WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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Mayor Joseph Delfino reports from Albany that the State Conference of Mayors received grim news on the state revenues last week. The state is looking at revenues off $3 billion this year, and project revenues to be down $6 billion in 2002. The Mayor, member of the Executive Committee of the Conference of Mayors, said the Mayors asked the governor’s office not to cut revenue sharing for the state’s cities in 02-03 budget.

After a meeting of the New York State Conference of Mayors Executive Committee, Mayor Delfino delivered the somber news to the White Plains Common Council last Thursday.

WHITE PLAINS MAN IN ALBANY: Mayor Joseph Delfino is a member of the Executive Committee of the NYS Conference of Mayors. He met with them in Albany last week.
WPCNR PHOTO.

The Mayor said the Conference had gone to Albany to pre-lobby the Governor’s budget experts on the 2002-03 New York State Budget. Their mission: to inform the Governor of the impact of any budget cuts before they were presented with the state version of what cities should or should not receive in 02-03 spending.

Mayor Delfino reporting last Thursday evening to the Common Counci, said that the Mayors were told “not to ask for anything,” in 02-03. Delfino and members of the Conference of Mayors Executive Committee were briefed on the dwindling New York State revenue situation after September 11 by John Cahill, Deputy to the Governor, and Cathy Duncan, First Deputy Director of the Budget.

$9 Billion in the hole.

Delfino says the Mayors were advised the state was estimating a $3 billion reduction in state revenues this year and a $6 billion reduction in 2002.

The Mayors advised Cahill and Duncan, that the cities needed the governor to “keep revenue sharing where it is,” according to Delfino, and he had an admonishion for the Common Council.

“We’re (White Plains) going to have to be very creative next year in our budget,” the Mayor told the Common Council Thursday evening. “We also told the governor’s people that we do not want any more mandates that force cities to put policies in place without money to pay for them.”

Fiscally responsible White Plains is shortchanged, while profligate cities cry for aid and get it.

The Mayor groused about how White Plains contributes $67 million in sales taxes to the state, and only receives back $4.7 million in revenue sharing from the state: “Look around us. You have some cities that do not spend responsibly and ask the state ‘please help us.’ White Plains does a good job, and we shouldn’t have to be penalized. The last time we received an increase in revenue sharing was 1991.”

John Dolce, Commissioner of Public Safety, echoed this sentiment last month during a capital projects meeting, pointing out how his department lost a grant for new radio equipment because his department was told it did not need the aid as much as other police departments.

More militant attitude among Mayors

The Mayor said the mood among his fellow Mayors on the Executive Committee was of deep concern that cities were not receiving their fair share of aid. “We had one Mayor from Long Island threatening to start a political party for the cities to run candidates to get more money for cities. That’s how people are thinking and it’s frightening.”

He said several Mayors he spoke to said their cities were already being hard hit, naming Utica, Binghamton, Buffalo and Rochester as facing severe budget problems.

State unemployment up

The state Chief Economist, Stephen Kagann reports soft employment figures last week. According to Kagann’s analysis, in November 2001, private employment was off 92,200 or 1.3 percent from last year with the largest decline in New York City of 83,700 jobs, off 2.6% from 2000. Including government sector jobs, total state employment declined 75,100 or .9%.

Statewide, manufacturing has lost 5.4% of its jobs since the middle of the year 2000. Manufacturing layoffs have been the key to the larger upstate regions losses.

The Albany region gained .3%, Dutchess County declined . Small losses were registered in the North Country (-0.3%), the Mohawk Valley(-0.4%), Central New York(-0.7%), and Western New York (-0.7%). Losses were more severe in Rochester (-1.8%) and Binghamton (-2.3%).

The Executive Committee of the New York State Conference of Mayors includes Mayor Delfino of White Plains, Ellen Polimeni of Canandaigua, Eugene Murray of Rockville Centre, Gerald Jennings, Albany, Joseph Griffo, Rome, Michael Bloomberg, New York, Richard Bucci, Binghamton, Alan Cohen, Ithaca, Susan Goetschius, Wellsville, William Johnson, Jr., Rochester, Thomas Nyquist, New Paltz, Frank Pagano, Fredonia, Alice Roth, Tonawanda, Ernest Strada, Westbury and Gary Vegliante, West Hampton Dunes.

