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I'M SORRY WE'RE A LITTLE LATE.
WE HAVE ONE OF THOSE WONDERFUL PROBLEMS TONIGHT OF NOT ENOUGH CHAIRS, WHICH IS WHAT WE'D LIKE.
RIGHT? BUT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THAT, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT TO GET STARTED.
UH, MY NAME IS ALAN CASS, 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 MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUM.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR CANDIDATES, MR. JUSTIN BRASCH.
OUR FORUM MODERATOR IS DOUG FRENCH, WHO I WILL NOTE IS A MEMBER AND PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF RYE, RYE BROOK AND PORT CHESTER AND IS NOT A RESIDENT OF WHITE PLAINS.
HE IS THE FORMER MAYOR OF THE CITY OF RYE AND CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS.
OUR TIMEKEEPERS THIS EVENING ARE BARBARA SHAW AND MARLENE HEIM 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.
BUT GET OUT NOW, BECAUSE DURING THE FORUM, WE'RE NOT APPLAUDING AS WE SHARE MANY OF THE SAME OPERATING BELIEFS.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, 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 LEAGUES, THE WHITE PLAINS LEAGUE IS MADE UP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO GIVE OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO DO THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
WE WELCOME YOUR PARTICIPATION.
LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO EVERYONE 16 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
YOUR PARTICIPATION AND ASSISTANCE AND OR YOUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE JANICE GRIFFITH, THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP WHITE PLAINS GREENBERG BRANCH.
THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT THIS EVENING TO HEAR FROM THE WHITE PLAINS MAYORAL CANDIDATES.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP WHITE PLAINS BRANCH.
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE NAACP HAVE VERY SIMILAR MISSIONS.
AND OUR BIGGEST COMMONALITY IS OUR BELIEF THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO VOTE.
IT IS NO SECRET THAT WE ARE IN SOME VERY CHALLENGING TIMES.
THE NAACP DOES NOT ENDORSE CANDIDATES.
HOWEVER, WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE, THE VOTERS KNOW WHO THE CANDIDATES ARE AND WHAT THEIR POSITIONS ARE AND HOW THEIR POSITIONS CAN AFFECT US FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THE NAACP HAS BEEN DOING CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY WORK FOR OVER 116 YEARS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
THE NAACP CONFRONTS INJUSTICE, WORKS 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 IMPORTANT THAT WE ELECT THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FOR THIS POSITION.
IT'S ABOUT THE CANDIDATE THAT SEES ALL PEOPLE AS PEOPLE WHO NOT ONLY DESERVE EQUAL RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW, BUT IS WILLING TO DO THE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AFFORDED EVERY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
LET'S LISTEN TO THESE CANDIDATES, HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, AND THEN GO OUT AND VOTE AND VOTE AS AN INFORMED VOTER.
THE STAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHER.
AND IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NAACP, YOU CAN SIGN UP AT THE TABLE OUTSIDE THIS ROOM AND YOU CAN MAKE A DONATION AS WELL.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO REVIEW THE LEAGUE'S VIDEO RECORDING POLICY, WHICH WAS SHARED WITH THE CANDIDATES PRIOR TO TONIGHT'S FORUM.
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TONIGHT'S CANDIDATE FORUM WILL ONLY BE RECORDED BY WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY MEDIA FOR REBROADCASTING ON VERIZON CHANNEL 47 ANDOPTIMUM CHANNEL 76.IT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY MEDIA RELATIONS SITE.
IT'S THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY MEDIA WEBSITE.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY ANYONE ELSE RECORD THE PROCEEDINGS.
WE REQUEST THAT YOU SILENCE ALL YOUR 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 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.
NOW, FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO TURN THE PROGRAM OVER TO OUR MODERATOR, DOUG FRENCH.
THANK YOU, ALAN, AND GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU TO THE NAACP AND THE LEAGUE FOR PUTTING ON THIS EVENT.
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUBMITTED QUESTIONS.
THE LEAGUE HAS GONE THROUGH THE QUESTIONS AND THEY'VE PRE-SELECTED QUESTIONS FOR THE CANDIDATES WHICH YOU HAVE NOT SEEN.
AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A A CANDIDATE FORUM.
IT'S NOT YOUR TYPICAL DEBATE WHERE CANDIDATES WILL GO BACK AND FORTH AND REBUT ONE ANOTHER.
WE HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS AND TOPICS THAT ARE OF INTEREST TO THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.
THE CANDIDATES WILL SHARE THEIR POSITIONS, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, POINT OUT AREAS WHERE THEY MAY DIFFER, POINT OUT AREAS OF WHERE THEIR POINTS OF VIEW ARE, AND THEY WILL EACH GET THREE REBUTTALS THAT THEY CAN USE THROUGHOUT THE DEBATE.
IF THEY WANT TO EXPAND ON THEIR ANSWER, OR THEY WANT TO REBUT SOMETHING THAT THE OTHER CANDIDATE HAS SAID SO BY WAY OF GROUND RULES FIRST FOR THE PUBLIC.
UM, NO COMMENTS OR APPLAUSE THROUGHOUT THE FORUM, PLEASE.
THIS IS FOR US TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES AND HOLD THE APPLAUSE UNTIL THE END.
UH, EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT.
LENNY, WE DECIDED TO GO BY FIRST NAMES FOR TONIGHT.
LENNY. ONE HAS DECIDED TO DO THE LAST CLOSING STATEMENT.
JUSTIN, YOU'LL OPEN AND YOU'LL GET THE FIRST QUESTION.
AND THEN WE WILL ALTERNATE FROM THEIR OPENING STATEMENTS OR TWO MINUTES ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OR A MINUTE AND A HALF.
AND CLOSING STATEMENTS ARE ONE MINUTE.
OUR TIMEKEEPERS HAVE TWO SINES.
ONE IS 32ND WARNING, SO THE CANDIDATES WILL KNOW HOW MUCH TIME IS LEFT AND A STOP SIGN.
I WILL LET YOU FINISH YOUR SENTENCE OR YOUR THOUGHT, SO DON'T FEEL YOU HAVE TO CUT IT RIGHT AT THE STOP SIGN.
IT'S HERE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC HERE TONIGHT.
ONCE CANDIDATES HAVE ANSWERED, BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE ANSWERED THE QUESTION JUST FLAGGED ME THAT YOU WANT 32ND REBUTTAL TIME, AND I WILL CALL ON YOU FOR YOUR REBUTTAL.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE GROUND RULES.
WE'LL GET TO ABOUT 815, AND THEN I'LL MOVE TO THE LAST QUESTION AROUND 815.
AND THEN WE'LL GO TO CLOSING STATEMENTS.
AND JUSTIN, YOU ARE GOING TO GO FIRST WITH THE OPENING STATEMENT.
I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
I WANT TO THANK THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE NAACP FOR ALL THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT THEY DO.
I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR AS A CONTINUATION OF MY LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
I GOT STARTED WHEN I WAS 17 AS AN INTERN FOR CONGRESSMAN TED WEISS, AND THAT WAS WHERE I LEARNED HOW MUCH GOOD GOVERNMENT CAN DO.
THAT OFFICE HELPED PEOPLE DEALING WITH SOCIAL SECURITY ISSUES, MEDICARE ISSUES, HOUSING ISSUES, IMMIGRATION ISSUES, TRYING TO HELP REGULAR PEOPLE GET THINGS DONE.
AND THAT'S WHAT MY RECORD OF SERVICE IS ALL ABOUT.
SINCE THEN, BEFORE MOVING TO WHITE PLAINS, I LIVED ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE.
I SERVED ON THE NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND I SERVED AS A BOARD MEMBER ON THE MID MANHATTAN NAACP.
ABOUT 22 YEARS AGO, WE MOVED TO WHITE PLAINS.
SINCE THEN, I HAVE SERVED ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE FOR THE COUNTY, THE PLANNING BOARD FOR THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, THE.
I'VE BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMON COUNCIL AND CHAIR OF THE YOUTH BUREAU.
I PLAN TO LEAD WHITE PLAINS BY BRINGING TOGETHER AND LIFTING UP THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONGST US.
WITH A FOCUS ON YOUTH AND SENIORS.
WE NEED TO KEEP TAXES DOWN, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS SAFE, PROTECT OUR SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND HELP SMALL BUSINESS.
THE ONE MAJOR IDEA I HAVE FOR OUR CITY IS I WANT TO CREATE AN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE NEED A PLACE FOR THE KIDS AND THE YOUTH BUREAU FOR THE SENIORS.
WE NEED A GOOD PLACE FOR PEOPLE, FOR PROGRAMMING AND EVERYBODY PULLING AND WORKING TOGETHER AND MELDING TOGETHER AND GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER.
ON THE POLITICAL FRONT, I'VE BEEN ENDORSED BY EVERY PUBLIC OFFICIAL IN WHITE PLAINS, FROM CONGRESSMAN LATIMER AND COUNTY
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EXECUTIVE KEN JENKINS TO MAYOR ROACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE WHITE PLAINS COUNCIL.I'VE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE WHITE PLAINS POLICE UNION, THE WHITE PLAINS FIRE UNION, AND THE HISPANIC DEMOCRATS OF WESTCHESTER, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
YOU CAN GO TO MY WEBSITE, BRADFORD WESTCHESTER.
I'M PROUD TO HAVE A VERY BROAD BASED SUPPORT.
IN CLOSING, I WILL BRING CHANGE TO THIS CITY.
THE NEEDED CHANGE THAT IT NEEDS WITH EXPERIENCE REPRESENT EVERYONE AND ALWAYS PUT PEOPLE FIRST.
I AM COMMITTED TO HONEST GOVERNMENT AND A COMMUNITY FREE FROM HATRED AND INTOLERANCE.
UH, LENNY, TWO MINUTES, PLEASE.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN WHITE PLAINS, THE SON OF AN ITALIAN IMMIGRANT MOTHER.
