WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. January 10, 2006 UPDATED 12:47 A.M. E.ST. JANUARY 11, 2006 UPDATED 12:02 P.M. JANUARY 11, 2006: The opening night of the Westchester County "Drop-In" Shelter for the hardcore homeless persons of White Plains  -- the first White Plains shelter for the homeless to open in approximately 15 years by WPCNR recollection --  was a success this evening, highlighted by a media circus of news vans awaiting the arrival of the homeless for more than an hour. The County Department of Communications officially placed the number of persons housed overnight on the shelter's first night as 39 persons.

The Homeless Convoy: The first of five vans cruising past Mulino's at 10:45 P.M. Tuesday night bring the homeless to their new overnight home in White Plains. Photo, WPCNR News.

Donna Greene of the Westchester County Department of Communications told WPCNR Wednesday morning that the Department of Social Services reported that 39 homeless persons (including 39 regular visitors to the defunct Airport Drop-In Shelter)  were admitted to the shelter after waiting at the corner Quarropas and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Tuesday evening at about 9:30 P.M. They were backloaded into 5 white vans for the two-block trip to 85 Court Street, where the New York area media documented their arrival. Ms. Green is attempting to find out from the DSS where each of "the first-nighters" hale from in the county.

Occupants of the impressive line of white vans waved to the media covering their historic journey. The vans traveled into the Department of Social Services driveway, were turned around, and the homeless were let out the back of the vans directly into the entrance of the shelter.

One homeless person actually walked to the new "County Drop-In Shelter. " He told WPCNR he thought it was ridiculous to get onto vans. He also said he did not like the idea of spending the night with pedophiles, saying they should separate them out from the rest of the men. WPCNR does not know at this time whether this person was allowed into the shelter, because we were told all had to get onto the vans to be "screened."

No Incidents. Security to be Maintained at Present Level.

Deputy Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, Monte Long told WPCNR this morning there were no incidents. The media were not allowed to see inside the shelter. Mr. Long said his force was there simply for "order maintenance,"  and said whether or not the force of approximately six officers would continue to be deployed was in question, because "we continually reacces our deployment based on need." Commissioner Long said his officers did not check in the homeless who arrived, saying that the Department of Social Services performed that operation.

Donna Greene of the County Communications Department told WPCNR today that, "Our county security will be maintained at last night's level."
 

Asked about the issue of whether or not the homeless can leave the shelter once they enter it each night, Ms. Greene reports, "No. They cannot leave the shelter (once they arrive)."

Vans queue up to pull into 85 Court Street Department of Social Services Driveway. It is 10: 50 P.M. Photo, WPCNR News.

The arrival of the homeless at 85 Court Street was closely supervised by Westchester County Police. The White Plains Department of Public Safety was not on site.

Lieutenant Cetina of the Westchester County Police did not know whether a similar contingent of County Police would be maintained every night and referred WPCNR to the Department of Public Safety.  A County Policeman stood by outside the entrance of the posh White Plains dining destination, Mulino's.  Lieutenant Cetina told WPCNR there were no media spokespersons available for press inquiries on the scene, that he was it.

White Plains Department of Public Safety Role.

Inspector Daniel Jackson of the White Plains Department of Public Safety issued a statement to WPCNR Tuesday evening confirming that the White Plains Police were briefed by the Westchester County Department of Public Safety on the county plans. Inspector Jackson's statement:

The White Plains Department of Public Safety was notified by the Westchester County Department of Public Safety of the intended relocation of the Drop-In shelter to the 85 Court Street location.

We met with Commissioner Belfiore and Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz. We conveyed the message that Mayor Delfino was unequivocally opposed to the relocation of the shelter to the 85 Court Street location.

We did not inspect the facility. We confirmed the fact that the primary responsibility for the safety and security of the shelter in that building remained with the Westchester County Department of Public Safety.

Turning into 85 Court Driveway deliver White Plains newest residents. Photo, WPCNR News.

Official-looking government types in suits arriving on the scene would not identify themselves to  this reporter when asked if they were from the Department of Social Services. Later they were seen unlocking the Department of Social Services main entrance, and letting themselves inside.

Approximately 9:55 P.M. an unmarked official car drove down the driveway beside the Department of Social Services and were seen opening the back entrance where the homeless were to enter.

Vans Queue up to turn around in the DSS driveway to unload residents from the backs of the vans with Trump Tower (building in upper left) looming over  the scene. Photo, WPCNR News.

Vans arrived at about 10:45, and were driven down the driveway under the watchful eye of Channels 2,4,7, and 12 recording the event for posterity.

Neither Mayor Joseph Delfino  nor County Executive Andy Spano were on hand for the historic opening. It was the first homeless shelter opened in White Plains, WPCNR believes in approximately 15 years.