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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By Peter Katz  on Special Assignment for WPCNR. July 6, 2006: It  was well after 11 pm when electricity filled the air at Wednesday night’s meeting of the White Plains Common Council. The council was in the midst of the scheduled public hearing on an amendment to the zoning ordinance which was presented as being an important step towards allowing developer Louis Cappelli to build a restaurant and spa in space atop his 221 Main Street project which had been reserved for mechanical equipment.

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“Our President, with all due respect, I have to say ‘there you go again.’ You know, it’s…we have had almost every major issue that comes in front of us an element of obstructionism, negativism, it’s undeniable. There are…one has to, as the President, I believe, be more progressive and get a consensus from the rest of the Council.”

Hockley then continued his remarks about 221 Main Street, and as he finished, Mrs. Malmud spoke up: “Point of order, Mr. Mayor…”

 Mayor Delfino attempted to move on, but Mrs. Malmud interrupted: “Point of order, point of order.” She said,”It’s forbidden for any Council member to make personal negative attacks upon any other Council member or members of the public. I take strong objection to the manner of Mr. Hockley’s speech. I think it was uncalled for and I ask that he be so instructed.”

 Mayor Delfino tried again to defuse the situation, noting that he’s been around White Plains a long time, and that in the past it wasn’t unusual for development proposals to be accompanied by differences of opinion. Delfino noted that he’d be voting in favor of the zoning amendment, and that adding 55,000 or 56,000 square feet to a project already containing 890,000 square feet of space is relatively minor on a percentage basis. With a glance at developer Cappelli who was sitting in the audience, Delfino said, “I think it’s the final change.” He then asked for a roll call vote.

 Then, Mrs. Malmud interjected, ”Mr. Mayor, I have to ask you to enforce proper decorum. You have rebuked members of the public in the past for personal attacks. I do not think that it is appropriate on our Council floor, by anybody, by members of the public or other Council people.”

 Delfino responded, “Mrs. Malmud, I can’t determine the impact of this personal attack that you’re so concerned about.”

 Mrs. Malmud replied, “Well, I’ve been called an obstructionist, that I have negativism, that I should be more constructive. I think that’s a negative personal attack.”

 “Well, I’ll discuss it with our legal counsel,” said Mayor Delfino, to which Mrs. Malmud shot back, “So will I.” The Mayor then said, “OK, by all means you should if you feel so strongly about it.” Mrs. Malmud responded, “I do.”

221 Height & Mechanicals Zone Passes

 The Environmental Findings Resolution and zoning ordinance for the Cappelli project both passed on votes of 4 to 2, with Malmud and Roach voting “no.”

 Council meeting had begun just after 7:30 pm, with tributes to the late Councilman Robert Greer, who died of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).  

IN OTHER MATTERS

 The Council unanimously approved adding $75,000 to the fees being paid to the law firm of Miller & Van Eaton which has been retained to help the city negotiate renewal of the cable t-v franchise agreement with Cablevision, bringing the total to $160,000.

 It also unanimously approved floating $250,000 in bonds for storm water drain reconstruction, issuing $657,000 in bonds to pay for public works vehicles and equipment, and issuing $650,000 in bonds towards a new ladder truck for the fire department.

 The Council scheduled a public hearing for August 7 on a proposed new local law which would require the licensing of air pistols and air rifles sold or kept in White Plains. These also are known as BB guns and pellet guns. There would be a $10 annual fee for the license. If you get caught with an unlicensed air pistol or air rifle you could be fined from $100 to $500 and/or sent to jail for 30 days. Public Safety Commissioner Frank Straub, in a letter to the Council, said that White Plains police received nearly two dozen complaints about the guns in both 2004 and 2005.

A Bouquet to the Press

 As expected, the Council rescinded an ordinance from 1963 which placed restrictions on recording Common Council meetings. Council members used that agenda item as an opportunity to express their support for open government and the free flow of information. WPCNR previously has written about the storm which developed when administration officials tried to use the ordinance to stop White Plains resident Carl Albanese and WPCNR  publisher John Bailey from using their cameras during a Council work session.

ENCORE FOR STIMAC

 The Council passed a resolution consenting to the White Plains Performing Arts Center, Inc., extending its contract with Anthony J. Stimac for one year to remain as the WPPAC’s producing director. Council paperwork provided to WPCNR did not specify what Stimac’s salary would be, nor whether he would be full-time and exclusive to the WPPAC in view of the closing of the Helen Hayes Theater in Nyack, with which he also was associated.

