Legal status and pay of construction workers at new project on land funded by Westchester County?

6 Cottage Place Renovation and 99 Church Street Condominium

Westchester County is involved: $10,000,000.

I walked past on Church Street this morning at about 7:45 AM. There were two vans unloading way more workers who could fit in them comfortably, including some women. They all seemed to be of one demographic. Temperatures today reached about 93. A few of the workers do things on the roof, exposed to the sun.

Are they citizens or otherwise in the country legally?

Are they paid the New York State minimum wage?

About three years ago, there were multiple reports on national news that the Biden administration was landing planes full of migrants at Westchester County airport in the middle of the night and bussing them to ... ?

I sent links for at least two such reports to previous County Executive George Latimer but got no response. Latimer has since replaced Jamaal Bowman in the US House of Representatives.

Recently I saw an interview on local CBS with Latimer's successor Kenneth W. Jenkins:

https://www.westchestergov.com/kenneth-jenkins-bio

He repeatedly denied that Westchester County was a sanctuary jurisdiction. The 76 year old interviewer was fairly inept and did not get very far.

Whatever that may be, is any government official aware of the situation at this construction site and possibly others? Does anybody care on either level:

- immigration staus

- pay and working conditions?

Westchester County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins Signs Land Acquisition Act for the Construction of Affordable Housing in White Plains    Published: 07 January 2025

Joined by members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, Westchester County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins signed a Land Acquisition Act allocating $10,000,000 for the purchase of property in downtown White Plains for the construction of affordable housing. The property includes two buildings located at 99 Church Street and 6 Cottage Place, and will support the development of 108 affordable homeownership units for first time homebuyers, and 89 parking spaces. The Land Acquisition Act is the first piece of legislation Jenkins will sign as County Executive, proving that furthering fair and affordable housing opportunities remains a top priority in Westchester.

________________________

This will be sent to the Westchester County Executive, Mayor of White Plains and others.

CE@westchestergov.com

mayorsoffice@whiteplainsny.gov

Six hours to charge EV from 44% to 80%?

Flo is the name of the company that provides Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations to Westchester County.

Here is the automated email from Flo to me after I charged my EV yesterday at one of the 50 county administered spots south of the County Center in an unmarked surface parking lot. I've never seen more than the five cars, including mine, that I saw yesterday.

from:		FLO® <no-reply@flo.com>
reply-to:		FLO® <service@flo.ca>
to:		Kenneth Matinale
date:		Apr 14, 2025, 5:44 PM
subject:		Summary of your usage session

Card identification:	Mobile Application
Park name:	Westchester - County Center - Zone 2
Station name:	AUB-50433
Station address:	198 Central Ave White Plains NY 10607 United States of America
Session start date:	2025-04-14 11:36:08
Session end date:	2025-04-14 17:44:00
Energy used:	31.4960 kWh
Session duration:	6h 07m

_______________________________

Note the Session duration of six hours. It took my car batteries from 44% to 80% charged. That's the slowest I've experienced. I have 80% as the limit in my car settings, as it's recommended for good battery maintenance.

Here is my email to Flo:

from:		Kenneth Matinale
to:		service@flo.ca
date:		Apr 14, 2025, 2:41 PM
subject:		App problem reading IDs.

Screen shot of some of your charging ports at the Westchester County Center in New York State. Taken today around 12:30 PM. These ports always state that their charging speed is limited. I'm charging my EV there now.

The same phone the same day got all five ID digits at the North White Plains train station about a mile away. The fifth digit wrapped down to a second line but was visible.

Both locations are run by Westchester County, NY.

Kenneth Matinale

______________________________________

That's the end of that email.

As you can see, for some reason, many of the 50 EV charging "ports" do not display all five digits. To make it more difficult, the physical numbers are not in sequence, so you cannot even guess the number where you parked. You park, look at the five digit number of the equipment that you will use on your car. Then you look for that number in the Flo app but usually you cannot find it. And with 50 ports, good luck cruising in the app. Finally, it may not be there. Then what?

Maybe it's got something to do with the electrician truck that's parked there 100% of the times that I look at that parking lot.

Remember this from my message to Flo: "These ports always state that their charging speed is limited."

And by always, I mean every time I've charged there.

By the way, three of the ten charging ports at the North White Plains train station are out of service but that is indicated only if you try to access them using the Flo app.

