Sales Tax May Just Make $41.9 M. Mortgage Tax #s UP 870Gs and Rising.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. June 19, 2006: The City Commissioner of Finance, Gina Cuneo-Harwood, reported to WPCNR last week that sales tax receipts for April and May, set the city up to make its “revised” sales tax projection of $41.9 Million when business ends for the fiscal year June 30. The city had originally projected $42.5 Million in sales taxes for the year last fall. Whatever softness in the sales tax revenues will be offset by an $869,598 windfall in mortgage taxes from sales of condominiums and homes in “The Renaissance City,” through the first three quarters, and that should go up in Quarter Four.


 


Cuneo-Harward said she was confident that the month of June would find sales tax receipts meeting projections. In July, Wal-Mart will begin injecting its retail magic in the White Plains marketplace, setting up a possible surge in sales tax revenues of $800,000 a year, according to city hall financial prognosticators.


 


For the record, through three quarters of fiscal year 2005-2006, the city received  $32,511,570 in sales tax. In April, the city collected $3,123,461 and in May, $3,019,564. In order to meet the $41.9 “revised” sales tax projection, the city need only collect $3,245,405 in June.


 


To hit the optimistic $42.5 Million predicted last fall, the city will need $3,845,405. The only times of the year White Plains has ever “done” over $4 Million in sales tax receipts in a month were December,03-04; December 04-05, and December of 05-06,  and once in January, and the January achievement came in this fiscal year with $4,214,709 turned over.

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Westchester Coyotes Tracked in Greenburgh. Catch and Release Program To Start

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WPCNR  THE FEINER REPORT. By Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. June 18, 2006: In recent years more people have expressed concern after seeing coyotes around the town. A few months ago a coyote was even seen at the Greenburgh Town Hall parking lot! Some residents have expressed concern about their personal safety and the safety of their pets and property.

 


Wanted: Westchester E. Coyote. Suspect is nocturnal, stealthy, often mistaken for a fox, since the coyote is redish brown in coat, distinguished from the fox by his skinny tale, not bushy like a fox, dragged low to the ground, and sharp snarly snout. Preys on cats, small dogs, rodents, has no natural enemies in this area. The CitizeNetReporter has seen coyotes in the Havilands Manor area. Others have spotted coyotes in the Saxon Woods neighborhood of White Plains. Photo, public domain.



Cornell University’s Department of Natural Resources has contracted with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to conduct a study in response to the increasing interactions between people and coyotes within many urban and suburban areas across NY. This study is designed to document the ecology of suburb dwelling coyotes to better understand the behaviors that lead to nuisance interactions with people and to identify a means to prevent heightened interactions between coyotes and suburban residents.


The Greenburgh Town Board has been asked to participate in the study which will involve the live capture and release of radio collared coyotes on town owned property; the radio tracking of collared coyotes during daytime and night time periods, diet surveys to document important food sources of coyotes and genetic analysis to estimate coyote demographic information.


The police department reviewed the request and determined that the capture of these animals would be done humanely. The methods employed in this study follow the protocols recommended by the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and had been scrutinized by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee comprised of members from the Cornell Research Staff, independent veterinarians in order to provide an unbiased assessment of research ethics. Cornell has demonstrated to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee that all capture and handling techniques are the most humane methods for studying wild coyotes.


The Greenburgh Town Board voted unanimously to participate in the study. 


The Greenburgh web site: www.greenburghny.com (police dept) has information about coyotes that may be of interest to residents.


PAUL FEINER


Greenburgh Town Supervisor

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UHL’s Danbury Trashers and Adirondack Frostbite Suspend Operations.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. From United Hockey League Offices. June 15, 2006: In the wake of the indictment of their owner on racketeering charges last week, and revelations the team allegedly violated the United Hockey League salary cap, according to the Associated Press, the Danbury Trashers United Hockey League franchise has suspended operations for the 2006-2007 season. The Adirondack Frostbite playing out of Glens Falls have also suspended operations according to the United Hockey League Media Relations office. The Trashers were highly successful in Danbury, averaging 2,000 fans per game the last two seasons. Brian Werger, spokesperson for the league wrote WPCNR, “There really is not any further information or comment at this point. We do not know if there are any future plans with Danbury at this point.”
The league issued this official statement:


 


 The United Hockey League (UHL) announced Monday that the Adirondack Frostbite and Danbury Trashers have suspended operations. The teams will not compete during the 2006-07 season.

“Both organizations made a business decision to not participate in the league for the upcoming season,” stated Richard Brosal, UHL President/CEO. “The Frostbite were not able to secure a lease with the Glens Falls Civic Center. Without their closest geographical rival in the league, the Trashers made a financial decision to suspend their operations.”

A draft will be conducted later this week to disperse the players from the 2005-06 final rosters of both clubs.

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WPCNR CONFIRMS CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION AT CITY DUMP. INVESTIGATION ON.

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WPCNR CITY CONFIDENTIAL. By John F. Bailey. June 15, 2006.  © 2006, The White Plains CitizeNetReporter, All Rights Reserved. UPDATED 6:52 P.M. E.D.T. At least a portion of the White Plains City Dump site between Gedney Way and Ridgeway Avenue is contaminated with TCE (trichloroethylene), a cleaning solvent used in dry cleaning operations and machinery maintenance as a degreaser, according to documents obtained by WPCNR.  The contamination has been known to both the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the City of White Plains for some time, although the extent remains to be determined. WPCNR has been informed by the Commissioner of Public Works that a testing procedure has been submitted to the DEC to determine the extent of the contamination.



The contamination has been known to the city for twenty years, according to official city and DEC documents, though never divulged publicly before this week. When questioned Wednesday by WPCNR, both Wendy Rosenbach, a spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Conservation and Commissioner of Public Works for the City of White Plains, Joseph Nicoletti, confirmed that the contamination exists.



The City Dump Is Contaminated with TCE. Carl Albanese, a White Plains video journalist, first raised this possibility at the June 5 Common Council Meeting, in his call for environmental standards to be part of the Comprehensive Plan Review. This is a view of the dump, looking North towards Gedney Way, photographed April 15, 2006. Photo, Courtesy Carl Albanese.



