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WPCNR PROFILES IN CHARACTER. By John F. Bailey. July 4, 2019 Reprinted from the WPCNR Archives:

It is the 243RD birthday of our  nation, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1776.

I usually run this column on George Washington’s birthday, however, in light of the character-challenged behavior being shown lately by our leaders and congress in Washington, it is instructive to look at our first leader, George Washington, the father of our nation.

One cannot help be reminded of the snowy winter at Valley Forge, when the bedraggled, poorly equipped rebel army suffered but held together, and attacked the Hessians in Trenton on Christmas Eve, 1776, crossing the Delaware River at night.

What kind of man was he that George Washington could inspire his troops against all odds?

Washington was a man of tremendous character. Where did he get this character? He specialized in self-control at an early age.

Reenacters Marching to Raise Old Glory at Purdy House in Honor of George Washington’s Birthday. Photo, 2003 WPCNR News Archive.

According to The American President, Washington, at sixteen, had formed a code of conduct. He had written a book of etiquette with 110 “maxims” to guide his conduct in matters. In this etiquette book he had written,

Every action done in company ought to be done with a sign of respect to those who are not present. Sleep not when others speak; sit not when others stand; speak not when you should hold your peace; walk not when others stop;…Let your countenance be pleasant but in serious matters somewhat grave…Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise.

According to the character sketch provided by the authors of The American President, this personal “rulebook” was a book that Washington wrote over the years and referred to it often,

“for self-control, to avoid temptation, to elude greed, to control his temper. Reputation was everything to him. It had to do with his strength, his size, his courage, his horsemanship, his precise dress, his thorough mind, his manners, his compassion. He protected that reputation at any cost.”

Honor Guard Strikes the Colors to a Drum Roll. Photo, WPCNR News.

Earning respect by example. Quelling rebellion with a few words.

Washington inspired by example. He lived with his troops. He shared hardships with them, and so much was there respect for him that he was able to talk them out of armed rebellion at the end of the American Revolution.

Washington had been asked by the army to join them to over throw the Continental Congress, and make himself King.

Washington had been asked by one of the officers of the rebels to join them, and he wrote them,

You could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable. Banish these thoughts from your mind.

Hearing that the rebels who were planning insurrection against the new country due to not having been paid by the Continental Congress, Washington rode to Newburgh, New York, on March 15, 1783, to meet with the dissident insurgents. Washington spoke to the rebellious group, saying,

“Gentlemen, as I was among the first who embarked in the cause of our common Country; as I never left your side one moment, but when called from you on public duty; as I have been the constant companion and witness of your Distresses…it can scarcely be supposed …that I am indifferent to your interests. But…this dreadful alternative, of either deserting our Country in the extremest hour of her distress, or turning our Arms against it…has something so shocking in it that humanity revolts from the idea…I spurn it, as every Man who regards liberty…undoubtedly must.”

The would-be rebels fell silent, digesting what he had said. Then Washington withdrew a letter from Congress, but could not read the text, withdrawing some eyeglasses from his tunic, remarking,

“Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.”

The men present were reported to have tears in their eyes at this gesture of Washington’s and abandoned their plot out of respect for their leader.

Washington retired from the military, surprising the entire new country. His action surprised King George III of England, who was astonished that Washington had refused to hold on to his military authority and use it for political or financial gain. The defeated King of England, remarked, “If true, then he is the greatest man in the world.”

 Members of Common Council, 2003: Tom Roach, Rita Malmud, Benjamin Boykin and Glen Hockley, (center of Picture) and observers of the ceremony salute the Colors. Photo, WPCNR News.
Seeker of Diverse Views

As President, George Washington invented the Presidential Cabinet, whom he referred to as “the first Characters,” persons who possessed the best reputations in fields and areas of the jobs he was filling. Washington said on political appointments,

“My political conduct and nominations must be exceedingly circumspect. No slip into partiality will pass unnoticed…”

Washington tolerated the relentless clashes between Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State, and Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, but lectured them on the necessity for tolerance and moving beyond partisanship:

“I believe the view of both of you are pure, and well meant. Why then, when some of the best Citizens in the United States, Men…who have no sinister view to promote, are to be found, some on one side, some on the other…should either of you be so tenacious of your opinions as to make no allowances for those of the other? I have great esteem for you both, and ardently wish that some line could be marked out by which both of you could walk.”

