THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

 

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. January 2, 2009: The Common Council will consider Monday evening an ordinance approving a 10-year lease of the Renaissance Square traffic island to LC Main at a cost of $3,000 a year for ten years ($30,000). If approved, the action appears to end the 9-month dispute of Louis Cappelli’s erecting a stone Ritz-Carlton entrance sign on the 30 foot by 4 foot traffic island without city approval, in the middle of a city right of way.

The Ritz Rock today. The toney Ritz Carlton White Plains is in the background.

Ritz Rock Dispute Being Settled Quietly? The Ritz Carlton sign on a traffic island in Renaissance Square, subject of articles in major metropolitan dailies the last eight months and an ongoing festering feud between the city and LC Main LLC, (the city wanted the monument torn down, and refused to sell the island to the developer, as well as refusing to consider leasing plans for the island) appears headed towards a peaceful solution Monday evening.

According to the documents circulated with the Common Council agenda, the Department of Public Works will permit the continued presence of the previously offending stone if Mr. Cappelli replaces the inclined edge of the island with a 6 inch perpendicular curb. The possibility of vehicles rolling up over the aesthetic inclined slope of the toney island, was a principle Public Works objection to the island (it being against code). According to the terms made public today, Mr. Cappelli’s organization also agrees to accept all liability resulting from any traffic accidents involving the island, and has sole responsibility for its upkeep. The agreement is nontransferable without Council permission.

In a letter from City Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel, the Commissioner states in support of the lease agreement that  “The Planning Department finds that the City has entered into a significant number of license agreements with private property owners to permit use or encumbrance of public right of way, and has accepted liability for the White Plains Beautification gardens in the right of way. The Planning Department further finds that the traffic island on Renaissance Square with the Ritz Carlton sign is attractive, and provides a sense of predestrian scale to an otherwise very wide street crossing.”

The Commissioner sites 12 other such sites already existing in the city that the White Plains Beautification Foundation plants and maintains with donor signage as support for granting the Cappelli license, and notes 10 other sites where organizations have “entered into license agreements for intrusions in the public right of ways,” including The Seasons, The Galleria Mall, 360 Hamilton Avenue, Dunkin Donuts, Key Ford, Fortunoffs, City Center(Valet Parking), 235-245 Main Street, Storage Deluxe and the Westchester Arts Council (Sign Banners over Mamaroneck Avenue).

 The Council rejected Mr. Cappelli’s offer to purchase the island for $18,000. LC Main LLC then submitted a request to lease or obtain a license. Subsequent efforts of the Cappelli organization to obtain the lease or license was tabled by the council for about eight months. Meanwhile, the Cappelli organization went to court on grounds that the city should consider their request and had engaged in “abuse of discretion.”  In December, the Council referred the request out to departments.

Councilman Glen Hockley told WPCNR a month ago at the time of the refer-out, that  the council was releasing the request for referral because it had become clear that Judge Susan Cacace was not going to issue a favorable ruling, “when it became clear the city was not going to prevail in court.”

The ordinance to be considered Monday evening appears to end the dispute should it be approved.

                WPCNR CONSIST. By John F. Bailey. December 30, 2008: Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman John Hall made a whistle stop at the White Plains Transit Center Tuesday (both arriving by car)and reported at a news conference  that a new $20 Billion Obama Administration Economic Recovery Package dedicated to Mass Transit was all but certain to be signed into law by President Barack Obama January 21. Schumer expected this to provide millions  for local Metro North improvements that would lead to local economic spending by construction companies and  workers employed on those projects.

Senator Charles Schumer arrives at the White Plains Metro North Railroad Station Tuesday

The  Obama Mass Transit stimulus, Schumer said was expected to allocate $4 Billion to New York State, most of which would be used by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to upgrade aesthetics, parking, trackage, and substations on the Harlem, Hudson  and Port Jervis rail lines. The funds would furnish dollars for what Schumer described as projects delayed because of the MTA budget crunch. In addition, he and Congressman Hall were working on a national $2 Billion stimulus for Mass Transit Operations relief, a portion of which New York might receive  about $400 Million to lower the MTA-propoed 23% fare increases scheduled to hit in June.

 

                Congressman John Hall, left, and Senator Charles Schumer taking questions at the news conference.

The relief to reduce MTA fare hikes would not be addressed until the fall, Schumer thought, saying it would probably be included in the congressional transit bill that is renewed every five years. The Senator said he and Congressman Hall are working towards the new administration supplying an this $2 Billion stimulus nationally dedicated to operations costs that could be applied to reducing fares.

Schumer estimated New York would receive about $400 Million of that stimulus if the Obama Administration and congress pass it.

MTA Proposes Budget Cuts, Fare Increases, Service Cuts.

The MTA has a $1.2 Billion deficit and proposed two weeks ago for commuters on rail, bus and auto to pay $670 Million of the $1.2 Million gap with the balance to come from the MTA’s own cost-cutting. Schumer said the possible $400 Million from the $2 Billion operations stimulus would not cover all the fare increases proposed, but would ease the pain. The fares introduced two weeks ago would not go into effect until June. About $300 Million more in savings would be achieved by the MTA eliminating 3,200 positions and the rest in service cuts.

Nowhere in the official MTA release on meeting the budget does it say that they have cut out planned projects along the three lines mentioned by the congressmen today.

Track Improvements, Station Amenities, Parking Projects to be Funded if…

The projects covered by today’s announcement of the $4 Billion New York stimulus pacakage include the upgrading of interiors, track design, additional parking facilities along the three lines in addition to purchase of new railroad cars, locomotives and hybrid buses that have simply been not been executed by the MTA because they have not been considered a priority, though that is not clear at this time.