 




Both Rosenbach and Nicoletti said the extent of the contamination is not known at this time and the present condition of the contamination of ground water and soil awaits analysis to be conducted by the City with DEC oversight under a Nicoletti-designed test procedure expected to be completed within the next six months.


 


Composting Ongoing.


Alternatives to be Discussed.

Rosenbach said the City composting operation at the Gedney dump is authorized to continue “for now,” but the City has to close the dump and alternatives are now being considered.



South End of the 25 foot high Compost Pile, looking East.  Photographed in March. The Railside Avenue properties and Ridgeway Avenue are to the right. Contaminated soil lies 15 feet under the base of the compost pile. Photo Courtesy, Carl Albanese.




Commissioner Nicoletti told The CitizeNetReporter in an interview authorized by the Mayor’s Office that the city sent a massive set of data to the DEC May 31, applying for a renewal of the city composting permit, and outlining a series of corrective measures the Commissioner hoped would make continuation of the composting operation acceptable to the DEC.

Those measures include: purchasing a machine at a cost of a few hundred thousand dollars to sift and till the compost pile; installing a filtering pad beneath the compost ;and, the sinking of plastic pipes to the bottom of the compost pile equipped with charcoal filters to control escaping gases.


 


 DEC Blows Whistle.

Rosenbach acknowledged that the DEC has received the City’s request for renewal of its permit to conduct composting yard operations at the Gedney site.  The permit expired at the end of February and the DEC had previously told the City that it had no intention of issuing a renewal.


In a letter dated May 4, 2006, the DEC told the City that it has detected groundwater contamination at the facility site that the DEC attributes to the “former” landfill operation at the composting yard and demanded the composting yard be closed. Rosenbach said the DEC has not changed its mind, the City still has to close the yard, and the remediation issue is in play at this time.



Stream coming from under the Compost Pile at the South End of the Dump. Photo made in March 2006. Photo, Courtesy Carl Albanese. 


A Clarification.


The revelations by Rosenbach and Nicoletti shed a different light on what WPCNR was told last week.


 


WPCNR had talked with Paul Wood, the Executive Officer for Mayor Delfino said last week. At that time, Wood said the only issue with the Gedney dumpsite had to do with an oversight on the City’s part – that it was simply a matter of the City neglecting to renew the permit for the composting operation.

Nicoletti said he currently is dealing with, “The issue of renewing our composting permit and what they (the DEC) would like to see us do with the solvent issue — what was discovered about 20 years ago, and there are I don’t know how many boxes of test data that go back to that point with them (the DEC). They want to see us do something with it. I don’t know (at this time) what the solution would be.”


A Contamination There for 35 Years.



Nicoletti told WPCNR the contamination is “like a cleaning fluid – the chlorine family something you use in dry cleaning.”


 


WPCNR asked if it was pervasive. Nicoletti said, “It’s down pretty far in the soil, 15 feet beneath the compost pile.  It was discovered by us some years back, in 1986, and they (the DEC) are fully aware of it. We’re just waiting to see what they would want us to do (about it). It was put there some 15 years before that (1971).”

Trichloreoethylene is described by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of Atlanta as having been found in 852 of the 1,430 National Priorities List clean-up sites (as of 2003) identified by the Environmental Protection Agency.


26 Barrels with TCE Traces


Removed in 1999.



WPCNR asked if the City of White Plains would have to remove the entire compost pile and Nicoletti said the DEC has not asked the City to do that in 20 years. However, the DEC’s Rosenbach said, based on a report by Malcolm Pirnie (a consultant) in 1995, White Plains was instructed by the Department of Environmental Protection to remove 26 metal storage barrels that Rosenbach said were in a deteriorated condition,  from the dump in 1999. Rosenbach said the barrels were found to have “traces of TCE.”


 



Storage Barrel in stream leading from Compost Pile. Photographed March, 2006. Photo, Courtesy Carl Albanese


 



 


Standing Water at foot of compost pile adjacent the Railside Avenue Properties, recently sold by the city. Photo, Courtesy, Carl Albanese.

In the 1950s, Dugan’s Bakery had a garage on the site where they repaired delivery trucks and executed extensive truck maintenance. Community activist Jack Harrington remembers that cleaning establishments delivered their cleaning fluid waste to the dump in the past. Harrington also recalls that gas stations were located on Gedney Way and on Ridgeway Avenue, the cross streets bordering the approximate 55-acre City Dump to the North and the South respectively. Harrington said he never knew about the removal of the storage barrels in 1999.



WPCNR asked Nicoletti if the DEC was dragging its feet on the issue of TCEs. Nicoletti said, “I don’t know if it’s dragging their feet, or it’s not important or that critical.”


Composting Proposals



On the issue of the composting, WPCNR asked if the City had to reconstitute the compost with a new composting procedure. Nicoletti  replied, “No, we’re looking at new equipment to turn the leaves more efficiently. There are things we’re interested in pursuing. It’s a more high tech way of composting.”

Nicoletti said the photo shown at a Common Council meeting by resident Carl Albanese did not depict methane gas rising from the dump. The Albanese photo also was published by WPCNR.  


 


“The photo is not methane gas there. That’s not what you see above ground. We have a plan for that, or at least a concept. It’s relatively straightforward: plastic pipes with activated carbon or charcoal filter to collect the gases. This is not a very productive methane gas-producing site because most of the cell material was ash – which is relatively inert material. (The ash) is left over from our incinerator left over after garbage was incinerated,” said Nicoletti.

Commissioner Nicoletti said it was “a misunderstanding” when WPCNR was told by Executive Officer Paul Wood last week that failing to renew the permit was an oversight. “We asked back in November for an extension of time because they (the DEC) had a lot of new information they requested since the last time (renewed, 1996), so we said we needed an extension to get all the things they were looking for.”


TCE the only problem.



