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MY NAME IS ALAN KASS AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WHITE PLAINS.
ON BEHALF OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WHITE PLAINS AND OUR CO-SPONSOR, THE NAACP, WHITE PLAINS GREENBERG BRANCH, WELCOME TO THE 2025 WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR CANDIDATES, MR. CHAN KOMORI, MR. WILL FLORES, MR. RICHARD PAYNE, PARDON ME, RICH, MR. ROBERTO LIPARI, MISS EVELYN SANTIAGO AND MR. NICK WOLFF.
OUR FORUM MODERATOR THIS EVENING IS KATHY MEANEY, WHO IS THE CO-PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NORTHWEST WESTCHESTER AND THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, AND IS NOT A RESIDENT OF WHITE PLAINS.
OUR TIMEKEEPERS THIS EVENING ARE BARBARA SHAW AND LIZ SCHUTTE OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WHITE PLAINS.
WE ARE PROUD TO BE CO-SPONSORING TONIGHT'S CANDIDATE FORUM WITH THE NAACP WHITE PLAINS GREENBERG BRANCH, AS WE SHARE MANY OF THE SAME OPERATING BELIEFS.
MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE NAACP ARE BOTH NON-PARTISAN, GRASSROOTS POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO DO NOT SUPPORT OR OPPOSE ANY POLITICAL PARTY OR INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATE.
SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1920, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HAS BEEN WORKING TO PROTECT AND EXPAND VOTING RIGHTS AND ENSURE EVERYONE IS REPRESENTED IN OUR DEMOCRACY THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND LITIGATION AT THE LOCAL, COUNTY, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS, ALL WHILE MAINTAINING ITS COMMITMENT TO NON PARTISANSHIP.
LIKE ALL LOCAL LEAGUES, THE WHITE PLAINS LEAGUE IS MADE UP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO GIVE OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO DO THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP IS OVER, OPEN TO ANYONE 16 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
YOUR PARTICIPATION AND ASSISTANCE AND OR YOUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE JANIS GRIFFITH, THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP WHITE PLAINS GREENBERG BRANCH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL CANDIDATES.
I AM JANICE GRIFFITH, PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP, WHITE PLAINS GREENBERG BRANCH.
AND ONCE AGAIN, I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE PARTNERING WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE NAACP HAVE VERY SIMILAR MISSIONS.
AND THE BIGGEST COMMONALITY THAT WE SHARE IS THAT WE ARE BOTH NONPARTISAN, AS ALAN SAID, AND WE BOTH ENCOURAGE OUR MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.
AND BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE THIS EVENING, YOU ARE TAKING PART IN THAT PROCESS.
WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO THE CANDIDATES AND TO BECOME AN INFORMED VOTER.
THE NAACP HAS BEEN DOING CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY WORK FOR OVER 116 YEARS.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
WE CONFRONT INJUSTICE, WORK TO SAFEGUARD RIGHTS, AND WE PUSH BACK AGAINST THOSE WHO THREATEN OUR PROGRESS.
OUR WORK INVOLVES HOUSING, OR, MORE APPROPRIATELY, THE LACK OF HOUSING FOR FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY.
WHICH IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ELECT THE RIGHT CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION.
IT IS ABOUT THE CANDIDATE THAT SEES ALL PEOPLE, AND I DO MEAN ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT, WHO NOT ONLY DESERVE EQUAL RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW, BUT ARE WILLING TO DO THE NECESSARY WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS IS AFFORDED THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
LET'S LISTEN TO THESE CANDIDATES, HEAR WHAT THEY SAY, AND THEN SHOW UP TO THE POLLS AND VOTE AS AN INFORMED VOTER.
THE STAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHER.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NAACP, YOU CAN SIGN UP AT THE TABLE OUTSIDE THIS ROOM AND TO THE CANDIDATES.
JANICE. AND NOW I'D LIKE TO REVIEW THE LEAGUE'S VIDEO RECORDING POLICY, WHICH WAS SHARED WITH THE CANDIDATES PRIOR TO THE FORUM.
TONIGHT'S CANDIDATE FORUM WILL ONLY BE RECORDED BY THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY MEDIA FOR REBROADCASTING ON VERIZON CHANNEL 47 AND OPTIMUM CHANNEL 76.
IT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE IN THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY MEDIA WEBSITE.
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UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY ANYONE ELSE RECORD OR TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THESE PROCEEDINGS.WE REQUEST THAT YOU SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES AND DO NOT USE THEM OR ANY OTHER CAMERA TO RECORD OR TAKE PICTURES OF THE CANDIDATE FORUM.
ANY AUTHORIZED USE OF THE RECORDING REQUIRES THE ADVANCE APPROVAL OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WHITE PLAINS, AND MUST BE SHARED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
ONLY. LICENSED MEDIA, INCLUDING TV, RADIO, AND NEWSPAPERS, ARE ENTITLED BY FCC REGULATIONS TO AIR PORTIONS OF THIS RECORDING.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN THE PROGRAM OVER TO OUR MODERATOR, KATHY MEANEY.
YOU THINK I'LL HAVE FUN? I THINK SO.
ALAN, IT'S ACTUALLY MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT, BECAUSE I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WHITE PLAINS VOLUNTEERS FOR ORGANIZING THIS CANDIDATES FORUM THIS EVENING WITH A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO ALAN KASS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE WHITE PLAINS LEAGUE.
SO LET'S JUST GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW.
TONIGHT WE HAVE SIX CANDIDATES, AS YOU KNOW, RUNNING FOR THREE POSITIONS ON THE WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
YOUR CANDIDATES ARE, UH, MR. JOHN CAMPBELL, MR. WILL FLORES, MR. RICHARD PAYNE, MR. ROBERTO, REFEREE, MISS EVELYN SANTIAGO AND MR. NICOLAS WOLF.
WE DRAW DREW LOTS AT THE BEGINNING, AND THEY ARE IN NUMERICAL ORDER FROM WHAT THEY DREW.
STARTING FROM NUMBER ONE ALL THE WAY TO NUMBER SIX.
JUST TO REVIEW A LITTLE BIT OF THE GROUND RULES THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED AND SIGNED OFF BY ALL OF THE CANDIDATES.
THE ORDER OF OPENING STATEMENTS WILL BE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
THE ORDER OF RESPONSE STATEMENTS HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY LOTS THAT WERE DRAWN BEFORE THE START OF THE FORUM, AND WILL BE ROTATED.
THE ORDER OF CLOSING STATEMENTS WILL BE IN THE REVERSE ORDER, AS THE OPENING STATEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE FORUM COMMENTS HAVE A PERSONAL, ABUSIVE OR UNRULY NATURE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED FROM EITHER THE CANDIDATES OR THE AUDIENCE.
THE MODERATOR WILL RULE THIS BEHAVIOR OUT OF ORDER.
PLEASE HOLD ALL APPLAUSE UNTIL THE END OF THE FORUM.
EACH CANDIDATE HAS UP TO TWO MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT.
THEY THEN HAVE A MAXIMUM OF ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE ALLOWED UP TO TWO REBUTTALS DURING THE EVENT, AND THE REBUTTAL TIME IS 30S.
THERE WILL BE NO RESPONSES TO THE REBUTTALS.
WHERE ARE MY TIMEKEEPERS? RIGHT THERE IN THE FRONT.
THEY WILL INDICATE WHEN 30S IS REMAINING.
AS OUR CANDIDATES ARE ANSWERING THEIR QUESTIONS.
AND THEN AGAIN, THEY WILL SHOW THE STOP SIGN WHEN THEIR TIME IS UP.
CANDIDATES MAY FINISH THEIR SENTENCE, BUT NOT GO BEYOND THE STOP TIME.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC WERE SUBMITTED PRIOR TO THE CANDIDATES FORUM BY ELECTRONIC FORUM, AND HAVE IN SOME INSTANCES BEEN COMBINED WITH OTHER SIMILAR QUESTIONS ON THE SAME TOPIC.
MANY TIMES WE GET HUNDREDS OF QUESTIONS AND WE HAVE TO SCALE IT DOWN TO A MANAGEABLE NUMBER.
ONCE COLLECTED, THE QUESTIONS WERE VETTED BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WHITE PLAINS.
CANDIDATES DID NOT RECEIVE THE QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THE FORUM.
NO QUESTIONS OF A PERSONAL NATURE ARE PERMITTED, AND THE AUDIENCE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS DURING THE FORUM.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE QUESTION PERIOD, EACH CANDIDATE HAS UP TO ONE MINUTE FOR THEIR CLOSING STATEMENT, WHICH WILL BE IN THE REVERSE OF THE OPENING STATEMENTS.
CANDIDATES MAY NOT USE TEXT MESSAGING, EMAIL, SOCIAL MEDIA OR ANY OTHER FORM OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION TO OR FROM OTHERS DURING A FORUM.
I DON'T SEE ANY CELL PHONES ON THE TABLE, SO WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT.
CANDIDATES MAY NOT BE COACHED OR RECEIVE INFORMATIONAL MESSAGES VIA ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS OR ON PAPER.
AND AGAIN, ONLY THE VIDEOGRAPHER WHO IS AUTHORIZED BY THE LEAGUE MAY RECORD THIS FORUM.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY CANDIDATES RECORD THE PROCEEDINGS, AND NO PHOTOS OR VIDEO RECORDING IS PERMITTED BY THE AUDIENCE.
NOW, LET'S BEGIN WITH OPENING STATEMENTS.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO GIVE YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.
AND WE WILL BEGIN IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER WITH MR. CABRERA.
THANK YOU TO THE NAACP AND THE WOMEN'S LEAGUE OF VOTERS FOR HOSTING.
AND THANK YOU TO MY WONDERFUL WIFE FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
I'M 38 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE LIVED IN WHITE PLAINS ALL 38 OF THOSE YEARS.
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I'M A BROTHER, A HUSBAND, A FATHER, A FRIEND AND A NEIGHBOR.AND OVER THESE PAST MONTHS, I'VE SHAKEN COUNTLESS HANDS AND LISTENED TO MANY OF YOUR VOICES, FROM YOUNG FAMILIES TO SENIORS WHO HAVE LIVED HERE ALL THEIR LIVES.
THE THEMES ARE ALWAYS THE SAME PARKING, HOUSING, COST OF LIVING AND THE GROWING CONCERN FOR SAFETY.
WE NEED A STRONGER, VISIBLE POLICE PRESENCE, OFFICERS ON FOOT, BICYCLES AND WALKING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY REASSURE RESIDENTS AND SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO ANYONE WITH BAD INTENTIONS.
WHITE PLAINS WILL NOT BE AN EASY TARGET.
WE NEED TO REFORM PARKING SO IT SERVES US, NOT PUNISH US.
AND WE MUST USE TECHNOLOGY NOT TO TICKET PEOPLE, BUT TO LISTEN TO THEM THROUGH APPS AND TOOLS THAT LET RESIDENTS SHARE CONCERNS BEFORE POLICIES ARE VOTED ON.
UH, THAT'S HOW YOU BUILD TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST.