It's good that Westchester County is at least trying to provide much needed EV charging stations. The City of White Plains got into it about six years ago but it has yet to replace its very outdated stuff and increase the number substantially. It's my understanding that the county knows that there is an electrical problem at the 50 EV charging stations (I think they are considered 25, each with two "ports"). The issue here is how many months does it take to get things going? It traces back to November, 2024.

The new county executive will be giving the state of the county speech later this month. No doubt he will mention this as an achievement. Hopefully, such remarks will be objective and informative.

Electric Vehicle charging stations: Westchester County promotes them before activation. What the heck? February 14, 2025

Videos of empty Westchester County EV charging stations, the ones celebrated prematurely. Saturday, February 15, 2025

Westchester County budget for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations. Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Status 4 weeks after 50 EV charging stations announcement: not so good. Friday, March 7, 2025

I charged my EV there Saturday February 22, 2025 at mid day. Three other cars were charging. Many stations did not have full IDs. I had to walk along and try to view them using the app on my phone. Then move my car to one that might work. I got this message, which I sent to the company, Flo:

"Charging output restricted to 6 A due to power sharing between charging stations."

_________________________________________

City Center just banned unaccompanied minors (younger than 21).

Today I noticed signs at the entrances to the retail area of the City Center off Main Street and Mamaroneck Avenue.

Meanwhile, the Westchester mall now allows dogs. Not just help dogs but all dogs. A couple of weeks ago I spoke to a private security person there to verify. It contradicts a lone code of conduct sign on the top floor.

Dogs should be banned from any common sense place where a reasonable person would think they should be banned. It's gotten out of hand. They are even in food stores. Will we see dogs sitting at a table in a restaurant? Why not? Who will prevent that? The City of White Plains? Westchester County? New York State?

https://white-plains-ny.blogspot.com/search/label/Dogs

Status 4 weeks after 50 EV charging stations announcement: not so good.

Electric Vehicle charging stations: Westchester County promotes them before activation. What the heck?

Westchester County Expands Free Ev Charging To Support Sustainability Goals

Published: 07 February 2025

Westchester County has installed 25 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the County Center’s South Parking Lot, providing free charging for up to 50 electric vehicles at a time...

That web page above has a link to an 18 minute announcement event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDxdWgPRGaw

It's the new county executive and five others in self congratulation acting like cats licking themselves, oblivious that the EV charging stations have not been activated. I left this comment:

Today I walked to these EV charging stations and after they have been there for months they still do not appear to be activated. Nor is there any signage on the road or nearby that would alert drivers about their existence. The concrete steps to exit the parking area are closed at the top. There were no cars there getting charged. NONE. I just sent my fourth email in 2025 to the new county executive asking about this and I have received only the auto reply. Do any of these people on the podium know any of this?

_________________

As of yesterday March 6 at noon:

- no signage on the road or nearby that would alert drivers

- concrete steps to exit the parking area still closed at the top

- two cars charging; two of a possible 50

I charged my EV there Saturday February 22, 2025 at mid day. Three other cars were charging. Many stations did not have full IDs. I had to walk along and try to view them using the app on my phone. Then move my car to one that might work. I got this message, which I sent to the company, Flo:

"Charging output restricted to 6 A due to power sharing between charging stations."

Flo replied:

... usually means that the charging station is sharing power between multiple vehicles. As a result, the output is limited to ensure that all connected vehicles receive a portion of the available power...

Thank you again for bringing this to our attention

____________________

https://www.westchestergov.com/meet-the-ce-staff

I counted 32 people on the staff of the County Executive. Maybe that's part of the problem.

This post will be sent to:

CE@westchestergov.com
Kenneth Jenkins, County Executive

PMcCartt@westchestercountyny.gov
Peter McCartt
Westchester County Electric Vehicles (EV)
Chairman of Climate Smart Communities Task Force:
1st Term Appointing Authority: Ex-Officio
Director of Environment and Sustainability

news12wc@news12.com

commoncouncil@whiteplainsny.gov

Videos of empty Westchester County EV charging stations, the ones celebrated prematurely. Saturday, February 15, 2025

Westchester County budget for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations. Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Westchester County budget for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations.

2025 Westchester County Capital Proposed Budget

Pages 243-244:

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Project Description
This project funds the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and associated infrastructure at various County and municipal locations. The County will work
with NYSERDA, NYPA and NYSDEC to explore any Non-County funding that may be available for this project.

