Clergy Offers 3 Churches to House Homeless of the Night. Council Indifferent.

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WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By John F. Bailey. October 31, 2007: A group of White Plains clergy, led by the Rabbi Lester Bronstein  will continue to explore the possibility of providing any of 3 churches to house some of the White Plains homeless left without overnight sanctuary since the county closed the 85 Court Street shelter August 5.  Names of the churches considering housing the unfortunate who shun county Department of Social Services programs were not disclosed, at the suggestion of the Mayor. The group learned that locating an emergency shelter for the homeless was permitted in the city central district, but not in the outlying neighborhoods, if a special permit was granted for such a facility.



The Homeless of the Night:


A White Plains man, with no place to go bunked out at 10:00 P.M. Monday evening at the Galleria entrance as the temperature dipped into the mid-40s.




The hour and a half meeting Wednesday afternoon ended with Rabbi  Bronstein saying they would seek permissions from three church congregations to house the homeless. 



Reverend Bronstein said he and a colleague had approached Mayor Joseph Delfino and County Executive Andrew Spano separately to broker a meeting of the minds on achieving a solution to the wandering homeless of White Plains.


County to Provide. Homeless Are Out There.


Bronstein said three churches had stepped forward, willing to house the homeless, provided the county would provide the security and professional personnel to staff the shelters. The Director of Open Arms Shelter said he knew of at least 25 homeless persons who wander the streets of White Plains at night. The Open Arms advocate said he would explore housing some at the Open Arms/Samaritan House Grace Church locations. He said they were in Silver Lake Park, in doorways, in malls.


The Mayor said police were out every night looking for sleeping homeless with a County TRUST representative (to counsel them to enter into a DSS program). He suggested to the Open Arms director the list of homeless should be given to the police.


Mission of Conciliation.


A representative of the clergy had met with County Executive Spano, Bronstein said, and reported the County Executive had said Wednesday “the county would allow in White Plains whatever the Mayor and the City Council agreed to.”  Bronstein indicated this would include a shelter with cots in a location in the city.


Bronstein cautioned that the church congregations involved had not been asked to approve nightly homeless sheltering in their buildings yet. 


Councilmen Glen Hockley and Arnold Bernstein allowed that if the shelter were to go into a church, whether or not the congregations wanted it, having such persons would impact the surrounding neighborhood, indicating that was a problem.  Mr. Hockley made reference to sex offenders being housed at 85 Court Street and that the population dispersed was at best an unknown quantity.



 


 Hockley suggested the homeless be sheltered at the former bus depot (above) to the West of the White Plains Railroad station, that the county reopen the airport shelter they had closed in 2006, also suggested a new building good be built on an executive park outside the city, and finally suggested a “warming tent” to be pitched on a parking lot.


Councilpersons Malmud and Roach were noncommittal on the idea of the church outreach effort. Roach said that at no time had White Plains suggested the homeless sleep in chairs overnight, that this was strictly a county policy. Roach said that it was his understanding that the other emergency shelters in Yonkers, Peekskill, New Rochelle and Mount Vernon would only provide chairs for the homeless to use overnight beginning today (November 1)


Bronstein clarified that the Department of Social Services had approached several churches in White Plains to take on the locations as “warming centers” with the homeless to be provided chairs to sit in overnight. Bronstein said this was unacceptable to the clergy whom the county approached.


Rabbi Bronstein said that it was not the clergy’s purpose or desire to open shelters in the churches, but the clergy was seeking a way to show that White Plains had a solution to house the homeless and was not refusing to do so.


Bronstein said the idea was to prevent homeless from freezing to death now that cold weather was coming in.


The Commissioner of Planning informed Rabbi Bronstein and his group that such homeless shelters  were only allowed by Special Permit in the Central Business Parking District from North Broadway south to Post Road and West to the Train Station.  The inference was that in order for a church  ( or any organization) within that area to open such a shelter they would have to seek a special permit.


The director of Open Arms said he had the ability to house 20 and another site possibly could hold 20. The Commissioner of Planning noted that the number of beds had to be held to 19, in order to open an emergency shelter without having to be licensed by the state.


Trying to prevent a person freezing to death.


Bronstein at the close of the meeting said “We’re trying to circumvent all that.  We made the assumption that nobody was going to come up with a site. Plain and simple nobody wants this…We did not come to ask the council and mayor to help us with our great desire and goal  to open shelters in our churches. We’re well aware of neighborhood concerns. We did something else to say at least that you all will have a site in your back pocket. ..at last resort you’ll be able to say you have this site, But a good site. “


Another said,


“We will go back and talk with other religious leaders and our concern is not to be pulled in to certain aspects of this and but we are very aware it’s the first of November, there have been temperatures in the 30s, and  we’re trying to do something with some haste that prevents somebody from dying on the streets to hold back some other things that are going to happen, more protests, people sleeping on the streets.”


The group left with a sense that a site in the downtown, whether it be in a church, a parking lot, or wherever was possible with special permit under zoning. The council did not endorse it wholeheartedly, (note opposition of Mr. Hockley and Mr. Bernstein), but did not reject the concept either.


 Recap of last week’s Homeless Action:


The County in their statement to the media last week said, “In fact, Mayor Delfino and the White Plains Common Council, passed a resolution to get the drop-in (at 85 Court Street, closed August 5), closed. ..To be helpful, the County offered to move the drop-in to three different locations (not disclosed). The Mayor refused to consider these options.” This overstates the resolution passed. The resolution only asked the county consider another location, (away from downtown) and that White Plains was housing more than its share of the homeless.



The County chided White Plains churches and advocates for not championing the homeless cause earlier in the process: “At no time, while the City was putting pressure on the County to close the drop-in (at 85 Court Street), did any church group or advocate come forward to try to get White Plains to change its stand. Now these same groups are rightly making their voices heard, but they are talking to the wrong person. The County would allow cots in the warming centers if the Mayor and City Council would agree. Having cots, as opposed to chairs, creates a defacto drop-in (shelter), something the City has opposed. If they change their minds, the County would be happy to permit cots (in the warming centers), instead of chairs.”