Nicoletti said there was no other  contamination issue other than the TCE. “The composting issue is above ground, and that’s pretty straightforward. I’m not going to figure out what they’re going to say (about remediation). We’ve had the site monitored. We put 9 monitoring wells in and we’ve been regularly testing those and sending those reports to the DEC. We’ve had a regular inspection. They come in unannounced, they come in every month. We’ve never had any issue with any of the operation (composting). It’s been going on for years,” said Nicoletti.


The Smell



WPCNR asked about the ripe smells from the dump long complained about for decades by residents in the Railside Avenue and homes between Ridgeway Avenue and Gedney Way.
Nicoletti said that was “organic,” noting “It’s sort of an organic thing. We continue to put more and more trees in the city and the volume of leaves has gone up over the years. It just makes it a little more difficult to toss. (The smell) depends on the weather, temperature, humidity, amount of rainfall. A lot of moving parts. Sometimes it’s nonexistent, other times you have that compost smell. We urge people to do either home composting or use mulching mowers where you just cut the grass and the mower chops up the grass so fine there’s no need to rake and get of clippings.”

May 31 Letter Sets the City Plan

In a letter to Alexander F. Ciesluk, Jr. Deputy Regional Permit Administrator for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Region 3, Niccoletti outlined how the City is proceeding to deal with the DEC request to close the dump and detailed how they propose to fix the composting operation to make it acceptable. Those enhancements include a pad to be placed under the compost.

Nicoletti writes: “the design and linear testing requirements of the compost pad in Area B, the method of leachate (drainoff from the compost) management …will be submitted in approximately four weeks. The design of the compost pad cannot be completed until a determination is made regarding the appropriate permeability. The proper permeability of this pad cannot be determined until the present condition of the solvent-contaminated soil beneath Area B is evaluated, and the former landfill site cap issues are resolved with the Division of Solid Waste.”

City Tests for TCE Levels, Methane
in soil, gases and water. Complete in 6 Months.

The Commisioner’s letter says that it will submit “an investigation work plan by the end of June, which will include collecting and analyzing samples of subsurface soil, soil vapor and groundwater. The soil vapor sampling effort collect samples within the landfill and around the perimeter in appropriate locations and analyze the samples for volatile organic compounds and methane.”

The Commissioner’s plan includes testing for volatile organic compounds and parameters (of the dump) within 50 feet of the top of the slope, which by WPCNR reckoning does not extend to the properties recently sold for $2.9 Million on Railside Avenue.

Nicoletti estimates the program of testing will be completed in six months.

Ms. Rosenbach, the DEC spokesperson, told WPCNR that White Plains would have to pay for any clean-up of the site.

Expensive Clean-up in Queens

The Queens newspaper Times Ledger reports in an article by Howard Koplowitz that 4,000 pounds of TCE is being removed currently from a site in Jamica Queens at 107-110 180th street, which was left at the former West Side Corporation site.


 


The TCE being removed is percholoroethylene, a member of the TCE family of solvents. The Department of Environmental Conservation is cleansing contaminated soil and groundwater at the cost of $4-million, in a process expected to last 20 years. The Buffalo firm, URS Corporation, is conducting the clean-up which consists of heating the soil to a boiling point (known as electrical resistance heating), changing the “perc” from liquid to a vapor form. The steam is then collected into a treatment system where the perc is destroyed.


 


TCE: What it is.



TCE is heavier than water according to Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and is used as a solvent for cleaning metal parts. It sinks to the bottom of streams it enters, forming a silt. It has a sweet odor and is also used in adhesives, paint removers typewriter correction fluids and spot removers. It has been found, according to the ATSDR in underground water sources and many surface waters as a result of the manufacture use and disposal of the chemical.

TCE is described by the ATSDR as remaining in ground water a long time. The Jamaica deposits of TCE are reported left from 25 years ago. It is said to stick to particles and remain for a long time. Breathing small amounts of TCE may cause headaches, lung irritation, dizziness, poor coordination and difficulty concentrating. TCE has been designated by the National Toxicology Program as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer has reported that trichloroethylene is “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

The Environmental Protection Agency, according the ATSDR, has set a maximum contaminant level for trichloroethylene in drinking water at 0.005 milligrams per liter or 5 parts of TCE per billion parts water.

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$34.2 Million in City Program Spending in Action Plan.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. News Comment by John F. Bailey. June 15, 2006: The city published its 2005-2010 Consolidated Plan 2006-2007 Annual Action Plan Recommendations  in the Legal Notices last week, a candid, blunt snapshot of the city’s priorities and how it is going to proceed with spending. Herewith, WPCNR looks at the spending in dollars and cents detail on how federal and city funds will be spent on housing, infrastructure, city assets and public programs.


 


Mr. and Mrs. White Plains will have an opportunity to comment on the City Consolidated Plan at a public hearing June 20 at 7 P.M. in the Common Council Chambers at 255 Main Street.





Let’s take a look at spending:



 


On 2006-2007 the city is budgeted to spend $34,247,131 in the Action Plan.  Of that total, $30,827,638 is city money either through bonds, fees, or cash, and $3,419,493, or 10% is derived from other sources. A total of $3,279,535 is spent on public service organizations, and $6,465,583 on housing initiatives.


 


 Approximately 28% of the $34.2 Million Action Expenditures is devoted to public service organizations and housing initiatives ($3.3 Million to Public Service Organizations and $6.5Million to housing initiatives.)


 


According to figures taken from the Action Plan figures, of that $3.4 Million in funds from sources outside the city,  $2,598,843 consists of Community Development Block Grants, $100,000 from Fannie Mae, $250,000 from the New York State Department of Transportation, $425,000 from NYS CHIPS, and $45,650 from the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmentally Disabled.


 


Housing.


 


The city proposes a five-year strategy that aims at developing more affordable housing for a “broader range” of income groups, both building new units and rehabilitating existing units.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     


 


The city will distribute $1,459,600 in Community Development Block Grant funds for housing rehabilitation (Administration of those programs is included in the $1.4 Million, and costs $530,000). A total of $108,485 in City Funds go to senior citizen rent subsidies, and the city has eliminated funds for 1st Time Homebuyer Subsidies.


