Astorino: Tax Cuts, Biz/Jobs Priorities. Medicaid to Soar. Schumer:He’s Wrong.

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WPCNR County Clarion-Ledger. By John F. Bailey. January 3, 2010: Over 1,300 persons, according to the Astorino administration news release attended the Inauguration of Hawthorne’s 42-year old Rob Astorino as 8th County Executive of Westchester County Sunday at SUNY Performing Arts Center in Purchase. With Mr. Astorino marching in preceded by  the bagpipes of the Westchester County Police Ceremonial Unit and Police Emerald Society of Westchester County, a delighted, invitation-only crowd of dignitaries and friends ranging from Janet DiFiore to John Spencer  burst into loud applause on numerous occasions through Mr Astorino’s  20-minute Keynote address.



 


Astorino, promised to examine expenses and cut taxes, and eliminate the”nice to have” programs and keep only the “must haves” made the provocative statement “Westchester’s Medicaid costs are likely to skyrocket, under Washington’s proposed health reform legislation,” and he vowed, “In the days and weeks ahead, my inter-governmental relations team will be in contact with Westchester’s Congressional delegation and our state Legislators to do everything possible to keep additional costs from getting dumped on the backs of Westchester taxpayers.” (This brought loud applause.)


 



Senator Charles Schumer greeting overflow crowd in the rotunda at City Hall White Plains, a short time later.


 


A short time later at City Hall in White Plains, Senator Charles Schumer, principal architect and point man for the Obama Administration in developing the Senate  Health Care Reform bill, was asked by WPCNR as Schumer was leaving city hall in White Plains at Adam Bradley’s “People’s Inauguration”  if he (Schumer) knew what Mr.Astorino was referring to when Astorino said Medicaid costs would soar.


 


Schumer, walking to the City Hall parking lot,  told WPCNR, “No, he’s wrong. In fact, there’s legislation in the (Health Reform) bill that brings more money to Westchester (for Medicaid).”  


 


 



 


Mr. Astorino, portraying his government as “just a group of ordinary citizens,” who will ask the questions Astorino says he heard every day during his successful campaign, “They get asked every day, around every kitchen table in Westchester: What do we really need? And, how will we pay for it?”


 


Astorino  promised “Essential Services, Economic Growth and Tax Relief,” which he said his administration would achieve through “competence, collaboration (with politicians and community in a bipartisan manner) and communication (of the facts to the public).”


 


County Executive Astorino said he would “mobilize the county’s best and brightest business leaders” to “jump start” job creation  and promised to make Westchester more friendly to businesses to prevent a future losses of major businesses such as Starwood Hotels which recently announced their flight to Stamford.


 


It should be noted the Westchester County Association promised just such a coalition and effort last year, but as yet has failed to deliver specific programs developed by the coalition they had formed.


 



After New York Catholic Archbishop Timothy Dolan delivered the opening prayer, Honorable Daniel D. Angiolillo, Justice of the Supreme Court, Second Department administers oath of office to Mr. Astorino while his wife Shiela, and their three children looked on.  Children were very well behaved!


 



A very large crowd of well-wishers, by invitation only observed the ceremonies.


 


Here is the complete text of Mr. Astorino’s address:


 


Thank you for being here today.


 


I am honored and excited to stand before you as Westchester’s eighth County Executive.


 


In thinking about today, I have to admit that I was more than a little bit overwhelmed at first.


 


One of the realities of being the County Executive is that everything is magnified.


 


Whatever problems and issues you had before, multiply them by 10.


 


Whatever advice you had received before – good and bad – multiply by 20.


 


Whatever, close, personal, lifelong friends you had,


 


multiply by the biggest number you can think of …. and double it. 


 


Of course, once this speech is over, I am told I can start subtracting some of those friends.  


 


In other words, I stand before you today at the height of my popularity.


 


——


 


I ran for County Executive because I love Westchester.


 


I grew up here.


 


My first real job was working in sales and hosting a sports talk show on WFAS Radio in Hartsdale.


 


One day before my show, I went to Pete’s Saloon in Elmsford to get a bite to eat. 


 


And by luck – or fate – the most gorgeous waitress comes to my table. 


 


Black hair, blue eyes, and studying for her Masters degree in Special Education. 


 


She asked me “What’ll you have?”


 


10 years later, we have three children and a mortgage together!


 


Sheila and I decided right away to raise Sean, Kiley, and Ashlin here in Westchester.


 


There’s no place else in the world we’d rather live.


 


Our dreams are the dreams of every Westchester family.  


 


We want our children to grow up in a safe and caring environment. 


 


In a community where people look out for each other… 


 


…where you pick up your neighbor’s paper when they’re away,


 


and lend a hand shoveling when it snows.  


 


That’s the Westchester I know.


 


Westchester is home to extraordinary people, communities, schools, and natural beauty.


 


We have it all.


 


But it’s becoming tough to get by here.


 


For too many, thriving has been replaced by barely surviving.


 


Income is down.


 


Bills are up.