Meanwhile with the first cold snap of the season, temperatures drifting into the 40s this week, the homeless wander the streets. One even attended the Candidates forum at Vintage Restaurant Monday evening. WPCNR interviewed this person who said the reason he did not respond to county efforts to get him to agree to go into the Department of Social Services program, was that he likened the county Valhalla/Grasslands shelter to a prison population which he did not want to associate with. Asked by WPCNR if he would work in exchange for a place to stay with local businesses, churches, or organizations, he said he would not do custodial work or odd jobs. He would not say how he spent his nights.


Meanwhile, the refugees from the drop-in have been seen around town in Battle Hill, in parks, such as Liberty Park, sleeping on benches, in doorways and garages, since the Drop In Shelter at 85 Court Street was closed


 

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Stackpole Foresees $33-Million Assessment Drop Creating Tax Problem

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2007. By John F. Bailey with Peter Katz. October 29, 2007:  Thursday, October 24, 1929, is remembered as Black Thursday – the day the stock market crash began, which marked the beginning of the Great Depression. On Monday, October 29, 2007, there was a depressing financial moment here in White Plains for those who were listening carefully to Common Council candidate Robert Stackpole at the forum held by the Downtown Residents Association at Vintage Restaurant.



Robert Stackpole at Monday’s Downtown Residents Association Forum: A Bit of Bad News.


Stackpole, running for Common Council on the Independent Party line along with Robert Levine, spent about 35 years of his career as a Wall Street investment banker. During the candidates’ forum, he revealed that he had made some projections of the financial future for White Plains property taxpayers based on the revised New York State Equalization Rate which has to be used in figuring out how much taxpayers will have to pay. The city has challenged the proposed Equalization Rate for the coming tax year.


The whole issue of the Equalization Rate and calculating how much of the tax burden is borne by commercial property owners versus how much homeowners have to pay is rather complex. We’re not going to attempt to explain how it works in this article. You can find out about it at the web site of the New York State Office of Real Property Services — http://www.orps.state.ny.us/


$33 Million Gap


For openers, Stackpole calculates the city and school district face a $33-million drop in assessments. He calculates this translates into a 9% tax rate increase for the city and an 11% increase in the school tax rate.


Those increases just reflect what would be needed to make up the drop in assessments as calculated by Stackpole. They do not include any increases in year-to-year spending.


$1,000 Tax Increase


Applying this to a $700,000 single-family house in White Plains would result in approximately a  $241 increase in city taxes in 2008-2009 (from roughly $2,600 to $2,840) and an  $800 increase in school taxes in 2008-2009 (from $7,000 to $7,800). Again, that’s just to make up the drop in assessments, and does not make provision for any increases in spending or losses of income in other areas, such as direct state aid. 



The 9% city tax increase and 11% school tax increase would be the minimum.  Stackpole is hopeful he is wrong and that the full market value of property in the city will, when computed by the City Assessor in the spring, come in much higher than he estimates (7% higher – the average rate of increase in full value since 2003- 2004), which would mitigate assessment impact. The higher the full market value, Stackpole says, the better it will be for the city.


Only Your Assessor Knows for Sure.


The Full Market Value of all properties is calculated by the City Assessor annually, and this year will be presented on March 1, 2008. (This year’s market value is $9.1-billion, and Stackpole estimates it will go up 7%, the average for recent years, to $9.77-billion.)


 



Full Valuation Last 4 years (2003-2004 to 2007-2008) from the City 2007-2008 Budget.


Keep in mind that if spending increases at about the rate of inflation (about 3%), that would have to be added to the increase Stackpole expects would have to be made to make up for the decrease in assessments (i.e., 3% + 9% = 12% for the city; 3% + 11% = 14% for the school district).


Stackpole used the “working” 2.69% Equalization Rate figure released to the city by New York State last week (now being appealed). He calculated that the city will lose roughly $33-million off the March 1, 2008, Assessment Roll, resulting in a $7-million shortfall in city tax receipts – and a $14-million loss in School District receipts.



Assessed Valuation through 2006-2007 — from City Budget.


 


Sales Tax to the Rescue?


Should the city receive the one-half percent sales tax increase the administration proposed, but the request to Albany for which is being delayed by the Common Council, the increase in the city tax rate which Stackpole forsees might not be necessary.


However, as things stand now, the School District would receive no share of increased sales tax revenue and the school district’s tax increase to meet the assessment gap would have to be extracted from payers of property taxes or other revenue sources.


During an interview with WPCNR, Stackpole figured that if the city is unsuccessful in challenging the Equalization Rate, it faces a minimum $13 per thousand city tax increase, (to $155 per $1,000 of assessed value per home from the present $142/ $1,000 of assessed value).


School District Increase?


WPCNR took a look at the school district and figured that the $14-million gap would mean a $53 per thousand school tax increase (to $527 per thousand dollars of assessed value from the present $474/$1,000 of assessed value).


Strictly Based on Trend.


The assessed value of properties in the city is $296-million as of 2006-2007. Stackpole used this figure because he said this was a “hard” figure already documented. Stackpole says that when you subtract the $33-million, you wind up with an assessed value of $263-million.


$296 Million Minus $263 Million is $33 Million.


The present city tax rate of $142 per $1,000 of assessed value yields $37-million in receipts (263,000 x $142= $37Million). The present city budget for 2007-2008 calls for a property tax levy of $44-million. That leaves a $7-million gap for 2008-2009.


Stackpole estimated that to make that up the city would have to add $13 to the $142/$1,000 of assessed valuation to yield the property tax it requires. That brings the city tax rate to $155/$1,000 of assessed valuation.


Stackpole Says It’s “Grim.”


