Hits: 0
WPCNR CITY HALL CORRIDORS. February 7, 2003: Colleagues and friends of Eileen Earl, city Budget Director for the last 14 years, will bid her fairwell this afternoon with a small ceremony at 4 PM. Today is Ms. Earl’s final day as financial wizard and guardian of the city exchequer. Long hailed as one of the architects of the city’s financial stability, Ms. Earl is stepping down after 23 years with the city.
Hits: 0
WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL DAYS. From National Weather Service. February 7, 2003: A moderate to intense snowstorm system moving off the southern coast of Long Island has blanketed the White Plains area with approximately 2 inches of snow as of dawn Friday, and will intensify by midday. The storm has closed White Plains schools today. The snow is expected to end by evening. The complete National Weather Service Forecast:
…SNOW PICKING UP IN INTENSITY FOR THE MORNING RUSH…
AS OF 5 AM…1 TO 1 1/2 INCHES HAD ALREADY FALLEN ACROSS THE REGION. THE INTENSITY OF THE SNOW WILL INCREASE BETWEEN 6 AND 7 AM…AND WILL CONTINUE AT A MODERATE RATE THROUGH THE MORNING RUSH. TRAVEL IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED THIS MORNING AS SNOW FALLS ARE RATES OF 1/2 TO LOCALLY 1 INCH PER HOUR. THE SNOW IS ALSO REDUCING VISIBILITY TO BELOW 1/2 A MILE.
THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST IS FORECAST TO INTENSIFY AND TRACK NORTHEAST TODAY…MOVING SOUTH AND EAST OF LONG ISLAND BY 250 MILES. LIGHT SNOW FALLING ACROSS THE AREA EARLY THIS
MORNING IS EXPECTED TO BECOME HEAVIER BY DAYBREAK…ESPECIALLY ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF LONG ISLAND AND SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT.
THIS SNOW WILL TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST LATE IN THE DAY AND DURING THE EVENING.
Hits: 0
WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. February 7, 2003: The White Plains City School District, unveiled a “rough cut” of the 2003-2004 School Budget Wednesday night at the second meeting of the city’s Annual Budget Committee.
The “Starting Point Budget” raises district expenditures 9%, to $138.4 Million from the 2002-03 total of $126.9 Million reflecting the new 3% pay raise granted teachers for 03-04, rises in pension benefit contributions required by the state, increased transportation, utility and maintenance costs, and suggested new initiatives to the budget.
The new “Starting Point Budget” is $138,387,074, up from $126.919,919. The largest single line item increase is Salaries, up 7.1% or $5,411,864 to $82,104,175 over the $76,692,311 of 02-03. This reflects, in part the 3% salary increase recently agreed to with the White Plains Teachers Association for 2003-04. The reason the salaries go up in total more than 3% is due to the incremental step raises built into the overall teachers contract based on accumulation of academic credits and longevity. Administration salary costs are included in that $82MM figure.
The second item doing the damage is a 17% increase in Fringe Benefits, totaling $3,533,439 more than this year’s budget of $20,851,944, for a total of $24,385,383. The increases in both wages and benefits are automatic and cannot be limited, according to Richard Lasselle, Assistant Superintendent for Business.
Health Costs and New York State Bungling of Pension Bucks Spike Fringies
The fringe benefits burden is weighted by the 2.4% payment required by the state to repair pension fund losses suffered from poor performing investments made by the State Comptroller’s Office, which handled the pension funds for teachers and New York State Employees the last three years. That payment is estimated at this time, according to Lasselle to be $755,604 of the $3,533,439 Fringe Benefit increase. The payment to the Teachers Retirement fund has not been determined yet, Lasselle told WPCNR.
Lasselle said he did not expect the Fringe Benefits portion of the budget to go higher, because retirement notices (received in January 31), are still being calculated by the School District and figured into the budget at this time. Lasselle expected the Fringe Benefits portion to go down, commensurately lowering the budget from the “Starting Point.” He added that this was a “worse case” scenario on Fringe Benefits.
Health, FICA Eat Money.
Other items that feed into the Fringe Benefit damage are a 15% increase in Health Insurance (up $1,799,680 to $14,051,180), and Social Security going up $795,600(15%).
The amounts scheduled in to the bare bones budget needed to maintain existing programs with no new initiatives, bring the budget to $136,324,542.
Items contributing to the $459,320 that bring the budget up to $136,324.542 are a 12% increase built in for utilities, ($230,654), and a 12% increase ($466,399)in other expenses, made up partly by a 69% jump in Maintenance Costs (contributing $272,651 to the $466,399) due to the older buildings in the district, and a doubling of Staff Development costs (contributing $117,413 to the $466,399 total). An additional$2,000,000 has been requested to bring the budget to the $138.4 MM level to address the following needs:
Pre-Kindergarten Saved.
The district has chosen to keep Pre-Kindergarten programs, and budgeted an $350,000 increase on top of the $150,000 the programs cost this year to assure that Pre-Kindergarten programs will be funded to the tune of the amount Governor Pataki’s educational budget proposes to eliminate ($350,000).