 


The city will spend an additional $4,897.498 on housing  efforts, including $866,000 on code enforcement, made up of $275,000 of city funds and $591,428 of Community Development Block Grant money, and $151,635 on Fair Housing/Human Rights. There is an Affordable Housing Fund (funded by developers) totaling $2,586,000 for construction of new affordable housing commitments.


 


 


Economic Development.


 


The city will spend $11, 350,000 in Economic Development projects a big boost in spending that includes $250,000 in New York State Department of Transportation Money for a Trolley System Study. A sum of $100,000 of Community Development Block Grant money will be spent on “Commercial Rehabilitation” for storefronts and other businesses.


 


The big bite of $11 Million of city money (in lending) will be spent on building the Longview Avenue garage for the benefit of the city, White Plains Hospital Center and the Sunrise Senior Living facility.


 


Infrastructure


 


The Department of Public Works will spend $4,255,935 in Infrastructure improvements all but $250,000 city funded.


 


The Department of Parking will invest $2.67 Million in rehabbing garages, breaking down as follows: $200G for Municipal Parking, $200,000 on Galleria East and West Sprinklers; $2,050,000 for Galleria East & West Improvements, and $250,000 for a sprinkler system in the Library garage.


 


Communication Technology


 


Many citizens have been saying, including this reporter, that the city should communicate with its citizens better. You will be happy to know the city is spending $935,000 of city money to do just that.


 


They will spend $75,000 to enhance their metropolitan network; $75,000 to replace hardware; $100,000 for Emergency Power systems; $100,000 for Information Systems Security (obviously to stop leaks to the lurking press), $200,000 for Redundant Fiber Routing; $200,000 for a City Phone System Upgrade described as “Second phase of a project to replace the City’s phone system with a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) System. VoIP will route internal phone calls over the City’s fiber optic network, resulting in a reduction of outside line charges, as well as increase functionality.”  


 


Last but not least, $185,000 for a Computer Room Upgrade. Perhaps this will get the budget figures out in a more timely manner – or maybe it is to slow it down. Budget figures out of city hall could not be issued at a slower pace. It is great to see they are replacing the abacuses.


 


$300,000 to Move Traffic.


 


The Department of Traffic is going to spend a mere $300,000 of city money to make traffic flow smoother by upgrading Mamaroneck Avenue Signalization and Enhanced Video Monitoring.


 


Public Safety: The Perpetual Upgrade


 


Now this brings us to Public Safety, which never met a gizmo, a system, a data display, it did not have to have. The White Plains Police do a great job – but they are running out of pockets, buttonholes, beltspace and clip loops on their uniforms  to hold all the gadgets. They have more stuff on them than Batman and Robin have in their utillty belts. There are more gizmos coming.


 


Public Safety will spend $2,660,970 in city funds for systems and technological aids, including $1,000,000 for a Radio System upgrade; $1,043,565 in Fire Prevention Services, $207,675 for a Crime Prevention Services; $120,000 for Records Management enhancements; $100,000 for Mobile Data Terminals; $90,000 for Emergency Generators, and $39,730 for Emergency Generators.


 


City Buildings


 


The City will dedicate $1,933, 593 of its own money to maintain its buildings. Here are the lucky beneficiaries: The library will receive $475,000 of renovations to its interior, and $600,000 for a new roof. This on top of the $2 Million plus Trove that opened last year.


 


The decrepit City Hall Annex, a relic from Mayberry will be redesigned at a cost of $400,000. Why redesign it? Move. The Public Safety Building will spend $200,000 to improve its Access Control. Entrance to the Police HQ is confusing to say the least.


 


 Slater Center maintenance will cost $62,872.


 


In a most curious item, the White Plains Performing Arts Center, a new building just three years ago is budgeted for $195,721 in City Building Expense. What are they putting in there? WPCNR checked with Paul Wood, the City Executive Officer and Wood said this was for salaries and “maintenance,”


 


Winbrook will be outfitted with $370,000 in Rehabilitation and Security services from sources outside the city.


 


Recreation and Parks.


 


In Recreation and Parks, the city has mapped out a modest $505,000 in improvements to its facilities, by far the largest expenditure is a $125,000 of city money investment in the three year old $7,000,000 Renaissance Plaza Fountain to install a new electrical system.


 


The reason given for this “upgrade” after three years is the design of the original electrical system according to Jospeh Nicoletti, Commissioner of Public Works, was not waterproof at its contact points, which has caused short-circuits in control of the spray nozzles. 


 


Nicoletti also said in a work session that the city would replace the natural grass square in the Renaissance Plaza Fountain area with artificial turf because the chlorine-treated water mists from the fountain was killing the natural grass.


 


Some White Plains parks will be augmented with modest increments of cash, all city funded — $40,000 to Delfino Park; $25,000 for the chronicly unhearable Ebersole Ice Rink Public Address System, hopefully; $75,000 for the Kittrell & Turnure Restrooms (you cannot beat those White Plains amenities); $125,000 for the Chatterton Avenue Playground; plus $50,000 in Tibbetts Park Rehabilitation; $25,000 to spruce up the Battle Hill Recreation Room (located in a private condominium); $40,000 for the Mitchell Place Tot Lot.


 


 


Public Service Organizations – 11 Organizations Not Funded.


 


Now we come to Community Development Funds for Public Service Organizations. The Plan notes that it will no longer fund the following programs: Slater Outreach Worker, Slater Center Invest In Kids, Westco Productions (previously granted about $13,000 per year for putting on shows at Slater), Wolverines Football, Family Services of Westchester, Human Development Services, White Plains Community Action Program,  Universal  GoJu Way of Life,White Plains YMCA, Legal Services of Hudson Valley and the Music Conservatory of Westchester.


 


Public Service Organizations Funded.