WE MUST ALSO MENTOR OUR YOUTH, CONNECT THEM WITH THE TRADESPEOPLE, BUSINESS OWNERS AND PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN GIVE THEM PURPOSE BEYOND WHAT THEY SEE ON A SCREEN.
AND WE NEED COMPASSION FOR THOSE FACING HOMELESSNESS, ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS.
NOT BY PUSHING THEM ASIDE, BUT BY GIVING THEM REAL HELP AND REAL PLACES TO REBUILD LIKE THE YMCA ONCE DID.
COUNCILWOMAN NADINE HUNT ROBINSON SAID OFTEN IN WHITE PLAINS, WHITE PLAINS IS A DIAMOND.
WHITE PLAINS IS A CROWN, AND THE SMALL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SURROUND ITS DOWNTOWN ARE THE JEWELS THAT MAKE IT SHINE.
BATTLE HILL, NORTH BROADWAY, FERRIS, GEDNEY, DEKALB, SAXON WOODS, SOUNDVIEW, POST ROAD, OLD MAMARONECK, WOODCREST.
WE NEED TO STOP BUILDING FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE HERE YET AND START REBUILDING FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY DO.
PERFECT. THANK YOU, MR. FLORES.
I LIVED WITH MY PARENTS IN BATTLE HILL.
AND WE ALSO MOVED TO WOODCREST.
I'M VERY PROUD OF BEING A WHITE PLAINS RESIDENT.
BOTH MY PARENTS WORKED FOR THE CITY, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND THE LIBRARY.
I CHERISH THOSE MOMENTS WITH MY PARENTS GROWING UP WHERE AFFORDABILITY, UH, WAS AVAILABLE. THEY WERE ABLE TO BUY A HOME BACK IN 1981, AND NOW THAT OPPORTUNITY IS NOT HERE.
I, I TALK TO MY FRIENDS PARENTS THAT ARE RETIRED THERE.
ONE CASE THEY TELL ME IS, WELL, TAXES ARE GETTING HIGHER.
SO I CHOSE TO RUN, UH, BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE RESIDENTS OF WHITE PLAINS.
UH, I HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING IN RESPECT TO PROVIDING THE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE, EVALUATING NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE HARD TAX DOLLARS THAT OUR CITY RESIDENTS PAY.
THOSE TAX DOLLARS SHOULD BE UTILIZED TO BEST BENEFIT THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, AND FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE COSTS FOR OUR ELDERLY AND OUR RETIREES BECAUSE IT IS SAD TO HEAR WHEN THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE WHERE GROCERIES OR COSTS ARE HIGHER AND THEIR TAXES ARE INCREASING.
WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY HOW TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE WHITE PLAINS GREENBERG NAACP FOR HOSTING TONIGHT'S IMPORTANT FORUM.
I AM A WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL MEMBER.
I AM FINISHING MY FIRST TERM AND I AM SEEKING RE-ELECTION.
I HOPE TO EARN YOUR VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4TH.
I GREW UP IN LARCHMONT, NEW YORK, THE YOUNGEST OF SEVEN CHILDREN.
I BEGAN MY SERVICE TO COMMUNITY AT THE AGE OF 16.
FOLLOWING MY BROTHER'S FOOTSTEPS, I JOINED THE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS RESPONDING TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES IN MY COMMUNITY.
FOLLOWING THAT, I ENTERED THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE, JOINING THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK FIRE DEPARTMENT, EVENTUALLY RISING TO THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
I GAVE EVERYTHING THAT DEPARTMENT FOR 20 YEARS.
SHORTLY AFTER FINDING MY BRIDE IN LARCHMONT.
SHE HAPPENED TO BE A LIFELONG WHITE PLAINS RESIDENT AND PROUD GRADUATE OF THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST APARTMENT IN DOWNTOWN WHITE PLAINS, WHERE WE LIVED TODAY.
I AM CURRENTLY THE ONLY DOWNTOWN RESIDENT ON WHITE PLAINS CITY COUNCIL.
AFTER SETTLING IN, I BEGAN TO GET INVOLVED CIVICALLY IN THE CITY AS A DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT LEADER, VOLUNTEERING MANY HOURS ON CAMPAIGNS, RUNNING PHONE BANKS, AND GETTING THE VOTE OUT.
I EVENTUALLY BECAME THE ORGANIZATION CHAIR FOR THE WHITE PLAINS DEMOCRATS, PROUDLY PERFORMING OUTREACH AND RUNNING
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OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS VIRTUALLY DURING COVID.I WAS APPOINTED BY OUR MAYOR, TOM ROACH, TO MANY VOLUNTEER COMMITTEES OVER THE YEARS, FROM THE DOWNTOWN TRANSIT DISTRICT TASK FORCE TO THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION TASK FORCE.
I ALSO SERVED ON THE BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND SPENT THREE YEARS ON THE WHITE PLAINS PLANNING BOARD.
I AM CURRENTLY CHAIRMAN OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
I SPENT TEN YEARS AS A PROFESSIONAL MARINER, RUNNING HIGH SPEED FERRIES AND TOW BOATS THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN UNITED STATES.
I'M A COMMERCIALLY LICENSED DRONE PILOT, AND I WORK AT WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL AS A GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR.
I'M AN ACTIVE CYCLIST AND HELPED BRING ABOUT THE WHITE PLAINS BIKE SHARE PROGRAM.
I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE MY SERVICE TO THE CITY, AND I HOPE TO EARN YOUR VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4TH.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I WAS BORN HERE, I WAS RAISED HERE, AND I PROUDLY SERVED THIS CITY AS A FIREFIGHTER FOR NEARLY 34 YEARS.
WHAT MAKES WHITE PLAINS SPECIAL ISN'T JUST OUR DOWNTOWN, IT'S THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DEFINE US.
EACH HAS A STORY AND A SENSE OF PRIDE.
I'M RUNNING FOR COMMON COUNCIL BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.
SAFETY, TRANSPARENCY, AND OVERDEVELOPMENT OF ONLY RENTAL UNITS IS A IS A BIG ISSUE.
I BELIEVE IN BEING PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PRESERVING THE CHARACTER, TRANSPARENCY AND LONG TERM FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
IF ELECTED, I WOULD MAKE EVERY DECISION BASED ON WHAT BENEFITS RESIDENTS, NOT OUTSIDE INTEREST.
I WILL DO MY OWN RESEARCH, VERIFY FACTS, AND INSIST ON FULL TRANSPARENCY.
GALLERIA. THE CURRENT PLAN FOCUSES HEAVILY ON ONLY APARTMENTS.
BUT HOW DOES THAT HELP LONG TERM HOMEOWNERS? DOES IT? DOES IT EASE TAXES? IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE? REDUCE CONGESTION? WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER.
EVEN MORE TROUBLING IS APPROVING ZONING CHANGES WITHOUT FINALIZED PLANS.
THAT GIVES AWAY THE CITY'S LEVERAGE.
LEVERAGE THAT SHOULD BE USED TO NEGOTIATE REAL BENEFITS FOR TAXPAYERS.
AND I HAVE EVIDENCE IN ARTICLES ON THAT.
THERE ARE SMARTER OPTIONS MIXED USE SPACES, RECREATIONAL FACILITY, HOTELS, DEVELOPMENT THAT BRINGS IN REVENUE WITHOUT OVERWHELMING NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS CAMPAIGN IS NOT ANTI-GROWTH.
IF YOU BELIEVE WHITE PLAINS DESERVE LEADERSHIP THAT LISTENS, QUESTIONS, PUTS RESIDENTS FIRST.
LET'S PROTECT WHAT MAKES WHITE PLAINS SPECIAL AND BUILD A FUTURE OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN CAN BE PROUD TO INHERIT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
I AM A MOM, A TEACHER, AND A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE FROM A WORKING CLASS UNION FAMILY.
MY MOTHER WAS A COURT STENOGRAPHER AND MY FATHER WAS A VETERAN OF THE US MARINE CORPS.
MY HUSBAND IS A SEIU 32 BJ MEMBER.
I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF THE WHITE PLAINS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AND NICE IT, AND I AM STILL PRESENTLY WORKING AS A TEACHER IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I HAVE LIVED IN WHITE PLAINS FOR 35 YEARS, HAVING MOVED FROM NEW YORK CITY.
SO MY FAMILY UNDERSTANDS WHEN RESIDENTS SAY THEY'D LIKE WHITE PLAINS TO KEEP ITS SUBURBAN CHARACTER.
I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST 35 YEARS IN A VARIETY OF ROLES AS PART OF THE WHITE PLAINS RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD, THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY RENT GUIDELINES BOARD, AND THE WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY FOUNDATION, TO NAME A FEW.
I'VE NEVER HELD POLITICAL OFFICE, BUT ONE OF MY MOST INFLUENTIAL ROLES WAS AS CO-CHAIR OF THE ISSUES COMMITTEE OF THE WHITE PLAINS DEMOCRATIC CITY COMMITTEE.
IN THIS ROLE, WHICH I'VE HELD SINCE 1920, SORRY, 2021, I WORKED WITH AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM EVERY CORNER OF WHITE PLAINS THAT INCLUDED A FORMER NEW YORK STATE SENATOR AND SEVERAL LOCAL ATTORNEYS.
OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, WE MET AND CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON ISSUES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
ONE OF THE MOST SHOCKING PIECES OF RESEARCH COMES FROM THE UNITED WAY, WHOSE ALICE REPORT STATES THAT A WHOPPING 40% OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND STRUGGLING TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS.
WE TOOK THIS RESEARCH AND FORMULATED RESOLUTIONS AND ALL WERE PASSED.
I AM NOW RUNNING WITH A SLATE OF LEADERS WITH MAYORAL CANDIDATE JUSTIN BRASCH, AND WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TOWARD REAL SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING.
THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS AFFORDABILITY FOR WORKING PEOPLE WHO HELP BUILD AND RUN THIS CITY DAILY.
TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, DPW WORKERS, RESTAURANT WORKERS AND OTHER AVERAGE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.
I WANT TO BE PART OF A TEAM THAT WORKS TO FIND SOLUTIONS BY A COMMITMENT TO TACKLING DIFFICULT ISSUES IN COLLABORATION WITH RESIDENTS.
FULL TRANSPARENCY WITH DECISION MAKING BY CONSENSUS.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. WOLFF.
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I WAS BORN IN WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL 75 YEARS AGO.I'M FOUR GENERATIONS OF KIDS WHO WENT THROUGH THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL SYSTEM.
MY FATHER GRADUATED FROM WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL IN 1925, WHEN IT WAS WHERE BUFFALO WILD WINGS IS FOR THINGS THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.
FAMILY. I HAVE FOUR FOR KIDS 36 TO 54.
FIVE GRANDCHILDREN 14 MONTHS, FOUR AND THREE QUARTERS YEARS.
BOYS AND THREE GIRLS FROM 23, 25 AND 27.
I'VE HAD A 56 YEAR CAREER IN REAL ESTATE.
A THIRD GENERATION I OPENED AND RAN FOR OFFICES WITH 150 AGENTS IN WHITE PLAINS AND A FEW OTHER COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE ONE OF THE TOP COMPANIES THAT I RAN AND OPERATED OVER THE YEARS IN THE 80S AND 90S.
