Sales Tax Receipts Hit Target.

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WPCNR QUILL AND EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. August 15, 2006: The Mayor’s Office confirmed to WPCNR Friday that the city sales tax for the final quarter of fiscal year 2005-2006 met its budgeted figure, finishing at $41,886,267, just about meeting the 2005-2006 budget projection of  $41,950,000.  City Hall Commissioner of Finance, Gina Cuneo-Harwood told WPCNR Friday  the city received $9,374,687 in sales tax for the fourth quarter, this figure is down slightly from the fourth quarter of 2004-2005 when the city received $9,632,210 in sales tax. Asked if the city accomplished a surplus for 2005-2006, Harwood said “We do not know that yet.”


 City Sales Tax Revnues , according to WPCNR calculations rose 2.3%, from 2004-2005 to 2005-2006, from 40,929,781 to $41,886,267


 


The City’s 2006-2007 budget has projected $42.5 Million in sales tax for 06-07, relying on the injection of new Wal-Mart sales, for the increase.


 


Prior to the Mayor’s Revitalization Program for the city, sales tax collections stood at $35,787,758 at the end of the 2000-2001 fiscal year. After six years sales taxes have risen to the $41,886,267 level, or 17%. Sales tax receipts first increased substantially from the 2000-2001 doldrums (as a result of the redevelopment) in 2003-2004, climbing to $37.7 million.  


 


However, prices have risen 11% from the end of 2000 to the end of 2005, according to “The Inflation Calculator.” When the sales receipts are measured against inflation, and inflation is taken into account, the real increase in sales tax receipts  declines to 6%. If you were to attempt to purchase $6,098,509 of a list of goods in 2005, you bought in 2000 for $6,098,509 it  would take you $6,772,626 to purchase the same items.


 


It appears not to be that Redevelopment of the city has not helped revitalize the city’s economy, but its benefits have not been enough to match the explosion in city spending.


 


 In 2001-2002, the city budget was $97.8 Million. According to the published 2006-2007 budget, the city will spend $146.3 Million in 2006-2007, or $48.5 Million more than it spent in 2001-2002.


 


 The city budget has increased 49.6% in five years (2001-2002 to 2006-2007) against a cumulative inflation rate from 2002 through 2005 of 9.92% and an inflation rate since 2000 of 2.6%, a cumulative rate of  15.6%. The city has spent at more than three times the inflation rate.


 


The annual rates of inflation for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 were 3.38%, 2.38%, 1.59%, 2.27%, 2.68% and 3.39% — an average of 2.6% each of those six years a cumulative rise in prices of  15.7%  The current rate of inflation for 2006 is 3.74%.


 


Viewed another away, redevelopment of White Plains has kept pace with the inflation of little more than 6% a year the last five years while city fiscal management has spent at a rate eight times the average rate of inflation.

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The Monty Moves In to WBT September 7 to Start Fall Season.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Allan Gruet, Westchester Broadway Theatre. August 13, 2006:  “The Full Monty” is a heart warming story about a group of unemployed, out-of-shape, steel mill worker friends from Buffalo New York, who are unable to find any work. Seeing how much their wives enjoy watching male strippers during their so called “girls’ night out,” and needing to earn money to support their families, the guys come up with a bold way to earn some quick cash. You can’t help but cheer for these “Average Joes” as they fight to get their lives back together by devising a desperate plan – but can they pull it off???  You’ll find out when “The Monty” comes to WBT September 7 to start its fall run.


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 In the process they find renewed self-esteem, the importance of friendship and the ability to have fun. As the guys work through their fears, self-consciousness, and anxieties, (over everything from being overweight to child custody, bigotry to being gay) they discover that not only are they stronger as a group, but that the strength they find in each other gives them the individual courage to face and overcome their demons.


 There is great heart to “The Full Monty.” The ultimate themes expressed in the musical – about taking charge of one’s life and following one’s dreams – are good lessons for all of us. And the truth is, that through creative direction and staging, the final impact of “The Full Monty” can be achieved without ever losing your jockey shorts!


Ben Brantley from the New York Times stated the musical had, “Memory-grabbing melodies, outlandish lyrics….”, and Clive Barnes from the New York Post said “It’s a Blockbuster! David Yazbek’s music and lyrics work like a charm.”  Some of the upbeat songs include “It’s a Woman’s World,” Life with Harold,” “You Rule the World,” and “Let It Go.”


The production is Choreographed and directed by Richard Stafford, (Richard last Directed & choreographed our gorgeous production of “Cats”) Associate director Jonathan Stahl, with Musical Supervision by Ken Lundie,  Musical Direction by John Daniels, Costume design by Mathew Hemesath, Set design by George Puello & Steve Loftus, Lighting design by Andrew Gmoser, and Sound design by Jon Hatton.


 “The Full Monty” is Broadway adult entertainment at the WBT, with the best dinner and show package anywhere…..including free parking. For reservations for “The Full Monty” – a touching and funny story, with a catchy pop score… Call (914) 592-2222 or order tickets online at www.broadwaytheatre.com    

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Amy Paulin’s Albany: 23 bills Passed this year.

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WPCNR’S Amy Paulin’s Albany. From Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, 88th Assembly District. August 12, 2006: Assemblywoman Amy Paulin sponsored 23 bills that were passed by the State Legislature this year, putting her productivity in the top ten of all 150 members of the State Assembly. 
  

