Tigers Squeeze Arlington 2-1 in 11 Frames to Reach Section 1 Title Game

Posted on by

Hits: 0







 


 


WPCNR PRESS BOX. June 1, 2006: Erin Cook lead off third with the pitch. There was one dead in the Tigers’ last of the eleventh. Arlington’s Kaitlyn Schell delivered a high strike and Tiger Carrie Abbott squared for the safety squeeze of her softball career. She flared the pitch in the air  with a little drift, a little English, a little radar, something on it, up up  just over the glove of Schell and too far in front of the Arlington shortstop who punched the air in frustration.


Cook held up as the ball agonizingly began its flight. When Erin saw the yellow floater was going to kiss O’Donnell’s Bluff infield  dirt, just behind the circle and to the left, she dashed home to score the winning run in a fastpitch classic in the gloaming sending the White Plains Softball Team to the Section Final for the first time ever.



CRISIS IN THE 7TH. It Could Be. It Might Be. It’s Not:  With 2 out and the score 0-0,  Arlington’s Catcher Emmy Goldstein has just blasted a screamer deep to right, and is rounding first. The blast, hardest hit ball of the day  looked gone, but the strong West wind held it up. The yellow screamer  has just landed inches from the fence in straightaway right. As rightfielder Juliana Bailey retrieves, Danielle Szabo races to second to take the throw. Goldstein had to hold at second on the Bailey relay,  but Arlington could not capitalize. Photo, WPCNR Sports.


Kelsey Kulk, Tiger ace matched Arlington’s classy righthander Kaitlyn Schell inning after inning, as each pitcher handcuffed the hitters. Anyone who saw this doozy of a ball game will never forget it. Sandra Mastrangelo had tied the game in the last of the 10th with a slash shot off the first base baseperson to tie the game 1-1, keeping the Tigers alive.










 



This was a classic pitcher’s duel. Kulk retired the first seven Admirals she faced before giving up a hit in the fourth inning, and never faced a threat until the seventh. She righted herself after 2 fourth inning singles, and retired 11 in a row until there were two out in the seventh.  In the seventh, with the score tied 0-0, with 2 out, a long double to right set the Admirals up to score but Kulk fanned the fifth place hitter to get to the bottom of the seventh.


 


Schell was equally overpowering in the clutch snuffing Tiger runners on second in the third, the fourth and the fifth, thanks to a great snag by the firstbaser off a Dena Frederick liner in the fifth.  In the seventh Lisa Tompkins singled for the Tigers, but the Tigers could not push across the winner, when a checked swing was called a third strike, stranding a Tiger on third, much to the crowd of over 150 persons’ displeasure.


 


Into eighth they played under threatening skies. Arlington did not threaten. The Tigers went 1-2-3 and the teams played into the 9th. Arlington went 1-2-3. The Tigers scratched a runner to third, but could not break through in the last of the 9th. With the winning run on third and two out after Kelsey Kulk had worked a 3-2 walk in a 10 pitch at-bat, stole second and moved to third the Tigers could not cash in.


 


The International Tiebreaker was invoked in the 10th. Arlington scored on a sacrifice  and a grounder to first to make it 1-0, and the Tiger hopes looked dark as the skies. But the Tigers came back for the second time in a week.  Jackie Flooks sacrificed the runner on second to third and Sandra Mastrangelo, last Saturday’s heroine went with a Schell pitch sharply down first base line that hit just to the right of the firstbaser and skidded quickly into right field allowing Juliana Bailey, pinchrunning to score from third to tie it 1-1.


 


On to the 11th:  With the Arlington tie-breaker runner on second, the leadoff batter got the bunt down but was ruled to have been hit by the bunted ball. She was out. Dead ball. The runner had to return to second. A huge play, as it turned out, because the next batter grounded to short, and might have scored the runner. The Tigers Kulk fanned the last hitter.


 


The Tigers won the darn thing with clouds gathering, and dinners getting cold.