MY BIGGEST THINGS ARE THREE AND FOUR VOLUNTEERING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
I OWE EVERYTHING I AM TO THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY.
I HAVE TWO MODELS THAT I LIVE BY.
ROTARY IS ONE SERVICE ABOVE SELF AND TWO IS FOR BUSINESS IN LIFE.
PEOPLE DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW TILL THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE.
THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'M INVOLVED IN ARE COMMISSIONER, WHITE PLAINS HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHITE PLAINS HOUSING COMMISSION, FRIENDS OF WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS, EL CENTRO HISPANO, UH AS THE VICE PRESIDENT, SLATER BID BOARD, WHITE PLAINS BEAUTIFICATION FOUNDATION, WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY, DOWNTOWN MUSIC AT GRACE CHURCH, ROTARY AND I DO VOLUNTEER WORK FOR RIDE CONNECT DRIVING SENIORS THEATER OR YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER.
I DELIVER TEN PACKAGES OF FOOD A WEEK FOR THE THREE YEARS, AND I MAKE COTTON CANDY ALL OVER THE CITY AND DONATE THE MONEY I MAKE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE CANDIDATES.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THOSE MICROPHONES ARE CLOSE TO YOUR MOUTH.
REMEMBER WE SAID ABOUT TWO INCHES.
OKAY, BUT NOT COTTON CANDY, SO PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.
NOW LET'S BEGIN THE QUESTIONS FOR THIS EVENING AND WE WILL BEGIN QUESTION ONE WITH MR. FLORES.
EACH COMMON COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
DO YOU THINK A WARD SYSTEM THAT ELECTS PEOPLE BY NEIGHBORHOODS FOR COMMON COUNCIL WOULD PROMOTE GREATER REPRESENTATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS? IF NOT, HOW WILL YOU ENSURE THAT YOU REPRESENT THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF WHITE PLAINS? NO, I DO NOT.
I BELIEVE THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT IS PLACED AS COMMON COUNCIL.
THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS FOR ALL WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS.
I BELIEVE THAT ALL THE SUBURBAN AREAS SHOULD BE REPRESENTED EQUALLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THIS PAST SUMMER WE HAD A VERY HOT STREAK OF WEATHER CONDITIONS.
BROWNOUT? BUT DOWNTOWN DIDN'T.
ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT, DID IT? NOW, HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT THE FUTURE? IT'S COMMON COUNCIL RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE THAT LIVES IN THE CITY, WHITE PLAINS, HAS POWER AND IT'S NOT IMPACTED.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PAYNE.
I DO NOT SUPPORT A DISTRICT CANDIDATE FOR THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
I THINK THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE COMPRISED OF THE BEST CANDIDATES THAT THIS CITY CAN MUSTER.
AND I LOOK TO A CANDIDATE WHO HAS PERFORMED SERVICE TO COMMUNITY.
AS MY COLLEAGUE NICK WOLF HAS MENTIONED, SERVICE ABOVE ALL ELSE.
AND I LOOKED AT CANDIDATES WHO HAVE INGRATIATED THEMSELVES INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE VOLUNTEERISM, THROUGH THE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AND COMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY RESIDENT OF THE CITY TO SERVE ON, LIKE THE PLANNING BOARD AND THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
WE NEED FOLKS TO STEP UP AND VOLUNTEER IN THIS CITY.
AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET TO KNOW THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE SOUTH END TO NORTH WHITE PLAINS AND EVEN THE DOWNTOWN.
I'M NO EXPERT IN THE DOWNTOWN, BUT I'VE CERTAINLY MET AND HELPED NEIGHBORS FROM THE SOUTH END TO DOWNTOWN TO THE NORTHERN ENDS OF WHITE PLAINS.
AND I CERTAINLY THINK THAT CITY COUNCIL WOULD BE BETTER SERVED IF WE CHOOSE CANDIDATES FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND NOT BY DISTRICT.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PERRY.
YOU CAN'T JUST CHOOSE AN INDIVIDUAL JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR LOCATION OF WHERE THEY LIVE.
IT'S UP TO AN INDIVIDUAL TO IMPACT THEMSELVES INTO GOVERNMENT, TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
AND YOU MAY GET SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT IMPACTFUL IN GOVERNMENT TO ACTUALLY HELP THEIR COMMUNITY.
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SO I AGREE WITH MR. PAYNE AND MR. FLORES ON THAT.AS FAR AS FOR PICKING AN INDIVIDUAL, EVERYBODY'S DIFFERENT, AND IT'S ALL UP TO THE TAXPAYERS ON HOW THEY VIEW THE INDIVIDUAL AND HOW THEY WILL PERFORM IN THAT ASPECT OF A GOVERNMENT ROLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CABRERA.
I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT AND SHOW IT, PAY IT FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY LIVE IN.
I BELIEVE THAT IF WE WERE TO DO COMMUNITY BASED CANDIDATES, WE WOULD BE ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE OF POPULATION WHERE THE CENTRAL WHITE PLAINS AREA THAT'S BEING BUILT UP ALL AROUND US WOULD EVENTUALLY OVER POPULATE AND WANT TO BE REPRESENTED MORE THAN THE SMALL COMMUNITIES AROUND IT.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS SANTIAGO.
SO I AM AGAINST HAVING A WARD SYSTEM LIKE THEY HAVE IN YONKERS.
LET'S SAY, I THINK HAVING A COMMON COUNCIL THAT IS BANNED OR WHERE YOU HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM ALL AROUND THE CITY IS BEST, ESPECIALLY FOR A SMALL CITY LIKE WHITE PLAINS.
I AND HOW I WOULD ADDRESS, UM, REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE CITY IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING.
UM, I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH SO MANY PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
I LIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA ON LAKE STREET, ACTUALLY, AND I HAVE ATTENDED THINGS AT GEDNEY FARMS, THE HIGHLANDS AREA AND ALL, AND ROSEDALE AREA.
AND ACTUALLY, WHEN I MENTIONED THE NEIGHBORHOODS, IT MAKES ME THINK OF THE CNA, THE COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, WHICH HANDLES THIS ISSUE VERY WELL BY HAVING REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS MEET AND CONTRIBUTE TO THOSE MEETINGS AND HAVE THEIR THEIR NEEDS AND THOSE SOLUTIONS KNOWN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. WOLFF.
I AGREE WITH THE REST OF MY FELLOW CANDIDATES THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE REPRESENTED AS A WHOLE.
I FEEL I REPRESENT THE CITY MORE THAN ANYBODY THAT HAS BEEN HERE SINCE THE INCEPTION.
I'M ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
I DEAL WITH ALL THE PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN WHITE PLAINS AND ALL THE, UM, SO-CALLED LOW INCOME HOUSING.
I AM ON THE FRIENDS OF THE SCHOOLS AND BEEN ON THAT SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
I WORK WITH EL CENTRO HISPANO AND I DEDICATE MYSELF TO GIVING AWAY FOOD.
SLATER, THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
SO I'M ALL OVER THE PLACE HEARING FROM EVERYBODY WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE.
WE START THE NEXT QUESTION WITH MR. PAYNE.
HOW WILL YOU ELICIT IDEAS, THOUGHTS AND OR CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS? UH. THANK YOU.
WELL, FIRST OFF, ALL OF MY, UM, DETAILS, INCLUDING MY EMAIL ADDRESS AND MY CELL PHONE NUMBER ARE LISTED ON THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS WEBSITE, SO I'M CERTAINLY AVAILABLE TO ALL THE CONSTITUENTS AND RESIDENTS WITHIN THE CITY TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME WHEN THERE'S A QUESTION OR CONCERN.
I WANT TO ENGAGE THEM AND LEARN WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE.
OFTEN I'M STOPPED IN THE STREET IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND ASK QUESTIONS, NOT EVEN BEING RECOGNIZED AS SOMEONE WHO IS ELECTED INTO OFFICE, BUT JUST AS A RESIDENT.
YOU CAN SEE IF SOMEONE'S LOST, THEY'RE ASKING FOR HELP OR DIRECTIONS.
I'M CERTAINLY ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP, AND THAT'S WHY I GOT INTO THIS BUSINESS, IS TO HELP OTHERS SERVICE.
AND, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY I'M TAKING PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS FROM CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF I DON'T KNOW SOMETHING, I LOOK TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR HELP OR THE COMMISSIONERS AT THE CITY LEVEL.
I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING, BUT I CERTAINLY WANT TO GET ANSWERS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THE HELP AND ARE ASKING THE QUESTIONS.
AND I ALWAYS WELCOME COMMUNICATION FROM THE VOTERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CABRERA.
SORRY, I JUST REREAD THE QUESTION.
ABSOLUTELY. HOW WILL YOU ELICIT IDEAS, THOUGHTS AND OR CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS? WELL, WITH TECHNOLOGY TODAY, EMAILS AND CELL PHONE IS THE NUMBER ONE WAY.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY WE SHOULD HAVE A TEXT MESSAGE SYSTEM SET UP, ESPECIALLY IF IT COMES TO SAFETY, THAT THEY ARE NOTIFIED IF THERE'S ANYTHING HAPPENING IN THEIR AREA.
BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE EVERYTHING THROUGH OUR PHONES OR THROUGH EMAILS, AND IT SHOULD BE VERY SIMPLE FOR ANY TAXPAYER TO BE ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY AND GET AN ANSWER TO A QUESTION YOU'RE PAYING.
AND I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND DO TECHNOLOGY A LITTLE BIT BETTER TODAY THAN WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CABRERA.
I BELIEVE THAT TECHNOLOGY IS BOTH A WONDERFUL THING AND A
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HORRIBLE CURSE AT THE SAME TIME.HOWEVER, WHEN IT'S CONNECTING PEOPLE.
WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA, APPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT SHOULD BE AS SIMPLE AS PUNCHING IN A TWEET INTO YOUR PHONE, SNAPPING A PICTURE OF SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS YOU.
EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT SWORE THAT THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE ONE.
MY FATHER EVEN USES ONE AND THAT'S BAD.
SO I REALLY THINK THAT WE ARE BEHIND ON THE TIMES AS FAR AS THE CITY UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY AND MOVING FORWARD, WE CAN REALLY BOOST COMMUNICATION FROM THE PEOPLE WITH THEIR CONCERNS AND FIX THEM FASTER.
MR. WOLF, IS YOUR HAND UP FOR A REBUTTAL? OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK.
HI. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
SO, IN TERMS OF SHARING IDEAS AND CONCERNS, UM, CERTAINLY EVERYTHING THAT WAS ALREADY MENTIONED, WE HAVE I HAVE A WEBSITE, WE HAVE A WHITE PLAINS DEMOCRATIC WEBSITE, WE HAVE A CITY WEBSITE.
I HAVE ALL OF MY PERSONAL INFORMATION OUT THERE.
I HAVE MY PHONE NUMBER, MY PERSONAL EMAIL.
BUT I THINK WE CANNOT FORGET THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO THEM.
