I know of two candidates so far running for mayor of White Plains in the special election: council member Tom Roach and former member Glenn Hockley.
David Buchwald is a new member of the Common Council. He lives in a downtown condo and is young and smart and would understand the dynamics of living downtown as opposed to those living in a house in a White Plains suburb, which is what we'd get with Roach or Hockley or probably anyone else who decides to run.
David, seize the moment! Run for mayor of White Plains. Get those signatures signed and get on the ballot. Failing that start a write-in campaign. The new voting machines make that much simpler. I'm convinced that people can get elected by promoting their candidacy on the web, despite not being on the written ballot in the voting booth, especially for local office.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Who should be mayor?
White Plains now has its third mayor in 14 months and may have yet another in six months when there is a special election to fill the void created by the resignation of Adam Bradley.
Let's elect someone who has not held public office. I suggest that the commissioners of the four major departments run.
- Traffic
- Planning
- Public Safety
- Public Works
Let them criticize each other and defend their own policies. As much as anything I can think of this would develop the issues in the most enlightening way.
Let's elect someone who has not held public office. I suggest that the commissioners of the four major departments run.
- Traffic
- Planning
- Public Safety
- Public Works
Let them criticize each other and defend their own policies. As much as anything I can think of this would develop the issues in the most enlightening way.
What, there's still snow on public sidewalks?
New York hospital (Bloomingdale Lane and Bryant Ave.) - Of course. As of 11AM yesterday: while a plow apparently cruised over its public sidewalks, New York hospital managed to leave a layer of ice on most of it while all others nearby had clean public sidewalks.
And the reigning and all time champ: the corner of the south side of Maple Avenue and Hale Avenue! Yeah! The city never enforces its own rules at that site, which virtually never has snow and ice removed by either the owner or the city. You can imagine the buildup this winter.
This is the monument to the disdain that the City of White Plains has for its downtown residents. City workers removed snow from sidewalk curbs on Mamaroneck Avenue where the walking side of the sidewalk was clean but the city felt compelled to make it even easier to drive and park downtown ... that for WP residents who live in the houses, mostly to the suburban south.
The house owners are the only constituents who matter to the mayor and common council. Until downtown residents take control of White Plains by electing people who will represent them, this will continue.
And the reigning and all time champ: the corner of the south side of Maple Avenue and Hale Avenue! Yeah! The city never enforces its own rules at that site, which virtually never has snow and ice removed by either the owner or the city. You can imagine the buildup this winter.
This is the monument to the disdain that the City of White Plains has for its downtown residents. City workers removed snow from sidewalk curbs on Mamaroneck Avenue where the walking side of the sidewalk was clean but the city felt compelled to make it even easier to drive and park downtown ... that for WP residents who live in the houses, mostly to the suburban south.
The house owners are the only constituents who matter to the mayor and common council. Until downtown residents take control of White Plains by electing people who will represent them, this will continue.
Monday, January 31, 2011
The architectural splendor of White Plains.
City website:
MetroNorth Railroad Environmental Assessment Notice in relation to the construction of an approximately 500 space, five level parking garage (ground floor plus four levels above grade) to be located on the site of an existing 109 space parking garage owned by the MTA and located at 50 Haarlem Avenue.
Paragraph above was copied and pasted, including Haarlem.
More cars. More parking. Cars. Parking. The decision makers never break out. Stuck in an untenable position. A vicious circle.
One result is that downtown White Plains is dominated by an endless stream of really, really ugly parking garages. If you were to grope for an architectural definition of downtown White Plains, that would be it: parking garages.
The fact that there are no charming buildings only emphasises and reinforces that conclusion.
MetroNorth Railroad Environmental Assessment Notice in relation to the construction of an approximately 500 space, five level parking garage (ground floor plus four levels above grade) to be located on the site of an existing 109 space parking garage owned by the MTA and located at 50 Haarlem Avenue.
Paragraph above was copied and pasted, including Haarlem.
More cars. More parking. Cars. Parking. The decision makers never break out. Stuck in an untenable position. A vicious circle.
One result is that downtown White Plains is dominated by an endless stream of really, really ugly parking garages. If you were to grope for an architectural definition of downtown White Plains, that would be it: parking garages.
The fact that there are no charming buildings only emphasises and reinforces that conclusion.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Do White Plains city officials face criminal liability for failure to have snow/ice from public sidewalks?
This message will be sent to White Plains city officials through the form on the city website.
Obviously White Plains city officials face civil liability for their failure and/or refusal to perform a basic municipal function: keep the public sidewalks cleared of snow and ice.
White Plains city officials have repeatedly been notified of its performance failure, both in this public blog and in e-mail messages sent to the mayors and Common Council members. Their conduct constitutes depraved indifference to human life, which would be homicide should someone die because of the snow and ice on public sidewalks.
