[Citizens to Be Heard on February 2, 2026.] [00:03:39] GOOD EVENING , EVERYONE . THIS SESSION OF WHITE PLAINS TO BE CITI ZENS TO BE HEARD IS ABOUT TO START . UM, THERE , U H, YOU 'RE ENTITLED TO SPEAK FOR 3 MINUT ES. YO U CAN TALK ON ANY SUBJECT THAT YOU WANT . PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS . UM , THERE IS NO CLAPPING , PLEASE . THERE 'S NO CHEER ING. LET 'S GIVE EVERYBODY THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT THEY ARE ENT ITLED TO, UH, M ADAM CLERK, D O WE HAVE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ? BEN LAVENDER HI , UH, MY NAME IS BEN LAVENDER . I , UM , WORK AT 150 GRAND STREET IN WHITE PLAINS WITH 32 BJSEIU . UM, POLIT ICAL COORDINATOR THE RE , UH, WE ' RE A UNION THAT 'S REPRESENTING 185 SERVICE WORKERS U P AND DOWN THE EAST COAS T. OUR MEMBERS ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS . THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES D EPEND ON DAY AND NIGHT TO KEEP HOMES, OFFICES, AIRPORTS, AND SCHOOLS RUNNING . AND LIKE MANY OF OUR COUNT RY 'S MO ST ESSENTI AL WORKERS , A MAJORITY OF OUR MEMBERS ARE IMMIGRANTS . MANY OF THEM HAVE SPENT YEARS , DECADES E VEN , LIVING, WORKING AND BUILDING THEIR LIVES HERE. UM , THE ONGOING ATTACKS AGAINST IMMIGRANTS ACROSS T HE COUNTRY ARE HARMING NOT JUST INDIVI DUALS BUT COMMUNI TIES AS A WHOLE. OUR UNION FAMILY HAS NOT BEEN EXEMP TED FROM [00:05:01] THIS . MULTIPLE 32 BJA M EMBERS HAV E BEEN SUBJECT TO UNJUST DETENTION BY IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOM S ENFORCEMENT . THAT IS WHY I 'M HERE TODAY , AND WE 'RE ALL HERE TODAY T O URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO INT RODUCE AND PASS LEGISLATI ON THAT PROHIBITS FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS , INCLUDING ICE , FROM WEARING MASKS OR PERSONAL DISGUISES WHILE INTERACTING WITH THE PUBLI C IN WHITE PLAINS . THIS IS ABOUT TRANSPAR ENCY , ACCOUNTABILITY , AND PUBLIC SAFETY . UM , WHEN ARMED OFFICERS OPERATE IN PUBLIC WHILE CONCEALING THEIR IDENTI TY, IT CREATES FEAR AND CONFUSION WHEREIN LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE PRESERVING AND PROTECTING . PEOPLE DON 'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THEY 'RE BEING APPROACH ED BY LEGITIMATE LAW ENFORC EMENT OFFICERS O R SOMEONE IMPERSONATING THEM. JUST L IKE WE SAW IN MINNE APOLIS WITH THE ASSASSINATIONS , UH , SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR . AND THIS IS THIS UNCERTAINTY PUTS EVERYONE AT RISK. THE CLIMATE OF F EAR ALSO UNDERMINES BASIC WORKPLACE ACCOUNTABILI TY. WHEN IMMIGRAT ION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY ESCALATES , UNETHICAL EMPLOYERS ARE EFFECTIVELY GIVEN PERMISSION TO EXPLOIT VULNERAB LE WORKERS , KNOWING THAT EMPLOYEES MAY BE TOO AFRAID TO REPORT ABUSES . UM WHAT WE 'RE ASKING FOR IS SIMPLE WHITE PLAINS SHOULD BE , UH, SHOU LD REQUIRE ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS O PERATING IN OUR CITY T O CLEARLY IDENTIFY THEM SELVES AND NOT WEAR ANY MASK OR PERSONAL DISGUISE WHILE ENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC , EXCEPT FOR GENUINE SAFETY OR MEDICAL EQUIPME NT . THIS DOESN 'T BLOCK ENFORCEMENT . THIS DOESN 'T INTERFERE WITH INVESTIGATIONS . IT SIMPLY SAYS, I F