WPCNR WHITE PLAINS WEEK ROUNDUP. By John F. Bailey. March 7, 2005: WPCNR is pleased to introduce a new feature suggested by our readers: a wrap-up of last week's news as White Plains begins each week. Herewith a look at the stories WPCNR has been following:
Assessments Sluggish.
One week ago, the Board of Education meeting was cancelled, and simultaneously City Assessor Eyde McCarthy who was scheduled to speak, postponed her appearance to discuss publicly future city PILOTS until the Board of Education meeting on March 21. Later in the week, the Assessor's Office announced to the Board of Education that city assessments had fallen despite new development to $306.5 Million, down from $307.1 Million in assessibles last year. The City School District reduced its preliminary school budget to $156.1 Million, down from $157.8 Million. The major casualty of the budget was that expanding the enrollment of Eastview school was eliminated, saving $352,000.
McCarthy's Office announced PILOT Assessments had risen $2,010,950 for properties other than City Center, the North Tower of City Center, and the Trump Tower and 221 Main, without projecting what the City Center PILOT payments were. That is expected to be discussed at the March 21 meeting.
More...
In last Tuesday's first public hearing held by the Mayor's Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, downtown merchants strongly supported bringing more residential buildings into the downtown core area. Leon Silverman proposed building smaller 6 to 8-story apartments down Mamaroneck Avenue as a way to accomplish this. Citizens concerned about the Downtown Core expressed fears of traffic, pollution, congestion, and called for an independent consultant to evaluate "the halo affect" of the City Center development.
Disappearing Community Development Funds
At a meeting held with city organizations receiving Community Development Funds it was revealed by Planning Commissioner Susan Habel that the city may lose all its Community Development funding, (about $1 Million, according to Ms. Habel), in the budget year 2006-07. Congressional offices and the Deparment of Commerce told WPCNR the formula for determining which communities would receive community development funds and how much had not been disclosed by the Bush Administration. The Mayor urged all organizations receiving funds to write White Plains and New York representatives to be vigilant on this issue.
Certiorari Madness.
The School District announced to the Annual Budget Committee that it expected to bond for approximately $5 Million to $10 Million in expected certiorari payments in the budget year 2005-2006.
Bradley Intros Bill to Contain Certiorari Payments and Downward Assessments.
Assemblyman Adam Bradley announced he was sponsoring a bill to separate Equalization Rates that would stop the escalting cost of certiorari payments to commercial properties that win reassessment reevaluations. Bills have been introduced by Assemblyman Robert Sweeney in the assembly in the last two years and sent to the State Senate for passage, only to die in the Senate Rules Committee. Bradley's bill as well as Sweeney's would only apply to Westchester County and Suffolk County.
Achievement Gap Strides Made in Math, Slow Going in English.
The School District Director of Testing and Evaluation, Larry Killian reported the 2004-2005 State Assessment results for the Math and English Language Achievement tests.
In 8th Grade ELA Achievements 53% of all 8th grade students passed with 74% of the White student population passing, 41% of the Hispanic Population passing, and 33% of the Black population passing. (Passing is 55.) The Black population achieved a 6% gain year-to-year, the Hispanic population a 9% gain.
In the 8th Grade Math Achievement Tests, 67% of White Plains 8th graders passed the Math Test, up 15% over 2002-2003 (55 is the passing grade). Ethnic groups, both Hispanic and Blacks improved 20% in the passing numbers.
Viewed in ethnic groups, 86% of the White students passed (up 6% over 02-03), 55% (up a tremendous 21% over 2002-03) of the Hispanic students passed, and 50% of the Black students passed, an improvement of 18%) .
The 4th Grade ELA Tests showed the Hispanic population holding steady at 60% passing rate, while the Black population passing declined from 52% passing to 45%.
In 4th Grade Math, the Hispanic student population passing rate declined slightly from 72% to 68%, and the Black student population declined from 70% to 65%.
In 4th grade Math, 95% of white students passed. In 4th grade ELA 88% of White students passed.
Coming up this evening at Common Council, Cappelli Heights, New Era of Corporate Philanthropy
The Common Council is expected to approve the Louis Cappelli 221 Main project to soar to two towers of 40 stories each as the public hearing reconvenes on that project.
The Council may be ushering in a new era in which corporations will in exchange for gifts to the city be granted concessions in city facilities. The council on the consent agenda will be asked to approve an agreement in which Pepsi Cola will "donate" a new 16 foot by 5 foot scoreboard for the Ebersole Rink, in exchange for exclusive use of their products at the Ebersole Rink concession.
In Sports,
The White Plains High School Women's Basketball Team won the Section I Championship and won their first two games in the State Sectionals, they play Friday evening for the right to play for the State Championship.
In Arts
The Value of Names opened at White Plains Performing Arts Center and WPCNR recommends the show. Jack Klugman is an inspiration and a tour de force in courage and talent in his role. Attendance at the WPPAC was shameful and reflected poorly on the White Plains community. Only 75 persons, and that is being generous, attended the opening night of the show.
In contrast, close to 400 persons attended a Saturday afternoon presentation of Westco Productions for a children's show that delighted the audience at Westchester Broadway Theatre.
