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)

Citizens’ Plan Committee Meeting ON tonight, 7:30 Ridgeway School.

Posted on January 13, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. By John F. Bailey. January 13, 2004: The Citizens Plan Committee is going ahead with their meeting this evening as scheduled to discuss issues that they feel should be considered in any Review of the 1997 City Comprehensive Plan. Approximately 2,000 citizens have been notified of the meeting and invited to attend. A Committee spokesperson said to his knowledge no persons on the Citizens Plan Committee have been invited to join the Mayor’s Comprehensive Plan Review Committee which was quietly being put together Wednesday, but whose members have not been announced yet.

The Agenda for the town meeting tonight at Ridgeway is as follows:

WHERE IS WHITE PLAINS HEADED?

1. Welcome: Purpose of tonight’s meeting

2. White Plains comprehensive planning

Process and trends

Recent accomplishments

Financial issues

3. Audience: Questions / comments

4. Summary: Suggested next steps

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY

Posted on January 13, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. January 13, 2005: This morning’s Photograph of the Day features rush hour traffic passing a fog-shrouded Bank Streeet Commons at the Western Gateway at 8:15 A.M. Fog is expected to blow away by afternoon when Northwest winds will kick in and move the fog bank out. The fog condition is being created by the confluence of high dewpoints, saturated ground and light wind. Traffic eases its way under the MetroNorth rail trestle and is welcomed by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sign announcing the Slater Center King Breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Monday.

A FOGGY DAY IN THE LITTLE BIG TOWN. Zero Visibility Photo by WPCNR’s Roving Photographer.

Mayor Forms His Own Comprehensive Plan Review Committee.

Posted on January 12, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. January 12, 2004, Updated January 13, 12:35 A.M.. E.S.T., 2:45 P.M. E.S.T. WPCNR has learned from multiple sources that Mayor Joseph Delfino is inviting key players in the city to serve on his own City Comprehensive Plan Review Committee. Ted Lawson, spokesperson for City Hall, confirmed to WPCNR Thursday morning, that Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel and the Mayor were in the process of forming the committee.

Invitations to serve, according to sources familiar with the Mayor’s effort, are being made by phone calls, or are in the process of going out to Ron Jackson, the “Last Activist,” John Martin, the chair of the citywide committee that created the 1997 City Comprehensive Plan, and Isabel Villar, to name a few being invited to serve.

Meanwhile the Ad Hoc Citizens’ Plan Committee will be holding its town meeting tonight at 7:30 P.M. at Ridgeway School. Ms. Habel is expected to attend.

The Committee according to a member of the “official” review committee will chaired by Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel, and will also include Planning Board Chairperson, Mary Cavallero, according to Tim Sheehan who spoke to Ms. Cavallero tonight and learned she was on the committee and that the committee was being formed.

The Calls Go Out

The Mayor has taken control of the issue to review the Comprehensive Plan with what is described as a “diverse” committee of citizens from all walks of life, considerably more representative, they feel, than the Citizens Plan Committee, which recently presented their own report on issues, they felt, any review of the Comprehensive Plan, that is overdue by three years, should address.

A member of the Mayor’s Committee interviewed by WPCNR, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Mayor’s Committee expects to take two months to complete its “review” of Planning Commissioner Susan Habel’s 200-page Review of what has been achieved in the 1997 Comprehensive plan to date, and then ask for Common Council approval.

The Habel Report Presents Tuesday.

“A review” of the progress of the 1997 City Comprehensive Plan has been prepared by Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel, and will be presented to the Planning Board officially next Tuesday night. At least one member of the Planning Board is in possession of an informal copy of the 200-page “The Habel Report” this evening. It could not be determined if all members of the Planning Board had their copies.

WPNCR’s source said a news release was supposed to announce this today. However as of 10:30 P.M. Wednesday evening, WPCNR has not received one.

The creation of the Mayor’s Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, was occurring 24 hours before the initial Citizens Plan Committee-sponsored community meeting, Thursday evening at 7:30 P.M., at Ridgeway School, to discuss issues any review of the plan should consider. Ms. Habel, the Planning Commissioner, is expected to attend that meeting, but this could not be confirmed due to the lateness of the hour.

Mayor Seizes Control. Can He Do It? Legal Question.

WPCNR has also learned from sources requesting anonymity who have had conversation with the Council, that certain members of the Common Council are reportedly united in opposition to the Mayor calling the shots.

They question the legality of the Mayor acting on his own to form a Committee, in effect co-opting the Council’s right to initiate and determine the process by which a comprehensive plan and its review is called for and executed–according to New York State Law.

As recorded in McKinney’s Consolidated Laws of New York, General City Law, Chapter 21, 28-A (Comprehensive Plan), obtained by WPCNR, it appears it is the Common Council’s prerogative to call for preparation and review of a city comprehensive plan. The key paragraph:

5. Preparation. The legislative body of the city, or by resolution of such body, the planning board or a special board, may prepare a proposed comprehensive plan or amendment thereto, such board shall, by resolution, recommend such proposed plan or amendment to the legislative body of the city.