YOU CARRY A BADGE AND A WEAPON IN OUR CITY, YO U DO SO IN THE OPEN . IN T HE STATE LEVEL , THERE ' S ALREADY LEGI SLATION INTRODUCE D APPROPRIAT ELY CALLED MELTS , UH, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY EVERY , UH , STATE R EPRESENTATIVE WHO COVER S WHITE P LAINS . UH, THE DIRECTI ON IS CLEAR , AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR OUR CITY TO BE LEADING . THAT 'S IT. GRIFFI TH GOOD EVENING . I 'M J ANICE GRIFFITH , AND I 'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE WHITE PLAINS , GREENBERG N AACP . THE NAACP WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSID ER PLACING THE PA N-AFRICAN FLAG OUT FOR VIEW DURING T HIS MONTH BLACK HIS TORY MONT H. THE FLAG WAS CREATED AS A RESP ONSE TO RACISM AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICANS IN 1920 WITH THE HELP OF MARCUS GARVEY . IF YOU HAV E NEVER SEEN THE FLAG , IT IS RED , BLACK, AND GRE EN . RED IS FOR THE BLOOD THAT UNITES ALL OF BLACK PEOPLE OF AFRICA N ANCESTRY AND SHED FOR LIBERATION BLACK IS F OR THE PEOPLE WHOSE EXISTENCE AS A NATION IS AFFIRMED BY THE EXISTENCE O F THE FLAG AND GREEN IS FOR THE ABUNDANT AND VIBRANT NATURAL WEALTH OF AFRICA . THE DISPLAYIN G OF THIS FLAG DURING THIS M ONTH WOULD SHOW EVERYONE I N WHITE PLAIN S THAT THOSE T HAT LIV E AND THOSE THAT VISIT BY PLAINS THAT WHITE PLAINS IS N OT ONLY INCLUSIVE BU T ALSO REC OGNIZES THE VAL UE OF BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS CITY AND IN T HIS COUNTRY , PLEASE CONSIDER R AISING T HE FLAG . CHARLENE RAYNER . GOOD EVENING TO MR . MAYOR TH E NEWLY ELECTED COMMON COUNCIL . MY NAME IS CHARLENE RAYNOR, 254 MARTINE AVENUE . WHITE PLAINS IS A HOME FOR MORE TH AN 60,000 RESID ENTS AND IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AROUND . THIS IS NOT A CITY THAT PUSHE S AWAY PUSHES PEOPLE ASIDE OR FORGET.AB OUT OUR COMMUNITY WE ARE A CITY ROOTED IN LOVE , INCLUS ION, AND COMMUNITY AND TODAY I HOPE THAT THE ISSUES IGNORED FOR FAR TOO L ONG, WIL L FINALLY BE ADDRESSED . THE FIRST IS THE SLATER COMMUNITY C ENTER . WHIL E SOME IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TH E REALITY IS THAT THE BUILDING STILL DOES NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY . FROM OUTDATED RESTROOMS TO POOR LAYOUT , BROKEN DIVIDERS . AND LITTLE STO RAGE STORAGE SPACE SLATER DESERVES REAL INVESTMENT NOW . NOT 10 YEARS FROM NOW WE TALK ABOUT A TRU E INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER , BUT T ODAY SL ATER IS WHAT WE HAVE AND W E M UST FULLY SERVE OUR SENIORS , OUR FAM ILIES , AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD . IN 2023 TH E SLATER CENTER PLAYGROUND WAS SHUT DOWN AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR . LEAVING THE CHILDRE N IN THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT A PLACE TO PLAY . AN D THEY WER E EXP ECTED TO WALK A HALF A MILE TO COTTRELL PARK CROSSING MANY , WEL L SEVERAL CROSSWALKS . FOR MANY PARENTS , THE DISTANCE [00:10:01] WAS A LACK OF VISIBILITY AND N OT SAFE SLAT ER MUST REMAIN A SAFE ACCESSIBLE SPA CE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND TWO GATHERING FOR THE COMMUNITY . THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE FERRIS WORLD WAR , CLOSING IT WITHO