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Project Time-Out is taking its respite service for seniors who are caregivers one step further by offering a new escort program. Seniors over age 60 can enlist a carefully screened and specially trained escort to accompany their loved one to a doctor visit, shopping trip, errand run, movie or restaurant.

For nearly 20 years Project Time-Out, a program of Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), has been providing in-home respite services to Westchester families who are caring for either a dependent older person or a child who is mentally retarded or developmentally disabled. The service allows caregivers short-term relief from their responsibilities.

The escort service is free. Users are only responsible for transportation costs for their relative and the escort if they travel by taxi or bus. If Para Transit is used, the escort rides free.

For more information, contact Project Time-Out at 914-949-7699, ext. 308.

For nearly 20 years Project Time-Out, a program of Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), has been providing in-home respite services to Westchester families who are caring for either a dependent older person or a child who is mentally retarded or developmentally disabled. The service allows caregivers short-term relief from their responsibilities.

The escort service is free. Users are only responsible for transportation costs for their relative and the escort if they travel by taxi or bus. If Para Transit is used, the escort rides free.

For more information, contact Project Time-Out at 914-949-7699, ext. 308.

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The Common Council approved the Fortunoff’s complex proposed for the former Saks Fifth Avenue site Thursday evening. Louis Fortunoff saw groundbreaking in the spring, opening in fall, 2003.

The Council heard the Taxi Fare Increase proposal and agreed to pass the MacMansions Zoning Ordinance as soon as possible in January or February at the latest, after hearing half of all homes in the south end appear to be not in compliance with current zoning.
In a Special Meeting of the Common Council, Louis Fortunoff received unanimous approval of 6-0 for an upscale retail complex on the corner of Bloomingdale Road and Maple Avenue, setting the stage for the creation of White Plains’ own “Million Dollar Mile” by the fall of 2003. Approval of the city proposal to execute the street improvements was delayed because Councilman Benjamin Boykin was not in attendance, (a unanimous vote of the Council being required), however the approval of the street work is expected to be forthcoming.

Mr. Fortunoff thanked the council, saying, “We felt welcome from Day One. The White Plains team of professionals and Common Council did their due diligence and did what they had to do to make it a reality.”

Fall, 2003 is the Fortunoff Target

In an impromptu news conference in the City Hall mezzanine, Mr. Fortunoff spoke of the time schedule. He said the first thing his construction would be doing was to eliminate the asbestos from the Saks Fifth Avenue building, then obtain demolition permits. He said he expected to break ground sometime in the spring and expected to open by Labor Day, September 2003.

Just a few good stores

The complex he said would not be seeking to attract what he described as “boutique” stores, but instead feature only 4 to 7 “larger store units” at ground level wrapping around the Bloomingdale Road, Maple Avenue corner, serving as satellite draws to the Fortunoff’s anchor. He said he would seek one or two restaurants to share the street level arcade presenting on Bloomingdale Road and Maple Avenue.

Holding space off the market he says

Asked to name prospective tenants, he said it was too early. He is thinking of “keeping the space off the market until the economy improves,” delaying seeking tenants until eight months before the opening. Fortunoff pointed out that eight months was the normal amount of time retailers needed to put their retail space in order normally, anyway. He said the economy was not in good shape right now, but “we’re going ahead anyway. We have faith in Westchester’s economy and the American economy.”

Taxi Cab Fare Increases Outlined

Taxi Commission Chairman, Daniel Hickey briefed the Common Council on his proposal for restructuring White Plains taxi rates. Hickey said the had met with Jeffrey Klein, an attorney representing the taxicab drivers and owners, heard their concerns.

He outlined past rate increase history, the last official raise being in 1996 of 10% across the board, followed by a 50-cent surcharge added for cab rides between midnight and 5 AM, and 30 cent timed-out gas surcharges in 2000 and in 2001, a 30-cent surcharge that expired in October to meet rising gasoline prices.

The Wish List

The drivers asked Hickey for a $1.25 across-the-board increase, he said, which the Chairman said would mean a 40% rise in the closest-in zone to a 15% rise in the farthest out zone. (White Plains taxis are based at the Trans Center.) Mr. Hickey added that the drivers wanted changes in the exclusive use policy, the dispatched call issue.