The Constitution Should be Protected

When George Washington left office after two terms, he made a farewell address which warned future generations of Americans about foreign entanglements and partisanship in the republic:

I shall carry to my grave the hope that your Union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the Constitution may be sacredly maintained; and that free government…the ever favorite object of my heart…will be the happy reward of our mutual cares, labors and dangers.”

Washington died in 1800, three years after leaving office in 1797. He was saluted on the floor of congress as being “First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.”

His comments above resonate today in some of the most cantankerous rhetoric and partisan stands the country has experienced in years.

We should also remember that the signers of the Declaration of Independence in Independence Hall in Philadelphia today in 1776, were putting their lives at risk by meeting and discussing, arguing, the Declaration wording, despite knowledge that if British occupying troops learned of the meeting, they could have been arrested and hung.

That is a pressure the crybaby congress of today which cannot seek a way to compromise and seek compassionate solutions to immigration crisis, and do not have on them. They worry about preserving their pathetic seats.

Compromise and respect for the other point of view and the millions who will be affected by what some would say are “reckless,” “feckless,” “cruel” and “dangerous” changes to traditional American policies are missing in today’s political discourse, (if you can dignify what congress and cabinet members do by calling it political discourse).

I’d like to introduce a new term, “transminder,” the ability to listen to those whose views are opposite of yours. Find between you what you feel is the ultimate goal of a policy change and how the good can be accommodated and the bad eliminated, without hurt with fairness to all. The more you talk in terms of the common good, the better what you come up with gets.

Can we do that?

I challenge every person in government to read the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and the Constitution carefully today. It will not take long. Then measure your hates, prejudices, positions, and behaviors against those documents. Do you stand up to it?

And, for all you “leaders” out there, wherever you are, George Washington’s words above are what you should measure yourself against.

He was the greatest leader of them all.

WPCNE QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. July 2, 2019:

The city fiscal year just concluded. Now they await the June sales revenues to see if a great June buying spree in downtown White Plains NY USA will have them meet last year’s sales revenues ($50.1 Million).

As WPCNR writes this, the city if the make the same sales tax revenues they collect last June, the 2018-2019 project sales tax revenue will only be $49.7 Million. That is a 3/4% behind last year

The mystery is why the sales tax revenues have not grown more robustly, at least keeping pace with inflation which has average 2%. Let’s take a look:

If you assume prices should go up 2% a Year the city since 2014,, if prices of retailers went up by 2% a year, the city should be ahead in sales revenues some $10 Million.

What is the ominous message behind this anemic trend?

If our merchants and restaurants did not raise prices by 2% a year, well that is one thing. But if they did raise prices to keep pace, that indicates sales are down almost 12% and overall revenues down 20% something far more troubling.

However, since the City of White Plains does not get a report of what individual business pay the city in sales taxes from the Department of Taxation and Finance, it is impossible for the city to know what businesses are thriving and which are not, let alone the source of most sales tax (autos, entertainment, restaurants, individual retailers, malls–an economics demographic cannot be figured for city marketing efforts.

The County, by contrast is up 3% the first 5 months of the year in sales tax revenues.

A far more darker side is whether sales are being reported accurately.

This issue of continued softness should be examined with close attention by the next Common Council.

Christiani Pitts as Ann Darrow and King Kong–Broadway’s most romantic couple. 

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. November 20 , 2018 UPDATED :

The Best Actor you will see on the great White Way is pecky,  way big, muscles to die for.

NINE MONTHS after critics scoffed at the big guy on Broadway. He’s still there at fittingly the Broadway Theatre . Bringing in audiences to see Broadway’s undisputedly biggest star. Could King Kong returns be in the future?

King Kong is a legend and this haunting show continues to enthrall.

He will take you to places you’ll never be again.

His eyes–  dreamy with sensitivity,  ablaze with power.

His touch gentle.

He holds you in the palm of his huge hand.

His roar makes you shiver.

His moan will makes your heart beat fast.

A smile to die for.

TONY judges MISSED “Best Actor”

No human actor matches him in swagger, swag, and swashbuckle.

Kong gives the best performance by an actor in a leading role on Broadway—holding the audience spellbound – and yes, reaching  heart,  mind, soul, psyche, fear with a face that ignites.

And he is a handsome lug with– ladies — a chest to die for.

He is alive.

The King Kong musical  mounted appropriately  at the old Broadway Theater  with its art deco marquee,  palatial lobby, three massive chandeliers above the stage — a 1924 house whose stage has been graced by Milton Berle, Alfred Drake, Jose Ferrer, Eartha Kitt, Vivien Leigh, Zero Mostel and Mae West, and Barbra is shaken by the thunder footsteps of the giant of them all—King Kong.

