WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR—65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. April 6, 2006:  Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains can feel a little safer tonight. Thanks to unrelenting investigative reporting by yours truly in the face of an onslaught of city denials, threat of lawsuit, and charges of “unsubtantiated allegations”among other hurtful invective hurled from city officials from their citadel on the second floor of City Hall, the 2nd copy of The City of White Plains 2006-2007 Proposed Budget has been located.

The Reference Desk reports as of 2:40 P.M. they have the green and white book, the size of a tombstone and just as heavy has been located by the crack White Plains Library Staff and is available for viewing with no time limit by Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains. But you can’t take it out of the Library. 

A member of the City of White Plains Budget Department confirmed the book had been delivered Tuesday morning, but had been misplaced and was missing. The Budget Department member contacted WPCNR this afternoon and explained that “the budget book was delivered Tuesday morning and was inadvertently left in an Administrative Section (of the library).”

However, for two and a half days the library staff did not know they had the budget book when it was requested. They told reader Don Hughes and another interested citizen, it had not been delivered.

 WPCNR by its Pulitzer Prize winning pursuit of “The Case of the Missing Budget Book”  is pleased to bring a second copy of the Budget Book into service for interested citizens to peruse. The other Budget Book is for viewing only at the City Clerk’s office.

If you wish a personal copy, it will cost you $25, according to Executive Officer Paul Wood who announced the “Pay for the Budget Book” policy — the first time the city has ever charged for the book this week. However books are not expected to be available until the end of next week. No explanation has been given for the budget book shortage.

The mysterious misplacement of an important book by a library joins White Plains folklore taking its place with the “Case of the Missing Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio Portrait” last year which went missing for a week, only to be found under a stairwell in the city rotunda, said to be for “cleaning,” and the infamous “Case of the Nicoletti Memo” that revealed the city Main Street sewer coverup, that never made its way to the Common Council.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. April 5, 2006: Sharp dressed Marines in uniforms button hole them in the WPHS parking lots surrounding the White Plains High School. According to two WPHS Guidance Counselors speaking Monday evening at The Board of Education, they meet young Hispanic men and women students and promise them anything to sign up for the military, and recently the pressure has increased. White Plains High School wants the zealous, not-by-the-books military recruiting on campus by the local Marine Recruitment Center to stop.

The aggressive military recruiting techniques used by the Marines, (reminiscent of fraternity rush), were detailed by  WPHS Guidance Counselors Harvey Mason and Magda Martas at Monday evening’s Board of Education meeting. Photo,WPCNR News

 Mason told of a young woman who was talked into joining the military and just before the date when she was to sign the recruitment papers, she received a four year scholarship to a college. He also advised of overzealous promises on the part of  recruiters, citing the example of  Emanuel Paulus a 2005 WPHS graduate last year who did sign up, who was promised he would not be sent to a combat zone. Mr. Paulus was sent to Afghanistan April 1.

The Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors is sending a letter to local military recruiters reminding them of the rules for engagement with White Plains High students, which all colleges and outside organizations desiring to meet personally with White Plains students have to observe for security reasons.

Ms. Martas read the following statement detailing typical Marine recruiting techniques:

On March 7, 2006, at approximately 3:15 as I was leaving White Plains High School campus I noticed an SUV with government license plates in the parking lot. There were two marines, one outside the vehicle and the other in the driver’s seat. The Marine in the driver’s seat was speaking with 5 students. I parked my car behind the SUV and stepped up to the group of students. I could see that they all had business cards in their hands.

I went by the driver’s door I could see the same cards in the Marine’s hands. I asked for one. He refused. I asked a second time and asked why he was in the school’s parking lot. Still refusing to give me a card, he pointed to the other marine and said he was visiting a teacher. I asked for the card a third time and stated that it was obvious by the cards in the students’ hands and his; in addition to being in uniform and in a government vehicle that he was recruiting.

He denied it and still did not give me a card. At that point I told him not to give me a card because any one of the students could give me one and that I would give it to my director. He proceeded to tell me he knew my director (Henry Cafaro, Director of Guidance, WPHS). To this I said that he should also know the protocol for accessing our students. Reluctantly, he gave me his card.

I returned to the school and found Mr. Cafaro and told him what was going on in the parking lot. He read the name on the card and said this person had been banned from the school grounds.

