THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

City Settles with CSEA Union for Reported 4% Raise Hike/New Benefits.

Posted on May 31, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. May 30, 2008: The city has after the Civil Service Employees Union has been without a contract for 11 months, settled with the union for a retroactive raise of reportedly 4% plus increase in health benefits. This sets the stage for a new round of talks with police, fire, and teamsters. Those contracts expire in one month. The settlement reached this month is scheduled to be voted on at Monday’s Common Council meeting, June 2.

The agenda:

COMMON COUNCIL
AGENDA REGULAR STATED MEETING
JUNE 2, 2008
7:30 P.M.

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG: Hon. Dennis Power

INVOCATION: Rev. Vincent Euko
St. John the Evangelist Church

ROLL CALL: City Clerk

EMPLOYEE                                         Carolyn Mayo
OF THE MONTH:                           Senior Account Clerk
                                                         Budget Department

PUBLIC HEARING:

1. Public Hearing in relation to amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains with respect to amending Section 7.7.1, Minor Amendment, to add a new Section 7.7.1.1.4 to remove from consideration as a minor amendment any application for a site plan amendment which includes the addition of any additional story or mezzanine level to an approved project.

2. Communications from Commissioner of Planning

3. Commissioner of Public Works

4. Commissioner of Parking

5. Environmental Officer

6. Environmental Findings Resolution

7. Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled “The Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains” with respect to adjustments to approved “site plans” and “site plan” amendments involving additional “stories” or “mezzanine” levels.

FIRST READING
ORDINANCES:

8. Communication from Special Counsel in relation to the settlement of certain tax review proceedings.

9. Ordinance authorizing the settlement of certain tax review proceedings.

10. Communication from the Mayor in relation to a Memorandum of Agreement between the City and the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc., extending for one year the collective bargaining agreement which expired on June 30, 2007.

11. Ordinance approving and ratifying the Memorandum of Agreement entered into May 2008, between the representatives of the City of White Plains and the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc., Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO for the City of White Plains Unit, authorizing the Mayor to direct the Budget Director to make the necessary transfers from the Reserves for Financing to fund the increased payments under the Agreement, authorizing the Mayor to direct the Commissioner of Finance to start payments under the Agreement, and authorizing the Mayor to enter into a Collective Bargaining Agreement containing the terms of the May 2008 Agreement.

12. Ordinance amending the White Plains Municipal Code by amending various sections of the Compensation and Leave Plan in relation to Elected and Appointed Officials and Managerial/Confidential Employees.

13. Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. W5240, Water Transmission Main from CAPS.

14. Communication from Environmental Officer

15. Environmental Findings Resolution

16. Ordinance of the Common Council, last amended on May 7, 2007, amending an ordinance entitled “An ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. W5240, Water Transmission Main from CAPS.

17. Bond Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $1,500,000 bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the $1,507,500 estimated maximum cost of the extension of a water transmission main from the Central Avenue Pump Station along Ferris Avenue past the intersection of Ferris Avenue and Richard Street, in and for said City.

18. Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5304, Miscellaneous Sanitary Sewer Reconstruction FY 2008.

19. Communication from Environmental Officer

20. Environmental Findings Resolution

21. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5304, Miscellaneous Sanitary Sewer Reconstruction FY 2008.

22. Bond Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $300,000 bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the $301,500 estimated maximum cost of miscellaneous sanitary sewer reconstruction, in and for said City.

23. Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5304, Kittrell Basketball Courts, Lights and Drainage.

24. Communication from Environmental Officer

25. Environmental Findings Resolution

26. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5305, Kittrell Basketball Courts, Lights and Drainage.

27. Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5306, Ebersole Ice Rink, Electrical System.

28. Communication from Environmental Officer

29. Environmental Findings Resolution

30. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5306, Ebersole Ice Rink, Electrical System.

31. Communication from Commissioner of Public Safety in relation to a transfer of funds to cover additional costs for overtime within the Police Bureau.

32. Ordinance authorizing a transfer between the 2007/2008 budgets of the Fire and Police Bureaus to cover additional costs for overtime within the Police Bureau.

33. Communication from Commissioner of Recreation and Parks in relation to an agreement with the County of Westchester to continue operation of senior citizens programs under the Older Americans Act.

34. Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into agreement with the County of Westchester for the conduct by the City of a program for Year 2008 under Titles III-B, III-C-1, and B-C-2 of the Older Americans Act.

35. Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the County of Westchester Department of Social Services to operate a Summer Youth Employment Program.

36. Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Westchester County Department of Social Services to operate a Summer Youth Employment Program.

37. Communication from Chairman, Traffic Commission, in relation to proposed amendments to the Traffic Ordinance at various locations around the City.

38. Ordinance amending the Traffic Ordinance of the City of White Plains in relation to No Standing At Any Time, No Parking 8:00A.M. to 6:00 P.M., No Parking, Designated handicapped Parking, Left Lane Must Turn Left, Middle Lane Must Proceed Straight, Three Hour Parking – Monday through Friday, Two Hour Parking – Monday Through Friday, Right Turns Prohibited, No Parking 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. – Monday Through Friday, Overnight Flashing of Intersection Traffic Control Signals – Under Computer Control, and Left Turns Prohibited.

RESOLUTIONS:

39. Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to an application submitted by Vintage Restaurant and Bar for a three (3) year renewal of a Special Permit for Cabaret Use at 171 Main Street.

40. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling a public hearing for July 7, 2008 in relation to the application submitted by Vintage Restaurant and Bar for a three (3) year renewal of a Special Permit to operate a cabaret at 171 Main Street.

41. Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to an application submitted on behalf of Mac Corporation d/b/a Elements Restaurant, for a Special Permit for Outdoor Dining at 161 Mamaroneck Avenue.

42. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling a public hearing for July 7, 2008 in relation to the application submitted on behalf of the applicant Mac Corporation d/b/a Elements Restaurant for a Special Permit for Outdoor Dining directly above the bar/restaurant, located at 161 Mamaroneck Avenue [Section 125.84, Block 6, Lot 13.1], to include a second story extra deck area on the roof.

43. Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted on behalf of BNE Investors, LLC, for a second, one (1) year extension of Site Plan/Special Permit Approval to construct a multi-family residential building known as The Metropolitan at the intersection of Maple and DeKalb Avenues.

44. Communications from Design Review Board

45. Commissioner of Planning

46. Planning Board

47. Commissioner of Public Safety

48. Commissioner of Public Works

49. Commissioner of Traffic

50. Traffic Commission

51. Commissioner of Parking

52. Environmental Officer

53. Environmental Findings Resolution

54. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains extending for an additional one (1) year the Special Permit/Site Plan Approval originally granted on February 6, 2006, to BNE Investors, LLC (“Applicant”) and extended for one (1) year by resolution adopted March 5, 2007, to construct a new multi-family condominium residence (89 units) to be located at the corner of Maple and DeKalb Avenues, to be known as The Metropolitan (A) to increase the height of the proposed development from six (6) stories/90 feet to twelve (12) stories/125 feet for the RM-0.35 Zoning District under Footnote (N) of Section 5.3 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains (Schedule of Dimensional Regulations: Residential) and (B) the proposed exchange of approximately 6,108 square feet of City-owned land adjacent to the southerly property line of the project site, on which the applicant, at its own cost and expense, will construct and thereafter secure a publicly usable neighborhood open space and ( C) compensation to the City for the difference in value of the City-owned land to be conveyed and the value of the land to be donated to the City in exchange, such value to be adjusted for any easements and restrictions appertaining to the parcels.

REFERRAL:

55. Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to an application submitted by Burlington Coat Factory requesting an amendment to a previously approved site plan to install exterior signage at 275 Main Street.

56. Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to an application submitted on behalf of Westchester Church of Christ for an amendment to a previously approved site plan and Special Permit, to add a two (2) story, approximately 17,000 sq. ft. building to house a new sanctuary, classrooms, a nursery, restrooms, a kitchen and storage areas, located at 511 North Street

57. Communication from the City Clerk in relation to a request submitted on behalf of LC Main LLC for consideration of either a lease or license with the City of White Plains on the traffic island at the intersection of Main Street and Renaissance Square

ITEMS FOR
INFORMATION:

58. Communication from the City Clerk transmitting a request submitted on behalf of Rome Partners and Associates, for an adjournment to July 7, 2008 of the application for a one year extension for site plan and Special Permit approvals on a residential condominium development at 10 Windsor Terrace.

Pollitzer Park

Posted on May 29, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. May 29, 2008: In the numbing aftermath of the sudden death of Marc Pollitzer, “The Voice of White Plains,” last weekend, it seems only right, in this reporter’s mind that some thought be given by the city fathers to reopen one of Mr. Pollitzer’s celebrated causes:

The New York Presbyterian Hospital property. Golf Range meadow . May 2002. It still exists in this state today. No one uses it or strolls on its grounds.