UT MEANINGFUL COMMUNI TY ENGAGEMENT WAS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING . I GREW UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE AND THAT 'S BECAUSE WHITE P LAINS IS KNOWN TO DRAW PEOPLE . AND THE EVENT BROUGHT MAN Y OF THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER . WHILE AN INC IDENT D IDN 'T OCCUR NO T BY OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS IT SHOULD NOT ERASE SOMETHING THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO SO MANY . WITH SUMMER V ASTLY APPROACHING , I URGE THIS ADMINISTRATION TO BRING ALL P ARTIES BACK TO THE TABLE AND WORK TOWARD A SOLUTION . I AM HOPEFUL I BELIEVE THE N EW LEADERSHIP CAN MOVE THESE ISSUES FORWARD AND HELP WHITE PLAINS LIVE UP TO T HE VALUE WE PROUDLY STA ND FO R. LET T HIS BE THE MOMENT WHEN LISTENING TURNS INTO ACTION AND COMMUNITY TRULY COMES FIRST . THANK YOU. OK JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION I, I JUST , I WANNA CLARIFY ONE FACT IF IT 'S OK , UM , I BELIEVE THAT THERE 'S A NEW PLA YGROUND AT THE SLATER CENTER, IS THAT CORRECT ? YES. OK , I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THA T, YOU KNOW , I, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN HANDLED INCORRECTLY , BUT IT WAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF C REATING AND BUILDING A NEW PLAYGROUND THA T IS THERE . THAT 'S A LL . THANK YOU . ELAINE SUMMERS . GOOD EVENING , MAYOR BRASH AND DI STINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNC IL. I A M ELAINE SUMMERS AND RESIDE ON NORTH BROA DWAY IN LAKE STR EET . I MOV ED TO WHITE PLAINS AT THE END OF THE 90S . I GREW UP IN THE MOST CULTURALLY DIVERSE PLACE ON EARTH , QUEENS , NEW YORK CITY . EATING PASTI CIO PASTEL LES, AND PIZZA . I HAV E KNOWN MANY OF YOU FROM THE TIME BEFORE YOU WERE ELECTED TO T HIS HONOR ABLE BODY AND HAVE S HARED MY CONCERN , WHICH BRINGS ME BEFORE YOU TODAY . I AM AN IMMIGRA NT AND A PROUD B ILINGUAL LATINA MY PARENTS AND I ARRIVED I N THIS COUNTRY HOLDING GREEN CARDS . I COME BEF ORE YOU TO ASK THAT YOU DO A LL YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY . I HAVE SHARED WITH MANY OF YOU HOW I , A S A BROWN PERSON , AM AFRAID, VER Y AFRAID OF THE MURDERING TERRORIST WHO ROAMED THE STREETS OF OUR COUNTRY . THESE GOONS HAVE BEEN G IVEN IMMUNITY AND SEEMINGLY LEAVE B Y THE FEDERAL GOVER NMENT TO TERRORIZE AND MURDER PEO PLE . I ASK THAT THIS BODY JOIN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND THE WESTCHESTER C OUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATURE TO EXPAND ON THE IMMIGRANT PROTECTION ACT AND HELP IN PASSING THE NEW YORK FOR ALL ACT AND MAKE THE RESIDENTS OF T HIS GREAT CITY FEEL SAFE . THANK YOU . GABE R ODRIGUEZ THANK YOU , MAYOR BRA SH AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMUN COMMON COUNCIL FOR T HIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME I S DOC TOR GI RODRIGUEZ . I LIVE AT 254 MA RTIN AVENUE . I 'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THIS COUNCIL TO OPPOSE THE PRACTICE OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORC EMENT AGENTS OPERATING IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHILE CONCEALING THEIR IDENTITIES . ISIS ARGUED THA T MASK AGENTS UH MA