City Seeks More Lucrative Contract with Cablevision for Right to Continue Cable

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VARIETY By John F. Bailey. December 3, 2003: The Common Council authorized Mayor Joseph Delfino and Corporation Counsel Edward Dunphy to begin the process of negotiations on a new 10-year contract with Cablevision,   the city’s local cable access provider.


 


Mr. Dunphy and Frederick Strauss, Executive Director of White Plains Public Access, said they were planning on negotiating for a substantially higher percentage of revenues from the cable company, Cablevision.  Cablevision, according to the White Plains Public Access,  currently has 18,000 subscribers in the City of White Plains, a 60% penetration of city households. The current city contract, negotiated in 1995,  expires at the end of 2005, and by law the city is authorized to begin negotiations at this time, according to Dunphy.


 


Determining Our Own Fate.

 



Dunphy in his remarks to the Counsel said White Plains is one of the leading customers of Cablevision in Westchester County and is seeking to improve its present contract with Cablevision which pays the city $1,000,000 per year for the right to be Franchisee, and $100,000 a year to White Plains Public Access.


 


Mr. Dunphy advised the council that White Plains is seeking to cut their own terms with Cablevision, rather than be tied to “me-too” standard cable agreements Cablevision offers to other communities in the county without the audience of White Plains.


 


Quality Counts.


 


Council member Glen Hockley, as a result of his “Hockley Walkabouts” said he has heard numerous complaints from city residents about the quality and variety of Cablevision service in the city. Mr. Strauss said the city would be bringing up both quality of service, types of service, projected improvements and upgrades in cable technology offered by Cablevision in the future as bargaining chips and issues to be dealt with in the new contract.


 


Mayor Delfino assured the council that they would have to approve any final negotiated arrangement with Cablevision.


 



A KOUFAX AND DRYSDALE APPROACH?: Asked by Mr. Hockley, if the city was going to negotiate in consort with other communities, Dunphy, (foreground, with Mayor Delfino standing), said that was a possibility. Dunphy told the council that by cable television law, the city can negotiate a new franchise agreement only with the present franchisee, but in telecommunications law, the city would be able to negotiate with a variety of carriers, and he was looking into possibilities of that. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


Dunphy said he was seeking more than the million dollar fee presently received by the city, “at least a million-and-half,” but no figure had been settled on as a target.


 


Married to Cablevision


 


Robert Greer and Mr. Hockley suggested exploring other franchisees such as Time-Warner, because T-W, for example, had in Mr. Greer’s opinion, better programming.


 


Mr. Strauss cautioned that the city “is unable to dictate programming offered to the community. We can only inform and communicate to the cable company to get them to be more responsive. We hope to motivate them (Cablevision) in a variety of ways.”


 


The council authorized the Mayor to begin the negotiation process during the Work Session Tuesday night. Mr. Dunphy reported to the Council that the city is now marshalling resources to explore areas of negotiation, and will be traveling to Washington to seek input from federal cable regulators as to what the city can demand and expect, and is also seeking information from Cablevision.


 


Dunphy Insights into Intricacies of Negotiation and Departure.


 


In an interview after the meeting, Mr. Dunphy told WPCNR that the present contract negotiated in 1995 by Rusty Monroe, (during the Sy Schulman administration), called for White Plains to be paid 5% of the Cablevision gross revenues earned from the city. He said that is the agreement that will expire in December 31, 2005.


 


Asked if the city could not reach an acceptable agreement, what happens? Dunphy said the city could revoke the franchise, which would trigger “a hearing process” in which the city would have to justify why it was seeking to revoke the contract.


 


WPCNR asked if the city would consider a step-level contract with Cablevision, in which if certain revenue levels were achieved, or certain technological improvements added, the city revenue would be automatically increased, Dunphy said “that’s under advisement,” and ruled nothing out.


 


Queried as to whether Cablevision payments to the city had to be spent on the Public Access operations, or could be used as the city sees fit, Mr. Dunphy said he would have to check on that.


 


White Plains Is Cable-Friendly.


 


According to Gary Stukes of White Plains Public Access, Cablevision has 18,000 subscribers in the city out of 25,000 residences.


 


The White Plains CitizeNetReporter is one of those subscribers. I pay $41.25 for Family Cable, and $44.95 for their Optimum online package, $4.95 for the iO navigation package, $3.24 for remotes, and $1.95 for the YES network, plus a Franchise Fee of $2.72, a Peg Fee of  .46 and a Regulatory Fee of 5 cents. This comes a regular monthly bill of $99.97 last month.


 


If the city’s 18,000 subscribers had a package that just included the Family package, as I do, they would pay approximately $50 a month generating $900,000 a month, throw in HBO, Cinemax, MSG and other services and the bill goes up perhaps to my level, $100. With just a Family Package that is over $10,800,000 a year. With added premium networks it is more…up to $100 a month, that works out by WPCNR estimate to be $21,800,000.


 


At the $1 Million a year the city is receiving now, it would appear that “gross revenues” now are running at  $21,600,000 as a WPCNR rough estimate according to my own figures above generated a 5% return for the city of  $1,080,000 of revenue which approximates the figure Mr. Dunphy quoted last night.


 


Mr. Stukes of White Plains Public Access said that it is important to note that more than 18,000 subscribers in White Plains might have cable access through satellite dishes which bring them cable, but those dish-equipped viewers do not receive White Plains Public Access,  which includes “The Spirit of 76,” Channel 76 (Home of White Plains Week, and your other favorites), Channel 75, The Home of the Common Council and Channel 77, The Home of White Plains Schools and that other “news” station, News12.