 


And taxes just keep coming and coming.


 


These are things I spoke about on the campaign trail.


 


And I spoke about them because I was hearing them from you, my neighbors.


 


We’ve all been asking the same question.


 


How can living in Westchester have become so expensive? 


 


For too long the question went unanswered.


 


No one in government seemed to hear.


 


Well I hear you.  I hear you loud and clear.


 


Now, the campaign is over.


 


The voters have spoken, and they want change.


 


They know the problems are real – and growing.


 


They know they won’t go away tomorrow.


 


But they won’t accept lip service anymore.


 


Neither will I.


 


It is time to govern.


 


—–


 


I began my career at the age of 15 as a sports reporter on public access television.


 


One thing I learned quickly was the importance of giving people the facts:


 


So in the next few minutes, I am going to take you through the


 


who, what, when, where,why and how of our administration,


 


and its governing philosophy for the next four years. 


 


First, let me start by thanking Andy Spano for making this a smooth


 


transition…and for his many years of service to our county. 


 


I’d also like to acknowledge two other former county executive’s in


 


attendance today:  Andy O’Rourke and Al DelBello.


 


 Also here with us today are Senator Schumer, Congresswoman Lowey, 


 


many members of our State and County Legislatures,


 


as well as numerous local representatives.


 


I also need to acknowledge the many campaign volunteers and supporters, whose


 


incredible dedication made both our election


 


and today’s wonderful inaugural celebration possible. Special thanks to all of you.


 


Finally, let me ask my deputy county executive – Kevin Plunkett to stand up. 


 


At 6 foot 5, obviously I needed a power forward for our 9th floor basketball team.


 


—


 


So question Number One: Who are we?  


 


The Astorino administration is just a group of ordinary citizens.


 


We are people who live on your street,


 


shop in your grocery stores,


 


root for your high school teams.


 


We are from all walks of life, political persuasions and ethnic backgrounds. 


 


We see our job in very simple terms:


 


Act as temporary stewards of the public trust – your trust –


 


for the purpose of making Westchester a better place to live and work.


 


We  don’t have all the answers.


 


But we believe we know the right questions to ask.


 


We know them all too well because


 


They get asked every day, around every kitchen table in Westchester:


 


What do we really need?


 


And, how will we pay for it?


 


These are not grandiose transformational ideas.


 


But they do go to the core of how we all live our lives.


 


My philosophy is that if they are good enough for our families,


 


Then, they are more than good enough for our government.


 


So what do we need to focus on?


 


We have to have the discipline to focus on the things that matter most.


 


For my administration, that means three things:


 


Essential services, economic growth and tax relief.


 


Essential Services.


 


The first job here will be to decide:


 


What are the essential services that Westchester County government must deliver?


 


The economic reality is that we can no longer afford to pay for programs


 


that are just “nice to haves.” 


 


Our budget department and external auditors are forecasting


 


that Westchester County could face  severe cash flow problems


 


 as early as spring . . . and a 60 million dollar deficit in 2011.


 


So much for a honeymoon.


 


The way we will face this challenge is head-on.


 


An immediate priority for my commissioners and department heads


 


will be to question every line of spending…like never before;


 


strip out the “nice to haves,”  and come back to me with budgets


 


that limit spending to “must have” essential services.


 


Economic Growth:


 


The engine that keeps Westchester the place we love is economic growth.


 


To put it bluntly, business and commerce are what pay the bills.


 


Therefore, it is absolutely critical


 


that County government do everything in its power


 


to make Westchester an attractive place


 


for new businesses to locate


 


and for our current businesses to stay and prosper.


 


We cannot afford to see anymore companies like Starwood Hotels leave


 


Westchester for Connecticut or anywhere else.


 


But let’s be clear.


 


Large corporations are not the only contributor to Westchester‘s economy.


 


Small businesses are the number one source of jobs and job creation.


 


So companies large and small


 


– from IBM, Pepsico and MasterCard to

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White Plains Alison Greene Bids for Adam Bradley’s Assembly Seat– 4 Way Special

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Alison Greene Campaign. January 2,2010: Alison E. Greene, a 26-year resident of White Plains,  former head of the White Plains City Democratic Committee and recently general counsel to State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson and counsel to the NYS Senate Task Force on Domestic Violence has announced she will  seek the Assembly seat being vacated by Adam Bradley yesterday when he became Mayor of White Plains.


Ms. Greene’s formal declaration of interest promises a lively race in the special election when Governor David Paterson calls it, for the new Mayor’s seat. Greene has the most populous section of the district and sets up an interesting battle if all three previous contenders for the seat stay in the race.


Previously, Peter Harckham, the County Legislator from Katonah has declared he is running. So has Dr. Clifford Gevirtz of Harrison, and Charlotte Watson of Mount Kisco. Bradley originally won the seat in the 89th by unseating Lewisboro’s Naomi Matusow in a primary election, nosing out Ms. Matusow by 23 absentee ballot votes in 2002.


