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. February 21, 2003:At a full-to-the-brim work session Thursday evening the Common Council agreed in principle to committing $800,000 to opening Liberty Park in Silver Lake by July 4. They agreed to go ahead with creating a streetlevel, doubledeck parking lot behind Mamaroneck Avenue, providing overnight parking for residents of Old Mamaroneck Road, and they went along by consensus with hiring two top consultants on urban planning and mass transit (at developer Louis Cappelli’s expense) to evaluate and suggest ways to integrate the Cappelli-Bland Hotel & Office Plex on Main Street into the fabric of the city’s future. The income guidelines and tenant profiles were presented for the city’s “Moderate Income Apartment Lottery.”

LIBERTY PARK ON SILVER LAKE was presented by architect John Imbiano of Imbiano/Quigley, designer of the recently completed White Plains “streetscapes design.” Iambino presented a plan calling for the construction of a boat house one-third of the way North on the Western “White Plains” Shore of Silver Lake, and a fishing pier (at the top of the picture jutting out into the lake) . A launching area for kayaks and rowboats is also planned off the green oval, and trails leading to the county portion of the Silver Lake preserve at the top of this picture. The oval will appear this summer.
Photo by WPCNR News

Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti, said the cost to proceed with design was $150,000, and an additional $650,000 would cover the cost of opening the park by July 4, which would not include the boathouse construction, or enhanced trails, but would enable the public to use the park this summer.

ADIRONDACKS STYLE COMES TO WHITE PLAINS: The design for the boathouse, top, and the fishing pier recall the tranquil architecture found shoreside on peaceful lakes deep in the wilderness of upstate.
Photo by WPCNR News

REFUGE FOR “THE SPACELESS” of Old Mamaroneck Road. The council is behind Doubledeck Parking from the Gulf gas station on Bryant and Mamaroneck to Dunkin Donuts on Mamaroneck Avenue at the Bloomindale Road Fork. Below is the photo of the strip now. At top is the conception of how the second decade would appear. (Look for the persimmon band…that is the elevation of the deck. It would also have an entrance from the deck to Bryant Avenue.
Photo by WPCNR News

The council agreed by consensus to buy Commissioner Nicoletti’s plan to create an additional 430 parking spaces behind the Rader’s, Post office, Francesco’s restaurant-Dunkin Donuts block extending from the corner of Bryant Avenue and Mamaroneck Avenue to the Bloomindale Road fork.

The cost is pegged by Mr. Nicoletti at $5.5 Million, and should take 10 months to construct. He plans to start it in August and complete it by spring 2004.

The Bryant double-decker debt service will be paid for out of White Plains Parking Authority funds.

Two of the Three Mesquiters Present 2003 Police Plan

Deputy Commissioners of Public Safety, David Chong and Dr. Charles Jennings presented the 2003 direction of the White Plains Department of Public Safety. Commissioner Frank Straub was on vacation. With Deputy Commissioner Chong handling the slide presentation in his animated, smooth and intense style, the council was given the department’s new take on priorities for 03.

Chong said that the department had been reorganized to recognize and contend with the growth of White Plains which is making the city an attractive target for terrorists. He said the department had increased police presence with heavily armed officers at strategic locations in the city, to patrol in the downtown with the bicycle patrol and the mounted division. He pointed out, as an example that the department reached out to all synagogues in the city, briefing each congregation last Friday on the current terrorist alert. Commissioner Jennings said he is briefed each morning at 6 A.M. by the New York City Terrorist Task Force on potential threats.

Confidential Intelligence Specialist to be hired.

In an effort to make sense of and evaluate the intelligence reports and what they mean to White Plains, Chong said the department is planning to hire a Confidential Intelligence Specialist whose responsibility will be to brief the Commissioner on intelligence, counter terrorism and threat assessments. The officer will also is seen as “advising on emerging technologies and methods in order to identify best practices in the areas of intelligence, policing and fire protection.”

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY DAVID CHONG takes a question from the Common Council on the new intelligence officer position.
Photo by WPCNR News

The new operative will also be in charge of internal departmental investigations involving complaints or allegations involving police personnel and he or she will report directly to Commissioner Frank Straub.

Chong said the officer, “in no way” will be conducting investigations of White Plains residents or gathering intelligence on city residents, when asked that question by a reporter. Chong said they hoped to pay between $50,000 to $60,000 a year for the position, and that it is being filled with money for a presently vacant position.

The council appeared to back the request, especially when Elizabeth Wallace, Personnel Director, said the union had given its blessing for the hire.

