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

WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Bull Allen October 20,2008: I have just taken a look at the new Yankee Stadium with the infield and outfield grass installed, viewed on the WFAN website from the air. The stadium confirms my worst fears.

The Big Ball Park, 1955

In attempting to duplicate the stadium, the architects have completely missed the towering effect of the former stadium, (above, 1955) with the antiseptic cantilever construction and setbacks of the upper decks.  The sheer incline of the old stadium decks spread out all the action below you not way in front of you as the new upper decks will do. It also looks like the rakes of the many thousands of extra high priced lower level box seats may be flatter than they should be. The stadium seems lower in stature too.

Contrast this with Mr. Kaminsky’s photos on the WFAN website, You can see the new stadium view from the outfield at  http://www.wfan.com/pages/3156752.php?imageGalleryXRefId=779910#imgGalleryImg

For a view from behind the plate go to http://www.wfan.com/pages/3156752.php?imageGalleryXRefId=779911#imgGalleryImg

Take a good look.

Instead, they have recreated Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles which is the oldest park in the major leagues next to Fenway and Wrigley Field.

Photographer Tom Kaminski’s photographs show the mezzanine and upper decks set quite a bit farther back. Instead of the upper decks’ edges being about 20 rows back from the edge of the field boxes as they were at the original Yankeee Stadium, they appear a good 40 rows back. Instead of the 60  degree rake of the old stadium, they appear to be 20 to 30 degree rakes. I think spectators are going to be way away from the action.

Note how the upper deck of the old stadium (circa 2003) poised you with the action at your feet — not way in the distance as it will be in the new stadium.

The field itself gives you a lot of left center, like the old ball park. But right field looks too shallow all the way to right center.  The Yankees will need better arms than Matsui and Daimon in left next year. You have an approximation of new Comiskey Park in Chicago as a result.  The outfield instead of the classic everyman melting pot bleachers of the old Big Ball Park, you have the monstrosity of the bleachers being split with what is going to be a restaurant in dead center field, with a big wrap around scoreboard. The wrap around scoreboard at the old ball park I never liked. 

The replace of the copper frieze façade effect at the top of the top deck is lost because it is too far back. It will not dominate. You cannot even see it in the new photographs. 

 Overall this new stadium is a bad job, unimaginative, lacking grandeur. Of course, I am a crotchety old school baseball fan, so you may reject my views. However turning the new stadium into symmetricity, and allowing the tall scoreboard to block off views of the elevated loses a lot of the old stadium atmosphere, and creating a shooting gallery in right center in the outfield is not good in my opinion. Right field to right center has been given a Fenway look.

The new Yankee Stadium will be a fitting showcase for the team in decline that will inhabit it. A phoney, cheap imitation of baseball’s Westminster Abbey next door, which of course, they are going to tear down like the Barbarians did with ancient Rome.

Far be it from the city to keep the old stadium and tranform it into a New York Baseball Museum, which could actually still be used as a neighborhood ballpark, while preserving Yankee and Met, Dodger and Giant legacies with exhibits under the old stands, the old locker rooms — where the greats, Williams, Wynn, Dean,  Grover Cleveland Alexander, Whitey, Mickey, Joe D., the Babe still haunt.

No, who would ever think of that — turning the old Stadium into a year-round tourism attraction for the South Bronx.

Go over to www.wfan.com and see what you think.

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From The Mayor’s Office. October 20, 2008: The City of White Plains joined with The Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, Boy Scouts of America, the Dannon Co., White Plains Hospital, and POW’R Against Tobacco Coalition to promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles during Red Ribbon Week 2008 and recognize the many youth in the community who make positive choices everyday.  The Opening Ceremonies Take Place at City Hall today.

Red Ribbon is a national event honoring Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent who was killed in 1985 by drug traffickers. Soon after, “Camarena Clubs” were launched in high schools in California, and hundreds of students pledged to lead drug-free lives. Two club members presented the “Camarena Club Proclamation” to then first lady Nancy Reagan, bringing it national attention. Parent groups embraced the campaign, and in 1988, Congress proclaimed the first U.S. Red Ribbon Campaign.  It can be a powerful educational tool during Red Ribbon Week in October and throughout the year.

The Big Three: Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Connors, left, Mayor Delfino and Youth Bureau Director Frank Williams. The Mayor said the schools and the city are “married together” and work to create a positive environment for youth to make the right decisions for themselves, with the school teaching about making the right decisions during the day, and the youth programs providing a wholesome atmosphere at night. The Mayor said the city does this because “we love the youth of the city,” and want them to grow in a positive way.

Nearly a hundred youngsters from Eastview School and Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts arranged themselves on City Hall Steps.

The City of White Plains has many things to celebrate as launching Red Ribbon Week. The city efforts over the years are paying off.  The number of youth who are at high risk for drug use has dropped dramatically in the last three years.  This means that White Plains has more youth today than ever before who are making positive choices everyday.

Percy Robinson, who uses the services of the Youth Bureau said that the main reasons youngsters turned to smoking and tobacco was having too much time on their hands, and stress. He said that he had joined the Youth Bureau Fitness program which has been very beneficial to him and relieved his stress. He said the Youth Bureau programs definitely work and recommended them.

            The Red Ribbon Campaign celebrates the city’s many successes in safeguarding our youth and ensuring their positive development, but it also serves as a sobering reminder of the work that still needs to be done. Complacency is the friend to illicit substance use, and White Plains through the Youth Bureau program,  will not take a back seat on this important issue.

The Ferris Avenue Learning Center Singers under the direction of Joe Mosely performed. The group is newly formed this year and is looking forward to holiday concerts ahead.

            Red Ribbon Week is a time to celebrate and recognize the efforts of the community to keep all youth healthy and drug free.  The community wide celebration is October 20–25.

Girl and Boy Scouts Troops from across White Plains are joining forces with youth from the City of White Plains Youth Bureau. The youth will spend Sunday afternoon putting up large red ribbons all along the White Plains downtown corridor. The youth in the troops have been working on prevention and education curriculum all month and will earn a certificate of completion as well as merit badges.  Children enrolled in the Youth Bureau’s after school programs have been learning songs to commemorate the event and will be performing at the opening event on Monday.  Girls Scouts are collecting pledges in support of the City’s celebration of a drug free community all week long which will be displayed at the closing ceremonies to be held Saturday, October 25.  Once again this year the Youth Bureau will be planting red tulip bulbs at various locations in White Plains which will be visible when they bloom in the Spring in time to celebrate Alcohol Awareness Month. The week long activities will culminate in Youth Day event at the White Plains Youth Bureau on Saturday Oct. 25 from 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.

The Red Ribbon Week is sponsored by POW’R Against Tobacco, The Dannon Company, White Plains Hospital and Commerce Bank.

For more information about Red Ribbon Week contact Melissa Lopez at (914) 422-1411.