Going back in time, followers of the NYPH story which dates back some 23 years when the hospital proposed to turn their land into co-op city, will recall that proposal was defeated, then the hospital running into money problems in the late 90s proposed to develop an area near Bloomingdale’s into light retail in exchange for giving the city 60 acres of parkland. Concerned Citizens for Open Space objected to this, and Mr. Pollitzer marshaled and delivered some of the more eloquent arguments against that proposal, eventually resulting in the Council votedown of that proposal, 5-2 back in 2000.

Following that turndown, the hospital proposed another use of the property, the building of a proton accelerator along Bryant Avenue. The Common Council again facing opposition from CCOS and Mr. Pollitzer, refused to refer that out. The hospital filed an Article 78, blackjacked the city into acquiescing. It was referred out as a result and the Council approved the construction, which due to the New York State economy and the hospital lack of funding never started construction.

Another product of this long extended wrangle over this Frederick Law Olmstead designed property was the closing of the property to the general public as a result of an ill-fated protest in which sympathizers with the CCOS position who were never caught, strung up yellow tape around an alleged oil dumping site on the property for the press. The hospital infuriated by this incursion, predictably closed the property to use by residents for strolls, bikeriding, and digging the ambience.

There was another effort by the Mayor’s Office to secure 6 acres of park property in exchange for rezoning the hospital land for a subdivision, which would have made the land sell for a higher price (to the hospital advantage), that, too was defeated by the Council.

Now, there is nothing on the table.

WPCNR suggested to Council President Benjamin Boykin that it would be a great thing if the city could make peace with the New York Presbyterian Hospital and negotiate an arrangement where White Plains citizens could once again enjoy this property.

The city spent $500,000 to spruce up Liberty Park, which now due to the city inability to manage the waters of the lake, is basically useless.

WPCNR suggests that Councilman Boykin work with the Mayor to take some baby steps and open up that property to the public on arrangements acceptable to the New York Presbyterian Hospital. Here’s how:

1. The city should lease the 60 or so acres…golf course, meadows, driving range walking trails for a nominal annual fee – providing security – perhaps even aiding with the maintenance via lawn and tree management. This would give the city a handle on how much it would eventually cost the city to run an actual park there. Use the Open Space Acquisition Fund money to pay for it for starters – it’s a lot better than paying individuals millions for land they were never going to develop anyway. (Where was the thinking there?)

Soccer fields might be created at city expense – with the understanding that should the hospital eventually reach a deal to sell the property – that they were only temporary. But the ballfields are not necessary, White Plains reaccess to the park is the goal here. It is a shame that a great place for biking, strolling, romance, forest, and the great vistas of this property are only enjoyed by coyotes and birds at the present time.

I can hea the city protests now – the liability issues, don’t have the personnel, costs too much money. But, you never know until you try.

The Mayor and Common Council, instead of throwing hissy-fits at each other, should work together. If not the Council should do some work, since they have a solid 6-1 majority take it upon themselves to approach the hospital.

No matter what the Mayor says, the Council ultimately controls the money in the city. They just have to have the guts to control it. It is always the Council’s budget because they approve it.

Instead of trying to develop the city, mysteriously decide to pay millions for property that was never going to be developed anyway in the guise of preserving open space, or ease development of a property that would, as Mr. Pollitzer said many times wreck a neighborhood if it were developed, Mr . Boykin and the Common Council and the Mayor have a chance and a sad legacy of opportunity to salvage the New York Presbyterian Hospital parkland at least until the next proposal comes along – which isn’t coming along anytime soon.

Tomorrow is Wellness Week in White Plains and they’ll be the usual news conference announcing it, with free health screening and a number of activities.

Introducing new access to the New York Presbyterian Hospital property would make everybody a lot more healthier. There’s a parking facility already built for it at Mamaroneck Avenue and Bryant.

The NYPH would be making a grand gesture.

Somebody on the Council or in the Mayor’s Office make a few phone calls please.

It could be appropriately renamed, for as long as it lasts,

Pollitzer Park.

No Count on Memorial Day Parking Tickets Yet.

Posted on May 28, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE PARKING NEWS. From City Hall. May 28, 2008: Melissa Lopez of the Mayor’s Office has issued a statement on the Parking Policy in effect Monday. Here is that statement:

1. We do not have an exact count at this time of parking tickets given on Memorial Day, during the parade. The Parking departments enforcement efforts during this parade were the same as all other parades. We did not issue tickets to parade participants , but as usual we did issue tickets to the general public who did not have enough money in meters to pay for their parking.