        Chief among Paulin’s successful efforts was her bill to eliminate the statute of limitations for rapists and sexual abusers. “With the reliability of DNA evidence, it was critical that we eliminate this loophole for rapists,” said Paulin,” Now the bad guys can be sent to jail, rather than get off because of the passage of time.” 


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        Another Paulin bill allows longer time limits for orders of protection issued to victims of domestic violence to protect them against abusive partners. “Orders of protection are the only shield some victims have against their abusers,” said Paulin, “This will allow them to better control their own lives and stop living in fear.”
 
        Spurred by shocking incidents in Westchester and New York City of children dying at the hands of abusive or neglectful parents, Paulin was able to pass legislation to improve documentation of such deaths so that better case review can be implemented to stop future incidents. “Nothing is more heartbreaking than an innocent child who dies because of abusive parents, and nothing is more serious than when the system fails to protect such children,” said Paulin, “My legislation will close some of the loopholes that have failed these victims in the past.”
 
Helping Schools and Libraries
 
        Paulin also succeeded in increasing school aid for local districts and in passing tax relief.
 
        Schools in Paulin’s district will receive $7 million more in operating and Pre-K funding than they did last year, plus another $7 million in grants for capital needs. “The people of my district pay a great deal in state taxes, and deserve a fair share of school aid in return,” said Paulin.
 
        In a related area Paulin voted to add $2.7 million in funding for the Westchester Library System.
 
        Paulin said that taxpayers also have a right to be assured their tax dollars are being spent well, which is why she supported an additional $2.8 million in the current state budget to increase Comptroller audits of local school systems.
 
Tax Relief
 
         “Skyrocketing property taxes are forcing people out of the state,” said Paulin, explaining why she made tax relief a focus of the 2006 legislative session. Among the successful measures she supported were eliminating the state sales tax on clothing and shoes under $110, capping the sales tax on gasoline, creating a $330 child tax credit for most families, and ending the marriage penalty in the state income tax.
 
        A centerpiece of this year’s tax relief agenda, said Paulin, was increasing the STAR property tax relief program. Westchester property tax payers will receive an average STAR rebate of $532 this fall, while seniors will receive an enhanced STAR rebate averaging $822. Eligible taxpayers will also receive a cost of living STAR adjustment of $373.
 
        Paulin was also active in her role as Chair of the Task Force on Disabilities and as a member of the Committee on Health.
 
        Paulin’s legislation that passed both houses of the Legislature ranged from requiring that dental health be checked in local schools, to making the New York Human Rights law consistent with the federal Americans with Disabilities law (ADA), to providing tax credits to taxi owners who make their vehicles accessible to the disabled.
 
Providing Open Government
 
        Finally, Paulin continued her effort in the 2006 legislative session to provide open government for the public. Among her bills was one that would strengthen the Freedom of Information Law by requiring increased access to electronic information compiled by government agencies. “So much data is stored on computers now, and we must bring the law into compliance with technology,” said Paulin. Although the Governor vetoed this bill, claiming it placed a burden on government, Paulin said she will work to overcome those objections and re-pass it next year.
 
        Paulin is also working to pass legislation that will require governments found guilty of violating the Open Meetings Law to pay the legal costs of those who successfully sue to gain access to information.
 
        “My job is to be effective in Albany and pass solutions to the problems that we face,” said Paulin, “That’s why I am gratified that 23 of my bills were passed by both houses of the Legislature. It indicates we can work in a bipartisan way to make progress and that the people are getting the active representation they deserve.”

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Warrior Days

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. August 12, 2006: The White Plains Warrior Summer Travel Ball season is over, but the memories linger on forever. Every summer WPHS Coach Ted O’Donnell fields a travel team of prospects and White Plains High School softball players and plays them in the WPBA and in 18-and Under Travel Tournaments. The competition on the higher level hones them and turns them into a team. This summer the clubs, the Westchester Warriors and the White Plains Warriors made up of mostly the same players, with veterans mixed in finished second in their last tournament, won 5 of 7 in an international tournmament in Montreal and lost about 8 games all summer, winning around 35 games.


 


They played and beat 18-and-under gold teams of All-Stars from different schools and regions. They played topflight organizations and walked off winners. They learned the game. They learned about themselves and each other most of all, they played. The coach, Ted O’Donnell, does not keep track of their record.  They can play with anybody. Fastpitch Johnny has penned an ode to Warrior Days for White Plains softball players and fastpitch players of all ages and why they play:


 



 


 


Warrior Days


By Fastpitch Johnny


 


In the blaze of July’s relentless sun


Daughters of the diamond cavort on the red clay cauldron.


Between white lines the demands of Diamond Days


Dwindle down to precious innings’ humid twilight haze.


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With each pitch, bats get quicker,


Each play instincts and reactions slicker.


Warriors in red and black cross the white lines,


Putting themselves with a thrill into the friendly confines.


 


 



Riding the clay sage of the cowboys’ range


The red clay of the diamond makes a girl feel at home on the grange.


The yield and crunch of infield dirt under their Ringors,


The vast emerald the outfield green extend futures beyond time’s rigors


 


There in splendid colors, teammates in unison bond in skill


Dedicated to the elusive hard game’s thrill,


Defined by  harsh slap of fastball in glove,


Clonk of clouted yellow sphere soaring above.


 



 


“Up! Up!” they cry, calling on intensity of eye and sharpness of mind


To drive, to deflect, intercept snare drives inclined.


Dashing to gap to nab the impossible screaming snag,


Taking away the hopes of a batter’s belted tag.