 


Dena Frederick, first up, with Erin Cook on second aggressively bunted the first pitch. Cook was off at the crack of the bat and reached third. Pitcher Schell had no play on Cook and just did get Frederick at first. One out.


 


Up came senior Carrie Abbott. The pitch came in and up. Abbott stuck the bat out bunting and pushing it with authority, and flared the ball over the pitcher’s head. The gamer fell to infield earth as Cook crossed the plate with winning run. Big time noise broke out on O’Donnell’s Bluff!


 


Kelsey Kulk did not walk a batter this afternoon, and fanned 10 Arlington hitters, scattering 3 hits. Arlington’s Kaitlyn Schell was equally masterful, walking 1 and  striking out 7, giving 3 singles. 


 


Great plays, lots of them. The Tigers played flawlessly in the infield. Ashley Encarnacao made stretch after incredible stretch at first on balls fired low, to just get Arlington runners. Jackie Flooks, who has to be the best leftfield in the Section in my opinion – nobody plays left like she does, speed, judgment and arm– made a shoestring catch in the first to stop Arlington from getting the lead runner on to start the game. Danielle Szabo made a super backhand catch in the hole on a line drive, and fielded every hard shot Arlington hit her way. Catcher Sandra Mastrangelo exploded out behind the plate to field bunts, (there were a lot of bunts in this game), and catch 3 foul pops. Huge. Easily the most athletic catcher we’ve seen in years.


 


 


It was another team win today by the Tigers, who play Clarkstown North (which shut out New Rochelle 1-0 today),  for the Section 1 Class AA Championship Saturday afternoon. Both Arlington and White Plains put on a clinic today in how to play the game.



Walkin’ to Rockland: The Tigers with a spring in their stride head to the last game for the first time in the school’s history at the conclusion of the humdinger. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Posted in Uncategorized

Tigers Take Carmel, 8-1.Everybody Hits.Mastrangelo Breaks it Open. Szabo Zaps 2

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR PRESS BOX. May 30, 2006 UPDATED 10:07 P.M. E.D.T.UPDATED WITH PIX: White Plains advanced to the semi-final of the softball Section 1 Tournament  this afternoon, pounding 11-hits on a fusilade of hard-hit Baltimore Chops, in timely fashion to take a 6-1 lead after four innings. Kelsey Kulk pitched a 4-hitter, fanning 9, walking  2. Shortstop Dany Szabo hit two solo roundtrippers, the first making it 3-1 in the Tigers big third.



In the Long Shadows, One Out Away; Left to right, Ashley Encarnacao at first, Kelsey Kulk in the Circle and Carrie Abbott on the hot corner and Sandra Mastrangelo behind the plate closing the door on Carmel in the 7th. Photo, WPCNR Sports.


After Carmel took a 1-0 lead in the first on a walk, sacrifice and sacrifice fly, the Tigers came right back when Dena Frederick scorched a single to the left of the shortstop moved to second on a sarcrifice holding second on Kulk’s single to deep short.


Dena scored the equalizer from second on a tremendous collision at homeplate with the Carmel catcher on Dany Szabo’s single to right. The diminutive Frederick took out the catcher twice her size,  blocking the plate as the throw arrived from center and Frederick bowled the catcher over, laying her flat out and the catcher did not tag her.



Kelsey Kulk Humming It in the seventh. Photo, WPCNR Sports.


Frederick,  crawling, scrambling,squirming and flopping to the plate over the prone catcher scored the tying run to make it 1-1. From the first base side, a fan said the catcher was definitely blocking the plate without the ball. They said that as Dena collided with the catcher, the ball hit the catcher’s glove and bounced to the fence, as Dena slithered along the foul to “hand-slap” the plate with one desperate palm. SAFE!


Lisa Tompkins singled to center on a Baltimore chop up the middle to plate Kulk, who had moved to third to make it 2-1 after one frame.


The Tigers broke it open in the third on Dany Szabo’s line drive homer over the “White Plains Softball” sign in centerfield. It left the yard like it had a train to catch. 


