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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. April 28, 2008: Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner and Yonkers City Councilwoman Joan Gronowski are holding their first joint meeting on Wednesday evening, April 30th at
Among the first actions the committee plans to take will be a petition drive calling on
For more information contact Supervisor Feiner at 914-438-1343 or Councilwoman Gronowski at 914-377-6313 or 914-589-8213.
The meeting is open to the public.
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WPCNR DANCIN IN THE AISLES. By John F. Bailey. April 28, 2008: Saturday night was the most unusual concert The 5th Dimension has experienced in their 43-year recording and performing career – according to founding member, Florence LaRue. Speaking to WPCNR backstage she said the group had never gone on without musical scores, or their elegant costumes, but the show had to go on with or without the music – the sheet music that is.
5th Dimension Takes the Stage Saturday Night, Taking a Full House Up Up and Away at Westco’s Latest Gold Star Concert!
Let me set the scene for you: at the Westco Productions “happening” at Tarrytown Music Hall Saturday, staged by Westchester’s First Lady of Theatre, Susan Katz, an audience of over 700 waited. It was approaching 9 PM and Ms. LaRue and her “Dimensionaires” — were waiting for their music.
At that moment, speeding across I-287, was Ms. Katz’s co-producer, Peter Katz ,on a mission to and from LaGuardia Airport to get the legendary group’s music. American Airlines had lost the case of sheet music as well as the Dimension’s elegant limegreen suits and costumes due to the massive cancellation of flights from heavy weather Friday in the middlewest .
The Dimension improvised on costumes — having T-shirts made reading “London Paris Rome TARRYTOWN” (destined to be collector’s items), which were an instant hit with the audience when the group appeared on stage. But it was a question whether the Dimension musicians would have to play backup from memory. Would the music get there before they were to hit the stage?
As Mr. Katz screeched into the back parking lot of the ancient Music Hall, racing in with the music – the band was prepared go play into the night without music. But, with the music in hand and tension gone the 5th Dimension hit the stage with the audience warmed up laughed out and feeling great thanks to opener-upper comic Billy Garan – the Dimension gave Tarrytown all they had.
Getting Acquainted: Westco Concerts held in Westchester’s beautiful traditional theatres like Tarrytown Music Hall, bring out interesting reactions from the artists. Here The 5th Dimension get acquainted with the audience. Florence LaRue, original Dimension member , is second from left.
The group was introduced and bounded out with their first song drowned in applause. Rapport with the audience was immediate and the crowd entered another dimension in space and time – The 5th Dimension.
The Dimension sang for 90 minutes straight delivering 14 gold records, and favorites that evoked the emotions of those changin’ times, their voices and harmony stronger, more emotional and as meaningful, perhaps more meaningful than when they first became hits in the 1965-1975 era. Their intro song all but drowned out by the applause, they shifted into a Motown records classic – My Girl – complete with a nostalgic coordinated “Temptations” shuffle moves by Ms. LaRue’s backup boys — then launched into Up, Up and Away first big single and the audience was winging away feeling the freedom , the high of those years when that song just made you feel good.
The 5th Dimension — 1960s — Florence LaRue is pictured at lower right of this publicity still. Today’s Dimensions deliver a tight, personal show, as crisp as old Top 40 Radio – lead by the only original 5th Dimensioner – Florence LaRue, who was a Bronze Talent Award Winner in 1964. She’s perhaps even more beautiful today singing with an authoritative silky contralto with depth range and emotion that lifts you right out of your chair and makes you pay attention, baby.
From the warm start, the audience dug Wedding Bell Blues, Worst That Could Happen, Last Night I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All, and MacArthur Park, they turned to a change of pace:
Florence LaRue Today — Dancing with a member of the audience to Stoned Soul Picnic.
Stoned Soul Picnic turned into a dance contest, with Ms. LaRue going down into the audience, inviting former flower children to come up on stage and show their moves with her – and dance to the Dimension’s upbeat treatment of their classic. (You remember it, don’t you? “Come on and surrey down to the stoned soul picnic”).
Audience dancing in the aisles.
She got the packed-in house moving, conjuring up memories of Richard Nader’s Rock N Roll revivals, and as I’ve written before of these popular Westco Gold Star Concerts, the Fillmore East. Only no one was lighting candles or smoking anything Saturday night. They were listening to the once and future, and still digging it.