Five New Security Persons for Each Elementary School.
The Budget Committee appeared to agree strongly that the Pre-K reserve should be included, but had a problem with a request for five new security staff at a cost of $225,000. The district wants to add the security staff to supervise school buildings during afterschool hours. Comments asked what they the security would do and what tasks they would perform.
Four New Teachers for the High School.
The District added 4 new certified teachers to the high school staff because of enrollment, at a cost of $290,000. They include 1 Instrumental Music, and three teachers in the Science, Math, and Social Studies areas.
A Full-time Website Specialist.
In an effort to increase effectiveness and timely communicating through the School District website, they budgeted for a full-time webmaster who would maintain the website at a cost of $65,000.
The Budget Committee comments did not go along with this request at all, suggesting it should be outsourced. Mr. Lasselle said that is what is done now, and the feeling is of the administration, that the site could be updated, upgraded more frequently to better effect with a fulltime person, and that such a person would additionally help in training staff to use the website to better advantage.
Staff Development up $100M
The district desires to add $111,500 over the $500,000 that is spent now. Board of Education Member, William Pollak wondered aloud how much was being spent now, and Mr. Lasselle noted the $500,000 figure.
Staff Development Defended as “R & D”
Mr. Connors assured the gathering the staff development did not consist of payment for courses for staff, but instead conducted in-house training at the various schools, preparing teachers as they shifted upwards to new grades, and specialties within the system. Connors said one of the goals this year the Board requested of him was to put in place a cost-effectiveness analysis of the training programs which is being developed.
Enrichment Program Shift for Elementary Students Falling Behind.
An effort to convert After School and Enrichment Programs into Summer School programs was budgeted for $100,000. The objective of this initiative, is an effort to aid elementary school students who are in need of special attention academically, in a different, more effective way in order to meet the No Child Left Behind Federal mandates.
Developing New Policy Towards Placing the Developmentally Disabled.
A total of $793,500 has been requested in an effort to set up a three-part program to bring more special education students back to the district. WPCNR interprets this to be an initiative to cut Special Education costs which have been targeted by the Pataki budget.
The Bottom Line: 9% Up With Retirements Still Out.
The Special Education Initiative at $793,500, plus the Pre-K “insurance budgeting” of $350,000, the security personnel at $225,000, and the 4 new Certified Teachers at the high school make up half the initiative programs.
Theses new initiatives totaled $2,008,532, added to the $136,324,542 figure combine for a “Starting Point” Total Budget of $138,387,074, a total increase of 9%
Wish List Was $141MM.
The original requests from the schools, staff, and administrators of the district built a budget of $141,418,037, Mr. Lasselle noted at the outset of the evening (when WPCNR was not present, your reporter came in at approximately 9 PM.)
The Administration eliminated 26 new teaching positions at $1,885,000, 20 Classified positions at $897,750, and declined $301,890 in equipment and furniture requests, and $171,175 in additional supplies, postage and travel requests, trimming $3,030,963 from the $141,418037 wish list.
Back Next Week.
Mr. Connors thanked the committee, and looked forward to hearing more of their comments to help the district determine the fate of the initiatives presented. Mr. Lasselle noted the budget most likely would trim some with retirement analysis being conducted over the next few days.
The Annual Budget Committee reconvenes next Wednesday, February 12 at 7:30 PM at Education House. The meeting is open to the public.
White Plains Foresight.
WPCNR talked with a Board of Education member this evening about the budget, informally. “You should have seen my e-mails today,” he remarked, noting the Board of Education was not pleased either.
He said that he had gotten a flock of e-mails Thursday from members of the Budget Committee, and he noted they were more troubled than in previous years. He agreed with WPCNR’s suggestion that the initial 7 to 9% increase in the White Plains District was low compared to other districts in the region because the district had kept pace with needs on a more realistic basis the last four years. Our source agreed that other districts around Westchester County were in huge trouble, noting that the Rye School District was facing a 25% increase, to cite one example.
Assessments Hold Key to School Tax Increase
The last chart of the evening noted that when sales tax revenue begins to come in from the City Center Project and the influx of apartments coming to the city that budget pressures could ease.
Mr. Lasselle said that a 9% budget increase if assessments remained the same, would result in an 11.64% increase in the Tax Rate. If the budget was cut to the 7.1% bare bones budget of $136MM, and assessments remained the same the increase would be 9.17%.
However, if assessments were to go up as much as $3MM, a 9% increase results in a 10.6% tax increase, a 7%, an 8.16% increase.
A source familiar with the White Plains current trend in assessments which will be finalized March 31, told WPCNR Thursday that the assessments right now look “flat,” perhaps slightly down, but they are not up.
What does this mean in terms of a White Plains resident’s school tax? An 11.64% increase in the tax rate on a typical home assessed at $18,500 with a Star Exemption of 4,750 would result in a $521 increase in your School Tax, from $4,481 to $5,002.