 


Freezing, soaking in chill dawn rains, indifferent  cruel drizzles


Sweating in oppressive inferno’s sear , shrugging off rallys’ fizzles,


Driving beyond errors’ dismay, dedicating all to the next play,


Between the lines the Warriors are shaped for future fray


 



 


On the paths of righteous dash,


Struggling to beat snap throws with clouds of dusty splash,


Clouds of dust: the gunsmoke of  desire.  Puttin on strawberries the best makeup


Building skills play-by-play in the daily dustup.


 


From 5 to 18 they have played, the lure of the brown and green


Taking hold in young hearts, a first love they never forget that makes them dream


From catches with dad and softtosses endless to practice pitches,


Fungos and grounders preparing for the diamond where they suspend time’s treacheries.


 



 


In the diamond, they stand alone on what they do, and show their say


The cauldron tests pitch by pitch inning after inning game after game day,


Dreading the next game and wanting it at the same time


Wrestling with the shades of self-doubt and recommitting at the next gametime.


 


For the Warriors of the diamond, they are never finished.


Each play teaches, shaming, enticing, showcasing  with splendid  flourish.


Every day’s warmup like the tuneup of an orchestra arouses their love


The cauldron seduces them, slipping on the smell and feel of their trusty leather glove


 



 


As fastpitch summer winds down in parched diamonds in faraway places


The time when there are no more games approaches,


Longing for the end of the season and dreading its raproaches,


The rituals of the last games become more precious – the effort polishes.


 


Every summer it is this way for the Warriors of the Diamond and the same.


Never  enough of the hard yellow ball, its indifferences exacting, the diamond’s enthrall.


Failure is defined, success waiting between the lines every time they play ball.


 



 


Their every move recorded in the scorebook of indifference,


No move quite good enough for its standard, always the ultimate reference ,


Showing they were in the lineup —  they played in the dust and heat and did not hide.


Or got it done when it counted, and when they didn’t, they tried.


 


They hit. They fielded, they choked a rally with a grab and catch to joyous accolade.


Now with summer light casting shadows long, they leave the diamond’s glade,


Tanned bv tension, the chaos of the threat, the joy of the rally bataround


The thrill of making the big pitch, the cobra throw, the deft pick, the cutdown


 



 The Warriors: Top Row: Jessica Issaacs, Coach. Lisa Tompkins, Kate Smayda, Sara Lorden.


Middle Row: Juliana Bailey, Michelle Portillo, Shannon Nicholson, Cristina Giansante.


Front Row: Sandra Mastrangelo, Carrie Abbot, Ashley Encarnacao, Dannie Szabo.


 


So long to Ashley the Warrior heart, tireless wing and stretch extraordinaire, and peerless 3rd Carrie


Shazams to Szabo, Drillin Dannie  the snare artist  at short and hits that carried


To smackin’ Smayda, good to left and right and backup on the bunt, it’s Kate’s.


With Lashin’ Lisa finding her groove in the gloamin, saves at 1st in the clutch


To Little G in left an antelope to the line and gap, creator of runs in the lates.


 


To Sandra the Michel-ANGEL-0 behind the plate, Catherine Deneuve of backstops,


Blaster of timely gapster. To Sarah’s timely pickoffs of questing drives, and tablesetting.


To Julie in Centa, roamin in the gloamin’ turning towering drives into outs and


Wills on the basepaths very upsetting.


 


 To Shannon The Little Ace, slight of stature, stopper in the clutch with something extra, Young in age, a Koufax in savvy, with Burdette’s heart, like Matty born to pitch.


 To Michelle threat at 1st or 3rd ready to make a play, with keen batting eye. To Tamara, Centerfielder beyond peer with a bat that will get better every year. To Ali with timely stroke who built the WPBA winning rally when they needed a hit.


 



 


To the coach, the unflappable O’D—the McGraw of Fastpitch legend


Intense in dusty black cap with stready stream of banter


Base traffic controller artist with loaded sacks, reminding batters to not dip hands, and “get after”


With his patience and repetition the Warriors were fashioned.


 


More than any  man they will meet, more than any experience,


The cauldron of the diamond will have a hold on their hearts.


When hearts say goodbye to the cauldron of the diamond’s brilliance,


When no longer they walk across the white lines, they’ll remember the good parts.


 


Seasons from now, the cauldron will beckon to all who look upon its mysterious ways.


When they no longer play, remembering when they were between the lines,


When they tried and dreamed, in their dedicated faces and piled pony tails of vigilance.


Fielders, remorseless pitchettes, and dedicated strikers, they’ll remember Warrior Days


 


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City Sponsors Affordable Housing. Urb Ren to Bond $8.6 M on $17M Pinn AF

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. August 11, 2006 UPDATED  6:00 P.M. E.D.T.: As reported earlier this week by WPCNR, in an historic Urban Renewal Agency meeting Friday morning at 9, the Urban Renewal Agency approved by a 3-0 vote (Mayor Joseph Delfino, Russell Smith and Dan Moriarity, voting for, and a fourth member on vacation Norm Bichiara, on vacation received a briefing and giving it his blessing, according to Paul Wood),  a series of resolutions that will make the City of White Plains Urban Renewal Agency an official developer of affordable housing in the city, and establishing a method where the city can act as its own Industrial Development Agency, said Paul Wood, City Executive Officer this afternoon.



Paul Wood, architect of the White Plains “Miracle IDA” created Friday morning, (Wood is shown in January, 2005). Wood noted the Urban Renewal Agency and Municipal Law statutes which lead to the Urban Renewal “IDA Coup” executed this morning. He said Corporation Counsel Edward Dunphy and bond counsel, Randy Mayer crafted the legislation and Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning assisted. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.