MY FATHER OWNED A GAS STATION ON POST ROAD AND LATER WORKED FOR BURKE REHABILITATION CENTER.
MY MOTHER WAS CHIEF ACCOUNTANT AT NEW YORK HOSPITAL IN WHITE PLAINS.
I WORKED IN CITY HALL FOR 21 YEARS UNDER THREE MAYORS DELVECCHIO, SHULMAN, AND DELFINO.
I STARTED AS A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
MAYOR DELVECCHIO THEN ASKED ME TO ASSESS TECHNOLOGY ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS.
I LED IT AS ITS FIRST DIRECTOR.
I CONCEIVED AND THEN INSTALLED THE CITY'S FIBER OPTIC NETWORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DPW.
I CONNECTED ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS, ALL WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS.
I DESIGNED THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, SERVED AS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE ELECTRONIC CRIMES TASK FORCE WITH THE US SECRET SERVICE.
I WORKED WORK TO CONNECT THE FBI, NEW YORK STATE POLICE, WHITE PLAINS POLICE, WESTCHESTER COUNTY POLICE, AND THE NEW YORK STATE COURT SYSTEM.
LATER, I WAS RECRUITED BY IMMIGRANT BANK, WHERE I LED AS VICE PRESIDENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
I AM RUNNING FOR MAYOR BECAUSE I AM NOT A CAREER POLITICIAN.
I AM A PROBLEM SOLVER WHO HAS SPENT MY LIFE TACKLING COMPLEX CHALLENGES.
I AM A UNIFYING CANDIDATE AND CHOSE TWO DEMOCRATS AND ONE NON-AFFILIATED FOR MY COUNCIL SLATE.
WHILE I LOVE WHITE PLAINS, IT IS IN TROUBLE AND DECLINE WITH THE COMMON COUNCIL THAT RUBBER STAMPS DECISIONS.
WE CAN ALL SEE THE DECLINE, SAFETY, PARKING, HOMELESSNESS, LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE, ETC..
MY CHILDREN QUESTIONED MY CHOICE TO RUN, BUT AS I TOLD THEM, I COULD EITHER SELL OUR HOME AND LEAVE THE CITY THAT I LOVE OR STEP UP TO FIX IT, AND I AM READY TO REBUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, RESTORE TRUST IN GOVERNMENT, ENHANCE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND RETURN AFFORDABILITY TO WHITE PLAINS FAMILIES.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD.
I WILL REREAD THE QUESTION AS MANY TIMES AS YOU NEED.
WHAT SKILLS DO YOU BRING THAT WILL HELP THE CITY ACCESS BOTH LOCAL RESOURCES AND THOSE AVAILABLE FROM FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS? I'LL BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE, PRIMARILY AS A VOLUNTEER, AND ONLY THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AS A PART TIME COUNCIL MEMBER.
I HAVE CONTACTS WITH EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.
I WORK WITH GEORGE LATIMER, OUR CONGRESSMAN, AND HIS OFFICE.
I WORK WITH KEN JENKINS, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, ALL THE TIME.
I WORK WITH OUR ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, OUR COUNTY LEGISLATORS AND ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
I ALREADY HAVE THOSE CONNECTIONS AND I'M ACTUALLY USING THEM AS WE SPEAK.
PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR LATER IS I AM WORKING WITH STATE SENATOR SHELLEY MAYER AND OUR ASSEMBLY MEMBER, CHRIS BURDICK, TO TRY TO GET 500 ADDITIONAL UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE GALLERIA.
THAT'S THE KIND OF WORK THAT I WILL BRING TO THIS CITY.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF CONNECTIONS THAT I WILL USE, AND I HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM.
AND I WILL USE THEM TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER AND TO GET MORE FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND FOR OUR SYSTEM AND FOR OUR CITY.
SO HAVING WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR 21 YEARS, I KNOW EVERY DEPARTMENT IN DEPTH.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO FIX THIS CITY FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS. WE HAVE SAFETY PROBLEMS. UM, THERE IS SO MUCH THAT HAS TO BE DONE, BUT I DON'T NEED ANY LEARNING CURVE TO COME IN THERE AND START WORKING.
AND ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS HOW HARD I WORK.
THE ONE THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT, UM, IS TROUBLING ME IS AS FAR AS THOSE 500 ADDITIONAL UNITS.
WE DON'T SEE THEM IN THE ACCEPTED FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
SO UNLESS THE DEVELOPER PUTS THAT IN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THEM.
THE OTHER POINT IS I HAVE WORKED WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
I'VE WORKED WITH AGENCIES ALL OVER.
THAT'S HOW I FUNDED GETTING THE FIBER OPTIC NETWORK.
I HAD TO SELL THAT PLAN AND GET THAT PUT IN, AND WE FUNDED THAT BY WORKING ACTUALLY WITH CONGRESSWOMAN NITA LOWEY AT THE TIME.
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UM, SO THIS IS WHY I'M RUNNING IS BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN FIX WHAT'S WRONG.AND I LOVE THE CITY, BUT WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND, LENNY, WE'LL START WITH YOU.
SURE. THE CITY IS ADDING THOUSANDS OF NEW RESIDENTS.
WHAT CAN THE CITY GOVERNMENT DO TO INTEGRATE THESE NEW RESIDENTS INTO THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY, SO THAT THEY HAVE A STAKE IN OUR SUCCESS? 90S.
SO ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH ALL THE UNITS WE'RE ADDING, IT SEEMS TO BE ALL OF VERY EXPENSIVE, UH, RENTALS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FLOODING THE CITY WITH.
WHAT WE ULTIMATELY END UP WITH IS A BEDROOM COMMUNITY FOR MANHATTAN.
SOME WILL BECOME VESTED AND STAY HERE, BUT NOT MANY OF THEM.
I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO MOVE INTO A UNIT.
THEY COMMUTE TO MANHATTAN, AND THEN WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING THEY DON'T LIKE HERE, THEIR LEASE IS UP.
THEY GO TO STAMFORD AND YOU SEE THEM GOING TO STAMFORD.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS TO GET PEOPLE.
PART OF THIS COMMUNITY IS TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR OWNER OCCUPIED.
WHY AREN'T WE PUSHING DEVELOPERS TO.
WHY AREN'T WE PUSHING THEM? TO MAKE OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS THAT ARE OR AFFORDABLE.
WHEN A PERSON OWNS IT, THEY WILL BE VESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE SHOULD ALSO BE DOING THIS BY BRINGING IN MUNICIPAL WORKERS THAT CAN HAVE AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE.
OUR MUNICIPAL WORKERS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE AND THEY WILL BE EVEN MORE VESTED INSTEAD OF MOVING ON AFTER THEIR REQUIRED TIME HERE.
I'M GOING TO SIMPLY ANSWER THE QUESTION OF HOW DO WE INTEGRATE ALL OF THESE NEW PEOPLE.
I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, MANY SOME OF THEM WILL HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOLS, AND THAT'S A GREAT THING.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BUILD THIS INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE A PLACE TO GO FOR ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES, FOR CLASSES, FOR MEALS, FOR WHATEVER THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES NEED.
ADDITIONALLY, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH OUR CURRENT SITUATION IS WE DON'T HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE CITY, SORRY, BETWEEN THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S DARK.
GOING. I'M GOING TO GONNA KEEP GOING.
ONE THING THAT WE NEED IN OUR CITY VERY DESPERATELY AS A PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, WE NEED SOMEBODY IN CITY HALL WHO'S GOING TO COMMUNICATE WITH EVERYBODY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE HAVE A TERRIBLY INEFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE ACTIVITIES WHEN THEY ARE, HOW TO TAP IN AND HOW TO GET INFORMATION.
WE NEED TO BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'RE GOING TO DO A BIG PRESENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN OUR CITY.
WALK DOWN OUR STREET, THERE ARE FREE CONCERTS.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITIES.
I RAISED MY KIDS HERE, YOU KNOW, YOUTH BUREAU PROGRAMS, PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT PLACE, AND WE JUST HAVE TO LET THE NEW PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING IN UNDERSTAND THEY CAN BE PART OF OUR FAMILY.
WE WANT THEM TO BE PART OF OUR FAMILY.
AND THAT'S THE KIND OF CITY WE ARE INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE, AND I WILL CONTINUE THAT AND MAKE IT GROW BETTER.
CANDIDATES. QUESTION NUMBER THREE AND JUSTIN, WE'LL GO BACK TO YOU, OKAY.
WHAT IS ONE DECISION THAT THE CITY GOVERNMENT HAS MADE RECENTLY THAT YOU DISAGREED WITH AND WHY? THAT REQUIRES A LITTLE BIT OF THOUGHT, BECAUSE I PARTICIPATE.
IN MOST OF THE DECISIONS THAT THE CITY DOES.
I MEAN, UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I FIGHT WITH THE CITY QUITE OFTEN ABOUT PARKING POLICY, AND, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A BIG CHANGE IN.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED A LOT OF CHANGES IN OUR PARKING POLICIES.
AND I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH MR. SOLIS, WE DO NEED TO CHANGE OUR POLICIES CONCERNING BUILDING INSPECTIONS FOR NON CITY BUILDINGS.
SO, UH, IN GENERAL I AGREE WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE OF THINGS, BUT I ACTUALLY HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION TO SEE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS AND DOING THINGS AND BUILDING A MORE SUSTAINABLE CITY WITH MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I'M A PART OF THAT EFFORT AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.
SO IMMEDIATELY, WHAT I WILL SAY IS THE PROCESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE GALLERIA.
MOST PEOPLE WERE EVEN UNAWARE EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.
AS I WALK AROUND, THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE GALLERIA? AND WHEN I TELL THEM WHAT'S HAPPENING, THEY ARE SHOCKED.
THERE'S A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, SO THAT'S IMMEDIATELY EVIDENT.
