White Plains CitizeNetReporter - More Questions We'd Like To Ask The Candidates

"Rhonda "Red" Blaine, the leggy redheaded reporter with "tude" has been watching the forums and suggests some more questions to ask the candidates.

All I can say out there is the candidates have not been tested. I can sit in a bar and think of some very diabolical ones while I sip my gin gimlet. Anyway, I've been listening, and thought I'd give it a go. Candidates, use the comment key and get back to me.

Administration First Priorities.

What unfinished business will you attack in the first 6 months of your new administration if reelected, and what will your Transition Program be like—Do you plan consultation with present city staff to review appointments…what is your plan?

Please give us the priorities of your next administration? What would you do first on present development projects in place? Parks and Recreation? Housing?

Councilpersons tell me your visions: what specific new resolutions and legislation will you work for, write and ask the Mayor to introduce if elected or reelected?

Messers. Mayors to be – what resolutions are you going to ask the council to approve on your first new agenda.

What Delfino Administration Initiatives will a Greer Aministration continue, Which would you end?

Who are you considering for Mayor’s Executive Officer, or will this position be eliminated?

Do you see reorganizing the Mayor’s Staff?

What are your plans for improving relationships with the County Executive and County Government?

NEIGHBORHOODS

Owners vs. Neighborhood character Issue: Will you support the the setbacks limitations that the common council delayed passing in September?

Will you support Mac Mansions and increased floor area rations in outer residential neighborhoods.

PARKS AND REC

What do you envision for improving the Winbrook/Lexington, Carhart, Ferris Avenue areas recreation opportunities?

Do you support county acquisition of Woodcrest heights land for extensive town house affordable housing at the expense of open space? Would you work for relocation? Do you support Trading Open Space for Affordable Housing? Could you locate elsewhere?

What is your longterm recreation plan for the city? New facilities where? What? What do we specifically need, and what is your timetable?

On New York Hospital—would you consider leasing part of the hospital property for recreation use as first suggested by Candyce Corcoran, the candidate for County Legislator in the 5th district?

Would you use city financial standing to BOND for money to pay for Open Space Land?

Development

How will you determine what transit, infrastructure, road improvements and parking within WP will be needed to facilitate the success of the Cappelli City Center project, should it receive its financing?

What capital improvements do you see improving the downtown?

One of you suggests a “go slow” approach to more development B.C. (Beyond Cappelli), Mr. Mayor, says “let me finish the job.” Will developers be able to come to W.P. and reviewed on project merits….even with the Greer Generic Environmental Impact Study?

If no more super developers appear, what is your alternative plan to push the revitalization plan…what incentives will you support?

What do the Mayors-to-be think White Plains needs in the downtown next…what will you push for…Hotel? Convention Center? More Spot Retail…

What amenities will the 1600 new residents planned for downtown need that you will develop?

Mr. Greer you are calling for new architectural standards…how do you see this being applied to new builders and who will be the architectural czar?

SCHOOLS

The Administration has established a relationship with the school district helping build soccer fields, a little league field, parking lots, and even establishing the Digital Divide Labs. Mr. Greer you’re proposing to expand this with city funds for school projects…where will these funds come from, and what new pre-school and after-school programs do you propose?

In view of a new school superintendent..will you reach out to the Board of Education to assist them in their financial management of the District?

FINANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE

If the White Plains tax and sales tax revenues soften, how would you address the shortfall to shore up the budget?....What will you look at first?

The City according to Ms. Earl, is in good borrowing position, what projects would you consider bonding for in the future?

What capitol improvements would you work for in city government facilities, city housing, city offices and services?

OPEN GOVERNMENT

Will you institute regular news conferences once a week at specific times for all the media? Will you make Common Council agenda lawyer tongues understandable to the general public? Institute recorded messages each day about meetings going on in City Hall?

CULTURE

How will cultural programs be funded …and for white plains artists and performing groups first…instead of county wide groups?

Style

In the event candidates Mr. Roach, or Mr. Amodio, or Mr. Tuck or Mr. Hockley are elected, what are your plans to learn about common council procedures, protocols, department responsibilities, and council relationship with the Mayor before they take office? Will the Mayor prepare a seminar for them?

I’d like to ask the Mayoral Candidates why their running mates respectively are good common Council Material…..and conversely why they are a better choice than their opponents.

I’d like to ask the incumbent councilpersons to contrast the working, governing styles of Mr. Delfino and Mr. Greer and why Mr. Greer or Mr. Delfino would be better choice for the times ahead.

LABOR & STAFFING

Could we address how a Greer Administration and the Delfino administration will achieve harmony with the police and fire unions?

How will the Delfino administration do the same?

Do you see adding staff to the White Plains City Government departments: planning, building, or any other?

Ending badge drain…how will this be funded?

Fire parity…how will this be funded?

When you select new commissioners, will you promote from within ranks in selecting a new police commissioner, planning commissioner, building commission, budget commissioner, public works commissioner….or take recommendations from your party leadership first?

Security

Will you increase the size of the police force/ fire department to deliver more White Plains patrolpersons, how will this be paid for? What will be the city law enforcement needs in light of current security concerns, and as apartments come on line? How do you plan on addressing these needs?

On Indian Point, What have you learned in the last week that has swayed you one way or another as to how you will stand – for closing it or keeping it open.

Housing

On housing the homeless – The DSS has been very successful in relocating chronic homeless persons into low cost housing, with the Pathways to Housing program and ShelteringCommunity and a program in Port Chester…will you work to expand this to families…in the Coachman for example? Do you think we should?

COUNTY AID:

How will we induce the county to aid White Plains more? With all our projects, the county and our legislators have delivered very little aid to White Plains, most of it IDA-related. Could you explain the reasons for this?


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