THE FRONT PAGE July 3, 2009

County to City:

DON'T Approve Winbrook Rezoning FIRST

WITHOUT

Full Environmental Review

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. July 3, 2009: The Westchester County Planning Board in a letter from Deputy Commissioner of Planning Edward Buroughs dated June 19, cautions the City of White Plains strongly not to pass the zoning change clearing the tracks to rebuild Winbrook by adding  Winbrook  into the Central Parking District. Mr. Buroughs says it violates  standard New York State Environmental Quality Review procedures. Nevertheless, council is proceeding on schedule for the approval Monday night.

The major zoning change is on track for a continuance of its public hearing Monday night and an expected  “super hot rush approval” by the Common Council  Monday evening because, because the White Plains Housing Authority.

Commissioner Buroughs advised the city June 19 that due to the “significant impact on community character, makes the concurrent review of detailed site plans and the proposed zoning amendment all the more important.”

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. July 3,2009: New School Superintendent Dr. Christopher Clouet will make his debut at his first Board of Education meeting Monday, July 6 at 7:30 at Education House after the annual Reorganization Meeting at which new Board Member James Hricay will be sworn in and Donna McLaughlin and Peter Bassano will be sworn in for McLaughlin's fourth term, and Bassano's second term.

The agenda is highlighted by a presentation on the Mamaroneck Avenue School Capital Project.  The agenda:

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. July 2, 2009: Mayor Joseph Delfino welcomed the crowd of about 7,000 persons who turned out for the rain-postponed Fourth of July Fireworks Display at White Plains High School Thursday evening. Delfino said wherever he traveled he always felt White Plains represented America to him, and mentioning he would not be running for reelection, he thanked the multitudes and his last words  (in his last fireworks display hosting) were "I love you."  

Mayor Says So Long to White Plains at the Fireworks Thursday Night.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey took the podium next and said we all should thank Mayor Delfino for what he has done for White Plains. Lowey said the annual fireworks display in itself showed what was great about White Plains the way families came together to celebrate the fourth. Then the display, colorful, cachoponous and "ooooing and ahhing and awing" delivered the spectacle of color and sound meant to evoke orginally the awe that Francis Scott Key felt when he saw shells exploding over Fort McHenry  in Baltimore Harbor in the year 1814 at the Battle of Baltimore.

Observing the rockets explode over the fort inspired Key to write "In Defense of Fort McHenry" which became "The Star Spangled Banner," which was adopted as the country's national anthem in 1916. 

Then all trouped home in the humid night.

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. From Atlanta Housing Authority. July 2,2009: The following news release distributed to the media last July, gives you a unique and revealing view of how the government deals with public housing revitalization, and how it may deal with the Winbrook project. The release announces the last demolition of five neighborhood projects in Atlanta last summer, and notes the way in which previously "revitalized housing projects" in Atlanta have been repopulated.

It shows that two-thirds of persons formerly living in the "projects" do not return to live in the revitalized project, yet still are housed around the Atlanta area. The point the release makes is that in order to revitalize, you have to change the mix of persons to middle and upper class, otherwise the release candidly points out, the same behaviors and atmsopheres that plagued the old project return. It is reprinted in its entirety, without a break for the sobering reality that Atlanta has discovered:

The release (Dated July, 2008):

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today
approved the demolition of the final four major family housing projects in Atlanta.

The four projects – Hollywood Courts, Thomasville Heights, Herndon Homes and Bankhead Courts – contain more than 1,200 dwelling units. The demolition of a fifth project, Bowen Homes, with 650 units, was approved last week.

Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) expects approvals for the demolition of two severely distressed senior high-rise buildings imminently.

“History has been written today,” said Renee Lewis Glover, AHA’s president and CEO. “These
approvals mean the end of the 73 years of housing projects in Atlanta. We have become the first
major city in the nation to completely eradicate these areas of government-sponsored
concentrated poverty, crime and low educational achievement.”

Prior to the mid-1990s, AHA for decades had been a failing public agency, overseeing the largest
number of housing projects per capita in the nation. In 1994, Glover became president and CEO
of AHA, and embarked on a program that has become a nation model for community
revitalization.

With private sector partners, AHA has replaced distressed and obsolete developments
with high-quality mixed-use, mixed-income communities.