The sobering part of this projection is that it is applied to the present city budget and the present school budget with no increases in spending.  Any increase in the city budget of $154.5-million and the school budget of $174-million would force an increase in the tax rates unless other sources of income can be found.


“I’m not sure that people realize how grim this really is,” Stackpole told WPCNR.  He  said that in his computations, he allowed for an average 7% growth in full valuation, multiplied by the proposed new Equalization Rate.


Stackpole applied the 2.69% Equalization Rate to last year’s $9.1-billion full market value plus $630-million, adding 7% for a total of $9.7-billion to reflect the average yearly growth of full market value over the last 7 years.


Poof! $33 Million in Assessments Vanishes.


He multiplied the $9.7-billion figure by the 2.69% Equalization Rate, which gives $263-million of Assessed Value. He subtracted the figure of $263-million from the 2006-2007 hard figure of $296-million in Assessed Value which computes assessments as $33-million lower.


The assessed value figured in the 2007-2008 budget is $289-million, but Stackpole decided to use the hard figure of $296-million from 2006-2007 for a more conservative figure. The School District budget uses a $292-million figure for assessed Value in their 2007-2008 Budget.


Sales Tax Cure?


The sales tax increase sought by the city will yield $10-million according to city hall. That kind of revenue boost would take care of a $7-million shortfall caused by the assessment dip, as well as pay for salary and benefits increases of $3-million.


In a “Letter to the Editor” of The Journal News, Mayor Delfino hinted about property tax relief, which some people may have interpreted as a suggestion that some or all of that $10-million from an increase in the sales tax rate could be used to provide property tax relief. But, if Stackpole’s calculations hold up, there might not be any money available for a tax cut.


Back to the School District.


Bear in mind, the School District needs to start paying off the first of their bondings for the Capital Improvement plan and come up with another teacher contract settlement in 2008-2009, so the possible major erosion of assessments Stackpole sees would add unforeseen pain to the district budget-making process this year.


WPCNR used the math to see what the city school district shortfall might be.


At $263-million of Assessed Value, WPCNR multiplied the $474 per $1,000 of assessed valuation school tax rate by that number ($474 x 263,000 = $124.6M) coming up with a $124.6-million tax levy yield.


The tax levy yield in the present 2007-2008 City School Budget now in progress is $138.5-million. Stackpole noted to WPCNR, “this is a $14-million gap.”


 



The Present 2007-2008 School Tax Levy ($474.62 per $1,000 Assessed Valuation)


To meet that $14-million gap, WPCNR estimates the school district would have to add $53 to the $474 per $1,000 of assessed value tax rate.  ($53 x 263,000 = $14M; $474 plus $53/1,000  = $527/$1,000 /x 263,000 = $138.6 Million)


Stackpole said, “You have to be stupid not to see it (the budget effect on the taxpayers). You do not need a CPA degree or MBA degree to see that the budget is out of whack.”


Condos Killing the Assessments?


WPCNR asked Stackpole if he felt the equalization rate was affected by the number of condominiums which have been built in White Plains recently, many valued at more than  $1-million. He said that condominiums had a great deal to do with it, since condominiums are taxed at half or less-than-half the rate of stand-alone homes, “and we’re not getting enough bang for the buck out of the condos, we’re falling behind.”


As part of a WPCNR analysis of the equalization rate on this website last May,  we interviewed an assessor who stated, in part:


“As we are all aware, all property values have increased significantly over the last 10 years. However, some residential properties have increased at significantly higher rates than the other three categories: commercial property, vacant land and utility properties. This situation affects the weighting of the categories resulting in so much weighting to residential that it is lowering the equalization rate and that’s bad.                            


“The Equalization Rate works conversely. As market value increases, it is indicative that the Equalization Rate decreases, and vice-versa.


“Because a lot of Westchester municipalities have a significant amount more residential properties and the residential properties are increasing at a faster pace, the Equalization Rate is skewed, leaning more towards the residential constituent.”


 


What Can Be Done.


 WPCNR asked Stackpole, regardless of who is elected, what he thought had to be done to reverse this trend.


 


He said, “The New York State Legislature has to have some interest in changing the rules on evaluating commercial property. The legislature should change the taxation laws on cooperatives and condominiums which are taxed at half the rate of residential properties.” Stackpole added that the legislature should “pass the ½% sales tax (for White Plains) to mitigate some of the problems.”


 


 


He called on the Common Council to change policy on the city response to certioraris filed against the city, providing for a way of recapturing from the filing property the revenue the reassessment costs the city, and to look at new revenue sources. Stackpole pointed out that mortgage tax income, which he said has helped for the last couple of years, would be lowering as home sales slowed.


 


 


PILOTS Take Toll on Assessment Roll


 


Stackpole singled out the granting of PILOTS as costing the city more in assessable value than they bring in Payments in Lieu of Taxes. He pointed out that had the city not granted the PILOTS covering long periods of time (10 to 15 years), all the full market value of finished projects now on PILOTS for the next decade or more would be on the city tax rolls, considerably adding to the city’s Full Market Value, lessening the impact on assessable value determined by the Equalization Rate.


 


He did not estimate what he thought the PILOT properties were worth, just pointing out that the longer any PILOT lasts, the more the tax rolls and the taxpayers are deprived of the full benefit of development.


 


 


WPCNR figured what the Full Market Value of properties in White Plains would have to be to stop the decline in assessed value.


 


Just for the sake of demonstration, WPCNR used the Equalization Rate of 2.69%.


If Full Market Value reaches $10-billion, the drop in assessment value is only $27-million ($10B x .0269 = $269-million subtracted from $296-million (06-07 assessed value) = $27-million)).


If the total market value of all properties increases to $11-billion, there would be no drop in assessment value in 2008-2009 ($11-billion x .0269 = $296-million).