Ms. Greene was previously chair of the Westchester County Human Rights Commission. Her news release notes:


 


 


 


Previous to her position with the county Human Rights Commission, Greene served as regional director for the U.S Department of Health And Human Services in the Clinton administration.


“I want to use my experience at all levels of government, as well as in the non-profit and private sectors, to benefit the residents of the 89th Assembly District and Westchester County. I have spent my entire life in public service, although not as yet in elected office. It is crucial that we elect people to the State Legislature who arrive with experience, but who are ready to roll up their sleeves and challenge the status quo. I don’t believe that government has all the answers – but I do believe that we need a healthy, ethical and effective government to function as a society.


 “This is no time for business as usual – and I am ready for the task. I have run organizations and implemented federal and local programs under strict budget controls. I developed budget plans for relief programs after Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf, where there was a catastrophic need for quick action and services.


“As a wife and mother of three, I know what it means to grapple with family budgets. No one likes paying taxes – but we do like the quality of life and the excellent school systems that they support. Given the chance to serve, I would relish the challenge presented to hold the line on taxes while looking to streamline and consolidate programs in a thoughtful but realistic manner.”


Greene noted, “There is no vacancy until after January 1st. At that point, we expect that the Governor will call a special election, which will be followed by a special “mini” convention to be called by the Westchester County Democratic Committee to designate the Democratic candidate for the 89th Assembly District. At this convention, Democratic district leaders representing the eight communities that make up the 89th Assembly District will have the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice.


Greene, who managed her own law practice in Westchester for fourteen years, also served as the Attorney in Charge of the Civil Division of the Legal Aid Society of Westchester, representing hundreds of clients in matrimonial cases and Family Court.


“As an attorney and public advocate who has used the law to help people obtain their rights when facing discrimination; when appealing for benefits they were entitled to and when creating opportunities for health care and jobs, I am excited about the prospect of helping to write the laws of New York State,” Greene says.


“Albany will be dealing with New York’s implementation of whatever health care insurance reform is passed at the federal level. Because of my experience at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and my understanding of how national policies impact the health care delivery systems in New York, I expect to be able to use my knowledge of this very complicated area to the benefit of my constituents.


“The voters I have been meeting with all over Westchester County are stressed and unhappy with every level of government and want their legislators to know that they stand ready to help out and support meaningful and realistic changes to the status quo. I do believe that most people are ready to share whatever sacrifices are necessary in the short term in order to set our house in order for the long term.”


Greene notes that her other legislative priorities include reproductive health care for women, legal reforms including marriage equality, access to justice issues, and matrimonial law reforms, as well as the needs of the exploding senior population in Westchester.


A former chair of the White Plains City Democratic Committee, Greene has also served as a Westchester County Democratic district leader since 1975, as a member of the Executive Committee of the Westchester County Democratic Committee, NYS Democratic Committeewoman (former 90th A.D.), treasurer of the Northern Westchester Democratic Association and as an Election Protection attorney in New York, Florida, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Texas. She was co-chair of the Westchester County Clinton for President campaign in 1992 and led the delegate slate that year.


She became Chair of the Board of Bet Am Shalom Synagogue in White Plains three months before the synagogue suffered a devastating fire, and has served on boards and panels of many local organizations including the Westchester Jewish Conference, Westchester Civil Liberties Union, United Way of Westchester, Westchester Women’s Agenda, Health Law Advisory Panel of Pace University Law School, Fair Housing Advisory Network of Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc., and Family Planning Advocates of NYS, Inc.


Greene is married to Oren J. Teicher, CEO of the American Booksellers’ Association, headquartered in Tarrytown. Their three children are all graduates of the White Plains schools: Carrie, a fourth year medical student at the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University and former Peace Corps volunteer in Mali; Jessica, program coordinator at Public Interest Law Institute (PILI) and former Peace Corps volunteer in Uzbekistan and Ukraine; and Zachary, development associate at J Street in Washington, D.C.


 


 

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Genito, City Mgr for Rye City to Head WP Finances, Wear 2 Hats

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WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. By John F. Bailey. January 1, 2009UPDATED 4:30  P.M. E.S.T.: According to the January 4 agenda, Michael A. Genito, Assistant City Manager and Comptroller of the City of Rye will be appointed City Commissioner of Finance. Mayor Adam Bradley comfirmed the pending appointment New Years Day.


Mayor Adam Bradley today told WPCNR New Year’s afternoon, that Mr. Genito was “a fantastic choice, the top man in municipal finance in the region.” Bradley told WCPCNR that Mr. Genito would be handling responsibility of both Commissioner of Finance and Budget Director, because he has the “expertise” to handle that. Bradley said he is trying to consolidate executive positions to save money, facing an $18 Million deficit. He praised Mr. Genito’s ability to handle the diverse needs of the Town of Ramapo where he managed the budget demands of a number of municipalities.



Michael Genito Assistant City Manager and Comptroller, City of Rye to be White Plains Commissioner of Finance/Budget Director.


