WPCNR SOUTHENDER. By John F. Bailey. June 25, 2004: Last week, Mayor Joseph Delfino made one of his rare public appearances in the neighborhoods when he spoke from the floor of a joint Highlands Civic Association and Soundview Avenue Association joint meeting at Highlands Middle School June 16.  During the meeting the Mayor gave the Southend faithful of about 50 persons 45 minutes of standup extemporizing on the state of the city.

MAYOR WORKS THE ROOM: Highlands Middle School, June 16. Photo by WPCNR News

The Mayor spent a good portion of the initial parts of his talk defending and promoting the success of his downtown development "Renaissance" and praising the Common Council for "making decisions for all the people," and not listening to the pleas of those who would stop progress. He also claimed the Council work sessions were for informing the council and for them to ask questions, so their questions could be answered. He defended the $23 Million city bonding contribution to the City Center project, saying in 20 years the garage would belong to the city.

"We have a story to tell in this city, " Delfino said, "And we did it together.The Council made decisions that make the majority of people happy (regarding development), and for the best interests of the city. Nothing's perfect. Majority rules. I cannot tell you the hours (this Council spent.) And they were informed. Let me tell you they were informed. When we have a work session, it's for them for getting answers to any questions they might have. Decisions are made , in my opinion, in the best interests of all the people in White Plains." Photo by WPCNR News

The Mayor swung all over the gamut of city issues, blaming the pension contributions demanded by State Comptroller Allan Hevesi for the city property tax increase (12.7%). On the sales tax increase the city needs from the development that is coming on line, he said with unshakable optimism, "It'll come. It's got to come."

Then he launched into a series of juicy updates on what is going on now in White Plains.

He told the Southenders that the city office vacancy rate has dropped to 13%.

He said Martin Ginsburg, who is seeking to develop the old A & P property, plans to build a 22-story condominium on the site, though he has not submitted a formal proposal to the Common Council as yet.

Regarding the old Sears property, he said Ivy Properties which has leased the site has not signed any major tenants yet. The Mayor did say the city had urged Ivy Properties not to attempt to sign Walmart because the Mayor said it was too competitive with the Target Store across the street. "No one has leased any space as yet," the Mayor said.

The Mayor also took time to chastize A & P for not informing City Hall that it was planning to close The Food Emporium across from 300 Mamaroneck Avenue. The Mayor confirmed that The Food Emporium was closing July 10, and "we hear CVS is coming."

On Health Matters...

The Mayor said Councilman Glen Hockley was working to form a Health Committee "to look into health issues and take a hard look at that (White Plains delivery of health care)."

The Mayor said the city is also watching the St. Agnes Hospital property proposals, but had nothing to report.

On Partying in the Downtown.

Mayor and Dr. Frank Straub, Commissioner of Public Safety ease Southend fears. Photo by WPCNR News.

Dr. Frank Straub, at that point, was called upon to talk about handling young peoples' behaviors on happy hour nights, as a result of some rowdy teen behavior after the nightclub Chrome turned a number of teens out on the street after a nonalcoholic happy hour recently.  At the opening of the meeting, the Mayor chastised the CitizeNetReporter website for publicizing this incident and its rowdy aftermath as reported by Highlands residents, "because it gave a bad image to the city."

Straub said that the Fire Department is conducting occupancy checks at cabarets and bars catering to teens during nonalcoholic happy hours as well as drinking crowds of legal drinking age. He commended the fire department for taking to these occupancy checks.  he said the police department peforms spot "D.W.I."car checks coming into and out of the city during typical drinking nights Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. He said this officers have been told by young persons, "White Plains is the safest place to drink" (because of the police security in the downtown.)

Straub also reported crime in White Plains was down another 11% this year making a 24% decrease in serious crime in two years.

Changes in the MetroNorth Station

The Mayor announced that the President of the MetroNorth, concerned about a recent article In the Journal News on the state of the MetroNorth railroad station in White Plains had talked to the Mayor and announced he was personally taking an interest in the immediate upgrade of the station, and that $5 Million in improvements of the escalators and restroom maintenance was forthcoming. The Mayor was indignant that the Journal News had not called his office to point out the problems at the station before they published the story.

On Running...

One resident asked Mayor Delfino if he was going to run for a third term in 2005. The Mayor said, "that was up to his family," refusing to say Yes or No.