During Glover’s tenure, fourteen public housing projects have been redeveloped, such as
Centennial Place and Villages of East Lake. Atlanta is now cited as the national leader of how to eliminate the pockets of poverty, crime and low educational attainment that over time had become synonymous with “public housing projects.”

Just recently Las Vegas announced its plans modeling it’s elimination of housing projects after
Atlanta’s example:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jul/01/demise-vegas-public-housing-projects-sought/

AHA was cited in Governing magazine at http://www.governing.com/articles/0807atlanta.htm

this month in an article examining changes in Atlanta. Governing deemed AHA’s efforts to deconcentrate poverty and eliminate obsolete public housing a “success.”

A 2005 study by Georgia Tech economist Thomas D. Boston found that prior to transformation, crime in some neighborhoods was 69 percent higher than in surrounding areas and 79 percent of the residents were unemployed.

After redevelopment, crime in the neighborhood dropped by 91 percent and 66 percent of the residents were employed www.econ.gatech.edu/faculty/thomasboston/

Since 1995, more than 10,000 households have successfully relocated from the housing
projects. Approximately 80 percent of the families chose to stay in the city of Atlanta
while the balance decided to use their housing assistance in other metropolitan-Atlanta
areas.

The overwhelming majority of residents living in Atlanta’s public housing projects are women and children. More than 70 percent of the households receiving housing assistance are employed full-time, enrolled in college or technical training program.

It is AHA’s policy to provide at least 27 months of individualized case management and human development services for families who are relocating. Research has shown that this investment substantially improves the odds for successful outcomes for the families.

After months of preparation, families will begin relocating from Bowen Homes within the next 30 days. Demolition will begin once the property is completely vacated(approximately 12-18 months).
# # #

.

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. July 2, 2009: The White Plains Housing Authority unique plan to rebuild Winbrook with Housing and Urban Development money while residents continue to live next to their future new homes for up to a decade,  is  not the way HUD normally combines with a Housing Authority to execute a project.

In Atlanta,  one of the model city developments touted by White Plains Housing Authority presenters of the project this week, (see slide above) has not in any of their projects built over the last 13 years, required residents of a project being replaced to have to stay on the construction site.

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. July 2, 2009 UPDATED 9 A.M. E.D.T.: The White Plains Housing Authority held two meetings with residents of Winbrook Tuesday which sought to assure residents  the rebuilding of  Winbrook while they wait (next to a major active construction site for 8 to 10 years)  is a great thing for them. The first held at 11:30 A.M. drew 17 residents out of over 450 apartments. Perhaps a larger attendance appeared at the evening meeting.

The Winbrook Rivitalization Plan Info Session Tuesday, 11:30 A.M.17 residents attended of 450 apartments.

The Existing Winbrook Units (5- 9-story buildings) would be replaced one or two at a time with a 7-building, mixed income project (each 15 stories) complex below with street retail.

The Winbrook Revitalization plan envisions replacing the five existing Winbrook buildings with new buildings, expanding the number of living units from the present 450 units to 1,100 units, with underground parking. The present population of 450 families would be moved into 7 new buildings in a staggered plan. The first building going up on the empty green space directly across Quarropas Street from the U.S. Court House, and the vacant Post Office property at South Lexington Avenue and Quarropas Street. The complex would begin construction on open space  West of  the Bethel Baptist Church and Thomas Slater Center, probably in the spring of 2011, on the present timetable.

WPCNR  TAXING TIMES. By John F. Bailey. July 1, 2009: The City of White Plains efficiently mailed out the first of White Plains residents’ tax bills today. Residents opening the envelopes this evening will note they have a 5.5% tax increase split between the city, schools and the county. Though the county tax is lot listed, just add $2,400 if you are a White Plains resident.

The property tax on the average White Plains Home marketed at $650,000 including county, schools and city is $13,294 compared to $12,600 in 2008-2009, up $694 or 5.5%

Greetings from the Department of Finance.

The White Plains Week Projection of this April, Comes All Too True within $50.

The median White Plains home on the market valued at $650,000 will find their city and school tax bill to be $10,894 up from $10,342 last year, a $552 increase -- 5.3% from the city and the schools tab combined. Add to that the County tax of $2,400 and the increase is up to $694. 

The city tax increase increase takes a mere $177 hors d'oeuvre off your canape plate in comparison increasing the city share of the average homeowner from $2,724 this year to 2,901 in 2009-10, $177 more -- a 6.4% Increase

The school district tax increase for the average homeowner is $374. (It was $7,618 last year up to $7,992 this year, a 4.9% Increase.

