Today, May 18: Washington Revolutionary War monument dedicated 100 years ago.

It marks the Battle of White Plains in October 1776 and a revival of the hopes for national independence.

Location:

West side of North Broadway, about half way between Barker Avenue and 287. Near:

Dedicated by act of Congress May 18, 1926.

Common Council silent on dogs in apartment buildings, etc.

Any apartment buildings that ban dogs in White Plains?  Tuesday, October 22, 2024

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

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Yesterday morning those 2024 posts were to current Common Council member in email:

from: Kenneth Matinale

to: commoncouncil@whiteplainsny.gov

cc: news12wc@news12.com

date: Apr 30, 2026, 9:22 AM

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

And "curb your dog" is an alien concept.

____________________________

In the 24 hours since the "dog city?" email was sent, there have been 49 views but:

no replies, not even from News 12.

Whole Foods has a sign on its entrance banning dogs. But the supermarkets allow them. At least ban dogs from food stores, including restaurants.

Thousands of new apartments are being created in downtown White Plains to further keep the property tax of house owners low compared to nearby municipalities like Scarsdale and Bronxville. Also to provide affordable housing (really apartments), not to be confused with public housing. House owners don't subsidize that, "market rate" tenants do.

City Center just banned unaccompanied minors (younger than 21).  Sunday, March 9, 2025

... the Westchester mall now allows dogs. Not just help dogs but all dogs...

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?

_________________________

The Common Council needs common sense.

Can White Plains simply continue to add $25 fines every six minutes for expired parking street meter?

I've learned that it's possible to get multiple parking violation notices in one PARKING VIOLATION envelope with multiple $25 tickets inside ... written by different people. These within 90 minutes.

What the heck? Talk about piling on.

What is the law, rule, policy, ...?

Inquiries have been made:

from: Kenneth Matinale

to: White Plains Police <wppublicsafety@whiteplainsny.gov>

cc: <mayorsoffice@whiteplainsny.gov>

date: Jan 3, 2026, 3:50 PM

subject: A little common sense ...

To: Public Safety Commissioner David E. Chong

CC: new Mayor Justin Brasch

____________________

Also to Parking:

from:		noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com>
reply-to:		noreply@civicplus.com
to:		ken
date:		Jan 4, 2026, 6:23 PM
subject:		Online Form Submittal: Contact Us (Drop-Down)

Blah, blah, blah.

Can you simply continue to add $25 fines every six minutes? Is there a limit? ????????

_________________________

Note: https://www.cityofwhiteplains.com/directory.aspx?EID=22

Kevin Livingston 

Parking & Traffic

Title: Commissioner

Who knew?

Usual snow removal problems even before winter.

Snow removal "laws" in White Plains. But are they enforced?  Monday, January 1, 2018

White Plains removes snow from the streets. That's so that the Common Council can satisfy their natural constituents: people who live in houses. For them, the only issue is: can I drive from my private garage and park in downtown White Plains in 10 minutes? Then complain about the cost of parking.

Winter starts soon but we had snow December 14. The usual suspects were negligent. Today I sent the following email.

from: Kenneth Matinale

to: White Plains Police <wppublicsafety@whiteplainsny.gov>,

dpwadmin@whiteplainsny.gov

cc: commoncouncil@whiteplainsny.gov

date: Dec 17, 2025, 12:49 PM

subject: Snow not removed after 3 days.

12:40 PM today 12/17/2025

Ferris Avenue and Water Street. Across from the train station.

Other abandoned properties do the same. And some stores.

And the city of WP: its only park between Lake and Main Streets: paths and public sidewalks not properly cleared.

Come on. Winter hasn't even started.

Kenneth Matinale, resident

___________________________

Report such to:

dpwadmin@whiteplainsny.gov Department of Public Works

commoncouncil@whiteplainsny.gov

https://www.cityofwhiteplains.com/102/Public-Works

914-422-1202

Maintains all city-owned roads, including paving and pot hole repairs

Conducts snow removal on all roads within the City of White Plains

DPW CODE ENFORCEMENT 914-422-1208

• Enforces DPW codes for residential and business districts.
• Issues violations when necessary ...

_____________________________

Remove old eyesore microwave tower at 440 Hamilton Avenue.

Email sent to the Common Council:

from: Kenneth Matinale

to: commoncouncil@whiteplainsny.gov

date: Nov 18, 2025, 7:41 AM

subject: Vintage Skynet: AT&T's Abandoned "Long Lines" Microwave Tower Network - 99% Invisible

https://99percentinvisible.org/article/vintage-skynet-atts-abandoned-long-lines-microwave-tower-network/

Why don't you find out if the tower at 440 Hamilton Avenue is active. If not, get it removed. It's a real eyesore.

Kenneth Matinale

White Plains, NY

__________________________________

The Microwave Radio and Coaxial Cable Networks of the Bell System

Require EV charging stations, over-the-air (OTA) antennas, upgraded plumbing for apartment buildings.

