Memories of Murph — Mr. Met Remembers

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By Greg Zaccaria (Mr. Met). August 9, 2004: As a 10 year old Young Man growing up in the 1960’s, I was invited by a good friend and his Father to my first baseball game in 1966.The game was at Shea Stadium, It was the Mets and the Chicago Cubs, Little did I know, But that day, began a life long love affair with the New York Mets. I was overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the Ballpark.



A Met Fan Remembers Bob Murphy: Murph, longtime radio voice of the New York Mets is shown in a 1969 Photograph with Lindsey Nelson, and Ralph Kiner, the Mets Broadcast Team. Photo, New York Mets Program, 1969 from the CitizeNetReporter Collection.


Shea was only in its third year, and even though the Mets where not very good, I remember the excitement in the Stadium that day. I was hooked! I began following the Mets from that day on. We didn’t have cable back than and not every game was on T.V. Bob Murphy was the voice I listened to.


So the way I followed the team was by listening to the games on the radio.


 


That is how I was introduced to Bob Murphy. Bob , along with Lindsay Nelson and Ralph Kiner made up the Mets broadcast team . Murph was there from Day one, He saw The Mets when they where the lovable losers of the 60’s, to when they became the World Champion Miracle Mets of 1969, thru all the good and the not so good.


 


 When you become a “Die Hard Fan” as I did, you spend many days and nights,watching and listening to your favorite announcer, Bob Murphy was mine. Murph was the nuts and bolts guy in the Mets radio booth, He would “paint the word pitcher” for the fans. He didn’t have all the funny stories. He didn’t waste your time,telling the fans about his day. He brought you a baseball game. He had the knack of making a Mets – Padres game in August with both teams below .500 seem important.


 


I would love it when Murph would warn the Mets fans to “fasten your safety belts” as we would go into the ninth inning of a close game, or how he would describe the weather.


 


You could have some “puffy cumulous clouds”, or it could be “so hot that the pitcher could warm up by combing his hair”.And when the opposing team would fill the base’s with no outs we where “looking at 9 miles of bad road”. But  what Mets fans wanted to hear most from Murph,was  at the end of every game, “We’ll be right back with the Happy Recap” That marked a Mets victory.


 


Bob Murphy called Mets games from 1962 until his retirement after last season.He wasn’t as sharp in the later years as he was earlier in his career.But for us long time Met fans it was quite alright. He was our guy. No nonsense, no schtick.  Just the nuts and bolts.


 


Murph passed away this week,after a short fight with cancer. For us Die Hards


It was like losing a member of the Familiy.For this Met fan the sounds of Summer will never be the same.


 

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Plemenos Living the Dream: Owner, Manager of Juggernaut in Big Series

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By Fastpitch Johnny. August 8, 2004: The first place Texas Thunder visits the New York New Jersey Juggernaut tonight in Montclair, New Jersey, leading the Juggernaut by 3-1/2 games. With 10 games to play, the Nauts need to win all three games, tonight Monday and Tuesday at 7:35 P.M.. This is the final regular season homestand of the season for the Juggernaut. They finish the season with three in Sacremento and three in Arizona, and are hopeful that Akron and Texas will stumble if they take care of business against the Thunder. 



NY-NJ Juggernaut Owner, Paul Plemenos at Friday’s Akron-Juggernaut game. Whether the Juggernaut finish first or second in the NPF it’s been a interesting season for their owner, Paul Plemenos who now is living every man’s dream, owning and managing a big league ball club in a pennant race and pioneering professional softball. Photo by WPCNR Sports.


“Yeah, it is every man’s dream,” Plemenos told WPCNR after Friday afternoon’s win against Akron.  “Beyond that the team responds well and we’ve got a great understanding with one another. And when I step  on the field, I’m no longer the owner, I’m just the coach. And, when I step off the field, I go back to being the owner again. It’s really been great.”