After the spectacle of Stoned Soul Picnic, the group assumed stools and showed their mastery of moods with what I’ll call, the “Rain” medley – started off by Jamila Ajibade’s solo turn on It’s Raining Men
Then Ms. LaRue showed off her remarkable voice singing a portrait of Stormy Weather that was a little Billie Holiday, a little Ella Fitzgerald, a little Lena Horne, but uniquely Florence LaRue. Ms. LaRue’s sensitivity and depth had the entire throng of upwards of 800 silent, rapt, reflective.
Ms. LaRue’s Stormy Weather was my favorite of the show and was a highlight of a set of rain songs, that included Ms. Ajibade’s Raining Men, Can’t Stop the Rain, Rain Keeps Falling on My Head. The difference between then and now is the group sings the songs with more depth and feeling, rich with the wisdom of a full life, the understanding conveyed in the harmony and earnest manner the group delivers them. They sound just like those great 45s — only better.
Love Back to You — The group wrapped up the evening with their perhaps most loved song, Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In and it did!
This brought back an encore where Ms. LaRue and the group just did not seem to want to leave. Rarely have I seen an audience so on edge, ready for every song – as energetic in listening as the performers were in performing. This reporter has heard only one other group over the years who played for 90 minutes straight — The Ventures. The 5th Dimension showed the advantage of the continuous format, building and building the memories with each song. They made everyone feel so good!
King of the Two-Liners
The Katzes also gave the Goldies aficionados something completely different on this concert: A standup comic who is really funny – the Italian Henny Youngman, Billy Garan – king of the two-liners – Set up and punchline in 25 words or less and you laugh — guaranteed! A lot.
As Mr. Katz was flooring it from LaGuardia back to Tarrytown music case in hand containing the precious sheet music, the new king of the one-liners 2008, comic Billy Garan fresh in from a gig in Atlantic City was convulsing the audience with his machine gun, New Yawk Italian wiseguy stand up routine – sample: “I’m sorry Rudy Giuliani didn’t get the nomination President, so we could have a President who can say, Go bomb Iran and make it look like an accident.” There was not one dud.
On and on his jokes went about traffic, L.A. people being too nice, tolls, all jokes consisting of two lines – setup and punchline. Like an Italian Henny Youngman, he went for 20 minutes, then 30 minutes – faster, funnier, cleverer than the Letterman – Leno – O’Brien legions of writers could ever be. He should be doing a talk show.
Garan asked the audience if they wanted “More” They did – and then he gave us his 4 minute version of Casablanca with him playing all the parts. Billy the joke gunner must have told 50 jokes. You cannot get more laughs for the money. You have to see him to believe him. But – Billy – please slow the lines down they’re all so darn funny – and you say them so fast – we hearing-impaired 60s types miss them. Give us a CD, please!
The Katzes caught Billy’s act in Newport, Rhode Island, and decided due to the nature of the 5th Dimension show to add him as an opening act. Rarely have I laughed so much – without it being polite laughs executed by myself because a comedian no matter how bad or unfunny, you feel as an audience you have to titter or give a polite laugh even though comedians are not funny in the least
There was no need for that with Mr. G. Mr. Garan got thousands of genuine, oh did he really say that’s? Gasps, grins and chuckles, yucks and howls of recognition—guffaws of truth – and belly laughs of shock. Laugh out loud laughs. Lots of them. There are no false laughs in a Garan monolog.
Mr. Garan works casinos from Las Vegas and points west and had just finished up a gig in Atlantic City, and gave Westchester some much needed laughs on what was a very bad week.
Westco’s Susie the K (Katz), left with The Fifth Dimension and the legendary Florence LaRue, center…and Michael Mishaw, left, Jamila Ajibade, Ms. LaRue, Leonard Tucker, and Willie Williams.
Another feature of Westco’s Gold Star Concerts is the autograph and meet and greets with the artists. Here Ms. Larue and the gang sign for their fans after Saturday’s show. (You have to love those T-shirts…what an idea). One Dimensioner told WPCNR after the show, that though he has been singing for 25 years, that he never gets tired of it. He loves it. It showed Saturday night.
The 5th Dimension is the latest in Westco’s Gold Star Concerts the series invented by Susan Katz two years ago that brings back groups so great they have never gone away. WPCNR has given her the sobriquet “Susie the K” — in homage to the legendary DJ, Murray the K who staged concerts at the Brooklyn Paramount.