Wood said the legislation brings the Urban Renewal Agency $969,000 in fees  (Legal fees, Letters of Credit Fees, Underwriter fee, Bond Counsel, Borrower’s Counsel, etc), the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency would have received if they had moved more quickly in approving Ginsburg Development request for funding for the affordable housing portion of the Ginsburg project.


He said these fees would go into the Urban Renewal Agency “coffers,” as he put it, to be used possibly for more affordable housing projects, but that the use of the windfall had not been determined yet.


“It’s a new day that’s dawned in White Plains,” Wood said in a telephone interview from City Hall Friday afternoon. “We can finally control our own destiny rather than have it rest in another agency’s hands.”


West Side Affordable Housing Tool?


Asked if Wood saw the new Urban Renewal Agency “IDA Tool” being used in other parts of the city, such as the West Side (Lexington Avenue and Post Road), Wood said, “Possibly, yes, we’re going to use it wherever we can. The plan can be amended so it can go (be used) just about anywhere it meets the conditions in corporated in the Urban Renewal Plan.”


He noted the $969,100 could be used in the East Post Road Lexington Avenue “Renaissance” next up on the Mayor’s Revitalization plan.


The resulutions make use of  municipal law allowing Urban Renewal Agencies to create “Demonstration Projects” as models to develop “blighted” areas. The city’s first “Demonstration Project” will be the 52 units of affordable housing on Main Street, which according to William Null’s description of the proposal provided to WPCNR will cost over $17 Million.



$17.6 Million Pinnacle Affordable Housing, foreground, (left), with The Pinnacle (previously 23 stories in background, recently approved to go to 28 stories) showcased January, 2006. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.


This Friday morning, the White Plains Urban Renewal Agency  approved a proposal from Ginsburg Development Corporation and its partner Ridgemour Properties for the Agency to purchase 260 Main Street and designate Martin Ginsburg as its developer, after one hour of deliberation. 


As part of the complex arrangement, the Agency approved a no-bid contract with the Ginsburg and Ridgemour Property concerns. In the arrangement the Urban Renewal Agency has approved issue bonds in the amount of $8,600,020 or half the cost of the units, $17,614,324. A letter from the Pinnacle attorney, William Null states the cost of the 52 units of affordable housing at $338,737 per unit, and the city is expected to bond for $165,385 of each unit.


$331,820 in Tax Savings. $780,000 PILOT.


The city bonds are expected to be paid by Pinnacle through rentals and sale of tax credits, (which will be sought, WPCNR believes through the New York State Housing Authority).  Tax credits issued by the NYSHA historically have made profits for developers, more than paying their costs of building the affordable housing.


At some point the city is expected to sell the affordable housing project back to Pinnacle to manage after it is completed.


Of the $16,936,867 cost of the project, the developer (Ginsburg Development Corporation) will be paid $2,540,530,  the Urban Renewal Agency, $969,100 in fees; construction costs are estimated at $9,625,875, Soft Costs (Appraisals, insurances, mrketing, leasing, security) are pegged at $649,862, Price of land, $2,500,000, Constingency fees, $101,360.


Tax Benefits to Pinnacle according to Resolution 17, page 12, are savings of $220,020 in sales and use taxes for 2 years. A PILOT of $52,000 annually for 15 years, ($780,000) and waiving of the mortgage recording tax of $111,800. 


The Sequence


Wood detailed the sequence: “It’s a pass through. It’s a simple transaction. We buy the property from Ginsburg for $10, we turn around and lease it back to them. After that, the property has to be declared tax exempt. Because it’s tax exempt, we can then go ahead and issue tax-exempt bonds on the open market. The bondholders do the financing. There’s no risk at all for the city Urban Renewal Agency receives 1/2% of the cost of the bond (while the County IDA would have received 1%), and the bondholder receives about 1 to 2 points hire than the city points. It’s a similar arrangement to what we had in the City Center garage. Any profit will be poured back into paying off the bonds, so the bonds could expire in 15 years, 10 years, depending how successful they are. The city and the Urban Renewal Agency are completely without liability in this transaction. There’s no way anything can refer back to us.”


Wood said that principal and interest on the bonds would be paid first, and any profit over the cost charged by the managing agency, Community Housing Innovations, partner with The Ginsburg Development Corporation, would be plowed back into the bonds.  Community Housing Innovations currently is building affordable housing with the city at Minerva Place.


“The only ones who can get hurt here are the bondholders,” Wood said, “The bonds are also additionally being backed by a major bank. Ginsburg has a completion bond, which if for some reason he does not build the project, another company will be paid to finish it. There are protections on every side of it. We don’t try and push things through to hurt people. The whole thing isthe city’s going to realize the $969,000 that we wouldn’t have otherwise had, and we broke away, liberated ourselves from the IDA. “


Timetable


Now that the Urban Renewal Agency has  approved the plan, the Common Council will have to approve the historic step into affordable housing by White Plains by approving awarding a no-competitive bid contract to Ginsburg Development, and the amended urban renewal plan. The Council will take this up on August 24, Wood said.The Planning Board will meet Tuesday to hear the approved plan, according to Paul Wood, City Executive Officer.  


Asked if he expected a challenge from Westchester County on the city legal ability to act as its own IDA through the Urban Renewal Agency, Wood said, ‘I think they’d be foolish to do so. Are they (the county) against affordable housing?”


Council Informed?