 


The city will, however,  fund the following programs in part with a total of $126,108 in Community Development Block Grants:


 


* Centro Hispano, $42,080 (double the money of 2004-2005),


 


* $5,000 for the Developmentally Disabled;


 


* $13,600 to the Bits N Pieces Day Camp serving 110 youths (Bits N Pieces also receives $57,424 in city funds in addition to its Community Development Funds);


 


*$12,000 in Day Camp Scholarships (350 persons);


 


* $16,900 to After School Centers (which also receive an additional $198,181 in City Funds and $554,457 in fees paid by the city);



* $4,000 to College Careers (apparently new this year—did not appear in 2004-05);


 


* $30,000 in salaries to Slater Center Staff (a $6,883 increase over 2004-2005);


 


*$11,500 to Westchester Residential Opportunities Counseling – a pparently a $32,565 cut from 2004-2005;


 


* $13,600 in WRO 1st Time Homebuyer Housing;


 


 


* $12,500 to Meals on Wheels;


 


* $13,000 to the Food Pantry (a cut of $6,000 from 2004-2005);


 


* $6,800 to the Grace Church Community Center; 


 


 * $4,000 to the Westchester Coalition for the Homeless, and


 


* $2,000 to the Salvation Army.


 


Funded with City Money


 


The city spends an additional $3,153,427 in City funded programs, of which $79,063 is covered by grants, and  $600,267 is covered by fees, and $45,650 by New York State.


 


Here’s the breakdown: 


 


* Senior Citizen Services, $546,914 city funded, with $54,545 in grants and $22,500 in fees; Service Office,$94,208; Youth Bureau, $301,269 city-funded, plus $24,518 in grants; 


 


* After School Centers serving  420 children a week, cost the city $198,181 and $554,457 in fees;


 


* Youth Employment costs $558,275 of city funds and counsels  3,500 youth;


 


* The city spends $420,384 on Teen Centers and Computer Centers around town used by 400 children a week;


 


* The Bits N Pieces Day Camp is funded with $57,424 in city money and serves 110 children, plus $10,735 in fees;


 


* Slater Center Programs cost the city $201,792.


 


* Day Camp Scholarships are given to 50 children and are covered by $50,000 in donations (from The Mayor’s fund).


 


* Programs for the disabled cost $12,575 in fees and receive $45,650 from the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmentally Disabled.


 


The bottom lines reveal the city will spend in 2006-2007 approximately $34 Million divided as follows:


 


Housing Rehab– $1.7 M


 


Housing Aid-        $7.5M (Including “Developer’s Contribution to Affordable Housing”


 


Economic Development:  $11.350 M (Including Longview Ave. Garage)


 


Infrastructure — $4.256 M


 


Communications —  $935,000


 


Traffic — $300,000


 


Public Safety — $2.661 M


 


City Buildings — $1.934 M


 


Recreation and Parks — $505,000


 


Public Service Organizations — $3,279 M.


 


Total Action Spending: $34.2 M Approximate

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Report of Budget Director Being Fired ‘Inaccurate’ Says City Hall.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. June 13, 2006: The Mayor’s Executive Officer Paul Wood told WPNCR the published print media report in The Journal News today stating in a news headline that former City Budget Director Anne Reasoner was “fired” and given “a pink slip” in the body of the article by the City Corporation Counsel is “inaccurate.”


Yesterday, when WPCNR broke this story, Mr. Wood would not disclose to WPCNR whether Ms. Reasoner was fired by the Mayor or had resigned. He told WPCNR only that she was put on administrative leave. Today, Mr. Wood backed that up. He said Ms. Reasoner was on “Administrative Leave” through June 30. Asked to explain the situation resulting in her departure, meaning whether she resigned or was fired,   Mr. Wood said he had “no further comment.” 


Asked if the city was negotiating a settlement with Ms. Reasoner beyond the June 30 date, other than the administrative leave the next two weeks,  Mr. Wood said the city was not going to pay her anything  “beyond whatever vacation time she might be owed. There is no golden parachute.”


Asked if the “pink slip” terminology (vernacular for being fired),  used in the published article was correct in which Corporation Counsel Edward Dunphy was described as giving Ms. Reasoner her pink slip last Friday.  Mr. Wood said the pink slip terminology was inaccurate.


Asked why as short a time ago as two weeks ago on Decision Night,  the Mayor had congratulated Ms. Reasoner on delivering a good budget for 2006-2007, and now Ms. Reasoner was leaving, Mr. Wood said the Mayor had meant that “collectively,” that all city financial people had worked on the budget “collectively” and that the Mayor was also referring to the Management and Budget Committee. Asked if the Mayor who is in Saratoga Springs for tonight’s installation as President of the New York Conference of Mayors, had a statement on Ms. Reasoner yet, Mr. Wood said the Mayor did not.


Ms. Reasoner has not returned calls for comment.

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Police Charge Youth in 6 Crimes. Alleged Lunchtime Bandit Apprehended.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From White Plains Department of Public Safety. June 12, 2006: Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Daniel Jackson reported to WPCNR today that White Plains Police have arrested and charged Desmond Horton, 21 of 11 Fischer Avenue, White Plains,  where he was staying with his girl friend and charged Mr. Horton in the commission of six crimes. Commissioner Jackson also reports Mr. Horton is wanted in Virginia on two warrants, as well. He has been in the area for a year or two.


Mr. Horton is accused of committing three purse-snatchings during lunchtime hours and on Thursday evening,  Jackson said, the police received a report of a robbery “which appeared to be at gunpoint on Grand Street of a male Hispanic, and we took that report, and on Friday night we put on a special patrol specifically because of that (Thursday) incident. We had two issues, here  one was the daytime purse-snatches, and having this robbery we were watching the Post Road corridor because of this robbery, supposedly at gunpoint, which was disturbing to us.”


Police efforts paid off just before midnight Friday night. “Our officer observed a subject engaging in a fight with a male Hispanic. As it turned out this was our guy. He was attempting to do another robbery. The officer grabbed him Friday night, and he was identified by the victim in Friday night’s robbery, and  the victim and the witness in Thursday night’s robbery. Here’s the key issue, the victim from Thursday night’s robbery told us the story of one his friends or relatives who had also been a victim of this guy. We wound up charging this guy (Horton) with three robberies which happened to be at gunpoint. It turns out the gun was a BB gun, as well as the three purse snatches.”


