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WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. September 27, 2007: As city hall and the citizenry have learned this week, the Common Council meets secretly to formulate policy. Though Councilperson Dennis Power did not exactly remember how he and Councilpersons Boykin, Malmud and Roach hammered out the anti-RFQ “opinion” they published one week before the Democratic Primary in the White Plains Times, the four councilpersons, constituting a quorum (majority of the council) obviously had to meet in some fashion to come to this detailed opinion.

WPCNR and City Hall also learned from the New York Department of State Committee on Open Government that this secret meeting was perfectly allowed, because they were formulating “an opinion,” not a “decision,” according to Assistant Executive Director of the Committee on Open Government, Camille Jobin-Davis. The key word is that the Democratic Councilpersons were referring to their deliberations, wherever and however they were conducted, as a “caucus” which is permitted as long as all meeting are of the same party, otherwise the meeting would have to be announced and the public permitted to attend.

Since this obviously is not the first time the council Democrats have said one thing in public, or not said it in public, and done another in public to derail administration policy, this raises this week’s question:

Should the City Charter be amended to require caucuses of Councilmembers of the same party to be announced in the press and open to the public? Vote in the poll at the right.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. September 26, 2007: White Plains High School students Abby Fried and  Aurelia Gross, 17, are representing the City of White Plains in the Miss New York Teen USA Pageant.  Miss Gross is high honor roll student, cheerleader, and active member of the community. She is currently working to raise money for the White Plains High School Cheerleading Squad to go to Nationals in February. Mayor Delfino will be presenting Miss Gross with a certificate of achievement at Nicky’s Restaurant 91 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601 on Wednesday, October 3^rd at 3:00 pm.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. September 24, 2007 UPDATED 5:05 PM EDT: Camille Jobin-Davis, Assistant Director of the New York State Committee on Open Government, told the CitizeNetReporter today that the White Plains Common Council members, Benjamin Boykin, Rita Malmud, Dennis Power and Thomas Roach did not violate the Open Meetings Law Section 108 when they formulated an opinion on the Request for Qualifications, and published it in the White Plains Times September 7, 2007.

“These 4 councilmembers are opposed to this RFQ. They got together in their political caucus, in what they’re calling a political caucus, ” Ms. Jobin-Davis said today, “and drafted this document setting forth their opinions in opposition to whatever happened here. I don’t see they are making policy here. I’m still of the opinion that the Open Meetings law wouldn’t, that there isn’t a problem here with respect to the open meetings law because of that caucus exemption to the law.”

City Hall had complained that the Council was making policy in secret when they published the “opinion” without telling the Mayor’s Office, or two other Democratic Council persons.

“There’s no problem with respect to the open meetings law, ” Camille-St. John said, “I’m saying that this  meeting where this letter (the RFQ Opposition Letter published by the four Councilpersons), was discussed and signed and decided upon, because this meeting has been characterized as a political caucus because they’re all members of the same party, because the action of them meeting together to agree on this letter would be again, exempt from the open meetings law as far as I can tell.”

WPCNR asked would the fact the 4 would be a majority make a difference?

“I don’t believe it does because they are meetings pursuant to the exemption of the Open Meetings law, the Open Meetings Law would not apply at all, because the exemption is broad, ” Ms. Jobin-Davis said.

She said the exemption was created after the original law was passed in 1985.

For the record, this is the exemption, supplied to WPCNR, by Ms. Jobin-Davis:

§108. Exemptions. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as extending the provisions hereof to:

1. judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings, except proceedings of the public service commission and zoning boards of appeals;

2. a. deliberations of political committees, conferences and caucuses. b. for purposes of this section, the deliberations of political committees, conferences and caucuses means a private meeting of members of the senate or assembly of the state of New York, or of the legislative body of a county, city, town or village, who are members or adherents of the same political party, without regard to (i) the subject matter under discussion, including discussions of public business, (ii) the majority or minority status of such political committees, conferences and caucuses or (iii) whether such political committees, conferences and caucuses invite staff or guests to participate in their deliberations;

and 3. any matter made confidential by federal or state law.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From Melissa Lopez, The Mayor’s Office. September 24, 2007: Mayor Joseph M. Delfino is pleased to announce that the White Plains Youth Bureau is sponsoring a Black Father /Black Men  Back to School Night Program at the Highlands Middle School, 128 Grandview Avenue in White Plains, Thursday, September 27. 

The Back to School Night Program is sponsored in part by a coalition of community agencies including the White Plains Ministerial Council and Vicinity, the African American Men of Westchester, area Greek Letter Organizations, White Plains School District, The Communities That Cares Coalition and other community organizations.

The purpose of the Back to School Night Program is to raise the level of involvement of African American men in our children’s education and promote educational excellence in our youth. 