THE BIG THING THAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT THAT IS THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THE NORMAL PROCESSES.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY ACCEPTED THIS APPLICATION TO CHANGE THE
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ZONING THAT INCLUDES THE CITY PROPERTY, THE GARAGE.WHY DOESN'T THE PUBLIC HAVE INPUT ON THAT? SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THE GALLERIA PROJECT, WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THE GARAGE.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE FORCING OUR HAND ON THAT.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SEPARATE APPLICATION.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DENIED AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A COMPLETELY SEPARATE APPLICATION FOR THAT.
SO THAT ONE BOTHERS ME A GREAT DEAL.
UM, ALSO THE PROCESS OF THEY WANT TO APPROVE THE ZONING.
NOW, THAT'S ONE OF OUR FINAL PIECES OF LEVERAGE FOR THE DEVELOPER THAT WE HAVE OVER THE DEVELOPER TO GET IT DONE THE WAY WE WANT.
SO I DISAGREE WITH THAT PROCESS.
30S, I JUST WANT TO SAY A QUICK THING.
THIS IS A 7 TO 10 YEAR PROJECT, AND WE'RE AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF IT AND NOT SO MANY PERMANENT DECISIONS HAVE MADE.
ALL WE'VE DONE IS IMPROVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FROM THE STATE.
THAT JUST MEANS THAT THAT ALL CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN THE COUNTY AND EVERYONE AGREE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN IS FINE, AND THAT WE CAN START THE PROCESS OF MOVING FORWARD.
THIS NEEDS TO MOVE AT A SLOW PACE, AND I AGREE, WE NEED LOTS OF PUBLIC INPUT AND UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION THERE WILL BE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.
AND CAN YOU MOVE TO THE MIX A LITTLE BIT CLOSER? SURE. YEAH.
AND, JUSTIN, APOLOGIES FOR THE LIGHTING ISSUE, BUT WE'RE MOVING AHEAD.
QUESTION NUMBER FOUR, WE WILL START WITH YOU.
UH, DESCRIBE AN INSTANCE WHEN YOU HAD TO WHEN YOU HAD TO HANDLE A SITUATION WHERE THE STAKEHOLDERS HAD A DIVERGENT OR OPPOSING VIEWS.
OH, I WORKED IN BUILDING DEPARTMENT FOR YEARS, AND I'D HAVE PEOPLE MAKING COMPLAINTS ALL THE TIME ON ONE ISSUE.
AND I ALSO HAD TO DEAL WITH HOMEOWNERS, BUILDING OWNERS, AND VERY OFTEN WE HAD TO GET THEM TOGETHER TO AGREE ON WHAT HAD TO WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN.
YOU HAVE ISSUES GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
I'M ASKED ABOUT THE LEAF BLOWER BAN, AND YOU HAVE TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE COMPLETELY ON OPPOSITE SIDES.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE, WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE VERY OFTEN HAS.
THEY HAVE TAKEN VERY KNEE JERK REACTIONS.
THEY GET COMPLAINTS, THEY SEE WHERE THE COMPLAINTS ARE COMING IN MORE, AND THEY TAKE A KNEE JERK REACTION INSTEAD OF UNIFYING EVERYBODY, GETTING THEM TOGETHER, YOU COULD FORM A COMMITTEE, BRING IN THE COMMUNITY LEADERS, FIND OUT WHAT HAS TO BE DONE AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE WITH THE LEAF BLOWERS.
SO THEY BANNED THE GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS.
BUT IN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS YOU STILL SEE THEM GOING AND THEY CAN'T THEY ARE NOT ENFORCING IT.
AND THEN THEY ALSO ARE BRINGING IN BOX TRUCKS WITH GENERATORS TO CHARGE ALL THE BATTERIES THAT ARE LOUDER AND MAKING MORE EMISSIONS THAN THE LEAF BLOWERS THEMSELVES.
THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF DISCUSSION ON THESE THINGS TO FIND OUT WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SATISFY THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN EVERYBODY AT HAND.
ANYBODY THAT'S WORKED WITH ME KNOWS THAT I'M A CONSENSUS BUILDER.
I BELIEVE IN BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND WORKING TOGETHER, AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT YOU CAN COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. ONE THING THERE WERE THERE WAS SOME CONTENTION BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND WITHIN THE COUNCIL, AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS ONE OF THE GREAT INNOVATIONS OR AN INNOVATION THAT I DID FOR THE CITY IS THAT, AS YOU KNOW, OUR CITY COUNCIL WORKS VERY HARD.
AND WE HAD AND I DECIDED THAT OUR COUNCIL NEEDS A STAFF MEMBER TO HELP US.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE LIKE US THAT HAVE FULL TIME JOBS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AS A COUNCIL.
WE ACTUALLY HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THAT.
AND WE GOT TOGETHER AND WE WORKED AS A GROUP, AND WE CAME TO CONSENSUS ABOUT A SENSIBLE WAY TO HANDLE THAT, AND A SENSIBLE WAY FOR THE COUNCIL TO HAVE A ROLE IN OUR CITY THAT IT SHOULD HAVE HAD A LONG TIME AGO.
WHATEVER THE ISSUE IS, I BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT, AND THAT'S BEEN A VERY GOOD THING FOR OUR CITY.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS IN PARTICULAR, THAT POSITION I WAS OPPOSED TO, BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE A CITY CLERK THAT DOES THAT JOB AND WE HAVE STAFF MEMBERS, BUT NOW YOU HAVE A HIGH PRICED STAFF FOR THE COUNCIL THAT THE COUNCIL, SINCE ITS INCEPTION, HAS NEVER NEEDED A COUNCIL SECRETARY.
WE COULD HIRE MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN DPW OR ANY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS BRING IN A MORE BUILDING INSPECTORS.
OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE SORELY LACKING.
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE AND WE'RE VERY TOP HEAVY.
I THINK THAT MR. LOWELL'S DOESN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU NEED HELP WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING A GOVERNMENT.
AND THIS IS A VERY FAST GROWING CITY.
AND OUR COUNCIL NEEDS AN INDEPENDENT VOICE AND AN INDEPENDENT PERSON TO HELP US, INDEPENDENT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION, TO HELP US UNDERSTAND LAWS, HELP CONSTITUENTS, AND LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC.
SO IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING THAT HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE
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FOR EVERYTHING FROM CALENDARING TO DRAFTING LEGISLATION.AND IT'S BEEN A VERY GOOD AND CONSTRUCTIVE THING FOR OUR CITY.
OKAY. WE'LL GO TO QUESTION NUMBER FIVE.
SHOULD PLAY IN PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUTH? OKAY.
UH, THIS IS A GREAT ONE FOR ME.
I'M A FORMER CHAIR OF THE YOUTH BUREAU FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS.
OUR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS ARE AMAZING.
AND EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY IT, WE TAKE CARE OF ALL THE KIDS IN OUR CITY.
WE HAVE 68 PROGRAMS AT THE YOUTH BUREAU.
WE HAVE THREE FLIGHT SIMULATORS IF YOU NEED SUMMER CAMP, IF YOU WANT TO LEARN STEAM, STEM, BOXING, COOKING, YOU NAME IT.
WE PROVIDE OUR KIDS WITH THAT.
THEY NEED INTERNSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
I'M VERY PROUD THAT I EXPANDED THE YOUTH BUREAU.
WE NOW EVEN HAVE A GRANDPAS PROGRAM SO WE CAN HAVE MENTORING.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF SUPPORTING YOUTH PROGRAMS AND FOR OUR KIDS.
AND THE BIGGEST THING THAT NOBODY TALKS ABOUT AND WHY OUR CITY IS SO SUCCESSFUL IS IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD OUR PROGRAMS, THEY ARE FREE.
AND THAT'S A VERY UNIQUE THING.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING I WORK VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY AND THE BUDGETS FOR TO HELP OUR KIDS GET WHAT THEY NEED.
AND I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY WORKING WITH FRANK WILLIAMS ON THIS OVER THE YEARS.
SO AS I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING IS I DESIGNED AND PUT IN THE FIBER OPTIC NETWORK IN WHITE PLAINS, AND ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS TO THAT WAS TO CONNECT ALL THE SCHOOLS.
AND THEN I WAS PUT ON LOAN TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PUT IN ALL THE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP THEM WORK THROUGH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY GOING INTO OUR CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO I'VE BEEN A KEY PERSON IN OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL.
BUT I AM ALSO A GREAT PROPONENT OF THE YOUTH BUREAU WHEN I WORK FOR THE CITY, I USED TO MENTOR PEOPLE FROM THE YOUTH BUREAU.
I USED TO GO DOWN TO THE YOUTH BUREAU, BRING IN STUDENTS ALL THE TIME, BRING THEM IN DURING THE SUMMER AND INTERN THEM.
I'M STILL IN CONTACT WITH MANY TODAY, AND I HAVE.
I COULD TELL YOU PLENTY OF STORIES ON HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE BECOME.
SO I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING ON THE YOUTH BUREAU.
I DISAGREE WITH PUTTING IT IN.
I HAVE TO SAY THE INTERGENERATIONAL CENTER THAT'S GOING TO TAKE MANY, MANY YEARS.
WE HAVE TO PUT MONEY INTO OUR EXISTING YOUTH BUREAU NOW AND FIX IT UP.
CANDIDATES. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO QUESTION SIX.
AND LENNY, YOU'LL GET THE FIRST QUESTION.
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? YEAH, IF WE SET UP SOMETHING TO HAVE DEVELOPERS HAVE TO PUT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHY ARE WE ALLOWING THEM TO BUY OUT? THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME.
WHAT I DO THINK, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IS WE SHOULD HAVE PUT PRESSURE ON THEM TO EVEN PROVIDE OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS SO PEOPLE COULD BUILD EQUITY HERE AND THAT SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE.