 


 

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24 Days to Kickoff at Parker Stadium

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WPCNR PHOTOS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. October 30, 2007: Parker Stadium is preparing to have its  synthetic Field Turf surface installed with 24 days to its Thanksgiving Day Turkey Bowl debut when White Plains High plays Stepinac. Here is how the field looks with 18 workdays to go. White Plains, with a 20-6 Win over Clarkstown North Saturday afternoon in rain and wind,  plays Gorton this Saturday, and hopes to get back within one game of .500 going into the Turkey Day tilt.



The Fifty Yard Line Monday afternoon.


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Should County/WP Bring in ICE on Illegal Immigration Problem

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WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. White Plains Poll. October 29, 2007: With the town of Suffern recently signing an aggreement with the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), to aid Suffern police in identifying repeat felons as illegal aliens, the first avenue of training ICE is expected to furnish the Suffern police, it raises the question whether or not the experise of ICE could be brought to bare on the reported chronic problem of illegal aliens being housed in unsafe conditions, and sending their children to local schools. A press spokesperson for ICE told WPCNR that ICE could supply resources to police departments to investigate illegal housing ownership and chronic housing of illegals if cities wanted ICE help in the matter. The spokespersons also said the agency (ICE) stood by to probe illegal sponsorships of non-citizens who in exchange for housing would be employed in local businesses around the county. ICE recently began prosecution of a Minnesota businessman for engineering a national network of illegal citizens employed in well-known national chains.


Should Westchester County and White Plains bring ICE in on the illegal housing problem, the employment of illegal citizens in its businesses, and in prosecution of alleged gang leadership and membership by illegal residents? What does Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains think?

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SLAM! So Long A-Rod.

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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Bull Allen. October 29, 2007: BOOM! (that’s sound of the Yankee Stadium locker room door slamming behind A-Rod at 12:30 A.M. this morning.


What a surprise! Alex Rodriguez wants to be a Yankee so much, he could not even wait 10 days — to start negotiating with other teams. A real Yankee, A-Rod. Quick now — how do the Yankees replace 54 homers and 156 RBIs?


Even before the Saux John Papelbon got the last out of the World Series, the Yankees Brian Cashman had been notified by voice mail by the super agent, Scott Boras  that A-Rod was opting out. I am shocked, simply shocked A-Rod would do that.


`



Home of Champions no more. The Big Ball Park, 1956.


The Sayonara to the Bronx  hit the wires seconds during Saux disposal of the pretender contenders, the Wild Card Colorado Rockies. I LOVE IT when a Wild Card gets shown up big. Is the National League STILL in the Major Leagues? (Couldn’t resist that shot. When are they going to go DH and play with the BIG DOGS)


Don’t forget to turn off the light at Yankee Stadium on your way out, Alex! It will a pleasure not to have to watch your immobility down at third base next year. The Statue at third. I can never remember Alex Rodriguez diving for a ball behind third and he never played the line in the lates. And I will not miss those fumbled barehand pickups on the grass. A Brooks Robinson he was not.


 Derek Jeter could have been All Star at two positions this year, third and short. And, Alex, we’ll always remember your sense of team camraderie and leadership. If the Yankees go after this soldier of fortune with the rest of the pack, they are fools. Now, they are forced to sign Posada, at least.


Tomorrow, it will be interesting to see how new manager, Don Mattingly answers the question, how will you replace A-Rod? I mean it has to be Mattingly now. If I’m Joe Girardi or Tony Pena, I have to be crazy to take the thankless job of presiding over the rapid elevator ride down the standings, the Yankee franchise is about to take and taking the fall for it. Pena might take it. But Tony, you’re too smart to be the fall guy. Don’t do it. Pena won 85 games with the Kansas City Royals. He’s good. Don’t wreck yourself with this use-you-up franchise.


Boras is reported by the Associated Press that A-Rod left because negotiations between the Yankees and Posada, Rivera and Andy Pettitte would not be completed before the 10 days were up. Pretty lame. Boras said A-Rod was afraid the closer, “his catcher” and a major pitcher would not be on the team. Lame. He knew that all year.


If the Mets do not seriously go after Posada or Rivera now they are just as dumb. These two great New York players are available and they can give the Mets what they need. The Bombers have a big problem. The failure of the Yankees to renegoiate Rivera and Posada during the season indicates more than ever the long range plan to sell this team el rapido. It will never be worth more than it is today. Not only that but with A-Rod off the payroll they will be more profitable to any new owner.


New York now has a big hole at third base and needs to either make a trade or sign somebody. But, but, but it is pitching New York needs. Soon they may need catching too. Do you really think Posada wants to catch another 130-140 games next year with a .500 club? Because without the A-Rod threat  the Yankees have no long ball threat in the middle of the lineup.


Well before we go into absolute panic we have to see the free agents available.


But, once again the New York sports writing buffet-grazers have pushed out the Yankee publicity surrounding the A-Rod, Posada, Rivera signing problem without seeing it for what it really is — a totally dumb move by the inept hierarchy now that George Steinmbrenner is no longer apparently directing the team closely.


If you were going to sign Mo and Jorge — you should have done it during the season — or unloaded them to the METS who would have won the pennant with them– and given up some young talent which the Yanks could need. Now, the Yankees will get nothing for them. Mo needs another pitch in my opinion, but can still be effective. Posada…what a catcher for 36 years old — but this again was a walk year.


Haven’t general managers gotten the walk year syndrome in the free agency era? Players go out of their way to have a great year in the walk year of their contracts. I know I would.


Congratulations to the Red Sox and Gansetts all around. Forever Fenway!


 And, unlike the Patriots, the Red Sox don’t cheat. You got the idea the Red Sox were toying with the Yankees during that stretch run.


When you come down to it, baseball is so great it survives the greedy, shallow, fan-insensitive people who run it.


And, I got to tell you if Bud Selig wants to continue ruining the game, just keep televising the series and playoffs at night.


This is sooooooooooo dumb!


