WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. February 7, 2006: WPCNR presents Mayor Joseph Delfino's 2006 State of the City Address delivered to the Common Council Monday evening at the monthly council public meeting which did not appear on television due to a technical failure at the Public Access Studios.

Mayor Joseph Delfino Being Sworn In for his Third Term as Mayor of White Plains January 6. Last night he delivered his State of the City Speech. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

·        The first item on the agenda tonight is the annual State of the City address. Thank you for being here, and thank you for viewing from home. This is the ninth State of the City address that I have delivered as Mayor. Let me start by saying I am honored to be serving another term as Mayor of the City of White Plains, a City that is looked upon as a true shining star in the State of New York, and beyond.

·        I want to thank my family, especially my wife Ellie for putting up with all the long hours and days away from home.

·        I want to thank the members of the Common Council, both past and present, for their hard work and dedication to our City. Together we have forged a tremendous partnership based upon collective action, rather than divided leadership. I would also like to thank our professional staff. Your abilities allow us to think outside of the box because we know you are capable of stepping up and making it happen. For all your dedication I say thanks, we couldn’t do it without you.

·        When I took office in 1998, I set lofty goals because I believed in our City. I believed in what the City of White Plains could be with imagination and leadership. I believed that the City had waited long enough for change.

·        Much of what was envisioned in Phases I, II, and III of my Economic Development Plan has been completed or is underway. We have come so far in a short period of time. Our accomplishments are truly remarkable! I am proud of what has been done, and I am excited about what we are working on to keep White Plains moving forward on this successful track.

·        Tonight, I will discuss the issues facing the City for 2006 and beyond. Many are issues we have grappled with for years. Others represent new and exciting opportunities for us to enhance the image, reputation, and the quality of life in White Plains and keep us on track as one of the truly great cities in the United States. Tonight I can tell you that the State of the City of White Plains is strong, and together we will continue to strengthen it.

·        I will begin on the subject of Economic Development and Growth, an area in which White Plains has made tremendous strides.

·        Since the year 2000, more than 2,285 new units of housing have been approved in White Plains. 172 of these new units, or 7.6% are affordable. We currently have 742 more market rate units in the approval process with 46 of these considered affordable.

·        I will be the first to say that we must do more to assist moderate and low income families in the development of affordable housing.

·        Last year, the City of White Plains received the prestigious Robert L. Woodson Affordable Housing Award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. White Plains was the only community in the Northeast, and one of only three in the entire Eastern United States to receive this award. We have worked together to create a unique, multifaceted and flexible program to develop new affordable housing options in our City.

·        The City’s Affordable Program provides that developers of new market rate and luxury housing must make at least 6% of their project affordable for individuals and families at an average of 80% of median income, or pay a substantial buyout fee in lieu of providing the units in their projects.

·        It is satisfying that we were able to achieve an average of 7.6% new affordable units from our approved residential projects, and we will continue to review our guidelines on a project by project basis. We should be cautious, however not to arbitrarily select an affordable percentage that could deter new residential development in our City.

·        These “buyout” payments allow us to remain flexible, and permit us to help the greatest number of White Plains residents. Recently, using the buyout funds the City of White Plains was able to contribute approximately $1.2 Million for low and moderate income housing projects on S. Kensico Ave., Lake Street, and Minerva Place.

Currently, we have a series of projects being proposed:

·        The Metropolitan and the Hale Avenue Condominium projects.  At the January 3rd meeting of the Common Council, both projects were given a hearty endorsement by the Carhart neighborhood association, headed up by President Robert Vogel.

·        These projects are a testament of what can be accomplished when City staff, developers, and community leaders work together to design projects that are sensitive to the needs of the neighborhood while remaining economically viable.

·        We’re also working on:

·        The Pinnacle with its Michael Graves design on Main Street  

·        The 393-unit Avalon Rockledge  

·        Cappelli’s Renaissance Square at 221 Main Street

·        The North St. Communities on the former St. Agnes Hospital site.