I THINK THAT THE BEST WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES IS YOU MEET THEM HEAD ON, YOU MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE, YOU GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU SHAKE THEIR HAND, LOOK THEM IN THE EYE, MEET THEM, AND THEN THEY'LL BE WILLING TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS WITH YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. WOLFF.
I AGREE WITH EVELYN AND I YOU SHOULD HAVE EMAIL, TEXT AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT I THINK THERE IS NOTHING MORE PERSONAL THAN BEING FACE TO FACE IN MY INVOLVEMENT WITH MY BOARDS.
I ALREADY HAVE GOTTEN LOTS OF INPUT AND IDEAS FOR WHAT I COULD DO WHEN I AND IF I GET IN THE COUNCIL, BUT I'M OUT THERE.
I TALK TO THEM EVERY DAY IN EVERY ONE OF MY MEETINGS.
I THINK EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD GO TO EVERY HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION MEETING EVERY MONTH WITH THEM TO TO HEAR THE INPUT, TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE CITY.
THE CNA IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION TO GET INVOLVED WITH AND JUST BE OUT THERE AND PRESENTING YOURSELF, MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE.
THEY KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND THEY'LL APPROACH YOU DEFINITELY IF THEY'RE INTERESTED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. FLORES.
I AGREE WITH EVERYONE STATEMENT ABOUT EMAILS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT I THINK I'LL GO EVEN FURTHER.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY AND WE'VE ALREADY HAVE GONE OUT.
WE'VE WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS, WE'VE MET THE COMMUNITY IN THE BUSINESS DISTRICTS.
WE MET WITH THE FAMILIES HERE LOCALLY.
WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR PERSPECTIVES ARE.
BUT IF I AM ELECTED, I WOULD SAY THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AN OPEN FORUM DISCUSSION, RIGHT? WE HAVE TIME SLOTS RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY START THE MEETING, THE OTHER MEETING, AND YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO ANYONE.
WHY NOT HAVE A DISCUSSION AND OPPORTUNITY WHERE YOU COULD JUST HAVE A ONE ON ONE DISCUSSION, OR JUST HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH FOLKS WHERE YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY? YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TO SOME OF THESE MEETINGS AND THEY DRAG ON AND ON AND ON.
YES, PEOPLE HAVE SCHEDULES, SO WHY NOT HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH? SO THAT'S ONE THING I WILL BRING TO THE TABLE THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC OPEN FORUM BEFORE THE REGULAR MEETING STARTS.
JUST TO HEAR PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVE OUTSIDE OF THE AGENDA THAT'S BEING HELD THAT DAY.
OKAY. THE NEXT QUESTION WE BEGIN WITH MR. LIPARI.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE AND SAFE PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA? PARKING IS A BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW IN WHITE PLAINS.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE INSTANCES THAT HAPPEN AND THEY DON'T MAKE THE NEWSPAPER.
WE NEED MORE TECHNOLOGY IN THE PARKING AREAS.
WE NEED MORE POLICE ROAMING THE PARKING STRUCTURES.
AND AGAIN, WE NEED THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, THE POLICE HAVE TO BE FORTHCOMING WITH THE INFORMATION THAT SOMETHING JUST HAPPENED HERE AND YOU OR IF YOU'RE IN THE AREA, YOU GET A TEXT MESSAGE, YOU GET A TWEET, WHATEVER IT IS, YOU KNOW THAT IT HAPPENED RIGHT THEN, RIGHT THERE, AND YOU MIGHT BE CLOSE BY STOPPING SOMETHING FROM HAPPENING.
COMES WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSEST, AND SOMETIMES POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT THE CLOSEST.
SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP PEOPLE.
THAT MAY BE A VICTIM OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN ONE OF OUR PARKING STRUCTURES.
AGAIN, I BELIEVE IN TECHNOLOGY, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS ITS SHORTCOMINGS, IT'S ALSO A GREAT TOOL.
WHITE PLAINS OFFERS A PARKING APP THROUGH YOUR PHONE THAT YOU CAN PAY FOR YOUR PARKING.
I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD TAKE PARKING ONE STEP FURTHER.
AND IF YOU ARE A WHITE PLAINS RESIDENT WITH A WHITE PLAINS ADDRESS, POSSIBLY PUT A A CODE, A BARCODE ON YOUR VEHICLE
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ITSELF, WHERE IF THE METER READER COMES OVER TO YOUR VEHICLE AND INSTEAD OF WRITING YOU THE TICKET, THEY GIVE YOU A ZAP IN YOUR BARCODE, WHICH WOULD SEND YOUR PHONE A TEXT MESSAGE AND IT WOULD LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOW IN THE GRACE PERIOD, WHICH WOULD ALLOW YOU TO PUT MORE TIME INTO THE METER.I ALSO BELIEVE THAT RESIDENTS OF WHITE PLAINS SHOULD BE GIVEN EXTREME DISCOUNTS, DISCOUNTS THAT WOULD GO BACK 20 YEARS FOR A QUARTER, FOR HALF AN HOUR, VERSUS THE PREDATORY PARKING THAT IS BEING EVOKED ON US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS SANTIAGO.
UM, SO TO IMPROVE ADEQUATE AND SAFE PARKING, I AGREE WITH WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED.
TEXT MESSAGING IS ALSO VERY HELPFUL.
UM, BUT ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE IS AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND DEVELOP OUR CITY.
WE HAVE TO HOLD THE DEVELOPERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROVIDING THOSE SAFE PARKING AREAS IN THE NEW BUILDINGS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPTION FOR FEES IN LIEU OF PARKING, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S NOT AN OPTION THAT WE CAN ACCEPT IN ADDITION.
I KNOW THAT MR. CAMPBELL JUST ALLUDED TO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH PARKING, AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND HOW THEY'VE HANDLED THE PARKING SITUATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN YONKERS, THEY HAVE A PERMIT SYSTEM FOR THEIR RESIDENTS.
I THINK I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT IN THE CITY OF NORWALK.
THEY GIVE PEOPLE A 20 MINUTE GRACE PERIOD BETWEEN ANYWAY.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS SANTIAGO, MR. WOLFF.
UM, I, I HAVE LOOKED AT THE POLICE BLOTTER FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
THERE ISN'T THAT MUCH TERRIBLE THINGS GOING ON OR PROBLEMS IN THE PARKING GARAGES, I THINK.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A TICKET IN THREE YEARS, AND I PARK EVERY DAY DOWNTOWN AND I EXTEND THE TIME FREQUENTLY WITH MY PHONE.
SO WE NEED TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO USE THAT.
AND I'M OLD AND I CAN STILL DO IT, BUT I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE PARKING.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING A PERMIT THAT OUR RESIDENTS CAN BUY FOR A YEAR OR FOR SIX MONTHS, THAT GIVE THEM FREE PARKING.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO PARK PAY FOR IT.
THEY PAY $175 OR SOMETHING, AND THEY'RE FREE FOREVER IN THE YEAR.
THAT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD SOLUTION.
AND I HAVE SOME OTHER IDEAS WHERE WE COULD ADD PARKING ALONG STREETS THAT THERE'S LESS THAN NECESSARY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. FLORES.
I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH NICK WOLFF HERE.
THERE WAS JUST A STORY IN THE NEWS.
A WOMAN GOT HARASSED IN OUR PARKING LOT AND TARGETED.
AND HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT? WE NEED TECHNOLOGY TO HELP MAKE OUR CITY'S PARKING LOTS SAFER.
WE NEED AI, WE NEED CCTV CAMERAS.
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS CRUMBLING.
I MEAN, WE HAD A STRUCTURE COLLAPSE.
IT IS FALSE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
WE HAVE NOT INVESTED IN THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS TO GIVE THEM A BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE, INSTEAD OF GIVING DEVELOPERS WHAT THEY WANT.
WE NEED TO FIX OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
DO WE NEED ANOTHER CRUMBLING ASSETS TO CONTINUE? WE NEED TO FIX THOSE.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH MR. FLORES.
FOR ANYONE WHO BOTHERS TO WATCH THESE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT ARE STREAMED LIVE AND ARE AVAILABLE TO REPLAY DAILY.
YOU WILL KNOW THAT I VOTED, ALONG WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, TO APPROVE A $3 MILLION CAPITAL PROJECT TO IMPROVE ALL OF THE CITY OWNED GARAGES WITHIN THE CITY, WITH MORE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AHEAD IN THE COMING MONTHS.
WHAT HAPPENED TO A PRIVATE GARAGE THAT IS OWNED BY A PRIVATE DEVELOPER IS NOT THE PURVIEW OF CITY CAPITAL PROJECTS.
WHEN THEY DON'T INVEST IN THEIR CRUMBLING GARAGES, WE TAKE ACTION LIKE WE JUST DID TODAY.
WANT, BUT YES, JUST A GENERAL QUESTION.
THERE'S A CITY GARAGE RIGHT NEXT TO THE WHITE PLAINS TRAIN STATION.
WHERE'S THE MONEY BEING SPENT? ALL RIGHT.
CURRENT REGULATIONS ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO BUY OUT OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THEIR DEVELOPMENTS.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON MAINTAINING OR REMOVING THIS BUYOUT? THE BUYOUTS THAT THEY'RE INVOKING RIGHT NOW ARE TO BUILD
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MORE LUXURY APARTMENTS, TO KIND OF JUST KEEP THE WHAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER IN LUXURY APARTMENTS, THE UNWANTED PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO DO THAT, AND THEY WANTED TO BUILD HIGH, HIGH VALUE APARTMENT BUILDINGS, WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING AND HOW IS IT BENEFITING THE REST OF WHITE PLAINS? IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE MONEY FROM THE DEVELOPERS TO BUILD THESE HIGH RENT APARTMENTS, THEN IT REALLY NEEDS TO GO TO THE LESSER FORTUNATE OF THE PEOPLE IN WHITE PLAINS, AND THAT MONEY NEEDS TO COME YEARLY.UM, SO WHAT'S BEING REFERRED TO AS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND.
RIGHT. SO THE BUYOUTS DO FINANCE OTHER PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE 108 UNIT CHURCH STREET PROJECT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY FOR HOME AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP, AND ALSO TO FINANCE THE MOUNT HOPE PROJECT, WHICH IS A PROJECT THAT WILL BE AFFORDABLE FOR SENIORS AND THE DISABLED.
UM, I ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE TO THINK OF CREATIVE SOLUTIONS ON HOW TO USE THESE MONIES.
UM, ON THE ISSUES COMMITTEE, WHEN I WAS, WHEN, AS I'M A CO-CHAIR, WE DISCUSSED SEVERAL CREATIVE OPTIONS FOR USING THIS MONEY.
ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS IS, UM, CREATING SUBSIDIES, GIVING THE MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE AS OPPOSED TO THE DEVELOPERS.
SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO EXPLORE MORE CREATIVE OPTIONS FOR THIS FUND.
BUT I DO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S BEING USED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE UNITS.
YES, I AGREE WITH EVERYONE THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE THE MONEY BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALISTIC TO NOT BUY OUT AND HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT WANTED LIVING POSSIBLY IN, UM, THOSE HIGH RISES.
