White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Common Council President's Address on 2002 Goals and Objectives for City

For the Record, 2/5/02, 11:30 PM EST: WPNCR is pleased to present the complete text of Council President Benjamin Boykin, Jr.'s Address to the Common Council on Monday evening, February 4, 2002 discussing the Common Council legislative agenda for this year:

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR CITY OF WHITE PLAINS 2002

BENJAMIN BOYKIN, JR. COMMON COUNCIL PRESIDENT, delivering his address Monday evening.
Photo by WPCNR

ONCE AGAIN, THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR PROVIDES US WITH THE PERSPECTIVE TO ANALYZE WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PAST YEAR AND TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT WE IN THE COMMON COUNCIL WISH TO ACHIEVE DURING THE COMING YEAR. ON BEHALF OF THE FIVE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS – MR. GREER, MR. KING, MRS. MALMUD, MR. ROACH AND MYSELF – I WISH TO OUTLINE OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR 2002.

DESPITE DIFFERENCES WHICH ARE A NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF HONEST AND CONSCIENTIOUS BUT DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW, THE COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION WORKED TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH MUCH ON A TIMELY BASIS DURING 2001. THESE INCLUDE:

■ SITE PLAN RENEWAL, WITH CONSTRUCTION CURRENTLY IN PROCESS, FOR 500 UNITS OF HOUSING (30 UNITS WHICH WILL BE AFFORDABLE TO MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES) AND A 180 ROOM HOTEL AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER “HOLE IN THE GROUND” BY THE RAILROAD STATION,

■ SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR 600 UNITS OF HOUSING (36 UNITS WHICH WILL BE AFFORDABLE TO MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES), A MEGAPLEX CINEMA, A COMMUNITY THEATER AND SEVERAL FLOORS OF RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN,

■ SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A FORTUNOFF AND OTHER RETAIL AND RESTAURANT USES AT THE FORMER SAK’S SITE,

■ ACQUISITION OF THE D’ELIA PROPERTY AS PASSIVE OPEN SPACE,

■ APPROVAL OF THREE APARTMENT PROJECTS: CLAYTON PARK, THE JEFFERSON AND PAPPAS PROPOSALS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 652 UNITS OF MARKET-RATE RENTAL APARTMENT UNITS (36 UNITS WHICH WILL BE AFFORDABLE TO MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES), AND

■ APPROVAL OF 42 UNITS OF HOUSING FOR LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES AND SENIORS AT SOUTH KENSICO AND HADDEN.

THESE WERE ACCOMPLISHED WITH ALL DUE SPEED BY A COUNCIL AND AN ADMINISTRATION WHICH WORKED COOPERATIVELY IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT PROCESS DURING 2002.

DURING 2002, AS THE CAPPELLI PROJECT MAKES FURTHER PROGRESS, WE FORSEE ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS COMING FORWARD FOR DOWNTOWN. WHILE WE LOOK FORWARD TO ADDITIONAL DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE VISION FOR A VIBRANT AND LIVABLE DOWNTOWN. HAVING APPROVED 1752 UNITS OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSING IN AND NEAR DOWNTOWN WHITE PLAINS WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FURTHER DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT OVERLOAD THE CITY’S INFRASTRUCTURE. WE MUST TAKE A HARD LOOK AT POSSIBLE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF INADEQUATE PARKING AND GRIDLOCK DOWNTOWN AND SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED TRAFFIC THROUGH OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND OTHER UNKNOWN AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FROM FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT LONG TIME BUSINESSES IN THE DOWNTOWN REMAIN VIABLE ENTITIES. SOME TYPE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH LOW INTEREST LOANS AND/OR GRANTS MAY BE NECESSARY TO RETAIN THESE STORES IN OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. WE ALSO WISH TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING SOME GREEN OPEN SPACE IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY.

IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT, WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE TO ELIMINATE THE “WHITE PLAINS FACTOR” WHICH POSSIBLY INFLATES CONSTRUCTION COST TO THE ECONOMIC DETRIMENT OF THE CITY. IN PARTICULAR, WE NEED TO RE-EXAMINE THE NECESSITY OF THE CITY’S SUPPLEMENTAL BUILDING CODES AND TO REMOVE OUR UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS WHICH ADD DEVELOPMENT COSTS WITHOUT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SAFETY OR BENEFIT TO THE FUTURE OCCUPANTS OF THE BUILDINGS.