Then Ashley Encarnacao was hit by a pitch and Lisa Tompkins was safe on another highhop single. With the score, 3-1  Sandra Mastrangelo lined a double on one-hop to the fence to score Ashley Encarnacao and Tompkins to make it 5-1. The Tigers added a run in the fourth on a. Szabo homered again more majestically in the sixth, to end the scoring.



The Tigers Walk to the traditional PostGame Conference. They are finishing another season to remember. Photo, WPCNR Sports.


The Tigers play next Thursday afternoon on O’Donnell’s Bluff against Arlington which annialated Fox Lane, 18-0 today in one semi final, while New Rochelle will play Clarkstown North in the other semi-final in Clarkstown.  NewRo shut out Horace Greeley, 3-0 and Clarkstown North defeated Suffern earlier this afternoon, 8-3.

Posted in Uncategorized

Holiday Souvenir: A Parking Ticket. More Night Enforcement to Come

Posted on by

Hits: 0


WPCNR THE PARKING NEWS. By White Plains CitizeNetReporters. May 30, 2006: Some people who parked without paying at on-street meters in downtown White Plains while attending Monday’s Memorial Day parade, and then decided to stay downtown for lunch and/or shopping after the prade, got more than they anticipated: parking tickets.


 


Holidays are not holidays from having to put money in on-street meters, according to a White Plains Parking Department spokesperson. The spokesperson first contacted by WPCNR originally told WPCNR that enforcement aids are instructed not to ticket cars at expired meters during parade hours on holidays. Once a parade ends, however, enforcement resumes. Howver that is not correct, explains Director of Parking, Al Moroni.



 


BRING QUARTERS ON HOLIDAYS TO SEE YOUR NEXT WHITE PLAINS PARADE: The regulation posted inside of each meter and on stickers below the coin slot is quite clear and highlighted in yellow and black ink(shown in photograph above), READING “PAYMENT REQUIRED 9 AM-9PM,MONDAY-SATURDAY, INCLUDING HOLIDAYS. Photo, WPCNR ParkCam


 



It is also possible that some people erroneaously assume that because some municipalities do not require payment at on-street parking meters on holidays, all municipalities follow that policy. White Plains doesn’t. It is worth remembering for the next holiday that, unless the holiday falls on Sunday, payment at on-street meters is required. Also payment in municipal garages is required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


 



Al Moroni, Director of Parking, contacted by WPCNR said the spokesperson was incorrect: “We enforce parking on all holidays,” Mr. Moroni told WPCNR. “The city cannot afford to give away free parking on holidays.” Photo, WPCNR NEWS ARCHIVE.


 


Asked if the Department of Parking had a “grace period,” Moroni, said “No, we do not. Some parade organizers, if they request them can receive parking passes authorizing free parking for the duration of the parade.” All others must feed the meter, Moroni said.


 


Moroni did not have a number on the number of parking tickets written on Memorial Day, but he assumed it was light because the city had a skeleton staff deployed.


 


More Strategic Deployment Considered


to Beef up Parking Enforcement


 


However in the conversation that followed the Director of Parking  indicated that the Department of Parking is going to step up enforcement, after Mr. Moroni explained to WPCNR that Lieutenant Ron Rossi of the White Plains Department of Public Safety was the liaison officer supervising the Public Safety Aids, who were transferred to the Department of Parking. Mr. Moroni indicated the city is rethinking the hours of deployment of the  Parking Enforcement Officers, in city garages and parking lots and other areas.


 


Moroni said presently only one police officer is charged with enforcing parking overnight (9 PM to 9 AM) in the 28 parking lots and municipal garages run by the city. He said that he, Moroni, and Lieutenant Rossi are taking “a closer look” at how the Department of Parking “staffs” its Parking Enforcement Officers “to provide more coverage in the overnight hours in the parking lots and garages.”


 


Moroni said this would not be limited to overnight deployment weekdays, that it could mean more Parking Enforcement Officers on the streets on Saturdays, but no decisions have yet been made on deployment and hours practices.