 


Stukes added that  White Plains cable penetration through Cablevision is 60%, a penetration level that is recognized as the highest penetration level nationally. He said that New York State leads the nation in penetration, and White Plains is “at the top of the list.”

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Consultants Favor Taking Bar Building as Best Fit for Cappelli Bland Hotel

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER.  By John F. Bailey. December 3, 2003: Michael Gerard, the environmental lawyer-consultant for the city on the 221 Main Street Cappelli Enterprises hotel-office proposal, updated the Council Tuesday evening on the process of the draft Final Environmental Impact Statement on the controversial project now in hearings.



 


PREVIEW OF FEIS: Mr. Gerard reported that Jeannie Baird and Jeffrey Zupan, the independent city planning and transportation consultants retained by the Common Council (at Mr. Cappelli’s expense) to advise the city on the project feasibility and esthetics, respectively have said in their preliminary memorandums that the Cappelli Bland Hotel & Office complex design that is most efficient and esthetic is one that eliminates the Bar Building.  Left to right, Glen Hockley, foreground, Tom Roach, Mr. Gerard, Rita Malmud, Bill King. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


Alternative F as Most Workable Design for Cappelli-Bland Hotel. Approval Timetable Sketchy.


 



Gerard was pressed for a preview, and according to Mr. Gerard, Baird and Zupan feel that  leaving the Bar Building in place reduces the amount of below-ground parking that can be constructed below ground thus requiring more parking built above street level into the hotel complex, resulting in crowding the site. Gerard did not elaborate any further and cautioned the council that they should wait until the Final Environmental Impact Statement is submitted, which he said is expected early next week.


 


Boykin Does Double Take.


 


Benjamin Boykin, Council President, expressed visible dismay that Baird and Zupan advocated the razing of the Bar Building, saying “That’s very problematic.”


 


William King cautioned Boykin and the rest of the council, that  he had information that other developers are at this time were considering other “high rise” projects for sites in White Plains, and that a negative position on height taken by the Council on the 221 Main Street project could effect other developers’ willingness to build on other sites obviously in need of improvement.


 


Mayor Delfino scoffed at this, saying, “That’s an issue that’s been discussed since 1980 when I was on the (Common) Council,” appearing, in an apparent effort to soften King’s caveat that would they decide on 221 Main would effect White Plains appeal to developers.


 


Glen Hockley, mediating Boykin’s obvious displeasure at Gerard’s “sneak preview” of the Baird-Zupan assessment, said “Commenting (on the FEIS) at this time is premature. We’re going through an evolution.”


 


Gerard echoed the same sentiments, saying that Cappelli Enterprises expected to submit “their first cut” on the Final Environmental Impact Statement early next week, which would contain the Baird-Zupan analyses of all the alternatives as well as the developer’s answers to questions raised in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.


 


A Very Busy Social Calendar.


 


Earlier the Council tried to set a timetable to review the FEIS and act upon the project.


 


Gerard tried to set December 15 as the date when the Council could review the FEIS with Ms. Baird and Mr. Zupan and himself. Council President Boykin was not available, Mr. Greer had a conflict, and Ms. Malmud and Mr. Hockley, looking at their calendars noted numerous family, religious, and professional conflicts.


 


The Mayor said Councilpersons who could not be there on December 15 could be briefed on the goings-on, or patched in by speakerphone, as has been done in the past. The Council was having none of that.


 


Councilman Boykin said, “I have a conflict, we don’t even know if we have a project yet.”


 


Councilman Hockley raised his eyebrows, and reminded Boykin, “This project is for the most part, acceptable. We just have to move the approval back.”


 


Vote Pushed for Jan. Feb the Latest.


A concerned Mayor noted that he remembered that the Council had agreed they wished to consider the FEIS in December. If the council did not meet on the FEIS until January, it would push approval until February. George Gretsas noted that much of a delay would jeopardize Mr. Cappelli’s financing. It was suggested by Robert Greer they try and meet during the day. The December 18 Work Session was rejected. A tentative date to review the FEIS was set for Friday, December 19, during the day.


 


Rita Malmud made it clear she expected to have her copy of the FEIS to review in a leisurely manner at least two days before Friday the 19th, the Mayor said the council would have the FEIS “next week.”


 


The Mayor said he wanted to “take final action in January at the earliest.”


 


Tom Roach mused that “No one seems to want to build as of right anymore. Everyone wants to build a little more, even residents.”


 


Gerard said that after the Council approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement, there would be a 10-day comment period, upon which they could then take action, which appeared to be possible at the February Common Council meeting, if not before. The Council approved the City Center Project finally in the middle of September, 2001, to cooperate with Mr. Cappelli’s financing closing dates, so it is theoretically possible the Council could approve the project or of course, vote it down in January.


 


 

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Starbucks at Renaissance Plaza to open December 18.

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WPCNR MAIN STREET BEAT. From Paul Wood, City Hall Press Spokesperson & Economic Development Director. December 2, 2003: Paul Wood of the Mayor’s Office announced last night that Starbucks, “America’s Coffee,” will open their new kiosk (in final two weeks of construction) at the Renaissance Plaza Fountain downtown on Thursday, December 18 at 11:00. The Mayor of White Plains, Joseph Delfino, Mr. Wood said, would be pouring the city’s first official White Plains Starbuck’s Latte, at an opening ceremony that date.



