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WPCNR ROAD RAGE. News and Comment by John F. Bailey. November 14, 2017:

During the one-day, all day monsoon that hit White Plains on October 29, I went on a trip to Boonton New Jersey. It was my first trip over the new Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. The trip across the bridge in the driving rain to and from was complicated especially at night because the bridge in my opinion is not well lit and the lanes are not well marked with white broken lane lines that, in my opinion should “glow” when headlights hit them. They don’t. I was so busy trying to stay in the somewhat narrow lanes that it created a lot of anxiety.

The other criticism I have of the bridge is that the pavement feels a lot like the 50-year old bridge. It is bumpy because of the recessed drains in the lanes that thunk  as your tires go over them. They could throw you off when they “snow up” in coming winter storms. There are a large number of these recessed drains smack dab in the lanes.  Since I was concentrating, I did not notice if there were drains in all four lanes. But really, the trouble with the old bridge was the pavement unevenness, and now on the new one they have the same thing.

Not as bad, mind you, I did not like the unevenness. Admittedly the bridge is not complete. It is really not finished, but those drains are here to stay and I don’t like them. You feel them and if someone hits them at high speed above the limit…well they could spin out of control. Of course, no one will speed across the Mario M.Cuomo Bridge. They would not dare.

So, beware of the Cuomo “Pothole Drains” when crossing.

Now to the bigger issue—worn out lane markings-on major highways

Lane markings on the New York Thruway approaching and departing the new Mario M. Cuomo Bridge have for years had notoriously invisible lane markings . They are faint in broad daylight. At night they are dim. In a real rain as I drove through October 29, you cannot make the lanes out. They don’t “bright up” when headlights, even on bright, hit them. This creates anxiety and guesswork trying to figure out whether you are in the lane or not. Especially when the truck-drivin’, SUV riders, at BMW and Mercedes Hot Rodders floor it even in bad weather.

In my opinion, the lane markings on the thruway and the Cross Westchester Expressway and the Cross County Expressway need remarking with a state-of-the-art, pick-up-the-headlight strips.

It is a safety issue that has long existed and it is a disgrace the Thruway did not pick out better lane markings for the new bridge. Hopefully those are only temporary and they will be replaced when the second span is opened and the final 16 lane span is completely opened. They should think about it needs to be done.

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 WPCNR NEWS AND COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. November 9, 2017:

TO HEAR THE SOUTH END GEDNEY ASSOCIATION TELL IT, THE FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK PLAN TO BUILD A NEW CAMPUS ON THE OLD RIDGEWAY COUNTRY CLUB IS STILL A FIERY ISSUE IN WHITE PLAINS.

HOWEVER, THAT HAS NOT APPEARED TO EFFECT MAYOR TOM ROACH’S POPULARITY IN THE LEAST.

OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS —(THIS JANUARY IT WILL BE 7 YEARS IN DISCUSSIONS), THE FASNY SAGA THE LIKE OF HAS BEEN A HISTORIC EXERCISE IN INERTIA. I HAVE AND THE CITY HAS SUFFERED THROUGH, SITE PLANS, BEHIND-THE-SCENES MANEUVERS, STRIDENT CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, AN ENTRANCE ON RIDGEWAY, AN ENTRANCE ON NORTH STREET, NOW BACK TO AN ENTRANCE ON RIDGEWAY. THE PROCESS HAS MADE LEGAL FIRMS AND CONSULTANTS SWIMMING POOLS OF MONEY LIKE SCROOGE McDUCK.

THE FASNY SAGA IS THE STUFF MOVIE CLASSICS ARE MADE OF.

THROUGH THIS PERIOD, THE ROACH ADMINISTRATION HAS IN EFFECT MANAGED TO DELAY BY INTENTION OR JUST BY THE INERTIA OF GOVERNMENT BY PROCEDURE—MOVING THE  APPROVAL OR DENIAL FARTHER OUT.

BUT THE END IS NEAR. MAYBE.

LAST MONTH THE COMMON COUNCIL SCHEDULED A SPECIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS THE NEW, IMPROVED FASNY SITE PLAN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE MET ON IT TO ATTEMPT PROGRESS SINCE THE CITY DENIED THE FIRST PLAN IN AUGUST 2015.

A JUDGE THEN FOUND THE CITY HAD DELAYED THE PROCESS AND CALLED FOR A REVOTE  

AFTER FASNY SUED THE CITY,  THE CITY REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH FASNY TO CONSIDER A NEW PLAN AND THE JUDGE SET UP AN EXPEDITED TIMETABLE FOR THE PROCESS TO CONSIDER THE NEW PLAN.

THAT NEW PLAN PUTTING THE ENTRANCE BACK ON RIDGEWAY IS WHAT THE COMMON COUNCIL CAME TO DISCUSS TWO AND A HALF YEARS AFTER THAT AUGUST 15, 4-3 DENIAL OF THE NORTH STREET ENTRANCE.

