NY Times articles sent to WP CC: webpo@ci.white-plains.ny.us; jdelfino@ci.white-plains.ny.us; sharisong@aol.com; rmalmud@ci.white-plains.ny.us; djpower@verizon.net; troach@thomasmroach.com; benboy78@aol.com;milagroslecuona@gmail.com
This page was sent to you by: ken@matinale.net Message from sender:
1. 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. There is even a sign there but no entrance. If you intend to ruin woodlands, why not ruin the land that the city already owns? 3. The over taxing school system has plenty of unused fields.
OPINION | May 29, 2008
Op-Ed Contributors: A Wilderness, Lost in the City
By WILLIAM C. THOMPSON Jr. and ROBERT F. KENNEDY Jr.
New York City’s Parks Department could wind up destroying Ridgewood Reservoir, a teeming wildlife preserve on the Brooklyn-Queens border.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Affordable Housing: the hypocrisy
In White Plains affordable housing is really affordable apartments because it only applies to apartments and only to those in new developments. The Common Council members all live in houses in the suburbs of White Plains and so are not directly affected. The last thing they want is an affordable person moving into the house next to theirs. They pontificate on the subject and as Dennis Power states, make this a cost of doing business for developers in White Plains.
CC members indicate that the idea is to make these apartments available to teachers, fire fighters and police officers. Why doesn't the CC simply increase the salaries of teachers, fire fighters and police officers so that they can live where they want and in the type of home that suits them? If that happened then all residents would be paying for affordable housing. By pretending to lay the cost on the developer, the CC makes this a no pain issue, at least for current residents.
But who thinks that the developer actually pays for affordable housing? My guess is that this cost is factored into the business plan and passed on to ... the non-affordable apartment renters or owners. Future constituents of the CC are made to pay for the phony good deed of the CC. I am also guessing that the system is abused royally as are rent stabilized apartments.
CC members pretend to represent all WP residents but they represent only the interests of those who live in houses in the suburbs of WP. This is another example of why WP needs CC members elected by district, not at large.
CC members indicate that the idea is to make these apartments available to teachers, fire fighters and police officers. Why doesn't the CC simply increase the salaries of teachers, fire fighters and police officers so that they can live where they want and in the type of home that suits them? If that happened then all residents would be paying for affordable housing. By pretending to lay the cost on the developer, the CC makes this a no pain issue, at least for current residents.
But who thinks that the developer actually pays for affordable housing? My guess is that this cost is factored into the business plan and passed on to ... the non-affordable apartment renters or owners. Future constituents of the CC are made to pay for the phony good deed of the CC. I am also guessing that the system is abused royally as are rent stabilized apartments.
CC members pretend to represent all WP residents but they represent only the interests of those who live in houses in the suburbs of WP. This is another example of why WP needs CC members elected by district, not at large.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
CNA: White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations
Like the WP Common Council, CNA is house heavy. Check the member organizations:
http://wpcna.org/
Five are in the Gedney area alone. No wonder they dwell on nonsense like Railside and Orchard Street, which affect a handful of houses that border the respective properties. Every condo and coop in WP should be members. Meetings should be held in a location that does not require a surveyor to determine whether it is within WP.
The CNA constitution (think they take themselves a little too seriously) states: "The boundaries of neighborhood associations as filed by the CNA with the City of White Plains
Department of Planning shall be the official map of the CNA." That's like a company approving a labor union so that it has someone to negotiate with.
My condo, Jefferson Place, has 282 homes but does not fit into any of the city's predefined areas. We do, however, pay taxes.
White Plains needs one citizen, one vote. Both the city government and its official neighborhood entity represent houses, not people. The city's devotion to cars reflects that. Move 'em, park 'em. Get in and out of downtown as efficiently as you can. You don't live there. You live in the suburbs of White Plains in almost Scarsdale and almost Harrison. Who cares what it's like to actually live downtown?
http://wpcna.org/
Five are in the Gedney area alone. No wonder they dwell on nonsense like Railside and Orchard Street, which affect a handful of houses that border the respective properties. Every condo and coop in WP should be members. Meetings should be held in a location that does not require a surveyor to determine whether it is within WP.
The CNA constitution (think they take themselves a little too seriously) states: "The boundaries of neighborhood associations as filed by the CNA with the City of White Plains
Department of Planning shall be the official map of the CNA." That's like a company approving a labor union so that it has someone to negotiate with.
My condo, Jefferson Place, has 282 homes but does not fit into any of the city's predefined areas. We do, however, pay taxes.
White Plains needs one citizen, one vote. Both the city government and its official neighborhood entity represent houses, not people. The city's devotion to cars reflects that. Move 'em, park 'em. Get in and out of downtown as efficiently as you can. You don't live there. You live in the suburbs of White Plains in almost Scarsdale and almost Harrison. Who cares what it's like to actually live downtown?
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Paper or Plastic: Plastic!
Sent to Whole Foods corporate:
Paper or Plastic: Plastic!
