WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. September 12, 2006: A reader relates his experience in the White Plains downtown which changed his mind, and issues a warning:

Dear Mr. Bailey,

I’d like to contribute to the ongoing postings regarding security at  City Center and the downtown. I have read the various letters of  concern as well as Mr. Capelli’s response. Let me start by saying I 
have lived in White Plains for 10 years now and have completely  supported the development taking place here. I welcomed Mr. Capelli  with open arms and looked forward to a downtown full of respectable  restaurants and retail as well as beautiful spaces like Renaissance  Plaza. And, this is important to note, in the beginning, enjoyed the  progress our city had made.

 That said, I too have experienced  problems in the downtown on Friday and Saturday nights and, quite   frankly, don’t even enjoy going there anymore. These problems, as  well as my recent feelings toward the downtown is particularly  embarrassing to me as I have been one of our city’s biggest  advocates, constantly bragging to friends and family about how  wonderful White Plains is becoming.

One night,(in the Spring) walking through Renaissance Plaza and the area in front of  City Center on Mamaroneck Avenue, My Mother, a friend and I were  faced with a crowd of about 30 teens encircling two teens. The kids  were yelling, cursing and calling each other by the “N” word. It  looked like a fight was about to break out. There was not a single  police officer to be found. My Mother was terrified and insisted we  leave the fountains. I called the police immediately and told them 
what was happening. By the time the police got to Renaissance Plaza,  the group of kids had spilled onto Mamaroneck in front of City Center  and the vacant stores opposite City Center where they continued their  loud and threatening behavior.

Upon seeing this gang of kids now roaming the street, my Mother  immediately cut the night short and insisted I walk her to her car so  she could leave. This from the woman who – just six months ago -  loved coming to White Plains for dinner, a movie, ice cream and a  casual stroll by the fountains and along Mamaroneck. She was talking  about selling her home in Dutchess County and buying a Condo in White  Plains. My Mother has not come back to visit White Plains since this 
incident.

Additionally, I have been harassed at the movie theatre by a group of  teens that was large enough to occupy all the seats along the top row  of the theatre. I complained to theatre management four times. The  kids were at no point removed from the theatre or even threatened  with expulsion. The kids uttered threatening comments because I  complained and spend the rest of the moving kicking my seat. After  the film, I insisted the manager give me my money back. He apologized  and (poorly) attempted to justify the incident by saying “kids will  be kids”. My evening was, of course, ruined.

This is a sad situation. And based on the letters posted in this  forum, my Mom and I are not the only people to feel this way. This  situation has the potential to jeopordize our credibility and hurt 
our economy. I now meet my Mother for dinner, movies and snacks in  another town and find myself frequenting smaller “art house” cinemas  outside of White Plains. Of course, accompanying our entertainment  jaunts outside of the City of White Plains, is our disposable income.  Dinner, movies, ice cream and impulse shopping for three to four  people - at an average of three times each month – adds up. And it  may be adding up to more than we know based on the number of  responses on this forum.

I am furious, frustrated and quite disappointed that the progress  that I fully supported – by standing up and speaking before Mr.  Capelli, the Mayor and Common Council, has driven me out of my city.