WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR Tomorrow’s News Today. News & Comment By John F. Bailey December 27, 2007: There are a lot of issues facing the City of White Plains in 2008 that WPCNR identified at the close of  2006.  They still face us at the end of 2007, and as a resident and an observer of the city these are situations which need to be addressed in my opinion, plus some new business for 2008:

 

1. REMOVE TCEs from City Dump and Build Fields There:  How long does it take the DEC and the city to evaluate how dirty the dump is? Testing has been going on for five months. If the DEC rules White Plains does not have to clean it up – then it calls into question how competent the DEC really is. Is it just an employment program for well educated, politically connected hacks? They have allowed the city to pollute the Beverly Road, Rocky Dell neighborhoods for 38 years. Could the Department of Public Works instead of spending more money on rolling stock clean it up, please – just because it is the right thing to do? How hard is that?

           Based on WPCNR investigation the TCEs can be neutralized by other chemicals, and could have been expunged by now. Why haven’t they?

 

2. Develop Police Emergency Notification System: The White Plains Department of Public Safety agrees with the CitizeNetReporter that the Department needs a means of communicating with citizens during a citywide or even a minor city emergency. Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Charles Jennings proposed such a system to be developed 2009-2010. Such a system might constitute any number of procedures: a tape loop system updated that citizens could call for information; an AM radio system such as the Air Traffic Information System used at all airports. Still, no movement on this very urgent need. The police have no way of notifying all the citizens quickly about situations breaking in the city. WPCNR thinks it is about time!

 

3. Develop Lexington Avenue Corridor: The highly touted next piece of the City Renaissance – cleaning up the Lexington Avenue look adjacent the Winbrook projects. No meetings have been held on this among property owners since last spring to this reporter’s knowledge. It would also be very nice if the meetings that are held are not held in secret. Could the city be more forthcoming in 2008 on this critical piece of the city’s rebirth?  Out of the blue came the knowledge recently that townhouses are being considered for the Winbrook site. Who asked for those? Who is going to pay for them? A little candor, a little news conference maybe?

 

4. Develop Hamilton Avenue Gateway II Lot: The big lot across from the White Plains TransCenter. This is the last remaining parcel where buildings of 40 stories could be built. Should the Mayor proceed with getting this link in the new downtown developed – what is its status?

 

5. Bring Budget in Line with City Revenues. Instead of budget cutting, city hall has pursued spending policies in recent years that have required, and continue to require revenue generating by selling city land, while funding affordable housing projects with city assets. The city now faces negotiating union contracts which they will settle at a minimum of 4% — maybe even 5% — now that they have a ¼% sales tax increase in the works.  The city needs to look at their spending policies – task force the budget – instead of lurching forward with what appears to be a lack of planning and setting a policy of pay increases sharply above the rate of inflation. This is politically advantageous, but it kills the taxpayer.

 

6.Televise Work Sessions, Planning Board, Zoning Board Meetings. Major policy decisions are made at these meetings, and, in the case of the Common Council Work Sessions, and Special Meetings seemingly scheduled suspiciously close to holidays and at inopportune times to satisfy developer priorties.  Important city issues are decided on in a small packed conference room with limited audience. The city should televise these sessions and Planning and Zoning Board meetings to better inform the public. Lack of equipment is no excuse. They could also be easily televised over the internet via the city website. If WPCNR can do it with White Plains Week, the city with a department devoted to internet services and computers, could certainly do it.

 

7. Enact Surcharge to Arrest Assessment Decline. It is no secret that declining commercial assessments are killing Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains. This year the owner of a $700,000 house in White Plains will pay over $10,000 a year in school, city and county taxes with no end in site. A Tennessee County has moved to enact surcharges on increased value of commercial and residential properties  to reflect the actual resale value of  the properties. The city explore a surcharge for services, an air rights tax, or similar mechanism to relieve the White Plains residential property owner. The Adam Bradley separate Commercial Tax Rate for assessments (designed to eliminate the Equalization Rate penalty that increases White Plains property tax for homeowners when our homes increase in value), does not have any shot at getting passed in the senate. It is time for the city to take action and take aim at the commercial property owners who are bleeding the homeowners with certioraris.

