Wood: New Shelter Plan Continues Homeless Dump — County Not Addressing Issue.

 


 


WPCNR The Homeless News. By John F. Bailey. February 5, 2007: Paul Wood, Executive Officer of the City of White Plains , described County Executive Andy Spano’s plan to move the county hardcore homeless shelter to a new $2 Million structure in Hawthorne on the Westchester County Police Headquarters property as failing to address the problem caused by the county dropping the homeless off in White Plains to spend the hours of 6 AM to 10 PM wandering the city, unsupervised.


 



Paul Wood, Executive Officer, City of White Plains, photographed last week, said today the county plan for building a new shelter solves the location problem for housing the homeless, but did nothing to alleviate the problems of the county dumping the homess back in the city each morning. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.


 



About 30 Homeless Persons toughing it out in 15 Degree temperature on Quarropas & Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard at the homeless pickup point  in January of 2006  Photo, WPCNR News Archive.





Wood denied allegations by County Legislator Bill Ryan and Assistant to County Executive Spano, Susan Tolchin that the Mayor had “ignored invitations to discuss alternative locations.” Wood cited letters from the Mayor to that effect and repeated Mayor Delfino’s call for a county wide exploration of where to put the homeless not only at night but during the day.


 


Wood said the county intention to continue  the current policy of busing the new Hawthorne shelter persons back to White Plains does nothing to improve the situation the Mayor has criticized, new shelter or not. Mr. Wood, interviewed by WPCNR said:


 


I‘ve spoken to the Mayor, and although he believes  this (the newly proposed Hawthorne Shelter)  could be a good first step, it still does not address the underlying issues related to the (85 Court Street) shelter.


 


Obviously, the problems still remain that the Mayor cited shortly after the Connie Russo slaying. There are  a concentrated number of hardcore homeless they (the county) got throughout the county and probably from throughout the state. They are concentrating them in White Plains from 6 AM to 10 PM with no services.


 


They talk about Project Trust which was established a year ago, which was a good first step, but it only services 20 people at a time. I don’t think 60 of them are going to stand in line waiting for services.


 


The fact of the matter is the annoying issues still remain. If they (the homeless)  leave the (new) shelter in the middle of the night in Hawthorne, according to the County Executive, they’ll still be brought to White Plains in the middle of the night and dropped off here. The physical location of where they sleep is all that’s being addressed here.


 


WPCNR  asked if Mr. Wood hand any information on when the $2 Million shelter would break ground.


 


Wood expressed annoyance with the way the county communicated the news of the shelter:


 


The Mayor is extraordinarily disappointed that he had to learn about this through the press and never received a courtesy call from the council or the County Executive’s Office, and had to independently obtain, in fact, the press release which was never sent.


He hopes in the future that the real issue of an equitable solution involving other communities and other mayors and town managers will be addressed.


 


WPCNR asked if it was true the Mayor had refused to meet with the county on finding alternate locations. Wood denied that, “I sent copies of letters to you and the Journal News to prove that is just not true.”


 


Rita Malmud Does Not Report New Shelter Plans


 


Asked if Rita Malmud, who was asked by the Mayor to negotiate with the county on the 85 Court Street, had been in contact with the Mayor about the breakthrough or spoken to him about the new shelter at all, Wood said, “No, not about this issue.”


 


WPCNR repeated the question, “She has not spoken to you about it then?” “No she hasn’t” was the answer. Wood issued a challenge to Ms. Malmud and the fellow councilpeople to revisit the issue:


 


“I hope the same group of council people will now address the real underlying issue regarding this homeless facility, regarding the shelter of the hardcore homeless in the fact that a concentrated number of them are being dumped on our streets at 6 AM and picked up at 10 (PM). That was always the Mayor’s concern. He voiced it shortly after the Russo killing when the airport shelter was still in existence. And it continues to be a concern.”


 


Wood said the current cold snap does not to have created new homeless issues yet.


 


Mayor Joseph Delfino is in Albany today for a meeting with the New York Conference of Mayors.

Posted in Uncategorized

Should School District Plan Its future Without Public/Press Observation?

WPCNR POLL. February 5, 2007: The Strategic Core Planning Group will begin deliberations at a “retreat” at the Crowne Plaza Hotel this Wednesday (continuing through Friday) behind closed doors. The Committee was announced  last Thursday by the Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors and conists of  13 members of the public, two Board of Education members and one former Board member, and 13 employees of the school district. It was announced last week by the Superintendent that the meetings would be closed to the general public and the press in order “that people could express their feelings openly.” 


