WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR—65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From The Mayor’s Office. April 9, 2009: BusinessWeek announced White Plains as the best city for starting up a business in New York. Using patent-pending technology by ZoomProspector.com, BusinessWeek determined the list using a variety of demographic, business, and geographic variables that impact the probable success of a business start-up.

White Plains Mamaroneck Avenue — the Main Drag from the Ritz Carlton Towers

Due to the current recession, start-ups are an even more important source of jobs and economic growth in cities across the nation.  In 2001, during the last recessionary period, 569,750 new companies were launched in the USA, which is about one every 55 seconds.  During a recession many who are laid off start their own companies instead of working for someone else. 

 

BusinessWeek searched cities across the United States, with populations ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 people, to compile its list of the best place to start a business in each state. “Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to selecting a place to start a company,” according to the article by John Tozzi and that “Startups also found skilled workers—especially younger ones—drawn to the perception of a higher quality of life.”  The rankings were calculated and “The analysis weighed 11 factors to gauge an area’s entrepreneurial climate, including the number of small businesses and startups, the quality of the workforce, how many universities were in town, and measures of innovation such as the number of patents issued and the amount of venture capital invested.”

 

“According to the analysis conducted by BusinessWeek using ZoomProspector.com, White Plains came out as the top place to start up a business in New York,” said Anatalio Ubalde, CEO and Co-Founder of ZoomProspector.com. “BusinessWeek is one of the most respected business publications and this recognition should highlight the economic development efforts in White Plains.”

 

During the past 11 years of his Administration, Mayor Joseph M. Delfino’s vision transformed a dying city into a vibrant, dynamic one through what has come to be known as the Renaissance of White Plains.  “I think we have built a very wide and solid foundation to support growth in every type of business,” he said.  “Our City has been chosen as the site for the first new multi-tenant office building constructed in the County in the last 20 years and when it’s completed, we’ll welcome the business people and entrepreneurs who occupy the building.”

Reflecting on the prestige of his City’s earning the top rank in this national business list, Delfino said, “White Plain’s Renaissance has brought luxury high rise residences and world-class corporations, shopping, restaurants and art to White Plains.  It makes sense that start-ups are attracted to a City that literally re-started itself.” 

 

With demographic and geographic data on every city in the United States, ZoomProspector.com is a growing source of information for businesses, individuals and the media. ZoomProspector.com allows companies to find the community that best matches its commercial real estate needs, workforce needs, target customer base, and infrastructure requirements, among other requirements. Much of ZoomProspector.com’s data is viewable on the site’s integrated and interactive online maps, and visitors can quickly perform national, county and city searches through a few clicks of the mouse. ZoomProspector.com is a free-to-use service, and was recently named as one of the Top 10 Websites of 2009 by Planetizen, the #1 website for city planning and development professionals. ZoomProspector.com, and its parent company GIS Planning, Inc. are also the official partner of the International Economic Development Council, and serve over 180 economic development organizations nationwide, including a majority of the 50 largest cities in the USA.

 

The BusinessWeek article, written by John Tozzi is available online at http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/mar2009/sb20090327_385972.htm.    The profile of demographic and business data for White Plains is available at http://zoomprospector.com/CommunityDetail.aspx?id=18787&f=1. 

 

For more information on the rankings and report contact:

 

Anatalio Ubalde

GIS Planning Inc. & ZoomProspector.com

Direct: (415) 294-4771

ubalde@gisplanning.com

 

For more information about economic development in the city of White Plains, contact:

 

Melissa Lopez

Coordinator of Economic Development and Public Information

914-422-1411

mlopez@ci.white-plains.ny.us

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. April 6, 2009: Mayor Joseph Delfino submitted a $160.2 Million budget to the Common Council this evening at 7:31 P.M. The budget is down $990,000 from the current year’s budget, but increases taxes 4.9% in order, according to an authoritative source close to the budget, to replace fund balance and replace losses due to decreased assessments. The tax rate increases from $147.47 per $1,000 of asssessed valuation to $154.70. The WPCNR source said the budget is a starting point and a basis for mutual decision-making between the council and the administration, which could change considerably by “Decision Night.”

Budget’s here! Councilman Tom Roach holds up the long-awaited “mystery budget.” The effect of the Mayor’s budget  on the average $650,000-$700,000  home in White Plains increases that home’s city tax from $2,724 to $2,858, a total of $134

A person familiar with formulation of the budget said that the total cuts made to date by the administration, which have not been formally reported by the administration, remain in place in this first version of the budget. The source said it does not allow for any arbitrated settlement of the police and fire unions, but that that would be covered by the Reserve for Financing. Actual detail of the budget strategies were unavailable  because copies of the budget were not distributed to The Journal News, The White Plains Times, or WPCNR which were in attendance.