It's been a few days since the most recent snow storm and one of the public sidewalks not cleared of snow and ice is one of the repeat offenders: empty lot on the southeast corner of Hale and Maple Avenues, both streets. Also, the lot on the south side of Maple Avenue between Waller Avenue and South Broadway.
The snow has melted and New York Hospital sidewalks on Bloomingdale Lane and Bryant Avenue are finally clear after another lousy job of snow removal, which when done at all, leaves an inch of snow/ice. They need to use person used by Bloomingdales. New York Hospital continues to do a much worse job of snow removal than Bloomingdales, with which it shares the public sidewalk along Bloomingdale Lane.
A couple of days ago while walking on Bryant Avenue on the New York Hospital public sidewalk I asked its workers who were dispensing a meager amount of salt onto the sidewalk why New York Hospital did such an inferior job compared to Bloomingdales, which always does a very good job. They said that the city cleans New York Hospital public sidewalk.
Say what? The City of White Plains cleans snow from the New York Hospital public sidewalk? Can this be? If so, why? Also, why doesn't the City of White Plains clean all public sidewalks or at least those that are not properly cleaned by their owners and bill and fine the owners?
Obviously White Plains city officials face civil liability for their failure and/or refusal to perform a basic municipal function: keep the public sidewalks cleared of snow and ice.
White Plains city officials have repeatedly been notified of its performance failure, both in this public blog and in e-mail messages sent to the mayors and Common Council members. Their conduct constitutes depraved indifference to human life, which would be homicide should someone die because of the snow and ice on public sidewalks.
It's been a few days since the most recent snow storm and one of the public sidewalks not cleared of snow and ice is one of the repeat offenders: empty lot on the southeast corner of Hale and Maple Avenues, both streets. Also, the lot on the south side of Maple Avenue between Waller Avenue and South Broadway.
The snow has melted and New York Hospital sidewalks on Bloomingdale Lane and Bryant Avenue are finally clear after another lousy job of snow removal, which when done at all, leaves an inch of snow/ice. They need to use person used by Bloomingdales. New York Hospital continues to do a much worse job of snow removal than Bloomingdales, with which it shares the public sidewalk along Bloomingdale Lane.
A couple of days ago while walking on Bryant Avenue on the New York Hospital public sidewalk I asked its workers who were dispensing a meager amount of salt onto the sidewalk why New York Hospital did such an inferior job compared to Bloomingdales, which always does a very good job. They said that the city cleans New York Hospital public sidewalk.
Say what? The City of White Plains cleans snow from the New York Hospital public sidewalk? Can this be? If so, why? Also, why doesn't the City of White Plains clean all public sidewalks or at least those that are not properly cleaned by their owners and bill and fine the owners?
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Sidewalk snow removal in White Plains: inadequate as usual.
Why bother? Why do I even bother to write about this again when it's obvious that nothing will improve? Why not? Why let the bums (euphemism for city officials) off the hook? Why let them pretend that nothing is wrong. If at least one person points out a problem then those responsible in White Plains city government cannot pretend that they did not know. The link for this post will be sent to the mayor White Plains.
I did a search of my posts on "new york hospital" and found the three hits below. As you can see the two leading sidewalk snow removal offenders have been and with the snow storm of Sunday Dec. 26, 2010 continue to be:
1. New York hospital (Bloomingdale Lane and Bryant Ave.)
2. City of White Plains (Mamaroneck Ave and Bryant Ave.) - you know, that secret park the city owns.
In addition there are the usual and continuing offenders: owners of empty lots, including: SE corner of Barker Ave. and Church St. and those along the south side of Maple Ave. between Mamaroneck Ave. and Bloomingdale Lane
I did a search of my posts on "new york hospital" and found the three hits below. As you can see the two leading sidewalk snow removal offenders have been and with the snow storm of Sunday Dec. 26, 2010 continue to be:
1. New York hospital (Bloomingdale Lane and Bryant Ave.)
2. City of White Plains (Mamaroneck Ave and Bryant Ave.) - you know, that secret park the city owns.
In addition there are the usual and continuing offenders: owners of empty lots, including: SE corner of Barker Ave. and Church St. and those along the south side of Maple Ave. between Mamaroneck Ave. and Bloomingdale Lane
Dec 21, 2008
Comments intended to improve the quality of life in the city of White Plains in Westchester county New York. ... I think WP keeps the park land a secret so that the city can attempt to shake down the hospital for more land in exchange for allowing thehospital to develop other parts of its property but that's just a guess. 1. Why does the City of White Plains not at least clear the sidewalk adjacent to its own land? That's pretty basic stuff. Does the city issue summonses ...
Jan 20, 2009
Meanwhile, the sidewalk of the New York Hospital grounds along Bloomingdale RD and Bryant Ave. was cleared this morning but the worker left a half inch of snow. Compare that to the stretch of Bloomingdale RD sidewalk cleared by the ...
