WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. January 6, 2003, UPDATED 8:26 A.M. E.S.T. UPDATED 4:10 P.M. E.S.T: A crusading environmental lawyer has pried loose a copy of the mysterious “for council eyes only” Draft Final Environmental Impact Statement  on the Cappelli Hotel project from city hall after pointing out to George Gretsas, City Executive Officer and City Corporation Counsel, Edward Dunphy  that the city was in violation of New York State law in denying the public the right to see  the DFEIS once it was filed the week of  December 15.

DAN SEIDEL CATCHES THE CITY IN A COVERUP:  Mr. Seidel brandishes a copy of New York Code of Rules and Regulations with highlighted copy expressly saying that filed documents must be made available to the public. The picture is from the live Common Council telecast on WPGA-TV Monday night. this dramatic meeting will be recablecast in its entirety evenings at 8 P.M. through the week on WPGA-TV, “The Face of City Hall,” Channel 75. WPCNR VIDEO CAPTURE.

The revelation of the conscious city decision to withhold the document from examination by the public was made on television at Monday evening’s Common Council meeting when leadoff speaker, Dan Seidel,  at the resumption of the Cappelli Hotel (221 Main project) public hearing held up the actual copy of the New York Code of Rules & Regulations, (6NYCRR Part 612.12 Sub. B3), specifically stating that all EAFS, EIS’s  “once filed must be maintained in files readily accessible to the public.”

The Media Denied a Copy

WPCNR requested the DFEIS document December 16, approximately one week after it was submitted in segments by the Cappelli organization, filed and was informed by Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel, that the DFEIS was not going to be made available to the public because it was a “draft” document.  This struck WPCNR as strange at the time because WPCNR’s news archives has a Draft copy of the New York Presbyterian Hospital proton accelerator Final Environmental Impact statement. The Common Council was informed by the city that the 221 Main Draft Final Environmental Impact Statement was not going to be available to the public, and apparently, accepted this as standard procedure.

Technical Analysis by Member of Public

However, here on White Plains Government Access Television,  was attorney Dan Seidel going into technical analysis of the DFEIS, which supposedly no one other than the Common Council, the Planning, Building, and Cappelli organization and consultants have seen.  Seidel began his talk by saying there were many questions about the content of the DFEIS, including alleged failure to deal with recently passed county regulations for treatment of storm water runoff that White Plains has not complied with, inappropriate standards calculating waste water generated by the project hotel and condominiums, the letter reporting The Bar Building could be “designated” an historic site, among three major issues and he urged the council to delve into a laundry list of issues that he generalized about.

Stunned Disbelief.

Glen Hockley, with a glassy look in his eye, interrupted Mr. Seidel and remarked that the Common Council had been told the DFEIS would not be made available to the public, (wondering how Seidel had gotten a copy). Seidel said that he took up that issue with the Mayor’s Executive Officer. He said he found it “chilling” that the public had been denied access to a document which he said New York State law entitles the public to see.

 Seidel explained he obtained  his own copy of the DFEIS when he met with City Executive Officer George Gretsas and City Corporation Council Edward Dunphy two weeks ago, informing them they were violating the New York Code of Rules and Regulations by suppressing documents (not SEQRA as we had written previously),  once they had been filed and that he was entitled to see them.

In a late night interview with WPCNR Monday, Seidel said of the Gretsas-Dunphy meetings with him,  he could not understand why Michael Gerard, the city environmental lawyer allowed the DFEIS to be suppressed. (Mr. Seidel notes to WPCNR that Mr. Dunphy did not meet with him and Mr. Gretsas in person, writing us, “Dunphy was not at my meetings with George. He was called on the phone several times for a decision and he finally gave one (to release the documents) on Monday (1/5).”

The Council did not seem to remember what letter this was until Tom Roach said it was a letter, turned in December 18, that reported the Bar Building could be “considered” an historic site.

Again, Mr. Hockley, speaking slowly, said he wanted to know the reason why the DFEIS document was given to Mr. Seidel. Seidel answered the question holding up a copy of the New York Code highlighted by yellow marker saying, “By law I’m entitled to it. If it’s been filed the public can sure enough be entitled to look at it.”