Asked about tonight’s series with Texas, and if the Juggernaut was ready for their big three pitchers of Peaches James, Lindsay Chouinard and Chista Williams, Plemenos said, “I think that we are, especially in the last two games against Akron, we went 1-2 but we really dominated Akron the last nine innings of play, the last two innings of Thursday’s game and all seven innings Friday. It was total and utter domination. We just weren’t ready to play in the first game, and that showed a little bit and hey, everybody has those days.”



Juggernauts celebrate 3-0 Win over Akron Friday. Photo by WPCNR Sports.


“We are ready to face Texas.  They’re a big challenge for us, but we’re ready, we took  2 out of 3  from them last time they were and we play very strongly at home.We’re excited for it.”


Plemenos was enthusiastic about the support the Juggernaut have been receiving at the Little Ball Park on Campus, Montclair State University Softball Stadium: “The crowds have been decent and certainly very enthusiastic. We don’t get the biggest crowd in the afternoon, but our evening games are very packed. Our YES game (Sunday night’s game with Texas) we have great  advance sale for that and we always have very strong walkup sales. I am very pleased, the next three games should be very good gates.”

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Memorial’s African Fashion Gala Oct. 2 Will Benefit Liberian Children

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MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH – A Welcoming Community
250 Bryant Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
Phone: 914-949-2146
Website: www.memorialmethodist.org
Email: info@memorialmethodist.org

CALENDAR ITEM FOR OCTOBER

African Fashion Gala Oct. 2 Will Benefit Liberian Children

EVENT: African Fashion Gala to Benefit Liberia – A fashion show and dinner featuring genuine African drumming, food and handmade fashions. All proceeds will be used to provide children in Liberia with food, education and hope for the future. The event is co-sponsored by the Invisible Ark of the Resurrection Ministries, located at 140 West 120th Street in Harlem.

DATE: Saturday, Oct. 2, 2004

TIME: 6 – 10 p.m.
6-7 p.m. – cocktails & conversation
7 p.m. – Fashion Show begins
7:30 p.m. – Dinner
8 p.m. – Fashion show continues, followed by dancing.

COST: $25 donation. $40 patron (reserved seating). $200 sponsors a child for a year! Fashions will be available for purchase after the show.

LOCATION: Memorial United Methodist Church, 250 Bryant Avenue, White Plains, Asbury Hall, downstairs

CONTACT: Wokie Tubman, evangelist and fashion show organizer, Memorial United Methodist Church, 914-949-2146 (until 1 p.m. weekdays)

BACKGROUND: Memorial and the Invisible Ark have a special relationship with Liberia. Fashion show organizer (and seamstress) Wokie Tubman, Memorial’s evangelist and the Invisible Ark’s director, is the daughter of assassinated Liberian President William R. Tolbert, Jr. Many of her family members have been killed in the conflict or forced to flee their West African homeland. Tubman’s husband Shad is the son of former Liberian President William V.S. Tubman, Tolbert’s predecessor, who narrowly escaped assassination during his presidency and died in 1971. William Tubman was the grandson of two freed American slaves who helped found the Liberian colony in the 1830s. (Learn about Liberia at CNN online- http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/04/btsc.koinange/index.html.)

Memorial UMC, a welcoming community, is located on Bryant Avenue between North Street and Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains. Its congregation strives to welcome and respect persons of every race, ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental ability, gender, family status, sexual orientation, age, theology, and economic circumstance. The pastor is Rev. Joseph Agne.

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Larry Delgado Comes Back! The new Councilman’s Opening Remarks.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. From Councilman Larry Delgado. August 7, 2004: Last Monday evening, Councilman Larry Delgado made his first appearance at the monthly Common Council meeting since being sworn in to the Council two weeks ago, and Glen Hockley removed by enforcement of the Attorney General’s quo warranto action on his behalf. Mr. Delgado sponsored a buffet and celebration in the rotunda and spoke at length to the public from his Common Council seat. Here is the text of Mr. Delgado’s remarks upon his return to the Common Council:



White Plains Common Councilman Larry Delgado, shown during his Democratic Party imposed exile, 2003. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.