According to the school newsletter describing the Strategic Planning Process, “members of the core planning committee will participate in a three-day retreat, where they will be gin to develop a draft of the district’s Strategic Plan. Actions will then be formed to develop plans to achieve the goals set forth in the Strategic Plan. At the conclusion of this process, the committee’s recommendations will go to the Board of Education for review and adoption.”


The questions to Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains in today’s new poll: Should the Public and Press be allowed to observe the sessions? Should the public be allowed in, and the Press barred? Should the public be allowed in and allowed comment from the floor? Or the public allowed in without ability to comment?  Vote at the right.

Posted in Uncategorized

Anne McPherson to be Appointed City Clerk. Railside Resale.North St. Comm on Tap

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. February 5, 2007: AnneMcPherson will be officially appointed City Clerk this evening, succeeding Janice Minieri at tonight’s Common Council meeting. Also of interest will be approval of a resale without bidding of several lots on Railside Avenue, a hearing on the Senior Assisted Living zone change for North Street Community on Norht Street, and the Council is expected to extend the site plan for the New York Presbyterian Hospital proton accelerato/biomedical facility for a fourth consecutive year (without construction being started).


The Agenda follows:




COMMON COUNCIL AGENDA REGULAR STATED MEETING


February 5, 2007


7:30 P.M.




 


PLEDGE TO THE FLAG:             Hon. Benjamin Boykin





INVOCATION:                                Rabbi Chaim Marder


Hebrew Institute




ROLL CALL:                                           City Clerk




EMPLOYEE                                            Kyle Smith


OF THE MONTH:                     Parking Enforcement Officer


Parking Department





APPOINTMENT:


 


1.       Communication from the Mayor in relation to the appointment of Anne McPherson as City Clerk.





LOCAL LAW:


 


2.       Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to proposed Local Law Introductory No. 1 of 2007 to amend Section 9, 9-A and 10 of the Charter of the City of White Plains regarding Full and Part Time City Court Judges.


 


3.                 Local Law Introductory No. 1 of 2007. A Local Law amending Sections 9, 9-A and 10 of the Charter of the City of White Plains relating to the number of Full-Time and Part-Time City Court Judges, to conform with the provisions of Section 2104 of the New York State Uniform City Court Act.


 


4.                 Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling a public hearing for March 5, 2007, in relation to a Local Law amending Section 9, 9-A and 10 of the Charter of the City of White Plains relating to the number of Full-Time and Part-Time City Court Judges to conform with the provisions of Section 2104 of the New York State Uniform City Court Act.


ADJOURNED


PUBLIC HEARING:


 


5.       Public Hearing in relation to Urban Renewal Plan Modification No. 1 for the Bank Street Urban Renewal Project, Project No. WPUR-11.


 


6.       Public Hearing in relation to Urban Renewal Plan Modification No. 48 for the Central Renewal Project, Project No. NY R-37.





 


7.       Public Hearing in relation to an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains as amended, submitted by North Street Community, LLC, with respect to creating a new Zoning District to be designated “Senior Residential Development District” and amending the Zoning Map of the City of White Plains to map this new district on the property known as Section-Block-Lot 131-06.1-1.1.




PUBLIC HEARINGS:


 


8.       Public Hearing in relation to a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains (“Zoning Ordinance”) with respect to a petition, submitted by North Street Community, LLC, to amend the Zoning Ordinance to create a “Planned Senior Residential Development District.”


 


9.                 Communication from Commissioner of Planning


 


10.     Public Hearing in relation to the proposed amendment to the 1997 Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map, as amended, with respect to including as a permitted land use on the former St. Agnes Property a new land use entitled, “Planned Senior Residential Development.”




 


11.     Public Hearing on a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance, entitled, “The Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains,” with respect to re-zoning certain properties in the area of Miles Avenue, Albemarle Road, Beverly Road and Sherill Court from the R1-5 Single Family Zoning District to the R1-7.5 District Single Family Zoning District.


 


12.     Public Hearing on a proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Plan, Section 2-I-G, the Land Use Plan Map, as amended, with respect to (A) single family residential density classifications; and (B) the land use classification of certain properties located in the area of Miles Avenue, Albemarle Road, Beverly Road and Sherill Court.





FIRST READING


ORDINANCES:


 


13.     Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to the settlement of certain tax review proceedings.


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


 


 


15.     Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to an amendment to an ordinance to increase the amount of a legal services contract by transferring money within the Law Department Budget.


 


16.               Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Corporation Counsel to commence proceedings in City and/or State Court pursuant to City and/or State environmental statutes and other laws and regulations against an owner(s) or a lessee of real property located in the City of White Plains for violations of environmental laws. “




 


17.     Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to the settlement of a claim against the City by Artrisa Y. Thomas, a/k/a Artrisa Williams.


