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

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WPCNR THE SEWER REPORT. By John F. Bailey. December 1, 2008 A meeting of the County Board of Legislators Environment Committee scheduled to discuss the $234.7 Million Department of Environmental Conservation mandated corrections to the Mamaroneck and New Rochelle sewage treatment plants  (first reported by WPCNR one week ago) — estimated to be paid for exclusively by the White Plains (Mamaroneck Valley), Blind Brook, New Rochelle and Port Chester sewer districts was held Monday.

County Legislators Martin Rogowsky, left, Environment Committee Chair Tom Abinanti (center) and Michael Kaplowitz, right, at the moment  Monday afternoon, when they declared the committee would not discuss the $234.7 M Sewer plant upgrade legislation until Legislator James Maisano (from New Rochelle) could be present.

However, the committee, (with media present  which had been invited by Mr. Abinanti, expectantly waiting for the discussion of the largest capital project ever undertaken by the county), postponed discussion of the issue until after the public hearing on the legislation December 8.  The exact time of discussion was not set.

Chairman Thomas Abinanti said that County Legislator Jim Maisano of New Rochelle wanted to be at the discussion but had a doctor’s appointment, Abinanti said, that Maisano had “scheduled for months,” and chose to keep, so out of respect for Mr. Maisano’s conflict, they postponed the meeting.  County Attorney Charlene Indelicato said she had some information that discussed legal issues involving whether a public hearing could be held before the committee reported out the bill.

Abinanti  told WPCNR, “we’re going to approve this.” The county has signed an agreement with the DEC to execute $234.7 Million of repairs to the Mamaroneck and New Rochelle treatment plants  that consist of adding a third treatment system to remove enough nitrogen from sewer water to comply with DEC standards when the treated water enters Long Island Sound.

There has been no public discussion of the bill which commits the county to the $234.7 Million of repairs. The repairs add an additional treatment of county effluent to the two plants, leaving Port Chester and Blind Brook plants as they are, but reportedly lowering the nitrogen levels to the DEC-mandated levels.

The committee did however discuss for 55 minutes, a $300,000 expenditure to conduct a study of removing trees from spillways and banks of two earthern dams the county owns, to comply with  another DEC directive. That expenditure has to be added to the County 2009 budget, while the $234.7 Million does not — that is planned to come directly out of the pockets of taxpayers in the Mamaroneck Valley, Blind Brook, New Rochelle and Port Chester Sewer Districts. WPCNR is checking on the figures in the legislation as to whether they are the latest estimates.

Senator Charles Schumer, as exclusively reported by WPCNR one week ago, has divulged that the county is seeking to have the project funded as part of stimulus package (dubbed “rescue package” by the Obama transition team) of the Obama administration. Schumer described the sewer mandate as a project that the stimulus program could be used for.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. December 1, 2008 UPDATED 2:00 A.M. E.S.T. December 2: Councilman Tom Roach Monday evening addressed the Common Council and a citywide live television audience, reporting he has undergone radiation treatment at White Plains Hospital Center Dickstein Center for a rare disease, Nasal Pharynx cancer the last three months. 

Councilman Tom Roach sharing good news with the city on television Monday night, (taken from the Council Chamber television monitor)

He said the treatment (completed in mid-October)  has been announced a success by his medical team and he has no more signs of the disease at this time. He thanked White Plains citizens for their understanding, his wife for her understanding and support, and had effusive praise for the doctors at White Plains Hospital who treated him. He said he first became aware of the problem due to hearing problems and swallowing difficulties. The  presence of  the disease was detected by MRI in August.  He said he would continue to serve on the Common Council as long as the city wished him to serve. 

In scheduled action, the Council surprised observers by untabling the controversial Ritz Carlton “rock” on the traffic island on Renaissance Square, and referring the LC Main request for licensing and lease of the space out to Commissioners. They also approved completing a financial package for the White Plains Kensington developer granting $1 Million in tax relief, at a cost of $287,000 to the city.

Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning, said that White Plains Kensington had received verbal approval from the Housing and Urban Development in Washington, on HUD’s willingness to back any construction loan on the $32 Million project.  The effect is that HUD has agreed to insure the loan and guarantee repayment should the project for some unforeseen reason, White Plains Kensington default on the financing.

$2,225,554 revenue prior to construction.

In her remarks Ms. Habel noted that the Urban Renewal Agency will receive $2.4 million for the land from Kensington, of which $2 million will be used for to pay off 1/2 of the bond for purchasing the land on which the Longview Garage was built. White Plains, according to the Financial Analysis will receive $68,600 in property taxes, the city school district, $233,450 and the county $47,950. The annual estimated revenue to the city of White Plains is $102,323 and the School District, $233,450.

The statement also notes Kensington will pay $225,000 in Building Permits and other City Charges, esitmating total net revenue to the city prior to construction of $2,225,554.

The revised financil analysis was prepared at the request of Councilperson Rita Malmud.

Financing to come.

Harley Cook of White Plains Kensington, in the Council Chamber audience, told WPCNR that his financing was not in place yet and that Capmark, the firm that is going to offer the project to the finance market had not offered it yet. Cook said it could be offered as soon as written approval is received from HUD. Asked by WPCNR if the approval would be issued by the HUD office now operating in the Bush Administration, or if it had to wait until the President-Elect Obama Administration assumes office, Cook said that was a good question, and said he expected it sometime in January.