Thank you Mayor and Members of the Common Council.  Well, a little time has transpired since the council elections of 2001, but it’s great to be back on the Council and feel I honored and privileged to again be able to represent and serve the residents of White Plains.  We all know that in the 2001 elections a broken voting machine in the Westminster Ridge neighborhood put in doubt who was the 3rd place council race winner.


 


After 2 ½ years in the courts, the NY Supreme Court ordered my reinstatement as the winner of the election.  This situation will hopefully never happen again, but I am so pleased that the Mayor and the Council recently moved ahead in upgrading our ancient and obsolete voting machines.  Voting machines are meant to accurately count votes, not to determine the outcome of close elections.


 


I thank the voters of the City of White Plains.  To those who voted for me, you have my thanks and appreciation for your trust and support.  To those who didn’t vote for me, I hope I can earn your trust and support in the next year and a half.  To those who didn’t vote at all, well here you have ample evidence that every vote does truly count!


 


I also give thanks to our judicial system and all the judges at all levels who participated in this case.  We are so fortunate in this State to have fair and dedicated judges who wear their robes for the sole purpose of imparting justice.  The judicial system may be slow and ponderous, but it is fair and just.


 


Thanks also to NYS Attorney General Eliot Spitzer whose office investigated the 2001 election results, determined that I had won, and went to Court to restore me to office.  Mr. Spitzer demonstrated that as the people’s lawyer he will seek justice whether at the highest levels of Wall Street or in a local election in the small City of White Plains, and always in a professional and non-partisan manner.


 


Thanks to all the volunteers who worked on my campaign, my attorney Jeff Binder, and lastly, I thank my family for their support- my wife Anita, my son Jason, and my mother in law Rosa.


 


And now I am focused on the future, on the important work to be done in the next 1 ½ years such as:


 


        1. achieving responsible development that is responsive to the City’s needs


        2. ensuring sufficient parking that is also resident friendly.


        3. acquiring open space and preserve it for future generations.


        4. ensuring that every penny of sales tax revenue collected by the State on our behalf is accounted for and returned to us.


        5. promoting affordable housing so young families and seniors can remain here.


        6. relieving congestion on our streets by promoting mass transit options.


        7. promoting art in the downtown and other quality of life improvements.


        8. maintaining and improving our City’s infrastructure.


 


We can accomplish these and so many more things by working together, in a spirit of optimism, cooperation and bipartisanship.  We are a diverse City, but I will listen to all voices with the same enthusiasm.   After all, we are all neighbors who care for each other, and united by a great City.


 


Thank you and I look forward to serving all of you.


 


Larry Delgado


White Plains Common Councilman


Address to the People of White Plains


August 2, 2004


 

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Free Workshop on Health Care Proxies.

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Free Workshop on
Health Care Proxies, Advance Directives

A Workshop on Health-Care Proxies and Advance Directives will be held on Monday, September 27 at 7:30 PM at Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), 845 N. Broadway, White Plains.

Following a showing of a short film, there will be a discussion using the workbook “Fidelity, Wisdom and Love: Patients and Proxies in Partnership, An Interactive Workbook for End-of-Life Decision-Making.” Each workshop attendee will be given a copy of the workbook.

This FREE workshop is sponsored by the WJCS Jewish Healing Center. To register, contact Rabbi Pamela Wax, WJCS Spiritual Care Coordinator, at 914-949-7699 x-321 or pwax@wjcs.com.

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Nauts Shutdown Racers, 3-0. Amanda to the Rescue. 2 Out Lightning.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By Fastpitch Johnny. August 6, 2004: In a game they had to have to stay in the race for the NPF pennant, the New York New Jersey Juggernaut (31-18) shut out the Akron Racers 3-0 Friday afternoon to pick up a full game on the Racers, leaving them 1 game behind Akron and 3-1/2 behind Texas going into Sunday night’s showdown with the first place Texas Thunder. Amanda Scott pitched a 3-hit shutout for her 12th win against 6 losses and Carri “Lightning” Leto came through with two singles with 2 outs to drive in all the runs Amazing Amanda needed. 