The law also states that the legislative body (in White Plains case, The Common Council) is to determine when the Periodic Reviews are executed:

11.The legislative body of the city shall provide, as a component of such proposed comprehensive plan,the maximum intervals of which the adoptive plan shall be reviewed.

The law involving comprehenisve planning and amendments to it, also states that such changes and updates require environmental reviews, environmental impact statements and reviews.

The regulation on Environmental Review requirements states:

9. Environmental Review. A city comprehensive plan, and any amendment thereto, is subject to the provisions of the state environmental quality review act under article eight of the environmental conservation law and its implementing regulations. A city comprehensive plan may be designed to also serve as, or be accompanied by, a generic environmental impact statement pursuant to the state environomental quality review act statute and regulations. No further compliance with such law is required for subsequent site specific actions that are in conformance with the conditions and thresholds established for such actions in the generic impact statement and its findings.

Mayor Delfino and Bronz Urge Citizen-Corporate Contributions to Winans Concert

Posted on January 11, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITY LIMITS. From the Mayor’s Office and Reporting by John F. Bailey. January 11, 2004: In the week leading up to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday celerbration, the City of White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino and Westchester County Legislator Lois Bronz have announced an eleventh hour appeal yesterday for ticket purchases to support a concert, featuring world renowned gospel singer Vickie Winans to be held at the White Plains Performing Arts Center on January 21, 2005 to benefit the City’s first Juneteenth Heritage Parade and Festival.

WPCNR has learned that advance ticket sales for the event celebrating African-American heritage and the final freeing of the slaves are lagging embarrassingly behind expectations due to by a lack of support by White Plains Corporations, and the usual movers and shakers.

The Who’s Who of Corporate White Plains who usually sponsor everything in the city from New Year’s Eve Balldrops to St. Patrick’s Day Parades to Hispanic Day Parades have not responded with their usual largesse they have shown for other, perhaps less meaningful events: the July 4th fireworks display, and the New Year’s Eve Balldrop, and the Samaritan House bailout. Perhaps the onslaught of galas and fundraisers (an averge of one-a-week) have finally topped out Westchester’s giving spirit.

The Juneteenth Legacy

“Juneteenth” commemorates the final implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation by the Union Army on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas almost 2 ½ years after the proclamation was issued.

In the years that followed, “Juneteenth” provided an opportunity for African-Americans to celebrate their freedom as a people. Now, Juneteenth will offer residents of White Plains a day to celebrate the cultural, economic, and social achievements of African-Americans in White Plains, and in the nation.

“The strength of our community lies in its diversity,” said Mayor Joseph Delfino, honorary co-chair of the Juneteenth Parade Committee. “This will be the biggest celebration of African-American heritage in Westchester County, and the first of its kind in the City of White Plains. I’m honored and excited to be a part of it.”

Westchester County Legislator Lois Bronz added, “We are very excited about the concert, as it will be the highlight of a series of events commemorting Juneteenth.”

Bronz also commented that at the February 7, 2005 meeting, the County Board of Legislators will pay tribute to Juneteenth for the first time.

The White Plains Juneteenth Heritage Committee is in the process of raising enough revenue to underwrite a Juneteenth Parade and Festival to be held in June 2005.

$22 G’s to go.

To date, according to WPCNR information from informed sources familiar with the funds raised to date, only $8,000 has been raised towards the $30,000 total needed to stage the parade, and the Committee is counting on a brisk sale of tickets in the next week for the January 21 event. The event has been in the planning for seven months, with fund-raising efforts to date lagging behind expectations. The Mayor’s effort and Legislator Bronz’s comments hopefully will make the event a success, but apparently, according to sources close to the action — or lack of it — sponsors are needed desperately.

Privately, WPCNR has been informed none of the usual first-to-give corporate sponsors have purchased block tickets to the Performing Arts Center event either to use for themselves or to give away to community groups who cannot afford the $100-a-ducat price — far below the going rate for more toney galas.

At $100 a ticket and 400 seats at the White Plains Performing Arts Center, a sellout would easily fund the parade. It has not been determined whether the Performing Arts Center is charging the Committee for the use of the hall which is $400 for four hours plus technicians and crew, or is waiving the usual production fee for this first-ever cause.

The Gospel Concert will be held on Friday, January 21, 2005, and will feature performances by the 90-member strong Union Baptist Church Mass Choir, and a headlining performance by world renowned gospel singer, Vickie Winans. The tax deductible tickets cost $100 and will go directly to the Juneteenth Parade and Festival.

For more information about the parade and festival or to purchase tickets, please contact the White Plains Recreation and Parks Department at (914) 422-1336.