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

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, 89th District. May 1, 2007: There is a Native American proverb that says “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors – we borrow it from our children.” Earth Day represents an opportunity for all of us to reflect on our stewardship of the planet we’re leaving for them. The Assembly marked this year’s celebration of Earth Day Monday by addressing longstanding environmental issues in our state and country with proactive legislation to protect our planet for our children and grandchildren.

The legislative package takes positive steps toward protecting our natural resources and ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment. I’ve long been an advocate for a more comprehensive environmental policy that guarantees future generations will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of our communities.

Our Earth Day package included legislation I authored to allow individuals the power to protect our environment and challenge, through legal court proceedings, those who cause ecological harm (A.1435). Under current law, an individual can be prohibited from bringing forth a lawsuit if he or she witnesses environment abuse. That’s not the way the system is supposed to work. We need to permit these important legal challenges; everyone should have the right to question the findings of State Environmental Quality Review Act proceedings.

We also passed several measures to improve our state’s environmental regulations and promote smarter, healthier and greener standards for everyone, including business, residents and government. Specifically, the legislation tackles global warning by promoting energy efficiency, keeping our waters clean and curbing pollution. The measures would:

·        establish the Climate Change Solutions Program and Fund to direct money from the auction of emissions allowances associated with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) toward increasing energy efficiency, encouraging the development of clean, renewable sources of energy and advancing other air quality goals (A.7365 and A.7366);

·        require that all new construction and renovation of state buildings must comply with the United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver Rating levels by using energy, water and land more efficiently and effectively (A.2005);

·        mandate the testing of drinking water from private wells when a property is sold or transferred – reducing the risk that new property owners will unknowingly drink contaminated drinking water (A.7231); and

·        require that state infrastructure funding be consistent with smart growth principles, with priority given to existing infrastructures and projects that are consistent with local governments’ plans for development – instead of new, expansive, and expensive infrastructure that harms the environment and is costly to taxpayers (A.7335).

I’m dedicated to improving our environment and ensuring its integrity for future generations. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight of the Department of Environmental Conservation, I have a professional commitment to the environment.  But I also have a duty to reach out to elected officials, business leaders and New York residents to encourage decisions that contribute to improving our quality of life. That starts with protecting one of our most valuable resources – our environment.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From County Department of Communications. April 29, 2007: The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened its second Disaster Recovery Center in Westchester, with the county’s Department of Social Services and Community Mental Health there to help local residents and business owners recover from the storm.

The new center is at the Eastchester Public Library, 11 Oakridge Place. A third center is  at the New Rochelle Emergency Operations Center, 90 Beaufort Place.

The first center opened earlier this week at the Senior Nutrition Community Center at the Mamaroneck Town Center, 740 W. Boston Post Road. The hours for all centers are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week.

At these centers, storm victims can get help filling out applications and work with representatives of FEMA and the Small Business Administration to get information about disaster aid. The county Department of Social Services is there to help storm victims apply for food stamps and receive any other assistance. Counselors from the Community Mental Health are also there to provide counseling referrals and help people cope with the losses they suffered during the storm.

“FEMA and SBA will provide some money that local residents and businesses desperately need to begin to recover from the storm,” said County Executive Andy Spano. “And Westchester County will help fill in the gaps, to make sure that storm victims have food, shelter and counseling, if they need it.”

On Thursday, 80 people came to the center that opened in Mamaroneck, and 1,135 people in Westchester have already registered with FEMA for aid. FEMA is expected to open other centers in Westchester within the next few days in other hard hit areas of the county.

While there are some phones at the centers for storm victims to use, FEMA is encouraging individuals and businesses to register first by phone or online before coming to the center.  

To register with FEMA, call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) (hearing/speech impaired ONLY- call TTY: 1-800-462-7585) between the hours of 8 am to 8 p.m. or go to FEMA’s web site at www.fema.gov.  If you need additional help, you can visit the Disaster Recovery Center in your area, but you do not have to go to a center to apply for aid.

When you register, remember to:

1) Write down your case number. When you register, FEMA will provide you with a case number. Write that down and keep it in a safe place. An inspection of your home will probably be required. The inspector will call you and give you his name and set a time and date for the appointment. To prevent possible fraud, please check this information with anyone who comes to your door claiming to be from FEMA.   Don’t let the person in unless they are able to give you the case number.

2) Fill out the SBA application.  After registering with FEMA, you will receive a packet and a loan application from the U.S. Small Business Administration. To receive any aid, the loan application must be filled out, regardless of whether you are a homeowner, renter or business and even if you are want a grant and not a loan. The loan application must be filled out and sent back to be eligible for any aid.  Individuals are eligible for up to $28,200 in grants or up to $200,000 in small business loans to repair property and up to $40,000 for replacement of personal property such as belongings. Businesses are eligible for up to $1.5 million in loans.