The Hickey Compromise

Mr. Hickey advised the Council he had arrived at a series of compromises to address these issues.

1. A $1.00 surcharge for exclusive use of a cab.

Hickey advised that he expected the cab drivers would be seeking relief from expected rising gas prices very soon, since gas prices are expected to rise sharply.

The Common Council did not raise strong objections to the proposal, and Hickey said he hoped the plan could be put on the agenda for the February 2002 Common Council meeting.

Council finds out more than 50% of homes in south end neighborhoods are “nonconforming” now.

The council heard Deputy Commissioner Susan Habel’s report on how many homes to be affected by the Planning Board so-called “MacMansions” Zoning Ordinance that the Council considered in September, but postponed due to a loud outcry from three persons appearing at the public hearing.

The Habel Dart Survey

Ms. Habel said she assigned David Marinelli, a draftsman in the Planning Department, a person she described as unbiased and not familiar at all with White Plains to throw darts at maps of neighborhoods in the south end, and based where the darts landed, to draw up a survey of how many homes on the “darted” sectors were not in compliance with present zoning. Mr. Marinelli’s “Darted Maps” were shown to the council. Taking randomly selected (by dart throw) maps of areas of Battle Hill, the Highlands and Westminster Ridge, the maps showed that over half the homes on the diagrammed blocks were found to nonconforming to setback regulations now under the present zoning.

Habel said one of the arguments of the “September 3” against the new “MacMansions” proposed zoning ordinance that seeks to limit the footprint of new construction and increase setbacks in the south end residential neighborhoods, was that the new ordinance would make many homes nonconforming, and that few homes were out of conformance now. Habel said the random “dart survey” revealed that this argument simply was not true.

The council, noting this information, and many neighborhood organizations, particularly the Highlands Civic Association, wondering why the “MacMansions” ordinance had not been passed, expressed a willingness to put the zoning ordinance on the agenda for January or February at the latest.

Tom Roach, Councilman Elect, Contributes.

Sitting in on the Common Council meeting, getting comfortable with his seat at the decision-making table was Tom Roach. Roach even made his first contributions, advising council members that in his experience in real estate closings, that the issue of whether a house was nonconforming or conforming “has never come up,” and has never held up or stopped a sale.

Roach said that persons speaking to him about it were simply fearful that if they were made “nonconforming,” they would not be able to rebuild their house. He advanced the theory that if residents were assured they could rebuild or the 70% damage figure raised, (the city building code allows an owner whose home is 70% destroyed to rebuild as before), and that fear of the new ordinance would prohibit them from rebuilding a house that had been nonconforming. Ms. Habel and the Law Department agreed to look into what was involved in raising that 70% percentage.

Loan rates for Community Development Loans, proposed to be lowered

Susan Habel advised the council the city was proposing to lower interest rates to persons seeking city development funds to 2%, 3%, 4% and 6% for persons with incomes less than 50% of median income, 50% to 60% of median income, and 70% and over 100% of median income, respectively. She also said the city wanted to raise the amount senior citizens on fixed incomes could borrow from $6,000 to $10,000.

Nicoletti asks for funding of study to multi-deck Waller and Maple parking lot.

Joseph Nicoletti, Commissioner of Public Works, asked the Common Council to study the feasibility of multi-decking the key Waller and Maple parking lot in the downtown (The lot behind the Acapulco Mexican Restaurant). Nicoletti pointed out that parking could be increased to 290 spaces from 185 by single decking…but the cost would be $30,000 a parking space. However, he said that by multi-decking (up to six decks, providing 800 spaces) the price per space could go down dramatically. He asked the council for permission to pursue a study of the multi-decking costs.

Streetscapes Project Continues

The council was advised by Deputy Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel that IQ Associates would be returning shortly to show the Common Council designs for reconstruction of the “promenade gardens along Mamaroneck Avenue, in upgrading the city street ambience. Lampposts, benches, and refuse receptacles have already been installed. Habel said designs are being worked out with the City Center planners.

