Mayor Joseph Delfino: A Visionary Leader
The passing of Major Joe Delfino marks the end of an era. His recent death takes from all of us one the most memorable individuals in Westchester County and , of course, most notably White Plains. Affectionately known as “Mayor Joe,” he possessed unique strengths combining a visionary outlook, an ability to build bipartisan support for important initiatives, and a unique way to project strength of purpose while maintaining a friendly and open persona.
Is it no exaggeration to say that Mayor Joe is responsible for creating the vibrant modern day downtown White Plains. When he became Mayor, the center of the city opposite City Hall was the site of a sprawling, abandoned Macy’s store. The hulking building spanning a full city block, had for decades been the main driver in the downtown’s bustling retail community.
By the early 2000s, however, it was casting a pall over the entire area.
Mayor Joe knew something had to be done, but what? It was then that he saw developer Louis Cappelli demolish a former abandoned Macy’s in downtown New Rochelle and convert the site into a new shopping, entertainment and housing complex called New Roc City that opened in 1999.
Mayor Joe reached out to Cappelli and asked if he would tackle the White Plains site. Cappelli was intrigued but said he’d only take on the massive project if the Mayor and City Council clearly stipulated what they wanted to see on the site. He said he would then present a plan, and if the city leaders felt it would achieve their goals, he wanted an expedited approval process and a green light to get to work.
Mayor Joe led a visioning process and within a matter of months came up with the desired elements: movie theater, retail, supermarket, community theater, housing and parking. Cappelli’s team went to work and presented a plan for City Center that included all the elements. Mayor Joe liked it, worked with the Council members who then bought in as well, and within two-plus years, the heart of the downtown was transformed.
Mayor Joe didn’t stop there. Cappelli came to him with an even more ambitious project less than a block away, and once again Mayor Joe led the City Council to agree to revising the zoning to permit what became Renaissance Square.
By 2008 the new project had opened with a Ritz-Carlton Hotel and two 40-plus story residential towers with commanding views of the city, Long Island Sound and the Manhattan skyline.
These two projects set in motion the redevelopment of the entire downtown area which now includes numerous sparkling apartment towers, a revived Mamaroneck Avenue business district and even the proposed redevelopment of the Galleria Mall site.
It’s an almost unimaginable transformation, and all thanks to the vision, determination, drive and the unique abilities of Mayor Joe Delfino.
There will be many accolades for Mayor Joe, all well deserved. To his daughter Cindy, her husband Dave Birdsall and other members of the family, I wish to express deepest sympathy, and thanks for sharing Mayor Joe with all of the residents of White Plains and beyond.
–Geoffrey Thompson
OCTOBER 23 –MAYER -LINDSAY THE MAIN EVENT FOR 37TH NY SENATE DISTRICT QUESTIONS ISSUES REALITY QUESTIONED. PASSION! ROARING CROWD 12 ROUND THRILLER TO A SPLIT DECISION
WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2024 By John F. Bailey, October 23, 2024:
The Westchester League of Women Voters Forum Main Ticket pitting 20 year County Albany political personality Senator Shelley Mayer against Republican Tricia Lindsay was a tense 12- question affair before 80 persons in the White Plains Library Studio.
The experience and record of Ms. Mayer was challenged by adrioity-landed questions about the past and future, past Albany policies by her Republican Challlenger, Ms. Tricia Lindsay, a civil rights lawyer, a nurse, teacher in Yonkers and New York City Schools and scientist and Mom.
Ms. Lindsay woke up the overflow crowd of 80 persons as the moderator called for opening statements.
Lindsay wasted no time with a flurry of punches in her speech:
“We have had enough of politicians giving us “outrageous inflation” bail reform that afflicts minority youth and encourages recidivism and crime and does not give judges discretion in retaining youth offenders.
Mayer had started the forum saying she was proud of her record and direct service to constituents, and always “being present and showing up.” She said she fought and achieved full funding of public schools for this year against the wishes of the Governor “and I have more to do.”
When Ms. Lindsay countered, you knew this was going to be no ordinary forum.
On CRIME: When asked if she believed crime statistics were accurate, Ms. Lindsay flatly disagreed saying the statistics were not believable based on her talks with police in her district. This was met with loud applause from the crowd, and the moderator asked the crowd not to applaud or react.
Lindsay said crime was up 25% since 2019. She noted that judges have been allowed “no discretion” in granting bail by Albany bail reforms letting young offenders loose to repeat crimes. She also questioned the statistics on car theft and carjacks that had been occurring in Mayer’s own district. Mayer said that her approach was to examine the circumstances and find local solutions.
Ms. Mayer refuted this crime wave allegation by citing County Executive George Latimer’s report last week.that crime was down 10% in Westchester, and said the legislature had amended the bail reform law three times.
ON COSTS OF POWER: Ms. Lindsay said one of reasons for the higher utility rates was New York has to import its electricity from out of state and New York has lost companies out of state, the combination resulting in higher rates. She said taxpayers “need a voice in Albany.”
Ms. Mayer told the audience she, Mayer was that voice.
Mayer criticized the formula the Public Service uses to set rates that allows the utilities to have a return on investment to stockholders. She said she is spearheading reform of the PSC formula that would put customers first and power companies second in rate setting. (This was news to this reporter.) Ms Mayer said discounts in electric rates were on the way with the announcement of last week’s legislation signing up the New York Power Authority to increase their green energy plants to fund discounts for customers in disadvantaged communities.
FLOODING: Mayer said the state had authorized 10.7 Million for flood control Ms. Lindsay rebutted this saying it wasn’t enough and made Westchester second to migrants. Lindsay noted that the state sent 2.9 billion to New York City to pay for the migrants issue, making “the taxpayer” wait for relief.
