WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. By John F. Bailey. February 8, 2010, UPDATED  12:10 P.M. E.S.T.: The Robert Castelli campaign for the 89^th Assembly district seat vacated by Adam Bradley (when he was elected Mayor of White Plains) has enjoyed the support of the New York State Republican Committee on an unprecedented level for an Assembly Race.

Peter Harckham, left, and Bob Castelli, right, on the Lohud.com internetcast of the Editorial Board’s interview with the candidates on issues. Mr. Harckham and Mr. Castelli each said there was a need to reform Albany. They each said they wanted to consolidate departments and cut costs of state government.

They differred on property tax issues: Harckham said he supported a Circuit Breaker bill to cut property taxes proportionately based on income (though the effects of that bill have never been fully explained by the legislature), while Castelli favored eliminating the Triboro Amendment (that automatically extends union contractors’ contracts), and the Wickes Law. Harckham stood on his record as voting in support of  cutting the county budget and the county legislature budget. 

Harckham told WPCNR he would sponsor a 1/4% sales tax increase to help the current White Plains city budget in distress, while Castelli said he would not immediately support such an increase, unless he was assured the city had done all it could to cut its costs.

The Democratic Party is also pulling out the stops to elect Peter Harckham the Democrat from Katonah-Lewisboro, their latest efforts include a robo-call from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo Monday, urging voters to support Mr. Harckham. Monday’s Republican Robo-Call “celebrity” has not made his or her debut yet. Mr. Cuomo’s recorded message is in addition to a recorded message from White Plains Mayor, Adam Bradley which went out Friday.

The race has been the subject of three polls trying to ascertain the mood of the electorate. The polls apparently tried to gauge the strength of Mr.Castelli among voters.

The Special Election in one of the county’s most affluent districts is held tomorrow throughout the 89th district.

Judging by the way the Democrats have been sending out flyers in support of Mr. Harckham and generating robocalls (including one from Adam Bradley), a personal letter from Mr. Bradley, and a hand-delivered flyer touting Mr. Harckham’s media endorsements, the Democrats may be worried.  The mailings, one of which touted Mr.Harckham as a supporter of “pro-choice” appear to me making an effort togalvanize the White Plains Democratic base which re-elected Mr. Bradley into the seat by a 25,000-17,000 vote over Castelli four years ago. Mr. Bradley had no opposition in his rerun for the seat in 2007.

On the other hand, the New York State Republican Committee is spending on Mr.Castelli as if he were Henry Cabot Lodge, Nelson Rockefeller, and the  late Senator Jacob Javitts. Do the Republicans smell blood in the water? Does their polling show Castelli strong against Harckham?

Mayor Adam Bradley called to correct WPCNR and point out that in that 2005 election against Mr. Castelli which Bradley won, the Republicans spent $350,000, the second highest amount spent in an Assembly Race in the state that year. Bradley said he was “heavily targeted” that year.

Consider that the Republicans are aiming at White Plains Democratic voters with robocalls from newly elected “reformer” County Executive Rob Astorino who asked voters on Friday to give him “an ally” in Albany in Mr. Castelli. Former Governor George Pataki, in a rare political effort, called Democratic voters on Saturday, assuring voters Mr.Castelli is the man needed to “clean up Albany.”

On Sunday, White Plains’ own Bob Hyland, New York Giants/Green Bay Packers legend, called on Super Bowl Day encouraging Democratic voters to send Mr. Castelli to Albany  to cut taxes and support small business and lower property taxes. Hyland narrowly lost (on absentee ballots) to Bill Ryan in Mr. Hyland’s challenge of Ryan for County Legislator District 5 representing White Plains last November. Hyland was targeted by a mailing alluding to tax problems and  past incidents at a former restaurant location where Mr. Hyland did business which angered a lot of voters.

The Democrats have sent out flyers almost matching the Republicans’ furor, including a personal letter from White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley, and robocalls from Mr. Bradley in support of Harckham.

Can robocalls from Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, and Kristen Gillebrand be expected today in support of Mr. Harckham, to counter the Republican effort for “reform” and “tax-cutting?” Stand by your telephone.

Meantime in White Plains, the polls open tomorrow at 6 A.M. and are open until 9 P.M. at the following polling places for the 89^th Assembly District:

Here are the locations where White Plainsians vote tomorrow by election district,furnished by the White Plains City Clerk. If you have any question what election district you vote in, contact the Board of Elections at 995-5700

Eastview Middle School: Districts 19, 20, 24, 26

George Washington School: Districts 18, 27

German School: Districts 1 & 14

Highlands Middle School: Districts 5,6,7,12

Mamaroneck Avenue School: Districts 3, 11,8

Recreation Department: District 4

Ridgeway School: Districts 9, 13

Solomon Schecter School: Districts 10, 15

St. Bernards: District 42

Presbyterian Church: District 23

White Plains High School: District 2

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. February 4, 2010: Prior to agreeing to initiate a lawsuit to overturn the police 12-hour patrol work shift settlement of 2008,. as reported exclusively by WPCNR, the Common Council had voted unanimously Monday to establish a  Contingency and Tax Stabilization Fund to be a repository for another ¼% increase in the sales tax, dedicated to rebuilding the city depleted fund balance. The groundwork for increasing the city take of every eligible sales tax item to 2-1/2% was first reported by WPCNR last week and the legal framework was established Monday night.

