White Plains CitizeNetReporter

WPCNR 5 O’Clock Lightning Leader, From Westchester County Department of Communications, filed 3/26/02 5:00 PM EST:After weeks of warnings about the potential dangers of a lack of rainfall, Westchester County Executive Andy Spano officially declared a drought emergency today — triggering mandatory water restrictions that will go into effect next week.

The county had already begun gearing up for such a declaration earlier
this month when it became obvious that reservoirs were unlikely to fill
enough to avoid more drastic conservation measures.

As of April 1, businesses, schools and governments that use more than 1,000 gallons of water per day will have to decrease water usage by 15 percent. Restaurants will be barred from serving water to patrons except upon request.

WPCNR Afternoon Tribune, UPDATE # 2 by John F. Bailey, 3/25/02, 2:00 PM: WPCNR has learned that the Common Council will hold a Special Meeting this evening at 6 PM, to kill the Police-Fire Study they approved 5-1 March 14. The surprising reversal comes at the request of the White Plains Professional Fire Fighters Union on the eve of beginning negotiations of their new contract.
With the Mayor in the air over the Pacific Ocean, winging his way to Japan, the Council, if they wish to kill the study, will have to meet twice this week in order to override their own approval of a scant two weeks ago.

Acting Commissioner Hickey “floored”

The union request of the council was news to Acting Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel Hickey, who told WPCNR, he just learned about it from City Hall a few moments ago. Hickey said the union did not talk to him or Fire Chief, Mark Daimon about the request to kill the study. He said he was “floored” when City Hall told him of the special meeting within the last hour.

Fire Fighter Contract Negotiations begin Tuesday.

Hickey noted that he was to begin labor contract negotiations with the fire fighters union Tuesday, but said he was not going to talk to the union about any reorganization of the department. He said that was not a negotiable item, saying it was up to the Mayor and the Council.

Hickey said the meeting Tuesday is the kickoff negotiation meeting, when both sides layout what the are expecting. The city will first learn what the firefighters are seeking in a new contract.
Boykin: Fire Fighters Union Asked Them to Kill Study

WPCNR interviewed Common Council President Benjamin Boykin, Jr., a little after 12 noon today, and Mr. Boykin said the decision to “rescind” the study legislation was made at the request of the fire fighters union.

Boykin said, “They have other agendas they want to pursue in new labor contract negotiations, and were not looking for us to do this.”

Boykin said he did not know what the fire department “agendas” were. He also said the police union had not commented to him on the police-fire study. He expected four councilpersons would be at the meeting this evening, providing a quoram.

The meeting was called by Mr. Boykin, WPCNR has subsequently learned slightly early Monday morning. Quoram was not achieved until minutes ahead of the six hours time interval required for a special meeting.

The reported move to kill the study, developed among council members over the past weekend.

The move to drop the study, we have learned, comes on the eve when the study was supposed to begin. A representative of the Center for Government Research was scheduled to fly in to White Plains Tuesday to commence the study, which was to have cost the city $84,000.

Shocked media scribes were mystified since the study was the centerpiece of Common Council President Benjamin Boykin’s President’s Address to the City in February, when he promised to end the controversy over separate police and fire department feasibility once and for all.

Friday Getaway Gazette, By John F. Bailey, Filed 3/22/02, 4:30 PM EST: The President of the Board of Education informed WPCNR Friday that the Board has reviewed candidates for the soon-to-be-vacant (in June) Superintendent of Schools position and has selected three “finalists” for the position.
Donna McLaughlin, President, reports that in executive session held we believe Thursday evening, that the Board has selected three finalists to present to a Community Committee of citizens in approximately two weeks, who will be interviewing the three finalists for Superintendent.

Screening Committee from the Community

McLaughlin said that the “Final 3” will be interviewed by a 7-member screening committee from the community. The committee will offer representation of three District labor unions: Jerry Gorski, President of the White Plains Teachers Association, Hugh McKiernan, President of the Association of School Administrators, and Natalie Arone, President of the Civil Service Employees Association.

Representing the community will be former White Plains Councilperson, Pauline Oliva, Nancy Smith, Co-President of the White Plains PTA Council, Judith Aucar, representing Centro Hispano, and Dr. Linda Ochser, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, representing the School District.

Three Finalists a mix

The finalists are both male and female, McLaughlin said, and not all are from the Northeast or immediate geographic area. She said she was “very excited” about the selected finalists. She said the committee was “a great addition to the selection process.” Mrs. McLaughlin added that she had “always been optimistic” about attracting top candidates because White Plains was “a great district.”

King Komments By White Plains City Councilman William King, Updated 03/19/02: Councilman William King, the “One Man Environmental protection Agency” on the Common Council, has been discovering to his horror, the shabby state of Westchester County-owned parklands in the city of White Plains. He’s also calling for city annexation of two Hale Avenue lots for parks and extensive cleanup of the Mamaroneck River within the city on April 6. Here are his latest observations with a call to action as Earth Day approaches.
We really have to put some fences up across the streams and stormwater flowages into the Bronx River from White Plains. Greenburgh and North Castle should too.

I just walked the river banks north of the County Center again over the weekend and the litter and trash on the banks is atrocious. Too much litter is flowing into the Bronx River. We have to catch it before it gets into the river. The river is being seriously affected by “non point source pollution.”