 Schumer, told the media these are projects the MTA has put on hold due to their present $1.2 Billion budget shortfall. Two weeks ago, the MTA announced a series of fare hikes of 23% to wipe out half that $1.2 Billion deficit, with service cuts and 3,200 layoffs taking care of the rest of it.

The MTA apparently did not feel capital for capital  projects was a problem nine months ago.  

At that time, MTA announced a massive expansion plan going out to 2050, with no indication of any capital projects left unfunded. Since that time according to The Daily News, the MTA revenues from transit-dedicated taxes on property sales and corporate profits have declined dramatically.

How the Stimulus Works: Construction Workers to Get Westchester Rolling Again.

“We are fighting to make sure Westchester and the lower part of the Hudson Valley get a big slice of that ($4 Billion Mass Transit stimulus)funding,” Schumer said. ” Funds could be released immediately for improvements at stations across Westchester County and the lower Hudson Valley and as we know it’s a very perilous time for the MTA. The agency faces a budget gap that threatens to cripple the entire system. The financial crisis has forced the entire MTA to cut back and take draconian steps across the board. So to try and close the budget gap the MTA this month approved a budget that had all kinds of bad things and one of the things they did was to delay all kinds of capital projects. The budget has Metro North rail and busriders in its crosshairs.”

Schumer said that President-Elect Obama has “wisely said we’ve got to get this economy going. We’re in a recession and we have to pump money into the economy. He’s also said that the first place we should put money into the economy is infrastructure. That makes sense. If you just put money into the economy, then thank God the economy recovers, you don’t have anything to show for it. If you put it into infrastructure at the end of the day, and let’s hope the economy recovers quickly, you’ll have something a lot of good to show . Congressman Hall and I are among the leaders, talking regularly to the Obama Transition Team.

‘I’ve been talking regularly as has the congressman that mass transit be included. That we not only do the traditional infrastructure such as roads, bridges and sewers, which are very much needed in Westchester County, but we also include mass transit in terms of infrastructure. I’ve been largely successful in persuading them that mass transit should be a part of the package and it looks like the number will be $20 Billion around the country for mass transit. Now when that happens New York does very well. We have more mass transit riders than any other state. Usually we get a fifth of the money….The mass transit stimulus is not a done deal, but it’s looking very good. New York State should get around $4 Billion, and Westchester and the lower Hudson Valley will get a big chunk of that money as well.”

Helps Build Strong Recovery 3 Ways

Schumer said this would benefit the MTA and the area three ways: increasing  quality and efficiency of service; help the MTA cope with its budget problems and the money would “prime the pump, with thousands of construction workers putting their money into stores, restaurants and getting the economy going at a difficult time. So it’s a win-win-win.”

Schumer noted that  the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials reports that for every $1 Billion invested in federal highway and transit infrastructure, an estimated 47,000 jobs are created and an estimated $5.7 Billion in economic activity is generated.

Schumer and the Governor Cherry Picking Projects

Schumer’s news release said he was working closely with Governor Patterson’s office to determine these projects. The North White Plains railroad station is included, but no projects at this time take place within the White Plains city limits.

Schumer announced that projects that would be undertaken if the $4 Billion he envisioned for New York would come through are

·         Station improvements at Tarrytown, Croton-Harmon and Peekskill railroad stations.

·         Priority parking repairs at Metro-North stations in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties

·         Reconstruction of the Port Jervis station to crate a double-track.

·         Power and substation improvements on Harlem and Hudson lines to increase reliability of service.

·         Purchase of new railcars, built in upstate New York.

·         Improved Metro-North Station Facilities, including ticket offices, waiting areas, rest rooms, concessions, customer service.

 

Why not Done Before?

 

 

WPCNR asked Mr. Hall after the news conference about the necessity for such what appear to be at first glance on-the-surface cosmetic improvements with (the exceptions being  the double-tracking project and the rolling stock), Congressman Hall told WPCNR that the projects were needed to encourage the use of the facilities and move more persons to mass transit. He also said he supported construction of a tunnel under the Hudson for a direct rail link from Rockland County to Grand Central.

 

Reporters asked Senator Schumer whether the Tappan Zee Bridge would be included, and Schumer said that it was not “shovel-ready” and that the area had to decide what it wanted to do with the bridge. WPCNR notes the New York State Department of Transportation has decided in favor of building a new bridge with Bus Rapid Transit across Westchester and a rail link across the new bridge, connecting with the Hudson Metro North line. A public private partnership is now being explored by the Governor’s Office.

Schumer said he and Hall are working the Obama transition team to have projects which could be started in 180 days included on the Mass Transit stimulus menu.

No Separate Aid Package from Washington for Education at this time.

WPCNR asked Senator Schumer if he expected another effort of the government to steer education funds  to New York to  avert Governor Patterson’s cuts to education proposed two weeks ago, and avoid unprecedented property tax increases enacted by school districts.

Senator Schumer said, no, that  he anticipated increases in New York’s Medicaid reimbursements (currently 50% on the dollar), to  free up New York funds that then could be used by the Governor and the legislature to fund education, providing relief from the present budget crisis the state faces.

It is interesting to look back and remember Louis Cappelli’s Station Plaza project that proposed a 21^st Century railroad transit and bus complex, to replace the current, alleged delapidated Metro North White Plains Station, plus five 50 story buildings including a hotel which was rejected by the Common Council in 2007. This would have fit the bill nicely  and would have been ready to go by now possibly,  had the Common Council granted Mr. Cappelli the designated developer status he sought in 2007. Mr. Cappelli was a little too early apparently with his vision.