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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER, From the Rosedale Residents Association. October 27, 2025:

Rosedale Residential Association
PO Box 199
White Plains, New York 10605

Date: Monday, October 27, 2025

Mayor Thomas M. Roach, City of White Plains
Victoria Presser, Council President, White Plains Common Council
Justin Brasch, Council Member, White Plains Common Council
Jeremiah Frei-Pearson, Council Member, White Plains Common Council
John M. Martin, Council Member, White Plains Common Council
Jennifer Puja, Council Member, White Plains Common Council
Richard Payne, Council Member, White Plains Common Council
John Callahan, Council Member, White Plains Common Council
Damon Amadio, Building Commissioner, City of White Plains
Christopher Gomez, Planning Commissioner, City of White Plains
David Chong, Public Safety Commissioner, City of White Plains

City of White Plains
255 Main Street
White Plains, NY 10601

Dear Mayor Roach, Members of the Common Council, Commissioners of the City of White Plains,

The Rosedale Residential Association (RRA) writes to submit a formal complaint and express deep concern and disappointment over the City’s failure to ensure compliance with state-mandated parking garage inspections, as revealed by the recent CBS News investigation.

(https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/white-plains-parking-garage-inspection-reports/)

According to that report, forty privately owned parking garages in White Plains have not filed the required structural inspection reports, despite a 2018 state law requiring inspections every three years by qualified engineers. Even more troubling, the owner of the recently collapsed  (WESTCHESTER ONE) parking garage reportedly failed to file inspection reports in 2019, 2022, or 2025—without any enforcement action or follow-up from the City’s Building Department.

Areas of Concern

1. Failure to Enforce State Law
   The City of White Plains bears responsibility for ensuring that all parking structures comply with the inspection schedule required by state law. The failure to detect and address repeated non-compliance over multiple cycles represents a serious lapse in municipal oversight.

2. Negligent Oversight and Communication
   As reported, after a 2018 notification and a single follow-up in 2022, “no other mailed correspondence” was issued by the Building Department to property owners. This lack of consistent enforcement and follow-through is unacceptable given the potential risks to public safety.

3. Public Safety Risks
   The partial collapse described in the CBS News report—destroying numerous vehicles and compromising the structure’s integrity—could easily have resulted in loss of life. Residents across White Plains deserve immediate assurance that no other garages pose a similar hazard.

4. Lack of Transparency
   When CBS News directly asked whether the Building Department “dropped the ball,” City officials declined to answer. This absence of accountability only heightens residents’ concerns and undermines public confidence.

The RRA’s Call for Action

In the interest of public safety and responsible governance, the Rosedale Residential Association calls on the City of White Plains to:

1. Issue a Public Report identifying all parking garages currently out of compliance, including the dates of their last inspection reports, current safety status, and any enforcement actions in progress.

2. Provide an Explanation detailing how these failures occurred, including any procedural, staffing, or oversight deficiencies that contributed.

3. Present an Action Plan within 7 days specifying how:

   • All garages will be brought into full compliance;

   • Unsafe or uninspected structures will be immediately closed or repaired; and

   • Monitoring and enforcement mechanisms will be strengthened and sustained.

4. Commit to Transparency through quarterly public compliance reports and a dedicated Building Department contact for resident inquiries about structural safety concerns.

Closing

White Plains residents expect and deserve proactive, accountable governance. The City’s apparent failure to enforce a basic public safety requirement is a grave breach of trust. The Rosedale Residential Association and community demand clear answers, corrective action, and a transparent plan to ensure this does not happen again.

We urge the Common Council to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves and to provide a detailed public response outlining the City’s immediate steps toward accountability and reform.  All individuals who are responsible for this total lack of compliance with the law must be held accountable for this failure.

Respectfully,

Anthony Fiorenza
President, Rosedale Residential Association

Shawn Woodford,
Vice President, Rosedale Residential Association

RRA Board of Directors

Sara Bergman , Secretary

Angie Shaver, Treasurer

Jeanene D’Ambrosio, Board Member

Laurie Halstead, Board Member

Carolyn Kennedy, Board Member

Mike Sanchez, Board Member

Jolie DeLaCruz, Board Member

Gregory Fitch, Board Member

Ariel Jamil, Board Member