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.

Hits: 0

WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. By John F. Bailey. June 2, 2005: WPCNR news has learned that the Republican Party of White Plains has nominated Francesco Mastracchio, a downtown White Plains cafe owner (Sassinoro Cafe – 50 Main Street) to run with incumbent Larry Delgado, and insurgent financier, John Carlson for the three open Council seats in November with Mayor Joseph Delfino, as he seeks election to a third term as Mayor.

The Carlson-Delgado-Mastrachio team will face incumbents Rita Malmud and Thomas Roach and resurgent Glen Hockley, who is attempting to be elected outright to the Common Council seat he was removed from last July, in favor of Mr. Delgado.

The Republicans await word from the Democratic Party as to whether Mayor Delfino will have an opponent for the Mayoral position. Should the Democrats not run a candidate at Mayor Delfino, Mr. Delfino’s war chest (amassed at a series of very discreet fundraisers last year),  could conceivably help the insurgent council candidates make a serious run at the Democrat incumbents, particularly if Democrat turnout is low.

Hits: 0

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. June 2, 2005, Updated 12:52 P.M. E.D.T.: The mystery surrounding WalMart’s coming to White Plains was lifted today, when WalMart spokesperson Philip Serghini, announced to The Journal News that WalMart was opening in late fall at the Main Street location adjacent city hall, where Sears used to be. No new information about the store was disclosed, and no date for the opening was set. 

WalMart Location in White Plains: Opening “Late Fall.” Photo, WPCNR News Archives.

It will, according to Serghini, sell grocery staples, which was already known previously,  in addition to the usual WalMart merchandise lineup. Serghini is quoted as saying, “We have all the necessary approvals. The building will be completely renovated.”

The late fall opening, as opposed to the original target reported as being September, is not a good thing for the city’s sales tax receipts because the city was anticipating at least three quarters of WalMart sales to pump up the sales tax receipts and continue “The Renaissance.”

Earlier in the week, the Mayor’s Office did not have any information for WPCNR on the WalMart status, which was strange if the company already had all its approvals. WalMart public relations, contacted by WPCNR Tuesday did not return WPCNR’s call.

The announcement Thursday by Mr. Serghini that Wal-Mart is coming to Main Street is nothing new, and will be stiff competition to the Stop N Shop down Westchester Avenue, as well as Target across in the City Center.

 In November, 2004, WPCNR wrote the following describing Walmart’s concept of “limited groceries.” as Mr. Serghini describes the new White Plains WalMart-to-be:

WPCNR wrote in December, 04, : Walmart will offer a supermarket that, according to a spokesperson  “won’t be a full-blown SuperCenter, but it will provide for some milk, eggs deli-meats and some fruits and vegetables so people in town can have a quick place to pick up some of these items,” does not begin to describe what the market will be really like. 

If Wal-Mart is building a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, it will be a full-blown supermarket, open 24-hours a day, giving city convenience to the owners of $2 Million condominums in Trump Tower across the street.  WPCNR has also learned that it will be the flagship Neighborhood Market in the New York Metropolitan area, since there are no Neighborhood Markets listed within 100 miles of White Plains on the Wal-Mart website Store Finder.

The Neighborhood Market will underprice Stop N Shop, just opened two years ago, by about 10%  and definitely will underprice Whole Foods Market at Fortunoff.  The Wal-Mart market isn’t a “deli” operation, by any means, and is considerably larger than a gas station convenience store. 

Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets are open 24 hours a day at 60 locations thoughout the country, and are Wal-Mart’s latest efforts to compete against a new retail sector: the food business.

As predicted by WPCNR in September (2004) as a good fit for the Sears building,  each Neighborhood Market is approximately 40,000 square feet, which would fit in nicely on the first 82,000 square foot first floor of the “The Shoppes on Main,” the “stackmall” next to City Hall, and upstairs, on the second 82,000 square foot second floor,  there could be the rest of Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart’s Neighborhood Markets according to Baseline.com, the Tampa Bay Business Journal and usavanguard.com, are no Sam’s Clubs.

 In South Ogden, Utah, the Neighborhood Market features wide aisles with luxury glazed brown floors, soothing, sophisticated muzak,  a drive-through pharmacy and a pizza-to-go stand.

In a visit to a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market in Alabama, it was discovered by USA Vanguard reporter Michael Gregory that inside the Neighborhood Market were aisles and aisles of delights from cell phones to satellite systems, cosmetics supplies, school supplies, as well as an automotive section. Mr. Gregory reports the ability to get a key made, a prescription filled, even taxes done. You can read his article at http://www.usavanguard.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/01/02/402066c9235f5.