May 29, 2008
Consider this the next time you try to negotiate to obtain property from New York hospital. Soccer fields do not make a park. 2. WP already has park land at the southeast corner of Mamaroneck and Bryant Avenues. ...
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Snow removal: inadequate even before winter actually begins.
The City of White Plains is up to its old tricks: prizing the movement of cars over the safe movement of pedestrians.
I walk to Whole Foods along Maple Avenue between Mamaroneck Avenue and Bloomingdale Lane. The usual scoff law properties were allowed by the City of White Plains to leave dangerous snow/ice on the public sidewalks after the recent snowfall. Maple Avenue was, of course, cleared of snow for the movement of cars.
The City of White Plains has been notified about this for years and has failed to remedy the situation. Anyone who is injured can easily bolster a law suit against the City of White Plains by referencing these public notifications on this blog, all of which have been sent to the city and its officials via e-mail.
City of White Plains, do the right thing. And failing that, do the practical thing. Stop waisting taxpayer dollars by exposing residents to dangerous conditions that could cost them dearly in law suits that could easily have been avoided.
Note: Link for this post sent to the mayor's office through his web form and to the CC members by individual e-mail IDs.
I walk to Whole Foods along Maple Avenue between Mamaroneck Avenue and Bloomingdale Lane. The usual scoff law properties were allowed by the City of White Plains to leave dangerous snow/ice on the public sidewalks after the recent snowfall. Maple Avenue was, of course, cleared of snow for the movement of cars.
The City of White Plains has been notified about this for years and has failed to remedy the situation. Anyone who is injured can easily bolster a law suit against the City of White Plains by referencing these public notifications on this blog, all of which have been sent to the city and its officials via e-mail.
City of White Plains, do the right thing. And failing that, do the practical thing. Stop waisting taxpayer dollars by exposing residents to dangerous conditions that could cost them dearly in law suits that could easily have been avoided.
Note: Link for this post sent to the mayor's office through his web form and to the CC members by individual e-mail IDs.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Yippie! The City of While Plains did NOT buy a country club during a "national debt crisis"!
In an e-mail message from CNA (Council of Neighborhood Associations):
The French-American School of New York (FASNY), which currently has 825 students attending its preschool in Scarsdale, lower school in Larchmont and upper School in Mamaroneck, has contracted to buy the Ridgeway Country Club for $11 million.
Great. As long as the City of While Plains didn't buy it. That would have been an inexcusable capitulation to the house owners who live near thecountry club.
The French-American School has "preschool in Scarsdale, lower school in Larchmont and upper School in Mamaroneck". That sort of makes my point that this entire issue was another canard to provide city wide resources for the benefit of the While Plains house owners who live in almost Scarsdale and almost Harrison.
The While Plains Common Council lucked out and was precluded from taking sides in the social divide that is the main problem in the governing of the City of While Plains: downtown apartment dwellers v. suburban house owners who have dominated the Common Council for decades to the extreme detriment of downtown residents.
The French-American School of New York (FASNY), which currently has 825 students attending its preschool in Scarsdale, lower school in Larchmont and upper School in Mamaroneck, has contracted to buy the Ridgeway Country Club for $11 million.
Great. As long as the City of While Plains didn't buy it. That would have been an inexcusable capitulation to the house owners who live near thecountry club.
The French-American School has "preschool in Scarsdale, lower school in Larchmont and upper School in Mamaroneck". That sort of makes my point that this entire issue was another canard to provide city wide resources for the benefit of the While Plains house owners who live in almost Scarsdale and almost Harrison.
The While Plains Common Council lucked out and was precluded from taking sides in the social divide that is the main problem in the governing of the City of While Plains: downtown apartment dwellers v. suburban house owners who have dominated the Common Council for decades to the extreme detriment of downtown residents.
Monday, December 6, 2010
White Plains, NY is considering acquiring a country club ... during a "national debt crisis".
Mounting Debts by States Stoke Fears of Crisis
By MICHAEL COOPER and MARY WILLIAMS WALSH
But the finances of some state and local governments are so distressed that some analysts say they are reminded of the run-up to the subprime mortgage meltdown or of the debt crisis hitting nations in Europe.
Analysts fear that at some point - no one knows when - investors could balk at lending to the weakest states, setting off a crisis that could spread to the stronger ones, much as the turmoil in Europe has spread from country to country.
By MICHAEL COOPER and MARY WILLIAMS WALSH
Published: December 05, 2010
Analysts fear that at some point - no one knows when - investors could balk at lending to the weakest states, setting off a crisis that could spread to the stronger ones, much as the turmoil in Europe has spread from country to country.
So how come White Plains, NY is considering acquiring a country club?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)