Recently I stopped shopping to the Whole Foods store in White Plains, NY. The reason: Whole Foods no longer makes plastic bags a free option, only paper. I am guessing this is because of pressure from shoppers who think they are superior (Whole Foods has the snootiest and most insufferable customers of any food store) because they do not use plastic, thinking this is better for the environment. Wrong!
In the abstract this is not at all clear. As a practical matter, consider this:
1. Most of the insufferables DRIVE to Whole Foods in their pollution-mobiles. I walk. That alone trumps any possible advantage paper might have.
2. Trees are destroyed to produce the paper bags.
3. I use the plastic bags to dispose of my garbage in my apartment building. Plastic is the only option, so they are reused.
4. Whole Foods gives a parking voucher to driving customers. Walkers get nothing.
5. You penalize walkers by asking us to PAY for plastic bags.
Let me know when plastic bags are again a FREE option. Then I may shop there again. Now I am forced to drive to Stop & Shop, which is further away.
Paper or Plastic: Plastic!
Recently I stopped shopping to the Whole Foods store in White Plains, NY. The reason: Whole Foods no longer makes plastic bags a free option, only paper. I am guessing this is because of pressure from shoppers who think they are superior (Whole Foods has the snootiest and most insufferable customers of any food store) because they do not use plastic, thinking this is better for the environment. Wrong!
In the abstract this is not at all clear. As a practical matter, consider this:
1. Most of the insufferables DRIVE to Whole Foods in their pollution-mobiles. I walk. That alone trumps any possible advantage paper might have.
2. Trees are destroyed to produce the paper bags.
3. I use the plastic bags to dispose of my garbage in my apartment building. Plastic is the only option, so they are reused.
4. Whole Foods gives a parking voucher to driving customers. Walkers get nothing.
5. You penalize walkers by asking us to PAY for plastic bags.
Let me know when plastic bags are again a FREE option. Then I may shop there again. Now I am forced to drive to Stop & Shop, which is further away.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
NYC Mayor Bloomberg responds but WP Mayor Delfino does not.
I have sent many messages to WP Mayor Delfino. I have never received a response. Though I am not a New York City resident I received a response to a message that I had sent to NYC Mayor Bloomberg. See below.
Casework 481154
"Cobb, Ken"
...
Monday, March 3, 2008 10:34:47 AM
To:ken@matinale.net
Dear Mr. Matinale:
The Mayor's Office referred to my attention your recent e-mail message
regarding vital records. Given the confidential nature of the
information recorded on birth, marriage, and death certificates most
agencies responsible for them, such as the New York City Health
Department, do not provide direct access to certificates via the
internet. In some jurisdictions, indexes to vital records are now
available electronically. If you are interested in aggregate data
compiled from vital records, the New York City Health Department does
publish various reports and studies; many of which are available in the
City Hall Library (www.nyc.gov/records for more information).
Sincerely,
Kenneth R. Cobb
Assistant Commissioner
NYC Department of Records & Information Services
31 Chambers Street, Suite 305
New York, NY 10007
212 788-8604
212 788-8614 (fax)
kcobb@records.nyc.gov
Casework 481154
"Cobb, Ken"
...
Monday, March 3, 2008 10:34:47 AM
To:ken@matinale.net
Dear Mr. Matinale:
The Mayor's Office referred to my attention your recent e-mail message
regarding vital records. Given the confidential nature of the
information recorded on birth, marriage, and death certificates most
agencies responsible for them, such as the New York City Health
Department, do not provide direct access to certificates via the
internet. In some jurisdictions, indexes to vital records are now
available electronically. If you are interested in aggregate data
compiled from vital records, the New York City Health Department does
publish various reports and studies; many of which are available in the
City Hall Library (www.nyc.gov/records for more information).
Sincerely,
Kenneth R. Cobb
Assistant Commissioner
NYC Department of Records & Information Services
31 Chambers Street, Suite 305
New York, NY 10007
212 788-8604
212 788-8614 (fax)
kcobb@records.nyc.gov
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Candidates Debate
Candidates Debate
Kenneth Matinale...
ViewSaturday, October 13, 2007 7:11:10 PM
To:wptimes@wptimes.com
White Plains Times, October 12, 2007 - page 7"
"So what are the three most important issues facing White Plains residents, according to the email poll? Improving communication ... quality of life ... city owned property at Railside Avenue".
Listing Railside Avenue as a top three issue illustrates the structural problem with White Plains government: Common Council members are elected at large, not by geographic district. The Common Council members have come almost exclusively from among those who own houses, not from those who live in apartments, the mayor and member Bernstein not withstanding. Common Council members represent the interests of the house owners. Any pretense that they represent and understand the issues of all residents is political spin.
What percentage of White Plains residents live in apartments? I am guessing that it is well over 50%. Yet issues are consistently addressed by the Common Council members from the perspective of those who live in the suburbs of White Plains. That is why downtown White Plains has evolved into something conceived by people who do not live there. It looks like the decision makers may have heard about it but do not have to live with the consequences of their decisions. Other than asking for votes when is the last time you have seen Common Council members on the streets of downtown? Do they ever walk or take public transportation to Common Council meetings at city hall? Have they ever used the transportation center near the train station?