County meetings to help small business owners

Westchester County has also organized two meetings to help small business owners who suffered storm damage. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Disaster Assistance, will provide information and instructions to help small business owners apply for low interest loans to recover from the storm.

Small business owners can expect to learn:

·        The various types of loans that may be available, including physical disaster loans, economic injury loans, military reservists’ loans and home/personal property loans

·        The type of financial information needed to submit applications

·        The difference between an “LLC” and a “Corporation” for application purposes, and

·        The variety of supporting documents needed

This is an informational and instructional meeting only as the application process for business owners is complex.  No applications will be accepted on site.  The SBA Disaster Assistance team members will be available at the end of the presentation for questions.

Seminars will be held:

Monday, April 30^th

1 to 3 p.m.

Rye City Hall

1051 Boston Post Road

Rye, NY, 10580

and

Wednesday, May 2^nd

1 to 3 p.m.

Greenburgh Town Hall

177 Hillside Avenue

White Plains, NY, 10607

For the latest updates, visit www.westchestergov.com  or visit www.fema.gov for more information about applying for aid.  For information on how to donate to charitable organizations or where to receive goods if you are a storm victim, call the United Way’s 211 information line or visit www.westchestergov.com.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. Special to WPCNR. April 26, 2007: Mayor Joseph Delfino rebuked Council President Rita Malmud’s statement appearing in the White Plains Times Thursday, in which Ms. Malmud criticized the evolving details of the new LCOR “Bank Street Deal” (that would bring 107 units of affordable housing in two 29 story apartment buildings to be built on the present municipal parking lot). The council set the public hearing on the Bank Street Project for May 7.

If you recall this project was first presented as a project to be built on the commuter parking lot sold to LCOR at a reduced price ($21 Million cut to $15.5 Million). Then LCOR asked for the Urban Renewal Agency to finance the project for the entire $260 Million project as a PILOT-less project, through revenue bonds. Then  three weeks LCOR changed its mind and said it needed a PILOT. This week a bare bones offer (to be possibly implemented if the PILOT fell through) emerged in the Urban Renewal Agency legislation designating LCOR as the developer of the commuter parking lot that allowed half the project to be condominium, and lowered affordable housing to 16 units down from 107.

Malmud was quoted in today’s White Plains Times as saying  “it is difficult to find language strong enough to express my disappointment and frustration over the lack of effective and efficient planning, the abysmal result of secret negotiations, and the isolation of the Common Council from the true state of facts until a time crunch has arrived.”

The city needs the $8 Million to balance its budget due to bungled land sales on Railside Avenue, sewer expenses at that site and the need to replace fund balance.

According to Councilman Arnold Bernstein describing the events of the evening to WPCNR, “Rita must have misunderstood the details of the project. The Mayor refuted her unfortunate comments. Let’s not try to derail this project. This is just the usual nonsense. The usual politics.”

Bernstein said it was not clear at this time whether the PILOT (the amount of which has not been stated in the Urban Renewal Legislation proposed for LCOR on the project), would be made possible through the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency or whether the home rule legislation the city is seeking from the state legislature, would be rushed through in time for the Urban Renewal Agency acting as IDA to undertake the $260 Million  funding of the project (through revenue bonds to be paid by LCOR).

In legislation approved by the Urban Renewal Agency Wednesday,  it was disclosed that LCOR has negotiated an alternative plan allowing condominiums on the site and a lower price on the land, if the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency  or the Urban Renewal Agency does not undertake the project with the proposed PILOT, providing no taxes on the residential towers for 12 years (from the date the towers open). LCOR would pay the city $250,000 annually “for the life of the project.”

The alternative is described thusly in the Urban Renewal Agency legislation:

In the event the foregoing abatement  (PILOT) cannot be obtained, the terms of the transaction  would change as follows:  The purchase price (of the commuter parking lot) would be reduced to $8 Million (from $15.5 Million); with $6 Million payable on or before June 30, 2007, and $2 Million payable on or before June 30, 2008. The physical characteristics of, and the preliminary plans for, the Developmengt would remain essentially the same, but one tower could, at the election of LCOR, contain units for sale, in which event, the other tower would be rental. (Under this alternative) Only 6% of the total units (16) (all in the rental tower) would be affordable as described in and according to the City’s Affordable Housing Program, and, while the Development , would be required to continue to provide commuter parking spaces for at least 250 stacked vehicles or 200 self-parked vehicles, the annual $250,000 fee to the City would not be required to be paid.”

LCOR would also be relieved of having to execute a number of onsite improvements, resulting in more savings to the developer.

Cappelli takes over the Ginsberg-Rotundi Corner.

