City: County Never Told Us of Court Street Shelter. County: We Did.

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WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By John F. Bailey. December 19, 2005: A spokesman for the Mayor’s Office, David Maloney, this morning told the CitizeNetReporter that Westchester County never told  the city their plans to house 43 “hardcore homeless” persons at 85 Court Street across Court Street from the County Office Building,  beginning January 10.


 



HEARTBREAK HOTEL Planned for the DSS Building at 85 Court, one block away from City Center (to far right,tall building), across from the County office building to the left and a half block away from senor citizens housing planned for the parking lot in the foreground, and one block from the Cappelli Hotel and Condoplex, center of picture background. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


The Department of Communications  of Westchester County said the Court Street location and the monitoring of the homeless population destined for that location was discussed between the Westchester County Department of Public Safety and the White Plains Department of Public Safety as to safety and monitoring issues, and said the White Plains Department of Public Safety informed the Mayor’s Office. The White Plains Department of Public Safety has not responded yet to my call to confirm this.


 



 Spokesperson David Maloney said Mayor Joseph Delfino, who was in Florida last week, would be making a lot of phone calls today on the Court Street Homeless Location situation. File Photo by WPCNR News.





Mr. Maloney said the city is exploring avenues, (“leaving no stone unturned,” were his words),  to prevent the population of “hard core homeless,”  from taking up residence nightly at 85 Court, just one and a half blocks from the city’s reviving downtown.


 


 


City Concerned


 


Maloney reaffirmed the city position that the homeless planned to be housed in that shelter are not all from White Plains, as the county contends,  that they are all from all over, and should not be housed overnight within the city.


 


Victoria Hochman the county spokesperson on this issue told WPCNR that the persons are picked up in White Plains and that it made sense to have them stay overnight near the new Day Center for the Homeless being established at 96 East Post Road to be run by Grace Church Community Services.


 


That Day Center at 96 East Post Road for the Homeless to stay during the day has not yet been approved by the Common Council, and was tabled at the last work session, where it was pleaded to be a consent agenda item. The Common Council scheduled a public hearing on the 96 East Post Road Shelter for the January Common Council meeting. 


 


  The homeless who now spend the night at the airport shelter that Hochman described as a horrible, dilapidated place, are returned to White Plains mornings at 6 A.M., where they are expected to avail themselves of county services, but rarely do. 


 


No other Location in City Discussed?


 


Hochman did not know if any other location such as New York Presbyterian Hospital, or White Plains Hospital Center, (NYPH being a facility which specializes among other fields in the mentally ill), were contacted by the county as a possible overnight location.


 


Asked why the airport shelter population was not housed in the new Valhalla Homeless Shelter opened last week, Hochman said because the airport population were “hardcore homeless” who have refused to participate in programs available to the system such as drug rehabilitation programs, alcohol rehab programs, job training programs, counseling, and therefore did not fit in with the homeless population destined for the Valhalla Shelter who do take advantage of county services.


 


No Official Named as Responsible.


 


Hochman was asked who in county government had decided the airport shelter homeless should be overnighted in White Plains in the center of downtown. The “hardcore homeless” as the county calls them have been bused to the airport for decades. Hochman said she did not know whose decision it was, but speculated it was made by the Department of Social Services over the last few months.


 


 


Operations of 85 Court


 


As to operations of the 85 Court Street shelter, Hochman reports that homeless persons in White Plains seeking a bed for the night would still be expected to assemble at South Lexington and Maple Avenues, where they would be put on a bus and bused one block to 85 Court Street where their names would be taken and she believes they are checked to see whether or not they are previous convicted “sex offenders and possibly a criminal record.”


 


In order to stay the night in 85 Court Street, Hochman said the homeless would have to agree to be locked in, (as they are at the airport facility) put under security, and would not be allowed to leave. In the morning, they would be bused over to the new Day Center for the Homeless at 96 East Post Road where Grace Church Community Services would give them shower facilities, counseling, and give them a place to stay during the day. Hochman said they would not be forced to stay there.