Hits: 0
WPCNR THE CAPPELLI NEWS, FRIDAY UPDATE, By John Bailey and Cappelli Enterprises News Bureau. February 7, 2003: A “Topping Off” ceremony for the retail/entertainment portion of the new $320 million, 1.1 million-square-foot City Center in downtown White Plains, marking the half-way point in construction scheduled for this afternoon was postponed until sometime next week according to a construction supervisor on the site. Nevertheless, to get a “leg up,” a piece of the top was put in place using interior welding workers to secure it during the light snowfall this afternoon.
City Center will also include 600 luxury residences in two 35-foot towers and another 40 loft-style apartments in an adjacent building. Both are slated for completion in mid-2004.
WPCNR has also learned that Cappelli Enterprises has leased two-thirds of the City Center, with the exception of the second floor. The firm is looking at leasing that second floor space to 2 or 3 organizations, and is considering the possibility of converting the areas backed up to the North Tower into office space. Interest in the second floor is said to be good.
Geoffrey Thompson, spokesman for Cappelli Enterprises said Thursday the North Tower ( now at 27 stories, according to Cappelli Vice President, Bruce Berg), would reach the 35th floor within a month, and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2004.
Thompson said Mr. Cappelli had decided to commence the South Tower construction back-to-back with the topping out of the North Tower, after daily observation of traffic flows. Cappelli feels that to move the cranes out and then bring them back later after the City Center was open would be too disruptive to traffic flow.
Hits: 0
WPCNR County Clarion-Ledger. From White Plains Hospital Medical Center Media Relations. February 6, 2003: Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, and Dr. Hillard Boskey, Director of White Plains Hospital
Center’s Emergency Department & Family Health Center, spoke Tuesday evening to over 300 concerned parents and students from five areas high schools at a forum, Teenage Parties: Every Parent’s Responsibility, held at Pleasantville High School.
Sponsored by the Westchester County Advisory Council on Underage Drinking, the workshop focused on parental responsibilities when hosting and sending their teens to gatherings and the legal and medical consequences that can
result when alcohol is present. D. A. Pirro and Dr. Boskey also presented a powerful educational video on alcohol and substance abuse: Dying High: Teens in the ER – filmed at White Plains Hospital Center’s Emergency Room last spring.
The Westchester County Advisory Council on Underage Drinking, a group of 15 community leaders from across Westchester, is working together in a coordinated effort to explore the causes and recommended solutions for the
underage drinking crisis. As part of their ongoing effort to educate parents and students about the dangers associated with teen drinking, the
Advisory Council will continue to sponsor future forums at area high schools across the county.
Hits: 0
WPCNR County Clarion-Ledger. By John F. Bailey. February 5, 2003: In the aftermath of the announcement that the Westchester County Legislative Delegation would refuse to sponsor a 1% budget-gap closing sales tax as requested by County Executive Andy Spano, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, leader of the Assembly delegation from Westchester County, indicated to WPCNR that the 1% Sales Tax never had a chance in the first place, that it was never even close to being offered to both Albany houses.
WPCNR asked Mr. Brodsky what had changed within the last week when it appeared that the 1% Sales Tax had a chance of being offered to both houses, according to remarks made by County Executive Spano, and a reported (in a Journal News article), conciliatory attitude of Mr. Brodsky, himself. Brodsky told WPCNR he and the rest of the delegation “were never in that position.” Asked why County Executive Andy Spano had indicated to reporters that he felt the delegation would sponsor the increase, Brodsky said, “You’ll have to ask him that question.
Brodsky: “No.” Bronz: “Frustrated.”
Eight members of the Westchester County Delegation of State Senators and Assemblypersons assembled in Albany Tuesday afternoon to give the county the bit of bad news that there would be no sales tax bailout. They gave the message to Lois Bronz, Chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, in a conference call according to The Journal News, which was then telephoned with apparently exclusive news of the decision in their own conference call with the eight legislators.
According to The Journal News, Bronz who was planning a meeting on the bill was informed of the decision.
Ms. Bronz told WPCNR Wednesday afternoon that the first she had learned of this was from a telephone call from Mr. Brodsky, not from her County Executive Andy Spano.
She said Mr. Brodsky called her to tell her “there was no consensus on the bill.” She said she had taken that to mean that the legislators were having problems with the “language” of the bill and that she was still, as of 4 PM Wednesday hopeful of passage of an amended bill. She said the date of the sales tax increase to go into effect was incorrect, being June 1, instead of March 1st, as requested and there were a few “technical difficulties.” Ms. Bronz said the corrected bill was sent back to Albany Wednesday morning.
Asked if the County Board of Legislators expected the bill to be offered, Ms. Bronz also told WPCNR that she and the other County Legislators had, based on what they had been told, expected that the Westchester delegation of state legislators were going to sponsor the bill in both state houses before yesterday afternoon’s events. “I’m frustrated,” she said.