SO THAT SHOULD BE A COMPONENT AS WELL.
AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BUY OUT OF THIS.
SO IF THEY HAVE MONEY AND THEY WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY, THEY COME IN, THEY GIVE THE CITY A FEE AND THEN THEY BUY OUT.
THEY DO THE SAME THING WITH PARKING.
WE NEED THE AFFORDABILITY IN THESE UNITS.
SO WHY WE'RE ALLOWING THEM TO BUY OUT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I THINK THE BUYOUTS ARE THE PAYMENT IN LIEU AS WE CALL IT IS A GREAT IDEA.
UM, DEVELOPERS THERE'S A LIMIT.
AND FOR MOST OF THESE BIG BUILDINGS, THEY'RE A LOT MORE THAN 35 UNITS.
I WAS PART OF THE PROCESS TO MAKE IT SO THAT 12% OF THESE BUILDINGS HAVE TO BE AFFORDABLE.
I WANT TO SAY THAT THAT WE HAVE USED AND THEN THE MONEY THAT IS PUT INTO THAT, PEOPLE PAY IS USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
THE BERKELEY, THE OLD BERKELEY COLLEGE SITE IS GOING TO BE AN AFFORDABLE CO-OP.
IT IS FOR PEOPLE TO PURCHASE THOSE, BUILDING THOSE UNITS AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE, 108 UNITS.
OUR EXTRA MONEY GOES FOR THAT ON LAKE STREET.
THE MOUNT ZION AME CHURCH IS BUILDING 66 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS.
WHENEVER YOU SEE OUR PUBLIC HOUSING, THE FORMER WYNN BROOKS, THE BROOKFIELD COMMONS PROJECT, WE ARE USING THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN USED FOR FOR BUYOUT TO MAKE THOSE BUILDINGS BIGGER, SAFER AND BETTER AND EVERYONE WHO'S IN THEM IS INCLUDED.
SO IN GENERAL, THIS PROGRAM HAS WORKED VERY WELL FOR OUR CITY.
MANY OF THESE OTHER PROJECTS WOULDN'T GET OFF THE GROUND IF WE COULDN'T GIVE THEM MONEY.
WE'VE GIVEN MONEY TO MANY, MANY PROJECTS TO SEE THAT WE CREATE MUCH, MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A RESULT OF HOW WE USE THAT MONEY.
AND IN GENERAL, IT HAS WORKED QUITE WELL.
[00:30:02]
OKAY. NEXT QUESTION.AND ALONG THE SAME LINES, WHAT IS YOUR POSITION REGARDING CONDO DEVELOPMENT AS OPPOSED TO SOLELY RENTAL UNITS? OKAY. I FOR SURE WOULD PREFER TO SEE MORE CONDO DEVELOPMENT AND MORE CO-OP DEVELOPMENT AND MORE PURCHASING.
OKAY. UM, AND I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO FIND OUT WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE THAT.
AND I ASSURE YOU THAT AS SOMEBODY WHO IS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS FOR MANY YEARS, FIRST ON THE PLANNING BOARD AND NOW AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN I SPEAK TO THE DEVELOPERS, THEY SAY THEY CANNOT GET THE FINANCING TO BUILD THESE BUILDINGS AS A GROUP FOR RENTALS.
NOW, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE THEM SO THAT THEY CAN.
IT KEEPS PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY LONGER, AND THAT'S A BETTER THING.
AND THAT TYPE OF STABILITY IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY.
I AM DEDICATED TO PUTTING MORE PRESSURE ON DEVELOPERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE MORE CONDOS AND CO-OPS AND FEWER RENTALS.
BUT IN GENERAL, LET'S NOT FORGET THAT ALL THIS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN VERY GOOD FOR OUR CITY.
THE REASON OUR PROGRAMS IN THE YOUTH BUREAU CAN BE FREE, AND THE REASON YOU CAN GET A POLICE OFFICER IF YOU NEED ONE.
AND THE REASON THAT YOUR GARBAGE GETS PICKED UP IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CITY, AND THAT ENABLES US TO GET SERVICES THAT THAT ARE AT THE GOLD STANDARD WHILE WE ARE.
SORRY. YOU CAN GET YOU CAN GET SERVICES AT THE GOLD STANDARD.
AND OF COURSE WE KEEP OUR TAXES DOWN.
AND THAT'S WHY OUR TAXES ARE MUCH LOWER THAN OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.
SO AS I SAID EARLIER ON THAT I BELIEVE IN OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS.
AND WE DEFINITELY I AGREE, WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO INCENTIVIZE THAT IN SOME FASHION.
I'VE HEARD THE SAME THING FROM THE DEVELOPERS THAT IT IS HARD TO GET FINANCING.
THEY'RE NOT SAYING IMPOSSIBLE.
WE HAVE VALUABLE LAND HERE THAT WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY PUT IN AN OWNER OCCUPIED COMPONENT.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT IS VERY TROUBLING, AND I BROUGHT THIS UP FROM DAY ONE THAT I ENTERED THE CAMPAIGN.
IS THAT OUR WORKFORCE? CAN'T EVEN LIVE HERE.
OUR POLICE AND FIRE DO NOT LIVE IN WHITE PLAINS.
IF WE HAVE A CALL OUT FOR AN EMERGENCY, IT'S GOING TO TAKE THEM OVER AN HOUR TO COME IN.
WE HAVE TO GET MANY MORE OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS IN WHITE PLAINS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE AND WORK WITH THE STATE.
ANYBODY WE HAVE TO TO INCENTIVIZE OUR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES TO LIVE IN WHITE PLAINS, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY END UP BECOMING THE MOST VESTED PEOPLE HERE AND SERVICING THE COMMUNITY.
LENNY. WE'LL START QUESTION NUMBER EIGHT WITH YOU.
UM, HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THE PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AT THE GALLERIA SHOULD BE DETERMINED? SO WE HAVE THAT, UM, THE FORMULA THAT WE HAVE NOW.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S TROUBLING IS MY OPPONENT HAD MENTIONED THAT HE HAS SPOKEN WITH LOUIS CAPPELLI SEVERAL TIMES, AND HE GOT THE NUMBER TO ADD 500 ADDITIONAL UNITS.
AND THAT'S NOT REALLY THE CASE BECAUSE I'VE SEEN NUMBERS FROM 384 TO 316.
AND THAT'S BEFORE THE 500 UNITS.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
AND SO I THINK THAT AT THIS POINT WE HAVE TO THE CITY HAS CHANGED THEIR LAW ON HOW MANY WE MUST HAVE.
BUT THAT IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE PAPERWORK WE HAVE NOW.
JUSTIN, CAN YOU REREAD THE QUESTION? SURE. HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THE PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AT THE GALLERIA SHOULD BE DETERMINED.
OKAY. HOW'S EVERYBODY? AS WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE.
12% IS REQUIRED UNDER OUR STATUTE, UNDER OUR ORDINANCE, UNDER OUR LAWS.
WE JUST PASSED THE BILL ACTUALLY REDUCING THE INCOME LEVEL THAT PEOPLE IN THAT PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE CITY WILL PAY.
SO SO WE CAN HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF OUR WORKFORCE PARTICIPATING IN THAT WITH LOWER INCOME.
AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A PREFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN WHITE PLAINS AND WORK IN WHITE PLAINS.
SO PEOPLE LIKE ME HAVE BEEN PUSHING AND WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS.
I'M TRYING TO GET 500 ADDITIONAL UNITS AND AN EXTRA ACRE OR TWO OF GREEN AND OPEN SPACE.
THAT IS WHAT I'M WORKING WITH THE STATE LEGISLATORS ON, AND THAT WILL GET US TO 27% AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS UNIT AT THE NEW AND LOWER LEVEL OF INCOME.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M WORKING ON DAY AND NIGHT.
I HAVE NO SIMPLE, EASY ANSWER.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO GET TO THE LEVEL OF THE GOVERNOR, AND I'M COMMITTED TO DO THAT.
AND IF YOU ELECT ME AS YOUR MAYOR, I WILL TRY TO MAKE THIS 27% INSTEAD OF 12%, WITH MORE AN ACRE PLUS OF GREEN SPACE FOR ALL OF US.
AND THAT WILL BE A GREAT THING FOR OUR CITY AND OUR CHILDREN
[00:35:01]
AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.OKAY, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT QUESTION ON.
AND JUSTIN, THIS WILL START WITH YOU.
SURE. CONSIDERING CURRENT FUNDING CUTS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO STRENGTHEN PROGRAMS THAT MITIGATE FOOD INSECURITY? OKAY.
NOBODY HAS THE ANSWER RIGHT NOW, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, HOW WE'RE GOING TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEMS WITH FOOD INSECURITY.
THE YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY AS A CITY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS IN THE SCHOOLS AND THE PEOPLE IN THE SENIOR CENTERS GET THE FOOD THAT THEY NEED.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE GET PEOPLE THE FOOD THAT THEY NEED.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I WILL TAKE IT UPON MYSELF WITH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE MONEY FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THE CUTS COMING FROM WASHINGTON ARE DESPICABLE.
$880 BILLION IS GOING TO BE CUT FROM MEDICARE AND MEDICAID.
THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF OUR FAMILIES.
MY BROTHER IS A STROKE SURVIVOR AND HE'S WORRIED ABOUT LOSING HIS MEDICAL BENEFITS, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND WORK HARD ON HEALTH CARE, ON MEDICINE, ON ON FOOD AND ON EVERYTHING.
I WORK HARD, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE PUT AS MUCH MONEY INTO OUR FOOD PANTRIES AND KEEP THEM GOING AS POSSIBLE.
SO ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I SEE IS ALSO HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING ON OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT BEING TOP HEAVY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING IN THE ADMINISTRATION ASPECT OF OUR CITY, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, I CAN TELL YOU, WHEN SOME COMMISSIONERS RETIRE, THEY COME BACK ALMOST AT FULL SALARY AS A CONSULTANT AND THEY HIRE ANOTHER.
