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. | WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.

White Plains is Legal April 14. Oyster Bar Style Arrives with Legal Seafoods

Posted on April 4, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR Main Street Journal. By John F. Bailey. April 4, 2004: Circle the date, matey, Legal Seafoods will have its charter voyage April 14, sailing from Mamaroneck Avenue at the City Center. The warm cherrywood interiors of the new Legal Seafoods vessel being outfitted at City Center, beckoned in passersby on Mamaroneck Avenue Saturday afternoon. One couple came in pleading for chowder, as training of staff was underway inside for the swank, macho-furnished, new shrine to seafood in White Plains – which when it opens will be the only seafood restaurant in the city.

DOCKING APRIL 14: The awnings and chrome and the leaping Cod on Mamaroneck Avenue, already adding life to the City Center. Photo by WPCNR News.

When Legal Seafoods opens for dinner 5 P.M. on April 14, at City Center it will become at once the best seafood restaurant in the County, with more selection, more atmosphere and better prices without the sauce-mad superficiality and limp-finned sea dishes so typical of seafood in the county.

A hostess and a corporate executive conducting training exercises yesterday told WPCNR that the shrine to seafood will open April 14 for dinner at 5 P.M, with 7-days a week, full service beginning April 15 for lunch. They will be open Monday through Thursday 11 A.M. to 10 P.M., Fridays and Saturdays, 11 to 11, and Sundays, 12 to 9.

IN THE WHEELHOUSE: White Plains Legal Seafoods will serve 230 persons at one time. It has a great cherrywood interior complete with a long bar on the left, a circular glass-enclosed “Wheelhouse,” pictured above sitting area just inside the entrance where “Captains of Development” will hold court, and is lined with steely chrome furnishes, blue and white plates on the walls, and cozy booths. Though it was quiet when WPCNR visited yesterday, you could almost hear the clash of blue plates that will be a trade mark of this place when it opens, and the aroma of butter, steamed clams, and searing choice filets. Photo by WPCNR News

I remember seafood was once a lusty, slambang experience down at Louie’s across from the Fulton Fish Market, on City Island, harborside in The Lobster House in Norwalk, or down on Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, or at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Terminal.

Over the last fifty years, the fruits of the sea have been corrupted by gourmet sauces, small portions, decorative “presentation,” served on huge plates, with all sorts of wimpy dressings, capers, almonds, greens, products of the elitist nouvelle cuisine – anything but what belongs on a side of fish — anything but the taste of seafood. These enhancements simply distract the seafood enthusiast from the natural manly flavor of bluefish, striped bass, cod, lobster, scrod, swordfish and tuna.

This insidious emasculation of seafood movement began when some chef seared tuna for the first time, and tuna cooked rare, and has gradually declined to the point where the taste of real seafood has been corrupted into a shadow of its former flavor.

On April 14, fruits of the sea fans, this changes when Legal Seafoods opens up in the White Plains downtown.

Having patronized the Legal Seafoods in Boston, I can tell you that fish is on its way back. The portions in Legal Seafoods are huge slashes of filets, the atmosphere slam-dash, the décor salty, and even though you may be miles inland, you can smell the salt air and almost swear the sway of the trawler tied up at the dock just outside the restaurant. When this opens, it will be the only restaurant other than City Limits with genuine atmosphere in White Plains.

The hostess we met gave WPCNR a take-out menu which will feature take out to die for: Cioppino, Steamers, Steamed Mussels, Calamari, it has to be seen to be believed.

So watch for it, and bon voyage.

White Plains Photograph of the Day

Posted on April 4, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. April 4, 2004: Today’s photograph brings back an American icon: the Brooklyn Milk Shake. It comes to you through a time warp on Court Street in White Plains, Brooklyn’s Famous Subs & Pizza. The moment you walk through its portals you are in a different place a time, a state of mind and place, that lives once more. It’s 1955, where the Dodgers still play on Bedford Avenue and Sullivan Place, hamburgers sizzle on an open grill night and day, 45s spin on the jukebox, and the ice cream is so good, even the owner helps herself once in awhile.

“Shake It Up!” By the White Plains Roving Photographer

White Plains Law Firm Hailed as Pro Bono Champ.

