;10:20 pm. ;
Ella Enchanted (PG) –4:10;6:45;9:05 pm. ;
Kill Bill: Volume 2 (R) –12:20;3:20;6:20;9:20 pm. ;
Laws of Attraction (PG-13) –12:30;2:50;5:05;7:30;9:55 pm. ;
Mean Girls (PG-13) –12:00;2:25;4:55;7:35;10:00 pm. ;
Godsend (PG-13) –1:30;4:20;7:20;10:05 pm. ;
Man on Fire **(R) –12:00;3:10;6:30;9:40 pm. ;
Envy (PG-13) –12:00;2:20;4:50;7:15;9:45 pm. ;
Hellboy (PG-13) –5:10;7:50 pm. ;
The Punisher (R) –12:10;3:05;6:35;9:10 pm. ;
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (R) –1:20;4:00;6:40;9:25 pm. ;
Bobby Jones – Stroke of Genius (PG) –1:15;4:05;6:50;9:35 pm. ;
Johnson Family Vacation (PG-13) –12:15;2:35;10:30 pm. ;
Friday, May 07, 2004
New York Minute (PG) –12:20;12:55;2:40;3:10;4:55;5:30;7:10;7:50;9:25 pm;12:00 am. ;
Envy (PG-13) –12:10;2:35;5:05;7:30;10:10 pm;12:30 am. ;
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (R) –10:05 pm;12:30 am. ;
Van Helsing (PG-13) –12:30;1:45;3:30;4:45;6:30;7:45;9:30;10:45 pm;12:30;12:45 am. ;
Laws of Attraction (PG-13) –12:15;2:25;5:20;7:35;9:55 pm;12:05 am. ;
Mean Girls (PG-13) –12:35;3:05;5:35;7:55;10:20 pm;12:35 am. ;
Godsend (PG-13) –1:50;4:20;6:50;9:20 pm;12:00 am. ;
Kill Bill: Volume 2 (R) –12:40;3:40;6:40;9:45 pm;12:35 am. ;
13 Going on 30 (PG-13) –1:40;4:30;6:55;9:35 pm;12:10 am. ;
Ella Enchanted (PG) –12:00 pm. ;
Man on Fire (R) –12:10;3:50;7:05;10:15 pm;12:45 am. ;
Home on the Range (PG) –12:00;2:00 pm. ;
Mean Girls **(PG-13) –12:05;2:30;5:00;7:25;9:50 pm;12:15 am. ;
Van Helsing **(PG-13) –12:00;1:00;3:00;4:00;6:00;7:00;9:00;10:00 pm;12:00 am. ;
Man on Fire **(R) –3:20;6:35;9:40 pm. ;
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Mean Girls **(PG-13) –12:05;2:30;5:00;7:25;9:50 pm;12:15 am. ;
Man on Fire **(R) –3:20;6:35;9:40 pm. ;
Man on Fire (R) –12:10;3:50;7:05;10:15 pm;12:45 am. ;
New York Minute (PG) –12:20;12:55;2:40;3:10;4:55;5:30;7:10;7:50;9:25 pm;12:00 am. ;
Home on the Range (PG) –12:00;2:00 pm. ;
Van Helsing **(PG-13) –12:00;1:00;3:00;4:00;6:00;7:00;9:00;10:00 pm;12:00 am. ;
13 Going on 30 (PG-13) –1:40;4:30;6:55;9:35 pm;12:10 am. ;
Ella Enchanted (PG) –12:00 pm. ;
Kill Bill: Volume 2 (R) –12:40;3:40;6:40;9:45 pm;12:35 am. ;
Laws of Attraction (PG-13) –12:15;2:25;5:20;7:35;9:55 pm;12:05 am. ;
Mean Girls (PG-13) –12:35;3:05;5:35;7:55;10:20 pm;12:35 am. ;
Godsend (PG-13) –1:50;4:20;6:50;
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City Budget In Chaos: State Calls In Pension IOU. City Must find $4.1 Mil