WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. November 13, 2006: Deputy Commissioner Daniel Jackson spoke at length with WPCNR Monday morning on the matter of the gridlock on Hamilton Avenue and Broadway had seized White Plains in a paralyzing grip last Wednesday evening. In a telephone interview this morning, Commissioner Jackson advised WPCNR that the Police were busy handling other matters in the city at the time and did not have the manpower to facilitate the traffic exiting the city along Hamilton Avenue (1 hour to travel from Westchester Avenue at the East Gateway to the City to the West Gateway of the City, the Comp USA store). WPCNR has asked the Commissioner to elaborate on the manpower situation and exactly how much manpower was there , in the meantime, this is Commissioner Jackson's comment on what happened to White Plains traffic last Wednesday evening:
Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Daniel Jackson on Gridlock. Shown April, 2006. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.
Mr. Bailey,
I apologize for the fact that you got stuck in traffic last week. Unfortunately, the traffic problems were caused by the intense rainfall, probably also aggravated by the amount of leaves on the ground.
The closing of the Bronx RIVER parkway, partial flooding of the Hutchinson RIVER parkway and a Parking lot on 287 all contributed to the mess.
The Department of Public Safety does not agree with your "Informed Source" that it is too dangerous to put an officer in the intersection to keep the traffic flowing when possible, and the manpower is available. That evening was particularly busy as well with calls for service to both the Police and Fire Bureaus, all of which they handled appropriately. Including two pedestrian accidents during the rush hour which further acerbated the issues. Fortunately, neither was hurt seriously.
We also disagree on the sensational :
"Hey - if you had a heart attack or your house caught fire and you lived in the Park Circle Section of town or North Broadway - you were dead or burned out because there was no way fire engines were getting into the Northend in 4 minutes and no way ambulances were getting into the Northend past Hamilton"
We would get there as we always do. Traffic congestion aside.
We work closely with the Traffic department and are always evaluating the data and constantly making adjustments to accommodate changes in the city.
Finally, as for responsiveness of Public Safety, you and I exchange e-mails at all hours of the day and night, you have my cell number and address for that reason. My Blackberry is on 24x7 (including at 01:29 hrs this morning when you asked about the fire.)