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Westco Productions (Edited). September 23, 2007: Westco Productions, the 28-year old White Plains based arts organization primarily known for its wide variety of programs for children and families, is launching a new program, Gold Star Concerts, offering top-rate artists in concert.

The fall Gold Star Concerts begins on September 30^th with a concert featuring two of the most popular groups in recent music history: The Lovin’ Spoonful and The Grass Roots featuring founder and lead vocalist Rob Grill. This concert will be at the Tarrytown Music Hall at 7:30 pm.  

                                                        60s Rock DoubleHeader in Concert.

Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind, What a Day for a Daydream, Summer in the City, You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice  and more Lovin Spoonful classics will be performed by The Spoonful next Saturday night

The Grassroots Deliver Midnight Confessions, Let’s Live for Today and Sooner or Later  on the same night. 2 Concerts for the Price of 1 — at Tarrytown Music Hall.

Westco began promoting concerts last season and has decided to expand the program due to the outstanding audience response received when Westco presented such artists as Judy Collins, Livingston Taylor, Lucy Kaplansky and Maura O’Connell. Although based in White Plains on the 4^th floor of the Arts Exchange building, Westco performs at various venues, and stages its concerts at the Irvington Town Hall Theater and the Tarrytown Music Hall.

The Spoonful and the Roots start the season this Saturday to be followed in October by the legendary Kingston Trio and in November by another  classic rock doubleheader featuring Gary Puckett and The Union Gap and The Association.

The Lovin’ Spoonful has been making music for more than 40 years! It was the first U.S. band to successfully challenge the ”British invasion” of the 60’s and land a top ten hit. Their hits are absolutely timeless – ‘Do You Believe in Magic,” “Daydream,” “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice,” “Nashville Cats,” and “(Hot Town) Summer in the City.” Jon Sebastian no longer performs with the band.

The Grass Roots continues to thrill audiences with the music which kept the group on the Billboard magazine charts for an unbelievable 307 straight weeks! The Grass Roots still holds the record for the largest crowd to attend a concert by a single headline act when 600,000 heard them in concert in Washington, DC. Their classic tunes include: “Midnight Confessions,” “Let’s Live for Today,” “Sooner or Later,” “Temptation Eyes,” and so many more.

Westco Brings Back The Kingston Trio for their Annual Benefit Concert

On October 27^th, Westco brings The Kingston Trio to the stage of the Irvington Town Hall Theater for their Annual Benefit Concert.  Bill Zorn, George Grove and Rick Dougherty expect to sell-out wherever they perform, and all indications are that this exclusive Westchester appearance will be no exception. The annual gala will mark the beginning of Westco’s 28^th season.  Long-time Westco supporter Chester S. Day will be the honoree, and The Kingston Trio will join supporters at a special reception after the concert at the new Doubletree Hotel in Tarrytown.

Kingston Trio songs are part of the foundation of American folk and folk-pop music, including: “Tom Dooley,” “M.T.A.,” “Scotch and Soda,” “Molly Dee,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?,” “Greenback Dollar,” “A Worried Man,” and so many more.

Rock Class Double Bill Number 2 — Gary Puckett and The Union Gap and The Association 

The Association brings back Windy, Along Comes Mary, and Cherish

On November 17^th, Westco brings two music legends to the Tarrytown Music Hall: Gary Puckett, and The Association. Gary’s golden voice of romance, six consecutive gold records, and unforgettable songs defined a generation. Gary’s a concert, television and Las Vegas favorite and even had a command performance for British royalty among his credits. Among Gary’s hits are: “Young Girl,” “Woman, Woman,” “Lady Will Power,” “Over You,” “This Girl Is A Woman Now,” “Don’t Give In to Him.”

Many songs by The Association have become American classics, from radio play, record sales, and movie soundtracks. Just a few of the group’s great hits: “Along Comes Mary,” “Never My Love,” “Everything That Touches You,” “Windy,” “Cherish,” “Time For Livin’,” “Goodbye, Columbus.”

            “Susie the K and her Swingin Soiree”  — White Plains own Susan Katz — First Lady of Westchester Theatre is bringing the stars you love back in the Gold Star Concert Series.

Susan Katz, Executive Director of Westco, says the Gold Star Concert series will continue in the spring 2008. “We’ll be announcing our spring talent line-up in a couple of months, and it’s shaping up to be quite spectacular,” she says. “Westco’s concerts are unique,” Ms. Katz notes. “In addition to enjoying an evening of great entertainment, concert-goers are helping support Westco’s various programs through their ticket purchases,” she adds.

For concert tickets or a free brochure with details on Westco’s shows for children and families, call (914) 761-7463. Their web site is www.westcoproductions.org.