The amount of the budget was not announced by the outgoing Mayor  (according to him, in his last nine months of office) to a citywide television audience, and the Mayor made no remarks about the budget or what he expected moving forward.

The administration source close to the decisionmakers  (the budget was prepared by Acting Budget Director David Birdsall without consultation with the Common Council) told WPCNR that the budget was intended to be a working document with the Common Council and the administration “working together” to hammer out a final budget. “There are a lot of budget meetings scheduled,” the administrator said.

In budget related action,

The Council voted unanimously to request the state legislature to grant White Plains its own Industrial Development Agency and to allow White Plains to create separate tax rates for commercial and residential property as is enjoyed by New York City and Nassau County. The Council tabled the Mayor’s suggested of an additional 1/4% sales tax (which if enacted could result in about $5 to $6 Million in additional revenue for the city which would fund union raises of about 3% across the board.

3 Year Site Plan Extension Proposed

In another development, Robert Weisz the developer, owner of 1133 Westchester Avenue requested a three year extension for starting his 1133 Westchester new hotel and office building, due to the economony. Councilpersons Rita Malmud, Dennis Power and Tom Roach agreed this had to be looked at carefully because, as Malmud put it, it created a “precedent.”

Budget Cut in line with White Plains Week Projections.

Weeks ago, the WPCNR television show White Plains Week, if the city budget remained at the $161.7 Million level  that to replace the loss of revenue from assessment losses alone ($800,000 in revenue), the city would have to raise the tax rate to $151 per $1,000 of assessed value to replace just the revenue lost from assessments.

Without a copy of the new budget we cannot see what the extra revenue being generated by the additional $4.70 per $1,000 the Mayor’s budget is going to (perhaps towards replacing fund balance

That Mr. Birdsall raised it another $3.70 indicates he is expecting a shortfall in city revenues of only $1 million, $3 Million less than the Commissioner of Finance predicted two months ago, when she forecast declines in sales tax, mortgage tax, fines, building permits and fees would be down about $4 Million.

Crossing fingers on revenue.Recovery don’t fail me now.

Should revenues decline $3 Million the tax rate, WPNCR reckons will be $165 per $1,000 of assessed valuation if made up purely be tax increase. If revenues decline to $6 Million, you are talking $175 per $1,000 of assessed valuation; $9 Million, $185/$1,000 of assessed valuation, and $11 Million, $188 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The point is if the city and Common Council expects binding arbitration to  result in union settlements of 3% and 4% over the next couple of years (the region average in union settlements according to Joseph Carrier, head of the White Plains Professional Firefighter), then even though the union settlements are covered by the reserve for financing, those settlements have to be covered in 2010-11 with taxes. A 4% increase in the 2010-11 with negotiations pending for 2011-12 (at that time )could straing the city tax base, especially if assessments drop another 3% ($8 Million a year) each of the next two years.

The city reliance on fund balance to bail out the wage settlements can only work for next year and the next, because assessments may be expected to be depleted even more  by an expected surge in certioraris due to two straight years of a vulnerable equalization rate

Budget Buffs: Souvenir copy of the 2009-10 Budget just $25.

The Mayor said the budget would be online at the city website by the end of this week. He said it was viewable at the White Plains Public Library and at the City Clerk’s Office. It may be purchased for $25 at the city Budget Director’s office.

 

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer’s Office. April 6, 2009 (EDITED):  State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (D-Mamaroneck) announced passage of  the New York State budget including highlights of restorations important to Westchester residents.


Senator Oppenheimer stated, “With the passage of the most difficult state budget since the Great Depression we have adopted a plan designed to address the closing of a $17 billion budget shortfall primarily caused by reduced revenues and the declining economy.”

The Senator’s News Release confirms WPCNR’s exclusive report last week on the continued cuts in the STAR BASIC and ENHANCED EXEMPTIONS, which will cost Under-65 Homeowners and Over-65 Homeowners $250 AND $407 in increased property taxes, though Senator Oppenheimer’s release does not reveal this detail.

Senator Oppenheimer is the first state representative to report the state tinkering with the STAR EXEMPTIONS, though she does not state the EXEMPTIONS will be cut 11%, as reported by WPCNR.