Texas behind Christa Williams shut out Arizona Friday night in Houston, 1-0, setting up a must-sweep situation for the Juggernaut when the Thunder come into Montclair Sunday night.



TWO OUT LIGHTNING: Lightning Leto swats a single off  Kasey Whitehead over Racer Shortstop Kristin Johnson with 2 out on the second pitch to score Germaine Fairchild lighting off from third base to give Amanda Scott a 1-0 lead in the second frame. “G” Fairchild worked a 3-2 walk and was doubled to third by a rip down the left field alley by Courtney Scott (the Naut on second base just behind the pitcher.  Photo by WPCNR Sports.


Amanda Scott resumed her dominance over NPF teams with a solid outing, defusing the pesky hard-hitting Racers, retiring the first  nine batters she faced. Mixing pitches that crackled and just missed the corners with pitches that appeared to just miss, bringing groans, grimaces and looks of incredulity from the Nauts’ “4th Umpire,” Jaclyn Pasquerrella playing third base. (Pasquerella shouts a loud “Yeah” everytime Scott fires one that Jackie thinks is a strike, helping the plate umpire out.) 


 Scott masterfully put away the Racers until the fifth and sixth innings, when the Racers threatened to tie the game.


Rally on Two


In the second inning, the Juggernaut rallied on two, when Germaine Fairchild, the Nauts best clutch hitter, worked a 3-2 walk from Kacey Whitehead, the Racer knuckler and control specialist. Next up, Amanda’s batterymate and sister, Courtney Scott blasted a pitch on a line 25 feet inside the left field line that got down, screaming to the yellow Reno Appliance sign in straightway left for a double.


That set the stage for Carri Leto, Naut second sacker. Carri swung and missed the first pitch then caught the next pitch fat lining a pretty flare over the shortstop’s head perfectly placed to send in “G” (Fairchild) with the go-ahead run, Courtney (Scott) moving to third.


Leto told WPCNR after the game , “The first pitcher (Whitehead) was a junk ball pitcher, she was throwing a lot of offspeed, a knuckleball. She fooled me on the first pitch. So I was thinking on the second strike, hit opposite field, then I’ll actually be on time. That was going through my head.”


On the second big hit later in the game against McHugh, Leto said she was just trying to get on base. Leto who went 3 for 3, said of the season so far, “We’ve played all season just to get into the playoffs, so now that we’re here these are big games, they’re like playoff games before the playoffs.”


Leto said “It’s an intense season. A very rigorous season, you play every single day, but it’s fun. We have a good time playing together.”


Delayed Steal Jams Racers’ Gears.


With Leto on first and Courtney Scott on third and leadoffer Lauren Bauer up, the Nauts tried the delayed double steal. Racer Catcher Jenn Poore fired to second to get Leto but shortstop Kristin Johnson failed to cover and Poore’s throw sailed sublimely into centerfield, allowing Courtney Scott to score from third to make it 2-0.


That’s the way she stayed until the fourth inning. With Radara McHugh in the circle, having relieved Whitehead in the third, Johnson made an error on a grounder by Kellie Wilkerson. Venus Taylor popped up but that woman again, “G” Fairchild singled through the shortstop hole to put runners on first and second. McHugh fanned Courtney Scott and faced Carri Leto again with two out.



LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE WITH 2 AWAY: Carri Leto turns on and lashes a McHugh offering into the first and second base hole sending Kellie Wilkerson lighting out for third, and Germaine Fairchild to second. The yellow  ball is seen just to the right of Fairchild, scooting through just past  lunging firstsacker Nicole Trimboli while second baseman Brandi Stuart is about to knock it down.  Stuart fired across the diamond to Trimboli who attempting to get Fairchild at second  threw it away into left, allowing Wilkerson to score to make it 3-0. Heather Wright, retrieving the errant throw in left, threw out Fairchild at the plate on a rough tag by Jen Poore. Photo by WPCNR Sports


