WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. April 27, 2005: With all of the hand-wringing over the 1997 Comprehensive Plan, there does not appear to be any real thought about what direction White Plains wants to head.

Is the city administration, perhaps destined to guide the city for another four years of construction, construction, construction, have any plan of what facilities the city really needs to become diversely attractive to attract business, conventions, an influx of tourists? We don't think so.  So far the administration has shown absolutely no candor in their plans for developing the city other than putting up residential buildings and attracting franchise retailers. Who are they talking to? What does the Delfino Administration want for the city? An ice rink? A revitalized West Side? An incentive plan to attract boutique shops? What? They give us no clue, no specifics.

On White Plains Week, Jim Benerofe and I came up with a list of assets the city does not have that would be of obvious benefit to bring more business and sales tax dollars into the city, as well as revitalizing long moribund sections of the shabbier side of downtown. Some of the ideas are listed at the right. It is a puzzle to us why the city does not say, "we think we need this, this and this, and we're going to go out and get them." They have not. They rely on the whims of their developers. Well, what do you think? Vote on some of the suggestions at the right. Let's see what the armchair planners on the other side of the computer screen feel.

What is missing from comprehensive plan analysis is thought on what the city really wants. Here are some bona fide ideas to consider. Your opinion counts! Use it! Overzealous ballot-stuffers, we know who you are!