 THE COUNCIL RAISED SOME ISSUES ON THE NEW REVISED PLAN  AT THEIR SPECIAL MEETING THE THIRD WEEK IN OCTOBER.

THE COUNCIL QUESTIONS WERE ASKED WITHOUT A REVIEW OF THE PLAN BY THE FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK.  THE FASNY SPOKESMAN, GEOFF THOMPSON TOLD THIS REPORTER THE COMMON COUNCIL DID NOT REQUEST A FORMAL OVERVIEW OF THE PLAN TO BE SHOWN AT THAT MEETING. SO THE PUBLIC VIEWING THE MEETING WHICH WAS POORLY MIKED AND HARD TO UNDERSTAND EVEN WHEN VIEWING IN THE CHAMBER AND ESPECIALLY UNHEARABLE ON TELEVISION AT HOME. AT LEAST ONE CALL CAME IN FROM A VIEWER COMPLAINING THE TELEVISION FEED WAS UNHEARABLE.

AT THE MEETING NADINE HUNT-ROBINSON, THE COUNCILPERSON WHOSE VOTE KILLED THE FORMER PLAN THAT WOULD HAVE CLOSED HATHAWAY LANE AND HAD ENTRANCE FROM NORTH STREET BY WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL SAID SHE WAS STILL CONCERNED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

SHE SAID SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DOUBTS RAISED BY CITIZENS ABOUT ABOUT FASNY DEVELOPING OTHER PARCELS OF THE PROPERTY A PROCESS KNOWN AS “SEGMENTATION”.

SHE SUGGESTED THESE DOUBTS ABOUT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT COULD BE PUT TO REST BY PROHIBITING ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY CLUB PROPERTY FOR 50 YEARS.

THIS  WOULD APPEAR TO BE A WAY THE HUNT-ROBINSON VOTE MIGHT BY MOVED TO “YES.”

PREVIOUSLY HUNT-ROBINSON VOTED AGAINST THE CLOSING HATHAWAY PLAN BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

COUNCILMAN DENNIS KROLIAN, ANOTHER NEGATIVE VOTE ON THE FASNY ISSUE RAISED AN ISSUE OVER POLICE MONITORING OF TRAFFIC AT THE MAMARONECK AVENUE AND RIDGEWAY INTERSECTION ON WHETHER IT WOULD BE MONITORED AT ALL BY THE WHITE PLAINS POLICE. THE POLICE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SAID THE POLICE WOULD MONITOR IF THEY RECEIVED COMPLAINTS.

THE THIRD NEGATIVE VOTER ON THE NORTH STREET ENTRANCE IN AUGUST 2015, MILAGROS LECUONA ALSO MADE A DEMAND THAT ANY APPROVAL RESOLUTION SHOULD PERMANENTLY CAP THE FASNY NUMBER OF STUDENTS ATTENDING THE CAMPUS AT 615.

OBSERVERS OF THIS MEETING SEEMED TO FEEL THAT ROBINSON-HUNT HAD SET OUT HER CRITERIA FOR  GETTING TO YES AND “APPROVAL.”

WHETHER FASNY WOULD AGREE TO A STIPULATION THAT WOULD MAKE THE REST OF THE PROPERTY UNATTRACTIVE TO A POTENTIAL FUTURE BUYER OR POSITIVE USE OF THE PROPERTY UNDER FUTURE ADMINISTRATIONS IS A BIG QUESTION.

WHEN A RESOLUTION WOULD BE READY AND HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO HAMMER OUT A RESOLUTION WITH RESTRICTIONS  FASNY COULD LIVE WITH WITHOUT FILING ANOTHER LAWSUIT, IS UNCERTAIN AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT.

YOU COULD LOOK FOR IT IN DECEMBER OR AT A SPECIAL MEETING OR JANUARY OR FEBRUARY. PERHAPS AT A NEW YEAR’S EVE MEETING, A FEW MINUTES BEFORE MIDNIGHT

 THIS MAKES MY PREDICTION THAT FASNY WOULD NOT BE VOTED ON BEFORE THE 2017 NOVEMBER ELECTION A REALITY. THOSE ELECTED IN NOVEMBER DID NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANY FASNY FALLOUT. HOW DID I KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN? JUST LUCKY, I GUESS.

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 THE RACE FOR WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE BOILS DOWN TO WHO DO YOU TRUST?

