WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. January 3, 2010: For two hours Sunday, everything seemed possible for White Plains to the 300-plus White Plainsians and phalanx of powerful politicians in attendance at Adam Bradley’s people’s inaugural. One after another from Senator Charles Schumer, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, to State Senator Vincent Liebell, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and Councilman Thomas Roach praised Mr. Bradley effusively.
Beginning with the Public Safety Department Color Guard marching from the Mayor’s Office into the Common Council Chamber, followed by all six Common Councilmembers and Mayor Bradley, the ceremony featured a power lineup of politicians and friends of the Mayor who were seated in the Common Council chamber according to seating charts. The crowd overflowed down into the rotunda where closed circuit television sets fed the proceedings to the well-wishers, including this reporter.
Senator Charles Schumer told the almost-packed Common Council chamber and some 200 more persons watching in the rotunda on closed circuit television, that Mr. Bradley “had earned it,” through his hard work, while Mr. Bradley, his wife, his two daughters and mother and father looked on. Schumer said that Benjamin Franklin would “look down pleased”:at how democracy had turned out in White Plains. He praised Mr. Bradley for being the kind of policital leader who was not in government for “self-aggrandizement,” that he was “not a politican who put himself first.”
Congresswoman Nita Lowey told the audience that Mr. Bradley had “the intellect” and was “the kind of person who gets things done, and someone who’s going to do the right thing, and he understands that you have to have the kind of person who’s going to do the right thing. White Plains is in good hands (Mr. Bradley’s)”
State Senator Vincent Leibell said Mr. Bradley had the “bipartisan spirit,” and was “one of our greatest members (of the assembly), “ and that he would miss him in Albany.
Assemblywoman Amy Paulin of the 88th Assembly District predicted great things for Mr. Bradley, predicting “he will be one of the greatest Mayors you will ever see,” saying he is a smart man and is able to “work convincingly. I assure you he’s a fighter.”
Thomas Roach, the Councilman told the audience “how good it looks to me” to see Mr. Bradley here (as Mayor). He praised Mr. Bradley as someone who “always listens,” and is able to reach agreements and be persuasive. “He has a heart. He has a brain, and ability to bring about the changes that have to be made to preserve the quality of life in this city.
Judge Sam Fredman reminisced about Mr. Bradley when Mr. Bradley was but two years old in the home of his parents during campaign time, and mused that Mr. Bradley got his start in politics because workers, parents and persons doing the election work, would hold out envelopes for Mr. Bradley to lick. “That’s how he started, licking envelopes.” This brought a lot of laughs.
A touching moment was when Mr. Bradley was sworn in by Judge Fredman with his parents looking on.
In a brief address with Mr. Bradley behind the big desk with the name plate reading Mayor Adam T. Bradley, the new Mayor said there was a lot more work to be done. Mentioned that David Chong would be the new Commissioner of Public Safety, that David Genito would be Commissioner of Finance and Budget Director, and that John Callahan, his Corporation Counsel, and John Steward, Director of Information Services. And Judith Chriss, his Administrative Officer. He also thanked Eileen (Earl) Bradley, former Budget Director for her help in “getting me to understand the gravity and serious fiscal problems the city faces at this time.”
He promised a “consolidation and restructuring” to bring city finances under control, and a “more environmentally friendly city” and a city that promoted “sustainable and smart growth.” He said the city faces an $18 Million budget gap “with little or no fund balance
And a lower rating from Moodys Bond Service.”
He said he would be elaborating in more detail at Monday evening’s Common Council Meeting.
Former Mayor Joseph Delfino three days out of office did not attend the ceremony and his name was not mentioned. Mr. Delfino did attend the County Executive Inaugural earlier in the afternoon at SUNY Purchase.
Afterwards the crowd enjoyed sushi and champagne among other delicacies in the rotunda of city hall with the Mayor receiving good wishes from everybody. No one wanted to leave.
It should be noted, that three reporters, including this one were prevented from viewing the ceremony inside the Council Chambers, even though two of them, including this one, asked three times politely of the person supervising who would be allowed to enter, since we were with the press if we could go inside the Council Chamber.
This was the first time in ten years of covering city hall, that this reporter was prevented from being inside a public meeting, other than an executive session.
