WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. August 10, 2006: Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains,  in a letter released to the media, is alerting President John Chervokas and members of the Executive Committee of the Westchester Municipal Officials Association of what he sees as a long term threat to local control if Legislator Bill Ryan's sweetheart $1 a year 95 year lease deal with a firm seeking to build senior affordable housing on the former post office parking lot on Quarropas Street deal is approved by the County Board of Legislators. The vote reportedly is coming up this coming up September 11, or sooner.

The Mayor states in the letter, the Ryan-inspired legislation "could jeopardize home rule power of municipalities in Westchester County to manage the development of surplus County property within their jurisdiction. I urge you to contact your County Legislator(s) to oppose this legislation."

The Mayor's letter points out that "William Ryan, is proposing to lease rather than sell the property in question, maintaining that the right of first refusal applies only to sales, not leases, of County property. The proposed term of the lease for the senior affordable housing project would be 65 years, with provisions for three (3) consecutive renewal options of up to 10 years, or a maximum of 95 years."

Mayor Delfino notes "under the Laws of Westchester County, the maximum term of a lease of this nature, including renewals, is thirty years." As a result, the County Board has now proposed a local to be considered on September 11, 2006 or sooner, which would amend (the law) to permit a 95 year lease term for this project. The proposed long-term lease to be entered into here is tantamount to a sale of the property."

The Mayor warns the Municipal Officials Association, "Adaption of the proposed legislation will enable the County to accomplish indirectly what it is legally precluded from doing directly, conveying surplus County property in downtown White Plains to a private developer without first offering the property to the City of White Plains....the proposed legislation estabishes a precedent for the County Board to ignore local interests when selling surplus property within your borders."

Delfino implores, "I am requesting you (John Chervokas and the Executive Committee) contact  your County Legislator(s)...to protect the County's emasculation of municipal home rule and to insist that the County carry out its unquestioned legal obligation to extend a right of first refusal to the local government in which County surplus is situated prior to disposal of that property."