Mr. Hockley again returned to the explanation for the sudden selective issue of the DFEIS, asking for a clarification.

MOVING ON QUICKLY, Mayor Delfino snapped to  Mr. Hockley first, “Ed will clarify it for you ” and  pursued Mr. Seidel on a question wanting to know what letter “qualified” the Bar Building as an historic site. Seidel recalled it was first mentioned at the December 19 Council meeting on the DFEIS. The Council seemed to not remember what letter this was until Tom Roach recalled it was a letter that said the Bar Building could be considered as an historic site. Mr. Seidel closed by saying there were many laws that were not being addressed. Delfino said “every law that’s out there will be considered, will be looked at, and will be reviewed. It will be looked at” and thanked Mr. Seidel for his comments and pushed on to the next speaker.  WPCNR VIDEO CAPTURE

DUNPHY CLARIFIES IT ALL.

About eleven speakers later, after Mr. Seidel, we believe had left the meeting,  Edward Dunphy was brought to the podium by the Mayor to explain why the city thought it necessary to release the DFEIS to Mr. Seidel and the public.

THE CLARIFIER CLARIFIES: At the conclusion of the public hearing on 221 Main, after all speakers on the subject had appeared and spoken, and several prods by Councilman Glen Hockley, the Mayor called back Edward Dunphy, Corporation Counsel, to explain to Councilman Glen Hockley why the decision to release the DFEIS to Mr. Seidel was made. WPCNR VIDEO CAPTURE

 Dunphy did not agree that Seidel’s quotation of the New York Code of Rules and Regulations was the reason why the documents were released. He told the White Plains television audience and the Common Council , “Under normal codes the draft documents are not foilable,” but that it became clear  that “someone outside city government” had seen the documents, so “that’s how it became a FOIL able document,” and that was why the documents were available to the public. Dunphy did not disclose who outside city government had been determined to have seen the documents.

Mr. Dunphy’s exact quote was:

“Under normal circumstances as we are all aware a draft document is not subject to requests of FOIL (Freedom of Information Law), and the government does not have to release the document. However, we have discovered that the document has been shared with people outside the City of White Plains, and I rendered an opinion that it comes under the cloak of FOIL. Subsequent to that, checking with Bob Freedman in Albany, he concurred with my opinion that it does become a FOILable document. So that’s  how it became a public document. People in the public have seen the document.”

After Mr. Boykin asked for explicit explanation, Dunphy said, the document “has been shared with people other than the City of White Plains.”

Seidel Responds

Mr. Seidel, in a comment attached to this article, received today, elaborated on  why the city had to release the DFEIS:

“ It’s not that it was shown to others, but that it was officially FILED on Dec 15 which means the public has a RIGHT to see the documents. SEQR is not subject to FOIL – there is no provision in that law to subject a request to see documents under the FOIL law. “

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Jim Brownold. January 4, 2004: Fort Hill Players presents From the Wings an evening of showcase scenes — produced, acted and directed by up and coming FHP actors and directors.  The evening features scenes from All in the Timing, Burning Down the House,Fool for Love,The Individuality of Streetlamps,The Wager, and Overtones, as well as a Dance solo.  General Admission: $5.00, open seating.  FHP members and Subscribers: Free.  Tickets will be available only at the door.  Rochambeau School, 228 Fisher Ave. White Plains. Friday and Saturday, January 23 & 24.  8 PM.  Further information:  forthillplayers.com

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. January 2, 2004: The White Plains Police Department is driving a new look this week with the delivery of the first two new Police Cars of 2004. The sleek, low slung “Impalas” made their debut on the streets this week under cover of darkness and deliver a whole new look, departing from the traditional “Blue-Yellow & Whites” so familiar from I-287 to Route 22, from Central Avenue to the Hutch.

