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 WINGS AND WHEELS. From Westchester County Department of Communication. November 8, 2007: Flying out of Westchester County Airport this holiday season? Thinking of driving there? Think again. With more flights to popular destinations than ever before and with thousands of people traveling over the holidays, there are simply not enough parking spaces for everyone.

Jet taxis for departure taxiway at Westchester County Airport.

           County Executive Andy Spano said, “Everywhere I go, people tell me how much they enjoy the convenience of flying out of Westchester. But because the holidays are traditionally the busiest time of year for air travel, there’s just not enough parking at the county airport to accommodate our passengers. Even under the best of circumstances, parking there is a problem.  If you want the best traveling experience and want to be assured you won’t miss your flight, I strongly suggest you get a ride to the airport. Don’t drive.”

 “For a safe, happy and stress-free trip, I urge our passengers to plan ahead of time on how they will get to the airport without driving there,” Spano said.

The airport management, the airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have been working cooperatively to ensure a positive experience for holiday travelers flying out of Westchester. The airlines have been particularly helpful in notifying passengers that parking is limited when reservations are made or emailing them when flights are booked online. The airport has also taken out paid advertisements, put up additional signage and is distributing promotional materials. Inside the terminal, the TSA is putting additional staff on duty to operate at maximum efficiency and meet the high demand for passenger and baggage screening.  For additional information on what passengers can or cannot bring on board, please visit www.tsa.gov. 

Another alternative is AirLink, the new bus service that runs between downtown White Plains and the airport. AirLink service departs from the White Plains Metro-North Railroad Station and the White Plains Bus Terminal for the airport approximately every 30 minutes, weekdays between 6:35 a.m. and 9:06 p.m.   Buses from the airport depart on a similar schedule between 7:36 a.m. and 9:36 p.m.  On Saturdays, Sundays and most holidays, AirLink service begins and ends at the same times, but morning and midday operations are hourly; late afternoon and evening service are every 30 minutes. More than 9,500 people have used AirLink since the service began in June.

For information on parking alternatives, travelers can visit www.westchestergov.com/airport or call 914-995-RIDE.

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WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. By John F. Bailey. November 9, 2007: Mayor Joseph Delfino told WPCNR today that his office had not been informed by  the DEC that White Plains was facing exclusion from the National Flood Insurance Program leading up to September 28, as FEMA had confirmed to the citizen who had called up when he found his insurance company had cancelled his flood insurance renewal.

Mayor Joseph Delfino. July, 2007. WPCNR Photo Archive.

The Mayor criticized FEMA for not notifying his office directly the city was excluded from flood coverage effective September 28 after the exclusion was put into effect.   The Mayor denied any knowledge White Plains had lost its flood insurance eligibility. A FEMA official Richard Einhorn had said that the DEC had sent the city four letters over five months or so warning of the impending exclusion from flood insurance

 The Mayor has scheduled a Special Meeting of the Common Council this evening to move up the Public Hearing the Council had scheduled on the flood legislation for December to November 20 to accept the DEC flood plain rules, storm water treatment regulations and digitized mapping of the flood plains in the city which, unbeknownst to the Mayor had to be passed by the Common Council 42 days ago.

Mayor Thanks WPCNR for the News

Mayor Delfino said, “I appreciate you’re having the article (on the Flood Insurance cancellation) because it’s the first I’ve learned about it. I want to thank you for doing that.”

WPCNR asked  if after the November 20 hearing was the council going to pass the local law, the Mayor said “Absolutely. Once we contact FEMA and advise them we’re passing it on the 20^th, and have whatever paperwork is required by them sent out wherever it goes, which they sent out previously, which I wasn’t aware of – and certification.”

Mayor’s Office Not Notified by the DEC before Impending Exclusion Date.

