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 CITY HALL SPIN. July 1, 2004: George Gretsas, Executive Officer for Mayor Delfino, told WPCNR Wednesday that his last day with the city has not been decided yet, laying to rest a rumor that July 13 would be his last day.

WOOD’S THE WORD: Paul Wood, standing, behind Mayor Joseph Delfino in October, 2003., is the rumored successor to George Gretsas. Photo From WPCNR News Archive.

Speculation on the new City Manager of Fort Lauderdale’s departure from the White Plains city limits has been the talk of city hall. Paul Wood, the City’s Economic Development Director and sometime press spokesperson, according to “City Hall speculators” and county sources will be appointed by Mayor Joseph Delfino to the position of Executive Officer after Mr. Gretsas leaves. Wood has told WPCNR he would like the job.

Wood is a former reporter for a New Jersey newspaper whom Mr. Gretsas met while Mr. Gretsas was serving on the Board of Education in Park Ridge, New Jersey. Mr. Wood has filled many roles behind the scenes in the Delfino Administration.

He has been the city political and economic intelligence specialist researching relationships, and players in city intrigues. He has found companies to bring to White Plains, by attending economic development conventions, and has toured cities for development ideas. He has written redevelopment plans, campaign literature, news releases.

A Gretsas Guy

Ostensibly a media spokesperson, he has done less and less media contact over the last 15 months, supervising other members of the Mayor’s Office staff, and being a confidente of Mr. Gretsas, working ever more closely with the increasingly isolated Executive Officer over the last two years. Wood is familiar with Gretsas’ thinking, and of course, would have ready access to the Gretsas thinking, after Mr. Gretsas leaves the city. (Though Mr. Gretsas has said he would not consult with the City of White Plains after he leaves.)  Wood has a personable manner in dealing with city hall employees and media personnel (most times). Wood may have to rely heavily on the City Legal Department or other knowledgeable sources in the areas of common council procedure in implementing Mayoral policy, and City Charter matters.

Dunphy A Long Shot

The other apparent candidate is Edward Dunphy, the City Corporation Counsel, but this appears unlikely at this time,  unless Mayor Delfino has a change of heart.

Awaiting the Plume of Smoke

Since Mr. Gretsas let it be known he had accepted the Fort Lauderdale position, there has been no announcement, statement or procedure announced by The Mayor’s Office as to whether a national search for an Executive Officer would or would not be conducted, if the position would be filled from within, or if the Mayor would leave it unfilled, or even when Mr. Gretsas would officially depart the city. The Mayor’s Office has had shades drawn tight most of the day and night despite beautiful summer weather. Phone calls have not been returned on the Gretsas replacement issue.

Mr. Gretsas will begin his Fort Lauderdale adventure August 2.

Hits: 0

WPNCR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. July 1, 2004, Updated 4:45 P.M. E.D.T.: The days of 50 cents an hour parking ended midnight, today, when the White Plains DOP (Department of Parking) was born, and the White Plains Parking Authority ceased to exist after 57 years. The DOP has advised the White Plains CitizeNetReporter that all streets in the city with parking meters will be converted to the new rate structure by the first of September, not two weeks as previously reported by the DOP.

The first three blocks of the downtown on-street meters and garages will be converted by Tuesday of next week, according to Al Moroni, Director of Parking, at which time the new rates will be enforced. Moroni noted that downtown on-street meters currently do charge 75 cents an hour but only until 6 P.M.. He said that by Tuesday these will be converted to accept 6 hours worth of quarters after 6 P.M, complete with “new signage,” at which time these meters will be enforced 6 to midnight.  The sequence in which the rest of the city’s streets ( where 25 cent an hour meters will be converted to 75 cents an hour meters)  will be converted appears at the end of this report. “You have to get a Cash Key,” Moroni said, “Because that is a lot of quarters.”

GOT CHANGE? The White Plains Department of Parking on-street meters will demand 3 quarters to park an hour instead of the usual two beginning today. Garage and Lot meters will be raised to 50 Cents an Hour. The rates and hours will be in effect 7 days a week, as well as the time you can spend at one meter, according to the DOP today. “We’ve already received calls about the time limitations on Sundays,” a DOP spokesperson said. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

Today,  the City of White Plains on-street parking meter rates go to 75 cents an hour throughout the city, and lots and off-street meter rates go up to 50 cents an hour.