WPCNR, since no councilperson called by WPCNR has returned calls on their reactions and endorsement of the Urban Renewal Agency legislation, asked  Wood “The council was aware of all the particulars of this deal before Monday?”


“Yes, well, no,” Wood said, “They were aware this was a mechanism we were going to try to employ. We had a rough idea of how it would work, but you know, you get attorneys involved and there’s the legal  mechanizations to accomplish something like this can be mind-numbing. Really, the details were probably not hammered out until Wednesday. But each of the councilpeople I’ve spoken to personally and explained what the process was, except for Councilman Ben Boykin and Dennis Power.”


Wood said the council was briefed about a month ago on the problems Ginsburg was having on the county IDA picking up the affordable housing request. He said, the city had thought about going to the Empire State Development Corporation, but discarded that idea at which point the city looked at the Urban Renewal Agency possibilities.  The County IDA has issued Ginsburg $47 Million in financing on the Pinnacle retail and garage portion of the project.


Councilman Benjamin Boykin though did not mention any inkling of the “Miracle IDA” plan approved today when he expressed worry the Pinnacle Affordable Housing piece was being delayed at Monday evening’s Common Council meeting.


Wood said the Urban Renewal Agency members received a partial delivery of the legislation they were to vote on  Wednesday evening and the balance Thursday evening (last night), prior to the Friday morning vote. Councilpersons received their packets on the project Thursday, Wood said, their first detailed look at the landmark legislation.


 

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Mayor Alerts Muni Officials: County Sweetheart Lease Threatens Local Rule

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. August 10, 2006: Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains,  in a letter released to the media, is alerting President John Chervokas and members of the Executive Committee of the Westchester Municipal Officials Association of what he sees as a long term threat to local control if Legislator Bill Ryan’s sweetheart $1 a year 95 year lease deal with a firm seeking to build senior affordable housing on the former post office parking lot on Quarropas Street deal is approved by the County Board of Legislators. The vote reportedly is coming up this coming up September 11, or sooner.


The Mayor states in the letter, the Ryan-inspired legislation “could jeopardize home rule power of municipalities in Westchester County to manage the development of surplus County property within their jurisdiction. I urge you to contact your County Legislator(s) to oppose this legislation.”


The Mayor’s letter points out that “William Ryan, is proposing to lease rather than sell the property in question, maintaining that the right of first refusal applies only to sales, not leases, of County property. The proposed term of the lease for the senior affordable housing project would be 65 years, with provisions for three (3) consecutive renewal options of up to 10 years, or a maximum of 95 years.”


Mayor Delfino notes “under the Laws of Westchester County, the maximum term of a lease of this nature, including renewals, is thirty years.” As a result, the County Board has now proposed a local to be considered on September 11, 2006 or sooner, which would amend (the law) to permit a 95 year lease term for this project. The proposed long-term lease to be entered into here is tantamount to a sale of the property.”


The Mayor warns the Municipal Officials Association, “Adaption of the proposed legislation will enable the County to accomplish indirectly what it is legally precluded from doing directly, conveying surplus County property in downtown White Plains to a private developer without first offering the property to the City of White Plains….the proposed legislation estabishes a precedent for the County Board to ignore local interests when selling surplus property within your borders.”


Delfino implores, “I am requesting you (John Chervokas and the Executive Committee) contact  your County Legislator(s)…to protect the County’s emasculation of municipal home rule and to insist that the County carry out its unquestioned legal obligation to extend a right of first refusal to the local government in which County surplus is situated prior to disposal of that property.”


 

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Mt. Zion Festival August 12

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WPCNR SOCIALS. August 10, 2006: Mt Hope AME Zion Church is having a one day festival August 12 2006 at 65 Lake street white plains NY 10604 from 1:00pm to 10:00 pm.  Telephone number is 914 948 6372. Included are pony rides, games, various vendors, soul food, music. 

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Brakettes to Host NPF Playoffs in Conn. Battle Bandits in Playoff Preview

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By Fastpitch Johnny. August 9, 2006: Besides the Yankees and the Pale Hose playing on the South Side of Chicago tonight, there’s another big game on the North Side, which can be heard on the internet tonight at 7:30.    The National Pro Fastpitch season swings into its final two weeks tonight with the Connecticut Brakettes 4 games behind the class of the league, the Chicago Bandits, currently holding a 3 game lead over the third place Brakettes.


 



The Brakettes are riding a 4-game winning streak for their second series with the Bandits, after defeating the Philadelphia Force 6-1 Sunday in pitcher Kaci Clark’s last game as a Brakette. Clark the stylish little right-hander, shown firing to Sarah Fekete of the Force Sunday afternoon has been a fixture in the Brakette circle  before the club joined the National Pro Fastpitch league this year, announced her retirement after a decade of beind perhaps the leading professional and amateur pitcher in fastpitch softball. Photo, WPCNR Sports.


 


 


Sunday afternoon’s twilight contest showed Kaci Clark at her best, easing out of Force threats in the 1st, catching the Force’s Big Boppette, Jenna Hall looking to strand Carrie Leto at second; in the third when with three straight singles by Sarah Fekete, Leto and Chelsea Spencer, she struck out Hall swinging for out number two and induced the hard-hitting Ryan Realmuto to ground to short.



Meanwhile the Brakettes scored in the second when Aimee Minor, who had walked scored from second on an error by Force Shortstop Spencer. VanBrakle, the Force right hander matched Clark until the fifth, when K.C. again ran into trouble. Fekete singled, Leto seingled and Spencer single to load the bases. On a 2-2 pitch, Clark induced Hall to hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring Fekete to tie the game 1-1. But, with the game on the line, K.C. fanned Realmuto to retire the side.