On the WPHC Longview Avenue Matter

The Council resumed the public hearing on including property at 4 Cromwell Place within the East Post Road Phase II Urban Renewal Project boundary. This has to do with the 700 space garage which will be built to serve White Plains Hospital, a Sunrise assisted living development, and the general public. The property belongs to Legal Services of the Hudson Valley. Representatives of the agency spoke against the proposal, alleging that they have not been kept informed of what the city was doing, and that the garage would hurt their ability to help their clients (largely disadvantaged people who cannot afford to hire attorneys).

Planning Commissioner Susan Habel told the Council that the city has met with representatives of the agency, is very much aware of their needs, and has been making every effort to ensure that construction of the garage would not interfere with the agency’s work. She said that only a portion of the Legal Services property is needed for the garage, and that the agency would be fully compensated – including the city providing parking spaces for Legal Services use in the garage, at the city’s cost.

 Attorney Dan Seidel said that the garage property lies in the Bronx River Water Basin, and called for additional environmental reviews.

The Council unanimously approved conceptual site plans for the garage and an amendment to the EPR Phase II Urban Renewal Project boundary.

North Street Community Moved Up

The final hearing of the night was for the North Street Community LLC’s proposed senior residential housing and assisted living project on the St. Agnes Hospital property. After one resident expressed concerns about traffic, and another discussed the proposed zoning amendment which would permit the project to proceed, a third resident suggested that the hour was late and perhaps it was best to continue at next month’s meeting. That suggestion was welcomed by Mayor Delfino and the Councilpersons, and the Mayor promised that North Street would be the first hearing next time.

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WPCNR Freedom Press. News Comment By John F. Bailey and the WPCNR Editorial Advisory Committee. July 4, 2006: This is a follow-up to the Carl Albanese saga. Yours truly was also targeted by the Mayor’s Office June 21 on that dark night in city hall when Mr. Albanese and I were informed, Mr. Albanese by Mayor’s Office personnel, and me by a police officer that we could not take pictures or videotape a work session and public hearing. I was shocked. I immediately interrupted the work session to clarify this with the Mayor, who immediately backed down and said I could take pictures. And I started snapping away.

The Common Council will vote Wednesday evening on rescinding the obscure piece of legislation from the City Charter which the Mayor used as a basis for the policy that was attempted that infamous night.

However, the Mayor’s actions to save the feelings of some important people who apparently, according to Mr. Albanese, did not like his videotaping them, were just one instance of supression of the press within the last two weeks of a far more sinister nature.

The most stunning in demonstration of the mental calibre of most of our representatives was a member of the United States House of Representatives saying The New York Times should be prosecuted for treason for revealing the administration is tracking dollar flows out of the country.

This would be funny if it were not so chilling.

It is amazing how our congressmen and senators think freedom of the press and the individual, and our laws against unreasonable search and seizure can be suspended, just like that.  They can jail White Plains Elena Sassower for asking a question. They can climb all over a reporter asking for them to reveal a source. They can pass a Patriot Act and extend it! They can let slide a President tapping phones without a warrant. But hey, let the FBI with a warrant find cash in a congressman’s freezer — and well they don’t like that, and want to be notified so they can clear the money out of their own freezers.

Officials thinking to restrict press access, refusing to speak with the press, and, perish the thought, lie to the press, (though they love to use the gullible, wanna-be-loved members of the fourth estate), are precisely why there has to be freedom of the press — to ferret out connivers, the deal-makers,  the hypocrites, the insiders wheeling and dealing and stealing — and exposing abuses of government and businessses and individuals that would go undetected without the reporter.

Now, Mr. and Ms. government representative or official, when you are sworn into office you swear to uphold the Constitution. I want to refresh all of your memories of what you swear to when you are sworn into office.

The very first amendment our founding fathers — who when they met to sign the Declaration of Independence  in Philadelphia, July 4, 1776, 230 years ago today — would have been hung if they were caught meeting together — felt the first thing the new country had to have was this amendment:

Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peacably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Please, Mr or Ms. Senator, or Mr. and Ms. Representative,  and Mr. and Mrs. Councilperson and public officials everywhere remember this amendment the next time you even think about muzzling or attacking the press, or prosecuting it for treason.

There are 26 other amendments to the Constitution. I suggest all of you brush up on them.