“COFFEE HEAH:” The Starbucks Kiosk at Renaissance Plaza will be serving White Plains beginning December 18. The kiosk is shown under construction prior to the Fountain draining and winterization which took place last week due to icing conditions. Photo by WPCNR News.

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I’m Not Selling Says Bar Building Boss; City to Build 2-Deck Pkg @ Mam & Bryant

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WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. By John F. Bailey. December 2, 2003, Updated 5 P.M. E.S.T. WITH PIX: The public hearing on the Cappelli Bland Hotel project on Main Street continued featuring the owner of the Bar Building, Anthony Longhitano, appearing before the Common Council. He stated that his building was not for sale and challenged the Council to consider his plan for redevoping the annex of his 199 Main Street building into a mini-retail complex seriously. Longhitano has not presented to the Common Council formally (though drawings of the proposal have appeared in the White Plains Watch). The hearing was continued to the January Common Council meeting. Emphasis of speakers  on reasons why the Bar Building should not be condemned ranged from job loss of employees working on the site, to the moral imperative that the city  should not take private property to give it to another developer (Mr.Louis Cappelli).


 



 


LEADING OFF FOR THE BAR BUILDING: Anthony Longhitano, Bar Building owner, called for the Cappelli and Bar Building projects to coexist and develop in a new configuration in order that Cappelli’s hotel-office complex and the Bar project could exist adjacent to one another. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


In other action, the Council approved construction of a $6.8 Million parking deck beginning on Shapham Place and behind the Mamaroneck Avenue & Bryant retail strip beginning at Dunkin Donuts and ending at Rader’s stationary store, by votes of 6-1 on the three ordinances, with Councilman William King opposed all three times. The bond ordinance will be passed at a future date perhaps today when the Common Council meets for a work session. Construction is supposed to begin shortly and take twelve months to complete, according to Department of Public Works Commissioner, Joseph Nicoletti. The $6.8 Million in bonds would be paid off out of city Parking Authority revenues over 20 years, according to Albert Moronie, Director of the Parking Authority.


 



OVERRUN, WEEDED, LITERED LAND behind the Post Office on Mamaroneck Avenue & Bryant: Nicoletti said the building of parking at street level behind the Mamaroneck Avenue post office as part of the project, would enable execution of  plans that exist for connecting the presently overgrown portion of the New York Westchester & Boston railroad track bed (that lies underneath Bryant Avenue– the bridge overpass shown here),  to the Greenway which currently stops at Gedney Way. Nicoletti deferred to Department of Recreation & Parks Commissioner, Arne Abramowitz as to when those plans would be executed. Photo by WPCNR News.



 


DUNKIN DONUTS PARKING WILL BE EXTENDED, DOUBLE-DECKED: Moronie sited a laundry list of advantages to building the sprawling two level (including groundlevel parking behind the retail complex), parking structure. He said its 486 parking space capacity, including the Shapham Place lot that presently exists, would provide permitted parking for 203 people currently on the Parking Authority Waiting List for permits to park in the Shapham Place, Bryant Avenue area. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


He said it would meet the need for 43 persons who are employed during the day and need parking, and would eliminate the need for the onstreet parking on the East Side of Mamaroneck Avenue, that Nicoletti said later was a hazard to pedestrians crossing over to the retail-post office side.


 


Moronie said it would save money, getting the Parking Authority out of the lot leasing business which they currently lose money on. The Parking Authority currently uses to take care of residents overnight in the area who have to move their cars by 8 A.M. each morning.  He said it would free up the Mamaroneck Avenue School Shapham lot for evening activity parking (currently taken up by resident parking after 6 P.M.).


 


The explanation given for the increase in cost from the original $2.5 Million deck proposal in 1999, was that the new deck (extending from flush to the Shapham Place lot to Bryant Avenue level) was bigger, as well as the creation of a lower street level parking area, which raised the price from $2.5 Million to $6.8 Million. Moronie said the cost per space was $15,500 as opposed to the former price of $19,000 per space for the original Shapham Place deck job for the 130 new space project envisioned in 1999.


 


Moronie noted the cost of the project would be paid off in twenty years, incurring a $148,000 loss the first year.


 


In other action, the Council raised the maximum real estate exemption for veterans to state-authorized levels of $27,000 for veterans and $90,000 for disabled veterans, and the partial exemption for persons of limited income over age 65. The council approved a Par 3 Hole on the Ridgeway Country Club and extended the cabaret permit for Dooley Mac’s pub.


 


The Mayor in closing, invited all citizens to his New Year’s Eve Ball Dropping ceremony taking place New Years Eve between 9 PM and Midnight with Mamaroneck Avenue being closed this year between Main Street and Martine Avenue that evening. He wished all a happy holiday season emphasing that “we are all working to become one city.”



KING IS PLAQUED: Mayor Joseph Delfino presented Councilman William King with a plaque recognizing his four years’ of service on the Common Council at his last public council meeting last night. The Mayor praised Mr. King for his service and contributions to the city and his iconoclastic stance. Photo by WPCNR News.

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National Amusements Cinema 15 to Open Doors Dec. 12, Entertain VIPS Dec. 11

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WPCNR SCREEN GEMS. By Hollywood Johnny.  November 18, 2003: The blockbuster movies the great white way of White Plains has been waiting for are coming after missing for decades from the downtown.