SKING AGENTS ' FACES WHILE WITH HOLDING NAMES OR BADGE NUMBERS. IS IT NECESSARY FOR TH EIR SAFETY . YET OUR OWN CITY COUNTY , AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CARRY OUT DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUS WORK E VERY DAY WITHOUT HIDING THEIR FACES , NAMES , OR BADGE NUMBERS . IF OUR LOCAL OFF ICERS CAN PE RFORM THEIR DUTIE S TRANSPAR ENTLY, PROFESSIONA LLY, THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO ASK WHY FEDERAL AGENTS CANNOT DO THE SAME. WE SHOULD CHALLENGE THE NORMALIZATION OF MASK ENFO RCEMENT , THE ABSEN CE OF VISIBLE BADGES AND T HE LACK OF CLEAR IDENTIFICATION . THESE PRACTICES ERODE PUBLIC TRUST A ND CREATE BARRIERS TO AC COUNTABILITY . THE CONSEQUENCES ARE NOT THEORETICAL . MEMB ERS OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY ARE INCREASIN GLY AFRA ID TO CALL FOR HELP , EVEN IN EMERGENCIES . WE 'VE ALSO SEEN LEGITIMATE POLICE ACTIONS DISRUPTIV E WHEN RESIDENTS MISTAKE OFFICERS FOR ICE , AS IT IS SEE N IN OTHER CITIES SUCH AS LOS ANGELES . AS A COMMUNITY , WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY T O INS IST ON TRANSPARENCY , ACCOUNTABIL ITY, AND THE RULE OF LAW FOR ALL LAW ENFORC EMENT AGENCIES O PERATING IN OUR CITY . FAILING TO DO SO UNDERMINES TRUST, PUBLIC SAFETY , AND OUR SHARED CIVIC VALUES . I URGE THIS C OUNCIL TO TAKE A STAND ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS . AND MAKE CLEAR THAT A NONYMITY AND UNACCOUNTABLE E NFORCEMENT HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY . THANK YOU FOR YOUR [00:15:01] TIME . RENEE SCH OKER . OK ER SHIER , YES GOOD EVENI NG. MY NAME IS RENEE SHANKER . I LIVE IN 19 BYRON AVENUE . I 'M A RETIRED SOCIAL WORKER IN PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL . I 'M HERE TODAY TO URGE A COM MON COUNCIL TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT B ANS ICE AGENTS FROM WEARING MASKS WHILE PE RFORMING THEIR DUTIES . ON WE DNESDAY , THE ARCHBISHOP OF NEWARK IN REFERENCI NG THE BR UTAL IMMIGRATION POLICIES OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION POSED THIS QUE STION TO U S ALL . HOW WILL YOU SAY NO ? CITIES AND STATESAC ROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FIN ALLY BEGINNING TO FIND THEIR VOICES AND ARE D EMANDING MORE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FR OM ICSE AND BORDER PATROL AGENTS . LAST YEAR, C ALIFORNIA BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO PASS A LAW BANNING ISA AGENTS FRO M WEARING MASKS ANYWHERE IN THE STATE . THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO ALSO PASSED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER PROHIBITING LAW ENF ORCEMENT FROM WEARING MASKS OR D ISGUISES THAT CONCEAL THEIR IDENTITIES . SIMILAR LEGISLATION HAS BEEN INTRODUCED OR CONSIDERED IN MARYL AND, KANSAS, MASSACHUS ETTS, ILLINOIS, PENNSYLVANIA , AND N EW YORK CITY . MASK BANDS ARE IMPOR TANT BECAUSE THEY ACT AS A D ETERRENT TO THE I NDISCRIMINATE USE OF FORC E AND TRAUMA BY SO-CALLED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS . WE HAVE ALL RECEN TLY WIT WITNESSED ON TV THE BRUTAL TACTICS OF THE MASKED THUGS WHO ARE STOKING FEAR AND I NSTILLING TRAUMA IN OUR COMMUNITIES . T HE THEIR VIOLENT TACTICS , MANY OF THEM