[00:00:09] GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD FOR DECEMBER 1ST, 2025. [Citizens to Be Heard on December 1, 2025.] UH, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO BE HEARD? PAT DOHERTY. HI, EVERYBODY. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD. UM, MY REMARKS ARE GOING TO BE ABOUT THE, UH, THE BAN ON THE GAS. I HEAR YOU. MY REMARKS. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? NOW WILL BE ABOUT THE GAS, THE BAN ON THE GAS, UH, LEAF BLOWERS, AND MORE PARTICULARLY TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THAT. UM, BUT I WANT TO START, ACTUALLY, BY THANKING THE COUNCIL FOR ENACTING THIS BAN IN THE FIRST PLACE AND FOR AND TO THANK MAYOR ROACH FOR HIS, HIS COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY. UM, AND ALSO THE MAYOR ELECT FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY, INCLUDING HIS STATEMENTS. I THINK I READ AN INTENTION TO HIRE A DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY IN THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION. SO AGAIN, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE BAND. I'M PROUD TO BE IN A TOWN THAT TAKES THESE THINGS SERIOUSLY. UM, BUT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM NUMEROUS PEOPLE, AND MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IS THAT THE ENFORCEMENT IS LESS THAN IDEAL. UM, MY MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND THE PEOPLE THAT I'M HEARING FROM ARE NEIGHBORS. UM, PEOPLE IN ENFORCEMENT THEMSELVES. UH, PEOPLE FROM THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE. UM, AND, UH, SO I JUST MAYBE I COULD JUST SHARE WITH YOU MY RECENT EXPERIENCE LAST MONDAY. AND OF COURSE, NOW WE'RE IN THE THICK OF THE FALL LEAF, UH, FRENZY. AND I CALLED BECAUSE MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR WAS THERE. LANDSCAPERS WERE USING THE GAS BLOWERS. UM, THEY HAVE NOT SUCH A HUGE PROPERTY, BUT IT WAS GOING ON FOR IT WENT ON, ACTUALLY, IN TOTAL FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THE PROCESS SEEMS TO BE WE WERE GIVEN A NUMBER TO CALL. I CALLED THAT NUMBER. I CALLED AGAIN IN 15 MINUTES. I CALLED AGAIN IN 15 MINUTES AFTER THAT, AND THE PERSON ON THAT END OF THAT PHONE, WHILE THEY WERE POLITE AND CORDIAL AND HELPFUL, THEY COULDN'T TELL ME IF I WAS ON A LIST OF PLACES TO BE VISITED OR WHAT THE ACTUAL PROCESS WAS. THEY WOUND UP GIVING ME THE NUMBER TO THE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT. I CALLED THAT NUMBER AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE A RECORD OF THE THREE PREVIOUS CALLS THAT I HAD JUST MADE AND ASKED ME FOR THE INFORMATION ALL OVER AGAIN. SO I STARTED TO GET THE FEELING THIS SYSTEM IS FRAGMENTED. THERE MAY BE A SYSTEM IN PLACE, BUT MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT IT'S FRAGMENTED AND IT'S NOT REALLY WORKING FOR, UH, FOR THE PURPOSE IT'S INTENDED. UM, SO, UH, I FURTHER TALK TO THAT PERSON AND ENFORCEMENT, UM, AND THEY, THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THIS. THIS IS NOT AN EASY ISSUE. THERE'S A LOT OF WORKING PARTS TO THIS. UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I DISCOVERED IS THAT EVEN IF SOMEBODY WERE TO ARRIVE WHILE THE BLOWERS ARE BEING USED, UNLESS THEY'RE PHYSICALLY SEEN BY THE ENFORCEMENT, THEY CAN'T GIVE THEM A TICKET. THEY CAN'T CITE THEM. AND WHEN I MENTIONED THAT I CAN SEE THEM FROM MY PROPERTY, THE PERSON IN THE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT WASN'T SURE IF I WOULD BE ALLOWED TO LET THE ENFORCEMENT PERSON ON MY PROPERTY SO THAT THEY COULD SEE THEM SO THAT THEY COULD ISSUE A CITATION. SO THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT IS, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS, THIS ENFORCEMENT IS REALLY WORKING THAT WELL. I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER. I KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER. AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, PURSUING THIS WITH THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. AND THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY TO IS IT WAS DISAPPOINTING TO LEARN THAT THERE'S THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY SPECIFIC EFFORT AROUND THE FALL KNOWING THAT THIS WAS COMING AND THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE. AND IN FACT, UM, MY NEIGHBOR'S LANDSCAPERS HAD SWITCHED TO ELECTRIC. AND NOW WITH THE FALL AND THEY FEEL LIKE I GUESS IT'S AN OVERWHELMING JOB THERE. THEY BUSTED OUT THE GAS BLOWERS AGAIN. SO AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ANYBODY WHO'S WILLING TO WORK ON THIS THROUGH THIS SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, WHICH I'VE BEEN ATTENDING. UM, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT WE ABSOLUTELY DO ENFORCE. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE DEDICATED TO NOTHING BUT THAT, UM, THE FAULT HERE LIES WITH THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO VIOLATE OUR LAWS. WE HAVE ELECTRONIC SIGNS ALL OVER REMINDING PEOPLE. UM, AND THERE'S ALSO A TIME FACTOR. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR IT'S BEEN IN EFFECT IN THE FALL. OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE NOW FOLLOWING OUR LEAD. I GET CALLS FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES FOR ADVICE AND OUT OF STATE THAT WANT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW WE DID IT, BUT JUST LIKE EVERY LIKE LITTERING, LIKE SPEEDING, YOU DON'T CATCH EVERYBODY. AND THERE IS A DELIBERATE, UM, THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY IS NOT REALLY LANDSCAPING. IT'S CALLED MOW AND BLOW. SO THEY'RE ON AND OFF VERY QUICKLY, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT. BUT WE HAVE ALL OF OUR, UM, INSPECTORS. WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO WRITE TICKETS WHEN THEY'RE OUT, IF [00:05:03] THEY'RE GOING OUT TO DO AN ELECTRICAL INSPECTION OR A BUILDING INSPECTION. ANYONE WHO CAN WRITE A TICKET AND THEY SEE IT, THEY WRITE A TICKET. I GET THE COMPLAINTS FROM THE PEOPLE WHO GET TICKETS. I GOT STOPPED AT A BREAKFAST BY SOMEONE WHO'S MAD. THEY'RE A LANDSCAPER. GOT A TICKET? SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT BY PASSING THE LEGISLATION, WE PICK THE PERFECT THING TO MAKE EVERYONE MAD AT US. BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING TICKETS ARE MAD. THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T DON'T SEE TICKETS BEING ISSUED. BUT THIS IS GOING TO TAKE TIME. LIKE SEATBELTS, WHEN SEATBELTS WERE FIRST, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN IN CARS FOREVER, BUT THEY WERE BURIED UNDER THE SEAT. WHEN YOU CLEANED YOUR CAR OUT, YOU WOULD FIND YOUR SEAT BELTS. IT TOOK A WHILE. PLASTIC BAGS, I REMEMBER WHEN. HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY GO FOOD SHOPPING WITHOUT PLASTIC BAGS? AND IT HAPPENED. SO WE'RE FIRST IN LINE. SO WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME OF THE HEAT. I TALKED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE THAT DO ZERO. THEY DON'T EVEN TRY AND ENFORCE IT. SO WE ARE PUSHING IT. BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME. IT WAS BETTER OVER THE SUMMER AND IT WAS BETTER, YOU KNOW. BUT IT IS IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME. I PERSONALLY HAVE STOPPED NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO ARE DOING IT. I PULL OVER, I HAVE LEFT MY HOME TO FIND WHERE THE BLOWERS ARE AND, UM, IT IS IT'S IT'S IT'S FRUSTRATING, BUT IT IS GETTING BETTER AND IT'S GOING TO GET BETTER. AND WHEN YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE IN, IT'S IT'S TOUGH. I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE. I KNOW THAT THERE IS ENFORCEMENT HAPPENING. AND I'M ALSO AS OPTIMISTIC AS YOU ARE THAT. IF YOU CALL ME. YOU CALL ME TOMORROW, I CAN PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH THE ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE DIRECTLY AND WE'LL GET SOMEBODY. BECAUSE WHAT IS ALSO WORKED IS WHEN WE GET PEOPLE TO TELL US A PARTICULAR PROPERTY, PARTICULARLY IN THE SUMMER, BECAUSE THOSE GUYS ARE GOING TO COME OUT THE SAME PROPERTY THE SAME DAY AT THE SAME TIME. IF IT'S POURING RAIN, THEY'RE CUTTING GRASS, WHICH YOU SHOULD NEVER DO. BUT THIS, IT'S MOW AND BLOW. SO, UM, I'M, I CAN IF WE IF YOU HAVE A PROPERTY AND YOU KNOW WHAT TIME WE ARE HAVING NOW WE'RE TRYING A NEW THING WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE OUT IN THOSE AREAS, AND IT'S BEEN PRETTY EFFECTIVE, BUT IT'S HARD. SO I AGREE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BEN BROWN. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BEN BROWN, 155 FARRIS AVENUE. I'M HERE AS AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT TO ADDRESS THE GALLERIA MALL REDEVELOPMENT PLANS. UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL ORDINANCES REGARDING THE GALLERIA MALL SITE. ON FOR A FIRST READING IN YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT. UM, THERE'S BEEN A LONG PUBLIC DIALOGUE ABOUT THE GALLERIA SITE. UH, I APPRECIATE, UH, SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE PROPOSAL. UH, OVER THE COURSE OF PUBLIC INPUT. AND I APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT THAT MANY OF YOU, OF YOU HAVE HAD WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT I'M A MEMBER OF, THE COALITION FOR ADDITION WITHOUT SUBTRACTION OR CAUSE. NONETHELESS, UH, BASED ON A CAREFUL READING, I THINK THAT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCES BEFORE YOU TONIGHT ARE NOT YET IN THEIR CURRENT FORM, IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY. FIRST, DESPITE WORTHWHILE LANGUAGE THAT GIVES THE CITY THE RIGHT TO REJECT SITE PLANS THAT DON'T CONFORM TO THE CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN. THE ORDINANCES REMAIN TOO OPEN ENDED. I CONTINUE TO STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT, AS OTHER MUNICIPALITIES OFTEN DO, WHITE PLAINS SHOULD ENTER INTO A DEVELOPER'S AGREEMENT REQUIRING THE DEVELOPER TO AGREE TO DETAILED TERMS AND CONDITIONS REGARDING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROJECT. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THIS MECHANISM COULD ASSURE US THAT THE DEVELOPMENT WILL PRODUCE THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE HOPE FOR. SOMETHING ON THE ORDER OF 800 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. ON JULY 5TH OF THIS YEAR, ALAN WEINTRAUB, GARY O'BRIEN AND I SENT YOU A LETTER THAT INCLUDED AS AN ATTACHMENT, A PROPOSED TERM SHEET THAT WE PROPOSED COULD FORM THE NUCLEUS OF AN APPROPRIATE DEVELOPER'S AGREEMENT. THE SECOND POINT IS RELATED TO OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR CITY HAVE TAUGHT US THE IMPORTANT LESSON THAT WHEN IT COMES TO VERY LARGE DEVELOPMENTS, IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES, DEVELOPERS DO NOT BUILD THEIR INITIALLY APPROVED PLANS. THEY FACE NO PENALTY FOR FAILING TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE TIME PERMITTED BY OUR LAWS. SO THE TIMELINE BECOMES VERY OPEN ENDED AND SOMETIMES TRIPLES OR QUADRUPLES OR EVEN BECOMES LONGER THAN THAT. RATHER THAN PROCEEDING ON INITIALLY APPROVED PLANS IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES. THAT IS, WHEN IT COMES TO VERY LARGE DEVELOPMENTS. IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES, THEY RETURN LATER WITH MORE AMBITIOUS PLANS AFTER THE INITIALLY APPROVED PLANS THAT BULK UP THE PROJECT, MAKING IT MORE DENSE AND THE SITE DENSITY ONLY EVER SEEMS TO RATCHET IN ONE DIRECTION. UM, I CAN GIVE THESE EXAMPLES THAT WHERE WE'VE SEEN THIS PATTERN IN THE PAST, UH, HAMILTON GREEN, 70 WESTCHESTER AVENUE, 80 WESTCHESTER AVENUE AND ONE WATER STREET. AND THERE ARE SURELY SOME OTHER EXAMPLES. THIS PROCESS FRUSTRATES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. [00:10:03] THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW IF A CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN OR A SITE PLAN THAT'S PLACED BEFORE IT, IS THE REAL PLAN THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE CONSTRUCTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MUNICIPAL DECISIONS REGARDING A SITE, THE PUBLIC HAS TO SUSTAIN ITS INVOLVEMENT FOR YEARS AND READ MULTIPLE SEQUENTIAL SETS OF APPROVED PLANS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER. THESE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE WE BEEN HAVING A REAL CONVERSATION THAT WILL BE CONSEQUENTIAL IN TERMS OF WHAT THE GALLERY REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT WILL LOOK LIKE, OR IS IT ONLY A STEPPING STONE ON THE WAY TO DIFFERENT AND EVEN DENSER DESIGN? I SEE THAT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY COMMENTS. LENNY LAWLESS. THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING. I'M LENNY LAWLESS AND I LIVE AT HEMLOCK CIRCLE IN WHITE PLAINS. TONIGHT'S VOTE ABOUT THE GALLERIA WEST GARAGE ISN'T JUST ABOUT DOLLARS AND DEVELOPMENT, IT'S ABOUT A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND WHO PAYS THE PRICE. THE PROPOSED $50 MILLION SALE OF THE GALLERIA GARAGE WEST TO GALLERIA CITY HOLDING COMPANY LLC, WITH ITS SO-CALLED TWO YEAR LEASEBACK, IS BEING RUSHED THROUGH WITHOUT THE TRANSPARENCY OUR CITY DESERVES. BUT LET'S GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS. THIS ISN'T A CLEAN DIVESTMENT. IT'S A CONVOLUTED HANDOFF WHERE THE CITY SELLS OUR ASSET AND LEASES IT BACK TO KEEP OPERATING, TO KEEP OPERATING PUBLIC PARKING, MEANING THE PURCHASER BECOMES OUR LANDLORD COLLECTING RENT FROM US TAXPAYERS WHILE WE POSSIBLY FOOT THE BILL FOR REPAIRS ON THE GARAGE THAT THEY JUST BOUGHT. WE ARE ALL WELL AWARE THAT THE GARAGE WAS SHUT DOWN ON OCTOBER 30TH FOR URGENT STRUCTURAL ISSUES CRACKED BEAMS, SPALLING, CONCRETE, WATERPROOFING FAILURES. NOW, THE CITY PITCHES THIS LEASE BACK AS A SEAMLESS BRIDGE. BUT WHO REALLY BENEFITS WHEN THE