The lineup to come includes Jefferson Starship with Grateful Dead pianist Tom Constanten September 27; The New Christy Minstrels October 5; The Turtles October 25 and one I know all of you fraternity brothers have been waiting for – Eric Burden and The Animals on November 16.
However, we have to do something about the dress code. At the next Gold Star Concert – bring those cigarette lighters – and could we see some tie-dyed dresses, ladies, please, and men – a few leather jackets? For information to score ducats, go to www.westcoproductions.org. Or dial 914-761-7463
Remember, children — it’s Peace, Love, and music, not lawyers, guns and money.
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WPCNR FLORIDA SWING REPORT. From White Plains Softball Coach Ted O’Donnell. April 26, 2008: The White Plains Fastpitch Tigers come home today to play two on O’Donnell’s Bluff at White Plains High School today beginning at 11 A.M. They’ll take on Patchogue and Bay Shore from Long Island. The Tigers are coming off a great Florida Swing highlighted by Sandra Mastrangelo, the Tiger catcher being named Con Edison’s Athlete of the Month. Ted O’Donnell, Tiger coach files this report:
Sandra Mastrangelo Gets All of it. Photo by Christine Giansante
“Wednesday while we were in Florida, Sandra found out she won this weeks Con Ed Award. Bob Wolfe interviewed us on his radio show after our last “unofficial game” Thursday morning. We did the interview in a field away from the traffic on my cell phone speaker phone. She did a great interview and it will be aired several times on WFAS and WVOX. I don’t know the specific times. We went 10-0 in Florida and the girls played well and had an awesome time.”
Mastrangelo Follow through!
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WPCNR ON THE AISLE. Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. April 25, 2008 UPDATED With Pix: As the blue hues of designer Herrick Goldman’s virtuoso lights transform WPPAC’s magic “How to Succeed” set into soaring corporate windows above a city street, revealing Matt Wilson as J. Pierrepont Finch reading “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” White Plains Performing Arts Center patrons buy into this rip-roaring madcap screwball comeback of the 1961, 1,417-performance comedy musical– one of only four dramas to win a Pulitzer Prize, running from 1961 through 1965.
Matt Wilson cajoles, plots, and powers his way to the top — hilariously — in WPPAC’s revival of “How to” Photos, Courtesy, White Plains Performing Arts Center
Friday evening’s White Plains Performing Arts Center revival of “How to Succeed” proves once a great show – always a great show – for all time.
The ingratiatingly obsequious Matt Wilson is an endearing, conniving, plotting charmer of a young man who uses a book to advance from mailroom to top of a company – and delivers comic lines with a comedian’s timing.
The Big 4 of “How To:” (Counter Clockwise from lower right): Patricia Noonan as Rosemary, Matt Wilson as the ubiquitous Finch, Nicholas Wyman as the stuffy Mr. Biggley, and Jill Abramovitz as Hedy
The wholesome brunette Patricia Noonan, in her third WPPAC assignment, is the marriage-minded young secretary, Rosemary. She wants to live with Finch in “New Rochelle” where she’d be Happy to Keep his Dinner Warm. She dazzles the stage every scene she’s in. The young lady’s rich coloratura soprano voice, is multi-faceted as a diamond. Her Doris Day (there’s a time-reference) innocence fills the little theatre from her first song Keep His Dinner Warm – to her comic enthrallment with her Paris Original – (an ode to the sheath dress of the 50s), to her duet with Mr. Wilson on Rosemary – a satiric send-up of Maria from West Side Story.
Ms. Noonan has a Mermanesque sense of the comedic. She demonstrates this when she sings of the slinky cocktail dress she is wearing to the company reception for the new Advertising V.P. – only to be shocked when she sees the other ladies of the stenopool. We’ll let you guess what that shock is – and the resultant mass number by all the secretaries in a hissyfit is a hoot.
Nicholas Wyman is J.B. Biggley, the president of World Wide Wicket Company, filling the Rudy Vallee role of the original production wonderfully, from his argyle socks, to his golfer’s outfit – to his pomposity. Highlight of the first act is when Wyman and Wilson mug and sing the Grand Old Ivy fight song – Groundhog, Groundhog. Finch uses “college ties” to ingratiate himself with Mr. Biggley. Wyman reminds me of Gale Gordon (of Our Miss Brooks) in his demeanor and certain CEOs we’ve seen at press conferences around town.
