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

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. May 13, 2003: A spokesman for the Mayor’s Office reported to WPCNR last night that the city has not decided whether the fourth organization to apply to run the White Plains Performing Arts Center, scheduled to premier this October at the Cappelli Enterprises City Center, is legally allowed to be considered due to the fact their response to the city’s proposal was three weeks late.
George Gretsas said the City Corporation Counsel, Edward Dunphy, is still reviewing the fairness of accepting the proposal. Because of the question of whether it is legal for the city to consider a Proposal received after “the deadline” for proposals, Mr. Gretsas said he could not release the fourth organization’s identity.

Presentation Format Under Review

In a wide-ranging telephone discussion of theatre issues, Gretsas and his Economic Development Director, Paul Wood, said the format of “Presentation Night,” presents a conumdrum for the city.

“We’re trying to balance the public’s right to know with the best interests of the city in view of once we select one operator, we are going to have to negotiate with that operator on terms,” Gretsas explained. He pointed out that if each presenter were to see the other’s presentation and specifics, the competitor’s could adjust their proposals to appear more attractive to the Common Council which, Gretsas said will make the choice of who manages the new theatre.

Shroud of Executive Session

Professional Facilities Management of Providence, Rhode Island, White Plains’ new Centerpoint Stage lead by Jonathan Mann, and Westco Productions under the direction of Susan Katz are scheduled to make presentations to the Common Council next Monday at 6 PM, May 19. Gretsas hinted that the presentations may be made in Executive Session.

The situations in which the Common Council is legally permitted to shroud the public’s business in Executive Session are 1.)Discussions of the Sale of Land; 2.) Discussion of Legal Matters with Counsel, and 3.) Matters involving Personal, i.e., union negotiations, etc. There are several options open.

There are several possibilities that could be considered: 1.) The fine line of justifying an impresario’s credentials and preserving the city’s and that impresario’s negotiating positions could be balanced by having credentials and plans presented publicly and the financial details and arrangements presented privately. 2.) The city could keep the entire process open and accept sealed bids, based on demanding a “best offer.”
Obviously, the Mayor’s Office concerns on negotiation leverage, as well as being fair to all presenters are well founded.

Waiting Tables Until You Get a Part.

The process is unusual in that the theatre has no budget in place because the endowment for the theatre has not been raised.

Two organizations, Centerpoint Stage and Westco Productions have said they are in position to launch fundraising efforts. How such operator-generated fundraising would be executed by the two organizations obviously would have to be part of negotiations. Professional Facilities Management told WPCNR they were not a fundraising organization and would handle the programming based on the budget of the White Plains Performaing Arts Center.

The Community-Corporate Relationship Piece.

Another piece that has to be considered is the procedural role the two citizen committees structured in Duncan Webb’s original plan on how the theatre would be managed. One citizens’ committee is envisioned as a fund-raising group of businesses and citizens. The other committee oversees the production content. This raises questions of management.

For example, in deciding the programming of the theatre who has the veto power? Who decides the distribution of dates? How profitable does the “non-profit” theatre have to be to avoid subsidies by the city? Where will the “Angel Money” come from for the programming needed to be in place within five months to pay the theatre’s first performers (if they are commercial acts).

Calling All Angels. Calling All Angels.

The Mayor’s Office says that no corporate angels are actively being sought at this time to bankroll the theatre’s start-up. However, there are deep pockets with a susbtantial stake in the city who could be readily solicited as the theatre’s “angels:” Fortunoff’s, Cappelli Enterprises, Mills Properties, Target, Circuit City, Gannett, Cablevision, Pepsi, Westin Hotels, Marriott, Legal Seafood, LCOR, the Clayton Park owners, are all all players in town with deep pockets. Some of the city’s exemplary corporate citizens can be expected to want to “be a part of it.” Heineken USA, Merrill Lynch, Prudential Financial, Combe, Inc., Entergy, Washington Mutual, Morgan Chase, and the new bank in town taking over the Sea Star. There are also a number of other sources in the city for funds: the universities — Pace, Berkeley College, Mercy College, SUNY, Westchester County Community College who could expect to use the Performing Arts Center. That’s 24 sources. If each contributed $500,000 that would give the theatre a $12 Million endowment, if each contributed $1,000,000, a $24 Million endowment results.