 

18 Quarters Required to Park six hours After 6 P.M.

 

Parkers throughout the city should note meters will be enforced from 9 A.M.  until 12:00 midnight, whereas previously in White Plains, meters were only enforced from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. Three new Public Safety Aids are being hired to enforce the new hours. The DOP also informs WPCNR that after 6 P.M. citizens will be able to buy 6 hours of parking at a time in the new meters to avoid having to “feed the meter.” However, to park for six hours will require 18 quarters.

 

 

Citizens in the downtown at restaurants, bistros, stores in the evenings will have to feed the meters and keep leaving their dinners to do so to an enjoy an evening out or face a $15 dollar summons when their meter runs out.

Parking Finance Planning Urged.

Shoppers and diners between 9 A.M. and 6 are urged by WPCNR  to calculate walking time and have quarters, dimes, nickels or Cash Key  with them to feed in the extra quarters and consider carefully how long it will take to walk to their retail destination pick up their item and return. Cash keys may be purchased for any amount at White Plains Department of Parking offices (located at 7-11 South Broadway and at WPDOT garages (The Galleria, City Hall).

 

The city will be phasing in the meters gradually street-by-street. Today July 1, the meters on Main Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Broadway and EJ Conroy Drive to South Broadway will have the new rates (75 cents an hour) in effect. Meters within city lots and garages move to 50 cents an hour (the present rate at the City Center Garage). 

 

A few days of warnings…and then the $15 summons.

 

The city will issue  “OOPS” warnings after 6 P.M. in the first few days of the new rates and will switch to real summonses (costing you $15, up from $10) at an undisclosed date in the very near future.

 

Overtime notices in city garages like The Galleria and the City Hall Garage,  go up to $2 for the first overtime hour (or part) (up from $1).

 

The city will be phasing-in the new rate increase and extended hours electronically on the city’s on-street meters in the following order:  Main Street West to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and East to Broadway, and EJ. Conroy Drive to South Broadway has been completed. Meters will then be converted to the 75 cent rate in the following order:

 

1. Mamaroneck Avenue North and South to Maple Avenue both sides.

2. Martine Avenue

3. Mitchell Place.

4. Quarropas.

5. Court Street.

6. Grand Street

7. Post Road (South Broadway to MLK)

8. Church Street.

9. Barker Avenue.

10.Cottage Place

11. Water Street

12. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Main to Water Street)

13. Hamilton Avenue

14. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Martine to Post) Fischer Court

15. Longview

16. S. Lexington Avenue

17. Cromwell

18 Chester Place

22. Waller Avenue (Post to Carhart).

 

The Outer Town Street meters and lots will be converted next in this order:

 

1. Mamaroneck Avenue (Maple to Bryant)

2. Carhart

3. Rutherford

4. Greenridge

5. Livingston

6. Edgewood

7.Bloomingdale

8. Doyer

9. Shapham Place

10. Hall Avenue

11. Bond Avenue

 

 

Hits: 0

WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from Leigh Greenfelder, Akron Racers, (EDITED). June 30, 2004: The New York/New Jersey Juggernaut won the the opener of Tuesday’s Twilight-Night Doubleheader in Akron, beating the Racers, 3-2 in the opener behind Kaci Clark who picked up her third win of the season, with Amanda Scott picking up the save.

The Nauts lost the nightcap when pitcher Gina Oaks misplayed a sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning that allowed Trena Peel to score the winning run from second, pinch-running for Dana Derek who had doubled to lead off the ninth. The Nauts take their 15-9 record to Sacremento to play the California Sunbirds Thursday night in the opener of a three-game set.

In the opener, The Nauts got things started in the opening frame when “Lightning Leto,” (Carri) walked, moved to second on Gina Oaks’ bunt and scored on Kellie Wilkerson’s single off Brandee McArthur. The Nauts notched two unearned tallies in the third when Jacki Pasquerella was safe on McArthur’s error. After Carri Leto popped up and Gina Oaks flied to right, Pasquerella stole second and McArthur lost her control walking Lauren Bauer and Kellie Wilkerson to fill the bases. Then Ms. Clutch, Lisa Iancin singled to left for 2 runs, 3-0, Nauts.