 


No Move to 24 Hour Parking Meters.


 


Asked if this meant White Plains was considering 24 hour enforcement of on-street parking in the future, extending current parking hours for meters, Moroni said the city was not. “That’s not even on the horizon.”


 


Asked if the Parking Enforcement Officer staff was going to be increased in the near future, Moroni said there were no plans to do that at this time.


 


“We’re taking a close look at (parking) posts, and seeing how we can achieve more balanced coverage (by Parking Enforcement Officers).” Moroni told WPCNR.


 


Quotas Denied. Performance to Be Looked At


 


Asked if Parking Enforcement Officers would be expected to meet quotas, Moroni said, “No quotas (per officer) are even being considered. We do not have quotas. We will be looking at productivity. If one officer writes 50 tickets an hour at one post, and another 20, we’re going to compare productivity.”

Posted in Uncategorized

Memorial Day Parade Draws Light Crowd. Mayor Says Work to Build Better World

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR PARADE DRESS. May 30, 2006: White Plains saluted its veterans Monday at the annual Memorial Day Parade. Though Memorial Day Parades in the past have never traditionally drawn well, Monday’s parade was particularly poorly attended by the populace. Fewer than 50 persons lined Mamaroneck Avenue from Martine to Main, and spectators on North Broadway were scattered.  However, that did not take away from the solemnity and the pride of the occasion. Mayor Joseph Delfino saluted those who have given their lives for America at the annual festivities at White Plains Rural Cemetary, encouraging all to honor their sacrifice by  “work every day to make this a better world”



The Mayor Remembers America’s War Dead at the Rural Cemetary Monday. Photo, WPCNR News.



Veterans proceed up North Broadway with the White Plains High School Band, with antique cars of the past bringing up the rear. Photo, WPCNR News



The White Plains High School Band, as is traditional, marched to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Director Leslie Tompkins is at the far right. Photo, WPCNR News.



The White Plains Common Council and Board of Education members marched together. L to R, Councilpersons Glen Hockley, Tom Roach, Rita Malmud, Benjamin Boykin, Arnold Bernstein, Board of Education Member Bill Polack, County Legislator Bill Ryan and Board of Education Member Donna McLaughlin. Photo, WPCNR News

Posted in Uncategorized

Superintendent Chides Comptroller Audit for Misinformation.

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 28, 2006: White Plains Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors has written parents in the School District a letter, stating the “New York State Comptroller’s audit on disruptive student behavior has caused some confusion and misinformation,” and assuring parents “that White Plains High School is a safe and healthy environment for all of our students and staff.”


Connors writes parents that “We want you to be aware that disruptive behavior, as defined by the state, is not necessarily violent behavior. It includes incidents such as cutting class, plagiarism, and other infractions of the school’s code of conduct.”


Connor also reveals in the letter, that before Comptroller Hevesi published his report last week, accusing White Plains High School of withholding 94% of disruptive incidents, “we had agreed to meet with the State Education Department to review our data and ensure that we are fully compliant with their reporting guidelines. We, along with many other school districts, had found the reporting system very confusing. This meet (with the the SED) will take place in the coming weeks.”


“Like all high schools, we have disruptive incidents that occur. When they do, we work closely with our school administrators, students and parents to resolve them to ensure the safety of everyone involved. We also work with the White Plains Police Department, when necessary. We agree with the Comptroller that accurate reporting is necessary in order to address the safety of schools across New York and we are committed to keeping our schools safe learning environments for all.”


The tone of Connors letter stops short of accusing the Comptroller’s office of grandstanding on the reporting of disruptive incidents by schools, but implies it.  He finishes by writing,


Connors, in a telephone interview with WPCNR Friday, cited for example of the misinformation the Comptroller’s report implied, stating that White Plains had failed to report one instance of “sexual violence.” Connors objected strongly to characterizing the incident as violent because it involved a student exposing his posterior out the window of a school bus.