The leading ape, with silverback gorilla confidence, captures the essence of wild majesty, looms over audience, as tall as the proscenium itself. He is the biggest thing ever to hit Broadway.

He dominates!

He is a 8^th wonder of the world (animatronics created by Global Creatures), brought to vivid, gorillalistic life by a team of his handlers and electronic wizards—you will not believe he is not real.

You will think he is.

If you see one show on Broadway, this is the one, because you will never forget the King.

He’s a cocktail party must. He will mingle.

Because he awes.

But, I digress.

This  show of shows to see which you will never forget, thrusts the  1933 movie classic audaciously into 21^st Century theater!

The plot of the movie is  telescoped. From thudding footsteps as you await the adventure to chilling “lurking roars” while you are waiting for the curtain to rise, and the occasional ‘THUMP!” of something very big that jolts you as you wait.

Then the deeply mysterious  ominous Prologue  curtain goes up on old New York and the leading lady to be, Christiani Pitts (star of A Bronx Tale) stalks into 1931 NYC. An NYC stunningly conjured by receding skyline in the hustling depression-beset desperate crowds of the streets.

Pitts plays the legendary Ann Darrow, (immortalized Fay Wray, the original scream queen of the movie). Pitts is  the ingénue from the country arriving trying to make it on Broadway. Moving animated real scenery of old New York in  sepia takes you back in time, suspends your disbelief, sets a new standard in tech design mastery: seamless  moving scenery by Peter Englund.

Ms. Pitts and an  acrobatic dance company sing Dance My Way to the Light  She proclaims her quest for stardom in Queen of New York.  She  fails a series of auditions and ends up starving in a diner where (chance encounter!) she is spotted by  promoter Carl Denham, played by fast-talking, sharp-dressing, big promising Eric William Morris  a producer with a plan:  find a mysterious legend on a remote island, and he needs a leading lady.  He gives her a chance, talks her into it and hustles her off to a tramp steamer, the S.S. Wanderer.

The stage is seamlessly changed into the deck of a tramp freighter moving downriver into the Atlantic with waves in front of the bow,  Brooklyn Bridge on the left, then waves on the ocean into fog. This is the most realistic portrayal of a boat moving on the ocean on stage ever created on Broadway that I have seen, as realistic as Holmes and Watson boating on the Thames in The Sign of the Four

After days at sea, with Denham teaching Darrow how to scream, (the whole act rushes forward like an Indiana Jones movie–  the crew mutinies, but plucky Darrow, with Ms. Pitts turbo-charging the vapid Fay Wray character of the movie with courage, spunk, spirit saves Denham’s hide from the crew.

This sequence  approach to Skull Island is astounding in its visual realism, its smooth approach to the island. You will not believe your eyes. You’re on a boat

To the haunting anthem Skull Island (composed with a mounting, erie compounding suspense by Marius de Vries) the audience is drawn to the horizon as the words “Land Ho!”  are heard. Soaring rocks appear out of the mist! Then mountains.  The S.S.Wanderer is sailing across tossing waves towards steep soaring shoals ! Could it be? It could be! It is: the mysterious Skull Island! I have not see a conjuring of a sea voyage on the stage like this since the Sherlock Holmes play Sign of the Four.

The hunt for Kong begins through a jungle cleverly turned into clinging living vines that entrap Ms. Darrow.  When the audience sees eyes, then Kong’s incredible teeth. Ms. Pitts really screams!

Kong carries her off to his layer running like an ape pounding through the jungle and he really is visually running with jungle vines rushing by behind him.  He’s alive!

Kong hoists the faint Ms. Pitts and he is running through the jungle to his lair. As Ms. Pitts awakens she pulls her wits together as Kong roars at her. She matches him roar for roar to try and back him off. It is a charming sequence, a real first date.

All that’s missing are the Singapore Slings. The facial expressions and puzzlement on Kong’s face are fascinating as the young woman matches him roar for roar.

Obviously, he’s never met a charmer like her before. It’s feisty, it’s funny it’s feral!

What’s neat about this “getting to know you” scene is you go it with. You like Kong. You believe Ms. Pitts’ portrayal, hook, line and sinker. We have to tip the hat to the “Voice of Kong” articulated with shivery  awesome gusto by  Jon Hoche.

Of course, as Kong retires to think about this, you never know, this being a jungle island that time has forgot, what just might slither out of the jungle. Kong saves Darrow from a startling encounter, and using her farm girl “smarts” she convinces him to let her heal his wounds,  singing Full Moon Lullaby.