Gretsas said a decision of the Council was expected to be reached shortly after May 19, in order that the Common Council could vote on and approve the operator at the Common Council meeting of June 2.

WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. May 11, 2003: In the face of an unprecedented economic crisis, tough decisions must be made – but we must make the right decisions when it comes to our families, even if the choices are difficult. We cannot abandon the values that are important to us, like providing our children with a solid education and ensuring our loved ones and seniors get the health care they need.

In the face of an unprecedented economic crisis, tough decisions must be made – but we must make the right decisions when it comes to our families, even if the choices are difficult. We cannot abandon the values that are important to us, like providing our children with a solid education and ensuring our loved ones and seniors get the health care they need.

That’s why the Assembly and Senate have come together in a bipartisan fashion and passed a budget that restores $1.1 billion of the governor’s $1.4 billion cut to education, and secures $1.2 billion more back into health care funding than was originally proposed in his executive budget.

Budget invests in tomorrow’s leaders

While the governor wants to abandon New York’s commitment to our students, the Legislature’s budget makes real investments in our future leaders. The Legislature’s plan provides nearly $4.8 million more than the governor’s budget for school districts in the 89th Assembly District, including:

• $2,146,565 for White Plains

• $749,970 for Katonah-Lewisboro
• $537,348 for Chappaqua
• $489,202 for Bedford
• $373,715 for Bryam Hills
• $342,169 for Harrison
• $157,513 for Valhalla

As a result, effective education programs will be spared and school districts will get the help they need to stave off teacher layoffs and elimination of programs, such as pre-K and smaller classes, which many districts would have been forced into under governor Pataki’s proposal. Most importantly, school districts will be able to operate with our help and property taxes, which are already too high, will be stabilized.

Undoing the governor’s cuts to higher education

Under the administration’s initial plan, SUNY students would have seen their tuitions increase by $1,400, while Tuition Assistance Program grants would have been cut by a third. The Legislature completely restored the cuts to TAP, and reduced the administration’s original tuition hike proposal by more than one third, to $950 for resident students. We also restored base aid to community colleges.

Our plan ensures more students are able to attain the degrees they need to achieve their dreams and succeed in a modern world. Equally important, it means New York will be better able to attract knowledge-based business and the high-paying jobs associated with these industries.

Legislature’s budget makes quality health care a priority

Under the governor’s plan, the state’s health care system faced funding cuts of more than $2 billion. Under the Legislature’s plan, hospitals in 89th Assembly District will see over $40.5 million in restorations. Furthermore, our refusal to go along with the governor’s so-called Medicaid “swap” will save New York State a net $259 million, and Westchester County over $8.3 million.

Additionally, the Legislature’s budget restores $2.5 million to the Westchester County Department of Health, which serves as a frontline defense against emerging diseases like SARS, West Nile and potential bioterror attacks.

The governor insists the Legislature is rejecting his “reforms” and “cost containments” — pretty words that conceal devastating cuts in health care, which would put our loved ones at risk.

Again, the Legislature stepped up to block another bad choice by the governor, restoring $1.2 billion more in funds for Medicaid, public health and Health Care Reform Act programs. The legislative budget cuts out unnecessary expenses and is a reduction from spending in prior years. However, it also protects health care from devastating cuts which would seriously jeopardize quality, affordable health care.

Our plan also saves a number of programs benefiting seniors, like adult day care, Alzheimer’s programs, senior meals programs, and a host of others. Moreover, we rejected the governor’s proposed “sick tax” that would have penalized hospitals and health care providers and the governor’s 10 percent fee increase for seniors enrolled in the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program.

These restorations will ensure more New Yorkers receive the kind of quality, affordable care they need when they need it. In addition, we protected the STAR program for seniors, which the governor wanted to cap. Again, the legislature focused on much needed property-tax relief.

The governor must follow the Legislature’s lead and make the right choice

While acknowledging that these are tough times, the Legislature’s budget is a fair one which will ultimately help New York move forward. The Assembly and Senate put their political differences aside to do what is right for our children, our seniors and all of our families by investing in education and quality, affordable health care. I urge the governor not to stand in the way and sign this budget into law.

Adam T. Bradley,
Albany, May 9, 2003.