SO WE HAVE TO WATCH WHAT WE'RE DOING, SAVE MONEY, AND WE CAN ALLOCATE MONEY AS NECESSARY.
WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS WELL.
I KNOW WHEN I PUT IN THAT FIBER OPTIC NETWORK THAT HAS SAVED TENS OF MILLIONS, IF NOT MUCH MORE, OVER THE LAST ALMOST 30 YEARS.
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THAT MONEY THAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY SPEND? I, I HAVE SOME INSIGHT TO THAT.
I DO AGREE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL, LOBBY THE STATE AS WELL, THAT THEY CAN KICK IN.
UH, QUESTION TEN AND, LENNY, WE'LL START WITH YOU.
HOW SHOULD THE CITY RESPOND TO THE PRESENCE OF ICE IN WHITE PLAINS? SO THIS IS A, I KNOW, A VERY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE, AND IT CAN BE VERY, VERY DIVISIVE.
IN WHITE PLAINS, WE HAVE ALWAYS STAYED UNDER THE RADAR ON BIG CONTROVERSIAL FEDERAL ISSUES.
IF YOU SEE IN ANY OF THE CITIES, SUCH AS LOS ANGELES, YOU SEE IN CHICAGO, IN BOSTON.
ESTABLISHING A FORMAL SANCTUARY CITY DOES NOT STOP THE ADMINISTRATION AT ALL.
THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD STOP THAT.
THEY WILL COME IN WITH MORE FORCE.
WE WILL LOOK LIKE ONE OF THOSE CITIES WHERE THEY'RE CHALLENGING EVERYBODY.
AND NOW IT EVEN LEADS INTO VIOLENCE.
I'D MUCH RATHER KEEP AN OPEN DIALOGUE AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE WHITE PLAINS IS NOT ON THE RADAR FOR THIS.
OKAY. I'D MUCH RATHER KEEP AN OPEN DIALOGUE, WORK WITH THEM TO REMOVE ANYBODY WHO IS A FELON.
ONLY WE WORK ON THAT AND TRY TO PREVENT THIS MASS CHAOS THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR THE OTHER CITIES AROUND THE NATION.
I HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT TAKE ON THIS WHOLE PROBLEM.
I'M VERY PRO-IMMIGRANT WHEN MY GRANDPARENTS ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS.
I LIVED WITH MY GRANDFATHER WHEN I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, WHO WAS AN IMMIGRANT.
IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT TO OUR CITY.
THERE'S VERY LITTLE THAT WE CAN DO TO STOP ICE FROM COMING INTO OUR CITY.
THEY HAVE COME INTO OUR CITY AND THEY HAVE TAKEN PEOPLE AWAY, AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW THAT WORKS.
WE FUNCTION AS A SANCTUARY CITY.
WE ARE NOT A DECLARED SANCTUARY CITY.
SO IF YOU ARE ARRESTED, THE POLICE WILL NOT ASK YOU YOUR NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ANY OF THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS, OR WHETHER YOU'RE DOCUMENTED OR NOT.
WE PROTECT AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AS WE CAN IN THE CITY, AND I WILL, OF COURSE, CONTINUE THAT POLICY.
THAT BEING SAID, IF THERE IS AN ARREST WARRANT OUT, YOU YOU KNOW, WE ARE OBLIGATED TO REPORT THAT THAT'S UNDER THE LAW AND OTHERWISE WE'RE BREAKING LAWS AND WE CAN'T DO THAT.
UM, THAT'S BASICALLY WHERE I STAND ON THIS.
I WISH THAT WE COULD DO MORE TO KEEP ICE OUT OF HERE AND OTHERS FROM BREAKING UP OUR FAMILIES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, INSTILLING FEAR IN OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
SO YOU CAN COUNT ON ME TO TRY TO DO ALL THAT I CAN AS YOUR MAYOR, TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER, KEEP PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND UNDERSTAND THE TREMENDOUS VALUE THAT IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING MY GRANDPARENTS AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THEIR ROOM, THE VALUE THAT THEY BRING TO OUR SOCIETY.
AND WE'LL MOVE TO QUESTION NUMBER 11.
AND, JUSTIN, WE'LL START WITH YOU AGAIN.
SURE. THERE WAS A PAUCITY OF COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACES IN
[00:40:02]
WHITE PLAINS.HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THAT NEED? WELL, I'LL GO BACK TO MY INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER.
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACES IN OUR CITY.
AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO BUILD A BIG FACILITY WHERE EVERYBODY CAN COME TOGETHER.
I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SO INVOLVED WITH THE YOUTH BUREAU.
THE YOUTH BUREAU DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH SPACE FOR ITS KIDS, FOR ITS OFFICES, FOR PROGRAMS AND FOR ANYTHING.
THIS WEEK I WAS AT THE SENIOR CENTER CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
IT IS A DESPICABLE FACILITY THAT'S TOO SMALL AND AN EMBARRASSMENT TO A CITY OF OUR SIZE WEALTH, AND WE NEED TO TREAT OUR SENIORS BETTER.
WE NEED TO TREAT OUR YOUTH BETTER, AND WE NEED AN INTERGENERATIONAL CENTER.
AND I'LL ADD THAT IT'LL REALLY ADD BEAUTIFUL THINGS.
I WAS MEETING WITH PEOPLE FROM THE HOSPITAL RECENTLY, AND THEY'RE WILLING TO COME IN AND TO GIVE CLASSES ON NUTRITION AND GIVE CLASSES ON MEDICAL, ON THE MEDICAL PROFESSION FOR OUR KIDS.
THIS COMMUNITY CENTER IS GOING TO DO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS FOR OUR CITY AND BRING US TOGETHER AND HOPEFULLY DO AS MUCH FOR AS MANY AS WE CAN.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY BIG IDEA FOR WHAT WE CAN DO TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER WHO LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE.
SO IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE ONE OF OUR BIG COMMUNITY CENTERS, I KNOW IT WASN'T OWNED BY THE CITY, BUT WAS THE WHY OF MAMARONECK AVENUE, A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING EVERY I PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY WENT THERE.
BUT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL LET THAT GO AWAY.
THERE WAS MUCH WE COULD HAVE DONE TO PRESERVE THAT.
THAT WAS VERY, VERY SAD WHEN THAT WHY CAME DOWN.
THE OTHER THING I DO AGREE THAT YOUTH BUREAU NEEDS, UH, NEEDS A LOT, AND SO DOES THE SENIOR CENTER.
I WORKED IN BOTH OF THOSE BUILDINGS.
I PUT IN THE TECHNOLOGY AND BOTH OF THEM I WORKED WITH THE YOUTH.
I HAD LABS THERE THAT I VOLUNTEERED MY TIME.
I VOLUNTEERED MY TIME AT THE SENIOR CENTER, AND I DID LABS.
I SET UP THE SENIORS WITH EMAIL ACCOUNTS.
I DID A TON OF WORK WITH THEM.
HOWEVER, I DISAGREE WITH THE INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER BECAUSE THAT IS A GRANDIOSE PROJECT, AND I SPOKE TO THE SENIORS, I SPOKE TO THE YOUTH, AND I DON'T SEE MUCH EXCITEMENT ABOUT THAT AT ALL.
THERE WAS A MEETING HERE IN THE LIBRARY TO DISCUSS THAT, AND TOM ROACH SAID THAT THAT WAS HIS IDEA TO PUT IN AN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THE PEOPLE WERE VERY MUCH AGAINST IT, THE YOUTH AND THE SENIORS.
WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT QUESTION, AND LONNIE WILL START WITH YOU.
THIS IS A LONG ONE, SO BEAR WITH ME, OKAY.
THE PLAN FOR THE TRANSIT DISTRICT ENVISIONED MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
YET THE BUILDING IS CURRENTLY RENTING IN THAT DISTRICT.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? AND HOW WILL YOU SUPPORT RETAIL DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL SUPPORT THE DISTRICT? SO AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPERS.
OUR OUR LAND THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY IS VERY VALUABLE.
OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T BE SITTING UP HERE AND RUNNING FOR MAYOR.
RIGHT. SO THAT LEAD IS VERY, VERY VALUABLE.
WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPERS.
IF THEY WANT APPROVALS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO NEGOTIATE TO GET RETAIL INTO THESE SPACES.
JUST TO HAVE ALL RENTAL UNITS IS NOT GOING TO CUT IT ANYMORE.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU GIVE ANY TAX BREAKS TO THE DEVELOPERS AND THEN YOU HAVE RENTAL UNITS.
THE CITY DOES NOT GET MUCH MONEY FROM THEM RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
ALL WE ARE GOING TO HOPE IS THOSE PEOPLE SPEND MONEY HERE.
BUT IF PEOPLE LIVE IN IF THEY LIVE HERE AND WORK IN MANHATTAN, WE BECOME A BEDROOM COMMUNITY.
WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY GO TO WORK IN MANHATTAN.
WE DO NOT WANT THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY.
THE CITY DOES NOT GIVE TAX BREAKS TO DEVELOPERS.
AND WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN BREAKS, THEY ARE GIVEN BY THE COUNTY.
AND WE MAKE SURE TO GET OUR PIECE OF THE TAXES THAT ARE DUE FOR OUR CITY.
THAT HAS HAPPENED ON EVERY PROJECT.
I WANT TO BE QUITE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
CONCERNING THIS SITUATION, ONE THING I'VE WANTED TO DO FOR RETAIL IN OUR CITY AND FOR BUSINESS AND FOR OUR CITY, IS TO EXPAND OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
AS YOU KNOW, IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WE HAVE CERTAIN STREETS THAT ARE COVERED AND THEY'RE CLEANER AND THEY'RE BETTER, AND THERE'S PEOPLE WATCHING OUT AND DOING MORE PROGRAMS THERE.