Mayor Bradley noted that the spanking new contingency fund with nothing in it yet,  could not be tapped (for city expenses) without a 2/3 vote of the Common Council (5-2). Either Assemblywoman Amy Paulin or the winner of the Democrat, Harckham and Republican Bob Castelli Special Election taking place next Tuesday, February 9 for Mr. Bradley’s former 89^th District, seat would carry the ¼% request to Albany in the spring. Harckham has told WPCNR he would support the increase. Mr.Castelli told WPCNR he is withholding a decision on support until he is assured all cost cutting measures by the city have been explored.

The council also implemented a series of budget cuts(including 10 layoffs involving actual filled positions and line item cuts)  and elimination of positions totaling $3.3 Million. The layoffs were reported by WPCNR last Friday.

In other action, the council voted to spend $6,000 a year  on a system allowing visitors to enhance their “parking experience” by equipping White Plains Parking Garages and parking lot meter kiosks to accept payment for parking via cellphone. Doing so would enable persons to “feed the meter” by dialing the service provider and extending their parking time remotely. There will be a 35 cent additional service fee for the use of this service.

Mayor Bradley promised changes in parking policy were in the making to make White Plains parking less adversarial to visitors to the city.

The Council approved appointments of Adam T. Bergonzi, Steven H. Hochman and Saul Yanofsky to the Budget and Management Advisory Committee and appointed Dennis Power, the Councilman as Chair of the Recreation Advisory Committee. Michael Genito, the new Commissioner of Finance was approved as interim Budget Director.  Larry Delgado and Joe Lenchner were dropped from the Budget Committee.

The Council approved a $851,000 expenditure to replace White Plains Public Library windows, but in comments afterwards, they pointed out that  $650,800 of the $851,000 was being furnished with “stimulus funds” from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was achieved through the efforts of Congresswoman Nita Lowey. The council also agreed to issue bonds for a $502,000 “Electrical Upgrade” to the library, which is solely the city responsibility.

The Council approved changes in Department of Recreation and Parks Fees which are expected to raise an additional $180,000 revenue into the city, if usage remains the same.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. February 2, 2010 UPDATED 2:50 P.M. E.ST.: At the close of the Monday evening Common Council meeting, the Common Council went into Executive Session. After 45 minutes, the Council reconvened and Mayor Bradley announced the Council had voted in Executive Session to ask for a Declaratory Judgment, without explanation.

WPCNR has learned the city is planning a court action asking for a Declaratory Judgment declaring the 2008 Memorandum of Agreement with the police union agreeing to the 12-hour Work Schedule. 

John Callahan, City Chief of Staff told WPCNR Tuesday afternoon “it is the opinion of this administration the Memorandum of Agreement entered into in December of 2008 on Police portion of the agreement involving overtime on 4 hours of the 12-hour shift was not approved by the Common Council.” Callahan explained that the 24-hour work shift now being worked by White Plains firefighters was approved legally by the Common Council.

Callahan told WPCNR he expected a law suit asking for a declaratory judgment would be filed in a week to two weeks.

The 12-24 hour work schedules for police and fire departments, respectively,  was put into effect on a trial basis in January 2009. It became “permanent” when the former Commissioner of Public Safety, Dr. Frank Straub did not extend the trial period of the work schedules past the 9-months it had been in effect, allowing it to perpetuate.

 The Common Council in a heated public exchange in November asked Straub to extend the trial, because they wanted to see a more extended financial impact.

 Straub declined to extend the trial period by the deadline. Subsequently the council attempted to terminate Dr. Straub’s employment, but Straub abruptly left his position before they could dismiss him.

The Head of the Police Benevolent Association, Jim Carrier was surprised when WPCNR called him asking for comment on the Council decision.

It should be pointed out that the planned action by the city does not dispute the binding arbitration recently handed down raising police and fire salaries 3.5 % and 4% for 2008-2009 and 2009-10.

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WPCNR MR.& MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS POLL. February 1,2011: The Ax has begun to fall on the lower salaried workers in the city as White Plains new administration strives to undo the financial follies of the Delfino Administration, the extent of which may never be known due the tidiness of the Delfino Gang in shredding untold millions of documents last spring, so much was shreded they needed a truck to do it. However, the damage has been done and now must be undone and the city, much like the south during reconstruction after the Civil War has to be reinvigorated with injections of cash.

WPCNR has come up with a list of possibilities other than layoffs which begin tonight with a mere ten persons being laid off at the approval of the Common Council. Which would you consider if you were Mayor Adam Bradley and his management team?