When is Bed Selig going to tell the NFL and the Networks that baseball needs to be televised when the kids can see the games — and not in prime time so as to give the football networks exclusive ratings poaching.


The insidious growth of sports like soccer among our youth is not a good sign for baseball. No kids are playing it any more. Pickup games are not seen any more.


Why is that? The games now are too slow. They last too long — mainly due to the curse of Sparky Anderson, (bringing in 4 relievers a game in the mid-70s) and the horrendous invention of the pitch count which has ushered in the 6-inning quality start.


When I was sitting in the upper deck in the old Yankee Stadium, anyone who did not pitch into the 8th was a bum. The 5-inning starter pitched the second game of a doubleheader.


I see 10 and 12 and 14 year old girls who can throw 120 pitches a game, walk nobody, and still have heart and intelligence to throw a pitch with something on it at the end of a game. Besides Mr. Schilling and Mr. Beckett, who does that in the big leagues today?


Major league baseball has to examine the teachings of the great pitching coaches Johnny Sain, and the wisdom of Warren Spahn who threw every day. It is not pitch counts that build an arm, it is building arm strength through throwing. I’m not saying that, Spahnie said that and he won 363 games in the bigs — most of them complete games.


And another thing. Can we go back to the real strike zone: letters to knees and the corners? The small strike zone is causing the walks, making it easier to hit homers and allowing the hitters to bottom feed off pitchers who cannot throw a finesse strike. It’s obvious.


More to come.


And it’s 36 degrees, the softball and baseball seasons are over.


Perhaps a certain well-known, hands-on local developer will buy the Yankees. You never know.

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Westco Gala Gives Chester His Day – Honors Quiet Icon with Kingston Trio Triumph

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WPCNR Center Stage. By John F. Bailey. October 28, 2007 UPDATED WITH NEW PIX: George Grove, Bill Zorn and Rick Dougherty, The Kingston Trio flew into town from out of the past and into future Saturday night to pack the Irvington Town Hall Theatre lifting everybody up with their toe-tapping uplifting classic folk song memories as fresh and meaningful as tomorrow.


The six strings sung, the banjo twanged and plucked and energized,  the three voices celebrating the trio’s 50 years on the road were 20 years old again! And so were we!



Kingston Trio on The MTA at Westco’s Gala Saturday night in a packed Irvington Town Hall.



Chester Day — the Westco Honoree with Bill Zorn, Rick Dougherty and George Grove of America’s Trio — the Kingston Trio at the after-show party at Il Sorriso Ristorante in Irvington.


 The occasion was Westco Productions – the 28 years running local theatre innovators’  — annual Gala  honoring Westchester’s “Quiet Icon,”  Chester Day, the President and Treasurer of one of America’s most inspiring cemetaries, Kensico.  Day, a major supporter of Westco over its 28 years, was described as a model for a successful businessman, and a  man who goes about doing good and giving back, in the words of Westco Productions Board President, Steven Sledzik. He received the annual Westco Crystal Star “The Westie” award from founder Susan Katz.





Steven Sledzik, President of the Board of Directors left, and Susan Katz, right, “First Lady of Westchester Theatre,” founder of Westco Productions listen as Mr. Day accepts his “Westie”


Mr. Day in accepting the award was very self-deprecating, as is his style, and praised Westco Productions performances for ailing children, its Healing Walls program and educational original performances of historical plays in the county’s schools, and community theatre groups for the underprivileged and the disabled. Mr. Day himself is a member of the Westchester County Association and the Westchester Business Council. He is President of the Metropolitan Cemetary Association.


The concerts Westco Productions stages fund its community activities which include Theater for Young Audiences (one hour musical productions), Creative Theatre Workshops “Broadway Babes” and “Magic To Do Players” (for the disabled),  Slater Center Theatre, their Bedside Buddies program and Healing Walls initiative creating hospital atmosphere that heals. To learn more of these activities go to www.westcoproductions.org.  (Coming up this spring are  The New Christy Minstrels, The Lettermen and Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals.)



George Grove, Bill Zorn, Rick Dougherty up close and personal, transform the Irvington Town Hall Theater into a college dorm lounge and everybody joined in.


 The Trio came to party  because they are  Chester Day’s favorite group and the obvious, “can do no wrong” favorite of the expectant crowd of clapping, eager aficionados of the Trio classics – from “Scotch and Soda” to “Tom Dooley” to the always timely, “MTA.”


The Trio, is perhaps the most infectiously good-natured feel-good folk group you can hear live – every thing strings nothing electric. It’s old-fashioned driving masterful guitar and banjo pickin and pluckin from down in the haller.


Incongruously, the group is so spirited and vibrant in their style, harmony and youthful vigor they make songs about hanging, dying  and shipwrecks (The Ruben James  is a stirring tribute), celebrating the sadness and the emotion, weirdly fun.


The trio, tight, smooth, informal, irreverent, respectful of their past,  delivered an easy-going winning two hour show that dusted you off,  polished you up, lifted your spirit and sent you out there believing that a guitar and a song can change the world.


“ Bravo-ed “ back by the audience who seemed to have not felt this good in years,  the trio topped the evening with two encores sounding eerily like the group sounded 50 years ago –their “ Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” first encore resonated with meaning – as relative today to war as it was 50 years ago.  They closed the happy night  with a spirited, as American as Apple Pie version of The Road to Freedom – and that had me, at least ready to pick up a picket sign!



Susie The K Gets the Soiree on the Way and welcomes the throng.


Romping on stage after founder Susan Katz’s introduction, the Trio started strumming in a masterfully casual show, with the picking fingers of America’s “Troubadours Forever” launching into Darling Cory,’ then “You’re gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone.” And on into the night they sang.



The Trio introduced Mr. Day to the packed house. Mr.Dougherty sung an ode to Mr.Day, based on the Beatles’ Yesterday, which began “Chester Day, came to see the Kingston Trio play….” a memorable musical recognition.