THE RECENT RETIREMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER JOHN DOLCE AFTER THREE DECADES OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO WHITE PLAINS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE THE ORGANIZATION OF THIS DEPARTMENT. WHILE WE ARE PROUD OF THE FINE PERFORMANCE OF OUR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS, WHITE PLAINS IS RELATIVELY UNIQUE IN NEW YORK STATE IN NOT HAVING SEPARATE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR. DOES OUR PUBLIC SAFETY STRUCTURE PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE AT LOWER COST THAN THAT PROVIDED BY OTHER CITIES IN THE REGION OR STATE? ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, WE BELIEVE NOW IS AN EXCELLENT TIME TO EXPLORE THE ISSUE BY CONVENING A PUBLIC SAFETY REVIEW COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE THE PRESENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF OUR UNIFORMED SERVICES IN TERMS OF SERVICE DELIVERY AND COST. WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION IN SELECTING A PANEL OF RESIDENTS AND EXPERTS TO FIND THE ANSWER TO THIS LONG-STANDING DEBATE AND THEN EITHER PRESERVE THE STATUS QUO OR CHANGE IT.

PRESERVING THE HIGH QUALITY OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS A PRIMARY CONCERN. IN LIGHT OF INCREASED DEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN, NEW MEASURES TO CALM TRAFFIC AS IT PROCEEDS THROUGH CLOSE-IN NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS BATTLE HILL, FISHER HILL, THE HIGHLANDS AND NORTH BROADWAY SHOULD BE EXAMINED AND, IF ACCEPTABLE TO RESIDENTS, ADOPTED. THESE MEASURES COULD INCLUDE SPEED HUMPS, MORE STOP SIGNS, RESTRICTED ACCESS AT SPECIFIED TIMES AND STRICTER ENFORCEMENT.

ILLEGAL OCCUPANCIES ARE ALSO A MAJOR THREAT TO CLOSE-IN NEIGHBORHOODS. WE INTEND TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION WHICH WILL INCREASE MINIMUM FINES FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS OF THE CITY’S OCCUPANCY CODES AND TO PROMOTE THE HIRING OF MORE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

IN VIEW OF THE LACK OF ACCESS TO OVERNIGHT PARKING IN SOME OF THE CITY’S APARTMENT DISTRICTS, WE WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION WHICH WILL PERMIT OVERNIGHT ON-STREET PARKING IN CERTAIN WELL-DEFINED DISTRICTS AND EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF ISSUING PERMITS TO RESIDENTS OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS WHO HAVE NO ACCESS TO PARKING IN NEARBY GARAGES OR LOTS.

THE HEALTH OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT FOR THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF THIS COMMUNITY. IN ORDER TO FOSTER A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE URGE THE ADMINISTRATION TO RESUME REGULAR INFORMAL MEETINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS ISSUES OF COMMON INTEREST AND CONCERN.

THE PURCHASE OF THE D’ELIA PROPERTY IN 2001 WAS A WELCOME FIRST STEP IN ADDING TO THE CITY’S OPEN SPACE INVENTORY. WE STRONGLY SUPPORT ADDITIONAL PURCHASES OF OPEN SPACE AND/OR ZONING CHANGES WHICH WOULD PROTECT OPEN SPACE BY PRECLUDING DEVELOPMENT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO A ESOLUTION OF THE NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL PROPOSAL WHICH WILL BOTH ENHANCE THE FUTURE SURVIVAL OF THIS PRE-EMINENT HEALTH CARE INSTITUTION AND SAFEGUARD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OF THE MAGNIFICENT OPEN SPACE ON THE HOSPITAL’S PROPERTY. WE ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCESS TO SILVER LAKE FOR WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS.

WE NEED TO DO MORE TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING.

WE WILL PROPOSE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE THAT SPELLS OUT THE REQUIREMENTS AND INCENTIVES FOR THE PROVISION OF MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING BY DEVELOPERS WISHING TO BUILD IN WHITE PLAINS.

THE DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY IS ONE OF ITS MOST VALUABLE ASSETS. WE MUST WORK TO SEE THAT OUR CITY’S WORKFORCE, AT ALL LEVELS, AND OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, REFLECT OUR RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY.

WE NEED TO DO MORE TO IMPROVE THE RESPONSIVENESS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. QUARTERLY REPORTS TO RESIDENTS MUST BE PUBLISHED AND CIRCULATED ON A REGULAR AND PREDICTABLE BASIS. THE CITY’S WEBSITE NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED. NEWS ON SITE MUST BE CURRENT, DOWNLOADABLE FORMS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE, AND THE SITE SHOULD BE EASY TO NAVIGATE. ALSO, PROGRAMMING ON THE CITY’S GOVERNMENT ACCESS CABLE CHANNEL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON THE RANGE AND DEPTH OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY WHITE PLAINS GOVERNMENT.

IN CONCLUSION, AT THE START OF THE NEXT 4 YEARS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, THERE IS MUCH TO DO. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS GREAT CITY.

THANK YOU. FEBRUARY 4, 2002


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