WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. July 2, 2009: Mayor Joseph Delfino welcomed the crowd of about 7,000 persons who turned out for the rain-postponed Fourth of July Fireworks Display at White Plains High School Thursday evening. Delfino said wherever he traveled he always felt White Plains represented America to him, and mentioning he would not be running for reelection, he thanked the multitudes and his last words  (in his last fireworks display hosting) were "I love you."  

Mayor Says So Long to White Plains at the Fireworks Thursday Night.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey took the podium next and said we all should thank Mayor Delfino for what he has done for White Plains. Lowey said the annual fireworks display in itself showed what was great about White Plains the way families came together to celebrate the fourth. Then the display, colorful, cachoponous and "ooooing and ahhing and awing" delivered the spectacle of color and sound meant to evoke orginally the awe that Francis Scott Key felt when he saw shells exploding over Fort McHenry  in Baltimore Harbor in the year 1814 at the Battle of Baltimore.

Observing the rockets explode over the fort inspired Key to write "In Defense of Fort McHenry" which became "The Star Spangled Banner," which was adopted as the country's national anthem in 1916. 

Then all trouped home in the humid night.

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. From Atlanta Housing Authority. July 2,2009: The following news release distributed to the media last July, gives you a unique and revealing view of how the government deals with public housing revitalization, and how it may deal with the Winbrook project. The release announces the last demolition of five neighborhood projects in Atlanta last summer, and notes the way in which previously "revitalized housing projects" in Atlanta have been repopulated.

It shows that two-thirds of persons formerly living in the "projects" do not return to live in the revitalized project, yet still are housed around the Atlanta area. The point the release makes is that in order to revitalize, you have to change the mix of persons to middle and upper class, otherwise the release candidly points out, the same behaviors and atmsopheres that plagued the old project return. It is reprinted in its entirety, without a break for the sobering reality that Atlanta has discovered:

The release (Dated July, 2008):

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today
approved the demolition of the final four major family housing projects in Atlanta.

The four projects – Hollywood Courts, Thomasville Heights, Herndon Homes and Bankhead Courts – contain more than 1,200 dwelling units. The demolition of a fifth project, Bowen Homes, with 650 units, was approved last week.

Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) expects approvals for the demolition of two severely distressed senior high-rise buildings imminently.

“History has been written today,” said Renee Lewis Glover, AHA’s president and CEO. “These
approvals mean the end of the 73 years of housing projects in Atlanta. We have become the first
major city in the nation to completely eradicate these areas of government-sponsored
concentrated poverty, crime and low educational achievement.”

Prior to the mid-1990s, AHA for decades had been a failing public agency, overseeing the largest
number of housing projects per capita in the nation. In 1994, Glover became president and CEO
of AHA, and embarked on a program that has become a nation model for community
revitalization.

With private sector partners, AHA has replaced distressed and obsolete developments
with high-quality mixed-use, mixed-income communities.

During Glover’s tenure, fourteen public housing projects have been redeveloped, such as
Centennial Place and Villages of East Lake. Atlanta is now cited as the national leader of how to eliminate the pockets of poverty, crime and low educational attainment that over time had become synonymous with “public housing projects.”

Just recently Las Vegas announced its plans modeling it’s elimination of housing projects after
Atlanta’s example:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jul/01/demise-vegas-public-housing-projects-sought/

AHA was cited in Governing magazine at http://www.governing.com/articles/0807atlanta.htm

this month in an article examining changes in Atlanta. Governing deemed AHA’s efforts to deconcentrate poverty and eliminate obsolete public housing a “success.”

A 2005 study by Georgia Tech economist Thomas D. Boston found that prior to transformation, crime in some neighborhoods was 69 percent higher than in surrounding areas and 79 percent of the residents were unemployed.

After redevelopment, crime in the neighborhood dropped by 91 percent and 66 percent of the residents were employed www.econ.gatech.edu/faculty/thomasboston/

Since 1995, more than 10,000 households have successfully relocated from the housing
projects. Approximately 80 percent of the families chose to stay in the city of Atlanta
while the balance decided to use their housing assistance in other metropolitan-Atlanta
areas.

The overwhelming majority of residents living in Atlanta’s public housing projects are women and children. More than 70 percent of the households receiving housing assistance are employed full-time, enrolled in college or technical training program.

It is AHA’s policy to provide at least 27 months of individualized case management and human development services for families who are relocating. Research has shown that this investment substantially improves the odds for successful outcomes for the families.

After months of preparation, families will begin relocating from Bowen Homes within the next 30 days. Demolition will begin once the property is completely vacated(approximately 12-18 months).
# # #

.

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. July 2, 2009: The White Plains Housing Authority unique plan to rebuild Winbrook with Housing and Urban Development money while residents continue to live next to their future new homes for up to a decade,  is  not the way HUD normally combines with a Housing Authority to execute a project.

In Atlanta,  one of the model city developments touted by White Plains Housing Authority presenters of the project this week, (see slide above) has not in any of their projects built over the last 13 years, required residents of a project being replaced to have to stay on the construction site.