 

The Senator’s news release states on the STAR shenanigans:

An action taken in the budget to help property taxpayers was to reject the proposal to reduce the benefits of the STAR exemption program (WPCNR notes this was originally proposed by Governor Patterson to be an 18% cut). This budget proposal would have reduced STAR by $190 million statewide and harmed Westchester property taxpayers more than any other county. I (Senator Oppenheimer)  was not pleased that another proposal, to eliminate the rebate check portion of the STAR program, was included in the adopted budget.  This bad news is tempered by
the fact that the larger STAR exemption program remains in place (WPCNR Note: the STAR exemption program cuts both BASIC and ENHANCED STAR assessment reductions 11%, instead of 18%.)

The budget solution included over $5 billion in budget cuts, the use of federal dollars targeted at avoiding layoffs, and difficult new taxes aimed at supporting funding for local schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Despite tough reductions throughout the budget we were able to secure some important victories for Westchester. Most notably in state aid to education.

The budget proposed in January would have cut formula funding for Westchester schools by almost $44 million including the freezing of reimbursement for expenses such as building, transportation, and BOCES that school districts had been promised. As Chair of the Senate Education Committee I was able to play a larger role in the budget process on key issues affecting our schools.

Instead of the proposed cuts to school aid we restored state aid to last year’s levels and made sure that the expense related reimbursements to school districts were not frozen. Westchester schools will receive an increase in total aid of over $35 million when federal special education aid is included.


The Federal Stabilization Legislation for Education made funds available to states  to make these restorations possible. The decision, as part of the budget process, to use these funds to directly replace the cuts in state aid to each school district, was of great importance to Westchester
schools.  Other proposals to use the federal funds in different ways would not have restored cuts to Westchester as fairly.


Other changes in the education budget important for Westchester are:

We rejected the budget proposal to shift some costs of pre-school special
education to school districts.

We restored most of the funding cut to local libraries, $10.6 million
statewide.

Funding for literacy and bilingual education important to Westchester
programs was restored.

We restored funding to regional Autism Centers including the center based
in our county at the Westchester Institute for Human Development.

Funding was restored to Project Transition, the displaced homemaker program
at Westchester Community College.

Restorations to Westchester education programs will help maintain class
size, quality programs, and restrain higher property taxes.

Health care remains one of the largest portions of the state budget. The impact of proposed cuts in this portion of the budget directly impacts hospitals, nursing homes and home health care providers in Westchester. The legislature enacted statewide reforms that will reduce health care costs by shifting the focus to community based primary care, restored $1.3 billion in health care funding to help institutions, and adopted $2.3 billion in savings proposed by the Governor. Special efforts were made to assist Westchester institutions including Westchester Medical Center and Blythedale Children’s Hospital. The budget will continue to pose difficult challenges for all health care providers.

Through the efforts of the Westchester delegation in each house, two of Westchester County’s biggest budget priorities, restoring state funding for the Westchester Parkway Police and for the office of the Medical Examiner, were addressed with restorations.

State aid to municipalities was maintained at last year’s level. Transportation funding to municipalities through the CHIPS program was slated to be reduced in the proposed budget.  Instead we will use federal stimulus funds to restore that aid to municipalities, leaving it level with last year. Both of these actions help to reduce new pressures on the property tax.

Senator Oppenheimer concluded, “Faced with declining revenues experienced by every state in the country, New York has adopted a budget that mixed budget cuts, funding restorations, and tax and fee increases to address the budget gap. None of the choices were easy, nor happily negotiated. There are aspects of the adopted budget that would not be of my choosing. At the end of the day I am pleased with the changes we were able to make for Westchester given the historic challenges presented by this budget in these difficult times.”

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. April 6, 2009: The long-awaited 2009-2010 city budget will be delivered tonight to the Common Council, but to date no one knows whether the city will deliver a cut but budget down from the current $161.7 Million spending level; or whether it will roll-over (to about $167 Million).

With the news reported by WPCNR Friday that the city has gone to binding arbitration with the city’s police and fire unions, the odds are now looking at the budget being higher than $161.7 Million rather than lower, with the other unions, teamsters and CSEA following the settlements dictated on the police and fire contracts. The outgoing (at this time, since the Mayor has decided not to run for reelection), has chosen not to reveal any details on the budget until the council receives the document this evening.