BUYER TURNS AROUND AND LEASES THE PROPERTY. TO US, IT'S A CLASSIC SALE LEASEBACK MANEUVER. THEY GET THE DEED AND THE UPSIDE FROM REDEVELOPMENT, AND WE MAY GET STUCK PAYING MARKET RENT TO USE OUR OWN FACILITY, POTENTIALLY WITH DEFERRED PAYMENTS THAT LEAVE US HOLDING THE BAG IF THE VALUE DROPS OR THE DEAL SOURS. HERE'S THE OUTRAGE. THE FULL LEASE DETAILS REMAIN HIDDEN. WHAT ARE THE RENT TERMS? ARE THEY BELOW MARKET VALUE TO SWEETEN THE POT OR INFLATED TO SQUEEZE THE CITY? DOES THE PURCHASER GUARANTEE REPAIRS BEFORE HANDING IT BACK, OR DO WE INHERIT A LIABILITY BOMB? SHOW US THE CONTRACT IF IT HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED. SHOW US TONIGHT. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THIS PROCESS HAS BYPASSED COMPETITIVE BIDDING, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND INDEPENDENT SCRUTINY FROM THE START. IN A CITY WHERE DEMOCRATS HOLD EVERY SEAT ON THE COUNCIL, THE ONE PARTY LOCK HAS SILENCED DISSENT AND ENABLED THIS RUSH JOB WITH A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. WITH 2800 SPACES AT STAKE IN A CITY ALREADY STRAINED BY TRAFFIC AND COSTS. HANDING CONTROL TO A SINGLE DEVELOPER WITHOUT OVERSIGHT. RISK THE LUXURY TOWERS THAT SERVE THE FEW, NOT THE MANY. BEFORE ANY VOTE, I DEMAND, WE DEMAND TO POSTPONE IMMEDIATELY HOLD REAL PUBLIC HEARINGS WITH NOTICE, EXPERT VALUATIONS AND RESIDENT INPUT. NO MORE. 11TH HOUR RUSHES RELEASE EVERYTHING. NOW THE FULL PURCHASE AGREEMENT. LEASE BACK CLAUSES, INCLUDING RENT DURATION AND REPAIR RESPONSIBILITIES. ALL NEGOTIATIONS AND APPRAISALS, UNREDACTED AND ONLINE. CLARIFY THE LEASE BACK TRACK. DETAIL HOW THE CITY LEASING FROM THE PURCHASER PROTECTS PUBLIC INTERESTS. WHO PAYS THE FIXES DURING THOSE TWO YEARS? WHAT HAPPENS IF THE DEVELOPER DEFAULTS OR REDEVELOP EARLY? BIND IT IN WRITING THAT TAXPAYERS AREN'T SUBSIDIZING THEIR PROFITS. ENFORCE ACCOUNTABILITY. MANDATE OPEN BIDDING FOR ANY FUTURE DEALS. A FORENSIC AUDIT AND STATE AG REVIEW IF SHADOWS OF FAVORITISM EMERGE. THIS GARAGE FUNDS OUR SERVICES. THIS LAND SHAPES OUR SKYLINES. DON'T. THEY DON'T VOTE TO MAKE US TENANTS IN OUR OWN HOME. WE'RE WATCHING. THANK YOU. LEO KENNEDY. THANK YOU. AND GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LEO KENNEDY AND I LIVE ON OXFORD ROAD. NOT LONG AGO, ONE COUNCIL MEMBER DESCRIBED MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN WHITE PLAINS AS LIVING ORGANISMS. IF THAT'S TRUE, THEN IT'S ONLY RIGHT THAT THEY BE TREATED WITH CARE, TRANSPARENCY AND THE PARTICIPATION OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE ALONGSIDE THEM. BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE GALLERIA SITE, IS A LIVING PROJECT WITH A CLOSED PROCESS. THE THE ADOPTED PHASE STILL [00:15:03] ONLY COMMITS THE 360 AFFORDABLE UNITS. WHILE THERE'S LANGUAGE ELSEWHERE ABOUT POSSIBLY EXCEEDING THAT NUMBER, AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD THE GOAL IS 800 AND SOMETHING THAT REMAINS UNOFFICIAL. NOTHING MORE THAN A CAMPAIGN PROMISE, NOT A REQUIREMENT. IF THIS PROJECT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, AND CLEARLY IT HAS, THEN SO SHOULD THE PUBLIC REVIEW PROCESS. YET WE HAVE NO CLEAR EXPLANATION OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE FINANCES BEHIND THE IMPENDING SALE OF CITY OWNED GARAGES. WHY THE RUSH? YOU ARE ON THE VERGE OF APPROVING MAJOR ZONING AMENDMENTS AND ASSET TRANSFERS WITHOUT CONSIDERING MEANINGFUL PUBLIC INPUT ON THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE PLAN. THIS GOES BEYOND OVERDEVELOPMENT, A COMMON CONCERN AMONG LONGTIME RESIDENTS. IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC TRUST AND WHETHER THOSE RESIDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS OR JUST SPECTATORS TO DECISIONS ALREADY MADE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. THIS COUNCIL HAS THE CHANCE TO BUILD SOMETHING TRANSFORMATIVE, BUT TRANSFORMATION WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY TO RESIDENTS IS JUST COSMETIC, NOT REAL PROGRESS. JUST MORE OF THE SAME WITH FRESHER PAINT. A FACELIFT, NOT A FIX. IF PROJECTS ARE LIVING, THEN THE CONVERSATION AROUND THEM MUST BE TWO ONGOING, RESPONSIVE AND INCLUSIVE. WE'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS IN WHITE PLAINS WHEN BIG DECISIONS ARE MADE FIRST AND EXPLAINED LATER. THINGS FALL APART. LITERALLY, FIRE STATION TWO FELL APART. THE GARAGES FELL APART. PUBLIC TRUST IS FALLING APART. IF YOU RUSH AHEAD AGAIN WITHOUT FULL TRANSPARENCY AND INPUT. DON'T PRETEND TO BE SHOCKED WHEN THE OUTCOME COLLAPSES. YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO STOP REPEATING YOUR OWN HISTORY. THANK YOU. ROBERT PERRY. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. MAYOR ELECT MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL. AS I SPOKE LAST MONTH, IT IS DEEPLY SADDENED TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN LAND THAT BELONGS TO TAXPAYERS. AND YOU'RE GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO A TO PRIVATE PARTY. THAT'S NOT WHAT EMINENT DOMAIN WAS WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED IN WHITE PLAINS. AND THEY TOOK OVER ALL THE LAND THAT ENCOMPASSES THE LIBRARY, PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY COURTHOUSE, AND AND THE GALLERIA. YOU'RE TAKING THIS LAND THAT WE TOOK FROM INDIVIDUALS, AND NOW YOU'RE GIVING IT TO SOMEBODY FOR TO POCKET TO PUT MONEY IN THEIR POCKET. HOW DO WE DO THAT? AND HOW DO WE GO TO BED AT NIGHT KNOWING THAT WE ARE GOING TO ENRICH AN INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATIONS AND THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS BECOMES FOUR LESS ACRES SMALLER. NEW YORK CITY JUST HAD AN ELECTION. NEW YORK STATE JUST HAD AN ELECTION. AND THEY'RE GOING TO TURN STATE LAND INTO RECREATIONAL LAND. BUT PART OF IT IS THEY HAD TO OBTAIN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF LAND TO REPURPOSE IT FOR NATURE PRESERVE. WHY? BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO GROW. AND SINCE YOU'RE TAKING IT AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE USING IT, YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN WHAT YOU HAVE. WE'RE NOT MAINTAINING ANYTHING HERE. WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS YOU'RE GOING TO REPURPOSE IT AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT IS COMING INTO WHITE PLAINS. THE GALLERIA BROUGHT IN JOBS. IS THIS GOING TO BRING IN WORK, TEMPORARY WORK? JUST THE PEOPLE WORKING ON IT. THE GALLERIA PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE. PEOPLE SHOPPED THERE. EVERYBODY USED IT. SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS USED IT. THE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE STARTED A TREND. THE GALLERIA WAS ONE OF THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE 80S. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU'RE FOLLOWING EVERYBODY ELSE. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SMARTER THAN FOLLOWING TRENDS. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE STARTING NEW TRENDS. WHAT'S HAPPENING? YOU HAVE THE MALL OF AMERICA. WHAT DO THEY HAVE THERE? THEY BRING PEOPLE IN. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIVE HERE. WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE TO WORK HERE. BUSINESSES HAVE LEFT THIS CITY. WE NEED TO BRING PEOPLE TO WORK HERE THAT LIVE HERE. AND THAT'S HOW WE MAKE THIS CITY GROW. YOU'RE NOT GROWING ORGANICALLY. YOU'RE FORCING PEOPLE TO COME HERE. WHEN YOU HAVE JOBS HERE, PEOPLE WILL WANT TO COME AND THEY WILL WANT TO LIVE HERE. BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME HERE. HOP ON THE TRAIN AND GO TO NEW YORK CITY. THEY'RE GOING TO SHOP IN NEW YORK CITY. THEY'RE GOING TO EAT IN NEW YORK CITY. MAYBE ON THE WEEKENDS THEY'LL EAT HERE. IT'S SADDENED TO SEE THAT MAYOR ELECT YOU MADE DURING YOUR CAMPAIGN SPEECH THAT WE WILL USE CHANGING ZONING, AND WE WILL GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT. IS THAT PART OF THIS PROCESS? DOES THE DEVELOPER KNOW THAT YOU COULD BUY INTO SOMETHING? IF HE DOESN'T, THEN HOW CAN YOU VOTE YES ON THIS? [00:20:02] IF YOU'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID DURING YOUR CAMPAIGN SPEECH. YOUR VICTORY SPEECH. IT'S. I'VE LIVED IN THE CITY. I GREW UP IN THE CITY, AND I WAS BORN IN THIS CITY. MOST OF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HERE THIS WHOLE TIME. I'VE SEEN THE CITY GROW AS A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER. 33 YEARS OF SERVICE HERE. THE PEOPLE BEFORE YOU DID IT WITH GREAT PRIDE. IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS MONEY SO YOU COULD CHECK A BOX ON YOUR RESUME, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE. IT'S THE WORST THING THAT YOU COULD DO FOR US. THOSE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU DIDN'T VOTE FOR THAT. THEY WANTED TO SET A TRENDSETTER, NOT SOMEBODY WHO FOLLOWS TRENDS. THAT COVERS EVERYONE WHO'S SIGN UP TO SPEAK. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING? PLEASE COME UP AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. LINDA MARKOWITZ, TEN CITY PLACE I CAME TONIGHT BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF NAYSAYERS ON THIS, AND I AM TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF HAVING THIS PROJECT. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THE GALLERIA BECOME AN EMPTY, RAT INFESTED PLACE BECAUSE NOBODY IS INTERESTED IN GOING THROUGH THE APPROVAL PROCESS THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS ALREADY BEEN GOING THROUGH FOR OVER TWO YEARS. YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO BUY THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE MONEY. I THINK THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH THE CITY, AND I THINK THAT CAPPELLI WILL ACTUALLY FINISH THE PROJECT, UNLIKE A LOT OF PROJECTS LIKE THE HOLE IN THE GROUND OVER BY THE SONESTA HOTEL, THAT'S JUST REMAINED EMPTY. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. AND I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN A TWO YEAR APPROVAL PROCESS FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE THEIR INPUT TO THE PEOPLE, MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE HAVE YOU HEARD THAT CONCLUDES CITIZENS TO BE HEARD FOR THIS EVENING? WE'LL BE BACK FOR THE REGULAR STATE AID COUNCIL MEETING AT 730. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.