 


Hochman said the homeless may stay past the present 6 A.M. “reveille” time when they are turned out of the airport center and put on buses back to White Plains or other areas where they come from, and that she thought it would be closer to the time when the Grace Day Center for the Homeless would open.


 


 


Hochman, told WPCNR the 85 Court facility would only house 43 persons maximum. Asked if there ever was an overflow, Hochman theorized, but could not say for certain, that the overflow would find other facilities around the county to take them in.


 


 


Records of the Hardcore Homeless


 


Asked if the county could check its manifests of persons taken at nightly bus pickups who routinely stay in the County Airport Shelter, Hochman did not know if those manifests were available or used to develop a profile of typical hardcore homeless populations in more detail as to how many had criminal records, how many were drug or alcohol addicted, and other various afflictions. She did not give a figure on how many were picked up nightly. She said the population changed nightly.


 


Nevertheless, the homeless population to be at 85 Court were described by Ms. Hochman as the vast majority being possibly mentally ill, some developmentally disabled, some drug-addicted, and with criminal  backgrounds from being housed overnight (from 10 P.M to sometime after 6 A.M.) in the heart of the White Plains downtown.


 


 


The Runup


 


Hochman reported to WPCNR that the Westchester County Department  of Public Safety had discussed the safety concerns and issues concerning locating the homeless at 85 Court Street with the White Plains Department of Public Safety, and that the White Plains Department of Public Safety had told the Mayor’s Office about it. She did not know when the Mayor’s office was notified by the Department of Public Safety. Martin Gleeson, media spokesman for the White Plains Department of Public Safety has been contacted for the Department of Public Safety side of this communication question.


 


County Legislator Bill Ryan contacted Saturday and again today by WPCNR as to whether he  knew about the county plan, has yet to respond.


 


Thomas Roach, President of the White Plains Common Council had no comment, because he did not know of the situation as of Saturday morning when WPCNR contacted him. “We’ll have to see how it plays out,” Roach said.


 


Cappelli Enterprises, which is constructing a 4-Star Hotel and condoplex a block and a half away from 85 Court Street has yet to respond with their reaction to the news.

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Westchester Broadway Theatre Creates New Holiday CD to Raise Money to Fight AIDS

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           WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Allan Gruet, Westchester Broadway Theatre. December 18, 2005 (EDITED): Bill Stutler & Bob Funking, producers of the Westchester Broadway Theatre,
have put together a Christmas CD, which is aptly named “Songs of theSeason.” Past and present Stars of WBT productions, along with the musicians, have all donated their time and
talents to make this wonderful CD, that is available at area shopping malls and at the WBT Souvenier Shop at the WBT in Elmsford. The proceeds from the sale of the CD go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

                       
The staff/crew/cast and WBT Carolers open the CD with Jerry Herman’s “We Need a Little Christmas” from “Mame” and close with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” The CD includes approximately 23 other seasonal songs performed by past & present stars of WBT as soloists. There are also several duets by Michelle Dawson and Joseph Mahowald performing “Turn Back Through the Pages,” a debut recording from a new musical, “Christmas Memories” by Stan Tucker and Mac Pirkle, while husband and wife team Meredith Patterson and Shonn Wiley sing “Lovers on Christmas Eve” by Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart.


 


Ken Lundie, musical director and arranger of the last main-stage production “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” has put together a talented cast of singers. He also did the arrangements, the musical direction, and plays the piano (unless otherwise noted). Ken is a one man dynamo!! Mr. Lundie is ably backed by Michael Pearce on bass and Ken Ross on drums. The cast of 2005 WBT production of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” along with WBT Carolers Nick Locilento, Kimberly Dawn Neumann, David F. M. Vaughn, and Stephanie Youell  perform additional  back-up vocals.


The CD can be purchased at any one of our Gift Certificate Booths in the various area Malls: The Palisades Mall, Jefferson Valley Mall, Westchester Mall, Nanuet Mall, Danbury Mall, White Plains Galleria, and the Poughkeepsie Galleria. If you are close to the theatre or attending a performance at WBT during the holidays, you can pick a couple of CD’s up at our Souvenir shop.