In other action, the council may or may not untable the resolutions to ask the state legislature to reclassify White Plains Real Estate into two classes, commercial and residential for the purpose of separate assessment, and to request an extra 1/4% sales tax to help pay for the expected 3% to 3.75% union contract settlements possibly to come.

The Agenda:

April 6, 2009
7:30 P.M.

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG:             Hon. Milagros Lecuona

INVOCATION:                             Rev. Edward Williamson
                                               Bethel Baptist Church

ROLL CALL:                                           City Clerk

EMPLOYEE OF                                Bhavana Pahwa
OF THE MONTH:                           Youth Specialist II
                                                               Youth Bureau

ADJOURNED
PUBLIC HEARING:

1.       Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted on behalf of 1133-300/1133-399 Westchester Avenue LLC, (“Applicant”) owner of property known as 1133/1135 Westchester Avenue (Section 131.20, Block 1, Lot 1.1) containing environmentally sensitive features, for (A) a one (1) year extension of the previously approved amendment to the Special Permit/Site Plan for a four (4) story extended stay hotel granted by the Common Council by resolution adopted November 7, 2007; (B) an amendment to the aforementioned previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan for the construction of a new office building on the same property at 1133/1135 Westchester Avenue; and ( C) an application for a Special Permit for same under Sections 3.5.5 and 6.7.27 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains to permit the utilization of the permitted building coverage percentage on that portion of the site which is located in the C-O (Campus Office) Zoning District.

2.                 Communication from City Clerk

PUBLIC HEARING:

3.       Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted on behalf of Prophecy for a one (1) year renewal of a Special Permit to operate a cabaret at 15 South Broadway.

4.                 Communication from          City Clerk

5.                                                            Commissioner of Building

6.                                                            Design Review Board

7.                                                            Commissioner of Planning

8.                                                            Planning Board

9.                                                            Commissioner of Public Safety

10.                                                          Commissioner of Public Works

11.                                                          Commissioner of Traffic

12.                                                          Traffic Commission

13.                                                          Commissioner of Parking

14.                                                          Conservation Board

 

15.     Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted on behalf of the MAK Restaurant Corp. for a one (1) year Special Permit to operate a cabaret at Elements located at 161 Mamaroneck Avenue.

16.               Communications from        Commissioner of Building

17.                                                          Design Review Board

18.                                                          Commissioner of Planning

19.                                                          Planning Board

20.                                                          Commissioner of Public Safety

21.                                                          Commissioner of Public Works

22.                                                          Commissioner of Traffic

23.                                                          Traffic Commission

24.                                                          Commissioner of Parking

25.                                                          Environmental Officer

26.               Environmental Findings Resolution

27.               Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains approving the application submitted on behalf of the MAK Restaurant Corporation for a Special Permit to operate a cabaret known as “Elements Food and Spirits” on the first floor only located at 161 Mamaroneck Avenue (Section 125.84, Block 6, Lot 13.1) subject to certain conditions contained herein.

28.     Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted by Tri-Kelly Inc., d/b/a Kelly’s Pub & Grill and The Thirsty Turtle for a three (3) year renewal of a Special Permit to allow the operation of a Cabaret Use at 199-201 East Post Road.

29.               Communications from        Commissioner of Building

30.                                                          Design Review Board

31.                                                          Commissioner of Planning

32.                                                          Planning Board

33.                                                          Commissioner of Public Safety

34.                                                          Commissioner of Public Works

35.                                                          Commissioner of Traffic

36.                                                          Traffic Commission

37.                                                          Commissioner of Parking

38.                                                          Environmental Officer

39.               Environmental Findings Resolution

40.               Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains approving the application submitted on behalf of Tri-Kelly, Inc., d/b/a Kelly’s Pub and Grill and the Thirsty Turtle for a three (3) year renewal of a Special Permit to allow the operation of a Cabaret Use at 199-201 East Post Road (Section 125.84, Block 4, Lot 3) subject to certain conditions contained herein.

41.     Public Hearing in relation to an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance with respect to establishing new and increasing existing fees charged for applications made pursuant, inter alia, to Sections 6, 7, 9.5, 10.3.5, 10.3.6 and 10.3.7 of the Zoning Ordinance.

42.               Communications from        Commissioner of Building

43.                                                          Commissioner of Public Works

44.     Public Hearing on the 2009 Section 8 Housing Assistance Program Annual Plan.

45.               Communication from Commissioner of Planning

46.               Resolution authorizing the Mayor to submit to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development an Agency Plan and all required certifications for the Section 8 Housing Assistance Program.