Those with homes with a market value of less than $650,000 of course have less of an increase, while those in $650,000 and up homes – you’re looking at $1,000 or more in tax increases, from city and school tax increases. Throw in the County piece and you're definitely up a grand.

The actual school tax increase is $7 more than White Plains Week predicted. The city tax, $44 more than predicted.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. July 1, 2009: The White Plains Police have apprehended and charged three New Rochelle Residents in connection with an armed robbery of a man and woman inside the Chester Maple Parking Garage at  early Sunday morning, June 21 at 12:30 A.M.

Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety told WPCNR today, announcing the arrests, "This was a good coordinated effort by the detectives, working hard to get dangerous people off the street. We are working with other departments in the couty who have had similar incidents. We executed warrants on the vehicle used in the crime as well as the suspects' apartment. "

Luz Rodriguez

Juan Morel

William Hernandez

Police charged Luz Rodriguez, 25, Juan Morel, 25 and William Hernandez, 28 all of whom live at 550 Fifth Avenue, New Rochelle, with Robbery 1st and Criminal Use of a Firearm 1st, both B-felonies, following the investigation of the robbery "where a handgun was displayed."

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey July 1, 2009: Dr. Christopher Clouet officially began his new role as White Plains Superintendent of Schools today, though he has been meeting and conducting interviews for five days already.  Dr. Clouet, who comes to White Plains from his previous position as Superintendent of the New London (Connecticut) schools,  spent the last five days conducting some meetings at Education House, interviewing candidates, and setting up his office, in which he looked quite at home already Wednesday morning.

Enter Clouet: Dr. Christopher Clouet, new Superintendent of Schools in White Plains this morning, his first official day on watch.

Clouet told WPCNR he has set up in weeks previously, an  “Entry Tour,” to meet community organizations, city  government officials of both present and possible incoming administrations (there are two candidates running for Mayor thus far), in addition to institutions like the library, the Youth Bureau and others,  to be current with  concerns, expectations, and issues facing the school district as it relates to the community. He said he was well aware the city was assessment challenged (due to declining assessments of commercial, and recently residential properties), and the change coming in the ”Post-Mall era" and would be discussing it with “officials you would expect, both outgoing, and incoming.”

Clouet will debut publicly at the first Board of Education meeting in July.

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. July 1, 2009 UPDATED, 10:30 A.M. E.D.T.:  City Hall will attempt to stage the 4th of July fireworks this evening, at White Plains High School, scheduled to start at 6:30P.M.  

This will be Mayor Joseph Delfino's last year to preside over the annual kickoff of America's Birthday. Plenty of other politicians are expected to circulate, glad-handing the thousands of persons, estimated at times to reach 10,000 people, who turn out for this event.

Thousands Await Fireworks back in  July 2004. Photo, WPCNR ARCHIVES.

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. By John F. Bailey June 30,2009:  WPCNR learned today that once the Winbrook Rivitalization project is completed, it will be managed by the developer or developer(s) for the White Plains Housing Authority through a series of arrangements, according to Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel.  Habel explained this, saying the details were yet to be worked out.  She was responding to a question if the Housing Authority would manage and run the day-to-day operations, rentals, leasings of the new 1,100-unit public Housing, Affordable Housing, and Market Rate housing multi-use retail complex the zoning for which is up for approval by the Common Council next Tuesday evening.

This morning Gary Warshauer, the architect on the preliminary stage of the project present the first looks ever of how the new street ambience of The New Winbrook would look, (below), and residents were given an overview of how the project would proceed after expected Common Council approval of the Zoning changes, allowing the parking density and retail/mixed use zoning required to continue with the project. A Second presentation will be made this evening at 6:30 P.M at the Housing Authority.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. June 30, 2009: A significant cut in police overtime requested by the Common Council has reduced the Police Bureau Budget $330,115, which the Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Frank Straub sees reducing the department ability to police the Central Business District as the summer sizzles into full swing this week.