Connors said WPHS reported 24 Disruptive Behavior incidents in the School District to the SED in 2004-2005. In 2003-2004, the year the Comptroller’s report covered, the district reported 22, and was accused of withholding 289 incidents they should, in the Comptroller auditor’s opinion, should have reported



 


The Comptroller’s Press Office told WPCNR last week their auditors who compiled the unreported incidents by going over school records at WPHS did not meet with police, but were “expert” in their experience in analyzing incidents of disruptive behavior.

Posted in Uncategorized

Tigers Mastrangelo Suicide Squeezes In the Winner in WP Sect. Opena

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR PRESS BOX. May 27, 2006 UPDATED 5:45 P.M. EDT: Catcher Sandra Mastrangelo with the North Rockland infield back bunted perfectly with Erin Cook racing in from third on what on a daring suicide squeeze play to give White Plains a 2-1 come-from-behinder win today on O’Donnell’s Bluff in the Tigers opening Sectional tilt.


In the Tiger seventh inning, a one-hop double to the centerfield fence over the head of the North Rockland centerfielder blasted by Dena Frederick set up the tying run after North Rockland had taken the lead with a solo homer in the top of the seventh and the Tigers were facing doom with three outs left in their season.


Frederick moved to third on Carrie Abbot’s sacrifice bunt. Then Kelsey Kulk blooped a 1-2 pitch dying quail Texas Leager into the Bermuda Triangle of shallow center with shortstop and second baser watching it fall  to score the equalizer, plating Frederick from third to tie it 1-1. Kulk went all the way for the win, fanning 10.


The Tigers won it in the bottom of the eighth when Lisa Tompkins pulled one in the hole on an 0-2 pitch to the thirdbaser’s left who picked it, juggled it and could not make the play. Jackie Flooks sacrificed Erin Cook running for Tompkins to second. A wild pitch off the catcher’s glove moved Cook to third with one out. Mastrangelo then won the game when the Rockland pitcher fielded her bunt but threw too late to catch the fleet Cook flying in from third. It was another extra inning humdinger played by these two teams, and North Rockland is no fifteenth seed.  Jackie Flooks, in addition to getting the key bunt down to move the winning run into scoring position,  threw out a North Rockland runner at the plate with a throw from the base of the left centerfield fence that got the runner at the plate in the first inning in the play of the game.


The Tigers face the Carmel High in White Plains Tuesday afternoon in the Tigers’ next sectional game. Carmel defeated John Jay East Fishkill Saturday afternoon, 1-0, on Danielle Basciano’s screaming liner into right in the third with two out. Kaleigh Burke spun a beauty, shutting out John Jay on 3 hits and only two threats. This sets up a rematch between Burke and Kulk who dueled in the second game of the season, where Burke prevailed, 3-0.

Posted in Uncategorized

Fred Seiler to be Appointed School District Financials Man Replacing Schruers

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 27, 2006: The Board of Education will appoint Fred W. Seiler of Rochester, NY to a three year contract as its 2006-2007 budget strategist replacing Terrance Schruers as Assistant Superintendent for Business after Mr. Schruers retires this September. Seiler takes the unenviable job of planning the $165.8 Million school budget that is facing rip-snorting cost increases in utilities,  sensitive salaries (a new contract with the teachers has to be negotiated), and structuring the school board capital projects bond referendum and debt service tentatively planned for October or December 2006.  Seiler holds a Bachelor of Arts from Temple University in Business Administration and an MBA fromthe Rochester Institute of Technology.

Mr. Seiler comes from the Spencerport Central School District West of Rochester, just South of the shores of Lake Ontario, from  a district of 22,334 residents, with a school budget of  $60.6 Million, a little less than one-third of the White Plains School Budget of $165.8 Million. However, the man he will succeed, if approved, Terrance Schruers came from a similar sized upstate district and fit in smoothly to the White Plains financial behemoth. 