NEW IMPALA POLICE CAR, shown in its pinup photo, sports the traditional WPPD badge on the tailfin, and the legend “City of White Plains” on the front fender. Inspector Daniel Jackson said the department will be replacing its rolling fleet at the rate of two a year with this new style, one of two certified police cars departments can buy in bulk in New York State. Right now, Jackson reports, the cars are being tested by the officers for size and performance.  Inspector Jackson advised WPCNR that depending on how the officers rating the cars feel, the department will be going to the new “NYPD North” look on future police cars.  Photo From White Plains Police Department.

THE BEAUTY ON DUTY ON NEW YEAR’S EVE: Here’s how the “fastback” look views at night. Reflector paint on the “911” and the “POLICE” really snaps to attention when it is caught in headlights, and increase police car recognition. Photo by WPCNR News.

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ROLLING ROOKIE. Photo from White Plains Police Department.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Oscar Sales, Jr. White Plains Performing Arts Center. January 2, 2003: Mary Jane Denzer Ltd., Fortunoff, Sholz Cadillac, and the White Plains Performing Arts Center present Dressed to Thrill, a Broadway-style fashion show to benefit the WPPAC and celebrate the opening of the musical comedy Fashion, The Musical. Dressed to Thrill will take place at the White Plains Performing Arts Center on Monday, March 1^st at 7pm preceded by a champagne reception at 6pm and a post-show dessert reception supplied by Trotters Restaurant. 

The excitement and sex appeal of the fashion runways of Paris and Milan merge with the passion and dazzle of the Broadway stage to create a unique and thrilling event. Dressed to Thrill will feature New York’s most beautiful models and Broadway’s hottest young actresses in elegant designer collections from Westchester’s premier couture boutique, Mary Jane Denzer Ltd.

Bedecked in fabulous jewels from Fortunoff and with an original score by Jordan Rudess, keyboardist with the internationally known rock band, Dream Theater, Dressed to Thrill will offer the latest fashions from the leading design houses of Europe and the United States. And, don’t be surprised when you hear the fashionable actresses perform a few show-stopping songs during the evening. Scheduled to appear as of this writing: Broadway’s Rupert Holmes as the emcee and Felicia Finley from Aida.

Jordan Rudess, composer of the score for DTT, entered the prestigious Juilliard School of Music at the age of nine for classical piano training. At age of nineteen, he began to include the rapidly developing world of synthesizers in his recordings and Performances. Today, Jordan is a recording artist, composer, producer and performer and is the newest member of the group Dream Theater. Jordan has recorded tracks with David Bowie and he has toured internationally with fellow keyboardist, Jan Hammer and legendary drummer Tony Williams, has appeared in concert with Enrique Iglesias, and regularly performs and records with Grammy award winners the Paul Winter Consort.

Denzer Finds an Affinity Between Broadway and Fashion

“I’ve always compared the Paris fashion shows to the beauty and excitement of Broadway productions,” said Mary Jane Denzer. “The skill and detail that must be applied to make all the pieces come together and achieve an exceptional product is the same in the fashion industry as it is the entertainment industry.”

Mrs. Denzer should know. She has been clothing the female power elite of the tri-state area for over 23 years building from a modest clothing shop into a couture fashion boutique with over $3 million dollars worth in annual sales. “Showcasing those beautiful gowns in a new and innovative way is truly exciting. Accessorizing the gowns with the gorgeous jewels from the Fortunoff collection will be outstanding.”

Louis Fortunoff Joins Fashion Forces

“We are excited to participate in an event such as this,” said Louis Fortunoff, Executive Vice-President of Fortunoff and Founding Board member of WPPAC. Mr. Fortunoff, at center of picture is shown at the WPPAC Gala on November 9. “Fortunoff is renowned for its fine associations and we look forward to working with Mary Jane, Sholz Cadillac and the White Plains Performing Arts Center in showcasing these glamorous gowns and fine jewelry and infusing them with a little Broadway magic.” Photo by WPCNR StageCam

Buicks Included in the Show.

“It’s a pleasure for Sholz Cadillac to provide our newest models (Standard of the World) to help Mary Jane Denzer, Fortunoff and the White Plains Performing Arts Center present this exciting Broadway-style fashion show, “ said Bob Sholz, President of the Sholz Auto Group. 

