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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. October 1, 2007: WPCNR asked Paul Wood, City Executive Officer, Monday evening if Mayor Joseph Delfino had any comment or statement to make regarding the front page article on Mayor Delfino’s campaign finances which appeared in The Journal News Sunday morning. Mr. Wood said the Mayor would have not comment on that story.
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WPCNR CITY HALL TICKER. From The Mayor’s Office. October 1, 2007: At the conclusion of the Common Council meeting this evening, The Mayor’s office released a statement on the Common Council vote of 5-2 to table the half percent sales tax home rule request on the evening agenda. In the statement on the sales tax, the Mayor defends the city’s development as productive, and says provisions of the Taylor Act prevent him from making specific projections of the 2008-2009 budget concerning expected wage and benefit increases. The Mayor also accused the Council of playing politics by not allowing the issue to be discussed in public.
Mayor Joseph Delfino. July, 2007.
The statement on the Sales Tax released to night from Mayor Joseph Delfino follows:
Tonight, once again, I was extremely disappointed by the technical maneuvers taken by President Malmud and the four other democrats to quash public discussion of this most important issue.
· How ironic it is that two of these democrats Boykin and Power run their reelection campaigns on platforms professing to be for “Open Government.”
· Many members of the public were once again disappointed by the political machinations.
· I believe we should have decided tonight to send a unified message to our State representatives in favor of this proposal. I am confident that, hearing a unified message from this body, that our representatives will then do the right thing and fight in Albany for its adoption.
· To see where we are going, let’s look at where we have been. The last five years have been very good ones, in terms of building for the future and maintaining a stable tax base.
· Without the new development, this City would surely be in dire straights as I’ve witnessed many others in throughout this state.
· In the six major projects that the City has undertaken, Bank Street, the Ritz Carlton, City Center, the Jefferson Condominiums and Fortunoff, where new development replaced either vacant stores or vacant land, the total tax revenues, which includes PILOT payments, increased from $1.8 million to nearly $12 million in total. The School District alone receives nearly $8 million of this new revenue and the County receives $1.6 million. The City portion from these projects has increased from $360,000 to more than $2.3 million today.
· I shudder to think of what the taxpayers would have paid if it were not for our aggressive redevelopment plan.
· But that has been off-set by record increases in tax certiores, which alone last year exceeded our budget by more than $2 million.
· In addition, White Plains has seen a declining assessment role because the City still does not have its own IDA and because the equalization rate set by the state continues to decline. And the City has experienced enormous increases in the cost of fuel and energy.
· In a City of 53,000 residents which, during the day, services between 250,000 and 300,000 visitors, it only makes sense to balance our tax burden in order to provide property tax relief to our residents.
· IRS analysis has proven that 90% of the more than $10 million that this one half of one cent increase would produce will come from people who live outside the City of White Plains.
· That $10 million is equivalent to a 30% property tax increase.
· Some would say that providing a five year outlook is not unreasonable. It’s done in business all the time. But they don’t understand the difference between what is allowed in the private sector versus what is mandated in municipal finance and governance.
· 75% of our budget is comprised of salaries, the majority of which is union labor, and they do a tremendous job.
· I am,as Mayor, charged with the responsibility of negotiating with our unions. And I will not, in any way, do anything that might invoke possible Taylor Act implications – the law that governs municipal officials with regard to negotiations with labor unions.
· And I will not predict gloom and doom forecasts that could affect the City’s standing with regard to our Bond Rating or position in financial markets.
· Some would say, just pick a number, 3% or 4% for wage and benefit increases in order to just throw out a projection. I won’t – because it’s irresponsible, possibly a violation of the Taylor Act and meaningless to do so anyway. An arbitrary number is of no use to anyone.
· You’ve been here the last five years. You’ve all worked hard on our budgets and I believe we’ve been very successful. You and I have both endured the annual criticisms of the use of one shots, the sale of city owned land and other ways we’ve had to struggle to close budget deficits. You must know that the next five years will be every bit as challenging.
· I want our residents to be the beneficiaries our City’s renaissance.. The half percent sales tax increase will ensure that our residents will receive property tax relief in the amount of at least $10 million annually if we do so.
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Councilmen Benjamin Boykin and Dennis Power, each candidates for reelection to the Common Council November 5, called for compensation from Cappelli Enterprises if the council were to grant the Louis Cappelli firm a 120-day extension to complete affordable housing he needs to finish before receiving certificates of occupancy for the second Ritz-Carlton Westchester residency Tower.
The ½% sales tax increase was tabled until the council work session of October 25 at the request of Council President Rita Malmud by a vote of 5-2 with Councilmen Boykin, Bernstein, Malmud, Power and Roach for tabling, and Councilman Glen Hockley and Mayor Joseph Delfino against. Councilperson Malmud said that the tabling request was made because the council had not received explanations or figures from the Mayor’s office, as requested, detailing the projected 2008-2009 expenses that the $10 Million in expected revenue is expected to cover. Assemblyman Adam Bradley, expected to introduce the home rule request in the state assembly, has requested such information, which the Mayor has said he would supply closer to when the legislature reconvened in January. The council has balked at releasing the home rule request until Mr. Bradley is supplied the information.
May we Please Have Some More Cappelli Bucks?
The Council referred out Cappelli Enterprises request for a 120-day extension beyond August 8, 2008 as the deadline for completing 24 affordable housing units on the Corner Nook site. Councilmen Benjamin Boykin and Dennis Power each stated that the business-related events delaying the construction of the affordable housing Mr. Cappelli owes was unfortunate but that the affordable housing had been delayed at the expense of White Plains residents in need of affordable housing. Both councilmen suggested that the new design of the affordable housing building Cappelli Enterprises proposes appeared to be an enhancement but the delay in bring affordable housing to the people who needed cried out for compensation of some kind from Mr. Cappelli. Both Councilmen suggested the Cappelli compensation would be put into the city’s affordable housing fund. Previously, Mr. Cappelli had told The Journal News he would be amicable to negotiating such compensation.
