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

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. July 5, 2005: A spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office when asked this morning if Mayor Joseph Delfino advocated the eventual closing of homeless shelters in White Plains, which include Open Arms Shelter and Samaritan House – the spokesman said, “That’s a real leap,” and declined to answer the question further. Asked if the city planned any closer scrutiny of homeless persons living in White Plains, the spokesperson after being verbally abusive to this reporter, hung up the telephone.

 Mayor Delfino advocated that Westchester County stop its policy of dropping off homeless persons in White Plains in a statement response to the last Thursday afternoon murder in The Galleria Mall Municipal Parking Garage. That killing was allegedly committed by a homeless person, and Level 3 Sex Offender, who was dropped off in White Plains by a county drop-in shelter van earlier that day.

The Mayor’s Office in a separate phone call  was also asked if any tightened security measures are being considered for the municipal garages in White Plains. The assault and killing of the White Plains victim took place on Level 7 of  The Galleria Municipal Garage. According to police was reported by a passerby by a cellphone, and not observed by  the Parking Garage Office Personnel who have television monitors observing the various levels of the garage.

In the Mayor’s statement he praised municipal garage security arrangements, though a homeless person  wandering in The Galleria Garage in February, 2005,  committed suicide by leaping from the structure undetected by Galleria Garage security.

Calls to the Mayor’s Executive Officer, Paul Wood, and the Department of Parking as to what measures might be considered to enhance Municipal Garage Security have been placed by WPCNR.

Calls to the Westchester County Department of Communications to see if the county plans tighter monitoring of the character of homeless persons the county drops off in White Plains and other cities have also been placed by WPCNR. The County was also asked if the Department of Social Serivices plans to register and alert police as to the identity of homeless persons being distributed to their community.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From The Mayor’s Office. July 4, 2005: Friday afternoon, Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains issued a statement on  Thursday’s murder of a White Plains woman, Concetta Russo Carriero, in The Galleria Municipal Parking Garage in White Plains. The suspect in the killing  had been dropped off in White Plains by a Westchester County Drop-In Homeless Shelter bus shuttle early Thursday morning.

Mayor Joseph Delfino,White Plains. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

White Plains police arrested the suspect, based on a description of witness, shortly after the victim was discovered on the seventh floor of the Galleria garage. In his statement, Mayor Delfino comments that he will work to prevent homeless persons from being routinely dropped off in White Plains daily after leaving the Airport Homeless Shelter. The Mayor’s Statement:

I am shocked and saddened by the tragedy that occurred this week at the municipal parking structure at the Galleria Mall.  Our hearts and prayers go out to the victim’s family, friends and co-workers.

The issue of personal safety is something that we take very seriously here in White Plains.  We have, and will continue to monitor and address the safety in our public parking structures.  Our Public Safety Department continuously works with the security details at our public malls.  We have directed police patrols through our parking structures, video cameras and a wide variety of tools meant to ensure the safety of those who use our facilities. 

Obviously, when a senseless act like this occurs, it raises public concern.  I think it is important to note that crime in our city is down nearly 37% over the last two years.  The number of incidents in our municipal garages is minimal.  This was a senseless and random act of violence that could well have occurred anywhere.  Most importantly, a White Plains police officer was by the victim’s side 30 seconds after the crime was first reported and, fortunately, the suspect was captured within minutes.

That being said, I was particularly distressed to learn of the background of the suspect involved and how he came to be in our City that day.  It is incredible to me that an individual such as this, a level 3 sex offender, was dropped off by the County in our City at 6 am to roam our streets without notification or monitoring. I’m very proud of our Public Safety Department, but they can only do so much.

The practice of dropping individuals of varying backgrounds off in our City is something that is very troubling, and it is irresponsible.  I am calling on the County to halt this practice which jeopardizes the safety of our residents, visitors and employees and I call upon the County Public Safety Committee to review the policies and practices of the Social Service agencies that deal with these individuals.  If necessary I will initiate legal action to stop this practice.  This can never happen here again.

I have spoken to the victim’s family, and I will also work tirelessly to get civil confinement legislation passed in Albany so that a senseless and unnecessary tragedy, such as the one that occurred this week, can be prevented.

Joseph M. Delfino

Mayor, City of White Plains