The Mayor was asked whether the DEC had informed him personally of the impending loss of Flood Insurance coverage. He said,

 “Absolutely not. I was overwhelmed when I read your article. This Mayor’s office had no idea this action was taken by FEMA. I don’t know whether Gouldner (Carey) called you or you called him. (Mr. Gouldner called WPCNR after he was informed by his insurance company is flood insurance would not be renewed ) I’m disappointed no one called the Mayor’s Office.  You talked to at least Mr. Power I guess, if he was aware of any action FEMA was about to take on this… I think he could have told me. I was stunned when I read your article. Edward Dunphy ( City Corporation Counsel) brought it out to me. It really took me aback. Mr. Gouldner has a right to his personal feelings. The Mayor’s office was not, was not aware of this. I think if you come tonight you’ll hear that. Let me tell you, Bud and I (Joseph “Bud” Nicoletti, Commissioner of Public Works)  have had discussions on this. We’ll our best to correct in the next 10-12 days (come into compliance by passing the Flood Plain maps.) Whatever’s required, we’ll do everything possible to correct this issue. Bud will have his explanation. He’s going to have one tonight. This was his responsibility.”

WPCNR pointed out the Council was not informed at the Monday Common Council meeting or the work session previously. The Mayor said “he knew nothing, just that we had to get this legislation done as we do all legislation,  on a timely basis. It sure wasn’t because of development that this took second priority. Absolutely not true.”

FEMA Does Not Return Mayor’s Calls Today. Mayor Seeks Dispensation.

The Mayor said he had called FEMA’s office three times Thursday to explain why they had not notified the Mayor’s Office White Plains had been excluded from flood insurance. (White Plains is the only city of 46 communities in the new flood plain areas failing to pass a local law accepting the new Department of Environmental Conservation flood plain and storm water guidelines.) “I’ve called Nita Lowey’s office to see if there’s a possible way for them (FEMA) to release  based on the fact we’re going to do it on the 20^th, I’d be happy to do that, but I need to talk to somebody in FEMA.”

Mayor Says He Was Not Aware of the NY DEC’s 4 Warnings.

I asked the Mayor if he had received the four letters FEMA official Richard Einhorn had told Mr.Gouldner had been sent by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, over five months, warning of the September 28 deadline for passing the local law approving the new DEC flood plain maps and storm water regulations.

The Mayor said, “Well, if it did it (the DEC letters) did not cross this office. It might have gone to Public Works, because they attend these meetings of FEMA and the DEC. If there was a timetable to be met written sanction as when insurance cancels, you can be sure it was not transmitted to this office. That’s the truth. You have to ask yourself why we would ever not if we knew? Put politics aside, why would anybody want to do that?”

The Mayor finished the conversation saying he wished Mr. Gouldner had called the Mayor’s office since councilpersons whom the Mayor said he called did not have the power to correct it.

“After all this hullabaloo he calls me to say,  Mr. Mayor, what are you going to do about it. We’re going to correct it. ASAP. If he had called me Monday,  and I may have had a great jump on this. We may have put it on the agenda  (with the new date).”  

Gouldner Only Found His Insurance was Cancelled Monday.

WPCNR checked with Mr. Gouldner why he had not called the Mayor Monday. Mr. Gouldner said he only received notice of the insurance cancellation Monday evening (in Monday’s mail). He called his insurance company Tuesday to find it was flood insurance that was cancelled because the city was excluded from the FEMA Flood Insuranc Program. When he called the Mayor’s office on Tuesday, no one could be reached because it was Election Day and City Hall was closed.

Mr. Gouldner told WPCNR what FEMA official Mr. Einhorn had told him, and WPCNR confirmed with the FEMA Press Office in New York that FEMA had excluded The City of White Plains from the program.

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WPCNR SOUTH END NEWS. From North Street Community (Edited with Reporting by WPCNR) November 7, 2007: Four  months after receiving Common Council approval for their 335-unit senior condominium development on the former St. Agnes property, which took them 2-1/2 years to get approved by the city,  North Street Community has begun evaluating  offers for the property for   partnerships and “joint ventures.”

The North Street Community Project as approved July, 2007. Construction was said to have planned for this fall at the time..