Lurking like a Woody Allen type as a roadblock to Finch’s trip to the top is Ron DeStefano , as Bud Frump, the nephew of President Biggley who sees Finch as a threat. A running story line in the show is how Frump, (like the Coyote in a Road Runner cartoon), attempts to embarrass and discredit Finch only to have Finch cleverly turn the tables in surprise ways. DeStefano’s smarmy plotting, furtive as a weasel, creative as a lawyer, and his cackling and delight in his own cleverness is hilarious.
Ms Noonan is finally brought together with Finch for their first date in front an elevator bank in a clever number, It’s been a Long Day. Here Mr. Wilson, Ms. Noonan and Linda Gabler as the wisecracking steno mother hen, Smitty, sing what Finch is thinking, what Rosemary is thinking, and what Smitty is thinking – and it is so real life about how you thought about dating in the office fifty years ago—well it was just cute. The timing and character interplay on this song is just spot-on.
I cannot say enough about Director Eleanor Reissa’s whipping this cast into delivering crowd-pleasing big production numbers in this show and they come out you one after another in the hour and 20 minute first act — that grabs your attention, never lets you go, and keeps that smile on your face. A tip of the CitizeNetReporter fedora to choreographer Lorin Latarro for the inspiring high energy spectaculars. j
Just when you think there can be nothing left in Act Two to entertain – just a quick wrap up — you’re wrong.
The show is worth seeing alone for the first big super number, No Coffee. That’s Ron DeStefano as the icky Bud Frump, Finch’s rival discovering there’s “No coffee!?!” This repawta remembers the coffee wagon — do you?
The next number that’s a must see is The Company Way, where Finch is taught the company philosophy by the mailroom head. This number about toeing the company line is followed by A Secretary is Not a Toy.
You must remember — A secretary is not a toy! Jill Abramowtiz as Hedy makes her grand entrance in Act One.
This ode, relative to today’s sexual harrassment worries, comes about after the appearance of the redoubtable, brassy blonde Hedy Larue, overplayed perfectly by the unique Jill Abramovitz – who just happens to have been promised a job by Mr. Biggley.
Abramovitz has some of the best crackup lines in the play and she delivers them perfectly getting laugh out loud guffaws from the audience.
As Finch washes the windows of the Worldwide Wicket Company, the narrative voice of David Hyde Pierce speaks wisdom to the young man, and How to Succeed succeeds immediately and carries Mr. and Mrs. White Plains through 2 hours and 20 minutes of laugh after laugh, spiffy Bob Fosse-inspired choreography, and wonderfully devious subplots in a typical American Corporation brought the sharply-directed, enthusiastic, high energy ensemble a 2 minute standing ovation.
The musical original starred Robert Morse as Finch and Rudy Vallee as President J.B. Biggley, and is staged through the magic of lighting, and an intricate sliding set that creates a 21st century corporate style. There is a contemporary feel that explores the culture of the American Corporation of 50 years ago set in the New York of today. Though the costumes are distinctly circa 1960. The musical could start a fashion trend.
“How to” creates it all just as yours truly remembers it: the executive washroom, the stenography pool, the personnel department, golf, old school ties, competition among executives, are spoofed with laugh-out-loud jokes and realities of the business world are lampooned in outstanding ensemble numbers. The spirit of get-ahead of the other guy competition is demonstrated – creating the “innocent” strive for success style of the 50s and 60s.This is farce, satire, and pokes fun unmercifully at the corporate life.
The period anthropology of this musical is superbly demonstrated by the executive washroom scene where Mr. Wilson sings a love song to himself – I believe in you – while his 3-button suit competitors sing “Got to Stop that Man.” In it Wilson compares himself to the “Slam, Bang Tang of a shaker of gin and vermouth” – for you young whipper snappers out there – that is a martini.
It is so rare to see a musical where every scene is a keeper.
The second act tops the first with Ms. Noonan being persuaded to “keep the Prince” – (Finch) – when she decides to leave him because he is not paying attention to her now that she is his new secretary.
The Cinderella Darling number with Ms. Gabler, Ms. Noonan, Delaine Andrzejewsi, Jessica Bircann, Stephanie Nicole Carter,Elinor Harrison, singling “Hallelujia” at key times, will make women of today flinch, but it captures the 50s attitude that women had in business very right on. By this time Finch has worked up to Vice President of Advertising and is about to make a major presentation.
