WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. December 22, 2005: Rick Ammirato, Executive Director of the White Plains Business Improvement District, (The BID), speaking to WPCNR moments ago, said the BID's meeting with Larry Schwartz, the Deputy County Executive, and the Department of Social Services, reported to WPCNR by Mr. Ryan made clear to Mr. Schwartz the BID was opposed to the County Plan hardcore homeless who refuse services being housed anywhere within in the BID Downtown district. He made it clear he was not opposed to it being elsewhere other than the downtown district.

Ammirato, asked about BID suggestions for other locations other than the Downtown, said "It's not the BID's responsibility to house the homeless, it's the county's. White Plains has over 500 units devoted to housing the homeless between Open Arms, the Coachman and Grace Church, (in the downtown), and it is not as if White Plains is not compassionate to the plight of the homeless."

Ammirato said the placement of those refusing services from the county in the  85 Court Street location is not good for the downtown: "We're going to be a magnet for the homeless," and that "with all the work the BID has done the last five years to make the downtown more attractive, this is not the place for a drop-in shelter."

Ammirrato reported that Mr. Schwartz, the Deputy County Executive said that the county had chosen the 85 Court Street location because they thought it would be a good place to encourage the homeless to get services. He said it was also not made clear exactly why the Airport Shelter was being closed in the first place.