CD’s make great Stocking Stuffers!!.

The purchase price is $15.00 plus tax, and the proceeds after production

costs are all being donated to BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS

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Past, Present & Future Ebersole Stars Celebrate Annual Holiday Ice Show

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. December 18, 2005: The Ebersole Ice Rink Figure Skating School and White Plains Figure Skating Club, many of whom learned to skate at Ebersole a decade ago,  combined to entertain family and friends with group performances and individual solos at the traditional Ebersole Holiday Show Saturday afternoon on a beautiful day for ice-skating. Highlights of the Show were the March of the Penguins, Daria and Peter Marinelli, and “The Ebersolettes,” which showed they have a future in synchro skating, and, of course, the traditional visits of Santa and Frosty the Snowman.



The March of the Penguins, the Irrepressible Tots, Opened the Show,  Choreographed by Members of White Plains Figure Skating Club. Photo, WPCNR Sports.



Peter and Daria Marinelli, Father, member of  Men N Sync, the only Men’s Synchronized Skating Team in the Country,  and Daughter Daria of the White Plains Figure Skating Club, a longtime member of the club, skated a Pairs Solo — the Highlight of the Show. Photo, WPCNR Sports.



The “Ebersolettes” Execute a Synchronized Skating Line. Photo, WPCNR Sports.



Jenna Besignano of the White Plains Figure Skating Club  in  a silky smooth Layback Spin. Photo, WPCNR Sports.



Becky Riss in a Sit-Spin in her Solo Spotlight. Photo, WPCNR Sports


 



Peter and Daria Marinelli. Photo, WPCNR Sports.



Allison Fuerst Performing Run, Run Rudolph. Photo, WPCNR Sports



Juliana Bailey  Wishing Figure Skating Fans a “Happy Holiday ” . Photo, WPCNR Sports.


 


-+


Santa and Frosty the Snowman Invited All onto the ice at the finale to finish up the afternoon with the most fun you can have on ice: skating outdoors at Ebersole Ice Rink, White Plains. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

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Paul Feiner Requests Help for Disabled Woman

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Grenburgh Town Supervisor, Paul Feiner. December 17, 2005:  Earlier today I received a call from a Hastings on Hudson woman who needs the help of our community. She is disabled – has serious spinal problems (her doctor said that surgery would kill her), no hip, has rare blood problems, has difficulty walking. She lives with her daughter (who is unemployed) and her daughter’s two kids: 6 and 8 year olds.  Her husband died of surgery when he was 30 years old.  Because of her financial situation she can receive incoming telephone calls, can’t make outgoing calls. The 6 & 8 year olds have no Christmas tree. They can’t afford toys.

If residents are interested in helping – we would appreciate the following
1) A Christmas tree for her 6 & 8 year olds to enjoy


2) toys for the 6 & 8 year olds


3) food for the holidays  or donations (she is having difficulty paying rent).  She is on section 8. She is living on social security disability.


4) She has a Con Ed turn off notice and can benefit if she had financial assistance.


Please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com and advise me if you are willing to help and how you think you can help. I will provide you with contact information so you can speak to her directly, if you’d like.   I hope you can help….  PAUL FEINER

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Latimer of Legislature Invites Constituents to Contact Him, Follow Him on Web

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WPCNR ALBANY OBSERVER. From Assemblyman George Latimer. December 18, 2005: New York State Assemblyman George Latimer (D-Westchester, 91st A.D.) has two on-line sites where District residents can track his activities and efforts:


The State Assembly website provides news of the Assemblyman’s
legislative agenda and important programs:

www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=091

Latimer also maintains a personal website that includes press clippings,
endorsements and other political as well as policy information:

www.GeorgeLatimer.com

Both sites allow e-mail communication for constituents on issues and
opinions.

Latimer is completing his first year representing Rye Brook, Larchmont,
Mamaroneck Town and Village, Port Chester, Rye City and part of New
Rochelle in the State Assembly. He can be reached locally at his
District Office, (914) 777-3832, 933 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 102,
Mamaroneck, NY 10543.