 

 8.Add Warming Shelters: My sources tell me there are a lot more than 17  homeless persons who need shelter from the cold and misery of one of the dampest coldest miserable winters we are experiencing. The homeless bed shortfall is by no means solved despite the efforts of the last two weeks. I suggest the backslapping and the sanctimonious pats on the back that characterized the last special meeting of the Common Council when the council agreed to allow cots is premature and in bad taste.

 Once again our Common Council has shown they are not leaders. They should reach out on their own to enlist the aid of concerns within the Central Downtown area to make available vacant buildings to provide beds for them all. Sites that come to mind are: the St. John’s School, which is closed and empty – and fenced. If the Archdiocese would step forward and give its permission to use this vacant space nights, you have plenty of room to house the homeless. But that’s just one place. I also suggest  the fire house down by the railroad station, the Fire Station at Lexington and Maple,  the White Plains Housing Authority, Berkeley College, Mercy College.  Could we explore with a little creativity, please? And could we have them open all year?  There is no excuse for not taking a lead on the issue, when no one else is.

 

9. Liaison with the Department of Transportation on the Tappan Zee/I-287 Corridor: This is long overdue. You cannot make plans for developing the railroad station area – as the council seems to be inclined to explore – without working with the state. If White Plains is not careful we are going to have another Exit 6,7,8 construction nightmare rammed down our throats.  One look at the way the Department of Transporation has ruined the Central Westchester Parkway and eastern gateway to our city is a preview of what the DOT is going to do to White Plains unless we start looking over their shoulders. Could the Mayor and the Common Council get on the stick on this issue.  You cannot redo the Railroad station without figuring out the role of light rail and commuter rail east-west. At last look on this issue – the geniuses were talking light bus routes!  Are you kidding me, DOT? We are polluting the planet with fumes and you’re even thinking more buses, which no one rides???? This kind of thinking is going to wreck White Plains unless as I say, the Mayor and the Council start interfacing with the state on this issue.  It doesn’t matter what you think you want to develop if the state wants to develop something else.

 

10. Illegal Housing Crackdown:  The next time one of the multi-family homes with 50 persons in it burns – the city may not be so lucky. When 208 West Post Road burned, this was a warning. According to the Mayor, the residents attempted to put the fire out themselves rather than call the fire department. I wonder why?  It is time to get tough on the illegal rooming houses, not matter how many rich and powerful politically connected slum scum own them. If, and mark my words this may happen next week or next month, 10 persons die in an illegal housing fire, White Plains will be front page news. You think the Journal News gave Bill Ryan a hard time, just wait.

The owners of those homes will be indicted for negligent manslaughter, and the city will be sued. The U.S. District Attorney and the State Attorney General will see another great investigation, and White Plains will receive an incredible black eye. Remember the Providence fire?  Remember Coconut Grove?

 

It is time to publish every housing violation; publish the names of the owners; and start eminent domain proceedings to relieve owners of those Uriah Heap rooming house cash streams – after the second violation. And could we inspect once a month please? The only reason illegal housing exists is because it is in the best interest of the city or the powerful to let it continue.

 

We have also heard that organizations pretending to help immigrants steer them to housing that is illegal. How sordid and despicable is that? If WPCNR can confirm this—this would be a horrible thing. I hope it is not true.

 

Illegal housing isn’t O.K. because important people own it. It’s slum perpetuation.

When they carry the dead babies out of the next char job, the questions will come hard, fast, and relentless, then will come the indictments, the investigations, and the revelation of who owns these scurrilous establishments.

 

The city, the Common Council, the authorities have to make a choice here and the time to make it is now. Stamp it out. Either by buying them all out quietly.

 

11. School Budget Reform :  This is another very sensitive issue. White Plains school taxes will be averaging five figures this year. The budget is going to top $200 Million in 2009-2010. The school administration has to take budget cutting more seriously. The budget has to be held at the inflation rate. Otherwise, with real estate values dropping – the tax increase is going to hit the double digits consistently. Just do the math. It can be no more business as usual by the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee. Failure to hold the line on inflation in the district is going to wear out taxpayer good will rapidly.

 

12. Parking Reform: If you live in White Plains, you know you have to plan your visits to downtown because of the limited parking options, as well as the severe time limitations placed on the meters – as well as the high likelihood of getting a $15 ticket. It is no fun. This needs to be looked at. When residents do not feel like going downtown, the city retail is getting killed.