The Environment: Ms. Lindsay recognized the environment was an issue, but cautioned the problems needed study before pushing more financial burdens (taxes, rising costs) on the consumer.
Incumbent Mayer said the state had to act to make the green energy share of creating electricity more, citing the state persuading the New York Power Authority to invest in hydroelectric projects (which have, I want to point out by the way have been delayed).
Cannibis: Mayer and Lindsay agreed the cannabis legalization has been “a disaster”(Lindsay’s words) with illegal operations abounding. Mayer agreed the laws had to be rewritten and new rules written. Lindsay said the state has been “soft on enforcing the laws.”
Bail Reform Fixes: Lindsay said the bail law “should be repealed. It’s now a revolving door (putting youth offenders out on the street). She also said the age should be raised. “Youth have be shown they are accountable.”
Mayer said the bail law had had several reforms already and said that in 2019 poor people without money were sent to jail, while if you were white and moneyed their child offender was sent home. Mayer said a structure to define if a youth was bail eligible might be a solution.
Special Needs: Senator Mayer supported funding for autistic and mentally disabled children and English Language Learners whose numbers have grown over 4 years. Lindsay cited this this was a problem that would continue to raise school property taxes hurting the taxpayer.
Vaccines: Ms. Lindsay supported parents refusing to have their children not vaccinated by the school district as a parental right. Senator Mayer recalled the polio disease of the 1930s 40s and 50s, (which killed children and they spent the end of their lives in iron lungs), and how vaccines had to be administered to all children which eliminated the deadly disease.
At that point, a member of the audience, shouted out “You’re living in a bubble , Senator,” and discordant loud voices erupted in the packed studio halting the forum
Alan Cass the President of the Westchester League of Women Voters, strode to the front of the proceeding immediately as the voices rose.
He held up his hands and quietly asked for no more disruptions. He stilled the multitude. When hub bub resumed, he again strode to the front and asked for calm. There were no more interruptions. The event continued. (Very brave of him to do that, I thought.)
School Taxes: Ms. Lindsay pointed out that to fund the rising costs,of schools, tax increases were inevitable.
Senator Mayer said this was one of her jobs as a Senator to help persons to get the tax lowering benefits that exist for them on school taxes like the STAR program. Lindsay reminded the audience again of the state sending 5.1 Billion to the city of New York while giving only $2.9 Million to the county for flood control.
(Editor’s note: the state is short on revenues and this will create a problem in funding “promised” school aid in the next two years that the state budgeted but appears not to be there. at this time.)
Immigration: Senator Mayer said the migrants problem is a national problem that Washington has not been able to come to agreement on. Lindsay had no solution but did point out less money should go to employ immigrants and house them because the taxpayer pays
Affordable Housing: Senator Mayer supported continued subsidizing of developers to build affordable housing. Ms. Lindsay said areas should not be designated for development by the state, but instead “It should be left to local zoning laws.”
In closing Statements, Ms. Lindsay returned to the situation the state faces today. “Crime is on the rise. Inflation is out of control. Taxes are going to rise. We are left vulnerable because of the migrant situation.
Senator Mayer said: The stark difference between me and my opponent is I work for the people,my constituents, I try to find out the problems and try to fix it. I have the hope and confidence that we will.”
The Forum ended with Alan Cass, President of the Westchester League of Women Voters far left shaking Senator Mayer’s hand and Tricia Lindsay far right applauding.
October 22—4 to the Hall: BRYANT, GALEF GAY, ROGOWSKY Inducted to WPHS Hall of Fame
Four White Plains High School graduates were inducted into the White Plains High School Hall of Fame on Thursday, October 17 in a ceremony at the school. (L to Right, Shawn Bryant ’81, Sandra Galef ’58, Mara Gay ’04, Larry Rogowsky ’90)
The 2024 inductees are: Sandra Galef ’58, member of the New York State Assembly for 30 years; Shawn Bryant ’81, Managing Director at Deloitte Consulting; Larry Rogowsky ’90, Tony Award winning Broadway producer, and Mara Gay ‘04, member of The New York Times Editorial Board.
The Hall of Fame pays tribute to White Plains High School alumni/ae who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers and/or have significantly and positively impacted the lives of others.
The honorees met with students during the day before the Induction Ceremony attended by County Executive George Latimer, White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, State Senator Shelley Mayer, school administrators, teachers, students, family and friends.
This is the twenty-first class of distinguished alumni/ae selected since the Hall of Fame was established in 1996, bringing the total number of inductees to 90. It is estimated that more than 40,000 students have graduated from White Plains High School in its 128 years of continuous operation.
The inductees were selected by an anonymous committee of representatives of civic and school groups who considered nominations submitted by the public. New nominations are welcomed each year.
More information is available at https://hs.whiteplainspublicschools.org/organizations1/hall-of-fame.
2024 WPHS Hall of Fame Selectees
SANDRA GALEF, Class of 1958 – Ms. Galef, a former teacher, served 13 years on the Westchester County Board of Legislators before representing northern Westchester for 30 years, from 1993 to 2023, in the New York State Assembly.
SHAWN BRYANT, Class of 1981 – A managing director and head of the sports business practice at Deloitte Consulting in New York City, Mr. Bryant has held key leadership positions with ESPN, Intel Sports, the Harlem Globetrotters and the National Basketball Association.
LARRY ROGOWSKY, Class of 1990 – Larry Rogowsky is a three-time Tony Award-winning theater producer whose shows include Moulin Rouge!, revivals of Company and Angels in America and three shows currently on Broadway – The Outsiders, The Who’s Tommy and Merrily We Roll Along.
MARA GAY, Class of 2004 – A member of The New York Times’ editorial board since 2018, Ms. Gay focuses on New York and social justice issues. She was previously a City Hall reporter for The Wall Street Journal and is a frequent cable television commentator.