Seiler has experience in bonding for capital improvements having presided over the formulation of a $15 Million Capital Project bond for Spencertown in the 2006-2007 budget the district just prepared and passed. Seiler is reported as Clerk to the Board of Education and Assistant Superintendent for Business. Spencertwon is a district of 4,411 students, four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. White Plains has 7,000 students, five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.

Posted in Uncategorized

More to Come From Cappelli in the Downtown. To Move HQ Here. Build More.

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR THE DAILY DEVELOPER. May 26, 2006: Louis Cappelli, President of Cappelli Enterprises of Valhalla, announced on White Plains Week, the City News Roundup show Friday night, he was eager to develop more residential buildings, restaurants and retail on “gorgeous” parcels in the White Plains downtown. He also announced intentions to move his world headquarters to the North Tower condominium in the 221 Main Ritz-Carlton Westchester.


 



Louis Cappelli, The Super Developer, appearing on White Plains Week, Friday night. Video Capture by WPCNR News.





He said that development in White Plains was “moving ahead” with other developers taking “a piece of it,” noting the Ginsburg Pinnacle project would be starting in August, “It’s good for White Plains and it’s good for me. I’ve always said the more people that come to White Plains would be better for White Plains and better for me and Avalon Bay “jumping on board. I think there’s good things happening and we’re glad to be apart of it.”


 



 


Cappelli’s Vision: Asked by “The Anchor for all Seasons,” Peter Katz (left) if  “after 221, are you going to stay in White Plains, you have your sights on other things here?”  Cappelli replied “If they’ll have me, I love working in White Plains. Why give up now when things are just cooking?” Video Capture of White Plains Week by WPCNR News


 


 The CitizeNetReporter asked him if he would put together other parcels in the downtown. Cappelli said, “There are other parcels in the downtown. Certainly my friend John Halpern has a beautiful site, he sold me this site(221 Main). He has a gorgeous site on  Mamaroneck and Post. I think certainly the Silverman site, a nice site centrally located. There’s a lot of nice sites in the CBD that would keep the story going.”


 


Would he be thinking more residential? Cappelli said, “I don’t think I would be thinking office. I think the city needs retail, restaurants, residential .You just can’t bring enough people.”


 


City Center’s a Keeper.


 


Commenting on future plans for the City Center, Mr. Cappelli vowed he would hold on to the property, unless someone made a very attractive offer. He said he was planning on being more selective replacing Office Max in the City Center, possibly bringing an entertainment based business into that space. He also vowed to improve the City Center Garage to make it more attractive. He admitted that in filling the City Center retail space originally, that he had been eager to fill the space and not as selective as he could have been.


 


The 221 Proposal, Cool to Fee.


 


 Asked if he would consider a fee paid to the city in return for approval of his zoning and site plan request for adding 50,000 square feet to the 221 Main project, and a zoning change to permit a restaurant on the mechanical deck level at the top of the residential condominium tower, Mr. Cappeli said he did not think that was fair:


 


“I wouldn’t think it would be the right thing to do because I’m providing a tremendous amount of public amenities here. If the Council says no, and they could, they’re very reasonable people, I think the restaurant in the sky goes away, the bigger ballroom goes away, and the bigger spa goes away, and that hurts Mr. and Mrs. White Plains I don’t think they’re going to hurt Mr. and Mrs. White Plains.”


 


The Super Developer Moving His HQ to The Ritz.


 


Cappelli  said he was going to reduce the officespace in the north condo tower to 25,000 square feet and move his  corporate office of Cappelli Enterprises there. The Hamilton side condominium tower, originally was targeted for 100,000 square feet.


 


He said he had built the Valhalla headquarters in 1984,  his first building project, and it was time to move. “Who wouldn’t want to be in The Ritz-Carlton,” he said. (The north tower foundation began to be poured this week.) The Super Developer revealed he was also going to add 12 more hotel rooms to the north (second tower). The developer also said that the Ritz-Carlton hotel would have valet parking for all arrivals to ease traffic backup for arriving guests.


