WPCNR NEW YEAR POLL. December 31, 2006: There are a lot of issues facing the City of White Plains in 2007. WPCNR has identified 12 such issues.  WPCNR provides the news aficionados of this site with the opportunity to tell Mayor Joseph Delfino what they would do if they were Mayor. Rank your top priorities in the poll at the right on these crucial issues:

1. REMOVE TCEs from City Dump and Build Fields There:  Insider sources say the city is definitely going to have to clean up the TCE contamination on the dump, how is the question now being debated. However, should DEC give the city a pass on the smelly chemical disgrace at the dump that has existed for 25 years, should the city clean it up anyway and perhaps reclaim the dump for athletic fields the Mayor claims the city needs so badly? It’s your city. What would Mr. and Mrs. And Ms. White Plains do?

2. Develop Police Emergency Notification System: The White Plains Department of Public Safety agrees with the CitizeNetReporter that the Department needs a means of communicating with citizens during a citywide or even a minor city emergency. Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Charles Jennings proposed such a system to be developed 2009-2009. Such a system might constitute any number of procedures: a tape loop system updated that citizens could call for information; an AM radio system such as the Air Traffic Information System used at all airports, it has not been decided? Do White Plains Citizens want such a system? Tell the Mayor what you want.

3. Develop Lexington Avenue Corridor: The highly touted next piece of the City Renaissance – cleaning up the Lexington Avenue look adjacent the Winbrook projects. No meetings have been held on this among property owners since last spring to this reporter’s knowledge. Do the citizens want this next piece of the White Plains Renaissance to begin? Give the Mayor your endorsement.

4. Develop Bank Street Commuter Parking Lot. In an effort to obtain an influx of cash, the city has quietly worked out a deal with LCOR to build clones of the Bank Street Commons project with some retail and mixed use. This project was leaked to the Journal News two weeks ago and the zoning of the Bank Street commuter lot facilitating this change is on the agenda Tuesday evening. Is Mr. and Mrs. White Plains behind this project? The land is not being put out for private bid – even though other developers are interested in the property. Tell the Mayor how this ranks in your system of priorities.

5. Develop Hamilton Avenue Gateway II Lot: The big lot across from the White Plains TransCenter. This is the last remaining parcel where buildings of 40 stories could be built. Should the Mayor proceed with getting this link in the new downtown developed?

6. Should North Street Community Senior Condo/Assisted Living Project be approved as scaled back? North Street Community the glamour project that Alfred Caiola and friends have been excruciatingly working through the objections of the Wyndom Close association the last two years has cut back their project somewhat. Should the Council and Mayor green light this project? Is it a priority with you, Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains?

7. Bring Budget in Line with City Revenues? Instead of budget cutting, city hall has pursued spending policies in recent years that have required, and continue to require revenue generating by selling city land, while funding affordable housing projects with city assets. The city now faces renegotiating union contracts which they will settle at a minimum of 4% because they gave that in the last contracts when it was not necessary and virtually double the inflation rate. Should the city look at their spending policies – task force the budget – instead of lurching forward with what appears to be a lack of planning?

8. Televise Work Sessions, Planning Board, Zoning Board Meetings. Major policy decisions are made at these meetings, and, in the case of the Common Council Work Sessions, important city issues are decided on in a small packed conference room with limited audience. Should the city televise these sessions and Planning and Zoning Board meetings to better inform the public and avoid the element of surprise, shock and awe when citizens find out what the city is doing?

9. Hire Budget Director as Check on Finance Department. City Hall has gone on record as saying the Budget Department is not needed, claiming it duplicates what the Commissioner of Finance does. Do Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains agree?

10. Enact Surcharge to Arrest Assessment Decline. It is no secret that declining commercial assessments are killing Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains. This year the owner of a $700,000 house in White Plains will pay over $10,000 a year in school, city and county taxes with no end in site. A Tennessee County has moved to enact surcharges on increased value of commercial and residential properties  to reflect the actual resale value of  the properties. Should the city explore a surcharge for services, an air rights tax, or similar mechanism to relieve the White Plains residential property owner? Tell the Mayor.

11. Limit Executive Sessions to Litigation Matters Only. The excessive use of Executive Sessions to discuss land sales and policies of a sensitive nature has come under fire. The Common Council is allowed by charter to discuss legal matters, matters of the sale of land and personnel  in executive session. However, policy is also created by these sessions. The city never reveals the specific details of what entities are involved in an Executive Session, perpetuating a cloak of secrecy. Should the Mayor be told to give more detail on what’s involved in Executive Sessions on legal issues  and discuss land policy – without detailing price considerations? Perhaps limit Executive Sessions to litigation matters only where legal opinions are given – while revealing plaintiff and nature of the complaints? Tell the Mayor you are sick of the secrecy.

12. Expand the BID to West Post Road, down to Bloomindale Road and down Mamaroneck Avenue to the Bloomingdale Road fork.  The Bid would gain a million dollars in new assessments from businesses on Maple, West Post Road and Old Bloomingdale Road, and the posh malls of the city: The Westchester and The Westchester Pavillion would be included. Is this something the city should pursue? Do Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains endorse this move?