 The group, originally founded fifty years ago as a calypso group,delivered Zombie Jamboree and Bimini with “island flare,” and Mr. Grove playing a mean conga drum. The favorite “MTA” had the house joining in on the chorus, “Did he ever return, no, he never returned”  with the Trio earning big laughs when they sang, “Charlie’s wife through the open window, hands him a Starbuck’s as the train comes rushing through.”


The irrepressible Bill Zorn, a native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, longtime member of the New Christy Minstrals before hooking up with the Trio, showed great humor, but the best joke of the evening was George Grove’s way of explaining what a jukebox was to the young people in the audience. Grove said  “It’s like a giant IPOD.” Kudos for that line!



Mr. Zorn (right) soloing with the stylish bass player  Paul Gabrielson (left) on the Number 1 Jukebox requested song of all time, the Trio’s Scotch and Soda. Mr. Zorn, should he wish it has a career as a crooner, (sounding a lot like Vic Damone or Jack Jones on Scotch and Soda), if he wants one. Garbrielson’s  mellow bass counterpart to Zorn’s styling of this song comparing love to the buzz of  scotch and gin, had us slightly older guys all remembering how a woman can make you feel.


The Trio gives you chills with the  haunting memory, Long Black Veil. They polish up all the feelings these old folk classics preserve and make you feel them again. Rick Dougherty told me afterwards the Trio has a great repertoire and the thrill of singing the over 400 songs the Trio has to select from for every concert, and reintroducing to new audiences again and again never grows old. “They’re classics,” he says. The songs continue to be because the Kingston Trio keeps them living for everyone who hears them.  And they make you feel alive, too!


Asked if the Trio ever gets tired of performing the same songs, Dougherty said that first and foremost he was a musician, and you don’t become a musician to make a lot of money. You become a musician because you like to play, and if you’re lucky you might become successful at it. Dougherty said performing the Trio songs gave the group tremendous feedback, playing to audiences that love the songs, he said. He never gets tired of it.  A musician likes to play.


Asked if the group rehearses he said they don’t sometimes they conference call, and they pick and choose from their large repertoire, but of course every concert has to have at least the 10 or so songs people expect to hear.



Rick Dougherty duetting with Ozzie Ashburn, a member of the Westco Board at the Westco swank soiree at Il Sorriso Ristorante just down the block from the old Town Hall theatre held after the show. Dougherty likes to sing so much, he was dueting with Ms. Ashburn on Tura Lura Lura as the party approached midnight.


 



Dougherty with Ashburn and Bernedette Vinci, Director of Finance for Westco.


Afterwards the Trio hung out and stayed at at the after party at Il Sorriso Ristorante Italiano where Mr. Day, the Westco Honoree of the night was feted for his support of Westco.


 



Bill Zorn with Carol Greenburg, another Westco Director as the Trio mingled in the mosh.



Susan Katz, left with Mr. Day and his wife Laurie, Bill Zorn, Rick Dougherty and George Grove.


 



Peter Katz, Senior Anchor of White Plains Week and the publisher of Aviation Monthly,  smoozing with Mr. Dougherty and Brenda Starr of The Flash.



Susan Katz with the Guest of Honor.


I tell you this – the songs are American classics that celebrate the unique American character and nowhere is this brought out more than in their last song, The Road to Freedom. A song made popular in the early 60s, it sends the message that freedom and liberty have to be fought for again and again, and well it makes you want to go out and look for a good cause to work for.


 


Members of the Trio mingled with the guests until all guests had left in a most gracious manner as if they were the hosts. What class and style these performers have!


When I left their concert, their songs, their music, their passion for the music, made this old cynic think everything was possible again.


The way the Trio sings is as bracing and up lifting as when you first heard a kid with a guitar strumming in a college lounge, rec room, or coffee house. Their sound makes you want to come on and listen and sing along because the songs make you feel so damn good!


Will the Trio go on forever?


There’s a good chance. Mr. Dougherty says his 7 year old son wants to sing in the trio. He now sings Tom Dooley, only Mr. Dougherty says the little boy sings it, “Hang down your head Tom Doodley”.


For a complete history of the Trio, and to hear their songs, check out www.kingstontrio.com.

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Chertoff Forces Spitzer to Issue No Fly No Cross Illegals License

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WPCNR ALBANY INSIDER. By John F. Bailey. October 27, 2007 with official news releases: Governor Eliot Spitzer today stood with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to announce an agreement that will make New York’s licensing system the most secure and most comprehensive license system in the country – one that will offer New Yorkers maximum choice for driver’s licenses, uphold the strictest security standards and ensure the economic vitality of Upstate New York. 


However  the Governor’s plan has been modified by the Department of Homeland Security: persons in New York illegally or who are not citizens will not be able to use any licenses issued by New York State to them for safety and insurance reasons to cross borders or using the license to board air planes at aiports. WPCNR reported exclusively two weeks ago that the Governor’s New York license for illegals policy had not received either approval of  Department of Homeland Security or the Transportation Security Administration (which oversees safety at the nation’s airports), for its one license for all policy.


Mr. Chertoff, in a statement said he did not condone the Governor’s drivers license for illegal programs: “I don’t endorse giving licenses to people who are not here legally, but federal law does allow states to make that choice. What we can do is insist that licenses that do not meet federal requirements be clearly so labeled. New York has agreed to do that.”


 


The agreement means that persons residing in New York illegally will be able to obtain a third tier driver’s license from New York State, but that license i.d. will not allow its holders to fly on planes from airports or cross borders. New York has agreed also to offer an enhanced driver’s license for workers traveling across the Canadian border and back so as not to disrupt present worker, and finally, all citizens of New York will be offered a Real I.D. — acceptable program in 2009.


(WPCNR was the first to report exclusively  two weeks ago that New York was required to comply with Real I.D. standards for border and plane boardings in 2009, which the Governor’s Press Office said they did not have to comply with until 2013.The new agreement between New York and the Department of Homeland Security now brings New York and the Governor’s license plan into this timetable and rejects licenses issued to illegal aliens as government-approved documents for boarding airplanes and crossing borders.)


