Snow and what is says about White Plains.

from Joseph Delfino

to Ken Matinale 

date Fri, Jan 16, 2009 at 10:45 AM

subject Re: Snow on sidewalk: again and still.

"I have forwarded your e-mail to the Commissioner of Pub. Works."

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I responded by thanking the mayor.  Unfortunately, many of the neglected sidewalks mentioned in posts here remain neglected.

I am sure that the mayor and Commissioner of Pub. Works mean well and that they have more important matters to address.  The problem is that priorities in  White Plains do not include pedestrians.  Considering its size White Plains may be the nation's car capital.  Cars rule.  Does any other city of 50,000 have so many parking spaces in public garages?  Does any have so many lanes in such a concentrated area as downtown White Plains?

Quality of life is an alien concept in White Plains.  White Plains is a convenient compromise.  It is not quaint.  It is not charming.  It lacks vision and purpose and parks.  Not soccer fields.  Parks.  Places with lawns where people can relax in a quiet tranquil setting.

The original downtown mistake was the Galleria, an ill considered indoor mall that is poorly maintained.  That land should have been developed into a downtown central park.

The area on the east side of the train station is an urban demilitarized zone (DMZ).  It is barren, cold, wind swept and deserted after dark.  No one wants to walk there.  It has been this way for decades.  What must people think who see this from the train windows?