WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. March 27, 2006: A writer suggests the County buy Railside Avenue properties from White Plains for $2.7 Million:

Hi John,

If I may, I just wanted to make a few points on the current debate over Rail Side.

I am a proponent of open-space, but I am against tax increases. As a resident of the Downtown, I am concerned that the reason this sale is being contested has more to do with the property values and political agendas of a few, than with true conservation. As an aside, the same 15 people who seem to be fighting 'city hall' about each and every project always seem to come from outside the Downtown area, living in areas far removed from  development, affordable housing concerns, traffic, valet, etc. 

Where were these people when the County stuck a homeless shelter next to a park ( Renaissance Plaza)? They sat there, silently. As I have spoken to my neighbors, the vast majority of us feel that it is preferable to sell the land which is out of the way, and underused I might add, rather than face a larger increase in taxes.

The second point I want to make has to do with our elected officials. This weekend I saw Councilman Tom Roach, Council President Rita Malmud, and County Legislator Bill Ryan taking to the streets in a grassroots, old time Democratic protest. It was democracy at its finest, but it would mean more if they spoke out on issues that matter to all White Plains residents, not just the South End of town. We all know that Rita Malmud has always dodged the hard stuff, and crafted an 18 year political career based upon 'soft politics', but this is about some grassy knoll that nobody outside of Gedney knows exists.

Also, will the real Bill Ryan please stand up? Is it possible for "Teflon" Bill Ryan, our County Legislator who never takes a side on anything of importance (for example, he was noticeably absent from the public discourse regarding the County homeless shelter being opened at 85 Court Street) to play a part in the solution?

The solution is for Mr. Ryan to use his clout at the County Board to purchase the land from the City of White Plains. Councilman Tom Roach and Council President Rita Malmud are very close to Mr. Ryan, and might be in a position to spur our legislator to push for such a purchase. Just a few thoughts, but the fact that these officials could care less about the Downtown residents really bothers those of us who helped put them into office.

Thanks for the space.

Ian Lazerwitz