The Governor’s Press Office had told WPCNR, the governor would make illegal licenses identifiable so they could be distinguished from real United States citizens. Now, the Governor has reversed this policy and licenses issued under the new Homeland Security-approved agreement, will contain a phrase reading “Not for U.S. Government Purposes.”


The agreement stipulates that:




  • License Illegals but with a Catch– New York State will continue to move forward with its plan to license undocumented immigrants, but will now implement that policy in tandem with the implementation of modified REAL ID regulations. When combined with the anti-fraud security measures DMV has already announced, according to DHS Secretary Chertoff, “These techniques will make New York licenses among the most secure in the country.”

 



  •  Enhanced Drivers License for workers: The Department of Homeland Security will allow New York State’s DMV to begin offering an “Enhanced Drivers License” that will allow Western and Northern New Yorkers to cross the New York-Canadian border without a passport. This is critical because next year the federal government has mandated that New Yorkers will no longer be able to cross the New York-Canadian border without a passport. This agreement will ensure that the Upstate Economy does not suffer from this new federal mandate.



  • The Department of Homeland Security, in its final regulations of REAL ID, will address the (Bush) Administration’s main concerns regarding the original draft regulations and, as a result, New York’s licensing system will be in near compliance with the anticipated final regulations as DHS has laid out.

          This accommodation will allow (New York State) to implement REAL ID far sooner than expected. The final regulations, which are due out in the next month or two, will be far less expensive to implement, and will address convenience and privacy concerns.


3 Separate Licenses 



As a result of this comprehensive license agreement, New York will offer three separate and secure licenses all used for different purposes – an “Enhanced Drivers License” for crossing the New York-Canadian border, a federally-approved license to fly on planes and a New York State license for driving and identification purposes.


The New York State license will continue to be available to both undocumented immigrants and lawful residents who simply choose not to purchase one of the federally-approved licenses, either because they already have a passport (35% of New Yorkers do), don’t want to pay an extra fee for one of these new federal licenses, or cannot meet the extra requirements necessary to get them. The state-approved license will simply say “not for U.S. government purposes.”


According to Secretary Chertoff: “In sum, that clarification, along with implementing REAL ID and Enhanced Drivers Licenses represents a major step forward for security, both for New York and for the country.”


Spitzer Explains the Compromise


“As New Yorkers who have felt first hand terrorism’s brutal consequences, and who have known what it is like to have our communities under siege, we take the threat of terrorism very seriously,” said Governor Spitzer.


“This agreement represents a major step forward for national security and will make New York and the entire country safer. It allows us to continue moving forward to license undocumented immigrants securely, while also allowing New York to implement the steps necessary to avoid economic and convenience costs to all New Yorkers as new federal travel restrictions come into effect.”


“We are pleased DHS has worked with us to address many of our concerns about REAL ID, which allows New York to begin implementing the system so New Yorkers will not need a passport simply to board a plane. DHS also heard our concerns about the need to safeguard our Upstate economy, and agreed to allow us to provide an enhanced drivers license as an alternative to a passport to permit the free-flow of commerce across the New York-Canadian border.”


“This agreement also demonstrated the benefits of putting politics aside when advancing sound policy. I respect Secretary Chertoff’s feelings about providing undocumented immigrants with driver’s licenses, and applaud him and the Department of Homeland Security for recognizing that this is a state decision and that we can still implement such a policy in ways that will make the system safer and secure for all Americans.”



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Goodbye Nook

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. October 27, 2007: On this rainy day it’s time to step back into living history one last time. White Plains is losing another living fossil of the past, The Corner Nook Café across the street from City Hall. America used to have thousands of locally owned “eateries” like the Nook, run by persons who put together serviceable tasty unique foods to a nononsense customers – they were called customers then – not clientele or clients or diners.


 



Good Bye Nook–Today is reported to be the old place’s last time until next time.




Today is the final day in the Nook’s 25 year life, and the Dimitrakakis family who has run it for this friendly time will close down the operation making way for affordable – now politically correctly known as “workforce” – housing that will be built by the builder of The Ritz Carlton hotel so the Ritz condominiums can open for the buyers of Million dollar condos.  Such is the irony, the city of White Plains policy on affordable housing  says, we have to close you – Mr. Dimitrakakis — down so I can build homes for people who cannot afford market rate homes, so people who can afford  market rate homes can move into them.



Super Developer Louis Cappelli with his new partners, Peter Dimitrakakis, his wife Antoinnette and daughter at City Hall last night. Mr. Cappelli will put Mr. Dimitrakakis in business at The Nook’s same old stand in  Cappelli’s glamorous affordable housing building that will begin construction shortly. Mr. Cappelli will compensate the family while construction on his affordable housing complex takes place over the next 10 months.



The Nook is a relic of another era. White Plains used to have more places like the Nook – Daddy Michaels, I’m told, and it still has family restaurants like Magnotta’s – that are like homes away from home. As a child I was taken to places like Schrafts in White Plains, a side trip when my mother and her mother went to Macy’s. The main ingredient in a restaurant where the owner is actually serving you is service, friendliness, and their pleasure at always welcoming you back. You don’t get that much around any chain restaurant.


The Corner Nook has that. They will be back next year, and hopefully the same ambience of the long and narrow, intimately slap-dash coziness of the Nook will be recreated.


What I like about these little diners are the little touches. As Chuck Berry sang, “Looking hard for a corner café, where the hamburgers sizzle on an open grill night and day,” the grease and the aromas in the air. The luscious looking pies and cakes on platforms on the counter. The good cup of coffee you don’t have to take out a mortgage to buy. The Nook is real, and not the contrivance of the chain restaurantt. The City Limits almost makes that old time diner slapdash feel – at least they have the business like clash of china intermittently being clanged together – another trademark of a diner.