Mr. Brodsky, when asked about this different “take” by Legislator Bronz on his conversation with her, said the bill can always be amended, but when asked by WPCNR if it would be coming out of committee and going to the floor, he said, “No.”
The Thrifty 8
A spokesperson in Senator Nicholas Spano’s office said that the
eight legislators “not in consensus on the bill” present on the conference call were: Senator Nicholas Spano, Yonkers, head of the New York Senate Westchester delegation, Senator Vincent LeibellThe Third, representing Northern Westchester, Assemblyman Adam Bradley (White Plains, North Castle, New Castle), Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, Assemblywoman Sandra Galef (Ossining), Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (Scarsdale-White Plains-New Rochelle), and Assemblyman James Gary Pretlow of Mount Vernon.
Brodsky: County Tactics to Blame.
Brodsky, commenting to WPCNR, explained why he and the delegation was never supportive of the sales tax increase: “ Number 1, the county got into this mess from fiscal gimmicks undertaken before the last election to reduce property taxes. Number 2, their remedies (to the budget gap) were deeply unfair and regional, and let big companies off the hook entirely.” Brodsky added a “Number 3,” stating that the 1% sales tax increase would have had residents paying up to $500 a year more in sales tax, as opposed to only $100 more in property taxes on average for most residents, if the county raised the property taxes instead.
“It was not fair. It burdened the working poor, it did not treat municipalities fairly.” He said, and said he had told Ms. Bronz this in his original call to her.
The Assemblyman indicated the delegation was not pleased with County Executive Spano’s campaign for the sales tax: “The tactics they used, using campaign funds, the advertising. They were awful.”
Ms. Bronz said the county disagreed with Mr. Brodsky’s figure of $100. She said “That is the problem, the variation in (property) taxes in so many different communities.”
The County Executive Office responds.
Susan Tolchin, Chief Spokesperson for County Executive Andy Spano, asked to explain this contradiction of impressions as to whether the 1% Sales Tax was truly dead, and the ultimate fate of the bill that was dead one day and on life support the next, told WPCNR, “We’re still plugging away, working very hard. You know Albany, something may be dead one day and revived the next. If the Assembly delegation fails to act, the people of Westchester will face a senseless double digit increase in property taxes.”
Hits: 0
WPCNR WESTCHESTER TEEN WATCH. From th Westchester County Department of Communications. February 4, 2003:
Wednesday evening, County Executive Andy Spano will hold his follow-up to his December Conversation on Underage Drinking at Valhalla High School.
More than 100 young people from at least 30 Westchester high schools are expected to attend a meeting Wednesday, Feb. 5 with County Executive Andy Spano. This meeting is a follow-up to a Dec. 12 teen drinking summit, where students enthusiastically shared their ideas about effective alcohol-prevention initiatives. The meeting will take place in Cafeteria B at Valhalla High School, 300 Columbus Ave., from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
“This meeting Wednesday is an outgrowth of our December summit, where the students pulled no punches in telling us what they liked and didn’t like about some of the ideas we presented. And they also suggested that they themselves could come up with some better solutions,” said Spano. “This will be their opportunity to share their ideas as well as for us to talk about some of our proposals. In addition, they will be given questionnaires to take back to their peers so we can find out what kinds of programs the kids think work.”
The county is still pursuing one of the three initiatives presented at the December summit – a proposal to amend the state Vehicle and Traffic Law and alcohol laws so that an underage person found in possession of liquor could lose a driver’s license for a year, or have his right to obtain a license suspended if he does not yet have a license.
“This would not be a criminal offense,” said Spano. “The teens, parents and school officials we heard from in December said a criminal approach was too severe.”
Also under consideration by the county is a new initiative: to push for state legislation to increase penalties to retailers who sell liquor to minors.
“Increased penalties have been effective in deterring merchants from selling cigarettes to minors,” said Spano. “It seems clear we should advocate for the same approach here. Like with cigarette merchants, those who illegally sell liquor to teens could lose their license to sell liquor and lose a lottery license as well.”
On Wednesday, following the give-and-take between Spano and the students, the Teen Drinking Action Council started several years ago by Spano will meet.
The council brings together student leaders with the mission of creating messages and activities that support an alcohol/drug free lifestyle and innovative ways to spread that message to other students. Many students attending Wednesday night’s event are current members of the Teen Drinking Action Council. Other students are welcome to join.
The Teen Drinking Action Council meeting will include a discussion of a phone helpline run by teens for teens and planning for a barbecue to celebrate teens who support an alcohol/drug free lifestyle.
In addition to Wednesday’s meeting, the following events are scheduled dealing with underage drinking:
• On Feb. 25, Spano will meet with college presidents to explore the issues of drinking on campus.
• On March 6, Spano will host an evening conference for parents and community leaders to focus on parental involvement in a grass roots efforts to deal with the issue.
• And on April 7, Spano will reconvene a meeting with students to discuss what they found when they surveyed their schoolmates.
Hits: 0
WPCNR FOR THE RECORD. From Common Council President Benjamin Boykin. February 3, 2003: Monday evening, after Mayor Delfino delivered his State of the City Address, he turned the floor over to Council President Ben Boykin for the Council’s view.