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. July 2, 2009 UPDATED 9 A.M. E.D.T.: The White Plains Housing Authority held two meetings with residents of Winbrook Tuesday which sought to assure residents  the rebuilding of  Winbrook while they wait (next to a major active construction site for 8 to 10 years)  is a great thing for them. The first held at 11:30 A.M. drew 17 residents out of over 450 apartments. Perhaps a larger attendance appeared at the evening meeting.

The Winbrook Rivitalization Plan Info Session Tuesday, 11:30 A.M.17 residents attended of 450 apartments.

The Existing Winbrook Units (5- 9-story buildings) would be replaced one or two at a time with a 7-building, mixed income project (each 15 stories) complex below with street retail.

The Winbrook Revitalization plan envisions replacing the five existing Winbrook buildings with new buildings, expanding the number of living units from the present 450 units to 1,100 units, with underground parking. The present population of 450 families would be moved into 7 new buildings in a staggered plan. The first building going up on the empty green space directly across Quarropas Street from the U.S. Court House, and the vacant Post Office property at South Lexington Avenue and Quarropas Street. The complex would begin construction on open space  West of  the Bethel Baptist Church and Thomas Slater Center, probably in the spring of 2011, on the present timetable.

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. July 1, 2009 UPDATED, 10:30 A.M. E.D.T.:  City Hall will attempt to stage the 4th of July fireworks this evening, at White Plains High School, scheduled to start at 6:30P.M.  

This will be Mayor Joseph Delfino's last year to preside over the annual kickoff of America's Birthday. Plenty of other politicians are expected to circulate, glad-handing the thousands of persons, estimated at times to reach 10,000 people, who turn out for this event.

Thousands Await Fireworks back in  July 2004. Photo, WPCNR ARCHIVES.

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. By John F. Bailey June 30,2009:  WPCNR learned today that once the Winbrook Rivitalization project is completed, it will be managed by the developer or developer(s) for the White Plains Housing Authority through a series of arrangements, according to Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel.  Habel explained this, saying the details were yet to be worked out.  She was responding to a question if the Housing Authority would manage and run the day-to-day operations, rentals, leasings of the new 1,100-unit public Housing, Affordable Housing, and Market Rate housing multi-use retail complex the zoning for which is up for approval by the Common Council next Tuesday evening.

This morning Gary Warshauer, the architect on the preliminary stage of the project present the first looks ever of how the new street ambience of The New Winbrook would look, (below), and residents were given an overview of how the project would proceed after expected Common Council approval of the Zoning changes, allowing the parking density and retail/mixed use zoning required to continue with the project. A Second presentation will be made this evening at 6:30 P.M at the Housing Authority.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. June 28, 2009 UPDATED JULY 1, 2009: WPCNR has learned and confirmed that a serious brawl erupted inside the Thirsty Turtle restaurant on East Post Road approximately 3 A.M. this morning, which spilled out onto the street according to persons familiar with the incident.

As of Wednesday July 1, Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel Jackson advises WPCNR: "The investigation into the assault at the Thirsty Turtle is continuing, however there are currently no further charges."

According to Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel Jackson,

Brian Wolf was arrested for Assault 3rd after punching Seth Benerofe in the face causing Benerofe’s glasses to break, causing several facial lacerations. Victim was transported to WPER for treatment. Photos taken.

The three arrests from that location this morning are: Assault 3rd- Brian Wolf Dis Con.- Shaina Smith and Jeffrey Cataldo

Three persons were reported due to be arraigned in City Court early Sunday afternoon on charges of assault, and as many as six others possibly to be charged with Disorderly Conduct. Judge Joann Friia of City Court said she expected to issue two orders of protection. The Thirsty Turtle is pictured above on the home page of  the restaurant website

WPCNR still awaits further accounts from the police of how the melee started.

WPCNR BIZ JOURNAL. From Johny Nelson, New York State Department of Labor. June 18, 2009 (Edited): Private sector employment in the Hudson Valley Region decreased by 17,300, or 2.3 percent, to 741,300 for the 12-month period ending May 2009. 

Employment gains were recorded only in educational and health services (+3,500)

In White Plains, with a employment force of 31,600, 2,100 are reported without jobs at the end of May, according to the NYS Department of Labor, an umemployment rate of 6.5%, up from 4.9% in April when it appeared the White Plains market was stabilizing.

In Westchester County 34,500 persons in the county's 495,000 labor force were without jobs at the close of May, a rate of 7%. That's up from 6.5% in April. This is the highest county unemployment pool in 17 years. In 1992, the employment level hit 6.5%.

The Hudson Valley Region continues to be adversely affected by the current economic downturn, as evidenced by this month’s 2.3 percent over-the-year decline in private sector employment.  Outside of educational and health services, all industry sectors continue to show over-the-year job declines.  The severity of the downturn is further reflected by the record high unemployment rates recorded in recent months.  With a flurry of layoffs anticipated in the comings months, the local job market is expected to worsen.