Posted on April 4, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. March 30, 2004: The Pro Bono Partnership has named Susan Corcoran of the law firm Jackson Lewis LLP the 2003 Volunteer of the Year. A partner in the firm’s White Plains office, Susan has been honored for her outstanding commitment to providing free employment law related services to several of the Partnership’s clients – community based non-profit organizations in Westchester and Fairfield Counties, many of whom serve the needs of children. Susan also serves as a resource to the Partnership’s legal staff on a broad range of employment-related issues.

Says Mo Segall, the Partnership’s Deputy Director for New York and Connecticut, “Susan is terrific. We wish we had more volunteers just like her.” Pat Vaccaro, Managing Partner of the White Plains office of Jackson Lewis, commented, “At Jackson Lewis we believe in giving back to the communities in which we live and do business and we take very seriously our relationship with the Pro Bono Partnership. We applaud the Partnership’s choice of Susan as its Volunteer of the Year. She is an outstanding attorney and person with a keen sense of civic and community responsibility.”

Established in 1958, Jackson Lewis is one of the largest firms in the country dedicated to representing management exclusively in employment law and related litigation. With 360 attorneys in 20 offices nationwide, the firm is knowledgeable about national issues and sensitive to the nuances of regional business environments.

The firm’s White Plains, New York office, with 45 professionals, is reputed to be the largest labor and employment law firm between New York City and the Canadian border. The firm devotes a significant portion of its practice to management education and preventive programs. This approach helps limit exposure to lawsuits, administrative charges, grievances and related costs.

For more information about our firm, visit www.jacksonlewis.com.

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY

Posted on April 3, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. April 3, 2004: Today’s photo is of the transformed Eastview School fields, under going Mother Nature’s grooming, awaiting their new grass seed to flourish. The fields were created by the Department of Public Works and will be home to the White Plains High School Middle School softball and baseball teams.

RENAISSANCE OF A DIAMOND. By the White Plains Roving Photographer.

Bar Building Designated Historical Site by N.Y.; Cappelli to Demolish Nook

Posted on April 3, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. April 3, 2004: In a news release issued Friday, the New York State Office of Parks and Historical Preservation officially designated the Bar Building an historic site, which requires the owner of the Bar Building to “keep up the building,” as part of the responsibility of the designation. It could not be determined at press time whether the owner of the Bar Building was required to make improvements in the building. The owner of the building, Anthony Longhitano, according to the White Plains Historical Society, has applied within the last week and a half to have it nationally designated as an historical site as well.

WINNER! The Bar Building built in 1926 as it appears today. The Renaissance Plaza fountain was taking Spring Training. Photo by WPCNR News.

LOSER! The Corner Nook block will be demolished in May according to Louis Cappelli, to provide plaza space for the One City Place apartments. It has been known for three years the block was going to be demolished, the only question was when and by whom. Now we know. Photo by WPCNR News

In another development, Louis Cappelli, the Super Developer, in a newsfeed to The Journal News said he would demolish the Corner Nook-bookstore-deli block next to City Place in May, giving The Corner Nook cafe the rest of April to vacate the premises. He also announced that he would help The Corner Nook with money to locate another location in the city.

Check, Please: County Tax Bills Fan Out Over White Plains

Posted on April 3, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR FINANCIAL TIMES. By John F. Bailey. April 3, 2004: Residents of the city are opening up letters from The City of White Plains containing their Statement of County Taxes for 2004, and the true dollars-and-cents impact of the Westchester County property tax increase on White Plains is hitting home.

If you own a home in White Plains, your County Property Tax is going up 22.3 %. The County Tax bills are due at the end of the month.

The impact varies, of course, according to your assessment. But here is the impact on two homes.

One, situated in the quiet, in-demand Lower East Side of the Southend, assessed at $18,475 Taxable Valuable (a market value of about $600,000) is being billed $1,849.49 in County taxes, an increase of $404.41 over the 2003 county tax tab of $1,494.08.

Another home in the posh country-cozy Southend of town, assessed at $23,900 Taxable value, with a market value of approximately $700,000, is kicking in $2,455.97 in total county taxes, up a painful $523.18 from the $1,932.79 they paid in 2003.

School Tax Next in Line

Add to this, the proposed City School Tax Increase of 7.53%, translating into approximately $500, for homes of these values will add another financial layer of pain. Still to come is the tax increase the City of White Plains is expected to impose in its 2004-05 budget, that will be unveiled Wednesday to the Common Council. Of course, there is always the possibility the City of White Plains will attempt to meet the budget gap in another way besides tax increases.