 

A longer time limit is needed at the parking meters – perhaps raising the rates a little, but the time limits are what are so bad. You can rarely get everything done within an hour. Two hours is reasonable. One hour is not.  I also do not like the double billing at the console parking lots, where the city is earning money when there is still time left on a parking space. That needs adjusting. I would also like free parking after 5 PM. That would be much more reasonable.

 

I also suggested graduated parking tickets. Your first parking ticket would be $10, second, $15, third $20, fourth, $25 and so on. This coordinated with expanded meter time intervals with increased rates for those longer meter intervals might be a direction to go.

 

These are wild suggestions, but a city that is unpleasant to shop in is not a city that is going to become a magnet destination. Though the Department of Parking is the city’s most profitable department, raking in $20 Million and spending only $10 Million in expenses, this does not mean it should keep increasing its profit margins just because it can.

 

13. Policy Making, Is there any?:  The Common Council has to work just a little in-between Work Sessions and Special Meetings and the monthly Common Council meetings. They have to go out and mingle with the city. Go into places like Winbrook, South Lexington Avenue, the senior center, hold community meetings on their own and not just listen to their city political leaders who have no clue what is going on.

 

The council people have to start the year holding an open meeting or two to discuss things with the city administration and ferret out where the administration is taking the city. The council does not do that now, and have never done it in the eight years this website has been reporting the news in town. I have seen the council spring surprises on the Mayor, but never asked the Mayor – well, Mr. Mayor? What do you have in mind for the South Lexington Avenue corridor?  (For example) Instead they react according to what they think will make them look good politically. It is time for them to stop reacting and start finding out what is going on in the administration minds.

 

The council appears likely to give us two years of inaction, so no one eyeing Mr. Delfino’s job, irritates any anti-development people, nor any pro-development people, nor any pro-open space, pro-school factions.

 

However, that is not leadership. Because whoever beats Mr.Delfino in 2009 (I see no one beating him unless Adam Bradley runs or a Council candidate rapidly takes on some leadership qualities, and Bill Ryan has self-destructed) – cannot jump into the job and do nothing.

 

We will know then just how successful development really is – and the sales tax has to be topping ohhhhh — $60 Million by 2009-2010– it’s now at $44.8 Million, otherwise there are going to be serious problems in wages – and property taxes. If the sales tax tops $60 Million, Delfino will take credit. If it is lagging, he can blame council inaction on finishing the development job.

 

The council has to demand projections of finances. They have to examine those capital project numbers seriously.

 

Development? Well – the council and the Mayor and the community have to agree. There are three areas of town left to fix: The station area, Lexington Avenue, and East Post Road – and you cannot do the latter to without removing the Coachman and 186 East Post Road—the homeless shelter sites – as well as the Department of Social Services areas – those are roadblocks to renaissancing the Lex-Post Road corridors.

 

The council needs to develop a policy formulation stance to consider how they will develop those three areas  instead of using the Mayor’s shotgun approach.  If they don’t the city will have two years of  stagnation. The Mayoral-wanna-be’s will be trying to be all things to all voters instead of leaders. I think that is exactly what they will be “wanna-be’s”.

 

It’s no good saying we want “balanced development” without defining balanced

 

It does not work saying, you want “smart growth” without defining what is smart.

 

I say smart growth is “growing within your financial means and attracting development the city needs”

 

I say “balanced development” is “developing a mix of housing and commercial that pays its own way without bleeding the present tax payer.”  So far I have not seen that. Administration policies have bled the taxpayer seriously due to certriorari policies and developer incentives.

 

The council at long last should find out what combination will achieve those two definitions. They can’t just listen and come down on the side of an issue that is best for their own political futures which is what they do all the time. We saw this in the past election.

 

Are there any leaders out there? Will we see them in 2008?

 

I am waiting.

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 WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. From John Vorperian, WPPA-TV’s Sports Anchor of Beyond The Game, Manhattanville College Sports Marketing Professor. December 26, 2007:  If Major League Baseball and the National Football League expand Las Vegas; Portland, OR; Birmingham, AL; and Los Angeles would have new  teams, according to Manhattanville College Sports Management graduate students who analyzed the most likely American cities to be awarded expansion franchises as part of a final exam project conducted by their professor, John Vorperian. Vorperian is longtime sports anchor of White Plains Public Access Television’s Beyond the Game talk show.