BUT IF WE HAVE THE MONEY WE CAN BUILD, LIKE IS BEING BUILT ON COTTAGE PLACE AND CHURCH STREET.
I HAVE A BUILDING THAT IS GOING TO BE VACANT IN WHITE PLAINS.
THAT IS GOING TO BE PART OF ONE OF MY INITIATIVES THAT WHEN THAT BUILDING IS VACANT, IT'S A COMMERCIAL BUILDING, A LARGE COMMERCIAL BUILDING.
I AM GOING TO ASK THE CITY TO CREATE CONDOMINIUMS IN IT FOR OUR TEACHERS, OUR FIRE, OUR POLICE, OUR HOSPITAL WORKERS AND BUILDERS RIGHT IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN.
AND THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT I WORK ON THAT I THINK WILL BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I ALSO ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, I'VE BUILT TWO BUILDINGS I'VE BEEN ON SINCE 1996.
WE BUILT THE PRELUDE AND THE OVERTURE.
THE TWO BUILDINGS ON SOUTH LEXINGTON WERE ABOUT TO DO THE THIRD.
I THINK IT CREATES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
I SPOKE TO A POLICE OFFICER, AND I SPOKE TO A TEACHER DURING THE SUMMER AS THEY'RE CAMPAIGNING.
AND THEIR STORY REALLY HURT ME BECAUSE THEY ARE MARRIED AND HE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY, BUY A HOME.
WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY? HOW CAN WE EVALUATE IT AND NOT THE ONLY ONES? RIGHT? HOW CAN WE CREATE HOUSING THAT PROVIDES FOR ALL? AND I THINK THAT IS A CHALLENGE THAT WE NEED TO REALLY CLOSELY EVALUATE.
UM, WE WANT OUR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF OR RESIDENTS TO LIVE HERE.
WE DO NOT WANT THEM TO LIVE ELSEWHERE.
SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW IT COULD BEST BE UTILIZED.
HOWEVER, I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE AND RESTATE SOMETHING THAT I SAID EARLIER WHEN I WAS PART OF THE ISSUES COMMITTEE.
WE ACTUALLY WERE AGAINST THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND.
UM, AND I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED.
I'M A TEACHER, SO I WANT ALL THE DATA.
FOR EXAMPLE, I WANT TO KNOW IF WE'RE SACRIFICING UNITS, HOW MANY UNITS ARE ARE BEING SACRIFICED AND HOW MANY UNITS ARE THEN BEING SUPPLIED.
I ALSO WE WERE ADVOCATING FOR SEVERAL VERY CREATIVE PROGRAMS. THE VA.
UH, SO, UM, MY COLLEAGUE NICK WOLF MENTIONED THE OVERTURE AND THE PRELUDE AT BROOKFIELD COMMONS.
UH, THOSE TWO PROJECTS BOTH UTILIZED FUNDING FROM WHITE PLAINS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND THAT WE COLLECTED FROM DEVELOPERS WHO WERE BUILDING IN THE DOWNTOWN.
NOT A SINGLE DOLLAR FROM THE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND IS USED FOR ANYTHING BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND MY COLLEAGUE EVELYN SANTIAGO POINTED OUT THE AME ZION SENIOR CENTER THAT'S PUTTING IN ABOUT 60 UNITS, AND THE BERKELEY COLLEGE, WHICH IS 100% AFFORDABLE AT 108 UNITS.
THESE FUNDS ARE USED BY THE CITY SOLELY FOR AFFORDABLE
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HOUSING AND THE UNITS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BUILT AT THE GALLERIA AT 60% AMI, WHICH IS VERY GENEROUS.YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE AFFORDABLE UNIT IN THAT BUILDING AND THE PENTHOUSE UNIT.
THEY ARE ALL GOING TO BE BUILT THE SAME.
SO THERE'S NO DISCERNING FROM ONE UNIT TO THE NEXT.
THEY ARE ALL BUILT HIGH QUALITY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND IS A GREAT BENEFIT AND ASSET TO THE CITY.
TAKING THE FUNDS FROM THE DEVELOPER TO REISSUE IT TOWARDS OTHER DEVELOPMENT IS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE YOU COULD DETERMINE HOW YOU WANT IT TO BE SPENT, BUT IT SHOULD BE SPENT ON HOUSING THAT THE PEOPLE ARE AFFORD TO PURCHASE, AND IT SHOULD GO AT TWO AND A HALF TIMES THEIR SALARY.
THIS WAY THEY GET THE FULL TAX BENEFIT, THE SALT TAX, AND THEY THEY'RE INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE INVESTED, BECAUSE THEY PURCHASE THE UNIT.
ALL THESE RENTALS THAT ARE GOING ON DON'T REALLY HELP THE CITY, BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT COMES IN AND THEN MAYBE GOES SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WE NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE VESTED IN THE COMMUNITY BY PURCHASING.
AND IF THIS IS ONE WAY TO HELP PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT, ESPECIALLY OUR WORKERS HERE.
WHEN I GREW UP, EVERYBODY WHO WORKED IN WHITE PLAINS LIVED IN WHITE PLAINS.
AND WHEN YOU MAKE IT UNAFFORDABLE FOR THEM, YOU'RE GETTING SOMEBODY THAT LIVES SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT COMES HERE AND THEY'RE NOT GIVING YOU THE RIGHT WORK FOR THE PAY THAT THEY'RE GETTING, AND THEN THEY'RE TAKING THEIR MONEY TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. LIPARI.
OKAY, MISS SANTIAGO, WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU.
WHAT CONCRETE IDEAS DO YOU HAVE TO SIMPLIFY OUR BUILDING REGULATIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR MODEST APARTMENT UNITS TO BE BUILT IN THE CITY? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE IS AWARE, BUT WE CURRENTLY HAVE LEGISLATION THAT JUST WENT INTO EFFECT.
I BELIEVE IT WAS THIS SUMMER THAT LOWERED THE ARMY REQUIREMENT FOR NEW RENTERS AND FOR ANY DEVELOPMENT.
FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE INCOME REQUIREMENT IS NOW 40 TO 60% OF THE AVERAGE MEDIA INCOME MEAN MEDIAN INCOME BEFORE THAT NUMBER WAS 80% OF THE AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME.
SO I WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS AND ALSO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE DEVELOPERS KEEP THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN BY PROVIDING THESE UNITS AT 12%, 12% OF THE TOTAL UNITS WOULD BE AT THE 40 TO 60% AMI, THEREFORE PROVIDING HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE CITY.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WHO WANT TO LIVE HERE AND CANNOT.
I AGREE WITH EVELYN AND THE AMIE SITUATION.
UM, I THINK WE HAVE TO FIND MORE PLACES.
AND I KNOW OF SOME BEING IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS, LIKE THE MOUNT HOPE A.M.E.
MY DAD SOLD THAT PROPERTY TO THE THE CHURCH AND REVEREND GILLETTE BACK IN THE DAY, AND NOW IT'S REVEREND SMITH.
BUT I WILL COME UP WITH SOME OTHER PLACES THAT WE CAN BUILD DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING ATTACHED TO NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CHURCHES.
AND REALISTICALLY, OTHER THAN THAT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THE MARKET DOESN'T ALLOW IT.
AND IT'S A MARKET FUNCTION, NOT WHAT THE COUNCIL CAN DICTATE.
CAN YOU REPEAT? SURE, ABSOLUTELY.
WHAT CONCRETE IDEAS DO YOU HAVE TO SIMPLIFY OUR BUILDING REGULATIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR MODEST APARTMENT UNITS TO BE BUILT IN THE CITY? THANK YOU.
I THINK ONE OF THE AREAS TO EVALUATE IS UNDERSTANDING THE LAND SPACE AND PROVIDING THE ARMY, UH, THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE BACK TO THE RESIDENTS OF WHITE PLAINS.
PLANES. I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS HOW MUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE GOING TO BE ACCOMMODATING, SPECIFICALLY IN THE SPACE THAT ARE BEING APPROPRIATED TO THEM.
IF THERE ARE LOCATIONS THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TO, I WOULD SAY, A VERY, UH, ACCESSIBLE AREA.
UM, THEY SHOULD, I WOULD SAY INCREASE THE AM I OTHER AREAS AND LOCATIONS THAT'S FAR, FAR AWAY WHERE ACCESS WHERE YOU HAVE ROADS OR WE HAVE BUSES OR TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS THAT DON'T HAVE A CAPABILITY OF OF OF TRANSPORTATION.
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I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IN RESPECT TO WHERE THESE BUILDINGS ARE, ARE PLACED.I HATE TO ASK, CAN YOU JUST REPEAT THAT QUESTION? SURE I.
WILL. I WANT EVERYONE TO HEAR IT.
WHAT CONCRETE IDEAS DO YOU HAVE TO SIMPLIFY OUR BUILDING REGULATIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR MODEST APARTMENT UNITS TO BE BUILT IN THE CITY.
I JUST I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SIMPLIFY ANY BUILDING REGULATIONS EVER.
UM, THEY ARE QUITE COMPLICATED, BUT WE DO HAVE AN AMAZING COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING, CHRIS GOMEZ, WHO, UH, SHEPHERDS THE COUNCIL THROUGH, UH, WHAT IS NOW THE MOST ROBUST AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
THAT IS THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS THAT YOU ARE SITTING IN RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAN ANY OTHER CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE IN THIS COUNTY, AND WE'RE BUILDING MORE IN THE PIPELINE.
I'M PROUD OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CITY COUNCIL WHO VOTED TO MAKE OUR ALREADY GENEROUS AFFORDABLE HOUSING EVEN THAT MUCH MORE GENEROUS AT THE COST TO THE DEVELOPERS, BY LOWERING THE PERCENTAGE OF AMI FROM 80% TO 60%, AS MY COLLEAGUE EVELYN SANTIAGO JUST MENTIONED.
THAT'S GOING TO COST DEVELOPERS EXTRA MONEY TO BUY OUT OF THOSE UNITS AND CREATE EVEN MORE AFFORDABILITY FOR OUR CURRENT APARTMENTS.
AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE ARE LEADING THE WAY IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY HERE IN WHITE PLAINS.
WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING ON.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY UNITS ARE ACTUALLY NECESSARY AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING TO COME TO WHITE PLAINS, BUT WE ARE TAKING THE MONEY FROM THE DEVELOPERS, AS MENTIONED, AND WE ARE ABLE TO BUILD.
BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN WE KEEP CONTINUING TO BRING IN TO WHITE PLAINS WITHOUT OVERLOADING WHITE PLAINS? AND IT BECOMES NEW ROCHELLE, IT BECOMES YONKERS, IT BECOMES LIKE NEW YORK CITY.
THAT'S WHY IT HAS TO BE LOOKED AT AS WELL, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY HERE, AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO THE FUTURE OF WHITE PLAINS, WHAT WE'RE DOING TO THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF WHITE PLAINS.
THE MORE WE DEVELOP, THE MORE WE BRING IN PEOPLE.