The Louis Cappelli City Center movie complex entitled City Center 15 Cinema de Lux will “roll ’em” in an exclusive preview for White Plains dignataries and invited guests on Thursday, December 11, followed by the opening to the moviegoing public on Friday, December 12. Jennifer Hansen, spokesperson for National Amusements said media mavens, television and radio mikepokers, web bloggers, weeklies, dailies, monthlies and self-styled scribes would be given an hour to check out the state-of-the-art theatre complex on the fourth level of City Center beginning at 6 PM, followed by a VIP Party at 7 for the mover-and-shaker suits, and wingtipped and spike-heeled set, who will settle in for a movie at 8 PM.


Your reporter has learned that City Center 15: Cinema de Lux, will be a 15 screen state-of-the art movie theatre complete with: Exclusive Director’s Halls with Ultra Leather seats and reserved seating, Guest Services extraordinaire with posh-posh concierge-style, complimentary service for patrons of the celluloid arts. Guests of the White Plains Performing Arts Theatre as well as moviegoers can inbibe, chatter, and flatter at a Chatters Restaurant and Lounge, order beans from heaven coffee at a coffee bar while enjoying the sounds of a Baby Grand Piano playing the the lobby. Plus for the traditional movie snacker they may take advantage of Ben and Jerry’s, Nathan’s Famous and Sbarro’s Pizza.

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KING KOMMENTS on His Last Public Council Meeting

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WPCNR KING KOMMENTS. By Councilman William King. December 1, 2003: Thanks very much for the piece you wrote today.  Just so you know, I was not going to be cast aside by the Democratic City Committee and was
never told this by anyone.  I had very strong supporters on the nominating committee.   When I told the other elected officials and Adam Bradley, the chair at the time, it was a complete surprise to them, but a lot of people since then in and out of the party have told me they could understand why I would not want to run again with the current
makeup of the council and being the lone vote on several votes. 

One other thing is it’s funny you mention that you would have thought I would have pushed more on making a bigger deal of the city’s history because in fact I did.

  I proposed to the mayor, George Gretsas, (Executive Officer), Bud Nicoletti (Department of Public Works)  and Arne Abramovitz (Department of Recreation & Parks)  to have a historical trail like Boston’s Freedom Trail (an upgraded version of the 25-year old Historical Society’s Heritage Trail) with more historical signage etc.  But while Arne was supportive and said the city was going to do something he was vague on what was going to happen and then ultimately the city had new signs made for Battle Hill Park to mark the 225th anniversary of the Battle of White Plains. 


So, I worked with the County and wrote most of the text for the signs that the Historical Society made and installed on a sunny day in July, 2001 along the Bronx River, when we, together with 200 volunteers from PepsiCo, City Year and the Youth Bureau’s Greening Program kids, along with the Public Works Dept., cleaned and fixed up
the forlorn area along the Bronx River Parkway between the White Plains
Train Station and the County Center. 


(However, the area is  still kind of forlorn because the County, even though they subsequently cleaned out and fixed up a streamside area right by the station, because the County put in a ‘temporary’ gravel parking lot over the greenspace we worked on.  The gravel lot was put in only a few months after we, along with County Exec Spano, had the volunteer day.  It was supposed to be removed and returned to green space by this month …… which does not look like it is going to happen any time soon).

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Councilman King’s Last Council Meeting. Touchy Hearing on Cappelli-Bland Hotel

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER By John F. Bailey. December 1, 2003: Councilman William King will appear at his last public monthly Common Council meeting this evening when Mayor Joseph Delfino gavels the Council to order at 7:30 P.M. at City Hall. Mr. King’s tenure as councilman ends December 31 by his reportedly choosing not to run again for the seat, though this reporter suspects that Mr. King was told he was not going to be nominated to run again by the City Democratic Committee, and chose to make a graceful exit. However, Mr. King in a response to this column tells unequivocably, this did not happen, they were solidly behind him.


Now why would Mr. King be cast aside by the Democratic City Committee (if indeed, they did tell him to take a hike)?


Because Mr. King is not a team player. He sees when the emperor is not wearing any clothes. He points it out. He has done this on numerous occasions. He asks the “obvious question” which of course is the question that makes a political consensus position uncomfortable.



Councilman William King


 


 


Mr. King goes his own way and refused to play his part in the political plays of manners and posturings that accompanied the ponderous council deliberations shaping the city over the last four years. To his credit, Mr. King did not criticize the original designs of the City Center when they were massaged by the Common Council back in September of 2001, for example.


Mr. King has advocated for matters that have not been high on the city administration radar screen: overnight street parking for apartment-congested areas, bicycle paths, a children’s museum,  mass transit in the downtown, preservation of all of the New York Presbyterian Hospital wilderness acres, conscientious management of city wild lands, and most recently converting the Gedney Greenway and city landfill to a working park. (First, though, the city has to clean up the resident stench on the Greenway that makes that area hazardous to your nostrils, and on thermal inversion days smells like Staten Island.)


Now, other than Glen Hockley, who may sooner or later be replaced by the courts on the council (but, do not bet on it, the Court of Appeals will save him, my prediction), there is no independent thinker on the Council, who will go out on a limb to advocate and incur the Administration’s ridicule and wrath.


It was Bill King who cut the median grass on North Street with Jack Harrington to dramatize the negligence of the County Department of Public Works which allowed the grass to get so high as to block views of oncoming traffic. Since Mr. King did that, the medians have been mysteriously trimmed regularly.


It was Bill King and some friends of his who exposed the county neglect of Silver Lake to the extent that homeless persons were living in the underbrush with impunity and setting up overnight camps there. This focused attention on the area that the administration worked with the county to acquire the land and create Liberty Park. I venture to say that if Mr. King had not literally waded into the issue, Liberty Park never would have happened.


It was Bill King who asked for bicycle signs in a so far futile attempt to establish bicyle paths in the city. This could make the city a more interesting place and ease the traffic, just a bit.


It was Bill King who first introduced the idea of a children’s museum for the downtown, which is now being advocated by the Administration, and has been taken up by Leon Silverman as a feature of his proposed redevelopment of his Martine Avenue block.


It has been Bill King who has long endured Mayor Delfino’s sarcasm whenever Mr. King has complained about lack of time to digest information before considering key decisions, and the lack of access to city departments when he has asked for information on key issues.  However, Mr. King is right. The city does not provide information in a timely manner to Councilman and the public at large. Mr. King, as any reporter covering the city will tell you, is right. 


The administration presents fait accomplis in an atmosphere of approval hysteria. Mr. King has often complained to the city on this modus operandi of secrecy, technical obfuscation, and avalanche-of-information-at-the-last-minute, and they are offended. The phrase often heard by councilpersons from the administration, Mr. King in particular, is “all you have to do is call us, and we’ll provide whatever you ask for.” Well, they don’t. Tonight’s 221 Main Street Cappelli-Bland Hotel hearing is a case in point.


Tonight Mr. King should take the opportunity to call Department of Public Works head, Joseph Bud Nicoletti to the podium during tonight’s resumption of the 221 Main Street hearing. Maybe he should ask him if  Mr. Nicoletti now agrees with the Cappelli organization studies that place the Main Street sewer as running at  20-25% capacity. He should ask Mr. Nicoletti to explain  why his own measuring of sewage flow in the Main Street sewer by water levels measured by a stick (the preferred method by sanitation engineers) which showed the sewer running at 80% capacity without the City Center being online is now being rejected in favor of two Cappelli Sewage Capacity Reports based on water flow meter readings.


Mr. Nicoletti’s personal testimony on this issue must be examined by the council so they can make an informed decision and have peace of mind on the status of the dark stuff under Main Street. Either that or they could ask for a truly independent study of the sewer status now, as they have been prone to do in the past. A Bill King on the council could call for that.


They must be worried about something down there under Main Street since George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, has maintained that Cappelli will replace the Main Street sewer as part of the 221 Main project, which means more ripup.


Two engineers with major sewer and waste management firms toldd WPCNR, that water flow meters, the lynchpins of Mr. Cappelli’s two studies are unreliable because they measure flow, not depth at any given time. Furthermore, another expert said flow meters become fouled, supplying false readings if they are not cleaned monthly.  If Mr. Nicoletti’s own flow meter was cleaned monthly as engineering firms have told WPCNR they should be, then perhaps their readings can be relied upon in the matter of gallonage they carry, but the question of the “stick” method vs. the water meter method needs to be explained to the council’s satisfaction by Mr. Nicoletti and he has to tell us why he believes in it. Who will ask?


That of course begs the question of why did not the city automatically say, “the sewer is 100 years old, it’s not getting any younger, let’s redo it as part of this whole thing so the downtown can run without being disrupted after City Center opens.” But they did not.


Tonight Mr. King has promised not to vote for the double-decking of the Shapham Place parking lot at the expense of $7 Million in bonding. It is a pyrrhic gesture, a “swan song” only delaying this vote for a month. But, somehow, as Mr. King points out the cost has soared to double what it was originally.


 


Mr. King complained about this when it first was proposed as the more logical solution without bringing back the nightmare of onstreet overnight parking. It is another example of Mr. King’s foresight being overruled by political expendiency. I bought that argument, but in restrospect, Mr. King was right, you could try metered parking, and see what would happen at far less expense.


 


King had the courage to take unpopular positions and expose himself to ridicule from the media, from the county, and loss of popularity from complaints from persons seeing threats to the way White Plains is now (the horror and crime of onstreet overnight metered parking).


 


King had courage to do that, and many of the matters he was laughed at for: Silver Lake cleanup, the children’s museum, and now a trolley system, are being embraced by the administration as well as  Mr. King’s colleagues, as he leaves. So often, in politics, the price of vision is to sacrifice yourself. It should not be that way.


 


One issue I believe Mr. King was wrong on was the New York Presbyterian Hospital park vote in 2000, Mr. King should have secured the 65 acres, and the city would have had the power hand with the hospital in this situation for three years. Now, with the latest hospital offering of land five weeks ago, the city has the same deal with 10 acres less, plus 2 medical buildings, and the prospect of more development on the North side along Westchester Avenue. A King switch in 2000 would have made it a 4-3 vote, and perhaps he could have brought Larry Delgado on board with him, but I have the ability of hindsight here. It was one of King’s only mistakes.


 


One matter that Mr. King should have pushed was for the city to make more of White Plains place in American history than it does today. A White Plains “Patriot’s Trail” should be created and a White Plains Historical Center (perhaps the George Washington Headquarters, as a base) to promote the city as a tourist attraction as well. That’s a pipe dream of mine.  King, true to form, is championing the saving of the Bar Building. He may be right again in future months on that baby.



 


Mr. Bernstein has big shoes to fill next month. Tom Roach and Glen Hockley have demonstrated rationality, practicality and concern on issues, and now they become the voice of conscience on the council. Benjamin Boykin assumes more of a preemptive role than ever as the council proceeds in 2004, as much of an ally of the Mayor as he has been, he has to lead now more than ever in setting council concerns, sharing the reins with the Mayor, asking the questions and making the hard decisions that without Bill King would not have been pursued: Liberty Park, the children’s museum, the Bar Building. Mr. Boykin will not have Bill King around to ask the obvous question.


 


As far as the 221 Main Cappelli Bland hotel project, how high it is is the least of concerns the council should have. How the Cappelli Bland Hotel will function within the city infrastructure is the big issue, including Mass Transit, and the council has not aggressively delved beneath the surface of the project at all.


 


 


But now Mr. King, the dreamer is leaving the council. It may be a long time before another dreamer replaces him.  

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WPPAC Impresario Tony Stimac Tells All on White Plains Week Monday at 7:00

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS WEEK REPORT. November 28, 2003: White Plains Week will interview Tony Stimac, Producing Director of the White Plains Performing Arts Center Monday night at 7 P.M. on “The Spirit of 76,” White Plains Public Access Television, WPPA-TV, channel 76, (just before the Common Council show at 7:30 on Channel 75). The appearance will be Mr. Stimac’s first television interview since taking the reins of the new theatre. He is interviewed by the co-hosts of the weekly WPPA-TV city news roundup show, Alex Philippidis, Editor of Westchester County Business Journal and John Bailey, your CitizeNetReporter.


ROSENSTOCK & STIMAC TOASTING THE NEW THEATRE IN WHITE PLAINS: Producing Director Tony Stimac (right), shown with his partner, Jeffrey Rosenstock at the Gala for the Performing Arts Center, November 9, appears on White Plains Week Monday night at 7:00 P.M. Stimac reports the Gala weekend was the most successful he has had in this, the third community theatre he has launched. He also talks about what the theatre needs in the months ahead and reports the Valerie Harper production of All Under Heaven which ran last weekend broke even getting the theatre off to an excellent start. He talks about the state of community theatre today, how he got into the theatre business in college, and the new Theatre’s Operating Budget situation. Photo by WPCNR News. 

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CRIMESTOPPER’S NOTEBOOK: WPPD Cautionary Advisories for Holiday Season

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WPCNR CRIMESTOPPERS NOTEBOOK. From Captain Ann FitzSimmons, White Plains Police Department. November 28, 2004: The Detective Division of the White Plains Police Department has issued a series of precautions residents of White Plains and visitors should take to protect themselves during the next five weeks. Released today, the police advise citizens to take the following preemptive measures when traveling and shopping:

 


While you are out shopping….



  • Stay alert and be aware of what is going on around you.

  • Park in a well lighted space, lock the car, close the windows and place packages in the trunk.

  • Avoid carrying cash, use a check or credit card whenever possible.

  • Carry your wallet in a front pocket or inside a coat; carry a purse close to your body.

  • Teach children that accompany you to stay close and arrange a spot to meet if separated.

 


If you are out for the evening….



  • Turn on lights and leave a radio or TV on so it looks like someone is home.

  • Lock all doors and windows when you leave, even if just for a minute.

  • Display gifts so they cannot be seen from the outside.

  • If you drink alcoholic beverages remember to have a Designated Driver.

 


If you are away for the holidays…



  • Call 422-6111 (Police Bureau) and ask for your home to be checked in your absence.

  • Get an automatic timer for your lights.

  • Make certain that you arrange to have the mail and newspaper delivery stopped or picked up by a trusted neighbor.

  • Arrange to have your driveway and walk shoveled in the event of snow.

 


Take a holiday inventory….



  • Record serial numbers, take photos or videos and list descriptions of things like TVs, DVDs, stereo equipment, and jewelry.  If your home is burglarized this inventory can help identify stolen items and make it easier to file insurance claims.

 


Do your part to make the holidays a safe and happy time for everybody- except criminals


 

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That Championship Season Ends as Tigers Overwhelm Stepinac, 33-0.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. November 27, 2003, UPDATED 11:00 P.M. E.S.T. WITH PIX DETAILS: After a scoreless first quarter, White Plains took command of today’s Turkey Bowl game at Parker Stadium on an 11-yard bootleg touchdown run by Quarterback Mike Devere at the beginning of the second quarter and a 1 yard-over-the-top run by Spencer Ridenhour with 3 minutes to go in the first half, to give the Tigers a 13-0 lead at halftime. In the third quarter the Tigers scored three touchdowns to put the contest away, with Ike Nduka getting the clinching third TD on a 34-yard run through a huge hole. The Tigers completed their season with a 10-1 record before a throng of over 1,000 fans in Parker Stadium.



DEVERE COMING IN FOR A LANDING: Mike Devere in center of picture at the 7 yard line rolling around left end for the first touchdown of the game in Parker Stadium at the beginning of the second quarter. Photo by WPCNR Sports


It was a perfect Turkey Day at Parker Stadium as the crowd filed in, the temperature at 10:30 in the upper 40s and sunny in the annual Turkey Bowl game. In a pregame ritual (which lasted longer than the World Series pregame which nobody seemed to mind), Eric Benson, Stepinac’s Junior Varsity Coach and Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains were honored as the “Dedicatees” of today’s game, and the Seniors from the 2003 White Plains Tigers were introduced for the last time.


 



IT WAS “W.P.” ‘s DAY: The White Plains High School Marching Band formed the high school letters, played Touchdown, The National Anthem, the Alma Mater, and Eye of the Tiger at pregame festivities. Photo by WPCNR Sports


 



MAYOR DELFINO, White Plains native, was honored as one of the 2 “Dedicatees” of the 33rd Turkey Bowl Game. The Mayor, left, receives a plaque from Dr. Anthony Marano. Photo by WPCNR Sports.


 



THE LAST INTRODUCTION: White Plains Tiger Seniors right, await the thrill of their last introductions at Parker Stadium: The Seniors on their last day of glory are: Keven Dulanto, Keith Shaw, Chris Osher,  Joe Vitanza, Gabe Robles, Anthony Fuca, Jason Indelicato, Pete McGill,  Michael Della Posta, John Corretti,  Spencer Ridenhour,  Ryan Smalls,  Rashone Foote, Joe Roberson,  Kyle Eifler,  Sean McLaughlin,  Mike Devere,  Mark Taylor, Evan McGuire, and Michael Johnson. Photo by WPCNR Sports.


 


In the first quarter, Stepinac’s Crusaders took the ball with F.J. Collins taking the kickoff eluding all Tigers in the kickoff melee at the 25 yard line except one,  Keith Shaw, who tripped Collins up just as he was about to break into the clear at the 28. The red, white and blue started smartly.


 


 


 


Crusaders Fail to Convert Tiger Miscues.


 


Stepinac had three chances to get on the scoreboard first in the opening quarter but White Plains’ defense rose to the occasion all three times.


 


On first down Rich Delascio, Step QB, caught the Tiger secondary napping launching a long spiral 40 yard intended for Paul Russo on a post pattern who had the closest Tiger beaten by 4 steps, but the pass was just overthrown. On second down Andrew Clark sliced off tackle for 7, Charlie Nyakeh ran for the first down and thensome, giving Step a first down on the Crusader 42. The Tigers tightened and Stepinac punted. However the Tiger cover man touched the ball and the Crusaders fell on it for a first down on the Tiger 24.


 


The Tigers sacked Delascio back at the 28 on first down, and after a running play went nowhere, Ryan Smalls coming untouched around left end flattened Delascio for another sack at the 25. A draw play went nowhere on 4th and the Tigers took over.


 


Lane’s Immaculate Denial.


 


Devere handed to Spencer Ridenhour on first down at the 25 and Spence could not find the handle, and Stepinac recovered the loose ball on the 20. Another opportunity to get on the scoreboard was presented to the Crusaders. However they immediately squandered field position by a holding penalty which made it 1st and 20 on the 30. Three plays got nowhere.


 


On 4th down on the 32, Delascio looked to the endzone right up the middle got it there and Mike Lane leaping high in the air from behind the receiver tipped it away saving a touchdown. It was a perfectly timed, immaculate denial. Again the Tigers took over. Six minutes had gone by and the Tigers were about to run their second play. Kudos to the Tiger defense for stopping.


 


 


Air Devere Turns Game Around.


 


After two running plays and a holding set the Tigers back to their own 25 facing a 3rd and 17, Devere made the big play. Given plenty time by the Tiger offensive line Devere stood tall in the pocket and lofted a long spiral down the middle, hitting Spencer Ridenhour behind the deep man at the Crusader 30 yard line, and a shoestring tackle at Spence’s ankle by F. J. Collins saved a touchdown. Spence had the ball knocked loose as he hit the gridiron, but the officials ruled the fumble was caused by him hitting the ground. Tiger First Down on the Crusader 25.


 


Two running plays to Ridenhour and Nduka gave the Orange and Black a 3rd and 5 on the 20, and Devere handed off to the “Third Man,” Paul Scotman who followed the parting Crusader line on an angle and picked up 8 yards to the 12 yard line, 1st down.


 


A plug into the line by Ike NDuka moved the ball to the 10 as the first quarter ended, 0-0.


 


On the first play of the second quarter, Devere drifted back on 2nd down, rolled to his left, looking right, saw daylight and lit out around left end for the goaline flag,  running on an angle. He got a great block at the 8 and jammed it inside the flag for a 6-0 lead. Mike Lane kicked the point for a 7-0 lead. 8 Plays, 70 yards, 7 points.


 


Crusader Cough-Up Sets Up Tigers.


 


White Plains stopped the Crusaders on their next series, and could not get it going on their next possession, either, being forced to punt. Stepinac took over at their own 29, and on their first play Andrew Clark fumbled and a Tiger pounced on it at the Step 33. A key break.


 


The Tigers Ridenhour got outside leftend and scampered 8 yards to the 25. Nduka on a short run made it 3rd and 1 on the 24. Paul Scotman dove for the first down on the 22. After runs by Nduka and Scotman made it 3rd and 6 on the 17, Nduka got the call.


 


Ike hit the line, seemed stopped, then “the pile” of Crusaders, incredibly, was moving with Nduka under it…and miraculously he was free and moving on an angle the far side, being dragged down finally at the Crusader 4.


 



TouchDOWN! TouchDOWN! Spencer Ridenhour through the line for 6. Spencer Ridenhour ran it once. Then ran it twice, leaping into the middle and romping through for the TD to make it 13-0 with about 4 minutes in the half. It was his 56th Tiger TD of his career. Spencer is just to the right of the zebra, in center of photo, dipping his toe in paydirt. Photo by WPCNR Sports.