Shortly thereafter Hedy gives the President an ultimatum that she either gets a better job because “she’s stranded in the steno pool with no big fish to bail me out.” (With those killer legs of hers, she is worth bailing out). This takes Biggley aback and here in this picture, Mr. Wyman delivers a rich baritone love song Love From a Heart of Gold that is another highlight.
From a repawta who was an advertising man in another life, I salute Mr. Wilson’s presentation of the big ad campaign to promote Worldwide Wickets on television that Mr. Wilson delivers – making great laugh use of a balloon. The use of advertising jargon in this musical is spot-on. Take it from a man who was there in the 60s when advertising was king.
This leads into a spectacular television commercial featuring Hedy, Ms. Abramovitz as the irrepressible incendiary Blonde – The Worldwide Wicket Treasure Girl – a dance number by the Wickers and Wickettes with a terrific emcee played with Ed Herlihee–Bert Parks panache by Doug Trapp. I have to say all the players deliver excellent cameo bits and are to be commended.
In the finale, with Finch’s job on the line due to an indiscretion by Ms. Abramovitz on live television, Finch once again saves the day.
There is one great continuing bit throughout this show: whenever Finch succeeds, a mastery of light and timing trick guarantees a laugh every time. You’ll discover this gem when you see the show.
You’re going to like the way you feel after this show.
Sets – Executive Producer Jack Batman’s scenic designer Vicki Davis has created an ingenious sliding set combining with Lighting Designer Herrick Goldman’s mastery of hues to create men’s rooms, mailrooms, boardrooms, spectacular cityscapes, all with the urban style of today. What Goldman has done with the lighting is spectacular. This is the magic of theatre at its best – something sorely missing during the first three years of WPPAC’s existence, that Mr. Batman, the man with the unlimited expense account is bringing back big time.
White Plains Performing Arts Center’s “How to” is easily their best production they have ever mounted. Jack Batman the new Executive Producer on a rescue mission here continues to put out a professional Broadway style product that more people should be coming out to see. Either the marketing mix is not right, they’re advertising in the wrong places or the wrong way, or the Westchester audience is not as sophisticated as it likes to think it is. This is good stuff!
You have through May 11 to catch this great revival. For less than the price of a tank of gas you can see Broadway in White Plains. Every darn bit as good. It’s a show you can take the children to. The laughs are non-stop. It’s funnier than any movie you can see next door. You never feel bad once. I cannot remember when I have laughed more at a show. See it. Tell your friends.
You’re gonna love the way it makes you laugh.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying runs through May 11 at White Plains Performing Arts Center. It runs 2 hours and 20 minutes with a 20 minute intermission. For the box office, go online to www.wppac.com, or call 914-328-1600
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. April 24, 2008: The Assistant Superintendent for Business of the White Plains School District, Fred Seiler, advised WPCNR today that the School District is prohibited by law from changing the school budget after April 19, so at this time no budget cutting to prevent a $1.2 Million hit on the White Plains taxpayer due to the legislature-enforced 10% cut in the Basic and Enhanced Star Exemptions is contemplated.
Seiler said the Board of Education could opt to cut the Tax Rate of $5.03 per thousand, and not spend money in certain areas to make up the difference. The district when they passed the $184.4 Million school budget April 14, was unaware an extra 5% had been cut from the STAR Exemptions.
Seiler said that the City Assessor described the impact of the STAR exemption as an average of $81 more in taxes paid by the average White Plains taxpayer. However, this is dependent on the value of one’s home. Persons owning more expense homes pay as much ast $200 or more in increased taxes as a result of the legislature’s clandestine decision.
More on this, as WPCNR continues to follow this developing story.
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WPCNR TAPPAN ZEE STORY. From Westchester County Department of Communications. April 24, 2008: Get up-to-date on what environmental impacts are being evaluated in the review of the alternative projects being considered for the future of the Tappan Zee Bridge and Westchester’s main east-west corridor, during the Conservation Café: “Environmental Impacts of the Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Project, Friday, May 2, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the Kessel Student Center of Pace University in Pleasantville.
From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., a panel of experts and stakeholders will discuss the various proposed projects and the associated environmental impacts of each.