SO I THINK EXPANDING THE BID, THERE COULD BE A VERY GOOD IDEA.
I WILL SAY THAT WHEN IT COMES TO RETAIL, WE ALL HAVE TO REMEMBER WE CAN'T INVENT AMAZON.
THERE'S MUCH LESS OF A NEED FOR FOR RETAIL.
AND I THINK THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE TRANSIT DISTRICT HAVE TO WALK DOWN TO MAMARONECK AVENUE, THAT'S NOT SUCH A BIG WALK.
AND OF COURSE, ONCE WE EVENTUALLY DEVELOP THE GALLERIA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL AREA THERE TO WALK BY THAT WILL BE SAFE AND LIT, AND HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE RETAIL THERE.
[00:45:01]
BUT THERE IN GENERAL, THERE IS GOING TO BE LESS RETAIL.AND THAT'S JUST THE FACT, THE WAY OUR SOCIETY WORKS.
SO WE HAVE TO WORK AROUND THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING CONSTRUCTIVE AND GOOD SPACES.
AND IF PEOPLE LIVE ON THE FIRST FLOOR INSTEAD, I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT'S THE WORST THING.
THE ONE THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS OTHER COMMUNITIES DO IT.
I UNDERSTAND ABOUT AMAZON VERY WELL, BUT OTHER COMMUNITIES DO IT.
THERE'S YOU CAN GO INTO MANY AREAS THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER WHERE IT'S CLEAN, BEAUTIFUL AND PLACES TO SHOP THAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE, THAT BRINGS PEOPLE HERE TO SHOP.
WE HAVE TO DO A LOT TO ENCOURAGE THAT, AND THAT INCLUDES MAKING PARKING MORE CONVENIENT, LESS AGGRESSIVE TICKETING SO THE SHOPS DON'T GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
UH, JUSTIN, THIS IS BACK TO YOU NOW.
UH, WHAT SHOULD WHITE PLAINS DO TO ENFORCE REGULATIONS THAT PREVENT PEDESTRIAN AND E-BIKE INTERACTIONS? OKAY, THE WHOLE E-BIKE SITUATION NEEDS AN ENTIRE TOP TO BOTTOM REVIEW.
I CAN TELL YOU WHERE I WOULD START AND WHERE I INTEND TO START.
WE NEED TO SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING RIGHT.
WE HAVE TO ENFORCE THE LAWS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT ON OUR STREETS.
FORTUNATELY, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL, WE BROUGHT POLICE OFFICERS BACK ON BIKES AND THEY ARE ENFORCING SOME OF THESE LAWS.
WE NEED TO PUT SOME OFFICERS ON THE STREET, SO WE HAVE TO GET THEM OFF THE STREETS.
BUT THE MAIN THING WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING RIGHT.
THESE BIKES NEED TO BE REGISTERED.
THESE PEOPLE NEED TO WEAR REFLECTIVE VESTS.
THESE PEOPLE PROBABLY NEED INSURANCE.
THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO MAKE THIS SITUATION SAFER AND BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
THESE GUYS ARE NOT THE ONES MAKING THE MONEY.
IT'S THE PEOPLE WITH THE BUSINESSES.
THEY'RE A SERVICE THAT IS NEEDED.
BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REGULATE IT IN A WAY THAT IS SAFE FOR OUR CITY AND SAFE FOR THEM.
SO AS MY OPPONENT JUST MENTIONED, WE HAVE TO ENFORCE LAWS, BUT WE REALLY HAVE TO PUT IN NEW LEGISLATION.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY AN ELECTRIC BIKE IS TREATED ANY DIFFERENT THAN A MOTORBIKE.
YOU SEE HOW FAST THEY'RE GOING? MOST OF THEM HAVE LIMITERS ON THEM, SO THEY CAN'T GO OVER A CERTAIN SPEED.
SHOULDN'T YOU SAY ALL, BUT MANY ARE DISABLED.
THEY'RE FLYING DOWN THE STREET.
IF THEY HIT A PEDESTRIAN GOING THOSE SPEEDS, THEY COULD.
THEY COULD BE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
THEY HAVE TO BE REGISTERED JUST LIKE A MOTORBIKE.
YES. I BELIEVE THEY'RE PERFORMING A NECESSARY SERVICE, BUT THEY SHOULD.
AS HE MENTIONED, WE THEY SHOULD HAVE REFLECTIVE GEAR.
THEY SHOULD FOLLOW ALL THE REGULATIONS AND MUST BE REGISTERED.
AND I COULD TELL YOU I SEE IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE BEING RUN BY ANOTHER CORPORATION BECAUSE I SEE THEM ALL GATHERED TOGETHER.
AND YOU HAVE A MECHANIC GOING TO EACH BIKE, AND I'LL SEE A PERSON SAY, HERE, YOU TAKE THIS ONE.
SO I WANT TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON AND MOVE FORWARD.
THAT WAY WE HAVE TO DO AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS.
SURE. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TOP THREE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PRIORITIES AND HOW WILL YOU MEASURE SUCCESS IN ADDRESSING THEM? SO WITH SUSTAINABILITY, ONE IS I LOOK AT ALL OUR STRUCTURES.
OUR STRUCTURES ARE IN DISREPAIR.
SO I'VE BEEN IN MANY OF THE BUILDINGS I WORKED THERE, BUT I KNOW THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO, BUT MANY OF THEM HAVE OLD WINDOWS.
YOU WALK PAST THE WINDOW AND YOU FEEL A BREEZE THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
THESE BUILDINGS HAVE TO BE REPAIRED, INSULATED, WINDOWS REPLACED.
ANOTHER ONE IS IF YOU GO BY OUR HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT IN THE WINTER TIME, THOSE GIANT BAY DOORS ARE OPEN ALL THE TIME.
TRUCKS GO IN, DOOR STAYS OPEN.
THE BOILER IS RUNNING NON-STOP IN THAT BUILDING JUST TO KEEP IT AT A DECENT TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE BUILDING.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, WHICH ANYBODY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR DOES IS THEY PUT IN AUTOMATIC ROLL UP DOORS.
THAT'S NOT VERY EXPENSIVE TO DO.
WE WOULD SAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
WE SHOULD ALSO BE CHANGING OUR BOILERS IN SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS, MAYBE PUTTING IN HEAT PUMPS.
THEY ARE TWICE AS EFFICIENT AS WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
THAT SHOULD BE THE FIRST THING.
THE LOW HANGING FRUIT SHOULD BE DONE NOW.
NOT ANYTHING THAT IS EXTREMELY ELABORATE, THAT WILL TAKE MANY YEARS TO PAY BACK AND MAY NOT EVEN.
[00:50:03]
I'D LOVE TO TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.I'VE BEEN WORKING MY WHOLE LIFE ON SUSTAINABILITY.
EVEN BEFORE I MOVED TO WHITE PLAINS, I SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THE NEW YORK CITY SIERRA CLUB'S POLITICAL COMMITTEE.
UH, WHITE PLAINS WAS JUST GIVEN THE DESIGNATION OF BEING A CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITY, A SILVER LEVEL.
IT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL YOU CAN GET IN NEW YORK STATE.
WE RECEIVED THIS, AND WE'RE ONLY ONE OF THREE CITIES IN THE ENTIRE STATE THAT HAVE THIS BECAUSE OF OUR EFFORTS, BECAUSE WE MADE IT EASIER SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PUT SOLAR PANELS ON THEIR HOMES.
BECAUSE WE'RE STUDYING GEOTHERMAL FOR THIS BUILDING, THE LIBRARY, THE GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS, AS HE CALLS THEM.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WE YOU KNOW, WE ARE WE ARE, UH, HAVE SOLAR PANELS OVER OUR GARAGES, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT BEING SUSTAINABLE, WE'RE MAKING $1 MILLION A YEAR ON THAT IN REVENUE.
WHAT DO I WANT TO DO IN THE FUTURE CONCERNING THIS? I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT I WANT TO CREATE A MAKE A TREE STATUTE, WHICH MEANS THAT IF YOU CUT DOWN TREES, YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THEM.
DEVELOPERS, BUILDERS AND PEOPLE ALL OVER ARE CUTTING DOWN OUR TREES AND NOT REPLACING THEM.
OH, ANOTHER THING THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR SUSTAINABILITY IS WE NEED TROLLEYS AND BETTER FORMS TO TO, UH, HAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN OUR CITY.
THE BATTLE HILL SECTION RECENTLY DID A TEST WITH A COMPANY CALLED SIGNAL TO RUN AN ELECTRIC SORT OF VAN TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE WORKING ON TRYING TO GET FUNDING FROM THE FOR THAT FROM THE STATE, AND ULTIMATELY WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO A BETTER JOB OF TRANSPORTING OURSELVES IN OUR CITY, USING LESS ENERGY.
ONE THING IS THE HEAT PUMPS ARE NOT PART OF GEOTHERMAL.
THAT'S JUST PUTTING IN A NEWER TYPE OF HEATING SYSTEM USING A HEAT PUMP SYSTEM THAT PEOPLE ARE PUTTING IN THEIR HOMES AND SAVING A LOT OF MONEY, AND THEY ARE VERY GOOD FOR SUSTAINABILITY.
THE ISSUE WITH THE GEOTHERMAL, THEY WANT TO TAP THE AQUIFER.
THEY WANT TO PUT IN A CLOSED LOOP SYSTEM.
AND THOSE THINGS ARE SOME OF THE NUMBERS I HEAR 240 YEAR PAYBACK 480 YEAR PAYBACK.
HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT'S IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY, SUCH AS FIRE, POLICE AND SANITATION.
OKAY. I CAN TELL YOU WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT AS OUR CITY GROWS, SO DO OUR POLICE AND FIRE FIGHT DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE VOTED FOR INCREASES IN PERSONNEL TO OUR FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL THIS PAST BUDGET, WE ADDED THREE MORE POLICE OFFICERS AND TWO MORE FIREFIGHTERS.
