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WPCNR PICTURES IN TIME. By John F. Bailey. December 26, 2003: Over the next week, WPCNR will be reviewing the big stories of 2003, as told in pictures on WPCNR week-by-week. In today’s first installment, WPCNR presents January and February of 2003:
AT MIDNIGHT, THE MAYOR’S NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY FEATURED A BALL DROP AT MAIN & Mamaroneck Avenues, complete with GALA at the Westcester Arts Council at Martine & Main. 
ADAM BRADLEY began his political career, being sworn in by Judge Jo Ann Friia as Assemblyman for the New York 89th Assembly District, after primarying and beating Naomi Matusow in a primary in September, 2002 by 23 votes. He easily won the General Election. Now, Mr. Bradley is touted by many as a candidate for Mayor of White Plains in 2005, or as a future State Senator.
IN JANUARY, 03, CITY BUDGET DIRECTOR EILEEN EARL noted the declining state of White Plains Budget finances, and raised a question of whether the state is returning to White Plains all the sales tax revenue it is entitled to receive. WPCNR found that according to finance directors in New Rochelle and Yonkers, the state does not audit its collection and distribution of sales tax revenues. Earl also warned White Plains it was cutting too deeply into its fund balance that was project at $4.2 Million at the conclusion of 02/03. A scant one month later, Ms. Earl abruptly resigned.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANDY SPANO blamed Westchester County’s budget deficit on state mandated medicaid increases, called for a capping of medicaid payments. The situation was not addressed by the state legislature and one year later, Mr. Spano is asking for another 1% sales tax increase to balance his budget.
HEAVY SNOWS AND COLD on January 16-17 froze over Silver Lake.
IN FEBRUARY, Louis Cappelli after puchasing the Halpern-owned 221 Main Street parcel in late 2002, proposed his Cappelli Hotel-Office complex to the Common Coucil, preserving the Bar Building. It was received with open arms by the Common Council, with only one Councilman, Benjamin Boykin, worried about height. The two new proposed buildings are shown in white. Bar Building is in gray just to the left of the hotel in the foreground. City Center is at right of center with its two apartment spires.
ORIGINAL LOUIS CAPPELLI HOTEL DESIGN seen looking North across Main Street. Bar Building is at lower left.
IN FEBRUARY, LARRY GOTTLIEB OF ENTERGY defended James Lee Witt’s criticisms of Indian Point and pointed out serious factual errors in Witt’s report. Subsequent revelations by the Federal Emergency Management Administration, published by WPCNR, cited over 136 errors in the Witt Report.
TWO FEET OF SNOW LANDLOCKED WHITE PLAINS Over February 16-17, but the Department of Public Works had White Plains up and running within 24 hours in a job of snow removal that was incredibly efficient.
ON FEBRUARY 20, Department of Public Works Commissioner unvieled design for his double-deck parking garage on Bryant and Mamaroneck behind Rader’s and the U.S. Post Office, fronting Mamaroneck Avenue. The plan was in response to solving the overnight parking needs of the Highlands, Old Mamaroneck Road area. The $2.7 Million project was approved in December, 2003.
THE COMMON COUNCIL’S ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER MICHAEL GERARD SUGGESTED BRINGING IN JEFF ZUPAN AND EUGENIE BIRCH as consultants on the Cappelli Hotel Project to assist the Council in determining appropriate development design. Birch and Zupan delivered their report personally on December 19. (See last week’s story.)
ON THE FIRST OF MARCH, ANN REASONER, DEPUTY BUDGET DIRECTOR, was appointed to succeed Eileen Earl as Budget Director.