The model Neighborhood Market contains “amply-stocked” meat and deli sections, baked goods, and frozen foods. Neighborhood Markets are tied in by satellite to Wal-Mart’s retail link network to monitor what’s moving and what’s not, allowing trucks to deliver fresh stocks the next day. This economy of supply, according to Baseline.com allows Wal-Mart to offer prices 10% less than traditional supermarkets such as Publix, Winn-Dixie and Kash n’ Karry, Krogers, and Albertson’s.

The Baseline report also notes the Neighborhood Markets are operated with 10% less staff than grocery stores.

Hits: 0

WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. June 2, 2005: This Sunday the Nominating Committee of the Democratic City Committee will interview Ron Jackson, the WPCNR-dubbed, “Last Activist” of White Plains, and Winbrook advocate as a potential candidate to run for Mayor against Joseph Delfino. The Committee reportedly will also interview former Councilman Dennis Power for the nomination. City Democratic Committee head, Liz Shollenberger, has vowed the Democrats will run a candidate against the Mayor.

Meanwhile, WPCNR wants to know, who would the Democrats want to run from among this final twosome: Mr. Power, a formidable campaigner who unseated Robert Ruger as a Councilman,  or Mr. Jackson, whose persuasive.

This poll should be voted upon by Registered Democrats only. You’re on the honor system, Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. Democrat!

Hits: 0

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From the Mayor’s Office. May 31, 2005, (Edited): The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that the City of White Plains has received the Robert L. Woodson, Jr. Award for their creative and effective affordable housing programs. The award is presented annually to three cities nationwide.

The Robert L. Woodson Jr. Award recognizes local governments for reducing regulatory barriers to affordable housing and serves to commend local governments for their outstanding work towards encouraging the production of homes affordable to working families. The City of White Plains will be presented with the award at a ceremony and reception at HUD Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on June 29^th, 2005, and will also participate in a roundtable discussion.

The award comes about a week before, the Common Council will consider legislation to make available funds for loans to citizens to take out mortgages to buy affordable residential properties within the city.  The details of this legislation are presently being written, and are expected to be before the Council in their June 6 Public Meeting. This expansion in the White Plains affordable housing initiative was announced at the last work session, and  would include tapping developer payments that satisfy developer affordable housing unit obligations for such mortgages.

“This is a tremendous award for our community to receive. Affordable housing is a huge issue here in White Plains, and myself, along with the City staff and the Common Council, have taken proactive measures to provide affordable housing opportunities for those in need. This award is indicative of the commitment we have made to affordable housing, and it is clear our programs are effective, and that we are making substantial progress,” stated Mayor Joseph Delfino.

HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation’s fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.

Hits: 0

WPCNR FELINE REPORTER. From the SPCA. May 31, 2005: The SPCA of Westchester is gearing up for its annual Adopt-A-Cat Month beginning in June and the kick off of  “Kitten Season,” when stray cats give birth throughout the summer.  During this time, many animal shelters, animal rescue groups and humane societies across the country overflow with litters of kittens. The SPCA of Westchester typically takes in nearly 100 cats and kittens per month, putting a huge strain on shelter resources.

“Cats generally give birth when the weather is warm, and many people bring us stray pregnant cats or litters of kittens that have been abandoned,” said Steve Diller, SPCA Executive Director.  “Often these newborns must be bottle-fed, and cannot be adopted out until they are at least seven weeks old.”

Cats have become the pet of choice for many people who work long hours or live in apartments, and don’t have the time or the space for a pet puppy or dog.  Cats are also perfect companions for senior citizens.  Every year, the SPCA of Westchester places more than 500 cats into new, loving homes. 

All adoption fees include a free veterinary check up and spaying or neutering at the SPCA’s Simpson Clinic.   The SPCA of Westchester requires spaying or neutering for all cats and kittens adopted from its shelter, since just one female cat and her offspring can produce over 10,000 more cats in a five-year period. 

To adopt a kitten or cat, please visit the shelter at 590 North State Road in Briarcliff Manor, Monday through Saturday between 10am and 4pm and Sundays between 1pm and 4pm. For information on the SPCA’s low-cost spay/neuter program for the general public, please call the Simpson Clinic at (914) 762-4842.

A not-for-profit humane organization, the SPCA of Westchester serves as the sole animal cruelty prevention and intervention agency for Westchester County.  Each year its agents investigate over 1,000 cases of suspected animal abuse, resulting in steps to correct the problem if evidence of cruelty is found.  Through the Simpson Spay/Neuter Clinic, the SPCA offers to the public low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations in an effort to help people keep their pets healthy.  Each year the animal shelter adopts more than 800 homeless companion animals into loving new homes and reunites another 300 lost pets with their families.  Recognized as a “no-kill” shelter, the SPCA never euthanizes an adoptable animal unless it is terminally ill and suffering or exhibits extreme aggression.