Anemic Trees on Proposed Hotel Site.
In the public hearing on the proposed extended stay 142-room hotel proposed for the 1133 Westchester Avenue property, developer Robert Weisz told the council the trees the hotel construction would destroy were anemic trees that whose healthy growth was inhibited by the conditions of the property which had been used to store rubble from previous construction. He said the trees were a regrettable but worthwhile sacrificing because he would relandscape the area adjacent his hotel site with strong trees. Councilman Power encouraged him to continue to work with the city on his site plan to mitigate the damage to the area the hotel will occupy. The hearing was continued to the November 5 Council meeting.
Mr. Weisz in some six months has not yet presented a three dimensional rendering of the hotel he plans to build on the site and last night he still did not show a rendering of how the hotel will look from Westchester Avenue and I-287 and how it would impact the county golf course, Maple Moor fairway.
The council denied a cabaret license to the Aura club at 107 Mamaroneck Avenue. The owner pleaded with the council to reconsider the denial, but Councilpersons Rita Malmud, Dennis Power and Glen Hockley and Thomas Roach each recited “a litany of abuses” according to Malmud documented by the White Plains Department of Public Safety that lead to the decision. Roach pointed out there were 6 underage drinking violations in two years. Malmud said there were 5 fights related to the club in two years.
The Council voted to rename the Court Street extension in front of the Ritz Carlton Westchester, “Renaissance Square.”
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WPCNR Record Review Board by Big Melvin Mead of Your Sunday Night Rock N Roll Party. October 1, 2007: Suzi The K’s (K for Katz) Swinging Soiree brought the children of the 60s – old, young and just born – swarming into Tarrytown Sunday night, turning the Westchester’s treasure of a Theater, the Tarrytown Music Hall into a time machine. A milling, good-natured, packed house grooved, weaved, frugged, and sang along with The Lovin Spoonful and The Grassroots. The icon groups dazzled practicing hippies, yuppies, peaceniks, and hipsters in the Westco Productions premier new Gold Star Series bringing the legendary performers of our lives to Westchester audiences.
The Spoonful thrilled the crowd with their hits that just kept on coming, beginning with “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?” that got you shifting your shoulders. Photos, Courtesy Westco Productions.
The Grassroots Get The Crowd Up Into the Aisles with Midnight Confessions.
Back were the ripping thrilling guitar riffs from the legends, Steve Boone and Jerry Yester with the infectious rocking and rolling Joe Butler — who just has to dance — vocalizing and tambourining and mandolining just having too much fun, backed by the thundering, driving drums of Mike Arturi that echoed out onto Main Street.
Arturi pounded out a 10-minute drum solo in midshow that was awesome making those skins talk – like a train picking up steam, conjuring lusty tempting rat-a-tat-tat beat with a symbol bed that fascinated and commanded – by far one of the most amazing drummers I’ve ever heard and a sequence to be seen to be believed. He’s easily the best drummer since Charlie Watts. And Arturi has played with the best of them on Dick Clark’s Rock and Roll Revival Shows. Boone’s and Yester’s guitar beats solos and gutbass thrilled the soul, making those guitars sing. It was sensory overload for an old rock and roller.
Spoonful drummer Mike Arturi’s take-no-prisoners backbeats hit those skins so hard, that Grassroots drummer Joe Daugherty had to have a snare stand replaced! That’s how great the big beat was. Today’s drums can’t take the punishment of true pounders like Arturi and Dougherty. Arturi of the Spoonful and Joe Dougherty of The Grassroots really know how to laydown a backbeat.
Westco and White Plains’ Own Susan Katz, “Suzie The K” backstage with The Lovin Spoonful, left to right Drummer Mike Arturi, Joe Butler, Jerry Yester and Phil Smith. Interestingly Joe Butler and Ms. Katz’s husband, Peter Katz both graduated from Great Neck High School. Below Suzi the K clowns with The Grassroots, left to right, Keyboardist Larry Nelson, Rob Grill, Suzi The K, Drummer Joe Dougherty, and guitarist Dusty Hauvey. Dusty punctuates Rob Grill’s hysterical one-liners during the show with a great Black Power salute.
The two groups mastered their hits — sounding better than the original records — not losing anything to 40 years on the road were brought together as the premier rock and roll doubleheader concert of the new Westco Productions fall season. Westco brought these consistent hit-after-hit-makers of the 60s, into the 843-seat 122-year old venue that has hosted the Foys, Al Jolson, the Cohans and icons of entertainment but it’s never rocked like this. The guitars and solid beats (unheard in today’s music) got into the audiences’ blood and bodies and made them feel like they used to feel all over again.
One thing the music of the Lovin Spoonful and the Grassroots did on the top 40 radio of 50 years ago was it was music you related to. The sung in perfect pitch to the young person’s anxieties, feelings, and desperation in the songs they wrote and how they sang them, while their instrumentation made you want to move. And they were especially great live. The audience moved again Sunday night! They sang along, filled in on choruses — it was a love-in!
The TMH was transformed into a reincarnation of the Fillmore East. Audience heads were bobbing, hands clapping, jean-clad women with those elliptical metal chain belts were back! The bodies were weaving in the aisles – shoulders shifting. At the he bring-down-the-house conclusion of the Grassroots set, a group of what had to be former Shindig dancers were frugging and monkeying in the wings of the balcony – including The Man in the Red Nehru Suit dancing in front of the stage.
The Return of The Man in the Red Nehru Suit!
The Spoonful have so many hits to remember and backed by the bodylifting percussion of Arturi they lift you out of your seat. A moving moment was a tribute to the troops stationed in Iraq and an ode to the Vietnam veterans when they sang “Be Home Soon.” They concluded the show with their sigmature song, “Do You Believe in Magic?” and cruised on out with their encore, a new song called Freeboys — get it! “Freeboys” has monster guitar riffs in it that are just made for cruising down the highway!