In the fifth inning, Nicole Trimboli broke up Amanda’s No-Hitter with a solid stroke up the middle. Nicki Myers then blasted a high towering drive to the scoreboard in deep left. Venus Taylor leaped but missed it the ball hitting high on the Majestic sign, just missing a two-run homer. Because Trimboli thought the ball was going to be caught, she was only at second, and Myers had to stay at first with a very authoritative single. Myers’ was the hardest hit ball of the day and the only Racer to pull Scott all afternoon. With one away, Scott carefully worked out of the jam, inducing a grounder to Leto from Trina Peal, and getting Becky McMurtry to line softly to Leto at second.



TOP GUN VS. TOP STICK:  The battery of Scott and Scott duel Iyhia McMichael. Here Scott  walks Iyhia McMichael in the sixth with two out and a Racer on first. Scott fanned Iyhia once, induced a grounder to first, and walked her here, narrowly missing a called third strike. Jaclyn Pasquerrella at third can’t believe it, holding out her hands in supplication.  Photo by WPCNR Sports.


In the sixth, Akron again threatened.


With two outs, Kristin Johnson singled, and the league’s leading hitter, Iyhia McMichael strode to the plate. Amanda worked her to 3-2, ending up walking her. Jen Poore, the next hitter hit a humpback liner right at Kellie Wilkerson in right, who coming on hard and fast, caught the shot at her knees ending the bid.


Scott finished strongly in the seventh nailing the shutout by  retiring Trimboli and the game ended on an inning ending short-first double play turned by Lyndsey Klein at short. Scott in going the distance, fanned  7, walked 2 and moves her record to 12-6.


Thunder in for Final Three Home Games of Year.


The Juggernaut await Friday night action when the first place Thunder play Arizona out in Tucson to see whether they will face the Thunder Sunday night 3-1/2 games out or 2-1/2 games out. They need to sweep the Thunder to have a chance to win the first NPF Pennant and get top seeding for the playoffs.



FASTPITCH IN THE AFTERNOON: The Nauts on their sunporch, work on their tans, watching the action. A rare day game on the NPF schedule drew 297 fans to the little park on campus. Photo by WPCNR Sports.


The YES Network will televise Sunday evening’s Texas Thunder-Naut game at 7:35 P.M. There are still seats available. The Thunder are in Montclair State University Softball Stadium Monday and Tuesday nights, the final chance to see the Nauts in regular season action this season.



PLAYER TO PLAYER:  A happy recap, as the Juggernauts sign autographs and greet their fans, answer questions, an NPF tradition. Photo by WPCNR Sports


THE NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH STANDINGS August 7, 2004


STANDINGS


























































W L PCT GB HOME AWAY
Texas Thunder 34 14 0.708 – 19-5 15-9
Akron Racers 32 17 0.667 3.0 18-8 14-9
NY/NJ Juggernaut 31 18 0.625 3.5 19-7 12-11
New England Riptide 20 30 0.408 15 11-12 9-17
Arizona Heat 16 33 0.327 18.5 9-15 7-18
California Sunbirds 14 35 0.271 21.0 8-15 5-20


Friday Results


NY-NJ Juggernaut 3, Akron 0


Texas 1, Arizona 0


California 2, New England 0 (Late Game)


 


 


 


 

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WPHS TAPS YONKERS IVAN TOPER TO BE ITS NEXT PRINCIPAL

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. August 6, 2004: Ivan Topper, the Principal credited with turning around Lincoln High School in Yonkers, has accepted the position of Principal of White Plains High School, according to the Superintendent of Schools in White Plains, Timothy Connors Wednesday. Connors advised the CitizeNetReporter of Mr. Topper’s selection Wednesday and told WPCNR the Board of Education would be asked to vote on Mr. Topper’s appointment at Monday evening’s Board of Education meeting.


Connors asked WPCNR to hold the story until Mr. Toper had resigned from his Yonkers position which he did Thursday. Toper is expected to be on board at WPHS the first of September. He replaces Christine Robbins who was terminated by the School District after two years of her three year contract.