“There’s so much interest in White Plains, you’d be surprised how much interest there has been,” media spokesperson Geoffrey Thompson told WPCNR Wednesday. He said the offers came from niche firms and health care provider service firms who might join the partnership in developing the property, according to a news release issued Wednesday. Selling the entire property with its approved site plan to one buyer has not been ruled out. Thompson said when asked if selling it all to one buyer, Thompson said  “It could be a possibility. ”

The property was originally purchased at auction from the New York State Dormitory Authority for $21.5 Million. Approximately $3 Million has been spent, WPCNR believes in developing the site plan and obtaining approval.

Thompson said the owners had not encountered troubles in financing the construction of the massive project.

Slew of Offers. All Things Considered.

Thompson said ground-breaking is going to be in the spring, because the group  had to complete a series of tasks and submissions, and  plans for the city prior to start of construction that  have “lost the weather.”

In the meantime, Thompson said the partners, since their approval in July, had received  “a slew” of proposals from health care provider companies “unsolicited”. Thompson said any recommendations by Cushman & Wakefield could be in the form of a “joint venture,” with a firm perhaps purchasing one part of the project, or the rights to run it, or  either the 82,000 square foot medical office piece, residential (335-unit senior condominium), or medical facilities (92 assisted living units, and 20-units for Alzheimer’s disease.

WPCNR asked Thompson if that could conceivably be an offer from one firm to purchase the entire property. Thompson said “that might be possible.”  He said that’s what Cushman & Wakefield is being retained to do, sort out the most appealing offers.

A Change of Heart

WPCNR had asked C.J. Follini when the project was approved in July if the group now that it had the project approved would consider selling the parcel with the approved site plan, and Follini had vowed that they had believed in the project, the need for it in the city,  and would build it themselves.

In the news release Wednesday,  North Street partner Alfred Caiola, one of Follini’s partners issued this statement: “Rather than deal with these inquiries in a piecemeal fashion, we’ve decided to bring in experts with the experience and understanding to assist and advise us…we always anticipated bringing in a skilled company to operate the assisted living and Alzheimer’s facilities; however, during the two-and-a-half-year approval process, many companies expressed interest in various other aspects of the project. As we focus on completing the details of the construction plans, it made sense for us to bring in experts (Cushman & Wakefield Senior Housing and Healthcare Group), to help us evaluate these interests.”

Cushman & Wakefield is expected to make recommendations as to the best offers and proposals.

The 335 condominiums were originally reported by the firm a year ago as being priced from $400,000 to $900,000 each.

The firm has spent millions in addition to its purchase price in obtaining the approval for the site plan, in addition to the $21.5 Million it paid the New York State Dormitory Authority for the property when it bought the 23-acre site at auction in December, 2004.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2007. By John F. Bailey. November 7, 2007: Celebrating their “No Contest” win over spirited challenges from six other candidates, Councilman Benjamin Boykin, Councilman Dennis Power and Councilwoman-Elect,  Milagros Lecuona talked with WPCNR last night about their steamrollering of the opposition in Tuesday’s city election, which seemed to prove emphatically that the city by a margin of 2 to 1 likes everything that is happening in the city and everything Democratic.

Mr. Power said the triple sweep meant that the 5 vote majority could push legislation, though the Democrats have held a majority for the last eight years of the Delfino Administration. He and Boykin said the 1/2 % sales tax, the 10% affordable housing set aside legislation would be two top priorities.

WPCNR interviewed the three Council-Elects:

Ms. Lecuona, a U.S. Citizen for justf two years, told WPCNR,  “I am just happy. I think we did wonderful teamwork and we are going to be bringing that teamwork to the Common Council. It has been a wonderful campaign, transparent, clean, positive and that’s the way we are going to continue.”

Asked how she was going to prepare herself for taking a seat on the Council in January, Lecuona said she was going to continue doing what she had been doing, “still coming to the public hearings, and reading all the material I can get my hands on. Learning. Learning.”

Asked what issue right now she and her colleagues were going to focus on. “We have a month and a half in front of us and we need to get together and see.”