Family-owned and operated in White Plains for nearly 60 years, Sholz enjoys an enviable reputation for honesty, superior customer satisfaction and fair prices.  A full-service dealership, Sholz provides both new and factory certified pre-owned cars and truck sales as well as superior mechanical and collision repair services.  Large new and factory certified pre-owned inventories permit a full selection and immediate delivery.  In January 2003, General Motors chose Sholz to take over representation of its luxury line, Cadillac, in White Plains.  The Sholz Auto Group is now the largest Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Pontiac, GMC Truck, Kia and Isuzu dealership in the tri-state area. 

“Where else can you get an incredible fashion show and a stunning Broadway production at the same time?” says Tony Stimac, (Right, with Jeffrey Rosenstock, his partner, at the WPPAC Gala Opening November 9)  Producing Director of the White Plains Performing Arts Center. “It will be quite thrilling to see a gorgeous woman stop in mid-runway and belt-out a show-stopping song from a Broadway show. We are thrilled to be partnering with Mary Jane Denzer, Fortunoff and Sholz Cadillac for this event. And we are equally happy that this event will serve as a grand precursor to Fashion, The Musical.” Photo by WPCNR StageCam

Dressed to Thrill will take place at the White Plains Performing Arts Center on Monday, March 1^st at 7pm. There will be a champagne reception at 6pm and a dessert reception after the event supplied by Trotters Restaurant. Tickets to Dressed to Thrill are $250 and include the event, the pre- and post receptions to the event and one ticket to the performance of your choice to Fashion, The Musical. (The ticket to Fashion, The Musical also includes dinner prior to the performance at either: Papa Razzi, Trotters or the Vintage Restaurants.) Fashion, The Musical, with Book by Mr. Stimac, premiers March 20.

To order tickets to Dressed to Thrill, call the Box Office at 888-977-2250. To make reservations to Fashion, The Musical and dinner prior to the performance, call Melinda O’Brien at the WPPAC office at 914-422-1376.

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WPCNR PICTURES OF TIME. December 31, 2003: The White Plains CitizeNetReporter continues our newsroom review of the major White Plains stories of 2003. Today we review through the magic of the WPCNR Digital Eye the action packed third quarter of July, August and September, 2003:

LIBERTY PARK AT SILVER LAKE, WHITE PLAINS FIRST WATERFRONT PARK OPENED the first week of July with a make shift  floating dock, picnic grounds, kayaks and rowboats for rent, and a wilderness trail cut around the White Plains side of the lake. The park was made possible through a swing deal by Mayor Joseph Delfino who traded 10 acres of the Pettinichi property to Westchester County for use as affordable housing, in exchange for 30 acres of Silver Lake property rented for $1 a year for 30 years.

THE MAYOR HANGS OUT AT FIRST NIGHT DOUBLEHEADER OF THE FASTPITCH PIONEERS, THE WHITE PLAINS EXPLOSION IN LATE JULY. The Explosion capped a 12-4 season as 14-Unders in the WPBA.

CITY INKS STIMAC AND ROSENSTOCK TO 3 YEAR DEAL TO RUN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. The city, in August, after two months of negotiations followed by contract preparation agreed to pay Tony Stimac, Executive Director of the Helen Hayes  theatre in Nyack, and Jeffrey Rosenstock, Executive Director of Queens Theatre In the Park in Flushing $100,000 a year the first two years and a figure to be determined in the third year to manage the White Plains Performing Arts Center. The contract also commits the city to pay an unspecified amount in services and expenses beyond Stimac and Rosenstock’s management fees. The impresarios worked without a contract for two months. 

LOUIS CAPPELLI INTRODUCES CAPPELLI HOTEL DESIGNS: At the August  Common Council meeting,  Louis Cappelli, showed off his designs for his Cappelli Hotel on Main Street at the 221 Main site. It aroused opposition to possible eminent domain acquisition of the back annex of the Bar Building. The Bar Building brick Eastside can be seen at upper left of top picture. View below is looking East down Main Street.