 

FIRST READING
ORDINANCES:

47.     Communication from Special Counsel in relation to certain tax review proceedings.

48.               Ordinance authorizing the settlement of certain tax review proceedings.

 

49.     Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to an Inter-Municipal Agreement with the County of Westchester for the removal and disposal of organic yard waste.

50.               Communication from Environmental Officer

51.               Environmental Findings Resolution                    

52.               Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into an Inter-Municipal Agreement with the County of Westchester for the removal and disposal of organic yard waste.

53.     Communication from Commissioner of Public Works in relation to fees charged for the City’s sidewalk café system.

54.               Ordinance of the City of White Plains amending Sections 7-9-3, 7-9-4 and 7-9-6 of the White Plains Municipal Code in relation to fees and penalties for sidewalk cafes.

55.     Communication from Commissioner of Public Safety in relation to a grant from the Fenway Golf Club Charitable Foundation to be used for equipment and training.

56.               Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to accept a grant, on behalf of the City of White Plains Department of Public Safety, in equipment and training from the Fenway Golf Club Charitable Foundation.

57.     Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to appropriation of fund balance in the Community Development Budget for the Rehabilitation Revolving Fund Program.

58.               Ordinance amending the Communication Development Budget by appropriating fund balance and allocating such increase to the Rehabilitation Revolving Fund Program.

59.     Communication from Commissioner of Parking in relation to an amendment to a previously approved ordinance regarding a contract with Complus Data Innovations, Inc., for parking ticket processing services.

60.               Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Complus Data Innovations, Inc., to provide full service parking ticket processing services for a term of five years.”

61.     Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a donation in memory of Ms. Helen Zacconi in support of the Youth Bureau Bits & Pieces Camp.

62.               Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor to accept, on behalf of the City of White Plains Youth Bureau, a donation in memory of Ms. Helen Zacconi.

63.     Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a grant from the White Plains Housing Authority in support of the DeKalb After School Learning Center.

64.               Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to accept a grant, on behalf of the City of White Plains Youth Bureau, from the White Plains Housing Authority to continue the 86 DeKalb After School Learning Center for the 2008/2009 School Year.

65.     Communication from Chairman, Traffic Commission, in relation to proposed amendments to the Traffic Ordinance at various locations around the City.

66.               Ordinance amending the Traffic Ordinance of the City of White Plains in relation to On Street Parking Meter Zones, No Parking, One Hour Parking, Three Hour Parking – Monday through Friday, No Standing, No Parking 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Monday through Friday, Stop Intersections, Yield Intersections, and Right Turns Prohibited.

 

RESOLUTIONS:

67.     Communication from Acting Budget Director in relation to the scheduling of a public hearing for May 4, 2009 on the 2009 – 2010 Tax Budget of the City of White Plains.

68.               Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains in relation to setting a public hearing for Fiscal Year 2009 – 2010 Budget.

69.     Communication from the Mayor in relation to requests for the passage of State legislation to establish a White Plains Industrial Development Agency, to support adoption of the classification of real property into two classes for purposes of allocation of taxes in certain cities, and adding an additional one-quarter of one percent Sales and Compensating Use Tax.

70.               Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the certification of a Home Rule Request seeking enactment of State legislation amending the General Municipal Law to establish the White Plains Industrial Development Agency (Assembly Bill No. A1021).

71.               Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains supporting the introduction and adoption of State legislation to amend the Real Property Tax Law in relation to authorizing the classification of real property into two classes for purposes of allocation of taxes in certain cities.

72.               Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains supporting the introduction and adoption of New York State legislation to amend the Tax Law in relation to authorizing the City of White Plains to impose an additional one-quarter of one percent Sales and Compensating Use Tax.

 

73.     Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to an Inter-Municipal Agreement between the City and Westchester County regarding prisoner transportation reimbursement.

74.               Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor to enter into an Inter-Municipal Agreement regarding prisoner transportation reimbursement with the County of Westchester.

75.     Communication from Personnel Officer in relation to a proposed increase for civil service examination application fees pursuant to New York State Civil Service Law.

76.               Resolution authorizing the Personnel Department to increase civil service examination application fees pursuant to New York State Civil Service Law.

77.     Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted by Goldfarb Properties on behalf of White Plains One Company, LLC, for a site plan amendment for exterior courtyard renovations at The Churchill Apartments, 345 Main Street.