 The Racers applied some gas in the third getting 2 back, as Kaci Clark succombed to control difficulties, too. Heather Wright singled and Kaci walked Brandi Stuart and Anoinette Armstrong to load ’em up. Iyhia McMichael, who beat the Nauts Sunday afternoon, delivered a hard single to left field, plating Wright and Stuart, 3-2, Nauts after three. And that was the way she stayed as Clark pitched through the fifth, and Amanda Scott finished the Racers off with two innings of uneventful relief.

The nightcap was another classic Naut extra inning battle featuring former Stratford Brakette standout, Nikki Meyers in the circle who handcuffed the Nauts going all the way for a 2 to 1 win, outduelling Gina Oaks. Gina and Nikki matched each other for four innings before both teams scored in the 5th.

Lindsey Collins-Miller, Naut backstop, doubled home Lisa Iancin who had walked for a short-lived 1-0 Naut lead, and Lindsey was stranded. In the last of the fifth, the Racers’ Kristin Johnson tripled and scored on an errant relay to the plate. Johnson was awarded home anyway when third bassette, Jackie Pasquerella was called for interfering with Johnson. And that’s the way she stayed until Oaks’ fateful error in the ninth.

Grass Roots Support in Akron.

WPCNR checked with Paul Panegas, Sports Editor of the Akron Beacon-Journal told WPNCR by telephone, on how the Akron club has been drawing. Panegas said the Racers have been attracting a hard core of fans, averaging about 250 fans a game at Firestone Stadium, despite being plagued by bad weather. He said the team has drawn a couple of crowds in access of 1,000 fans. He said his paper has featured the minority members of the team, and done a number of stories on the team. Panegas said he relies on reports from the team for road results because the Associated Press wire does not carry the scores of the National Pro Fastpitch league.

Leigh Greenfelder, Akron Racers spokesperson, told WPCNR the Akron television station covered the doubleheader last night and did several interviews with the players. She said the local television station has done features on the players and gives the scores of Racer games. She added that the Cleveland stations have not caught on to the Racers yet, “but we’re working on them.”

Last night’s crowd in Akron was 315 fans and Greenfelder said she hoped to get the attendance up to 800 fans a game.

National Pro Fastpitch Standings  June 30, 2004

                                      W      L      PCT.    GB

Texas Thunder             14     7     .667       ____

Akron Racers               12    7    ,632           1

Juggernaut                    15    9    ,625          1

Arizona Heat                   9   14    .391          6

New England Riptide     9    15    .375         6-1/2

California Sunbirds        8     15    .348         7

Tuesday’s Results

New England 1, California 0, 15 innings.

Texas 5, Arizona 0.

New York-New Jersey 3, Akron 2, (1st)

Akron 2, New York-NJ 1, (2nd), 9 Innings.

 

 

Hits: 0

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. June 29, 2004: The Attorney General’s office has filed a motion with the Appellate Court, Second Department in Brooklyn, asking the Appellate Court to deny a stay (which would keep Glen Hockley in his Council seat) while Mr. Hockley appeals the quo warranto decision rendered by Judge Francis Nicolai earlier this month, requiring Mr. Hockley to step down from the Common Council.

The papers argue that Mr. Hockley is not entitled to the stay because he is a private citizen, and not a duly elected member of the Common Council, and also note that Mr. Hockley’s cases cited for the stay involve corporate offices, and not elected offices. The papers ask the Appellate Court to not grant a stay, and consider the case as an election case, setting early arguments for the appeal.

Hits: 0

WPCNR SOUTHENDER. By John F. Bailey. June 28, 2004: During Mayor Joseph Delfino’s unofficial kickoff of his 2005 Reelection Campaign at a joint meeting of the Highlands and Soundview Avenue neighborhood associations, County Legislator William Ryan was to be observed listening carefully to Mayor Delfino’s 45-minute monologue on the state of the city.

COUNTY LEGISLATOR BILL RYAN, works crowd at Mike Graessle’s Public Appearance, May 27. The Legislator has been sampling public concerns about White Plains. Mr. Ryan attended the Evening with The Mayor at Highlands Middle School two weeks ago and afterwards WPCNR asked his impressions. Photo by WPCNR News

 WPCNR asked Ryan what he thought of the Mayor’s spirited defense of the city’s downtown redevelopment.