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Homeless to Move Next Door to Mulinos — County

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. December 17, 2005:  County Executive Andy Spano has announced the county’s intention to house homeless persons overnight at the Department of Social Services building at 85 Court Street on a nightly basis beginning January 10. The location will replace the Westchester County Airport location currently serving such a function. The long-awaited relocation of the airport shelter was announced late in the day Friday afternoon. 



New home to hardcore homeless, announced by the County will be 85 Court Street, next door to the city’s poshest evening restaurant, Mulino’s — Westchester’s version of  New York City’s “21”. (The toney bistro is distinguished by its trademark awning with the “M”) Photo, WPCNR News.


According to the sketchy details of the plan, (no news release was issued from the prolific County Department of Communications), the homeless who are currently bused from The Galleria to the airport, will now be bused one block to 85 Court Street at 10 P.M. nightly beginning January 10 and bused to the new overnight location, 85 Court Street. Spano said the building once the homeless are inside will be “locked down” every night, but details of the lock-down procedure were not provided.



The Neighborhood, as seen from the Board of Elections Parking lot, site of proposed county senior housing project. Left to right: The County Office Building, Cappelli 4-Star Hotel Site (marked by construction crane), 85 Court Street, and the Mulino’s Restaurant.


County Executive Spano in remarks about the shelter, said the 85 Court Street building will be a neighbor of the shelter for the hardcore homeless, which the county defines as persons who “refuse counseling and other social services.” One such resident of the airport shelter is alleged to have committed last summer’s killing of a woman in The Galleria a block away. The moving of the rest of the Airport Homeless population to the 85 Court Street location is seen at this stage by the County Executive as “an enhancement” because most of the population at the Airport shelter are from White Plains and a counseling center will be set up a block away by Grace Church Community Services.


The 85 Court Street building is next door to the city’s most elegant restaurant, Mulino’s and one block from Renaissance Plaza Fountain, Starbucks and the future location of Louis Cappelli’s 4-Star hotel and condo complex. The location is also within walking distance of County Executive Spano’s planned giant senior housing building he plans to build on the parking lot of the former Post Office (now housing the County Board of Elections).


 


An Enhancement to the Neighborhood.


County Executive Spano made this statement: “This is an enhancement of the neighborhood, because we’re not allowing people to roam around the streets, and we’re trying to develope situations that get them in our regular program and out of the drop-in center.”  (Spano is contracting with Grace Church Community Services to run a counseling and daily gathering center on East Post Post Road, two storefronts down from Open Arms Shelter, where it is expected the homeless from the new 85 Court Street location were expected to migrate each day.


Mayor Opposed.


County Legislator Bill Ryan, Chair of the Board of Legislators, has been contacted to see whether Mr. Ryan approved of this plan, and whether he was informed of the County Executive decision. Tom Roach, President of the White Plains Common Council did not know about it. Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz, contacted at his home by WPCNR for information on how 85 Court Street  was being renovated with amenities to house White Plains newest residents, was at home, but said he would call WPCNR back later in the day. Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains, through his spokesperson, Paul Wood is said to be opposed to the plan. It could not be determined by WPCNR when the city was notified of this plan by the County Executive. 


A staffer at Mulino’s Restaurant, where stockbrokers, powerbrokers and the rich and famous and elegant high-heeled women are seen nightly enjoying lavish meals with valet parking services, where the cuisine is superb, tastefully arranged on elegant china, and sharply creased suits are the norm, said she was unaware of the county plan.  


The new location also brings the homeless, who can now walk to it and certainly do not need to be bused one block (details on this are being sought at this time), into the city’s slowly reviving downtown and the cached restaurants, Brooklyn’s Famous Subs and Pasta, Trotters, Vintage, Legal Seafood and the youth who have given White Plains downtown a new vitality on Friday and Saturday evenings.