78.               Communications from        Design Review Board

79.                                                          Commissioner of Planning

80.                                                          Planning Board

81.                                                          Commissioner of Public Safety

82.                                                          Commissioner of Public Works

83.                                                          Commissioner of Traffic

84.                                                          Traffic Commission

85.                                                          Environmental Officer

 

86.               Environmental Findings Resolution

87.               Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains approving the application submitted by Goldfarb Properties on behalf of White Plains One Company LLC, (“Applicant”) for an amendment to its existing site plan for its building known as Churchill Apartments located at 345 Main Street relating to the re-design of the exterior courtyard.

88.     Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted on behalf of Cameo House, 300 Martine Avenue, for an amendment to a Special Permit/Site Plan for proposed alterations to the ground floor entrance courtyard.

89.               Communications from        Design Review Board

90.                                                          Commissioner of Planning

91.                                                          Planning Board

92.                                                          Commissioner of Public Safety

93.                                                          Commissioner of Public Works

94.                                                          Commissioner of Traffic

95.                                                          Traffic Commission

96.                                                          Commissioner of Parking

97.                                                          Westchester County Planning Board

98.                                                          Environmental Officer

99.               Environmental Findings Resolution

100.             Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains approving the application submitted on behalf of the Cameo House Owners, Inc., (“Applicant”) for an amendment to its existing site plan for its building located at 300 Martine Avenue relating to the re-design of the outside entry plaza.

101.   Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to a petition submitted on behalf of of BMS Management Corp., to amend the Zoning Ordinance to allow the parking of commercial vehicles at motor vehicle service stations and/or repair shops in the BR-1 Districts, and advising that the submitted materials are not in a form acceptable to the City.

102.             Communication from Planning Board

103.             Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains rejecting consideration of a petition in its present form submitted on behalf of BMS Management Corp. (“Petitioner”) to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains to allow the parking of commercial vehicles at motor vehicle service stations and/or repair shops in the BR-1 Zoning District.

REFERRAL:            

104.   Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted on behalf of Hamilton Condominiums, for a one year extension of a previously approved site plan to construct a thirteen story eighty-six unit residential condominium at 116 – 120 Church Street

105.   Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted on behalf of CorePlus Properties, LLC, CPP Bloomingdale LLC and ROF Core 120 Bloomindale LLC, for a one year extension of a previously approved site plan to construct The Venue on Bloomingdale Road, a proposed retail development.

106.   Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted on behalf of North Street Community, LLC, for an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance regarding Planned Senior Residential Development District to increasing the percentage in Section 5.8.5.2 for assisted living beds and domicillary care facilities from 35% to 45%, and to authorize stacked attendant parking which would reduce the footprint of the proposed garage for the 305 North Street Building.

107.   Communication from the City Clerk transmitting a petition submitted on behalf of Calano & Calano Realty Corp. and Keith J. Ahlers, for an amendment to the White Plains Municipal Code to add a section entitled “Electronic Message Board Ordinance” in relation to a proposal to add an electronic message board on the Main Street side of the building at 14 Mamaroneck Avenue.

 

ITEMS FOR INFORMATION:

108.   Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted on behalf of 432 Mamaroneck Co., LLC, in relation to a three year renewal of a Special Permit for an Accessory Parking Lot adjacent to 442 – 452 Mamaroneck Avenue.

109.   Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request for a Minor Amendment submitted on behalf of the German School of New York, to install solar panels on the roof of their gymnasium on Partridge Road.

 

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WPCNR ON THE AISLE. By John F. Bailey. Theatrical Review. April 4, 2009:

 

Page 1…Good Evening, Mr. and Mrs. Broadway, Walter Winchell here, (tappity tap tap telegraph ticker):

 

Dateline: FLASH!  Elmsford, New York Funny Girl, the Broadway icon of 1964 based on the showbiz career of legendary but real Fanny Brice, the song, dance, and schmaltz doll  of vaudeville the first half of the twentieth century  is a tear-jerking, inspiring sentimental bottle of seltzer  spraying laughs, tears, and  dreams  across the stage where you’ll meet old family and friends from the past right out of Flatbush .

 

 

FLASH!  It  introduces a  brand-new charmer to follow to the Great White Way –  A local girl who makes good!  Morristown, New Jersey’s own Jill Abramovitz,  Graduate of Morristown High is shown in the comic “Brides” Number, Fanny Brice’s famous debut in the Ziegfeld Follies. Funny Girl has never been revived on Broadway, and there’s a reason for that: it was Streisand’s show. Ms. Abramovitz takes on that challenge at WBT and succeeds spectacularly. Photos, Courtesy, Westchester Broadway Theatre, By John Vecchiola.