 



 


Confident of Condo Appeal. Jim Benerofe, right, of Suburbanstreet.com asked Cappelli, considering the softness of the condo market how the Ritz-Carlton condominium project was going to play out. (As of Wednesday, there were 137 condominums for sale in White Plains, 24 in Trump Tower that are resells, and 33 at The Jeffersons, in Westchester County there are 860 condominums on the market, up 81% over a year ago, according to the Westchester County Board of Realtors) Video Capture of White Plains Week by WPCNR News


 


Cappelli was confident:


 


“Corrections are normal and required. Corrections in the residential market you hope for a slow soft landing. Interest rates are racheting up slowly…I view our market as different than the normal residential market.we have a unique product both in the trump tower and the Trump plaza in New Rochelle and the Ritz Carlton.


 


That uniqueness and limited number of units we have, I don’t believe the residential market is going to affect the sales of those homes. I don’t believe the people buying there are affected by a half a point interest rate change. Trump Tower (at City Center) is sold out except for four units. Trump Plaza in New Rochelle has 60 units sold in 2-1/2 months at $600 per square feet. The average price of Trump Plaza  so far is higher than the average price sell out of Trump Tower at City Center in White Plains.


 


There’s a demand for quality product, the Ritz-Carlton is going to be taking it to the next level and this is going to be, in my mind, for all those people who absolutely don’t want to live in their homes in Westchester County, it’s a unique market that’s not going to be affected.”


 


On Benefit to White Plains


 


Asked if he thought new development to bring more revenue to the city beyond the $20 Million in sales taxes and property taxes it brought in 2005-2006, Cappelli  said yes, citing Wal-Mart coming in, and the retailers doing better. He said “The residential taxes for each of these Ritz Carlton projects, (400 condominium units)  there’s going to be an enormous amount of money coming in over the next 14 months.”


 


The Who Knew What When and When Did They Know It Mystery.


 


Cappelli explained the timing on the 221 Main changes currently a subject of high dudgeon in White Plains.  He said he submitted the site plan amendment plans for the extra floor on the podium of the Ritz Carlton Westchester on September 5, 2005, and had no idea what the Ritz-Carlton wanted when he decided to make the structural change, adding one floor.


 


He said he submitted the construction drawings November 11 to the Building Department. Cappelli said instead of counting stories people should have gone to the Building Department to look at the plans on file. (These plans were not available in the Building Department last week, when asked)


 


Asked if he knew what Ritz-Carlton wanted the time he submitted the structural changes, Cappelli said, “No,the program was absolutely not set at all whatsoever. This was a structural change. Turns out the Ritz-Carlton now sees the drawings then their designers say let’s use this space. It’s up to the council, they can say no if they want.”


 



 Video Capture by WPCNR News

Posted in Uncategorized

David Chong, 1st Asian Commissioner of Public Safety in U.S. Takes Command

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. May 26, 2006: The City of Mount Vernon turned the page into the future today, when Mayor Ernest D. Davis swore in David Chong, formerly Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety of White Plains, as Commissioner of Public Safety for his city.


 In a ceremony thronged by media, dignataries, and politicians, Commssioner Chong surrounded by family and friends from White Plains, the NYPD and well-wishers of all walks of life in Mount Vernon, who seemed to be looking at him as a messiah, took his oath of office and started his new job this afternoon. In addition he received two awards from Asian-American organizations for his history-making appointment. 


 Commissioner Chong told The CitizeNetReporter his first task was to meet each and every one of “the fine men and women of this police department,” this very afternoon.



David Chong Addresses the Mount Vernon multitudes Friday morning after his swearing-in as the first Asian-American Commissioner of Public Safety in the U.S.A. Mayor Ernest D. Davis of Mount Vernon, is to Mr. Chong’s left. State Assemblyman Gary Pretlow is behind Mr. Chong. The one hour swearing-in featured a parade of speakers welcoming Mr. Chong to the city.  Photo, WPCNR News.