Calls for “Litter Catchers.”

We could have volunteer litter cleanups every other weekend all year long and we would not be able to catch up with the new litter floating in.

I will try to sponsor as many volunteer litter cleanups this year in the Bronx River as possible but I need some immediate action by the municipalities that they will do their civic duty in installing the fences and then starting having regular “litter catcher” cleanouts (at least once a week). We should install tight mesh screen fences that go below the water line and several feet above that would be several feet in front of every storm drain that pours directly into the Bronx River or into one of its tributaries. These Litter Catchers will catch the “floatables” before they wash further downstream.

Squatters Noted.

I noticed many birds nesting in this area but it must be so lousy for them nesting amongst all the trash. Needless to say, all the litter in the river and along its banks and tributaries makes it totally uninviting to people, save for a few squatters here and there that I have noticed evidence of, and puts the whole Bronx River area in the “loser” category.

We’ve got to get serious and get on top of this lousy situation.

Storm Drain Mesh Covers Urged

We should also install new steel mesh covers over some of our existing storm drains which we know from cleaning out are in the more problematic litter areas. I noticed such covers recently over the manholes in Norwalk, Ct. which also has a riverfront area they are way ahead of us in reclaiming.

The whole Bronx River Parkway Reservation could be so much nicer and more pristine – otherwise, why have it?

The city of White Plains and the towns of Greenburgh and North Castle have to get more proactive about helping keep this county parkland cleaner. We all have to jump on this one – right now.

City should Annex Hale Avenue Trash Sites
I would also like to mention that there is a really strong argument for the city acquiring the vacant, overgrown lots on each side of the north end of Hale Ave. next to Fortunoff’s and across from the Westchester Pavilion for a neighborhood playground and extra open space/parking space.

The lots have just sat there for years and years and all kinds of trash have been dumped on them and not picked up by the owners, totally blighting the neighborhood. I picked up all the tires there and stacked them along with other major pieces of trash. This can’t be happening in our city while we are on the watch.

“Outdoor Junkyard” in Mamaroneck River

I was checking out this stream that runs behind the 2 lower income apt. buildings on the east side of Lake St and the County DOT garage in Harrison, just below Silver Lake. Just north of the northern building in the little woods there I noticed a big metal desk and other items that make it look like some kind of “outdoor junkyard office” or it could even be used for some kind of rudimentary outdoor sleeping accomodations.

I think this is City land. Can we (the city) check this out and, if on city property, clean this area out? Per the Rec Master Plan, I want to have some Boy Scouts and other volunteers clean out the stream along Delfino Park, from the I-287 bridge north to the Silver Lake dam. But if this big mess in the woods is there, the scouts and volunteers will feel their efforts will be in vain.

I would like to do the stream cleanup on Sat., April 6. Can the (Department of Public Works) guys get that desk and other big junk out there? I also think we need to cut back the dense overgrowth there by the stream so people can get to it and use it and so we can get the litter and trash out of there. Do we have such a crew?

Thanks, Bill King

From the Albany Offices of
White Plains’ Assemblywoman

“It’s time to restore public confidence in the way elections are run in New York,” Paulin said. “This legislation helps open up our election process and rebuild faith in our democratic system.”

Paulin sponsored the Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 to provide public matching funds to campaigns for state office that limit contributions and campaign spending (A.8524a).

“To reform how political campaigns are financed, we must first curb the vast sums of special interest money,” Paulin said. “Publicly financed campaigns will help protect the integrity of candidates and the legislative process.”

Income Tax Checkoff Ready for Signing

The legislation also creates an income tax check-off to help build a non-partisan, state-controlled campaign fund for eligible candidates. In addition, the legislation:

• sets limits on the amount of money that can be donated to candidates or political committees;
• closes loopholes that allow corporations to avoid campaign contribution limits by funneling donations through subsidiary companies; and
• bans fundraisers by state legislators or statewide candidates within 40 miles of Albany during the legislative session.

Turns Soft Money Hard

The legislation bans unlimited ‘soft money’ contributions to political parties’ housekeeping accounts. Those accounts are currently exempt from the contribution and receipt limitations applicable to campaign accounts.

Assembly sensitive, Paulin says. Urges Senate cooperation.

Paulin noted that the Assembly has consistently passed legislation to reform the way campaigns are run and financed in New York:

“The Assembly has a strong record of supporting reforms to the state’s arcane campaign finance system,” Paulin said. “Unfortunately, the Senate and governor have failed to share our sense of urgency. I urge them to join us in enacting these initiatives this year.”

Paulin’s aggressive stance on campaign finance reform grew out of her having served as president of Westchester’s League of Women Voters, and on the Westchester Campaign Finance Commission, which recommended the public financing of county campaigns.

“Sponsoring this legislation is part of my ongoing commitment to a fair and positive election process in New York State,” she concluded.

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin of the 88th Assembly District represents the city of White Plains in Albany. She reports regularly to WPCNR on issues affecting White Plains. You may reach her at (914) 723-1115, in Westchester, or in Albany at (518) 455-5585, or e-mail the Assemblywoman at paulina@assembly.state.ny.us.