Ryan said, “The County Government was a valuable part of it (the White Plains Renaissance), the Industrial Development Agency and the efforts of Economic Development Office aided all the major deals, (City Center, Fortunoff, Bank Street Commons), in making sure the bottom line was there for the developers by providing millions in tax savings.”

Asked about his position on future city development, Ryan said he thought there should be “more citywide involvement” in charting the course of continued city expansion as to what the city was going to be like and how it would grow.

RYAN with Barbara Benjamin, May 27. Photo by WPCNR News.

“We would do a tremendous service to White Plains by making sure what happens is our vision that prevails and not the vision of the developers, and the residents’ view to what they want the community to be. We don’t need developers to come in and tell us what they’re going to do,” Ryan said.

Ryan traced the beginning of growth in the city to the activity of the County Office of Economic Development in 2000. “In 1999, there was nothing going on. Then the Office of Economic Development was formed for the purpose of promoting economic growth among the county towns, (the town to benefit) the most is White Plains.”

Ryan explained that the office brought together people with expertise and created “initiatives” to clinch the major deals financially.

WPCNR asked him if he was definitely running for Mayor of White Plains in 2005, and Ryan answered, “Oh, sure I’d enjoy serving as Mayor of my city. We’re probably the most successful city in New York State with the least problems.”

But, Ryan said there was a long way to go yet before he secured the Mayoral nomination. There certainly is.

Benjamen Boykin, Adam Bradley, Robert Greer, Glen Hockley, Rita Malmud, and Tom Roach all are possible candidates for the Democratic Mayoral nod to go against Mayor Joseph Delfino, who based on his impassioned rhetoric last week at Highlands Middle School meeting seemed to be definitely already running on his record. Roach though, is considered by party insiders a natural to run for County Legislator, should Mr. Ryan secore the Mayoral nomination.

Republicans: Delfino or Bust.

Should Delfino withdraw, there will be a major fight for the Democrat nomination, because the Republicans have no one else to run with the name recognition if Mayor Delfino withdraws.

There are only four politically visible Republican possibilities, on the very edge of the radar: Jeffrey Binder, Frank Cantatore, Larry Delgado, and Tim Sheehan, the Republican Party being bereft of strong active personalities other than their flagship, Mayor Delfino.

Barring those obvious political personalities, the Republicans could turn to the city administration, perhaps tapping Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel, whose expertise and tireless commitment to the city would be a strong vote-getting trump card.

You could conceivably tap Edward Dunphy, Delfino’s old Campaign Manager, the City Corporation Counsel as a candidate for Mayor if you were looking for expertise and familiarity with city government. Whether, he would run or not, would remain to be seen, and whether he could campaign effectively would be a different matter, but his affability and legal track record are unassailable.

You could conceivably run Ms. Habel on a campaign “Architect of the Renaissance” or run Mr. Dunphy on a campaign with the slogan “Staying the Course” or “Devotion. Diligence. Dunphy.”  Habel or Dunphy with their reasoned presence and aura of credibility and knowledge of the city would be formidable adversaries for the Democrats who do not put forth solid programs and initiatives but sloganize instead.

Mr. Delgado would be a natural Delfino heir, but he is not because of his lack of political activity the last two years.

He should have been more active and outspoken on city issues during his quo warranto action to regain the council seat denied him by Glen Hockley’s use of the courts to postpone a special election, and string out his bogus term for 27 months,  could have all the appeal of “a wronged candidate” going for him.

Unfortunately, Mr. Delgado’s dilettante  attitude towards city issues, his avoidance of Common Council meetings of any kind, and his failure to appear and speak out at public hearings on big time projects, refusal to speak out on important development issues, let alone the obvious use of the courts to deny him a seat,  have hurt Delgado’s credibility as a serious candidate.

The voter has to wonder whether Delgado really is interested in politics and the future of the city, because he has refused to use the pulpit of the disenfranchised to be vocal on what he would have done had he been on the Common Council. He had a free pass to comment for the last 27 months and did not.  Whereas Mr. Hockley speaks out on subjects about every five minutes. Hockley is easily the most visible and best known political figure in White Plains next to the Mayor because of his enthusiasm to jump into any issue, instantly, in sharp contrast to Delgado.

So the Republican Party in White Plains, (which must number about six people by now) is in a dilemma if Mr. Delfino suddenly decides to retire to Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach.