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WPCNR CITY HALL HERALD. From the Mayor’s Press Office. May 21, 2003: Mayor Joseph M. Delfino and White Plains Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Connors will hold a news conference Thursday at 4 PM in City Hall to announce a new city youth initiative involving White Plains Middle School Students. The announcement will be made in the City Hall Common Council Chamber at 255 Main Street.
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WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. By John F. Bailey. May 21, 2003. UPDATED 3 P.M. E.D.T.: The cozy little Democratic “backroom” at 170 East Post Poad in White Plains will be the scene of another contentious fray involving ethnicity and qualifications this evening at 7:30 PM when the Democratic County Committee of District Leaders meets.
According to sources familiar with the agenda, supporters of Kathy Davidson, an African-American with reportedly no family court experience for County Family Court Judge, will attempt to pass petition rules designed to make it more difficult for miffed nominee, Susan Pollet, who is white and has practiced extensively in family court, to collect 2,000 signatures on petitions needed for her to primary Ms. Davidson, the Democratic County Committee nominee in September.
Primary Prevention Plan
Maureen Keating Tsuchiya, Campaign Manager for Ms. Pollet, (and former Co-Chair of the New Castle Democrats), told WPCNR that Arnold Klugman of New Rochelle and Reginald Lafayette of Mount Vernon, supporters of Ms. Davidson are spearheading a movement to present petition rules that will complicate Ms. Pollet’s primary attempt.
Discriminating Against Whites AND a Conflict of Interest?
Adding to the drama of this primary prevention maneuver, is the spectacle of Mr. Lafayette, who is African American, being a party to the newly proposed petition rules, when as Democrat Commissioner of the Board of Elections, he will rule on their admissibility and appropriateness, unless he recuses himself and lets his Deputy Commissioner make the decision. Mr. Lafayette in his position will also be able to rule on the admissability of signatures signed on Pollet’s petitions, which Ms. Tsuchiya alleges, is a conflict of interest.
Rules Seek to Limit Petition-Carriers, Who Can Sign.
According to Ms. Keating-Tsuchiya, the rules that Mr. Klugman and Mr. Lafayette are proposing would define the credentials of who could sign Ms. Pollet’s petitions, and also define who was allowed to carry petitions for Ms. Pollet.
Ms. Keating-Tsuchiya charged in addition that Mr. Klugman and Mr. Lafayette want Mr. Latimer to agree to prohibit any announcements of Ms. Pollet’s campaign activities from being announced in Mr. Latimer’s “News Splash” that is distributed to County Democrats. Klugman and Lafayette may feel that since rebel Pollet is not the nominated candidate that she does not deserve equal time in the official party publication.
Mr. Klugman, a strong Davidsion supporter, was furious at Ms. Davidson being challenged at the nominating convention, and precipated a mass walkout at that affair, when he told Democrats assembled, that he was tired of the issue of qualifications for office being raised when “a person of color” (Ms. Davidson) was involved. Ms. Pollet’s supporters said that Ms. Pollet with her extensive family court practice was more qualified for the position than Ms. Davidson.
Mr. Klugman’s blunt statement shocked many.
As Reported in WPCNR
The Pollet effort provoked controversy when she first contested the nomination of Ms. Davidson at the nominating convention of April 9.
On that evening of shock and awe, according to Ms. Tsuchiya, Jan Wells, speaking on behalf of Ms. Pollet, said Ms. Pollet was very qualified to be Family Court Judge, based on her long experience in court on family law cases as Senior Court Attorney in the Westchester County Family Court.
Mr. Klugman, who strongly supported Noam Bramson (the Andy Spano “pick”), in his primary against Ron Tocci last year, challenged Ms. Pollet’s experience, as opposed to Ms.Davidson’s lack of family court experience, as a reason to primary, saying,
“I’m sick and tired of this obsession with qualifications, why is it the only time people primary is when a person of color is running?”
This statement was described as shocking to the gathering. Chairman of the Bedford Democrats, Mitchell Weingarten and the Co-Chairs of the New Castle Democrats, Adrian Kramer and Melissa Zuckerman abruptly walked out of the meeting after this statement.
Chairman Above Fray. Washing Hands?
Keating-Tsuchiya reports to WPCNR that George Latimer, Chairman of the Westchester County Democratic Committee has said he would “let the committee vote its will,” indicating to her he would not attempt to prevent the rules being offered.
“I’m just sick over this,” Tsuchiya told the CitizeNetReporter.
Ms. Pollet supporters can begin collecting signatures June 3, and have until early July to get their petitions in.
It is just two weeks since White Plains City Democratic Leaders voted to deny Eridania Camacho-Quinn the third Common Council Candidacy, much to the anger and hurt of Hispanics and African-American District Leaders who supported her, and had been lead to believe by the Democratic City Nominating Committee that they would nominate her.
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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey May 21, 2003 UPDATED WITH NEWEST PICTURES, 1 PM E.D.T.: Yours truly, Johnny Flash went flying Monday, ascending to the top of the 35-story City Center North Building under construction on Main Street, to see for myself what a little height can do. I was accompanied by the Superintendent of HRH Construction, Bruce Wicks, and got an in-person look of what people who are different from you and me will be seeing from “the top of White Plains.”
Feeling the Power of Achievement.
I felt the power of man’s achievement surrounding and supporting me on the slab platforms and stalwart pillars lofting mere mortals into the Heavens. I felt the will of this amazing creation that was demolitioned, dug-out, foundationed, pillared, mortared, welded, and coordinated precisely by thousands of no nonsense hands of hundreds of construction workers, all brothers in time to the men and women who have hammered out America for over 200 years.
The brutal, deftly wielded power of Cappelli’s Army of cranes, workhorse trucks and flame-wielding creators of a monumental sculpture makes a statement mere art never makes. The Center and its tower existence where once there was a hole injects downtown White Plains with new hustle and hope in the streets. City Center and its Tower is forging a legacy now in its “phoenix” of girders, mortar, steel, pipe and wire being seamlessly orchestrated in a creative show of will now performing relentlessly for about 500 days on the center, about 660 days from the the day the first backhoe punched a hole in Macy’s.
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michelle Schoenfeld. May 20, 2003: One hundred-one White Plains High School students from seven Spring Varsity Teams were honored as Scholar-Athletes by the Board of Education at its May Regular Meeting last week. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association awards this status, based upon a team average of 90 or better from a specified number of athletes. Athletic Director Mario Scarano presented the teams and their coaches to the Board.
From Men’s Lacrosse, they were Erik Lantier, Thomas Lee and Brian O’Keefe.
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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. May 19, 2003: The Executive Director of Queens Theatre in the Park, the former New York State Pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair that has been turned into a successful arts center with a year-round schedule in Flushing Meadow Park, will be presenting a proposal to the White Plains Common Council this evening along with Westco Productions and Centerpoint Stage.
Jeffrey Rosenstock, Executive Director at the Queens venue since 1989 will be making a presentation tonight at the Common Council, along with a partner. Mr. Rosenstock has presided over the growth and multi-cultural and diverse programming mix at the 475-seat Queens Theatre in the Park for about fourteen years, coming to the theatre in 1989. The Queens Theatre in the Park is supported by the New York Office of Cultural Affairs, receives numerous state supported grants, and has consistently produced a steady eclectic mix of plays, musicals, artists, and renowned cultural productions in his tenure. The Theatre itself seats slightly more than the 425-seat White Plains Performing Arts Center now under construction.
A sampling of plays and attractions at the Queens Theatre appears to fit the mission of the White Plains Performing Arts Center. In just the last six months, its “Theatre Series” has presented a premiere play, oldfriends.com with Pat Carroll and Patricia Connolly; Home, a Tony Award Nominee “Best Play,” and premiered American Dreams: Lost & Found, the play by Studs Terkel; a new production of As You Like It; Master Class, the Tony Award “Best Play”; and is currently presenting the new 1930s musical, Dames at Sea. It produced and continues to present the first Latino Artists Festival in 1998, runs a Black Cultural Festival. The full extent of their diversity of programming can be viewed on their website at www.queenstheatre.org.
“QTP” as it is known in the anachronym-obcessed world of the arts, is an experienced, fully booked community arts center already operating in a demographically diverse semi-suburban setting, with a proven track record.
The appeal of the Queens Theatre in the Park would appear to be the ability to offer touring companies and artists it books a secondary venture in the metropolitan New York area: The White Plains Performing Arts Centre, a strong advantage for any artistic director.
They also appear to offer an in-place and functioning theatre venue of the same size and audience demographics as the White Plains Performing Arts Center will have to appeal to: the sophisticated Queens audiences of Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill and western Nassau County, the large Queens Latino population (25% of Queens residents are Hispanic) and Blacks
The Queens Theatre in the Park entry was a late entry in the theatre auditions to be held by the Common Council this evening at 7 at City Hall, getting their proposal in to City Hall two weeks ago. Mr. Rosenstock was out when WPCNR contacted the Queens Theatre in the Park Monday morning. At this time, it cannot be determined whether Mr. Rosentock is attempting to run the theatre as a separate venture, or what his other resources are, which most likely will be explained in detail this evening.
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WPCNR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS. From Dolf Biel. May 19, 2003: The League of Women Voters will have a “Candidates Night” on Tuesday, May 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Women’s Club on Ridgeway.
A public budget hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. in the high school.
The School board election and budget vote will be on June 3 at your
local polling place.
Absentee ballots are available. To obtain one, call Michele Schoenfeld at (914) 422-2071. She’ll mail out an application. Alternatively, they can be picked up in person at Ed House, 5 Homeside Lane. She suggests calling ahead to assure that someone who controls the ballots will be available when you arrive.
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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. May 17, 2003:I am proud to be part of the bipartisan leadership in the State Legislature which made the right choices for New York families by overriding the governor’s misguided vetoes, we ensured New York’s children would have access to quality education and would be prepared for success in a rapidly changing world.
Our bipartisan budget restored $1.1 billion of the governor’s $1.4 billion cut to education. The Legislature’s budget makes real investments in our future leaders and helps protect effective education programs such as pre-kindergarten and smaller classes, while avoiding teacher layoffs. Most importantly, this additional aid will enable Westchester school districts to operate more effectively and stabilize our property taxes.
The Legislature’s budget provides nearly $4.8 million more than the governor’s original budget for school districts in the 89th Assembly District, including:
• $2,146,565 for White Plains;
• $749,970 for Katonah-Lewisboro;
• $537,348 for Chappaqua;
• $489,202 for Bedford;
• $373,715 for Bryam Hills;
• $342,169 for Harrison; and
• $157,513 for Valhalla.
Leading our children toward a brighter future
The governor originally proposed increasing tuition by $1,400 at SUNY schools, while cutting Tuition Assistance Program grants by a third. Again, the Legislature fought the governor’s ill-advised choices, restoring the cuts to TAP, reducing the administration’s original tuition hike proposal by more than one-third to $950 for resident students, and restoring base aid to community colleges.
Our budget will provide more opportunities for our children to receive a higher education and help New York attract more businesses and high-paying jobs.
Together, the Assembly and Senate put aside partisan differences to do what’s right for our children and families by investing in education, ensuring quality healthcare and most importantly stabilizing property taxes. We put the needs of our constituents first. I’m proud of my veto override vote, and the leadership role that both houses of the Legislature played in standing up to the governor’s wrong choices. It’s an important victory for all New Yorkers, especially our children. I will continue working to ensure that our children have the resources and opportunities that they deserve to achieve their dreams.
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WPCNR ADVENTURER’S LOG. By Cynthia Goss. May 14, 2003 09°48’N 37°34’W / Atlantic Ocean — When Great American
II–the 53-foot trimaran taking a run at the Hong Kong-New York record
logged by the clipper ship Sea Witch in 1849–entered the doldrums, she had some breathing room. As GAII approached the doldrums, Sea Witch was an estimated 500 miles behind. But skipper Rich Wilson (Rockport, Mass.) and “Captain Larchmont,” Rich du Moulin (Larchmont, N.Y.) knew better: they knew this band of fickle
winds and squalls could be a parking lot–and it could easily devour the
space they put between themselves and their legendary nemesis.
Children from the Hommocks School in Larchmont, communicated by radio this week to their very own “Captain Larchmont,” Rich du Moulin. Their cheer gave heart to the adventurers.
Kids Reach Out to Sea
While Wilson and du Moulin have given school children a memorable learning experience, the children have been giving something back as well.
This week, Wilson and du Moulin talked for 30 minutes with students at the Hommocks School in Larchmont, New York. Students and teachers fired questions at the two sailors and then ended their session with a huge group cheer. Those small voices from so far away were powerful fuel for two sailors who have sailed alone on a vast ocean for 60 days.
After GAII emerged from the doldrums, Wilson and du Moulin had some bad news. While they only logged a 4.6-knot average speed in the doldrums, Sea Witch, the ghost ship, was much speedier, averaging a pace of 8.1 knots. But the good news was their pace was fast enough to retain a one-day lead on the ghost.
On Wednesday , GAII is sailing in Northeast trade winds and logging some of the best 24-hour runs in her history.
Report from the Atlantic
“In ideal conditions, with a following breeze and flat water, the boat
glides along like a toboggan on new snow,” said Wilson today in a radio broadcast. “She was built as a cruiser/racer 15 years ago and is not capable of the sustained high speeds of today’s modern racing multihulls. But she easily attains speeds of 15 knots and higher in these ideal conditions.”
On May 14, GAII logged 292 miles in 24 hours–the best run
Wilson and this boat have made together to date.
The Challenge: 185 Miles A Day for 15 Days to Beat The Ghost Ship Against Storms Headwinds, Lulls.
As of today, GAII is some 2,780 miles from New York. Wilson and du Moulin will have to cover that distance in 15 days in order to break Sea Witch’s record. But the strong Northeast trades they are enjoying today won’t last: storms, headwinds, and lulls in the breeze could easily lay in their path.
“We need to fly to have a shot at the record,” said du Moulin in a
satellite email report. “For the past two days, these Northeast trade winds have allowed us to put the pedal down. . . but we have to fly while we can.”
Two Weeks To Beat
For Wilson, du Moulin, and some 360,000 school children following their voyage, this ocean adventure could be over in just two weeks. Students have been schooled in math, meteorology, the hard lessons of life at sea, and a myriad of topics through the unique sitesALIVE! Internet-based programs Wilson has created around his record runs across the world’s oceans. But even when Wilson and du Moulin reach their destination at the Statue of Liberty, the educational efforts of sitesALIVE.com and its companion sitesALIVE Foundation will continue to bring other live adventures to children across the nation.
To break Sea Witch’s record, GAII will need to reach the Statue of Liberty during the week of May 26.
Jibes and Reachs
HOW THE PUBLIC CAN FOLLOW GREAT AMERICAN II: The website tracking the voyage of Great American II is http://www.sitesalive.com. Daily position reports and a Captain’s Log are posted on the site so classrooms, students, and families who purchase licenses can follow the progress of the boat. For information, go to http://www.sitesalive.com/oceanchallengelive/.
The saga of GAII will also be published in a number of national, regional, and local papers, in the Newspaper In Education supplements, and tracked on the AOL@SCHOOL program (keyword: sitesalive).
Great American II’s Newspaper In Education participation is supported by the sitesALIVE Foundation. Established in 2002, the Foundation addresses teacher training in computer technology and funding for budget-constrained schools. The mission of the foundation is to enhance K-12 education by promoting the use of technology with real-world, real-time content from around the globe.
Some 360,000 students are expected to follow the voyage of Great American II.
For a chart showing the relative positions of Great American II and Sea
Witch, go to
http://www.sitesalive.com/ocl/private/03s/pos/ocl3position.html
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WPCNR CITY HALL PRESS ROOM. From The Mayor’s Office. May 16, 2003: The Mayor’s Office announced Thursday evening that in Executive Session Wednesday evening Mayor Joseph Delfino and the Common Council agreed on individual salary increases for the Mayor and the six Common Council members of 3.75%. The total increase of the Mayor and Common Council members in dollars is about $12,000. Commissioners and Department heads were also slated to receive 3.75% increases.
The terse report from the Mayor’s Office noted that the total raises of salaried department heads and commissioners, and the Mayor and Council amounted to approximately 4% of the total budget of $104.8 Million.
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WPCNR TALK OF MAMARONECK AVENUE. By John F. Bailey. May 16, 2003: The White Plains Planning Board will consider a two-story medical office building complex next Tuesday evening, proposed for the southwest corner of the Mamaroneck and Rosedale Avenue intersection, just south of the Morgan Chase and Reliance Banks and across from the Mobil and Exxon service stations in the toney southend. The proposal seeks to convert the vacant former “Sassafras” Restaurant parking lot into an medical office complex. The Planning Board will also see the new public debut of Albert Pirro as a public relations liaison representing the project after the suspension of his law license..
The building proposes to be 10,170 square feet, two stories, rising to a height of 25 feet. It seeks no variances and is well within the zoned 19,090 square feet permitted on the site. The use is to provide medical offices for prospective health oriented tenants with 49 parking spaces proposed.
The project is proposed by the Elmsford firm, Autumn Properties & Development, with Angelo Monaco described as principal, and is expected to be presented to the Planning Board by Mr. Pirro who describes himself as a Zoning and Code Consultant. Mr. Pirro is head of the well-known state lobbying firm, Buley Public Affairs of Rye.
Pirro is embarking on his new life facilitating projects after having his law license suspended for three years by the Second Department of the state Appellate Court as a result of having been convicted of federal conspiracy, tax evasion and tax fraud in the year 2000. The suspension took effect Tuesday. He is reported by the Rye Town Planning Board as having represented a project in Rye in the recent past.
Autumn Properties & Development lists their law firm as Parish, Weiner & Maffia, Incorporated, also of Elmsford.