Thank you, Carl Albanese for standing your ground.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE COMMENTARY. By John F. Bailey and the WPCNR Editorial Advisory Committee. July 2, 2006: Governments often are criticized for being bastions of bureaucratic bungling and inefficiency. That type of criticism dare not be applied to the City of White Plains which saw to it that real estate tax bills began arriving in mailboxes around town precisely as scheduled on July 1.  The new bills are for the first of two payments covering Fiscal Year 2007, and include both city and school district taxes. County taxes, sewer taxes, and water charges are billed separately.

“PR” On Your Tax Bill: Better do the math, Mr. & Mrs. & Ms. White Plains! Photo of July 1, 2007 Tax Bill by WPCNR News.

A member of the WPCNR Editorial Advisory Committee was overjoyed to discover that numbers on his tax bill showed a percentage increase over last year’s taxes of only 5.62% for the city portion and 5.47% for the school portion. After all, we had been told by officials to expect a tax hike of more than 7% for the city portion and more than 8% for the school portion.

 But, the joy soon turned sour upon the realization that the percentages shown on the tax bill merely referred to the increase in the “total tax levy” and did not reflect the actual increase in taxes which residents actually have to pay. The actual percentage increase in dollars to be paid is much higher than the “total tax levy” percentage figures shown.

The only way to know for sure how much your taxes have gone up is to dig out last year’s tax bill, put on your green eyeshade, take out your very best calculator, and make a comparison with this year’s bill. You can’t take the percentages shown on your current tax bill as being the final arbiters of how much more you’ll pay.

When you run the numbers, you’re likely to discover that your actual increase is about 60% more than the percentages of “total tax levy” shown on the tax bill.

There is another possible fly in the ointment. If your STAR exemption (a discount in the assessed value of your property applied to reduce school taxes) has changed, the amount you pay in taxes and the percentage increase also will be changed.

Rosy Scenario?

So, was the member of the WPCNR Editorial Advisory Committee guilty of making a false assumption upon the first reading of his tax bill? Or, is government guilty of attempting to deceive by showing only the percent increase for “total tax levy,” and leaving out the percent increase you actually must pay? Perhaps a bit of both?

Rather than dwelling on those questions, we thought we’d present an example of how you can figure out for yourself just how much your White Plains real estate taxes have gone up from Fiscal Year 2006 to Fiscal Year 2007. Fasten your seat belts for a bumpy ride!

First, examine last year’s tax bill for the comparable period, and the current bill. If your taxes are paid from an escrow account controlled by the lender who holds the mortgage on your property, you may need to obtain copies of the actual bills from the lender.

Second, subtract last year’s “total tax amount” from this year’s “total tax amount.” This will give you the actual dollar amount that your taxes have gone up (the increase).

Third, divide the dollar amount of the increase by last year’s “total tax amount.” This will give you the percentage that your taxes have increased.

In the case of our WPCNR Editorial Advisory Board member, last year’s “total tax amount” was $11,071. This year’s “total tax amount” is $12,049….an increase of $978, or 8.83%. That percentage is about three times the rate of inflation claimed by the Federal government for last year.

According to another WPCNR Editorial Advisory Board member who delved back into their tax history the last five years, their city and school taxes have gone up 23% since FY 2002, and the board member says if he had not had the STAR exemption the increase would have been 47%!

This Board member raised his eyebrows in shock when he discovered that 18.2% of that 23% has been slapped on him by the city and the school district in just two years! (FY 2006 and 2007)

According to an editorial in The Journal News which dealt with the tax trauma being felt in the Mahopac school district, taxes in Westchester have risen about 46% in the past 5 years. You can test whether that’s the case for you by finding a tax bill from 5 years ago and performing the calculations we’ve outlined. You can then easily project ahead, and add the 46% increase — or whatever the 5 year increase was — to your current taxes to get a hint of what may lie in store if nothing changes. When evaluating the results, don’t forget that the White Plains school district now is contemplating a bond issue of more than $60-million, on top of its regular budget.

Some taxpayers have trouble understanding why, with all of the positive talk about the development boom in White Plains, local taxes keep going up much faster than inflation. Officials cite various factors involving state pension fund requirements, cuts in state aid, tax refunds given to property owners who have successfully challenged their assessments, and requirements of union contracts (who negotiated the contracts?).

Our Board member who discovered their 18.2% hike in two years noted that this means that the homeowner appears to be paying more than their “fair” share of the tax burden.