What to Do If

Councilman William King raised the issue of devising evacuation plans for the city, and “what to do if” scenarios. Chong said that was not the department’s plan at this time to do that, that their mission was to deter and be ready. He said the best course of action for residents, was “to stay in your house and give first responders the time to identify the threat.”

Help for Louis Cappelli

Michael Gerard of Arnold & Porter, the environmental lawyer who consulted for the city on the New York Presbyterian Hospital SEQRA review last year, reappeared for a new assignment from the city. Gerard has been retained to assist the city in reviewing the Cappelli-Bland Hotel & Officeplex presented last week and intended for the Main Street corridor from Church Street to Court Street.

Gerard recommended two heavyweight consultants to respond and conceptualize on behalf of the Common Council on both the design and integration of the Cappelli-Bland Hotel into the city fabric.

Heavyweight Consultants

One is Dr. Eugenie Birch, of the University of Pennsylvania, and urban planning specialist now on the Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Corporation, and inputting on the rebuilding of the former site of the World Trade Center.

The other is a transportation expert, John Zupan, whom Councilman William King had great respect for, and so did Mr. Gerard.

THE SULTAN OF SEQRA RETURNS: Michael Gerard of Arnold & Porter listing to the Council Thursday evening.
Photo by WPCNR News

Councilmembers expressed concern. Rita Malmud asked that Mr. Gerard and his two new consultants look into how the city will manage the new influx of people brought in by Cappelli’s new project; how the traffic could be handled. William King suggested transportation options be looked into. Robert Greer wanted to khow they see development advancing down Mamaroneck Avenue. Benjamin Boykin expressed the need to ask them how they saw open space fitting into the city central area.

As these consultants’ names were announced, two observers from the Cappelli empire were looking on impassively. Cappelli Enterprises as provided by the SEQRA process will pay for Mr. Gerard’s fee, and the fees charged by the two consultants, the fees not to exceed 2% of the development’s cost. The Cappelli-Bland Hotel & office plex is priced at roughly $360 Million.

Apartment Lottery

A Draft copy of the pecking order for 40 moderate income housing units in Bank Street Commons and Clayton Park coming on the market, as provided as part of the city approval of the developments was presented. Currently 100 persons have already signed up with the Planning Department to have a shot at these apartments.

According to Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning, the persons who will be considered first for these apartments will be either employees of the city or the school district; next in line would be retirees from the city government or the city school district; next to be considered would be residents who worked lived and retired in White Plains, and finally persons who fit the income levels.

For singles, the income levels are: Median, $63,900; Moderate, $51,000.

For two persons, Median Income, (combined) $73,120; Moderate Income (combined), $58,500.

For a three-person household, the combined income for Median income is $82,000; Moderate, $73,000.

For information on how to apply, contact the Planning Department.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Health. February 19, 2003: A rabid wild cat found in Peekskill fed by residents along with other wild cats has been tested and found rabid, prompting a rabies warning to anyone who has fed this band of cats. The county strongly warns persons not to touch these cats or any wild cats for that matter. WPCNR on our own suggests not allowing your cats outside in the Peekskill area. The release follows giving particulars of where these cats were found.
The Westchester County Department of Health today issued a Rabies Alert to residents of Peekskill who may have had contact with an outdoor cat in the vicinity of Woodale Avenue in Peekskill. The cat tested positive for rabies and was euthanized on February 15. It is described as a male, longhaired, orange and white cat named, “Bella” and was part of a colony of stray cats in the neighborhood of Woodale Avenue that was fed by residents.

Other members of this colony may also be rabid. It is imperative that residents avoid contact with any of these animals.

“Anyone who believes that they, or their pet, may have had contact with this cat, or others in the neighborhood, should contact the Westchester County Department of Health immediately at (914) 813-5000 to assess their need for life saving rabies treatment,” stated Joshua Lipsman, M.D., M.P.H., Westchester County Commissioner of Health.

Dr. Lipsman warns that anyone bitten by a rabid animal or having contact with its saliva may need to receive immediate post-exposure rabies treatment.

“When administered early enough, before symptoms develop, the
treatment is 100% effective,” he said. “However, once symptoms occur, in humans or animals, the disease is fatal”, he added.

“It is imperative for pet owners to immunize their animals against rabies and to ensure that these vaccinations are kept up to date,” said Dr. Lipsman. “Previously vaccinated domestic animals such as dogs,
cats, and ferrets, that have experienced contact with this cat require a
booster vaccination within five days of exposure. Such incidents must be immediately reported to the health department,” he continued. “If residents have questions, they should call us at (914) 813-5000.