In his address, he called for a redevelopment of Lexington Avenue between Fischer Avenue and Post Road. He said the council would work to get the Building Department to ease supplemental building code restrictions that make White Plains projects more expensive.
Mr. Boykin stressed that the council has given the Mayor their input as to what should be included in his lPhase III Revitalization Plan and were looking forward to seeing it. He said the council would work toward providing more affordable housing in White Plains. He said the council would expect studies to be executed of any future downtown development. Here is Mr. Boykin’s speech:
ON BEHALF OF MY FIVE COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND MYSELF I WISH TO PRESENT A REVIEW OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE PAST YEAR AND AN OUTLOOK OF WHAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN 2003. THE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 2002 HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL AND THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION HAVE WORKED TOGETHER AND HAVE REMAINED FOCUSED ON THE BEST LONG-TERM INTERESTS FOR WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS.
WHITE PLAINS TODAY COULD BE BEST DESCRIBED AS A CITY IN THE MIDST OF A RENAISSANCE. WE ARE REINVESTING IN OUR TAX BASE AND BUILDING A BETTER CITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, 1,790 UNITS OF APARTMENTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED. OF THESE, 130 ARE AFFORABLE HOUSING UNITS. 1,361 OF THE APPROVED UNITS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH COMPLETION SCHEDULED DURING THIS YEAR AND EARLY 2004. THE MOMENTUM IS GROWING AS WE PREPARE FOR:
· CITY CENTER: A MAJOR RETAIL COMPLEX INCLUDING A 15 SCREEN MEGAPLEX THEATER, RESTAURANTS, STORES, A 2,200 CAR GARAGE AND APARTMENTS.
· FORTUNOFF: 180,000 SQUARE-FOOT SPECIALTY STORE FOR THIS NATIONALLY RENOWNED RETAILER PLUS 75,000 SQUARE FEET OF ANCILLARY RETAIL SPACE.
· A 400-SEAT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT THE CITY CENTER AND A NEW PARK AND FOUNTAIN AT THE INTERSECTION OF MAMARONECK AVE. AND MAIN ST.
· A DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDING NEW LANTERNS, BENCHES AND IMPROVED CURBING, JUTOUTS AND CROSSWALKS.
IN ADDITION, A 57,000 SQUARE FOOT STOP & SHOP, THE CITY’S ONLY LARGE-SCALE MODERN SUPERMARKET, OPENED IN DECEMBER 2002.
THE COMPLETION OF THESE PROJECTS, WHICH INVOLVE NEW RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY AND NEW RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES, WILL PRODUCE A DOWNTOWN RICH IN CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS AND GENERATE ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE WHICH WILL PROMOTE BOTH GREATER TAX STABILITY AND CONTINUATION OF HIGH-QUALITY CITY SERVICES. ALL PROPOSALS NOW UNDERWAY WERE SUBJECTED TO INTENSIVE REVIEW TO INSURE THAT THE CITY’S INFRASTRUCTURE WAS SUFFICIENT TO HANDLE INCREASED VOLUMES OF TRAFFIC AND PARKING WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY’S RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
NOT ALL PROJECTS APPROVED SINCE 2001 ARE UNDERWAY. CONSTRUCTION OF JEFFERSON PLACE, A 281 APARTMENT RESIDENCE ON MAMARONECK AVE., IS STALLED DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS WHILE THE HAMILTON, A 106 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING AT CHURCH AND BARKER AND 42 UNITS OF HOUSING FOR LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES AND SENIORS AT SO. KENSICO AND HADDEN HAVE YET TO BREAK GROUND. WE INTEND TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND CITY IF THESE PROJECTS DO NOT HAPPEN.
MORE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS ARE EXPECTED IN 2003. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE VISION FOR A VIBRANT AND LIVABLE DOWNTOWN AND DOES NOT OVERLOAD OUR TRAFFIC AND PARKING INFRASTRUCTURE. WE MUST KNOW THE LIMITS OF OUR PRESENT AND POTENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SERVING VARIOUS KINDS OF USES IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA AND WILL REQUEST PROFESSIONAL STUDIES TO ASSIST THE CITY IN EVALUATING FUTURE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS.
WHILE DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PROCEEDS, WE NEED TO INSURE THAT THE HIGH QUALITY OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED. NEW MEASURES TO CALM TRAFFIC AS IT PASSES THROUGH CLOSE-IN AREAS SUCH AS BATTLE HILL, FISHER HILL, THE HIGHLANDS AND NORTH BROADWAY SHOULD BE EVALUATED AND, IF ACCEPTABLE TO RESIDENTS, ADOPTED.
WE HAVE PROVIDED THE ADMINISTRATION WITH OUR IDEAS REGARDING PHASE 3 OF THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PLAN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING THIS PLAN AND GETTING PUBLIC INPUT PRIOR TO ITS APPROVAL AND ENACTMENT IN 2003.