 


18.               Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the settlement of the action of Artrisa Y. Thomas a/k/a Artrisa Williams against the City of White Plains.




 


19.     Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. W5246. Water System Security.


 


20.               Communication from Environmental Officer.


 


21.               Environmental Findings Resolution


 


22.               Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance amending the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. W5246, “Water System Security Design.”


 


23.               Bond Ordinance amending the ordinance dated June 6, 2005, authorizing the issuance of $200,000 bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the cost of the engineering design for security systems for the City water system, to increase the estimated maximum cost of the project from $202,000 to $955,700, to increase the amount of bonds to be authorized from $200,000 to $950,000, to increase the maximum maturity of the bonds from five years to forty years and to expand the scope of the project to include construction of the project, in and for said City.




 


24.     Communication from Commissioner of Public Works in relation to a request by the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee for the closure of certain public rights-of-way and appropriate parking restrictions on Saturday, March 10, 2007.


 


25.               Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the closure of certain public streets and appropriate parking restrictions on March 10, 2007 for a Saint Patrick’s Day Parade sponsored by the White Plains Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.




 


26.     Communication from Commissioner of Public Safety in relation to an agreement with Vaughan & Associates for professional services in relation to the integration of information services and GIS tools related to public safety.


 


27.               Ordinance amending an ordinance last amended on May 2, 2005, entitled, “An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Safety to enter into an agreement retaining the professional services of Vaughan & Associates for advice relating to establishment and integration of information services and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools related to public safety.”




 


28.     Communication from Commissioner of Public Safety in relation to a grant from the New York State Office of Homeland Security in the amount of $50,000.00, and requesting a re-appropriation of the funds in the 2006-2007 Budget.


 


29.               Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into access lease agreements for the installation of closed circuit cameras to be placed within the City and to amend the FY 2005-2006 General Fund Budget to provide for the purchase and installation costs of the required equipment.”




 


30.     Communication from Commissioner of Finance in relation to the sales of certain City-owned property.


 


31.               Communication from Environmental Officer.      


 


32.               Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains approving the sale of certain City-owned real property (Section 138.05, Block 4, Lots 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.6, 7.7 and 7.8, and Section 138.05, Block 5, Lots 1.2 and 1.3 on the Tax Assessment Maps of the City of White Plains) by means of a private sale and authorizing the Mayor or his designee to execute all documents in connection with this sale.




 


33.     Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a donation from the Louis Cappelli Foundation, in the amount of $10,000, to be used to support the Youth Bureau’s Chess Programs.


 


34.               Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to accept, on behalf of the City of White Plains Youth Bureau, a donation from the Louis Cappelli Foundation, in the amount of $10,000, to be used to support the Youth Bureau’s Chess Programs.




 


35.     Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a grant from Pow’r Against Tobacco, in the amount of $5,000, to be used to educate youth and young adults to the dangers of second hand smoking.


 


36.               Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to accept, on behalf of the City of White Plains Youth Bureau, a grant from Pow’r Against Tobacco in the amount of $5,000 to be used to educate youth and young adults to the dangers of second hand smoking.




 


37.     Communication from Deputy Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the County of Westchester Invest In Kids Program to operate the Youth Aiming for Financial Independence Program.


 


38.               Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the Westchester County Invest In Kids Program accepting a grant in the amount of $48,000 to operate the Youth Aiming for Financial Independence Program.




 


39.     Communication from Deputy Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the County of Westchester Invest In Kids Program to operate the DeKalb After School Program.


 


40.               Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the County of Westchester Invest In Kids Program accepting a grant in the amount of $34,081 to operate the DeKalb After School Program.




 


41.     Communication from Deputy Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the County of Westchester Invest In Kids Program to operate the Step Up! Program.


 


42.               Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the County of Westchester Invest In Kids Program accepting a grant in the amount of $70,200 to operate the Step Up! Program.




 


43.     Communication from Commissioner of Recreation and Parks in relation to an award of $4,500 from the Hudson Valley Developmental Disabilities Service Office to provide a music therapy program for children with developmental disabilities.


 


44.               Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to direct the Budget Director to amend the 2006-2007 General Fund Budget in order to reflect an award in the amount of $4,500 on behalf of the City of White Plains Department of Recreation and Parks.




 


45.     Communication from Commissioner of Recreation and Parks in relation to an award in the amount of $1,383 from AAA Transportation to assist in the operation of the senior citizens bus transportation service.