Current Year Description

The current year request funds the continuation of this project.

Current Year Financing Plan
Year Bonds
2025 $5,000,000

Impact on Operating Budget
The impact on the Operating Budget is the debt service associated with the issuance of bonds.

Appropriation History

2020-2024 $45,000,000

More money figures are on those pages.

_____________________

Is it $45,000,000 or $87,000,000?

Electric Vehicle charging stations: Westchester County promotes them before activation. What the heck? Friday, February 14, 2025

Videos of empty Westchester County EV charging stations, the ones celebrated prematurely. Saturday, February 15, 2025

Status 4 weeks after 50 EV charging stations announcement: not so good. Friday, March 7, 2025

Videos of empty Westchester County EV charging stations, the ones celebrated prematurely.

The new county executive celebrated eight days ago: February 7, 2025:

Electric Vehicle charging stations: Westchester County promotes them before activation. What the heck? Friday, February 14, 2025

Two short videos taken this morning Saturday, February 15, 2025 about 10:30 AM. When the image appears, click it and it will expand and play my comments.

2 minutes, 18 seconds:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FnxGBkk33JRpJhrb7

1 minute, 14 seconds: 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SAuVGJxQ5Bxve4nP8

Westchester County budget for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations. Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Status 4 weeks after 50 EV charging stations announcement: not so good. Friday, March 7, 2025

Electric Vehicle charging stations: Westchester County promotes them before activation. What the heck?

Westchester County Expands Free Ev Charging To Support Sustainability Goals

Published: 07 February 2025

Westchester County has installed 25 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the County Center’s South Parking Lot, providing free charging for up to 50 electric vehicles at a time.

_________________

OK, you get the idea. You would obviously conclude that these Electric Vehicle charging stations have been activated, especially since they were installed months ago. But I look over there frequently and I have never seen a single car using them. Today, I went there on foot and used the app from the company Flo to try to make contact and that failed. I called Flo and was informed that it does not activate its Electric Vehicle charging stations but the organization hosting them (Westchester County) does it.

Westchester County did the same thing at the North White Plains train station surface parking lot, which is administered by the county (Who knew?). When I got my Electric Vehicle in February, 2024 I tried the eight Flo charging stations there and learned that they had not been activated. Months passed before they were.

What kind of management is that?

That web page above has a link to an 18 minute announcement event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDxdWgPRGaw

It's the new county executive and five others in self congratulation acting like cats licking themselves, oblivious that the EV charging stations have not been activated. I left this comment:

Today I walked to these EV charging stations and after they have been there for months they still do not appear to be activated. Nor is there any signage on the road or nearby that would alert drivers about their existence. The concrete steps to exit the parking area are closed at the top. There were no cars there getting charged. NONE. I just sent my fourth email in 2025 to the new county executive asking about this and I have received only the auto reply. Do any of these people on the podium know any of this?

_____________________

Those blocked concrete steps lead to a pedestrian overpass of the Bronx River Parkway to the WP train station, further evidence that EV charging stations are not operational. How could they not know all of this?

The city of White Plains has been on the verge of updating its EV charging stations for a year but I don't see anything on the city website with current information.

One final point. I have an EV and I have always wanted clean air and clean water. But I'm realistic about the planet and some of the rhetoric is dated. If you want to do something, don't drive. Driving an EV doesn't really make much difference. I drive an EV because I hate gas stations. Pumping your own gas is one of the most revolting things that we do regularly.

If you have a private garage and you plan to get a new car, you have to be an idiot to buy another gas car. I'm in an apartment building with no EV charging stations, so I have to hunt for public ones. I have urged the city to require apartment buildings to have some but to no avail.

Videos of empty Westchester County EV charging stations, the ones celebrated prematurely. Saturday, February 15, 2025

Any apartment buildings that ban dogs in White Plains?

Any?

Any rentals?

Any co-ops?

Any condos?

Laws in New York State protect dog owners. None protect the rest of us.

Apartment buildings are for people, not dogs.

"Pet friendly" apartment buildings have become the norm.

For people who get a note from their doctor that they need a dog for physical or emotional assistance, how about apartment buildings that accommodate that exclusively? Let the rest of us live in apartment buildings that do not have animals. Otherwise:

If you want to live with animals, buy a farm and sleep in the barn.