Connors told WPCNR that he and members of the Board had visited Lincoln High School and had been very impressed with Mr. Toper. Connors had no other statement when he reported Mr. Toper’s selection to us Wednesday.

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Racers Nose Out Nauts Again, 2-1, Nauts Fall 3-1/2 Back.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from Kristen Zimmerman. August 5, 2004. (EDITED) UPDATED August 6,  1:15 P.M.:  The NY/NJ Juggernaut (30-18) lost their second game in a row at home to the second place Akron Racers (32-16), 2-1,  Thursday afternoon, putting them two full games behind the Racers in the standings, and 3-12 games behind the Texas Thunder with 12 games to play, and 4 in the loss column going into this afternoon’s action with Akron. Texas swept Arizona a doubleheader last night, 6-0 and 2-1 to take command going into the three game set with the Juggernaut in Montclair this Sunday. Meanwhile the Nauts have to beat Akron this afternoon.





Akron scored in the very first frame when an error by leftfielder Jen Smith with one out in the first inning allowed Racer second baseman Brandi Stuart, who led the inning off with a walk, to score.


Racer Hotrods Collide at Second.


Juggernaut starter and NPF Player of the Week Kaci Clark (8-5) escaped further trouble and ended the inning when both centerfielder Iyhia McMichael and shortstop Kristen Johnson were tagged out at second base on the same play due to a base-running error. McMichael and Johnson both had singles off of Clark in the first inning. McMichael was 2-for-3 with a run scored on the afternoon. Clark pitched seven full innings, giving up one earned run on eight hits, three walks, and three strikeouts.


Meanwhile Nothing for the Nauts Until the Final Frame.


 Catcher Dana Degen put the Racers up 2-0 in the sixth when she singled home McMichael with two outs. Degen was 2-for-3 with an RBI on the night.


The Juggernaut put together a rally against Akron starter Brandee McArthur (9-7) in the bottom of the seventh inning, but fell short and only scored one run to cut the lead to 2-1. Catcher Germaine Fairchild singled home designated player Kellie Wilkerson with two outs to cut the lead, but McArthur got second baseman Carri Leto to end the inning and the game with a line drive to second base.


Wilkerson was 1-for-3 with a run scored. McArthur pitched a complete game, giving up one earned run on five hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.


THE NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH STANDINGS  August 6, 2004







































Team W L %
Texas Thunder 33 14 .702
Akron Racers 32 16 .667
NY/NJ Juggernaut 30 18 .625
New England Riptide 20 29 .408
Arizona Heat 16 32 .333
California Sunbirds 13 35 .271


Thursday’s Results


Akron 2, NY-NY Juggernaut 1


Texas 6, Arizona 0 (1st)


Texas 2, Arizona 1 (2nd)


New England 10, California 0


 


 


 

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ROLLBACK! Council Votes 7-0 for Free Meter Parking Sundays, Enforced 9 to 9, M-S

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. August 5, 2004UPDATED 10:30 P.M. E.D.T. UPDATED With PIX 11:15 P.M. UPDATED August 9, 2004: The new Department of Parking hours and days enforcement standards lived just 36 days from when they first went into effect July 1, as the Common Council voted 7-0 to rollback hours of enforcement at on-street parking meters and parking lots from 9 A.M. to midnight back to 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. As part of the same ordinance, the Council voted to bring back free parking at on-street meters but not in parking lots on Sundays, something that was not explicitly pointed out by the Council and has just come to WPCNR’s attention.  The council will discuss at a future date the possibilities of bringing the parking enforcement hour back to 6 P.M. in certain residential neighborhoods. Garages will continue to require payment on Sundays as they presently do.