Cashman Stadium, Las Vegas. Nevada. Current home of the Pacific Coast League Las Vegas 51s. In 2004, Las Vegas had approached Major League Baseball with plans for expanding  the Stadium to attract the Montreal Expos. Manhattanville students like Las Vegas potential for Major League Baseball.

       Posed as a final exam project, the Purchase NY school’s “Dynamics of the Sports Business World” class was divided into four groups. Each group had to select a city and create a viable marketing plan for its expansion club.  Those plans included stadium costs, player personnel, front office expenditures, ticket packages, potential corporate sponsors and business partners, team name, colors, mascots, and community outreach involvement.

    The L.A. Quakes return pro football to the City of Angels. Mascot ‘Richter The Rhino’ looms large in the club’s designs to entice Los Angeles children tobecome ‘Young Quakes’ and encourage families to attend games.

    The NFL’s other outpost, the Alabama Hammers, hope to be placed in the NFC South with a reunion of sorts, Head Coach Norm Chow, currently Tennessee Titans Assistant Coach and once Titan Quarterback Billy Volek.

    The Las Vegas Cougars and Portland Pioneers are slated for MLB action. Cougar sponsors would be business endeavors that cater to family entertainment in this USA’s fastest growing metro area. Gambling enterprises would be bypassed. The team would also seek cooperation from gaming interests not to accept wagering on Cougar matches.

    DYNAMICS professor John Vorperian said, “The big challenge for sport management students is to think like business people and not as fans.”  He noted the Bama Hammers team tri-colors, gold, maroon, and black could be embraced by Crimson Tide and Auburn Tiger boosters alike and the students addressed some diversity hiring issues by picking Mr. Chow as their top coach choice.

    The students had to stay within a league’s salary guidelines and project what players would be available for expansion drafting purposes.  Vorperian further stated, “Overall, these master candidates submitted some very realistic sport scenario and economic
schemes.”

But sometimes an errant fan thought did pop up here and there in all the reports.  One baseball
group’s player personnel had a bevy of low cost free agents, older veterans, young minor leaguers, yet
mixed in the roster was one “Chamberlain, Joba.”
   

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WPCNR’S THE REAL DEAL. By The Wedding Jeannie, Jeannie Uyanik. December 22, 2007: We eluded last week to the fact that with some historical or very high end venues, use of a professional event planner is a necessity.  But for most locations, parties and events, having a planner may not be a prerequisite, but then again, neither was a florist 30 years ago.  Weddings and large events have changed dramatically in scale over the past few decades.  Long gone are the days were the majority of families turn their back yard into a place to celebrate a marriage or major event. 

 

Jeannie Uyanik, Planner to the World

The Wedding Jeannie

WPCNR Columnista

 

 

Statistics from the 1970’s are staggering when you consider how much couples spend on weddings these days; in 1973 74% of families catered their own weddings.  84% did not use an official florist and event planners were only for the wealthiest .005% of the population.  Fast forward to the 21^st century and the price of your florist is what most people used to spend on entire events.  Costs in and of themselves, and the scale of weddings or other large events are enough to warrant hiring a professional.   You want to make sure that your money is going to the right areas and the right service providers.  We are not just talking about bang for buck, but about making sure that allocation is appropriate (i.e. not spending half of your budget on music). 

 

 

Perhaps though the biggest reason in our times to hire a professional is the sheer amount of time it takes to plan an event.  Women, both mothers and daughters are busier than ever.  Most have careers and the planning of parties has traditionally been left to them.  Many of our brides and their mothers work longer hours than their counterparts, and while the necessity to spend more time on details and budgeting has increased the availability of that time has significantly decreased.  Finding the right planner can reduce overall stress, contribute to feeling that the planning process is moving along seamlessly and timely and ensure that your budget is being used as efficiently as possible. 

 

In looking for a planner, the most important things to consider are: experience, personality and method.  We go into each of these below, but the first step in finding the right planner is to meet with at least three.  It’s a worthwhile line item to add to your budget, but make sure that you know who you are getting into bed with.  Meeting with three candidates will give you the ability to make a better decision, and often it’s the first decision you will be making about your event so take the time to research it.