IT'S GOOD TO HELP AND YOU HAVE A HEART WHEN YOU DO HELP.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE AND THEIR HEARTS AS WELL, AND WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD.
EVERYBODY HAS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD WHERE THEY ARE, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S NICE TO HELP OTHERS, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE ARE HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. KAMARI.
I SEE NO ISSUE IN WHITE PLAINS BUILDING.
THEY THEY DON'T FIND ANY ISSUE IN BUILDING IN WHITE PLAINS.
WHITE PLAINS IS BEING OVERRUN.
IT'S BEING LEFT IN THE SHADOW OF ITS FORMER SELF.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO PUSH REGULATION THAT WOULD LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF CONSTRUCTION WITHIN WHITE PLAINS, SO THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO PLAN AND ADAPT MOVING FORWARD, SO THAT IT'S NOT ALL FALLING ON US AT ONCE.
UH, MR. BRASHEAR, THE NIGHT AT THE MAYORAL DEBATE SAID THAT THAT IT'S A 7 TO 10 YEAR PROJECT FOR THE GALLERIA MALL.
IF WE PUT ALL OF THOSE 3500 AND POSSIBLY 500 MORE UNITS INTO WHITE PLAINS.
BY THE TIME THEY'RE BUILT AND EVERYTHING IS SOLD, WE ARE GOING TO BE WAY BEYOND ANY ANYTHING THAT WOULD EVEN BE CONSIDERED REPUTABLE FROM FROM WHERE WE ARE AT THAT POINT, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BE OVERRUN WITH PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO STEP BACK AND MAKE SMART REGULATION AND LIMIT OURSELVES MOVING FORWARD.
ALL RIGHT, MR. WOLFF, WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU WITH THE NEXT QUESTION.
THE PLAN FOR THE TRANSIT DISTRICT ENVISION MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
YET THE BUILDINGS CURRENTLY RENTING IN THAT DISTRICT HAVE LITTLE OR NO RETAIL.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? AND HOW WILL YOU SUPPORT RETAIL DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL SERVE THAT DISTRICT? THANK YOU.
ONE OF MY INITIATIVES IS TO EXPAND THE BID.
I WAS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR, TOM ROACH, AND I HAVE BEEN ON IT FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM MAKE THE BID PERIMETERS BE BLOOMINGDALE ROAD, ALL OF MAMARONECK AVENUE, DOWN POST ROAD TO SCARSDALE.
LINE UP BANK STREET TO THE TRAIN STATION, UP HAMILTON AVENUE AND BARKER AVENUE TO THAT SECTION IN NORTH BROADWAY.
AND DO THE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO ALREADY ROCK THE BLOCK, MUSIC, ALL THE DIFFERENT VENUES THAT THEY HAVE, THE WING WALK AND EXPAND THAT TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES INTO THOSE PLACES THAT ARE NOW VACANT OR NOT RENTABLE, AND THEN HAVE THOSE BUSINESSES BE SUCCESSFUL
[00:55:01]
BECAUSE THEY ARE PART OF THE FOLD.I THINK WE NEED TO ATTRACT, UM, RETAILERS TO COME BACK TO WHITE PLAINS.
SAFETY IS IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS SOME RETAILERS MOVED ON.
THERE'S BEEN SMASH AND GRABS RIGHT THERE IN BLOOMINGDALE'S AND OTHER STORES.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE IT? YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE THINK DIFFERENTLY IN RESPECT TO HAVE RETAILERS COME BACK? YOU KNOW, WE'VE LOST SOME LARGE RETAILING COMPANIES THAT WERE HERE, I THINK PROVIDING SOME TAX INCENTIVES OR SOME INCENTIVES IN SOME WAY.
UH, PARKING AVAILABILITY, OUR CRITICAL ASPECTS OF PROVIDING RETAIL.
BUT I BELIEVE SAFETY TO ME IS ONE OF THE KEY AREAS, UH, TO BRING THEM BACK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PAYNE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
UH, JUST TO TOUCH ON WHAT MR. FLORES JUST SAID.
WE LIVE IN THE SAFEST CITY IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, IN CASE ANYONE WAS CURIOUS.
UM, AS FAR AS BRINGING RETAILERS BACK.
IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED TO LOOK FOR A PARKING SPOT ON MAMARONECK AVENUE.
THE REASON THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT PARKING IN WHITE PLAINS IS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL COMING HERE TO SHOP IN OUR CITY STREETS.
NOW, THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS ALL DO SHOW UP, AND THEY SAY THAT THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TGI FRIDAYS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GYM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS OR THAT.
AND SOMETIMES THE FINANCING FALLS THROUGH.
AND THAT'S NOT THE PURVIEW OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS TO HELP FINANCE THESE PRIVATE INDUSTRIES.
WE'RE BRIGHT AND THRIVING CITY.
WE WANT TO SEE A THRIVING RETAIL DEVELOPMENT IN THE TRANSIT DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY.
AND WHEN THESE BUILDINGS ARE BUILT AND FILLED, I ASSURE YOU WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PREMIERE RETAIL ON FLOOR ON THE STREET LEVEL.
CAN YOU JUST READ THAT ONE MORE TIME? ABSOLUTELY. AND, MR. PERRY, YOU'RE UP NEXT.
THE PLAN FOR THE TRANSIT DISTRICT ENVISIONED MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, YET THE BUILDINGS CURRENTLY RENTING IN THAT DISTRICT HAVE LITTLE OR NO RETAIL.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? AND HOW WILL YOU SUPPORT RETAIL DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL SERVE THAT DISTRICT? RETAIL IS VERY DIFFICULT TODAY, ESPECIALLY WITH AMAZON AND PEOPLE SHOPPING ON THEIR PHONES.
SO I DON'T HAVE A CLEAR CUT ANSWER TO THAT.
BUT THE PALISADES MALL BRINGS PEOPLE IN THERE AND THEY'RE STILL THERE, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
THEY HAVE AN ICE SKATING RINK THERE.
IF YOU COULD BRING SOMETHING TO WHITE PLAINS, LIKE I SAID, INSTEAD OF THE GALLERIA, INSTEAD OF JUST HIGH RISES, IF YOU HAVE A HOTEL THAT BRINGS PEOPLE HERE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SHOP.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER VENUES THAT ARE THERE.
IT BRINGS PEOPLE INTO THE CITY.
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO HOUSE, IF YOU DO AN ICE RINK AND YOU AND YOU HAVE TOURNAMENTS, YOU'RE BRINGING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HERE AND HOPEFULLY THEY START SHOPPING AND THAT WILL HELP THE RETAIL.
BUT IF YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT RETAIL ONLY TODAY, IT'S A STRUGGLE BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS DOING IT FROM HOME.
SO THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD DO IT IS TO BRING PEOPLE HERE.
THEY NEED A REASON TO COME TO WHITE PLAINS.
THEY JUST CAN'T BE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT ON THEIR PHONE.
UM, LENNY, LOLA SAID IT THE OTHER NIGHT IN THE MAYORAL DEBATE IS THAT YOU CANNOT INVENT AMAZON.
ACTUALLY, THEY MAY HAVE BEEN MR. BRASH THAT SAID THAT IT WAS MR. BRASH THAT SAID THAT, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING.
YOU SEE SHUTTERED BUILDINGS ALL OVER WHITE PLAINS.
IT IS STRUGGLING BECAUSE IT'S NOT A WALKABLE CITY.
IT'S NOT EASY TO CROSS THE STREET, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE HANDICAPPED WHEN YOU'RE CROSSING FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC.
AND PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING 25 MILES AN HOUR.
IT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY RETHOUGHT.
WE HAVE BIKE LANES THAT ARE BASICALLY USELESS BECAUSE OF RED LIGHTS.
WE HAVE ISSUES ALL OVER WHITE PLAINS THAT THAT ARE COUNTERINTUITIVE TO BUSINESSES, AND PARKING IS ONE OF THE MAIN ONES.
WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT SAY, I STAY AWAY FROM WHITE PLAINS BECAUSE EVERY TIME I GO THERE, I GET HIT WITH THE WHITE PLAINS.
YES, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE SAID.
THAT WAS A QUOTE BY JUSTIN BRASCH.
BUT WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO BRING BUSINESSES BACK.
I'M GOING TO TELL IT REALLY BRIEFLY, BRIEFLY.
I WENT TO A RETAIL STORE AND THE LANDLORD WAS THERE AND ASKED ME IF I KNOW SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO RENT THE STORE.
SO I SAID, SURE, HOW MUCH IS THE RENT? SHE SAYS 16.
SO THE SAME REASON WHY TENANTS ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY BEING HERE IS THE SAME REASON WHY OUR BUSINESSES, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY OF PERHAPS GETTING SOME TAX INCENTIVES FOR LANDLORDS GRANTS.
[01:00:02]
I KNOW THAT WESTCHESTER COUNTY HAS GRANTS FROM MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.OH, SPEAKING OF THE PARKING, I KNOW MR. CADBURY RAISED THE ISSUE OF PARKING.
UH, MAYBE HAVE A SHUTTLE SYSTEM THAT COULD TRANSPORT PEOPLE AND MAKE IT MORE FRIENDLY TO VISIT DOWNTOWN.
AND THAT WOULD BRING BACK SOME OF THE RETAIL.
ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT QUESTION WE BEGIN WITH MISTER PAIN.
MISTER FLORES, TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU THINK DEVELOPERS SHOULD BE ASKED TO SUPPORT WHITE PLAINS INSTITUTIONS THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY THEY ARE BUILDING IN, SUCH AS THE LIBRARY, THE YOUTH BUREAU, PARKS, SPORTS FACILITIES, AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER? I BELIEVE A LOT.
THAT FUNDING NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED UP FRONT BEFORE WE PROVIDE THE ACCESS TO THE DEVELOPMENT IN RESPECT TO OUR SCHOOLS, OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY AND OTHER ASSETS.
YES, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME LEVEL OF CONTRIBUTION, BUT IT HAS TO BE UP FRONT.
THAT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED NOW AND NOT LATER ON.
THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE AGREEMENT IN RESPECT TO OUR PARKING FACILITY, OUR ROADWAY, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR UTILITY.
ALL THESE ELEMENTS NEED TO BE DISCUSSED UPFRONT IN RESPECT TO HOW THE CITY CAN BENEFIT FROM THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PAYNE.
CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? SURE I WILL.
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU THINK DEVELOPERS SHOULD BE ASKED TO SUPPORT WHITE PLAINS INSTITUTIONS THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY THEY ARE BUILDING IN, SUCH AS THE LIBRARY, THE YOUTH BUREAU, PARK, SPORTS FACILITIES AND A COMMUNITY CENTER? WELL, CERTAINLY ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORTHY OF SUPPORT AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE MAJOR DEVELOPERS SUPPORT THEM IN ANY WAY THEY CAN.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIG ASKS THAT WE ASK OF THE DEVELOPERS THAT COME BEFORE THE CITY FOR LARGER DEVELOPMENTS IS WE WANT.
SURE, WE WANT ALL YOUR MONEY, BUT WE ALSO WANT MORE OPEN SPACE.