 


46.               Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to direct the Budget Director to amend the 2006-2007 General Fund Budget in order to reflect an award in the amount of $1,383 on behalf of the City of White Plains Department of Recreation and Parks Senior Citizens Program.




 


47.     Communication from Personnel Officer in relation to a proposed amendment to the Municipal Code and the 2006-2007 Table of Organization.


 


48.               Ordinance amending Section 2-6-81 of the White Plains Municipal Code by establishing and reallocating certain position titles; and amending the 2006-2007 Table of Organization by adding and abolishing certain positions.






RESOLUTIONS: 


 


49.     Communication from the Mayor in relation to a Home Rule Request for State Legislation to extend the Sunset Provision regarding the Local Sales Tax retained by the City of White Plains (Assembly Bill No. A3358) (Senate Bill No. S1553).


 


50.               Resolution authorizing the Certification of a Home Rule Request seeking enactment of State Legislation amending Section 1210 of the Tax Law to extend the Sunset Provision in relation to the Local Sales Tax retained by the City of White Plains (Assembly Bill No. A3358) (Senate Bill No. S1553).





 


51.     Communication from Acting Commissioner of Building in relation to a request by New York Presbyterian Hospital (Royal Charter Properties), for a one year extension of a previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan.


 


52.               Communications from        Commissioner of Planning


53.                                                          Commissioner of Public Safety


54.                                                          Commissioner of Public Works


55.                                                          Commissioner of Traffic


56.                                                          Traffic Commission


57.                                                          Commissioner of Parking


58.                                                          Conservation Board


59.                                                          Westchester County Planning Board


60.                                                          Environmental Officer


 


61.               Environmental Findings Resolution


 


62.               Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains granting an additional one (1) year extension of an amended Special Permit approval originally issued to New York Presbyterian Hospital on August 5, 2002, under Section 6.7.5 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains, to allow for the construction of one (1) new hospital building consisting of approximately 384,000 square feet, containing 32,000 square feet of clinical outpatient treatment area, 50,000 square feet of equipment and 302,000 square feet of medical research area with associated parking facilities on Alternative Site No. 8 pursuant to the Alternative Site 8 Site Plan, subject to the findings contained in the Environmental Findings Statement and the conditions set forth herein, on property located at 21 Bloomingdale Road (Section 126.70, Block 1, Lot 1).




 


63.     Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to an amendment to the Section 8 Program Administrative Plan.


 


64.               Resolution adopting an amendment to the White Plains Section 8 Program Administrative Plan with respect to the replacement of the newspaper El Diario with El Aguilar News.





ITEM FOR REFERRAL:


 


65.     Communication from Acting Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted on behalf of BNE Investors, LLC, for a one year extension of a Special Permit/Site Plan approval to construct a multi-family residential building at Maple and DeKalb Avenues.


 


66.     Communication from Acting Commissioner of Building in relation to a request from 97-111 Hale LLC and 100-114 Hale LLC for a one year extension of a Special Permit/Site Plan approval to construct two ten story multi-family residential buildings on Hale Avenue.





ITEM FOR INFORMATION:


 


67.     Communication from Commissioner of Finance transmitting the Second Quarter Capital Projects Status Report for Fiscal Year 2006-07.


 


68.     Communication from Commissioner of Finance transmitting the Interim Financial Report for the Second Quarter ending December 31, 2006.


 


69.     Communication from the Mayor transmitting the Capital Improvement Program Fiscal Year 2007 – 2008.


 


70.     Communication from Acting Commissioner of Building in relation to a request from 122 W.P.R. Corp. for a renewal of a Special Permit to maintain an Accessory Parking Lot at 138 West Post Road.


                                                                                                                                                        

Posted in Uncategorized

County to Move 85 Court Street Homeless Shelter out of WP. Build New Facility.




WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communication. February 5, 2007 (EDITED, Pic added)UPDATED 2:15 PM EST UPDATED February 7, 2007 3:05 PM:  The County Executive Andy Spano announced Tuesday that this shelter location has been withdrawn  See more recent story for details. Previously, County Executive Andy Spano announced Monday that the drop-in center located at 85 Court Street in White Plains which gives homeless people a place to sleep at night will be relocated as quickly as possible to a new facility to be built at the County’s Department of Public Safety. The decision came after a series of productive meetings Spano has had with Common Council President Rita Malmud, Councilmen Thomas Roach and Benjamin Boykin and Board of Legislators Chair Bill Ryan, who represents White Plains.


 


Donna Greene, Assistant communications Director advised WPCNR that the overflow of homeless persons that have swelled the population housed nightly at 85 Court Street, (the County Executive said 80 persons have been showing up lately attempting to use the shelter) have been housed elsewhere.