Bradley said that his administration is still debating whether to include the Youth Bureau under the Department of Recreation and Parks, and that it has not been decided whether Albert Moroni as Commissioner of Parking and Acting Commissioner of Recreation and Parks would be handling that responsbility, too. Bradley said Frank Williams will continue to head the Youth Bureau.


According to biographical information, obtained from the Pace University website, Genito has been the Assistant City Manager and Comptroller of the City of Rye, New York, where he has served since April 1996.


Prior to joining Rye, he served as the Director of Finance for the Town of Ramapo, New York from 1991 through March 1996, and before that held the position of Treasurer with the Village of Suffern, New York from 1984 through 1990.


Genito holds an MPA in Government from Pace University (2001); an MBA in Accounting and Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University (1980), and a BFA in Music from Ramapo College in New Jersey. He was among the first to receive the GFOA designation of Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), and the AGA designation of Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM).


Genito is currently serving on the Executive Board of the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). He is a member and former Chair of the Standing Committee on Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting, and serves as a member of the Technology Resource Group, the Special Review Committee, and the Popular Annual Financial Report Review Committee. He has also served as a member of the Nominating Committee. He is a past-President and current Board member of the New York State GFOA, where he also serves as Co-Chair of the Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting Committee, and as a founding member of the Technology Committee.


Genito has spoken at presentations for the GFOA, NYS-GFOA, New York Conference of Mayors, Empire State Report Conference, New York Public Finance Symposium, and a variety of other organizations. He has authored articles in publications of the GFOA, NYS-GFOA, and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).


In addition to his work in Rye, Michael is an Adjunct Professor at Pace University, a project contributor and, according to Mayor Bradley, Director of the  Edwin G. Michaelian Institute for Public Policy and Management, and provides consulting services to local governments in the area of accounting, budgeting and financial management.


 

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Common Council Will Meet Monday to Install Mayor Bradley & Council President

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WPCNR Common Council-Chronicle Examiner. January 1,2010: With Mayor Adam Bradley’s picture greeting internet browsers worldwide on the city website, the Bradley era as White Plains’ 17th Mayor began at midnight. Common Council watchers were gratified as the Monday evening January 4 agenda was posted as promised by the Legal Department yesterday.


The agenda reveals that the Bradley Administration is appointing, as previously announced John Callahan, brought back from the Sy Schulman Administration of the mid-90s as Corporation Council Michael Genito as Commissioner of Finance (replacing Gina Cuneo-Harwood); John Steward as Director of Information Services; and Department of Parking Commissioner Albert Moroni as “Acting” Commissioner of Recreation and Parks (in addition to Commissioner of Parking, and according to city hall hearsay, Mr. Moroni will also be in charge of the Youth Bureau with Frank Williams retained as manager of the Youth Bureau. Moroni replaces Arne Abramowitz as Recreation Commissioner on a temporary basis. David Chong is to be appointed Commissioner of Public Safety. John Martin appears to be being renominated to the Board of Assessment Review,  though the back-up material for the Council meeting cannot be picked up today, but WPCNR will attempt to pick it up Saturday morning to confirm what appears to be on the agenda.


The agenda:


COMMON COUNCIL
AGENDA
ANNUAL MEETING
January 4, 2010
7:30 P.M.




PLEDGE TO THE FLAG:             Hon. Thomas Roach

OATHS OF OFFICE:                   Hon. David Buchwald
                                              Hon. Beth Smayda
                                           Hon. Thomas M. Roach 
                                                Administered by 
                                               Hon. Jo Ann Friia

ROLL CALL:                                   City Clerk


NOMINATION:                            Council President

OATH OF OFFICE:                       Council President
                                                Administered by
                                               Hon. Adam Bradley

APPOINTMENTS:


1.       Communication from the Mayor in relation to the appointment of John G. Callahan as Corporation Counsel.


2.       Communication from the Mayor in relation to the appointment of Michael Genito as Commissioner of Finance.


3.       Communication from the Mayor in relation to the appointment of John Steward as Director of Information Service.


4.       Communication from the Mayor in relation to the appointment of David Chong as Commissioner of Public Safety.


5.       Communication from the Mayor in relation to the appointment of Police Chief James Bradley acting in the capacity of Commissioner of Public Safety.


6.       Communication from the Mayor in relation to the appointment of Albert Moroni acting in the capacity of Commissioner of Recreation and Parks.


7.       Communication from Council President in relation to the re-appointment of John Martin to the Board of Assessment Review.


8.       Communication from the Mayor in relation to appointments and re-appointments to the Budget and Management Advisory Committee.


PUBLIC HEARINGS:


9.       Public Hearing in relation to a request submitted by 169 White Plains Rest., Inc., d/b/a The Porter House, for a three (3) year renewal of a Special Permit for Cabaret Use at 169 Mamaroneck Avenue.