I like a diner where the waitress, poised to write on the green order ticket, says, “What’ll ya have hun?” (My wife never says that.


I like the counter where you can watch the food being created.


I like the booths that are close in and you can hear a person talk across from you. Diners are great for dates — neutral territory — not expensive which says you’re trying to impress your date — but unintimidating, natural, where the male’s faux pas do not look so bad. (You don’t have to order wine, for example).


Desserts never look better than under those glass platforms, with cakes and pies just out their like centerfolds.


I am getting nostalgic. So for a happy ending, since the Nook shall return. Meanwhile its ambience can be found at the Star Diner across the street from White Plains Hospital Center.


Stoll around today and say goodbye to another piece of America.


Goodbye Nook.


But as the great Allan Freed would say, it’s not goodbye, just good night.

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The Real Deal: To Video or Not to Video That is the Question

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 WPCNR THE REAL DEAL By The Wedding Jeannie, Jeannie Ulynik. October 26, 2007: Whenever I am interviewed for an article having to do with brides and grooms and their top regrets after the wedding, there are two primary things that couples always wish they could re-do.  We will go into the number one regret in next week’s column, and jump right into the second – not having video.  It always surprises me, even after eight years, how many couples sit down and sometime in the first half and hour of meeting with us, strongly suggest that there is no way that they want or would consider having a videographer.  There is such a vehement distaste at even the idea of someone videotaping the wedding, let alone hiring or paying a professional to do it. 



 


There are good reasons why.  Back in the days of sweet sixteen’s and Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s, the videographers that most couples in their 20’s and 30’s were seeing would leave anyone with lingering nightmares.  Large cameras, bright obnoxious lights and people operating the cameras who thought footage meant asking every guest what they thought of you, the party and life in general.  Clearly not a promising combination when flashing forward 20 years and wondering if you want to be subjected to a freak show. 


 


Generally, when we ask most couples why they are so opposed to video, they can’t really articulate the reasons, they just are sure that they don’t want it.  The irony, and the saddest part is that video is an amazing thing to have after a large event is over, not only for you but for your guests (who of course love to come over and see themselves in action) and for future generations. 


 


A Different World


 


Video is a very different species than it was back in the 80’s and 90’s.  Technology has gotten much smaller and better, affording videographers the ability to be lighter on their feet, completely inconspicuous and move quickly through an event with out leaving large lights and miserable guests in their wake.  HD recording now allows clear crisp images to truly capture every color, each detail and all the moments of the night without it looking like a cheap horror thrill.  HD technology can be expensive though and some firms or independent videographers don’t have the equipment readily available for each event (but renting is always an option). 


 


But even if you choose a videographer who shoots with standard cameras, the equipment is so much better than it used to be and the size of the equipment plays a huge role in not advertising that anyone is there taping your every move.  Additionally, the role of the videographer has changed; gone are the days where every person with a camera wants to ask guests how they are doing (although that does still exist as an option but in a very different/documentary style manner).  Videographers are extremely talented these days; most of the people with whom we work are award winning directors (two are Sundance directors and Cannes Festival winners).  They are artists, committed not only to capturing the emotion of the event, but also to producing a real story.


 


Options Offered


 


Some videography firms give you the option to choose your own music to set the tone, others offer to select it for you and see if you like their combinations – either way, the tunes behind the motion set a huge backdrop for good video, so it’s important to understand how that process works in post-production.  Much like with photographer, you need to find a videographer or firm who understands your needs, who is clear about the editing process (does the videographer do it or does someone else) and informs you of exactly what you will be getting (i.e. raw data, 20 minute edited documentary, 45 minute edited film, etc).  The options and packages abound.  You can hire one shooter, or you can opt for a two-camera shoot – a more expensive alternative of course, but one that captures the day at a variety of angles and produces a very different type of final video. 


 


It’s important to point out that if possible, hiring a photography/videography team is optimal, simply because it’s important that these two vendors work together seamlessly.  This is not often possible, nor advisable (particularly if you love a photographer’s work and he/she does not work with a videographer under the same package).  However, finding someone who understands the subtleties of working with someone else who is trying to capture all the same shots is essential.  You don’t want your videographer stepping on the photographers toes (literally or figuratively) and vice versa.  If your photographer (who is usually hired before the videographer) works with someone regularly, investigate their recommendation, but don’t just hire them just because it’s someone that was recommended. 


 


If you are still hesitant about the idea of video, keep a few things in mind: 


 


1) There is no other way to get moving images of your day; to hear your vows, the toasts or any other ceremonial/religious aspects of an event.  This is the best way to have your day forever captured. 


 


2)  In this technological age, you can control the elements of the videography, from the cameras, lights and sound that are used, to the person holding the camera. 


 


3)  The relative cost of videography in comparison to what you are spending on the entire event is generally minimal – and while it’s hard to find a really great team for less than $2000 (of course there are exceptions to the rule) if you are spending 10 times that for an event, isn’t worth it to put money towards capturing it forever?


 


One final note, in rare cases, if we really knew the couple well, we have pushed them to consider videographer and even forced them to hire one.  100% of the time, they come to us after the wedding and thank us – not for all our work, not for making their day a raging success, but for forcing them to reconsider the issue of videography.  Were I not so certain that anyone would end up feeling the same, it would not be the number 2 item on my list of regrets for the majority of couples!  Next week, we will reveal what the number one regret is across the board…..


 


 


                                                                                                  


 


 

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Photograph of the Night

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE NIGHT. By a WPCNR Roving Photographer. October 25, 2007: This SUV tookoff on its own in reverse according to an observer and crashed into the North Fork Bank at the City Center. No one was hurt.  No details from Police yet on the cause.


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Trying to make a Night Withdrawal. SUV careened backwards into North Fork Bank Thursday night at the City Center about 10:15 PM. Photo by Aaron Woodin, a WPCNR Roving Photographer


 

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