Jackson said the alleged crimes were not gang-related. Mr. Horton is charged with three counts of Robbery in the First Degree, a B Felony. In each of the three robberies, Mr. Horton is accused of getting into a fight with the victims and in one case, was reported to have pistol-whipped the victim. Mr. Horton was described by Commissioner Jackson as a person with “a propensity for violence.”


Jackson asked persons who perhaps were victimized by Mr. Horton, and who have not reported it for whatever reason to call the Communications Department. Contact 422-6111.


 

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City Hall Confirms Budget Shakeup. Anne Reasoner Out as Budget Director.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. June 12, 2006 UPDATED 3:50 P.M. E.D.T.: WPCNR learned earlier today that informed sources in the Delfino Administration have confirmed that Anne N. Reasoner, City Budget Director since 2002 has left her position. The Mayor’s Office confirmed this within the last hour.


 Moments ago, Executive Officer Paul Wood confirmed that Ms. Reasoner is no longer working for the city, but is on “Administrative Leave,” and continue to receive her salary. Her salary in 2005-06 is $130,396.  Mr. Wood said that Deputy Budget Director Jim Hricay will be taking over her duties and be working with Commissioner of Finance, Gina Cuneo-Harwood, but not reporting to her at this time, Wood said. Asked if the Budget Department possibly might be consolidated into the Finance Department, Wood said “not at this time, but that could be considered a possibility.”


Asked the reason for Ms. Reasoner’s departure, Wood said he could not comment on a personnel matter. Wood did not know Ms. Reasoner’s future plans. He would not comment on whether Ms. Reasoner was relieved of her duties, or whether Ms. Reasoner resigned.  Mayor Joseph Delfino is in Saratoga Springs attending the New York Conference of Mayors, Wood said. Wood said he did not have a prepared statement on Ms. Reasoner’s contributions to the administration at this time.



Budget Director Anne Reasoner, second from right at  a City Budget & Management Committee meeting in April, 2005. Photo WPCNR News Archive


Common Councilpersons contactred previously refused to confirm or deny Ms. Reasoner had left. Common Council President Rita Malmud contacted by WPCNR and asked if Ms. Reasoner was on administrative leave as city hall sources say, said “I have no comment,” but would not confirm Ms. Reasoner had departed. Councilman Benjamin Boykin also said that the would not comment on personnel matters, but that Ms. Reasoner “was still on the payroll.” Asked if he would confirm if Ms. Reasoner was no longer working for the city, Mr. Boykin declined to do so.



Anne Reasoner on the day she was sworn as Budget Director, February 7, 2002. Ms. Reasoner joined the city as Budget Director Eileen Earl’s Deputy Budget Director in July 2001. Prior to coming to White Plains Ms. Reasoner had served the Town of Greenwich, Connectuct for 17 years. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.



MIS OPERATIVES in the Budget Department Monday morning doing “computer upgrades.” Photo, WPCNR News.


Management and Information Systems personnel were observed by this reporter working on computers in the Budget Department this morning, and  told The CitizeNetReporter they were making some upgrades to the Unis computer system in the office, and that the Budget Department has moved physically to the Finance Department. Paul Wood, City Hall Executive Officer had said earlier the MIS crew was making a Gatsby 40 computer system upgrade. Another MIS technician working in the Finance Department told WPCNR the MIS department was informed Friday afternoon at 5 o’clock to be in Ms. Reasoner’s office Monday morning, so whatever upgrade MIS was conducting this morning was sudden and unexpected.


WPCNR first learned of the migration of the Budget Department when we dropped by City Hall to inquire about the April-May sales tax receipts usually available at this time of the month, when WPCNR encountered the MIS crew conducting operations in the Budget Department.  I went up to the Finance Department, and asked to see Ms. Reasoner, because I was looking for sales tax figures, and was directed to go up to the Mayor’s office to ask the question. In the Mayor’s office, Paul Wood made his comments about the computer upgrades and that he would attempt to get the sales tax figures from Gina Cuneo-Harwood, the Commissioner of Finance by this afternoon.


WPCNR as left messages at Ms. Reasoner’s residence in Greenwich, Connecticut, in an effort to get a confirmation from Ms. Reasoner on her status.



Moving Upstairs?  Department of Budget (on the lower level of City Hall is now located for “about 4 weeks” in the Department of Finance on the first floor,  according to an Management & Information Systems technician. Photo, WPCNR News.

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“A Smile Is What It’s all About” Marshall Celebrates 85th Scholarships Launched

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WPCNR GOOD NEWS. June 11, 2006: Mr. and Mrs. Who’s Who of White Plains saluted Sonny Katz, the City Marshall for 35 years, on Mr. Katz’s 85th birthday Sunday at Fenimore’s, the swank restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Through their generous contributions, over 150 guests endowed two Sonny Katz Performing Arts Scholarships of $1,000 annually to be awarded beginning next year to two students planning to major in the performing arts from White Plains High School and Port Chester High School, Sonny’s alma mater — the first ever scholarships for Performing Arts Students at WPHS and PCHS.


 



“After all that, I’m the only one who doesn’t get an introduction,” the dapper Sonny Katz, City Marshall, still on the job after 35 years,  addresses throng of well-wishers at his 85th birthday party at the Crowne Plaza Sunday. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


Mr. Katz, thanking the persons who came out to honor him said, the scholarships which will be awarded by Westco Productions, Westchester’s premier independent theatre production company, of which Mr. Katz is the Founding Director and are being established to help two students in the performing arts every year in the future, so they would not have to forgo a life’s dream.


 


A guest list of over 150 persons of court dignitaries, city luminaries, politicians, and citizens and Mr. Katz’s childen, grandchildren, nieces and nephews turned out to celebrate the man who in one of the city’s toughest jobs, has done so much good for thousands of people from all walks of life through his kindness, his advice, and his ever sharp sense of humor.