WPCNR asked her if she ever thought many years ago (she has been in White Plains for 18 years) she would ever be elected to office. “I have been always involved with the community. This is another level. It was not like I was thinking about this particularly, but things progressed and when you are ready for something, then you do it. And I was ready to do the next step and that’s what I did.”

I asked who suggested she try for the council: “I got this suggestion from so many people you don’t have an idea in many different ways. And it was me that made the decision when I thought I was ready.”

I asked her how she thought the council might tackle the Equalization Rate problem, the budget, she said, “There are many things that need to be studied, studied as a team, and that’s where we are right now with a budget.”

I asked when they might study it, perhaps earlier : “ I have to hear what each of us (say) I am the newcomer.That question makes more sense for someone who has already been elected who should know, depending on the transparency  of the Common Council as to how much they know. For me, one of the priorities is going to work as hard as possible to get those hard numbers on the table.”

Asked if she had a statement for the people of White Plains, Lecuona said, “Thank you very much. I’m there for them. I’m going to be working very hard listening and thank you  from my heart.

Mr. Power, the leading vote getter said, “I’m glad we had a clean sweep tonight, got a lot of hard work ahead  but it’s a good victory for the people of White Plains.”

I asked Power if there was anything he and Mr. Boykin since they were already on Council, were going to be looking at right off the bat:  “We’re going to revisit a number of issues, I think, working together as colleagues, there’s a lot of things we’ve spoken about during the campaign in terms of balanced approach to development,  in terms of tax situations, in terms of neighborhoods, in terms of open space – those are things we’re just going to revisit and put some teeth around them in terms of initiative.”

White Plains FEMA Fumble An Issue.

I asked Power about the news of FEMA excluding White Plains from flood insurance due to non-compliance with the DEC. Power said, “Obviously that’s a very serious matter. It has to be investigated right away we have to see the connection and what we put on the agenda for December. We knew there were some deadlines coming but they were dealing with the state and county stuff. So now, if this in fact, comes about to be there was a deadline the administration was aware of and didn’t act on and did not let us know about it on the Common Council, this will add to the list of things that’s happening. There’s going to a change in terms of communication.”

I brought up the Equalization Rate drop and what he made of it, any thoughts:  “Even if it’s closely or remotely connected in terms of the ramifications of it it could be a major move, with major implications for the city of White Plains. The number one thing is to make sure we’re fighting that thing which we haven’t done in years is done. We have to examine what’s got to be done. After that we have to examine because everything comes through the cost side of the budget…”

I asked would this be done in public? “I would imagine so. Some of the things are done with the Corporation Counsel  and Mayor alone. But we have to approach more things in a public way. There’s no matter of discussing things in a back room and coming out and saying sorry.”

I asked about the Mayor run in 2009: “That’s two years away. Right now we’re talking about getting some things done legislatively for the people of White Plains.”

I asked if this win felt better than his first election to the Common Council in 1987:  “That was a very different one, that was an upset victory. This one is special because this gives us the ability to do things legislatively to do things that Mary Ann Keenan and I were unable to do back in 1988. This now gives us opportunity to push forward legislative agenda that we think are important. Obviously sales tax. It’s centerpiece discussion, now with some feedback from Adam Bradley. There’s a lot of things that need to be discussed.”

I wondered  if he had thought about  balanced development, had he further defined it. He had not, but  he said, “You’re talking about decisions being made. That was a front-burner during the campaign, it will remain a front burner going forward. It’s not a matter of sitting back and saying what will developers offer us for downtown White Plains.”

Councilman Boykin echoed that “This was a great victory for the people of White Plains. The people have spoken. I’m very pleased and humbled they have given me another four years in office.  For me personally, it is a very sweet victory because I was the target of a small group at each debate, at each quoram. But I stood on my record and am proud of my record. I am proud to serve everyone in this city.”