AND I KNOW THE GALLERIA PROJECT IS GOING TO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF OPEN SPACE, SEVERAL ACRES, IN FACT, FOR PUBLIC USE.
AND IF THESE DEVELOPERS WANT TO BUILD SPACES THAT THEN COULD BE UTILIZED BY THESE ORGANIZATIONS YOU MENTIONED, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC AS WELL.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THE DEVELOPERS COMING INTO THE CITY DO WANT TO PARTNER WITH OUR CITY.
THEY WANT TO BE GOOD PARTNERS AND WANT TO HELP THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED THE HELP.
CERTAINLY THE YOUTH BUREAU COULD USE SOME LARGER SPACE AS WELL.
IF THEY WERE TO SHARE THEIR SPACES THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO ORGANIZATIONS, THAT WOULD BE WELCOME.
BUT AGAIN, WHEN DEVELOPERS COME HERE, OUR ASK IS OPEN SPACE.
THIS IS WHERE LEVERAGE COMES IN.
NO DEVELOPER CAN DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY APPLY FOR A VARIANCE.
SO THAT'S WHERE YOUR LEVERAGE COMES IN.
IN NEW YORK CITY, ONE VANDERBILT HAD TO DO $200 MILLION WORTH OF RENOVATION TO GRAND CENTRAL STATION AND THE RAILROAD TRACKS UNDERNEATH.
AND I LOOKED AT THIS BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO TO THE GALLERIA.
YOU HAVE LEVERAGE, BUT YET YOU WANT TO GIVE IT AWAY.
YOU NEED STUFF FOR YOUR YOUTH BUREAU.
GUESS WHAT? IF A DEVELOPER WANTS TO BUILD, HE WILL GIVE UP THE MONEY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO COW DOWN TO A DEVELOPER.
OKAY, WELL, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.
WE NEED AN EXTRA FLOOR BUILT ON THIS, OR WE NEED A NEW FIREHOUSE.
IN 1989, BOSTON HAD A BRAND NEW FIREHOUSE BUILT UNDER A HIGH RISE.
YET THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO BUILD.
WE HAVE LEVERAGE, BUT YET NOBODY IS TAKING THAT AND UTILIZING IT.
THEY'RE ABOUT TO VOTE ON IT AND GIVE IT ALL AWAY.
AND WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, YOU COULD BLAME IT ON THAT.
UH, LIKE MR. PERRY SAID, I BELIEVE IT JUST IT COMES DOWN TO LEVERAGE, UM, IN THE MAYORAL DEBATE THE OTHER NIGHT, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WESTCHESTER COUNTY RECEIVES MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE DEVELOPERS IN TAX BREAKS FOR THE BUILDINGS THAT THEY ARE PUTTING UP.
I THINK THAT WHITE PLAINS SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO HALF OF THAT.
THEY SHOULD BE REBUILDING BASKETBALL COURTS.
THEY SHOULD BE REBUILDING EBERSOL ICE RINK.
THEY SHOULD BE REBUILDING EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY EVERY ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT WITHIN WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL SHOULDN'T HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE WHERE THESE KIDS CAN GO, AND IT SHOULD ALL BE PUT UP BY THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE CASHING IN ON OUR CITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS SANTIAGO.
UM, SO I BELIEVE THE YOUTH BUREAU EVER SAW ARTS WESTCHESTER, THE COMMUNITY CENTER, REC AND PARKS.
[01:05:02]
ALL OF THESE ARE THE CRUX OF FAMILY LIVING IN THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, AND THEY SHOULD BE SUPPORTED USING LEVERAGE.AS MENTIONED BY SOME OF OUR MY COLLEAGUES HERE FOR FOR ON DEVELOPERS, THEY HAVE BEAR SOME LARGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEVELOPING THESE PROGRAMS AND FOR UP KEEPING THESE PROGRAMS, BECAUSE THESE ARE VERY NECESSARY PROGRAMS THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY UNIQUE.
I THINK YOU CAN'T STRONG ARM THESE INDIVIDUALS, BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE LEVERAGE.
MR. CAPPELLI GAVE $100,000 A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO TO THE WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL FOR AN EXTENSION.
HE'S HE SUPPORTED THE WHITE PLAINS BEAUTIFICATION FOUNDATION DINNER TWO WEEKS AGO, THE LIBRARY EVENT.
UM, MR. FARRELL, WHO'S PROPOSING TO BUILD ALL THOSE HOUSES.
AND GANDY FARMS GAVE $10,000 TO THE FRIENDS OF THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET TRINITY, WHO'S THE DEVELOPER OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTIES, TO HELP US BUILD A COMMUNITY CENTER IN DOWNTOWN WHITE PLAINS THAT JUSTIN HAS TALKED ABOUT AND I AM VERY STRONG ON AND HAVE SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO GET THAT DONE.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WE BEGIN WITH MR. PAYNE.
HOW WILL YOU WORK TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE DOWNTOWN FOR CITIZENS OF WHITE PLAINS WHO DO NOT OR CANNOT DRIVE, OR WHO HAVE MOBILITY CHALLENGES? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
UM, AS A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT, I CAN CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE MOBILITY IS A CHALLENGE FOR OUR DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS.
UM, I WAS INTEGRAL IN BRINGING BIKESHARE TO THE CITY IN 2018.
UNFORTUNATELY, COVID IMPACTED THOSE PROGRAMS NEGATIVELY, BUT WE DID HAVE SHARED MOBILITY ON OUR CITY STREETS AT A VERY LOW COST FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND I HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY TRYING TO BRING THOSE COMPANIES BACK.
AND IN FACT, LIME BIKE ALSO OFFERS ACCESSIBILITY DEVICES, NOT JUST BICYCLES, BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE HANDICAPPED IN CERTAIN WAYS THAT ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS BICYCLES.
THEY THEY OFFER DIFFERENT FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION.
BUT WE'VE ALSO DONE A LOT OF CURB CUTTING, IF YOU'VE NOTICED, IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
COMMISSIONER RYAN HAS BEEN CURB CUTTING THROUGHOUT THE LAST TWO YEARS TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR SIDEWALKS IN THE DOWNTOWN ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT ON TWO FEET.
I BELIEVE PARATRANSIT DOES OPERATE IN WHITE PLAINS.
I'VE SEEN THEM COME AROUND A LOT, PROBABLY MORE RECENTLY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE BEING FUNDED TO DO IT, BUT MAYBE THE DEVELOPERS, WE COULD, YOU KNOW, USE SOME MONEY THAT THERE'S AN EXTRA FEE ON TOP OF BUILDING IF THEY WANT TO PUT IT TOWARDS PARATRANSIT, UH, MOBILITY VEHICLES IN WHITE PLAINS.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT WE DO HAVE HERE.
I, I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH IT AND SEE IF I GO PAST THAT, BUT I, IF I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, I DON'T HAVE A CLEAR CUT ANSWER ON THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. KAMARI.
UM, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, PARATRANSIT IS A COUNTY RUN PROGRAM, AND IT IS ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES.
I THINK THAT THE BIGGER ISSUE OF DOWNTOWN WHITE PLAINS IS THAT IT IS VERY HARD TO WALK.
IT IS NOT WELCOMING FOR PEOPLE ON FOOT.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DO IT.
BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE, CROSSING FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC OR TWO LANES OF TURNING TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIANS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD HAS TURNED OUT TO BE DISASTROUS.
VERY OFTEN WE HAVE ISSUES IN THIS CITY THAT CANNOT BE FIXED BY THROWING CITY BIKES OR LIME BIKES AT IT, BECAUSE WE ALREADY SEE THAT WITH THE FOOD DELIVERY PEOPLE THAT ARE RUNNING WILD IN THE STREETS OF WHITE PLAINS.
WE ALSO HAVE SCOOTERS AND SKATEBOARDS AND ELECTRONIC EVERYTHING THAT ARE DOING 35 MILES AN HOUR JUST TODAY ON 119.
I'M CRUISING ALONG AT 30 MILES AN HOUR, AND THERE IS A 12 YEAR OLD NEXT TO ME ON A ON A ELECTRIC BIKE THAT IS KEEPING UP WITH MY TRUCK.
OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS SANTIAGO.
YES. I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY DOWNTOWN.
UM, THE SIMPLEST ONE IS LET'S HAVE MORE HANDICAP FRIENDLY PARKING SPOTS DOWNTOWN.
UM, ANOTHER POSSIBLE SOLUTION IS HAVE SOME SORT OF SHUTTLE PROGRAM.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL TRIAL OF A SHUTTLE PROGRAM AT THE BATTLE HILL AREA, AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD WORK.
UH, IT WAS AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, LOW CARBON EMISSION.
ACCESSIBLE. AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD THAT'S ANOTHER
[01:10:03]
POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO IMPROVE.DOWNTOWN. UM, MY TIME IS UP, RIGHT? NO.
SO I DO HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE BIKE SITUATION I DISAGREE WITH.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF WALKING DOWNTOWN.
I LIVE AND WORK DOWNTOWN IN ART, IN THE ARTS, WESTCHESTER DISTRICT.
BUT I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE REGULATION FOR OUR E-BIKES TO MAKE OUR PEDESTRIANS SAFER.
YES, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THE TRANSIT POSSIBILITIES THAT THEY DID IN BATTLE HILL.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND COULD WORK IN MANY OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS I THINK WE ALSO, AS A COUNCIL, NEED TO STUDY THE E-BIKES, MAKE RULES, REGULATIONS, LIGHTING, UH, ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE DONE IN MANY OTHER CITIES TO MAKE THEM SAFE.
IT WAS IT'S A BIG INDUSTRY IN THE 90S FOR RESTAURANTS THAT ARE IN DOWNTOWN WHITE PLAINS NEED THAT SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THOSE FOODS, BUT THEY HAVE TO DO THAT.
I THINK ADA IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, SPECIFICALLY, UH, FOLKS THAT ARE IN WHEELCHAIRS.
UM, I JUST CAME OUT OF THE WHITE PLAINS TRAIN STATION, AND I'M WALKING THROUGH.
THERE'S NO RAMPS IN SOME LOCATIONS AND DIRT ROADS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT HOW ARE THE MAIN AREAS, UH, MAINTAINED SIDEWALKS ARE BROKEN THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMS THE CITY IS DOING TO FIX THOSE ISSUES.
WHAT I'M HEARING IS THEY'RE GOING TO THROW IT BACK TO THE HOMEOWNERS.
ANOTHER COST THAT WE NEED TO EXPEND.
DO WE REALLY NEED THAT? SO I HONESTLY THINK THEY SHOULD TAKE A HARD LOOK AT OUR SIDEWALK CONDITIONS, IMPROVE THEM FOR THE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY.
I'VE SEEN FOLKS ON WHEELCHAIRS GOING UP BATTLE HILL.
UH, AND SOME OF THE CONDITIONS THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH IS HORRIBLE.
SO I THINK WE FIRST FIX OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP MEET OUR ADA COMPLIANCE REBUTTAL.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE CITY ISSUES VIOLATIONS FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT MAINTAIN THEIR OWN SIDEWALKS, AND THE CITY HAS A VERY ROBUST DEPARTMENT GOING OUT AND REPAIRING SIDEWALKS.