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With a third reported burglary in one venerable Main Street landmark building within four months, added to other unreported break-ins at the same location, White Plains Police are encouraging tenants of office buildings without doormen and concierges to store portable office equipment such as laptop computers and palm pilots in secure locked locations on the premises.
Detective Sergeant Kevin Christopher of the White Plains Police told WPCNR Tuesday there was no “outbreak” or “upward trend” in burglaries in office buildings, but said older buildings presented a security problem to tenants:

Speaking by telephone, the detective said, “The problem is, with these older buildings, they are left open on weekends. People have access. These buildings don’t have the security they should have. There are no concierges, no doormen, no person in the lobby.”

Detective Christopher said that the police will schedule “security surveys” for buildings and businesses in them that are victimized by burglars, and that he would be scheduling one at 199 Main Street, the building suffering a burglary over the weekend.

The detective reports three burglaries have been investigated at that premises by the police, with the first two resulting in the apprehension of a suspect, currently facing charges. The suspect in question is alleged to have burglarized one office twice within a two-week period, both break-ins occurring over a weekend.

Sergeant Christopher said he encouraged tenants in office buildings with unsecured entrances to keep laptops and palm pilots in a “secured closet.” He also said the police would perform security checks for concerned office tenants.

The most recent burglary at 199 Main Street, occurred over the past weekend of December 15, 16.

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Review and Comment by Councilman Bill King on the Aisle:Councilman William King reviews the Westco production of Annie which ran over the weekend at Rochambeau School, and relates his impressions of White Plains growing theater community.
My daughter Amanda was in the Westco production of Annie at Rochambeau last Thursday-Saturday, 4 shows. I went to the last 3 which were all complete sellouts (460 seats in theater). I assisted Peter Katz in taping the show on Saturday – Peter was drafted into the show to play Judge Brandeis, his first stage role – 2 lines! So, he taped the first act and I taped the 2nd. The cast, adults and kids, was terrific.

Oliver Warbucks was played by Pauline Oliva’s dentist, Jeff Schlotman, and his wife Paulette played the female lead, Warbucks secretary Miss Farrell. They live in the Hillair Estates area. Their daughter was also one of the lead orphans.

Annie was played by Christy Robinson, a 7th grader at OLS whose family lives on Ralph Ave. She was so good, there were about 20 girls my daughter’s age that stayed after the last show to get her autograph.

I was really impressed by the whole experience – 4-piece live orchestra, audio (20 cast members, including some of the kids, were miked), ‘professional dog’ from the Broadway production of Annie (even came with his own publicity pictures!) .

So was Suzi Oppenheimer, who came to the Friday morning show – she said a few words to the audience between acts. Sue Katz asked me but I declined. Suzi was blown away.

This was a great experience for especially the kids.

The Mayor came to the Saturday evening show and also said a few words between acts, but he didn’t stay for the whole show.

The Schlotmans are an incredibly talented couple – previously did Sound of Music for Westco, among others.

The way Westco packed them in at Rochambeau, I am sure that a 10,000 square foot, 450-seat performing arts theater at the City Center is not big enough, and the reportedly 30-35 high ceiling will not be high enough to do shows like Peter Pan.

Peter Katz reported to the Mayor and me that Pizzeria Uno was reportedly filled by the pre-theater crowd. I said “that’s the halo effect.” Sue Katz said that many of the people on Westco’s mailing list come from as far away as Rockland.

Some of the school groups that came to Friday’s 10 a.m. performance were from Scarsdale and either Yonkers or the Bronx. If White Plains schools kids came, this would represent an even bigger pool of attendees.

This is a regional-drawing company. Many of the kids, if their parents would let them, would gladly perform a week or 2 week’s worth of Annie – they were sorry to see it end.

Steve Sules’ daughter, Chelsea, had a small speaking role and he was at the Saturday evening performance.

The adult cast was very very good. Sue Katz does not oversell her company – to me, if anything, she undersells it. This is a great thing for White Plains to have in our community as well as having the other 2 theater companies, Playgroup and Fort Hill.

Westco, in addition, brings in touring companies, such as one on a national tour from Nova Scotia in February for 2 children’s shows (The Hungry Caterpillar which supposedly is a wild 3D show that even happens over kids’s heads in the audience.)

Susan reports that funding from the Westchester Arts Council is virtually impossible to come by.

Suzi(Oppenheimer) said she wanted to see for the first time what she has helped get funding for over several years – she thinks what she saw should be experienced by older kids as well, at least up to middle school.