 



 


Aimee Minor at the plate about to thread a bleader in the first base hole to plate Kelly Wilkerson with the winning run Sunday afternoon. Wilkerson edges down off third. A wild throw to third allowed Germaine Fairchild to score to make it 3-1. Photo, WPCNR Sports.


 


In the fifth, VanBrakle faltered. Team USA’s Kelly Kretchman laced a hard shot in the first base hole to right. Kelly Wilkerson ground to Leto at second for a fielder’s choice and the Kettes’ Jessica Merchant looled a single to right putting Wilkerson on second. Germaine Fairchild hit into another fielder’s choice to Leto, moving Wilkerson to third, erasing Mechant at second with Germaine reaching first.


 


That brought up Aimee Minor the DP. Minor worked the count to 1-1 and hit a slow roller to the right of  second baser, Carrie Leto. The ball had eyes and a lot of English worming it’s way past Leto on a crazy roll into right, a hit! The Force’s rightfielder, trying to head off Fairchild at third overthrew third, allowing Germaine to score and it was 3-1, Connecticut. Van Brakle deserved a better fate.


 


The runs stoked Kaci Clark who finished off the Force without incident in the sixth and seventh, fanning the last two hitters. In the bottom of the sixth, Kellie Wilkerson launched a three run homer to set the stage for tonight’s showdown with the Bandits in Chicago.


 



Kaci Clark throwing the last pitch to win the 2002 ASA National Fast Pitch Championship at Frank DeLuca Field. Photo, WPCNR Sports.


 


Clark, of the feared riser has won 4 games and lost 5 for the Brakettes this year working as the third starter after Sarah Pauly and Nikki Myers who will shoulder the circle duty in the playoffs coming up. Clark pitched the Brakettes to the ASA Championship in 2002, shutting out the Southern California Hurricanes, 1-0, fanning 13 in a game we were privileged to see, and duplicated the feet in 2003, beating the Team Smith All-Stars.


 


Clark, during her college career was undefeated in 1995 for UCLA, winning the College World Series Championship, and pioneered the Women’s Professional Softball League from 1996 to 2001, in many ways she could be considered the “Satchel Page” of women’s professional softball – who gave credibility and heart to the league that the media did its best to bury.


 


Clark (who is only 5-3) is an inspiration to many young ladies who want to pitch. Kaci taught and demonstrated pitching in the Brakettes clinics held at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field and Short Beach in Bridgeport every summer.


 



K.C. In action, July 2003. Photo, WPCNR SPorts.


 


In the circle, she was stylish, with a compact, exploding motion like a right-handed Whitey Ford (if Whitey pitched windmill). She affected white and red pony tail ribbons while she dazzled hitters with a battery of pitches: curve, drop, change, fastball, riseball (her most effective pitch). Girls wanted to be like her and pitch like her, and most importantly, watching her, they believed they could.


 


At the conclusion of the game Sunday afternoon in a glorious setting sun, Clark left her red spikes in the circle at the conclusion of the game. The Connecticut Brakette website quotes Kaci’s reminisces:


 


 “ I thank the Brakettes and our sponsors Dave and Dotty Carpenter for giving me the chance to be a part of Brakette history. I still remember watching my first Brakettes game as an eighteen year old. Seening Dot Richardson, Sheila Cornell, Lisa Fernandez, and Barbara Reinalda on the field made me wonder if they made Brakette uniforms small enough for me. Finally after the last pro league folded, I got my chance to be a Brakette.”


 



K.C. Whipping it In against the Bandits, June, 2006. Photo, WPCNR Sports.


 


The crowd gave her a standing ovation. In recent years, Kaci has pitched for the New York New Jersey Juggernaut in the NPF, and returned to the Brakettes this year. It is fitting as the Brakettes turned professional that Kaci helped lead them to their present 23-12 mark in the NPF as they begin their series with the Bandits tonight.


 



John Stratton, Manager, Connecticut Brakettes.


Photo, Connecticut Brakettes.


 


John Stratton, Brakette manger said of Kaci coming to the Brakettes in 2002,  on the www.ctbrakettes.com, that “Kaci came in and added that charisma, that presence which put us over the top. I love this kid,” this year, he said, “She helped us make the transition from ASA ball to the NPF easier. She’s a consummate pro, and we’ll miss her.”


 


Clark hangs up the spikes with a career Brakette record of 64-12, and a career ERA of 0.59, and 819 strikeouts and just 79 walks.


 


Not Too Shabby a Debut In June


 


The Brakettes with two weeks remaining in the season have a record of 23-12 and are 0-2 against Chicago in their debut season in the NPF – the toughest fastpitch league in the world.


The Bandits, delayed on a flight from Chicago on June 22 took the field warmed up quickly and  spotted the Brakettes a 2-0 lead. The lead was manufactured on an error by the Bandit shortstop  Jaime Clark after the Brakettes loaded the bases on a single by Steph Best, and two passes by Jessica Sallinger.  Stephanie Hill’s grounder to Shortstop Jaime Clark produced a wild throw from Clark and the first baser Chris Enea threw wildly to the plate allowing Jessica Merchant to score, too for a 2-0 lead.


 


Meanwhile, Kaci Clark pressed into service when the Brakette starter Sarah Pauly could not take her turn due to an eye injury help the cruel Bandit bats at bay for 4 innings stranding two Bandits in the second, and another in the third.