White Plains seems to have the authority to require that apartment buildings use natural gas as a fuel rather than oil. But it seems to stop there, at least in terms of imagination. Why not require:

Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations

over-the-air (OTA) antennas on the ROOF for local channels (2-13) transmitted via direct line of sight. Individuals can try this in their own apartment but they might not have the necessary orientation. Most older buildings had old analog TV antennas and flat wiring to each apartment. That got superseded by "cable" TV coaxial cable wiring. But the old flat wires and their "jacks" are probably still in most, maybe all, apartments.

That would be free TV, like in the old days. It would also be a good backup in case the Service Provider (Optimum, Verizon) has a disruption during the World Series, Super Bowl, etc.

Plumbing upgrade:

Add pipes for a second bathroom in a 1,200 square foot, two bedroom apartment.

Add pipes and vent for ... washing machine and dryer INSIDE each apartment instead of down the hall or worse down in the cellar. This is especially needed for older condominiums and pretty much all co-ops. Their boards would have two reactions:

Do you know how much that would cost!?

If we did that for some apartments, everyone would want it.

No, their constituent owners do not know how much it would cost. But neither do the board members, mainly because they never tried to find out. NEVER.

I suggest that the city set up an informal structure so that plumbing companies can be contacted to provide advice and at least rough estimates. The board can then decide if it wants to get a detailed plan and estimate and the plumbing company can evaluate how much effort it wants to put into it depending on the amount of genuine interest. A board could contact multiple plumbing companies ... and consult with the boards of other buildings.

This could slow the gap between the old apartment buildings and the increasing thousands of new apartments created recently with thousands more coming. No one in his right mind would consider one of the new buildings if there was only one bathroom in a multi bedroom apartment. And even more so for laundry: who the heck wants to leave the apartment, especially to go to the cellar?

White Plains is a tale of two cities in multiple ways. Most fundamental, those who live in a house v apartment building. But there is also a divide among apartment building residents between old ones with inadequate plumbing and those with current standards.

Congressman George Latimer: Not Voting on Charlie Kirk resolution.

As of January 2025, the U.S. Representative for New York's 16th congressional district is Democrat George Latimer. He defeated incumbent Jamaal Bowman in the Democratic primary and went on to win the general election. Latimer is a freshman member.

Latimer was born November 22, 1953.

_____________________________

https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025282

United States House of Representatives

H.Res.719 - Honoring the life and legacy of Charles "Charlie" James Kirk.

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Sep 19, 2025, 10:53 AM | 119th Congress, 1st Session

Vote Question: On Agreeing to the Resolution

Honoring the life and legacy of Charles “Charlie” James Kirk

Vote Type: Yea-And-Nay

Status: Passed

VOTES

yea: 310

nay: 58

present: 38

not voting: 26

Jeffries Democratic New York YEA

Latimer Democratic New York Not Voting

___________________________

Even Democrat minority leader and former Speaker of the House Hakeem Jeffries voted YEA.

WP Hospital and Columbia Doctors opening new offices at 1111 Westchester Avenue. Which doctors are moving?

Good luck figuring out if your doctor is moving from downtown White Plains to a corporate park along interstate 287.

White Plains Hospital is closing its long time building at 170 Maple Avenue to make room for its huge expansion. When? Who knows?

Message sent 8/1/2025 at the White Plains Hospital website: reply below:

My understanding is that 170 Maple Avenue will be demolished and at least some doctors moved to 1111 Westchester Ave. along with Columbia Doctors. I could not find this on the hospital website. How long will WP Hospital doctors will be there and when will that start? Which doctors? This impacts which doctors we want to see.

Any other logistics that we should know about?

________________________

from: WPHC Internet Mail <WPH-CMail@wphospital.org>

to: "ken"

date: Aug 4, 2025, 10:13 AM

subject: WPH Contact Us

mailed-by: gmail.com

signed-by: wphospital.org

Hi Kenneth,
Thank you for reaching out. 170 Maple is still operational with physicians moving to new locations over the next several months, including our new multispecialty center in Scarsdale at 750 White Plains Road, which will be fully open in October, as well as additional convenient WPHPA locations. Letters will be sent to all impacted patients in advance with details on your physicians and where they will be practicing. If you need an appointment, please call your physician and the team will inform you if there any changes you need to be aware of. Thanks!

 

Regards,

WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL

41 E. Post Road

White Plains, NY 10601

P: (914) 681-0600

www.wphospital.org

 

Connect with us online!

            

_________________________

Columbia Doctors is opening a huge office at 1111 Westchester Avenue September 9, 2025. That's about five weeks from now. It would seem that its long time but small office at 15 North Broadway in White Plains will close. When?

from: Ken

to: Columbia University Irving Medical Center <reply-fe9515707061017973-387_HTML-558646401-514019751-3804@info.doctors.columbia.edu>

date: Aug 3, 2025, 9:45 AM

subject: Re: Coming Soon! ColumbiaDoctors is Expanding in Westchester

What happens to your office at:

15 North Broadway

White Plains, NY

Kenneth Matinale

White Plains, NY

______________________

No reply so far.

https://www.wphospital.org/about-us/campus-transformation/

https://www.columbiadoctors.org/locations/columbiadoctors-newyork-presbyterian-one?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CD+at+NYP+The+One+-+Coming+Soon_Appt&utm_term=NewYork-Presbyterian+The+One

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."

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