Mr. Katz exemplifies the ideal public servant, who does his job not from a position of power, but from a position of empathy, humanity and common sense. One of the touching stories told by one of a parade of well-wishers who reminisced for the multitude, was how Mr. Katz in executing an eviction on her, turned around the life of a young woman by his compassion, his advice, and his wisdom. (Mr. Katz executes over 300 evictions a year in White Plains and through his ability to network, cajole, persuade and make sense, and mediate ends up evicting just 2% — thanks to the way he goes beyond his job to help people.) That’s his day job.


 



 


The festivities presented by Westco Productions was a complete sellout at the swank Fenimore’s Restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Hotel where wall-to-wall brunch was served, and as befitting a gathering where Sonny Katz is present, laughter, wisdom, and the best side of humanity bubbled like the champagne.


 


There was humor. Lots of It.


 


 


 



Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio, (Mayor of White Plains from 1976 to 1993, under whom Mr. Katz served for 18 of his 35 years, said Mr. Katz actually solved most of the city’s problems when the Mayor asked Mr. Katz what he thought about things over bagels three days a week.  Mayor Del Vecchio showed he has a career waiting in standup comedy, telling a joke set in the future where Mr. Katz is with a friend in a 140 story mall in White Plains with valet helicopter parking and Mr. Katz and his friend’s wives have wandered off. Mr. Katz asks his friend “What does your wife look like?” The friend says, “she’s blonde, about 42-24-36.” The friend says, “What does your wife look like?” Mr. Katz says, “Let’s search for yours.”  Mr. Katz is a far left, seated, as Susan Katz, his daughter, founder of Westco Productions listens to the Mayor. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


There were celebrities. Plenty of them.  


 


Each took turns alternately roasting Mr. Katz, and toasting him for the way he does his job, the brightness he brings into their lives.  Paul Bergins, Corporation Counsel during the Del Vecchio administration, praised Mr. Katz as doing his job with innate sense and “empathy.” 


 


 


 



 


Assemblyman Adam Bradley related a story of when he was a young man about 19, growing up in White Plains,  he had to pay a series of parking tickets at police headquarters and after having done so, had received another parking ticket (parking tickets are apparently a tradition in White Plains),  while parked to pay the ticket. Bradley’s resulting being detained at the police station eventually wound up being mediated by Mr. Katz who was able to resolve the dispute between Mr. Bradley and the police to the satisfaction of both parties.  Could this twist of fate  have set Mr. Bradley straight on his road to the New York State Legislature? Photo, WPCNR News


 


Judge Les Adler, speaking for Mr. Katz’s friend, Dolf Rockfeld, who could not be present, recounted Mr. Katz’s early days at the Hebrew Institute in White Plains, and subsequent love of horseracing, basketball, boxing, as “investments.” Judge Adler described Mr. Katz as “a mensch,” a person “of character and dignity, resolute who always does the right thing, a man you can always count on to look out for you.”


 



Susan Katz, Sonny Katz, Steven Sledzik, President of the Westco Productions Board of Directors with Assemblyman Adam Bradley. Mr. Sledzik presented Mr. Katz with an award for establishing the Scholarhips, and Mr. Bradley presented Governor George Pataki’s proclamation recognizing Mr. Katz’s contributions to the city. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


 


County Legislator Tom Abinanti read a proclamation proclaiming June 11 Sonny Katz Day in Westchester County, and said how Mr. Katz had helped him grasp how things worked in the courts when he was a beginning lawyer in White Plains. “He taught me so much,” Abinanti said.  Towards the end of the genial and entertaining series of roasters, Assemblyman Adam Bradley read a proclamation from Governor George Pataki in recognition of Mr. Katz’s service. Lois Bronz and Assemblywoman Amy Pauling also dropped by to congratulate Mr. Katz.


 



 


Judge Joann Friia of White Plains City Court and members of “The City Court Player” provided the live entertainment for the festivities singing the following parody of Glenn Miller’s In the Mood that delighted the well-wishers. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


We have come together cause we love you that’s why


 


No one can compare to you. You’re our kind of guy


 


Finding humor in the bleakest state of affairs


 


People say that sonny has a heart and he cares


 


Just look around the room, the faces you’ll see


 


Are people loving you unconditionally.


 


 


(Chorus)


 


Sonny Katz …an army sergeant


 


Did you know ….he had his own band


 


And he owned a little restaurant


 


The things you’ve accomplished and you’re still going.


 


SONNY KATZ … An office holder


 


SONNY KATZ…. A maitre’d D and


 


SONNY KATZ… The city marshall.


 



 


 


A husband, a father, you’re so worth knowing.


 


 


You never see m to lose that little glimmer of youth


 


The young boy that’s inside you lives and that is the truth


 


Now they’re saying something and we mean it sincere


 


You keep getting better looking every year


 


85 and always landing straight on your feet


 


Hey hey baba reba, to the boogie beat


 


SONNY KATZ…a great grandfather


 


SONNY KATZ…one you can truly count on


 


SONNY KATZ…a truly great mensch


 


You know that our love for you keeps on growing


 


The things you’ve accomplished, you’re so worth knowing


 


You’re just like the rabbit, you keep on going.


 


SONNY KATZ  YOU ROCK!


 


 


     The affair was punctuated by laughter and reminisces of family members, city officials, court personalities, and we heard stories of the rapier like wit of Mr. Katz, the donuts in his office, the sign on his desk (Lack of planning on your part, does not constitute an emergency on my part), and the way Mr. Katz always brightens the days of persons who come in contact with him.


 


Sample: Mr. Katz once went to execute an eviction. The party being evicted said, “I’m hungry. I have no money. And I grew up in a poor neighborhood.”


 


Mr. Katz on the other side of the door, master psychologist,  replied, “I was hungry. I used to have no money, and I lived in a bad neighborhood.”


 


The party replied, “I’m from Port Chester. Where are you from?”


 


Mr. Katz who lived in Port Chester, said he was from Port Chester, too.


 


The party said, “What street?”


 


Mr. Katz told him. The party said, “THAT  is a bad neighborhood.”


 


Mr. Katz’s ability to connect with persons in the dangerous, unpredictable world of the City Marshall,  came through again and again Sunday afternoon.


