WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. April 30, 2005: Former Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio writes to give WPCNR some background on the history of the Budget & Management Committee and its role in the city budget: 

John,
          Your story on the Budget Committee not being notified about the preparation of the 05-06 budget brought back a memory I would like to share with you. In the early 70's I was a Democratic councilman and Dick Hendey was the Republican mayor. When I brought him the idea to enlist the help of White Plains citizen professionals in the preparation of our budget, he thought for a while, and agreed to a Citizen's Budget Committee.

After the resolution was passed, he turned to me in private and whispered, "It's a good idea Al, just make sure the politicians don't corrupt it."

I wasn't sure what he meant at the time, but your story was a case in point. It certainly is too bad that the body politic never named a suitable landmark after him. He, indeed was a fine and honest man who served this city well and set the foundation for its growth. In the years that I knew him, he never asked anything for himself or bragged about his accomplishments. His Urban Renewal was paid for by the federal government and the State and the Parking Authority.

Alfred Del Vecchio