Some taxpayers may be tempted to suggest that higher taxes also could be a result of the city and school district “spending like drunken sailors.” However, any such suggestion would unfairly malign drunken sailors.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. June 30, 2006: Westchester County has responded to the needs of rain-soaked, flooded upstate New York, sending emergency workers, police and fire officers to help with rescue and cleanup efforts.

Westchester’s assistance to Broome, Delaware and Montgomery counties is being coordinated by the county departments of Emergency Services and Public Safety.  The area (including the city of Binghamton) has been devastated from this week’s rainstorms, with some streets submerged under 4 feet of water. On Thursday, Gov. Pataki declared a state of emergency in the region.

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A contingent of 54 area firefighters from 15 departments across Westchester County left for Broome, Delaware and Montgomery counties yesterday to assist with rescue operations. The Department of Emergency Services pulled the team together after upstate counties requested help. The Department of Public Safety is also sending a team of four police officers and a sergeant to assist the Delaware County Sherriff’s Department. The Sherriff’s Department, which is overwhelmed by the demands of the emergency, asked for help to augment their staff. Police will be helping to patrol and assist with anti-looting details.

Firefighters sent from Westchester were split into three teams and dispatched to the towns of Conklin, Deposit and Vestal. They returned today and were replaced by another team of 16 firefighters who brought with them eight 4×4 vehicles to help with evacuations. The second team is expected to return home on Sunday.

“They were really tired, but they accomplished a lot,’’ said Deputy Emergency Services Commissioner and Fire Coordinator John Jackson. “They aided in the evacuations and helped to secure homes and property, ensuring that electric lines were safe.”

Those Westchester agencies involved are:

Hartsdale FD

Verplank FD

Croton Falls FD

Somers FD

Montrose VA FD

New Rochelle FD

Chappaqua FD

Pelham FD

Fairview FD

Briarcliff Manor FD

Montrose FD

Mohegan FD

White Plains FD

Purchase FD

Yorktown FD

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WPCNR MILESTONES. Special to WPCNR.  June 28, 2006 UPDATED June 29, 2006: WPCNR has received word from Don Hughes that Robert Greer, suffering these last two years with Lou Gehrig’s disease died this morning at his home. The family will be sitting Shiva Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday from 2-5 at their home at 20 Cushman Road in White Plains. The service will be July 7th at 11am at Kol Ami, 255 Soundview Avenue in White Plains. Burial will be private.

Mayor Joseph Delfino of the City of White Plains, upon learning of Mr. Greer’s death issued the following statement: “The passing of Robert Greer is a tremendous loss to the City of White Plains and for me personally. Bob was a gentleman in every sense of the word, and possessed all of the attributes that allows a person to excel in public service.  Bob’s leadership and his years of service as a Councilman will always be looked upon as a time of progress for the City of White Plains. Bob had a vision for what the City could and should be, and on that level we certainly related.  Working alongside Mr. Greer during his time on the Council was special for me. He will be missed both personally and professionally.”

Robert Greer,  Election night, 2003. Robert Greer is shown with his longtime colleague, Benjamin Boykin, center,  Representative Nita Lowey and, far left,  County Legislator, Bill Ryan. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

Robert Greer was a member of the White Plains Common Council for 16 years. 

He had Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) for over two years.

Councilman Greer was a White Plains District Leader since 1983. 

He was chairman of the party, and he ran for Mayor in 2001. 

Some of the things that he saw as his accomplishments while on
the Common Council included:

* Voting for the improvements leading to the Westchester Mall;
* Supporting SHORE´s imaginative plan for combining housing for working families and formerly
homeless families;

* Working to save The Greenway;

* Fighting for movies at Main and Mamaroneck.

* Fighting for a Stop & Shop supermarket.

* Sponsoring legislation establishing minimum fines for landlords violating occupancy codes.

* Working to end the badge drain.

* Trying to  encourage White Plains to take advantage of 21st century technology.

He was especially proud of working for the construction of the new children’s room at the White Plains Public Library and the opening of the White Plains Performing Arts Center.

Bob recently received an award from the City’s Human Rights Commission for his work with agencies that include Family Services of Westchester, Head Start, and the White Plains Public Library.

During a Common Council meeting early last year Mr.Greer said, “one area of the body that is not attacked by ALS is the mind. I will always be me. My life has been enriched by the opportunity to serve as your councilman for the past 14 years. I intend to remain your councilman and serve the White Plains community as long as I am able.”

Let us all offer our support with cards and calls to his family as they work through the final part of
this devastating disease.

— Don Hughes