WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. December 22, 2005: According to County Legislator Bill Ryan, speaking to WPCNR a little before 1 P.M. today, a meeting was held between Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz, the Department of Social Services and the White Plains BID this morning on the subject of the county housing hardcore homeless persons in the basement of  85 Court Street, home of the Department of Social Services. Ryan said Mr. Schwartz told him that the White Plains BID made it clear they did not want these homeless housed in White Plains anywhere, and expressed concern about the 85 Court Street location and security concerns.  

Ryan reports that Larry Schwartz said he (Schwartz) would contact the Mayor of White Plains to see how the county "could assist the Mayor" in the housing of these homeless, and what the Mayor wanted the County to do.

 Ryan also said at the present time, he (Ryan) was willing to work with the Mayor to assist in the solution of where to house these homeless, if the Mayor no longer wanted the county to bus the homeless and remove them from the city streets evenings. Ryan added that Mr. Schwartz had placed a call to the Mayor's office after the meeting, offering the county's assistance and seeking the Mayor's input on where to house the homeless who consistently refuse county services..

At the present time, Ryan says the county is standing by its plan to place the homeless in 85 Court Street, pending discussions with the Mayor. Ryan did not indicate that any other locations were recommended by either the BID or the DSS.

WPCNR called Paul Wood, the city Executive Officer for Mayor Delfino, to see what the Mayor's reaction was to Mr. Schwartz's call but as of 2 P.M. Mr. Wood has not returned our call. WPCNR also asked Mr. Wood if the Mayor would develop a place in White Plains to house the homeless at city expense at a location not owned by the county, taking over responsibility for the homeless at night.

Ryan said he was not at the meeting and there was no official representative from the Mayor's office, but this was what Mr. Schwartz told him. Ryan also reported that County Executive Spano was "out of the country," and Mr. Schwartz was managing the County Government in his absence.

The Mayor's Office said last night they had not been invited to any meeting. However, the Downtown Business Improvement District that was at the meeting has often been known to reflect the Mayor's position on policy.