Speakers are Michael Anderson, P.E., Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Project Director for the New York State Department of Transportation; Robert Goldstein, Esq. of the environmental group Riverkeeper; and Gerry Bogacz, Planning Director for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council.
Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of the Business Council of
Co-Chair of the Westchester/Rockland Tappan Zee Task Force, will moderate. Introduction and welcoming remarks will be made by Fred Koontz, Ph.D., Executive Director of Teatown Lake Reservation.
A question-and-answer period will be included. Following the presentation there will be roundtable discussion on the topic. Participants are invited to continue the conversation until 11 a.m.
Coffee and beverages will be served. Participants are encouraged to help save the environment by bringing their own coffee mug.
The Conservation Café and Conversations on Conservation (CoC) provide a forum for dialogue about current environmental issues. Private citizens, members of concerned organizations, municipal planners and others hear the latest information and have an opportunity to network.
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. April 22, 2008: Weeks prior to the passing of the recent state budget, the legislature and the Governor’s Office agreed to cut the BASIC STAR Exemption for homeowners by 5% then cut it another 5% on the eve of passing the state budget .
The resulting increase in the White Plains taxpayers’ school tax pays for 85% of the $1.4 Million increased in school aid touted by local legislators as helping to lower property tax increases in the city announced last week.
The legislature at the request of legislature leaders and the governor cut the Basic and Enhanced Exemptions by changing the law previously limiting year-to-year cuts in the BASIC STAR to 5% (increasing the White Plains taxpayers’ school tax by approximately $1.2 Million, and in differing amounts for all 26 Westchester County towns, cities and municipalities), according to a spokesperson for the New York Office of Real Property Services interviewed by WPCNR today.
The effect has White Plains School Tax Payer is essentially paying for virtually all of $1.4 Million in increased School Aid through increased taxes.
When a Tax Saving Move Actually Raises Taxes.
The $1.4 Million in school aid increase was announced last week by White Plains representatives and was reported by the White Plains City School District as making it possible to lower the district tax rate and lower taxes. Communities across the state subject to the 90% of previous year’s assessment formula face the same tax situation where a “tax savings” is actually taking the form of a tax increase.
First drop in STAR “Floor” Limit in 10 Years
“There was a statutory method put into place when star was originally enacted back in 1997, and it’s been the same method (for 10 years),” Geoffrey Gloak, Director of Public Information for the New York State Office of Real Property Services told WPCNR Tuesday.
“The only change this year was that the floor that the minimum, or the maximum, the floor could drop from one year to another was previously 5%, it was dropped to 10% this year, that was in light of the state fiscal crisis,” Gloak said. “There were a lot of difficult decisions to be made, and that was one place where the decision was made to allow the exemption to drop, rather than just 5% allow it to drop 10%, if it indicated. In other words the exemptions would probably be dropping more than 10%, but as a result of the “floor,” they’re protected from dropping any more than 10%.”
WPCNR asked Gloak who was responsible for ordering the 10% cut.
Governor’s Office, Legislature Ordered Lower “Floor.”
Gloak reported, “The proposal was put forth in (former) Governor Spitzer’s original executive budget proposal. Then it was negotiated by the legislature and the governor’s office. Then it was agreed to in the budget.”
WPCNR asked if this meant the legislature had to have known about this when they passed the budget.
Gloak said, “One would assume that would be correct. They passed the budget. It’s not like ORPS came up with this idea. Basically we’re just computing the numbers as the law requires them to be computed.”
WPCNR contacted the Governor’s Office for the answer to this question, but as night descended on White Plains, the Governor’s Office has not responded on which party – the governor or the leaders of the two houses decided on the STAR cuts.
School District learned of first half of cut in March
prior to Adoption of budget April 14.
The School District received notice that White Plains taxpayers would receive less STAR Exemption March 3, prior to the School Board adopting their budget April 14. However that in itself was not unusual. The assessed value BASIC and ENHANCED STAR Exemptions have dropped 5% each of the previous two tax years.
At that time, City Assessor Lloyd Tasch wrote Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler, informing him the STAR Exemption would be reduced 5%, (from $3,700 to $3,520) and leave the district with $249,519,555 assessed value after STAR exemptions. The budget and tax rate was figured on that premise and the announcement of $1.4 Million more in state aid – much praised and with much self-congratulation by local legislators who “fought” for it.
By the way….