IF YOU DON'T MAINTAIN YOUR SIDEWALK, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A VIOLATION.
WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYONE HURT, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES.
AND THAT IS AN ONGOING CRISIS FOR US.
WE WANT TO HAVE SAFE SIDEWALKS, AND IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAINTAIN YOUR SIDEWALKS, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A VIOLATION.
WHY CAN'T THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS GO AND HELP THE RESIDENTS OF WHITE WHITE PLAINS TO PAY THEIR TAX DOLLARS TO FIX THE CITY STREETS? WHY IS THIS A NEED TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE OWNERS? THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
WE NEED TO FIX THAT FOR THE HOUSEHOLDS.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR Q&A PERIOD FOR THE FORUM.
WE WILL NOW START CLOSING STATEMENTS AS WE BEGIN THE CLOSING STATEMENTS.
REMEMBER, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO GIVE YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT.
AND AS WE STATED EARLIER, WE WILL REVERSE THE ALPHABETICAL ORDER FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE ON TALK TONIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THE FACT THAT I AM GOING TO BE THE MOST ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER COUNCIL PERSON.
I'M NOT A POLITICIAN THAT YOU HAVE EVER SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNCIL.
I WILL BE THERE, I WILL BE INVOLVED, AND I WILL BE GIVING BACK.
I ALSO INTEND TO BRING IN A FEW INITIATIVES I MENTIONED ABOUT A BUILDING THAT'S DOWNTOWN THAT WE WILL TRY TO TAKE BY EMINENT DOMAIN AND CONVERT TO CONDOS, AND IT WILL BE VACANT IN ABOUT TWO YEARS.
I ALSO HAVE A PIECE OF LAND IN DOWNTOWN WHITE PLAINS THAT I KNOW THAT I CAN ARRANGE TO SELL.
I CAN GET BETWEEN 1.8 AND $2.3 MILLION FOR IT.
NO COST TO THE CITY AND BUILD SOME.
NO, NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSES, BUT BIG, EXPENSIVE HOMES THAT WILL BRING IN $100,000 IN TAXES.
AND THEN THAT MONEY CAN BE USED FOR AFFORDABILITY AND THEN COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR INVITING ME HERE.
UM, I USUALLY AM SELF-DEPRECATING, BUT I HAVE TO SAY I'M THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR COUNCIL BECAUSE THE BEST ADVOCATE IS THE PERSON WHO CAN EMPATHIZE WITH AN ISSUE.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I, MY FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, AND MANY FRIENDS ARE DEALING WITH THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUES WE DISCUSSED TONIGHT.
I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE, MY LIFE'S WORK HAS BEEN IN SERVICE OF THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY AND MY CAREER AS AN EDUCATOR.
I HAVE SERVED CLOSE TO 3000 STUDENTS OVER 35 YEARS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WOULD BE THE FIRST CAREER EDUCATOR TO
[01:15:03]
HOLD THIS POSITION.I HOPE TO CONTINUE LEARNING ABOUT, DISCUSSING AND TALKING TO ALL OF YOU TO FIND SOLUTIONS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, SUSTAINABILITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY BETWEEN THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND DEVELOPERS.
I WANT TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THE EVERYDAY AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGE.
SORRY, CHALLENGES FACED BY OUR RESIDENTS, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A QUOTE, IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO QUOTE ROBERTO CLEMENTE SI ES LA OPORTUNIDAD DE HACER EL BRIAN ENO HACES ESTAS PERDIDO TIEMPO EN LA TIERRA, WHICH TRANSLATES TO ANYTIME YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD AND YOU DON'T, THEN YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME ON EARTH.
I HOPE TO LIVE BY THESE POWERFUL WORDS AS I CONTINUE MY WORK ON THE WHITE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AS A COUNCIL PERSON FOR THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, I'M HERE FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
IF A DEVELOPER WANTS TO COME IN, THEN I WILL TRY TO UTILIZE THAT DEVELOPER TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET AS MUCH AS I CAN FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
AS A COUNCIL PERSON, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO SAFEGUARD OUR OUR CITY AGAINST WHAT MAY GO WRONG.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OTHER CITIES THAT ARE CONSTANTLY GROWING.
NOTHING HAS GOTTEN BETTER IN THOSE CITIES.
THEIR TAXES HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY LESS.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE HASN'T GOTTEN ANY BETTER AND FOR SURE.
TRAFFIC IS THE WORST WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY.
EVERY CITY THAT HAS GOTTEN BIGGER, THEIR SAFETY HAS GONE DOWN.
AS A COUNCILPERSON, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT IF WE GROW, WE GROW WITH RESPECT TO THE ABILITY THAT THE CITY CAN HANDLE, NOT JUST TO GROW FOR MONEY FOR A DEVELOPER.
I WANT TO THANK OUR HOSTS FOR PUTTING ON THIS FORUM.
I DO BELIEVE THAT CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IS LAGGING IN OUR COUNTRY, AND WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO COME OUT AND HEAR THE HEAR THE CANDIDATES AND HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT EVERYONE HAS TO SAY, BUT I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES AND ALL THE FOLKS SITTING UP HERE FOR COMING OUT AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON THEIR OWN BEHALF AND ON YOUR BEHALF UNTIL YOU CAN GET TO KNOW US A LITTLE BETTER.
UM, WE ARE IN THE SAFEST CITY IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, AND I AM PROUD THAT I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED AND VOTED TO HIRE MORE AND MORE POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS EVERY TIME THERE'S A NEW HIRE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT FOR THE LAST QUARTER WHERE DATA IS AVAILABLE, THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS SALES TAX REACHED THE HIGHEST IT'S EVER BEEN RECORDED.
WE BROUGHT IN MORE MONEY THIS LAST QUARTER THAN THIS CITY HAS EVER BROUGHT IN BY SALES TAX.
SO THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE DIRECTION THE CITY IS GOING IN.
AND I HOPE TO SERVE YOU AS THE NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND CONTINUE THIS PROSPERITY.
THAT'S GROWING UP HERE IN CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
IT'S DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANTLY OVERALL.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE NOTICED IS THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, AND AS YOU AS YOU SEE THIS DEVELOPMENT, OUR COMMUNITY, I FEEL OUR FABRIC IS BEING LOST.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M HERE.
I HAVE NO SELF-INTEREST WHATSOEVER.
I JUST CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SAFE STREETS ARE OUR AFFORDABILITY AS WELL AS TRANSPARENCY AND GOVERNMENT.
ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT IS BEING DISCUSSED.
WHAT IS THE CITY GAINING FROM THEM? RIGHT? HOW IS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BEING IMPROVED? HOW IS OUR TRAFFIC GOING TO BE MODIFIED? ARE WE GOING TO WIDEN MORE LANES IN THE FUTURE? THE COSTS ARE GOING TO GO UP AND GUESS WHO'S GOING TO BE PAYING IT.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IN YOUR TAXES.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OUR COST OF LIVING GOING HIGHER AND OUR AFFORDABILITY TO BE RESIDENTS OF WHITE PLAINS.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT AND BEING HERE.
UM, WHITE PLAINS WAS ONCE THRIVING ON SMALL BUSINESSES.
NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE AND FAIRNESS.
UM, NOW WE TAKE OUR MOST OF OUR BUDGET AND ITS FEES, FINES AND PARKING.
UH, AS MR. PAINE SAID, WE MIGHT LIVE IN ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, BUT EVERYONE WILL LEAVE HERE WITH SOME INSTANCE IN THEIR HEAD OF HOW IT'S NOT SAFE OR HOW THINGS AREN'T GOING THEIR WAY.
AND I WANT YOU TO KEEP THOSE THINGS IN MIND, BECAUSE THIS CITY IS NOT ON A PATH FOR SUCCESS.
BUT WE NEED TO CHANGE A LOT OF THINGS, AND I THINK THAT NEW VOICES ON THE COUNCIL AND ENDING ONE PARTY RULE IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WHITE PLAINS SEES
[01:20:02]
FOR DECADES TO COME.WE NEED TO LOOK 50 TO 100 YEARS DOWN THE LINE, AND NOT FOR THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, IF NOT FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN.
BRAVE MEN SAID THAT YOU PLANT TREES, KNOWING THAT ONE DAY YOU WILL NOT SIT IN THE SHADE THAT THEY PROVIDE.
THAT CONCLUDES THE FORUM FOR THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU TO BOTH THE CANDIDATES AND THE AUDIENCE.
I NOW TURN THE CLOSING BACK OVER TO ALAN KASS.
MANY FOLKS WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE TONIGHT'S CANDIDATE FORUM POSSIBLE.
THANKS. GO TO THE WHITE PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR PROVIDING AND PREPARING THE VENUE FOR TONIGHT'S FORUM.
THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY MEDIA FOR THEIR VIDEO PRODUCTION AND REBROADCAST OF THE NIGHT'S PROGRAM.
THE CANDIDATES FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
THE NAACP, WHITE PLAINS GREENBERG BRANCH AND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WHITE PLAINS TEAMS WHO PUT TOGETHER TONIGHT'S FORUM AND HELP MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
AND TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
EARLY VOTING IN NEW YORK STATE ELECTIONS IS FROM OCTOBER 25TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 2ND.
THE WHITE PLAINS LOCATION THIS YEAR IS HERE AT THE WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY AT THE ROTARY ROOM.
SPECIFIC HOURS FOR EACH DAY AND OTHER WESTCHESTER COUNTY LOCATIONS MAY BE FOUND AT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE, AND ARE AVAILABLE ON THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
TONIGHT'S VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED DAILY, BEGINNING THIS FRIDAY AT 10:30 A.M.
VERIZON CHANNEL, PARDON ME 47.
AND ON THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY MEDIA WEBSITE.
IF YOU MISSED IT OR YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IT AGAIN, THE WHITE PLAINS MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUM HELD THIS PAST MONDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, CAN BE VIEWED DAILY BEGINNING TOMORROW, THURSDAY AT 9 A.M.
ON OPTIMUM CHANNEL 76 AND VERIZON CHANNEL 47, AND ON THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY MEDIA WEBSITE.
MONDAY'S LEAGUE OF WOMEN PARDON ME.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS COUNTY EXECUTIVE VIRTUAL CANDIDATE FORUM VIDEO CAN BE FOUND AT.
CHECK OUT VOTE FOR 11 FOR ALL YOUR VOTING INFORMATION, BALLOTS, CANDIDATE AND MORE MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ON HOW TO JOIN THE NAACP.
WHITE PLAINS GREENBERG BRANCH IS AVAILABLE ON THEIR TABLE OUTSIDE THE AUDITORIUM, AS IS MEMBERSHIP FOR THE.
OUTSIDE. FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT.
A COPY OF THESE ELECTION REMINDERS, ALONG WITH THE EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE, IS ON THE TABLE OUTSIDE.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR CANDIDATE FORUM FOR THE EVENING.
GOOD NIGHT AND HAVE
A SAFE TRIP HOME.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.