After a 30-minute break, the audience was lured back in by The Grassroots’ 60s group. These guys Larry Nelson, Dusty Harvey and drummer Joe Dougherty and Rob Grill ambled informally on stage, plucked a few notes and eased into a psychedelically inspired warmup interlude, subtlely raising the audience’s expectations with a most unusual flight into imagination. When Larry Nelson, the Roots keyboard specialist announced, “Now from Los Angeles, recording artists, TheGrassroots” Man it was perfect! The audience was ready. Bam! They launched into an instantly recognizable hit. In between songs lead singer Rob Grill showed a gift for standup comedy with a series of 60s jokes, spins on masculinity – (occasionally all men feel compelled to utter the assertive epithet “Arrghhh,” ).
Rob Grill, Grassroots, 1968
Rob Grill lead singer of The Grassroots Today. With the group since the late 1960s, he’s still rockin at the top of his game/The Roots played hits I had not heard in years: “Where Were You When I Needed You?” and “Temptation Eyes. “ They brought back those romantic heartbreaks that are with us always. Why were the Roots songs hits? They sang to your experience and soothed wounds saying it was OK to feel that way.
Both groups seemed genuinely thrilled with their reception by the lovin’ crowd. Tarrytown police stationed outside the Music Hall reported the drumming and the music filled the street but could not confirm the old Music Hall was actually moving. It was moving inside, though I guarantee.
The rock doubleheader concept filled the hall and attracted fans of both bands. Westchester can look forward to more of the Westco Gold Star series from Producer Susan Katz. Next up is The Kingston Trio at Irvington Town Hall October 27, followed on November 17 by another Susie the K Rock and Roll Doubleheader featuring Gary Puckett and The Union Gap and The Association. In the Spring The New Christy Minstrels, The Lettermen and Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals For more, browse www.westcoproductins.org.
Gold Star Series is a pick to click because they give you a great beat, great songs and you can dance to it.
We await White Plains Suzi the K’s next Swingin’ Soiree!
By the way, the Tarrytown Music Hall is an example of how historic buildings can be revived and become a center for a community. Once planned to be torn down for a parking lot, a community group, Friends of Tarrytown Music Hall purchased it and has saved this acoustic masterpiece. The friends are presently working towards a historic structures report and a master plan for the entire restoration and expansion of the Music Hall what will include paint and seat restoration and improved public and backstage amenities. For more information on how you can be a part of the theater restoration project or how you can sponsor a series of programs in music, dance, and drama, please call (914) 631-3390, or email info@tarrytownmusichall.org.
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WPCNR TRACKSIDE. Special to WPCNR By Tim Sheehan.September 29, 2007: Kaylin (“KK”) Gilmartin Donohue of White Plains High, successfully defended her Gressler title today, winning the Girls Varsity A race on the newly configured 2.95 mile WPHS course, finishing in a time of 19 minutes, 25 seconds. Coming off of a 2 week layoff due to an ankle injury, KK stayed with the lead pack until the final 200 yards, where she unleashed a furious kick to win the race. Frosh standout Kelly Maguire (visible in picture just behind the lead pack) pulled ahead of a
DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME! KK Gilmartin-Donahue and Kelly McGuire at far turn (in orange) at the key moment today as K.K. pulls in front and Kelly McGuire makes her move for third. WPCNR Photos by Tim Sheehan.
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WPCNR’S THE REAL DEAL. By The Wedding Genie. September 29, 2007: It’s hard to imagine that spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on a dress can actually end up helping not only someone else but you as well after the wedding is over. It can if you decide to donate it to a good cause! This is one of the many options available to brides after the wedding is over and the dress just takes up space in the closet along with a host of memories and good pictures of course.
Our favorite charity, to which a gown can be donated, bridal, bridesmaid or mother of the bride, is the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation (www.makingmemories.org). The organization has an arm called Brides Against Breast Cancer (BABC) which accepts donated gowns from brides, retailers and designers and then resells the dresses in order to raise money to grant wishes to terminal breast cancer patients. Breast cancer is the number one killer of women under 48. In many cases, the men and women suffering from this illness have young children and their wishes more often than not are to make a happy memory during such a difficult time.
Past wishes granted include family vacations to Disney World or
Brides Against Cancer
Brides Against Breast Cancer gives women an opportunity to really help others while getting a tax write off and doing something good with something that brought them so much joy. Additionally, BABC does “Gown Tours” all over the country – so if you are a bride looking for a dress – there is a gown tour coming to
But, if donating your gown is not the preference, there are two other options. You can preserve it for yourself or someone else – we recommend doing this right after the wedding – it makes cleaning the dress easier and allows the preservation process to start immediately. The most cost effective option is online through a company called WedClean http://www.wedclean.net/ and it costs about $129 for the preservation of your dress. Its simple, time efficient and very reasonably priced. Two other options where you don’t have to send your dress away to an internet company are J. Scheer &
Bridal Dress Exchange.
And of course, the last and often most lucrative third possibility is to sell your dress to another bride. A new option that just came on the market and which we love so far is Save the Dress http://www.savethedress.com/, a website that allows you to market your dress directly to prospective buyers. The costs for listing a gown are very reasonable and the process straightforward. More traditional means for selling a gown include Ebay http://www.ebay.com/, a popular source for brides over the past few years and Craig’s List www.craigslist.org, which is a free site to list on but does not garner as much success as Ebay, even though there are selling and listing fees involved (based on the sale price of the dress).
Reuse
While not a common option, we have also had a few brides re-use their gown by cutting it down to a wearable cocktail dress. Frankly, this is not one of our favorite options – and if you really wanted to see the dress re-used in your presence, we would highly recommend offering it to a friend or relative, for whom there would be great sentimental value in accepting your wedding gown!