How about some common sense restrictions?

Separate entrance and elevators for dogs.

Failing that: no sharing. Dogs may enter an elevator only with the permission of the people already on. Stuff like that.

Dog free floors.

No congregating of dogs: entrance, lobby, sidewalk, ...

I think that COVID unleashed (pun intended) universal cohabiting of people and dogs. Dogs in baby strollers. It's 100% DOGS!

Elected officials and hired administrators won't rock the boat. For half a century in White Plains almost all Common Council members, elected at large, have lived in houses, so it doesn't impact them or the other house owners on their street.

Environmental impact of dog piss and shit? Vernacular used to be more descriptive.

How about public hearings?

Pets, especially dogs, should be banned from apartment buildings. Saturday, October 12, 2024

White Plains: dog city? Do they have more rights than people? Sunday, October 13, 2024

White Plains: dog city? Do they have more rights than people?

Pets, especially dogs, should be banned from apartment buildings. Saturday, October 12, 2024

Random thoughts:

If you want to live with animals, buy a farm and sleep in the barn.

What city official monitors any of this? License? Breeds? Size? Number per apartment? ???  How can a resident complain?

Percent of apartment building units that may have dogs? 100%?

Dog free (dogs prohibited) elevators, entry, floors, ... anything that makes sense? Is there even one limitation?

Are there 10,000 apartments in downtown White Plains that have dogs? Where do they piss and shit? Where? This is the disgusting issue that "planners" never address. And where does the waste go?

Environmental impact of dogs in apartment buildings?

Prohibit dogs from retail stores, including and especially food stores like supermarkets. People handle their dog and then touch food that they may not buy. Yuck.

Apartment buildings are difficult enough for so many people to get along. The Avalon on Barker Avenue has about 400 units. The only three elevators are all in the same location.

Pets, especially dogs, should be banned from apartment buildings.

In downtown White Plains pretty much every apartment building is "pet friendly", which means that humans cohabitate with animals.

Yuck.

1. It's unsanitary. Dogs are taken out to piss and shit three times a day. Each time a plastic bag is used to capture the shit and dispose of it. That's about 1,000 plastic bags per year per dog. How does that impact the environment? Suppose we managed human waste that way? If a human did what the dog does, the human would get a summons and eventually be arrested. What the heck?

2. It's dangerous. Dogs can become aggressive in apartment buildings, especially in or entering an elevator. Dog owners are oblivious. They congregate at the entrance to buildings and in the lobby. Dogs are not restricted to certain elevators. There are no rules about letting people complete their elevator ride without dogs entering.

Dog owners react to someone being apprehensive about the proximity of their dog with: oh, my dog is friendly. Yeah, to you, its source of food and shelter. The rest of us are a threat and/or a meal.

"Curb your dog" is a long lost concept for dog owners. Almost universally, they walk their dog in the middle of the sidewalk, path, etc. And often on one of those expandable leashes so that the owner has minimal, if any, control.

I recently read a thread on Reddit about this and was surprised that many people think as I do that dogs should be banned from apartment buildings:

Dogs should not be allowed to live in ANY apartment

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogfree/comments/158y8aq/dogs_should_not_be_allowed_to_live_in_any/

Oct. 3 2024 I sent that to commoncouncil@whiteplainsny.gov

No reply. The Common Council is and has always been dominated by people who live in houses in the suburbs of White Plains. They are elected at large, not by geographic area. That helps perpetuate their power. Downtown exists for their amusement and to subsidize the property tax.

A couple of weeks ago I sent email to White Plains Public Safety (wppublicsafety@whiteplainsny.gov) about a dog safety issue in my rental building but I have not received a reply.

Thousands of new downtown apartments have been created in recent years and thousands more are being created now. None have even common sense restrictions on dogs. "Pet friendly" makes money for the developers. White Plains Common Council wants the extra sales and property tax generated.

Turnure Park between Lake Street and Main Street is the only real downtown park. It just erected a new sign at the Lake Street entrance reiterating the rules, which include no smoking and no dogs. No dogs? Has anyone ever seen that enforced?

I don't expect the building owners or government to do anything but maybe you dog owners can reevaluate your attitudes and be more considerate.

White Plains: dog city? Do they have more rights than people? Sunday, October 13, 2024