The city budget gap is estimated by its Budget Director, Ann Reasoner to be $10 Million minimum, due to state mandates alone. That is before salary increases, city-responsible operations of the city theatre, and increased budget demands of all city departments are figured in.

Sales Tax Increase Saves Republican Orange County.

There is the possibility the city may take a leaf from the Westchester County playbook and attempt to recoup part of its total mystery deficit (they have never put a total figure out as to how much total extra revenue they need to meet their expense baloon), by requesting another sales tax increase, as Orange County did last week and had the sales tax hike approved benevolently by the State Legislature on Wednesday.

According to the MidHudson News website, Orange County’s County Executive Edward Diana, a Republican, in order to balance his budget, included $17 Million in his 2004 budget from an anticipated ¾% county sales tax increase. This increase was unanimously passed by the State Senate this week, and the Assembly passed it by 99-45. County Executive Diana said, according to the Mid-Hudson News, he would take a final vote on the tax Friday.

An Intriguing Solution

Were White Plains to take this sales tax fix route, Assemblyman Adam Bradley, or Assemblywoman Amy Paulin would possibly be asked to introduce the bill in the Assembly.

According to Westchester County Legislator, George Latimer, Orange County has increased property taxes by 22% and 12%, the last two years.

No matter how the city chooses to make up its deficit no matter how big, the financial impact of the county, school and city revenue demands are now becoming sobering reality for White Plains citizens.

A seasoned observer of tax rate minutiae, estimates a total tax increase for residents between the three taxing authorities of county, school district and city as approximately $2,000 on his residence alone, if the city chooses to increase taxes alone.

Feiner Alert: Two Resolutions to be Voted on Saturday.

Posted on April 2, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR GREENBURGH GAZETTE. From Greenburgh Town Supervisior Paul Feiner. April 2, 2004: Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner announced that the Greenburgh Town Board will vote on the attached 2 resolutions at a Special Meeting of the Greenburgh Town Board on Saturday morning at 9:30 AM. The Town Board will dedicate Taxter Ridge as permanent parkland and take steps to turn an abandoned house at the park into an affordable home for a town employee. Those having comments on the proposed resolution are invited to e mail Supervisor Feiner at pfeiner@greenburgh.com or to call him at 993 l540.

New York Sports Clubs Is In as City Center Garage Health Club. LA Fitness is Out

Posted on April 2, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR Main Street Journal. By John F. Bailey. April 2, 2004, Updated with Health Club profile, 11:30 E.S.T.: Louis Cappelli today announced he had signed a lease Friday with New York Sports Clubs, the health club based in White Plains on North Broadway, to occupy and manage the state of the art health club he is building atop the City Center Garage. Cappelli said it was his company decision not to sign the lease with LA Sports Fitness, as he had previously announced.

NEW YORK SPORTS CLUBS TAKES OVER on top of the City Center Garage, shown here on March 13. Mr. Cappelli reports he has signed the lease today. Photo from WPCNR News Archive.

Cappelli said he did not sign with LA Fitness at the last moment because it made more business sense to give the lease to a local sports club rather than hurt a club’s business that already existed in White Plains. He noted that New York Sports Clubs had better financials as another reason he backed out of the LA Fitness deal. “We went down too fast on this one (LA Fitness). You want to give yourself the chance to optimize your chances. And we went to fast. When you look at it, you don’t want to compete against other businesses in town. It didn’t make sense to bring in a health club that would fight for another club’s customers.”

Cappelli reports New York Sports Clubs “Cappelli style” will open atop the garage in September.

New York Sports Clubs (of White Plains) is a subsidiary of The Town Sports International (TSI) the largest in the Northeastern United States. Since 1974, the TSI roster has risen to 125 high quality facilities in New York, Washington, D.C., Boston and Philadelphia—with membership totaling more than 350,000. The TSI network is made up of the “brands:” New York Sports Clubs, Washington Sports Clubs, Boston Sports Clubs and Philadelphia Sports Clubs. In addition, TSI features the Forum and the Joggeli Fitness Clubs in Basel and the Luxor Club in Zurich, Switzerland.