Whatever you decide to do with your dress we hope your decision brings you as much fulfillment as the dress did on your wedding day! And to make sure that this is the case, next week’s column will discuss attire for weddings and events– and of course, cover the gown!
Note: Got a question or a comment for the Wedding Genie? Ms. Uyanik will answer your questions. Simply e-mail her at weddinggenie@candgweddings.com
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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Bull Allen. September 29, 2007: As the agony and the ecstasy of the race for second place in the major leagues unfolds this week, I cannot help be reminded of 1964, the year before the Yankees sunk into oblivion until George Steinbrenner took over the ball club in 1975. The year of the great Philadelphia Phillie collapse – up 6 games with 12 to play and they lost em all – with a very similar manager to Willie Randolph: the implacable unemotional cold and cerebral Gene Mauch.
Ebbets Field, Brooklyn USA. 1955.
Memorial Day Doubleheader, Brooks and the Pirates. The Brooks won both ends.
Photo (c) by John C. Wagner, Jr., www.pportals.com/jcw. Used with permission.
Connie Mack Stadium (formerly Shibe Park) in the 1960s. Scene of the Philadelphia Phillie El Foldo in 1964. Photo from the WPCNR Collection.
Watching the pictures of the Yankees celebrating second place Tuesday night shows just how oriented toward mediocrity major league baseball has become. However, you see the Yankees had to win this year — why to inflate the selling price of this ball club when the Principal Owner, George Steinbrenner departs.
So now we are treated to the ugly celebrating of second place. New York did not have the horses to take out Tampa Bay firmly last week, losing a pair to the Rays – and two to the Blue Jays. And what happened to the overrated Roger Clemens? He won 6 games for the Yankees that is $3 Million for each win. But, hey at least they picked him up. Though I still have to laugh at the comments by his team about what a team player he is. If you’re a team player you stay with the team. Period.
The Metropolitan Nightmare.
Picking up Roger by the Boss is is more than Omar Minaya did for the Mets who are now struggling to make the Wild Card with 3 games to play, tied with the Phillies, because they have pitching that has been overused. And as I pen this, the Mets have lost again. The Phils have won. This is not good.
If the Phils win tomorrow and the Mets lose it is over. And the San Diegos have won, too, meaning the Metropolitans are facing doom—2 games behind the Diegos for the Wild Card, 1 behind the Phils for first. The Phils win two. They win and the Mets go home.
What excitement! For second place.
Had Minaya acquired a pitcher, perhaps two, for the stretch run, he would not be in this position. When teams fought for pennants when I was a kid, they went for pitching not hitting to shore up for a stretch run. Should the Metropolitans lose this one, it can be placed squarely on the front office. And over bullpen usage.
Why are the wild cards so exciting? Well, because the ball clubs are flawed. It’s like watching ants struggle haplessly. No team in the wild card hunts is complete. They have ragtag rotations, unreliable bullpens, inconsistent offenses. Might we dare say, they have inept motivational management.
I suspect because of the failsafe nature of the Wild Card – a lack of the feeling of the necessity to win.
Well now the Metropolitans have to win, twice — to have a shot at making the playoffs and they have the pesky last place Marlins. The Phils have to take out the Nationals twice more…then what do you do?
Do they play off, if San Diego or Arizona are tied for first? Ha! Let the geniuses on Fifth Avenue (Major League Baseball Headquarters), figure that one out. It is a dog’s breakfast.
You have to be intense every game.
You saw this lack of desire to win to win at all costs that has cost the Metropolitans. You saw it in the Red Sox attitude of a couple of weeks ago, maintaining that first place did not matter as long as they got in. How else do you explain sitting Many Rodriguez in two games against New York, and keeping Ortiz out in that Friday night Fenway fracas?
Now you have the ludicrousness of the Yanks spraying champagne over themselves for finishing second. It was a disgrace. If Francona had to win those games you bet your bippy he’d play Manny and Pappy.
There was a time when the Yankees finished in the Wild Card in 1995, when they did not champagne it. Apparently that attitude has changed. The cheerleaders of the New York Press Corps have dutifully reported this a great Yankee resurgence, failing to note the injuries that killed the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners.
A save by the farm system
The Yankees actually found some arms and put players in the outfield who can catch and have strong arms, and pitchers in their farm system to take up the slack.
But now Joe Torre is once again faced with a five game short series. Will St. Joseph stop the kneejerk refusal to use Mariano Rivera in tie games? He has lost two World Series because of this syndrome. Will he stop putting in untried pitchers in tied games that are tied?
You have to hand it to the Yankee farm system which supplied them with young arms Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Kei Igawa, and of course the mysterious ace of the orient, Chien-Ming Wang. Very reminiscent of the 1964 young arms that saved that season before The Yankees said goodbye to the big time for 10 years – the awful CBS years.
Another plus has been Ron Guidry as Pitching Coach – someone who knew how to get someone out in big spot.
I have seen the Wild Card race take front and center all season long to the detriment of the pennant races. Now we are focusing on the Wild Card finish. It is disgraceful that the clubs “in contention” cannot dispose of these cellar ballclubs when they have to. But that’s exactly why you can’t have the wild card in baseball (and fastpitch softball) – it is too even a game.
Contrived Series Schedule
The other absurdity – one of the two latest sins upon baseball perpetrated by the Bud Selig era — is that the first place teams get to decide the playoff schedule. The Red Sox sometime on Monday will get to choose whether there are 5 straight games played or there is a day off in between for travel.
By the way the darlings of New England have officially first, having disposed of Minnesota Friday night, while the Yankees gave up 4runs late and lost to Baltimore. But, it did not matter. The Yankees were already “in,” remember?
Here’s the playoff take..
A day off favors a team with a weak third starter, allowing them to pitch their first and second starters twice. No days off mean you lose your second start with your second starter, maybe and no days off also means bullpen flameout. Any first team that selects a day off inbetween games 2 and 3 is doing the Wild Card team a favor. The Yankees and Mets are great examples of that. When the Yankees have days off they do better, so do the Mets. The Mets bullpen has been blownup the last seven games which have been played back to back.
