WPCNR NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. From John Vorperian. December 31, 2005: The “Neighborhood Watchdogs” — the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations has named its officers for 2006.
Ken Werden of the Highlands Association will serve as President. The council is an umbrella group of the city’s 29 neighborhood associations. Other members of the 2006 Executive Board are:
Vice-Presidents Charles Lederman of Gedney Association, Suzanne Vorperian of Old Oak Ridge Residents Association, and Roberta West of Fisher Hill Neighborhood Association, Secretary Bob Meyerson of Haviland Manor Association, and Treasurer Ralph Nagan of North Street Association.
The council meets the second Tuesday of each month. CNA’s first meeting of the New Year will be held
Tuesday, January 10, 2006, 7:45pm, White Plains Education House, 5 Homeside Lane. All city residents are welcome to attend the event.
For more information, call 914-946-6707.
Adam In Albany: Future of Gun Legislation in the Assembly.
WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. 89th Assembly District. December 30, 2005: The state Legislature’s special session last week produced a bipartisan agreement that will help protect our families and law enforcement officers from gun violence. This legislation represents a positive step in our effort to address gun crimes; however, further action must be taken to protect our communities from gun violence.
The recent tragic deaths of two NYPD officers provided yet another chilling reminder of the dangers that these brave heroes face daily. These new laws significantly increase penalties for those who commit crimes against police officers, sending the message that such acts will not be tolerated. This agreement institutes a mandatory life sentence without parole for the killing of a police officer and significantly increases penalties for a broad range of other crimes committed against law enforcement officials. Additional legislation has been signed into law that will create tougher penalties for gun traffickers. While this is real progress in the fight against gun violence, there is much more that needs to be done. We must continue to work to pass common-sense legislation that will serve to keep our families and law enforcement safe.
One of the first issues we must address in the coming session is the banning of cop-killer bullets. Over 140 police and sheriff departments across the state support this measure; however, the Senate has failed to act. Such legislation deals with ammunition that can pierce a police officer’s bullet proof vest. These bullets do not belong on our streets. If we are serious about protecting those who regularly keep us safe, there is no reason why this legislation should not be passed and signed into law.
The Assembly will also pass a measure that will close some very basic loopholes in current law. Proposed by Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, this legislation will help thwart the flow of illegal firearms on our streets by cracking down on gun sales to “straw purchasers” who buy guns for resale to criminals. Further, it will require that gun dealers cooperate with the police during investigations of violent crimes, and provide better security so that guns do not fall into the hands of dangerous individuals.
Nearly 1,000 New Yorkers are killed each year by gun violence. According to a report issued by Senator Schumer, New York holds the alarming distinction of being first nationally in crimes committed with out-of-state guns. Unfortunately, there is a weak spot in the federal law and criminals exploit it, as evidenced by the fact that 67% of guns traced in crimes in New York come from other states. The only way to solve this problem is for Congress to act quickly to stop illegal gun trafficking by passing uniform federal laws.
The Assembly, Senate and governor did the right thing in passing legislation that protects law enforcement and helps keep illegal guns off our streets. However, we can do more to put a stop to senseless gun violence. As we begin a new session, one of our primary objectives must be to once again come together and do what is best for the safety of our communities.
Schwartz Gives City Homeless Ultimatum. Mayor Delfino Responds.
WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By John F. Bailey. December 30, 2005 UPDATED WITH GRAPHIC PHOTOS, 9:06 p.m. E.S.T.: Where the “hardcore homeless” will stay in White Plains after January 10 is still at issue going into the New Years Weekend. Persons who attended the meeting with Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz last week have told WPCNR under condition of anonymity that Mr. Schwartz told the city the homeless are going into 85 Court Street, or if that is not acceptable, the White Plains Business Improvement District should find a place to house the White Plains homeless who gather each night to be driven to the airport shelter, or the county can simply stop the homeless service all together if the city does not want the County’s help.
In a further development, sources who were at that meeting say privately to WPCNR that the Department of Social Services is not too pleased either at housing the “hardcore homeless” in their office basement.
The Mayor of White Plains today issued a letter to Mr. Schwartz stating the city’s position and a solution and defending the city’s record in handling the homeless population. It notes the new day center to be opened by Grace Community Services in a storefront (between two bars) at 96 East Post Road will serve only 7 persons at any one time. The Mayor is directing Executive Officer Paul Wood to meet with Mr. Schwartz next week, calling the county proposal “ludicrous” and “secretive.” The Mayor also accuses a media outlet of not reporting his position fairly. Photo of the Mayor, WPCNR News Archive.
Here is The Mayor’s Letter to Mr. Schwartz, photographs provided by WPCNR News:
Mr. Lawrence S. Schwartz,
Deputy County Executive
Dear Larry,
I am writing regarding your decision to move the homeless drop-in shelter from the County airport to 85 Court Street in downtown White Plains and the subsequent press reports generated by that decision including an editorial which appeared in the Journal News on December 27 entitled “We’re All Ears – Got a better plan for the homeless in White Plains?”
I believe that we do have a better plan, and although it’s been expressed to the media covering this matter, it’s been largely ignored in favor of more sexy sound bites and sensationalistic headlines. To clarify it for you, I have said all along that the airport facility should remain open (no clear reason has ever been provided as to why it needs to be closed) until a comprehensive plan can be established that addresses the needs of this population and shares the burden equitably throughout all municipalities in the County.
The current population sheltered in this facility do not all come from
The 85 Court Street Proposed Location (White Building-also home to the Department of Social Services) for the Hardcore Homeless is next to Mulino’s Restaurant. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.
Day-time Drop-In Facility Location (96 East Post Road) is next to ‘Los Amigos” Bar and a liquor store, slightly to left of the white van. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.
Until now, the reasons given for the choice of 85 Court Street have been ludicrous. This population, the “hardcore homeless” as you have dubbed them, refuse to comply with regulations and refuse services. We need to move them closer to services they refuse anyway? In addition, the day-time drop-in facility that will be opened by Grace Church on Post Road, which has been cited as another good reason to move them here, has a capacity to serve seven clients potentially leaving 36 homeless residents out in the cold. Also, since these are the “hardcore homeless,” are we to believe that they will gather at a point one block away from where they will be taken by bus? Despite your denials, and in light of these questions and the secretive nature in which this plan was derived, I can only conclude that this decision was made for political purposes.
This type of knee-jerk policy making which leaves
If it were about the
I believe
Ideally, in the future, it is my hope that the
Sincerely,
Joseph, M. Delfino, Mayor
Cc: Ron Patafio, The Journal News Editorial Board
Rick Ammirato, White Plains Downtown Business Improvement District
Keith Eddings, The Journal News
Public Safety Will Not Replace David Chong in Immediate Future.
WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. December 29, 2005: It has been four weeks since Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, David Chong, left the Department of Public Safety for personal reasons. The Department has no immediate plans to replace him, according to his counterpart, Dr. Charles Jennings, the remaining Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety.
Jennings said the department is covering Mr. Chong’s duties with present staff taking up the slack. Mr. Chong, Jennings said previously supervised operations and other responsibilities, but those duties are now being handled by present supervisors distributing the workload. Asked if the position was going to be filled internally, Commissioner Jennings said that was “premature.” Asked if a national search to replace Mr. Chong was underway, Mr. Jennings said no. Asked when and if Mr. Chong would be replaced, Jennings had no comment.