Memo from the Commissioner Foresees Compromised Safety in Downtown Business District, Documents Growth in Misbehavin' 

The fight, fracas, melee or brawl depending on who you talk to, (a complete description of the incident involving emergency room treatment of one individual has not been given by police) --  attracting a response of  a posse of  police cars Sunday morning to a popular bar on East Post Road highlights the stresses the Department of Public Safety will face in responding to the average 30 arrests a night on Friday and Saturday nights in White Plains the past year. In the summer, it might be expected this average may go up.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. June 28, 2009 UPDATED JULY 1, 2009: WPCNR has learned and confirmed that a serious brawl erupted inside the Thirsty Turtle restaurant on East Post Road approximately 3 A.M. this morning, which spilled out onto the street according to persons familiar with the incident.

As of Wednesday July 1, Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel Jackson advises WPCNR: "The investigation into the assault at the Thirsty Turtle is continuing, however there are currently no further charges."

According to Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel Jackson,

Brian Wolf was arrested for Assault 3rd after punching Seth Benerofe in the face causing Benerofe’s glasses to break, causing several facial lacerations. Victim was transported to WPER for treatment. Photos taken.

The three arrests from that location this morning are: Assault 3rd- Brian Wolf Dis Con.- Shaina Smith and Jeffrey Cataldo

Three persons were reported due to be arraigned in City Court early Sunday afternoon on charges of assault, and as many as six others possibly to be charged with Disorderly Conduct. Judge Joann Friia of City Court said she expected to issue two orders of protection. The Thirsty Turtle is pictured above on the home page of  the restaurant website

WPCNR still awaits further accounts from the police of how the melee started.

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From The Music Conservatory. June 27, 2009: The Music Conservatory of Westchester, a non-profit community school of the arts in White Plains, NY, has appointed Rye resident Carol Shiffman as Executive Director effective July 1, 2009. The announcement was made by Board President Nancy Goodman.

The Baton, Please:

Carol Shiffman, New Director, The Music Conservatory of Westchester, White Plains

Shiffman succeeds Dr. Aaron Flagg, who leaves to become the next Dean of The Hartt School at the University of Hartford. Shiffman is nationally recognized for her work in arts administration and music, dance, and arts education. Previously the Dean of SUNY Purchase’s Conservatory of Dance, Shiffman led one of the country’s preeminent arts institutions with world renowned faculty. She strengthened and expanded the school’s range of course offerings, master classes, and special events, and increased student opportunities for performances both on and off campus.

WPCNR CENTER STAGE LEFT. Theatrical Rush Review by John F. Bailey. June 25, 2009: There was a buzz and energy at opening night at WBT.  Most had never heard of this comedic hoot of a review that debuted Off-Broadway in 1996, and just closed in 2008, outrunning My Fair Lady.

A full house was eager for something happy and amusing and they got a Laugh-in's worth!

Courtney Holds Court!

Courtney Balan is the Complete Comedienne, mugging, madcapping, accenting, wisecracking, sending up, dialecting, wallflower, babe, single girl, torch singer in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Photos, Courtesy WBT, By John Vecchiola.

When  comedienne Courtney Balan makes a match.com video on WBT’s widescreens,  talking to a video camera, with her back to her audience,  she brings down the house with laughter as she tells all her foibles and faults with mugging and facial expressions that generated steady laughter nonstop.

When  Noel Molinelli sings a lament about the bride’s maids dresses in her closet, and ill-fated grooms,  the women of Westchester grinned and nodded knowingly, remembering weddings past. When Jonathan Rayson laments about waiting for his wife in Macy’s, the men laugh and laugh, while Ms. Molinelli agonizes in line for a women’s restroom—both men, women nod, laugh and remember.

Understudy Travis Taber, last seen in Oliver!  as the Knife Grinder (at that incubator of talent, the White Plains Performing Arts Center) did a masterful job jumping in on Opening Night. He's at the wheel of the family car! With the ubiquitous Courtney Balan as his wife, and Noel Molinelli, back seat with Jonathan Rayson as his kids.  Mr. Taber  had to do the 42^nd Street Opening Night  "Dream Brake" Replacement role thing this evening filling in for  Frank Vlastnik. The kid will always remember this night. He wise-cracked and delivered the part as if he created it! What a great job by the kid. Who doesn't like a little schmaltz on Opening Night? Photos, Courtesy, WBT By Frank Vecchiola

Taber coordinated with perfect comic timing with Ms. Balan to  turn four rolling desk chairs into the family car, it's madcap mirth!  (Even Brenda Starr, your reporter’s date for the evening laughed in uncharacteristic glee for the most dignified no-nonsense redhead in journalism – mentioning on the way out that her brothers used to fight in the backseat just like Mr. Rayson and Ms. Molinelli.