THE ROLANDI FORECAST: THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2024.  By Dr. Stephen Rolandi . February 22, 2024:

This Saturday, it is South Carolina’s turn in the pre-Presidential convention season. In the Republican Primary, it is basically Donald Trump vs. former Governor/Ambassador Nikki Haley, plus a number of minor candidates who have either since ended their campaigns or are relative unknowns.

This primary permits Democrats to cross over, where Ms. Haley has gained significant support.. She has hit her stride and I expect that she will exceed expectations. Enthusiasm for the former President seems to have ebbed somewhat, in what is expected to be a relatively low turnout.

My call is: TRUMP 58%/HALEY 42%/Others 2%

It’s on to Super Tuesday! It should be noted that both Ronald Reagan (1976) and Joe Biden (2020) lost several primaries before winning primary contests.

What will be Ms. Haley’s off-ramp?

I would not be surprised if she seeks an independent candidacy under the banner of the No-Labels/Forward Party, who as yet do not have a Presidential candidate for the fall. Time will tell.

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THE NEXT GENERATION LIFTS LIFTING UP WESTCHESTER 2024

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PROTECT, NOT DAMAGE WP RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. February 21, 2024:

Dear Common Council and Planning Board members,

For the past 45 years we have enjoyed living and raising our family in White Plains.  And are delighted that our 3 daughters also currently live in different WP Residential Neighborhoods.  At one time White Plains was referred to as the “City of Neighborhoods” because of the success and strength of our Residential Neighborhoods. . .where few of our houses look the same and individual home owners beautifully maintain and invest in their own properties.

In our view the successes of the City’s Downtown area have been more spotty and less permanent.

And we always wondered with all the large building projects completed over the years and for those still in progress. . .  why more affordable housing near public transportation was never developed, particularly for City workers including police, fire and school employees?

With the proposed Comprehensive Plan changes, when you take away all the bells, whistles and wishful ideas, we hope there will be specific and long-lasting Affordable Housing for the Downtown area close to transportation and other appropriate services.

We have a couple of suggestions for the revised Comprehensive Plan that relate to Residential areas:

1.  Do review the proposed Comprehensive Plan with “each” Residential Neighborhood Association and incorporate their ideas and suggestions.

2.  Do include in the updated Comprehensive Plan the requirement that for all large developments in Residential areas that the impacted Neighborhood Associations must be included from day one on all discussions and plans.

We include this because NYS Land Use Regulations require all major projects to fit into the “Character of the Neighborhood” and no one knows the Character of their own neighborhood better than the people who reside there day in and day out.  And keep in mind that the main reason the prior FASNY Development failed was because the City excluded local Gedney Residents from all of the detailed plans and discussions.

 3.  Don’t make any zoning changes for the Residential areas unless it is requested by a specific Neighborhood Association for their own area.

  We believe Residential Zoning protects the value of individual properties.  And if the City weakens Zoning it will result in lower property valuations and tax revenues for the City, County and School District recipients as well as harm individual homeowners who spent years building valuable equity.

So, we ask our City Leaders to protect Residential Zoning and involve Residents early in large developments planned for their own Neighborhoods.  For the City it’s the right thing to do.

Thanks for your consideration,

Marie and Ron Rhodes

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SETBACK FOR DEMOCRACY OBSERVATION BY PAUL FEINER. SAVE THE PRESS.

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. February 19, 2024:

 

The loss of three local weekly newspapers (the Scarsdale Inquirer, Rivertowns Enterprise and Bedford Review Record) is a setback for democracy.
These  local publication provided area residents with important information about the community.  The  election coverage they provided made it easier for non incumbent candidates to get known and for their concerns  to be taken seriously.  They sent reporters to meetings of school, town and village Boards -giving residents information about controversial issues.
The scrutiny and investigative reporting of all government entities helps keep government more honest.  The letters to the editor sections offered readers the opportunity to air their commentaries about topics of interest to the community. And they covered sports, entertainment, the arts and profiled interesting residents.
I am very appreciative of the efforts of a former opponent of mine, Lucas Cioffi, who is leading the effort to find a way to either save these publications or to encourage the start up of new weekly print newspapers. Mr. Cioffi- along with Sandra Nam, Quiqo Chat Inc and the Westchester Youth Congress organized a very impressive virtual community meeting on February 1st that was attended by over three hundred residents..
The virtual meeting encouraged the community to think of creative initiatives that could help a new local weekly publication survive. The meeting was democracy at its best –informative with  excellent ideas presented. Everyone who wanted to speak had an opportunity to express themselves.  And -after the meeting detailed minutes were sent to participants.  Finally, follow up  progress report  e mails have been sent to participants.  I’m optimistic and hopeful that independent local journalism will continue to be an important part of our community in the future.
If a new weekly newspaper gets off the ground – Lucas Cioffi deserves lots of credit for leading the way. I’d also thank Lucas Cioffi for his efforts in recent years advocating for pedestrian safety improvements in the town and for organizing the Westchester Youth Congress—involving students in our democracy.  Democracy depends on oversight, citizen participation and respect for different ideas. Lucas Cioffi is making a positive difference in our community.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
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