 

 

 

From Ms. Abramovitz’s  honest treatment of the signature song People, made lushly poignant by Ms. A’s rich contralto and soul-baring voice – stopped the show to wait for all the “bravos.” In a voice more sincere than Streisand’s, more passionate, (but admittedly not as delicately nuanced as Barbra’s rendition of People), Ms. A. makes People her own.  Her duet with Grant Norman playing her love, Nicky Arnstein on People in Act 1 is enchanting and perfectly matched. In this scene the romantic couple combine on You are Woman, I am Man.

 

 

 

 The revival spins the dreams Broadway is made of creating the vaudeville Ziegfeld Follies era again. It introduces a new Jill to thrill Broadway in the years to come: Jill Abramovitz takes on  the legendary demanding Barbra Streisand creation of Fanny Brice and does it her way, delivering not-quite-Barbra ( but, let’s face it, Mr. and Mrs. Broadway, there is only one Barbra?), but delivers the goods with a voice that rings through the theatre with power, grace, sincerity and knockout bring-the-house down style!

 

This kid’s got the energy, spirit, moxie – can’t-keep-a-trouper down personality that fits Ms. Brice to a nose, and I think Ms. Brice  would have admired. Though Ms. Abramovitz nose is just right.

 

The Streisand admirer accompanying yours truly,  Brenda Starr, (the long-stemmed rose), was pleased, impressed with the way  Ms. Abramovitz stepped into the Streisand spot. Ms. Abramovitz stepped up to the big time. It takes guts to take on an icon role, and the kid delivers a gutsy brash, totally confident performance in this virtuoso demanding role where she’s onstage just about all the time.

 

 

Comic, what’s there not to laugh at here?  Abramovitz evokes the schmaltz and shtick of the Old New Amsterdam Theatre and the Winter Garden when the Follies were playing. Her zany high energy dance routines in the famous Brice Follies debut number, Brides,  where she careens into other bridesmaids, sent spinning out of control by  her family-way stomach into other dancers – a comedy routine the original Brice invented departing Florenz Ziegfeld’s choregraphy – captures the Brice comic touch that Abramovitz  delivers . It takes talent to dance clumsilly  intentionally and make it believable.

 

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Ms. Abramowitz  as Fanny Brice(front and center) in the number that Ziegfeld sees and gives her her break, performing Cornet Man with Rusty Reynolds playing cornet as Stubb Taylor.

 

When we first meet Fanny, she’s an ugly duckling trying to get a part, and talks Eddie (played with sympathetic pathos by Kilty Reidy) into working with her on the lead part in Coronet Man. When she performs this baby with just right amount of comedic mistakes – she got laughs  from the WBT audience aplenty — and she gets the part thanks to intervention by Nicky Arnstein played by Grant Norman. In the movie Nick  was portrayed by the Egyptian Clark Gable, Omar Sharif.

 

 Norman lacks the dashing male animalism of Sharif that sparked that movie, but that being said, he gamely manages to fill his role as Fanny’s love of life booming out his duets with the redoubtable Ms. Abramovitz. The first scene they meet is pitch-perfectly played by the two – when Fanny takes one look at him…and in a paradody of  Maria (from West Side Story—which debuted six years before) she sings…”Nicky Arnstein….Nicky Arnstein….the most beautiful name…” She is pitch-perfect,  raptly love-at-first-sight, as is he. The pair  cavort well in a Baltimore hotel – teaming with electric intensity on You Are Woman, I am Man.

 

The first Act is capped by Ms. Abramovitz’s raucous Don’t Rain on My Parade as  Fanny leaves the Follies to follow her guy (Arnstein)  to New York.

 

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Louisa Flaningam as Fanny’s Mom (in green dress)  who runs a saloon steals the show holding her own from the natural scene-stealer Abramovitz. Flanagan delivers some of the funniest lines of the show.  The great company is holding Ms. Abramowitz aloft (in gold dress) after her first opening night with Ziegfeld.

 

When told she needs to feel young again, Ms. Flanagan says, “I’ve already been through that!” When Fanny leaves her home for Nick, she says. “My job is done.”  Her comic interactions with the poker players of the old Brooklyn neighborhood are funny bridges moving the plot along. You’ll love her lines throughout.