But, Major League baseball cannot give teams a choice of the schedule. Really, that is soooo bush league.
Inflating the Price
This is an unpleasant subject. But George Steinbrenner is not well. A member of his family, Harold Steinbrenner has been made Chairman of the Yankee Global Enterpises LLC. If Mr. Steinbrenner passes away, we have been vaguely assured the Yankees will stay in the Steinbrenner family.
But will they? Will the younger Steinbrenner have The Boss’s will to win at all costs?
Or is this the last hurrah to produce a winning ball club once more when the infrastructure is about to implode as it did in 1964 when Mickey and company limped into to the World Series just like this year’s Yankees did. That was the year when the New York Press Corps was howling for Yogi Berra to be fired when the Yankees fell apart by midseason.
But they developed Mel Stottlemyre out of the minors that year, and Al Downing to supplement Whitey Ford and Jim Bouton with Pete Ramos, Rollie Sheldon and Hal Reniff in the pen and Tony Kubek, Mickey, Roger, Tom Tresh and Bobby Richardson and Joe Pepitone and Elston Howard had one last good year together to win by 1 game over the Pale Hose and the Baby Birds.
The next year they went down the tubes, finishing last—10th in a 10-team league.
The Yankee youth pitchers this season will be well scouted next season and will most likely not be that effective. The Yankee starters Mussina and Pettitte are suspect. The rooks, Mr. Hughes and the main man, Mr. Wang are not going to be enough. The young players being relied on will again be heavily scouted next spring and will not be as effective. Cabrera, Cano, Duncan have had great years the scouts will descend on them like vultures next year and pick them apart. Meanwhile Matsui is 33, Jeter is 33, Damon, 34, Posada,36. The big time players are getting older. That’s a lot of age.
My thinking is – if the Yankees lose their will-to-win, their leader for the last 32 years, George M. Steinbrenner, the Bronx faces a bleak future. The farm system has produced this year. Will they continue to do so?
I see the Yankees winning one more year or at least being close for one more year, setting them up for the opening of a new ballpark in 2009. But the nucleus is getting old: Jeter shows no signs of slowing down, yet. Posada is in his mid-thirties having his best year. A-Rod, he is at best a streaky player who was in his walk year this year. Everybody has a great year in their walk year. Matsui, Abreu, getting long in the tooth. The Yankees are a team in transition mode …going down…not up.
Forbes magazine valued the Yankees at $832 Million early this year. That is up from $250 Million in 1998. When they build Yankee Stadium the Yankees will own that $1 Billion ballpark. That should make the Yankees command – for starters $1 Billion on the market – if not more. A handsome acquisition for any conglomerate or sports collector like God forbid, the owners of some hockey and basketball teams in town.
The commitment of the Steinbrenner Family to the Yankee winning tradition when they can command enough money so no Steinbrenner will ever have to work again, well I think they are going to sell that team, take the big time money and run.
Should a conglomerate buy the team, you’re not going to have the win at all costs mentality that to his everlasting credit George Steinbrenner brought to the Yankees for the last 32 years.
As a Yankee fan, I salute Mr. Steinbrenner as perhaps the greatest owner New York baseball has ever had. Thirteen trips to the postseason—better than the Atlanta Braves – better than the Yankees of Jacob Ruppert and the Yankees of Dan Topping and Del Webb.
Thank you George on behalf of Yankee fans everywhere.
Blaming the Umpire
Another thing that happened this week that sends a really bad message is Major League Baseball suspending an umpire for saying a profanity to a player allegedly because the profanity caused the player to hurt himself by charging the umpire.
Come on. The player tossed his bat at the home plate umpire objecting to a strike call. The first base umpire confirmed it. The player gets mad, charges the first base umpire, who rebukes the player.
Pardon me (full disclosure here, I umpire ballgames), but did the first base umpire tell the player to charge at him? No, the player lost his cool. His temper and perhaps his career.
When his manager through him to the ground to prevent further suspension, the player injured his ACL. He’s out for the season for San Diego.
And the umpire gets suspended?
Major league players are told that arguing third strikes are automatic ejections. You cannot do that.
These players should know better.
Terrible things are said to umpires. Players and managers show them no respect, and neither do broadcasters.
But without the integrity of umpires – baseball is lost.
I totally disagree with suspending the umpire for a hotheaded, immature ballplayer’s fit of temper which caused the player to injure himself basically.
Umpires are held to a much higher standard than players, coaches, managers, reporters. When they show a little humanity, they suffer. We generally take the crap as part of the game and let it roll off.
A player, a coach, a parent, a fan, a manger has no right to charge an official anywhere, nor challenge a call.
An official’s reaction should not be penalized. It sends a bad message.
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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. September 29, 2007: The Common Council will consider appointing Lloyd Tasch, Acting Assessor since December 2006, to the position of Assessor through September, 2013 Monday evening. Mr. Tasch, formerly Deputy Assessor ascended to the Acting Assessor Role when Eyde McCarthy left the position to take the Town of Greenburgh Assessor job.
New Mr. Assessment. Lloyd Tasch is expected to be appointed Assessor at the Common Council meeting Monday night.
Tasch has brought personality and a dry sense of wit to his lucid policy presentations to the Common Council, treading gingerly through the landmines of the certiorari/assessment/sales tax issues in recent months. Assuming the full time position, he moves into the true hot seat at city hall as the city attempts to stop the certiorari bleeding that has shrunk the tax rolls from $337 Million in Total Assessed Valuation in 1998 to $290 Million today, a decline in total assessed value of 14% in ten years. Among the pressures Tasch faces will be assigning assessments to new properties as they come on the market, the timing and the amounts of increased assessments due, if any.
