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 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 89^th 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 1^st. 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 89^th Assembly District. At this convention, Democratic district leaders representing the eight communities that make up the 89^th 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 90^th 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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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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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 17^th Mayor. Mr. Bradley is nominated for having the courage to leave his 89^th 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 2^nd 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 30^th 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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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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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 12^th, 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.