ILLEG AL , INCLUDE SHOOTING INNOCENT BYSTANDERS BEATING PEOPLE WITH BATONS , USING PEPPER SPRAY AND SMOKE TO DISABLE PROTESTERS . HOWEVER, IT ' S BEEN DIFFICULT TO HELP CRIMINALS A ND THUGS ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE T HEY WEAR FACE COVERINGS T HAT CONCEALED THEIR IDENTITIES . AND AS LONG AS WE ALLOW ICE AGENTS TO ACT WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY . WE ENABLED THEIR BEH AVIOR . IN THE 1980S , I WORKED INTENSIVELY WITH THE KHMER PEOPLE, A N IMMIGRA NT COMMUNI TY FR OM CAMBODIA WHO WAS RESETTLED IN THE B RONX AFTER THEY WERE BRUTALIZED AND TRAUMATIZED BY THE POL POT REGIME . I W ILL NEVER FORGET THE PATIENT I HAD WHO BECAME TOTALLY CATATONIC AS A RESULT OF THE TRAUMA SHE EXPERIENCED IN THE HANDS OF THE GOVERNMENT . TRAILER IS NOT CONFINED TO ITS VICTIMS . IT INFECTS COMMUNITIES , VICTIMS OF TRAUMA A RE MORE LIKELY TO EX PERIENCE HIGHER RATES OF DRUG USE , DOMESTIC VIOLENCE , SUICIDE AND HOMICID E , ALL OF WHICH AFFECT US ALL, WHETH ER WE ARE A DIRECT VICTI M OF TRAUMA OR NOT. THE CONSE QUENCES OF TRAM WIL L NOT G O AWAY EASILY . THEY WILL REQUIRE A MAJOR COMMITMENT AND INVESTMENT IN ITS T REATMENT . IN PUBLIC H EALTH, WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO REDUCE RISK RATHER THAN WAIT FOR ILLNESS T O SURFACE . BANNING F ACE MASKS IS ONE WAY TO REDUCE RISKS . FEDERAL AGE NTS WILL BE LESS LIK ELY TO COMMIT VIOLENT ACTS BECAUSE THEY W ILL BE IDENTIFIABLE A ND PROSECUTE D FOR CRIMINAL BEHAVIO R . IT MAY NO T BE A S OLUTION, BUT IT IS A BEGINNING . SO WHITE PLAINS , I NOW ASK YOU , HOW WILL YOU SAY NO ? ANDY GROSSMAN UH HELLO , UH, ANDY GROSSMAN , 90 , BRYANT AVENUE HERE IN, U H, HERE IN WHITE PLAINS. U M , LOOK, I KNOW ALL OF YOU , COUNCIL , LIKE, I KNOW VERY WELL, AND I KNOW YOU 'RE ALL COMPLETELY DISGUSTED BY WHAT ICE HAS DONE, UH , ALL OVER TH E COUNTRY . AND I KNOW YOU M UST BE SYMPATHETI C TO THE PLEAS WHICH , WHIC H WE 'VE HEARD HER E TONIGHT I 'M URGING THE CITY COUNCIL OF W HITE PLAINS TO BE LEADERS IN THIS REGARD, TO B E LEADERS IN THE TYPE OF LEGISLATION THAT , UH, CITIES LIKE DENVER , UH, PHIL ADELPHIA IS CONSIDERING , UH, AS W ELL AS, UH, WHAT 'S , UH, UH, UH, ROCKLAND COUNTY , UH, AS FAR AS BESIDES WEARI NG MASKS , UH, ROCKLAND COUNTY IS CONSIDE RING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD STOP POLICE AND COUNTY WORKERS FROM HOLDING S OMEONE JUST BECAUSE ICE ASKED . PREVENT LOCAL OFFICIALS FRO M ACTING LIK E FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS A ND ALLOW COOPERATION WITH ICE ONLY WHEN THERE 'S A FEDERAL CRIMINAL WARRANT AND FORBID USING SOMEONE 'S IMMIGRATION STATUS AS A REASON TO QUESTION OR ARREST THEM. THA T IS , UH, RESOLUTION BEFORE T HE, THE ROCKLAND COUNTY LEGISLATURE , U H, THERE ARE OBVIO USLY AS PEOPL E HAVE SAID BEFORE , ANTI-MASK ORDINANCES AROUND THE COUNTRY. I THINK WHITE PLA INS SHOULD BE A LEA DER IN THIS REGARD , AND I URGE YOU TO PASS SUCH LEGISLAT ION AS SOON A S POSSIBL E. THAN K YOU. [00:20:05] THAT CONCLUDES THI S SESSION OF CITI ZENS TO BE HEARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. A T 7:30 WE WILL CONVENE FOR OUR REGULAR STATED MEETING. THANK YOU. 6789 , 10 TESTING 123 . * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.