This parade was not treated any differently than any other parade during the course of the year. The City has to provide services during all of these special events throughout the year and the services must be paid for. We have voided any tickets that were issued to Veterans who might have been issued a ticket while they were parade participants.

2. The City Center Garage is open and has been open this past weekend as well. The repairs to the selected decks are going forward and we hope to have all repairs completed by the end of this week or beginning of next week .

Neither Holiday, Nor Veteran, Nor Time Stops White Plains from Ticketing

Posted on May 28, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE PARKING VIEWS. By John F. Bailey. May 28, 2008: It was a beautiful Memorial Day, a great parade, a moving Memorial Ceremony at the White Plains Rural Cemetery Monday.

If you came to White Plains to see the parade, though, and did not know White Plains parking regulations are enforced even on holidays, it cost you a $15 Parking ticket – aggressively, ruthlessly, sadistically enforced by the WP Parking Enforcement Officers.

Even though the long parade prevented the memorial ceremonies from beginning until 11:40 AM – no slack, no tardy parker was spared – except perhaps parkers at the American Legion Hall on Mitchell Place after lunch, but we do not know that. WPCNR has a call into City Hall to get an exact count of how many tickets were distributed during parade hours into the early afternoon. I wait with baited breath.

Thank you for celebrating Memorial Day in White Plains, $15 Please!

When I say the tickets were aggressively pursued, I mean aggressively pursued.

This reporter is fully aware of the Parking Enforcement Officers and their hand-held ticket rayguns. I parked in the municipal lot, deposited $2 in the parking machine for 2 hours and 40 minutes, figuring the ceremony would be over by noon. Well I got back to the mobile unit at 12:45 P.M. My ticket was waiting for me – I was 10 minutes too late and a number of other cars in the lot were ticketed. I mean were they staking out the cars?

$2 bought 2 hours and 40 minutes of time for a 45 minute parade and 30 minute ceremony…Within 10 Minutes a Parking Hawk Swooped Down and Ticketed — Gotcha! What hospitality!

What a dedicated job! Fill those coffers at the expense of White Plains’ reputation in the county. It is a mini-mugging. The ticketing blitz should be held off until 2 PM when all the parade barricades and normal parking returns to normalcy — or the policy of ticketing on traditional holidays should be suspended. It sends an nasty, small, petty message, though the fine is far from petty.

I was not the only car victimized. They were giving tickets because they could. I was aware of it, but simply could not walk back from the Rural Cemetery in time to downtown to pick up the car, primarily because it took an hour to get the ceremony going after the parade had cleared the downtown.

But how many citizens headed in to see the parade and the ceremony were victimized unknowingly?

How many persons seeing their slap-in-the-face ticket on their windshields –decided to leave immediately and not lunch or dine or go to the movies as planned – spending far more than any $15 ticket would bring the city?

How stupid is this parking policy? Pretty stupid!

The Common Council should look into this. And stop allowing the Parking Department which kicked in $10 Million in profits last year, to execute policies that do not make good public relations sense. The city according to its Moodys Report is in great shape. Could we ease up on the fines on holidays?

Considering most towns do not enforce on-street parking regulations on national holidays, it creates extreme ill will to visitors who come into town for a parade and it costs them a $15 “gotcha.”

The same rigorous enforcement does not significantly appear to be applied to the more traffically incorrect maneuver of the double-park, particularly on Mamaroneck Avenue and Main Street which appears to be rarely ticketed, even when spotted, and appears to be tacitly ignored. That should be a $250 ticket, at least, because it creates a traffic hazard.

WPCNR awaits the city count on the Memorial Day Ticket Count.

I tell you this reporter had one writer last year write in and complain about their ticket, and once burned by a White Plains traffic ticket – you won’t come back.

On July 4, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year’s Eve and Day parking regulations should be suspended throughout the town, not used as a sucker play that costs White Plains a consumer every time they get a ticket and significantly cuts down on the people who will visit White Plains in the future.

Get rid of it.

As the Mayor’s Office is fond of saying, we are in great financial shape, we do not need the money any more.

The $15 I will pay on this ticket, still leaves me a $12 left of my $27 tax cut the Common Council gave me last week. Thank you! Thank you!

I say Common Council, Tear this Holiday Ticketing Policy up!