This issue of representation was raised and dismissed in the mid 1990s. With so many more residents living in apartments in White Plains it is time to consider it again and this time make sure that all residents are made fully aware of the matter.
Kenneth Matinale
Kenneth Matinale
ViewSaturday, October 13, 2007 7:11:10 PM
To:wptimes@wptimes.com
White Plains Times, October 12, 2007 - page 7"
"So what are the three most important issues facing White Plains residents, according to the email poll? Improving communication ... quality of life ... city owned property at Railside Avenue".
Listing Railside Avenue as a top three issue illustrates the structural problem with White Plains government: Common Council members are elected at large, not by geographic district. The Common Council members have come almost exclusively from among those who own houses, not from those who live in apartments, the mayor and member Bernstein not withstanding. Common Council members represent the interests of the house owners. Any pretense that they represent and understand the issues of all residents is political spin.
What percentage of White Plains residents live in apartments? I am guessing that it is well over 50%. Yet issues are consistently addressed by the Common Council members from the perspective of those who live in the suburbs of White Plains. That is why downtown White Plains has evolved into something conceived by people who do not live there. It looks like the decision makers may have heard about it but do not have to live with the consequences of their decisions. Other than asking for votes when is the last time you have seen Common Council members on the streets of downtown? Do they ever walk or take public transportation to Common Council meetings at city hall? Have they ever used the transportation center near the train station?
This issue of representation was raised and dismissed in the mid 1990s. With so many more residents living in apartments in White Plains it is time to consider it again and this time make sure that all residents are made fully aware of the matter.
Kenneth Matinale
Sunday, February 24, 2008
District-Based Voting
To WP Times
Subject: 2/22/8 letter to editor: "Let's Explore District-Based Voting" by Patricia Cantu, President, Battle Hill Neighborhood Association
I agree. My letter to you was published 10/19/7: "Non-homeowners Deserve Representation" raised this issue during the election of three people to the Common Council. You asked the candidates for their comments in your 10/26/7 publication: "Should the issue of at-large members versus district-based representation be revisited?". Only Pilla and Zicca expressed interest.
The message below was sent to you 2/8/8. It contains a link to a google earth map that I made with the locations of the homes of the CC members, not including the mayor:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103040367337361097468.000445a6e9cc47e0e7b83&ll=41.026017,-73.760662&spn=0.059183,0.157757&z=13&om=0>
The addresses were taken from the WP city web site. Please publish the link. It's worth a thousand words.
You can see why CC members do not and cannot represent the interests of the majority of WP residents who live downtown in apartments. They all live in houses, mostly in the same area. None live downtown. With District-Based Voting most of them would not be on the CC.
WP might as well have its city government decisions made by people living in Scarsdale. Our CC members may be well intentioned but they visit downtown as non-residents do: they drive in, park, do some stuff and drive back. Most of their decisions are based on driving and parking. That's why WP is so extremely pedestrian hostile.
Two suggestions in addition to implementing District-Based Voting:
1. eliminate all reserved parking at city hall for all CC members and department heads (especially traffic and planning);
2. challenge CC members to go to and from a CC meeting by either walking or taking public transportation.
NYC Mayor Bloomberg takes the subway to city hall in Manhattan. Maybe if our CC members had a taste of what it's like to move about downtown on foot they would make better decisions. We need people on the CC who live in apartments downtown.
Subject: 2/22/8 letter to editor: "Let's Explore District-Based Voting" by Patricia Cantu, President, Battle Hill Neighborhood Association
I agree. My letter to you was published 10/19/7: "Non-homeowners Deserve Representation" raised this issue during the election of three people to the Common Council. You asked the candidates for their comments in your 10/26/7 publication: "Should the issue of at-large members versus district-based representation be revisited?". Only Pilla and Zicca expressed interest.
The message below was sent to you 2/8/8. It contains a link to a google earth map that I made with the locations of the homes of the CC members, not including the mayor:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103040367337361097468.000445a6e9cc47e0e7b83&ll=41.026017,-73.760662&spn=0.059183,0.157757&z=13&om=0>
The addresses were taken from the WP city web site. Please publish the link. It's worth a thousand words.
You can see why CC members do not and cannot represent the interests of the majority of WP residents who live downtown in apartments. They all live in houses, mostly in the same area. None live downtown. With District-Based Voting most of them would not be on the CC.
WP might as well have its city government decisions made by people living in Scarsdale. Our CC members may be well intentioned but they visit downtown as non-residents do: they drive in, park, do some stuff and drive back. Most of their decisions are based on driving and parking. That's why WP is so extremely pedestrian hostile.
Two suggestions in addition to implementing District-Based Voting:
1. eliminate all reserved parking at city hall for all CC members and department heads (especially traffic and planning);
2. challenge CC members to go to and from a CC meeting by either walking or taking public transportation.
NYC Mayor Bloomberg takes the subway to city hall in Manhattan. Maybe if our CC members had a taste of what it's like to move about downtown on foot they would make better decisions. We need people on the CC who live in apartments downtown.
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