WHILE THE PROGNOSIS FOR INCREASED SALES AND PROPERTY TAXES FROM INCREASED BUSINESS ACTIVITY IS ENCOURAGING IN THE LONG TERM, FISCAL 2003-04 WILL BE A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR THE CITY’S BUDGET. BECAUSE NEARLY ALL OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL NOT BE IN OPERATION AT BUDGET TIME AND BECAUSE SALES TAX REVENUES FROM EXISTING STORES REFLECT THE CURRENT ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, THE TAX OUTLOOK FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING. THE IMPACT OF INCREASED BUSINESS ACTIVITY WILL BEGIN TO HAVE A STRONG BENEFICIAL IMPACT ON THE CITY’S STRUCTURE IN 2004-05 AND THEREAFTER.
SOME OF THE CITY’S SUPPLEMENTAL PLUMBING CODES HAVE BEEN MODIFIED TO PERMIT THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE RECENTLY RELEASED NEW YORK STATE BUILDING CODE. WHILE THESE ARE POSITIVE MEASURES, WE WILL WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, DEVELOPERS, CONTRACTORS, ARCHITECTS AND LAND USE ATTORNEYS TO EXAMINE ALL THE CITY’S SUPPLEMENTAL BUILDING CODES TO ELIMINATE THOSE CODES WHICH UNNECESSARILY INFLATE CONSTRUCTION COSTS WITHOUT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SAFETY OR BENEFIT TO OCCUPANTS OF BUILDINGS IN THE CITY.
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WHITE PLAINS HAS GAINED ACCESS TO LAKEFRONT PROPERTY. THE CITY’S LONG-TERM LEASE PROVIDING ACCESS TO SILVER LAKE AND THE PURCHASE OF THE D’ELIA PROPERTY CONSTITUTE THE LARGEST ADDITIONS TO THE CITY’S OPEN SPACE AND RECREATIONAL INVENTORY IN MANY YEARS. WITH THE APPROVAL OF NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL’S SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATION IN 2002, DISCUSSIONS ARE IN UNDERWAY WITH THE HOSPITAL TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR THIS PROPERTY.
2002 SAW A MAJOR TRANSITION WITHIN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT WITH THE RETIREMENT OF FORMER COMMISSIONER DOLCE. THE COMMON COUNCIL INSISTED THAT A NATIONAL SEARCH BE LAUNCHED TO IDENTIFY THE BEST POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT. THE SELECTION OF COMMISSIONER STRAUB AND HIS APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS CHONG AND JENNINGS HAVE SERVED TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. DUE IN LARGE MEASURE TO THE FRESH IDEAS OF THE INCOMING COMMISSIONER AND DEPUTIES, THE “BADGE DRAIN” HAS COME TO AN END, CURRENT CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED WITH BOTH POLICE AND FIRE UNIONS, AND DEPARTMENTAL MORALE HAS IMPROVED. NEW POLICE BIKE PATROLS HAVE ADDED A NEW LEVEL OF PROTECTION WITH INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND CLOSE-IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS EVENING, THIS COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW OFFICE FACILITIES FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND NEW COMMUNITY SPACE FOR WINDBROOK RESIDENTS. NEARLY 100% OF THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WAS PROVIDED BY FEDERAL SOURCES IN THE EARLY 1990S. WITH VISIONARY THINKING AND CREATIVE PLANNING, WE ARE PROVIDING ADDITIIONAL GREEN SPACE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
LEXINGTON AVENUE BETWEEN FISHER AVE. AND POST RD. SHOULD BE REDEVELOPED. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS SHOULD BE USED TO UPGRADE FACADES AND STOREFRONTS THEREBY IMPROVING THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT IN THE CITY’S DENSEST NEIGHBORHOOD.
ILLEGAL OCCUPANCIES ARE A MAJOR THREAT TO CLOSE-IN NEIGHBORHOODS. WE WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO INCREASE MINIMUM FINES FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS OF THE CITY’S OCCUPANCY CODES AND TO PROMOTE THE HIRING OF MORE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
DURING 2002 WE PASSED LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF A CITY GRANT WRITER. THIS INDIVIDUAL WILL BE CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GENERATING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOURCES TO EXPAND CITY SERVICES WITHOUT GENERATING ADDITIONAL TAX BURDENS ON OUR RESIDENTS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE HIRING OF THIS INDIVIDUAL IN EARLY 2003.
IN ORDER TO FOSTER A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE CONTINUE TO URGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO RESUME REGULAR INFORMAL MEETINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS ISSUES OF COMMON INTEREST AND CONCERN.
WE BEGAN “CITIZENS TO BE HEARD” LAST YEAR AND WE ENCOURAGE OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO BRING YOUR ISSUES TO THE COMMON COUNCIL AT 7:00 PM EACH MONTH PRIOR TO THE START OF THE COUNCIL MEETING AT 7:30 PM.