 


Asked when the new facility is expected to be opened, Ms. Greene issued this statement:  “There is no specific into on time frame of new building. We are the early stages.”


 



Volunteers of America Vans turning into 85 Court Street Driveway whisking White Plains “hardcore homeless” two blocks to 85 Court Street on shelter Opening Night January 16, 2006. The present procedure will continue indefinitely until the new $2 Million facility is built. No target date for completion was given by the County in today’s sketchy announcement.Photo, WPCNR News Archive.


 



“As everyone knows by now, this drop-in center was always considered temporary. We have tried to find other locations since the beginning of last year. I am pleased that we have come up with another county site that is more appropriate to handle our homeless population. The current drop-in serves a maximum of 43 men, and right now we are picking up about 80,” said Spano.


 


Spano thanked the White Plains committee headed by Malmud as well as Board of Legislators Chair Bill Ryan for working productively with him. “They came to us and let us know their concerns.  We heard what they had to say and we listened.”


 


            Board of Legislators Chairman Bill Ryan said, “We have decided on a plan of action that satisfies both city and county interests.  The homeless on the streets of White Plains need to be sheltered at night.  The county wants to help with that. The drop-in center in the basement of 85 Court Street is too small and was only meant to be used temporarily.  We will now build a permanent drop-in center, on a secure site in a less populated area that can handle the larger number of homeless requiring overnight shelter.”


 


Common Council President Malmud said, “I want to thank County Executive Spano for meeting and really listening to our concerns. While Councilman Dennis Power did not attend, he contributed greatly in helping think things through to a successful conclusion. 


                                                 


           Malmud added, “White Plains has always been willing to help those in need. Despite the closing of the shelter at 85 Court Street, we will continue to have other housing for the homeless in White Plains.  At a time when some shelters in Westchester have closed, we are glad that this temporary but additional White Plains shelter is being relocated to a much better site in the county and that those in need will be carefully provided for.”


Councilman Benjamin Boykin stated, “I am pleased that working in a collaborative partnership with County Executive Andy Spano, Chairman of the County Board of Legislators William Ryan and my fellow White Plains Democratic Councilmen Rita Malmud, Thomas Roach and Dennis Power, the county is going to relocate the homeless shelter located at 85 Court Street to a building outside of White Plains that will benefit the entire county by providing this fragile population with a facility in an appropriate location. The meetings with our elected county government officials over the last several months have resolved a difficult issue for the residents of White Plains.”


Councilman Thomas Roach said, “We appreciated the opportunity to meet with the County Executive to express our concern that White Plains was carrying more than its share of a countywide responsibility. By having these discussions, we were able to take politics out of the equation and achieve a positive result.’’


 Spano said besides understanding the concerns of White Plains the move was needed because the county was finding it difficult to handle the overflow. Spano reiterated what has been previously said and shown to be true: that the drop-in has posed no safety concerns for White Plains residents.  Nothing but the location has changed. Those homeless who continue to gather at the corner of Martin Luther King Blvd. will be transported by vans to the new site at county police headquarters in Hawthorne. They will stay there overnight and then be brought back to White Plains in the morning as has been done for 20 years. Once in White Plains, the men will be taken to Project Trust, a program begun last year which helps the homeless during the day and encourages them to enter the regular shelter system for assistance and services.


The process will begin immediately and construction will begin as soon as possible to create the new facility. The site is the old police impound lot which is vacant space.  It is a secure site, on police grounds, and secluded from neighborhoods and commercial establishments. The Department of Public Safety is located off the Saw Mill River Parkway and there are no homes in the vicinity. The homeless will follow the same procedure used in White Plains.


                                                               


If someone wants to leave at night, they will be transported back to White Plains where they were picked up, and the White Plains police will be informed. Once a person leaves, he will not be allowed back in the drop-in. No one will be allowed to wander around the Hawthorne location, and only the homeless currently picked up in White Plains will be transported.


The cost of the building the facility is estimated to be about $2 million and funding has been included in the Department of Social Services operating budget since 2006 in the hope of finding another space.


Anticipating a possible negative response from the Town of Mount Pleasant, Spano said, “This is about  the safest and most secure spot in the county. It is right next to police headquarters. The people in Mount Pleasant should not be concerned. It will not affect them or their quality of life. What it will be doing is giving  the homeless a better place to spend the night to keep safe and warm.’’


He added, “We are under no obligation to create a drop-in shelter, but it’s the safest and most humane thing to do for everyone.”


 

Posted in Uncategorized