Mayor Ernest D. Davis, in a WPCNR exclusive interview, noted that he brought Mr. Chong to Mount Vernon because “He’s a people person. He connects police with the community. He’s also a top cop, he can bring that knowledge to the department. He can structure it, map it so it’s efficient. He wants to do a great job. He’s young, has good experience and fresh ideas.” Photo, WPCNR News.


Mayor Davis seems to be on the right track. Young men gathered on the steps of city hall after the ceremony told CitizeNetReporter that the Mount Vernon police “judged a book by its cover,” and another comment from a college student who said he was finishing his degree, looking to join the work force soon and was pulled over and given a ticket for tinted windows and a noisy muffler, costing him a day of work when he went to court. His point was that the police officer giving the ticket seemed to be picking on him.


A Councilman for Mount Vernon, J. Yuhanna Edwards,  addressing the crowd that included News 12, WCBS-TV, and reporters from international media, pointed out to Mr. Chong, and hoped he would address the sociological aspects of Mount Vernon’s crime problem and the root causes — “the pathology” of crime among the youth. All addresses were highly positive to Mr. Chong. When the WPNCR left Mount Vernon City Hall, Mr. Chong had already strode down the City Hall steps to start his job by meeting his new department.

Posted in Uncategorized

Council Waves On $147.6 Million Budget. Salaries of Biggies Raised 4%.

Posted on by

Hits: 0

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. May 25, 2006: On Decision Night Thursday evening, the Common Council approved a $147.6 Million budget, (it could not be determined if that included the salary increases of administration personnel),  the $147.6 figure means a 6.1% spending increase, and a 7.8 % tax increase. Salaries of the Mayor’s Commissioners were increased 4% across the board, according to Paul Wood, the Mayor’s Executive Officer.


It was agreed water rates to residents and commercial users would be raised 20% to make up the water fund deficit. The council also was reported by Mr. Wood, as being accepting of the one-floor structural change on the podium of the Cappelli hotel, and supportive of the rooftop restaurant and additon of 54,000 square feet of floor space.


The council, according to Mr. Wood, passed the budget 7-0. He also said the council had no problem with the minor amendment to the 221 Main site plan that would allow an extra floor on the podium, that Building Commissioner Mike Gismondi did not “overstep” his authorityppelli to build a restaurant on the roof of the Main Street condominium tower surrounding  the building mechanicals. Wood also told WPCNR the council listened to Mr. Gismondi’s explanation for the extra floor on the podium, and also had no problem with it.


Wood, speaking to WPCNR after the Work Sesson that WPCNR did not attend, added that in December of 2005, Mr. Cappelli had spoken about a reinforcement change that would add an extra floor to the hotel podium and give him construction flexibility. Wood then said Mr. Cappelli informed the Common Council May 15, he  had built the structure to add the extra floor, and three days later, May 18,  he asked to add 54,000 square feet to the structure to provide amenities for Ritz-Carlton within the podium, in the Main Street tower, and also on the pool deck of the podium, and on the mechancals level of the Main Street tower. Wood said there was a letter from an engineer noting the need for seismic reinforcement as part of new New York State code, that was received about three days prior to May 15 of this month, supporting the developer’s requested change, which WPCNR (at the time), had already been executed.


In Mr. Gismondi’s written analysis, of the “Minor Amendment” approving structural modifications, dated May 22, 2006, the Building Commissioner writes: “it can be concluded that there is no significant alteration of the essential charactersitics of the design, layout or arrangement of “buildings,” parking, circulation, landscaping, or relationships of the project to the “street,” adjacent properties and the area.”


Rita Malmud, addressing an angry Democratic City Committee throng disturbed at what they described was a “bad precident,”  Wednesday evening said that she had been told by the Mayor in a meeting Tuesday of this week that the structural reinforcement had been asked for and approved in December for Ritz-Carlton, but that Monday, May 15, was the first time she had heard of it. However, Mr. Wood said Ms. Malmud was favorably disposed to the structural change (the one floor addition to the podium– which actually makes two floors)  after Mr. Gismondi spoke Thursday night.

Posted in Uncategorized