COUNTY EXECUTIVE INCUMBENT ROBERT P. ASTORINO, WHO CLAIMS NOT TO HAVE RAISED YOUR TAXES IN 8 YEARS.  SAVED ZONING IN COUNTY TOWNS BY BATTLING HUD.  BROUGHT IN MAJOR NEW BUSINESSES

OR GEORGE LATIMER, EXPERIENCED TWO-TIME STATE SENATOR, THREE-TERM COUNTY LEGISLATOR. MR. LATIMER’S MESSAGE TO WESTCHESTER IS YOU CANNOT TRUST MR. ASTORINO BECAUSE OF HIS ALLEGED PLAY FOR PLAY DEALS MADE WITH A NUMBER OF HIS CAMPAIGN DONORS, AND LATIMER PORTRAYS HIM AS A DONALD TRUMP PUPPET NOT SUPPORTIVE OF WESTCHESTER VALUES.

LATIMER CHARGES  MR. ASTORINO DID  RAISE TAXES FOR COMMUNITIES INCLUDING RYE, EASTCHESTER, GREENBURGH, MAMARONECK. BUT MR. LATIMER NEGLECTED TO SAY THE TAX RISES WERE THE RESULT OF LOCAL REVALUATIONS OF ALL HOMES IN THOSE TOWNS BY THE COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES AND THE COINCIDENCE OF RISING HOME PRICES.

MR. ASTORINO HAS HAD ONE ISSUE: MR. LATIMER’S FAILURE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES TO RYE, PARKING TICKETS AND LIENS ON A THIRD HOME LATIMER OWNS.

LATIMER ACKNOWLEDGED THE TAX DEBT, BUT SAYS THEY ARE HIS WIFE’S RESPONSIBILITY. LATIMER SAYS ASTORINO IS JUST RESORTING TO PERSONAL ATTACKS.  

IT’S A MYSTERY WHY MR. LATIMER DID NOT PAY ALL THESE OBLIGATIONS SOME WAY BEFORE HE STARTED HIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE RUN LAST SPRING.

MR. LATIMER HANDED MR. ASTORINO AN ISSUE ON A PLATTER WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT INFLUENCE VOTERS TO DENY HIM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE TODAY.

THE ASTORINO STRATEGISTS HAVE BEEN SATURATING TELEVISION EXPLORING IN DEVASTING PRODUCTION DETAIL HIS TAX DELINQUENCY.

DOES IT MATTER HE HAS NOT PAID HIS TAXES? DOES IT MATTER THAT GEORGE LATIMER CAN LET HIS TAXES GO UNPAID FOR 5 YEARS, WHILE A NORMAL TAXPAYER MIGHT EASILY BE FORECLOSED ON OR HAVE LIENS PLACED ON THEIR HOME?

IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE CITY OF RYE SIMPLY LET THE LATIMER TAX TAB GO BY IGNORING IT. THE COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE IN THE CITY OF RYE DID NOT RESPOND TO WPCNR CALLS ASKING IF RYE HAD ADVISED MR. LATIMER THAT HE COULD HOLD OFF PAYING THE TAXES UNTIL HIS WIFE’S ESTATE DISPUTE WAS RESOLVED. A SIMPLE LETTER TO THAT EFFECT  FROM THE COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE MIGHT HAVE SPARED MR. LATIMER THE PERSONAL PAIN INFLICTED BY THE ASTORINO CAMPAIGN. BUT THEN A LETTER OF LENIENCY ON THE TAX PAYMENT,  MIGHT MEAN THE CITY OF RYE WAS TREATING MR. LATIMER SPECIAL AND WOULD HAVE TO TREAT EVERYONE THAT WAY. MR. LATIMER HAS SAID HE HAD RECEIVED NO COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY OF RYE TO THAT EFFECT.

ISSUES—REAL ONES THAT THE COUNTY FACES IN THE FUTURE HAVE NOT COME UP IN THIS CAMPAIGN.  

TAX INCREASES:

MR. LATIMER TOLD ME ON “PEOPLE TO BE HEARD,” HE DID NOT PLAN TO RAISE TAXES  IF ELECTED.

BUDGETING:

STATE SENATOR LATIMER SAID ON THE SAME PROGRAM HE  WILL CONDUCT  A TOP TO BOTTOM AUDIT OF ALL COUNTY EXPENDITURES TO FIND OUT THE COUNTY’S  FINANCIAL POSITION.

AIRPORT DEAL:

HE SAID HE WOULD WOULD ANALYZE THE COUNTY AIRPORT DEAL, PERHAPS REJECT THE LEASING PROPOSED BY MR. ASTORINO.

PLAYLAND:

MR. LATIMER CHALLENGED STANDARD AMUSEMENTS, THE DESIGNATED, CONTRACTED PLAYLAND OPERATOR TO PAY THE UPFRONT PAYMENT THEY OWE THE COUNTY BY  DECEMBER 31. THAT IS MR. ASTORINO’S CONTRACT DATE WHEN PAYMENT IS DUE  FROM STANDARD AMUSEMENTS TO SEAL THE PLAYLAND DEAL.