10.               Communications from        Commissioner of Building


11.                                                          Design Review Board


12.                                                          Commissioner of Planning


13.                                                          Planning Board


14.                                                          Commissioner of Public Safety


15.                                                          Commissioner of Public Works


16.                                                          Commissioner of Traffic


17.                                                          Traffic Commission


18.                                                          Commissioner of Parking


19.                                                          Westchester County Planning Board


20.     Public Hearing in relation to a request submitted by DR & RD Inc., d/b/a The Brazen Fox, for a three (3) year renewal of a Special Permit for Cabaret Use at 175 – 179 Mamaroneck Avenue.


21.      Communications from                 Commissioner of Building


22.                                                          Design Review Board


23.                                                          Commissioner of Planning


24.                                                          Planning Board


25.                                                          Commissioner of Public Safety


26.                                                          Commissioner of Public Works


27.                                                          Commissioner of Traffic


28.                                                          Traffic Commission


29.                                                          Commissioner of Parking


30.                                                          Westchester County Planning Board


31.     Public Hearing in relation to a request submitted by J.N.J. Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Lazy Boy Saloon and Ale House, and Lazy Lounge, for a three (3) year renewal of a Special Permit for Cabaret Use at 152 – 154 Mamaroneck Avenue.


32.      Communications from                 Commissioner of Building


33.                                                          Design Review Board                   


34.                                                          Commissioner of Planning


35.                                                          Planning Board


36.                                                          Commissioner of Public Works


37.                                                          Commissioner of Traffic


38.                                                          Traffic Commission


39.                                                          Commissioner of Parking


40.                                                          Westchester County Planning Board


41.     Public Hearing in relation to a request submitted by Keiko New York Inc., d/b/a Asian Temptation, for a Special Permit for Cabaret Use at 23 Mamaroneck Avenue.


42.      Communications from                 Commissioner of Building


43.                                                          Design Review Board


44.                                                          Commissioner of Planning


45.                                                          Planning Board


46.                                                          Commissioner of Public Safety


47.                                                          Commissioner of Public Works


48.                                                          Commissioner of Traffic


49.                                                          Traffic Commission


50.                                                          Commissioner of Parking


51.                                                          Westchester County Planning Board




FIRST READING
ORDINANCES:


52.      Communication from Commissioner of Traffic in relation to a transfer from Reserve for Financing in provide funding for emergency services provided by Verde Electric Maintenance Corp. to repair signal span wire and power cables.


53.               Ordinance authorizing the transfer of funds from the FY 2009 – 2010 General Fund Budget in order to reflect additional costs within the Department of Traffic.


54.     Communication from the Mayor in relation to certain organization changes amending the Municipal Code compensation and Leave Plan and the 2009 – 2010 Table of Organization.


55.               Ordinance amending Section 2-5-76, 2-5-77 and 2-5-80 of the White Plains Municipal Code by establishing, deleting and reallocating the salaries for certain position titles, and amending the 2009 – 2010 Table of Organization by adding and abolishing certain positions.


56.               Ordinance amending Section 2-5-76 of the White Plains Municipal Code in relation to certain appointed officials salaries.


57.     Communication from the Mayor in relation to a proposed change to the Municipal Code Compensation and Leave Plan in relation to certain appointed officials salaries.


58.               Ordinance amending Section 2-5-76 of the White Plains Municipal Code in relation to certain appointed officials salaries.


59.     Communication from the Mayor in relation to a proposed amendment to the Municipal Code Section 2-5-63 of the Compensation and Leave Plan in relation to appointed officials.


60.               Ordinance amending the White Plains Municipal Code by amending Section 2-5-63 of the Compensation and Leave Plan in relation to appointed officials.


61.     Communication from Personnel Officer in relation to a proposed amendment to the Municipal Code and the 2009 – 2010 Table of Organization by adding and abolishing certain positions.


62.               Ordinance amending the 2009 – 2010 Table of Organization by adding and abolishing certain positions.



ITEM FOR REFERRAL:


63.     Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to an application submitted on behalf of Bloomingdale Road Investors, LLC, the owners of the property known as “The Source”, located at 1 Maple Avenue, for an amendment to a previously approved site plan to permit signage alterations on the building facade at grade.

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Good Bye to a Good Neighbor: Kay Conroy

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WPCNR MILESTONES. From the Conroy Family. January 1,2009:

Kay Conroy died on December 30th at the Greenwich Woods Healthcare Center. She was born on May 26, 1914 in Brooklyn, NY to Teresa Flynn Maloney and Jeremiah J. Maloney. Kay moved to White Plains on her fifth birthday. She graduated from Saint John the Evangelist School, White Plains High School, and the Columbia University School of Dental Hygiene. Kay married Edward J. Conroy on August 25, 1937 at Saint John’s. They raised and educated six children in White Plains. Her strong Catholic faith and incredible energy allowed her to carry on magnificently for over thirty years after the passing of her beloved Ed in 1978.