WE NEED TO DO MORE TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING IN WHITE PLAINS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND REFINE POLICIES THAT SPELL OUT THE REQUIREMENTS AND INCENTIVES FOR THE PROVISION OF MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING BY DEVELOPERS WISHING TO BUILD IN OUR CITY. THE DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY IS ONE OF ITS MOST VALUABLE ASSETS. WE MUST WORK TO SEE THAT OUR CITY’S WORKFORCE, AT ALL LEVELS, AND OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, REFLECT OUR RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY.
THE YEAR 2003 PROMISES TO BE THE BEGINNING OF THE REALIZATION OF HOPES AND DREAMS BEGUN JUST A YEAR OR TWO AGO. BY YEAR-END, NEW WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS WILL BE LIVING AT THE FORMER “HOLE IN THE GROUND” AND AT CLAYTON PARK. WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE MOVIES, DINE AND SHOP AT THE CITY CENTER, ENJOY BOATING, FISHING OR PICNICKING AT OUR NEW LAKEFRONT PARK, SHOP AT FORTUNOFF, SEE LIVE PERFORMANCES AT OUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND STROLL BY AN EXCITING NEW PARK AND FOUNTAIN AT MAMARONECK AND MAIN.
THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF ALL THIS NEW ACTIVITY AND THE PROPOSALS WHICH FOLLOW WILL DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO MANAGE DEVELOPMENT IN A WAY THAT WILL ADD TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE SOURCE OF PRIDE WHICH WE HAVE IN OUR CITY.
THE WHITE PLAINS RENAISSANCE IS UPON US. WE ASK THE ADMINISTRATION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNCIL, AND WORKING WITH THE BID, BUSINESS OWNERS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICIAL CELEBRATION THIS FALL TO SHOWCASE THE WHITE PLAINS RENAISSANCE.
WE HAVE AN AMBITIOUS AGENDA FOR 2003. WORKING WITH THE MAYOR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO RETURN WHITE PLAINS TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS THE JEWEL IN WESTCHESTER’S CROWN AND TO CELEBRATE OUR RENAISSANCE.
Hits: 0
WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. February 3, 2003 UPDATED WITH PHOTOS: The Common Council Monday evening granted JPI, would-be developers of The Jefferson of White Plains 76 days to June 1st to pull together the $20 Million in financing they need to go ahead with their now-estimated $100 Million townhouse and luxury apartment complex at 300 Mamaroneck Avenue, demanding both copy of closing documents on the financing and a letter of credit for $500,000 to finance a Site Restoration Plan.
The council also approved the construction of a new White Plains Housing Authority Headquarters addition to 225 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, which is expected to begin construction this summer and be completed by the fall of 2004. All praised Mack Carter and the Housing Authority and the Winbrook residents and the city for working together to find a solution. “The Last Activist,” Ron Jackson was credited by all speakers for being a catalyst of the community effort
He said he would establish a training program to prepare public safety personnel for an “unlikely terrorist event,” begin new “outreach efforts to foster better police/community relationships,” and direct new initiatives in controlling speeding.
He said he was pleased to have hired a new Commissioner of Public Safety, Dr. Frank Straub, and his two Deputy Commissioners, David Chong and Charles Jennings, whom he said bring “tremendous expertise and professionalism to our department.”
Illegal Housing Crackdown
The Mayor said he would “expand our efforts in cracking down on illegal occupancies,” announcing that “our Building Department has been working extremely hard to address this growing problem but there is more that needs to be done.”
Mr. Delfino said he would create an Unsafe Housing Task Force, that “will combine and coordinate the efforts of our police, fire officials, building inspectors, and our law department to target illegal and unsafe housing conditions.”
In another initiative, he said he would propose legislation establishing guidelines and procedures for making new affordable housing units now being constructed available for those who qualify. He said he would “look for opportunities to encourage construction of new affordable housing.”
NYPH Talks Continue Positively.
The Mayor held out the possibility of reaching an accommodation with New York Presbyterian Hospital over acquiring parkland for the city: “I have been meeting with representatives of New York Hospital to discuss the issue of parkland. Everyone acknowledges that the hospital has no legal obligation to contribute any parkland to the City. However, in meeting with the hospital, I truly believe that the hospital is interested in our community concerns and I intend to continue my dialogue with them.”
Mayor Delfino noted his administration had finally come to a decision on bringing a cancer center to White Plains by approving the New York Presbyterian Hospital proton accelerator, biotech research project.
Legal Update
That project, incidentally, continues to be on hold while Concerned Citizens for Open Space lawsuit continues the discovery process. According to George Gretsas and sources close to the case, the discovery process is waiting on Thomas Whyatt’s response to the city’s motion to Judge Richard Mollea to dismiss the case on the grounds that Concerned Citizens for Open Space has no “standing” in the matter.
Projects All Around the Town
The Mayor said he would push for decisions on whether or not to double-deck the Waller/ Maple Avenue parking lot, and what to do about repairing City Hall. He said he was leaning towards the least costly option, repairing the heating and electrical only, but said there was no consensus.