Other items on the agenda of interest are whether or not to grant Cappelli Enterprises a 4-month extension past August , 2008 to have the affordable housing completed that the firm owes before it opens the second tower at 221 Main; whether or not the council will continue to table the 1/2% sales tax increase requested by the Mayor, plus these items of interest:
A stipend to pay for staffing after midnight parking enforcement violations;
Continuation of the Public Hearing on the hotel proposed for 1133 Westchester Avenue;
Naming the new Court Street Extension Renaissance Square;
Bonding for $2.2 Million in new street construction; $100,000 for work on the North White Plains Parking lot; and bonding for $225,000 for Library restrooms, and last but not least a $250,000 grant to Community Housing Innovations which is the developer of the Minerva Place affordable housing project, (the community development funds are to replace the money the federal government has denied Community Housing Innovations)
The agenda:
COMMON COUNCIL
AGENDA REGULAR STATED MEETING
OCTOBER 1, 2007
7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE TO THE FLAG: Hon. Thomas Roach
INVOCATION: Rev. Gawain de Leeuw
St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church
ROLL CALL: City Clerk
RECOGNITION: Service Awards
APPOINTMENT:
1. Communication from the Mayor in relation to the appointment of Lloyd Tasch as Assessor of the City of White Plains to a term expiring September 30, 2013.
ADJOURNED
PUBLIC HEARING:
2. Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted on behalf of 1133-399 Westchester Avenue LLC and 1133-300 Westchester Avenue LLC, the owners of the property known as 1133 Westchester Avenue (Section 131.20, Block 1, Lot 1.1), located in the C-O (Campus Office) Zoning District, for Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to construct a 142 room extended stay hotel, with accessory parking, and Special Permit/Site Plan Approvals to allow placement of a day care center, restaurant, bank and health club in the existing office building, in accordance with Sections 2.5.1, 5.2, 6.2, 6.7.7, 6.7.29, 7.2, and 8.3 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains.
3. Communication from Commissioner of Planning
4. Planning Board
5. Conservation Board
6. Westchester County Planning Board
7. Public Hearing in relation to establishing the extension of Court Street from Main Street through to Hamilton Avenue as a new City street and naming the new street “Renaissance Square” to be added to the Official Map of the City of White Plains in accordance with Section 29 of the General City Law.
8. Communications from Commissioner of Building
9. Design Review Board
10. Commissioner of Planning
11. Planning Board
12. Commissioner of Public Safety
13. Commissioner of Public Works
14. Commissioner of Traffic
15. Traffic Commission
16. Westchester County Planning Board
17. Environmental Officer
18. Second Reading Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains establishing the extension of Court Street from Main Street through to Hamilton Avenue as a City street and naming the street as “Renaissance Square” to be added to the Official Map of the City of White Plains in accordance with Section 29 of General City law.
19. Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted on behalf of RL & MC Industries, Inc., operator of Aura, for a Special Permit for Cabaret Use at Aura located at 107 Mamaroneck Avenue.
20. Communications from Corporation Counsel
21. 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. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains denying the instant application submitted on behalf of RL & MC Industries, Inc., operators of Aura, for a Special Permit to operate a Cabaret known as Aura at 107 Mamaroneck Avenue (Section 125.76, Block 5, Lot 18).
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
32. Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted by L&M Caterers on behalf of BOE@324 Restaurant and Bar, for a Special Permit for Outdoor Dining located at 324 Central Park Avenue on the privately owned, front sidewalk premises.
33. Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted by the Lazy Boy Saloon & Ale House and Lazy Lounge for a one (1) year Special Permit to operate a Cabaret at 152-154 Mamaroneck Avenue.
34. Communications from Corporation Counsel
35. Commissioner of Building
36. Design Review Board
37. Commissioner of Planning
38. Planning Board
39. Commissioner of Public Safety
40. Commissioner of Public Works
41. Commissioner of Traffic
42. Traffic Commission
43. Westchester County Planning Board
44. Environmental Officer
45. Environmental Findings Resolution
46. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains approving the application submitted on behalf of J.N.J. Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a The Lazy Boy Saloon for a Special Permit to operate a Cabaret at 152 Mamaroneck Avenue (Section 125.84, Block 7, Lot 4) subject to certain conditions contained herein.
FIRST READING
ORDINANCES:
47. Communication from Special Counsel in relation to the settlement of tax review proceedings.
48. Ordinance authorizing the settlement of certain tax review proceedings.
49. Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5299, North White Plains Parking Lot Rehabilitation.
50. Communication from Environmental Officer
51. Environmental Findings Resolution
52. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains amending the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5299 entitled, North White Plains Parking Lot Rehabilitation.
53. Bond Resolution authorizing the issuance of $100,000 bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the $100,500 estimated maximum cost of rehabilitation and improvement work at the North White Plains Parking Lot, in and for said City.
54. Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5298, Miscellaneous Street Reconstruction FY 2008.
55. Communication from Environmental Officer
56. Environmental Findings Resolution
57. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains amending the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5298, entitled Miscellaneous Street Reconstruction FY 2008.
58. Bond Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $1,757,800 bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the $2,259,125 estimated maximum cost of the reconstruction of various City streets or street segments and related improvements, in and for said City.
59. Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5300, Library Interior Renovations – 1st Floor Public Restrooms.
60. Communication from Environmental Officer
61. Environmental Findings Resolution
62. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains amending the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5300 entitled, Library Interior Renovations – 1st Floor Public Restrooms.
63. Bond Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $225,000 of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the $226,125 estimated maximum cost of the renovation and rehabilitation of public restrooms on the ground floor of the White Plains Public Library, in and for said City.
64. Communication from Commissioner of Public Works in relation to the closure of certain public streets and appropriate parking restrictions on Sunday, October 21, 2007, for the Annual White Plains Hispanic Day Parade and Festival.
65. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the closure of certain public streets and appropriate parking restrictions on Sunday, October 21, 2007, for the Annual White Plains Hispanic Day Parade and Festival.