AM EMBITTERED WILLIAM KING, shown at the September Council meeting, who had already announced his intention not to run for a second term on the Common Council, became very annoyed with his Democrat colleagues for refusing to support his bid to allow a trial test of overnight street parking in the Highlands Old Mamaroneck Road area. The Council voted his proposal down.

FORMER DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY DANIEL HICKEY, THIRD FROM LEFT,OUSTED ROSA MUNOZ from the Republican Party Ticket for a Common Council seat and got himself on the ballot for the November Council election, by beating Munoz in the September Republican Primary. Hickey campaigned on the platform that the Common Council does not listen to the people.

DRUG FACTORY RAIDED: White Plains Police raided this Fisher Avenue home in September and arrested two White Plains residents, one the owner, on charges of manufacturing drugs on the premises and supplying them at various restaurant locations in the city.  They were also charged with possession of automatic and assault weapons. Police were shocked at the amount of fire power and cash at the location. Ironically, the drug factory was located about one block away from a home that the Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services had attempted to locate a group home for troubled homeless teens. The Zoning Board of Appeals had early in the year, denied a building permit in response to neighborhood opposition that the location of “troubled” teens would be a threat to the neighborhood.

CANDIDATES’ DEBATES: Robert Greer, Benjamin Boykin, and Arnold Bernstein debated Republicans Tim Sheehan, Jeffrey Binder, Dan Hickey and Conservative/Independent candidate, Rosa Munoz in a series of lackluster debates. Republicans Binder and Sheehan worked the theme that they wanted to “Wake Up the Common Council” and suggested the city enact an ordinance similar to Poughkeepsie where family definitions are used to close down unsafe, overcrowded housing. They also campaigned heavily on Democrat failure to secure parkland from New York Presbyterian Hospital. This would prove critical in subsequent weeks. Incumbents Greer and Boykin took substantial credit for the “White Plains Renaissance” including the City Center and Fortunoff  and Bank Street Commons “approvals.” This is the luncheon at The Womens Club Candidates Forum in early October. The debate formats journalists noted allowed for little public participation, wasted gobs of time in biographies, and were repetitive.

WHO KNOWS WHAT FLOWS BENEATH THE STREETS OF MAIN? MAIN STREET SEWER MYSTERY: When Target store connections were being hooked up to the Main Street sewer August 29, construction crews were concerned that there was “something wrong with the pipe,” and there was a slight delay in making the connections. Hearing of this delay from a photographer observing the discussions over the open sewer pipes on the day this concern surfaced, WPCNR learned of a dispute over Main Street sewer capacity between Department of Public Works Commissioner, Joseph Nicoletti, and Mayor Joseph Delfino. Nicoletti questioned  the validity of Cappelli Enterprises data in September 2002, which said the Main Street sewer line (the main conduit for City Center and 221 Main effluent), was running at 13% to 25% capacity. Nicoletti said the Water Department conducted a stick test, the method used by 32 municipalities in Westchester to measure sewage capacity, showing the sewer at 80% capacity. Two City Commissioners who personally observed the dispute in the Mayor’s conference room in September, 2002, said an irate Mayor strongly supported Cappelli experts and rebuked Nicoletti for doubting them.  Nicoletti had taken the liberty of ordering the same water flow meter Cappelli’s consultant used to check the results, and over the next six months from January to June, 2003, the flow meter readings actually showed the pipe to be running at lower levels. Consulting engineers contacted by WPCNR endorse the stick method as the more accurate of the two measuring techniques.  Since the September sewer discovery that prompted concern, the nature of which has not been revealed, a second study from Divney, Tung, Schwalbe, was submitted on September 18, 2003 confirming the sewer capacity capability. The city has since taken the position that Cappelli Enterprises will line the sewer to make it flow smoother, and Mr. Cappelli has agreed to do that. Cappelli also said he is willing to replace his share of the sewer line if other business owners on Main Street pay their share. The sewer capacity or lack thereof, continues to be a concern of the Common Council as the hearings on the Cappelli hotel continue.