AS WE ALWAYS DO, WE ALWAYS HAVE STAFFING ISSUES.
WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE IT BIGGER AND BETTER AND DO MORE WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT.
WE ARE ALWAYS MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY NEED, AND I WILL SAY THE SAME FOR THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT, WHERE WE DID A GREAT JOB AND WE GOT THESE TRUCKS THAT REQUIRE ONLY ONE PERSON INSTEAD OF MULTIPLE, WHICH HAS LED TO A TREMENDOUS SAVINGS AND MONEY FOR US AND IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
SO AS WE GO NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR CITY AND GROWTH.
OUR CITY HAS ABOUT 65,000, MAYBE 70,000 PEOPLE LIVE HERE.
WE'RE RUNNING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR 200 TO 250,000 PEOPLE THAT COME HERE DURING THE DAY.
IF YOU USE THE APP AND ASK FOR SOMETHING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION, YOU GET IT.
IF YOU CALL FOR A POLICE OFFICER, YOU GET IT.
IF YOU CALL FOR A FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY COME AND THEY RESCUE AND THEY AND THEY HELP YOU.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT AS NEEDED TO REFLECT THE GROWTH IN OUR CITY.
BUT I THINK THAT IN GENERAL, WE ARE DELIVERING THE GOLD STANDARD AND SERVICES, AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.
YOU WILL NOTE WHEN YOU DRIVE IN FROM SCARSDALE, OUR SNOW IS CLEARED BEFORE THEIRS, SO THAT SHOULD MAKE YOU ALL PRETTY PROUD.
SO I AM VERY PROUD OF WHAT THE WORK DPW DOES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WE'VE HAD TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN WHITE PLAINS EVEN SINCE I WORKED HERE.
RIGHT. THAT WAS 16 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS RECRUITED BY A BANK.
YET WE HAD MORE FIRE AND POLICE PERSONNEL THAN.
BUT I'VE HEARD CONTINUOUSLY FROM SO MANY PUBLIC OFFICIALS WE ADDED TO.
I HEAR THAT, BUT YET THE NUMBER IS LESS THAN WE HAD.
AND YET WE HAVE HIGH RISES WHICH REQUIRE MORE PERSONNEL.
IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO FIGHT AN EMERGENCY IN A HIGH RISE, AND WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE HERE.
SO WE HAVE NOT GROWN THE DEPARTMENT LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE AND WE NEED MORE.
UM, I COULD TELL YOU, WHEN I WORKED FOR THE CITY, WE HAD BIKE PATROLS BACK THEN.
WE HAD, UH, POLICE OFFICERS WALKING THE BEAT.
WE HAD THE MOTORCYCLE POLICE, WE HAD CRUISERS, AND WE HAD
[00:55:03]
MOUNTED POLICE.SO WE GOT FOUR MORE QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'LL GO TO CLOSING STATEMENTS.
GREAT. UM, NOW, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE I GOT MY ORDER CORRECT.
WHITE PLAINS HASN'T DONE A COMPLETE PROPERTY REASSESSMENT IN DECADES, THUS LEAVING US OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.
HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THIS? SO THAT IS A DIFFICULT ONE.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WORKED FOR THE CITY, I WAS LOOKING AT THAT ISSUE BACK THEN, WORKING WITH THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, BECAUSE ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THAT IS WHEN YOU DO A REASSESSMENT, IT BECOMES VERY, VERY SKEWED BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE AN OLD HOUSE AND YOU HAVE LOW TAXES, THAT PROPERTY IS WORTH MORE BECAUSE YOUR TAXES ARE REDUCED.
UM, WHEN YOU HAVE LOWER TAXES, THE PROPERTY IS WORTH MORE.
PEOPLE WANT TO BUY INTO THOSE HOMES.
YOU BUY INTO A NEW HOME AND YOUR TAXES ARE 28,000.
THAT HURTS THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
NOW YOU COME IN AND YOU REASSESS THE OLD HOME AND YOU JACK UP THE PRICES.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU DO TWO THINGS.
PEOPLE HAVE LIVED IN THESE HOMES FOREVER.
ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GET A MASSIVE TAX HIKE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
AND I THINK THE THE LAW IS WRONG, BECAUSE ONCE YOU RAISE THOSE TAXES ON THAT OLD HOME, IT IS NOW WORTHLESS AGAIN.
YOU'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND REASSESS IT AGAIN.
AS A PERSON OF INTEGRITY, I WILL TELL YOU THAT I DO NOT KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THIS AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL LOOK INTO.
I DO NOT KNOW ENOUGH TO TO MAKE A SENSIBLE DISCUSSION ABOUT PROPERTY REASSESSMENT OR NOT, AND I WILL.
AND AND GOD WILLING, IF I GET TO BE THE MAYOR, I WILL MEET WITH THE ASSESSOR AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT IF WE'RE DOING THINGS IN A FAIR AND EQUITABLE MANNER AND CERTAINLY NOT HURTING OUR SENIORS AND OUR YOUTH, AS YOU KNOW, WHICH I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'LL NEED TO LEARN ABOUT.
NEXT QUESTION, JUSTIN WILL START WITH YOU.
WHAT INITIATIVES WILL YOU DEVELOP TO HELP UNHOUSED PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY? WELL.
THE FIRST THING THAT I'M ALWAYS WORKING ON IS BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I DESCRIBED BEFORE HOW WE'RE WORKING ALL THE TIME TO INCREASE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS, TO MAKE THEM HAVE LESS, TO REDUCE THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS, AND TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AND NOT FOR PROFIT DEVELOPERS.
LIKE LIKE THE CHURCH ON LAKE STREET.
BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT'S REALLY THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT THING.
FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A SMALL HOMELESS PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, AND THE COUNTY WORKS ON THAT, AND WE NEED TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THEM ON THAT.
BUT IN GENERAL, I HAVE DEVOTED MY TIME AND ENERGY TO CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
WE DO MORE THAN ANY CITY IN WESTCHESTER, AND I ACTUALLY HAVE AN IDEA TO CREATE MORE.
I WOULD LIKE TO CREATE WHAT THEY CALL A DENSITY BONUS SO THAT WHEN THESE BIG DEVELOPERS PUT UP A BUILDING, LET'S SAY THEY'RE ALLOWED TO BUILD 28 STORIES.
WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO IS SAY WE'LL BUILD 36 AND YOU GET THREE FLOORS, AND WE GET THREE FLOORS.
OF THOSE ADDITIONAL 30, THAT WOULD BE EIGHT FLOORS, SORRY.
YOU GET FOUR FLOORS AND WE GET FOUR FLOORS.
AND THAT WAY WE CAN BUILD MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THAT'S A WAY TO INCENTIVIZE THEM AND BUILD MORE HOUSING AND OF COURSE, FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT FOR PEOPLE WITH AS LOW INCOMES AS POSSIBLE.
SO AS FAR AS THE DENSITY BONUS, I DISAGREE WITH THE WAY TO ENACT THAT.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE ADDING FLOORS TO THESE BUILDINGS.
WE ALREADY HAVE MANY HIGH RISE BUILDINGS, SO I THINK MANY PEOPLE ARE UPSET.
WE'RE CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF WHITE PLAINS.
WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE A NEW ROCHELLE.
WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE A MANHATTAN.
PEOPLE COME HERE FOR THAT REASON.
AS FAR AS THE, UM, HOMELESS POPULATION, I THINK WE WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM AND IT IS THE COUNTY'S PROBLEM.
I AGREE WITH THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO GET MORE FACILITIES, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ENOUGH BEDS FOR THESE PEOPLE.
AND IT IS NOT HUMANE TO HAVE THEM SLEEP ON THE STREET, BECAUSE MOST OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE.
IT'S ONE OF THREE PROBLEMS, OR MAYBE MORE THAN ONE IS EITHER THEY HAVE AN ADDICTION, WE NEED ADDICTION CENTERS, OR THEY HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS, OR THEY HAD SOMETHING REALLY TERRIBLE JUST HAPPENED TO THEM.
IT'S NOT HUMANE TO LEAVE THESE PEOPLE THE WAY THEY'RE LIVING.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM TO GO.
[01:00:01]
THANK YOU.LENNY. WE'LL START BACK WITH YOU AGAIN.
UH, WHITE PLAINS OFFERS FOOD SCRAP RECYCLING ONLY AT THE GEDNEY RECYCLING YARD.
WOULD YOU IMPLEMENT CURBSIDE PICKUP AND IF SO, HOW? THAT ONE I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR FOOD SCRAPS SEPARATED OUT AND THEY CAN DO THE PICKUP? OTHERWISE, WE'LL BE SPENDING A LOT OF CITY MONEY AND WE'RE IT'S NOT GOING TO DO MUCH FOR ANYBODY.
SO I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO QUERY EVERYBODY, SEE HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST TO DO THAT.
DO WE HAVE TO SEND OUT ANOTHER TRUCK? I'M ASSUMING SO IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE THE SIZE OF THE OTHER ONES, AND FIND OUT WHAT THE FREQUENCY OF THE PICKUPS WOULD BE.
AND DOES THAT CREATE ANOTHER PROBLEM? WE HAVE A RAT PROBLEM AROUND WHITE PLAINS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALL OVER THE SEWERS.
THEY BREAK OPEN A SEWER EVEN AT THE SOUTHERN END OF TOWN, AND RATS COME OUT LIKE CRAZY AND THEN THEY'RE IN EVERYBODY'S YARDS.
WILL THAT BE A PROBLEM AS WELL ONCE YOU DO THIS? SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING AND WE HAVE TO MAKE INTELLIGENT DECISIONS.
THIS IS WHERE MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE COMES IN.
THE CITY DID LOOK AT WHAT TO DO ABOUT RECYCLING FOOD SCRAPS.
