WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. September 8, 2005: Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains announced a team effort of key developers and White Plains businesses that enable the city to offer 6 two-bedroom apartments in Bank Street Commons, Clayton Park, JPI The Jeffersons, and One City Place  to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The initiative will begin tommorrow when Dionne Lewin, head of the city's Section VIII Housing program will fly to Houston to liaison with officials at the Astrodome to find families to move in to the available White Plains units.

Mayor Delfino Initiates White Plains Housing for the Hurricane Homeless today on the steps of City Hall. Dionne Lewin, far left, will be in Houston Friday to seek families in need of housing. Photo by WPCNR News.

The initiative was developed by Louis Cappelli, at Mayor Delfino's suggestion who assembled a galaxy of White Plains developers who put together the program.

The Common Council  was not consulted by the Mayor in formulating the initiative, and no councilperson professed any knowledge of the program, even when asked by WPCNR last night. Tom Roach, President of the Common Council, Rita Malmud, councilperson, and Benjamin Boykin, Councilperson all said this was the first they had heard about the program.

The folks assigned the apartments will live one year rent-free, utilities paid, and be furnished with food and necessities by local stores. The city, the Mayor said, would assist them in find jobs in the community and the School District will work with them in fitting them into the city schools.

Ms. Lewin, speaking to WPCNR said the grass roots initiative was started by independent recruiters who handle the government sector, who faxed the city asking if they had housing available and the city worked to get it done. The initiative was not started by FEMA. The city has been attempting to get in touch with FEMA, but has not had their phone calls returned.

The Mayor's initiative so far only involves city housing developers providing the apartments, and the Mayor said he expected to be working with community leaders and churches as well as businesses to help the new victim residents fit in smoothly to White Plains, however only business leaders were in attendance and no clergy were present.  The Mayor's Office did not indicate whether they were seeking other residences in individual homes for the victims, in addition to the apartment units donated today.

WPCNR would think that if residents were interested in housing victims, that they could call the Mayor's Office for information on what they could offer in way of housing.