 

Ideally, if you can afford it, hire someone who has a proven track record.  Someone who has either come highly recommended or who is known to be very good in their field.  If you are going to allocate funds to a professional, spend a bit more to get representation that truly will reflect your needs.  We find more often than not that you get what you pay for – so if you follow our advice and meet with a few prospective planners and one is much less than the others, there might be a reason.  Don’t be anyone’s guinea pig.  Don’t hire friends who don’t have experience.  A large event is not the time to build someone else’s career IF you are going to be depending on them for a host of services and it’s certainly not the time to try something new (unless you are willing to take the risks that come with it). 

 

 

Note: Ms. Uyanik knows all kinds of events! Got a question or a comment for the Wedding Jeannie? Ms. Uyanik will answer your questions. Simply e-mail her at weddinggenie@candgweddings.com

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WPNCR THE PLANNING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. December 19, 2007: In a marathon five hour and 15 minute session, recalling The Mary Cavallero Era on the Planning Board, the Board and the White Plains Housing Authority  in simultaneous hearings, gave approval to the $8 Million leaseback bond arrangement, paving the way for Common Council approval of the renovation and preservation of senior low income housing at the Armory Plaza for the next 30 years. The deal, pending Council approval Thursday evening is scheduled to close Friday.

Enter The Venue. The view South along Bloomingdale Road of the proposed Venue retail complex for the 120 Bloomingdale Road property (below Hale Avenue.)

The Board also was introduced to the first public look at The Venue, a new retail high fashion & restaurant complex proposed for the parking lot adjacent 120 Bloomingdale Road opposite Bloomingdale’s. The project, described by the attorney for the owners of 120 Bloomingdale Road, hopes to present a pedestrian friendly retail complex with outdoor dining, landscaping with parking on two levels behind the complex shown above.  The Board Concerns about shared parking surfaced as retail parkers and parkers for the 120 office building would split the parking.

In the matter of the Orchard Street proposal for a new street allowing builder John Neubauer to build on two lots on city-owned property close to the reservoir, the Planning Board declared itself the lead agency on the project and set a scoping hearing for January 31. An  acrimonious exchange developed between John Garment, Chairman of the Planning Board and Dan Seidel, the environmentally-sensitive attorney, when Seidel pressed the Planning Board to employ an independent hydrologist to analyze the water flows on the site and independently confirm the developer’s analysis of the water flows (to assure no contamination of the water supply).

When a citizen suggested they buy the property to preserve it, John Garment,  Chair of the Planning Board, apparently wearying of Seidel’s questions and suggestions, suggested Seidel buy the property. Seidel again pressed his suggestion for an independent hydrology report, suggesting that the Planning Board by not commissioning one was “incompetent.” Garment, the Chairman bristled at this, noting the Planning Board served without pay and volunteered their time. Another member of the Planning Board acidly said to Seidel “to question our ability to evaluate this is inappropriate.” The Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel, recommended a Draft Environmental Impact Statement be prepared on the project.

In the matter of 55 Bank Street, enhanced designs for the 536-residential, retail and office complex which will also supply 107 units of “affordable housing,” the Planning Board expressed concerns about the design not being creative enough as an effective visual introduction to the city; the Environmental Officer criticized the Bank Street garbage collection area for being outside in the back of the building, and several members of the Planning Board expressed concerns about the shared parking concept working, where “commuters” would use space vacated by residents of the buildings during the daylight hours.  They also did not want Bank Street closed down to a single lane to provide a lane of parking in front of 55 Bank Street. In the final moments, the Planning Board agreed to approve the project with the understanding that Bank Street would tweak the project design to allay their concerns. The approval was provided by the Planning Board,  in order that the 55 Bank proposal site plan could be placed on the Common Council agenda for February 4.

Peter Gilpatrick said he planned to go out for his financing the second quarter of 2008. The Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel, also head of the Urban Renewal Agency when asked if the Urban Renewal Agency would be providing the bond financing for the project as was requested by LCOR, the developer – aid “We have not discussed it yet.”  WPCNR estimates the 55 Bank Street project would be about $250 to $300 Million.

In a related matter, Gilpatrick said LCOR was in negotiations with a hotel to go next door to the 55 Bank Street project, but declined to name the hotel at this time.

The Venue reverse angle looking North to the 120 Bloomingdale Road Office Building.