 

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In Act II, Fanny and Nick are settled down, and married life is celebrated by Sadie, Sadie, Married Lady. It is a tribute to Ms. Abramovitz interpretation of this role that her infatuation with Nick appears very real throughout. You feel he genuinely makes her happy. Though Ms. Abramovitz sometimes swallows or delivers a punchline too quickly – you do not have the option of a retake to get it right. With each night the Jill Abramovitz Fanny Brice will be spot-on.

 

As Fanny supports Nick with money from her fabulous show business earnings, and his failures mount she stands by him. But he resents it. His reprise of Don’t Rain on My Parade is a strong counterpoint and he shows he can hold his own vocally at least with Ms. Abramovitz charisma.

 

The ability of Fanny to go on despite repeated heartbreaks from Nick endeare her to the audience – here is the show must go on spirit that makes us love Broadway.  Especially when the hurricane of 1926 wipes out his gambling establishment, and she is preparing for opening night. The knockout number “Rat-a-tat-tat” features Abramovitz-Brice clowning at best as a Jewish private in the American Army in a blood-red, patriotic extravaganza, giving audiences of today a feel for the Follies that used to be.

 

 

From the opening scene with Fanny in her dressing room awaiting her husband to arrive back from prison, when she begins to reminisce – she has you from “Hello,” and when she takes off into I’m the Greatest Star” – you’re gonna like her, I guarantee it. (Talk about stealing lines.)

  

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Lighting by the sungod, Andrew Gmoser is superbly evocative on the “Brides” number, the “Coronet Man” sequence, and the People number. Choreography by  Michael Susko reaches back in time to simulate the stately precision of Ziegfield extravaganza numbers, aided by a worthy investment in costumes by Matthew Hemesath. The orchestra sounded a little light with some opening night clunkers – but overall this is a workmanlike effort driven by a daring lead performance.

 

 

Jeff Tanski’s direction has pulled the cast together in a way that makes  all characters seem to relate and appear interested in each other and caring, a part of the goings-on. It captures the family of showbiz. The set design is not elaborate and the stage is barely large enough to give the epic style of a Ziegfeld show, but the WBT tries. This is easily the largest cast WBT has assembled in quite sometime.

 

 

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Ben Hecht, the playwright , a contemporary of Brice said of  the real Fanny Brice: “Theatre audiences never adored any performer more than Fanny. It would be impossible for an audience to laugh louder, weep more copiously and applaud more violently than Fanny’s audience did.”

 

 

 

Abramovitz captures that side of Ms. Brice – the earthy side of Brice and the appeal of the underdog you can’t keep down. It has always worked for Broadway it works in Elmsford, too, thanks to the way Jill Abramovitz carries this show. The audience loved her, bravo-ing  performances a number of times in the show – rather unique for this audience. I have not heard that before here in almost a decade of reviewing these shows here. You should go on out and see her, and get a great dinner too. You’ll be glad you did. You can say you saw her when.

 

Ms. Abramovitz is moving on up! She stole the show at the White Plains Performing Arts Center last April, as Hedy LaRue in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, then theCitizeNetReporter praised her: “Abramovitz has some of the best crackup lines in the play and she delivers  them perfectly getting laugh out loud guffaws from the audience.”

 

Funny Girl with its sendups of Brooklyn culture at the turn of the century, its melodrama, and its star –“laughs” and charms  nightly  through June 14 at Westchester Broadway Theatre. For information, go to their website at www.broadwaytheatre.com. The Box Office: 914-592-2268.

 

BEFORE THE ACTS…

 

 

 

 

Allan Gruet, longtime distinguished public relations director for the WBT, presented the 2009 Bob Fitzsimmons Scholarship of $1,000 to Archbishop Stepinac Senior, Thomas DiCarlucci.  Photo by WPCNR.

 

DiCarlucci is a member of the Stepinac stage crew, ever since his freshman year and has served in eight full-length productions. Mr. DiCarlucci will attend Manhattan College this fall, majoring in electrical engineering.  The Fitzsimmons award, named for Stepinac graduate and former p.r. director for the WBT, who died unexpectedly in 1992. The Scholarship was established in his name by WBT.

 

The fundraiser to sustain the scholarship is coming up on April 21 and features John Treacy Egan and Christine Pedi, Joe Venice and His Band, The Lighthouse Protege Choral Ensemble and a special performance by the Stepinac High School Cast of Curtains!.

 

You get a dinner, including tax & gratuity, for just $50 a person, $40 for children, seniors and students, with 35% going directly to the Fitizsimmons Scholarship Fund. Call the Box Office and get your ducats today.