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Adam In Albany On Assembly Predator Bill

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. December 17, 2005: As a father there is nothing more important to me than the safety of our families. With that, I am proud to say that the Assembly majority conference has unveiled a comprehensive plan to protect our communities from dangerous sexual predators. This package is easily the toughest and most effective thus far to be introduced and I intend to make sure it is passed by the Assembly as soon as we return to Albany after the New Year.

 


 


 The result of a series of public hearings, the “Child Safety and Sexual Predator Punishment and Confinement Strategy” imposes tougher sentences on sex offenders, keeps the most dangerous predators confined, and intensely monitors them if they are released.  This proposal also keeps in mind the victims of these horrific crimes and makes certain that they receive the necessary services to help carry on with their lives.


 


Tougher sentences for the worst sex crimes


 


The Assembly’s plan provides for up to life sentences for the most heinous sex crimes – those where the perpetrator harmed the victim, threatened the use of a weapon, committed the crime against multiple victims, or was previously convicted of a felony sex crime. Those convicted of serious sex crimes in which the victim is under the age of 13 could spend the rest of their lives in prison, regardless of any other aggravating circumstance.


 


Civil confinement for dangerous sexual predators


 


A key element of the plan provides for the potential lifetime civil confinement of sexual predators after they finish their sentences. Under the Assembly’s proposal, those who pose a serious risk to the general public will be civilly committed. This process would begin with the state Attorney General petitioning the courts after a psychiatric examination of the offender and input from mental health professionals.


 


Civil confinement would be ordered if a jury unanimously decided that an offender is a violent sexual predator who is prone to repeat a horrific crime again. And even if mental health experts determine that civil commitment is not necessary, the Attorney General would still have the ability to ensure a convicted sex offender remains under intense supervision. While the civilly committed could be housed in state mental health facilities, they would be barred from coming in contact with the general population of mentally disabled patients.  Importantly, this legislation follows the example of Texas, where there is lifetime supervised confinement for certain felony sex offenders released from prison.


 


Mandatory treatment for incarcerated sex offenders


 


This package also requires mandatory treatment for incarcerated sex offenders.  The state Department of Correctional Services currently operates a sex offender treatment program but it is not required by law and it lasts for only six months – one of the shortest prison-based programs in the nation.  Under the plan an expert panel would be formed to determine the best way to improve methods for the treatment of sex offenders.


 


 


Additional legislation


 


The Assembly’s plan also includes other significant legislation, including the Sexual Abuse Prevention Act (A.8294), which:


·        requires 12 hours of training for police officers in sexual assault cases;


·        develops a toll-free, statewide hotline to connect sexual assault victims with a rape crisis center in their area;


·        mandates that Internet service providers give subscribers written notice of the availability of filtering devices which screen out material harmful to minors; and


·        directs the Office of Children and Family Services to develop a training curriculum for child protective services workers to be used in investigating reports of sexual abuse.


 


I look forward to working with the governor and my colleagues in the Senate to make sure that we pass meaningful legislation which will protect our communities from sexual predators.

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Mary Cavallero, Chair of Planning Board, Announces Resignation Plans

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WPCNR THE PLANNING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. December 16, 2005 UPDATED 11:36 P.M. E.S.T., December 18, 2005: Mary Cavallero in an exclusive interview tonight with the CitizeNetReporter,  announced she plans to resign from her appointed position as Chair of the White Plains Planning Board early in March. Ms. Cavallero recalls she was appointed to the city Planning Board in July, 1989 by Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio and has served on the Board for 16 years, and as Chair for about “the last decade or so, I can’t remember. It seems like forever,” she joked with the CitizeNetReporter tonight. Mayor Sy Schulman appointed her Chair of the Planning Board in April, 1994.


 





She told WPCNR, that now she is working full-time teaching at Rye Country Day School classes in algebra, trigonometry and pre-calculus, and she no longer has the time to devote to her planning duties as she did in the past. She said she had joined the Planning Board on Mayor Del Vecchio’s appointment as a young mother seventeen years ago to get “back into the real world.” Now, she says, “I really enjoyed doing it. It’s been a fun experience, and now I think I know White Plains more than I ever thought I could.”