On April 14, the New York State Office of Real Property Assessments announced the final STAR Exemptions and informed City Assessor Tasch of the additional 5% cut in a letter on April 15, stating “As you may know, the 2008 New York State budget changes the way STAR exemptions are calculated, in that the floor value has been reduced from 95% of the 2007 exemption amounts to 90%. It further dictates that all 2008 exemptions must comply with the new level.”
In a letter of Friday April 18, three days ago, Lloyd Tasch informed the school district that the Assessed Value with STAR had increased $251,534,411 because the STAR BASIC Exemption had been lowered an additional $190, bringing the White Plains Taxpayer’s Basic Exemption down to $3,330.
$1.2 Million Additional Taxes Paid to Whom?
Mr. Seiler explained that the White Plains taxpayers would pay an additional $1 Million in taxes as a result. Seiler explained that the district for the district because he said the state by cutting the exemption would not reimburse the district for that loss.
Asked if he knew about the extra 5% prior to the approval of the budget April 14, Mr. Seiler said “Not until I saw the letter yesterday (, Monday April 21), that the Superintendent (Timothy Connors) brought up. I got the letter from the Assessor. I read through it and it looks like, I think you’re right how the state’s allocating it.”
The State Reimbursement of STAR Decreases.
To see what has really happened by the state’s quiet action, Seiler explained how STAR works:
“The amount that every taxpayer gets (reduced), BASIC STAR and ENHANCED STAR, the city tells us how much that is. We then bill the state of New York for that. And it looks like we’re going to be billing them for $1 Million less than we thought because we’re going to be getting $1 Million more from the taxpayer.”
Seiler explained that of the $146 Million in revenue expected from Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains in the new budget, that is paid by actual taxpayers and STAR reimbursements from the state. However, because of the exemption, the taxpayers will kick in more and the state pay less. “What the state will say is they are not going to send out quite as much (back) to the school district.”
WPCNR computes the estimated additional amount the White Plains taxpayers will pay thanks to the lowered STAR Exemptions to be between $1.1 and $1.2 Million, based on Mr. Seiler’s information. Seiler had not figured the exact amount Tuesday afternoon.
WPCNR asked Seiler the effect on the White Plains taxpayer: “The amount we have (receive) for property tax payments is exactly the same. The individual is going to get a little bit less, But the amount that Albany sends us (for STAR reimbursement) is reduced by an equal dollar amount. The amount we’re collecting, the amount we collect from the individual taxpayer goes up a little bit, but the amount we get from Albany goes down by the corresponding dollar amount. The district is neutral no change for us, the individual loses out. I don’t know why Albany is doing this, whether they feel it’s more accurate accounting.”
Windfall for State? July Surprise?
Asked if this seemed like a windfall for the state, Seiler said, “It sounds like it.”
At the time the school district passed the $184.4 School Budget on Monday, April 14, the school aid was touted by the district as a boon which enabled the district to lower the tax rate and lower the tax increase on White Plains homeowners to 5.9%.
However, that is not exactly the case because the STAR BASIC and STAR ENHANCED discounts were quietly lowered by the legislature, raising White Plains taxpayers’ tax bill by a collective $1.2 Million, effectively making the White Plains taxpayer pay for most of the increased aid.
Viewed another way, by lowering the BASIC and ENHANCED STAR Exemptions, the state has increased its tax collections, by paying out less in STAR EXEMPTIONS and in the White Plains case, found a way to have the White Plains taxpayers fund more of the district budget without realizing it until they get their tax bill in July.
The bottom line: the person owning a $700,000 home in White Plains, whose assessed value has not gone up in three years will have their exemption cut by $370 of assessed value giving them a taxable value of $15,145. This results in a school tax for 2008-2009 of $7,618.
In the current year, that homeowner is paying $7,012 in school taxes. The tax dollar increase to this homeowner is $186 strictly from the state cutting of the BASIC STAR.
There is a school of thought that feels that this should be balanced against the STAR EXEMPTION savings. However, the taxpayer still has to pay in the increase in taxes resulting from the 10% drop in both EXEMPTIONS.
The new 2008-2009 BASIC STAR Exemption for the City of White Plains is $3,330 (deducted from your assessed value, and $6,500 for ENCHANCED STAR.
Multiply this across the state, and it creates a school tax increase statewide.
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WPCNR BUMPER TO BUMPER. From North Broadway Civic Association. April 22, 2008: Don Hughes notes that motorists traversing crosstown White Plains will have to contend with lane closures on Hamilton Avenue — the major East-West route through the Count Seat.