 


In his remarks, Mr. Katz began with the best laugh of the day. His words: “All that, and I’m the only one not to get an introduction. (cascades of laughter, then the kicker). “I’m unhappy about that.” (Rim-Shot missing.)


 


 


It was vintage Sonny Katz, the master of the deadpan line. Another example told by the keeper of the City Court Calendar, “Sonny once told me he had not spoken to Connie (his wife) in three days. I asked what’s wrong. Sonny said, “I was listening.”



Connie Katz, (Mrs. Sonny Katz), suprised her husband, revealing that when she asked Mr. Katz to the Port Chester High prom, her girlfriends said, “Are you crazy?” Photo, WPCNR News.


 


Katz thanked all who had attended, whose contributions had established the two performing arts scholarships, saying that the scholarships came from his one big disappointment in life. He recalled that in 1939 he wanted to play the part of  Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came to Dinner in the school play at Port Chester. He could not audition because he had to work. This has haunted him for years. He said the scholarships which will require auditions, are being established so that young persons of talent in the performing arts would not have to forgo their dreams as he did. Katz’s advice:  “A smile is what it’s all about. Keep smiling in White Plains, you keep happiness with you.


 


Judging for the 120 “friends” who came out to give it up for Mr. Katz, he played a much greater role for thousands of people the last 35 years, than any stage role he could ever have played.


 


He was a veteran, serving in the Pacific in World War II, proprietor of Sonny’s Luncheonette on Main Street, philosopher and over-the-counter  therapist to untold thousands. He married his high school sweetheart before World War II. He joined the City of White Plains as Shelter Officer in 1967, responsible for 127 shelters throughout the city. In 1971, he was appointed to the office of City Marshall by Mayor Richard S. Hendey and the then Common Council of Carl J. Delfino, Lester E. Johnson, Hugh D. Leslie, Monroe A Felfer, Michael J. Keating and Harold E. Masback. Jr.  Mr. Katz is still City Marshall.


 


He does the best  Sonny Katz ever.


 



 


An emotional Mr. Katz center blowing out the candles on his 85th birthday cake with his grandchildren. Photo, WPCNR News.

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City Makes Its Plans Perfectly Clear Before Comprehensive Plan Review Accepted

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. News Comment by John F. Bailey. June 9, 2006: The city published its 2005-2010 Consolidated Plan 2006-2007 Annual Action Plan Recommendations  in the Legal Notices Thursday. It is a candid, blunt snapshot of the city’s priorities as the Administration sees them.  The advertisment details how the city  is going to proceed with spending, with dollars and cents detail on how federal and city funds will be spent on housing, infrastructure, city assets and public programs.


 


Mr. and Mrs. White Plains will have an opportunity to comment on the City Consolidated Plan at a public hearing June 20 at 7 P.M. in the Common Council Chambers at 255 Main Street. The plan published this week, establishes priorities and areas for housing needs in the city, calls for an assessment of housing and community development needs, and assistance to the homeless and special housing for a “broad spectrum” of incomes.


(More)


 



 


All Right, Mr. and Mrs. White Plains, here’s what we’re going to do. Photo of City Action Plan published in the Legal Notices this week. The advertisement details policies the city expects to pursue in the next five years and publishes discretionary and grants spending for the budget year 2006-2007. Photo, WPCNR News.





The Action Plan in one column, tells Mr. and Mrs. White Plains exactly what the city administration is going  to attempt to do with the Core Area and the Close-In Neighborhoods. They want to bring in considerably more housing than is on the drawing boards today, and beyond that which is being built at this moment.


 


The city sets as priorities developing affordable housing for a “broader” range of income groups from median income to low income; options for the purchase of existing housing by low to median income groups should be “encouraged.”


 


Noting that 47 to 70% of White Plains households are low or moderate income the city sets an objective to “preserve and upgrade the quality” of housing in the Close-in Neighborhoods, and to build “higher quality housing stock” for such neighborhoods. One might read that to mean townhouses in the “affordable range” on the fringes of downtown.


 


In the Core Area, the Action Plan notes that  over the next five years, the city will seek to “expand the supply of both market rate and affordable rental and ownership housing in the Core Area,” to develop “a critical mass of housing in the downtown to support downtown revitalization.” The plan says that this strategy will develop “a balance of market rate housing and housing affordable to low, moderate and median income households.” To date, new housing built in White Plains has meant condominiums priced at $600,000 and up; Apartments at $2,500 and up.


 


The Plan notes in setting goals of more affordable housing in the Core, that existing housing available to “extremely low, low and moderate income households ranged from 47% to 87%. Rental housing for the same three income groups availability was 82%.


 


Another group the city reports it is going to build more “housing options” (a key word missing here in the plan is the word “affordable”),  for senior citizens in the Core and Close-In Neighborhoods. This could be read to mean more senior developments such as the Sunrise care facility planned adjacent to White Plains Hospital Center, and now being considered at St. Agnes Hospital.


 


 


The city also formulates an interesting paradox that of taking away open space to build “more affordable housing units.” This is frowned upon in the outer neighborhoods but not in the Core and Close-in neighborhoods. The advertisement states the city is entertaining large development of special housing on open space in the city: “Lot areas should not be reduced in Single Family and one/two family residential districts to increase density and to create lower cost housing, unless part of an overall program to create special housing, such as a continuum of care senior citizen housing, or to provide an additional benefit to the City, such as continguous open space, additional recreational facilities and parkland.


 


Doesn’t that sound a lot like the North Street Community proposal, being preendorsed by the city Action Plan?


 


The city claims it wants to address the problem of homelessness but is vague on how it wants to do that, other than maintaining present services.


 


The City pubished as  policy that it will work to improve appearances and viability of commercial and retail establishments in the Mamaroneck Avenue corridor.  It also fully commits to improve appearances and economic “vitality” in neighborhoods adjacent to the Close-In Neighborhoods, designating a Neighborhood Strategy Area in the South Lexington/ Post Road area.


 




The city published these policies as to what it proposes to do this week.



 


 


 


 


 

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