·        At a time when so many communities within New York State and Westchester County are struggling, new residents, investors, and visitors alike are flocking to White Plains to take part in the renaissance of our City. White Plains has become a center of commerce and investment. We will not remain the hotspot forever, so we must capitalize on this now.

·        The current state of our finances is strong, and as a direct result of our recent development, we are receiving increased revenue into our City.  White Plains, like many other communities in Westchester County, must deal with tax certiories.  We encountered a substantial number of cases over the past decade.  My administration has taken a proactive approach to disposing of these cases.  We will continue to address this issue vigorously.

·        The cities of Yonkers, Mt. Vernon, New Rochelle, Rye Peekskill and the Village of Port Chester all have their own Industrial Development Agencies.  The main function of an IDA is to encourage economic development by assisting in the retention and attraction of jobs. Despite being the fourth largest City in Westchester County and the 12^th largest in New York State, White Plains does not have its own IDA. Nearly all the development over the last seven years was financed through the Westchester County IDA.  Our new projects processed by the County IDA generated substantial administrative fees which the County received.  The City received no revenue.

·        The administrative fees could have been used to assist the City in funding affordable housing initiatives, making small business loans and grants available, providing economic development initiatives, settle  tax certs or to pursue countless other activities.

·        In 2006 I will again make a direct appeal to our elected representatives on the state level to gain our own Industrial Development Agency. The success of White Plains has brought millions of dollars to the administration of Westchester County that should have come to our City. It is time that White Plains control its own economic destiny.

·        In 2005, the City of White Plains secured $1 Million in Federal funding (from Sens. Clinton and Schumer) for our Lexington Avenue/ Post Road revitalization.

·        Tonight, it is my pleasure to announce that within the next four weeks we will set a date for the first meeting concerning the Lexington Avenue/ Post Road revitalization.

·        The White Plains Business Improvement District continues to be a key engine for economic growth in the Downtown. In the past year, the BID sponsored numerous events designed to draw residents and visitors alike into the heart of our city to shop, eat and enjoy our Downtown. This July, we had our first-ever “Taste of Downtown” food festival on Mamaroneck Avenue with over 20 local restaurants and taverns participating.  

·        In September, “Restaurant Week” celebrated the rebirth of our city by offering lunch or dinner for $19.16 at 15 different White Plains restaurants. And we cannot forget the County’s best free New Year’s Eve party which attracted over 8,000 people this year.

·        In the coming year, I will work with the Business Improvement District to expand its borders and programs to encompass other parts of the Downtown The BID will be a partner as we expand our revitalization efforts throughout the downtown area.

·        As we enter operating year three of the Performing Arts Center, it is important to remember just how far we have come. When the theatre opened its doors in 2004, the dreams of many in this community became a reality. The theater has continued to provide diverse entertainment, unique programming, and most importantly, a venue for our local community groups.

·        The Common Council and I were fully aware that it generally takes three years for community theatres to establish themselves.

·        We are committed to finding the right formula for the theatre, and the Common Council and I recently renewed our economic commitment to the theater for the 2006 season. The Performing Arts Center provides culturally enriching entertainment which is critical to the success of our Downtown.

·        The Sculpture Garden on the Plaza at the Public Library was a major success for the City of White Plains. Positive reactions from residents, visitors, and corporate sponsors has prompted us to seek to expand the Sculpture Garden into an Art Trail, beginning at the Metro-North Station and running through various Downtown destinations. We are currently working with property owners and corporations to expand this extremely successful public-private partnership.

·        This program will give the City a giant step forward as we work to make White Plains a true Arts Community.

·        We recently received $250,000 dollars in federal funds to conduct a study on the viability of a rubber-wheel trolley system in White Plains.  The study is well underway and I look forward with excitement to the day when the implementation of this project begins.