66. Communication from Commissioner of Public Works in relation to the closure of certain public streets and appropriate parking restrictions on Sunday, October 7, 2007, for the Annual Columbus Day Parade and Festival.
67. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the closure of certain public streets and appropriate parking restrictions on Sunday, October 7, 2007, for the Annual Columbus Day Parade and Festival.
68. Communication from Commissioner of Public Works in relation to the closure of a certain public street and appropriate parking restrictions on Sunday, October 28, 2007, for the second Downtown White Plains Walk for Diabetes.
69. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the closure of a portion of a certain City street and appropriate parking restrictions on Sunday, October 28, 2007, for the second Downtown White Plains Walk for Diabetes sponsored by the American Diabetes Association.
70. Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to an application submitted by Community Housing Innovations, Inc., for a grant of $250,000 from the Affordable Housing Assistance Fund for twelve units of low and moderate income ownership housing and two units of middle income ownership housing at 5 Minerva Place.
71. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains granting the application submitted by Community Housing Innovations, Inc., under Section IV of the City’s Affordable Home Ownership Program for a grant of $250,000 from the City’s Affordable Housing Assistance Fund for an affordable housing project to include twelve (12) units of low and moderate income ownership housing and two (2) units of middle income ownership housing at 5 Minerva Place.
72. Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to the appropriation of Fund Balance in the Community Development Rehabilitation Program Revolving Fund.
73. Ordinance amending the Community Development Fund Budget by appropriating Fund Balance and allocating such increase to the Rehabilitation Revolving Fund Program.
74. Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the Drug Free Communities Support Program of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Center for Abuse Prevention to receive funds for the continuation of the program.
75. Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the Drug Free Communities Support Program of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, Center of Abuse Prevention in order to receive an award in the amount of $100,000 for the continuation of the Drug Free Communities Program.
76. Communication from Deputy Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the Regional Partnership of Schools and Colleges Great Potential Program to receive funding.
77. Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the Regional Partnership of Schools and Colleges Great Potential Program to receive an $8,000 Award to operate the Great Potential Program.
78. Communication from Deputy Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the County of Westchester Office of Workforce Investment to receiving funding for an Out-of-School Youth Employment Program.
79. Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the County of Westchester Office of Workforce Investment to receive up to $247,352 in funding for an Out-of-School Youth Program under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).”
80. Communication from Deputy Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the Westchester/Putnam Workforce Investment Board to receive a two year grant for an In-School Youth Employment Program.
81. Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the Westchester/Putnam Workforce Investment Board in order to receive a two year grant.”
82. Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the Westchester Clubmen to receive funding to operate The Clubmen Higher Aims Program.
83. Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the Westchester Clubmen to receive funding in the amount of $35,500 to operate The Clubmen Higher Aims Program for the period of October 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.
84. Communication from Commissioner of Recreation and Parks in relation to leasing space at Ebersole Ice Rink for a skate shop.
85. Ordinance providing for the leasing of space for the purpose of maintaining and operating a skate shop at the Carl J. Delfino Park Building – Ebersole Ice Rink in the City of White Plains.
86. Communication from Commissioner of Recreation and Parks in relation to leasing space at Ebersole Ice Rink for a food concession.
87. Ordinance providing for the leasing of space for the purpose of maintaining and operating a food concession at the Carl J. Delfino Park Building – Ebersole Ice Rink in the City of White Plains.
88. Communication from Commissioner of Recreation and Parks in relation to an agreement with the County of Westchester for the operation of nutrition programs under the Older Americans Act.
89. Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into agreements with the County of Westchester for the continuing operation by the City of White Plains for programs for years 2007 and 2008 under Titles III-B and III-C-1 of the Older Americans Act.”
90. Communication from Personnel Officer in relation to a proposed amendment to the Municipal Code by establishing and abolishing certain positions and amending the Table of Organization.
91. Ordinance amending Section 2-5-81 of the White Plains Municipal Code by establishing a certain position title, and amending the 2007-2008 Table of Organization by adding and abolishing certain positions.
92. Communication from the Mayor in relation to a proposed agreement between the Department of Parking and the Civil Service Employees Association with regard to a stipend for a parking enforcement midnight tour of duty.
93. Ordinance approving a tentative agreement between representatives of the Parking Department and the Civil Service Employees Association with regard to a stipend for a parking enforcement midnight tour of duty.
94. Communication from Chairman, Traffic Commission, in relation to proposed amendments to the Traffic Ordinance at various locations around the City.
95. Ordinance amending the Traffic Ordinance of the City of White Plains in relation to Designated Handicapped Parking Spaces – Streets.
RESOLUTIONS:
96. Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to the discontinuance of a portion on the easterly side of the right-of-way of Longview Avenue, and scheduling a public hearing for November 5, 2007.
97. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling a public hearing for November 5, 2007 in relation to the proposed discontinuance of the portions of street right-of-ways on the easterly side of Longview Avenue, between Maple Avenue and East Post Road pursuant to Section 152 of the White Plains Charter and Section 29 of the General City Law.
98. Communication from the City Clerk transmitting a request from LC White Plains LLC, requesting a proposed amendment to a previously approved site plan to permit development of 23 affordable rental units in the Air Rights Building above the City Center Municipal Garage.
99. Environmental Findings Resolution issued under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, Environmental Conservation Law Section 8-0101 et. seq. (SEQR), regarding an amendment to the previously amended site plan approved by the Common Council on September 20, 2001 and August 4, 2003, for the project known as the City Center to permit development of 23 affordable rental units in the Air Rights Building above the City Center Municipal Garage.
100. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains approving the application submitted on behalf of LC White Plains, LLC (“Applicant”) for an amendment to the previously amended site plan originally approved by the Common Council on September 20, 2001, and subsequently amended thereto, for the project known as the City Center, including an amendment adopted August 4, 2003, relating to the initial approval for the portion of the City Center “Development Site” known as the “Air Rights Building” which had permitted the construction of approximately 60,000 square feet of retail space in two (2) levels on the northerly portion of the top of the City Center Municipal Garage and the construction of a deck over the remainder of the top parking level to be improved with, inter alia, a swimming pool and outdoor recreational amenities, to now permit construction of twenty-three (23) “affordable” residential apartments on residential two (2) levels in the first retail roof level of the “Air Rights Building”, totaling approximately 26,400 square feet within the existing envelopment of the “Air Rights Building.”
101. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing a Certification of a Home Rule Request seeking enactment of State legislation to amend the Tax Law in relation to authorizing the City of White Plains to impose an additional increase of one-half (½) of one percent (1%) Sales and Compensating Use Tax.
ITEMS FOR
REFERRAL:
102. Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted by LC Main LLC to extend the obligation to complete the affordable housing units in relation to 221 Main Street for 120 days.
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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. September 28, 2007: Louis Cappelli, the architect and driving force behind the White Plains renaissance, after a long 14-hour day announced to WPCNR this evening that the Renaissance Square (extension of Court Street) would open in two weeks, ( the new boulevard is shown taking shape Thursday afternoon. Mr. Cappelli also announced that the Ritz-Carlton Residences would open October 10. The grand entrance to the hotel is shown taking shape, while the breathtaking vision of the two Ritz Carlton spires present their cutting edge profile to the skies.
Renaissance Square with Via Quadrono Cafe Building to the left, leading to the grand entrance of The Ritz-Carlton Westchester Thursday afternoon. Opening of The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton will take place in two weeks according to their builder, Louis Cappelli.
The Real Ritz-Carlton Westchester today waiting her debut October 10 with the opening of the Residences.
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WPCNR THE DAILY BAILEY. By John F. Bailey. September 27, 2007: It was a drizzly day at Playland last Saturday, with showers closing some of the outdoor rides. So I took my companion on two rides that are on Playland’s “endangered rides list:” The
I rate the Flying Witch as the scarier of the two rides, and both it and its companion, The Zombie Castle are living history—actual odes to the past when the concept of horror and gore was new brought on by the motion pictures of the thirties which introduced America to the chills of being threatened by the supernatural. Frankenstein, The Wolfman, Dracula, from the crypts of Universal Studios created this need on the part of the public to be scared.
The Flying Witch Ride: You ride in a cart into the dark encountering horrors at every lurch and turn.
The two rides are the direct result of that era – and also were great romantic aids at the time. It was not easy to find places to hold your girl tight in the 1930s except in balconies of movie theatres and backseats of Packards. The Flying Witch and
The scenes encountered on these cart rides in the dark are classic creations of crypts, graves, graveyards, torture chambers, electric chairs at work, creatures of lovingly chilling detail with green skin, red eyes, dripping blood. They rear up at you out of the dark. They are masters of marionette artistry in the days before digital. The tableaus are especially giddy to small children, creating many a nightmare.
These two “houses of horror” are apparently classified as anachronisms now by the Playland Management and are on Playland’s Endangered Rides List because they are not listed as historical landmark rides, according to Playland Director Peter Tartagila.
Tartaglia told WPCNR that no decision has been made as to whether the Flying Witch and the
When asked if the facades of the rides could be preserved and interior scenes saved, Tartaglia said no decision had been reached as to whether the rides would “go.”
The Fabulous Ice Casino and Collonades at Playland.
There are only 7 rides that are designated Historical Landmarks at Playland: The Dragon Coaster, The Derby, The Carousel, The Old Mill, The Whip, the Kiddie Carousel and Kiddie Coaster, Tartaglia said. Tartaglia explained Playland received its Landmark status based on its art deco era architure that consists of the Tower, the Ice Casino, the Collonades.
The Dragon Coaster, Playland, Circa 1928. Photo, WPCNR News
That raises a question in this reporter’s mind: Part of the joy of Playland is that it takes you back in time and treats its patrons of all races, ages, creeds, and income levels to activities of pure fun in an atmosphere of architectural design and old time honky tonk midway ambience that puts every one who goes in a good mood.
When a child stumbles and falls, people come up to you and ask if you’re o.k. Everybody is smiling. Part of that is the outlandish art and murals that dazzle the senses.
The Murals of the Flying Witch and the
One could make the case that the only essential good thing that
If the Witch, and the Castle must go, their art and interior displays should be saved at the very least. But should they? Should the County even be looking at changing the Playland ride mix at the expense of this living historical amusement park, the only one of its kind left in the country?
Playland is a museum of the past and closing old rides just because they are old does not preserve that legacy. It takes away from the je ne sais quoi, the Playland mystique.The Custard’s Last Stand, the refreshment stands, Funnel Cakes, cotton candy stands are part of the experience. I can go to Burger King (at Playland) any time, but a funnel cake – that’s eating.
And another thing, the Witch and Castle, along with the wonderful KiddieLand Train are inexpensive rides. (2 tickets each). Bringing in more expensive thrill rides, if this is the plan does not appear constructive to me, and makes the park that much more expensive. Is the the county plan to gouge more money from the public with more expensive rides?
And another thing: Playland is one of the safest places you can go. I am tired of Playland being hammered for accidents that are essentially due to the misjudgments of individuals, not necessarily the safety of the rides. Major for-profit amusement parks have serious accidents every summer and they open the next day. No media write hand-wringing editorials asking for the big commercial parks to close. When did the Orlando papers call for shutting down Disney World?
The County has a gem in Playland. One thing that makes
(A reader reminds of the rest of the Palisades Park jingle…
Ride the coaster get cool in the waves in the pool!
You’ll have fun! so come on over! Doo doo doo doo doo!
Palisades Amusment park—swings all day and after dark!
And another thing. The county charges too much to park at Playland. $7 is too much, when you also have to buy your ride tickets.
The County should stop considering Playland a liability – and consider it a treasure to be preserved, not dismantled piece by piece because they can.