 


 


Ms. Cavallero said she would leave the Planning Board within the next six months, saying, “I don’t want to leave them in a lurch.” She said she hoped the Mayor would appoint her successor by March, as well as a replacement for J. Russell Imlay, a seven-year Planning Board member whose term is up at the end of December. The Mayor will also have to appoint a new Chairperson to replace Ms. Cavallero.


 


Cavallero is a veteran plan analyst, meticulous in picking architectural flaws and foibles in site plans, taking into account neighborhood objections, considering them and suggesting amiable solutions to presenting developers. Perhaps the best known decision of recent years, on which the Planning Board was vindicated by the Federal Court of Appeals, was their denial of a cellphone tower to the Omnipoint communications giant on the Fenway Golf Club property.


 


Wanted Three Planners. Lots of Reading. No Pay.


 


Ms. Cavallero’s planned departure, (if she leaves before Mr. Imlay and the former member, Mr. Roskol is replaced by the Mayor), would leave the critical 7-member Planning Board  with just four members, if  the Mayor does not name at least two replacements before her March departure.  She plans to leave within six months, if not sooner. She pointed out that Mr. Delfino needs to name three new members, to replace Carlos Roskol, Mr. Imlay, departing this month, and of course, herself.


 


Cavallero said, “I want to resign, but not in a rush. It’s just my time. I do not want to leave it (the board) in a lurch. I want to get off the board in the near future.”


 


When asked if her experience as Co Chair of the Comprehensive Plan Committee lead her to resign, she said absolutely not, that it was a matter of her return to teaching full-time, and simply not having the time to handle the planning board work load in addition to her new duties.


 


Mayor Urged to Act Quickly.


 


Cavallero said it was critical to residents that the Mayor move quickly to fill vacancies on both the Planning Board and the Zoning Board, because the Mayor has been slow to fill vacancies in the past. She, with due respect, hoped the Mayor would act quickly because short boards creates problems when specific majorities are required, and a Board is short a member or two. She said it tends to drag out the project process for months when Boards are short members, because of the need to convince three of four members, such as in the case of the Zoning Board of Appeals.


 


Cavallero praised the members she has served with on the Planning Board, saying, “The Board Members are very conscientious, and have done a great job. They read the material. They go on the planning visits.”


 


Cavallero said she was consistently surprised by the lack of preparation and timeliness in submissions by professional organizations presenting to the Planning Board. “The teacher in me, is a good thing to have to be Chair of the Planning Board,” she said referring to the need to educate and direct many who should know better. She related the story of one professional who said, “If it wasn’t for the last moment, nothing would ever get done.”


 


 


Reflecting on her decision to depart, Cavallero said: “It’s time. Seventeen years is a long time to be doing this. I’m doing more. This year it’s really hit me. I just don’t have time for it.”


 


The person, WPCNR has dubbed “The Flower of the Planning Board,” said she was very happy she and her husband settled in White Plains to live: “It’s a wonderful city. I’m so pleased we picked White Plains.”

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Reports of Two New Parking Garages on Maple Avenue Premature.

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WPCNR MAPLE AVENUE PARKER. By John F.Bailey. December 16, 2005. UPDATED 5:15 p.m. E.S.T. UPDATED DEC. 18, 8:30 A.M. E.S.T.: A news report trumpeting the coming of two new parking garages on Maple Avenue to begin as part of the 2006-07 capital projects budget, one involving a new parking garage at Longview and Maple Avenues, appear premature this evening.


 


Today, WPCNR learned from Dawn French, a Community Relations Spokesperson for the White Plains Hospital Center handling the Longview & Maple parking garage project in partnership with the city,  is still under consideration. She told WPCNR that the status of the proposed 600-space parking garage for the Longview and Maple site  is “uncertain” at this time, then after WPCNR reported this Ms. French  contacted us to say, “I know nothing about the status of it,” and that she hoped to have a person with the hospital clarify the situation on where the garage project is on Monday, but no one was available today.


 


Saturday, White Plains Councilperson Rita Malmud reports to WPCNR : “The senior citizen residential and garage project proposed for the corner of Maple and Longview has not yet received final City approval.”