LATIMER SAYS IF THAT PAYMENT IS NOT MADE, “ALL BETS ARE OFF” LATIMER WILL REEXAMINE WHETHER TO LEASE PLAYLAND AT ALL OR HAVE THE COUNTY RUN IT, IF STANDARD AMUSEMENTS DELAYS THAT PAYMENT.

MEANWHILE, IN WHITE PLAINS MILAGROS LECUONA, CHALLENGER TO MAYOR TOM ROACH, CAMPAIGNED IN GATHERINGS IN SUPPORTERS’ HOMES. NO LITERATURE OR MAILINGS OF ANY SUBSTANCE AFTER THE DEVASTATING DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RESULT WHERE SHE LOST BY A 3 TO 1 MARGIN.

SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN AROUND HER CAMPAIGN FOCUSING ON THE ARTS LAST WEEK. BUT DURING THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FORUM AT THE WHITE PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY A SIGNIFICANT EXCHANGE-INTERACTION HAD TO BE DEVASTATING TO THE DOGGED, DETERMINED MS. LECUONA

AT A COMMUNITY DEBATE, SHE ASKED WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS IN ATTENDANCE  IF THE CITY WAS BETTER OFF THAN IT WAS 7 YEARS AGO.

THERE WAS A COLLECTIVE LOUD “YES’ FROM THE AUDIENCE. A DEVASTATING VOICE VOTE FROM PERSONS IN WHITE PLAINS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE MAYORAL RACE.

MAYOR ROACH SHOULD HAVE HIS WAY TODAY.

AS BOB GRANT THE ACERBIC OLD WMCA TALK SHOW HOST SAID WHEN HE SIGNED OFF HIS TALK SHOW,

YOUR VOTE COUNTS. USE IT.

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YOUTH -boys and girls   Recreation Basketball League -Youth Registration Deadline: November 18   Teams practice one day a week for 1 hour in the evening. Most games are held on Saturdays. Weekday games for 7-10th graders. Basketball sneakers and shorts are required. League play is determined by grades and is gender specific. Practices begin the week of December 11. Games start in January. VOLUNTEER COACHES ARE NEEDED. If interested, please call 914.422.1363. Boys & Girls, 3rd – 10th Grades Registration Deadline – Saturday, November 18th Register now for Winter programs beginning in January 2018 while space is still available!! Pre-School Programs Arts & Crafts Sticky Fingers Ages 3 – 5 Mondays, 12:45 – 1:45 pm Little Playmates Ages 18 months – 2 years Wednesdays & Fridays, 9:30 am Playgroup Ages 18 months – 2 years Tuesdays, 1:30 pm Pre-Ballet Ages 4 – 6 Thursdays, 4:30 & 5:30 pm Smart Start Sports Ages 2 – 4 Saturdays, 9 & 10 am Youth Programs Ballet & Jazz Grades 1 – 5 Tuesdays, 5:30 pm My Art Treasure Grades 1 – 4 Wednesdays, 4:30 pm Adult Fitness Programs- Ages 18 & older Yoga (Open Level) Saturdays, 9 am Gentle Yoga Saturdays, 10:45 am Fat Burning Pilates Mondays & Thursdays, (begins Nov. 13th), 6:45 pm EBERSOLE ICE RINK OPEN FOR THE SEASON!! Weekend Public Skating Schedule: Friday Night Skate @ 8-10 PM Saturdays,  @ 1:45-4:15 PM Sundays, Adults Only @ 8:30-10:15 AM Public @ 1:15 – 3:45 PM LEARN TO SKATE PROGRAM  Group instruction will be offered in three, 6 – week sessions. Class times vary based upon age/level. IN PERSON REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AT RECREATION AND PARKS, 85 GEDNEY WAY. Fee per session: $120 Session 2: December 8 – January 28 Session 3: February 2 – March 18 Active Older Adults Veteran’s Luncheon Thursday, November 9 11:30 am – 1 pm Thanksgiving Luncheon Tuesday, November 21 11:30 am – 1:30 pm Yonkers Raceway Wednesday, November 29 10:30 am – 4:30 pm For more info please call 914.422.1423 SPECIAL EVENTS   Veteran’s Day Ceremony – Sat., November 11, 10:30 am Ceremony will be held on the front steps of City Hall, 255 Main Street. Santa’s Mailbox – November 20 – December 17 Write your special holiday list, place it in an envelope addressed to SANTA, NORTH POLE, and place it in the special Santa mail box on the steps of City Hall. Remember to include your return address! No stamp needed. City Hall Steps -255 Main Street. City Lights, Bright Holiday Nights – Tree Lighting Sunday, December 3, 4 – 6 pmCourt Street (b’tween Main St and Martine Ave.)  Celebrate the sights and sounds of the season as the Mayor lights the City’s holiday tree. Carolers, music, refreshments and visits with Santa will follow. Snow date: Tuesday, December 5

CITY OF WHITE PLAINS