Kay was also predeceased by her brother: Edward F. Maloney (1993). She is survived by a Sister, Mrs. John P. Kersey (Helen) of Coppell, Texas; Three sons: Eugene F. Conroy (Linda) of Waccabuc, NY; Timothy E. Conroy (Judy) of Old Greenwich, CT; and Terrence M. Conroy (Jody) of White Plains; three daughters: Kevin Ann Drohan (John) of Naperville, IL; Maryellen Conroy of Manhattan; and Elizabeth Moloney (Brian) of Port Chester; Eleven grandchildren: Kelly, Tiffany, Kelwin, Kaitlin, Erin, Timothy, Emily, Matthew, Shannon, JJ, and Tracy; Six great grandchildren: Audrey, Harrison, Brody, Betsy, Finn and Logan


 


Kay was active for decades in White Plains Women’s Club and Friends of the White Plains Library.  She was treasurer of both organizations for many years.  Kay was a proud member of the White Plans High School Tiger Fans Committee, the Ecumenical Interfaith Council, and the Good Counsel Woman’s Guild.  She was inducted into the Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 1999. The daughter of an Irish immigrant from County Clare, she was honored to be selected as an Aide in the St. Patrick Day Parade in 1999.


Kay volunteered in variety of parish activities at St. John’s Church and School from 1930 to 1971 and Our Lady of Sorrows Church from 1971 – 2006 where she was a loyal member of the “Monday Morning Club”. She volunteered for over thirty years at Saint Agnes Hospital where all six of her children were born. Kay was the first woman Trustee and served for nineteen years on the White Plains Rural Cemetery Board. She was named Trustee Emeritus in 2006.

Visitation will be on Sunday from 2-8PM. Funeral Mass at 10AM on Monday at Our Lady of Sorrows. Interment at WP Rural Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Friends of the White Plai

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Choose the White Plains Person of the Year 2009

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WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS SURVEY. January 1, 2010: The WPCNR Editorial Board has, as has been the WPCNR custom the last ten years it has been reporting the important news White Plains needs to know, is singling out citizens of the city and personalities who have made a difference in the quality of life in the city in an effort to move the city forward during the past year. The list is purely subjective, and we submit the following personalities. One we submit posthumously, always a sad thing.


 


WPCNR also invites you to send in your own nominations for person of the year and when the votes are in, WPCNR will mention.


 


Here are this year’s WPCNR suggestions for White Plains Person of the Year 2009, in alphabetical order:


 


 


 


Paul Anderson-Winchell – Executive Director of Grace Church Community Services. He is nominated for his focusing White Plains efforts to house the homeless during cold winter months by diffusing the political football of increasing beds at the Open Arms men’s shelter and Samaritan House for women shelters run by Grace Church. His efforts persuaded the county and the city to stop making the homeless a political issue by expanded bed capacities for two years over the winter months of 2009 last spring and 2009-10 by 17 beds. 


 


Adam Bradley – Elected the city’s 17th Mayor. Mr. Bradley is nominated for having the courage to leave his 89th Assembly District seat in the legislature to run for Mayor of White Plains against incumbent Joseph Delfino. At the time Bradley chose to take this gamble, he did not know Delfino would choose not to run. Bradley faces a daunting task as the city is in financial disarray as he takes office, (“I am inheriting Rome after Nero,” he says. For the courage to come to the aid of the city by bringing hopefully intelligence, analysis, and pragmatic judgment to 255 Main Street, Mr. Bradley is nominated.


 


Lou Bruno – Co-President of the Council of Neighborhood Associatons. Mr. Bruno has taken over from the previous leadership of the CNA and continued and improved the presentation of city issues to the CNA, and has persuaded city officials to come and address the association. The organization continues to grow.


 


Patti Cantu – of the Battle Hill Association. Ms. Cantu has continued to highlight the disgrace of illegal residential housing in her neighborhood as well as other neighborhoods in the city. Her dogged persistence and presentation year after year of unsafe situations, unsanitary conditions tolerated by landlords, and laxly enforced by the city has continued. It is only a matter of time before a disaster in an overcrowded housing situation somewhere in the city results in multiple death or injury. Ms. Cantu appears to be the lone social activist in the city with the courage to continue to point out the emperor has no clothes. 


 


Louis Cappelli – Mr. Cappelli is nominated for his gritty recovery from a brain aneurism he suffered last July, and his continued efforts to keep his Cappelli Enterprises moving forward to close and build two major projects in Yonkers and the Catskills, both of which, it can be argued are crucial to the continued financial stability of both areas. While Mr. Cappelli continues his comeback, he continues to press forward with projects while few other contractors are stepping forward and banks husband their cash. Like the fictional architect, Robert Roark in the Ayn Rand novel, The Fountainhead, Cappelli pushes ahead against long odds, fights compromise and mediocrity at all costs and is at his best in a tight spot.  He is also nominated for being candid in discussion of his condition, his treatment, in hopes of alerting others to the dangers of stress and warning signs.