The TSI website asserts that a person in any fitness condition find facilities to meet their own health and fitness needs at a TSI gym . It has a reputation as being the club for no-nonsense fitness buffs and tailors exercise and fitness programs. TSI facilities offer racquet courts, pools and basketball courts, which fit right in with Mr. Cappelli’s plans for his Garage Health Club. The TSI club profile features weight equipment, cardiovascular equipment and other exercise apparatus. Personal training, massage, steam rooms and saunas, in addition to Sports Clubs for Kids and fitness assessments are offered.

The company credits its innovative fitness programs, pro staff, and dedication to quality and service and continual facility improvement. Learn more at the website, www.nysc.com.

Bradley On Senate/Assembly Budget Reform Pack. Guarantees Ed Aid 2 Yrs.

Posted on April 2, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. April 2, 2004: As a candidate for the Assembly, I was an outspoken advocate for budget reform. I am pleased to announce that the Assembly and Senate members of a bipartisan conference committee have come to an agreement on a package of budget reforms that will help ensure fair, on-time state budgets that meet the needs of Westchester County by employing better long-term and annual planning, closer oversight of spending, and more public input.

As a candidate for the Assembly, I was an outspoken advocate for budget reform. I am pleased to announce that the Assembly and Senate members of a bipartisan conference committee have come to an agreement on a package of budget reforms that will help ensure fair, on-time state budgets that meet the needs of Westchester County by employing better long-term and annual planning, closer oversight of spending, and more public input.

School districts in Westchester County will benefit greatly from these reforms. The plan includes the Assembly’s proposal to require a two year appropriation for education aid – providing schools with information they need to plan ahead and avoid property tax increases. It also creates an education reserve fund in the state constitution to ensure sufficient funds exist for the payment of aid in May and June of each year.

The reform package provides the Legislature with more accurate revenue forecasts and gives additional time to review the details of the governor’s budget proposal so legislators can make better decisions by:

· implementing an “enhanced fast start plan,” a discussion between the governor and Legislature on revenue forecasts and projected expenses that would begin on November 15;

· creating a nonpartisan independent budget office to provide objective analyses of state revenues that can be used to make decisions in a timely manner – without the time consuming debate that often occurs;

· requiring the governor to submit his budget by January 15 (February 1 for a newly-elected governor);

· shortening the amendment period from 30 to 21 days to allow time for legislative review; and

· adding Health Care Reform Act programs like Family Health Plus and Child Health Plus into the overall state budget.

I have consistently supported moving the start of the state’s fiscal year from April 1 to May 1, and continuing government operations through a contingency budget if a new budget is not passed on time – two ideas that have been incorporated into the conference committee’s reform plan. By pushing back the budget deadline, we will be able to give different organizations across the state a more reliable way to plan their budgets. And by creating an independent budget office, we take away one of the biggest sources of partisan disagreement.

The package would also require a three-year projection by the governor and Legislature of the financial impact of any changes to the executive budget to provide better long-term planning. To put more money away in “rainy day” funds, the plan would create a reserve fund equal to 5 percent of all state funds to cushion against economic downturns, revenue shortfalls and natural disasters.

I commend the bipartisan conference committee for the package of budget reforms they’ve put forth. This is a good beginning, but there is much more work to be done to reform state government. These initiatives will ensure better planning and better financial forecasts, enabling the Legislature to enact better budgets. I hope the governor will endorse these reforms as we offer them to the voters of our state to ratify.

Cappelli Putting New Equity Into “Triple Towers,” No Construction Management Fee

Posted on April 2, 2004 by John Bailey

Journal. Interview with The Super Developer, Continued by John F. Bailey. April 1, 2004: Louis Cappelli, the Super Developer, reached out to The CitizeNetReporter again Thursday evening to make it clear that his newly struck deal (with J P Morgan Fleming Asset Management in which JPMFAM is partnering with Mr. Cappelli, investing $105 Million in One City Place, (The North Tower), was not taking profits out of City Center on his part.

THE SUPER DEVELOPER IN ACTION: Louis Cappelli said he is turning over his $40 Million in equity, what would be left of the JP Morgan stake, after paying off Cappelli’s $65 Million debt on One City Place, and put it to work building the “Three Sculptures” he plans for 221 Main Street. He expects to begin “The Triple Towers” in June, pending expected Common Council approval in May. The Super Developer is shown in a photo taken March 12, inundated with plans in his office on 14 Mamaroneck Avenue across from the City Center, shown in background. Photo by WPCNR News

He made it clear that Trammell Crow was not a third partner in One City Place, that he and JP Morgan were the only two partners on the project under the pending deal, while Trammell Crow was an associate, under contract to manage and lease the building only, not a participant in the profits. Trammell Crow manages several buildings for JP Morgan that has purchased Trammell Crow owned properties.