At 11:30 PM the owners of 120 Bloomingdale Road, last on the 10-item agenda, presented the first public views of The Venue, what they described as a complex of high fashion retail stores anchored by a 6 to 7,000 square foot restaurant, for which they were seeking a Special Permit. Their attorney an architect and engineering consultant explained how parking would be shared between the retail facility and the 120 Bloomingdale Road Office building. The complex was described as being pedestrian accessible with street ambience and outdoor café seating which they hoped would attract shoppers from the Fortunoff, The Westchester and Bloomingdale’s, and of course New York Presbyterian Hospital  which anchor the Bloomingdale Road strip.

The Overhead: Bloomingdale Road is at base of picture. 120 Bloomingdale Road is the tan building indicated by pointer. Venue would have two levels of parking in back of the complex. Hale Avenue is the street shown at top right of the picture.

 

Housing Authority Set to Buy Armory Property.

The White Plains Housing Authority- Related Preservation Management agreement whereby the Housing Authority is to issue $8 Million in closely-held bonds to finance both renovations to the Armory Plaza senior center and the 52 senior apartments within the Armory was approved by the Planning Board. The Common Council is expected to add its blessing to  this project Thursday evening and the two organizations, The Housing Authority and Related Preservation Management  will close on the project Friday. 

Joanna Rose of Related Preservation Management in New York had explained earlier this week to WPCNR that no residents would be displaced during the renovation, that the renovations will begin in January after the closing.  She said the major improvements will be to the lobby, main hall, dining area, recreation room, library, lounge, and hallways, and “critical improvements to the apartments include upgrading the bathrooms, and other interior spaces.”

The Commissioner of Planning, Ms. Habel, thanked the Housing Authority for moving to preserve the senior housing at the Armory for the next 30 years.  Matt Finkel, representing Related Preservation Management, said renovations would take nine months. Finkel explained that the Department of Housing and Urban Development had not renewed their contract with Related Preservation to continue the senior housing at the armory. Finkel reported that the Related, without the Housing Authority deal would have had the option of converting the senior low income housing to “market rate” housing. The Housing Authority bond leaseback arrangement preserves the property as senior housing.

Mack Carter, the Executive Director of the Housing Authority told WPCNR after the approval that the bonds to finance the project total $8 Million, and a portion of them, enable the Authority to purchase the Armory, then lease it back to Related Preservation Management who will continue to run the building and collect rent from the city.

Randy Mayer, the city’s bond consultant said he did not have a feel for what interest rate the tax-exempt bonds would command. He defined them as “closely held bonds” backed by the Authority, which would be issued to Related Preservation Management. Related would pay back the bonds to the housing authority from the resale of the closely held bonds with their tax exempt status  to other organizations or individuals.

Mayer said 15% of the bond proceeds, or $1.4 Million would, according to law, be used for the renovations and the balance for the purchase of the Armory from Related.

 

  

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. December 18, 2007: Today’s Photos are the happiest shots of the year: The Ritz-Carlton Pre-Opening Pep Rally — hosted by Louis Cappelli in front of his sparkling new Ritz-Carlton Westchester and in the Grand Ballroom of the Ritz — prior to the the 70th Ritz-Carlton hotel opening tomorrow night.

 

The Job Creator, Louis Cappelli, the Man in the black suit, with 255 of the young futures he helped to start today by building the Ritz in front of his crowning achievement, The Ritz-Carlton Westchester.

 

The Super Developer mingled and appeared genuinely moved and proud of the young work force who were celebrating the end of two weeks of vigorous training in The Ritz Way.

 

The Grand Ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton Westchester carried 300 persons easily at the “pep rally” and had room for 200 more. The accoustics were beautiful, the rug and arched ceilings muting the cacophany of the enthusiastic crowd

The theme was 1970s in keeping with the fact that the Ritz Carlton Westchester is the 70th Ritz to open worldwide. The hotel is providing 255 new jobs plus 18 managers promoted from the Ritz Carlton chain to the White Plains hotel. The average age of the new hires is 28. They were hailed as being “Gems” by the Ritz Vice President for Personal Affairs. Jacqueline Sanders, the General Manager of the Hotel told WPCNR all the new hires were from Westchester and The Bronx.

Louis Cappelli gives the key to The Ritz to Jacqueline Sanders, while Bill Rhodes head of Ritz-Carlton operations in America looks on. Ms.Sanders told the new Ritz-Carlton work force there were three codes to live by in the start of their new careers: “Smile, Use Our Minds and Use Our Hearts.”