To Mr. Cafaro’s credit, he called the recruitment center that evening and brought this matter up to their attention and followed it up with a letter to the recruitment station. I relayed my experience to Mr. Harvey Mason and the next morning, Mr. Mason and I met with Mr. Toper. Of the matters discussed, Mr. Mason and I expressed the following concerns:

The aggressive pursuit of our children to join the military.

The need for a clear message from the district regarding recruitment to the recruiting center.

A meeting was also held (March 9^th) with the Staff Sergeant, T.S. Edgett, Mr. Toper (Principal of White Plains High School), Mr. Cafaro, Mr. Mason and myself. At this meeting, we all relayed to Staff Sergeant Edgett our concerns and Mr. Toper specifically expressed, addressed the need to follow the protocol.

Prior to my experience with this particular individual (Sergeant C. R. Iglesias of the Marine Corps, as identified by the WPHS Guidance Department to WPCNR today), I had heard of other military personnel coming on to school grounds as early as 7:00 A.M. to pursue students. I had also been told about methods used to persuade students to join.

Among these (methods) was to tell the students that they could get residency/citizenry documents for their families and that they would not be sent to fight.

The latter could not be further from the truth. Emanuel Paulus, Class of 2005 was told this when he was recruited by the army. This past Saturday, April 1, 2006, he was shipped to Afghanistan. He has two brothers at White Plains High School who needless to say are frightened for their brother.

I am also concerned that specific recruitment efforts are being focused on Latino students. Many of our Latino families come from countries where the military’s power goes unchecked and their fear or feeling of intimidation of the military is very real.

The United States Military pursuing these children creates an unfair situation that can too easily be taken advantage of by U.S. Military personnel. This is where the separate mailing of the “Opt Out Letter” (sent home to parents in a packet prior to the start of school, and containing a sign-off provision that enables parents to decline the availability of students to mailings and contact by outside organizations), in Spanish in addition to English is vital.

I have come to you the Board of Education of the White Plains School District asking you to consider my request. As a guidance counselor my paramount concern is the safety of our children and today more than ever I feel that this safety is threatened. Our children’s lives depend on how well we protect them from harm.”

Frequent Offender

Henry Cafaro, speaking to WPCNR Wednesay said the individual, Sergeant C. R. Iglesias of the U.S. Marine Corps had been repeatedly warned about previous violations of WPHS protocols, and had been banned from recruiting at the high school. He said Sergeant Iglesias’ most recent violation occurred Monday April 3, when he had arrived at WPHS saying he had an appointment with a teacher, and it turned out Sergeant Iglesias did not.

Cafaro said the army recruiters have observed the protocol and have been very cooperative, visiting when they are scheduled in the WPHS College and Career Center.

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors told the Board of Education and Mr. Mason and Ms.  Martas he would forward a letter to the Marine Recruitment Center restating the protocol.

For the record, Military Recruiters are:

1. Military Recruiters must make appointments for visits and leave their phone numbers and their supervisor’s phone number.
   
2. Recruiters will be limited to one visit per semester.
   
3. Recruiters will be give a one period time limit per visit.
   
4. Visits will be limited to the College and Career Center.
   
5. No recruiting will be permitted on school grounds or hallways.
   
6. Recruiters cannot administer tests during their visits.
   
7. A guidance counselor or school representative will be present during all visits.
   
8. Release of information request must be filed at least 24 hours in advance.
   
9. Recruiters must make appointments with individual subject coordinators for special group meetings or demonstrations.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey April 5, 2006 UPDATED with Pix, 1:40 A.M. E.D.T. April 6, 2006: As first reported by WPCNR Wednesday, the Department of Public Safety announced a sweeping reorganization of its police operations  “to change (the department) from a bureaucratic system to a community-based service organization,” in the words of Department of Public Safety Commissioner Dr. Frank Straub at a news conference and promotion ceremony Wednesday afternoon at Public Safety Headquarters.

White Plains “Precincts” Photo WPCNR News.

Straub said  White Plains would be divided into three districts, reporting to new Assistant Chief Anne Fitzsimmons. The three districts are the North Area, under the command of Lieutenant Kevin Christopher; the Central Business District, under command of Captain Paul Lundin; and the South Area, under the leadership of Lieutenant Elizabeth Seit.  Assistant Chief Anne Fitzsimmons, promoted to Assistant Chief Wednesday, is in command of the three districts.

Martin Gleeson, Senior Counsel to the Commissioner and media spokesperson described this system as similar to the New York Police Department Precinct system, where the officers in command of the districts were solely responsible for the policing and safety of their “neighborhoods” going forward.

Gleeson told WPCNR that contacts would be made with neighborhoods beginning shortly. Businesses might be contacted in person by officers, and neighborhood associations would be addressed, and e-mail and phone numbers made available for residents of neighborhoods to call to report on what is going on in their neighborhoods, conditions, or activity.

Straub said the Narcotics Division would be reporting to the Neighborhood Conditions Unit or NCU, under the direction of Lieutenant Michael Knox, in order that the narcotics squad could respond, conduct investigations and intervene more efficiently on suspected drug activity. The NCU would be at direct disposal of District Commanders  Lundin, Seit and Christopher,  to facilitate  police preemptive efforts, or respond to drug and vice conditions, and unsafe housing that come to the attention of the Commanders.

Detectives 20/7

Captain Nicholas Kralik was announced as head of the Detective Division. Commissioner Straub said  the reorganization makes detectives available for immediate investigation 7 days a week, 20 hours a day by agreement with the police union, to investigate matters immediately brought to their attention by the three Neighborhood Districts.

Inspector Ed Ignaszewski being sworn in Wednesday — New Ops Head. Photo, WPCNR News

Newly promoted Inspector Ed Ignaszewski, Straub announced now heads the Operations Division which includes the Neighborhood Conditions Unit, Patrol and Traffic. Straub said Sergeant Howard Tribble and Sergeant Denis Doherty would be joining the NCU under Lt. Knox.

Assistant Chief Anne Fitzsimmons, Commander of the Three Precincts with First Deputy Commissioner Dr. Charles Jennings. Photo, WPCNR News.

New First Deputy Commissioner Dr. Charles Jennings (promoted at today’s ceremony and news conference) told WPCNR he would be doing “pretty much what he’s been doing before,” strategic planning and management of the Fire Bureau. Under Dr. Jennings’ leadership, structural fires declined 21% since 2003; a new fireman onsite personnel dispatch  system was introduced, and the Rescue 88 unit was created.

Deputy Commissioner Daniel Jackson. Photo, WPCNR News

New Deputy Commissioner Daniel Jackson, Commissioner Straub said is overseeing bureau operations, coordinating crime control strategies and managing the Compstat process. Jackson told WPCNR he and First Deputy Commissioner Jennings and Dr. Straub work as a team in setting policies and making decisions. Jackson said the North Area, Central Business District and South Areas system introduced today would begin to be implemented immediately.

Reach Out Expected.

Commissioner Jackson said he expected the three commanders to be reaching out to neighborhood associations, and giving the residents and businesses of those areas officers to contact to report neighborhood concerns and situations. He noted, too that he expected officers to routinely attend neighborhood association meetings, and to become more in touch with the areas they patrol.

Jackson noted that he wanted residents to know the policeman in the patrol car by name, not just by patrol car. Asked if foot patrols (police officer on a walking beat) would make a return to White Plains, Deputy Commissioner Jackson said that was a possibility.

It is not clear at this time whether patrol officers would only patrol in one of the three areas or whether they would be rotated through the three White Plains “Precincts.”

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. April 5, 2006: WPCNR has learned  The Department of Public Safety is expected to announce this afternoon that Inspector Daniel Jackson will be promoted Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety replacing David Chong, and  current Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Charles Jennings will be promoted to First Deputy Commissioner, second in command to Police Commissioner Dr. Frank Straub.

The Department is also going to be reorganized into three different divisions: Community Policing, Operations and Detectives, effective today.

“Liz Smith” Moves on Up! Captain Anne Fitzsimmons, long a resident of White Plains, and Detective Gus Fazzino addressing the North Broadway Civic Association last month at George Washington School on the burglaries in the North end. She is the first female police officer promoted to Chief in Westchester County. Photo, WPCNR News Archive. 

Captain Anne Fitzsimmons, long time resident of White Plains will be promoted to Assistant Chief and be in command of the Community Policing Division.

 Lieutenant Edward Ignaszewski will be promoted to Inspector and command the Operations Division that will be responsible for Patrol, Traffic and Neighborhood Conditions Unit.

First Deputy Commissioner Jennings, in his new position will concentrate on strategic planning for the department to build organization capacity, and continue to supervice department technology, communications, budget and the fire bureau.

Deputy Commissioner Jackson will have responsibilty for operations, crime control strategy and the Compstat crime tracking program. Eight detective promotions will also be announced this afternoon and two department members promoted to Lieutenant.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. April 3, 2006 UPDATED 2:00 A.M. E.D.T. April 4, 2006, UPDATED April 5, 2006: The Common Council after listening to two hours of protest and pleadings from supporters of preserving the properties on Railside Avenue as open space and rejecting sale of the eight lots, ignored them and voted 5-2 to approve the sale of the Railside 8  for $2,912,000.

Council Chambers swelled by Supporters of Keeping Railside Properties Forever Woods. Hopes were dashed by the Common Council Monday evening. Photo, Courtesy Don Hughes.

Asleep at the Wheel: The Common Council was dragging along about midnight last night at city hall, in the longest meeting since 11:30 P.M. was set as the council curfew three years ago, and moved off the Comprehensive Plan Review hearing until May 1, after condemning Railside Avenue to development.  Photo, WPCNR News.

The new, improved Avalon Bay Apart-O-Plex was presented. Hearing was held open until May 1. Photo, WPCNR News.

Benjamin Boykin, Glen Hockley, Robert Greer, Arnold Bernstein and Mayor Delfino voted for, and Rita Malmud and Thomas Roach voted against to carry through the sale.

Councilman Benjamin Boykin said the proposal to put an easement on Lot 1 and resell it has been modified to withdraw Lot 1 (the property withdrawn from the sale sometime prior to the opening of the bids on the properties last Wednesday), saying it will not be reoffered for sale,and will be kept as a buffer on Ridgeway Avenue. Boykin also noted the 20 foot conservation easement on the sold lots 2 through 9 preserved 46% of the 8 remaining properties.

Glen  Hockley said he had to think of all the residents of the city when he cast his vote in favor of selling Railside Avenue lots. Arnold Bernstein said he could not condemn the city to a 20 to 25% tax increase, and therefore he was voting for the Railside sale, too. Robert Greer through his daughter reading his position speech, said the properties had always been thought of by the city as eventually to be returned to the tax roll and he was sticking to his guns.

Benjamin Boykin said he hoped that the new owner of five of the properties, (Joseph S. Petrillo, an attorney and President of All New York Title Agency in White Plains, www.allnewyorktitle.com)  would get together with the neighbors to discuss his plans for the five properties he was successful bidder (Lots 2,3,6,7,8). Boykin said he hoped the other three winning bidders for  Lot 9 (HCG Drywall of Scarsdale), Lot 4 (S & J & J Holding of White Plains), and Lot 5 (Ricardo Tedesco and Frank D’Ambrosio) would also interact with the neighbors and discuss their intentions  for their lots. No winning bidder appeared to be present at the public speakout on Railside Avenue.

In other matters,

The 5 foot setback proposed for The Pinnacle project from Ginsburg Development could not be voted upon because Robert Greer the Council left the council meeting at approximately 10:15 P.M. after the Railside vote took place.

The council then took up the 25,000 square foot air rights transfer matter from 221 Main to The Pinnacle (in order that Mr. Ginsburg could build developer Louis Cappelli’s affordable units he owes the city on the 221 Main project). The council at first thought they could not vote on the transfer, but Corporation Counsel, Edward Dunphy dashed to the rescue striding up the aisle saying the 25,000 square foot is a minor amendment to the ordinance, so the Council could vote on it without Mr. Greer’s presence, which they proceeded to execute unanimously. The 5 foot setback benefit, according Corporation Counsel Dunphy was also passed Monday night. It was simply not clear at the time.

The Avalon Bay public hearing convened and the changes in the 13-14 story rental project were presented in an exhaustive slide show that rivaled Louis Cappelli in its slickness. Residents following the presentation called for the site to be turned into a park. Tim Sheehan, a resident of Park Circle suggested the town houses on the north end of the site should be lowered from their 6 story height to present a better site line. Thomas Whayatt an attorney for the holdout home owner owning a home on Barker that occupies a niche on the Avalon Bay site, said he would push for his client to have special permits for the swimming pool which is adjacent the home with possibly more setbacks from the pool to the homeowner’s property.

With the Common Council falling asleep in their chairs at 12:15 A.M., and the Comprehensive Plan Review Hearing the last item on the agenda, Mayor Delfino asked Robert Levine, representing the Citizens Plan Commitee, there to speak,  what he(Levine) wanted to do at such a late hour, and Levine said he would prefer in view of the hour to postpone to May 1 if the hearing could be first on the agenda. The Mayor agreed. Neither Mary Cavellero, nor John Martin, Co-Chairs of the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee were present for the hearing.