“As my part of the partnership, “ Cappelli said, “I am A, supplying the building, and B, fully responsible for the balance of the construction, which will be complete by the end of May, and C, when I pay off the $65 Million debt the building cost, I will have $40 Million left, and D, (as their part of the partnership) JP Morgan is supplying $105 Million cash.”

Asked if he was paying being paid for the balance of the construction, Cappelli said he was not: “I will be funding the complete cost of the remaining construction.”

PILOTS Unaffected by Taking on New Partner.

Cappelli indicated that the Westchester County Industrial Development Association had approved the concept of the partnership with JP Morgan Fleming Asset Management Thursday morning, because, Cappelli said, the nature of the project had not changed, “The County approved it this morning, we just evolved into a new partnership, and that does not affect the PILOTS.” Cappelli said.

Likes to be in the field.

WPCNR asked whether he was the Head Coach or the Quarterback under the new partnership arrangement with JP Morgan. The Super Developer chuckled and said he liked to be in the field and the quarterback doesn’t get “banged up a lot.” Reminded that the Coach made more decisions, Cappelli refused to be drawn into the reporter trap play, refusing to say whether he was the Coach or the Quarterback in the new partnership.

“I’m very happy with this partnership with JP Morgan,” he said, and indicated more partners were coming in on “The Triple Towers.”

THE TRIPLE TOWERS: Cappelli’s “Three Sculptures,” planned for 221 Main Street in White Plains. Site Plan is coming in Tuesday, Mr. Cappelli promises. Photo by WPCNR News.

More “Equity” to Come to Plow into “The Three Sculptures”

“There are two possible investment partners willing to commit two sums of $100 Million each in White Plains,” Cappelli said, towards the 221 Main, Cappelli Hotel and condominium project, he is now calling “The Triple Towers”.

He said institutional investors, including large equity funds and pension funds were seriously looking at investing these sums in the upcoming “Triple Towers” On Main Street.

“I am humbled, floored, at the interest (of major institutional investors) in White Plains,” Cappelli said. Asked if Donald Trump was still in the running to lay some money down, Cappelli, said the Trump interest was more an invention of the CitizeNetReporter than real, but he said it in a good natured way.

Site Plan for 221 Next, Then Financing.

At this point, Cappelli said he could not seek financing for the “The Three Towers” project until a site plan was approved, and the $40 Million in fresh equity from the JP Morgan deal announced Wednesday would enable him to move ahead on “The Three Towers” using his own equity.

The Super Developer said that the “Three Towers” site plan would be presented Tuesday of next week. He noted that Beyer, Blinder Belle architect Fred Bland (designer of the City Center North and South towers), would be brought in to design the Office Building and hotel.

Cappelli said it was good to use architects at what “they were best at” and Bland’s specialties, he said, are office buildings and hotels. His current architect on the City Center South Tower, Costas Kondylis, was a residential specialist, who he is tapping to handle the two towering condominiums above the planned hotel.

Reinvesting Profits in White Plains.

“I don’t want to come across as the bad guy here,” Cappelli said earnestly. “I know people hate me. I want them to know I am reinvesting in White Plains. All of the money (from the JP Morgan deal) will be reinvested into 221 Main Street. Any profit realized will go right into 221 Main Street, and that continues to show what I think about this city.”

Cappelli said he expected to start “The Triple Towers” in June and complete it in two and a half years, opening in January of 2007.

City Center “Green Light” Meeting

Cappelli said he had been working 10 to 14 hours a day on both 221 Main and the City Center condominium restart. He said that on Friday morning he would be holding a “Green Light” meeting with twenty persons on his construction and engineering team, to begin again full scale construction anew on the City Center Condominium Tower on Martine Avenue.

He said the delay the last two weeks was necessary to run power to the condo site from the North Tower. He said he expected Con Edison to run permanent power to the condominium tower within six months from the vault under Martine Avenue, at which time the building would be fully powered up.