Bruce Berg, Mr. Bernstein said, came in and made a brief presentation, stating that Cappelli Enterprises has decided to build the 8-story building that Martin Ginsberg was proposing to build for Cappelli Enterprises. Cappelli Enterprises would build on the Corner Nook site.  Bernstein said that the building would contain affordable units meeting Mr. Cappelli’s obligation he owes  the city as part of the Ritz-Carlton project.  Bernstein quoted Mr. Berg as saying the bulding will contain affordable and market rate units.

Asked if this was the end of The Pinnacle, Bernstein said “not at all, we will have a building there (on The Pinnacle site), either Ginsberg will build it, Rotundi will build it, or Cappelli will.”

Firemen’s Overtime

Over $90,000 in overtime charges for the fire bureau was approved by the Council Bernstein reported.

Parking.

In the presentation to the council by the Parking Department, Bernstein said the council did not come to a consensus as to whether the parking rates would rise to $1 a hour. That was still in the air, Bernstein said.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. April 25, 2007: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has arrived in Westchester and is working with Westchester County government to help local residents apply for federal aid to recover from the storm.

Thursday, the agency will open its first Disaster Recovery Center at the Senior Nutrition Community Center at the Mamaroneck Town Center, 740 W. Boston Post Road. The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week.

            Storm victims can get help filling out applications at the centers and work with representatives of FEMA and the Small Business Administration to get information about disaster aid. Representatives from state agencies as well as county departments – Department of Social Services, Community Mental Health, Senior Services and others – will also be at the centers to help residents apply for food stamps, fill out forms, get counseling referrals or receive any other assistance. FEMA will open other centers in Westchester within the next few days in other hard hit areas of the county.

“We are working with FEMA in a massive outreach effort to help people apply for recovery aid and get services they so desperately need to get back on their feet,’’ said County Executive Andy Spano. “We are also helping FEMA to spread the word through local governments, non-profits, faith based organizations and other community organizations.’’

Individuals and businesses that are in need of aid are being encouraged to apply for aid on-line or by phone. To register with FEMA, call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) (hearing/speech impaired ONLY- call TTY: 1-800-462-7585) between the hours of 8 am to 8 p.m. or go to FEMA’s web site at www.fema.gov.  If you need additional help, you can visit the Disaster Recovery Center in your area, but you do not have to go to a center to apply for aid.

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WPCNR THE SEWER REPORT. By John F. Bailey. April 25, 2007: According to the Commissioner of Environmental Facilities for Westchester County,  the sewage backups in the White Plains Beverly Road/Gedney area were caused by a  20-inch diameter White Plains local sewer pipe draining into a smaller 16-18 inch county sewer trunkline in the vicinity of Beverly Road.  

Anthony Landi told WPCNR the City of White Plains was aware of this condition for some time before the April 15 sewerage backup on Beverly Road and  that White Plains was in the process of looking at the pipe disparity with the county to correct  the step-down in diameter condition prior to the April 15 deluge.  On that day, White Plains  was inundated with 7-1/2 inches of rain in less than 24 hours.   

Landi blamed sewerage backups on illegal cross-connections to the county sanitary sewer  within municipalities jurisdictions. 

Landi said the county Mamaroneck West Branch Sanitary Sewer Trunk Line did not backup sewage into the Beverly area, and blamed the change in diameter from the White Plains sanitary sewer to the county sanitary sewer for causing the condition.  Landi said he did not know definitely, if there was a backup into Beverly homes, because his men said their line was functioning.

Landi said the number one cause of sewerage backups  were  illegal or “cross-connections” to the sanitary sewers within municipalities in the county which he alleged condone illegal connections of catch basins and storm drains.  Connecting storm drains to sanitary sewers is not permitted, Landi, said and he blamed local municipalities for failure to supervise and inspect for illegal storm drain connections.

Landi said the Mamaroneck West Branch county sanitary  sewerage treatment plant experienced double and triple their ordinary rate of flows April 15, which he attributed to illegal connections and broken  pipes within municipalities connecting to the county sanitary sewer line, possibly through municipality-owned sanitary sewer lines.

WPCNR: Did you have any reports of sewerage backups in communities below White Plains or above White Plains?

Anthony Landi:  No, we haven’t.   We had our guys out there looking at our sanitary sewer lines.  Our lines actually worked out pretty good.

That situation there at Beverly happens to be a unique situation where The city of White Plains has a rather large pipe connecting to ours which is a smaller diameter pipe. So we’re in contact with Bud Nicoletti and his group to see what they are going to do about that. But we didn’t have a backup. We did not.

Our line (in the Beverly Road area)  did not look like it had exceeded its capacity. I think what happened that it was a larger White Plains line coming into a smaller diameter pipe. Someone said they have a 20 inch line going into 16 or 18 inch county sewer. That’s what my men told me was going on out there. He (Commissioner Nicoletti  of White Plains) was looking at that intersection before the storm.  He had contacted my men to see if something could be done about that.

WPCNR: How did the county sewer trunk lines perform? Any backups you know of?

Landi:  We did not overflow any sewage. We did not have backup.  All pump stations and electrical plants all functioned. The only problem we had was in Mamaroneck when we lost purchased power from Con Edison. We went on emergency generation for four days. We were fully operational. “

WPCNR: Did the Mamaroneck (or Yonkers)  treatment plants stop functioning at any time?

 Landi: They ran like clockwork.  We had very high flows.  I don’t want to misrepresent anything.  We doubled and in some places tripled the amount of flow that usually comes in through our facilities.

WPCNR: That was all sewage? That was the sanitary sewer correct?

Landi: Well, yeah It should have been just sewers. But, quite honestly, John, what’s happening, and you can realize there must be cross-connections, there must be broken pipes within the local systems that’s contributory  to our trunk (sanitary) sewers that’s increased the flow.

We know  a lot of it falls back on the local municipalities. They have their catch basins or whatever attached to the sanitary sewer. When you start getting those increased flows (through the  sanitary sewer), it’s coming from other than sewage obviously. 

There’s a lot of ground water runoff  so somehow there are cross connections someplace.

WPCNR:  So you agree with White Plains Commissioner Nicoletti  that there are illegal connections?

Landi:  Or cross connections. That’s when you have a catch basin, a storm drain catch basin tied into the sanitary sewer.

WPCNR: Who would possibly do this?

Landi: We don’t run the storm drain system. That’s not usually county jurisdiction. That’s a local problem.

WPCNR: Will there be any attempts to address this problem on the local level, dictated by the county.

Landi: That’s up to the locals to address  their situation. We’ve made them aware of it. This (storm) was a good wakeup call  for some of these municipalities that maybe they need to take a look at their systems.

WPCNR: Mr. Nicoletti suggested that  there were some connections upstream, a lot of new development up in Harrison, Rye Brook, Valhalla. The county does not inspect the storm drains on new developments?

Landi: The county usually doesn’t get involved with that. That’s usually the local municipalities that issue the building permits. They’re  the ones that check out the design and they should be checking during the building process that the pipes are connected to the right place.”

As far as that Beverly goes, that’s almost the beginning of the line for us, there isn’t much else connected just above that line, it’s called the West Branch, part of the Mamaroneck county sewer district. So there isn’t much above that. It’s a local (White Plains) issue. They issue the building permits and even their sanitary sewers are making connections to the county trunk sewer line.

WPCNR: Were there any reports of sewerage backup out of the county trunk line going to Yonkers?

Landi: No. We handled everything on the trunk line going to Yonkers.

WPCNR: The reports of sewerage backup (not the E Hartdale Avenue area)  in Greenburgh you attribute to the same cross-connection problem?

Landi: It’s probably a local problem, they’ve got some illegal connections. Illegal hookup, soil runoff.”

WPCNR: Do you feel we need to expand the county sanitary sewer system?

Landi: If you are to look at the county sanitary sewer system,  it has ample capacity for handling sewerage. What happens is when you have what we have, where it’s no longer the sewerage coming into it, then that’s when you have your problems with the pipe structure loading up.

But if you just handle sewerage , the pump stations, the sewerage plants, and the trunk sewer lines have ample capacity. Take out the cross connections, our systems have ample capacity to handle it.

WPCNR: This flooding conference, is the county going to address this cross connection problem.

Landi: I can’t answer for the County Executive. In the past we have, back in 1998, we went out to local municipalities and did some studies, found some problems and tried to take those I.I’s out . We did pretty good we were able to handle some of the smaller storms. This was a unique storm. The county has taken  the position we are in favor of reducing I.I. (Infiltration Inflow).

WPCNR: Would you say the illegal connections would be mostly in White Plains or up the line?

Landi: I think if you look at any municipality, you’re  going to find illegal connections, John. It’s just not limited to White Plains or Harrison. You can find them all over.

WPCNR: So you agree with Mr. Nicoletti’s assessment (blaming illegal connections) ?

Landi: Yes, it should be addressed on a local basis.  All municipalities need to go in and check their systems out and take care of business.

WPCNR: Would you say storm drains do not have enough capacity?

Landi: I don’t know about the local storm drain systems.

WPCNR: How close to capacity is the county sanitary sewer system?

Landi: Just handling sanitary, we have ample capacity, even to handle additional development on the sanitary sewer side. The pump stations are designed to handle additional flow. The treatment plants are.  The sewers can certainly handle it. The problem comes when we get involved with the storms. You have any complaints today? No.