 


Margaret Dwyer – Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, White Plains City School District. Ms. Dwyer is nominated for turning around the White Plains Middle School instruction, resulting in vastly improved math and English Language Arts scores at the eighth grade level in the last year. Under her leadership the last two years, increased teacher availability  was given to students identified as not meeting standards; an extended summer program; instituting differentiated instruction in classes; sophisticated analyses of student performance data (to identify students needing more teaching effort to identify for extra health on the cusp of meeting standards); and piloting a reading program that has “accelerated the progress of our struggling readers.” Dwyer’s ability to achieve this turn-around is to be saluted, and the long term results should enable future White Plains Middle School students to enter high school considerably more prepared for high school level work, based on achievement scores last spring. She is an educator who gets things done.


 


Glen Hockley – former Councilman. Today is the first day that Glen Hockley is officially out of city government. Mr. Hockley is nominated for focusing attention on how the Board of Elections consistently gives the appearance of using intricate, and somewhat ambiguous election law to frustrate the efforts of citizens challenging major party candidates. Though Mr. Hockley’s effort to place his name on the Mayoral ballot was thrown out by the Board of Elections due to Mr. Hockley’s own personal error (not filing a Certificate of Acceptance of his own candidacy), his appeal of that Appellate ruling pointed out the conflict between upstate appellate court rulings on this very issue. The New York State Court of Appeals refused to consider his appeal of the Appellate Court 2nd Circuit removing Mr. Hockley’s name from the White Plains mayoral ballot. Had Mr. Hockley’s name been on the ballot, and with some labor support voting on the Republcian line, the race with Mr. Bradley would have been closer. Hockley’s Quixote-like tilt at the Westchester County Board of  Elections  disturbing history of  finding election law reasons to refuse petitions of candidates also brought out the heretofore unknown that that write-in ballots can be cast with a stamp on the write in slot on election machines.


 


Hockley, though obviously serving his own interests, pointed out two areas of reform that need to be addressed—arcane hoops created over the years—to hamper candidates opposed to party policy to get on the ballot. He is also saluted for the efforts made to engineer his write-in campaign.


 


Susan Katz – Executive Director of  Westco Productions. Ms. Katz is nominated for founding the popular non-profit children’s theatre group, Westco Productions, which in 2009, celebrated its 30th year of successful productions for kids. Her creativity and instinct for what the public will see in fund-raising concerts for her organization, as well as her innovative, pioneering efforts in presenting theatre to children, involving them in theatre for the first time, and using theatre for the benefit of the community are preeminent in Westchester County. She was also a loyal city employee for 29-1/2 years retiring this year with the vibrancy and enthusiasm not associated with the usual retiree. The thousands of Westchester youngsters and parents who have been made happy by Westco are living testimonials to why theatre is necessary – to spark the urge to dream, create, and test ourselves.


 


Rita Malmud – Twenty years a member of the White Plains Common Council. She chose not to seek reelection this year. Ms. Malmud is nominated for her rational approach to issues and her loyal service as a councilperson, and though you might not have always agreed with her votes, you felt her votes were honest ones. She played a major pivotal role in voting for the Westchester in the early 90s, the City Center in 2001, and the Ritz-Carlton complex in 2004.Though she voted against the New York Presbyterian 60-acre park for commercial development deal in 2001, perhaps a major mistake in retrospect,  she made the best decisions she felt she could make at the time. She was not intimated or ever regretful about her votes and her decisions.


 


Frank Straub – former Commissioner of Public Safety. Dr. Straub is nominated for bringing a substantial modernization of the Department of Public Safety, promoting a spirit of cooperation and team feel to the police and fire departments over his seven years, and significantly modernizing the department with communications, equipment, hiring of Hispanic, African-American and female officers, and making White Plains a safe, though expensive city to drive in (due to his aggressive traffic enforcement program), and for providing a safe downtown environment as the city grew. (He was aided inthis effort by the expertise of David Chong, whom Straub brought in as Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety), and who now takes over as Commissioner of Public Safety.


 


 Gang presence in White Plains over the Straub watch, appears to be at a distinct minimum compared to other Westchester cities. Dr. Straub also oversaw successful installation of the 12 hour and 24-hour tours of duty for police and fire officers respectively this year that significantly reduced overtime according to police statistics, which ironically led to his abrupt departure due to a rift with the Common Council over continuing its trial.


 


Paul Wood. City Executive Officer, deceased. Mr. Wood was a fixture of the Delfino Administration. Brought in as Director of Economic Development by Delfino mastermind, George Gretsas, and as press spokesperson, Wood took over management of the city day-to-day operations in 2005 when Gretsas left to run the City of Fort Lauderdale as City Manager. Wood was a tireless worker working well into the evenings during the week and on weekends. He negotiated the recent labor contract with police and fire that the Council rejected, but Wood was correct in saying that arbitration would award them the same money, and that is exactly what the city did. Wood is nominated for his loyalty, his effort, and his dedication to what he thought was best for moving  White Plains forward. He was passionate about his job. He was clever at it. He could be adversarial when he had to be and was an astute player of the press. You never knew he was as sick as he was judging from the effort he made up to a few weeks before the end of his life. He was a little Broderick Crawford, a little Bogart, a little E.J. Cobb, but he was not acting, though he was a good actor. He was living it and literally worked himself to death.


