The August WPCNA Meeting was held on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at Education House, 5 Homeside Lane, White Plains was attended by over 50 White Plains residents, including a quorum of delegates.

During the Business Meeting, the Mayor's Representative, Linda Levine, talked about several events planned in celebration of the White Plains Youth Bureau's 40th Anniversary. Arnold Bernstein, the new White Plains Downtown Residents Association President (WPDRA), and a former Common Council member, said WPDRA under his leadership is redefining its mission, redesigning its website, launching a membership drive, and stepping up its activism.

Keynote Speaker Thomas Roach, Esq., President of the White Plains Common Council, talked about "Leadership in a Fiscal Crisis," noting that the City, like most in the United States, was squeezed by the economy and had to enact sometimes painful measures to emerge with a practical budget. The crunch was more pronounced in White Plains because of its heavy reliance on sales tax revenues, which plummet in recessionary times. He applauded his fellow Council members and the Mayor for working together to achieve workforce reductions and givebacks, and to avoid one-shot budget balancing tricks such as selling open space. He called on the citizenry to take an "at large" view of programs and services and to understand that at the City level, a balanced budget entails some pain for everyone. After his talk, Mr. Roach took questions on a broad range of topics, including environmental issues -- a long-time Roach concern, City Planning, the tax structure, and cell towers on downtown condos.

County Executive Rob Astorino's talk and most of the questions afterward also focused on budgetary concerns. Mr. Astorino is determined to produced a balanced budget with no property tax increase, as promised during his campaign. He outlined some of the impediments to closing the budget gap, including large increases in State mandated spending for entitlement programs. Noting that personnel costs make up over 70% of the County budget, he said he is looking to CSEA for help, after getting some relief from early retirements and from non-union employees who now must contribute to their healthcare plans. Answering questions about specific facilities and programs, such as Playland, Hilltop Hanover Farm, transit, police and senior services, he said repeatedly that nothing is sacrosanct, and everything is "on the table." Agreeing that County government is "too big," he is looking both to outsource some responsibilities and to achieve economies by combining agencies and eliminating duplication. Asked about his overall plan, he said it is to look to his department heads to recommend programs and cutbacks consistent with a balanced budget.

More info in the Minutes of the Meeting.

Minutes of Past Meetings