·        White Plains has been recognized nationally as an innovative leader in the area of urban traffic management. We are managing our growth successfully.  Although there are, at times,  delays due to construction or infrastructure improvements, for the most part, traffic is being managed effectively.  It is amazing to note that although our holiday traffic was up more than 4% this year, accidents were down by 8%.

·        Valet parking has become essential to the success of many of our small and family-owned businesses in the downtown.  We’ve worked hard to integrate this feature in such a way as to determine how it might best operate in our City.  I am committed to working with the Common Council in 2006 to create legislation which will regulate this activity.

·        Issues such as parking, traffic and valet services keep urban planners in many cities busy.  We’re fortunate to have these issues here as well, and they will be addressed as we continue to manage our growth downtown effectively.

·        The City of White Plains has become the epicenter of dining, shopping, and entertainment in the region. Aside from receiving continuous coverage in the local media, White Plains has become a favorite among trade magazines and periodicals.

·        Our youth are excited again about White Plains and I’m pleased that a majority of our residents are happy about the direction in which we’re going.  We have a lot to be proud of.

·        We take tremendous amount of pride in celebrating our City’s vast and diverse cultures.  Last year, we hosted our first Annual Juneteenth Parade, which serves as a celebration of the end of slavery and of African American achievement.  I am proud to say that White Plains now hosts four cultural parades each year. 

·        White Plains raised nearly $23,000  and found rent-free housing for one year for six families who were displaced from their homes by hurricane Katrina.  We also raised nearly $17,000 for for the victims of the Asian Sunami. 

·        We’re recognized as a City that cares.

·        Our award-winning Recreation and Parks department remains a leader in the County.  Our expanded programs are enjoyed by residents of all ages and we maintain the finest facilities anywhere.

·        We’re planning an ambitious agenda for the coming year.  In 2006 we’ll open new playgrounds at Mitchell Place and Chaterton Parkway. We recently completed much needed improvements at Delfino Park, and this year we look forward to an expansion of our programs for pre-schoolers, children and young adults.

·        Our Open Space Acquisition program has proven to be an enormous success.  To date we’ve acquired more than 45 acres to preserve as Open Space.  Tonight I am announcing that I’m reconvening our Open Space Acquisition Committee to identify more parcels for possible acquisition, which the City can maintain and preserve for future generations of White Plains residents.

·        The City of White Plains Youth Bureau is recognized as a leader in New York State.  The Youth Bureau services more than 6,000 children and young adults each year.  Close to 800 children per day are enrolled in our after-school programming which we recently expanded to include grades K through 8.  This program benefits the children of working families whether they are single parent or two parent working households.

·        They do a marvelous job and this year they will continue to expand their programs.  In 2006 the Youth Bureau will be partnering with the March of Dimes to offer Young Women’s Health Groups to promote healthy lifestyles and with the Boy and Girl Scouts of America to encourage scouting activities in our after-school programs.

·        Because of their incredible work, we are being honored this year with the National Youth Service America Award. 

·        Our Public Safety Department is one of the best in New York State.  Despite our continued growth as a City, including more nightlife and entertainment venues in our Downtown, crime continues to drop.  Recent figures show that crimes against persons and property dropped nearly 15% from the previous year.  Over the past three years, that decrease is a staggering 33%.

·        Structure fires are also down 15% over the previous year, which is a direct result of increased fire inspections, a “safety-first” building code, and a strong educational component.

·        It is a testament to what effective management, resource allocation and partnership with the community can accomplish.  To our men and women of our Public Safety Department, I thank you for a job well done.

·        We’ve worked hard to make our government both customer service oriented and accessible.  And we’ll take action in 2006 to do even more.

Related Links · City of White Plains · More about Government · News by jfbailey Most read story about Government: Update: The Fortunoffs Come to White Plains

Article Rating Average Score: 1.45 Votes: 179 Please take a second and vote for this article:

Options    Printer Friendly Page    Send to a Friend