 


Other – Do you have someone you think is also one who contributed to the quality of life in White Plains in 2009? Vote for one of our 11 if you wish or submit the name of the person you feel should be recognized, in the survey at the right.


 


 


 


 


 


 

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Mayor Adam Bradley’s First Act: Celebrating New Years Eve in WP Renn Square

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. January 1, 2010: White Plains favorite son Adam Bradley became the seventeenth Mayor of  White Plains officially at midnight last night, and within minutes of the balldrop in Renaissance Square in downtown wished viewers on News 12 a happy new year and remarked on the festive atmosphere. The new First Lady of White Plains, Mrs. Bradley, wished viewers “Happy New Year” in Japanese.



New Mayor in Town: Adam Bradley greeting viewers on News 12 in Renaissance Square in downtown White Plains a little after midnight when his term began.



Outgoing Mayor Joseph Delfino could be seen, in his trademark broadbrimmed brown sombrero in the distance in an earlier News 12 shot, a lone  figure on the 2010 Rec and Parks traveling stage, watching his twelve-years as Mayor officially end in a “tradition” he began six years ago in 2003.



News 12 described the downtown crowd as about 10,000 people lined up down Court Street and Mamaroneck Avenue. Twelve’s reporters interviewed a number of revelers, from as far away as Brooklyn, Montrose, Yonkers. Streets filled up closer to midnight as a light wet snow fell. Reporters described it as a very family atmosphere.


Mayor Bradley will officially greet all residents of White Plains Sunday afternoon at 3 P.M. at his ceremonial inauguration in the rotunda at City Hall…You all come.

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Police Apprehend 3 in 34-car Break-In Spree Over last Week.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From news reports. December 31, 2009: The Journal News reported today that three White Plains youths, aged 20,17, and 15 were apprehended and were about to face charges in connection with ‘as many as 34’ car break-ins in the last week. The arrests were not reported to any other media,  nor were the rash of crimes reported by the police alerting residents to the existence of the threat.

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Mayor Authorizes Law Dept to Aid Bradley Team in Preparing the Monday Genda

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. December 31, 2009: Carol Van Scoyoc of the White Plains Law Department advised WPCNR today that Mayor Joseph Delfino had “graciously” authorized the law department and city personnel to “pitch in” and assist the new Bradley Administration in preparing the agenda for Monday’s first Common Council meeting of the new administration.


Van Scoyoc said the Delfino legal staff were working “collectively” with John Callahan, the Bradley Administration’s  Executive Officer/Corporation Counsel designee to get the Monday meeting agenda out Friday on the website. As of 6:30 P.M. New Year’s Eve, it was not up on the website.


Vab Scoyoc explained the agenda was expected to be out Friday, with documents containing Mayor Adam Bradley’s signatures, and therefore the agenda would meet the requirement of the Charter that the agenda be available in the City Clerk’s office three days  before the council meeting.


Van Scoyoc reported that for the agenda to be out earlier would have created the need for a double agenda with two sets of signatures one with Mayor Delfino signatures, and one agenda with incoming Mayor Bradley’s signatures. Van Scoyoc noted delaying agenda to New Year’s Day enabled one agenda to be created, instead of two. “the Council could not pass resolutions (on the agenda)  with Mayor Delfino’s signature, when Mr. Bradley is the Mayor,”Van Scoyk told WPCNR.


Asked if Bradley operatives were working side by side in the law department with Ms. Van Scoyoc and her colleagues, Ms. Van Scoyk, said she and her law department were working “collectively.”


 

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Kay Conroy, “White Plains Best Neighbor” Departs

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WPCNR MILESTONES. December 31, 2009: Katherine Conroy of Havilands Manor, passed away Wednesday evening in Greenwich,Connecticut,  surrounded by friends, at 95 years of age, her family reports to WPCNR.  She resided for decades on Mansfield Road, and was a well-known, respected and loved volunteer for dozens of organizations in White Plains.


 


A former school teacher, Mrs. Conroy, mother of six children, was known in the neighborhood for her always putting up a holiday decoration on her cheery frontdoor.  A turkey for Thanksgiving. A rabbit for Easter. February was her toughest month. She would put up a picture of Abraham Lincoln for Lincoln’s Birthday on the 12th, switch it immediately to a heart for Valentine’s Day the 14th  then put up a picture of George Washington for February 22.


 


She was a neighbor who looked out for you, worried when you stayed up too late, and always said a cheery hello and chatted animatedly about the goings on around town when she saw you. She spoke her mind and was never shy about telling things the way they were. She was an old-time neighbor who never let you down.


 


Her civic spirit, (she never missed a Woman’s Club meeting), her care for her community was always uplifting and she was always upbeat. She was the kind of person you would meet in an ongoing television series and eagerly await the next episode, only Mrs. Conroy was better  — she was real, warm and always growing.


 


Arrangements are pending at this time.


 


We should all have a next door neighbor like Kay Conroy.

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