I asked what he was going to be concentrating on in the weeks ahead.  He said the council would be taking the sales tax half percent increase up November 20, and the council would deal with that. He also said there was the affordable housing issue that he said was “being research now,” and that he wanted to bring that to a vote. “We want to get the workforce housing to be built owed to us by Cappelli. We want that to come on stream as soon as possible. And other quality of life issues and issues relating to development that we will deal with in this city.”

I asked Mr. Boykin if he had concerns about the lowered Equalization Rate and whether he, as Chair of the Budget and Management Committee would be taking up the budget earlier this year. “I’ve heard about it. We will be looking at the budget through budget and management and other avenues and we will be soon having a budget and management meeting to address a lot of issues. We have a lot of issues to deal with – an update on sales tax. It looks like we’re going to be very good on the sales tax.”

Any concern about the 2.69% Equalization Rate, I asked.  Boykin said, “I haven’t gotten it from the city. We’ll take a look at it.”

Liz Shollenberger, the Chair of the Democratic City Committee said the Democratic victory, sweeping 42 of 43 districts, one not reporting, with a vote majority of 2 to 1, was “The better candidates definitely won the election this time. This was a victory of compassion over meanspiritedness. A victory for people who know and really care about the citizens of White Plains.”

Schollenberger declined to talk about the Mayoral race two years from now. She said, “I hope our party will continue to grow strong. I hope we win the presidency next year.”

Schollenberger said the City Democratic Party is growing, saying we have a thousand more voters county wide.  She complimented the candidates:  “We were a team effort all through the campaign, through the nominations, the primary, the general elections. Every one worked very well together. I think that’s what contributed to the victory. We weren’t fighting with each other we were fighting with the White Plains gadflies and everyone else.”

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WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. By John F. Bailey. November 6, 2007 UPDATED 4:23 PM: The press office of FEMA Region 2 has just confirmed to WPCNR that the National Flood Insurance Program is no longer in effect in White Plains, and has not been in effect since September 28, apparently due to the new digitized flood map being lost in the White Plains Department of Public Works, according to the FEMA spokesperson.

 If you thought you had flood insurance in the city of White Plains. You do not.  FEMA suspended White Plains from the Federal National Flood Insurance Program September 28, according to Cary Gouldner, a citizen who was just informed by his insurance company they were cancelling his insurance due to the FEMA crackdown.

The Common Council apparently was not informed when they considered the legislation at last night’s Common Council meeting. to conform to the new Department of Environmental Conservation flood standards, that White Plains residents were no longer covered. At the work session last week it was not revealed that flood insurance was no longer in effect.

The media spokesperson for FEMA, Barbara Lynch told WPCNR that all White Plains need do to get its citizens back into the flood insurance eligibility,  is inform FEMA after the local law is passed (as early as December 3), and the DEC would reinstate them.

Backyard on Midchester Avenue During a Northeaster in White Plains this year.

WPCNR has learned from Mr. Gouldner,  who has recently had his flood insurance cancelled by his insurance company that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has suspended the City of White Plains from the National Flood Insurance Progrthe am. Mr. Gouldner said that he had renewed his flood insurance as of November 1, only to receive a letter from his insurance company that his renewal ad been cancelled because FEMA had suspended White Plains from the Flood Insurance Program. The customer then contacted the New York Regional Office of FEMA who referred him to a FEMA office in New Jersey who informed Gouldner that FEMA had suspended White Plains from the program as of September 28.

Gouldner, speaking to WPCNR early this afternoon,  said the National Flood Insurance Program does not cover sewage backups or damage from rain. He said, though that when his basement flooded due to the Northeaster earlier this year he was covered for the three feet of flooding in his basement.

WPCNR is following the story. City Hall was closed today and could not be reached for an explanation.

Last night the Common Council set up a hearing in December on the local law dealing with amending the White Plains Municipal Code regarding Flood Damage Prevention. It has now been determined by WPCNR that these amendments were related to reinstating  the FEMA flood insurance. But, at no time last night, was there a sense of urgency involved in moving these regulations through either in the work session when the Commissioner of Public Works explained them to the Common Council, nor last night.