WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From NFTE. April 24, 2006: The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) today announced that Laura DeLucia, of White Plains has been selected as one of three winners in the thirteenth annual nationwide “NFTE Young Entrepreneurs of the Year” competition.  NFTE is an international nonprofit organization that teaches entrepreneurship and business skills to low-income young people.

Ms. DeLucia developed an interest in business while working for her grandfather. Her desire to learn more about running a business led her to NFTE. “NFTE gave me greater confidence in myself and my capabilities and in dealing with people in general. I’m doing better in my school work and plan on attending college. NFTE changed me,” said DeLucia.

Healing Hearts, One Basket at a Time, is the name of DeLucia’s business, a novel gift basket venture that promotes a heart healthy lifestyle. Using her grandmother’s recipes, which have been altered to meet the requirements of a healthy diet, DeLucia fills baskets with goodies she bakes herself and sells at American Heart Association events.

“Nothing is more rewarding than empowering young people with the belief that they can make a difference in their lives,” comments Joel Warren, Executive Director of NFTE’s Fairchester Division. “The remarkable results prove that NFTE’s unique entrepreneurial curriculum works and provides a structure for channeling creativity into profits.”

The three students will be honored at the New York City NFTE’s “Salute to the Entrepreneurial Spirit” awards dinner on April 25.  Winners receive a cash prize to serve as working capital for their businesses or to fund future educational pursuits.

The award winners were selected from competitors nationwide.  Scott Zuckerman and Fernando Arias, the other two winners are both seniors in New Rochelle High School.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. April 23, 2006: The shows featuring the acerbic and popular Jackie Mason, one of the WPPAC’s top box office shows last season, and the highlight of the WPPAC spring season which were to have the comedian spinning his one-liners for Mr. and Mrs. White Plains next weekend have been cancelled according to the WPPAC Box Office. A spokesperson for WPPAC said Mr. Mason cancelled the performances because he is “shooting a TV pilot at the time.”

Jackie Mason Performances for April 29, 30 are OFF. The Box Office reports “we’re hoping to get him for the fall, but nothing’s been set yet.” The cancellation has not been reported on the White Plains Performing Arts Center website, though Mr. Mason’s performances are no longer on the calendar appearing on the website. The standard contract between performer and venue, normally calls for 30 days cancellation notice to the producers.  Photo of WPPAC Poster, WPCNR News Archive.

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, 89th A.D. April 21, 2006:  For the second consecutive year, the Legislature passed an on-time budget that meets the needs of the people of New York.  Unfortunately, the governor issued over 200 vetoes to the Legislature’s bipartisan budget agreement, causing the Republican Senate Majority Leader, Joseph Bruno to state in a recent radio interview that “Pataki cared more about Sioux City, Iowa than Syracuse.”

Critical tax relief for Westchester residents – Vetoed

 The bipartisan budget agreement would have provided meaningful tax relief to Westchester’s overburdened taxpayers.  Sadly, the governor’s veto pen struck most of the Legislature’s tax-relief package, including:

·        Empire State Tax Credit – a maximum credit of $330 for each child age 4 to 17

·        Property tax rebates that would have averaged $532 for Westchester’s Basic STAR recipients and $822 for senior homeowners under the Enhanced STAR program

·        Reducing the marriage penalty tax – saving married couples $41 million when fully phased in

Legislature’s investments in higher education – Vetoed

The governor’s budget vetoes will have disastrous consequences for New York’s higher education institutions. He vetoed the Legislature’s restorations to the Tuition Assistance Program, as well as vital operating aid for SUNY to strengthen programs.  He vetoed local investments totaling over $34.1 million for capital improvement projects at area colleges, including:

·        $6 million to SUNY Purchase for the Heritage Site

·        $8.1 million to SUNY Purchase for HVAC renovations – to rehabilitate the campus’ central plaza

·        $20 million to Westchester County Community College for additional Master Plan Projects

Restorations to Westchester’s struggling health care system – Vetoed

The governor’s veto of the Legislature’s bipartisan budget proposal – which protects the health of New York’s most vulnerable populations by funding critical nursing home, hospital and emergency care – is deplorable. Again, the governor turns his back on those who need help the most.

Locally, the governor’s vetoes will cost Westchester hospitals $41.5 million and area nursing homes nearly $500,000, including:

·        White Plains Hospital – $737,000

·        Northern Westchester Hospital – $205,000

·        Burke Rehabilitation Hospital – $179,000

·        Westchester Medical Center – $4.9 million

·        Cedar Manor Nursing home –  $435,000

·        Nathan Miller Center for Nursing Care, White Plains Division – $42,000

If his vetoes stand, the progress New York is making to improve our health care services, help struggling property taxpayers and strengthen our world-class universities would be seriously threatened.  I cannot stand by as the governor scores political points at the expense of college students, property taxpayers and elderly. I will work with my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate to override vetoes, where constitutionally legal – representing a bipartisan united stand for a budget that New Yorkers deserve.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. April 20, 2006: The Department of Communications confirmed to WPCNR today that Dan McBride has been appointed Director of Playland, the landmark amusement park on Long Island Sound that has entertained children of all ages since 1928. Mr. McBride replaces Joseph Montalto, who is retiring, according the the Department of Communications. 

McBride moves from Operations Director for the Department of Recreation and Parks to  Deputy Commissioner and Director of Playland park, his new post, and one of his first steps is to prepare a Master Plan for the old amusement park, according to attendees of the Westchester County Historical Society where he spoke Monday evening.

The KiddlieLand section of the amusement park (with America’s greatest train ride), is open this Sunday, April 23 and Sunday April 30, 12 to 6.  Playland opens officially May 13. Go to www.ryeplayland.org for more on the park.