Mr. Cappelli is Coming to Town.
Delfino predicted the city would be considering a proposal for a $300 Million hotel and condominium complex on Mamaroneck Avenue and Main Street. This will be presented Friday, it was reported by George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer when Louis Cappelli, City Center impresario, and new owner of that site is scheduled to appear before the Urban Renewal Board.
Mayor Delfino said he expected to see proposed improvements at the Galleria Mall and at the Pavilion Mall, and said he would ride shotgun over the residential project at 300 Mamaroneck Avenue.
2002: White Plains Year of Acheivement
The Mayor ran down the list of achievements totaling $1.3 Billion in new development. In 2002 alone: Two apartments were erected at 50 Main Street, with completion this Spring; tremendous progress at the City Center, due to open in October 2003; progress on the Fortunoff’s, also scheduled to open in the fall, and completion of Clayton Park, which he described as “the first residential building to be built in the downtown since 1988.”
He closed with pointing to the new Stop & Shop store opening its doors to the public, the new Youth Bureau, the ESL for Daily Living Program, made possible through a partnership between the White Plains Public Library, the Westchester Library System and Westchester Library System.
Recreation Upgrade
In 2002, he noted recreation achievements: acquisition of the Lakefront property on St. Mary’s Lake for a lease of $1 a year, the city’s first waterfront park, and cited numerous other improvements to parks. The Mayor said the city planned to have the new Liberty Park on Silver Lake opened by the summer for boating, fishing and passive recreation.
The city’s chief executive said 2002 also saw two other key projects the city has needed get under way: renovation of the Main-Mamaroneck fountain, and the Performing Arts Theater for a cost not to exceed $7 Million, paid for bonds paid by city parking revenues, county , Federal and state dollars, and “no money will be used from City property taxes to pay for either project.”
Bouquets from Mayor Delfino
The Mayor threw out many bouquets tonight for 2002 progress. He praised the Business Improvement District for its cooperation: “This strong relationship has been invaluable and it is hard to imagine any downtown succeeding without the City and the BID working together hand-in-hand. Having looked at other cities nationally, we have found that adversarial relationships between a BID and its City are symptoms displayed by failed downtowns and I am thrilled at the example that we have set here in White Plains and I would discourage those who look to create conflict where none exists.”
He shared credit with the Common Council, magnanimously: “To my colleagues on the Common Council, I would like to once again thank you for all your service to this community. Each of you, in your own way, have put in a tremendous amount of time and effort…When we put aside partisan politics and do what’s best for our community, great things happen. When we look at each other as colleagues and not as competitors, we foster an environment of progress and positive change. And I would encourage each and every one of you to stay focused on our joint objectives without being distracted by the same handful of partisans who prefer political infighting and animonsity over progress. There is no question in my mind that if we stand united, we will continue to break new ground and flourish as a city.”
Columbia Crew Remembered
The Mayor opened Monday evening’s meeting with the White Plains Police Honor Guard salute to the perished crew of the space shuttle, Columbia. The Reverend Jacob Stukes saying a somber and appropriate Invocation.
The Mayor recognized Vincent Longo, Senior Code Enforcement Officer of the Department of Building as Employee of the Month, a man who has lived all his life in the city, had a 30-year career in the construction business, with the last 5 years being with the White Plains Building Department. The Mayor saluted him for being the lead code enforcer on the Bank Street Commons project, Clayton Park, Fortunoff’s, and the Pace University Judicial Training Center. The Mayor praised him for “making a difference in this city” with his “excellent communications skills and congenial personality.”
Hits: 0
WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Jerry Gorski. February 3, 2003: The President of the White Plains Teachers Association, Jerry Gorski reported to WPCNR today that the amount of the pay increase negotiated with the White Plains City School District for a new one-year interim contract running from July, 2003 through June 2004 will be 3% at all salary levels “across the board.”
A first-year White Plains Teacher currently starts at $42,712 plus benefits. Teachers coming on board in 2004 will start at 3% more: $43,993, according to Gorski. The most highly paid teacher level, which is paid to Ph.d degreed teachers with 20 years of experience is $107,011 and will rise to $110,221. Mr. Gorski could not say offhand how many teachers were at that highest level.
The median salary for White Plains teachers, according to Mr. Gorski is $76,308. He reports that in the last five years, over 200 new teachers have joined the faculty, district-wide. White Plains currently employs 632 teachers. Gorski said that if you count this year’s new hires (82), slightly less than half had been with the district less than five years.
He speculated that with retirements announced this month, the district overall salary level might not automatically increase 3%. In the current budget year, White Plains School District has budgeted $76,692,311 towards salaries out of a total budget of $126.9 Million. Of that $76.7 Million, $51,233, 643 is paid to certified teachers. A 3% raise would mean roughly increasing the budget for teacher salaries 1.5 Million.
Gorski said the new contract would be voted on perhaps in late June, and the teachers he has talked to, circulating at lunch hours throughout the district are “very positive about it.”