She takes this opportunity to escape the big guy’s lair, which leads to Kong’s capture by the opportunistic Denham.

And that’s just the First Act folks.

On to New York, where Darrow, horrified at Kong’s capture balks at exhibiting Kong for money. Denham’s big song It’s Man cynically says anyone will be a sucker for an incredible show. Darrow is having none of it—and says she will not act in the show which puts Kong on display.

There is a  very funny dance act in which Anything Goes is parodied hilariously.  Denham convinces Darrow by saying she either acts in the show or she’s through in show business. Sounds a lot like today doesn’t it? Darrow laments her choice between Kong and career in Scream for the Money.

Pitts has the gusto soprano that gives her all and delivers the most out song you can get of ambition and regret and gives you the feelings you experience when you compromise your principles, and cannot save someone you care about. Pitts pours this out raw and heartbreaking in her  Last of Our Kind when she sings to the chained King Kong.

Will Kong escape?

What will be his fate?

The astounding finale with aircraft with 50 caliber machine guns blazing at Darrow and her protector is spectacular

Christiani Pitts’ heart-throb tribute and tearful lament to Kong, The Wonder has the throng hanging on every plaintive phrase. She and Kong are a Wonder together. Kong sings with his big, sad eyes.

Christiana Pitts and Mr. Kong Broadway’s most romantic couple.

King Kong at The Broadway is a must-see.

Forget about what the old anachronists say, mired in what they think theatre should be, trapped in the past.

This is what theatre  is –creative, courageous, reaching for the stars– creating new experiences, making a fantasy live before your eyes!

Here is a new world– staging, romance, feelings –creating the impossible and you will see it!

You will always remember the night you saw King Kong.

Christiana Pitts and Mr. Kong are Broadway’s most romantic couple.

Perfect together. They deserve a sequel.

What a great summer escape Kong turns out to be, and a tribute to the audiences that know a star they have to see, and not believing the critics.

WPCNR WESTCHESTER COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. June 26, 2019:

Westchester County is on the verge of a potential major real estate and business boom thanks to Opportunity Zones.  This federal tax program is projected to spur economic development in the County’s distressed census tracts by offering tax breaks on capital gains to developers who invest and hold assets for at least five years.

There are 12 zones designated in 8 different municipalities in the County. The municipalities are Cortlandt, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Peekskill, Port Chester, White Plains and Yonkers.

The Opportunity Zones incentive is a new community investment tool, established by Congress in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, to encourage long-term investments in low-income urban and rural communities nationwide.

Opportunity Zones provide tax incentives for investors to re-invest their unrealized capital gains into dedicated Opportunity Funds. With such valuable benefits at stake, property values are rising as investors and developers scope out these nominated areas’ potential.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “My Administration is focused on advancing Westchester’s economy – and to do that best we must take full advantage of all potential avenues afforded to us. The Opportunity Zone program is a perfect example of one of these avenues. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure they have every chance to succeed.”

Since the Zones were released in 2017, the commercial real estate community has been all abuzz looking for investments in the County.

Vince Ferrandino, Principal of Ferrandino & Associates Inc., a planning consulting firm based in Elmsford, has been retained by the County to work with local municipalities to help make these new opportunities work best for them.  His firm is also charged with connecting them with eager investors.

“Right now there is incredible opportunity and municipalities can really make this work for them,” said Ferrandino.

For investors who stand to gain in tax breaks, Ferrandino recommends working with a realtor or service that can help identify properties that might not yet be on the market. 

“The tax benefits are tremendous, and so many investors are going to want to take advantage of realtors and services – while also lifting up a community in need,” said Ferrandino.  He continued, “Ultimately, those who leverage all information have a wider range of properties to consider.”

While office space is always in demand due to the County’s close proximity to New York City, Ferrandino said municipalities also need to focus in on their needs, not just let the developers decide. He recommends forming local committees, holding meetings and surveying the public about what is really needed in the community and then preparing a plan. 

“These areas are generally under invested – the developers and the municipalities need to come together and settle on a plan that is best for the community. The municipalities need to be proactive with this anticipated development coming their way,” said Ferrandino.

Bridging the gap between municipalities and developers, Ferrandino said his firm is committed to doing what is best for the community: “Let’s get into the details, beyond just reading the law – we want to show how the County can assist when you, a developer or a municipality, want to help get both sides to achieve what they are looking for.”