Rye Beach Boardwalk, Playland Bathhouses. The vista was used in the movie, “Big,” Starring Tom Hanks. Just Part of the 1928 Slice of Americana, the Playland Amusement Park. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

“With Playland’s Kiddyland opening this weekend, I am delighted to have Dan McBride overseeing the park,” said  County Recretion and Parks Commissioner Joe Stout. “Dan is a professional with 30 years of experience in parks and recreation management.”

The fabulous Ice Casino, Playland. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

McBride joined the parks department in 1996 as a director of programs and services and for the last three years served as chief of operations. He has a master’s degree in public administration from Pace University in White Plains. McBride began his career in recreation at the Village of Scarsdale in 1976 and worked for various local recreation departments before joining the county.

McBride’s duties as deputy commissioner will include overseeing the department’s parks division operations and the planning and capital projects divisions.              

The Boathouse and Lake, PlayLand. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By Don Hughes. April 19, 2006, UPDATED Thursday April 20: 3:00 P.M. E.D.T.: Monday´s (evening’s) budget discussion (by the Common Council and Budget and Management Advisory Committee) was mainly about tax certs and operating funds. It was noted that the largest part of the budget  represents salary and benefits.  It was questioned (by councilmembers) why  salaries were increasing faster than inflation.  It was  explained that in addition to the negotiated salary  increases that most employees also received `step´  increases.  It was suggested that future negotiations  take that into account.  It was also noted that we were approaching the day when then number of retired  employees receiving benefits would exceed the number of  active employees.

In a clarification from the Mayor’s Office, just in, the city reports that during the meeting, the Assessor had mentioned that Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio, had been quoted as having “admited” to a Journal News reporter, commercial buildings were overassessed during his (Del Vecchio’s) adminstration.

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It was suggested the future (salary) negotiations should try to  shift some of the health care cost to the employees.  It was noted that legally the city could not change any of the promised retirement benefits for current employees.  It was noted that a previous negotiations had limited health care to retirees with 20 years of service, but that only affected people hired since that change.

It was noted that we have borrowed the last two years to  cover some of the pension costs, and will do so again this year.

UnCERTainty on Certs

There was a long discussion on tax certioraris (see recording of  assessor’s comments, at http://www.wpny.us  – recordings).  Last year´s budget underestimated the necessary amount (to pay certiorari settlements) by $1.6 million, and the members wanted some assurance that this year´s $800,000 was adequate. 

The Assessor said that she and the actuaries were comfortable with the number, but refused to be more specific.  She indicated that although a claim must be filed within a narrow window; it is to the plaintiffs benefit to delay the proceedings as long a possible and to try to combine multiple claims into a single proceeding.  She indicated that although White Plains was very aggressive in filing dismissal motions if any dates were missed, the overall pace of the process was driven entirely by the plaintiff.

Will the Cert Drain End? Del Vecchio Blamed Again for Today’s Certs.

There were a number of questions on when the city could expect to see an end to the certioraris and what was in the `pipeline´.

It was indicated that a factor making the tax challenges successful was the disparity in the appreciation in market value of residential property not being matched in the commercial sector.  The application of a single equalization rate to both types of property allows the commercial owners to claim that they are being over assessed.  In addition, it was said that the Del Vecchio administration (1976-1993) purposefully over assessed commercial property.

David Maloney of the Mayor’s Office contacted WPCNR Thursday afternoon and said that the Assessor in addressing the council Monday evening said that Mayor Del Vecchio had been quoted by Keith Eddings, a Journal News Reporter, as having “admitted,”  commerical buildings were over accessed during his (Del Vecchio’s) administration. This was, Mr. Maloney said, the context in which Mayor Del Vecchio’s administration was mentioned as being responsible for the alleged over assessment.

It was indicated that the solution was to do a citywide reassessment which would remove the need for the equalization rate; but politically this was unlikely.  The alternative was for the city to continue to fight
the equalization rate each year, and to continue to push for legislation that would allow for different rates for different classes of property. 

Fund Drains.

There was then discussion on the various operating funds.

It was noted that the Water fund had a deficit because of the numerous recent increases in water charges from New York City, and that it was going to be necessary to increase the water rate.

Insurance was discussed at some length.  It was noted  that most of the health coverage was provided by the state with the premiums on any optional policies limited to a maximum of what would be paid for the state coverage.  It was noted that White Plains was getting a very good deal since premiums were set on a statewide basis and White Plains was receiving more in benefits than it was paying in premiums.

It was noted that we are self-insured for liability coverage and that several neighboring cities had
recently had very large claims.  The cost of providing excess liability insurance was discussed but not
resolved.  The reserve that normally would be used to cover catastrophic claims has been drawn down, and it was suggested that we should either buy the insurance, or put an equivalent amount into the reserve.

It was noted that there was some borrowing for rolling stock, but at a reduced level from last year.


Editor’s Note: Because there were a number of questions commissioners and city officers could not answer satisfactorily, two more Budget & Management Advisory Committee Budget Review Sessions have been scheduled. For budget aficianados here is the schedule:

April 24, Monday, 6 P.M.: Recreation and Parks

April 25, Tuesday, 6 P.M.: Budget & Management Advisory Committee Budget Review Session.

April 26, Wednesday, 6 P.M.: Public Works, Youth Bureau (at the Department of Public Works Garage)

May 1, Monday, 7:30 P.M.: Public Hearing on the Budget.

May 4, Thursday, 6 P.M.: Budget & Management Advisory Committee Budget Review Session.

May 9, Tuesday, 6 P.M.: Decision Night

May 25, Thursday, 5:30 P.M.: Special Meeting for Budget Adoption 2006-2007