AND THE CONCLUSION WAS IT COSTS SO MUCH MONEY TO RUN A GARBAGE TRUCK AROUND AND EVEN CREATES MORE CARBON THAN IT SAVES.
SO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PIECE OF IT DIDN'T WORK, AND THE ECONOMIC PIECE OF IT DIDN'T WORK.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IT AT THE GEDNEY YARD, SO THAT IF YOU ARE THERE OR YOU WANT TO GO THERE AND DELIVER YOUR FOOD SCRAPS, THEY WILL BE PICKED UP AND THEY WILL BE RECYCLED IN A SENSIBLE WAY.
THAT MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE AND SENSE IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.
BECAUSE OF COURSE, CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN SO WE DON'T DO IT.
THERE'S A SLIGHT POSSIBILITY THAT THE STATE WILL GIVE US MONEY TO DO IT.
AND WE'RE OF COURSE, LOOKING AT THAT, AND I CAN'T ANSWER WHERE WE ARE ON THAT.
AND NOW, OUR LAST QUESTION OF THE NIGHT BEFORE WE MOVE TO CLOSING STATEMENTS.
PERFECT. WHAT NEW METHODS WILL YOU ESTABLISH TO REGULARLY COMMUNICATE WITH, WITH AND SOLICIT FEEDBACK FROM OUR RESIDENTS? OKAY. BASICALLY SAID BEFORE, OUR CITY NEEDS A PERSON DEDICATED TO PUBLIC INFORMATION.
IT'S NOT FAIR TO YOU, ME AND ANYONE ELSE IN THIS CITY THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING, WHERE THEY'RE HAPPENING, WHETHER IT'S MEETINGS AT CITY HALL, WHETHER IT'S CONCERTS, WHETHER IT'S EVENTS AT YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL, IT'S WHETHER IT'S AT THE SENIOR CENTER.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, MYSELF INCLUDED.
WE CAN FIX THAT AND WE WILL FIX THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THROUGH EMAIL.
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THROUGH THOSE SIGNS AROUND THE CITY.
WE'RE GOING TO DO A TOTAL TOP TO BOTTOM REVISION OF THIS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME AND ENERGY AND WE'LL MAKE SOME MISTAKES, BUT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE REAL EFFORT TO COMMUNICATE WITH EVERYONE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS CITY, SO THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE TERRIFIC THINGS IN OUR CITY AND BE BETTER INFORMED.
I'VE BEEN DEDICATED TO THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
I HAVE NOT MADE PROGRESS, AND IF YOU MAKE ME YOUR MAYOR, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS CITY, WHICH THEY'RE ENTITLED TO KNOW, AND SO THAT YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY.
SO THIS IS NOT A VERY COMPLEX PROBLEM.
WE ALREADY HAVE STAFF TO DO THIS.
WE ALREADY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DO THIS.
IT TAKES LEADERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WEBSITE SHOULD BE REBUILT.
EVERYTHING SHOULD BE OUT THERE.
WE HAVE EMAIL SYSTEMS IN PLACE.
WE HAVE TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN PLACE.
THEY'RE NOT BEING USED TO HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF.
UH, I LEGISLATIVE OFFICER I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO KEEP HIRING ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE IN CITY HALL RIGHT NOW THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S LEADERSHIP THAT MAKES SURE ALL THE TOOLS WE ALREADY HAVE ARE UTILIZED.
WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON THIS.
IT DOESN'T TAKE ANYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION IS PUT OUT THERE.
SO THAT'S HOW I WILL MAKE SURE IT'S DONE.
THAT COULD BE THAT COULD BEGIN DAY ONE UNDER MY LEADERSHIP.
IT DOES TAKE PEOPLE AND IT DOES TAKE TIME AND ENERGY, AND IT DOES TAKE EXPERTISE.
AND IT DOES TAKE TAKE THAT TYPE OF PERSON.
AND WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE IDEA THAT WE'RE A DINKY LITTLE CITY.
WE'RE A BIG, FAST GROWING CITY.
AND ACTUALLY WE USED TO HAVE CLOSE TO A THOUSAND EMPLOYEES, AND WE ONLY HAVE 872 RIGHT NOW.
AND WE WILL ALWAYS LOOK FOR WAYS TO REDUCE OUR STAFF AND USE TECHNOLOGY IN BETTER WAYS SO THAT WE HAVE FEWER PEOPLE WORKING IN OUR CITY.
BUT WHEN WE SEE NEEDS IN OUR CITY, WE NEED TO HIRE PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S FIREFIGHTERS OR PEOPLE, TO HELP WITH
[01:05:03]
SUSTAINABILITY AND INFORMATION.THAT'S THE WAY YOU BUILD A BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT TAKES CARE OF EVERYONE.
AND NOW WE WILL MOVE TO CLOSING STATEMENTS.
AND BASED ON THE DRAW, JUSTIN, YOU GO FIRST.
I WILL SIMPLY SAY THAT I HAVE YEARS AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING IN POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT.
I HAVE YEARS AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HELPING THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS HAVE THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED.
MAKING SURE THAT OUR SENIORS HAVE THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED.
TAKING CARE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE.
MAKING SURE CITY SERVICES ARE DELIVERED.
WORKING WITH OUR STATE AND OTHER OFFICIALS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW HOW TO INCREASE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I AM HERE TO MAKE TO TAKE OUR CITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THINGS THAT TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THINGS THAT HELP OUR CITY GROW IN AN ORDERLY FASHION, AND YOU CAN COUNT ON ME TO USE MY EXPERIENCE FOR THE TYPE OF CHANGE THAT WE NEED.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT I AM THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB.
I AM IN A UNIQUE POSITION, HAVING WORKED IN DEPTH IN EVERY DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY.
I DARE TO SAY THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN SAY THAT.
AND THE CITY HAS NOT HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY BEFORE.
WE ARE AT AN INFLECTION POINT WHERE WE CAN ALL CLEARLY SEE THE ISSUES.
RESIDENTS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT NECESSARY TRANSPARENCY.
I WILL BRING BACK TRANSPARENCY, EVALUATE INFRASTRUCTURE MANDATE AND VERIFY ALL REQUIRED INSPECTIONS, DELIVER ON TRUE AFFORDABILITY FOR OUR WORKFORCE, FIGHT THE CONDEMNED RATE HIKES AND HELP TO REMOVE PEOPLE FROM WESTCHESTER POWER THAT INCREASES RATES WITHOUT PERMISSION.
I WILL PROVIDE CONVENIENT PARKING, ENHANCE SAFETY AND COMMUNITY POLICING.
I WILL BRING BACK BICYCLE PATROLS, FOOT PATROLS AND CONSIDER BRINGING BACK MOUNTED POLICE.
AS MOST PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME, I DID DO NOT GIVE UP AND WILL WORK TIRELESSLY FOR THE CITY THAT I LOVE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S THANK BOTH THE CANDIDATES.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 4 OR 5 YEARS.
20 QUESTIONS IN JUST A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE CANDIDATES FOR RAISING YOUR HAND TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.
AND YOU'RE VERY THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS TO THE TOPICS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, GREAT QUESTIONS SUBMITTED TO THE PEOPLE OF WHITE PLAINS.
UH, THE LARGEST CROWD I'VE DONE AND THE BEST BEHAVED AS WELL.
UM, THANK THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, THE NAACP ARE TIMEKEEPERS.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ALAN.
MANY FOLKS WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE TONIGHT'S CANDIDATE FORUM POSSIBLE.
THANKS. GO TO THE WHITE PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR PROVIDING AND PREPARING TONIGHT'S CANDIDATE FORUM VENUE, THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY MEDIA, FOR THEIR VIDEO PRODUCTION AND REBROADCAST OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.
THE CANDIDATES FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
OUR MODERATOR, DOUG FRENCH, BOTH THE NAACP, WHITE PLAINS, GREENBERG BRANCH AND LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WHITE PLAINS TEAMS WHO PUT TONIGHT'S FORUM TOGETHER AND HELP MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
AND TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
HERE ARE SOME VOTING AND ELECTION REMINDERS.
JOIN US AGAIN FOR THE WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM THIS WEDNESDAY.
RIGHT HERE AT THE WHITE PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY FROM 7 TO 830, THE VIRTUAL CANDIDATE FORUM FOR THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS CONDUCTED TONIGHT FROM 7 TO 8.
YOU CAN FIND THE VIDEO OF THAT AT.
NPR.ORG. EARLY VOTING FOR THE NEW YORK STATE ELECTIONS IS FROM OCTOBER 25TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 2ND.
THE WHITE PLAINS LOCATION THIS YEAR IS HERE AT THE WHITE PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SPECIFIC HOURS FOR EACH DAY AND OTHER WESTCHESTER COUNTY LOCATIONS MAY BE FOUND ON THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE, AND ALSO ARE AVAILABLE ON THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WHITE PLAINS.
TABLE OUTSIDE, CHECK OUT 4411 ORG FOR ALL YOUR VOTING INFORMATION.
THE RECORDING OF TONIGHT'S CANDIDATE FORUM WILL BE BROADCAST ON OPTIMUM CHANNEL 76 AND VERIZON CHANNELS 47.
IT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY MEDIA WEBSITE.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ON HOW TO JOIN THE NAACP WHITE PLAINS GREENBERG BRANCH IS AVAILABLE
[01:10:02]
ON THEIR TABLE OUTSIDE THE AUDITORIUM.INFORMATION ON HOW TO JOIN OR DONATE TO THE WHITE PLAINS LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS AVAILABLE ON THEIR TABLE.
OUR TABLE OUTSIDE THE AUDITORIUM OR YOU CAN VISIT.
A COPY OF THESE ELECTION AND VOTING REMINDERS AND EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE IS AVAILABLE ON THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WHITE PLAINS 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.