Dr. Lipsman added, “A change in an animal’s behavior is the
first sign of rabies. A rabid animal may become either abnormally
aggressive or unusually tame. It may lose fear of people and become excited and irritable, or, conversely appear particularly friendly and affectionate.

Staggering and frothing at the mouth are sometimes noted. Adults should encourage children to immediately tell an adult if they have been bitten or scratched by an animal and to refrain from touching unfamiliar animals.”

All animal bites or contacts with animals suspected of having
rabies must be reported to the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000, 24 hours a day. For more information about rabies and its prevention, residents can also call the RABIES HOTLINE at (914) 813-5010 or visit the Health Department’s Website at
www.westchestergov.com/health.

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WPCNR ALBANY REPORT. From Assemblywoman Amy Paulin of the 88th Assembly District. February 19, 2003:Assemblywoman Amy Paulin announced today that she has secured $50,000 in State funding to assist the City of White Plains with sidewalk improvements around the development site currently under construction at the intersection of Bloomingdale Avenue, Maple Avenue and Paulding Street. The City has committed a total of $1,978,000 to this public/private partnership that will bring new retail, jobs and taxes to the City, County and the State.

“It is exciting to watch new retailers move into White Plains, and to anticipate the jobs and sales tax revenue that will follow,” said Assemblywoman Paulin. “I am pleased to be able to assist with the project’s progress.”

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. February 18, 2003: WPCNR learned Tuesday that one of Glen Hockley’s attorneys, Elizabeth Shollenberger, has joined Judge Francis Nicolai’s law clerk, Diane Lundin, and applied for the vacant judgeship on the White Plains City Court.

Within hours of learning for the first time late Tuesday that Ms. Shollenberger had applied for the position, Mr. Hockley asked her to resign as his attorney. Mr. Hockley told WPCNR his decision late Tuesday evening.

Ms. Schollenberger is the attorney formerly assisting Thomas Abinanti in Glen Hockley’s defense of the Attorney General’s quo warranto action against him on behalf of Larry Delgado. She is the author of the brief requesting Judge Nicolai recuse himself citing as one of the reasons for recusal, Ms. Lundin’s application for the city judgeship (that Mr. Hockley as a member of the White Plains Common Council would have to approve).

Mr. Hockley contacted WPCNR late last evening to report his decision to dismiss Ms. Shollenberger from his leagal team. The Councilman said that to be fair he could not demand the recusal of Judge Nicolai or removal of Ms. Lundin as law clerk on the quo warranto action if his own attorney on the case was also applying for the judgeship.

Application Just Under the Wire.

Ms. Shollenberger confirmed Tuesday afternoon to WPCNR that she had applied for the City Judgeship on February 9, the deadline for applicatios. This was five days after the Motion for recusal was filed (February 4). Asked why she had applied on the last day, Ms. Shollenberger said she had the application for some time and had simply waited until the deadline.

Ms. Shollenberger told WPCNR she applied for the judgeship because she felt her twenty years of experience qualified her to sit in White Plains and sit in judgement of the rights and responsibilities of individuals.

WPCNR asked Ms. Shollenberger why she felt her application for the judgeship was not a conflict of interest, whereas Ms. Lundin’s was. She said she was an advocate for Mr. Hockley, and made no secret of that, whereas Ms. Lundin’s position was that of a court attorney who is supposed to be neutral towards both parties, yet who could be perceived to have an interest in Mr. Hockley’s being on the council, or off of the Council.

Mysterious Leak

There is a mystery as to how Ms. Shollenberger’s application came to the attention of the media.

WPCNR contacted the Mayor’s Office to discover whether or not the list of applicants with the city’s Law Department could be released upon request. (The Law Department is where applications for the judgeship are rendered). George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, said the list of applicants was not subject to the Freedom of Information Act and that it was a matter of city policy that applications were not available to the general public for privacy reasons.

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WPCNR WEATHERSCOOP. By John F. Bailey. February 18, 2003: The City of White Plains was open for business at rush hour Tuesday morning taming the 15-1/2 to 18 inches of snow overnight. Roads at daybreak were clear in most neighborhoods, navigable and parking lots accessible. Motorists should use caution on turning into traffic at intersections due to high piles of snow on the corners.

The Cross Westchester Expressway was cleared with all three lanes wideopen. Motorists entering at entrances to I-287 should be aware the high piles of snow block your views of oncoming traffic in the right lane. Motorists should avoid traveling the far right lanes in both directions due to other cars attempting to enter the expressway. Roadbeds were cleared to the concrete and very little slush remained.