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY.  By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. June13,2009 UPDATED WITH MORE PIX, June 14, 2009: Juneteenth 2009 -- the celebration of the freeing of the slaves in 1863, was celebrated by all walks and creeds of life today at the annual Juneteenth parade in White Plains. Despite a continuing steady drizzle during the hourlong parade which stretched from City Hall on Main Street to the beginning of Mamaroneck Avenue, an orderly and warm crowd cheered and waived to a large contingent of marching adults and youth, and a full compliment of politicians. Many enjoyed al fresco dining while waiting for the long contingent of celebrants to pass by. Here are some sights and sounds. The majority of groups marching represented White Plains organizations.

Dr. Olivia J.Hooker, a true heroine appeared in the White Plains Juneteenth Parade. Dr. Hooker is a survivor of the infamous Tulsa Riot of May 31,1921, in the racially segregated Greenwood Neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma. That night, in 16 hours of rioting, 35 city blocks were burned, 39 persons "reported" killed, 10 white and 29 Black. The Red Cross reported 300 Blacks were killed by local militia and others. The Tulsa Riot was the worst race riot in US history. To read eyewitness accounts of the riot, WPCNR suggests going to http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45a/147.html

Dr. Hooker, right, with Dr. John Hope Franklin in a 1999 photograph. Dr. Hooker and Dr. Franklin were children at the time of the Tulsa riot. Their stories my been seen in a video just released, which is available at http://www.beforetheydiemove.com

Here comes the Parade at Mamaroneck and Post Road.

Even the Renaissance Square Fountain was dancing.

The Black Scholars Recognized by WPHS

Calvary Baptist Church

Centro Hispano

The Board of Education.

Mayor of White Plains, Joseph Delfino (in Panama Hat), leading the Common Council

Common Council with with County and State Brass.

National Expression -- steel drum band warmed up the crowd as the parade, made up predominantly White Plains organizations, made its way up the southend of Mamaroneck Avenue.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. June 11, 2009: For the second time in 4 months, a bank has been robbed in White Plains by a walk-up robber. This time Capital One Bank at 9 Mamaroneck Avenue adjacent Legal Seafood, was victimized this morning just before lunch hour. According to Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel Jackson:

11:43 a.m. Male black subject walked into Capital One bank at 9 Mamaroneck Ave. And displayed a note demanding money. The teller handed over an undetermined amount of cash and the subject left without incident. (Suspect is:) a Male black, heavyset, close cropped hair, wearing dark pants and a maroon oversized t shirt. We are currently interviewing employees and witnesses.

WANTED!

In Connection with this morning's Capital One Bank Robbery. He left the bank with an undisclosed amount of money on foot heading south on Mamaroneck Ave.
Anyone who recognizes this person is asked to call the White Plains Police Department at 914-422-6111.

In February,a bank at the Stop N Shop was robbed by a person walking in and demanding money, not displaying a weapon. That robber has not been apprehended.

WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. By John F. Bailey. June 10, 2009: Councilperson Milagros Lecouna told the CitizeNetReporter Tuesday night she thought the mysterious WInbrook Revitalization Project to replace all Winbrook apartments home to 450 families with new buildings, was a good project and saw no problem in approving the zoning required. She did say she did not  know if the Common Council would retain final creative approval as to what is built there, or whether the White Plains Housing Authority and the Federal Government would have their way as to what would be built on the Lexington Avenue corridor. Ms. Lecouna  said "that is a good question." She also said the council would pay close attention when a developer was selected, and indicated the council would not be approving the developer, but the Housing Authority would.

Milagros Lecouna Plays the CNA.

Milagros Lecouna,  was at the Council of Neighborhood Associations to discuss "green issues." In her remarks, she  pointed out that White Plains does not have building codes requring state of the art environmental  construction. She also noted that the city zoning code does not support such green constructions as solar panels and windmill-generated electric power The lack of zoning code acceptance she said allows neighbors to protest such improvements if they objected to the appearances.

Candyce Corcoran Departs CNA

The monthly meeting of the CNAalso saw Co-President Candyce Corcoran officially step down in a tearful farewell to the organization. Lou Bruno continues as President.  Ms. Corcoran charged  the CNA to move forward:"WPCNA as an organization which can be a powerful force in White Plains.  But it is you, the delegate that can make this continue to happen.  Be Proud of White Plains, your home, my forever home."

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY. By WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER STEPHEN SISLER. June 6,7, 2009: Saturday and Sunday, a flotilla of old sailing ships made their way under sail to Tarrytown on route to Albany, in a homage to the Dutch explorer Henrik Hudson who sailed his ship Half Moon up the Hudson River in October 1609.The replica ship, the Half Moon leads the parade of sailing ships at top right of photo.

Leader of the Pack: The Half Moon -- Note it is little more than 2 tugboats long -- and crossed the ocean. Photos by Stephen Sisler

Half Moon, little more than thesize of a Coast Guard cutter is at far right.

Mystic  Whaler arriving Tarrytown Saturday.

Photo by WPCNR Roving Photographer Stephen Sisler

Here, contributing photographer Stephen Sisler captures one of those sailing ships, the Mystic Whaler as it arrives at the Tarrytown docks to spend the evening. It is sobering to think about the "undaunted courage" of the seafarers of yesteryear who ventured into the unknown on ships not much larger than a typical Chris Craft, braving the Atlantic and who knows what faced them.