 


In the fifth the Bandits struck for a fast 3 runs to take the lead, Anne Steffen lead off with a single to deep short, the Team USA third base wizard, Vicky Galindo singled again deep in the hole, after Clark fanned Trina Peel, and wild pitched Steffan and Galindo to second and third, Jaime Clark ripped a humpback liner to right center to plate Steffan. Then Kaci uncorked a wild pitch to score Galindo, and move Clark to second to make it 2-2. Nicole Trimboli grounded out moving Clark to third who scored on a single by pinchhitter Mackenzie Vandergeest on a 3-1 pitch to put the Bandita ahead, 3-2.


 


The Bandits broke it open in the sixth when second baser Stacy May singled. Clark hit Anne Steffan with a pitch. Galindo’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners up. Peel hit into a play at the plate and it looked as if Kaci was going to ease out of it. It was not to be. Jaime Clark blasted the first pitch one hop to the fence in right center for a triple to make it 5-2. Clark was lifted. Trimbolit singled to make it 6-2 and when her ball was misplayed in the outfield, she came around to score to make it 7-2. It was an impressive come-from-behinder by the Bandits. Both Bandit rallies were started by the bottom of the order which is significant. No easy outs.


 


The next night Sarah Pauly took her regular turn and ran into the old reliable Juggernaut, Gina Oaks who shut the Brakettes out – no easy feat – on  a one-hitter – fooling them with her offspeed pitches. Oaks pitches a lot like Lew Burdette, the old Braves right hander who won 3 games in the 1957 World Series, inducing lots of ground balls.


 


Tonight the Brakettes may see Amy Harre the Bandits’ top winner with a 10-1 record with a 1.01 ERA in 97 innings pitched. She is backed by Jessica Sallinger and Oaks who each have 6-3 records.


 



Jessica Sallinger in the circle for the Bandits June 22, Frank DeLuca Field. Photo, WPCNR Sports.



 


The Bandits feature a Murderesses’ Row of hitters with 6 hitting over .300 – and that’s saying something in this league where they face the best pitching in softball. Proof of that statement is how many of the Team USA players who play in the NPF destroyed the opposition in the recent World Cup.


 


The Bandits come at you with Anne Steffan, hitting .437 at second base; the Team USA Champ at third, Vicky Galindo who’s hitting at .354 clip, and second sacker, Stacy May, checking in with a .349 average.


 


Selena Collins the catcher is at a not-too-shabby .314, with Jaime Clark the big RBI-Ette with 30 Ribbies and a .309 average and 4 solo shots.


 


Brakettes Round into Form.


 


The Connecticut Brakettes are lead by their TEAM USA Leadoff masher, Kelly Kretschman hitting .407 and their shortstop, the rangy  Michigan Clipper, Jessica Merchant clipping along at .367 with 22 RBIs and 9 homers. Kelly Wilkerson the trusty first baser is second in RBIS with 18 and Germaine Fairchild, the catcher has 17.


 


Aimee Minor is the next most consistent hitter on the club with a .271 average with Stephanie Best the second baser at .269.


 


Pauly has been the Brakettes’ Number 1 pitcher with a 12-4 record and the fiery Myers 7-3. A split with the Bandits or better taking 3 of 4 at the Bandits’ field at Benedictine University on the North Side would be good positioning for the NPF playoffs which will be held in Stratford, Connecticut with the Brakettes the Host Team.


 


Brakettes Pro Fast Pitch Playoff Tickets on Sale.


 


Tickets went on sale this week for those National Pro Fast Pitch Playoffs that will begin Saturday August 26 and wrapup with the Championship Game Sunday August 27 at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. Saturday the two semi-finals will be played at 1 P.M. and 7 P.M. The winners meet in the one for the money Sunday at 6 P.M.


 



 



Frank DeLuca Hall of fame Field. Brakettes and the Force in Pregame Workouts Sunday. Photos, WPCNR Sports.


 



Getting that Ponytail Just Right. Carri “Lightning” Leto, the former NPF Champion second baseman with the Juggernaut,  having her trademark tail adjusted in the dugout prior to gametime. Photo WPCNR Sports.


 


Tickets for all three games are $15 each for box seats, $12 for Reserve and $9 Bleacher Tickets are now on sale through August 25.


 


Single game admission prices on the days of the Games are $10, $8 and $6 respectively.


Fans may order tickets by contacting the Connecticut Brakettes at 203-378-7262 or by e-mail at brakettes05@hotmail.com, or by mail order. The Brakettes Box Office is located at 185 Lordship Boulevard, Stratford, Connecticut 06615. Ticket Information is also available at www.ctbrakettes.com


 


Rain Plagued Season.


 


In a season plagued by rainouts, causing a disparity of games played between the clubs, the Brakettes have done well against established opposition. At this stage of the NPF season, the Bandits lead the league with the surprise team of the season, the New England Riptide,  in second place 3-1/2 games out, the Brakettes are 3 out and last year’s champs, the Akron Racers five games out. Those four teams will make the playoffs. Last year Chicago took it all but lost in the Playoff opening round to the Akron Racers. If teams finish where they are it likely will be the Brakettes and the Riptide and the Racers and the Bandits in the opening round, though parings have not been announced yet.


 


The Brakettes return home to Frank DeLuca Field for four games with Team Canada next week and finish the season with makeup doubleheaders against the New England Riptide which polished off the Brakettes  3 out of 4 in Lowell Mass in a recent four game set to take over second place.


