WPCNR GUEST EDITORIAL. By White Plains Councilwoman Rita Malmud. March 29, 2004:  A proposal has been made to have a gas-fired sculpture outside at the corner of Main and Mamaroneck.  Every half hour flames would shoot out of the sculpture to tell onlookers what time it is.  Music that reflected the Bflat tone of the universe would be composed to accompany the flames.  Every winter the sculpture would be installed; every spring it would be dismantled and stored.  The cost is initially estimated at somewhere between one and one-and-a-half million dollars.  No cost has been provided for labor or maintenance.

FIRECLOCK by Gayil Nalls, a computerized conception as presented to the Common Council two weeks ago. Photo by WPCNR News

Why am I fully prepared to vote No on this project?

Here are some of my reasons:

            1.  Safety first.

 Although in theory gas jets controlling the fire would be regulated by a computer, mechanical things do go wrong.  I cannot condone a project where fire might run out of control for however brief a period.

What happens if someone wants to shimmy up the tall supporting columns and dance with the flames?  This is an attractive nuisance.

2.      Downtown identity.

In the heart of our downtown we are sending a strong message of our civic identity.  An amusement park atmosphere is contrary to that vision.  And how do I know what the Bflat tones of the universe will sound like when played repeatedly day and night?

3.      Cost.

Although a donor whose name has not been revealed to me has supposedly offered $1 million for the creation of this particular sculpture, there is no assurance the cost will remain at that number.  When the sculpture is dismantled, stored, and reinstalled (a significant expense in that alone), there is a great likelihood of damage to parts.  Your tax dollars would have to pay for that.  Even if State or Federal grant money was used instead of City tax dollars, that money would be unavailable for better City uses.

4.      Best of competition.

This is the only suggestion made to the Common Council for winter decoration at the Main/Mamaroneck Park.  Surely there must be other possibilities that avoid the above problems.  Let’s not rush to ignore better opportunities while settling on the first thing suggested.

Rita Malmud,

White Plains Councilwoman