 


The spokesperson could not confirm for WPCNR whether the financial arrangements of the project have been completed with the City of White Plains, or what the details were and how they presently relate the the Sunrise living facility planned for Maple & Cromwell Place.


 


 Al Moroni, Director of Parking for the city told WPCNR the original deal was for the city to build the garage, with the White Plains Hospital Center sharing approximately half the spaces, and the hospital reimbursing the city for the parking fees, and sharing the debt service. The garage is also scheduled to cede 70 parking spaces to the Sunrise Community, the adult assisted living facility planned for a lot on the corner of Maple and Cromwell Place.


 


The Director of Parking, Al Moroni, explained that the Longfield and Maple garage had not yet gone to the Common Council, because of questions on construction that had not yet been resolved. Moroni said there is a water table problem on the site and the garage would have to be built above ground. At present, Moroni said the project was put at $12 to $13 million.


 


Calls to the Mayor’s Office to ascertain where the Longview Garage project stood were not returned.


 


Commenting on report of a second garage project reported aimed for Maple Avenue, Al Moroni said the only other construction of a new parking garage on Maple was being looked at for Waller and Maple (behind Dooley Mac’s) which would hold spaces for 500 to 700 cars at a cost now of a projected $9 Million. Moroni  reports that project, though, is not on the horizon for 2006-2007. He said it has been pushed out to 2011.


 


Moroni told WPCNR that  only garage construction scheduled for 2006-07 is not on Maple Avenue, but instead will take place at The Galleria. It is an extensive refurbishing of the The Galleria—Macy’s garage for $2 Million. According to Moroni, the project would install new “more reflective” lighting throughout all levels of the garage, more security-conscious, and attractive aluminum and glass entrance to all levels of the mall, more secure stairways,  and the replacement of individual parking meters with a “multi-space meter system.” He said the Mills Corporation would be paying 50% of the cost for the renovation.


 


Moroni, in an expansive mood, noted to WPCNR that the city is also looking at building a multi-level garage in the open air parking lot adjacent to the present TransCenter, because there are presently 250 White Plains residents on the waiting list for parking permits at the current TransCenter. He said that is a ways off too.


 


The reality of what garages are or are not going to be built in 2006-2007 should be made clear Monday afternoon at 4 when the Capital Projects Board meets Monday, December 19 at 4 in the Mayor’s Conference Room.

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BID and City Announce New Year’s BallDrop in White Plains

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From David Maloney, The Mayor’s Office. December 16, 2005: Plans are in the works for the area’s best New Year’s Eve celebration, and it won’t be taking place in Manhattan. Once again the City of White Plains will host Westchester County’s biggest and brightest New Year’s Eve Spectacular. Organizers will look to build on the success of last year’s event, which drew an estimated 14,000 into the Downtown. The family oriented New Year’s Eve Spectacular will run from 11 pm-1 am, and will feature live music provided by Jiggsaw, a countdown, a lighted ball drop, and will be topped off with a close proximity fireworks display; all for FREE!


 


 


 


Residents and visitors alike are invited to ring in 2006 in at Renaissance Plaza on Mamaroneck Avenue, right in the heart of Downtown White Plains.


 


“Our Downtown is the most attractive entertainment destination in all of Westchester County, and provides a great backdrop for our annual New Year’s festivities,” said a beaming Mayor Delfino, “this year’s event promises to be the best ever. Residents of White Plains and all of Westchester County no longer need to trek into Manhattan to celebrate.”


 


The party is co-hosted annually by the City of White Plains and the White Plains Downtown Business Improvement District (BID).


 


“We are very proud of our revitalized downtown and want to show it off,” said Rick Ammirato, the BID’s Executive Director, “This is the safest, cleanest, and most exciting small city from Manhattan to Albany, and it’s time everyone got to know it. Fine dining, shopping, and nightlife, it’s all available in Downtown White Plains!”


 


Last year more than 14,000 residents came down for the party and even more are expected this year. Ample parking is available at the City Center, Hamilton Avenue and Galleria garages.


 

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