GREAT MOMENTS IN COMMON COUNCIL HISTORY: AUGUST 5, 2004: Deputy City Clerk, Ann McPherson records the “YES” Votes of the Common Council Thursday at the moment of their passing the Traffic Ordinance rescinding hours parking will be enforced in the city, to 9 A.M to 9 P.M., Monday through Saturday, with Sundays free parking at all meters on the street , (a key distinction, meters in parking lots will still be enforced 9 AM to 9 PM on Sunday, according to the Department of Parking Monday),  as Mayor Joseph Delfino (right), observes. Facing are Arnold Bernstein, Rita Malmud, Larry Delgado. At left, Robert Greer, Benjamin Boykin, Tom Roach. Photo by WPCNR News.


The decision to rollback the hours and reinstate free parking on Sundays at meters will cost the city $579,000 in anticipated revenue.



JUST A GAZILLION OVERLAYS: John Larson, Deputy Director of Parking, pinchhitting for Al Moroni, Director of Parking, who picked a good week to be on vacation, demonstrated the overlays to be applied to signs and stickers on present meters, which he said would take 15 days. Councilperson Rita Malmud opined that the stickers applied to meters announcing the hour limits in July caused confusion in that the copy that said parkers could park beyond the time limit after 6 P.M. was not big enough and were a mistake on the Department of Parking in the design of the sticker. The council did not voice any such complaints when the stickers were demonstrated to them this spring. Photo by WPCNR News.


John Larson, Deputy Director of Parking, said new stickers would be placed on city meters reflecting the new hours of enforcement within two weeks, and that new signs reflecting the enforcement hours could be in place in 45 days. Larson said the new signage and stickerage would cost $15,000.


Mayor Grumbles About Press Coverage


The Mayor said that the cash key was a means citizens could purchase to avoid quarter shortage. (You need quarters to feed the meters.) The Mayor went out of his way to criticise the press for not publishing the fact that parkers would not have “to leave their meal” to go out and feed the meter, because you could park beyond the posted meter limit after 6 P.M.


This is not true. WPCNR published photographs of the new stickers on this website, and wrote extensively on the ins and outs of the new parking rules on June 30, 2004. In addition, the city did not orchestrate the ushering in of the new rates and hours with any media blitz of their own. The city did not update its own website as late as July 19 with the new rates and rules, or even bulletins or alerts.



METERS ENFORCED 9 TO 9, SIX DAYS A WEEK EVERY STREET WITH METERS: Deputy Director of Parking Larson demonstrated a map showing the streets where all parking meters are located within the city. At issue is whether to cut the hours back from 9 P.M. to 6 P.M. in outlying neighborhoods. What was not made clear was that meters in parking lots will still require payment 9 to 9 on Sundays, which WPCNR learned Monday, August 9.  Photo by WPCNR News


Mayor Joseph Delfino went along with the ordinance even though the city requested the new rates and hours from the defunct Parking Authority last spring, saying that the city needed increased revenue from meters and parking fees to meet an anticipated budget gap. Delfino said the rates were the Parking Authority proposal, and that he had hoped the city could give them a try, but he was willing to go along with the Council on rescinding the rates, not mentioning that the administration had requested the rate and hours increases originally.


Actually the Parking Authority came up with the increased hours and rates on request from the city.


Ironically, the Parking Authority originally proposed the hours be increased only from 9 AM to 9 P.M., and not midnight. The city pressed for extending the hours to midnight because they felt they needed it, and the Parking Authority went along with the city lead. The Parking Authority rates, hours and fee plans were developed by Executive Director of the Parking Authority Al Moroni and Mr. Larson.


 Undocumented Calls Fold Council Like Cheap Suit.


Councilpersons said they had received many calls and complaints from residents and e-mails about the parking to midnight hours as well as Sundays, however no Councilperson said exactly how many complaints they actually received.


Council President Tom Roach told WPCNR privately upon being pressed that he had received 20 to 25 calls. Roach said that ministers of the city’s congregations had approached the Council as far back as June complaining about the decision to collect parking meter fees on Sundays, saying it would hurt their churchgoers.


WPCNR asked Mr. Roach when exactly the movement to roll hours back began. Roach said he did not remember “that it was before Larry (Delgado) came on the Council.” Asked if it was about 2-1/2 weeks ago, (July 19) Roach said yes, that was about the time. Roach said the calls he received were the most he received on any issue other than New York Presbyterian Hospital.