 



ANOTHER MEMORY FROM “THE REASON:” Ryan Smalls, also known as “The Prosecutor,” at the 5 in top center of your picture trying to evade a last tackler as time ticks off in the first half. The Tigers had one more chance in the first half when Keith Shaw blocked a punt and the “good hands man,” Shawn Jimison (former Church Street Challenger reporter), picked it up and rambled to the Crusader 10 with 9 seconds to go in the half. A great pass to Ryan Smalls was caught by Ryan at the 10 in the right flat, and on his last memorable play as a Tiger, Ryan tried to get out of bounds but not in time at the 2. It was a reprise of the many clutch moments Mr. Smalls has given us this season. New Rochelle remembers him. Photo by WPCNR Sports


 


A Muffed Onside Kick, Encroachment Doom Crusaders.


 


The Second half the Tigers came out smoking thanks to a questionable decision. The Crusaders kicked off short. It appeared to be an intended onside kick, but it did not go 10 yards, and the Tigers recovered it on the Step 48. Not a good thing.


 


Five plays later the Tigers scored. Ridenhour rushed twice for 8 yards. Scotman rushed for 1, and then on 4th and 1, the Crusader line was flagged for “encroachment.” Automatic first down for the Orange and Black.


 


On the very next play, they should have encroached.


 


 because the Crusader line was just ploughed out of the way by the Men in Black and Nduka burst into the seconardy running, angling right, and the Crusaders just seemed to watch him as he dashed into the corner of the endzone for a 34 yard touchdown run to make it 19-0 with 9:17 to go in the third quarter.


 



NDUKA NUKES ‘EM: Ike Nduka on a slant run in the endzone (at far side of field near telephone pole) has just raced 34 yards weaving through some lacklustre Crusader pursuit to give the tigers a 19-0 lead. Photo by WPCNR Sports.


 


21 Minutes of Purgatory.


 


Fired up, White Plains stopped Stepinac on their next possession, took over at their own 35 after a punt. A Devere to Evan McGuire 3rd down pass gave the Tigers a first down on the Stepinac 45.


 


On 3rd and 5 at the Crusader 42, Devere threw to Paul Scotman hitting him on the sideline at the 20,  for his third big 3rd down play of the day, and “The Third Man” scampered all the way to the Stepinac 2.



THE FLYING TIGERS IN ACTION: Mike Devere (15), completing a Tiger classic play  in third quarter action, spinning to handoff to Spencer Ridenhour (33), the tail gunner on the Tiger Squadron. Photo by WPCNR Sports


 


 


 



THE LAST HANDOFF: Spencer Ridenhour scores the final touchdown of his White Plains career, on his last handoff as a Tiger. He is in the middle under the pile.  Photo by WPCNR Sports


 


On the next play, Spencer Ridenhour scored the final and 57th touchdown of his White Plains career up the gut in his classic style to make the score 25-0. Ryan Smalls on a 2-point conversion attempt hit Mike Devere for the 2 points, to make it 27-0.


 


The Tiger final score came after the Tigers returned a punt, and took over at the Stepinac 35 with a first and 10. Mike Devere found Tommy Lee all alone in the endzone under the goal posts, no Crusader within 10 yard of him in either direction for a 35 yard touchdown pass. That ended the scoring at 33-0. Mike Lane intercepted a pass to stall a Crusader drive in the 4th quarter.


 


Bright Lights Coming On.


 


Coach Santa-Donato played his Juniors and Sophomores in the 4th quarter and  it appeared the torch was being passed to the next generation of Tigers.


 


They looked good, too.  Kevin Avery at quarterback made crisp handoffs to mobile Tigers Roberson Joseph and Jeff Bagley, Jr., moving the ball very nicely.  Joseph broke away for a 52 yard run at the close of the game setting up the Tigers with a 1st and goal at the Crusader 11. But, with plenty of time to score a touchdown, Coach Santa-Donato told Avery to take a knee on four plays.


 


This was quite a contrast in sportsmanship in coaching from what the Rockland coaching staff did three weeks ago when they consistently had their boys try to drive the ball in for a score in the last two minutes of play against White Plains even though they had a 34-7 lead.


 


Westchester’s Best Marching Band Keeps ‘em In Their Seats.


 


Halftime was highlighted by a 20-minute spectacular show staged by Lesley Tompkins directing the 89-member White Plains High School Marching Band, through a cosmic routine in which they held the big crowd spellbound to the sounds of All-Star, Atomic Dog, Let it Whip, Neutron Dance,We Like to Party (We are the Tigers),  and Skater Boy.



BAND AND CHEERLEADERS REACH DETENTE! The White Plains Cheerleaders executed a precision choreographed routine while the band played  Atomic Dog. Hope this is the start of something big! Photo by WPCNR Sports


 



 


THE DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND IN MOTION PLAY: Spectacular moving formation featuring rotating marching diamonds was the highlight of the half-time show performed by the band. Photo by WPCNR Sports.


 


 


 


The band played six numbers, creating  kaleidoscopic shapes and maneuvers and staged “Marching Double Diamonds” on the field. They showed they could dance and demonstrated one of the strongest brass sections we have heard on We Like to Party, whose trumpets carried the ball while the woodwind section danced.


 


Tompkins created a program that the band performed with quick-step precision, belting out a big boss sound while executing complex marching maneuvers without losing their volume, tempo, or speed (not easy to do).


 



THE LAST VICTORY WALK: The 2003 League I-A South Champions on their traditional handshake at game’s end. Thanks Mike, Thanks Spencer, and Ryan, and Keith, and Pablo and Evan, and Ike, and Paul, and Night Train, and all the Tigers for the memories. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

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