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WPCNR Quill & Eyeshade. By John F. Bailey. January 28, 2010: The city’s revenues are $7.5 Million off while expenitures are up $3 Million due to the police and fire arbitration award. This sets the stage for a combination of department budget cuts, possible new revenue raising fee increases by some departments, a bigger-than-usual tax increase in the 2010-11 budget. The city also has no undesignated fund balance to cover shortfalls next year, if the allowed fund balance  is used this year.

The Mayor’s Budget  & Management Committee chaired by Councilwoman Beth Smayda learned this its first meeting of the new administration Wednesday evening and learned from consultant Eileen (Earl)Bradley, the former Budget Director who resigned in 2002 in the Delfino Administration, that the city’s revenues are down $7,418,315. Expenditures due to the recently arbitration awards to the police and firefighters, are up $2,969,185.

 Ms.Bradley  presented a runthrough projecting that to make up the revenue shortfall alone in the 2010-11 budget, the city would need to increase property taxes 23.49%, an increase of the tax rate from the present $157.06 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $193.96/assessed valuation ($36.90 increase).

This is in line with White Plains Week and WPCNR projections made weeks ago. Such a increase described hyptothetically by Ms. Bradley Wednesday night,  would make your property tax on a $650,000 assessed (median) home in White Plains go from $2,901 to $3,583, a $682 increase, with a whopper school tax increase to come if the assessment roll takes another expected plunge of  $3 Million.   Bradley emphasized these were projections.

Adding to city woes, Lloyd Tasch, the City Assessor told WPCNR Wednesday there were 1,154 assessment challenges submitted last week, with good more than half from city homeowners. He said it was too early to say whether his prediction of a  $3 Million drop in the assessment roll might rise. The roll is due March 1st.

Over on the other side of town Monday evening, Assistant Superintendent for Business Fred Seiler of the City School District,  when the Operations Budget of the School District was unveiled at last year’s level ($80 Million), that any shortfall in revenues occurring in the school district due to lost state aid and a lower assessment roll would be met by an increase in the property tax. The District goal is to keep spending at this year’s level of $186 Million.

Eileen Earl Bradley’s Revenue Projections

The City is Not Contemplating a 23% Tax Increase.

Ms. Bradley emphasized the administration does not plan to make up the entire revenue gap with a tax increase, because it has given all departments a number figure of how much each department would have to cut from their budgets.

The figure given each department,  Ms. Bradley said was not a percentage, but based on the size of department expenditures

The Departmental budgets would be submitted to the Mayor’s Office. The Budget and Management Committee would be shown what the Mayor’s office has approved in the budgets submitted.

Committee to suggest not shape.

The Committee would be able to make suggestions on the budget only after the budget had been completed by the Mayor’s staff and budget team, the new Commissioner of Finance Michael Genito said in presenting the responsibilities to the new committee.

Ms. Bradley said Mayor Adam Bradley has already determined cuts previous to the departments submitting their budget requests (due February 15), which the Mayor would present to the Common Council for their approval February 1. Those cuts were not explained to the Budget and Management Committee, and none of them asked what they were.

Doing a Little Checkin

Mr. Genito said the great drop in the sales tax receipts in December is being looked into by the city. He and Ms. Bradley agreed that generally the December figure adjusts the estimates of the previous two months  and is a “real number,” so they are very hopeful that several retailers simply filed their checks late and that perhaps the 1.3 Million drop in the December figures would show up in January. They are exploring this quietly with the Department of Taxation and Finance. The sales tax collection for December, $3,024,009,Genito confirmed was the worst since 2000-2001.

It should be pointed out though, that Ms. Bradley’s projection assumes the sales tax hits $45 Million,  she told me. At the current steady 11% decline the city is showing through the first six months of the year, this projects if continued a $42 Million sales tax, not $45 Million.

Revenue under-performers are lead by the sales tax (down$2,350,000), Taxi medallions of which none have been sold to date, ($1.2 Million); Mortgage Tax ($800,000).

Fund Balance Problem

Bradley highlighted another problem, if the present undesignated fund balance is used to fund this year’s shortfall, there will be no fund balance  to allocate for 2010-11. The idea Mayor Adam Bradley has explored with County Legislator Peter Harckham to raise sales tax an undetermined amount to replenish fund balance would go a ways to solving that problem. Mr. Bradley has not yet responded to a WPCNR e-mail as to the details of how the new Mayor sees this working to replenish the missing fund balance.

Tim Sheehan, a member of the committee, after the sales tax discussion said that the city right now had to take drastic action with the unions (police and fire union contracts beginning in 2010-11, have to begin negotiations soon) and demand wage cuts in exchange for preserving jobs, or continuing raises with the understanding there would be layoffs, a policy Harrison pursued.

The Committee said they wanted the city to explore health cost sharing for the future, consolidating services, water rates.

Ms. Bradley emphasized that any concessions in health costs with the unions would only affect years way down the road and that getting the city out of this present budget crisis would take several years, a return to sound conservative practices, and reduction in the labor force.

The committee also suggested a citywide manpower analysis. Ms. Bradley said she would have to think about that because it was a tremendous undertaking.

Mayor Bradley made a brief appearance at the beginning of the meeting, thanking the members for their participation and saying how important the committee was, then left the meeting.