Ordinance Crafted Thursday Morning.


Apparently, since city hall claimed no knowledge of Thursday afternoon’s meeting as of 9:15 Thursday morning, the ordinance was written by the legal department Thursday morning and was whisked out by fax by 11 A.M. The legal department said the ordinance was written Thursday morning.


Taxes the Answer?


Upon leaving the meeting after the vote was taken, WPCNR asked Councilman Robert Greer how the city was going to make up the $579,000 shortfall. Greer said “I don’t know, we can always raise taxes.”


To make up $579,000 of revenue, the city would have to raise taxes 2%.


Greer also raised the possibility of the Department of Parking studying the possibility of lowering the hours to 8 P.M. in some areas of the city and back to 6 P.M. in outlying districts. Larson said it was difficult because the city does not have a lot of data so far. “We have some data based on our new collections, but not a lot,” Larson explained.


Department of Parking Fails Political Test.


WPCNR recalls that arguments by citizens raised against dissolving the Parking Authority publicly and on this website pointed out that by having the Parking Authority make parking decisions prevented parking fees and hours becoming politicized.


Within five weeks, the Common Council has shown that when it is responsible for setting fees and hours, “the court of last resort,” it can be swayed by phone calls and letters from perhaps as few as 25 people per councilperson to rescind proposals they reviewed for  about four months, from April through June, especially when they are up for election in 14 months. (Mr. Roach, Mr. Delgado, Ms. Malmud, and Mayor Delfino will be up for election in November, 2005.)



CLOSEUP OF METERED STREETS IN WHITE PLAINS NOW ENFORCEABLE 9 A.M. TO 9 P.M. Monday through Saturday. Photo by WPCNR News


 

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Mayor’s Office Roasts Roach for Announcing Parking Meeting, Claiming Politics

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. August 5, 2004, UPDATED 2:30 P.M. E.D.T.: The Mayor’s Office has strongly objected to Common Council President Tom Roach for announcing to one news medium this afternoon’s 5 P.M. Common Council work session on parking before the meeting was confirmed or even announced by City Hall. Paul Wood, Acting Executive Officer and spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office, said the Mayor has spoken to Mr. Roach and asked him to refrain from making such advance leaks exclusively to one medium in the future.


WPCNR has also been informed by Mr. Wood that the boundaries of where in the city the hours would be rolled back and the Sunday parking fees eliminated were to be determined this afternoon, but could not be included in the legislation. “That’s a big issue that has to be determined,” Wood said.



WOOD REBUKES ROACH ON PREMATURE LEAK TO MEDIA: Paul Wood, Spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office accused the Common Council of politicking on parking today by feeding advance notice of this afternoon’s parking meeting exclusively to a media outlet. “The Mayor’s office was in the process of polling Councilpersons to see if they were available to discuss the issue. We had not even announced the meeting yet. Mr. Roach has been talked to about this.” Photo WPCNR News Archive.


Wood said the story was not confirmed by the Mayor’s office before it appeared. He said the Mayor’s Office was not contacted by The Journal News for comment. Insiders say the story appeared to be a Common Council effort trying to take full public credit for rolling back the parking hours of enforcement to 9 P.M..


Wood said it was the Mayor’s initiative to call the meeting and explore the idea about rolling back the hours.  


No Groundswell of Public Outcry


Wood said the Mayor’s Office has received less than twenty telephone calls about the new parking rates and hours since they went into effect. Wood characterized the Common Council as overreacting to just a few individuals in their rush to roll back the parking hours which they are expected to do this afternoon. Wood said  “As the Mayor says, there is no limit to the things we can accomplish if we all work together. The Mayor was thinking we could try the new rate structure for a few months and see how it worked. We think they are overreacting.”


Asked if the Mayor had a statement saying where the new revenue the parking hours about to be lost would have generated, Wood said he did not.

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