Hamilton Avenue in White Plains between Ferris Avenue and North Broadway will experience alternating lane closures from Tuesday, April 22 until Friday, July 25 between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. There are no lane closures scheduled during peak morning and evening commuting hours.
These alternating lane closures are due to road resurfacing work, such as milling, paving, drainage and other improvements. The closures will be controlled by flag persons.
Delays are to be expected and motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.
Alternate routes from North Broadway include Cemetery Road (westbound), Park Avenue (east-westbound) Barker Avenue (east and westbound directions), Main Street (eastbound direction only), Quarropas Street (westbound only)from Mamaroneck Avenue, Martine Avenue (west bound), Post Road (east-westbound), and Maple Avenue (eastbound,westbound).
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Amodio’s, which presented itself to the legislature as a nursery and greenhouse, expanded its operations to include topsoil manufacturing, mulching and rock crushing.
“It was clear from all of the heavy processing equipment, large trucks, dust and noise this was not a nursery and greenhouse business that fit in with a residential neighborhood,” Ryan said. “This was a public nuisance.”
Amodio’s, located on
In turn, Amodio’s decided the board’s decision was “in violation of lawful procedure, affected by errors of law, arbitrary and capricious and an abuse of discretion and not based on substantial evidence,” according to court records.
Supreme Court Judge Rory J. Bellantoni disagreed. In his decision, Bellantoni said the board actions were not arbitrary or capricious.
“I am pleased the Supreme Court upheld our decision,” Ryan said. “We gave the matter serious consideration and saw that Amodio’s activities were inconsistent with farm work and did not meet the standards of inclusion into the agricultural district.”
Legislator Tom Abinanti, (D, IN, WF-Greenburgh) chairman of the Committee on Environment & Energy, added: “The Board of Legislators enacted the Agricultural District Law to encourage the preservation of farmland, not to reward commercial activity which disrupts a residential neighborhood.”
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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. By John F. Bailey. April 19, 2008: In an exclusive interview Saturday, Assemblyman Adam Bradley told WPCNR that he and the state legislature had no idea the state Office of Real Property Services had lowered the BASIC STAR discount when he and the legislature approved the state budget last week granting increased aid to state education, including 15% more school aid to the White Plains City School District, and 4.8% more Aid to Independent Municipalities aid money to the City of White Plains. The New York State Office of Real Property Services issued its new BASIC STAR discount amounts for all counties and cities statewide last Monday, April 14, after the state legislature had approved the state budget.
Asked if he was aware of the ORPS statewide changes inacted Monday in the BASIC STAR program for White Plains, Bradley said, “Of course not — until it was enacted.”
Asked why the state houses did not determine what the trend was in the BASIC STAR Rate before enacting the aid packages across the state, Bradley said, ““ORPS does this stuff all the time. They made their own decision. This has nothing to do with us (the legislature). All we do is allocate (aid funds). We have no control over what ORPS does.”
Bradley said he and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin worked very hard to increase state aid to the school district and AIM funds to the City of White Plains (an additional $1.5 Million), and the School District (an addition of $1.4 Million).
Bradley said that ORPS has their own formula, determined by local property values (by which the BASIC STAR discount is determined) and that the action of ORPS last Monday, which increases White Plains ’ school property owners’ School taxes an additional 2%, (in addition to the school-budget indicated 6% property tax increase) is another example of why a separate commercial tax rate separate from the equalization rate is needed.
Bradley has introduced such separate commercial tax rate legislation for the City of White Plains on an opt-in basis. It is currently in committee in the State Senate. Asked if the Thomas Suozzi Commission on Property Tax Reform had discussed Mr. Bradley’s bill as to its usefulness as a property tax relief tool, Bradley said he had not been contacted yet by Suozzi’s Commission staff. Bradley said that Suozzi’s own county, Nassau County, has such a separate commercial rate.
Asked if the ORPS action Monday that effects every county across the state in different degrees might spur the passage of his bill, Bradley that the timing and climate for introduction of the bill he was leaving to State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer who has agreed to sponsor the Bradley Commercial Tax Rate Bill in the State Senate.
Bradley offered the opinion that it is misleading to tie the ORPS BASIC STAR cut to the state legislature, since the legislature was unaware of it.