 


The National Pro Fast Pitch Standings August 14, 2006


                                                                W       L     PCT.     GB  


 


Chicago Bandits                                 27     11      .711    ____


 


CONNECTICUT BRAKETTES         25   14      .641       2-1/2


 


  New England Riptide                        23   14      .622       3-12


 


Akron Racers                                       26     17     .605        7


 


Texas Thunder                                    18     26     .409       12


 


Arizona Heat                                         17     27    .386       13



 


Philadelphia Force                              15     22     .395       11-1/2


 


 



So long kids. Kaci Clark, pitching for the NPF Champion NY-NJ Juggernaut in 2004, when they won it all, when she formed the pitching staff with Amanda Scott and Gina Oaks.  Photo, Courtesy, NY-NJ Juggernaut.


 


 

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Wyndham Close Head Says North Street Community of 230 Units Acceptable.

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WPCNR Southend Times. By John F. Bailey. August 8, 2006: At the monthly meeting of the Council of Neighborhood Associations, during discussion of the North Street Community project, subject of Monday evening’s Public Hearings at the Common Council, opponents of the project discussed their reservations about the 390-unit independent senior living project proposed for the former St. Agnes property.


Marc Pollitzer, of the North Street Civic Association, repeated his remarks of Monday evening, expressing concern that New York Presbyterian Hospital was poised to request similar special special zoning, should the special zoning district requested by the North Street Community (“Planned Senior Residential Development”) be approved by the Common Council. Pollitzer added that he felt the North Street Community was too dense and suggested that it should be cut back to 200 units instead of 390 as the developer plans. Pollitzer said that if the PSRD zone was approved that “you’ll see one neighborhood after another” be threatened with projects asking to be zoned a special district.


Carl Albanese, of the North Broadway Civic Association, mentioning how the Cappelli projects, the Pinnacle, and the Avalon Bay project have been approved, said the North Street Community project was a test case for the community that the city and the Common Council must be convinced to stop because of the significance it has for future development and encroachment on the outer neighborhoods. 


Manelaos Rizoulis, President of the Wyndham Close association, (after  repeating his neighborhood concerns about the density of the project), said that Wyndham Close would be supportive of the project if it were scaled back by about half. “Half” to Mr. Rizoulis, he said, was defined as one half of the 390 independent condominium units proposed plus the 40 asssisted living units and 80 long-term care units proposed for the former St. Agnes Hospital building.  Rizoulis told the CitizeNetReporter his idea of “half” of this figure would make for 230 units.  Rizoulis said this would be acceptable to Wyndham Close.


Asked if the building of some 66 homes on the 22 acre site by the developer would be an acceptable alternative to Wyndham Close, Rizoulis said it would. The 66 homes number (3 homes per acre), what is allowed, Rizoulis said by the present R1-12.5 zoning. WPCNR is checking on this.  (WPCNR has learned from C.J. Follini, one of  the partners in North Street Community that Toll Brothers, www.tollbrothers.com, a major housing developer has previously inquired about the availability of the property.)

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WP Urban Renewal Agency Asked for 10 Million in Bonds for Pinnacle Affordables

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. August 8, 2006; UPDATED August 11, 2006: The city Urban Renewal Agency will be asked Friday morning to borrow $9-10 Million to finance affordable housing at The Pinnacle. The innovative arrangement is made possible by invoking an obscure statute which in the opinion of the city’s bond lawyer,  grants the agency the ability to finance beneficial projects within the urban renewal district, Paul Wood, the City’s Executive Officer said today.


The action, in effect, turns the Urban Renewal Agency into a city “Industrial Development Agency” for the Urban Renewal District. Whether this “City IDA” could extend its “help” to other parts of the city is not known.


The Mayor is expected to ask the Urban Renewal Agency Friday morning to borrow  $9 Million to $10 Million to aid developer Martin Ginsburg in building the 52 units of affordable housing Ginsburg has promised to build at his Pinnacle project as part of his approval for the project, Paul Wood, the City’s Executive Officer announced today.


The money had previously been sought by Ginsburg Development Corporation from the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency but was refused according to the Ginsburg orgranization. Wood said he discovered the Urban Renewal Agency statute, but did not have a copy of it for reporters at the time of the WPCNR call. Wood said after discussions with the City Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel and the city bond lawyer, Randy Meir, he felt confident the bonding ability was within the Urban Renewal Agency’s discretion.


Wood said the $10 million in bonds would not be the city debt to pay back, but would be Ginsburg’s responsibility. He said in the first edition of this article,  that the 52 units, 41 being built for Louis Cappelli, the Super Developer, as part of an agreement Cappelli and Ginsburg made allowing Ginsburg to build the Pinnacle, would cost Ginsburg $52 Million to build and the financing would speed construction. However, in official documents describing the proposal released August 10, the cost of the building has been put at $17 Million.


The announcement of the surprise financing through the Urban Renewal Agency, removes the delay that has been plaguing The Pinnacle project. Monday evening the Common Council approved an increase in height of The Pinnacle to 28 stories on the consent agenda with no hearing or discussion.


However, Councilman Benjamin Boykin expressed concern on when the affordable housing piece of the project planned for the Main Street side of the Pinnacle, would be started by Ginsburg. The Certificate of Occupancy for the 221 Main Ritz Carlton Project, that Cappelli is hoping to open in fall, 2007, cannot be issued until the affordable housing Cappelli owes for approval of that project is opened.


Details of the payment arrangements and responsibilities of the parties are sketchy at this time.

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