Ritz Rock is Off the Island into Commissioners’ laps

In a surprise, Council President Benjamin Boykin introduced a motion to untable the request from LC Main LLC, to consider either a license or lease with the City of White Plains on the traffic island at the intersection of Main Street and Renaissance Square. The request for referral has been “tabled” for about eight months, the length of time Judge Susan Cacace in the New York Supreme Count has been considering the city legal action asking the stone Ritz-Carlton sign be removed from the island.  LC Main LLC challenged the city effort to remove the Ritz Rock (a granite slab with the words “Ritz-Carlton” on it, situation on the traffic island in the middle of Renaissance Square), in its suit, claiming the city showed “abuse of discretion.”

The Ritz Rock, May 2008 — Seen in middle of Renaissance Square

Paul Wood,City Executive Officer, asked to speculate on why the council suddenly untabled the motion, said I’d have to ask the Council. Glen Hockley, a Councilman, said the council feels that the city was not likely to prevail in the court, and had moved to consider the matter. WPCNR asked Mr. Wood if this was the start of revised legal strategy on the part of the council or the city. Wood said, “could be, you’d have to ask them.”

Council Goes Greyhound

The council as part of the Consent Agenda approved a four year contract leasing the Transcenter long distance bus station to Greyhound Lines for a total fee of $12,283.56 a year ($1,023.63 a month), in the first year $12,774.90 the second year, $13,285 in year three and $13.816.40 in year four.

Mamroneck Avenue (South of Maple)Opens to Professionals.

The council approved professional offices of professional persons in the BR-1 and BR-2 district on both sides of Mamaroneck Avenue from Maple Avenue to the junction with Bloomindale Road. Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel assured the council that there would be no increase in the amount of parking spaces required by the city on the properties along both sides of the avenue on that stretch of road. Ms. Habel said that the change would enable greater flexibility in the tenants and owners of those properties to rent their space, and that one of the reasons the legislation was proposed was the availability of lot parking behind the properties on both sides of the street.

  She also said that increase in rental fees in the Central Business District had driven architects, accountants, and similar professionals out of the downtown and this legislation was an attempt to reverse this trend by giving these professional persons other options.

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WPCNR WASHINGTON REPORT. From the Office of Senator Hillary Clinton. November 29, 2008: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton issued this statement in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks today:

“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families touched by these acts of terror in Mumbai. We still do not know the full measure of this tragedy, which has taken the lives of Indian citizens, Americans, and others who had traveled to Mumbai from around the world. Two New Yorkers, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka Holtzberg of Brooklyn are among those who have died, leaving behind their young son. The young couple had traveled from Brooklyn to manage a small Chabad house, welcoming Jews from India and elsewhere to learn, pray, and serve the community.

There could be no sharper a reminder, nor a more poignant call to action, than the brutal and heinous violence visited upon the Nariman House and the Holtzberg family, living and working in Mumbai on a mission of peace, scholarship, and spiritual guidance.

As those responsible are brought to justice, as we aid and support the victims and their families, as we work to defeat radical extremism and the terror it spawns, let us find strength in knowing that in the face of those who seek to take lives, there are those who seek to give hope and comfort. In the face of those who wish only to destroy, there are individuals like Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka Holtzberg who travel great distances far from their homes to build a better world.”

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WPCNR SPORTS. November 27, 2008: Stepinac High won its third straight Turkey Bowl, behind Maurice Easterling’s three TDs before 5,000 plus fans at Loucks Field. After a  75 yard pass play James Bryant to James Briggs enabled White Plains  to close to within a 17-14 deficit in the third quarter, Caleb Gilligan-Evans’ 45 yard run set up Easterling to score the fourth TD for Stepinac to cut short the Tiger rally, giving the Crusaders a 23-14 lead at the close of the Thired Quarter. Joseph Telesco scored the final Stepinac TD with 1:30 to go in the game, for the final margin of 29-14.  It was the third consecutive Stepinac victory in traditional Thanksgiving Game.

Loucks Field at kickoff, Thanksgiving Morning.

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WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. Thanksgiving Portfolio: On this Thanksgiving, let us remember that band of hardy intrepid souls who crossed an ocean in a boat no more bigger than a large Chris Craft and settled in an unforgiving landscape and started a country in the cold landscape of New England. They were helped by Indians who welcomed them, without whom they would not have survived. A salute to this brave band. They sailed into a bay, dropped anchor and just carved out a living after living in incredible conditions in a ship’s hold for weeks, crossing the storm-tossed North Atlantic. Here are some views of America’s first hometown captured by the WPCNR Roving Photographer. Click on “Read More” for all the pictures.

Plymouth Rock Landing. Plymouth, Massachusetts. Photo, WPCNR News

The Mayflower II. Plymouth Harbor. Photo, WPCNR News

Indian Statue welcoming the Pilgrim Settlers. Plymouth, Massachusetts. Photo, WPCNR News.

“Plymouth Rock,” The landing place of the pilgrims. Photo, WPCNR News

Settlers Home, left, circa 1690. Photo, WPCNR News

Church, Plymouth, Massachusetts, late 1700s. Photo, WPCNR News.

The Jury: Old Burial Ground, Plymouth Massachusetts. Last resting place of the pilgrims overlooking Plymouth Harbor. The sacrifices, bravery and perseverence of these persons stand as examples to Americans today. Photo, WPCNR News